Too Much Company??

As Miranda has gotten older, she has made the switch from the kiddie cartoons to sitcoms. It all started with a few reruns of Full House (you know, the Tanner family). Before long she was getting the box sets for her birthday and Christmas, not to mention her "I love Uncle Jessie" t-shirt. In the beginning, I was actually kind of excited. I thought it was cool that she liked a show that we had actually grown up watching. As the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months, and the months to a couple of years, we had seen and heard every episode of the eight (that's right 8) seasons at least a dozen times. Every character on the show had somehow managed to become as irritating as the neighbor kid, Kimmy Gibbler.

Then one day, she caught an episode of Three's Company on TV Land. I told her that she might like it if she watched a show or two. That show or two has turned into yet another addiction for this eleven year old. We now have seasons one, two and six, for a total of over 50 episodes. As with Full House, I was glad that she liked the show since it was always one of my favorites growing up. I mean who would have ever guessed in the years of Disney and Nickelodeon that she would get so hooked on a show that debuted in the spring of 1977? It has actually been fun watching the old episodes, John Ritter was so funny and Suzanne Somers was well, soooo dumb. Miranda had become attached to Suzanne Somers playing Chrissy Snow, and then she caught an episode or two where she was replaced with Cindy and Terri. She was very concerned as to what happened to Chrissy and that she liked her the best, nevertheless she seemed to move on. It wasn't until this weekend that I realized, we've had a little too much 'Company'. We had planned a weekend trip to Holiday World in Santa Clause, Indiana. Before leaving for the trip, Miranda had caught the last episode of Three's Company on TV Land. I'm not sure she would grieve as much if I died. As she sat on the couch with tears in her eyes, she wanted to know if Janet really had to get married and why they all had to move out and go their own ways. I thought our Holiday World trip would be just the thing to get her mind off the sad ending to the sitcom, wrong. As we were in the hotel room, flipping through the channels, guess who Miranda spots? Suzanne Somers, selling her make up line. I tell her that is Chrissy and how she looks today. She can't believe it's her, saying, "mom, she used to be so young and beautiful". She was actually depressed with how old Suzanne looked. I'm sitting there thinking she looks pretty good considering her age and the fact that she survived cancer and I can't help but wonder if Miranda thinks the same of me when she looks at old pictures.

Well, even with all the mix of emotions that it's causing, the laughter that Jack, Suzanne, and Joyce give us is worth it.

With 8 seasons and around 200 episodes ahead of us, all that comes to mind is "...Hers and Hers and His..."

Some Beach, Somewhere...Memories

Being here at the beach this week, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite beach vacation memories. One of the firsts that comes to mind, is the time we were in Florida as kids. We were there because my dad had to take some classes for work and we all came along for a vacation. He had to get up early for the classes. Since he was out numbered 5 girls to well, just him, and we had just phoned in a late night pizza order, he figured his best chance at sleep would be the closet. Lucky for him it was somewhat of a walk-in closet. Come to think of it, that wasn't the

only time he's slept in the closet on vacation. A dad's gotta do, what a dad's gotta do.

I must mention the beach trip I took with some friends from church in my early 20's. One of those friends was Gregg Nicholson, who at the time was a friend of a friend. It was during that trip to Panama City where we kissed (on the beach, no less) for the first time. And the rest as they say is history. We have taken many beach trips over the years with lots of family and friends, but one that was special was when both of my grandmothers were able to go. I love looking back at photos of that trip, a once in a lifetime moment. During our trips to the beach, one sister has gotten engaged, another sister has gotten married, my mom has gotten tattooed, and my dad has surprisingly lived through it all!

We have stayed at the same condo complex in Orange Beach for the last several years. We can have anywhere from 22-37 family members on the trip. With that big of a group, it definitely stays interesting. Like the time my mom pulls out the "Redneck Slip n Slide". It's a huge sheet of that black plastic stuff you get on rolls at Lowe's. She proceeds to roll it out on the courtyard at the complex. Then someone has told her to squirt baby shampoo all over it and pour buckets of water on it. The fun starts out slowly with a few of the smaller kids giving it a try. Of course it doesn't take long before one of the adults decide, "what the heck" and give it a go. Within a matter of minutes, people we don't know in the complex are coming over wanting to give it a try. People are starting to come out on the balconies to see what all the commotion is over. Like they say, "all good things must come to an end", and this was no different. The security officer over the complex approached my parents and told them the party was over (See above photo). I'm not sure if security was afraid someone was gonna get hurt, the fact that it was making a huge mud hole in the grass where people were landing, or maybe they just felt like we could have set this up the backyard and stayed home. After all there was a big beautiful ocean out there and we were slipping and a sliding on some weed killer paper.

