Ch-ch-ch Changes

What a week it has been. The past 7 days have been filled with to the brim with changes. “My cup runneth over” takes on a whole new meaning for me. My cup is running over, and I can’t find the turn off valve, and I don’t have enough towels to soak everything up! I have had no choice, but to wade around in it.
     Last Tuesday marked the last morning I woke up in my old home. It marked the last time I got ready in my old bathroom. I really liked the duplex. It was our first home that we lived in only as married people. It was the first home that Dotty knew us and our family together. It was a good place for James and I to be together, and in our own space all at the same time.
     Last Wednesday, the JorMats (pictured) left the state and the lower 48. They started their world adventure. You can read about their adventure on Eva’s blog. I suggest starting on the 1st page. It explains why it’s called The Long Way to Kansas. (I came up with the name.)
     Last Thursday and Friday were days to get all the odds and ends into boxes to get ready for Saturday.
Saturday was moving day! 7:45 the door bell rang and in an instant (actually 1.5 hours) all of our worldly possessions were in a truck and on the move. I am so glad that we hired movers. I think we would still be moving (instead of still unpacking) if it wouldn’t have been for them. Saturday night James had a back spasm, so he was down for Sunday cleaning!
     Sunday I spent 6 hours and two trips to get the last of our stuff & dirt out of 6201 Parkwood Drive. I could have used the help, but I did have a good time. Here’s why. I had time to think and meditate. During my cleaning I was sort of in prayer. Prayer for the next steps in my life, and in our life. Prayer for the JorMats that they are safe and careful, and full of adventure and that they come back to me. Prayer for the new family that will live where we have lived and grown for the past three years. I was tired yesterday morning when I got up, but I am home. (Home, home on the range, where the dogs and the kitty cats play. Home, home on the range…)
     It isn’t as strange as you'd think to be renting your parents house. As a kid I only lived here for 3 months (the summer before I went to school in San Angelo), so this has really never been my home. I have visited a lot over the past 12 years, but with addition of my furniture and things it looks like my home now. Slowly, I will feel more and more like home here.
     I am on an adventure too. James and I have goals too. James and I are striving for adventures that will keep us here for now, but may take us away. I am proud of my family. I am proud that we are all in it for each other.

Peacocks

Number 3 on my list of favorite animals is the Peacock. (Dogs & Cats tie for 1st & 2nd.)  The Pavas were here over Easter,  James and I were able to share Mayfield Park with them.

For all of you Austinites, you should really go.  James and I often find ourselves there after an early dinner on a nice evening.  We have seen them with chicks, and we have seen them getting ready to roost.

There are a lot of links out there to learn the origin of Mayfield Park, so I suggest you all Google it.

Here is a slide show and video of our time on Saturday.

Today is The Nephew's Birthday!

The Nephew turns 6 today.  

Happy Birthday to my Favorite Nephew!

900 + 1 to grow on

Saturday morning my do bell rang.  I opened the door to a box.  A birthday box!  The PaVa's sent me a box full of all kinds of goodies.  At first glance I thought it was party supplies.  There were leis, and party horns.  I dug a little deeper.  Buttons?  Paper clips?

Turns out it was a box of 30 bags full of 30 items plus one to grow on.  I am still laughing, and I hope that it brings a smile for a long time to come.

Here are all of the items laid out together.

30 birthday pencils, 30 bouncing balls, 30 popsicle sticks, 30 rubber bands, 30 paper clips, 30 buttons, 30 rings, 30 rings (there were two different types), 30 leis, 30 party horns, 30 shot glasses, 30 candy bars, 30 kisses, 30 poker chips, 30 pennies, 30 nickles, 30 dimes, 30 quarters, 30 tootsie pops, 30 tootsie rolls, 30 jelly bracelets, 30 drink umbrellas, 30 birthday candles, 30 lips (they're a noise maker too!), 30 stencils, 30 jelly snakes, 30 prisms, 30 whistles, 30 bugs, 30 balloons.

That's 900 items!  The one to grow on?  A pink flamingo.

Thanks Dad & Joan!  The two of you are Pretty & Smart!

Its a New Year

There are many ways to welcome in the new year. There is the traditional and standard way on January 1st--also called the Gregorian Calendar.  It works, and gets everyone on the same page. 

Did you know the Chinese New Year just happened the same day as St. Valentine's Day?  We are now in the year of the Tiger.  There are 12 animals assigned to each year.  The animals cycle, so someone that is 12 years older than you has the same animal sign.  Last year was the year of the Ox.  James is an Ox. Next year will the the year of the Rabbit.  I am a Monkey. 

