Jonathan's Lip Plumping Magic

Every day with Jonathan is an adventure because a 10 year old boy's curiosity is inexhaustible. Combine that with his extreme personality and the possibilities are endless. In this photo, we were at the local haircut establishment waiting for our turn. Jonathan had a wide-mouth bottle of Fuze and when he finished his drink decided he would see what would happen if he sucked all the air out of it... THIS is what happened! (Angelina, we know your secret!) This effect lasted 3 HOURS!

Holiday Recap

This month has been a whirlwind of activity from my week in Monterey, Christmas parties, church activities, family festivities, and tack on all the normal obligations like work and school (minus 1 week) and it all becomes a blur...

It seems only fitting that this post be a blur as well, so, here goes what I remember...

One week in Monterey visiting family and a few friends:
-Lots of snuggle time with my new nephew and playtime with nieces.

-Baylie- thanks for the walk down memory lane (vomit, pull-up blow-out, and lots & lots of spills combined with Candy Cane Lane and Starbucks- that will be a story your sister I can remind you of for years as you get older).

-I also finished the last 3 books of the Twilight series...I was only screening them because my 13 year old wanted to read them (that's what I told the guy sitting next to me on the plane when he gave me a funny look that said, "Isn't that a teen book? And you look wayyy past your teens!")

-Girls night out at Hula's-I got my fish fix: Lemongrass Hapu! (Much desired over the catch of the south-Catfish)

-Breakfast with Heather at First Awakenings

-A stop by the old stomping grounds-CCMB

-A visit to Mark's new upscale guitar shop, "Strings"

-Walks around the neighborhood with Jude to let Christine get some uninterrupted work done turned into catching up with the Holdridge family.


Christmas Parties:
-The evening I got back from Cali, was my staff Christmas party. We went to a restaurant called the Hil. I didn't know they had restaurants like this in Georgia. Great find!

-CCMcD's Ladies Christmas party was the next evening. Hosted by my mom at her house. It was spectacular. Scrumptious food, lots of games, and what Christmas party would be complete without a gift exchange?

-Manny has his Turning Point Christmas party the same night and came home with a basket full of goodies including handcuffs...

Family Festivities:
-Christmas Eve was spent at Aimee & Ryan's. We enjoyed Grandpa Luke's famous Clam Chowder, Catch Phrase and a 3 hour long drum video (thanks Ryan- I didn't know people could twirl their sticks like ninjas and still keep time. I'm going to be expecting some of those moves on Sunday mornings)

-Christmas Day started off with our traditional family breakfast. This year Little Manny requested homemade donuts to which I added sausage & eggs. This was followed by opening gifts. They came away with loads of loot (I don't care what people try to say about Christmas NOT being about the gifts. Ask any child above 3 years old- it's ALL about the gifts. More specifically, ONE gift in particular...) We went to Mom & Dad's in the afternoon where we opened more gifts, ate more delicious food and, of course, had the judging of the 2nd annual Christmas Photo Competition. Unfortunately, Dad was in bed the whole time with the flu which changed the dynamics of the day- a lot less commentary.

I'll be posting other highlights later but figured this would catch all of up since I haven't posted much lately...

Auntie Time

I'm enjoying lots of time with the nieces and nephew in Monterey this week.

Holiday Festivity Kick-off

I was surprised that the boys were so into making these gingerbread houses. I am glad they haven't grown out of it yet. Of course, it did become a competition between the brothers...

Get Away

It's been a while since Manny and I have been on a date so when the opportunity presented itself for an overnighter, we didn't hesitate. There's a local B & B where we like to hide out for some pampering and relaxation. The owner is a Paris trained chef so we always add dinner to our stay. It's good to be spoiled every once in a while.

Ding Dong Dined-Delicious!

We have some friends nearby who have a family tradition- making a wonderfully delicious breakfast, packing it up and showing up to some one's house unannounced to share it. We were the recipients of their generous tradition. The hot breakfast consisted of homemade cinnamon rolls, breakfast pizza, hot coffee, orange juice and eggnog. You can wake me up any day with this knock at the door!

Family Hike

We enjoyed a day off at a state park that's close by. The fall colors were at their peak. This is my favorite season to take in God's creation...

Yes, he went to school like this....

Economics 101

Jonathan has an entrepreneurial spirit and in an effort to make some money he decided to start collecting cans. He would rummage through the garbage at church and home. I even caught him dumpster diving after a football game. He recruited Grandma and Grandpa to set aside their cans for him too. On his first visit to the Recycle Center he earned $.60 per pound and came away with a few bucks. The reward for his efforts further motivated him and he became more determined and bold in his pursuit of aluminum.

