Animal Quote Monday

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. -Sir Winston Churchill

* For Lou Lou... who loves pigs!

Ten Years Ago...

Ten years ago today, Charlie took me on a picnic, and had a ring hidden in the basket.

That was the start of a most wonderful adventure! I'm proud of what we have done together in the last decade, and of the family that we have.

I'm lucky to be in love with my best friend!

Animal Quote Monday

"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh." -George Bernard Shaw

What A Day For A Daydream! (family slideshow)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Family Photos

A field full of wild flowers blooming by our house!

Then And Now

These are the cousins in 2006 on Grandma and Papa's porch swing.

Same swing, same kids in 2009. They don't quite fit the same, but they are dang cute!

Holy Cow, 3 years really makes a difference!

I believe...

I am currently going through a 3 year seminary school. At the end, with any luck, I will be a CLP (certified lay pastor)

Anyway, a friend of mine from class recently wrote down her beliefs. She started with "I believe" then elaborated on it till it was a 10 page term paper. I'm not going to do that. But I did feel compelled to jot down a few things that I really believe in.

I believe in God...

By this I do not mean a wizard in a white robe who has magic powers. Rather, I mean a loving spirit that embraces all of earth creatures.

I believe in love...

That's a tricky one because there are so many different kinds. In a way I feel love may be a made up word to explain the unexplainable. But whatever it is, I believe in it. The biggest problem I see with it though, is that many people see it as a right that is owed them, when in reality it is a gift. To REALLY understand love it has to be given, and not expected in return. If you give it and dwell on who does not give it back, well that is something besides love.

I believe in giving...

The best way to explain this is with a metaphor. The flowers in my garden give everything they have to the earth that holds them. They take in light, water, and oxygen, then they send it all back to the source. They bloom in beautiful colors and when the seasons change they die. They have taken very little, and given back very much. There in lies their beauty.

I believe in the soul...

I believe the soul is just as real as the heart or liver, yet can never be studied or dissected like other parts of the body. I believe that to be healthy we have to feed our mind, body, and soul. And I strongly believe that the soul is the most important of these.

I believe in Truth...

I think that God is truth, and that too often we fear both. If God turns out to be less, or more than we thought, we fear it, when in reality God is Truth, and Truth is God, whatever that truth may be, there in lies God.

and finally...

I believe in miracles...

In the small ones that get overlooked, like a tiny bird emerging from an egg, or a new born babe that knows his mothers face. I also believe in the big ones. Like a tormented soul finally finding peace, or the grace of God that I can not explain.

I realize that my beliefs will be different from others, and I have not put all of them here. But I feel I have come to an age that I no longer have to apologies for, or justify what I believe. And undoubtedly my beliefs will change and grow as I do, but I do believe, and that is a gift.

Animal Quote Monday

Life is known only by those who have found a way to be comfortable with change and the unknown. Given the nature of life, there may be no security, but only adventure. -Rachel Naomi Remen

Animal Quote Monday

A Bend in the Road

Sometimes we come to life's crossroads
And we view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it's only a bend--
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow.
You've just come to a bend in the road.

A Strongly Worded Letter

I pulled my kids from their school today after a run in with the very nasty principal. It seems she thinks she is God, I disagreed.

Long story short my kids will not be going back to that school. So what do you do if you are steaming mad at everyone in power and society in general? Well, you don't do some of the things that were suggested to me by a dear brother I will not mention...(Brian) But a strongly worded letter always makes the little guy feel vindicated, right?

Okay, we all know that these letters we write fighting "The Man" most likely end up in the garbage. Maybe one out of 3000 ever accomplishes anything. But, after shooting mine off to everyone I could think of, and their dog, I feel a bit better.

A bath, glass of wine, and good book should have my spirits renewed by morning.

Well That Really Came Back To Bite Me In The Bumper!

Everyone who knows me knows 2 things.

1) I am a die hard democrat

2) I am the QUEEN of April Fools

So you can imagine my surprise when I found this on my bumper today (after driving around with it ALL day!)

(Very funny Diet Coke. I will get you back!)