Yes. I now officially reside in Oregon once again - though I actually never changed my driver's license anyway. We are physically here and accounted for, though most of our belongings are still in a truck that is supposed to be returned tomorrow at 11 (ha!). My amazing husband is so exhausted and has gone above and beyond in taking care of this move and having patience with me and boys being in the way the whole time as well (there was a snip or two in the last hours of heavy lifting yesterday, but it passed quickly =)).
I hope to have pictures for you soon as this place is SO much nicer than our last one - and it's cheaper!
Okay. I must go crash, but I just thought I'd let you know we made it alive.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Revolting...
"Being surrounded by every kind of revolt from infancy, Gabriel had to revolt into something, so he revolted into the only thing left - sanity" - GK Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday
This quote is far too accurate a descriptor of my life. So many people, once acquainted with the details of my life story, inquire about how I turned out so level-headed and grounded. I always shrug my shoulders, as I can make no explanation, but when I read the above passage a few months ago it caused an "aha!" and now I can give a defense for my common-sense.
This quote is far too accurate a descriptor of my life. So many people, once acquainted with the details of my life story, inquire about how I turned out so level-headed and grounded. I always shrug my shoulders, as I can make no explanation, but when I read the above passage a few months ago it caused an "aha!" and now I can give a defense for my common-sense.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Dirt or Diamonds
I saw a Joan Rivers quote today that read: "If God wanted us to bend over he'd put diamonds on the floor." It got me thinking that perhaps dirt is more significant.
It also reminded me of another odd occurrence at my hair appointment the other day (see previous post). Towards the end of the appointment, when I was really feeling out of place, the owner of the salon had her next appointment come in and they began talking in the chair next to me. This gal seemed rather put together and cute and started babbling about life and chit-chatting about how she was expecting the full treatment - hair dye, trim, eyebrows and everything - as she couldn't handle "walking in public any longer looking like this." It was an odd shift for me, because suddenly the crazy woman behind me and I had more in common than I did with the social elites next to us. At least the crazy woman was concerned about things of lasting value rather than freshly died hair and perfect eyebrows. I'm all for grooming, but come on, she walked in looking better than me on a good day!
It also reminded me of another odd occurrence at my hair appointment the other day (see previous post). Towards the end of the appointment, when I was really feeling out of place, the owner of the salon had her next appointment come in and they began talking in the chair next to me. This gal seemed rather put together and cute and started babbling about life and chit-chatting about how she was expecting the full treatment - hair dye, trim, eyebrows and everything - as she couldn't handle "walking in public any longer looking like this." It was an odd shift for me, because suddenly the crazy woman behind me and I had more in common than I did with the social elites next to us. At least the crazy woman was concerned about things of lasting value rather than freshly died hair and perfect eyebrows. I'm all for grooming, but come on, she walked in looking better than me on a good day!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Madonna
For the most part, THIS POST beautifully summarizes the emotions of my day. The difference is that rather than attend a yoga class, I had my first hair cut in a year and a half. This was the first stranger to cut my hair in probably over a decade. To make things even more interesting, it was quite the strange stranger - nice, harmless, but strange.
Julie, my hairdresser, quickly confided in me that she was in a terrible car accident several years ago (1990), but it left her with the ability to see Jesus, Mary, some of the saints, and angels. Further, one of the saints explained to her that angels are not heavenly creatures with wings, but spirits that walk among us in human form. These are the angels that will "harvest men" as told in the book of Revelation AND, since she has the gift of seeing them, she could tell right away when she saw me that I was one of them (wow, news to me!).
She told me ALL sorts of other things about her gifts - even how Jesus told her to keep reading her Bible so that she would have discernment about the different things he was asking of her! She told me stories of how Jesus has called her to many countries to use her gift (she is an overcomer - due to surviving the accident and so she can pray for others to be healed from/overcome their illnesses and injuries - like the time she watched Jesus' fingers make indents in a woman's face and then used/created some kind of electrolysis to heal her after the left side of her face was paralyzed from brain surgery) and so that she could see how people are and what other cultures think. For example, one of the times Jesus appeared to her he showed her all of his wounds from his crucifixion. Then he told her that when all of his wounds were healed, "the anointing" would fall and heaven would be on earth. Then he explained that his wounds were the orphans and poverty stricken in Africa, Indonesia, and other 3rd world countries.
