Busy Days

The last few days have been indeed busy for me. Maybe not so much busy-can't-catch-my-breath busy, but each day has been filled with at least one thing fun or exciting happening to us.

Saturday morning was the grand opening (?) of the newly renovated Lakewood Sheriff's Station. I don't know exactly how much room they had before but now they have over 20,000 square feet of work space. There was a dedication, ribbon cutting and lots and LOTS of speeches. Got a little too much towards the end, but it was so great to be there and check it all out. We happened to get a VIP invitation (I think because we are the Neighborhood Watch captains for our street) to come and preview it before the public came in.

After the speeches were over and the city council folk, photographers, construction people, etc all started gathering to take pictures. You know the ones with the mayor, and then the mayor with the Sheriff, the the Sheriff with the secretary, the the city council with the mayor and then one without the mayor, then one with Sheriff on the left, the one with the mayor in front of ........ you know what I mean. I walked up to Sheriff Lee Baca to ask if I could take his picture with Jacob and Sarah. He is THE SHERIFF of Los Angeles County. There was a HUGE crowd around him. I thought for sure that I would never get his attention or that he wouldn't be able to pull away or maybe that some official might tell me to go away. I turned around to go take the tour. Lee Baca pulled out of the crowd surrounding him, grabbed my arm and asked me if he could help me. I told him that I was going to ask for a picture of him with the kids so that when Jacob graduates from the Sheriff's Academy (not likely my little fire service engrained boy) I would show it at the graduation party. He smiles and turns to his group of dignitaries and says "wait for me, I am going with them". He makes his way through a little crowd, pulls over a chair, sits down and pulls the kids close. I take the picture and thank him. He introduces himself to the kids and asks them about themselves. He asks me my name and smiles. He goes back to his group and says "ok, I am ready now". He is soooo coool. Ok, I know he is an elected official, but still, how kind of him to take care of us.

Later went to a birthday party and jumped our hearts and heads off in a Cars bounce house.

Sunday, our entire church celebrated the 20th anniversary of our Pastor Chuck and his wife as our pastors. It was a total surprise to them when they walked into the sanctuary and we all yelled surprise at them. It was so funny because the entire church had their eyes on the double doors ready to scream. I was just praying Lenny wouldn't walk through the doors and trip the surprise. He was getting off duty that morning and was due in at any moment. It was very likely that he could have walked in at that moment. Crisis averted though because the Athertons came in to be overwhelmed by it all. So many details of that morning that deserve it's own post. Check back later about it all.

Later went home to spend about another 8 hours on 2 science projects. Got them done but gee howdy it was crazy getting it all together. And, reviewing with Sarah what an hypothesis was was well, a nightmare. I questioned more than once why in the world we were doing this. Then I ran out of glue, tape and and eventually any and all types of adhesive for the display boards. I started crying. I was sooooo tired and worn out. Both kids went over their reports, their experiments and their boards before going to bed. They seem to know what in the world they are talking about. Let's see if they remember when they are being judged next week.

Then Monday was fun. Went to Pole Position in Corona with some good friends. Oh my gosh that was fun. It is indoor racing in these 45 mpg little cars. Super fact and adrenalin pumping to the max. Then went to lunch at Johnny Rebs. Good food. Even the deep-fried pickles were ok. We all went to Starbucks and each of us called the Lemings and told them to meet us there. After about the 5th message, they got the idea that we wanted to see them so they came. It was a very fun day with friends.

I am realizing that while having fun things to do and experience is a blessing, fun is a temporary thing. There is still the house to tend and tasks that need to be accomplished for life to run smoothly. That way, when the fun does occur, I can really enjoy it. Right now, I need to put laundry away and probably clean up after the dog. By the way, still not a lot of progress with the potty training...any ideas for us?

I am stunned

So a little while ago I went online to check email. I get this message from a friend of mine mentioning that a mutual acquaintance of ours has a myspace account. I went to it fully expecting to see pictures of her and her family. Maybe some silly pics and probably some mildly crossing-the-line comments from her "friends".

OH MY GOSH!

What I saw STUNNED me. I sat here right where I am now with my jaw dropped down almost denying to myself that I was seeing what I was actually seeing. There were pictures of her celebrating a 21st birthday of a friend (can't be sure of the relationship) in Las Vegas, making fun of some guy they had just met in a bar and a multitude of very inappropriate poses. And this was just one scenario. There were many other pictures, blog entries about different events, comments from from friends here and there. It is clear that this is not a one time occurance.

