Wednesday, February 28, 2007
At Bedtime
"Do you want me to rub it in (my goodnight kiss) so I can keep it in my heart and then I will remember you love me?"
Monday, February 26, 2007
DaVinci Code, part deux
The director of Titanic strikes again. If you haven't heard, he has filmed a documentary that claims, among other things, to have found a box containing Jesus Christ's bones, and the bones of his son. Read here for the story and here for a short rebuttal.
The documentary airs March 4 on Discovery Channel.
The documentary airs March 4 on Discovery Channel.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sad Day for the Tree
Before (The doomed tree is the one in the foreground)
During. They cut the branches off, then he climbed up and cut 3 foot sections off all the way down.
I couldn't resist slipping this one in. Cowboy Joel. Yesterday we had to cut down a Theodora Cedar in the front yard. During the wind storm the trees that fell towards our house sheared off the limbs on the front of our cedar tree. The cedar was precariously leaning and it was on a mound that was welling up on one side. We had an arborist look at it and he said we could prune it to balance out the loss of branches. BUT... we would need to keep pruning it every other year and never let our kids sleep in their rooms during a wind storm. Sadly, we decided to take out the tree then take a chance on it falling on the house.
A Theodora Cedar should have never been planted there in the first place. We looked it up and their limbs get to be 40-50 feet....it really spreads out!
Pictures soon!
Friday, February 16, 2007
A book not by Dr. Seuss???
The Exodus by Leon Uris
Yes, its true. I have finally read a book that is not by Dr. Seuss. I'm sure you're all wondering if I read anything else.
I have been trying to finish this book for about 2 1/2 years now. I would get stuck in the middle where it bogs down a bit and not finish. This time I plowed through and made it all the way to page 626!
I am not very good at book reviews, so bear with me. In high school I watched the screen adaptation of this novel and loved it. Years later, a friend and I were talking about the book and she let me borrow it. I since have bought a copy.
The Exodus is the story of the re-birth of the nation of Israel. The story is told through the eyes of an American nurse and several Israelis. The book takes place in post-war Europe where millions of displace Jews have no where to go because no one wants them. They are placed in refugee camps that are only slightly better than concentration camps.
The first half details the history of the Jews. First the holocaust told through a German girl who escaped to Denmark, and then told through a Polish boy who survived Auschwitz. Next it discusses the history of the Jews in Russia during the late 1800s, told through two Jewish brothers. There is so much rich history of Palestine that makes one understand currents events so much better.
I highly recommend it, even if it is 626 pages. The history is so easy to read since most of it you read through the eyes of characters, and there is a love story! =) It made me realize how persecuted the Jews have been throughout history. It wasn't just the Holocaust, that was just one of the many tragedies.
One thing I found very funny. Remember during the fall of Baghdad just a few years ago, that Saddam's minister of communications ( I forgot his name) got on the TV and announced to the world how Iraq was "winning" and they were "blasting away all the US tanks". All the while Iraqi soldiers were surrendering en masse. In The Exodus, numerous battles are detailed between the Israelis and surrounding Arab countries. Almost every time the Iraelis beat them handily and the Arabs would be broadcasting about their "great victory" , even after everyone knew they had lost mightily. I did not realize this great pride.
Reading about how Israel became a country makes you understand the conflicts that continues today.
Yes, its true. I have finally read a book that is not by Dr. Seuss. I'm sure you're all wondering if I read anything else.
I have been trying to finish this book for about 2 1/2 years now. I would get stuck in the middle where it bogs down a bit and not finish. This time I plowed through and made it all the way to page 626!
I am not very good at book reviews, so bear with me. In high school I watched the screen adaptation of this novel and loved it. Years later, a friend and I were talking about the book and she let me borrow it. I since have bought a copy.
The Exodus is the story of the re-birth of the nation of Israel. The story is told through the eyes of an American nurse and several Israelis. The book takes place in post-war Europe where millions of displace Jews have no where to go because no one wants them. They are placed in refugee camps that are only slightly better than concentration camps.
The first half details the history of the Jews. First the holocaust told through a German girl who escaped to Denmark, and then told through a Polish boy who survived Auschwitz. Next it discusses the history of the Jews in Russia during the late 1800s, told through two Jewish brothers. There is so much rich history of Palestine that makes one understand currents events so much better.
