T'was the day of Thanksgiving, when all through the block
Not a creature was stirring before nine o'clock.
The parades were all on with balloons galore,
In hopes that a lovely day would be in store.
The turkeys were nestled all snug in the oven
With visions of homemade treats full of mom's lovin.
With Al in her pjs, on the floor we both laid,
Settled down to watch the Macy's parade.
When in from the kitchen there arose such a clatter.
We sprang from the floor to see what was the matter.
Being thankful for Tivo to not miss the bash,
We paused Charlie Brown and flew like a flash.
The sweat on the forehead of mother herself
Was cause for slight panic as she looked on the shelf.
When, what to her wondering eyes should appear
But a huge cloud of smoke, and a quick shriek of fear.
With the black smoke a-blazing, so lively and quick.
I knew in a moment the air soon would be thick.
More rapid than eagles, her commands they came.
As she whistled and shouted and called us by name;
"Now Donald! Now Jody! Now Allison and Kristin!
On Dennis! On cell phone! On anyone with assistance!
To the top of the drive! To the neighbors house go!
Now run away! Run away! Don't be so slow!"
So up to the neighbors, the daughters they flew
With socks on their feet and messy hair too.
But to make matters worse, the neighbors weren't home
So it was back to the house to get help on the phone.
As we entered the house to tell of what we had found,
We saw Donald with the fire extinguisher, fiddling around.
He was having difficulty, though it wasn't that large
For the fire extinguisher gauge read "Recharge."
Mother's panic level was reaching new heights.
Donald looked like a deer just caught in headlights.
Mom's eyes, how they twinkled! Her pitch, oh how scary!
Her cheeks were like roses. Her bird, cooked – and very!
Dad flew to the basement to look for a switch
That would turn off the gas to prevent further glitch.
"Stop, Drop and Roll!" Al moved on the landing
As I laughed so hard I could barely keep standing.
It was then that the sirens were heard in the street
And we knew that some firemen soon we would meet.
They were rookies and friendly, right jolly old elves.
And we laughed when we saw them, in spite of ourselves.
A blare of the siren as they jumped from the truck
Soon assured me to know that we were in luck.
Mom was so happy, she said with a shove,
"I think I can help, would you like my Ov Glove?"
Yet they spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And pulled out the oven; then turned with a jerk,
On word from their chief who watched on as they went,
Down to the basement, they made their descent.
They turned off the gas and extinguished the flames
And away they all flew like a fleet of jet planes.
But I heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight,
"Be thankful you all, for you all are alright!"
11.29.2006
11.19.2006
Today's Top Five
Don't know what I'm talking about? Read the previous post below.Here goes:
*Making Mistakes - It's only then that I can be humbled and remember to rely on God.
*Good Friends - Good enough to point out those mistakes without making me feel like a horrible person. And helping me learn to laugh through them.
*Starbucks - Hey, it's Sunday. 'Nuf said.
*Sweatshirts - For lounging around on a cold afternoon.
*Room dividers - Because Naeem has the most creative mind and absolutely makes me roll with laughter when using one in an illustration.
Thank you, Lord, for these and your many other blessings. Help me to continue to see your blessings in disguise and to praise you in the easy and the hard times.
11.15.2006
Blessings
I've been trying to get back into a few routines lately...okay, for the past 2 days. Since I don't have time to work out, I am trying to at least start back slowly by doing crunches. And not eating so much chocolate during the week. 2 days down...and mostly productive. I'm also making sure to schedule a specific quiet time with God. I hate that I have to schedule it like a meeting, but who am I kidding? If I don't schedule it, it doesn't happen. So that's new/old routine #2. It's gotten me thinking back to my old church camp days and how I used to write down 5 things that I was thankful for every night before I went to bed. And really...I think we should all take a little more time to reflect on the blessings in our lives, no matter how small. So here are my 5 things for today:
*Friends at school - I had a couple of good laughs today as I was passing other classes in the hallway. We usually roll our eyes at each other or mumble something about wanting to lose one of our children, but today I had a glimpse of real connections with some girls that I truly love.
*Orange Juice - (Hey...I said that they could be small. Not all blessings have to be miracles after all!) In my efforts to not stuff myself full of chocolate each and every day, I've had to make some substitutes and orange juice has been my snack at home. I'm going through it like oxygen, but I don't see how this is such a bad thing!
*Krissy Litwiler - My co-leader for small group. Even in conversations such as today where we were just discussing dates and what to do about taking time off for the holidays, she is always a blessing to me.
