Thank God it's Friday...

and I have an entire weekend that belongs to me!!! No work!! It doesn't get much better than this. I really do love my job and the people I work with. But being an arts organization or an office of women sometimes lends itself to being drama-full! Sometimes, it's just nice to step away and relax for a couple of days. That's what I'll be doing this weekend. Even if I clean a little, it'll still be at a very slow pace. Me and Barney, making our little corner of the world a hair free zone!

Enjoy your weekend! Rest, relax, read...whatever floats your boat.

Just enjoy the ride...and thank God it's Friday! He'd love to hear from you.

peace.

that other girl...

I called my dad to wish him a Happy Father's Day. I don't know if he'll remember, but I hoped he enjoyed the moment. Alzheimer's is a nasty disease. It doesn't just take your memory, it erases who you are moment by moment. I see my daddy sliding down a slope and he can't stop himself and we can't help. I know God has a plan for him and for us and I'm trusting in His strength to carry us all through.

While talking to dad he asked me how that other girl was doing. I'm assuming he was talking about my sister and just couldn't recall her name. So we chatted about my sister, my daughters, our husbands and that boy (my nephew). Sometimes, he seems almost normal and then he starts a new sentence without finishing the one he was saying. Or he tells you a story about something he was told, not remembering you were the one who just told him. Sometimes, more than once.

I guess what I'm learning through all of this is use it, don't lose it. Treasure each moment and live with an attitude of gratitude. Today is a gift. Share all you are with all those you love. And let your little light shine!
peace.

The Main Event

So I went to the Masquerade Ball on Friday night. For a fundraiser, it was actually a lot of fun! We schmoozed, we auctioned, we drank and ate. The event was a success on all accounts. But the big event happened during the evening and was unnoticed by most in attendance. You see, history was made! Jim, born and raised Nazarene, never allowed to move both feet simultaneously, DANCED!!!! Really danced. Not just slow, spinning in circle dancing, but fast music shaking his groove thang dancing. And he's great! I had no doubts and we had sooooooooo much fun.
Watch out So you think you can Dance, Jim's on the floor!!
Check out the pictures on www.partypics.com password: Canterbury

Barney has moved in...

and I can't be happier!!! Barney is my new vaccuum, the purple dyson! If you have never seen one of these things work, it is so cool! We have a dog and a cat and they shed constantly. Barney does an amazing job of sucking up all the hair and stuff. I can tell I've entered a new phase, this vaccuum is one of the most exciting gifts I've received recently. So I love Barney and he loves me and we're a happy family. If you need a new vaccuum, check out Dyson!
www.dyson.com

ziggity do dah...

I got to Get Motivated today and it was an amazing conference! Zig Ziglar, Bob Stoops, Suze Ormen, Rudy Guiliani and more spoke and motivated and inspired. It was great and even with 35,000 of my closest friends, I'm still glad I went. If you ever get the opportunity to go, take the opportunity. www.getmotivated.com
it's worth your day.
peace

new country and western song...

"for a fat girl, you've got great knees." Catchy, toe tapping tune...what do you think?

Believe it or not, this is good news. I injured my knee about a month ago on the job and I've had doctor's appointments and an mri and today the results were for a fat girl, you've got great knees! No permanent damage, no significant arthritis or roughness in the joints. I am truly gr8tful today.

The dear doctor did recommend weight loss and increased exercise. Increased, hmmm, is more than nothing increased? So okay, I know I need to change this size of mine. But hey, don't all great songs come out of ache? Oh that's heart ache...oh well. I still think i may have a winner.

"There's a lot of you to hang on to. A butt the size of Timbuktu and arms that sway in the summer breeze but For a fat girl, you've got great knees." maybe Rascal Fatts would sing it for me... :-)

you can't go home again...

I never really understood this statement. I mean, if you can't go home again, where can you go? But you know something, I recently drove past our old house. We've only been gone 8 weeks, but I almost didn't recognize it. When we lived there the house was slate blue with a red front door. The flower beds were full of hydrangeas and roses and rose of sharon. A weeping mulberry and some small shrubs backed up the flowers with some green and some cool shapes.
The house is now beige. All over. There is nothing in the flower beds but one tree and rocks. It looks very,... well,... dull! No color, no flowers, no flavor at all! I would hate to see the inside. Is my red kitchen now white? Is my yellow front room beige? Are the drapes still there? I can't think about it anymore. I have a new pallette to color and shape and I'll leave the old one to the beige people. I hope they are happy in their colorless spaces. I won't drive by again. Watch out easy street, the paint is coming and I'm mowing down the monkey grass!!

another day, another power outage

I work in an old building. It used to be a fire station many moons ago and it's showing its age. 2 weeks ago, the air conditioner quit. Today there was no power on the bottom floor where our offices are. I don't even want to know what's could be next. I think I'm glad to have the option to work at home. Although a four day weekend would be a nice treat!
peace!

