I just walked down to meet Cindy, my sister-in-law, to go for a two-mile walk with her.
Here's what I learned:
1. When you have a heavy ski coat, don't wear too many layers under it. I had to stop and take the liner our of my coat because I got too hot.
2. The new cheap ski gloves that I bought at Christmas are warm, but they are too bulky. I will have to buy better ones before Spring Break.
3. My ski pants are a little snug--must lose some weight before Spring Break.
4. Merrell gripper snow shoes rock. I never slipped once.
5. Walking to Cindy's was more difficult than walking from Cindy's because the snow was hitting me in the face on the way there.
6. I should have left my glasses at home. They were fogged over, and I had to take them off very quickly so that I could see.
7. I always carry bottled water with me when I ski. I thought it was to prevent altitude sickness, but I should have taken it with me. I got really thirsty.
8. Cindy's little dog doesn't like to wear a sweater, but he shivers and likes to be carried.
9. Walking up the driveway to the smell of grilled chicken is really nice.
10. When you burn some calories, lunch tastes better, and the pound cake, strawberries, chocolate dessert doesn't make you feel so stuffed.
11. Bundle up, go outside, take your cell phone, if you must, wear a helmet,be careful, but you will really enjoy God's creation.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
I didn't write this, but I wish I had.
Taking advantage
Syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts has plenty of condemnation for those who put a political or overly religious spin on the tragedy in Haiti. "Apparently, some of us are so estranged from their very humanity, so besotted with their own righteousness, so deeply, damnably smug, self-centered, small and mean, that there is nothing — not the wail of orphan children, not the stink of rotting flesh, not death tolls that stagger imagining — they will not reduce to cheap morality plays to further their cultural and political agendas,” Pitts writes. "Tens of thousands of people are dead in the poorest place in the western hemisphere and the preacher asks: How can that be used to buttress my vision of a vengeful, angry God? Relief is being rushed to the island as fast as humanly possible and the bloviator wonders: how can that be used to belittle Barack Obama? Apparently, there’s never a timeout, never a pause button, never a moment when they remember to simply behave like human beings. A human being, faced with calamity on this scale, says, ’Oh, my God.’ A human being says, ’Those poor people.’ A human being says, ’What can I do to help?’ But the (Rush) Limbaughs and (Pat) Robertsons of the world say some variation of, God hates you. Or, You had it coming. They call that conservative. I call it obscene.”
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/article/3434453?searched=Leonard%20Pitts&custom_click=search#ixzz0dfSk7bl4
Syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts has plenty of condemnation for those who put a political or overly religious spin on the tragedy in Haiti. "Apparently, some of us are so estranged from their very humanity, so besotted with their own righteousness, so deeply, damnably smug, self-centered, small and mean, that there is nothing — not the wail of orphan children, not the stink of rotting flesh, not death tolls that stagger imagining — they will not reduce to cheap morality plays to further their cultural and political agendas,” Pitts writes. "Tens of thousands of people are dead in the poorest place in the western hemisphere and the preacher asks: How can that be used to buttress my vision of a vengeful, angry God? Relief is being rushed to the island as fast as humanly possible and the bloviator wonders: how can that be used to belittle Barack Obama? Apparently, there’s never a timeout, never a pause button, never a moment when they remember to simply behave like human beings. A human being, faced with calamity on this scale, says, ’Oh, my God.’ A human being says, ’Those poor people.’ A human being says, ’What can I do to help?’ But the (Rush) Limbaughs and (Pat) Robertsons of the world say some variation of, God hates you. Or, You had it coming. They call that conservative. I call it obscene.”
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/article/3434453?searched=Leonard%20Pitts&custom_click=search#ixzz0dfSk7bl4
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Why am I so surprised?
I have had to start taking blood pressure medicine. Why am I so surprised? I'm 55 years old, need to lose 20 pounds, teach high school students... I'm really not certain why this has hit me so hard. One thing is that I had no symptoms. I went to give blood, and my bp was 194/120. It bothers that I could have something so wrong in my body, and I had no idea. I guess that's why they call it the silent killer.
