Belated gift/completely unrelated rant

Oh! My! Goodness! DH is back with a vengeance! He told me that he blogged about our anniversary, and kept apologizing for not being here. I kept reassuring him that it was okay - no big deal. WOW! Not fair for making me cry at work! Thank you, sweetie - what a beautiful post! *sniff*

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WARNING! Soap box rant approaching...

On one of the stitching blogs I regularly read, the author brought a really sad story to her readers attention. [http:www.kctv.com/Global/category.asp?C=70755 (You'll probably have to cut and past the link - I'm not that technologically saavy. Start with the September 22 story and work backwards.)]

The family of a disabled man from Mississippi evacuated to Kansas City to stay with relatives. The only rule was, he couldn't bring his service dog, Shuma. A woman agreed to take Shuma in, and the man reluctantly signed the dog's AKC registration papers over. Well, now, the man and his family have found a place to live that will allow him to have Shuma, but the woman will not give the dog back. She says her family has 'grown attached' to the dog. It's only been a month! How attached could they be compared to the family who raised and trained Shuma from a pup?!

This story was reported on the local news, and Kansas City is offering this man their complete support. E-mails, voice mails, and letters are pouring into the station. A local family and a local car dealership have each offered the woman $1,000 to return the dog. An attorney has offered to help the man, free of charge, if he decides to pursue legal action against the woman. Evidently the reporter spoke to some sort of medical professional - psychologist, or something, who told the reporter that people who have been through the kind of trauma this gentleman has will have problems making coherent important decisions for quite awhile afterwards. The gentleman has offered a compromise - return the dog and he will breed Shuma and give her one of the pups, to no avail. This woman has even accused the family of only pretending to be evacuees. Outrageous! I mean, I understand she has the dog legally, but, come on - have a heart! The reporter has proven this particular claim false - he has seen the FEMA paperwork.

Shuma isn't only a family pet but also is a service dog! I know Wrigley isn't exactly a service dog - okay, he's pretty much a big hairy slug - but I would do everything I could do to get him back if we were in this situation! This blog has provided the address information for the television station covering the story, as well as the dog's new owner's home address. (Yikes!)

*steps off soapbox and walks away muttering...*

Tuesday

Man, we had such a busy weekend for having nothing going on! Saturday wasn't so bad, went to a wedding which was lovely, but Sunday was wacko! Craft auction stuff, football, teen group, house church - no wonder I fell asleep early last night! Didn't even get to see Priest Holmes do a whole lotta nothin' - which means I won this weeks fantasy football matchup!

Met with the decorations committee for the craft auction - I get to do girly, frilly things!! Woohoo!! I think it will be very nice.

DH and DS1 had a long talk about grades and such. Here's hoping it will make a difference...

I haven't really been stitching, but have been getting stash for awhile, thanks to the bay of evil. Just got a new pattern yesterday and I'm anxious to kit it and start. I think I may be able to use one of my Silkweaver Solos. Happy happy! But - I will wait until I get more done on DH's Christmas gift.

In other holiday news, I finished my "C-word-holiday greeting-things-which-are-mailed-and- that-most-people-don't-want-to-hear-about-in-September" last night. I need to confirm three addresses and am just waiting for school pictures. But perhaps I should just keep that to myself.

And finally - today is Beaner's birthday - jump on over to her blog and wish her a happy one!

Friday

Okay - I'll play along...
Go to your archives and find your 23 post.
What is the fifth sentence?

"My DH decided to get creative this weekend with some yummy Mexican food."

Well. Wasn't that insightful, inspirational, and enlightening.

Onto bigger and hopefully better things...

DH comes home this afternoon!!! HOORAY!!! It's been such a long week with him in a class out of town. Ugh. Unfortunately, all of us, except Wrigley it seems, are fighting some pretty nasty colds. Yesterday was a no-talking day for me, as much as possible anyway. We asked the boys to bring their stuff home from school - next time we'll have to clarify a little better! Just homework, guys! Please! For the love...

