Sunday, November 30, 2008

Time to update my top 25 i-tunes

i-tunes top 25 most played songs:
1.) Waiting for My Real Life to Begin by Colin Hay
2.) Never Again by Kelly Clarkson
3.) Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick
4.) Eyes by Rogue Wave
5.) Girlfriend (Featuring Lil' Mama) by Avril Lavigne
6.) Because of you by Kelly Clarkson
7.) All We Are by Matt Nathanson
8.) --
9.) Moments by Emerson Drive
10.) How to Save a Life by The Fray
11.) I Will by Allison Krauss
12.) One More Day by Diamond Rio
13.) Someday by Nickelback
14.) So What by P!nk
15.) Jesus Walks by Kanye West
16.) Far Away by Nickelback
17.) Boondocks by Little Big Town
18.) Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie (remember her as Stacy Ferguson on Kids Incorporated?)
19.) Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn
20.) Creep by Radiohead
21.) Finale: Friends forever from Scrubs: My Musical
22.) Guy Love from Scrubs: My Musical
23.) In Too Deep by Sum 41
24.) Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something
25.) Sun Comes Up by John Legend


Previously (10/27/2008):
1.) Waiting for My Real Life to Begin by Colin Hay
2.) Never Again by Kelly Clarkson
3.) Eyes by Rogue Wave
4.) Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick
5.) Girlfriend (Featuring Lil' mama) by Avril Lavigne (Faith's favorite!!!)
6.) Girlfriend (Junkie Remix) by Avril Lavigne
7.) Because of You by Kelly Clarkson
8.) How to Save a Life by the Fray
9.) Moments by Emerson Drive
10.) All We Are by matt Nathanson
11.) I Will by Allison Krauss & Tony Furtado
12.) One More Day by Diamond Rio
13.) Far Away by Nickelback
14.) Boondocks by Little Big Town
15.) Jesus Walks by Kanye West
16.) Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie (Man! It's been a long time since I listened to that one!)
17.) Someday by Nickelback
18.) So What by P!nk
19.) Sun Comes Up by John Legend
20.) For the Last Time I'm Dominican (Scrubs Musical Soundtrack)
21.) Guy Love (Scrubs Musical)
22.) Finale: Friends Forever (Scrubs Musical)
23.) The Little Things by Colbie Caillat
24.) Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn
25.) Forgiveness (Just Friends Soundtrack)

I am thankful. . .

Alas, it's a few days past Thanksgiving but I'd still like to reflect on my blessings. . . Joel is out with the kids taking them for haircuts and I am thankful for the quiet household where I can sit and think :>)

I am thankful for Elijah and that he's proud of how well he can play "Guitar Hero" (and that he's accomplished a few "expert"-level songs). I'm proud that he's trying wrestling for the very first time and that he's developing some interests on his own; he's courageous to take on the sport without his brother attending practices with him. It's cool to see him try his own things.

I'm thankful that Isaac still likes to hang out with me and talk (even if it's just hearing the entire story line of the latest video game). . . I like that he's willing to help me with projects and that he'll cuddle with Faith and sleep next to her when she's having nightmares (Faith sees Isaac as her hero). I like that Faith looks up to him and that he's a good guy worthy of her admiration.

I am thankful that Faith is so eager to learn and that she encourages me in my faith. . . She's been attending a catholic school and it's helpful that she is the only other member of our family who really pushes to go to church each Sunday. She sings happy Jesus songs and tells me the cutest antidotes about how "God bless you" means "God is blessing you" and how it's not one word but two: "God blessyou" :>)

I'm proud that I have smart, sarcastic, funny kids that like to cuddle me too :>)

I am thankful that Joel really is trying to make things better for our relationship and I'm thankful for our time to talk and that we're adding date nights (two dates so far!!). . . I'm thankful that he's willing to take the kids for haircuts.

I'm thankful that we have two goofy dogs that make us laugh and are loyal despite Faith's trying to hold Oliver or get Kali to chase her tail. ;>)

I'm thankful that the shoppers were out on Black Friday (with me) and that people are still trying to stimulate the economy. I'm hopeful for a better tomorrow. . .

