Bits for Sunday, March 16, 2008

This week I went to a poetry reading. Yes, you read that right. Poetry. For those of you who attend my church and were present on the famous “bachelorette” night – you will recall that I said out loud that I am not a poet. Can’t write it, can barely understand it, and retained my honor scholarship despite that class in college only through the immense grace and mercy of my professor.

Nevertheless, I went to a poetry reading this week. The poet, Susanna Childress, was in college with me – actually a year behind me in school. She was one of those writers that made all the English and writing professors tingle with joy because she was so good. To say she has a gift is an understatement. She knows how to properly use words that I’m still sounding out. She can do things with her writing craft (probably with little effort) that I couldn’t even begin to understand after having a four year degree in the subject.

Yet the thing I loved about Susanna was that she was a real and fun friend. There were many writers in my classes who intimidated me profusely when we had to participate in the dreaded peer-editing exercises. They handed me the next great American literature fresh off their printer, and I handed them what felt like the next draft of a Berenstein Bear book. And Susanna was the one that intimidated me most because I was so afraid that she would be bored with what I wrote…and I would be too stupid to understand what she wrote. But those fears were in my mind only, and she was always so much fun in and out of class. Full of life and personality, she had a way of easing my fear of her intelligence and ability.

Well, Susanna has since graduated…and graduated again with a master’s degree…and graduated again with a doctorate…and gotten married…and published a book of poetry…and currently she’s a guest professor at a college in Michigan.

So you can well imagine why, as I drove the few blocks from my house to the reading, I was secretly hoping she might not remember me and if she did remember me, I fervently hoped she wouldn’t ask what I was doing these days. So little has changed for me since I knew her before that I had to make sure I wore something to the reading that I didn’t own in college…I at least wanted her to know I’d purchased a new outfit here and there!

I arrived at the reading, which was filled with college students who were required to go to such things…and I remembered those days for me. Oh how I love being out of school! I walked in and amazingly enough, she spotted me before I even saw her! She ran right up and gave me a hug…so much for remaining anonymous.

The evening began, and she took her place behind the microphone and began reading from her book, and I began trying to decipher such words as convivial, fricatives, parsimonious, and stratagem. She promised during one poem that I would be able to catch a glimpse of some sort of rhyme…but truly, the only rhyme I’m smart enough to follow is in the style of Dr. Seuss. And Susanna doesn’t write about green eggs and ham, or Horton hearing a Who.

The reading ended and I had a minute or two to catch up with my friend…during which time she asked me the dreaded question of “So what have you been up to since college?” I took a deep breath and zoned in on the main accomplishment I could find – getting a house. She looked straight at me and said “Ohhhhhh I’m so jealous of that! I’m going to spend the next two years commuting every week between two states and teaching at two colleges. I would just love to have a house and settle down.”

Another one of those moments when I’m sure God was sitting there nodding and saying “See?? I try to tell you and you just don’t pay attention to Me.” Yes, yes. There I was, face to face with the published, doctorate-holding, happily-married friend of mine, and still there was something about life in Bekah-land that could hold some merit in her mind.

So I can’t write poetry. It’s okay. I made peace with that a long time ago. I’m perfectly satisfied to be able write the way I write. So I don’t have my doctorate. It’s okay. I probably have more gray hair than she does, but at least I came about it without the stress of writing a dissertation.

Before I left the reading, I purchased her book. She gets eleven cents a copy and I wanted to help the cause. I read through a few of the poems. I would have to do some serious studying to grasp even a fraction of their well-honed craft. But I am excited for her that she was able to publish this book and I’m glad to own a copy. And while she pursues teaching and publishing book number two, I’m going to enjoy my settled life in my (currently unsettled from cooking-clutter) house.

In the Footsteps of Jesus...

Back on January 1, I posted about the first of fifty "must read" (in my opinion) books. If I choose a new book every 2 1/2 months, at the end of a decade, I'll have a list of fifty books that I think everyone should read at some point in life. Today I bring you book #2. It's called In the Footsteps of Jesus: One Man's Journey Through the Life of Christ.

I happened upon this book in December 2007 during an impulsive shopping trip to a Christian discount bookstore. My hands were already tired of holding a very heavy shopping basket, but the store was going out of business and I just couldn’t pass up the deals as I walked the aisles. This was the very last book I tossed in – I found it hidden among other books of subject matter that didn’t interest me. I purchased it more out of curiosity than anything else, but I now count it as one of the most soul-changing purchases I ever made.

In 1993, a man named Regardt Van Den Bergh began filming a four-hour, word-for-word depiction of the Gospel of Matthew. Bruce Marchiano portrayed Jesus in Regardt’s film, and this book is his testimony of how that role forever changed not only his life, but the way he related to his Savior.

The closing words of the preface to the book, written by Bruce himself, say this: Lord Jesus, thank You that You know us so well, so specifically. Thank You that You know every heart, every dream, every hope, desire, and circumstance. O mighty God Jehovah, let not one of us walk away without a fresh look at You, a fresh touch from You, a fresh understanding of You. Father, I submit us all to be loved, to be held, to be embraced by You. To be filled with Your joy. To hear Your heart and taste the warmth of Your smile. In your precious name. Amen. (p. xii)
I experienced a bit of each part of that prayer as I read through Bruce’s book and underwent a transformation in the way I knew and related to Jesus. I’ve known Jesus all my life, and even though I had experienced His love and direct involvement in my life, there was still a side of me that related to Him as Someone Who was a bit unapproachable. But after reading Bruce’s interpretation of Jesus as He interacted with those whose lives He touched, I now approach my time with God in an entirely different way. A real way.

This book is filled with excerpts from Bruce’s journal, stories of specific scenes that touched his heart, the support of the cast and crew who enabled him (through prayer, encouragement, and Scripture reading) to complete this enormous task of quoting Jesus’ words in the book of Matthew verbatim. He shares the experiences of his life that shaped him to play this role and how those same experiences shaped him as a Christian; he also offers glimpses into the lives of the extras who thought they were just playing a filler-role in a movie, but ended up changed forever by their brush with the real Jesus through the filming of a Gospel. There are also pictures from the set to help explain the emotion in ways that even words cannot grasp.

