Still

Here it is again--the start of yet another post that will be saved to my drafts and never actually published to my blog. It's just not what it used to be. My writing has changed and the content and words I'm seeking remain just beyond my reach. Fear of my small readership prevents my from using this surface as my drawing board. And so I add the aimless thoughts to my growing repertoire of unfinished drafts. Bits and fragments fill the notebooks I still keep, but even they end mid thought with portions scribbled out in frustration.

I cringe when I look over more recent passages on my blog. The words that used to come so easy are labored over and unsatisfying when finished. I despise the gaps between postings knowing the times I habitually prepared to write then slammed shut the laptop on a white screen.

It's after 1:00am and I know sleep will still be awhile in coming. I've already updated on Hulu's most recent of House, Bones, and The Office. Tomorrow will begin early with 18 preschoolers, who have alternatives views on discipline and so I know I need to sleep. But a blank page was mocking me and so I had to try...

It's late. I'm not quite sure why I'm moving the curser towards the Publish Post.

Easter. Traditions and Tragedies

Something new: I wanted to go Easter Caroling this year. It didn't work out. I'll try again next year.

A few years ago, I found a green egg in one of my grandmother's african violets--a real egg, mind you. I actually remember putting it there. Scary thing is, I haven't done an egg hunt there since I was a kid. Guess they don't start smelling till they're cracked.

This is the first year in a while having an Easter with a kid around. So I was pretty excited about hiding the eggs--all 95 of them. I had 40 boiled and 55 plastic. Valinda suggested I write a list of where I was hiding all the eggs at least for the real eggs. Now my sister and I are very different. Valinda is one who writes lists and rough drafts for her lists and somewhere on her rough draft she writes "rewrite list." Naturally, I respect her organization, but I like short cuts. I wasn't going to write a list. I would remember. I had a pretty good memory.

I've been out of school for a little while and unfortunatly memory of intelligence and actual intelligence are two different things. I should have made a list.

We found 54 plastic eggs and 37 real eggs. I should have made a list
I did recall my best hid eggs. One locked in my lock box designed to look like a Standard English Dictionary. The other buried under my potted braided palm.

Moving

You know you've moved too many times when...

• the scent of cardboard causes an instant escape mechanism response: turn, scream, run
• half the boxes in the basement are still packed from the last move
• you know the difference between packing tape and storage tape
• you own a tape gun
• you're the only one who can make your dishes fit in the original box they came in
• you still have the box they came in
• you don't hire movers because you know you can do the job better
• you've learned to pack in small boxes
• you've decided your next vehicle will be a pickup because it will make your next move easier
• most the things you own are travel size
• you know you can wait till the last minute to start packing and it will still get done...somehow

Favorite Things

2008

Christmas, New Year, presents, programs, lit trees, Luke 2 readings, family, shopping, decorations, cookies, long lost relatives, laughter. It's been a good holiday. I can't wait till next year.

God"s Christmas

God's wrapping: She wrapped him in swaddling clothes
God's Christmas lights: The glory of the Lord shown round about them
God's birth announcement: For unto us a child is born
God's gift tag: For unto you...
God's Christmas carol: Glory to God in the highest
God's Christmas guests: Shepherds...came with haste
God's Christmas party: Wisemen brought gifts of gold, frankinscence, and myrrh
God's Christmas ornament: we have seen his star in the East
God's gift: The gift of God is eternal life
God's Christmas tree: the cross
God's wreath: and he made a crown of thorns

Bifocals

I was the friend you’ll always remember.
I was the stranger you still can’t forget.

I made the comment that brought you to laughter.
I was the heartache time was too slow to heal.

I was the stepping stone that took you to a new height.
I was the stumbling block you had to overcome.

I was the teacher that caused you to wonder.
I was the lesson you shouldn’t have learned.

I was the encourager that held you through grief.
I was the trial that God saw you through.