tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15874937984542733802024-03-05T08:29:54.966-06:00Just a thought...Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.comBlogger292125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-60958370411924381992013-11-12T09:27:00.000-06:002013-11-12T09:29:38.971-06:00With a Grateful Heart...Thanksgiving is coming!! I adore this holiday, but bittersweet is the best way to describe it.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">I get crazy homesick at this time of the year. Fall is beautiful in Mississippi, but there is NOTHING like New England autumn. </span> I love this weather, the fall leaves, the bonfires, the family get - togethers. But I miss my home, and I miss Jane and I miss Jeremy. We lost Jeremy 7 years ago, about a month after Abby was born and about a week before Joy's wedding. My niece and my oldest son also celebrate their birthday in the Fall. Jeremy's death is sandwiched in there between birthdays and joyful wedding memories. He struggled. He wasn't easy, but I miss his goofy self singing the strawberry shortcake song with Lizzie and yelling LOUDLY at the TV watching football. Honestly, that young man drove me crazy but I miss him. Jane was easy to love. She was pleasant, and faithful and steady. I looked forward to Thanksgiving every year because I knew that amidst the craziness of our family would come a voice of reason from Alabama. We lost her in the Spring of few years back, and I always miss her more when Thanksgiving rolls around.</div>
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For me, this time of the year is a perfect blend of beauty and ashes. It hurts, but it's lovely. My memories are sweet, and the longing is bitter. Sometimes, you can't separate the hurt from the joy. Sometimes, it comes in one bundle, and you hold it in your shaking hand, and think "I don't want this." but you have it. And all you can do is clench your fist, let the sorrow and pain drip through fingers, and caress the remaining broken and beautiful memories. </div>
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I'm thankful I have sweet memories of both of these loved ones.<br />
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What are you thankful for?Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-48474265033913287212013-10-24T21:29:00.000-05:002013-10-24T21:29:20.816-05:00Night<div class="MsoNormal">
A long hot bath for sore muscles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first breath of ocean air when you reach the beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The aroma of coffee at a coffee shop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Warm, fuzzy slippers on cold feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hearing from a friend you have missed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Your favorite movie on a rainy Saturday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Swimming in a cool lake or pool on a hot day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hot tea on a sore throat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And everything else that makes you say, "ahhh!" as you relax and put your feet up...THAT is what night time is too me.</div>
Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-30504921231128346832013-10-22T00:37:00.002-05:002013-10-22T00:47:37.763-05:00Natural Disinfectants (because I think my lungs are bleeding from hosing the kids' bathroom down with bleach)<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bleach is awesome. I love it. It cleans the heck out of stuff, kills stuff, prevents stuff from spreading. It's great stuff. However, like most things that I love, bleach requires moderation. So, if you should find yourself with a nasty infection, like...oh, i don't know...Staph, maybe?...And you have bleached your bathroom to the point that you have to leave the house to breathe...you may want to try a bleach alternative. So here are a few things that I have found to work REALLY well and smell a whole lot better than bleach. And you're lungs won't bleed. What's not to love?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Vinegar: OK, this one doesn't smell awesome. But the smell goes away once the vinegar dries. Vinegar</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: MyriadPro, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: MyriadPro, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;">is about 5% acetic acid. The acid is what kills germs and bacteria. Combine it with a little dish washing liquid and hot water, and it is a great multi-surface cleaner. I usually add several drops of essential oils as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: MyriadPro, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Hydrogen peroxide: Not so much by itself, but added to a solution of vinegar, water and dish soap... kicks it up a notch. Also great for disinfecting clothes. Use it in place of bleach in when you do your laundry.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: MyriadPro, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Borax...but don't get crazy!! Again, not by itself. Add a little ( like a teaspoon) to some (like a cup) of hot water. Give it a little stir and let it dissolve. Then add some (about a half a cup) of vinegar. Boom. You're done. Unless of course, you are like me, and that recipe is too easy for you. You need to add something that smells good, which brings me to...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Essential Oils:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tea tree oil </b>is one of my favorites because</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> it does everything!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! It has anti-fungal properties,so you can use it to treat nail fungus or other unpleasant skin irritations like athletes foot and ringworm. It also is a germ killing BOSS, meaning</span><a href="http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/5/639.full" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> it can kill <b>staphylococcus</b></a><span style="color: #545454; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e-coli, and
salmonella. Tea tree oil is pretty easy to find. I get mine at Kroger in the organic, healthy schmealthy section, or Rainbow Co-Op in Jackson, or online at</span><a href="http://www.nowfoods.com/Tea-Tree-Essential-Oil-Certified-Organic-1oz.htm" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>NOW Foods.</a><span style="color: #545454; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Most pharmacies carry it as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other great essential oils with antibacterial properties are, eucalyptus, lemongrass, orange oil, and rosemary... and maybe oregano, but I'm not sure about that one.</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some links to recipes that I have used in the past</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2013/04/all-natural-disinfecting-cleaner.html">http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2013/04/all-natural-disinfecting-cleaner.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.newlyweds-blog.com/2011/09/14/homemade-allpurpose-cleaner/">http://www.newlyweds-blog.com/2011/09/14/homemade-allpurpose-cleaner/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/05/natural-swiffer-floor-cleaner-and-wood.html?m=1">http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/05/natural-swiffer-floor-cleaner-and-wood.html?m=1</a><br />
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<a href="http://plantlifeworld.com/2010/11/recipe-of-the-week-10-practical-uses-for-eucalyptus-essential-oil/">http://plantlifeworld.com/2010/11/recipe-of-the-week-10-practical-uses-for-eucalyptus-essential-oil/</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Be sure to wear gloves just as you would with store bought cleaners. Borax can be rough on the skin and some essential oils can burn. Most need to be mixed with a carrier oil, such as olive oil, in order to be applied to the skin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AND, if you do use bleach....less is more. Don't be idiot and burn a hole in your lungs. Anywhere from a 1/4 to a 1/2 a cup of bleach to a gallon of water should be fine. Wipe down the surface you are disinfecting and let it dry by itself. And wear old clothes. :-)</span><br />
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<br />Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-79213367701644510072013-10-20T23:57:00.003-05:002013-10-20T23:57:40.641-05:00Loss for WordsAccording to Wikipedia, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_where_English_is_an_official_language">English language is spoken in about 88 countries and territories</a> worldwide. You would think we (English speakers) would have all our necessary words covered with popularity like that… but no. There are many situations that lack a word to describe them.<br />
For instance, we need a word for the phenomena of how a mild injury or illness that appears on Thursday evening or Friday morning…something like a cough, an upset stomach, or I don’t know, a bug bite… goes from “annoying” to “still tolerable” on Saturday, when you still have the option of After Hours Care at the local clinic ... until Sunday afternoon. It may have even improved on Saturday, but guess what? It’s Sunday now, so BOOM!!!! It’s worse and boy are you stupid for not doing anything on Friday!!!The mild cough is now most definitely the flu. The upset stomach, that was only bothering you occasionally, now has you spending a vast amount of your waking hours sitting on or clutching the toilet and praying for God to take you home NOW. Or maybe, what appeared to be a small, red, bug bite on your leg is now a reddish purple lump, swollen to 3 times its size, and tender and warm to the touch. Your only option is the dreaded trip to the ER. And you don’t have insurance. And I even if you did, what are going to do? Go to the hospital because your cold got worse? Or you have diarrhea? Or you have an ugly bug bite. We all know there are extreme situations that call for a trip to the emergency room, but surely not this situation.<br />
Oh, and WAIT! It’s not you, it’s your kid. Because it’s super fun and easy to figure out just how much pain or discomfort they are in. Yeah, we need a word for that, too. “Guessing” or “assessing” doesn’t cut it because those are practical words that ignore the emotions (Your baby is HURTING!!!) involved in the situation, not to mention the irrational fear that the cold with develop into triple pneumonia even though she only has 2 lungs. Those little bug bites? They are so swollen and infected, you know those legs are gonna have to come off.<br />
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<i>“Sorry, lady…we could have saved his legs if you had brought him in the hospital sooner… for a bug bite. Sheesh!! What kind of mother are you, slacker?”</i><br />
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I need a word for each of those situations because I find myself in them ALL. THE. TIME. It would make talking about these things so much easier. You might normally have conversation like this :<br />
<i> “ How are you, Rhonda?”</i><br />
<i> “ Oh, well. I guess I’m ok. But I’m worried about Ben’s legs. Well, not worried, really. That’s probably too strong of a word…I’m more concerned than worried. They are really bad. But not hospital bad, just doctor bad. I think. I’m not sure. I mean, I KNOW his legs aren’t gonna like, FALL OFF, but they are…you know…bad. Worse than bad actually, but he can still walk.”</i><br />
<i> “ Oh my goodness, Is he ok?”</i><br />
<i> “ What? Oh yeah, he’s fine. Or he will be… Wow, I guess that did sound terrible, of course he can walk. I mean they don’t hurt THAT bad. I don’t think so, anyway. I mean, he’s not CRYING. So you know…can’t be that bad. Although, those bites are pretty swollen. And purple. And warm. Looks painful….but I don’t know. I would take him to the doctor, but you know…it’s Sunday, so nothing is open. Except the Emergency Room which is not an option because we don’t have insurance. Not like that would stop us it WAS an emergency….”</i><br />
<i> “Oh good! So it’s not bad?”</i><br />
<i> “Oh, it’s bad. Gross, actually. But not BAD, bad, you know? It’s like…</i><br />
<br />
”
UGH!!!! Exhausting!!! Now, if we had a WORD for that situation… like say, “ Floofenhyme” the whole conversation would be different:<br />
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<i>“How are you, Rhonda?”</i><br />
<i> “Well, I’m not too good, I have floofenhyme…. over Ben’s bug bites.”</i><br />
<i> “Oh girl, I HATE that.”</i><br />
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<i></i>See? Easy peasy.
