tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160057902024-03-13T10:16:51.951-07:00Lost in OzMom of two kids, wife of one husband. From Texas, now in Oz.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-52861921520456607682009-11-21T16:19:00.000-08:002009-11-23T02:43:52.901-08:00Drums or TromboneOur family is bracing for Caleb's first year of band next year. He went for his blow test about a week ago and came back saying that he wanted to play saxophone or trombone. But that the band director said something along the lines of, "You'd really like the trombone wouldn't you?" I think this is on account of Caleb's long arms. Having long arms is a really great asset for a third grade trombone player. Anyway, I'd just become accustomed to the idea of a trombone player in the house when I found out he was really on the list for percussion!<br /><br />In all honesty, I've been leveraging every bit of influence I have toward the percussion for the last two years for the purely selfish reason that if he plays the percussion then I don't have to lug around a case bigger than Caleb. At every church service, concert, whatever, I'd point at the drummer and comment, "Doesn't the drummer look like he's having fun?" "Look, Caleb, if you are a drummer you don't have to wear shoes to church!" I don't know why that is really, it just seems that every church drummer goes barefoot. "Doesn't that drummer have cool hair?" You can't really tell by looking, but Caleb is very into his hair at the moment. I found a really great rendition of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Drummer Boy </span>by <span style="font-style: italic;">Brave Combo. </span>I play this over and over.<br /><br />I'm sellin', but he's not buyin'.<br /><br />He keeps looking at the third grade half asleep bass drummer plodding out one monotonous beat after another. And he's not impressed. And the coolly coiffed, blonde, barefoot guy behind the drumset at church? Well, he's a lifetime away for Caleb. Literally, the kid is probably sixteen. Caleb is eight. And, well, Caleb's criteria reflect his age. The clownish trombone slide seems like the ideal party trick, and the trombone most resembles the shape of a bazooka.<br /><br />Doesn't this kid grasp the importance of this decision! I know men and women whose entire lives were determined by the instrument they chose for school band.<br /><br />So here is the latest. I've sat Caleb down and told him that he is not wise enough to make such a monumental decision. He needs to consult the experts (to which he replied that he didn't need anyone to tell him that he didn't want to play the drums.) But we've agreed to talk to his piano teacher and get his input.<br /><br />I talked to the piano teacher today. He is squarely in my corner.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-25039063140982484152009-10-27T18:36:00.000-07:002009-10-29T02:22:01.984-07:00Cricket<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDYJhdENtf25B1tL_5GSKiAl0E3XRmoTUxuzAhHxR0gP9EbTURjhsnOPRayZ8fxuCZLJWAi0ZuNa4uLfZ682Rc6L7FI2647Zm5GoXhrmuxL9BpCPDSRANxmrM6F6ckrjgnbzg/s1600-h/October+2009+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397459203753596434" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDYJhdENtf25B1tL_5GSKiAl0E3XRmoTUxuzAhHxR0gP9EbTURjhsnOPRayZ8fxuCZLJWAi0ZuNa4uLfZ682Rc6L7FI2647Zm5GoXhrmuxL9BpCPDSRANxmrM6F6ckrjgnbzg/s320/October+2009+027.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>I was going to write about Caleb's start at cricket. In all honesty after three games, I can't even begin to write anything beyond, "He hit the little ball with the flat wooden paddle and ran from one end of the dirt to the other several times. No wickets. Good for him." The wickets part is a step up from last week. </em><br /><br /><div>Sometimes I have to remind myself I'm in a foreign country. The accent has become familiar, and if I'm at a school auditorium listening to a reading teacher list good books for preschoolers, it feels very familiar. The books are largely the same. Mem Fox, being Australian, is big over here. Moms ask about the schools approach to reading instructions--whole language vs. phonics, etc. I could be in any suburban setting in the U.S. </div><br /><div><br />And then I'm confronted with the odd idiosyncrasies of Australia--Christmas and flip-flops, Swimming lessons and Santa, and then the strangest of all: Aussies and Cricket. My understanding of Cricket is limited, but to me it seems to be a baseball game that has overdosed on Quaaludes. This time of year we often see grown men dressed in white shirts, white vests, white knickers, white socks milling about watching a guy run full speed from what would be center field in baseball (relatively speaking) with a white ball that at the last second he hurls at a guy with a white paddle. After that, they usually have tea. Seriously, afternoon tea is part of the game. Short cricket matches last an entire day, and at the end of the day their uniforms are still white. But cricket can often go one for three to five days and right now that is what we are witnessing at the moment. It is the Ashes Series here in Australia, and in the last go around for the first time in something like twenty years the Aussies lost. It is a tense time here in the antipodes. </div><div><br />The Ashes series began in 1882 when Australia, went to England and beat the "barmy army" at their own game. The Sporting News, after a humiliating loss to a bunch of convicts and the descendants of former *sniff, sniff* English peasantry, declared that English cricket had died and that the body would be cremated. Eventually an Australian, in a gesture entirely characteristic of Aussie humor, presented an urn carrying the English cricket remains, and to this day this is the "cup" that they play for. It's a tiny little thing and looks a lot like the trophy I won when I spent one summer on a wooden bench watching my softball team place third in the fillies league.<br />And if you are like me and you wonder why NBA finals are best of seven games instead of five or three, then you'll be simply bowled over by the Ashes series: Five games, each game lasts five whole days. So of course, why not break for afternoon tea. </div><div><br />I can understand why such a sport goes over in the UK. Mainly because there are a whole host of items (the British version of The Office, Borat, the Royal Family) that entertain the British (called Pommies here, and often spoken of with good humored disdain) that elicit a yawn in the States as the T.V. channel is switched to NASCAR, My Name is Earl, or even celebrity poker. But I don't understand why Australians find it so appealing. This is, after all, the country that introduced the world to the Crocodile Hunter, Crocodile Dundee, and Mad Max. I doubt the Man from Snowy River ever dressed in white nickers, polo shirt, and v-neck, then played a sport that breaks for tea. But cricket is serious business over here and I heard on the radio that two bowlers had been expelled from the league after having taken steroids. It took me a week to realize they weren't talking about lawn bowling, but still, I think the irony remains. </div><div><br />This is a foreign country.