Overheard from Over the Fence

If you live in my neighborhood and at 8:00pm you overheard
a hysterical woman yelling,

"At the Fence!  At the FENCE!  Get busy at. the. FENCE!"

It was me.

Hershey, our dog, knows to poop (get busy) along the fence line.
Tonight he tried pooping not 18 inches off the back patio!
So I ran after him, clapping my hands, and yelling like a crazy person.
Then I realized what it must sound like to the neighbors.
Sheesh!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

The Letter "T"

Hi.
My name is Britt and I used to post on this blog.

Actually, I think I am back.  With a profoundly deep post ........

I dedicate this post to the letter "T".


T stands for Tea.
In my last post, I reported feeling like an over-used bag of Earl Grey tea.
I am happy to report that I have (literally and figuratively) just sat down with a new cup of tea.

T stands for Time.
I just haven't had the time to post this past month...... But I need to make time.  Because this blog is a place where I can be real .......and usually figure myself out - and what God is trying to tell me - by writing.

T stands for Toilet Paper
Monday, while reading a book, I needed to make supper.  So I picked up my bookmark and marked the page.  It dawned on me that I might be a bit odd.  For my bookmark (for many, many books) is usually a 2-3 block strip of toilet paper. 
No.  Not because I read in the bathroom.  Get your mind outta the toilet, people!  I usually read in bed at night before falling asleep.  And having allergies, I keep kleenexes a roll of toilet paper on my nightstand.
Thus, toilet paper is usually the handiest scrap of paper within reach for a quick bookmark.

Two questions for you.

1) What do you normally use for a book mark? 
(Are you a "dog-ear" page-ruiner?  Do you tear off corners of important school forms?  Are you a "binder-breaker" and place the book face-side down?)  I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to sound judgemental.  You can tell me honestly and I won't judge you by your bookmark methods.... if you don't judge me :)

2)  What is your favorite kind of Bigelow, Lipton, Twinings, or Celestial tea?
(I am very specific because those are the brands my local grocery store carries. Why?  See Below)

(If you are one of the first 5 people to post a comment with an answer to these two questions, I will mail you a box of your favorite tea.)
Technical Stuff:   Must be in the continental U.S. to participate.  Apologies to all my world-wide fans ;) 
If you do not wish to post your address in the comments,
you may email me your address at  write2cbmason@gmail.com 
(but your comments must still appear on this blog ;)

Old/New Saul

Okay, really random here.
I was reading the story of David and Goliath to my children yesterday and a thought popped in my head.

King Saul persecuted David.  (Future king David..... great, great, great....grandfather of Jesus)
In the new testament, Saul persecuted Christ's church. (until his miraculous conversion and he became Paul).

I wonder if there is any significance in that?!?

Have a blessed day!

It's Coming.... :)

I can NOT believe it!

I was thrilled to see this trailer pop up on my MSN entertainment page!!!
Hollywood has finally made an update to a classic movie.  One I remember staying up late to watch with my Dad on T.V.

CAN. NOT. WAIT

I. AM. GOING.
(to the big screen................ full price)    ;)

The movie?

Tron: Legacy

http://disney.go.com/tron/?cmp=dmov_dpic_tron_psg_cc_title_tron%20legacy

I realize this potentially places me in the "nerd" category. 
I don't care.
:)

In Another Life.....

No.  I do not believe in reincarnation. 
Hebrews 9:27 says,  "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement."

But, I can't help but think what my life would be like if I lived a different life.  What if I had been born to famous parents?   Or in a poverty stricken third-world country?   What if I was raised in the big city; or on a large pig farm?  What if I was a famous actor or singer?  Soccer star?

I'm happy with my suburban life, white collar husband, and being average.  (O-Kay, I wouldn't mind a little bit of fame ;)  However, I wonder about other lifestyles and experiences.  This life is just too short to experience it all.  And I have a family to consider.  I can't pull up stakes, leave the kids and try to make it in Hollywood.  (assuming I could act, of course!)

Today?  I want to be a cowgirl.  I've always loved the west.  The idea of riding horses, working on a ranch, knowing how to rope and ride.   Of course, going to the rodeo last night has a smidge to do with my feelings this morning!