However, we do know how to have fun without security being called, we have late night card games, scavenger hunts, and karaoke night. Karaoke night brings a few memories to mind, like the time my sister Cecili, poor thing, attempted to sing Flashdance, What A Feeling. It left the audience "feeling" sorry for her. I guess we could give her an "E" for effort. She had the workout clothes on, the headband across the forehead, and she even did the "running man"! But when it came to the vocals, as Randy Jackson would say, "Dog, we just didn't feel it". The worst part was that she really thought she was good. Better luck this year, Cecili!

Something else that stands out was the time my parents friend, a 60 year old man, comes down to the pool area wearing big brief underwear that said in large letters "WORLD'S BIGGEST SOURCE OF NATURAL GAS". Yes, funny when you see them for sale in a catalog or as a gag gift given at a party, but not so funny at the pool when people realize he's with your group.

Well, the beach is calling. Only a couple more days left of this trip, but coming back in July for 10 nights with at least 20 family and friends so more memories to come I'm sure!

I don't know about your family, but mine can probably give Mrs. Cheap a few tips and Jeff Foxworthy some fresh new material. It started so many years ago when my mom ran a daycare from our home. She would take the kids to the movie theatre as an "outing". Not too long after the movie would start, you could hear a rustling of plastic bags and then the distinct sound of a 2-liter opening (one that had been shook up in her purse as it was smuggled inside the theatre). Then the assembly line of little styrophone cups would ensue down the row of about 12 kids. This would be followed by the distribution of the microwave popcorn which had also made it across the border. Of course, my mom went to the trouble of smuggling "for the kids" so they would have a snack during the movie. She's not exactly a cheapskate, but I'm pretty sure Jeff Foxworthy could make something out of her "clip-in" hair phase she went through. She had numerous hair clip-ins: the bun, the short pony tail, and the long pony tail, just to name a few and she kept them all in a tupperware container. The funny part is that we were just laughing the other day at some pictures of her with the clip-ins and she said she still had them. WHY?

My dad on the other hand, could really jump start Jeff Foxworthy's career again and give Mrs. Cheap weeks of material. Let me start by asking, Can you really ever get enough 3 inch bars of french milled bath soaps that hotels provide? Not according to my dad. I've always known how much he loves acquiring those bath soaps but somehow over the years, without saying it, he has roped me into "collecting them" for him as well. Now, I find myself gathering the extra or unused soaps from my own hotel rooms and delivering them to him upon my return. He would have to shower several times a day to even make a dent in his collection, and that will never happen because he's too cheap to run that much water (but that's another story). When he isn't out collecting soap, you can often find my dad in the backyard on his "satellite" swing. What's that, you haven't heard of one before? I don't suppose you have, that's because he took one of those old,big round satellites hooked up some cables to it and mounted it on some metal poles in the backyard. And they wonder why the neighbors are planting trees on the property line.

I thought I would end with a little top 10 list.

I KNOW MY FAMILY IS REDNECK BECAUSE:

10. MY DAD MAKES HIS OWN WINE UNDER THE HOUSE.

9. MY MOM'S HAIR HAS BEEN MORE COLORS THAN A BAG OF SKITTLES.

8. THERE IS A "WIZARD OF OZ" THEMED BEDROOM AT THEIR HOUSE.

7. THE DOG AND GRANDDAUGHTER SHARE THE SAME NAME.

6. MY MOM GETS BAKED POTATOES OFF BUFFET BARS, SO SHE CAN USE THE ALUMINUM FOIL TO SMUGGLE OUT FUDGE OFF THE BAR.

5. MY DAD'S LUGGAGE IS A PLASTIC KROGER BAG. (AND THAT CAN HOLD A WEEKS WORTH)

4. GRAND KIDS FAVORITE TOY: EMPTY WATER BOTTLE THAT DAD HAS HOOKED TO THE END OF HIS FISHING LINE, HE THROWS IT UP OVER SOME TREE BRANCHES AND IT DANGLES DOWN. THE KIDS THEN TRY TO HIT IT WITH A STICK. THIS CAN GO ON FOR HOURS.