Remember when...

you didn't have a cell phone? or more, you didn't have an answering machine? or call waiting? the phone rang or you got a busy signal. if it rang your ring, my grandma was on a party line and she had a special ring that wasn't her neighbors ring who shared the same phone line. and if it rang and no one was home, it just kept ringing and you knew to call back later.

you didn't have a computer? or more, no one you knew had one? mail only came from the post office.

I sometimes miss those simpler times. And yet, as I was sitting on my back porch in my rocking chair working on my yearly work budget on my wifi laptop and checking my email while having my cell phone on the table next to me, I am also grateful I don't have to do ledgers or the 8 to 5 at a desk.

So I guess I'll keep the technology and just learn the power of the off button when looking for simpler times. After all, I'm still in control, right?

thoughts on getting old

I've decided that getting old is a state of mind and as I've already stated, I'm not moving again!! Just kidding, sort of. I have a dear friend who is 83 years young. Not just because it's cool to say that, but because it's true. She hangs out with our daughters as easily as with my mother and it is amazing to watch her. On the other hand, I know people around my age that are already old. How sad to waste life on surviving. I want to be vital, busy, relevant, energetic, fun-loving and interesting as long as God sees fit to leave me here. I want to live this life I've been entrusted with. I want to watch the character grow on my face. I want to see the laughter I've listened to in my eyes. I want to wear purple now (although I'm not sure about the red hat!). I want to share joy, laugh without limits, feel, and experience. Celebrate with me that today you have breath, today you have a voice, today you have options, today you have abilities, today you have experiences, today you have today!!! Invest it wisely and enjoy it unashamedly.
peace!

Cross cultural event

Like you've never seen before. Well, okay maybe once, at a Hornet's game. Canterbury and the Canterbury Academy of the Vocal Arts will be singing the National Anthem at the Yard Dawgz game on April 29th. And they called us. This PR gig ain't so bad, and it seems to be working!

In the coming week in OKC

If you have never been to the Arts Festival in Downtown OKC, you should make the trip. Start at the Northeast corner of Reno and Walker with the finest fare in food gathered in one location for your pleasure. There are Indian Tacos, Strawberries Newport, Tequila Lime Bread Pudding, Blackened Chicken Sandwiches, Gyros, Roasted Corn and much more! If you hear singing coming from the Blackened Chicken booth, it's Canterbury folk preparing your food. Each food booth is sponsored and manned by a non-profit arts agency as a fund raiser. So bring your funds to help raise ours! and Thanks!!! Then mosey around the tents and booths and view artisan wares from all over. The Myriad Gardens is beautiful and there are fun things for the kiddos. It's a great time for all and it supports the arts in Oklahoma City. Wear comfortable shoes and come prepared to enjoy!

Hi ho, hi ho, unpacking here we go

Boxes, boxes everywhere and not a drop to drink! because you see, i think a sangria swirl would help this process move along much more quickly or at least a lot less painfully! Any way, it's beginning to happen. It's beginning to look like we live here. My plan is to focus on the inside this year and see what comes up in the yard and then focus on the outside next year. that is if the monkey grass doesn't take over. you see, we have an abundance of it. the entire front yard is encircled in it, in a 4 foot swatch. it is around the flower beds, all four of them. if it weren't for monkey grass, we'd have no grass at all. we do have some random bushes, a couple of azaleas, some irises and a rose. and trees. A huge maple tree in the back, several pine trees and a couple of birches. Shade is a wonderful thing.

suki has discovered squirrels. the last house we lived in had no trees (new neighborhood built on farmland), hence no squirrels. She has become the mighty huntress, saving us from the pillaging vermin that threaten our habitat. it's quite amusing.

And we have rocking chairs. 4 teak wood rockers and tables. it's wonderful to sit on the patio, rocking in our chairs, enjoying a beverage, watching the mighty huntress protect us from evil while the chimenea smokes.

Life on Easy street, I can definitely get used to this.

As soon as we're unpacked, it's party time...stay tuned.

p.s. free monkey grass, you dig, you haul, you can have it for free!

Now I remember...

why I hate moving! When I was young and foolish(not a good combination, but a natural one unfortunately), we moved frequently. In our 23 years of marriage, we have moved 18 times. 17 of those were in the first 12 years. Our last move was 10 years ago. I've grown older and wiser in that time. Forgetful too! I forgot how much work it takes to pack a house. I forgot how dust bunnies under appliances and furniture become werebunnies when left undisturbed. I forgot how much energy loading and unloading everything you own takes. The one thing I did remember is how much help friends and family can be.
Some good friends came with trucks and muscles to help us move. My mom gave up her day off to tie up all the loose ends and clear the old house. The entire pastoral staff of our church showed up with trucks, trailers, dollies and strong backs to help us move. I've heard of servant leadership my whole life, for the first time, I saw it in action. Not because we are special, needy, unable...just because that's what Jesus did. He helped people with their every day needs. Some were more significant than others, but he helped them all. Thanks NEWCHURCH pastors for helping the least of these. Our paradigms have shifted due to your kindness and example.
So we're here. We can't find anything but it's great and we are looking forward to many years on Easy Street. I don't think I'll ever get tired of saying that! :-) It makes me smile. When we find the kitchen, we'll throw a party. We always do!
WWJD-whatever someone needed Him to. What has He done for you?
Peace from Easy Street!