Since this book was such a recent purchase, I’ve only read it through completely one time, but I am convinced that God’s blessing rests heavily on these pages. At the time I read it, I was also reading another book that started digging through my heart and revealing difficult things about me. Each night, I would read the tough book first and then I would reach for this one to find a bit of joy and comfort so that I would be able to sleep when I went to bed. And each time, the love and mercy of God that I so needed to find were waiting within the pages of Bruce’s story.

Here are some quotes from throughout the 218 page book:

He had no problem fully being who He fully was and fully living what He fully felt, every full moment of every full day…as hard as He laughed and as big as He smiled, that’s how hard He wept and how deeply His heart broke. (p. 78)

His every move, every word, every healing, every rebuke, every drop of blood – an act of love! From the moment He lay in the manger to the day He disappeared behind the clouds – all acts of love. (p. 92)

For the first time in my life, I understood what the word “compassion” means when it comes to Jesus Christ. I understood that it isn’t just feeling sorry for people; it’s a heartbreak so intense, so deep it’s like your gut is ripped open. It is a heartbreak that screams in utter agony for the needless, pointless pain of people – people who need only turn to Him. What I felt that day was so incredibly tragic. And there can be no doubt what I tasted was just a drop of water in the oceans of the universe compared to what it truly feels like for Him. (p. 116)

It’s a picture of Jesus we seldom think about: perspiring in the sun from dawn to dusk, hoisting timbers, carving, shaping, sawing, sanding. Panting in the afternoon heat, hair matted with dirt and dust and workshop grime. Working endless hours into the night, pushing to meet deadlines over the days, weeks, years. Singing psalms at the top of His lungs while planning doors, carving plows, and fitting ox yokes. (p. 125)

Every believer should wear a crown of thorns and hang on a cross for ten seconds – they would never be the same. And I can’t help but feel that every non-believer would accept Christ on the spot if he did the same. I have never felt so alone, so naked, so ugly, so emotionally bare – and I was just play-acting, dipping my toe into the experience of the cross. What He did for us! He chose it! (p. 177)
I realize that some people may be wary of a book like this because for a person to take on the role of playing Jesus could bring about the writing of opinions that could be considered out of line. But I found nothing offensive in the book. Bruce never claims to be Jesus. He simply shares from his heart the experience he had playing the role, and multiple times, he reminds his readers that he experienced only a brief taste of what Jesus would have known. But to read this book is to see into a deeply emotion-filled, hands-on Savior who simply lived each day to love, not threaten or intimidate, His children into eternity.

Toilet Paper Discussions

Perhaps my strangest post ever...

If you visit Malott's blog, you'll see where this discussion began along with a variety of opinions about the proper rolling pattern of the TP.

So, Chris, here you go. I never did win the fight with my camera/computer, so I had to develop these...and have I mentioned that the photo lab people don't even ask my name anymore...they just get my pictures for me? I'm sure they wonder about this one...

OH! And by the way, halfway through my picture taking, I realized my black/white setting was on, so that's the reason for the lack of color. I wasn't trying to be artistic.

Okay here's the bathroom with the freestanding TP holder. As you can see, I have it rolled over the top as we all know it should be rolled. I also opened the dryer door just a little tiny bit so you can see why I have the need to ever move the holder at all...to open the door all the way, I have to swing the arm of the holder around....
...which then makes the TP roll from the underside...which we established, is NOT the correct way to go. Yes, I realize I could just pick the whole thing up and move it, but it's actually kind of heavy. You wouldn't think so, but it is. I'm afraid one day it's going to come apart if I pick it up by the top too much. Oh - and you can see Braeya being a helper girl in this picture too. Never can she leave any event un-participated-in. Not even a toilet photo shoot.

But as I mentioned in my comment to you, this is what I often come home to....

And no. I didn't unroll it to make my point. I came home to it just like this the time I took the pictures.
Sigh. Two year olds.

So close...

Well for being terrible at predictions (no comment, Phats), I was very happy to see that I had at least two of the bottom three right. And this week's performances aside, Syesha had no business in that bottom three. She had a bad night, yes, but she did not deserve to be close to being out this early.

I still hoped it would be Kristy Lee going home, but I was fine with David going instead. By the time they got to the final two, I really didn't care...I was just so relieved Syesha was safe.

But in other news...I forgot to check the TV guide and thought that Idol came on at 8. I was mid-hair-dye at the time, so I didn't change the channel and watched Moment of Truth since it came on. I have seen it a couple of times before but WOW. Last night was ruthless! I think the guy was wise to stop before his wife had a complete mental breakdown. I think they asked way too many marriage questions. Does he have no other facet of life they could probe instead? I'm still not sure how I feel about that show. Yeah the money's great - but so is a sense of privacy!

Kaegan, Idol, and DST

I hate to admit it. Two DAYS into daylight savings and I've already overslept an hour. I'm in big trouble.

But I tried very hard to wake up and participate in the day because it was a way busy day at work, AND...

Kaegan turned seven today. That itty bitty kitty from days gone by is now a well-fed (more so than I realized!) big cat who loves nothing more than a nice, uninterrupted nap on the edge of my bed. Unfortunately his sister rarely affords him that luxury.

I took some pictures today, but my computer and I are at odds over posting them prior to scanning, so until they're developed, here's a couple of pictures from seven years ago...the day after I got the little guy. I don't remember posting them before and I'm too lazy to look...so if they're repeats...sorry.
Kaegan was a gift from one of my college roommates, Christi. The day after I got him was a work day and she missed him so much that she asked me to drop him by her apartment so she could play with him while I worked. He'd never spring for that now. Car rides can only mean one thing: THE VET. Anyway, my buddies at work wanted to see him, so she put him in this little basket and brought him to the office for show and tell.