3. MY MOM HAD A STRIPPER COME TO HER WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS BRUNCH ONE YEAR.

2. THERE IS A TALKING, SINGING BUST OF ELVIS AS A CENTERPIECE IN THE LIVING ROOM.

1. AT OUR ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT THIS YEAR, INSTEAD OF GIVING A PRIZE FOR THE MOST EGGS. THE PRIZE WENT TO THE PERSON WHO HAD THE MOST TICKS.

What I've Learned from Facebook

I've learned several interesting things this week on Facebook. Apparently, I should be living in New York City. Facebook says that I like to be able to go out any hour of the day or night and find an awesome place to eat. What Facebook doesn't seem to realize is that I live in Joelton. Joelton has a Subway in the gas station and a McDonald's, where the help is sometimes questionable and if you think it's "fast" food, think again. Needless to say, I'm not reaping the rewards of big city life. I was equally surprised when Facebook stated that I would have 3 kids, 2 boys and 1 girl. I've got the girl, she's 10 now. Since my biological clock is ticking like it's on steroids, I figure I will turn up pregnant any day with twin boys. I'm glad Facebook has given me this heads up...we will certainly proceed with caution (lots of caution if you know what I mean). After taking all of this in, I figured that I would try something a little lighter. I took a quiz to find out what 80's cartoon character I was most like. More bad news, Facebook says that I'm like Strawberry Shortcake. What? I'm not a "pink" person, if fact during the quiz when they asked me to pick a color, I picked green out of the choices I had. Strawberry Shortcake seems weak and whimpy. She teaches about good manners and fairness. Why couldn't I have been like Velma from Scooby Doo who's smart and solves mysteries or Jane Jetson who had a robot maid and led a leisurely life with all of their labor saving devices?

More important than all of my quiz results that I've taken this week on Facebook, is the fact that I truly have learned from being on Facebook. I've learned things like: a childhood friend died a few years back in a car accident, my 20th class reunion is being planned for the fall, and a friend from college killed himself. It's reassuring to log on and see that someone else may have had a bad day, has a sick child, problems at work, or is just tired and exhausted from the day. What I find most rewarding about Facebook is seeing the everyday testimonies of friendships, faith, and family. The excitement of ball season starting, the planning of birthday parties, the milestones of a child losing a tooth or getting potty trained, the romance of a date night with a husband or wife, an upcoming vacation, a new career path, someone's child accepting Christ into their heart, or someone thankful for a clean house. It's refreshing to see the emotion, pride, and joy that accompanies each post and picture. Proberbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend". I think Facebook gives us yet another avenue to help us bear witness and keep each other up in the Lord. Happy postings.

GOT SISTERS???

As many of you know, I am the oldest of four girls. Do you buy into the theory that "people are the way they are" based on the order of their birth in their family? Being the oldest sister and first born, I certainly hold many of the typical traits that come with being born first. I have leadership ability (a.k.a. bossy and dominant), I strive to please and follow my parent's wishes (a.k.a. suck up), I am conscientious, responsible, organized, and feel like I must gain status by working hard, sometimes to the point of perfectionism. While not all of these traits are bad, some have probably played an important role in my life. I think my "take charge" personality at times comes off as overbearing or aggressive, my perfectionist side tends to make me criticize others too much and leaves me disappointed in people. I worry alot about order and may not be flexible when it's needed and may become too boxed in with the to-do-list to see the big picture or fail to pay attention to the opinions of others. Having said that, it's no wonder I don't have a huge social circuit and never really had the need for those "Best Friend" broken heart necklaces to share growing up. However, I'm quite content with my birth order and have plenty of people around me who take my traits for what they are and love me anyway.

After seeing how well the birth order fit me, I decided to see how it fit my sisters. When I look at my middle sisters, they too fall in line with the typical traits of middle children. They are more laid back, very peer-focused, and because life hasn't always been fair for them they are unspoiled and realistic. However, middle children may often feel suspicious, cynical, and even bitter due to their position in the family. They may let friends cloud their judgement on key decisions, be unwilling to cooperate, and may fail to admit when they need help. Last, the "baby" of the family, the "little" sister. You know what they say... if the shoe fits... The last child is the one who was least likely disciplined either because mom & dad were too laid back or too worn down to freak over every infraction. Rather than striving for perfection, they are trying to achieve "okayness" by trying hard. They often have feelings of inferiority and may not be taken seriously. They expect others to do things for them and may feel rejected. They are attention seeking and may appear to be absent-minded, manipulative, and can talk a good game but can't always produce.