He had high hopes on his second visit to the dump-I mean Recycle Center- since this time he had more than tripled his booty. When he went to cash out after they weighed his cans, he was hit with the reality of our unstable economy. They gave him only $.20 per pound. My heart dropped as I watched him come out of the cashier's station with shoulders drooping, fighting off tears. All his hard work had not paid off in the way he expected. When he questioned the man, he explained that they base their prices on the current stock market values and they change daily. This explanation didn't make sense or cents to a 10 year old boy.

He's still collecting but this time with a watchful eye on the market...

What's with the 80's comeback?

We celebrated Miguel's birthday last weekend with yet another 80's party! It's a good thing I held onto my warm up suit from the last one but this time I decided to go as an 80's soccer mom. I was relieved that I only recognized a handful of songs that the DJ played as it gave me an assurance that I wasn't that old yet.

Division Champs!

Jonathan's team won the title for the McDonough Mustang Division B playoffs. He was so excited he kept telling people his team won the Superbowl. Although I am excited they won, I am equally excited that football season is over and we can renew time with friends and a slower pace of life. It seems that during football season we don't have a free weeknight and don't see our friends unless they come to one of Jonathan's games.

Side-note: As a way to boost the team's excitement and anticipation for the game they rode on a bus to the field together. Not just any bus. This was an old school bus turned NASCAR fan headquarters (hey, we're in the south!). It was painted white with tiger eyes on the front and a makeshift deck on the top (thankfully they rode inside with "Eye of the Tiger" blasting from the boom box). There was no missing their arrival since the bus backfired every ten seconds the whole ride. What a way to make an entrance- classy. That's how we roll here.

Is There An Age Limit For Trick-Or-Treating?

Manny had some friends over on Halloween to spend the night. Although none of them had full costumes, some face paint and colored hairspray were enough to legitimize their pilgrimage around the neighborhood to beg shamelessly for candy. It was funny to watch these boys trapped inside young men's bodies. Caught between 2 worlds-wanting to hold onto childhood traditions yet anxious for independence. They pulled an all-nighter playing video games on the projector energized by nachos, pizza, candy and Vault soda.

Making A Day Of It

We went to a friend's wedding up north at our old stomping grounds in Gwinnett County and decided to hang out afterwards. Here are a few random pix of the day.Congrats Lorna & Dennis!
Fond memories of our first house where Jonathan learned to ride his bike and I was educated by Manny(at 7 years old) on the difference between a snapping turtle and a common box turtle.
Here are the newest models for Banana Republic eye wear. Fierce!

Father-Son Bonding

All In A Days Work

My boss is a fun guy. He has lots of toys. This one is a limited edition Corvette. I'm told it was a pace car for the Indy 500. He shares his toys. It's nice to share. During an all day staff meeting we took a lunch break and I got to ride in it with the top down. It felt like a roller coaster ride when he accelerated from 0-80 in 3 seconds. SUH-WEET!

Family Experiment: Update

This morning on my one and only day off, I was cleaning the house. Cleaning is a great time to think. So I did. Somehow my thoughts turned into complaining about stuff that had happened in the past. I was grumbling about relationships that had dissolved and wondering if the other parties had felt the loss and pain to the extent that we have... I began to sense a knot in my stomach as the emotions of those hurts tried to resurface. Before they could gain momentum I was quickly reminded of 2 things:

1. God has brought incredibly fulfilling friendships into my life in the past year that have challenged me and encouraged me in my faith.

2. In Philippians 3 it says, "forgetting what is behind I press on...". This happens to be where we are at in the ladies study so I figure this is a good time to put it into practice and have some life application to share on Thursday.

Taking hold of those thoughts and acting on them via a phone call to one of those friends to let her know how thankful I am for her helped change my direction of thought and emotions turning my grumbling into gratefulness. Although my heart longs for resolution of past conflict, it is not in my power to bring it about. I can only trust God's purposes forgetting what is behind and pressing on...

I guess I called myself out...there may be hope for this pessimist after all!

New Nephew

My sister and bro-in-law welcomed their first child into the world yesterday; a healthy baby boy named Jude weighing in at 6lbs. 7oz. I am looking forward to seeing him early December. Congrats Shawn & Christine! (hoping you actually get a moment in this next year to read this)

Family Experiment

The ladies at our church are going through the book of Philippians. I have been challenged in my everyday life to live out what I'm learning. The following is an email I sent out to the ladies about some of that:

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing." (Phil 2:14)
This passage keeps going through my head this week. It's funny how the Lord brings something up that you don't normally pay much attention to and you start to notice it EVERYWHERE!