I had lunch in a Chinese food restaurant last week, and the place mats had the personality traits of people born in those years.  If you have an opportunity you should look up the year that you were born and your assigned animal.  Do the traits fit?  For James & me they fit us almost exactly.  There was just one trait per sign that was the exact opposite of how we behave.

Today is my 30th birthday.  I am starting my New Year today.  Today's date is 30/1 (just for me & my birthday twins- of course)  The last day of my year will be dated 30/365. 
As with any New Year the question of what I am going to be resolute to do or be is forefront in my mind.  Can I make New Year's Resolutions today?  (Yes, of course you can-- you are, after all, pretty AND smart!)

Resolution 1:  Don't yell.  I was once told that if I had a super power it would be my voice.  I could yell or scream you into submission. Certain members of my household have let me know that this is not my best attribute.
Resolution 2:  Be patient with my husband.  He is an Ox, and if you read the description you know that can be a mixed bag.
Resolution 3:  Call my dad at least once a week. I am a grown up now, and its really not important to keep the number of initial phone calls equal. 
Resolution 4:   Be mindful of others. I love to gossip!  Enough said.
Resolution 5:   Be mindful of and for myself.  There is a lot to do this year.  This list is long, and I have to keep up my strength, physically & mentally.

When does your New Year begin?  Are you going to resolve to anything new?

My Photo Man

It rained, then it sleeted, then it snowed.  It snowed and snowed and snowed.  Yesterday, El Nino attacked Central Texas with a true winter storm.  James went down to Bull Creek with his 2nd love (the camera).  He really got some great shots and I thought that I would share them with you. 

It really took a lot of arm twisting to get these from him, so I hope you enjoy.

This Week's Morning Prayer

Every week there is a Morning Prayer that is spoken aloud during Sunday service. (One, among many. Obviously.) Sometimes I cut them from the bulletin, and place them in the little notebook that I carry in my purse. This prayer made me laugh, and I really like things that make me laugh. So, instead of putting this little treasure in my purse, I have taped it to my computer monitor at work.

Here is the prayer that was said in Sunday service yesterday:

Bake of us, O God, a bread of worship. Take this Sunday morning crust of the week and, through your blessing, let the yeast of the Spirit rise. We bring our crumbs of courage, pita of prayer, kolache of listening, and the tortilla, challah, rice cake and naan of our diversity to be shared, so that our community may truly become the Body of Christ in this place and for all your world. Amen.

Have a laugh today. I hope your day is great, and don’t forget you’re pretty & smart.

Challenge:  Who can tell me what the picture is instructing?
1.  It's not a lanyard.- Thanks Rick for playing!
2. It is how to braid!  Thanks Jennifer D.! 

The picture is specifically how to make a challah loaf.
 

Work Hard & Be Good

My mom drove me to school everyday until I went to college. When my mom dropped me off in the mornings, she would tell me “Work hard, and be good.” When I went to college she would tell me “Work hard, be good, and have fun, but not too much fun.” This was the bouquet that mom sent on my 20th birthday (the reason for the cookies is because she had her cell phone turned off all day on my BIRTHDAY!, but more on that in future posts). Please note that the cookie florist got the message mixed up, but you get the picture. I think that when I drop my future kids off at school in the mornings I am going to tell them “Work hard, be good, and you’re pretty and smart.”

This is My Daughter's Nephew

My mother, who recently retired, had a picture of The Nephew and me on her desk at work. Because I am pretty, and The Nephew is totally good looking there were tons of compliments on how great we look, and also questions on what my mother’s grandson’s name is. The answer to the inevitable question was always “He is my daughter’s nephew.” This did meet with some confusion. I am of the age when I could have kids, but The Nephew is not my child or my mother’s grandson.

I have a complicated family tree. I have 4 parents and 11 grandparents. One of the greatest things about being in my family is that all of my parents get along! So here is the key to the riddle: My mom is married to Jack. My dad is married to Joan. Joan is Sister Meg's mom, and Sister Meg is The Nephew’s mom (that's them in the photo). Got it? Good!

Epiphany 2010

Today is the 15th anniversary of my grandmother’s passing. This is the picture that was in the paper last year (I would say the photo was taken in the 1970’s). I was 14 when she passed. I was about to turn 15. Now 15 years later I am about to be 30. It feels like she just passed, and it feels like she passed a lifetime ago.
Ruby Helen Maxwell Jordan died too young, too unknown, too loved to have left me. I need her and I have cried for her until my heart is about to fall from my chest.
About 3 months ago I went to her resting place. I went to tell her about all the things that she had missed. She told me she knew everything that I had told her. I went to tell her that the pain of her absence was too much to bear. She told me to let go and have peace.
I find peace in knowing Grandma is still guiding my decisions, still coloring my judgments, still letting me know what being loved feels like.