Is it too much to ask? Seriously... is it too much?
I got in the car today and heard "Feliz Navidad" playing over my favorite station. Thinking it was a little fluke or promo, I kept it on... right through Elvis' "Blue Christmas" and Nat's "Christmas Song." Somewhere in the middle of an orchestral "Joy to the World," I turned off the radio.
I love Christmas music - ask Mr. Kenobi, who thinks there's entirely too much around this house after Thanksgiving. :) I also understand the concept of celebrating Jesus' birth all year long, but seriously - Elvis? Nat? Is it too much to ask that we wait on this music until - I dunno - NOVEMBER?!?
It's Halloween. Playing Christmas music is just a bit creepy.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
boo has spread
Boo!
This is just an update to say that our little "Boo" project has spread throughout the 'hood. Almost every house on our block (both sides!) has a "Boo" sign. Can you imagine? This is a long city block, and there are a lot of houses. We've had a lot of boo-ing.
Our neighbors have been making copies, thinking up clever treats, and blessing each other with sweet surprises. I'm thankful to be here, and when the neighbors come knocking on my door tomorrow, I'll be happy to see them. When it rains again & I'm homesick for my friends or old neighborhood, remind me of this. God is good, all the time.
Oh, and if you're looking for a fun spin on celebrating this holiday, we read "The Pumpkin Patch Parable" this week. You might enjoy it as well.
This is just an update to say that our little "Boo" project has spread throughout the 'hood. Almost every house on our block (both sides!) has a "Boo" sign. Can you imagine? This is a long city block, and there are a lot of houses. We've had a lot of boo-ing.
Our neighbors have been making copies, thinking up clever treats, and blessing each other with sweet surprises. I'm thankful to be here, and when the neighbors come knocking on my door tomorrow, I'll be happy to see them. When it rains again & I'm homesick for my friends or old neighborhood, remind me of this. God is good, all the time.
Oh, and if you're looking for a fun spin on celebrating this holiday, we read "The Pumpkin Patch Parable" this week. You might enjoy it as well.
technology, smechnology
You may be wondering why I've posted so little here lately. Or, maybe you're not wondering. After all, there's only a handful of people who read this, and you're all busy folks. Anyway, in case you were wondering (or now you are wondering), here's why the posts have dropped off:
I am having technical difficulties.
Our computer is aging. It's a bit over 7 years old, which is about 112 in computer years. This sweet little Dell has been good to us. However, it seems time to let our friend retire. It is no longer keeping up with the technical demands of the Kenobi family.
The problem is that, for me, a new computer rides along that fine line between need and want. We do nearly all of our accounting, bill paying, communication with family & friends, and much of our shopping via computer. We store nearly all of our photos, music, and important files on here. I routinely use the computer to find or store recipes, calendars, medical notes, write the nursery curriculum & schedules, and do my "consulting" work. I could say we really do need a good computer.
(And yes, we back things up. Because it would be a major inconvenience (scary!) to lose it all.)
But truthfully, this computer does everything we need... just not everything I want. It is trying - really trying - to keep up with the demands of blogger, Explorer, itunes, outlook, excel, picasa, facebook, sitebuilder, frontpage, etc. As these programs get more sophisticated and I start to use them more, the computer processes ever more slowly. Do I need this? Do I want it? In thinking through good stewardship & personal relationships - is a new computer warranted?
I've had to start removing things from my "to do" list for the truly essential things. As much as I like this bloggety-thing, it rightfully falls behind making dinner, paying bills or writing my brother in Iraq. It is an outlet for my creative juices, thoughts (rarely profound), and desire to keep connected. So, it could be valuable time - if it weren't so often wasted while I wait for my computer to process or crash.
This is all to say we'd like to purchase a new computer, and I'm telling you for two reasons:
love,
MamaToo
I am having technical difficulties.
Our computer is aging. It's a bit over 7 years old, which is about 112 in computer years. This sweet little Dell has been good to us. However, it seems time to let our friend retire. It is no longer keeping up with the technical demands of the Kenobi family.
