Things Overhead During A Wrestling Match

Gideon-"Oh, you hurt my nose!"
Gabriel-"Already?"
Gideon-"No blood. I'm good."

Gideon-"Don't make me go all Chinese on you!"

Gabriel-"Meet my muscles-Fred and Fredrick."
Gideon-"Hello, Cedric."
Gabriel-"No! Fredrick!"

Gideon-"Don't make me put you inside the TV."
Samuel-"Quit that! It's gonna cut off your circulation!"
Gideon-"What's a circle-lation?"Samuel-(spins him in a circle)"That's what it is!"

Missing Marvin

Originally Posted 8/20/08

How To Save A Life by The Fray
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

CHORUS:Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

CHORUS:Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

CHORUS:Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

CHORUS:Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life

CHORUS:Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

CHORUS:Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life

The Real Winners

Originally Posted 8/16/08

We had a hard time getting home from Bible study Wednesday night.
Usually, when we can get the kids gathered together at the same time, we tell them it's time to go. Then the boys race to the car. This time, things were different.
Because they are racing and I'm not, I reach the door several minutes after they do. I walked out the door expecting to see them waiting for me at the van. They weren't there. They were standing at various distances from the van. Just standing there in the parking lot.
I was at the same time confused and intrigued. I said to them, "What are you doing? Let's go!" Samuel said to me, "But Mom! He who is first shall be last, and he who is last shall be first!"
Obviously, I couldn't argue with this. He had the Biblical advantage on me. So, I decided to be first (or last), so we could get in the van and go home.
"For the last shall be first, and the first last; for many called, but few are chosen." Matthew 20:16

Unfair

Originally Posted 4/29/08

Death is inconsiderate.
It always takes one who is loved. The departed one is always a son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother, cousin or friend.
The roots of humankind are tangled and tightly woven together.
Death gives no consideration to the ones who are disrupted when one is ripped away.
The empty spot is never filled. It is left as a memorial to the utter significance of the loss. It is a wound that never heals. It only callouses a little, in an effort to protect the ones who are left behind.

A Genius Discovery

Orignially Posted 4/22/08

Disclaimer: I do not in any way condone, or otherwise allow this type of behavior in my home. Rest assured that once I stopped laughing, I put a stop to it right away.
I walked into the room to find Samuel with Gabriel's hair in one hand, and Gideon's hair in the other.
I said (in a stern, yet puzzled voice), "Samuel, let go of your brothers!"
He said, "Mom, these are my bells! Watch!"
Sure enough, when he pulled Gabriel's hair, he yelled in one note. When he pulled Gideon's hair, he yelled in a completely different pitch.
My son, the musical genius.

Long Overdue

Originally Posted 4/12/08
Sometimes in life, some things are so painful that you just can't face them for a while. Then, when you are ready, you come back to them-in small doses. Such is the case with this story.I was in denial. The strange thing is, is this was a death I was expecting. Nevertheless, I was stalling for time. It took me longer than usual to get ready-longer than usual to leave the house-longer than usual to do everything. As a result, we were almost late for the funeral.Let me back up a little.
Just a few weeks before, I was lavished with a gift that I can only describe as God-given. I was given a few precious hours. Hours in which to see a loving look between a mother and a daughter. Hours to hear that beautiful laugh one more time. Most precious, however, was that I got to hear-"You have done well. I am very pleased with you." That is a treasure that I will hold in my heart forever.
Back to the funeral. We were exhausted. I couldn't sleep the night before, and Brandon had worked all night. By the grace of God, we managed to get there just in time, and were seated at the back of the auditorium.
The moment we arrived, I knew I was in serious trouble. My "grace under pressure" act was not going to work for me today. I saw the building where I had spent so many hours-where I had literally grown up-the building that she had helped decorate-and I could barely hold back the tears.
I did my best to listen to the sermon. And then I heard him say, "She knew that she wouldn't be a preacher, so she did the next best thing. She taught young women to be wives and mothers." At this point, I had to stop listening. I was about to lose control and not be able to stop crying. I managed to hold it in, even walking past the casket, but my brain was turned off. Fortunately, I am experienced at turning off my brain, so it turned out OK.
When we walked outside, I saw people in little groups, making small talk. Where to eat lunch, children's school activities, etc. And I was angry. I wanted to shout, "Don't you understand? This woman changed my life, and now she's gone!" I didn't understand how the world could go on as normal, when it so obviously wasn't normal.
At the cemetery, I went off by myself and just sat for a while. I thought about how much she loved that little place by the lake, and it made me feel a little better. I thought about the fact that even in the painful last few days of her life, she remembered who I was. And maybe, just maybe, she loved me as much as I loved her. What a blessing to know such a wise and caring person!What do you say or do to honor a person who has enriched your life in such a dramatic way? I suppose the only thing to do is to carry on her legacy-with honor and commitment. And long for the time when memories only make me smile instead of cry.

In Defense of Freaks

Originally Posted 3/14/08
When I was changed as a teenager and began to follow Christ, my parents were less than thrilled. Not that they had anything against God. In fact, it was my Mother’s daily prayer that her family follow Jesus. However, it was a change for them.
In their defense, I think it was a lot to do with a long-standing rivalry between churches in my hometown. I also think the sudden dedication to worship and study may have scared them a little. Let’s face it, tact was not exactly my strong suit back then. Fortunately, God taught me enough of it to ensure my survival to adulthood. (Those of you that knew me as a teenager, and are laughing, I know who you are.)
Contrary to rumors, I was not brainwashed. I was not beaten over the head with doctrine or told what to do. What I saw was something that I had never seen before. I saw people completely devoted to God, His Word, and His church. And I saw that it worked. I saw a group of flawed people, doing their best to follow God’s plan for their lives. They loved and defended one another like a family. And it drew me to them.
The older I get, the more I realize that such a freakishly radical dedication is necessary. Because just as God pursues us with His love, Satan is pursuing us with lies and distractions. Here’s what it sounds like-"Don’t you deserve some time for yourself?" and "You’ve done more than other people. You’re a good person. That’s all that matters." I’m ashamed to admit how many times I’ve believed this junk from him. And he constantly whispers this noise in our ears, until we will do nearly anything just to shut him up.
God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that we needed the church. God does not need our worship or our praise, although He deserves both. He didn’t create the church for Him, He created it for us! May I be frank with you? (That is such a M*A*S*H cue line, but I won’t go there now.) There is no safe place in this world, and any security found here is an illusion. The only safety is found in a close relationship with God, and in the arms of a group of people who want to help you get to Heaven. Period.
So go out there and be a freak! Be just as devoted and dedicated as you possibly can be. God will bless that-I promise you.