Yeah, about the hair...it was a rough phase. It has passed. I do miss the tan though. I had just been in a wedding...and so I'd tanned in preparation.
In other news...Idol's top twelve started tonight, and I was surprised. I think this season has more talent than I realized.
* Syesha - I love Syesha, but I was disappointed tonight. She can do so much better than she did...and I hope she has enough fans to get her another chance...I think odds are favorable.
* Chikeze - Shockingly, I loved his performance tonight. Phats, have you forgiven him yet for the comment to Simon? I thought tonight he proved he deserves to stay.
* Ramiele - I agreed with the judges that it was boring. It was kind of depressing, actually. Not because the song was slow, but because she seemed more focused on what/who she had lost in the weeks past (Danny?) than what is ahead of her.
* Jason - Jaye, I'll admit I am now able to see past the dreds and I really like him! I liked him better tonight than any week so far. I hope he stays.
* Carly - I tried valiantly to like her but it did not work for me. I am still so distracted by that massive tattoo against the shiny dress and curly hair that I can't listen to the songs!
* David C. - I just love him. He is like Daughtry for me...the only two who have ever really made me want to sit and listen to rock. He's just great!
* Brooke - I agreed with Paula - she has incredible passion and it comes across...and I feel that she has the courage and passion (not to mention talent) to make it as a singer. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to sit through a whole concert with just one of them, and she is one of the few that I think I would really enjoy listening to song after song...and I think she has enough character to make the talking-in-between-songs time interesting too.
* David A. - I agreed with Simon - very weak. I know he has a more powerful voice than he showed tonight. I didn't care for it.
* Amanda - I really appreciated that she showed some emotion...some life...tonight. Much improved over last week in that respect. But I couldn't understand half of what she said. I didn't know any of tonight's songs, but at least when everyone else sang, I could understand the words. With her, I almost turned on the captions because I was lost.
* Michael - I really like Michael, but like Syesha, I didn't think he did very well tonight. I was kinda bored.
* Kristy Lee - I didn't care for it at all. Because I didn't know the song, I couldn't quite fit in on the controversy of turning it country, but I didn't care for it.
* David A. - Poor lil David. He forgot his words! He has enough fans to sail him through to the next round, I 'm sure.
Based on all that, I would say that the bottom three should be Ramiele, David H. and Kristy Lee, with Kristy Lee going home.

Bits for Sunday, March 9, 2008

Well…I might end up asleep in the keyboard before this is written (HA!), but if I don’t…then I’ll have successfully survived the first day of Daylight Savings Time.

I’ve immensely enjoyed the last five or so months of “real time” as I call it, and for the last week, I’ve been trying to mentally prepare myself for this day and the next seven or so months of “wrong time.”

Actually, I’ve learned to enjoy a couple of things about DST. One thing is that I get to eat an hour earlier every meal…and that’s good. I also get off work at four now (in “real time”) – and I try not to think about how that means I go in at seven. Probably my favorite thing of all, truly, is the ability to have a less rushed evening in the summer. I enjoy being able to walk outside for my exercise and do my yard work and still eat dinner in the daylight. That part is so very nice.

But the adjustment into this really doesn’t go smoothly for me. I tried to explain it to someone at work…someone who grew up in a state that always changed time. She valiantly argued (and probably rightfully so) that it’s just not a big deal and you just start going to bed an hour earlier. Well I sure can do that…but I will just lay there and stare at the ceiling for that hour and then I’ll fall asleep at the time my body is used to conking out. It gets incredibly frustrating. I’ve tried to trick myself…train myself…nothing works.

I hear, though, that it takes a person three years to get used to it, so this is my year. This is the third time Indiana has switched over, so this must be the year. I am making a goal to make it all the way to the end without giving up and allowing my internal clock to revert to “real time.”

Last night I went around the house and changed all the clocks well before my bedtime. I kept telling myself it was later than it really was. I tried to go to bed earlier than I normally would, and I tried to convince myself I was actually tired. I think that whole plan would have gone much more smoothly had I not slept in so late yesterday morning.

This afternoon, when I would have so dearly loved to curl up in the fat chair and be dead to the world for a couple of hours…I forced myself to stand up at the table and scrapbook. When I thought about squeezing in just the tiniest little catnap before church…I made myself go to the kitchen and cook mac ‘n cheese and go to the church dinner.

So I have high hopes that I’ll be exhausted here in a bit and will fall right to sleep…and with one good night under my belt, I won’t even notice the time change.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

But for the faithful few in my corner of “why mess with the time?” – I found a few pieces of ammunition. I will share them with you at this time.

I heard on the radio this week that the number of vehicle accidents increases the week after a time change (the spring time change…not the fall one where everyone is extra rested). So as you drive to and from work this week…watch out for those of us who haven’t adapted yet.

And I saw on a Yahoo news article this week that DST actually increases utility bills. You can read the whole article here if you want, but to summarize…it said that while light bills go down, heating/cooling bills go up. This happens because in the spring and fall, people are cold in the mornings when they get up for work, so they have to run extra heat. And in the summer, they are home during the heat of the day when they otherwise would be at work, so they have to crank up the air. Granted, the article said the average consumer only pays $3.19 extra per year, but if you add up all the people in Indiana alone, that comes to a grand total of over 8 million dollars per year. And 8 million or not, as a consumer, I can tell you that $3.19 is almost five Polar Teas…almost a Whopper Junior value meal, and almost a caramel frappe with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. It’s also about seventeen pictures at the Wal-Mart photo booth or three hot fudge sundaes at McDonald’s.

So next time someone shoots a list of merits of the DST to you…you’ll have a list of your own to shoot right back.

Well, the hour is getting late…or so I tell myself. So I better post this and head toward bed in hopes of tricking myself further into thinking it is time to sleep.

The College Days

Now that Cassie's graduation book is done and my first year of life book is done, I decided to find another secondary scrapping project to keep me busy when I'm not working on my current book. So...I decided to begin the college years.

I actually started scrapping the very last semester of my senior year. So that semester has a rather less than par book completed, but the rest of my college pictures and momentos are tossed in a Wal-Mart bag in VERY unbekahlike fashion. They aren't dated, they're barely sorted, I can only guess from varying hairstyles and weights what year they might have been taken...you get the idea.

In addition, I'm not really sure what to journal about those years because I've already forgotten (or perhaps blocked?) so much. But then I got the brilliant idea to use the same technique I used in my senior year of high school book...consult my journals!