It seems there is an epidemic in my household called "Grumblitis" with one of the worst symptoms being dispuking. Other symptoms include huffiness, scowling, stiff neck, pouting, and overall irritability. I noticed it in me today when I received a call from my husband. "Hey honey, are you free for lunch? There's a luncheon I'd like you to join me at." I respond impatiently, "It's my only day off and there are things I need to get done! Why couldn't you let me know earlier?" (Huff!) I agree to go and we arrive late which further exaggerates my symptoms. I notice my husband's demeanor changing from grin to grim and realize I may have infected him.

It's highly contagious and I'm seeing it in my children, too. Their immune systems can't fight it off as well as mine so it's infecting them full force. I can tell because as we're going through our regular daily routine I am met with remarks such as, "There's nothing good to eat! Why do I have to clean my room today? Can't I play for ten more minutes? You never let me do anything fun!" It's strange because the refrigerator is full. They have never gone without a meal. They know they have to clean their room every week. They get more than enough game time and more than enough entertainment opportunities. Nothing has changed except their attitude...

So, what's the antidote? Thankfully my Dad's a doctor and He specializes in illnesses such as these. The medicine He prescribes is obedience in humility washed down with the word. It can be a hard pill to swallow by someone with so much pride and self-will as me but it's the only remedy for this ailment. I am hoping this isn't one of those resistant strains...

As a family experiment in trying to change some bad habits, I have implemented a game of sorts; if someone is caught grumbling, whining, or complaining they get called out and have to name 3 positive things to counter what they were complaining about. Everyone plays. I'll let you know the lab results in a couple weeks. My hope is that there will be a lot less grumbling and a lot more gratefulness.

Confessions of a Reluctant Progressive

I can't find my usb-camera cable in order to put pictures on my blog. I have several entries waiting for the pics to go with them. I think it's time for some new technology since my digital camera is the size of a brick and I'm sure there's got to be any easier way to transfer pics. I've been one of those traditionalists who use phones to make phone calls, cameras to take pictures, desktops to send emails, stereos to listen to music, and VCRs-I mean DVD players to watch movies. There's got to be a better way...

Law & Order: The Final Entry As Promised

I pass through the security check point, out the doors of the Justice Center and into a refreshingly crisp fall breeze. A few more steps and I'll be in my car and on my way home but there is Michelle sitting on a bench waiting for me. She doesn't know it yet but she is the object God is using to teach me a lesson in unhindered obedience. The kind of obedience that doesn't ask questions to determine if the request is worthy of acting on. The kind of obedience that recognizes the voice of sovereignty and infinite wisdom and dares not bargain.

"Go talk to her."

"But..." I hesitate.

"Go."

I sheepishly approach the bench and sit next to her. I am all nerves as I start in by saying, "I was in the court room when you shared about your grandson. What is he in the hospital for?" That is all the prompting she needs. For what seems like a long time she goes on about her life. A relocation from Maryland to help her daughter and 5 grandchildren has turned out to be harder than she thought. Her daughter is on her way to pick her up and go back to the hospital where her grandson with Cerebral Palsy is suffering from a collapsed lung. She is out of work, out of money, soon to be out of a home, and almost out of hope.

I ask if I can pray for her and before I can finish my sentence, she grabs my hand and says,"Yes, yes!" I stumble through a prayer asking God to give her hope and to provide for her family's needs. When we're done, I ask what her immediate need is. She says they don't have any food...

Food is safe, I reason. Since I have to get home for Jonathan, I can't help her right then so I take her phone number and tell her I'll see what I can do. On my way home, I call a friend, Taryn, to see if she wants to accompany me on a mission of goodwill. (Actually, I wanted someone with me as moral support and as a bodyguard since my hubby was at men's group. I also brought my stun gun just in case. Hey, I didn't know what I was walking into!)

Later that evening Taryn and I load my car full of groceries and drive across town to drop them off. With a hug and a few encouraging words to "hang in there", the event was rather anti-climatic. I didn't have to use my stun gun to ward off any seedy characters, Taryn didn't have to use any of her stellar self defense moves and there was no white light that shown down from the heavens to illuminate the halo around my head. I can say that I went home with a clear conscience, a quiet assurance, and peace that I had done something that pleased God simply because I obeyed his voice.

Auburn Tigers Update

In the second half of the football season Auburn has had a turn around. Defense has proven it's strength in holding off the other teams and offense has finally stepped up their game and started blocking. So far they are undefeated for the second half with 2 more games to go.

Jonathan is notorious for his over-the-top tackles and I mean that literally. He wraps the guy up from the around the chest or shoulders and in one motion lifts, twists, and then power-drives him to the ground. It looks more like a WWF move than a football maneuver but that's our Johnny- he always has to put on a show!

Since we're becoming more experienced football fans, we decided to do a tailgate before Johnny's game on Saturday. I brought the brauts and chips but forgot the umbrellas. As Murphy's Law would have it, it started to rain. Thankfully there was a covered area where the park & ride bus stop is so we were saved from soggy buns.