But Floofenhyme won’t work because it’s too silly for what may (or may not) be a serious situation. But not THAT serious. So, yeah…gotta work on that word.
Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-38856028297831556052012-06-19T21:45:00.001-05:002012-06-19T21:47:21.836-05:00Homemade All Natural Hair ConditionerOK. I am apparently late to the party...no surprise there...regarding the whole "no shampoo" movement. (I'm sure this is due to the fact that I've been such a blogging slacker, but whatever. I'm here now, I'm trying to catch up.) ANYWAY....back to the whole "no shampoo" ordeal. I've recently since several ( 3 or 4) blog posts about using a solution of baking soda and water to clean your hair instead of shampoo. No, I'm not kidding. And using Apple cider vinegar as a rinse/conditioner. Again, not kidding.
So, tonight, I decided to give it a shot! I got both recipes from <a href="http://onjustacoupleacres.blogspot.com/2011/04/all-natural-hair-care.html">here</a> . I skipped the honey and aloe vera gel in the conditioner..just water, apple cider vinegar and essential oils. The baking soda cleanser was fine, no big deal. The conditioner was GLORIOUS! I love it, love it LOVE it. I just hope all my hair doesn't fall out tonight while I sleep.
If you're looking for and all natural AND inexpensive hair care treatment, give it try. Tell me what you think.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-35686108373232431592012-04-29T00:11:00.001-05:002012-04-29T00:17:33.609-05:00Can I offer you some hope?What do you do when someone you love is broken? Emotionally, spiritually and physically broken. I have a dear friend who is dealing with this situation right now. Someone who is precious to her is broken. And she can't fix them.
What do you do?
Bring them dinner? OK, that's pretty much what I do, but really, don't you feel like a dork doing that?
"Hey, I know your whole world just collapsed and you don't know how to take your next breath, so I made you this casserole."
Ugh! So frustrating, because what you really want to do is show up and save the day...you want to make all the bad stop, heal the hurt, go back in time and rearrange things. You want to whip out the miracle they need to get back to "normal." You want to truly deliver peace and love and healing. But all you can do is take one less burden off their shoulders. (They gotta eat, right?) All you can do is sit with them. And hold their hand. Cry. Pray. Be frustrated. Offer hope.
That's a good one...How do you "offer hope?" What does that even mean? Say something to make them feel better? They're not going to feel better! If you're anything like me, you're more likely to say something incredibly stupid then comforting, and then they'll feel worse. And then you apologize and they end up comforting you, "It's OK. Thank you for your concern...." or whatever.
So how do we help people? Let's face it, we're not Jesus. Yes, we are supposed to love people like he did and treat them like he did, but part of his treatment involved healing. He HEALED the blind man. And the lepers. He cast out demons. He rose Lazarus from the dead. FROM. THE. DEAD. He NEVER made a casserole!!! I don't think he ever showed up and said, " Sorry about your eyes. I'll pray for you." and then left.
He fixed broken people.
But we can't do that. We don't have a miracle just burning a hole in our pocket.
So, we bake casseroles. And we send cards and flowers. We text messages.
"This too, shall pass."
Slowly, maybe. Probably painfully. But it will pass.
Is that where hope comes in? Knowing that tomorrow, things will be different. The possibility that maybe tomorrow, things will be better. Maybe not, but at the very least, they will be different.
We sit in hospital waiting rooms. We hug and hold hands. We make phone calls. We are with them.
Is THAT where the hope is? Knowing you are not alone? That whatever hellish road you're on, at least someone is there to walk it with you? I don't know about you, but that would make me feel better!
Anyway, I love my friend, and I hope she is ok. I hope her loved one will recover. And I hope she holds on to hope, and that she knows I am with her.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-26144366728776101022012-04-24T07:42:00.002-05:002012-04-24T07:42:59.445-05:00Wait. Where am I??So here is the embarrassing truth. I haven't blogged in so long that I forgot how to it all works. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. That's why I've only posted one entry, and I tried to put a link in that one and messed up. I've tried to update my Twitter account (which I had forgotten I had) link. No luck. It took me FOREVER to update my side column thingies, and yes that is what they are called. And worst of all, I'm strugglin' with posting a video, and it's Tom Petty Tuesday for crying out loud! Plus, Blogger.com has made a few changes since I was last here, so that's a bit disorientating. Very much like when I went to the gym on Friday and found they had put in a new front desk area. I stopped in mid-stride and looked around, not really sure of what had happened or where I was. The guy behind the desk laughed at me and said, "Been awhile?". awesome.