I am aware my cowgirl vision is slightly skewed thanks to historical romance novels and reruns of Wagon Train.  I know life as a real cowboy/girl is full of long, hard days and tough struggles.

Perhaps in heaven I will be able to experience different lifestyles.... without the hard work part.

How about you?  If you could live a different lifestyle, what would it be????

Will I Never Learn?!?

"I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
 - Apostle Paul - Romans 7:15

Great verse with tons of spiritual implications to unpack.
I'm just using it for a springboard to talk about stuff I've regretted doing / not doing in recent days.

Things I should know better than to do / not do.....

1)  Paint My Fingernails.   I grew up a tomboy.  I'm mellowing into the occasional girly-girl, so I sometimes get the impulse to do something truly girly... like paint my fingernails.  Bad idea.  It ALWAYS ends up looking like a 1st grader painted them.  Actually, my 1st grader could probably do a better job....

2) Spend Way Too Much at Wal Mart.  I'm talking both time and money here.  I usually try going by myself - which means I go in the evenings when Dan is home with the kids.  I always think, "I'm gonna stick to the list.  Go, stay on target, and come straight home."  Never happens.  Wal Mart is not my ideal fun shopping store, but there is something about being alone that causes me to leisurely peruse every department in the store.  Even girly aisles.  (That's what got me in trouble with the above mentioned nails...)

3) Stay Up Until 2:00 am Reading a Book.  I really can not do this anymore!  I need sleep.  But I love reading a good book in peace and quiet....  Oh the dilemma!


How about you?  Any little annoying things you do/don't do that you catch yourself doing - even though you know better?!?

Empathy Gone Wrong

empathy:  the action of understanding, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another without having  those feelings, thoughts, experiences fully communicated in an explicit manner.  (Websters)

Oh.  My Bad.

I thought empathy gave me the right to jump in a conversation and tell my similar story.

I'm not sure how I got the notion telling my stories = empathy.  I guess I thought empathy meant being able to relate to someone through a similar experience.  Sympathy just means you feel sorry for someone, but empathy means you've lived it yourself.  You feel that person's pain.  So when a friend tells her story, I jump in with my similar one to show that I can relate.  I know what their going through.

The problem with my view?  I start listening to other people as a way to talk about me.  
Shameful.

I don't think I've gone this far, but I fear it might if I don't stop:

          Friend:  "I've had a horrible week.  My husband got laid off work on Wednesday, my son is in the hospital with kidney failure, our beloved cat of 18 years died last night, and I'm 100 pounds overweight."

          Britt:  "Yah - I know what you mean.  When Ethan was little, we had to put him on a bilirubin blanket 'cuz he was jaundice.  That was tough.  And two months ago our pet goldfish died.  I'm surprised he lasted a year, actually.  And UGH!  Don't you just hate getting swimsuit ready?  I do, too.  If I could only lose these last 5 pounds!  I'm so glad Dan still has his job.  Let's pray right now about your husband finding a job, OK?"
        
I would like to publicly apologize to Jenny, Kim, and Kelly for being empathetic (yet again) Saturday night.
I am now aware I do this and am trying to stop.  Please help me....... but be gentle.  :)

Ketchup Scrambled Eggs

Good Morning. 
Kinda hard to wake up this morning.  I have yet to do my Wednesday Pilates, shower, read the Bible, or make my children breakfast.  Instead, I am cooking you up a tasty cyber breakfast of ketchup scrambled eggs. 

1) First of all, how do you spell ketchup?  KETCHUP  or  CATSUP?  For the purpose of this post I really should have spelled it CATCH-UP.  Hang on, This post covers several items in no particular order and with no particular thread connecting them  (Hence the "scrambled" portion of the title)

2) Speaking of Scrambled, that's how Dan thinks my brain is wired.  We watched this humorous marriage seminar video clip on The Men's Brain by Mark Gungor.  In it, Mark explains how Men have neat separate mental boxes for every area of their life.   In response, Dan figures my brain is more like a grab-bag with every thought scrambled into randomness.  Never know what's gonna come out.