So last night I sat down and pulled out the journals. I made it through my freshman, sophomore, and first part of junior years. I was CRACKING UP at my stupidity. I journaled everything in those years - much better than I do now. I found everything I needed to put a date with most of the pictures...and stories that were absolutely hysterical. By the time I gave up and went to bed, I concluded that I really was an 80 year old in a 20 year old's body. I was such a nerd! And now I'm probably still a nerd...just closer to being the actual 80 year old.

So for your enjoyment before I start cropping and gluing....here's a small sampling of the college days.

This picture was taken the day I moved out of my parents' house and into the dorm...er..."residence hall." Moving day was quite an ordeal...maybe another time I'll post the pictures of how my bedroom threw up into my parents' living room. We were a four car caravan moving the whole 20 miles from home and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to fit everything into four cars. And to think I was sharing a room! Obviously I'd not done that before.

This is Lloyd, my festive Ford Escort that required a fresh supply of fluid in the radiator literally every time it was driven. My friends used to slide down in the seats while I popped the hood and poured more stuff in. I was SO cool.

Hmmmm....who's this? ;)

One of my best roomies in college...this was the year our suite was arranged so that all the beds and three of the desks were in one room and one desk and all our "entertainment needs" were in the other room. You can see in the background there that we were faithful to the Fresh Prince episodes!


And this was one of the pictures that had already been scrapped in the book of my last semester. When I graduated, my parents told me that my sister from Kansas and family could not come because I graduated on a weekend and my brother-in-law was a pastor and he couldn't be gone...blah blah blah.
So right after baccalaureate, they took me to Cracker Barrel to eat dinner, and as I was mid-story (shocker) - I realized someone was in my personal space. Yep! Lori flew home to surprise me, and as you can see...mission accomplished!
And for you fellow scrappers...do you like how I chose background paper to use as a mat...that matched my dress?

For the Book-Lovers

I am normally not one who runs out and buys a book the moment it releases. I've never stood in line for 48 hours for a Harry Potter book or anything like that. But this book is one that I think I will have to run out and buy when it releases here in a few days.

For my blogging buddies not from around here, you didn't hear about this story for days and days like we did, but it did hit national news, so you probably did see it if you lurk around breaking stories very much. There was an accident involving a van of students and staff from Taylor University - and five people were killed. That was big enough and heartbreaking enough news in and of itself, but then a few weeks later, they discovered the identity of the survivor coming out of a coma was actually not what they thought. One of the girls who was thought to be dead was really alive...and of course the same was also true in reverse.

The two families have now written a book and it's such an unusual and intriguing story that I am very anxious to read it.

So if you're looking for a new book to read...doesn't get much newer than this!

And the Girls

Well I wasn't quite the lazy person today that I was yesterday. The ice is melting and life is back to normal...until tomorrow when it starts all over again.

I was flipping through scrapbooks tonight and found a page from last year - almost to the day - and I was at an event where I clearly remember wearing CAPRIS. When is capri weather this year??

Well I watched the girls' night - and here are my thoughts.

Asia'h - Much better than last week - because she actually had her voice! I just love her energy. I was glad they put her up first. A fun start.

Kady - Well, better than last week, but I agreed with Simon that she still has a lack of personality. And while I know, I know, it's a singing competition...you gotta have SOME personality or it's just boring!

Amanda - Her hair was much less Cruella deVillish this week. I was with Simon again (WHAT!?!?) - she needs to show some emotion! She's very stoic and I think that is part of what bothers me about her.

Carly - Well, she wasn't quite as scary looking this week. Maybe the hair was softer? The eyebrows less arched? Something. I did recognize her vocal talent this evening and perhaps almost could say I liked it.

Kristy Lee - I was so glad Simon brought up the part about her being forgettable, because as she sang, I found myself wishing they would hurry up with her name across the bottom of the screen because I couldn't remember who she was! I think she's in trouble this week.

Ramiele - I CRACKED UP at the end when they showed Danny wearing her glasses. Pastor Brian, maybe you are right. Maybe they are one and the same! I liked her hair down a lot better and I thought she did a great job.

Brooke - Well what can I say for Miss Brooke? She's one of my top two favorites and I loved her!

Syesha - LOVED IT. My favorite of the night. I wish the judges would have liked her too!

I think Kristy Lee is going home - and I can't decide between Amanda and Kady for the other. I think either one of them could go.

Idol Guys

I just finished watching it this morning - and I learned that sometimes the judges and I hear very different songs.

* Luke - Bless his precious little heart - he is such a cutie and I would love to see him every week, but truly I don't think he had a good night and I don't think he'll be in the top twelve. Rats.

* David A - I didn't really love the song he sang, but he's just so stinking good at everything he does! I thought he balanced singing and playing well.

* Danny - All I can say (in his own words) is that he's TMTH.

* David H - WHAT!?!?! Don't sing Celine! I get really excited when I know a song, because I know so few of them, and not only do I know the song he sang...I love that song. And now I can't hear it ever again without thinking of that performance.

* Michael - Simon didn't like his rocker side, but I sure did!

* David C - I just love this guy. Loved the look, loved the guitar, loved the song, LOVED EVERYTHING!

* Jason - Might have actually started to grow on me this week. They zoomed in on his face enough that I was able to get past the hair a couple of times.

* Chikeze - I think I liked him better than the judges did. I thought he did a great job.

I think Luke is going home and I can't decide on the other one - I think it might depend on how much of a following Jason has and how much David H's news event of the week helps or hurts him.

Snow Day...or Rather, Ice Evening

I told Mom tonight that I am quite weary of the weather changing my plans! I was supposed to go to Kokomo this evening...breathe a little Hobby Lobby air...see Sarah's new house...watch a little Idol...and then came the ice.

BUT.

I was extremely excited because at 3:00, work sent us home! I'd only been back at work a little over 2 hours since my lunch hour and the ice that came down in that time was pretty hard to chip off the car! I forgot to clean off the wipers, so by the time I got home, I couldn't see much at all...probably not my safest drive.

Anyway, it was wonderful to come home and crawl into my fleece shirt and jammie pants and wrap up in a blanket and sit in the fat chair...remote in hand and iced tea on the end table. I'm a firm believer that weather days should be taken seriously, so I tried not to overdo. I mostly watched TV.