I highly recommend it, even if it is 626 pages. The history is so easy to read since most of it you read through the eyes of characters, and there is a love story! =) It made me realize how persecuted the Jews have been throughout history. It wasn't just the Holocaust, that was just one of the many tragedies.
One thing I found very funny. Remember during the fall of Baghdad just a few years ago, that Saddam's minister of communications ( I forgot his name) got on the TV and announced to the world how Iraq was "winning" and they were "blasting away all the US tanks". All the while Iraqi soldiers were surrendering en masse. In The Exodus, numerous battles are detailed between the Israelis and surrounding Arab countries. Almost every time the Iraelis beat them handily and the Arabs would be broadcasting about their "great victory" , even after everyone knew they had lost mightily. I did not realize this great pride.
Reading about how Israel became a country makes you understand the conflicts that continues today.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Happy 10th Anniversary!
We have been married for 10 years today! What a difference a decade makes! I love you now more than ever. Thanks for being my friend, confidant and love.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Micah's new glasses
If you'll remember Micah was diagnosed with esotropia. He says that he can see better with his glasses and he doesn't squint anymore. Doesn't he look cute!!
Public Service Announcement:
Esotropia and amblyopia can be hard to diagnose. The literature I received from the ophthalmologist says that all children should have an eye exam by an ophthalmologist by age 4.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Milestones
Today Micah had his first official away-from-Mom playdate. He's been at friends' houses before, but it was because *I* needed to go somewhere, like the dentist. Today he is at his friends house so that *he* can play. Without me. I'm not sad... just seeing him grow up. The other day he told me he was almost 5.
"What?? You just had your birthday!"
"It's okay, mom. When I'm 5 I'll still give you snuggles, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10 , 11, all those numbers I will give you snuggles. 12 14, 14, 16, 17 all those numbers too."
Sniff.
Joel's favorite toy is now a Gordon train from "take-along" Thomas the Train. He carries it around everywhere. It *almost* rivals tiger blanket. Almost. When he finds tiger you can see the dillemma going through his head. "I don't really want to put the train down... but it is my tiger...how can I carry all 3 things... I know! I'll put tiger in my mouth!" Then he joyfuly toddles around carrying one train part in each hand with tiger in his mouth. He calls Gordon "my guy". I am trying to get him to say train or Gordon instead. I think its working. Today at lunch he would say "bye bye twain" (or a g-word, maybe gordon?) and then move it back and forth like it was going somewhere.
Two sweet boys!
"What?? You just had your birthday!"
"It's okay, mom. When I'm 5 I'll still give you snuggles, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10 , 11, all those numbers I will give you snuggles. 12 14, 14, 16, 17 all those numbers too."
Sniff.
Joel's favorite toy is now a Gordon train from "take-along" Thomas the Train. He carries it around everywhere. It *almost* rivals tiger blanket. Almost. When he finds tiger you can see the dillemma going through his head. "I don't really want to put the train down... but it is my tiger...how can I carry all 3 things... I know! I'll put tiger in my mouth!" Then he joyfuly toddles around carrying one train part in each hand with tiger in his mouth. He calls Gordon "my guy". I am trying to get him to say train or Gordon instead. I think its working. Today at lunch he would say "bye bye twain" (or a g-word, maybe gordon?) and then move it back and forth like it was going somewhere.
Two sweet boys!
Check THIS out!
Oklahoma City-based Rocketplane Kistler will launch Temple into space as part of his grand prize for winning "Vanishing Point,” an interactive online puzzle created by Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices.
"I never even thought I would actually win,” Temple said Monday. Temple received word that he won last week, and after making sure the call was legit, he started celebrating.
"I Googled Aaron's name,” Temple said of Aaron Coldiron, Microsoft's senior product manager and the mystery caller. "When I realized it was real, I stared dancing around my office saying, ‘I won, I won... The Daily Oklahoman Feb 13
Aaron was in Oklahoma City yesterday giving away the grand prize of a trip to space for the Vanishing Point game.
Read the rest of the article here.