</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-49816070640438927392009-10-26T16:10:00.000-07:002009-10-26T20:44:10.918-07:00Be Rich. Do more. Give more.This Christmas season is going to be different for our family. Typically I procrastinate. But we've lived for two seasons without established Christmas traditions and it is time we establish some. In the past I relied upon the traditions established by my family. And I was quite happy with them, though Eric got a bit weary of basically driving a lone star pattern across Texas to visit all of, now <em>our </em>family. He realized how tied I was to my Christmas traditions on the first year of our marriage. Always the early riser in the morning, Eric wanted to get up. I grabbed his arm, and between clenched teeth said, "Eric, no! He won't come! If you get up before mom and dad knock on our door and tell us to come down stairs then Santa won't come!" <br /><br />So now we are in need of new traditions even though we are going to go back to Texas for Christmas this year. But this year as a family we've elected to concentrate on the giving aspect of the season. We don't need anything else. And it ends up being one more thing that we have to move. So at my mom's suggestion we are doing something different this year. Instead of buying one another gifts we are going to focus the generosity of the season on others who might be less fortunate in this world. (The kids will get a Christmas, we aren't doing away with everything.)<br /><br />I think we will begin here: Andy Stanley gives a good <a href="http://buckheadchurch.org/messages">explanation of the motivation behind Christian generosity</a>, I believe the Christian reason for generosity is unique because The New Testament motivation for giving does not revolve around repayment or guilt (already taken care of). Our family is going to go into the Christmas season with a sense of gratitude for who God is. The campaign gives a <a href="http://howtoberich.org/grouptool.php">website </a>to help our family or friends and family discuss what we might do as a group. It is worth a look.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1149194274843142502006-06-01T13:36:00.000-07:002006-06-01T13:37:54.866-07:00I'm movingOkay that is old news, but what I mean is that I'm moving my blog. I will now be posting <a href="http://lesliemiller.typepad.com/intoaustralia/">here.</a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148731301453752672006-05-27T04:46:00.000-07:002006-05-27T05:01:50.680-07:00Toni WritesHere is <a href="http://toniwrites.blogspot.com/">Toni's blog</a>. Toni and I grew up in Athens together. She was (and still is) two years older than me. My first encounter with Toni was in soccer. They didn't have enough boys and girls to have separate leagues so they put us all in together and Toni was the most feared soccer goalie in the league. <br /><br />Later on we would be friends in high school. <br /><br />She went to Texas A & M and became a columnist for the Battalion. She married Roy. They moved back to Athens (not a bad place to go to back to in my opinion.) and she became editor of the local paper. She has two children that Caleb loves to play with and we have cute videos of them from my sister's wedding.<br /><br />Toni and Roy host the annual Clay Crayfish boil and this past year I think we all consumed 150 lbs. of crayfish. It was great!<br /><br />Okay, now, if anyone wants a "19 inch TV with a wall mount, a roll top desk, an armoire that can either house a computer or an infants clothes and diapers, or enough Christmas lights to Griswald your house for the holidays please stop by our home in Grapevine. Just go down Hall Johnson road and look for the orange signs. (Sorry, for shamelessly plugging my garage sale in a post about you Toni--at this point I can't help myself.)Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148480014783059332006-05-24T05:42:00.000-07:002006-05-24T07:13:34.913-07:00A few last pics<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1512.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/320/IMG_1512.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We will be leaving the Dallas area on Saturday. I think we will have one final garage sale. It just seems easier at this point to move everything out to the garage and have other people take it away. If I price things right (dirt cheap) that will happen. <br /><br />Here are Caleb and Elise reading in the chair that is now at Sarah's house. Notice that Elise seems to be intently looking at a page with nothing on it. She just likes to mimic her brother. There are many memories in this house. We had planned to be here at least until the kids graduated from high school. After that, well, we'd have had to look at wheel chair accessibility, but we might have been able to pull it off. I had grand dreams for this home. Including a hottub in the bathroom that allowed you to swim underneath the wall into the pool outside and totally retractable walls in the eating area off the kitchen along with some sort of misquito solution. Okay, perhaps I've moved beyond the dream category into the delusion category. But the point is I had made plans. But it isn't just plans that change. When plans change dreams change. <br /><br />I had a plan for how I wanted to live my life here--one that involved more than a house remodel--but God seems to have a different plan for us. And really it is on a moment by moment basis on whether or not I'm happily going along with it. I know the verse says "straight and narrow is the way" and sometimes I think a straight way should be easy to follow. But I am reminded that few find it. <br /><br />I hiked the Hermit trail in the Grand Canyon. It is an unmaintained trail that leads to the bottom of the canyon. Perhaps the trail was straight, but since few passed along it, the trail was nonexistent in some places. So we seemed to be on the trail at times, but other times we were not. In those places we would look for Rock cairns. People who had gone before had taken rocks and piled them one atop the other so that others that followed would know the way. Considering that at one point we walked over the bones of a dead mountain sheep that I imagined had lost his way, those rock cairns were very helpful. <br /><br />Okay, well, the movers are here and today we are packing up the computer. It seems I've lost my way on this post. But I'll throw it out there today and try to make sense of it later. <br /><br />Also, we may be at church Saturday Night (I can't be for certain). If we are, we would love to meet everyone in the coffeeshop one last time.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148351877006961862006-05-22T18:54:00.000-07:002006-05-22T20:47:03.266-07:00Moving Day<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1564.1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1561.1.jpg"></a><br />I won't blog about the following:<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>The "glitch" in the <em>paperwork</em> that is holding up the visas for Caleb and Elise. We might have to just leave them here. And honestly, there were times today that I would have been okay with that. I love my children. I keep reminding myself of that.</li><li>The insurance three-ply form. This is where I write down everything we are taking, how much I think it is worth, and where and how it is going.</li><li>I still have a garage sale left. We just keep coming up with stuff to get rid of. Lamps, lawn mowers, fertilizer spreader, chain saw, a slip cover for the chair. We used to have one for the couch but now it has a red sort of hazy stain on it. Kind of ruins the purpose of a slipcover.</li><li>How I sort of "lost it" and decided--on a whim--to try the primal scream tension release technique that was so popular in the sixties. There is a reason that died out. It just upset the kids. And now Eric is tense. So much for the stress relief.</li></ul><p>Instead I will blog about the things I hope to remember about this experience.</p><ul><li>My children helping to unload the sandbox that their dad built them (with a little help from his son), and then sitting in the wheel barrow to play in the sand. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1561.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/320/IMG_1561.jpg" border="0" /></a></li><li>My children hiding around the boxes.</li><li>Caleb happily pitching in to take trash to the curb. Little boys really try so hard to please. </li><li>And I have to say the corporate relo is the way to go. I was very frazzled (and am still a bit stressed on other matters) last night, but this morning four very competent, very nice people who spoke in encouraging low voices showed up at my door. They didn't say, "Lady, what are you thinking, you are nowhere near ready for us to come." They just asked me where I wanted to send all this stuff and then began packing. (We are sending some stuff by air, some by sea, and some into storage. And not knowing where we are going to live makes these decisions difficult.)</li><li>Okay here is one more picture. This is what my house looks like right now. </li></ul><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1564.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1564.jpg" border="0" /></a> Okay, I have to stop now because the Mavs are winning and the only way for Eric to watch is on our computer. The basketball playoffs have been hard to come by in Sydney. Oh . . .Oh, he is starting to convulse. . . .<br /><br />Oh, and Dad, I was just kidding about the chain saw. You can pick it up this weekend.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1561.1.jpg"></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148229746990791642006-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:002006-05-21T09:42:27.123-07:00What's going on out thereThis is only home for a few more days. And Eric is afraid to sit down on anything for fear that I will sell it out from underneath him, but as I hear my daughter and my son and my husband wrestling on the bed, it feels and sounds like home.<br /><br />Anyway, there has been lots to say this past week and people have said it better than I:<br /><br /><ul><li>Judith's poem<a href="http://jboazphillippians4-judith.blogspot.com/2006/05/beach-walk.html"> Beach Walk </a>is hauntingly beautiful.</li><li>Robin has posted a <a href="http://astayathomemom.blogspot.com/2006/05/grans-playdough.html">playdough recipe</a>.</li><li>Minnie is still having seizures. <a href="http://minniemoments1.blogspot.com/2006/05/this-is-one-where-i-lay-it-all-out.html">Here </a>is her latest account. Minnie, I am praying that God uses your trials in an amazing way. </li><li>Addie posted about a <a href="http://aabusaada.blogspot.com/2006/05/beauty-of-blogging.html">prayer request </a>for a little girl undergoing surgery. </li><li>Tammara posts about working for a <a href="http://mightyandsublime.blogspot.com/2006/05/do-miracles-ever-cease.html">virtual call center</a>. I have to admit, I've been intrigued by this type of thing for stay at home moms. I'll be interested to see how it works out.</li><li>Chris McGregor <a href="http://chrismcgregor.blogspot.com/2006/05/generous-orthodoxy-review-1.html">posts </a>on Brian McLaren's book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310257476/102-6047250-8388168"> A Generous Orthodoxy</a>. This is a book I've been meaning to read. McLaren's been a bit controversial, I think mainly because of his views of heaven and hell. But I think McLaren raises interesting questions in his other books.</li><li>I am a Malcolm Gladwell fan. Here is his latest post on <a href="http://gladwell.typepad.com/gladwellcom/2006/05/us_versus_uk.html">healthcare in the U.K. vs. U.S.</a> I was hoping Australia was somewhere in the mix, but it wasn't. </li></ul><p>Okay, need to get packin'.</p>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148142479748087452006-05-20T09:23:00.000-07:002006-05-20T09:27:59.773-07:00Mom and Dad are taking the cat.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1557.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1557.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Thank you!</div><div align="center">Thank you!</div><div align="center">Thank you!</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148098519747617222006-05-19T20:05:00.000-07:002006-05-19T21:15:20.073-07:00A learning experienceEric returns tomorrow.<br /><br />I miss him.<br /><br />I've learned much in the last four weeks of his absence. I don't feel like writing an emotional post tonight, but suffice to say, I am very glad Eric will be here tomorrow for the chief reason that I miss him. He is my husband, and he has been very far away and it hasn't been that much fun without him.<br /><br />Here is what I've learned so far:<br /><br /><ul><li>There is not much fun without him. In my case I've had plenty to keep me busy, but really, it has been lonely. For one thing when you have couple friends and you are not a couple, the social aspect of life wanes a bit. I had plenty of offers for help and I needed and used everyone, but I really treasured time spent with adults because there was so little of it. Toni and Roy invited me to their Annual Crayfish boil and I had the opportunity to hang out with them and enjoy a glass or two of wine, gumbo, crawdads and good conversation. It was much needed. I had lunch with <a href="http://www.inthemidstofit.blogspot.com">Sarah </a>and <a href="http://www.astayathomemom.blogspot.com">Robin </a>who made quite a haul to do so--I appreciate that immensly. It was a much needed social outing. I guess, my foray into singlemotherhood (I realize I only possessed a few of the trappings) taught me that women need more than just help with the kids. And I learned how much of my social life revolved around our being a couple. </li><li>I also learned I would make a terrible single mother. Eric provided levity to the day at just the right time (I've sometimes referred to him as the second shift). I've missed that. By the end of the day, I was just too tired to cosy up on the couch (which is okay--we sold it) and read a good bedtime story to my son. If I did read a story I usually tried to get away with skipping pages. And I was much less inclined to read with "voices." Though by the end of the day I was definitely hearing them. </li><li>Eric provides a steadying effect to my life. I would say our relationship isn't as easily defined as most. I can't just say Eric is the steady one and I'm the flighty one. We're both equally in need of someone to act as a check on our ideas, schemes, plans, etc. And we've both usually acted well in that regard. This morning I made three trips down the driveway and back up in my car with the kids in the back to get "stuff" I needed to get some papers signed. In the end I just ditched the idea completely (when I remembered that I had to go on Main Street and it is festival weekend) and we went to Chuck E. Cheese. I'd never have done that if Eric were here.</li></ul><p>Speaking of CEC, if I were Catholic, I'd see if I could count this time towards my stay in Purgatory. I'm not sure what purgatory is supposed to be like, but if it is a place of pennance, then I have paid. I have paid. <em>I have paid</em>. </p><p>And really it was <em>almost</em> worth it to hear the excitement in my sons voice when I said we'd go. But when we left and the elastic on the cheap pirates eyepatch, which cost us roughly $15.25 in CEC tokens, broke and he broke out in a wail that I swear caused neighboring cars to pull over and look for the firetruck, I was reminded why CEC isn't so great. </p><ul><li>If Eric were here, I would not have felt the need to attempt the repair of a somewhat frayed relationship with my eldest by taking him to Chuck E. Cheese. I'd have let it ride for awhile and told myself and my four year old that his dad would be home at 6:00. </li><li>I can cook* and do the dishes, or I can bathe the kids at night. I can not do both. </li><li>One thing I did learn is that Caleb, with a bit of coaching, can appease Elise when she goes through the "hold me or I'll throw myself to the ground and beat my forehead on the floor" phase of her day. Here he is with a comforting arm around her as they watch Elmo. I know he looks a bit half hearted, but it worked. I learned this today. I wish I had learned it just 28 days earlier.