I did, however, make a pizza for dinner. A real from scratch pizza - not a frozen one. It seemed the thing to do while stuck at home!

The lights have been flickering...so I hope to make it through Idol before they go out!

Bits for Sunday, March 2, 2008

When you hear a great idea, you’re supposed to pass it on, right?

Well, several months ago, this seed of an idea was planted in my mind and is just too good to not share…so I’m sharing it today. I’m sure it’s not an original idea, but I suppose if I made it through this much of life without hearing of it until recently, surely someone else is the same way. So for those of you who already thought of this…come back next week, and I’ll try to come up with something original.

Last fall I participated in one of Beth Moore’s Bible studies. Not directly live and in person with her, you understand, but one of her video studies. A church in town offered her Believing God study, and since last year’s theme for my personal Bible study was faith…it seemed appropriate to learn more. And Beth is a very wise and grounded teacher, in my opinion, so I was excited to learn from her.

One week she taught from Joshua 4 – part of the account of the Israelites finally crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. Verses 5b-7 say, “Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you , ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” To illustrate her point that week, Beth had surrounded her teaching area with huge rocks…twelve of them.

In our small group discussion later, our leader shared this idea…and I loved it so much that I adapted it a bit and have added it to my covenant list for this next decade.

My small group leader is a mother of two girls – and while I am not sure of their ages, they’re not too terribly old. She decided to start teaching them early about the relevance of God in their day to day lives. Of course she wants them to be well-grounded in the accounts told in Scripture, but she also wants them to be aware that God did not stop being personally involved in people’s lives after Revelation was written.

So she purchased some rocks at the craft store (the kind you use in decorating) and each time the girls recognize God’s answer to a prayer they’ve prayed, they write the date on one of the rocks and put it in a jar. As they watch that jar fill up with rocks, they’ll be reminded of times when God was actively involved in their lives.

Well, you know me…I love tangible learning methods. So I borrowed (stole?) her idea and added to it the extra step of journaling…because everything in my life involves journaling. How is it that I have avoided carpal tunnel up to this point?

The covenant I made with God is that over the course of the next ten years, I want to keep track of even some of the ways He works in my life. I’m aware that He’s more involved than even I recognize on a daily basis. But I want to capture those moments that need to be kept for my own remembrance as well as the preservation of my spiritual journey for my kids…if I ever have kids.

When I was little, I used to read the Grandma’s Attic books…anybody remember those? One of the stories was about Grandma’s button jar and how the storyteller would sit down beside her grandmother, pull out at button, hand it to her, and then wait to hear the story of that button…because every button had a story. Well, I may not have a jar of buttons, but I do have a jar of stones…and when someone pulls out a rock and hands it to me and says “What does this mean?” I want to be able to go to the journal, find the story and share how God worked in my life in such a powerful way that I wanted to remember it always.

Multitasking

Typically I'm a pretty good multi-tasker, but I learned tonight that trying to balance watching the American Idol recording while doing laundry, eating dinner, making tea, sorting pictures, making two lists, and emailing...is not an easy task. Oh well.

Another thing I learned today is that I am apparently a left-handed driver. I was unaware of this, but my sore wrist did not easily turn the wheel and only when I couldn't use it did I realize how much I usually do! I also learned that clapping for a game - not easy.

Because of the multi-tasking, my Idol watching was severely distracted tonight, so my thoughts are all over the place and rarely about singing.

* Carly - Well in an attempt to say something nice, I will say that I was impressed with her very neat bed-making skill that she demonstrated in the video.

* Syesha - I really didn't like the song, but I just continue to love everything about her from the way she looks to her confidence to her charisma....she's just good. It didn't even bug me that the song was boring, because I enjoyed watching her sing it.

* Brooke - I was so excited that she sang a song I KNEW!!! This never happens. And it was exciting to hear how the song is really supposed to sound, because the only time I've ever heard this one was when Kate Hudson sang it in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I loved everything about her performance. Brooke's. Not Kate's.

* Ramiele - All I can say is that it was a fun song. I don't think I paid attention very well to hers. Woops.

* Kristy Lee - I liked the shirt she wore.

* Amanda - Phats, I did like her this week. And go figure - the judges didn't. Her hair was a little Cruella deVille and that scared me, but I loved the song. Perhaps because it was another one I knew?

* Alaina - It was okay - I have nothing to really say - nice nails maybe?

* Alexandrea - I really appreciated the way that she seemed to seriously ingest the comments at the end. Kind of refreshing after the guys' flippant comments last night.

* Kady - I liked her opera voice. I think she and Robbie are in the same boat - they need to get to their OWN style.

* Asia'h - The third song of the night that I knew! I was scared for her because she was having a rough time with those notes. I thought she pulled it off well at the end, but I hope she gets well - so she can be back to her power notes!

Just Call Me Grace

I did an uncharacteristic thing this evening and went out...with the full knowledge that the weather could get bad while I was gone. Normally in my chicken-esque nature (no comment, Pastor Brian) even the threat of bad weather will keep me securely at home. But there was the promise of chocolate at a party...so how could I resist? I went, drove on a road that was a solid sheet of ice, watched the car behind me try various sides and angles of the road, and prayed my way into the driveway. (That Jesus Take the Wheel song comes in awfully handy sometimes.)

I enjoyed one of the allotted dessert intakes for the week, left the party, navigated my way slowly down that ice road again, and stopped by my friend Marie's house to drop off a haircut magazine. This would be the part where you can start to call me Grace. Mind you, Marie had texted me during the party to warn me that the steps in front of her house were slickery. I promised to be careful and grandma-walked my way up her steps (which WERE very slickery, I might say). I delivered the magazine and turned back toward my car. I walked slowy, clinging ever so carefully to the hand rail.

And suddenly, I was on my hiney. Even before I could think...I whipped my head around to see if she was watching. Who cares if anything was broken! I have my pride! She wasn't in view, so I called her to tell her she'd been right about that slickery business.