I got none of the deep cleaning I was planning on doing while he was away. But I have another chance in a few weeks when he's at another class. I did, however, find my Christmas cards, so I'll be breaking into those this weekend. (Sorry Donna!) I put out my autumn decorations last night. I forced myself to wait until after 5pm, so it was officially autumn!

Can I just tell you how much I appreciate the body of believers here? They have completely stepped up for us and helped with the wretched schedule of picking up the kiddos. I would have been completely at a loss without Mark N this week! THANK YOU!!!

Please keep praying for those in Rita's path. We have friends and family in Texas, and are very concerned...

I failed

Today was 'See You at the Pole 2005' and I really was looking forward to DS1's first time praying at the flagpole at his new school. As I have every year since he started school. Except I forgot. Again. So I drop him off and there's a large group of people in front of the school. I didn't think anything about it until I drove by and they're all holding hands with their heads bowed. Dangit! Missed it again!

Our local christian radio station does reports from schools on SYATP day, and some of the stories were so touching. One student's mom called in and said that her son didn't have school today, but chose to get up early, get dressed and go pray at the flagpole by himself. I was weepy all the way to work. I really want this kind of influence on my kiddos! I want my sons to not be intimidated to show and share their faith with their friends, like I am sometimes. I want them to think nothing of praying and praising - wherever they are!

Maybe next year...

Random-nicityishnessism

...uh...

• I'm finding that I really slack off when I'm not held immediately accountable. Hmmm...
• Pictures that I've seen from my high school reunion make me really glad I didn't go.
• Wrigley HATES thunderstorms and will break established rules out of a sense of self-preservation.
• I miss DH.
• I don't want to be at work today. Or yesterday. Come to think of it...
• DS2 is definitely a future What Not To Wear project.
• I can hardly wait for Jesus to come back.
• Sixth grade math is harder now than it was then.
• I'm not really enthused about doing anything for the craft auction today. But I need to.
• I really should be working.

Okay...I'm off...

Happy Anniversary

Thirteen years ago today, I was nervously awaiting the music to begin. I started to get really nervous when I was left alone for my 'grand entrance.' And as corny as it sounds, I was immediately calm when I saw DH at the altar.

And I still calm when he's around. He's been a rock for me through some very hard times. I've loved watching him become a dad. He's been so patient with me and the boys, and we can be pretty trying sometimes! He knows what role God has given him and he's trying so hard to fill that role as best he can.

Best of all, he loves me - and that's a gift I will never take for granted. Oh, the breathless wonder when I think that out of all this world, you chose me...

I am, in every thought of my heart, yours. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart!

Friday again

I haven't had the chance to work on any stitching lately. Just as soon as I think I have everything done, and a free evening, something else invariably comes up. *sigh* I had to show DH a project I'm doing for his cave for Christmas because he kept trying to fill the walls! Hey! Leave me room!

Oh, and by the way - happy 100 days until Christmas...!

I've been re-reading the Left Behind series recently, and the thing that has really jumped out at me this time is the survivors absolute knowledge that they were God's own. They know they're going to heaven. I guess it struck me because sometimes I wonder. I don't know - maybe I'm blathering again...

Anyway, have a nice weekend everyone!

Thank goodness!!

***WARNING!!! Heavy sarcasm follows:***

So it's all over the interweb that Britney and Kevin have a new little bundle of joy, and rumour has it that they are contemplating naming him "London" because that's where Mom and Dad met and fell in love. That child should be thankful his folks didn't meet in say, Hackensack, or Goofy Ridge, or...

...sorry - couldn't resist...!

Wednesday

Why is it that when I'm in a bad mood I take it out on those closest to me? Ever happen to you? Do we feel safer being ugly with people we know love us anyway? Or is it just a matter of convenience - the nearest target? I don't know. Everytime it happens, I vow to never do it again - and then something trips my trigger and off I go!

Every work environment is different, I know, but does anyone else celebrate when the boss parks in a different place and comes in wearing a tie? That means he's leaving! Hooray! Ahhh...the prospect of a bossless day...

