GladiTuesday!

Wow!  Hard to believe that my next set of gladdies will be in the month of July!  I hope y'all are finding something for which to be glad today.  If you're stuck, I'll give you a tawpic:  You're alive.  Here are some of my others for this week:

• Glad for OPI "Pink-ing of You" nail polish and Sally Hansen's "INSTA-DRI".  Too shallow? Whatev.  They give a great mani that doesn't chipsky.
• Glad that in about 26 hours, I'll be squeezing my Squeeze.  And I can say that we have no more China trips till Aug (which is just 6 weeks away, but work with me--"till August" sounds far away).
• Glad for a wonderful church service last Sonday.  Fabu from tip to toe.  The message and the worship brought me to a place where I could worship well and really feel near the throne of His grace. I know worship is all about Him, but being the great I AM, He has gives reciprocal love and grace to make it all about me, too. Glory!
• Glad I've been off processed sugar for 1.5 weeks.  Actually, scratch that.  I'm not glad.  But I am glad from an objective health perspective.  I guess.  Sort of.
• Glad to be reading a new novel.  I have to catch up w/my reading blog b/c my reading is so thankfully ON FIAH!
• Glad this idea was put to the test yet again, and even though it was hard, God showed up.  Amazingly.
• Glad for some time to blog.  Glad Big isn't here yet, so he won't know that there might be a flurry of clean up in the next 24 hours.  Shhhh.
• Glad for neighbors who are more like friends, and friends who God uses to pray for me and sustain me.

Happy July 4th Week! 

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Playing along with Mer and Angie.  Join in, if you wish...

Put on your Jon Lovitz, and Get to Know Me (as if there's anything you prolly don't know--I'm pretty transparent!)



What color are your socks right now? No socks. Merrill flip-flops.  Telling myself they're good for my feet.

What are you listening to right now? My ding-dang dog, barking at all the walkers on the path which runs behind our house.

What was the last thing you ate? Cereal.  I like to mix my cereals.  Does anyone else do that?  Too many left brains here?

Can you drive a stick? Well now, that's a rather tawdry sounding question.  But yes, I can.  I learned (I kid you not) on my friend's green Pinto.  You know...the kind with an exploding gas tank. 

Last person you spoke to on the phone? My hubby.  I spoke to him tomorrow morning, in fact. ;)  But the second to last person was Sus! On her way into CO.

How old are you today? 41.  Mantra?  41 is Fun.

What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? American Idol.   Or Survivor.  Yeah...not huge sporty mcsporter.  But my hubby loves football and golf, and I love him, so I watch (aka nap/knit/read) Surprisingly, I'm actually starting to like golf.  Because they're quiet.  No freakin' vuvuzela horns!  Ahem.

What is your favorite drink? The list is too long!  Must have:  Coffee.  Lurve:  Wine/Margs, tied.  Non alco: Diet Dr. Pepper/Diet Coke, tied.

Have you ever dyed your hair? I simply help it back to the way God intended for it to be.  I see my greys as hairs of the world.  And it's my job to live in the world, but not OF the world.  ;)

Favorite food? Mexican. Or Italian.  Or king crab.  Or Frost Donuts.

What is the last movie you watched? Toy Story 3.  Cute.  Made me wistful...

Favorite day of the year? Tie:  Christmas and July 4th.  Easter would be more fun if my hubby joined in, but right now, it's kind of a divided day.  He usually goes to Christmas Eve svcs, though.

How do you vent anger? I usually spew, but I don't recommend that.  (This was Mer's answer, and I concur).  I also might be a little passive aggressive.  "What's wrong?"  "NOTHING!".  Next question.

What was your favorite toy as a child? Young child = Mrs. Beasley.  Older child = Barbies.

Favorite Season? Fall.  It never used to be.  But this is one season in nearly every place I've lived which is simply beautiful.  And I lurve the aromas of fall baking, etc.

Cherries or Blueberries? Yes!  Actually, I prefer blueberries, but we have cherry trees at the beach house, and they make for a smashingly delicious cherry pie on, you guessed it:  July 4th!

Living situation? I couldn't ask for a better family.  Period.  They exasperate me daily, and I them, too, but in the joys and sorrows of my life, our 4-pack is the best.  Thank You, GOD.

When was the last time you cried? During Toy Story.  It was just a sniffle though.  Cried at watching my son take his "graduation" (8th grade) trip with his dad.  Culmination of so much...Just so proud.  Cried as my dtr received "most improved" award in track.  Her team voted her in for that award.  Sniff.

What is on your closet floor right now? A somnolent, geriatric wiener dog.

What are you most afraid of? Having my husband die while he's traveling, or having one of the kids die/get severely injured.  This is a happy little topic.  NEXT...

Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Spicy, loaded up cheeseburgers.  I don't really need the burger part, but if it has all that other stuff, I'm good.

Favorite dog breed? I suppose I'll take one for the home team and say Dachshund and Golden Retriever. 

Favorite day of the week? Sunday.  Because of three things:  Church.  Taco Bell.  Napping.

How many states have you lived in? 6.  IA, CA, AZ, CO, TX (briefly--a summer), and WA

Diamonds or pearls? I don't discriminate.  What is your favorite flower? Snapdragons and roses.

Did you get an H1N1 vaccine? No. Got a normal flu shot though. 


Is your life complete now?  Can you die happy?  I have a bonus question for you:  In what state would you love to retire if money/circumstances were no object-or-Where would your dream vacay be (same criteria)?

Train Up a Mom in the Way She Should Go...

Pull up a latte. This one's long, but I couldn't figure out how to edit, since I'm wordy and all, so...

I don't know if you've ever caught the fact that I'm in a bit of a bewildering, befuddling hormonal whirlwind with my children. I often wonder exactly where I am and whether or not we're still in Seattle, Toto.  Even when I click my Emerald City slippers, I still don't exactly feel I've arrived home with this whole mothering of pubescent children thang.  And yet...even in my angstiest times (like that word, angstiest?)...I realize that each day is a gift, and that God not only loves me through these class V rapids, but loves my children (His children) through them, too.  Man, my metaphors are ON FIAH!

Hello, Gretchen...the point?  Okay.  Those who are least equipped to give parenting advice should cowgirl up and give it, no?  Let's call it sharing, instead of advice. I may have been raised as an only child, but I am an expert at sharing (my opinion).

Instead of leading my children through my own mad skilz and expertise, which sounds like nothing but n.a.g.g.i.n.g. to them...Charlie Brown phone call, anyone?  I can lead them to seek God's teaching.  God's point of view.  God's words. And, God's truth, as delivered by the Holy Spirit. 

One day, I was swinging at the end of my rope, and asked my friend Jean, who has been a mom warrior for 27 years, how she disciplined her children (especially) when it came to the sass factor.  She told me that she let her kids know that because they had the Holy Spirit indwelling them, that they HAD A CHOICE in their behavior, and when they were with her, they needed to choose to be respectful. 

Lightbulb.

She also said that she used the Bible--God's Words, not hers--when disciplining her kids.  As they were old enough, she'd send them off to their room with an assigned passage.  Shed' tell them to be quiet before God, and then talk to them about it later.  She's a rock star, that Jean.  And, I apologize if this is common sense and common practice to my cradle Christian friends.  You might even be saying, "duh!", but it was a lightbulb moment for me.  You see, I've taken my children to church.  I've prayed with and for them.  I've even pulled out the spare verse or 2 when talking with or (ahem) yelling at them.  But I've been parenting in my own strength and wisdom too much of the time.

Well, after one particularly snarky day with my Jesus-loving self and children, I decided to try the old "seek God" technique. Well, I'll tell you...I was afraid they'd refuse/laugh/scorn me when I tried this new disciplinary trick.  But, God was/is/will be faithful.  Each time I've used this "technique", it has diffused any anger, and has drawn my kids and me together and toward God.  I'm not (too) naive--I realize one day, I'll hit defiance in this area as in others, but the greatest thing about it is that I have immediate back up.  They are both sold out to Jesus, so it doesn't matter if they're sold out to me.  Jesus isn't a nag.  He's the Great I Am.  I've also realized this is a commitment for me--a very significant butt-kicker in terms of my own preparedness.  I can't just say, "Go read your Bible!", I have to have a planned verse.  So, that means...I have to be reading MY OWN Bible.  See?  Training me up...

GladiWednesday

Hi, my name is Gretchen, and I've been ignoring the blogosphere and my own blog for about three weeks. 

Hi, Gretchen.  Gretchen, before you start your Gladitudes, would you like to explain to the group why you've been so neglectful/absent, lately?

Why, yes.  Yes, I would.  You see, You, I've simply gotten out of the habit.  Numerous things have drawn my attention away from the blogosphere, and by the time I got ready to sit down and type, either someone was in residence at one of the computers (trying not to call them MY computers), or the end of school was happening, auditions for the Christmas play at my church were occuring, we might've celebrated an anniversary and a b'day, etc. etc. etc.  Nothing monumental.  Just not altogether bloggy habit-friendly.

Oh, so Gretchen...do you think this warrants having a laptop or iPad of your own?  To keep you in the habit of blogging?