I thought I was okay, but my left wrist hurts a little more than I'd like to admit. I'm such a granny. I called my parents and told them I hoped they never were as hurt as I am. (Family joke.) Then I remembered my Dad had eye surgery this morning. Okay fine. He can take the pain award for today. I'll just keep icing the old wrist. :)

So while I iced...I watched Idol, and here are my conclusions:

* Michael Johns - Didn't like it as well as last week, though it pains me to admit that, because I really do like him. Or at least I like the accent.

* Jason Castro - I know Randy is a fan of the dreds, but they're still bothering me. He has a very pretty face (not sure if that is good or bad) but the song didn't really do much for me. And I think he didn't help himself by bringing such attention to his discomfort with interviews. I am not sure how he could live the "Idol life" if he doesn't like to do the PR work.

* Luke Menard - He is just as cute as he can be. If things don't work out, maybe Simon can add him to Il Divo. He has the look. I hate to admit this too, but I'm not sure I loved his voice tonight and the song totally lost me. But I'm not ready for him to go just yet.

* Robbie Carrico - I admit he has a good voice, but I'm kind of with the judges - I am not sure he's found his style just yet. I just can't quite become a true fan.

* Danny Noriega - Oh, Danny. Well, he can walk like a runway model, that's for sure. The cardigan scared me. And most of his song reminded me of that one guy on The Wedding Singer that sang back up for Robbie Hart...can't remember his name. George, maybe? I was glad Randy mentioned the vibrato because it drove me nuts.

* David Hernandez - I was surprised. I didn't care for him last week, really, but this week I did enjoy it. First song I really got into as I watched.

* Jason Yeager - Loved the hair improvement this week. I thought he did better than last week in that he seemed to have a lot more fun. But I'm scared for him.

* Chikeze - Way improved over last week from clothing to song, I thought. I loved his comeback to Simon about wearing the same thing twice on TV. That was classic.

* David Cook - I liked him last week and how could I not love him this week after finding out he's a word nerd!?!? I'm typically not a rocker fan at all, but like Chris Daughtry, he seems to be winning my attention!

* David Archuleta - I didn't get as crazy over the song itself as Paula did. But I thought he sang it very very well and I think Simon is right - he is a big contender in this. I really like him.

So this is Grace...signing off to go find a fresh ice pack. (Eyeroll.)

Bits for Sunday, February 24, 2008

I think I focused a little too much mental energy on that week of watching HGTV over Christmas vacation. I thought perhaps the purchase of the fat chair and the loveseat would have taken all the need to redecorate right out of my system…but apparently that was not the case.

Yesterday, after a stressful basketball game, I found myself making a beeline for the fabric store…the time had come to purchase material to recover the pillows on my original couch. And by recover, I mean “give Mom the sewing machine and the material and let her have a sewing party.” And of course it couldn’t just be as simple as buying some material and leaving the store. After choosing my fabric, I decided it would be nice to add some sort of tie around the pillow…and where there’s a tie, there should be a button to accent it. So over to the button display I trudged…looking for the perfect size and color.

I had enough material that I knew I could probably squeeze in at least one more project (and by I, I mean “find someone with necessary talent”) so I began mentally scheming a cornice board project. I heard (on HGTV…where else?) that cornice boards are the cure-all for a window with a boring rod. Well congratulations to me…I have three of those. So all the way home, I mentally designed some cornice boards.

Mid-design, I stopped at Lowe’s to price just a couple of things…I’m tossing around some ideas for the proper expenditure of my economic stimulus rebate…should said rebate ever actually arrive in my little hands. And of course that led to a whole different train of thought for a whole different day.

Anyway, today I was trying to think of something to write about…and though my week was incredibly busy…it was not filled with writing-worthy moments, so I was very much at a loss. I resorted to searching the bookshelves in the office for something – anything – that might spark an idea.

On the next to the bottom shelf I found a book I’d completely forgotten about…but just flipping through it has made my pillow-recovering, cornice-board-designing, economic-stimulus-spending-plan-dreaming seem like nothing at all.

What did I find? A whole book of floor plans.

I bought it at a garage sale for fifty cents ten years ago (approximately…according to the copyright date inside) and I still love looking at it. Perhaps one of the better spent fifty-cent purchases of my life.

Now some of you are, I’m sure, rolling your eyes, but I’m guessing one or two of you know what I’m talking about when I say that I love floor plans! I remember flipping through Mom’s magazines when I lived at home and ripping out the pages of home design. I made my own little notebook of dream homes. This book contains plans on a much smaller scale than most of those I ripped from the magazines, because this is a book of all single-level homes. But still…a floor plan is a floor plan.

What is it about these things that just makes me want to grab a hammer and start building? (Okay so maybe that goes a bit far.) I just love seeing ideas that never would have come to me.

The house on page 52, for example, has a rather oddly shaped home, but the whole thing is built around a central courtyard with a pool! Pool owners would tell me differently, I’m sure, but I think having a pool at home…well…if I had that advantage, I bet my sister and I would no longer have pictures with such contrasting skin tones. J

And the one just a few pages later – a whole private study directly off the master bedroom. Think of the writing that could be done in that house! I am such a sucker for any house that has a study.

Speaking of studies, I found another plan that has a study – with a bay window. A study with a window seat! How very Anne of Green Gables. All I’d have to do is make sure I had a Lake of Shining Waters out front and I would be all set.

Or how about the house with the entire master suite that has its own private porch with a hot tub! I could get used to that!

I found another one that I had apparently liked once before because the corner of the page was turned down…and this one has not only a master suite, but a private garden for the master suite…and a study just off the “art niche.” Well I suppose if I could afford this home, I could also afford a gardener, because otherwise I’d have to plant silk flowers.

I found more than one page that I stopped to gaze at today…and then discovered I had marked that page before. I suppose I can say that at least my tastes are consistent!

But realistically, I suppose that I should stick with shopping for fabric to recover my pillows…and the dream of cornice boards to cover the boring curtain rods. I’ll probably not give up dreaming about “the house” complete with its hot tub and bay window and private study…because you just never know. “Someday” could come!

So what do you think?

