bsmiles and sunny days

Woke up this morning and I wrote down this song, just can't remember who to send it to... My mom asked me on my birthday, "How's it feel?" and I said, "Feels the same." But I gotta tell you, it feels a little weird all the sudden; overnight 40 doesn't seem that old. Last night I was walking a little lady down the hall and told her that I was a spring chicken and didn't realize how fast I was walking... now, to the person I was talking to, a 102-year-old woman, I am. But my mind cha-chnk-ed after I said that, like the gears were grinding; 30 isn't a spring chicken. It's just not. What's more, I really can't remember. It's the worst thing about me. I forget things. I don't know that it's 30, but it might as well be something. On the brighter side, we are just starting the early chapters of our career in chaplaincy, our family is huge just like I always wanted, and I've moved five times in ten years and on the brink of nu...

Graduation Day! Yes, here are some pictures of the fun filled weekend. We had tons of family here, my mom and dad came, Dale's aunts, uncles and cousins all came from the St. Louis area, and of course, all our family here in the area made the trek to Liberty for the commencement ceremonies that must have been at least six hours long... but whatever we had to endure to see him walk that line, it was worth it! Here is Dale with some of his good buddies and fellow graduates. After the ceremony, Dana hosted the big graduation reception, which consisted of a huge barbeque and the remainder of the afternoon we spent outside in the gorgeous weather eating, playing baseball, and talking. Because the shade was scarce, the men sat in one area and the women sat in the another. The kids were in heaven with both sets of grandparents in town for such a long stretch of time. This is Dana in the playpen; I think the stress got to all of us, it was time to LET LOOSE! Here is Lonnie with two brother...

Upon my admonition to *think*, consider this. ...These are my ultimate attitudes towards life; the soils for seeds of doctrine. These in some dark way I thought before I could write, and felt before I could think: that we may proceed more easily afterwards, I will roughly recapitulate them now. I felt in my bones; first, that this world does not explain itself. It may be a miracle with a supernatural explanation; it may be a conjuring trick, with a natural explanation. But the explanation of the conjuring trick, if it is to satisy me, will have to be better than the natural explanations I have heard. The thing is magic, true or false. Second, I came to feel as if magic must have a meaning, and meaning must have some one to mean it. There was something personal in the world, as in a work of art; whatever it meant it meant violently. Third, I thought this purpose beautiful in its old design, in spite of its defects, such as dragons. Fourth, that the proper form of thanks to it is some fo...

Last night my sister and I were purusing the perpetual calendar on the fridge and discussing the coming weeks. I kept going back in time to evaluate what's next. She finally said, "No, honey, these weeks are done. We're here." May 19th. Naturally I said, "But where did these weeks go? Where are they?" At the end of the fantasiaus journey, how can the days flip by like minutes? At the end of my pregnancy, the minutes drag on like days. I fully expected that to be the case and here we are, hours- literally hours before graduation. How can it be? It's only by the grace of God that we have endured the troddened path. (Does that work? I don't care.) And here we are at the end. *heavy sigh* Our interview with the Commision on Chaplaincy for the Assemblies of God was Wednesday, so we spent the night and went visiting our past Thursday. We were granted endorsement so we are officially Chaplains now, I am by proxy, with the AG. That means that we get discount...

One of my favorite things in the world is conversation. I don't care what we talk about as long as we have conversation chemistry. If I can be real with you and you can be real with me, if we can fall down and laugh together... if you can make me laugh hard enough to cry real, big tears, I will come back for more. You are my friend. If you are my friend for two days or a year or ten years, I don't care. Let's grab it while it lasts. Because forever friends aren't here yet, they won't come until eternity. I read a piece of advice from life's little instruction book that said, "Marry someone you love to talk to." I took it. Unbeknownst to me, I married one of the great thinkers of our time, who is also a talker; able to communicate his thoughts and his feelings and so much more in our conversation. We connect on so many levels- from boy humor to the perplexities of gaps in theology. He is my very best friend. I'm really sad because I have only just m...

Last spring when it was time to announce the exciting news that we an appointment with the stork, my sister, who loved her job, put in her notice and packed her bags. She moved from the best bed in the mansion, privacy, peace and quiet, and good food, to my couch, in the living room, a set of pull apart plastic shelves with a sheet to conceal her skivvies, and vegetable beef stew on a regular basis. She sacrificed her life to give to mine, it's the classic story of Ruth, giving up her will to take care of Naomi, her family. It was a sacrifice few recognize. I have not taken it lightly. My sister is incredibly talented, full of charisma and charm, she's gorgeous and hillarious. She loves God and wants desperately to do His will. And she's 26 and single. I adore her for who she is and how she has given so selflessly to my family. (This guy is no intimate relation, he's just a friend. Isn't this picture great? LOVIN IT!) This summer she's moving to Chicago to work ...

Second day, no Zannah. Four hours of that precious covetted comodity, sleep, yesterday; let's pray for four today. Dale sweetly reassured me this morning that I'd get to go to bed in just 11 or 12 hours. Hopefully Lupe will be ready for a nice long nap in about an hour and we'll both drift merrily off to lala land. We have a big garage sale tomorrow and Lemonade stand. I don't know how geared up our customers will be for a cold drink when it is 48 degrees at eight in the morning. Maybe we should do the hot chocolate instead. CRAZY! We're going to bake cookies and the infamous delicious chocolate cake in hopes of beefing up the profits. I promised the kids they could have whatever they make. I'm thinking maybe we could take a trip to Worlds of Fun after graduation if we strike it rich. Here's the first quote in a series of great quotes from brilliant minds and other people. "When you stay caught up, you stay caught up." That's an original from m...