She talked to me about the time she lived in the middle east doing the hair of Muslim women, of the time she lived in a Jewish sector of LA doing all Jewish women's hair, and all the things Jesus and the angels said to her to call her from place to place. Jesus has a sense of humor (this was not news to me) as when he called her to the middle east he showed up outside her shop window - the very shop she now works in again - and asked her if she was willing to sweat for him. She had previously hemmed and hawed about going because of the heat. She also mentioned that the Muslim women all believe that they will be "instructed along a better path by the children of the gospel" and that they do worship the same God, but that the Muslims and the Jewish people have no joy in the Lord.
All in all it was a very interesting experience, and she talked so much about all of these intimate details of her history and gifting, that I didn't really have the guts - or know how - to ask her what she was doing to my hair. Nothing dramatic, it was just a trim. I still can't bring myself to do something short and fun. This, too, apparently, is because I am an angel. All the depictions of angels have long flowing hair, and this plays an important role in God's design because the stuck souls (what we might call sinners) on earth can hold onto the angels hair - Rapunzel like - and be pulled up to heaven. Anyhow, as a result -of being and angel and needing to have long hair, I suppose - I did not even get the full trim I was looking for as I think I probably needed another inch or two off to get all the split ends out. Then she also blew it all out straight to finish cutting it. I can't really say what I think of it yet as I have not seen it curly.
She mentioned a church group and ladies prayer group she is a part of, so I think that she is not just crazy, I think there is a whole denomination that supports her call. She said many things that were not crazy at all - it was just that it was all coming from experiences where Jesus, or Mary, or a saint was appearing and speaking to her. It was a strange seat to be in for an hour. I was surprised that the owner would not give new customers something of a head's up. Perhaps she is not usually so open, but since she recognized me as an angel, she opened up.
Are there charismatic Catholics (well, yes, I just found this on wikipedia)?
Don't you think God would let me know if I were an angel?
She also kept singing the Madonna lyrics "Ooo you're an angel..." and so now they have been going through my head all day.
My husband strongly dislikes me with straight hair, but I am adding a picture here for my dear friend Meg - aka "the public".
Julie, my hairdresser, quickly confided in me that she was in a terrible car accident several years ago (1990), but it left her with the ability to see Jesus, Mary, some of the saints, and angels. Further, one of the saints explained to her that angels are not heavenly creatures with wings, but spirits that walk among us in human form. These are the angels that will "harvest men" as told in the book of Revelation AND, since she has the gift of seeing them, she could tell right away when she saw me that I was one of them (wow, news to me!).
She told me ALL sorts of other things about her gifts - even how Jesus told her to keep reading her Bible so that she would have discernment about the different things he was asking of her! She told me stories of how Jesus has called her to many countries to use her gift (she is an overcomer - due to surviving the accident and so she can pray for others to be healed from/overcome their illnesses and injuries - like the time she watched Jesus' fingers make indents in a woman's face and then used/created some kind of electrolysis to heal her after the left side of her face was paralyzed from brain surgery) and so that she could see how people are and what other cultures think. For example, one of the times Jesus appeared to her he showed her all of his wounds from his crucifixion. Then he told her that when all of his wounds were healed, "the anointing" would fall and heaven would be on earth. Then he explained that his wounds were the orphans and poverty stricken in Africa, Indonesia, and other 3rd world countries.
She talked to me about the time she lived in the middle east doing the hair of Muslim women, of the time she lived in a Jewish sector of LA doing all Jewish women's hair, and all the things Jesus and the angels said to her to call her from place to place. Jesus has a sense of humor (this was not news to me) as when he called her to the middle east he showed up outside her shop window - the very shop she now works in again - and asked her if she was willing to sweat for him. She had previously hemmed and hawed about going because of the heat. She also mentioned that the Muslim women all believe that they will be "instructed along a better path by the children of the gospel" and that they do worship the same God, but that the Muslims and the Jewish people have no joy in the Lord.