I have always been healthy. I don't have to take medicine, until now, but the reality is that I will have to fact the facts. My body will not continue to work.
I am going to start writing daily in this blog because I'm afraid that some of my bp issues my be because I hold some things in. I hold tight to my emotions, my fears, my grief. I don't want people to look at me and think that I've lost it, but in actuality, I've lost so much that I must address those losses.
I have always been healthy. I don't have to take medicine, until now, but the reality is that I will have to fact the facts. My body will not continue to work.
I am going to start writing daily in this blog because I'm afraid that some of my bp issues my be because I hold some things in. I hold tight to my emotions, my fears, my grief. I don't want people to look at me and think that I've lost it, but in actuality, I've lost so much that I must address those losses.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiti
We have another horrible tragegy in one of the most impoverished places in the Western Hemisphers. The earthquake in Haiti is total devastation. They have already buried 7,000 and are expecting the death toll to be near 50,000. Right now the immediate needs are so basic, food, water, shelter, medical supplies and help. We have no idea how these people are going to survive.
This is another situation where the bride of Christ can reach out and help. I know that there are already missionaries that are there, but their main concern is survival for themselves and their families. We have to send immediate and continued help. Today so many planes were flying in with humanitarian aid that they couldn't land.
Brad and Angelina donated a million, one of the baseball leagues donated a million; George Clooney was on the news for helping in some way. I wonder if we added up all the money that Christian people send through the Red Cross, Save the Children, Feed the Children, etc. how much it would be. I certainly hope we could beat the celebrities. I'm thankful for celebrities like Brad and Angelina and George. They seem to have hearts of giving and sharing. They have encouraged other wealthy people to be humanitarians.
Of course, then we have Pat Roberson, who said on his tv program, that Haiti made a deal with the devil many years ago; therefore, they have continually suffered poverty and now this earthquake. What an embarrassment! We heard the same thing when the hurricane hit New Orleans. I don't remember hearing anything of this type about Indonesia and Italy. How do we decide which ones we blame on the people who live near the earthquake or flood and which ones are just natural disasters? I guess we ask Pat Roberson.
I guess from his way of thinking, Moore, Oklahoma must be an evil city. They've been hit by tornados multiple times. I know some people who live in Moore; they don't seem like the type to make a deal with devil.
I hope the people who watch his program don't buy in to his garbage. How exactly did they make a deal with devil? Was there a handshake, a contract, a fiddle?
Does he really believe that God is in heaven sending tragedy on an entire nation of people with a wave of His hand. He could, but I don't believe He does. If that were true, He probably would also be striking down people who displease Him. People would be dropping like flies all over the world.
From what I have been told by missionaries, Hawaii is a very difficult place to start a Christian church. The civil authorities put up roadblocks that make establishing churches very difficult, yet I've never seen total destruction in Hawaiil. Opps, I may have given God an idea.
Pat Roberson does not speak for me. He should read a book I read years ago called .
Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God Should I send a copy to Mr. Roberson?
This is another situation where the bride of Christ can reach out and help. I know that there are already missionaries that are there, but their main concern is survival for themselves and their families. We have to send immediate and continued help. Today so many planes were flying in with humanitarian aid that they couldn't land.
Brad and Angelina donated a million, one of the baseball leagues donated a million; George Clooney was on the news for helping in some way. I wonder if we added up all the money that Christian people send through the Red Cross, Save the Children, Feed the Children, etc. how much it would be. I certainly hope we could beat the celebrities. I'm thankful for celebrities like Brad and Angelina and George. They seem to have hearts of giving and sharing. They have encouraged other wealthy people to be humanitarians.
Of course, then we have Pat Roberson, who said on his tv program, that Haiti made a deal with the devil many years ago; therefore, they have continually suffered poverty and now this earthquake. What an embarrassment! We heard the same thing when the hurricane hit New Orleans. I don't remember hearing anything of this type about Indonesia and Italy. How do we decide which ones we blame on the people who live near the earthquake or flood and which ones are just natural disasters? I guess we ask Pat Roberson.