I say all that to say this: Bear with me. I'll get it, eventually.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-63720611603522294132012-04-18T08:15:00.004-05:002012-04-18T08:32:35.066-05:00"What if..."" What if we have developed a religion that makes reverent and honoring statements about Jesus but doesn't teach what Jesus taught in the manner he taught it? What if the religion generally associated with Jesus neither expects nor trains it's adherents to actually live in the way of Jesus?...What if the message of Jesus was good news...not just for Christians, but also for Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, new agers, agnostics and atheists? And what if the message of Jesus also contained warnings...for Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, new agers, agnostics, atheists... and Christians? Would we want to know what that message is? How much? Would we be willing to look hard, think deeply and search long in order to find it? Would we be willing to rethink our assumptions?" ~ The Secret Message of Jesus, by Brian D. McLaren.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-4074553422152932272012-04-17T18:31:00.003-05:002012-04-17T19:27:32.421-05:00Back againIt has been 22 months since my last blog entry. <br /><br />What. A. Slacker.<br /> <br />In my defense, I have been a little busy. And I have been posting on FB. <br /><br />AND, most importantly, I have kept up with Tom Petty Tuesday.<br /> <br />Well, there is no way I can fill you in on all the crazy happenings over the last year in one post. It has been a beautiful, wondrous, heartbreaking, painful, exciting and tedious year and a half. I visited with family alot. We moved to a new home, hosted our first Thanksgiving, went to too many funerals, and celebrated many wonderful birthdays. I ran my first 5K and the following year, shaved 5 minutes off my time. I gained weight. I lost some people I loved. I've made new friends and connected with old friends. I've read ALOT of good books, and seen a few good movies. I gave up sugar. It has been action packed 9 days out of 10, and I just didn't find the time to write. But I intend do that now. Find the time. Make the time. Because I do enjoy writing. <br /><br />I was going to interview my daughter Abby for today's blog post, but she answered every question with "I'm not telling you." Makes for a pretty lame interview. Her older sister was not interested either. So for today, I will leave you with a repost from several years ago. <br /><br />And welcome back :-)<br /><br />http://www.rhondajeanne.blogspot.com/2009/05/questions-questions.htmlRhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-21529257908485007952010-06-16T19:45:00.005-05:002010-06-16T22:00:28.595-05:00God Alone is Enough.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbNQr7YcWNaRssbdskVd4BSrwPOVWD0FZb6QjseAHzRoKveVOfkP6y8rGMwpOUMqVYzRCb3CC3GqkwK63-ABIXMvYUtZ6gpeF_3QtBxCRu86B77pACwfHhyiC_CGOZ2P58Dwj_9zpdeI/s1600/GodAloneisEnough.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbNQr7YcWNaRssbdskVd4BSrwPOVWD0FZb6QjseAHzRoKveVOfkP6y8rGMwpOUMqVYzRCb3CC3GqkwK63-ABIXMvYUtZ6gpeF_3QtBxCRu86B77pACwfHhyiC_CGOZ2P58Dwj_9zpdeI/s400/GodAloneisEnough.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483570580089033698" /></a><br />That's right, folks....<a href="http://www.ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com/">Claudia Mair Burney's</a> new book is out! Her first, non-fic, by the way, and I for one am pretty stoked about it. What's even more exciting is that I have a copy right here in my sweaty little hands, and I'm posting this as part of a blog tour! How fun is that? I'll not be reviewing the whole book...this tour is a chapter by chapter deal. I'll be reviewing Chapter 3. You can find informative reviews of Chapter 1 at <a href="http://www.alisonstrobel.com/alison-blog/2010/6/14/god-alone-is-enough.html">http://www.alisonstrobel.com/alison-blog/2010/6/14/god-alone-is-enough.html</a>and <a href="http://kbhyde.wordpress.com/2010/06/15/god-alone-is-enough/"></a><a href="http://kbhyde.wordpress.com/">http://kbhyde.wordpress.com/</a>. Chapter 2 reviews can be found at <a href="http://rubysdaughterbrenda.blogspot.com/2010/06/god-alone-is-enough.html">http://rubysdaughterbrenda.blogspot.com/2010/06/god-alone-is-enough.html</a> and <a href="http://www.wesuckatlife.com/wordpress/?p=189">http://www.wesuckatlife.com/wordpress/?p=189</a><br />So, shall I share with the class?<br /><br />This lovely new book from Claudia Mair Burney is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/God-Alone-Enough-Spirited-Journey/dp/1557256616/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276742400&sr=8-1">God Alone is Enough: A Spiritual Journey with St. Teresa of Avila.</a> And there go half of you ...you're not Catholic and you're not interested in Saint Anyone. Well, let me grab you by the collar and pull you back. This book is about a woman, her spiritual journey to God, away from God and back to God. Don't write her off as Ms. Piety. She struggled with her flesh. She loved, maybe even craved, the attention her beauty brought her. She loved the Lord, wanted to please him and be close to him, yet had trouble concentrating on Him for more than a few minutes at a time. Sound familiar? Ok, how about this...<br /><br /><b>"Dear Lord, Thank for another beautiful day. You are so wonderful, and your creation is beautiful...You have blessed me with another day.</b>...<span style="font-style:italic;">(What day is it, anyway? oh yeah, Thursday...It's Garbage day! Oh man, I'm sure my son isn't even up yet. What time is it???)<b> </b></span><b> OH! Sorry Lord, ok...You have blessed me..."</b><br /><br />NOW does it sound familiar? Has that ever happened to you? It sure happens to me, and it happened to St. Teresa as well. She struggled with prayer, thought she was a failure at it...but that's not my chapter. My chapter is when Ms. Burney shares with us what she calls "one of the most sublime analogies about prayer ever written." The Chapter is entitled "Make a Garden" and in it we hear St. Teresa tell us about finding a plot of earth that is filled with weeds and barren soil. There's work to be done here if anything is going to grow, y'all. The ground needs to be tilled, weeds need to be pulled and seeds new to be planted. That's hard work folks, and guess what? God has taken care of that for us. All you need to do is show up with the water. What's the end result? A beautiful, lavish, fruitful garden.<br /><br />That's how it is with prayer. That's how it is with your soul...God does the heavy lifting, we just show up with the water of prayer.<br /><br />Claudia Mair goes into a bit more detail and expands more on the benefits of water and what happens when we don't have it.... but I won't go into all that. You'll have to read the book for those tasty morsels. You won't be sorry, lovies! ;-)<br /><br /><br />By the way, as you breeze through the pages of this book, please note the artwork scattered here and there. That is the hand of our talented author! Enjoy those treasures...they are a peek into her soul.<br /><br />For more blog tour details, visit Ms. Burney at http://ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com/Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-13835539475226580252010-06-15T17:08:00.001-05:002010-06-15T17:12:23.417-05:00Tom Petty Tuesday<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1lWJXDG2i0A&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1lWJXDG2i0A&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-68593210777694245472010-06-02T20:21:00.003-05:002010-06-02T20:26:22.536-05:00Ever feel like this?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BSJLArcwESoifTyvzOHn5offdk3L4SEMuDsMDiOymDvLa_bn48yambPPF-WbYC7L_hyphenhyphenUKvd9qpz7U-sSLP2PF66As97tWjdpizMAkwiecSZqfHyfheMHsj_vgFCmMUNjNuzYku3WKfI/s1600/DeerInHeadlights.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BSJLArcwESoifTyvzOHn5offdk3L4SEMuDsMDiOymDvLa_bn48yambPPF-WbYC7L_hyphenhyphenUKvd9qpz7U-sSLP2PF66As97tWjdpizMAkwiecSZqfHyfheMHsj_vgFCmMUNjNuzYku3WKfI/s320/DeerInHeadlights.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478352250845204706" /></a><br /><br />This is how I feel today. Just so you know.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-32528530420992139862010-03-02T21:05:00.000-06:002010-03-02T21:06:06.356-06:00Hmmmmmm.....<span style="font-style:italic;">"We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the money-making street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition." </span>~William JamesRhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-20372788571061404132010-03-01T10:53:00.003-06:002010-03-01T11:26:36.106-06:00Me and My Big Mouth!OK. I have dreams every night, and 9 out 10 times, they are really freaky. One of my all time <span style="font-weight:bold;">least</span> favorite reoccurring dreams is the incredibly annoying, and somewhat unsettling "too much gum in my mouth" dream. In this dream, I am trying to talk to someone, but I have gobs and GOBS of gum in my mouth. I'm pulling it out, but it's a real mess, and no matter how much I pull out, THERE'S MORE! Sometimes the gum sticks to my teeth and I feel it pulling my fillings out. And I always am wondering why no one seems to notice,and at the same time, I'm concerned about what they will say when they do notice. Strange, you say? Well, apparently it's not that uncommon! Check this out...<span style="font-style:italic;">"This is such a common recurring dream for so many people because it is commenting on a common behavior pattern so many of us have.....not being able to get the game out means you are probably holding your tongue and not speaking up about something you need to speak up about."