Mail

I found a letter from an attorney in our mailbox today addressed to Mr. Rellim. I hypothesized that it must be from his estranged wife, finally requesting a divorce. I wondered how he had kept this from me all these years. I didn't realize that I had said it so loudly, until at dinner time when Quinn asked if he was going to get to meet any step-brother soon.

We had to explain to him that I was joking (a bad joke, mind you) and that his father does not have any other wife.

(Oh! The letter actually had to do with a family member's estate planning!)

Electric Lingo

You know that multi-outlet surge protector thingy? I call it an "octopus plug." Quinn asked me if I had any "sloth plugs." You know, an octopus plug with only three outlets? Like a three-toed sloth? I had to laugh. Neither of us is much of an electrician.

Replace, Repeal, Restore

We've replaced some lawmakers who do not represent their constituents. (check!)

Today, the House of Representatives voted to repeal Obamacare. (check!)

Next on the agenda - restore this great nation to her traditional roots.

Just Call Me "Chopper"

I stood on tip-toes to peek into Quinn's middle school musical rehearsal just before pick-up this evening. A young grade schooler (whom I did not know) walked up behind me and said, "Helicopter-parent much?"

Seriously?!

Actions and Consequences

Kicking one's foot through the wall in protest of having one's cell phone privileges suspended does not help one's case for the early reinstatement of said privileges.

Flame Weeding

Who says gardening can't be fun? Check this out! I'm gonna get me one.

Senseless

The reality of dead and wounded in Tucson is nearly being overshadowed by a bickering, politically motivated media. I hope that America learns that its citizens have individual responsibility - that governance from within is greater than any laws that can be made. "Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them, or a power without them; either by the word of God, or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet" (Bill Federer, American Quotations, 2001). But can America come to her senses?

"In the end, the gunman has something in common with all us: he's a fallen human being. And that won't be cured by peace rallies or kinder dialogue. The only thing that can save this man is the only thing that can save any of us: God's grace. Today, we pray for that grace for our nation. By that, I don't mean a moment of silence. I mean earnest prayers to the Creator and Sustainer of humanity. We ask for God's physical healing for the hurting, emotional healing for the grieving, and spiritual healing for this, a deeply conflicted America."
--Family Research Council President Tony Perkins

Outlive Your Life

Want your life to be more meaningful than your possessions? Care to bring some positive change to the world? Max has some great ideas for us in this book.

Tip for the Terrible Snooper

If you are going to snoop through your daughter's text messages, don't quote one of them in front of her. Especially don't do this when your wife is almost asleep.

New Year

It's a new year and we are dealing with addictions - texting, video gaming, computer gaming and shouting. Mine is the shouting. I think if people would stop being addicted to annoying activities, then I could stop shouting about it.

Christmas Family Photos

Cousins, cousins and some more cousins!

Merry Christmas!

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
I was large with child on two separate Christmas evenings not long ago. I was only six and seven months pregnant in '95 and '97, but remember empathizing with Mary in terms of physical comfort. She must have been anxious, but she had already told the angel, "Let it be done to me as you have said."

May you hold on to faith as Mary did - faith that God holds you in the very palm of his hand and that he has a plan for your life. We don't know what those plans are, but we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. My goal is to let him live through me today.

Merry Christmas!

When Life Gives You Lemons

Eat them. That's what Mr. Rellim did. Though, he actually thought it was the worst orange he'd ever eaten in his life. He even called me from work to ask if all the oranges in the fruit basket were as awful.

Peppermint Biscotti

I made biscotti (biscottis?). What is the plural form of that word? Anyway, this is a delicious recipe and the crunch is especially nice for those of us allergic to nuts. You should try it.

UPDATE: The most difficult part of this recipe is opening up and crushing the candy canes!

Fitness Update

The adult fitness program requires a fitness update every three months. During this update, a graduate student took my strength, flexibility and physical measurements. The ratio between hip and waist measurements is apparently a general indicator of heart disease. I learned that I lost 2 inches around my hips (hooray!). Unfortunately, this changes my ratio and increases my heart disease risk from "low" to "moderate."

I tried not to laugh, then told her I'd work on eating some more cookies this month.

Boys v. Girls

A friend's daughter was visiting today and she related the story of someone in her class who "got in big trouble for taking a bite of the teacher's sandwich!"

Quinn asked, "Why? Was it a big bite?"

Post-Concert Smiles

Loud Enough for You?

My car was vibrating to the beat of the bass from the music of a car next to me. As I sat at the stop light, I couldn't help watching the high school tassel hanging from the rearview mirror of that car. The sound waves were so intense, that the tassel was being buffeted as if in a small windstorm.

This may be the time to open a small audiology practice, specializing in noise-induced hearing loss. Doesn't anyone pay attention to the hearing conservation messages? Listen to your buds!

More Creativity

Quinn is thinking about how to make his empty bottle of Coke into a small smoke bomb in case he ever needs to make a (ready for this?) "tasty retreat."

Christ in a Mall Full of Christmas Shoppers?

My friend, Jamie really knows how to write. Check out her blog post on a flash mob singing the Hallelujah Chorus.