*Trees - You know how they say you don't know what you've got until it's gone? Well, my apartment complex was named on the basis that there were trees surrounding the entire property. At least there were. Until yesterday. Apparently "We'd rather see bulidings than trees" is going to be the new name of the property...make way for Phase 2. The trees have all been leveled, to the point that I thought I had somehow made a wrong turn and was in a different complex. How I will miss the beautiful colors and the scenery I was blessed with this fall.
*IM - I usually hate my instant messenger and really only have it on to keep up with a few important people who tend to do the same thing and only stay on for people like me. But tonight, it provided me with many a belly laugh as I talked to my sister about Christmas presents, all-things-Scottish (hmmm...I wonder where that came from...), America's Next Top Model, The Torkelsons (Free Disney Weekend...anyone???) and who knows what else. She really cracks me up.
Thank you, Lord, for these and the many other blessings you gave to me today. Those that I was fortunate to see as well as those that I missed in the chronic busyness of everyday.
*Friends at school - I had a couple of good laughs today as I was passing other classes in the hallway. We usually roll our eyes at each other or mumble something about wanting to lose one of our children, but today I had a glimpse of real connections with some girls that I truly love.
*Orange Juice - (Hey...I said that they could be small. Not all blessings have to be miracles after all!) In my efforts to not stuff myself full of chocolate each and every day, I've had to make some substitutes and orange juice has been my snack at home. I'm going through it like oxygen, but I don't see how this is such a bad thing!
*Krissy Litwiler - My co-leader for small group. Even in conversations such as today where we were just discussing dates and what to do about taking time off for the holidays, she is always a blessing to me.
*Trees - You know how they say you don't know what you've got until it's gone? Well, my apartment complex was named on the basis that there were trees surrounding the entire property. At least there were. Until yesterday. Apparently "We'd rather see bulidings than trees" is going to be the new name of the property...make way for Phase 2. The trees have all been leveled, to the point that I thought I had somehow made a wrong turn and was in a different complex. How I will miss the beautiful colors and the scenery I was blessed with this fall.
*IM - I usually hate my instant messenger and really only have it on to keep up with a few important people who tend to do the same thing and only stay on for people like me. But tonight, it provided me with many a belly laugh as I talked to my sister about Christmas presents, all-things-Scottish (hmmm...I wonder where that came from...), America's Next Top Model, The Torkelsons (Free Disney Weekend...anyone???) and who knows what else. She really cracks me up.
Thank you, Lord, for these and the many other blessings you gave to me today. Those that I was fortunate to see as well as those that I missed in the chronic busyness of everyday.
11.07.2006
The Cat in the Hat...for the 21st Century
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.
I can hold up the cup
And the milk and cake!
I can hold up the these books!
And the fish on a rake!
I can hold the toy ship
And a little toy man!
And look! With my tail
I can hold a red fan!
I can fan with the fan
As I hop on the ball!
But that is not all.
Oh no.
That is not all...
We are predictable people, as Dr. Seuss knew. As kids, we are easily engaged by tricks and magic, seeing people do amazing things. Then we get a little older and try to do it on our own, to figure out the secrets. How many of us have tried to juggle using kleenex so that it wouldn't fall too quickly? (And I admit...I couldn't even do that!) It doesn't stop there, though. As adults, we are still mesmerized by people who can juggle multiple things. And we want to be those people. We use all of the things we are juggling to impress our peers...
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now!
I can hold up my job
And my kids and my spouse!
I can hold up the church,
My book club and clean house!
I can work out and eat right
And play with my friends.
And look, if I don't sleep,
My limit has no end!
For that is not all.
On no.
That is not all...
We think that we're impressive and have learned the secret to juggling things. We get caught up in being so involved and doing so much. But isn't it funny how we forget the rest of the story?
That is what the cat said...
Then he fell on his head!
He came down with a bump
From up there on the ball.
And Sally and I,
We saw all the things fall!
As a recovering perfectionist, I am one of those people who wants to jump into the book and save everything from hitting the ground. But that's where you have to stop yourself and realize...it's beyond my control and it's more than I can handle. I am going down with it all and can't save myself from falling, so where do I even start? My initial reaction is to go for the cake, but I think that's another place we miss the boat. The fish, the original thing that he balanced up on his umbrella, is really the only sacrifice to be made if it fell to the ground.
Are you following my childlike mindframe here? It is so easy to get caught up with life. We run from meeting to meeting, from social event to social event, running errands, filling out paperwork, grabbing dinner where we can and there are people everywhere so it doesn't occur to us that we're isolating ourselves. But when we really sit down and think about it...this isn't quality time. Our friends don't know what's really going on with us. Our family hasn't seen us. Even with the people that we see the most, it's thanks to meetings and working on projects that we are even together. And then we wonder why we're so tired and stressed.