</span><br /><br />Another one of my not so favorite reoccurring dreams is that my teeth are falling out. Sometimes I spit out one or two at a time, sometimes in pieces, and sometimes I spit out handfuls of teeth a time. Well, as it turns out..."<span style="font-style:italic;">dreams about your teeth often symbolize your words. If your teeth are falling out then you have been having loose speech, speaking without thinking or gossiping, you have allowed something out of your mouth that should have remained in there permanently… like your teeth! If you are spitting out your teeth then there is something that needs to be said."</span><br /><br />So, no more Mr. Nice Guy. I'm fixing to let it rip! Maybe then I can sleep well. :-)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.dreamdictionaryforfree.com</span>Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-83682506864486412932010-02-28T19:05:00.007-06:002010-02-28T19:50:10.141-06:00Things My Kids Have Said"Momma, for some reason, when it's my birthday and everyone is singing to me, I feel kinda warm." - Ben, age 6, 2/25/10<br /><br />"Momma! I can walk like a lemon!" - Sam at 3, 1/1/09<br /><br />"It's such a great day to be tomorrow" - Wyatt Henry, when he was REALLY little.<br /><br />"I am the bubble fairy, and the spiders are my servants." - Lizzie at age 8, 10/03/09<br /><br />"Why do you have secret eyes?" - Sam at 4 yrs. old, 5/25/09<br /><br />"Mommy, was I yelling bleeding murder?" Ben at age 5, 4/2/09<br /><br />"I didn't forget. I misremembered." Lizzie at age 6<br /><br />"And running into cheese? You think that is fun?" Sam at age 4, 2/13/10<br /><br />"Can we go out and play in the frost?" All except Abby, so far, when they see their first frost and think it's snow.<br /><br />"Daddy, please don't go to work today. If you stay home, I'll do tricks for you all day." Wyatt Henry at age 6.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-20026944515034036972010-02-28T16:47:00.012-06:002010-02-28T18:57:11.734-06:00Book NewsForgive me, blog followers, for I have sinned. It has been 5 months since my last blog entry. BUT, here I am today with great book news! First, Lisa Samson and her beautiful daughter Ty have co-written a book about their trip to Africa. I have not read it yet, but let me assure you, I will. It's called Love Mercy...here it is.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FvAdt52pAVJxCKvcRVZ4dWXINbGpckTsjCb-sWcda1Z_dDXvPDC4rinfTtfbcAAPNxkBXgRVaamRxRXuVWLwbo25Av5EtKC6AsgpUaqBZ9A_2ep_aLGhwGjHScQ9iFZfjfgtZ7GeQIM/s1600-h/Lisa+Love+Mercy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FvAdt52pAVJxCKvcRVZ4dWXINbGpckTsjCb-sWcda1Z_dDXvPDC4rinfTtfbcAAPNxkBXgRVaamRxRXuVWLwbo25Av5EtKC6AsgpUaqBZ9A_2ep_aLGhwGjHScQ9iFZfjfgtZ7GeQIM/s320/Lisa+Love+Mercy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443461260595503746" /></a><br />(That's not me, by the way. That's Lisa. She's serious...by the book.)<br /><br /><br />Ok, next up: Zippy. Have you read "A Girl Named Zippy." by Haven Kimmel? If not, you must. It is HILARIOUS! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Named-Zippy-Growing-Mooreland/dp/0767915054/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267402293&sr=1-1">(Click here to check it out.)</a>I read it about 4 or 5 months ago, and I recently started the second book about Zippy called, "She Got Off of the Couch." I'm only about 1/3 of the way through it, so I can't give you a complete review, but I can tell you this: I have laughed out loud (belly-laughed out loud mind you) every night that I have read this book. You can ask my husband. Now, when he hears me laughing, he says, "Is that Zippy?" FUN-NY! <br /><br />OK, I was going to write a little blurb about all the books I've been reading since my last entry, but like I said,it's been 5 months. Seriously, y'all. I'm not writing that many reviews...I do have a life and it's not that of a paid book critic. So, if you're at all curious, check out my Recent Reads column in the side bar. <br /><br />So, we have alot of catching up to do. Too much for me to do right now, while my 3 littlest ones are outside unsupervised, so I'll have get back with you later!Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-6744730021783675512009-10-03T20:22:00.012-05:002009-10-04T00:38:36.558-05:00What Today Sounded Like7:06am...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liz:</span>(barely awake, one eye still closed.) "Can I (unintelligable blah-blah mumble mumble)?" <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "What?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liz:</span> " Nevermind i have to go to bathroom, PLEASE!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> ACHOO! ACHOO! AAa.... ugh.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Momma, I need 3 long sleeve shirts...we are FREEZING out there! (The boys camped out in the yard last night.)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.</span> (in bed, eyes still closed) "What's up? What's going on? Are you happy?....What was that preacher guy's name from that movie? Do you know what mote means?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abby:</span> "Momma, I want cake!" (still morning..maybe 7:30)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "I want Abby's cake too."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pick a child:</span> "Can I get on the computer?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pick another child:</span> "Can i go next?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span>"Liz, be ready when i get home."<br /><br />much later<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abby:</span> Can I have my cake?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> Me too! Me too!<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Wyatt Henry, please help me get the groceries out of the truck."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "When is it gonna be Abby's birthday time and where did you go?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "Did you eat breakfast? Do you want some eggs?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Lizzie, socks and shoes. Real shoes, not those shoes."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> "Are you coming with me? When is Miss Elysa coming? Can you call her? What time is it now?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Who has had breakfast?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "Everyone but Abby."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abby:</span> "I want cake, my birthday cake."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "You can have cereal. Cake is for after lunch."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abby:</span> "I don't want lunch. i want my cake."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Wyatt Henry, please get some more bags from the truck."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "I am helping too! Then i get some cake."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Lizzie! SHOES!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> " Hey, be sure to ask Elysa is she has ever read any Flannery O'Connor books or seen any movies based on her books."<br /><br />10:30 ish<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Laura is trying to decide where she wants to go. You and Lizzie can help us."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "What is your favorite place?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Laura:</span>"I can't choose!"<br /><br />(lots of talk about this, resulting in us eating at Ichi Ban..YUM-O)<br /><br />Chatter about movies ...Dan in Real Life and Slumdog Millionaire and The Green Mile and To End All Wars ....and cussing 130 times!!!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Do you want to go to the park after or to Petsmart?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Laura:</span> "Petsmart."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> "yes!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span>"Thanks for recommending that book "the Family Under the Bridge"..blah-blah-blah.....unit study of France...Notre Dame cathedral, louvre...blah-blah...Three Musketeers...Hunchback...gypsies..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "In Romania there are some places where gypsies aren't allowed in, or they can come in but they can't sit down."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "I've always wanted to be a gypsie."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span>" What?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me: </span>"yep...I was a gypsie just about every halloween growing up. I like the head scarves and the bracelets and flowing skirts and cool jingling ankle bracelets.and traveling around the country in a RV or little gypsy trailer thing."<br /><br />sound of laughter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span>" Do you like Sushi? I don't like it at all. "<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "I liked it at one place in Clinton, but with sauce and stuff on it."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Look at Lizzie with those chopsticks! Has she ever held them before? She's a natural."