The problem is that, for me, a new computer rides along that fine line between need and want. We do nearly all of our accounting, bill paying, communication with family & friends, and much of our shopping via computer. We store nearly all of our photos, music, and important files on here. I routinely use the computer to find or store recipes, calendars, medical notes, write the nursery curriculum & schedules, and do my "consulting" work. I could say we really do need a good computer.
(And yes, we back things up. Because it would be a major inconvenience (scary!) to lose it all.)
But truthfully, this computer does everything we need... just not everything I want. It is trying - really trying - to keep up with the demands of blogger, Explorer, itunes, outlook, excel, picasa, facebook, sitebuilder, frontpage, etc. As these programs get more sophisticated and I start to use them more, the computer processes ever more slowly. Do I need this? Do I want it? In thinking through good stewardship & personal relationships - is a new computer warranted?
I've had to start removing things from my "to do" list for the truly essential things. As much as I like this bloggety-thing, it rightfully falls behind making dinner, paying bills or writing my brother in Iraq. It is an outlet for my creative juices, thoughts (rarely profound), and desire to keep connected. So, it could be valuable time - if it weren't so often wasted while I wait for my computer to process or crash.
This is all to say we'd like to purchase a new computer, and I'm telling you for two reasons:
- Solicit your advice: mac or PC?
- Preface my upcoming blog series about Advent. As you will (hopefully) soon read here, we're doing some things this year to draw attention to spending & celebrating. It would seem a little hypocritical to approach that without sharing this decision.
love,
MamaToo
Friday, October 19, 2007
a good day
We had a tea party.
Who said only girls will enjoy this? The Obi's were thrilled with our afternoon tea - completed by English muffins with preserves and egg salad sandwiches. They even invited their friends (sitting comfortably on the window seat).
It is these moments - these good days - that make me thankful I get to spend my days with these boys.
It is these moments - these good days - that make me thankful I get to spend my days with these boys.
civic duty
I was summoned for jury duty. It was the first time I've received jury notice, so I was kind of excited about the prospect of "Law & Order" in my life. As I read the summons, I thought back to civics classes... the right to a trial by jury of one's peers... the responsibility to serve impartially... the call to participate in ensuring justice for somebody else, because someday you might need them to decide your fate. Truthfully, I sort of wanted to serve, mostly for that last reason. Mothers can be pretty good at sorting through conflicting information.
This is all to say I was ready to go. However, I quickly realized that answering the call of jury duty was more complicated than just showing up.
I stay at home with my boys. Blessing as this is, it also means that I don't have alternative childcare for the day(s) I might be on a jury. While it's pretty rare to have a trial last more than a couple days, there are always the possibilities of many weeks or even months. It's extremely rare to be sequestered, but who knows. And then there's the beautiful issue of sleep in our house, which makes it very difficult for me to be at a courthouse by 8 AM.
I scanned the summons for reasons to be excused. Our state law requires that citizens over 70 years old and nursing mothers are excused without question. I'm neither.
So, I called and asked for advice from the jury coordinator. I told her I was willing to serve, but I wasn't sure what to do if they chose me for a multi-day trial. The kind woman on the other end offered complete grace. "I completely understand. If they'd have called me when my children were little, I would have had no options. Don't worry - you're excused from service."
And that was it. I'm released from jury service. Perhaps - hopefully - I'll be called again someday.
This is all to say I was ready to go. However, I quickly realized that answering the call of jury duty was more complicated than just showing up.
I stay at home with my boys. Blessing as this is, it also means that I don't have alternative childcare for the day(s) I might be on a jury. While it's pretty rare to have a trial last more than a couple days, there are always the possibilities of many weeks or even months. It's extremely rare to be sequestered, but who knows. And then there's the beautiful issue of sleep in our house, which makes it very difficult for me to be at a courthouse by 8 AM.
I scanned the summons for reasons to be excused. Our state law requires that citizens over 70 years old and nursing mothers are excused without question. I'm neither.
So, I called and asked for advice from the jury coordinator. I told her I was willing to serve, but I wasn't sure what to do if they chose me for a multi-day trial. The kind woman on the other end offered complete grace. "I completely understand. If they'd have called me when my children were little, I would have had no options. Don't worry - you're excused from service."
And that was it. I'm released from jury service. Perhaps - hopefully - I'll be called again someday.
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