3) We are closer to deciding on a puppy!  Probably going to go with English Setter.  Was it hours of research leading us to this choice?  Kind of.  I researched several breeds on the internet and narrowed it down.  English Setter made the top 10.............and then for some random reason I can't remember, got crossed off.   The breed reappeared at the #1 spot, however, when Dan's co-worker offered a generous discount on a recently born English Setter pups :)  They are 4 weeks old today and I hope to meet them this week!  (We'll only be purchasing one)  I'm feeling a little "nesting" going on.  Making lists of what we need to buy and what I need to accomplish around the house (ie: pick up the downstairs) before our little arrival in 3 weeks.

4) Soccer and AWANA are over !!!!  Great times.  Glad we participated.  Glad they're done.

5) I am SOOO ready for Summer.  Camping, Water Park, Seeing several different family members.  Backyard-swing-book-reading while my children play in the wading pool.   Al....most.... there.....  :)

6)  Guess What!?!  Exciting "Running" update.  I now "run" 3/5 of a mile without stopping.  Impressive, I know.  I've decided when I "run" a full mile I will reward myself by dropping the quotation marks from "running".

7) Now that it's 8:30, I better start making real breakfast.  Hope you enjoyed your cyber ketchup scrambled eggs!

Speaking of Ketchup, (See how I brought this post full circle?!?), what is the wierdest thing you -or someone else- put ketchup on? 

For me it was last night at the supper table.  My children put ketchup on their Tilapia fillets.  
Okay, I'll admit it.  As a child I had a wierd ketchup experience.  I routinely squirted ketchup on cottage cheese.  Gags me to think about that now, though.

Random Lysol Thoughts

Yesterday, as I Lysol-wiped my kitchen counters; a random thought link ran through my head.
And since I have no better blog post ideas and I'm a day late - I'll share it with you :)

Several years ago, while I was pregnant with my firstborn,  a woman co-worker shared the following with me:
"When my babies were born, I put Lysol in the air humidifiers and when people came over to visit those first weeks, I  just held my baby up to the screen door so they could see them.  I didn't want any germs making my babies sick"

I. kid. you. not. 

As I remembered this random conversation, God planted a thought in my head:
"Do we, as Christians, over Lysol-wipe our lives?"
Am I so worried about being contaminated by heathens, that I don't interact with them?
Is it safer to give money than time?
Heaven forbid I invite a non-Christian to hang out.  Or worse - go with them to their social function!  There might be germs, for heavens' sake!

On second thought,
For heaven's sake, perhaps I'll go ahead and hang out with heathens.................
I'll just pack a few Lysol wipes in my purse to be safe ;)

PS - The lysol woman was really nice and not nearly as wacky as that story makes her.  She admitted how crazy she had been as a young mom.

Friday Word Fun

Huh- I guess my theme the past couple days has been "words".
Perhaps a subconcious probing to get back on track with my writing.
Anyhoo - I digress.
Please read the following:

You have got to be freakin' kidding me!  That is awesome!  No way, dude.  That is just crazy!

Now I ask you; how do these words work their way into our everyday, common-speak?

There have been others, of course: "cool", "bees-knees", "foxy".  (please note that at least 2 of the afore mentioned examples were waaaay before my time :)

Really no insight from my end.  Just wondering out loud.
Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend!

Any other words or phrases you think have been overused in our pop-culture over the years?

Pictures are worth a 1,000 excuses.... right?!?

Well,
I didn't make my M-W-F post goal last week.
I had 3 very good reasons.  I thought posting picures might strengthen my story.
So without further ado, here are my 3 excuses for not posting last Wednesday and Friday:

1) Dan was out of country on a business trip to India last week.
     Yes, his return flight (through Frankfurt) had to be re-routed due to the Iceland volcanic ash ordeal.  But, praise God, he was never stuck in an airport and made it home only 18 hours later than originally planned (He arrived home Sunday afternoon around 2:00).  Interesting side note:  Flying over to India, Dan crossed the Atlantic Ocean.  Coming back home he flew over the Pacific.  My husband flew around the world in 9 days!  :)

2)Neighborhood Garage Sales were this past Friday & Saturday.
      And I participated.  Not only did I participate, I helped my children plan a snack shack.  They did pretty well on Friday since no other kid stands were operating that day (advantage:  homeschool).  Prepping for a garge sale / delux snack shack in and of itself is more than doable with husband out of country.  But I, in over-zealous "I can do it" mode, planned another major project for the week..................