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go So make the best of this test and don't ask why It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right I hope you had the time of your life. So take the photographs and still frames in your mind Hang it upon a shelf in good health and good time Tatoos and memories and dead skin on trial for what it's worth it was worth all the while It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right I hope you had the time of your life Everywhere we go people ask us if we are done having kids. Are you kidding me? Would you look at this baby!? God gives us five times this and we should say no thank you? Yeah... right-o! LOOK AT HER! SHE'S THE SWEETEST LITTLE BUNDLE OF MARSHMELLOW FLUFF ON THE PLANET! Makes me want to kiss her face right now!!!

Two weeks and counting. Big stuff happening. Tomorrow we have an important meeting and then the big sermon, then next week is the interview... then dun dun DUUUNNNN!!! GRADUATION DAY!!! WOOHOO! So I've been scouring Seesta's closet for fantastic wardrobe possibilities for all the upcoming events. (the girls cleaned your apartment while I was trying on clothes, hope you were excited and thrilled) And studying for the interview so that I can hold my own when they ask me difficult theological questions, hardeharhar. And my mind is full of hope and excitement as it always is when I study. My frustration with the church and church life is that it's weak and poor. Not the good weak and poor that we strive to attain spiritually. The other weak- as in powerless- and the other poor- as in no spiritual riches or fruit. We have become a pharisaical high society that accepts only the breed of the congregation. We sell salvation to tally up our numbers in reports and leave babies to fee...

I am yours and you are mine this simple thought I sought to find In days and nights of dark and light my heart has found surrender; I am yours it’s clear to me, my heart and soul, once dear to me, Fall into you, crash near to you and force me to surrender; I am yours and you are mine from now until the end of time, Sweet hours of learning faults and finds forever till forever; I am yours if time should cease, the beat now halts, the breath defeats, Should life escape your soul or mine, still lives our love forever; You are mine, the dream come true, as now I look upon you, new, Could this obsession, passion, man be mine and mine alone… In closeness, moments tender deep, when day falls night and deep you sleep, Each time you breathe, my promise keep, my love is yours alone; With gratitude, and servitude, and magnitude, I love you, dude, May this ten years be miniscule compared to our forever.

This is Scooder. I just woke him up. He always saves the hamsters. Everytime, well, almost everytime. When trucks pass by, he chases 'em, and he runs like a maniac! And when he does it, he smiles! My aunt's dog, Sawyer, and Scooder are really best pals. Sometimes when the hamsters get out, Scooder just sits there. And one time, he licked Hampy. We think Scooder has a girlfriend. *giggles* Oh, on Friday the Mushroom Festival is coming. *mushroom capital of the world, right here!* I'm REALLY excited! I've been saving my money for the Mush Fest. I have five dollars. I might buy one of the lizards made out of beads and some jewelry, or maybe a purse. Oh yeah, I have my own little digital camera. This morning was a really stormin'. Isn't Scooder cute on this picture? Mom says Scooder's nose looks huge on this, but I think he looks cute. OK, I have to go. Goodbye!

If you have never seen a ray of sunshine personified, meet Jas. She will light up your world. In our house, if you need the attention of the matriarch, you have to be willing to commit yourself to getting it. Each kid does it a different way. Naturally, the boys yell. "Mom. Mom. MOM! MOMMY! MOMMY!! MOMMYMOMMYMOMMY!!!" The girls have a different strategy. Kennedy says, "Mom. Mom. *heavy sigh* Mom. Mom! *growl and stomp*" Jasmine says, "Mom, would you get me a snack?" *3 minutes later* "Mom, can I have a snack? Would you get it for me?" *3 minutes later* " Mommy, I'm really hungry. Would you get me a snack?" *3 minutes later* "Mom, are you ready to get me a snack now?" She's like snack snooze button. I always laugh when she finally has my attention and I am moving toward the snack cabinet because she is so eternally patient. Granted, she does take a turn yelling, and whapping me, and growling, and stomping along with th...

Happy May Day to all! I hope you have huge baskets waiting on your doorstep full of flowers and candy- or in our case, scotcheroos. And if you don't, then grab your scissors and ribbons and start spreading May Day cheer to all your neighbors. If you need help with flowers, go to the expert, Martha Stewart . I've been tagged by Becky . I look at your life and dream about my future. You have so completely grown into yourself; it's incredibly refreshing. I love people that know who they are and totally comfortable in the skin they're in. Love ya, my sista. 5 things I have in my fridge: Strawberry milk IHOP leftovers Tangy Tomato Bacon Dressing Broccoli Cheese and Beefy Cabbage Soups Dyed Easter Eggs 5 things I have in my closet: A Red velvet treasure box with the thick black ribbon full of treasures Black Chuck Taylor Converse Lowtops A Glittery Turquoise floor length formal from the seventies- a Great-Grandma original Red and Black Nike Shox NO Maternity clothes What'...