Last night was the junior high Sunday School class pizza party. We had .8 inches of snow falling at that time, so as you can imagine (Chris) I was thrilled to be driving across town to church. Actually I felt fairly confident in my skills. It was the IDIOTS around me who thought it might be fun to slam on their brakes and slide all over the road that didn't amuse me so terribly much. Finally, after the driver of the car next to me tested her brakes on a BRIDGE - I decided to switch roads and take my chances on a back road.

I climbed into the church van for my inaugural ride and Pastor Brian said, "Ever done a donut?" (Do I look like the kind of person who does donuts? I put on my seat belt to drive across a parking lot!) So, before I'd had a chance to search for said seat belt in the van, I found myself grabbing onto the seat because he proceeded to spin the van around the parking lot. I asked him if it was okay if there was a puddle in the seat.

But anyway, the pizza was amazing and we had fun...and the following item came up for discussion. He took a poll at our table, and I agreed with Stevan, the author of the blog that brought up the topic. Here's what he posted. What do you think?

The Sunday School song, “This Little Light of Mine” - sung by thousands of us church-kids growing up has been brought to new light (pun not intended, but I laughed out loud when Jess pointed this phrase out to me) this week in my life.

My beautiful wife ‘called me out’ on some of my lyrics as I sang them aloud:
“Hide it under a bushel, NO!”

To which she said, “No, No, No - it’s, ‘Hide it under a bush, Oh No!”

To which I replied, “you’re an idiot.” (maybe it wasn’t that harsh…)

She then got ’scientific’ on me and said, “a bushel is merely a unit of measurement and can’t actually impede the flame of a fire, but a bush is a literal object that could be placed above a flame to cause it to extinguish.” (okay, she didn’t really say these exact words, but you get the picture…)

To which I replied, “you’re an idiot.”

To which she replied, “Google-it.” (the solution to ALL marital strife)

A quick Google-search (more-importantly, a Wikipedia article) reveals that sure-enough a “bushel” is merely a unit of measurement, and not synonymous with the bushel basked we’re all familiar making with our cupped hand while singing this song. I also found enough lyrics defending BOTH of our “right answers” via Google.

So, stevansheets.com readership… what is it? Is it:

01. “Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine.”
02. “Hide it under a bush, Oh NO! I’m gonna let it shine.”
03. “Hide it under a bushel basket lined with fire-retardant fabric, Oh NO! I’m gonna let it shine.”

Please advise this twenty-something who’s childhood theology is based upon your answer to this question.

Half the Girls

I was at the basketball game from 8-9 last night, so I missed the first six girls. :( Actually I think I missed the first seven. I recorded it, though, so I'll watch that part tonight and add to my thoughts later. However, based on the recap I saw at the end of the show, I don't think I missed any of the best.

I started watching when Kady Mallory (the Britney Spears impersonator) sang. So from there, here are my thoughts.

* Kady - I thought she sang well, but I was kind of bored. I think Simon was right - she has much more personality when she's doing an impersonation.

* Asia'h Epperson - MAN she had some huge earrings! They hurt my ears just to look at them. But I just love her little peppy personality and she definitely woke me up from Kady's performance. I am a huge Asia'h fan, so I'm glad she did well.

* Ramiele Malubay - I will admit I was not thrilled when she made it into the top 12. Something about her bugged me and I couldn't quite identify it. I was distracted by her hair last night, but I have to say she was a really good singer and she started (only started) to win me over.

* Syesha Mercado - She is probably my favorite in this whole thing and I thought she did the best job of anyone I saw last night. She has the whole package and I hope she sails right through to the end.

* Carly Smithson - I am still not a fan. I don't know if I'm annoyed that she's in there when she already had a chance with a label or what. She kind of scares me - maybe because they keep that showing that clip from her initial audition when her eyes got really wide? But I DO have to congratulate her for saying being sick is not an excuse. GOOD FOR YOU.

Phats, You Were Right

And I was wrong. (You're printing this for posterity, aren't you?)

Okay, I admit. After I watched the guys' top twelve on American Idol, I did like a few more than I liked before. My thoughts:

* David Hernandez...didn't love it. Didn't hate it. Agreed with whatever it was that Simon said.
* Chikeze...found it HYSTERICAL that Simon called him Jacuzzi. Probably my favorite moment of the evening. Still laughing about that. Other than that, wasn't all that impressed. And I was a little annoyed that he argued so much with Simon.
* David Cook. I really liked it that he ditched the bright red hair he had in his first audition. I actually liked him, which scared me because I'm not into the rocker people, usually. But I did like him - at least tonight.
* Jason Yeager...here's one of the ones that I hadn't seen before, but I really liked him. Cute guy, cute son, and I think he's probably better than they gave him credit for tonight. I really liked him a lot.
* Robbie Carrico...didn't love it. Didn't hate it...really don't even remember much about it.
* David Archuleta - I didn't love the song he sang but he's so stinkin' cute! I know he's got the teen crowd, but he's a good little singer! He's got a fun personality.
* Danny Noriega...to quote the text I sent to Jessica, "Oh...my...word." That's all I have to say about that.
* Luke Menard - hey he is the Indiana boy! I didn't love that song, and I think he's probably better than he did tonight, but I will like him because he's from here!
* Colton Berry - I thought his comment about looking like Ellen was funny and true - but that was about all for me. Didn't love the song.
* Garrett Haley - I think he has better hair than I have, and that's not good. I totally agreed with Simon - it was boring and he needed to get some sun! :)
* Jason Castro - I really had a hard time getting PAST the hair, so much so that I really don't know anything to say. I couldn't focus on the song.
* Michael Johns - He was one of my two favorite guys coming into the top 24, and he remains there. I liked him.

Phats? Sarah? Natalie?

Bits for Sunday, February 17, 2008

Happy belated Valentine’s Day! Do you have any idea how hard it is to be on a dessert fast (for Lent) during Valentine’s season? Well I guess technically I’m not a hard-core Lenten “faster” person, because I do allow myself two desserts and two snacks a week. Let me just explain to you that I am, according to Paula Deen’s definition, a liberal dessert eater. I heard her say on TV that there are two kinds of people – liberal dessert eaters, who must have dessert at each meal, and conservative dessert eaters, who can take or leave dessert. Well, if they leave it, I’m takin’ it. I have dessert at every meal…and usually for two snacks a day…and sometimes, just for fun, I have dessert after my dessert just to polish it off. So I figure knocking it down to four a week is a fast for a liberal like myself.