3) A surprise master bedroom make-over!

Dan had no idea I was planning this.  Actually, I had no idea until a week before he left.   I kinda blame the Shopko ads (white dressers on  > 50% off sale) and the garage sale (hey!  I can sell the old dresser - see above pic) 

Anyhoo, the deciding factor was that our 12th anniversary is next month and I figured it was time for a grown up, decorated master bedroom.

Ta-Da!

......  Dan loved it, by the way ;)

And I cannot post this without a HUGE Thank You to my good friend, Marci.

I could NOT have completed this project without your help!

Your stay-until-3-in-the-morning-painting-putting together 2 dressers-kind-of-help.

Daylight Savings Time

I don't understand. 
WHY do they call it Daylight Savings Time?
I certainly feel this morning as if I have lost an hour of sleep :)
Setting my clocks forward an hour Saturday night made it harder to get up early the past couple of days.
Yes, another excuse for Britt to procrastinate daily Quiet Times or regularly scheduled work out videos.
However, more than being physically tired, I am tired of my excuses.
I know that if I give myself little excuses here and there, pretty soon I won't need excuses.
I won't be doing anything at all. 
So, while my Bible reading was short this morning, and it is now 9:30 before I am finished with breakfast and writing this post.... at least those things happened.
Here's to me working in my workout video.... and a shower.... at some point today. 
Have a great day.  I'm slowly getting around to mine.  :)

Life Topic Sentence

I plan on someday soon blogging a mini-series (or 1 really long post ;) on what God is teaching me about standing firm.  However, if I attempted to write it now, the post would be full of run-ons and discombobulated (isn't that a fun word?  I have no idea if I spelled it correctly, but just had to use it!)

So the "stand firm" post is postponed, but I simply must write something today.  I'm really trying to consistently write on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Hmmmm. Third paragraph into this post and I still haven't written a topic sentence.  Huh - Topic Sentence.  I'll go with that.

I think part of my recent problem/s lately is that I have felt discombobulated. (see?  I managed to sneak that word in again!)  I have lots going on (who doesn't), many different relationships to maintain (who doesn't) and juggling several different roles (any Mom out there know what I mean?).  And yet, in all these things, I have lost sight of my one, true purpose.  The topic sentence of my life, if you will.  The main thing that keeps all the other relationsips and activities in focus and on target with the paragraphssssss of my life.

So, without further ado, here is the topic sentence of my life.  (I think.  I'm sure there are English majors who will feel the need to enlighten me what a topic sentence actually is.  But for this post, my definition is a sentence that portrays the main idea of the paragraph/story)

In this story called life, I will endeavor to live each paragraph, each chapter, to the glory of God.

I think that pretty much encompasses it.  No matter the season of life or the situation I find myself in, I need to remember it is not about all the little details, all the appointments.  I don't need to control and coordinate all the little things.  I need to keep the Main thing the Main thing.  Namely, I need to remember God is in control and that if my desire is to bring Him glory, HE will work out the details and order my day.

Now, to actually write that story?  That's the kicker :)

Interactive:
Any other ideas on Life Topic Sentences?  I'm sure there are better worded ones out there.  Let me hear them!

I'm ba-ack. Happy Happenings Post

Hello - for the second time in a 7 day period.  :()
Thank God (and I am not swearing here)  I finally feel a bit more chipper again!
(helps the hubby is home - yay)
So for those who endured the blah's lately - thanks, and this post is dedicated to you. :)
Happy Happenings:
* Dan is back from his recruiting trip to Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!). 
* Praise God, Dan's Dad comes home from the hospital today!
* Did anyone else watch Shaun White's Gold medal Snowboarding run last night?
      It was excellent.  Very fun to watch.
      Funny side note:  Papa and I were watching the competition and one of the riders wobbled in the air.
       We both thought it was a cool trick.  We later learned it was called the "kickin chicken" - and not
       a trick - but lack of control.  :)  Good thing we weren't judging :)

* Last night we went to church for Ash Wednesday.  Good reminder of our spiritual debt and our need for a Savior.  (sets us up for Easter....)  Anyway, the Happy thought was a memory from last year at Ash Wednesday service.   When it came time for the impartation of the ashes, Dan, myself, and our 2 little girls went up.  Our 6 year old son stayed sitting by himself - not wanting to go up.  We didn't force the issue.
When we got home, the girls and I washed off our foreheads.  My son noticed our clean foreheads and exclaimed, "It washes OFF!?!".  He hadn't wanted ashes on his head because he thought it was permanent!  :)

Ok.  Better go make lunch for the kiddos.  Have a great day.
Britt :)

What to pAst?