I know this girl/woman. It doesn't make sense to me that this is a side to her that I don't know about. I guess I have been wooed by the facade that is put on with the appropriate people. What bothers me is this. First of all, that this is a life she is choosing to live. That her husband watches her flaunt it all in front of other men. Wow, this is almost too much to think about.

Ok, here is where it blows me away. Then she takes these pictures and posts them on her site. Now all of creation can see it. It is like she has no shame, no reverance for her body, no pride in herself and no thought whatsoever as to who might see her like this. And, what in the world is her husband thinking???? Is he proud that other men are checking out his woman? And sadly, I know they have a son. Are these the morals and values that little junior is going to inherit?

High horse? Pious? Self righteous? Sounds like it I know. But I am so tired of what is happening in the world today. Lenny and I have to go into overdrive protecting our kids. And it isn't just from the boogy man. It is from the insulting pictures, the disgusting lack of self control with manners, words, cigarette smoke, drinking, even junk they come home from school with.

There is a huge lack of self control on many people. The lines are blurred and are becoming obsolete as to what is acceptable and ok and what should just not be. Behavior today is rated PG when not too long ago it would have been rated R or worse. The boundry of what was considered decent was close to home. And it was CLEAR and upheld. Now that boundry is way out in left field. If you squint and tilt your head, you might be able to find it.

And people don't care. The people walking around half dressed with their enhanced upper area falling out of their tops or the guys whose pants are sooooooo baggy that they have use of only one hand because the other has to hold the pants up. They don't care. And, heaven forbid that anyone approach them on it. It is though the people with the offensive behaviors suddenly have superpowers and will squash any opposition. Probably what does not help with the situation is that most things, most acts, most displays are legal. Nobody is going to go to jail over the things they do. The problem is that many people are unable to distinguish between acceptable and improper behavior, legal or not. There is a verse in the Bible that I LOVE...


1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial.

Paul is talking about just that. Maybe something out there is legal, acceptable, but does that automatically mean it should be done? Just because there are nudie mags right there in your face in line at the store, does that mean you should pick it up, peruse through it and buy it? NO Use some common sense.

Several weeks/months (can't remember exactly) ago I was in my favorite store - 7-11. There was this guy pouring a cup of coffee. Nicely groomed and seemingly normal. On the front of his tshirt it had a picture of a clown with a sad face. It said "It is not funny to laugh at the clown." On the back, it had the clown screaming/crying/fighting being, well let's just say being violated. The caption said "unless it is being raped." NO JOKE I KID YOU NOT that is what this shirt said. And, just being near the guy who would choose to buy it, wear it and then go out in public with it made my skin crawl.

So, being me, I approached him. I said "excuse me." He of course had no idea what I was going to say as he probably forgot that he even had the shirt on. He is all smiles and very approacheable. I said, "your shirt is pretty offensive. Especially to those that have been raped before." Here is what he said to me "sorry about your troubles." And takes off.

I tell ya something. Perseverance and longsuffering are what I need mega doses of. Maybe a healthy bucketful of peace too. I TRY - and fail many many many times - to remember that Christ died for that goon over there scratching his privates for all to watch. Christ loves that guy lots. God looked down from heaven and said that the half naked, fully drunk barfly was worth it. She was worth sending Christ to step into her place. WOW. I know that in my head. I know that. I really do. But gosh it is hard to remember, it is even more difficult to act accordingly when I am seething inside. When I am turning the head of my young daughter so she doesn't get an eyeful.


Am I the only one who feels the gravity of all of this? PLEASE PLEASE comment on this. I would really like to get some feedback. Thanks, Donna

50 pet peeves

1. carpool lane cutters
2. rude people
3. when my kids say "I don't know" too quickly
4. bugs in my restaurant food
5. cold coffee
6. when the items in my cabinets fall on me because I haven't organized the closet in a while
7. uninvolved parents
8. deadbeat dads ooooh that one makes me mad
9. baggy pants on young/middleaged men. would love them on me, though
10. cigarette smoke
11. when people say to a food server "get me....."
12. cell phones in a restaurant or in the line at the grocery store
13. people who eat in the salad bar line at Souplantation
14. dog poop on the concrete (I am talking about our dog)
15. telephone solicitors
16. the drug house next door
17. perverts and child molesters
18. clogged toilets - happens here FREQUENTLY
19. the person who stole our van
20. advertisements left all over our front porch
21. liars, cheaters (in school and in marriage. No way am I talking about Lenny), stealers
22. the image that young girls feel like they have to live up to today from TV
23. cats (sorry DebbiefromLongBeach)
24. running out of toilet paper (I seem to have a few peeves involving the toilet or what it takes)
25. no coffee in the morning
26. dead flies in the track of the windows
27. grumpy people
28. the people who use the motorized carts at WalMart, telling me to move, then get out of them in the parking lot and walk to their car stuffing their face with a McDonalds burger.