All in all it was a very interesting experience, and she talked so much about all of these intimate details of her history and gifting, that I didn't really have the guts - or know how - to ask her what she was doing to my hair. Nothing dramatic, it was just a trim. I still can't bring myself to do something short and fun. This, too, apparently, is because I am an angel. All the depictions of angels have long flowing hair, and this plays an important role in God's design because the stuck souls (what we might call sinners) on earth can hold onto the angels hair - Rapunzel like - and be pulled up to heaven. Anyhow, as a result -of being and angel and needing to have long hair, I suppose - I did not even get the full trim I was looking for as I think I probably needed another inch or two off to get all the split ends out. Then she also blew it all out straight to finish cutting it. I can't really say what I think of it yet as I have not seen it curly.
She mentioned a church group and ladies prayer group she is a part of, so I think that she is not just crazy, I think there is a whole denomination that supports her call. She said many things that were not crazy at all - it was just that it was all coming from experiences where Jesus, or Mary, or a saint was appearing and speaking to her. It was a strange seat to be in for an hour. I was surprised that the owner would not give new customers something of a head's up. Perhaps she is not usually so open, but since she recognized me as an angel, she opened up.
Are there charismatic Catholics (well, yes, I just found this on wikipedia)?
Don't you think God would let me know if I were an angel?
She also kept singing the Madonna lyrics "Ooo you're an angel..." and so now they have been going through my head all day.
My husband strongly dislikes me with straight hair, but I am adding a picture here for my dear friend Meg - aka "the public".
Friday, December 7, 2007
A Christmas Meme...
Flo tagged me for a Christmas meme!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper, though bags are quite convenient.
2. Real or fake tree?
Real, preferably cut down ourselves.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Oh, typically the second weekend of December
4. When do you take the tree down?
Right after New Years...sometimes earlier if we have had our fill of keeping the kids and cats out of the pine needles.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Oh, yes, but I have to make it myself.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I have no idea?! I don't even know if I could remember. I really liked my 10th birthday gift of an electric piano. I know I was crazy about a pink hot wheels trike I got when I was three that I named "Tiger Eyes," but again, I think that was a birthday gift.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
I think so. We used to have three...and then we got rid of one or two...but I just remembered where the other one is, so Yes! I do. How's that for verbally processing?
8. Hardest person to buy for?
My parents.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My boys.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Andrew's is a teal blue velour sweat suit from his ex-step father. They were horrible. He strutted around in them in front of his best friend for laughs. So, I guess they had comical value. As for me, I don't know. Lots of them were bad, but mainly because I have a good sized extended family that doesn't know me very well. One of my deceased uncles bought me this huge make-up kit one year...and I have never worn makeup! Not to mention the cheesy Christmas sweaters. Oh the clothes I have pretended to like!
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Mail, with special stamps purchased at the actual Post Office
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Well...I would probably have to say the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a close second... but actually, I disgust most of it, but have watched it every year with a traditional sort of disgust that has now become a part of the season.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Oh....if I shop, it is usually sometime in the last two weeks before Christmas. This year I did actually purchase a gift for Andrew a week or two ago.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yep, and sometimes literally.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Pumpkin Pie with lots and lots of whipped cream, and my mom's Waldorf salad.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
I used to insist on clear, but with kids, colored seems fun. Growing up we had two trees, one beautiful large tree immaculately decorated in the entry hall with white lights, and one fun one with all the cheesy kid ornaments from growing up in the family room with colored lights. I suppose if we could afford it and had the space, I would like to continue the two tree tradition...especially as I love having real trees in my house. So fun.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Silent Night. I have so many fond memories of Christmas Eve services singing it with only candles as light.
I also love O Holy Night, and this year hearing Søren sing the full 12 days of Christmas periodically to himself has made it a new favorite.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. I think if I never had to ride in a car or plane or bus again it would be fine with me. Yet I want to see the world? Horses, trains, and boats are still okay with me...but not at the holidays. Last year was the first time I didn't travel for the holidays, and that was because I was pregnant and recovering from pneumonia.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
I think so.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Again, the two tree method solves this well...but I suppose an angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One the night before...and really, why not 12 simple and silly days of Christmas and no gifts but food and company on Christmas? Perhaps I should have been Jewish.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Advertising overload in my mail box.