"I never even thought I would actually win,” Temple said Monday. Temple received word that he won last week, and after making sure the call was legit, he started celebrating.
"I Googled Aaron's name,” Temple said of Aaron Coldiron, Microsoft's senior product manager and the mystery caller. "When I realized it was real, I stared dancing around my office saying, ‘I won, I won... The Daily Oklahoman Feb 13
Aaron was in Oklahoma City yesterday giving away the grand prize of a trip to space for the Vanishing Point game.
Read the rest of the article here.
Monday, February 12, 2007
You have to get this on your blog!
After reading this post about what crazy internet people can do, I decided to get site meter on here. I didn't realize you could track who was reading your blog this way. It is super duper easy to put on your blog with blogger beta. I realize that maybe I'm the last person in the universe to know about this tool, but hey... if one of you didn't know, check it out!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Its been one year
Today marks one year that I have been without my mom. Grief is such a strange thing. Sometimes there are so many words inside but I don't know how to say them. Sometimes there are no words, just impressions. I feel it most acutely while watching my kids play and knowing I can't share this with my mom. She loved them so much, just as much I do, and she got so much joy from them. I just hurts to know I can't share her with Joel and that he will never know her. That just seems so strange to me, that someone so instrumental in your life will never know your child who is a large part of my life. Life is full of changes and I don't always like changes. When I was a child I cried because my balloon lost air and I knew I couldn't keep it forever.
I miss my mom, but I also miss my friend. That unconditional friendship where you can whine and complain and now that she'll still love you and you don't have to worry about it.
Following is the speech I gave at my mom's memorial service last year. That was also a strange thing. I do not like speaking in front of groups ( unless it is a group of 30 teenager where I try to cram math into their brains...). But I knew right away I needed to speak for her . When I wrote this out, the words just poured out of me. It was like someone else took over and wrote the words for me. It must have been the Holy Spirit.
--------------------------------------------
How do you sum up a life in 10 minutes? A lifetime of memories. I want to express to you today what was important to my mom, and what she would want you to know about her. I want you to know why she was so special to me.
Loving
It’s only recently, since I have had children of my own, that I have come to realize the depth of her love for my brother and me. All of those poopy diapers, late night feedings, clean ups, and sicknesses that you never know anything about as a child. As a mother myself, now I appreciate all of those things she did for me. She used to tell me when I was a child that I wasn’t getting married until I was 35. Of course, I just rolled my eyes and said “whatever”. Now I understand what she meant. She just loved us so much she couldn’t bear the thought of giving us up. More recently she had a new role in her life: that of Grandmother. She cherished this role and loved Micah and Joel very much. She called Micah, “her baby” and treated him like she was her child. I would take Micah to the TSC to eat lunch with mom and dad. Micah would get paraded around to meet everyone. Anyone who knew Sharon knew Micah and saw 10-12 pictures. In California, every so often I would get a phone call and it would be mom announcing she missed her baby and she was coming to visit.
Giving
My mother is one of the most unselfish and giving people that I know. She had a true servant’s heart. As my dad said, he just came to accept the fact that she would just give away all they had. I remember her saying frequently “oh well, its only money”. If she knew someone was in need, she would help them out. This included the small ways. She would give you the last cookie or go to the restaurant you wanted. She was generous with her time as well. People always came first. We lived in Southern California for 12 years. During that time if I ever asked her to come help me she was quick to jump on a plane and come. Now I am so grateful for those visits. I also remember her attending every event in my life, big or small, far or near.
Strong:
My mother was also a very strong person. I remember her as a drill instructor as a child. Several times I was sent back to clean the bathroom for a 2nd or 3rd time because it didn’t pass “inspection”. Discipline was swift and quick! I didn’t appreciate it at the time but now I do and I try to discipline and train my children as my mom and dad did to me. She started and ran a preschool at our church in Hawaii. It became one of the best preschools in the area with a long waiting list—due to her planning and organization. My mom’s strength was very apparent when she was diagnosed with cancer. She never looked back, she just asked, “okay, what are we going to do to fix it this time?”