I guess from his way of thinking, Moore, Oklahoma must be an evil city. They've been hit by tornados multiple times. I know some people who live in Moore; they don't seem like the type to make a deal with devil.
I hope the people who watch his program don't buy in to his garbage. How exactly did they make a deal with devil? Was there a handshake, a contract, a fiddle?
Does he really believe that God is in heaven sending tragedy on an entire nation of people with a wave of His hand. He could, but I don't believe He does. If that were true, He probably would also be striking down people who displease Him. People would be dropping like flies all over the world.
From what I have been told by missionaries, Hawaii is a very difficult place to start a Christian church. The civil authorities put up roadblocks that make establishing churches very difficult, yet I've never seen total destruction in Hawaiil. Opps, I may have given God an idea.
Pat Roberson does not speak for me. He should read a book I read years ago called .
Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God Should I send a copy to Mr. Roberson?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Truth Project
I started a new class at church this evening. I've committed to attend a class called The Truth Project every Sunday at 4:00. It was difficult to sign up for because I'm a selfish person. Most of my life when I was actively attending church, I have attended Sunday evening services. Since I have been attending church in Harrah, I have become lazy about Sundays. I only go on Sunday mornings, and I really like it. I figure my kids resent that because they were always taken to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wed. night. Now I go on Sunday morning only.
So, for the next 13 weeks I will be attending Sunday evening class again.
The class is a deep, philosophical study in Truth. What is truth? Why do I believe what I believe? What is the Christian Worldview? We will watch a video for about an hour each night and then discuss with a small group afterwards. I like the idea that tonight I was in a small group in my church with 10 other people who I'd never met before. I know we will all have to discuss some of the truths of our faith in light of our experiences and that will allow us to connect with one another.
I'm hoping that this study will take the place of therapy for me. I have so many questions that haunt me, and I know how to find the answers, but I don't search for them on my own as much as I should. I'm hoping this study will allow me to think through my doubts and fears.
Jimmy began a sermon series on parenting today. My first thought was "Oh, great, I'll be feeling guilty for the next weeks because he's going to tell me what I did wrong" However, that didn't happen. Instead he reminded me that as a teacher, I'm still involved in the development of my students. He spoke of making my classroom a shelter for my students, a place where they feel safe. I started thinking about that. Do my students feel safe in my room. I'm going to be intentional about making them feel that way. I try to pay attention to the way students treat one another, but I can't hear or see everything. Iam excited about learning new things. I guess that makes me a nerd, but I know that the keys to success are already determined; I just have to connect with them.
So, for the next 13 weeks I will be attending Sunday evening class again.
The class is a deep, philosophical study in Truth. What is truth? Why do I believe what I believe? What is the Christian Worldview? We will watch a video for about an hour each night and then discuss with a small group afterwards. I like the idea that tonight I was in a small group in my church with 10 other people who I'd never met before. I know we will all have to discuss some of the truths of our faith in light of our experiences and that will allow us to connect with one another.
I'm hoping that this study will take the place of therapy for me. I have so many questions that haunt me, and I know how to find the answers, but I don't search for them on my own as much as I should. I'm hoping this study will allow me to think through my doubts and fears.
Jimmy began a sermon series on parenting today. My first thought was "Oh, great, I'll be feeling guilty for the next weeks because he's going to tell me what I did wrong" However, that didn't happen. Instead he reminded me that as a teacher, I'm still involved in the development of my students. He spoke of making my classroom a shelter for my students, a place where they feel safe. I started thinking about that. Do my students feel safe in my room. I'm going to be intentional about making them feel that way. I try to pay attention to the way students treat one another, but I can't hear or see everything. Iam excited about learning new things. I guess that makes me a nerd, but I know that the keys to success are already determined; I just have to connect with them.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2010
I've been noticing that the newscasters are calling 2010 Twenty ten instead of two thousand ten. That will take some getting used to. I wonder if it will cross over to us. I'm not sure why it matters.