Recording Project Update

This month was supposed to be the start of recording in the studio. As happens often, things take longer than I'd like. I'm ready but the crew has had some delays in scheduling. We are pushing it back to November and still working on things here like arrangements and cash stash. On an encouraging note, I've met my first goal of saving for the project which means I've got money for about 40 hours worth of studio time. In addition, I have had a burst of creativity and inspiration since the worship conference and have written a couple new songs.

Law & Order Pt. 2

Michelle sits beside me fidgeting like a child. I look through my paperwork pretending I am occupied so I don't reveal my nervousness at her proximity. What am I nervous about? Why would a tiny woman's presence cause such a strange response in me? I backtrack my mental processing to discover the problem.

In the short time I had to observe her, I had sized her up. I sat in the seat of the judge weighing the evidence at hand.

Exhibit A: Limited in speech and vocabulary.
Conclusion: Minimal education

Exhibit B: Unusual decay and discoloration of teeth, extremely thin, excessively fidgety, and aggressively bold.
Conclusion: Junkie

Exhibit C: She was getting evicted due to failure to pay rent yet she showed up to plead her case.
Conclusion: Victim mentality leading to a refusal to take personal responsibility for own actions.

The conclusions I drew from the evidence led me to my judgement: Michelle must be a selfish, lazy, lying, leech sucking the time and money of productive people in society and even lying about a sick grandson in order to feed her habit. What intelligent, upstanding citizen wouldn't feel uneasy sitting next to such a person!?

Pause: As I re-read my account in order to check for spelling and grammar errors, my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Maybe I shouldn't be so honest about my inner thoughts. This isn't a journal, it's a public blog! Do I really want people to know what goes on in my heart & mind? Maybe I'll skip my mental processes and go straight to the part that makes me look really saintly and compassionate. No, you might get the wrong idea about me. Anything good in me is a result of someone else's influence and I don't want to mislead you.

I snap out of my introspection when I hear my case being called. Michelle has left the courtroom having consented to the judgement against her, supposedly in a rush to the hospital. I approach the bench to receive the signed judgement forms and am happy to be on my way home after almost 3 hours sitting on a hard wooden bench.

As I walk down the hall towards the exit, I hear fast paced footsteps behind me. I move to the right to make room for them to pass and catch a glimpse of pink in my peripheral. Michelle. I slow my pace to let her pass and because the blisters on my feet are rubbing raw. The distance between us grows until she turns the corner out of sight and a foreign thought enters my mind, "What if you're wrong about her?"

Huh? Couldn't be, the evidence speaks for itself!

Another thought assaults me, "Are you sure you read the evidence correctly?"

Well, of course! I mean, I think... Well maybe there are some other explanations that would fit...

"Is it really your place to sit as judge anyway?"

Okay, I see your point. I don't have all the information and even if I did, I don't have the wisdom to make a proper judgement against someone else. I concede, lesson learned. My bad!

"Not so fast, the lesson isn't over yet."

What?

Okay, this entry is getting way too long. There's gonna have to be a third part. I promise I'll finish it.

Teh-Teh-Tee-Bone Stay-eek!

...that's Manny's nickname for his buddy, Bruce. He just finished the first course of the Army Chaplain program at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC so we brought him down to hang out with us this weekend. It's always fun to see Manny & Bruce together because they re-live the glory days of Bible College & ministry together. I'm sure this weekend will be filled with ministry war stories and maybe even a visit to the Super Grand China Buffet #2! Bruce has been hooked on these quality food establishments for as long as I've known him which is about 13 years. He's even got a song he sings about them:



"Welcome to Dragon house, have a seat! For $2.99 it's all you can eat..."

Law & Order

Her name is Michelle. She is obviously unaccustomed to court procedures as she approaches the bailiff to ask questions about her case. When he tells her he can't help, she proceeds to the attorneys sitting in the front. They shew her off as they prepare their already full caseload. She finally takes a seat at the request of the bailiff as the judge is welcomed into the courtroom. "All rise for the honorable Judge Walker."


It's Monday and I've got better things to do than sit in a courtroom waiting my turn just to hear the inevitable outcome, "Judgement in favor of the plaintiff due to the defendant's failure to appear. I am awarding you the full amount of your claim as well as an immediate writ of possession of the property." I'm here because one of our tenants has failed to pay rent and we have to follow the law on how to evict them and take our property back. This is part of my job that I find intriguing and yet painfully dull. Intriguing because of the first hand glimpse into our judicial system. Dull because of the fact that 90% of my time in court is spent waiting. Next time I'll bring a book or some knitting...