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa6AbmfIb2nXy-fWToE52sx6mJulZb-4pk0cePY_YHygrWThlwtasHspZyAOFWSCPDdPf-yU6eDZPEVEer8bEbsU5kuONVDfFBMc0kb2qw2oHIXxJzZUioqRgfGJ2AKpegiZ1OTr4VSE/s1600-h/Lizzie+chopsticks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa6AbmfIb2nXy-fWToE52sx6mJulZb-4pk0cePY_YHygrWThlwtasHspZyAOFWSCPDdPf-yU6eDZPEVEer8bEbsU5kuONVDfFBMc0kb2qw2oHIXxJzZUioqRgfGJ2AKpegiZ1OTr4VSE/s320/Lizzie+chopsticks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388614873517192962" /></a><br /><br />sound of eating. sound of waiter singing happy birthday to Laura. chatter about deep conversations and friends and being nervous and being brave and being bored.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> "Laura is going to open her present now."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa</span>: "OK! Wait for me to get the camera, laura....ok....."<br />Sounds of tissue paper and giggles and camera clicks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Laura:</span> (gasp) "THANKS LIZZIE!!! MOM! It's the Littlest Pet Shop Sticker Journal!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Smile,Laura!"<br /><br />More Thanks! and giggles and crinkling tissue paper.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Laura:</span> "Look at this fish! What is called momma?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span>"OH! Look at the cats!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Laura:</span>" LOOK! Look at that bird! It's doing tricks!!Mom!!!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "What is THAT? Is that a sugar glider?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "I don't know....there's a chinchilla"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "I've never understood why people want ferrets."<br />Elysa: "We had one briefly..it stunk."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "My brother-in-law had a chinchilla...they're sooo CUTE. And soft! They are the softest animal I've ever held."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "mmmm-hmmm....that's why they make good coats."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> (sigh)...i know....EW!It IS a sugar glider..LOOK!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "OOH! We have to take a picture!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeyiCPLRh3ycJy2mlgnIAAknldYkm5cP4OJC4TbyKW5CHDLbRpmHgMrDKAGFk5fxCFmP32t1DDHuDLHAq425qqeTAuJ3x85RIOdVCTZsIbIjJVm95kICd7SuU7cbpV07ezwqTMjprS8M/s1600-h/Sugar+glider.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeyiCPLRh3ycJy2mlgnIAAknldYkm5cP4OJC4TbyKW5CHDLbRpmHgMrDKAGFk5fxCFmP32t1DDHuDLHAq425qqeTAuJ3x85RIOdVCTZsIbIjJVm95kICd7SuU7cbpV07ezwqTMjprS8M/s320/Sugar+glider.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388611951730491906" /></a><br />Sounds of laughter and camera clicks.<br />Sound of Elysa on the phone.<br />sounds of chatter about cats and hairballs and evil eyes, chatter about birds and tricks and relatives who raise exotic birds.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Remind me to get Day Time Theraflu for Jim."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Day time Theraflu...got it."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Laura, do you see formula for kittens?"<br /><br />chatter about staying in the car or going in the store, English roast and day time theraflu.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Lizzie, get up. Get off the bottom of the buggy."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "Laura, bring the buggy back, darling.This cat food is heavy."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "LIZZIE! UP!"<br /><br />Chatter about tea...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQFi7owqUywFwh8omAUvK6fVaCASKLl0oWtPCsAXOmeYZHvPDxZB_Oj-4qaDzskEJxGpXHd-cTnDezotgxWoQ0QFY3pwP58UnPnDpeJE-h_14kpJpY4pahPhSUkzxazWISuzwSJ2B4eU/s1600-h/Smooth+moves+tea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQFi7owqUywFwh8omAUvK6fVaCASKLl0oWtPCsAXOmeYZHvPDxZB_Oj-4qaDzskEJxGpXHd-cTnDezotgxWoQ0QFY3pwP58UnPnDpeJE-h_14kpJpY4pahPhSUkzxazWISuzwSJ2B4eU/s320/Smooth+moves+tea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388613208977251378" /></a><br />and theraflu...sounds of more laughter and camera clicking.<br />Chatter and laughter and giggles all the way home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Laura</span>: "Mom! Can you please talk quieter?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> "No, but you and Lizzie can move to the back row of the van."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "OH! Someone's at the house! Do you recognize the car Liz?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> "Mammaw and Pappaw!!!"<br /><br />Sound of footsteps on hardwood floors, greetings, cheers for caketime and welcome home.<br /><br /><br />2:30ish<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "What time is it? Did you eat lunch?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elysa:</span> Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abby:</span> "Is it my cake time??"<br /><br />Sounds of "goodbye" and "thank-you"and "happy Birthday!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt:</span> "What can I do to help?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Umm...let's get the table cleared off. I'll throw this stuff in the oven."<br /><br />Sound of knocking at the door.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Several people:</span> "Come in!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pick a child:</span>" Uncle GARY!!!!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gary:</span> "hey! Hello, hello."<br /><br />Sounds of greetings, welcomes and birthday wishes. More Uncles and Aunts and entering. more greetings.Chatter of big gift bags, cake and ice cream, and spicy party mix.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Henry</span>: " We need the candles! We need the Abigail candles, Momma."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Momma, can I light the candles?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "No Baby, a grown-up needs to do that...OK! It's time to sing happy birthday. Wyatt, Liz, let's go! Come on, let's sing to Abby."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Can I light the candles? Can I light one?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "No Ben, sit down. Let's sing."<br /><br />Sound of everyone singing "Happy Birthday....make a wish, blow out the candles." Sound of camera clicking and laughter, chatter about cake and sherbet and ice cream.<br />Sounds of wrapping paper tearing, tissue paper crinkling, exclamations of joy and surprise...ooohs and aaahhhs....and laughter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Can i have more cake?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "I'll have sherbet."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bob:</span>"Cake and mint chocolate chip...just a little."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ann:</span> "That's ALOT of ice cream!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt:</span> "Here! Take it."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Who wants coffee?"<br /> <br />Sounds of chatter about facebook and exercise and loved ones. Sound of children playing and footsteps music playing. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "Abby, let's go potty."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "There's plenty of cake and ice cream...have more."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Can I have a piece of Abby's candy?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span>"Mommy, can I have more ice cream?"<br /><br />Sound of "Good bye" and "thank you" and "drive safely".."i love you"...<br />Sound of water running in the tub and more giggles and playing...then crying.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span>"Abby is not sharing."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abby:</span> "No SAM!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span>" OK, time to get out...pjs!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span>"Can i have a shower instead?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "Wyatt and Liz...pjs."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span>"Ok...now is your chance to have something to eat before bed. Not cake or candy or ice cream. You can have a sandwich or pizza, or.."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liz:</span> "Can I have a banana sandwich?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Everbody else: </span>"PIZZA!!"<br /><br />Sounds of eating and cleaning up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me: </span>"Why am I insisting on fitting this big ol' colander in the dish washer? I can wash it myself in 3 seconds"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "BINGO!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Abby, is your sock monkey named George?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Henry:</span> "Betsie named a tree George.Over in the woods, where I made that fort."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> "I am the bubble fairy and the spiders are my servants!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "OK! 8:00...everyone to bed."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Can I sleep with Abby?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "No, everybody sleeps in their own beds."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Can I sleep with Baby Alive? Abby says I can."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr:</span> "Want to watch a movie?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> " Sure, whatcha got?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Henry:</span> "Mom, Sam and Abby are out of bed."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liz:</span> "Hey mom,I think you should tell Daddy about where Abby fell asleep last night."