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1558.0.jpg"></a> </li></ul><p><br /></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1558.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1558.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><p>*Cook in that sentence is defined as me putting a banana, apple sauce (already in the convenient serving sized plastic container), and a peanut butter sandwich on a paper plate for the kids. </p><p>All in all things around here have not been fun, not that it should be. Caleb needs his father. I need my husband, and I'm glad he is coming home tomorrow. </p><p>To a house without a chair, or a T.V. or a couch. </p><p></p>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1148011361512043582006-05-18T20:55:00.000-07:002006-05-18T21:02:41.526-07:0021 Comments!Wow the "for sale" post got 21 comments! I've never gotten 21 comments on my blog before! I'm going to find more stuff to sell!<br /><br />My kids better watch out.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147828723174214642006-05-16T14:22:00.000-07:002006-05-17T18:10:46.736-07:00Someone hijacked my blog and is selling all their stuff on it!<div align="center"><strong>Items for sale<br /></strong><br />2005 Acura with 18,000 miles for $30,250. It is really fancy. The front seats heat up if you want them to, but that is about all I know about it.<br /><br />Child’s table (green)= $40<br /><br />Solid Oak Roll Top desk= $300 o.b.o.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1500.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1500.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Office chair=$100<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1498.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1498.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />19” RCA flat (note: not skinny) screen TV/DVD=$150 o.b.o.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pitcherbrothers.com/rugs.html#">Karastan, Mahira collection</a>. I don't think they have this line anymore. %100 wool rugs 8x11 = $800, 5x9 $300--firm<br /><br />Washing Machine= $125, Dryer=$125 or $200 if bought as a pair.<br /><br />Red chair with footstool=$30<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1476.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1476.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Baby gates=$10, $30, both are meant to go in either regular sized doors, or bigger openings.<br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1469.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1469.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1470.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1470.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1471.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1471.0.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><br />The cat is free with the gate. <div align="center"><br />One Kelty carrier=$30.<br /></div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1467.1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1467.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One Spiderman scooter=$10.00<br /><br />Three tables (coffee table, two end tables) =$100<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1478.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1478.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Grill= $150<br /><br />Computer Desk, mission style, solid wood construction = $800 firm<br /><br /><a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=883&f=3949">Crate and Barrel Dining Table </a>in Kitchen, includes two leaves that fit on ends, solid oak, honey colored. = $1400 firm<br /><br />Four <a href="http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15564&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&amp;amp;productId=58531&langId=-1&parentCats=15564*15652*15656">Black Ikea chairs </a>(practically new) =$120<br /><br />Roomba with extended life battery pack and filters= $150<br /><br />Industrial mop, bucket, mop heads (regular and nylon) floor finish, Gym mop, and any other supplies that go with taking care of a concrete floor= value of about $200. selling for $100.<br /><br />Hoover Vacuum Cleaner=$30.<br /><br />Dell Computer --Demension 4800--with printer/scanner, “19 in. screen, wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, Includes the Window’s Media package.=$600 And a fancy speaker system, but obviously I am not the one to really describe this, you would need to take a look at it yourself. We bought this last year, but I just don't think it will work in Australia.<br /><br />Cat= Free to good home<br /><br />Wheel barrow= $20<br /><br />Garage Utility Shelves= make an offer<br /><br />Mirror=$10<br /><br />Coffee Maker=$10.<br /><br />Fisher Price Electronic train set. Has additions, but I don’t know which. Has about four electric trains. = See: <a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/us/geotrax/default_flash.asp">http://www.fisher-price.com/us/geotrax/default_flash.asp</a><br /><br />Garbage Cans with tops and wheels (4—two are in good condition, 2 others are not, but they work) = $20<br /><br />Garage utility shelves= $75<br /><br />All Playschool little people stuff (farm and community—some pieces missing from farm) $20.<br /><br />Four brushed nickel lamps (two table, one floor, one accent) $30. (You can see the accent lamp in the picture with the coffee tables.)<br /><br />Two traditional style lamps =$20.00<br /><br />Armoire-mission style (formerly for computer) that has been turned into a baby’s closet =$100<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1491.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1491.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />White cabinet, sort of cottage style=$25.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1480.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/200/IMG_1480.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1478.jpg"></a><br />All food items in our pantry=free. I wanted to donate these, but I am afraid I won’t have time. So if you want to take everything in the pantry and then donate what you do not want, feel free to do so.<br /><br />There might be some other items that come up. But this is the only e-mail I am sending.<br /><br />I will begin selling these items on the 19th of May in an estate sale. The next week we will be packing them to either store or ship.<br /><br />We are also selling a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. But I don’t have a price for it yet, and I do not want to sell it until we are closer to the date that we should leave.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147749754659882442006-05-15T20:05:00.000-07:002006-05-15T20:22:34.680-07:00Home for a big cat<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/bobcatWindstarportrait_0000.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/bobcatWindstarportrait_0000.