I know that it's hard to spend quality time. And also that it's a horrible statement to make. But I think that it's better for us to own up to it than to just keep on with our lives, balancing everything up on umbrellas and balls, waiting for the inevitable day that we lose our minds. What is life if not for the people we love? Don't we owe it to them to take them out of the web of things we're trying to juggle? I'm not saying it's easy to find a few hours to just sit down for coffee and I'm not saying that you won't have a thousand and a half things running through your mind that you "should" be doing instead. But I've realized that in balancing so many things, pepole don't end up impressed by all that you can do. They just find someone else, with a little bit of time to offer them, to give themselves to instead. We can't be Jesus to people by filling out paperwork and attending meeting after meeting. We have to catch them when they fall. And if possible, help them not to fall in the first place.
I think maybe (though it might've made for a less exciting children's book), the cat could've done this instead...
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.
I can shop with my girls
Or spend time at the lake.
I can laugh with my friends
Over coffee and cake. (Apparently, I think the cake should stay.)
I can vist sick friends
Or lend a listening ear.
And look! My resolution needn't
Involve "less stress" this year!
I can visit my family
And those that I love.
Thanks to receiving it first
From my Father above.
Look at me!
Look at me now!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.
I can hold up the cup
And the milk and cake!
I can hold up the these books!
And the fish on a rake!
I can hold the toy ship
And a little toy man!
And look! With my tail
I can hold a red fan!
I can fan with the fan
As I hop on the ball!
But that is not all.
Oh no.
That is not all...
We are predictable people, as Dr. Seuss knew. As kids, we are easily engaged by tricks and magic, seeing people do amazing things. Then we get a little older and try to do it on our own, to figure out the secrets. How many of us have tried to juggle using kleenex so that it wouldn't fall too quickly? (And I admit...I couldn't even do that!) It doesn't stop there, though. As adults, we are still mesmerized by people who can juggle multiple things. And we want to be those people. We use all of the things we are juggling to impress our peers...
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now!
I can hold up my job
And my kids and my spouse!
I can hold up the church,
My book club and clean house!
I can work out and eat right
And play with my friends.
And look, if I don't sleep,
My limit has no end!
For that is not all.
On no.
That is not all...
We think that we're impressive and have learned the secret to juggling things. We get caught up in being so involved and doing so much. But isn't it funny how we forget the rest of the story?
That is what the cat said...
Then he fell on his head!
He came down with a bump
From up there on the ball.
And Sally and I,
We saw all the things fall!
As a recovering perfectionist, I am one of those people who wants to jump into the book and save everything from hitting the ground. But that's where you have to stop yourself and realize...it's beyond my control and it's more than I can handle. I am going down with it all and can't save myself from falling, so where do I even start? My initial reaction is to go for the cake, but I think that's another place we miss the boat. The fish, the original thing that he balanced up on his umbrella, is really the only sacrifice to be made if it fell to the ground.
Are you following my childlike mindframe here? It is so easy to get caught up with life. We run from meeting to meeting, from social event to social event, running errands, filling out paperwork, grabbing dinner where we can and there are people everywhere so it doesn't occur to us that we're isolating ourselves. But when we really sit down and think about it...this isn't quality time. Our friends don't know what's really going on with us. Our family hasn't seen us. Even with the people that we see the most, it's thanks to meetings and working on projects that we are even together. And then we wonder why we're so tired and stressed.
I know that it's hard to spend quality time. And also that it's a horrible statement to make. But I think that it's better for us to own up to it than to just keep on with our lives, balancing everything up on umbrellas and balls, waiting for the inevitable day that we lose our minds. What is life if not for the people we love? Don't we owe it to them to take them out of the web of things we're trying to juggle? I'm not saying it's easy to find a few hours to just sit down for coffee and I'm not saying that you won't have a thousand and a half things running through your mind that you "should" be doing instead. But I've realized that in balancing so many things, pepole don't end up impressed by all that you can do. They just find someone else, with a little bit of time to offer them, to give themselves to instead. We can't be Jesus to people by filling out paperwork and attending meeting after meeting. We have to catch them when they fall. And if possible, help them not to fall in the first place.
I think maybe (though it might've made for a less exciting children's book), the cat could've done this instead...
Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me now!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.
I can shop with my girls
Or spend time at the lake.
I can laugh with my friends
Over coffee and cake. (Apparently, I think the cake should stay.)
I can vist sick friends
Or lend a listening ear.
And look! My resolution needn't
Involve "less stress" this year!
I can visit my family
And those that I love.
Thanks to receiving it first
From my Father above.
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