45 minutes has dragged slowly on and only 1 of the 91 cases has been heard so far. The air in the room feels thinner due to the mass of people beginning to get impatient and letting out their audible sighs. Michelle stands up and addresses the Judge, "Your honor, I have an emergency! My grandson is in the hospital and I don't know if he's gonna make it. Is there any way you can take my case early?"


My eyes follow Michelle as she approaches the bench. She's not more than 5 feet tall with a petite figure. She can probably shop in the children's sizes and apparent from her bright pink tee, skinny jeans and red crocs, she does. Her skin is a medium brown tone and most distracting is her hair- if it is her hair. Shoulder length curls flow wildly away from her head and I can't tell if it's a really awful weave or a really awful wig. Her small stature is made up for by her hair and her boldness. As I watch her talk, I notice her teeth. They have the tell tale signs of an addict.


People begin to get restless in their seats and my mind reels with doubt as to the truthfulness of her story. Who is this woman with such nerve? Why should she not have to wait like all of the rest of us? Your honor, can you hear my case early, too? I have a son I have to be home for when he gets out of school and I have a blister on my foot from these heels I wore to look professional in court!


The gracious Judge Walker agrees to hear her case next and Michelle turns to take her seat right next to me...


Tune in for the conclusion of this entry at a later date.

Feline Magnet

I have been allergic to cats for as long as I can remember. The pet dander makes my eyes itchy & watery and I get sneezy & asthmatic. For this reason, I steer clear of them as much as possible. For this reason, they seem to be attracted to me. The more I try to avoid them, the more determined they become to befriend me.

Case in point:

I've noticed a cat hanging around our home. I've spotted him several times darting from our backyard as I pull into the driveway. Apparently his boldness has increased because this morning I awoke to find him lounging on our patio. When I approached the window he lazily cocked his head in my direction as if to say, "Oh, you're finally up. Be a dear and fetch me a warm bowl of milk. And make it whole milk."

When Jonathan (AKA "the pet whisperer") opened the door to join the cat, he sprang to his feet and tried to slip into the house between Johnny's legs. Brazen! Jonathan informed me that the cat belongs to our neighbors down the street and whenever they leave the house he roams the neighborhood. He's chosen our place as a weekend getaway.

Recycle, Reduce, Re-use

I've decided to rename our church the "Hand-Me-Down" church. We're like the second sibling who rarely gets any clothing or toys retail. We've gotten chairs and tables from a church up north, building complete with murals in the children's classrooms from a church who merged with another, and now a sound booth, another projector & lighting from the church next door who just disassembled. I can't help but chuckle as Ryan pulls up to church with a truck full of wood from the discard pile at work for some new handyman project here. We may not have much cash flow but God seems to like to provide for our needs through other means.

The lessons I'm learning:

1. Don't put God in a box as to how He should provide.
2. Be grateful for ALL His provision!

Theme Parties Are All The Rage

Tonight we attended a 40th b-day party for a friend. Not just any run of the mill party, mind you, this was an 80's party. So, Manny and I hit Goodwill to see if we could find some hip threads. We could have stopped by Target seeing as fashion has come full circle and we can once again pay full price for stirrup leggings and leg warmers but I figured, "Why not be authentic?" Besides, the current trends are cheap imitations of the glory days.

Our commitment to authenticity paid off big time. Manny and I not only found coordinating outfits but something magical. When we put on our outfits it was as if the previous owner's persona had remained in the nylon/poly/cotton blend. We were transformed into Guido & Francesca, the Sicilian couple from New York. Baddabing!

We even found the perfect gift for the birthday girl: VHS copies (remember those?) of Miami Vice and ET. SCORE!

It was a fun night which had me reminiscing, as Cindy Lauper played in the background, about my pre-teen days with big bangs, Revlon Silver City Pink lipstick, tube socks, jelly shoes, and press-on nails. Those were the days...

Guido & Francesca

I've still got the teased bang skills thanks to Aquanet!

Worship Conference

Last weekend the worship team headed up to CC Stone Mountain for the annual "Deep South Worship Conference". It was some much needed hang out time for the team as well as good time of refueling for ministry. I taught a workshop on background vocals entitled "Every Worship Leader's Dream Vocalist". I had to hit the books to make sure I'd be giving them good and accurate tips in vocal training since I'm a little rusty on technique! Props to all the BGV's out there-it's a lot harder to sing good backup than lead!

I also got to sing with Scott Cunnigham which was "the bomb" (as my husband would say). The guy's got pipes and pen! I'd never heard him live before but he is definitely anointed of God. Josh Blevins is our local Psalmist at CCSM and we got to hear some of his new songs, too. Rich stuff!

To quote Dillon, "I love my ladies!"