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />That is not my cat. This is a hybrid bobcat from <a href="http://www.bigcatrescue.org/index.htm">Big Cat Rescue</a>. Shaggy is probably close in size. In fact, I know this because my brother has a stuffed one that served as the focal point of the living area's decor in the single wide he lived in while in college--a place friends and family referred to as the Bull Pen. Shaggy is about the same size as the bobcat that sat (well, he was actually in more of a stalking pose) on the bookshelf. <br /><br />Anyway, I think Shaggy would fit in quite nicely at Big Cat Rescue. I've e-mailed them (I'm serious). I'm hoping they will take him.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147660599161891702006-05-14T18:37:00.000-07:002006-05-15T07:43:15.720-07:00ABC's of my lifeI forgot to say that <a href="http://minniemoments1.blogspot.com/">Minnie </a>had tagged me with this meme.<br /><br />Accent: The East Texas Twang. Different than West Texas, I am told.<br /><br />Bible Book that I like: Genesis.<br /><br />Chore I don't care for: Changing poopie diapers?<br /><br />Dog or Cat: Hmmm . . . I guess cat, but right now I'd rather have neither. But we have a cat.<br /><br />Essential Electronics: Computer.<br /><br />Favorite Cologne: Just don't have one.<br /><br />Gold or Silver: Mainly gold. But my ears are not pierced anymore--too much trouble. My wedding ring is gold. My Aggie ring is gold. So gold it is.<br /><br />Handbag I Carry Most Often: This pink one I got at Target. I just watched this TV special about how the handbag was the big status symbol for women. I'm not even anywhere near the status ladder.<br /><br />Job Title: Mom.<br /><br />Kids: Gwendolyn Elise Miller, 1 year, Caleb Lee Miller, 4 years.<br /><br />Living Arrangements: One great, wonderful, adventurous husband who is in Australia. Two kids, and one very sweet, though slightly overweight cat that would love to come live with you.<br /><br />Most Admirable Trait: I don't know, but one thing that my parents have given me is a very welcoming nature towards just about anybody. I still remember my dad saying, God doesn't tell us to agree with others he just tells us to love others. My parents live this out and I hope--really hope that I have that trait as well.<br /><br />Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: I had, and still deal with an explosive temper. I used to beat my head on the floor when I didn't get my way. Which as I recall happened quite often. I was okay in the seventies when there was lots of shag carpet. But Elise does the same thing and we have concrete floors. She DID NOT pick this up from me. I stopped beating my head on the floor when we installed the concrete floors.--just kidding. The story goes that I stopped beating my head on the floor when I discovered linoleum. I don't know what Elise's problem is.<br /><br />Overnight Hospital Stays: I had my left ovary removed when I was a junior in high school because it had been obliterated (actual term used by doctor) by a cyst the size of a large cantaloupe or a small watermelon whatever you want to call it.<br /><br />Phobias: I'm pretty phobia free.<br /><br />Quote: <blockquote>It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to<br />remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one<br />day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to<br />worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only<br />in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one<br />or other of these destinations. . . . There are no ordinary people. You have<br />never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations--these are<br />mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals<br />whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or<br />everlasting splendors.--C.S. Lewis</blockquote>Religion: I'm with <a href="http://she-lives.typepad.com/she_lives/2006/05/she_knows_her_a.html">Carol</a> as well. Definitely believe that Christianity is not a belief system, but a relationship with the God of the universe--that is what I'm working on, not on obtaining, but perhaps maintaining, like you would a marriage relationship.<br /><br />Siblings: I have a brother, Doug, who is 28 (almost 29) and his wife, Margaret. They live in Bend, Oregon where they get to float down the Deschutes river in a drift boat and fly fish. Actually, Doug fishes and Margaret gets to read. This is an image of heaven for me. Doug also plays the guitar and sounds a lot like Johnny Cash. Margaret is a CPA--she is brilliant. My sister, Jessica (who sounds like Allison Krause), teaches Reading to seventh graders, and she is an awesome teacher! So much better than I was my first year. Actually, probably better than I was at year two and three as well. My sister's husband, Bret, is a youth minister, and a wonderfully multi-talented man. He can act, he can draw, he can smash cans with his bare hands--he's that strong! (inside joke.)<br /><br />Time I Wake Up: Generally early, I need that first cup of coffee before the kids get up.<br /><br />Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: cabbage, not that anyone ever offers it to me, but I've smelled it before, and if it were offered to me, I'd refuse to eat it. Does Tuna fish sandwiches have vegetables in them? I hate Tuna fish.<br /><br />Worst Habit: My problem is that I do not easily develop habits. My keys are always in a different place. So is my purse, my sunglasses, my jewelry. I have a difficult time setting up routines and when I do finally get one, if I break it, I'm lost for the rest of the day.<br /><br />X-rays: only my teeth. Per my dentist: I have little teeth, but they are deeply rooted (in case you were wondering).<br /><br />Yummy Stuff I Cook: I haven't cooked a real meal in weeks. I'll ask Eric if he remembers what I used to cook.<br /><br />Zoo Animal I Like Most: The gibbon monkeys. They are really cute!<br /><br />I am tagging <a href="http://pezmama.blogspot.com//">Lori </a>(who could use your prayers, see latest <a href="http://pezmama.blogspot.com/2006/05/where-to-start.html">post</a>.) and <a href="http://www.cassels5.blogspot.com/">Terri</a> who found her keys. Terri, I've been there. And I usually drag others with me.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147656906089553732006-05-14T18:17:00.000-07:002006-05-14T18:35:06.106-07:00Going home<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1485.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1486.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1486.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend I went to my parent's house to celebrate mother's day.<br />Mom and dad and Caleb and Elise love riding the four wheeler to go look at the cows. Elise enjoys waving at the cows and saying, "Hi, Cows!" She has become quite the talker of late. While her papa was putting in some dirt around the back of the house for flowerbeds with the front-end loader. (I think that is what it is anyway--I refer to it as the blue tractor.) Elise said, "Wow! That's cool!" Those are fun words from a twenty month old. I will miss being close to home, but when we do come back to visit we will be spending much more time with my family since we won't have a house of our own. It's a great place to stay for a few days.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1485.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1485.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147451162211583632006-05-12T09:19:00.000-07:002006-05-18T11:10:38.056-07:00We sold the houseMy kids woke up and then the home inspectors were at our door. Our house sold the weekend after we put it on the market. I am so glad. And the people that bought it have two children and one on the way.