23. What I love most about Christmas?
As the smells of cinnamon, vanilla, and comfort foods fill the air, and cheer, decor, and friends find a place around people's homes, there is a lingering feeling that there is hope for mankind after all. Hope that the promise that the little King who came into the world in a stable, and left the world with the shame of the cross, might truly come back and redeem us.
I believe I am supposed to pass this one to someone else, but almost everyone I know has already been named...so, Valerie, and Sarah I think (Dustin, I would name you too, but it doesn't seem the thing that would fit your blog so well).
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper, though bags are quite convenient.
2. Real or fake tree?
Real, preferably cut down ourselves.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Oh, typically the second weekend of December
4. When do you take the tree down?
Right after New Years...sometimes earlier if we have had our fill of keeping the kids and cats out of the pine needles.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Oh, yes, but I have to make it myself.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I have no idea?! I don't even know if I could remember. I really liked my 10th birthday gift of an electric piano. I know I was crazy about a pink hot wheels trike I got when I was three that I named "Tiger Eyes," but again, I think that was a birthday gift.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
I think so. We used to have three...and then we got rid of one or two...but I just remembered where the other one is, so Yes! I do. How's that for verbally processing?
8. Hardest person to buy for?
My parents.
9. Easiest person to buy for?
My boys.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Andrew's is a teal blue velour sweat suit from his ex-step father. They were horrible. He strutted around in them in front of his best friend for laughs. So, I guess they had comical value. As for me, I don't know. Lots of them were bad, but mainly because I have a good sized extended family that doesn't know me very well. One of my deceased uncles bought me this huge make-up kit one year...and I have never worn makeup! Not to mention the cheesy Christmas sweaters. Oh the clothes I have pretended to like!
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Mail, with special stamps purchased at the actual Post Office
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Well...I would probably have to say the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a close second... but actually, I disgust most of it, but have watched it every year with a traditional sort of disgust that has now become a part of the season.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Oh....if I shop, it is usually sometime in the last two weeks before Christmas. This year I did actually purchase a gift for Andrew a week or two ago.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yep, and sometimes literally.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Pumpkin Pie with lots and lots of whipped cream, and my mom's Waldorf salad.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
I used to insist on clear, but with kids, colored seems fun. Growing up we had two trees, one beautiful large tree immaculately decorated in the entry hall with white lights, and one fun one with all the cheesy kid ornaments from growing up in the family room with colored lights. I suppose if we could afford it and had the space, I would like to continue the two tree tradition...especially as I love having real trees in my house. So fun.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Silent Night. I have so many fond memories of Christmas Eve services singing it with only candles as light.
I also love O Holy Night, and this year hearing Søren sing the full 12 days of Christmas periodically to himself has made it a new favorite.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. I think if I never had to ride in a car or plane or bus again it would be fine with me. Yet I want to see the world? Horses, trains, and boats are still okay with me...but not at the holidays. Last year was the first time I didn't travel for the holidays, and that was because I was pregnant and recovering from pneumonia.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
I think so.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Again, the two tree method solves this well...but I suppose an angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One the night before...and really, why not 12 simple and silly days of Christmas and no gifts but food and company on Christmas? Perhaps I should have been Jewish.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Advertising overload in my mail box.
23. What I love most about Christmas?
As the smells of cinnamon, vanilla, and comfort foods fill the air, and cheer, decor, and friends find a place around people's homes, there is a lingering feeling that there is hope for mankind after all. Hope that the promise that the little King who came into the world in a stable, and left the world with the shame of the cross, might truly come back and redeem us.
I believe I am supposed to pass this one to someone else, but almost everyone I know has already been named...so, Valerie, and Sarah I think (Dustin, I would name you too, but it doesn't seem the thing that would fit your blog so well).
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Recent Conversations
Me: Søren, did you get good sleep for your nap?
Søren: Yeah
Me: Did you dream?
Søren: Yeah.
Me: What did you dream about?
Søren: Daddy.
Me: Oh, what were you and Daddy doing?
Søren: Playing.
Me: Ah, and what were you playing?
Søren: wittle pople
Me: Playing Little People with Daddy? How nice!