Hmmmmm,
What to post?  What to post? I have to post something,  or I won't make my goal of at least two posts a week.
Maybe I should write about my past as three times straight, I keep accidentally typing "pAst" instead of "pOst"......
I don't particularly find my past that interesting, except to realize that I now have more of a past than I would like to admit.  I turn 34 this year.  I think I can remember when 30 seemed old.   I assure myself that it's true what I've heard - 40 is the new 30 ;) 
Time sure is relative, isn't it? 
I remember 3 years ago when a friend introduced me to an older woman at a community function.  I remarked that I had 3 children, at which point the older woman's jaw dropped in shock to learn I was old enough to have 3 children because I looked so amazingly young (ok - that part might be a teensy bit exagerated, but the next part is true) - and so she asked me how old I was.  Honest to goodness my mind froze.  I.  could.  not.  remember.  Thoughts of college days flashed before my eyes and they didn't seem that far away, so I stupidly stuttered - (and I quote) -  "23,...  27,.. I,..  I mean 30!  I'm 30!"
I think older lady went away pretty impressed with this brunette bimbo.  I hope so, because this brunette bimbo went home a bit depressed.  I was no longer in my 20's and college days suddenly seemed a looooong time back.  I realized I was in a new stage of life, never to relive the 20's.

BUT -I am now comfortable being a 30-something.  I'm married to a wonderful man who I realize with each passing year I am unworthy of (trust me, I used to think it was the other way around, but that's another topic).  God has blessed us with 3 healthy, happy children.   We know of Jesus love for us.  We are blessed to live in a free country.  I could go on and on, but this is not about blessings, this post is about me being in my 30's.

So as I was saying, I am now in my 30's.  And 30's are good.  (right 30-somethings?)
I may sag and bag a bit more, but it's from bearing 3 children.  I might not be able to stay up quite as late as often as I used to, but fortunately there are no more mid-term exams that require me to.  I may be driving a fancy, sporty mini-van, but at least it's not the old '77 Vega which required 1 quart of oil a week.  Yeah, I bought oil by the case.  And my big shopping sprees may now revolve around kids clothes and toys (even when I attempt to shop for me), but those things are for my kids.  Kids I used to only dream about and make up names for as a child and wonder what they would someday look like.

I'm grateful for where I am at in life.  I am in the young family stage.  My children still think I am the coolest thing on earth.  I'm still young enough to play with my kids at the park or run up and down the stairs 100 times in a day.  Yet I'm a bit wiser than when I was in my 20's.  I'm that many more years in love with a wonderful man.  That many more years I've seen God's goodness and faithfulness in my life.

Thanks Lord for my life.  Help me make the most of it -  decade by decade, year by year, and most importanty,
Moment by Moment.

Enjoy your day.  Enjoy your moments.  Before you know it, they will be your past.
Hope you enjoyed this pAst :)

Interactive:
What is the best thing about being in your 30's (or in some other decade) that you didn't expect when you were younger?   And as always, feel free to comment, even if it is not in response to the "interactive" question.