You know what??? I am struggling to come up with stuff. I honestly thought that this would not be too difficult. But happily, I can not come up with more than this. Or maybe some of the things that really peeve me are too embarrassing to post. Who knows? Ok, #27 I just now put on. Is it tooo much for a blog?

Shirley Temple

Sarah has amazingly straight hair. Just like her mother. It is stringy, limp, and baby fine. Because we are having a chick weekend, I put the little spongy pink curlers in her hair last night. Here she is with curls galore. She walks around asking us if we think she is cute. I love having a girl.

Grandparent's Day

Every year at school there is this really fun day that is called Special Friend's Day. It used to be called Grandparent's Day but too many kids didn't have a grandparent to visit so the name was changed. I call it Grandparent's Day but it is for anyone special in the kid's life.

John and Linda Nering are Jacob and Sarah's grandparents. Maybe not by blood but definately in heart and relationship. My mother moved to South Carolina shortly after Jacob was born. It was devastating to me and Linda sensed that. She and John immediately "adopted" Lenny and I into their hearts...and of course Jacob. From the first day of his life they have been a part of it. They have known him since before he was born and have treated him like their own.

And then Sarah. My mother died the day we found out Sarah was going to be. Again, I was crushed. Again, John and Linda stepped in. She has mothered me and treated me like I was her own daughter. They have welcomed us and loved us in such an amazing way. Sometimes it is hard for me to accept it. Sometimes, it makes me more sad that my own mother isn't around. Sometimes, it reminds me of what I've lost. Weird I know. It is something that I need to trust God to handle.

But Jacob and Sarah have known no other example of grandparents. Lenny's mother is alive and nearby. We see her frequently but she has dementia and is very frail. She can not do the sleepovers, nurturing and the fun grandma things. I know she loves them, but most of the time, she doesn't really know what is going on. Lenny's father died 3 weeks before Jacob was born. The kids have never known him. My mother moved when Jacob was an infant and died when he was not even 2. They don't know her. My father lives in Alabama and the kids have met him twice. Not a good situation though with him.

So where we lack and hurt, the Nerings have supplemented that. I am truly grateful for them and the kids love them dearly. They are and always will be Grandma Linda and Papa John. Linda and John were even at the hospital when Sarah was born. Linda was in the room. She heard Lenny say "it's a girl."

Ok all of that to say this. Today they came to Grandparent's Day at school. This year both kids are there. Jacob decided that since they have visited him in the past, they should visit Sarah in her Kindgarten class. They had lunch together and got to see the classroom and play some games. And, just to show how nurturing they are...there was a girl at Sarah's table that didn't have anyone special to come visit her. Linda helped her with activities and chatted with her while John worked with Sarah. They are so cool.

Thank you John and Linda for always making us feel special. You are the ones who are special. We love you.

I love these things....

I regularly visit Christy Platt's blog. I saw this morning that she had posted 50 things that she loves. She challenged me to do the same. Here it is. And, now I challenge you to do it too.

1. My relationship with Jesus Christ
2. My hottie husband Lenny (wow do I love him)
3. Jacob and Sarah. I would list them separately but I love them just the same.
4. Family members
5. worship music
6. Great friends like Debbie and Cheryl
7. Anything French
8. Valentine's Day
9. when I "get it" while reading the Bible
10. my cute little house
11. borrowing/lending emergency dinner ingredients with Cheryl
12. 7-11
13. Diet Coke from a fountain with ice
14. when Lenny surprises me with a Big Gulp of Diet Coke from 7-11
15. new kitchen
16. yellow walls with red furniture
17. an amazing cup of coffee
18. dates with Lenny...esp when he plans them
19. family camping at the beach
20. Lenny's big strong hands
21. Lenny's job
22. cooking
23. scrapbooking/crafts
24. Pirates of the Caribbean
25. Captain Jack Sparrow (from Pirates and our dog)
26. Grease
27. pedicures with the extra 10 minute massage
28. laughing with girlfriends
29. getting a weekend away
30. hotels and jumping on the beds
31. jacuzzi bathtubs
32. pink pink pink
33. walking my kids to school
34. great neighbors
35. cozy comforters
36. snuggling with Lenny while watching a movie
37. sharing popcorn with the kids
38. listening to Jacob and Sarah talk to each other (nicely)
39. watching all of the neighborhood kids laugh and play outside together
40. going to lunch
41. Southern Living at Home..esp the Dress Me Up plate to write on (see Valentine's Day post photo)
42. pink roses with full fluffy blooms
43. pink sparkly lipstick
44. CSI
45. email
46. blogs
47. my new ipod
48. anything with hearts...especially jewelry
49. summertime barbeques
50. quiet times reading
51. 4th of July block parties
52. watching Lenny goof with the kids (but not at the table)
53. watching Lenny take care of his mother....he is SO KIND to her
54. Slurpees and Pizza on Fridays
55. my van (or should I say "LOVED" my van)