Faithful
We put together some pictures and music that you will see. One of the songs is called “Blessed be the Name”. When I first heard it on the radio last year I instantly thought of my mom. I believe God gave me this song for today. Here are some of the lyrics:
Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be your name when I’m found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s all as it should be, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering, though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be your Name. Every blessing you pour out, I’ll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say: Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be His glorious name. You give and take away, my heart will choose to say blessed be Your name. “
Just like the verse from Job that Richard read earlier: through all the tumors and sickness with cancer never once did she blame God. She saw it as an opportunity to show how faithful God was to her. She chose to bless God. Paul said in 1 Cor 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” We see this lived out in my Mom. She had such a great attitude and the only way that was possible was through the relationship she has with Jesus Christ. Her faith was not a crutch, no, the Lord was her rock. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that today, as we remember her, she would want the focus not to be on her, but on the work of the Savior in her life. She would want you to investigate her faith and to know Jesus.
Closing:
Loving, giving, strong, faithful. That is my Mom.
What will I miss the most about my mom? I’ll miss her smile, her contagious laughter. I’ll miss the way she would be so excited for any good news I told her. I’ll miss my cheerleader and the shoulder to cry on. I’ll miss the unconditional love. Most of all I’ll miss her voice at the other end of the phone saying “hi, doll”.
Many of you had not seen my mom in recent months. Please know that’s ok. Her body and mind were shutting down. She wouldn’t have wanted you to remember her that way. Instead, remember her at work: full of life, bounding around the building, wanting to know everyone’s business. Remember her at church: playing the piano or clavinova, singing her heart out. Remember her at home: baking special dairy-free cookies for Micah, laughing, cross stitching, sewing, doing crosswords. Think of her as she is right now: a new body, finally rid of cancer, running and jumping, nothing hurting. Praise God! And that’s exactly what she is doing: basking in the glory of her Father; praising Him:
“Day and night they never stop saying: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.” Rev 4:8
When I was a kid I would ask a million questions. I drove my mom and dad crazy. Just ask my dad. Why is the sky blue? Why is the water salty? Why did God tell Noah to use gopher wood? Who wrote Hebrews? Mom would always patiently try to answer as many as she could or take me to the library to get a book. But when it got to the point where she couldn’t answer or find an answer she would say “well, one day when we get to heaven we can ask Jesus”. So, Mom, make sure you ask those questions for me. When I see you again, I’ll be sure to ask you!
I miss my mom, but I also miss my friend. That unconditional friendship where you can whine and complain and now that she'll still love you and you don't have to worry about it.
Following is the speech I gave at my mom's memorial service last year. That was also a strange thing. I do not like speaking in front of groups ( unless it is a group of 30 teenager where I try to cram math into their brains...). But I knew right away I needed to speak for her . When I wrote this out, the words just poured out of me. It was like someone else took over and wrote the words for me. It must have been the Holy Spirit.
--------------------------------------------
How do you sum up a life in 10 minutes? A lifetime of memories. I want to express to you today what was important to my mom, and what she would want you to know about her. I want you to know why she was so special to me.
Loving
It’s only recently, since I have had children of my own, that I have come to realize the depth of her love for my brother and me. All of those poopy diapers, late night feedings, clean ups, and sicknesses that you never know anything about as a child. As a mother myself, now I appreciate all of those things she did for me. She used to tell me when I was a child that I wasn’t getting married until I was 35. Of course, I just rolled my eyes and said “whatever”. Now I understand what she meant. She just loved us so much she couldn’t bear the thought of giving us up. More recently she had a new role in her life: that of Grandmother. She cherished this role and loved Micah and Joel very much. She called Micah, “her baby” and treated him like she was her child. I would take Micah to the TSC to eat lunch with mom and dad. Micah would get paraded around to meet everyone. Anyone who knew Sharon knew Micah and saw 10-12 pictures. In California, every so often I would get a phone call and it would be mom announcing she missed her baby and she was coming to visit.
Giving
My mother is one of the most unselfish and giving people that I know. She had a true servant’s heart. As my dad said, he just came to accept the fact that she would just give away all they had. I remember her saying frequently “oh well, its only money”. If she knew someone was in need, she would help them out. This included the small ways. She would give you the last cookie or go to the restaurant you wanted. She was generous with her time as well. People always came first. We lived in Southern California for 12 years. During that time if I ever asked her to come help me she was quick to jump on a plane and come. Now I am so grateful for those visits. I also remember her attending every event in my life, big or small, far or near.