Bass & Drums like Steak & Potatoes: they're better together

A Magic Carpet Ride

Manny dropped by the middle school to join Li'l Manny for lunch today. He brought a whole pizza earning him points with the table that Li'l Manny is assigned to eat lunch at. During the visit, Li'l Manny informed dad, in his very restrained, self-conscious, pubescent, Kip-like voice (which he uses often these days to conceal any signs of overt excitement) that he got the lead in Aladdin.

We're proud of you, Manny!

The Great Outdoors

Jonathan has his friend, Colton, spending the night. They decided to set up the tent and rough it ten feet from the back door of the house. We'll see if they make it through the night out there especially after daddy's story about "The Legend of the Suburban Grizzly".

Proper Church Attire

Here is Isaac Sagraves, the newest member of our church sportin' his designer threads (compliments on Shaye-Marie Designs). Too cute!

A Whole New World...

Since Jonathan has been in the spotlight lately with football, it's time to shift to the firstborn...

Speaking of spotlight, Manny might have one on him coming up in February. His music appreciation teacher heard him singing and suggested he try out for the school play (She is also the chorus teacher and director of the musical). That was all the encouragement he needed. He tried out for the school production of "Aladdin" this afternoon. He's got his sights on the lead role.

Manny quickly informed Dad and I that we would be allowed to attend the production (if he makes the cut) but would be required to maintain covert status at all times. No "atta boys". No banners stating, "Manny Is the Best!". And definitely no ear piercing whistles that Dad is notorious for. We've officially reached "uncool" status.

Hats off to the new thesbian! Should I mention to him that he gets that dramatic streak from me? After all, I was a two-headed alien in my 7th grade summer school play. Nah.

Auburn Vs. Virginia Tech

The Hoakies were a virtual Philistine Army against the Tigers tonight with Auburn players dropping like flies. The night was a blur of bruises and limping as the Hoakies defense steamrolled over our offense. Our star QB was taken out of the game due to injury as well as 2 other players. At least 6 of the opponent's players were head & shoulders above ours. After the game the boys nursed their wounds and as Jonathan walked towards me holding his back and favoring one leg, he belted out for all to hear, "Mom, I think that team was on steroids!"

Despite the 21-0 whoopin', our defense did manage to make a few tackles in which Jonathan assisted.

Doin' Our Part To Conserve

Those Chick-Fil-A cows are really persuasive when it comes to encouraging people to "Eat mor Chikin". So, in order lower our bovine consumption and make this earth a safer place for our mammal brothers, we had chicken sandwiches for lunch on Labor Day. It was a stormy day with the residual effects of all the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast so we spent it indoors window shopping and people watching at the local mall.

The Claw!

For our last night before Manny gets home, the boys and I went out to dinner. We tried a new place called The Sandtrap near our house. It's a family friendly establishment with a row of arcade games to keep the kids occupied playing or begging for more quarters to play. Jonathan had his eyes fixed on the Buck Hunting Game (yes, we're definitely in the south) so I gave him a couple "bucks". Little Manny and I watched him make a beeline for the game until he spotted....

The CLAW MACHINE! Jonathan has inherited his father's predisposition towards blowing insane amounts of time & money on the Claw Machine. Somehow the possibility of winning the prize overrides the fact that there's nothing in the glass box that anyone would actually want or buy in any other circumstance. But today, that neon red dog/bear/rabbit (we really can't distinguish) is the ultimate symbol of accomplishment.

Insert quarter. We watched as Jonathan maneuvered the claw directly above the prey and pressed the drop button. Nothing. Insert quarter. This time the claw caught something! But, alas the momentum of the sway overpowered the weak grip of the claw and the object is again out of reach. Insert quarter. Refining his joystick skills, Jonathan tries again. Victory!

We came home with the red mystery animal and a ball thanks to the generous Claw but my favorite prize was the look on Jonathan's face when he pulled the treasure out of the mouth of the machine and ran over to our table to show us. Eyes wide with excitement. Chest thrust forward in pride. "Look what I got!" Priceless.

R.A.O.K.- The Ripple Effect

A gentleman I'll call "Joe" came into my office this week wanting to anonymously pay rent for one of our tenants. He had encountered the woman at church and she shared with Joe and his wife how she was "in a bad way". She was behind on her rent and other bills. Her income as a newly single mom was not adequate to support her family and her ex wasn't paying child support. He and his wife were moved with compassion for this woman and felt God's prompting to help.

They had been saving up for their annual family vacation but when their doctor discovered that Joe had heart problems, they put those plans on hold. Turns out he has to have heart surgery this September and they are unsure how long the recovery will take. So, they have this money and no vacation plans (except the questionable 3 star lodging at the local hospital with the world renown green jello chef).

Using God-logic it was obvious that He'd provided the means to help this woman through them. Their "loss" would be her gain. Their unexpected health issues would serve to benefit one of God's daughters.