When I reflect on this year, I can look back with sadness, joy, fear, humor, frustration, pride and humility at the events.
The sadness that permeates our lives is dealing with all the firsts without Jason. It doesn't really matter what yearly event was taking place, there was a bittersweet feeling that Jason was not with us. We survived. I'm so thankful for the prayers of my friends and family that has helped us with our grief.
I've experienced joy, something I didn't think I would feel again after Jason died. My most joyous moments have come when I've been with Tony, Allison, and Carson. We don't get to be together as often as we'd like because everyone has crazy schedules, but we have gone out to dinner or had dinner here, gone to OSU football games. I went to Stillwater several days this summer to help Allison and Carson move and decorate their houses. I love doing that. Any time I am around Crystal and Erica's kids, there is joy. Those little guys bring light into any room.
The fear that I have to overcome is the fear for Allison's and Carson's lives. I think because I have always prayed for my kids, I thought there was some kind of forcefield around them. Since Jason's death I have realized that my prayers are no guarantee of their safety, but I have to find a way to live without the fear.
The humor, something I was afraid would never come back after Jason's death, has never left me. I love laughing with my Sunday School class, the people I teach with, my students, and my family. I am truly relieved that we can laugh together every time we get together.
I was so frustrated when I discovered that the classes I needed to take for the summer couldn't be finished in June, and I not only had to go to school in July, but I also had to go to Durant for one of them. It all worked out ok.
The pride comes in finishing my master's finally. It only took 18 months, but I waited so long to do it.
Lastly, I have been so humbled by the love and support I have received from my friends and family this year. Sometimes I have a crummy day, or my heart starts aching, and I will receive a post on facebook, a call or a visit, and I will feel loved and comforted. Facebook has been so much fun. I have reconnected with people from all over and from all times in my life. Technology amazes me. I wonder what the next ten years will bring.
When I reflect on this year, I can look back with sadness, joy, fear, humor, frustration, pride and humility at the events.
The sadness that permeates our lives is dealing with all the firsts without Jason. It doesn't really matter what yearly event was taking place, there was a bittersweet feeling that Jason was not with us. We survived. I'm so thankful for the prayers of my friends and family that has helped us with our grief.
I've experienced joy, something I didn't think I would feel again after Jason died. My most joyous moments have come when I've been with Tony, Allison, and Carson. We don't get to be together as often as we'd like because everyone has crazy schedules, but we have gone out to dinner or had dinner here, gone to OSU football games. I went to Stillwater several days this summer to help Allison and Carson move and decorate their houses. I love doing that. Any time I am around Crystal and Erica's kids, there is joy. Those little guys bring light into any room.
The fear that I have to overcome is the fear for Allison's and Carson's lives. I think because I have always prayed for my kids, I thought there was some kind of forcefield around them. Since Jason's death I have realized that my prayers are no guarantee of their safety, but I have to find a way to live without the fear.
The humor, something I was afraid would never come back after Jason's death, has never left me. I love laughing with my Sunday School class, the people I teach with, my students, and my family. I am truly relieved that we can laugh together every time we get together.
I was so frustrated when I discovered that the classes I needed to take for the summer couldn't be finished in June, and I not only had to go to school in July, but I also had to go to Durant for one of them. It all worked out ok.
The pride comes in finishing my master's finally. It only took 18 months, but I waited so long to do it.
Lastly, I have been so humbled by the love and support I have received from my friends and family this year. Sometimes I have a crummy day, or my heart starts aching, and I will receive a post on facebook, a call or a visit, and I will feel loved and comforted. Facebook has been so much fun. I have reconnected with people from all over and from all times in my life. Technology amazes me. I wonder what the next ten years will bring.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas 2009
It's December 26, 2009, and Christmas is not over. We still have a family Christmas to attend on Tuesday with Phyllis's kids and grandkids. I always look forward to seeing them. They are growing up so fast.