So we're moving on up, to the north side

Oh my goodness, I've never realized that a sedentary rock collects more than moss. We've lived in our current house for 10 years. When we moved here, we had more space than we knew what to do with. Empty cabinets, half-full closets, it was amazing! In the 10 years we've lived here, all closets are full, cabinets are full to overflowing, floor space occupied. The inheritances from several grandmas and one mom-in-law have helped to fill our otherwise empty spaces. I am committed to using what we have. I hate waste for the sake of saving it for something special. Make today special or give it away so someone else can use it. In the packing of all my stuff, I've realized how precious the people are to me whose memories are awakened when I see the things they passed on to us. More precious to me are the memories I pass on as I share these things with the people I love.
So pull out the good china, drink pop from crystal and make today a celebration! Have some friends over and use those cloth napkins. What are you waiting for?

March Madness is here!

I cannot believe it's been 2 months since I have been here. Whoa, how time flies! Things I have learned in the chaos:
...time flies-even when you are sitting still
...selling your house is an exercise in patience
...and cleanliness!
...raising kids isn't easy, letting go of adults is the hardest thing I've ever done
...singing still brings me great joy
...working is something I could live without
...money isn't, so I'll keep working-for now
...I love my husband and I'm proud of who he was, is and will be
...I'm worth the effort

so here goes. we're moving-the house has sold-now comes the packing. I can honestly say, I don't ever want to do this again. we're moving around April Fools Day-appropo don't you think!?!

peace.

do you live in filth and squalor?

I didn't think I did either. Then I put my house on the market. every dust bunny, every cob web, every minute imperfection in my home now seems to be under a magnifying glass. I've turned into the cleaning screaming mimi and no dust mite is safe! the thought of perfectly lovely, potential buyers walking through my house, opening cabinets, closets and drawers has brought me to a place I have never lived; the perfectionist's home.

All I have to say is this house better sell soon or so help me, Mr. Clean is going to get it!! and his little scrubbing bubbles too!!!

Happy New Year!!

It's 2006 and I don't do resolutions. I don't eat black eyed peas. I did toast the New Year with my wonderful hubby, great friends and a glass of bubbly. Thank you Mike Horshead and Lovely Wife for a fabulous evening!! We need to do it more often.

I raise my glass to each of you and wish you a blessed, peaceful, prosperous, invigorating, exciting, surprising New Year in 2006! All God's best to you from this first day until the last.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

So here's to 2006, may it be the best one yet!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

If you've never been to the Harn Homestead, you should check it out. It is a territorial homestead near the capitol and during December on the 8th and 15th, they are hosting a territorial Christmas from 5pm to 8pm. good food, crafts for the kids, pictures with Santa and caroling from Canterbury Choral Society. Tour the home and the barn. Take a step back in time for an evening. $5 donation at the door, free if you're a member. Great Christmas photo op for the family! More information is at www.harnhomestead.com. fun for all!

isn't it amazing

well Oklahoma, winter has arrived! Just in case you haven't been outside in the last couple of days, it blew in, literally. Visualize with me here...the wind is blowing constantly, gusting to 40 & 50 mph at times. Jim on a 15 foot ladder, 1 gallon of blue paint, 1 four inch brush, large gable over the garage. Yes ladies and gentlemen, we picked what was possibly the windiest weekend in the books to paint our house! I was holding the ladder, actually I was more just putting all of me against all of it to anchor it to the ground so husband would not get an early trip to Arkansas. House looks great, driveway needs cleaning, husband has no hair so scrubbing the noggin was no biggie. Too bad I forgot the video camera. The award goes to--My daredevil bro-in-law. When we reached the height of comfort for me and hubbie, we called daredevil and he finished the pinnacle with Jim body hugging the ladder. Quite a sight! No one died!

Things I learned:
Leaves can really hurt when hurled at 50 mph by the wind.
A newspaper becomes a living thing when trapped in a whirling gust, just give in, it will move on.
There are no hair clips, bands, hats, barrettes, do-rags, etc that work in 50 mph winds.
Paint can fly really far.
So can ladders when you aren't holding on to them.
Paint-$30, Brush-$4, watching Jim on a ladder in 50 mph winds-priceless!!
peace!