Strong:
My mother was also a very strong person. I remember her as a drill instructor as a child. Several times I was sent back to clean the bathroom for a 2nd or 3rd time because it didn’t pass “inspection”. Discipline was swift and quick! I didn’t appreciate it at the time but now I do and I try to discipline and train my children as my mom and dad did to me. She started and ran a preschool at our church in Hawaii. It became one of the best preschools in the area with a long waiting list—due to her planning and organization. My mom’s strength was very apparent when she was diagnosed with cancer. She never looked back, she just asked, “okay, what are we going to do to fix it this time?”
Faithful
We put together some pictures and music that you will see. One of the songs is called “Blessed be the Name”. When I first heard it on the radio last year I instantly thought of my mom. I believe God gave me this song for today. Here are some of the lyrics:
Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be your name when I’m found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s all as it should be, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering, though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be your Name. Every blessing you pour out, I’ll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say: Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be His glorious name. You give and take away, my heart will choose to say blessed be Your name. “
Just like the verse from Job that Richard read earlier: through all the tumors and sickness with cancer never once did she blame God. She saw it as an opportunity to show how faithful God was to her. She chose to bless God. Paul said in 1 Cor 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” We see this lived out in my Mom. She had such a great attitude and the only way that was possible was through the relationship she has with Jesus Christ. Her faith was not a crutch, no, the Lord was her rock. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that today, as we remember her, she would want the focus not to be on her, but on the work of the Savior in her life. She would want you to investigate her faith and to know Jesus.
Closing:
Loving, giving, strong, faithful. That is my Mom.
What will I miss the most about my mom? I’ll miss her smile, her contagious laughter. I’ll miss the way she would be so excited for any good news I told her. I’ll miss my cheerleader and the shoulder to cry on. I’ll miss the unconditional love. Most of all I’ll miss her voice at the other end of the phone saying “hi, doll”.
Many of you had not seen my mom in recent months. Please know that’s ok. Her body and mind were shutting down. She wouldn’t have wanted you to remember her that way. Instead, remember her at work: full of life, bounding around the building, wanting to know everyone’s business. Remember her at church: playing the piano or clavinova, singing her heart out. Remember her at home: baking special dairy-free cookies for Micah, laughing, cross stitching, sewing, doing crosswords. Think of her as she is right now: a new body, finally rid of cancer, running and jumping, nothing hurting. Praise God! And that’s exactly what she is doing: basking in the glory of her Father; praising Him:
“Day and night they never stop saying: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.” Rev 4:8
When I was a kid I would ask a million questions. I drove my mom and dad crazy. Just ask my dad. Why is the sky blue? Why is the water salty? Why did God tell Noah to use gopher wood? Who wrote Hebrews? Mom would always patiently try to answer as many as she could or take me to the library to get a book. But when it got to the point where she couldn’t answer or find an answer she would say “well, one day when we get to heaven we can ask Jesus”. So, Mom, make sure you ask those questions for me. When I see you again, I’ll be sure to ask you!
Monday, February 05, 2007
We're back!
I want to be consistent about blogging again, but we were in Oklahoma City last week. We had a good time. Aaron had to go for work. Kind of. He signed up to go to a Best Buy in OKC and demo Windows Vista for customers. We found cheap tickets, so we went along too. It was nice to sleep in until 8:30 every day. It did snow one day and it was cold cold cold! Just when we finally broke out of our cold weather here.
We made it to the zoo and the Omniplex (a hands-on science center) and the natural history museum. Aaron and Grandpa even took the kids for a day so my MIL and I could go shopping sans kids. Yippee!
Other than the 2 hour delay with the airline and conjuctivitis for Joel and me, it was a great trip!
We made it to the zoo and the Omniplex (a hands-on science center) and the natural history museum. Aaron and Grandpa even took the kids for a day so my MIL and I could go shopping sans kids. Yippee!
Other than the 2 hour delay with the airline and conjuctivitis for Joel and me, it was a great trip!
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