<br /><br />I don't know why it matters to me, but for some reason it makes me happy that another family with young children will move into this house. I think because I loved watching my children play on the playground. I loved how they played on the porch and laughed in the kitchen. I'm glad that that sort of activity will still go on in our home.<br /><br />On another matter, Sarah <a href="http://inthemidstofit.blogspot.com/2006/05/heartful.html">posted about Addison Elisabeth</a>. Grab a box of tissue.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147403425520063532006-05-11T19:53:00.000-07:002006-05-11T20:10:25.540-07:00I am too young to give out "life" adviceBut, I am trying to make a just a few decisions right now. I think the first decision I made today was wrong. I have not been living in the right kingdom lately. I've worried, fretted, tried to control things that really are not mine to control, and hurried. So, <a href="http://grammy55.blogspot.com/2006/05/enough-manna-for-today.html#links">Bev's post </a>on God and manna was particularly encouraging and helpful. Basically Bev said she would not worry about tomorrow but would gather her manna for today. My mom was here and she basically said the same thing Bev did. I guess these are words that you get to say when you've raised three children and now have grandchildren.<br /><br />I hope it is okay to mention that she and her family could use your prayers that all is well with a new grandchild, an absolutely beautiful little girl. I don't want to say more because there are people closer to the situation than I who can pass along information. <br /><br />And it reminded me of <a href="http://haplythinking.blogspot.com/2006/01/flicker-ball.html#links">words </a>I'd written awhile back. They are words I need to recall.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146926508013788342006-05-10T06:05:00.000-07:002006-05-10T08:08:44.253-07:00One more little thing on the Da Vinci CodeI was on a train from Switzerland to Italy when I met an Australian criminal defense attorney. Per his testimony, he was fairly good at his job, and he had gained a reputation. He said he'd defend a man convicted of a crime, make a lot of money and travel until that money ran out. To his credit, he'd been traveling for quite some time when I ran into him.<br /><br />I asked him, "How many of your clients do you really believe are innocent?" He said (and I thought this was a great lawyerly answer), "I don't work for nice people, which is why I try to work as little as possible. They generally have done something wrong. But the police have also been known to plant evidence in order to catch someone whom they figure to be a criminal."<br /><br />It was a brief conversation that occurred years ago, but for some reason, I remember it to this day. In writing about the Da Vinci Code in my previous <a href="http://haplythinking.blogspot.com/2006/05/da-vinci-code.html">post</a>, I began to think about this conversation. I think it illustrates one reason why The Da Vinci Code's message resonates within our society and culture. It is not so much that people believe the book is true, but they do think that it points to something that is just not quite right. In our society, where trusted leaders in the political, social, business and religious sectors of our society have let us down, Dan Brown's novel has flourished. I'm not saying that there are not trustworthy political, social, business and religious leaders out there, but there are very few that hold impeccable ethical standards. Impeccable ethical standards require discipline and practice. They require supernatural strength. For example, they require truth telling in every situation; a belief that there are no white lies.<br /><br />I say this for two reason, first, this is the particular sin I've been convicted of lately. (Just one at a time, please!) A few months ago someone from my church asked me to do a bit of editing for some material our church puts out. The next weekend he called to ask how it was going. Here is what I should have said, "I haven't even begun to look at it. In fact, I haven't even touched it since you gave it to me. I was going to procrastinate until the very last minute and then turn it in to you." Okay, I could have probably left out that last sentence and still told the truth. But I actually said something like, "Ummm . . . I have looked at it, and, well . . . I'm still working on it. Ummmm . . . I’ll get it to you tomorrow if you need it." Basically, I lied. To tell the truth, I can't remember exactly what I said, and that makes lying difficult.<br /><br />The funny thing is nothing would have happened if I had just told the truth. This was volunteer work. He would not have docked my pay. In fact, I later e-mailed him and confessed that I'd lied, and indeed he was very gracious, he reacted the way I believe Christ would act; he forgave me. As I said there are no harmless white lies, my actions revealed a woman that wanted to appear more "together" than she really was. And these little “harmless” untruths were adding up and beginning to paint a beautifully false and cracked facade.<br /><br />One that was not easy to maintain.<br /><br />I'm learning, and I'm a little slow, that Jesus meant it when he said that his yoke (his way of living and of interpreting the Jewish Torah) is easy. Jesus is right, the truth is easier to bear. Or at least remember.<br /><br />Honestly, it is just now that I am realizing the depths to which I must go to present an authentic person. If someone I deem as a complete stranger treats me as an acquaintance, I have to work not to fake it and pretend I know her. If I'm feeling rotten, I'm still likely to give a genuinely fake smile and say, "I'm fine." If I'm angry at my husband, I'm likely to say with very tense and "not fine" body language and facial expressions, "Okay! Fine!"<br /><br />I don't have it all worked out yet. Telling the truth in every aspect involves taking off layers and examining areas where I never realized I was being untruthful. I have on just a couple of occasions told someone that I just lied to them. One was my son. I am now very careful to speak only truth to the best of my ability. Frankly, my words have taken some people aback. People aren't used to such honesty, and in truth neither am I.<br /><br />I'm also learning that truth telling is easier to do around a bunch of other people who are committed to it. And so here is my second point: I was in my hometown this weekend where Kyle Henderson is doing a sermon series on Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code. He admits that in part of the novel Dan Brown tells the truth. I hadn’t, up until that point, heard anyone from a pulpit admit that Brown says anything that is true. I was genuinely shocked. But I thought about my struggles and victories over this sin--lets call it what it is, a sin--and I thought about the light that a community of truth tellers might be able to give to a dark world.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe it is right for pastors to explain our history, to lend credibility to our Bible, and to refute the claims that Dan Brown makes. But I think we also need to admit when Dan Brown is right. And he is right in asserting that The Church has not lived up to Christ's ideals. Dan Brown is taking advantage of a prevailing attitude of distrust that exists among society at large regarding the church, and he has attacked it at an extremely vulnerable point--it's incoherent stance on the status of its women. For example, when a church prints out bulletins listing the titles Minister, Youth minister, Senior Adults Minister, and Director of children's ministries it looks hypocritical to anyone not raised in a church.<br /><br />To a former English teacher it looks awkward.