I'm so glad you asked that!  Yes, I do.  However, I have a husband who is practically perfect in every way, and he reminds me of wants versus needs.  whatever.  Evidently, we don't need to be a 4 computer family.  whatever.  And at this time, I feel the need, the need for speed, and for some gladdies. 

• Glad I wanted to cowgirl up to the keyboard today and dive back in.
• Glad I'm nearly 1/2 way finished with the Read With Me Challenge to read my Bible in one year.  I'm using Piper's program, and lurve it--though I parked in Psalm 119 for like...2 weeks.  I'm also reading other books, too.  Novels and memoirs and such.  Luuuurve.
• Glad that my 12 year old daughter is now measuring 5'6", and is nearly as tall as me.  Because I'm tired of her asking whether or not she'll grow and be 5'8", her dream height.  
• Glad that my son "graduated" 8th grade, and he had a mancation with his dad to DC.  Glad about his thank you gift to his teachers:  a sci-fi short story.  Proud mom moment...I'd lurve to submit it somewhere, but don't know where.  At any rate, it's been one of the few writing assignments (from me, no less!) that he's been motivated to do.  Excited, even, at the prospect of making something for them.
• Glad my dtr. has made it thru prolly one of the snarkiest years in school:  6th grade.  There are days when I wanted to send her to school w/a flak jacket--and there are days when I needed one. ;) Ahem.  And thru it all, her BFF and she have weathered each storm and come out giggling.  Usually.
• Glad to have celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on 6.2.  We had such a loverly trip to Whidbey, and after laying a few or 25 pavers, we relaxicated the entire weekend away.  And filled it with spoiling.  I am so blessed. 
• Glad to hear my little 13.5 year old Dachshund gently sigh and wimper in his sleep (as I type away).  I bet he's catching something FIERCE. Go Murphy!  You go with your cataracts and your decreased hearing and your arthritis.  In your dreams, I'm sure you're a Rottweiler.

What makes you glad today? 

Bet You're Glad It's A Mash Up

Well, thanks to my friend, Arkansas-Amber, I have blog fodder for my gladdies post! It's a Betcha Didn't Know-Gladitude mash up!  Holla.  If you're a gLover (gLee lover), you understand.  And if you're not, may I recommend Hulu.com?  Just sayin'.  Join us, if you're so inclined, in a Betcha Didn't Know Fiesta!  You can grab her button by going to the link above.

Without further glado, I give you 10 things I Betcha Didn't Know I'm Glad For (English majors, pls accept my apologies):

1.  Betcha didn't know that tomorrow's my 20th anniversary.  Oh, what's that you say?  I HAVE mentioned it a time or 11?  Well...so what.  Glad news bears repeating.  Stay tuned for a totally indulgent anniversary post sometime soon.
2.  Betcha didn't know that my husband swabbed our decks yesterday at the beach house.  Why is this a gladitude?  Because he did it in the rain.  Hey...it does look better.  He made room for more algae growth.
3.  Betcha didn't know that I'm glad it was (avg) 50* and rainy all Memorial Day weekend (except for the last 9 hours).  Why?  Well...because I didn't sweat.  How I do hate sweat. And I didn't slip or fall on our little hike (in the rain).  And because I was with my family.
4.  Betcha didn't know that I'm glad our family has made a fort on the beach every Memorial Day weekend ( for the past 3 years).  Pictures to come.  This year, I took more pictures than usual.  Because I started getting a bit misty that my kids might not want to be making a fort with their folks in the near future.  But this is a glad list, so I'm moving on.
5.  Betcha didn't know that I made stars and stripes cookies this weekend.  Let's just say I wasn't the only glad one about those.  Before all you foodie/recipe types ask.  Yes, they were delicious.  And yes, they were based on a cake mix.  This leopard's spots haven't changed. :)
6.  Betcha didn't know that my daughter and I went out and bought a colored hair extension piece for her.  This makes me glad because a) it's not permanent, and b) she's showing confidence in being who she is.  Do I lurve the hair extension?  No.  But that's beside the point.
7.  Betcha didn't know that tomorrow's my anniversary.  Wait...I said that.
8.  Betcha didn't know that I'm reading Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  My dtr's class was reading the junior edition, and I knew I had the regular copy laying around somewhere, so I picked it up.  So far, very fascinating. I'll review it here when I finish.
9.  Betcha didn't know that we saw lots of bald eagles last weekend.  They make me so glad.  And i don't know why. I guess I just see God's majesty in their stature and flight.
10.  Betcha didn't know that my husband picked up a seashell the other day and looked at it in wonder.  Betcha didn't know that he also said, "How can you look at this and think (the world) it's all random?"  And I'll bet you can only imagine the smile which spread across my face as I said, "Yep...screams Creator to me.".  Holla!