So anyway, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, I made a huge batch of sugar cookies, complete with icing and sprinkles, and a batch of turtles, which I heard were very good. My allotment of two still awaits my next available dessert intake. And after I cooked all that food, I just sat and stared at it longingly.

But I did save a dessert and a snack for Valentine’s Day, and that evening a couple of my friends came over with my gift: brownie sundaes. Talk about a liberal dessert! A brownie and chocolate chunk ice cream and whipped cream and sprinkles and probably a few other things that I completely missed in my haste to enjoy a liberal moment.

Despite my love for all things sugar and chocolate, I do recognize that there’s more to the day than candy and flowers and cards. I know that many of you out there don’t care for the holiday – because you think it’s just another excuse for commercialism and needless material purchases. But a couple of years ago, I came to really savor this day and look forward to the chance to share love (usually of the baked variety) with others around me.

This year, though, my thoughts turned elsewhere. My “book of the month” for February is called The Best Thing I Ever Did for My Marriage. No, you haven’t missed any news…I don’t need this book. But I love to read ahead when it comes to life situations, and this seemed like an appropriate book for this month. It’s a compilation of short advice stories from fifty different women, and I am learning so much from my reading. Normally I find myself journaling things like “Ouch…hadn’t thought of that. Going to need to work on this one.” Thankfully I still have time!

These stories aren’t about how to be a better home decorator or cook. They’re the stories of the tough stuff…the overlooked stuff…the stuff that really makes all the difference.

I found wisdom in advice like this:

Helper is more than just a word. It’s a high and holy title. It’s not about something you do…it’s about who you are as a wife.

How draining and defeating it must be for a man to have every dream squelched because of an overzealous wife’s desire for personal security.

Don’t worry about what your husband is or isn’t doing. That’s between God and him. Concern yourself with your own behavior – that’s what you’re responsible for.

God doesn’t give us insight into other people’s faults so we can criticize them, but so we can pray for them.

And in the way that God does…He brought to my attention examples of people around me who live love.

I was walking on the track one evening – a little later than I normally go – and I saw a couple that I often see at the gym. I haven’t heard their whole story, but someone told me the wife had a stroke a few years ago, and now his number one job is to take care of her. I’ll see him bring her in and put her on the elliptical or the exercise bike and then come back for her after a few minutes, but anytime they’re on the track, he walks right behind her while she takes her uneven steps around and around. I’ve seen them there dozens of times, but this night she seemed tired. Maybe it was just because the hour was later…but I noticed that on the last couple of laps, she leaned all her weight against him and he walked and pushed at the same time. And that was such a great reminder to me of what it means to really show love. It’s about walking with someone…and when she can’t walk anymore, you walk for her.

I also went to the viewing of one of my friend’s dads this week. He was a man who wasn’t very old, but he’d been sick for many years. And while I waited in line, I looked at the pictures they had put up on a board…of days when the kids were little and he was the way I remembered him. And I thought of his wife and all these years that she had taken care of him and gone to visit him when he had to go to the nursing home…and how she raised the kids to be great adult. Yet every time I saw her, she had a smile on her face and a very sweet and gentle spirit about her. No bitterness and resentment spilling over from her life. She just kept right on loving.

So I’m thankful for these examples…from the book and from my life. I’m thankful for those who take the time to be a positive influence to my learning mind. And I’m thankful for a day that isn’t just about chocolate, but gives me an opportunity to think about what love really means.

Surprise Kids

Last summer, I posted a couple of times (found here and here) about a Focus on the Family broadcast that quickly touched a very raw spot in my heart.

For several weeks after hearing the broadcast and reading the book, my blood pressure remained in the upper registers, because I wanted to scream from the mountaintops that unexpected kids are worthwhile too. But I put the topic (and the book) away for a while. Last Sunday, I felt that I could bring this topic back into my life and do some writing of my own.

This is why I post now. If you were a surprise kid, and you have any feelings (good or bad) about what it has been like to grow up knowing that your presence wasn't planned by your parents, and you don't mind sharing your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at bekahsbits-at-yahoo-dot-com if you would like.

As a side comment, just today when I went back to locate those two posts to attach them here, I discovered that the author of the book Surprise Child left me a comment in the first post - apparently after I stopped checking for comments. I was not ignoring her feedback - I just didn't know it was there.

So my response to her words, in case she ever stops back to see, is this: Leslie, I do not think you are a horrible woman. I tried to make that clear in the letter I wrote to Focus on the Family and also in the things I posted on my blog. My hurt came not from you as a person but simply from the approach of the presentation. Let me reiterate that I don't begrudge you the feelings you experienced nor the right to share those feelings. I am aware that I don't know what it's like to be in your shoes, because I have not faced the situation. I have taken the time to wonder how I would react if I did face an unplanned pregnancy, and in those moments of wondering, I have thought of the fear, the questions, the uncertainty that I would no doubt face. I know those things are real and I am thankful that you were given the opportunity to share your story (as I said in my letter) - because other women do need to know they are not alone. I am truly happy to hear from your comment that women have written to you and found hope in your words and that lives have been saved. I in no way want to detract from that blessing and miracle. That is wonderful! But just as God gave David permission to call out from the depths and He gave you permission to share your call from the depths, I believe He gives permission for surprise children like me to call from the depths as well and explain that we have feelings in all this. I do not think that women surprised by pregnancy need to be told to shut up and enjoy the blessing. I think they need to be deeply loved, comforted, supported, and upheld, just as my mother was in her experience of giving life to me. But I also think that the resulting children need to be affirmed, loved, and given a reason to hope for their existance. I hope that though you may not have walked the road of being an unexpected child yourself (although perhaps you were...I do not know), you can somehow see that we also have struggles and it's okay for us to voice them...because in doing so, we can find a way to better understand the answers to the questions of why that we have. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment for me, and please know that I did not respond earlier simply because I did not know you had left a note.