Things I don't love...... CHOCOLATE. eeehhhhwwww. don't like it.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is my most favorite day of the year. Don't get me wrong, I look forward to celebrating Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries. But, Valentine's Day means so much to me on many different levels. I really love the decorations for one thing. Hearts, love stuff, anything pink or red. Cute decorations. Another thing is the fun stuff to do for school. The kids really enjoy sending cards to their friends and people are walking around in red or something with a heart on it.

But the reason why I really LOVE this day is because of, well, LOVE. Duh, right? I adore my family and I try to tell them and show them my love on a daily/hourly basis. And I know they love me. But what really gets me is when I think of the ultimate Love. When I remember just how much God loved me that he sent Christ for me. John 3:16 tells of the first Valentine. Corny you may think. But think about it more.

"For God so loved the world (Donna) that he gave his only Son that whoever (if she) believes in him (she) would not perish but have everlasting life."

We give Valentine's to the ones we love. But would we ever think of giving more than that? Maybe some chocolates or flowers. But true sacrificial giving????

Last week in Kids Church, the kids read I Corinthians 13:4-7. You know that famous and endearing passage about the qualities of love.... read it.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I sat there in my seat reading each of these qualities. As I progressed through the passage, I could feel myself melting into a mess of emotions. Love is so many things. And there are many ways to practice and demonstrate love.

Pastor Heidi asked the kids to tell of someone that had one of these qualities. Jacob's hand shoots up. He got up and told the group that "my mom is kind." OOOOOoohhhhhhhhhhh I love him so much. He told me later that he knows I love him because of the kinds things I do. That was wonderful to hear.

Sadly, though, something was pointed out to me later. Lenny and I were talking about something on Friday. I can not even remember. He says to me "you are getting historical." Honestly, I thought he said "hysterical" and it made me mad. I was not joking...I was serious :). Then I realized what he said. I couldn't figure out what he meant. Anyway, on Sunday when I read that verse, I GOT IT. I was keeping a record of wrongs. OUCH OUCH OUCH.

Thank you God for correcting me in a not toooo painful manner and before anymore damage could be done.

So I challenge you to something. Take this passage and really examine it. My goal is to pick this apart and see where I lack and where I succeed. I want to be the best Lover (ok ok sounds, well...) of those around me that I can. Especially the three in my home. Do the same thing. Valentine's Day is over, but it is still the month of LOVE.

ps....not sure why the few paragraphs are in black and the rest in pink. blogger bites.

Love and Respect

This past weekend, Lenny and I attended the most amazing marriage conference. Better than any one we had ever been to, better than any book we have read and quite possibly the best weekend we have spent together. Sound unlikely? Maybe. But it is true.

It is called Love and Respect. It is based on a book called.....well, Love and Respect (yes I know book titles are underlined. There is no underline button on blogger). Basically, Emmerson Eggerich takes the very famous passage of Ephesians 5: 33

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

and breaks it down in practical, meaningful ways. Basically, God calls the man to love his wife because that is her greatest need and wives to respect their husbands because that is their greatest need. Yes both want to be loved and respected but our number one needs are different.

I won't say much more about the book because for one, I want you to get it and read it and two, I can not do it justice. I would just botch it all up. I will say this. If you are reading this and are married. Or if you are going to be married in the future, GET THIS BOOK. Really really really it is amazing and if you believe that marriages should be built on the Biblical rock then you need this book.

I see Lenny in a whole new light. I see things that I have said or have done that have not been as respectful or even not respectful at all. And, I can see how I have misinterpreted things he has said or done as unloving or illwilled. Duh, right? Well, sometimes it isn't always that clear.

Go to loveandrespect.com and check out the site. There are free video downloads and other information that I know you will find most useful.

If you have read this book or after you go get the book and read it, let me know what you think.