Like any family, we have our fair share of sibling rivalry. It's no wonder with such distinct personality traits. Sisters don't need words. They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks-expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief. Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs-that can undermine any tale you're telling. So, does differences in upbringing instill different attitudes and values about life and work? I think it definitely does and we must realize that as sisters we were all born to the same parents but into different families. We all can be quick to criticize our siblings for their shortcomings or how we perceive that they 'should' be but I'm reminded of the story of a pair of sisters in the Bible.

There was a pair of sisters who were good close friends of Jesus, when He walked the roads in Judea, now Israel. Martha and Mary ran the family home in the village of Bethany, and took care of a sickly brother. Jesus loved to drop in on them. In one of those impromptu visits, Martha, the oldest sister, bustled off to the kitchen to make a good meal for Jesus and His group of men. Mary, the younger sister sat down at Jesus' feet and pulled up her knees to prop up her chin, and she listened to every word He said. But Martha got exasperated. She came into the guest area and asked Jesus to scold her sister for not coming to help and share the work. He turned around and rebuked Martha for worrying about too many little things. He said this time Mary had choose the better course of action. Whoa! Sounds like we don't have as many responsibilities as we tend to take on, and the Lord Jesus would prefer that we spend quality time with Him first.

Closer friends I'll never find, than the ones I call my sisters.

*A sister joke for laughs

Three sisters ages 92, 94, and 96 lived in a house together.

One night, the 96 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses.

She yells down the stairs, "was I getting in or out of the bath?"

The 94 year old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses, "was I going up the stairs or down?"

The 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea, listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful."

She knocks on the wooden table for good measure.

She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door.......

When you least expect it...

How frustrating is it when you've place a simple order at McDonalds drive thru, however, when you get to the window, they inform you that you need to pull up, out of the way until your order is ready? I'm sorry, I thought I was at a "fast" food restaurant. Have you ever been disappointed because you were craving a chocolate milkshake, but were informed, that the milkshake machine isn't working right now? Am I alone, or do you find yourself staring at the toaster in the mornings waiting for that frozen waffle to pop up for the kido while rushing to get out the door?

We are definitely a society that wants things to happen almost instantaneously. We seek instant gratification and become let down and disappointed when it doesn't come quickly enough. I constantly remind myself that God tells us to "Be anxious for nothing but...let your requests be made known to God". I'm sure I make my fair share of requests, none being any higher than my desire for Miranda to come to know Him as her Saviour. Tonight he answered that request. When I was lying down with Miranda tucking her in, she said that she wanted to be baptised. When asking her to tell me why she had made her decision she said, "Doesn't if mean that you want Jesus in your heart?". I told her that's exactly what it meant and how proud I was of her.

I had just typed on facebook that I was "wondering what the weekend would hold". Little did I know that God wasn't finished with my Thursday yet! Like many of us, Miranda has lots of "wants". She wants the trendy clothes, the hot concert tickets, the newest American Girl Doll, etc...., but tonight she wants what matters most and I couldn't be happier.

"Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice." PS.55:17

What I Learned This Week

Wow, I'm getting so much more out of 4th grade the second time around. Let's see, this week I have learned the ever important differences between centipedes and millipedes, I brushed up on those famous input/output tables in math, and have learned the meaning of the words twined and steely. All I really remember from my own 4th grade is how much I loved my "trapper keeper". Now, the cool thing to have in 4th grade is a "Zuca rolling backpack" (which retails for around $150). I know things have changed but $150 for a backpack??? And yes, we bought one. After teaching 5th grade all day and coming home and helping Miranda with her 4th grade homework, I feel as though I should be submitting my application for the show "Who Wants to Be a Fifth Grader" but who needs the fame and a million dollars? Well, my rewards don't always come in the form a check but rather each time Miranda comes home excited about her "good graded papers" or each time someone tells her "that's a cool backpack, where'd you get it?". It's then that I realize are time studying has paid off and the $150 backpack, well, I can hope it lasts for a couple of years. I'm definately aware of how quickly time passes and I know that one day I will want theses years back. So, bring on the next set of vocabulary words and the next "cool fad" I will embrace them with open arms. Beth