God is so masterful at how He orchestrates these situations. Not only did this woman witness God's unique provision in answering prayer but this man and his wife were blessed in obeying God's leading which in turn strengthened their faith and mine! Now, I'm sharing this story with you and...it just goes on and on! God's work always has exponential impact for His Kingdom and His glory!

Show Your School Spirit! (for a small fee)

Jonathan has been hounding me all week about "Hat Day" this Friday at school. Here are parts of our conversation.

Johnny: Mom, can I wear a hat to school on Friday?

Mom: I need more information.

Johnny: It's Hat Day on Friday, so can I?

Mom: I don't see why not, as long as it doesn't distract you or your classmates from accomplishing what you're there for...

Johnny: Okay, I need $.50.

Mom: What for?

Johnny: (Huff) Hat Day!

Mom: What? They charge you to participate?

Johnny: Yeah, it's $.50.

Intermission: Is this strange to anyone else? When I was in school, I walked barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways and the purpose of spirit days was to promote involvement and unity in the student body. When did it become a fundraising opportunity? Jonathan's already brought home packets for cookie dough, scented candles, wrapping paper, magazine subscriptions and we're only in the 3rd week of school! Where's my tax money going? Back to the conversation...

Johnny: So, can I have fifty cents?

Mom: Yes, get it out of the coin jar.

Johnny: (impatiently)Mah-ahm! That's MY money!

Mom: YOUR money? If I recall correctly, that is the same jar that I empty my change into when my cup holder in the car and change purse get too full. Do you have a job that I am unaware of? Have you started contributing to the coin jar? When did it become yours?

...Apparently he found the jar in the cupboard and since it didn't have someone's name on it, he claimed it for his own. I guess this is the mentality of most children toward their parents, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine." (I hear echos of seagulls. Quick, Nemo, swim for your life!)

Lifelesson: (I get a lot of these from Jonathan) Many believers have that same attitude towards God and His financial provision. Everything I earn is MINE and everything God gives me is MINE. I determine how it gets spent, saved, invested, or given away. I! ME! MINE! I must confess I've been guilty of this attitude. It creeps in almost imperceptibly until I take inventory of my heart, behavior and spending patterns. Instead, I should recognize that everything I have is His and seek His guidance for how to steward His stuff.

Auburn vs. UNC

Jonathan (#20) made several great tackles on Saturday. In the second picture, he flattened the running back- WAY TO GO JOHNNY! MAKE HIM EAT DIRT!...I mean uh, nice tackle. Be a good sport and help the boy up. (Oops, sometimes my maniacal, competitive mom-fan alter-ego kicks in and I get a little carried away.)

Rent-A Pet

My friend Taryn stopped by tonight to hang out. She was dog-sitting so she brought her canine companions with her-Cha-Cha & Bruno. This was a wonderful surprise for the boys since they luuuuv dogs. It dawned on me that there could be a real business opportunity here.

I imagine that there are many people out there like me who fancy the idea of owning a dog. We imagine the strolls in the neighborhood. Playing fetch in the park (slow motion image of dog jumping to catch the ball). Memories of "Where the Red Fern Grows"- a boy and his faithful hounds. There's no one as loyal as man's best friend. But those warm thoughts are quickly replaced by carpet stains and missing shoes. Barking, begging and..what's that smell? Eeew! Where's the pooper-scooper?

What if there was a way to achieve all the benefits without the sacrifice or commitment? RENT-A-PET! DOGS-FOR-LEASE! They do it with appliances and furniture, why not pets? This is a better idea than my Armpit Sweat Pads! Now all I need are some saavy investors...

Getcha Mota Runnin'...

Manny left this afternoon for a 1 week motorcycle mission trip around the Southeast. I know what you're thinking- which bike is Manny riding? Answer- none! He's driving the support vehicle- a large, comfortable, and safe(in comparison) Suburban. I am sure when he returns home he'll have a million reasons why he needs a motorcycle-better fuel economy right? Would that mean he'd have to wear those leather chaps? (I'd pay to see that!)

In the meantime, I think I'll rent "Wild Hogs".

Dinner & A Movie

Manny is leaving for the Motorcycle Mission Trip tommorrow so we spent some family time together tonight. There's a great Japanese restaurant around the corner and since we all love sushi, we stopped by there. The restaurant is always empty but I discovered how they stay in business- my husband! It turns out that he and his buddy are regular patrons. The owners know them on a first name basis and always give them a little something extra. Tonight it was a wonderful cream cheesy-crab-tempura delight. We had chopstick wars over the last few pieces of sushi-SKADOOSH! Now we're home about to change into pj's, grab the coveted supersoft micro-fleece blanket, plop on the couch and watch a movie...