I'm thankful that I have family support with periodic check-ins because they haven't heard from me for awhile.

I'm thankful for having a girlfriend who takes me shopping and teaches me the fun of purses and "pretty shoes" AND who understands my feeling like "one of the guys" and doesn't judge me for it.

I'm thankful for "my boys" at work who make me feel smart, funny, competent, and protected. I feel encouraged and like I can continue to grow. . . That's really special in this crazy I.T. business.

I'm thankful that we're making progress on the house (slower than I'd like) but that the windows and roof aren't leaking and the toilet has quit flooding! I'm thankful that, despite the washer & dryer's threats to break-down, it's hopeful that they'll wait until after Christmas!

I'm thankful that we have cars that run and friends who gave us a car when our other one was totaled. I'm also thankful that the gas prices have dropped down to less than $2 after hitting the $4 + mark this past Spring!

I'm thankful to have cozy sheets and comfy sweats to lounge around in. I'm thankful for the creativity and freedom and humor and . . . . so much in my life!

I'm thankful that I live in God's country -- with lush green as far as the eye can see, mountains within an hour's drive and the coast within an hour's drive. . . I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and I am thankful.

Praise the Lord for all my blessings!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Dear Children. . .

Dear Children. . . Tonight is a historic night -- our nation has elected its first African-American president (a mere 40 years or so after the Civil Rights movement). Admittedly, I've been a Obama fan in a large part because he is so different than our usual candidates.

Let me tell you a bit about my experiences: My elementary school years were in the era of the Cold War -- remember a week or so ago when we talked about nuclear weapons and the threat our nation felt? Remember how we talked about the mass destruction of Hiroshima countering our experiences at Pearl Harbor? Remember how we talked about our current threat of nuclear weapons coming not from controlled, governed nations but instead coming from radical terrorist groups who buy them from greedy people willing to sell to the highest bidder?

I come from a childhood of seeing numerous presidents vie for office with promises of improvement only to become "politicians" who seem to say what the public wants to hear but act in a way that will win them the most influence (in other words, think of the "cool kids" at school who will do whatever it takes to be popular even if it means doing what they know is wrong). These experiences of my childhood have made me cynical -- I have grown to feel like "why even bother voting" because to vote feels like I'm choosing one liar/name-caller over another -- and it feels like I'm endorsing those behaviors. It's been sad and frustrating.

I've longed for the Presidential leadership of our history; the inspiring speeches and changes made by presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. I felt like my parents were so interested in politics because they had experienced truly great leaders and they knew that things could be different.

In my lifetime it's been debated whether or not we should even question when the President lies to the nation -- like we're not quite clear whether or not that's right or wrong. We've seen people with questionable ethics but have felt like we need to accept it because all politicians are like that -- truly good people can't get elected.

I feel like tonight we have hope for change. . . This is the first time I've felt like that. Admittedly, I would support McCain as president had he won because I believe in democracy -- in making decisions based on the majority and then supporting the candidate once those decisions have been made. I think John McCain was a good candidate: He, too, made great arguments and he genuinely wanted to make the United States a better place. Alas, he had experience in the political realm and I've been skeptical of him being a "politician" like the stereotype I've defined over the years. I believe he's made mistakes over the years and that he's tried to learn from them. I trust that he's a good man.

And, I voted for Obama. Why? Because he inspires me. Because for years, I've wanted someone who inspires our nation, who is willing to push for what he believes is "right" and who doesn't speak in terms of "I will. . . " but instead speaks as "We will. . . " When I listen to Obama speak I do not hear a "politician" instead I hear a leader -- that's a big difference to me. Admittedly, I'm cynical enough to question whether or not he's for real and whether or not he will live up to his campaign promises, but I took this chance for you -- how can I not take a chance on someone who wants to make the world a better place for you?