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Abby stop!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr:</span> "GO TO SLEEP!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> " Abby fell asleep on the floor, on top of the AC vent."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> "How do you spell "our"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> Go to bed. Wait. Our as in 'It's our house' or as in 'In one hour from now?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lizzie:</span> It's one hour from now.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:"</span> H-O-U-R....now go to bed."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Momma, my nose feels weird."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Go to bed."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">(groan)</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "Ben, do what your mother said right now. Go, right now. Walk straight to your room."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.</span> "Ok...according to netflix, this has 4.5 stars for me...It's called God On Trial. Jews in Auschiwitz decide to put God on trial."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Abby undressed Baby Alive. Now, Abby has to dress Baby Alive."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "You need to go to bed"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "ABBY, YOU NEED TO DRESS BABY ALIVE BACK UP!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.</span> "SAM! Go to bed."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt sr.:</span> "What do you think? You want to watch it or should I keep looking?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "It sounds ok, what else you got?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Mommma will you help me?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "No, go to bed." (mean momma)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> Baby Alive's diaper came off.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "She's fine, go to bed."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "But..."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "NO! BED!"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam:</span> "Well then...(thud! baby alive hits the floor)<br /> Sound of spanking. sound of crying.<br />(lots of crying)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben:</span> "Will you tell Sam to stop fake crying?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr:</span> "Go to bed."<br /><br />several minutes pass<br /><br />sounds of fan blowing, dishwasher running and me typing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liz:</span> "Abby's poopy."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">(SIGH!)</span> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt Sr.:</span> "ok."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Me:</span> "Ok, you want to just watch that?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wyatt:</span> "Uh-huh...give me a minute."<br /><br />sounds of fan blowing, crickets chirping and fingers typing.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-86151154416649973112009-08-30T17:30:00.007-05:002009-08-30T19:09:00.453-05:00The Passion of Mary-Margaret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqz2-YqCP3hloLs1Q-lp9pjwrj25rvjYpdZyJzUzUEKJHnRnpmBrrDX0RQIC8Zl8Zs_yNd-1XWDULadGmsO6z4GY2mkWmWL8hS9El563tj5DePeB1mO9oYmCgutmGTNGCZVxny3XkOUs/s1600-h/9781595542113.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqz2-YqCP3hloLs1Q-lp9pjwrj25rvjYpdZyJzUzUEKJHnRnpmBrrDX0RQIC8Zl8Zs_yNd-1XWDULadGmsO6z4GY2mkWmWL8hS9El563tj5DePeB1mO9oYmCgutmGTNGCZVxny3XkOUs/s320/9781595542113.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375896168877874818" /></a><br />Honestly folks, I Think <span style="font-style:italic;">"Embrace Me"</span> just got bumped. It was my favorite book by <a href="http://lisasamson.typepad.com/">author Lisa Samson</a>, who regularly rocks the bookshelves here at Casa de Roberts. It is a truly amazing and beautiful story, and if you haven't read it, you're really missing out. However, last night I finished another book by Ms. Samson that might be my new Samson Fav. It's called <span style="font-style:italic;">The Passion of Mary-Margaret</span>, and it is just lovely. Mary-Margaret is simple and complicated, bold and humble, ordinary and fantastic. I wish she was real so I could sit with her and listen to all her wonderful stories....and you know she's got ALOT to tell. She'll take you down roads you may never travel otherwise, and somehow you can understand her situation. She shows you true faith, true friendship, and true love. She has faults and she struggles but she trusts and obeys, and honey, it ain't all smiles and sunshine. And isn't that how it can be with the Lord? Read this book, folks. You'll be SO glad you did!!!Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-60132504785321956772009-08-26T20:47:00.005-05:002009-08-26T20:57:34.916-05:00hmmmmmm.....no excuse, really.Wow, has it really been that long since I've blogged? I'm such a SLACKER! <br /><br />(sigh)<br /><br />I'll be better, I promise.<br /><br />But not yet, because I just picked up a new book by Lisa I'm Awesome Samson, so....give me few days and then I'll be back.<br /><br />Really. <br /><br />While I'm gone, check out this great movie Wyatt and I watched last night. You won't be disappointed. Well, they do use the F word once, and that's disappointing, but I still recommend it highly. It's called "Something The Lord Made". And no, it's not about religion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E4CnjSx_HE9GOhdN90S-HhczlRZSV60sCjSeRX0u8bs4n5UKUMLoYvUO-tI5RnOGAq9GsrpveVImK-sE6MluVAi79kK5tRvz43EOucTzJKRig6QLWWpD2w3Uiw9ye-RnhDJbGd5i-Pg/s1600-h/Something-the-Lord-Made.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E4CnjSx_HE9GOhdN90S-HhczlRZSV60sCjSeRX0u8bs4n5UKUMLoYvUO-tI5RnOGAq9GsrpveVImK-sE6MluVAi79kK5tRvz43EOucTzJKRig6QLWWpD2w3Uiw9ye-RnhDJbGd5i-Pg/s320/Something-the-Lord-Made.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374456530300189282" /></a><br /><br />Check it out.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-81302552632721092892009-08-05T15:47:00.002-05:002009-08-05T15:55:29.967-05:00The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZbl81kKdcWKzmf7Pzcx_2PPEXVVxmYTpMiDOVNPBTufyu1kLOXHFvfDlmt0SYPbi4quKqzrZp4oFLfyn7Wxq0i1YhLEI4zw8gBoLuCVKgu1GEugZpiqjrbrtMsjF3MPh6ocxRsj2cCo/s1600-h/The+Heavenly+Man.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZbl81kKdcWKzmf7Pzcx_2PPEXVVxmYTpMiDOVNPBTufyu1kLOXHFvfDlmt0SYPbi4quKqzrZp4oFLfyn7Wxq0i1YhLEI4zw8gBoLuCVKgu1GEugZpiqjrbrtMsjF3MPh6ocxRsj2cCo/s320/The+Heavenly+Man.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366586189306690898" /></a><br />A few weeks ago while at the library, the librarian recommended at book to me. I'm so glad she did! This was by far the most amazing book I've read. It's the biography of a Christian man in China, the persecution of the church there and what it looks like when you follow the advice of James and "consider it pure Joy when you face trials."<br /><br />Here's an excerpt:<br /><br />"Once I spoke in the West and a Christian told me, 'I've been praying for years that the communist government in China will collapse, so that Christians can live in freedom.' This is not what we pray! We never pray against our government or call down curses on them. Instead we have learned that God is in control of both our lives and the government we live under. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, ' The government will be on his shoulders.' Isaiah 9:6<br /><br />God has used China's government for his own purposes, molding and shaping his children as he sees fit. Instead of focusing our prayers on any political system, we pray that regardless of what happens to us, we will be pleasing to God.<br /><br />Do not pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn't pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure. Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his power and love.<br /><br />This is true freedom!"<br /><br />-from "The Heavenly Man" by Brother Yun, pp.286-287.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-65169425960441912322009-06-27T19:49:00.014-05:002009-06-27T21:15:22.243-05:00Interview With Claudia Mair Burney<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2DK4yqCf2weXet65n-wNDTnrRYU3qEho6IdUTDCBblB7qsROg79LRuRCYaDCHCHXk8gSWZvncTE1RpglSFta7JlWtg1RQK13oEgto7QKFc4ocqkkaWjHrk2zkCLMfGnMhfQHFGMzQak/s1600-h/Mair+for+interview.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2DK4yqCf2weXet65n-wNDTnrRYU3qEho6IdUTDCBblB7qsROg79LRuRCYaDCHCHXk8gSWZvncTE1RpglSFta7JlWtg1RQK13oEgto7QKFc4ocqkkaWjHrk2zkCLMfGnMhfQHFGMzQak/s320/Mair+for+interview.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352191396401523826" /></a><br /> Meet my fabulous, funny, warm and intelligent friend, <a href="http://www.ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com">Claudia Mair Burney.</a> She goes by Mair (rhymes with fire), is a wonderfully talented novelist and is here at <span style="font-style:italic;">Just a Thought</span> to answer a few questions for us! Isn't that just so much FUN? As you know, I'm a HUGE fan of Ms. Burney's and am so excited to have this opportunity to get in her head for a quick peak! I've been looking forward to this for a LONG time, so let's jump right in, shall we?<br /><br /><br />Me:You were confirmed into the Catholic Church last year, is that correct? What was that like for you? And can you give us a brief look into your spiritual journey to that point.