The Project

So, we're finally laying down some scratch trax of my songs in preparation of the "real deal" starting in October. This pic is from Dillon's studio at home.

Go Tigers!

Jonathan's football team kicked off the season on Saturday. He's on the Auburn Tigers playing both offense and defense. Their team won the first game 13-0 and the second game no one scored. Jonathan made a couple great tackles. I got one on video but Blogger seems to be having problems with video uploads... He also got to run the ball for 2 plays and gained a few yards. He's definitely a natural athlete.

Even though he's been playing for 4 years there's one thing he can't seem to grasp the concept of... teamwork! In his mind, unless he touches the ball during a play, he hasn't really played. He doesn't understand how all the players work together towards a common goal (touchdown) and each person's role is important even if they aren't running the ball. We are trying to help him see how a block or a tackle can be the key to winning the game, etc...

Lifelesson: Just like in football, not everyone gets to run the "ball" but everyone is vital to the outcome of the game. Every player gets credit for the outcome too, win OR lose! Are you in the game and are you in it to win, even if you don't get to run the ball?

See you on the other side

This photo is about 3 1/2 years old. My grandpa on my mother's side is the guy in the wheelchair. He passed away this morning.

When I received the call I was shocked. Shocked at what little emotion I felt. I felt sad that I didn't feel sad. I wasn't overcome by any great sense of loss...let me explain.

I can count on one hand the encounters with my grandfather as a child. There was the time we met him in Santa Cruz for lunch and I ordered blackened fish, the morning we woke to a box of donuts on our kitchen table with a note from him (how he got in our house is still a mystery), and of course the infamous Christmas packages filled with loads of second hand treasures that always made for a good laugh-mom where did you put that sweater dress?(I think it's back in style!)

None of us knew him well. He was a mysterious character that would occasionally stop in for an unannounced visit and be gone just as abrubtly as he came. He was an American nomad. A drifter and a recluse. He eventually made his way to Georgia where he and his wife settled at a trailer park in Stone Mountain. This is where our lives intersected.

When we moved to GA my mom mentioned that was where her dad lived. I figured it must be a God thing that of all the places we would move to, he was just around the corner. So I figured I'd give him a call, maybe bake some cookies to drop by and see what might come of it. When I tried to contact him I ended up getting a hold of his stepson who was called into town because his mom (Grandpa's wife) had a stroke and wasn't expected to live much longer.

As it turned out, it was a God thing but not in the grandaughter-meets-long-lost grandpa-and forms-a-wonderful-bond-redeeming-the-years-of-absence, "happilyeverafter" kind of way. My grandfather's wife passed away within a few days and my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and sent to an "old folks home".

We would visit him on a weekly basis. We were his only family and he didn't have any friends. He rarely recognized me. Sometimes he'd light up as if he knew who I was and then he'd introduce me to his Bingo buddies as Carol (my mom).

When my parents moved into town we took turns checking in on him. That brings us up to today. So, here I am with lots of questions to ponder like, "Lord, what was his purpose for the past 6 years? What is the value of a human life when it's no longer productive to society? What was the point of bringing us together?"

I don't think I'll get the full answer to each of my questions. Just fragments until God puts the pieces together in eternity to make sense of things. Until then, I will rest in the confident hope that my grandpa is in the arms of his Father and that somehow I was a part of God's plan to heal his mind and spirit.

Summer Book Review

I was on a C.S. Lewis kick this summer and read "The Great Divorce". It is an allegory about how Christians tried to mix a little of the"world" into their lives thinking they could bring it with them into eternity but were met on the horizon of Heaven and couldn't enter unless they let those things go. Sadly, many of them would not.

The book challenged my thinking with reminders of how God has truly set us apart for eternity. We can't take even one little piece of the world with us to heaven. Neither can the world retain any true form of heaven-only cheap counterfeits. The two are mutually exclusive. The challenge came to evaluate my life by that standard. Is there any piece of the world I am holding on to? Something I've let creep into my thinking or behavior? How do I make decisions- big or small? Is it with eternity in mind? I want to live a life that is so consumed with God that when my time comes, there won't be anything to let go of. From glory to Glory, baby!

You have reached...

...the Collazo's. Thanks for stopping by. Unfortunately we have been unable to sit in front of the computer long enough to post anything new this past week. Please leave a message and we'll get back to you soon. BEEEEEP!

The Final Bite

Eric won...

- Manny
(Sent from my MotoQ)

Is betting a sin?

Tonight we had a Children's Ministry brainstorming session. Eric (pictured above) & Robyn Oldfield were there. After our meeting I invited the Oldfields out to dinner to Fuddrucker's. I bet Eric $5 that he could not put down their 1lb. Burger. Ill let you know who wins.
- Manny
(Sent from my MotoQ)