I want to believe that Peace is Possible (the theme of a youth convention I'd attended in Junior High shortly after the Berlin Wall came down). I want to believe that we can find compromise with other nations through talks and not might (similar to how I encourage you boys to talk it out and resorting to violence only when you are physically threatened). I want to believe that our nation doesn't need to have such a big divide between the wealthy and the welfare populations. I want to believe that all people can have their basic needs met. I want to believe that we can have a UNITED nation that isn't divided by politics, race, or social background. I want to believe that this world can be a better place for you than it currently is -- understanding that the world swings on a pendulum between trying to improve and becoming lackadaisical.

I have hope that Faith, at 6 years old, will not experience the cynicism I've acquired and that she will have hope and faith in our country.

So, dear children, I hope that tonight is the beginning of a better world for you. God bless us all!

Love you,

mom

Monday, November 3, 2008

Happy Halloween from our house to yours. . .

. . . A couple days late, but I wanted to share. Here's some pictures from Faith's Halloween Carnival and Halloween night :>)

Faith's butterfly pumpkin and little smiley face, Elijah's triangle-eyed smiley face pumpkin, and Joel's Jack-Skelton pumpkin. . . totally cool!


Faith & Madeline D.

Elijah dressed as Freddy Kruger (he's not wearing the mask yet), and Isaac (see name tag below), and Faith as Princess Jasmine.

Remember trying to wait patiently to FINALLY get to go trick-or-treating?

Remember going door to door trick-or-treating?

Remember clowning around with friends?

Isaac stayed home handing out candy with his buddy, Jacob -- we had a rule that he couldn't scare anyone 6-years-old or younger. This is Isaac's first year not going out for candy. . . He's getting so big! He seemed okay with it, though.

Each year Joel & I escort the kids (walking the dogs on their leashes) with me hollering after the kids "Remember to say Thank you!" These are the days that I'll always remember :>)

Happy Halloween 2008!


Sunday, November 2, 2008

A Couple Pet Peeves. . . Just gotta get this off my chest

Okay, if not through a blog then where else can I vent these frustrations? Here's a couple for you (can I hear a "Amen!" in the chorus?!?):

1.) People who abandon their shopping carts literally two spaces away from the cart corral in a parking lot. . . This is a true symptom of laziness. I mean, come on people!

2.) People who are obviously looking at their GPS or i-pod or what-have-you (as it illuminates their face in the darkness) and drive 30 mph in a 55 mph zone on the back roads towards home. Seriously: Pull over!

3.) Major Halloween pet peeve is all those parents that drive their children around for trick-or-treating. Do you want to know what contributes to obesity in our country? Teaching your children that it's easier to drive around the neighborhoods rather than walk and making sure that they get a lot of candy and sugar for their "efforts." Remember when we were kids and you pushed yourself to walk a little further just to see if you can get your candy basket a little fuller. Granted, we rarely had candy at our house and so it was worth the extra effort. Fruit snacks weren't common place at my house and we had limited "treats" -- Halloween meant walking for a couple of hours to get a candy stash to last you for awhile. Additional irritation? Those parents driving their kids around mean that my kids are waiting on the curb to cross the street because they see on-coming headlights and we end up waiting just to have the car stop with their kids about 10 feet away: Seriously, you're slowing down our progress! Final irritation? SAFETY RISK!! Tons of little kids wearing dark clothing and, in their excitement, they're running across the street to the next house. We're in the suburbs -- blocks & blocks of houses and here's these parents driving their children and about to run over mine!! Thankfully, we've completed our annual Halloween trick-or-treat session and I survived this years' heart attack with the cars about to hit kids.

Grrr. . . .

Anyhow, just had to share. Note, I accept the shopping carts abandoned in the parking lot when your child has just throw up in the backseat, I accept the people driving 30 mph as they slow their car to the shoulder of the road because they just answered their cell phone and are receiving bad news, and I accept the parents driving their children in monsoon or snow-storm weather. However, for the rest of you: Get a clue!

Seriously!

Okay. . . I'll climb off my soap box now.