We worked on one of the new Zoe songs last night - loved it! Can't wait to dive in a little deeper!

We had chinese take-out for lunch yesterday in the office, and my fortune has bothered me ever since. "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target." Since when are fortune cookies so cynical?! Sheesh!

Okay...back to work...

Long time comin'...

Feels like I've been so out of touch lately. I've been faithfully reading blogs, but haven't felt like writing anything. I think I'm in some sort of funk or slump or something. Not feeling bad exactly, just not great. Maybe it stems from my recent fantasy football loss...(curdlecurdlecurdle!)

Went to open house for DS1 last night, and he was not exactly thrilled to discover that his teachers are on OUR side as far as getting him, kicking and screaming if necessary, through the 6th grade. Mwahaha...

Well, need to head out to pick up the kiddos. Blah.

Uh...

Sorry Donna, et al - my cross-stitching personality took over there for a paragraph...I just get so excited when I have new projects in my stash...! Not exactly a foreign language - just different...lol!

Is it Wednesday already???

Wow - this week is really flying by! Didn't do too terribly much this weekend. My goal for Saturday was to not leave the house. Well, I can honestly say I tried anyway. Only had to go out a couple of times for a couple of things, and the rest of the day I huddled downstairs in DH's new and improved batcave (are ya ready fer some football?!) - and yes, the new couch naps very nicely, thankyouverymuch!

Sunday was good. Worship was a blast! And we have a new brother and sister in Christ as of Sunday.

Monday, DH and some of 'da guyz' had a church-wide Labor Day 'Farewell to Summer' picnic at the building. SO much fun! Lots of food and fellowship, with no major injuries reported from the flag football field. I was standing with DH at the grill at one point Monday and we were watching the game, and it occurred to me how much the day had been like an old fashioned family picnic! THIS is how I envisioned the day to be.

Friend boss was off Friday and Tuesday, so I did her jobs as well as my own (mostly, anyway) and believe me - I definitely miss her when she's gone! So today is much easier...

Got a little bit of stitching done this weekend. Not as much as I'd have liked to, but there ya go. Recently got some Silkweaver solos (my first ever SW) and I'm SO excited! I have some ideas as to what to use them for - mostly C-word holiday gifts. I'm also trying to restrain myself from kitting up Savannah's Curtsey - a design I fell in love with as soon as I saw it, and my first Mirabilia. Bought it on ebay and really want to start it soon! I just can't decide what color fabric to use. Hopefully we'll be replacing the nasty blue carpet in the living room in the not too distant future, so I'd like to steer away from the cooler colors. But there are still so many blues in the pattern...I don't know - any suggestions? And then there's my new Lavender and Lace patterns, The Quiltmaker (it was a substitute purchase for a messed up order from ebay - not really my favorite) and Nantucket Rose, which I have fabric for, but just not ready to tackle an L&L yet. We'll see.

I haven't written about the hurricane and the devastation that is so prevalent. I'm not cold or heartless or anything - I simply can't get my head around it yet. It's too much!

Why?

I don't know if I'm particularly morbid, or nosey, or what, but I check the online version of my hometown newspaper just to read the obituaries. Call me kooky!

Today I checked and my step mother's obit was posted. It didn't give details about a service here in the area (just said 'to be held at a later date) so we'll see if I hear about it.

I read her obit and it got my dander up. But I'm not sure why. I mean, yes, she was married to my father, but I never really considered her my 'mother' or anything. When I called my dad I would eventually speak to her. We were never particularly close, although she was the one who nagged my dad to make a point to see me.

I found out things in her obit that no one ever told me before. She was a twin! Her sister died as an infant. I never knew my step mother's 'real' name. She went by her middle name. She enjoyed crocheting. I had no idea! And all the other things you discover in two inches of newsprint...

My father evidently didn't think it was worth mentioning me. And that's okay. Just one more in a long history of snubs. I still haven't heard from him. I'm trying really, REALLY hard not to be bitter or angry or anything toward him. Funny, I almost typed "he's not worth it."

Lord, thank you for considering me "worth it."