------------------------------------------------------
Me: We're going to pack all of our things in these boxes and then we'll load them into the moving truck, and then we'll drive down to Portland where uncle Kraig and cousin Boston live, and then we'll move into our new house! But for right now you need to take a nap.
Søren: Take nap in car? Yeah? Moving? Go? (said while hastily throwing his board books into a box - I love that his only concern was to pack up his books before we leave)
Me: Oh my dear boy, we're not moving today! You still need to take a nap in your bed.
---------------------------------------------------------
Me: Did you get good sleep?
Søren: yeah.
Me: Did you dream?
Søren: yeah
Me: What did you dream about?
Søren: Pears.
Me: Pears, huh?! Sounds good.
-----------------------------------------------
Me: Søren, can you tell Indy what you found in your shoes this morning?
Søren to Indy, eyes WIDE, leaning in for intense, heavy emphasis: LIC-RISH! (pause) MUH-NEY!
Celebrating St. Nikolaus' Day was just about the coolest thing Søren has ever had happen to him.
-----------------------------------------------
"Daddy, fill that?" (Søren asks Andrew to fill up his bath squirty toys)
"No," Andrew knows filling them means he and the whole bathroom get wet.
"Yeah."
"No."
"Yeah."
"No."
(Repeat the "no" "yeah" conversation for about 10 times or more)
"DA-DEE, stop saying that!" Søren insists.
"Hahahaha," We laugh, and Andrew fills a couple squirties.
Søren: Yeah
Me: Did you dream?
Søren: Yeah.
Me: What did you dream about?
Søren: Daddy.
Me: Oh, what were you and Daddy doing?
Søren: Playing.
Me: Ah, and what were you playing?
Søren: wittle pople
Me: Playing Little People with Daddy? How nice!
------------------------------------------------------
Me: We're going to pack all of our things in these boxes and then we'll load them into the moving truck, and then we'll drive down to Portland where uncle Kraig and cousin Boston live, and then we'll move into our new house! But for right now you need to take a nap.
Søren: Take nap in car? Yeah? Moving? Go? (said while hastily throwing his board books into a box - I love that his only concern was to pack up his books before we leave)
Me: Oh my dear boy, we're not moving today! You still need to take a nap in your bed.
---------------------------------------------------------
Me: Did you get good sleep?
Søren: yeah.
Me: Did you dream?
Søren: yeah
Me: What did you dream about?
Søren: Pears.
Me: Pears, huh?! Sounds good.
-----------------------------------------------
Me: Søren, can you tell Indy what you found in your shoes this morning?
Søren to Indy, eyes WIDE, leaning in for intense, heavy emphasis: LIC-RISH! (pause) MUH-NEY!
Celebrating St. Nikolaus' Day was just about the coolest thing Søren has ever had happen to him.
-----------------------------------------------
"Daddy, fill that?" (Søren asks Andrew to fill up his bath squirty toys)
"No," Andrew knows filling them means he and the whole bathroom get wet.
"Yeah."
"No."
"Yeah."
"No."
(Repeat the "no" "yeah" conversation for about 10 times or more)
"DA-DEE, stop saying that!" Søren insists.
"Hahahaha," We laugh, and Andrew fills a couple squirties.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Photo Update
Brother time
I love him
Exploring Daddy's suitcase when he finally came home to stay
Søren amidst his morning responsibilities which include feeding all the little people and animals (they are crowded around a big bucket of fish)
Søren's favorite time is helping momma clean the kitchen
This is his Mozart impersonation
Loves from Mom
Adventures in feeding himself Banana
First real snow adventure for Søren
Elliot wasn't sure why we were outside when it was so cold
Walking in the snow with Dad
First dinner with the family - He was SO excited
Avocado everywhere!And just for fun, here is our elfmorphosis.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Snow and Hearts
Yesterday, snow and hearts fell.
Perhaps the gusts were strong to blow away the sorrow.
Perhaps the water came to wash away the tears.
Today, we can try to say farewell.
Certainly His ways remain unlike our own.
Certainly His promises will bring this all to good.
Jeremy Dale Hall, how we would have loved to know you,
but at least some did get to hold you.
Farewell.
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