<br /><br />Frankly, I can't explain why women can't be pastors if they can preach in a service, lead music, write curriculum. I'm not that smart. Someone needs to tell me so that when I run into all of these people led astray by Dan Brown's novel I'll be able to give an answer. Dan Brown's book asserts that the church (not Christ—a very important distinction) has orchestrated a systematic cover-up to deny women equal status with men. And, while he builds his case on unorthodox Christian views and false claims about history, his assertion--that women get an unfair shake in the history of the church is true and everyone sees it, so I can see how Dan Brown can mislead the public. I have heard a lot of talk about the false claims made by The Da Vinci Code, and experts are right in doing so, but I've only heard one sermon (<a href="http://www.lovingtheworld.com/pages/1/index.htm">from Kyle Henderson at First Baptist, Athens</a>, call the church and ask for a copy.) that even brings up the Elephant in the living room--Dan Brown's truthful assertion--that most churches don't believe women should hold an equal status with men.<br /><br />Now we can point to lots of “progress”, but the progress has led to a seemingly random application of scripture. For example, churches that have men pastors and women teachers that do the exact same thing look as though they want to appear as something they or not. People might think these churches are hiding something. This is not how a church wants to appear in light of the Dan Brown novel. I'm not saying that churches who have these positions are wrong in doing so, but if pastors are going to boldly address the real issues raised by Dan Brown's novel (as opposed to how many panes of glass are in the pyramid at the Louvre) then this is a big one. The Da Vinci Code will generate spiritual seekers. They will come to our churches. And if we are going to tell them the truth about The Da Vinci Code, we'd better be ready to tell the truth about ourselves, and part of that will be a need to explain the church's stance regarding a woman's role in ministry.<br /><br />Do any churches apply the following passage from Corinthians? “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.” What would church be like if women never spoke when they went?<br /><br />Okay . . . forget I asked.<br /><br />What about this passage in Timothy? “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” And if we are going to strictly adhere to this verse, don’t women need to obey the stuff above it? The verse immediately prior to it says that women should not braid their hair or wear gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” I believe in a high view of scripture, but what do I do with this? And what passage says women can not be pastors? I mean, if there is a specific passage that says women should not teach men then there must be one that says that women can not be pastors. I grew up Southern Baptist and we have lots of women teachers that teach men but we don’t have women pastors because women are not supposed to teach men. And, well, I’m confused.<br /><br />Then to top it all off there is this verse in Galatians that says, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The passage reads like something you might put in gold embossed letters and a frame, but what if we were supposed to actually act that out?<br /><br />I just have these questions. I don’t believe The Da Vinci Code is true, but it looks like something is wrong; the church looks like it has done something wrong, and that allows Brown the opportunity to plant false evidence.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1147205470215527502006-05-09T12:25:00.000-07:002006-05-09T16:18:41.803-07:00I was going to write a post today . . .But I've read too much stuff that is better than anything I have to say.<br /><br />Read:<br /><br /><a href="http://aabusaada.blogspot.com//">Addie </a>links to the story of her father-in-law. He is a Palistinian and a former PLO sniper. You must read his <a href="http://www.hopeforishmael.org/testimonies_tass.html">story</a>. Amazing story!<br /><br />Read <a href="http://minniemoments1.blogspot.com/2006/05/im-back-from-my-week-long-stay-at-spa.html">Minnie's post </a>on sleep deprivation and the Pakistani nurse. . . well, you just have to read it. Minnie you are in my prayer and it is good to see you are in good hands. I am priviledged to know many of the people that have helped Minnie out through all of this. They are vivid examples of what it means to be the Body of Christ.<br /><br />Read <a href="http://inthemidstofit.blogspot.com/2006/05/endings-and-beginnings.html">Sarah's post </a>the night before she had their little girl (Addison Elizabeth--beautiful)!<br /><br />Also, read <a href="http://pezmama.blogspot.com/2006/05/this-should-be-good.html">Lori's</a> cleaning tips! Very good information (let me add that you really don't need lemons to pull of the microwave cleaning tip, just use water.)<br /><br />Terri is now at a different site than the one on the side-bar, but she wrote about her girls'<a href="http://cassels5.blogspot.com/2006/05/sleep-deprivation-is-ugly-ugly-thing.html"> store</a>. Households that contain three or four girls just seem to take on a life of their own.<br /><br />And Amy at Humble Musings has a great <a href="http://humblemusings.com/archives/2006/05/03/one-example/">post </a>about matching a child's talents and passions with assignments.<br /><br />Tim Challis writes about not only the need to help others but also the <a href="http://www.challies.com/archives/001842.php">need to admit needing help</a>. I can especially identify. I've had to learn to ask others for help lately. And I know being a blessing is as great or greater than being blessed.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146909099311732482006-05-06T02:37:00.000-07:002006-05-06T02:58:44.726-07:00It's 3 a.m. and I am bloggingI thought it was later. There are storms here right now and so I can't trust my clock, so I just got up and did a load of laundry and then found out it was 3:00 in the morning.<br /><br />So here is what I am doing:<br /><br />Looking up the origins of the Haka.<br /><br />Eric told me that he went to a New Zealand vs. Australia Rugby match and they performed the Haka! I've <a href="http://haplythinking.blogspot.com/2005/10/men-will-love-this-its-about-football.html">blogged about this before </a>because an area football team does it here. It really is worth seeing. Anyway, it seems that the Haka has been a long standing tradition of the New Zealand All Black Rugby Team (which refers to their uniform, not their race.) I found <a href="http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=displayNews&newsArticle=2468">the history</a> especially intriguing because, well, it is 3 a.m. in the morning and my internal intrigue meter is out of whack.<br /><br />So I thought I'd pass on this entirely useful information, but then I started surfing again and I found . . .<br /><br />. . . a funny joke at <a href="http://praynladysblessings.blogspot.com/2006/05/dead-duck.html">Prayn' Lady's blessing</a>.<br /><br />And then . . . I found out <a href="http://inthemidstofit.blogspot.com/2006/05/oh-thats-good-no-thats-bad.html">Sarah is having the baby</a>! On Sunday!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146722755278382332006-05-03T22:54:00.000-07:002006-05-03T23:05:55.290-07:00Why do we fast?Or why do some people fast? This is what I thought about after reading <a href="http://astayathomemom.blogspot.com/2006/05/things-i-have-learned-from-my-fast.html">Robin's</a> post and while I was cleaning the house. It goes on the market tommorrow. <br /><br />I guess we do it because Jesus did it. And if we want to be like Jesus we should do what he did.