<br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">What I did was come into full communion with the Catholic Church. My confirmation took place in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It’s complicated, girl, and I’m not about to get into that here. But, it was amazing, Rhonda. I was so hungry for that brand of spirituality. It’s totally simpatico with how I’m wired. The process was a comedy of errors at times, and in turn, tender and brutal at times. And the change came with a surprising amount of persecution, but I wouldn’t trade one moment of that journey.</span></span><br /><br />Me: Is your journey reflected in your literary characters? <br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Oh sure. All my journeys, even if I move from one geographical location, are reflected in my fiction.</span></span><br /><br />Me: Who do you write for? <br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">You. LOL. And me. And anybody out there who can say, “Yeah, me, too,” to my character’s struggles.</span><br /></span><br />Me: I have just finished Deadly Charm, and of course I loved it! In fact, I’m rereading Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man and meeting Bell, Jazz and everyone else for a second time. I’m finding a lot of little hints and innuendos of things to come in the later novels. How far ahead do you plan when writing your novels?<br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">I had to pitch the series knowing—roughly—what would happen in all three. A plot synopsis is required in most proposals before you make a sale. But the characters always manage to surprise me. That’s one of the more delightful aspects of writing series fiction.</span></span><br /><br />Me: We know your inspiration for Bell was your great-grandmother Amanda Bell Brown. Let’s talk about Jazz. Who was your inspiration for Jazz? <br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Ha! Naughty Rhonda. I’ll be completely honest here. Jazz is based on my first… um…. yeah, him. He made an unexpected appearance back in my life the year I turned forty, which was the year I wrote that book. I was woefully smitten, hence, his guest appearance. I must admit, creating a fictional version of him was a really bad move. I was so glad to be done with those books! You just don’t know, girl.</span></span><br /><br /><br />Me: Deadly Charm introduces a new character, Ezekiel Thunder. Tell me about him.<br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">I was “born again” in the early eighties, which was the height of the reign of the televangelist. He’s a composite of those poor souls caught up in excess, the mighty, whose empires fell before the world, causing more than a little disillusionment in me and many others.<br /></span></span><br /><br />Me: Rocky and Bell have an interesting friendship. What are you trying to show people through their relationship? <br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">That wounded people, though Rocky doesn’t initially seem that wounded, are drawn to each other, and can be wonderful beacons for each other during dark nights of the soul. When Bell pieced her life back together, Rocky really was her rock. Their relationship is tender, complicated, and at times, hilarious. Her life would be impoverished without him.<br /></span></span><br /><br />Me: Several of your stories deal with interracial relationships. You’ve got Rocky and Bell’s history. You’ve got Jazz’s parents. Both of those relationships are presented in a nonchalant manner….no drama, really. (ok I know Bell and Rocky have dram but it’s not black and white drama.)Then you have Zora and Nicky…extreme opposite! Explosive drama! In your experience, which is more common in the church today?<br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">I honestly think both are common. Some people seem to get the race stuff out of the way, early. And there was race drama (off scene) with both sets of Browns, and Rocky and Bell, but I don’t make a huge issue of it. The Amanda Bell Brown mysteries aren’t “race books” whatever that is. Zora and Nicky, on the other hand, was designed to give readers a look at how difficult race relations in America can be. When Don Pape asked me to write it he asked for a “race book.” Zora and Nicky is what came out of me.<br /></span></span><br /><br />Me: Speaking of Zora and Nicky…. you’ve been nominated for a Christy Award in the Contemporary Romance category!!!! (yay!! WOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO) What does this mean to you? <br /><br />Mair: <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">It means my peers, writers and readers of Christian fiction, have read my book and deemed it extraordinary. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve given me the prize already, whether or not I actually win. And I’m so nervous. Today I dreamed the executives at David C. Cook told me they were embarrassed by the things I wear! In the dream I got so mad I withdrew my Christy nomination. I think I’m just anxious about what I’ll wear and do with my hair!<br /></span></span><br /><br />Me: You know I voted for dreads.<br />Ok, last question. What do you think are the 5 greatest pieces of literature you’ve ever read. Not necessarily your favorite books.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Wow. That’s really hard to say. I read so many books, and many have moved me. Some have changed me. I suppose, off the top of my head, I’d say:</span><br /><br />Mariette in Ecstasy, by Ron Hansen<br />Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston<br />Every Thing That Rises Must Converge, by Flannery O’Connor<br />The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger<br />The Color Purple, by Alice Walker<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And that says nothing of the non-fiction and poetry, but since I brought it up, don’t miss:</span> <br />The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning<br />The Music of Silence, by David Stendl Rast <br />The Long Loneliness, by Dorothy Day <br />Traveling Mercies, by Anne Lamott, and finally<br />Life of the Beloved, by Henri Nouwen.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">For poetry, try:</span> <br />Walking to Martha’s Vineyard, by Franz Wright <br />Sinner’s Welcome, by Mary Karr <br />Rilke’s Book of Hours, translated by Barrows and Macy <br />Love Poems from God, by Daniel Ladinsky, and <br />Love: Selected Poems by E.E. Cummings, illustrated by Christopher Myers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Okay. That was so way more than five! I’m done now. Thanks so much for having me, lovie. You rawk.</span><br /></span><br />No, my dear, <span style="font-style:italic;">you</span> rawk! Thanks for sharing with us. We cannot wait for what comes next from that brilliant, sassy pen of yours!<br /><br />Keep your eyes open, friends, for more from Ms. Burney, this time in the non-fiction section! Ooooooooooh!!!<br /><br />For more about Claudia Mair Burney, check her out at <a href="http://www.ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com">www.ragamufindiva.blogspot.com.</a>Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-82555245651362028232009-05-25T23:52:00.001-05:002009-05-25T23:54:30.591-05:00Questions, Questions!This will seem exaggerated to some of you. For others of you, it will be a walk down memory lane. These are MOST of the questions the kids asked me today, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. I didn't include any school related questions, or questions repeated because I didn't answer fast enough for their taste. Here we go!!<br /><br />Can I get on the computer today?<br />Can I get I on after her?<br />Are we going to Walmart today?<br />If we were, could we go to Dollar Tree too?<br />How many days till the end of the Year party?<br />Can i have a waffle for breakfast?<br />Will you buy more waffles?<br />And when you do, will you buy some with the chocolate chips?<br />Summer isn't far away, is it?<br />Is Ben supposed to have that saw?<br />Who knocked on my door?<br />Can I have another waffle?<br />How many waffles is this?<br />What if snow is water??<br />Can I have some more juice?<br />What did you tell me to put away?<br />Will you do the comforter for me?<br />What is the opposite of up and down?<br />How do you spell "large"?<br />What is another word for "big" that has 4 letters?<br />Are those raspberries or blackberries out there?<br />Can you sew a patch on these?<br />Will you do it today?<br />Do they make dog breath mints?<br />Can we get some for Darcy?<br />Did you see that?<br />Why do you have secret eyes?<br />What would a doctor do for legs with scabs?<br />Is this green?<br />Is this the right color marker?<br />How much money would I get for reading this to Abby?<br />How much is 35 plus 35?<br />Where is the black marker?<br />Will you take me to the doctor tomorrow?<br />Momma, where's Clifford?<br />Can I get on the computer?<br />Then can I get on?<br />Will you reset the timer, my battery died.<br />Are we going to watch a movie today?<br />Can we watch Star Wars?<br />Can I explore the closet?<br />Momma would you put this on me?<br />Where is the baby oil?<br />Can I use the vegetable oil? Will it work?<br />Where is the food coloring?<br />What is that bag?<br />Can I keep this?<br />Is there another life jacket?<br />Why is Sam wearing one?<br />If we were going to wear them on our walk, could I wear that one and Abby wear the pink one?<br />Can i take a shower<br />Is Lizzy gonna take a sandwich?<br />Is you gonna , Momma?<br />Can I have some cakie bread?