Merry-Happy Time

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.  I did.  I really enjoyed participating in our church's Christmas Eve services.  Watching the kids open their presents.
But now I am enjoying having a break from church obligations for a week.   I'm enjoying spending time with my Dad, who is visiting.  And since my Dad is visiting, the kids are enjoying having a grandparent around to spoil them with attention.  (Which means I am spoiled.  Extra time to myself while knowing my children are getting that special attention.)  Dan is still on vacation, which means I get to see him practically all the time.  (Good thing)  :)
So for me, this week between Christmas and New Years is fully blessed.  I'm past the "pressures" of Christmas and just waiting for the New Year.  A time to relax with family.
That is where "Merry-Happy Time" comes in.  It is past Merry Christmas, but not quite Happy New Year, yet I feel this special time should have SOME sort of expression.
So:
This week between holidays, this week of transition from 2009 - 2010, my prayer for you is that you will experience a 
MERRY-HAPPY TIME :)
God's Blessings,
Britt

INTERACTIVE:
What is your favorite time of this season?  Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, Merry-Happy Time, other?  
(Note - for this question you are not allowed to factor in that Christmas Day is celebrating Jesus.  I'm purely talking about your personal feel-good holiday/time of the season.  It could be a day or tradition.  Something tangible or abstract)

Tis the Season

Tis the Season of shopping
from black Friday not stopping
until Christmas Eve
When finally we breathe
And we muse,  "Oh Joy"
What a deal on that last toy.

One last time we check our mail
But sadly to no avail,
Dear friends from Atlanta
Forgot about Santa
And no gifts from them arrive...
Oh dear, we forgot cousin Clive!

Will what we bought be enough?
Will the turkey be tough?
Will I gain five pounds, maybe eight?
Must I wear the sweater I hate?
All these questions we ponder
But seldom stop to wonder.....

At the wonder of HIS birth
The whole reason for myrth
Why we even buy gifts
Why we even make lists
Why the 25th is special - a holiday
Maybe I should take a moment and pray

Father in heaven,  thank You for,
the money I have to go to the store,
For all of my family - near and far,
Even ones not sending a card.
For sending your Son
to be the One
Who came on Christmas morn' .....
A Savior is born!

Merry Christmas Season!
Enjoy the shopping and parties and time with family and friends!
I'm just trying to remember the true reason behind why I do all this extra stuff in the first place!
(So I keep my priorities straight ... and keep my sanity!)


Interactive:  
What is a favorite Christmas tradition you have? 
or
What is the most stressful portion of the season for you?

8 words - 2 different meanings

Hello to whoever is reading!

My husband recently just got back from a ten day business trip. I needed a break.
Now, do not get me wrong, I love my 3 wonderful children, and they were really well behaved. But after 10 days being the single parent, (if you are a single parent reading this, YOU are amazing!) I needed solitude. It became evident after a rough start to the day yesterday. Three children whining before breakfast is even over doesn't bode well for the day. (Does yelling at the top of my lungs like a tantrum-throwing 2 year, toothbrush in hand, "I AM NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY" to my half-shaved and startled husband say anything!?!)
Anyay, it was decided by the rational parent (Dan) I should take off for a coffee shop break immediately following supper that evening and not return for a few hours. (he loves me, he really does)
That brings me to the title of this post.
I was GIDDY to be out of the house with a whole evening of solitude ahead of me.
I step up to the coffee counter and blurt out the following 8 words to the barrista:

"My husband kicked me out of the house!"

Seeing her eyes round to the size of saucers and her jaw literally drop, I realized that might have come out wrong :) As she started to apologize for my situation, I quickly explained that it was a loving thing to do - that my husband was watching our 3 little children so I could have some alone time. Visibly relaxing, she took my 1/2 decaf, skinny mocha with a shot of english toffee order.

Unfortunately, I tend to blurt out words without first considering how they might sound to others. In my head, it all makes perfect sense. (I have a crazy way of making 5 different thought processes fit together in a tangled web of perfect sense.... to me alone, but perfect sense.)

On the spiritual side, it made me realize I sure am glad God is not a God of confusion.
He says what He means and means what He says. And if my eyes happen to pop out, or my jaw drops after reading a particular verse, all I have to do is keep reading the entire passage for context, or cross reference other verses dealing with the same topic. Then I get the clear picture of what Jesus is trying to teach me.

This brings me to the interactive portion of this post. I have two questions for you:

1) Has anyone else ever said something and had it taken in a completely wrong/different way?

2) Does anyone else feel their super single parent powers dissolve into crazy parent mush the moment your spouse(or other helper) walks in the door? (I promise I did not behave like a two year old while Dan was away. I was responsible, patient, loving, and in general, a poster-perfect parent. Well, at least I thought so in my head)