This year's Christmas has been rough for all of us in Oklahoma. Christmas Eve a blizzard blew in and dumped up to 14" of snow on us. People were stranded on the highways and the interstate system was closed. It didn't bode well for Christmas day. We're lucky enough that our destination of Randy and Cindy's is walking distance from our house, but we were able to get the truck out and enjoy an Indian taco lunch with Randy, Cindy, Cody, Ashley, Aunt Polly, Cindy's parents and Ashley's mom and brothers. Kirby, Beth and Carson were stuck in Piedmont but were able to drive down in the afternoon. Allison was stuck in Stillwater but was able to come home today. So, we opened our "Santa" gifts this afternoon and ate chilli dogs for lunch. Carson's friend Nick joined us.
We have three dogs for the weekend. They are improving each time she visits. At Thanksgiving Allison's dog Capone and our dog Lucy had a couple of run-ins over food and a position at the foot of my bed. Now Allison has Lady, a one year old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel to add to the mix. Amazingly they are all getting along fine.
Christmas Eve night when I realized that the roads were impassable and the kids weren't going to be home for Christmas, I had a little fit. I do that sometimes. Looking back now I realize I again overreacted. Dec. 25th is just a day. There is nothing sacred about that date. The important thing is that we are all safe and warm and that we will eventually get together to celebrate Jesus's birthday.
Many people had to rearrange their traditions this year. My niece whose husband is stationed in Abilene was expecting him to be home for Christmas Eve with all the Santa presents. He couldn't leave, so they had to postpone Santa's arrival until Christmas night. That took some fast talking.
I've been thinking today about Matt Gardner, a member of my Sunday School class. He is somewhere in the Middle East serving our country. My daughter being stranded completely safe in Stillwater is nothing to that.
Some families are experiencing their first Christmas without a loved one this year. I know from experience that traditions change with each death in the family.
I wonder how old I will be when I learn all the important lessons God wants me to learn through the experiences in my life. Patience, Debbie, Patience. The Fruit of the Spirit that we may ask for, but don't want to "learn".
This year's Christmas has been rough for all of us in Oklahoma. Christmas Eve a blizzard blew in and dumped up to 14" of snow on us. People were stranded on the highways and the interstate system was closed. It didn't bode well for Christmas day. We're lucky enough that our destination of Randy and Cindy's is walking distance from our house, but we were able to get the truck out and enjoy an Indian taco lunch with Randy, Cindy, Cody, Ashley, Aunt Polly, Cindy's parents and Ashley's mom and brothers. Kirby, Beth and Carson were stuck in Piedmont but were able to drive down in the afternoon. Allison was stuck in Stillwater but was able to come home today. So, we opened our "Santa" gifts this afternoon and ate chilli dogs for lunch. Carson's friend Nick joined us.
We have three dogs for the weekend. They are improving each time she visits. At Thanksgiving Allison's dog Capone and our dog Lucy had a couple of run-ins over food and a position at the foot of my bed. Now Allison has Lady, a one year old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel to add to the mix. Amazingly they are all getting along fine.
Christmas Eve night when I realized that the roads were impassable and the kids weren't going to be home for Christmas, I had a little fit. I do that sometimes. Looking back now I realize I again overreacted. Dec. 25th is just a day. There is nothing sacred about that date. The important thing is that we are all safe and warm and that we will eventually get together to celebrate Jesus's birthday.
Many people had to rearrange their traditions this year. My niece whose husband is stationed in Abilene was expecting him to be home for Christmas Eve with all the Santa presents. He couldn't leave, so they had to postpone Santa's arrival until Christmas night. That took some fast talking.
I've been thinking today about Matt Gardner, a member of my Sunday School class. He is somewhere in the Middle East serving our country. My daughter being stranded completely safe in Stillwater is nothing to that.
Some families are experiencing their first Christmas without a loved one this year. I know from experience that traditions change with each death in the family.
I wonder how old I will be when I learn all the important lessons God wants me to learn through the experiences in my life. Patience, Debbie, Patience. The Fruit of the Spirit that we may ask for, but don't want to "learn".
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