<br />Can I smell it?<br />Can I have some more, Momma?<br />Can I have some more cake?<br />Is my stomach bigger than Ben's?<br />Is mine?<br />Was yesterday the milkshake day?<br />Can I have some more cakie bread?<br />Will you tell Wyatt to let me play with my toy?<br />Is that a water turtle?<br />Can we keep it?<br />What if we did?<br />Can I get on the computer?<br />Can we got to the lake?<br />What if I were taller than the lake? Would you let me walk across it?<br />Are we still going to the lake?<br />Can I dip me feet in it?<br />Are we still going?<br />Can we go to the MacLellans?<br />Can we go wading?<br />What if it storms?<br />What if Abby was in the deep part of the water and she was drowning?<br />Can we go deeper?<br />Why can't I throw rocks?<br />Can I keep this one?<br />Is it going to rain?<br />Why are we leaving?<br />Why can't we stay, Momma?<br />What if i kept that big turtleand put it in with my box turtle?<br />Momma, do you like mud turtles?<br />Can I get on the computer now?<br />Can we get a different background for the kids account?<br />Can i go on the front porch? I won't get wet.<br />Can I check the mail?<br />Can I play in the carport, PLEASE?<br />Do you think I would get wet?<br />Can i bring the chalkboard inside?<br />Where are the dry erase markers?<br />Are "Rose Art" markers dry erase?<br />What should i draw?<br />Can i eat Sam's sandwich?<br />If you were me, what would you draw?<br />What is you had all day to yourself, what would you do?<br />Why does water seperate from olive oil?<br />What was that sound?<br />Who's is at the door?<br />Can we keep the goose in the back of the wooden truck? ( they came across a baby canadian goose today. )<br />Why can't we?<br />What if we keep Darcy on a leash and NEVER let her out without it?<br />Can we at least keep it the rest of today and tonight?<br />Can I get on the computer?<br />Mommy, can I get on the computer?<br />Can i have some ice cream?<br />What's for dinner?<br />Can i call Mammaw and tell her I found this?<br />Is this a private conversation?<br />If it's unpleasant, then why do you talk about it?<br />Will you do this?<br />Is this all buckled and zipped?<br />Mommmy, where's my pink flowin bowin? (life jacket, and i don't know why she calls it that.)<br />Where are the books with the crossword puzzles?<br />Did Ben brush his teeth?<br />Where is Ben?<br />Can I watch Sammy pooping?Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-47168103151480867252009-04-22T22:54:00.005-05:002009-04-22T23:15:53.705-05:00Sponsor a child.<!-- SpringWidgets | Poverty Quiz (#24341) | Blogger | Generated on 04/22/2009 --><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowNetworking="all" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" height="318" width="382" id="springwidgets_24341" align="middle" data="http://downloads.thespringbox.com/web/wrapper.php?file=24341.sbw" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://downloads.thespringbox.com/web/wrapper.php?file=24341.sbw" /><param name="flashvars" value="" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="bgColor" value="0x000000" /></object><div style="font:11px/12px arial;width:382px;"><a href="http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/24341/?&width=382&height=318" target="_blank" title="Get this widget!">Get this widget!</a></div><br /><br /><br />Visit www.compassion.com and sponsor a child today.Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-4924677192676408032009-04-15T17:19:00.004-05:002009-04-16T08:16:05.910-05:00Monday in MississippiWake up sleepy from staying up too late reading (Same Kind of Different as Me)...coffee...Wyatt makes oatmeal for the kids because he's AWESOME...tell the kids not to let the dog out because it's trash day...wonder where the cat is...shower...remind kids not to let the dog out....dress....get kids dressed...late rising kids get up and complain that all the oatmeal is gone...notice the dog is out by the trash bags....call dog and remind kids AGAIN not to let the dog out until the trash has been collected...check email...Wyatt goes to work...delegate laundry jobs...delegate morning chores...eat breakfast while fending off Abby who says in my ear, "A bite, a bite, a bite A BIIIITE!!"...reading for school...do dishes...more school, science now...plant seeds for herb garden...over react when seeds get spilled after they've been plated in pots...apologize...over react when kids are WAY to loud...apologize again...send out a search and rescue for the cat...no luck...snack time...plan dinner...a little math for Wyatt Henry...change poopy diaper...over react when I see Lizzie's room...apologize AGAIN..notice a pattern here and make some coffee.. lunch time...wonder why the heck everyone is so dang LOUD today...notice that I still haven't seen the cat...facebook briefly....check email...more laundry...lay abby down for nap...outside chores...swat bugs, decline bug spray offer from my son ...more science...swat bugs,decline bug spray offer from my again....call dog from cow pasture...find out whose turn it is to wash the dog...more yardwork...swat bugs, explain that the bugs are around my face and that I don't want to spray my face with OFF... assure Ben he isn't about to die from picking up branches...no it's not so hot that he will burn up...more yardwork......wonder when we moved to a swamp and spray everyone with bug spray, including my face and hair...wheel barrow with branches, weeds and fish guts (??!!??) spills over...assign Wyatt and Lizze to clean it up...Where is the dadgum cat??...break up fight between Lizzie and Wyatt over fish guts...call Ben back outside...dog rolls in previously mentioned fish guts... finish yardwork...tell kids they can turn on the hose...dog chases a jeep...dog catches a jeep...dog rolls to the side of the road with dislocated elbow (although my money was on a broken leg)...kids freak out...jeep driver freaks out...jeep driver picks up smelly wounded dog and carries her to middle of the yard..kids continue freaking out...assure Jeep driver it's not her fault the idiot dog chased her jeep...jeep driver leaves, still a little freaked out...call Wyatt...try to wash a little of the nastiness off the dog...Wyatt and Liz take dog to vet...tell the boys they can play in the hose...shower...start dinner...Abby wakes from marathon nap...take several calls about the dog...rock Abby...more cooking...tell boys to turn off the hose...ground Ben from water play for a week for pitching a fit...change Abby...tell Sam to pull his pants up...more dinner....tell Sam to pull up his pants...get Sam a belt...get kids out of back of Russell's truck...more dinner...wait for Wyatt and Liz..get kids out of Russell's truck...finish dinner...Send Wyatt Henry for yet another cat search and rescue...still nothing...Wyatt, Liz and Russell back..get kids OUT of Russell's TRUCK!...Ham, sweet potatoes and green beans for dinner...happy and amazed everyone eats!...send kids out to play...clean kitchen...check email...facebook briefly..change poopy diaper...decide a bath is really the route necessary...throw in Sam while I'm at it...pjs and all the little ones to bed...coffee and facebook for far too long.....hope the cat is back tomorrow...remember I told Lizzie I'd fix her blog...try to fix her blog...go to bed and wonder why i had coffee at 8:30...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_0aDv4KpMjPLeKuR9fheoyDh5xSfsXABHUISl4Jtz2xDzaqhxo1WAfGMwpLRRcYQU_e86hdinbLsOipnc3n1oUSD9yDSxZU_bejhoEbqGnTtzL3PR-7SaiQjYwjq32nM2U7obNygSxY/s1600-h/Darcy+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_0aDv4KpMjPLeKuR9fheoyDh5xSfsXABHUISl4Jtz2xDzaqhxo1WAfGMwpLRRcYQU_e86hdinbLsOipnc3n1oUSD9yDSxZU_bejhoEbqGnTtzL3PR-7SaiQjYwjq32nM2U7obNygSxY/s400/Darcy+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325277116768684738" /></a>Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1587493798454273380.post-76968519305436191092009-04-12T13:27:00.000-05:002009-04-12T13:28:13.241-05:00An Easter Carol<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdxUtgIhFnh_UspfY2JtwemHXlZsCgT9RoGLV2A6t1QjfmPvI-i9mCpVLeGJ-yep5HXqJCggh7DpbEQtr29UaGMlTy2z-nBEyzCkBtD6A9n7TIhbD07rse6I_dT8I4aDfM0xR_hCfCYQ/s1600-h/EmptyTomb.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdxUtgIhFnh_UspfY2JtwemHXlZsCgT9RoGLV2A6t1QjfmPvI-i9mCpVLeGJ-yep5HXqJCggh7DpbEQtr29UaGMlTy2z-nBEyzCkBtD6A9n7TIhbD07rse6I_dT8I4aDfM0xR_hCfCYQ/s320/EmptyTomb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322027698316997698" /></a><br />Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;<br />Death is strong, but Life is stronger;<br />Stronger than the dark, the light;<br />Stronger than the wrong, the right.<br />Faith and Hope triumphant say,<br />Christ will rise on Easter-Day.<br /><br />While the patient earth lies waking,<br />Till the morning shall be breaking,<br />Shuddering 'neath the burden dread<br />Of her Master, cold and dead,<br />Hark! she hears the angels say,<br />Christ will rise on Easter-Day.<br /><br />And when sunrise smites the mountains,<br />Pouring light from heavenly fountains,<br />Then the earth blooms out to greet<br />Once again the blessed feet;<br />And her countless voices say,<br />Christ has risen on Easter-Day.<br /><br />Up and down our lives obedient<br />Walk, dear Christ, with footsteps radiant,<br />Till those garden lives shall be<br />Fair with duties done for Thee;<br />And our thankful spirits say,<br />Christ arose on Easter-Day.<br /><br />~ Bishop Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)Rhonda Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00534935655430304496noreply@blogger.com0