<br /><br />In that case, Robin, just 39 more days!--that was a joke.<br /><br />Anyway why did Jesus fast? I've always thought it was to better commune with God. But after he fasts then he is tempted. And I'm wondering, did Satan tempt him at his weakest or at his strongest point?Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146535716406683482006-05-01T18:50:00.000-07:002006-05-02T06:34:36.976-07:00Da Vinci CodeOn the way to and from home I was listening to the radio. Christian talk radio is all over <em>The Da Vinci Code. </em>Personally, I owe Dan Brown a thank you letter. I've never been so well versed in the history surrounding the canonization of the Bible. It truly was an amazing and divine and human process. One that I've become acquainted with because of <em>The Da Vinci Code. </em>I'm not blaming anyone that more people don't know how the Bible was canonized, if it were not for Dan Brown's book, most sermons on the topic would elicit a resounding yawn echoed by deafening snore throughout the church pews of America. But now, well, first through third century history--this is riveting stuff!<br /><br />Of course all of this is good information for the already convinced. But what about those who would listen to that radio show and liken the commentator to a used car salesman?<br /><br />I have to admit I am somewhat taken aback at the fact that so many seemingly smart and intelligent people are taking Dan Brown's book as, well, gospel. Why? I think it boils down to a distrust of authority. This issue gets flung around quite a bit. Those in authority decry societies lack of acceptance of it, and those who are constantly rebelling against it have a steady stream of examples from school teachers to politicians to religious leaders to parents who have abused their authority. The book came out amid torrents of reports of the Catholic church's systematic cover up of pedophiles within the priesthood. This makes it difficult for a priest to stand in front of his parishioners and tell them that someone just like him many, many, many years ago read a bunch of manuscripts and decided which ones were most truthful. Catholics are also having to defend a heap of traditional beliefs that prove burdensome anyway. Why can't priests marry? Did Mary have other children? Why is birth control wrong? I only say this because I, personally, haven't heard that many evangelicals or protestants question their faith because of this book. But I have heard some of my Catholic friends begin to ask some pointed questions about their beliefs.<br /><br />But the distrust of authority exists along the religious and political spectrums. Conservatively minded individuals for years have been tuning in to Rush Limbaugh to learn how our media twists the truth to convey what they want the vast unsuspecting masses to believe, how much easier would it have been two thousand years ago? Meanwhile, we grew up reading <em>Animal Farm, </em>we are not dummies, we know how people in power can lead huge numbers of people astray. So all of this begins to look like a neverending argument between those who are in authority and those who serve. It is a centuries old war that no one will truly win unless you believe that Christ has won it already. Jesus, the final authority in one of his final displays of authority, kneels down and washes the disciples' feet. This action helps to define his action on the cross as well as direct the future actions of his disciples. Jesus says--no, he shows that ones who are in authority serve.<br /><br />Please understand, Dan Brown's book is fiction, but we can't just expect to win people over with the better argument. There is simply too much information out there for people to make informed decisions.<br /><br />So what do we do?<br /><br />Picket the movie?<br /><br />No, I think we need to realize that if this movie can shake the faith of Christians and provide an alternative faith for spiritual seekers, then maybe it is time for a little self examination. Because, after all, we have the light. Right? I mean, if you are trying to find your way out of a dark room, whose most responsible? The one with the flashlight.<br /><br />I can present all the historical facts<em> </em>I want, but if the person whom I am trying to convince thinks the historian and priest are liars, then I won't get very far. (And perhaps it should be noted that if someone is persuaded by Browns book, they were probably not led astray by it--they were probably pretty lost to begin with.) Perhaps I need to step back a little. Live a bit more quietly, serve a bit more humbly, ask a few more questions. Above all I need to remember that I am called, not just to follow Christ, but to be like him. And if Christ makes such a crazy demand, he must empower me to do so.<br /><br />I do believe that for those who are looking for reasons to be their own authority <em>The Da Vinci Code </em>gives them arrows in their quiver. No amount of historical fact will persuade these individuals at this point in there lives. So it is imperative that I lead a lifestyle that blesses those around me. That is in tune with the creator, that celebrates life in a manner in keeping with Christ. I can't have the best argument in a world that doesn't believe truth exists. But I can introduce Christ and allow the relationship to build from there.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146496913145403272006-05-01T08:15:00.000-07:002006-05-01T10:49:13.483-07:00picture for dadCaleb drew the following picture. All we had out at the time was a pink hi-liter, if you were wondering. He let me diagram just in case you might not be able to tell what it was. I particularly like that in his picture of our backyard (upper middle and left) he included outerspace and heaven. <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/05-01-2006%2010%3B11%3B48AM.jpg" border="0" />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146429128770082532006-04-30T13:25:00.000-07:002006-04-30T13:32:08.783-07:00Reading with CalebI found these abridged versions of classic children's literature at Hobby Lobby of all places. And since they were about two bucks each and hardcover and had pictures I decided to get a couple. One was The Wizard of Oz and we read until Dorothy gets to the scarecrow. The scarecrow wants to go with Dorothy because he doesn't have a brain.<br /><br /><em>"Mom, how does he know?"</em> <br /><br />"What?"<br /><br /><em>"How does he know how to talk?"</em><br /><br />"What do you mean?"<br /><br /><em>"Well, how can he talk if he doesn't have a brain?"</em><br /><br />"Well, I guess we'll have to see?"<br /><br /><em>"He probably only has half a brain."</em>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005790.post-1146336646068457742006-04-29T11:37:00.000-07:002006-04-29T11:50:46.100-07:00Hard to get pictures of Elise<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1451.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1451.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is the famous, "where did it go?" sign.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1458.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1458.jpg" border="0" /></a> My Oakleaf Hydrangeas are almost at full bloom.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/1600/IMG_1455.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/979/1503/400/IMG_1455.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I just can't make her sit still unless I put her in a straight jacket--and they just don't make those is cute spring colors.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997284316963586004noreply@blogger.com0