DISTANCE (Official Short Film)

In the midst of all the COVID-19 stuff that is going on right now, remember what's important.


Take care of your families; take care of your friends; take care of your neighbors. Let's all come out on the other side of this as better people. Learn the lessons; use the time; love the people God puts in our path.

Oh, By the Way, They Have Books

I just finished reading The Library Book by Susan Orlean. I loved the book, which reminded me of how much I love the library. Sadly, I haven't been spending nearly as much time there as I used to...

While the book was primarily about the Los Angeles Public Library, it could also serve as a love letter to libraries everywhere. Yes, libraries are places where you can check out books - and who doesn't love taking home a whole stack of books? But libraries are so much more, always adapting and changing to meet the needs of their communities.

This morning on Good Morning America, one of those libraries was featured as a finalist in the Reader's Digest "Nicest Places in America" search.


I would have enjoyed the story anyway, but I just thought the timing was perfect, having just finished reading The Library Book yesterday. (which, by the way, was not a library book but an advance copy I got from NetGalley, which pretty much explains why I'm not in the library as much - ebooks!)

I'd like to believe that all libraries are among the nicest places in America...

and it's really time to get back into the habit of going regularly.

The Science Behind a Happy Relationship

It's kind of hard to ignore it.  This time of year, love is in the air.  We're coming up to the most important day in any happy relationship.  And if you don't get candy/flowers/jewelry/lingerie/something special, then your relationship must be in trouble.  Or you're dating a loser.  Right?

The people over at Happify put together this infographic showing the science behind a happy relationship.  There is some interesting information here and some good tips for making your relationship happier.  Valentines Day doesn't show up even once.  That's right - a happy relationship means every day of the year, not just one.  Or two or three.  And it's not about stuff or things.

What do you think?

Protect the Love - Vectra Flea & Tick Control Sweepstakes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Vectra flea & tick control for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
I was just thinking this morning how we all tend to think of our pets as family.  We talk to them; we love them; we call ourselves 'mommy' and 'daddy' to them.  I like to think they love us too.  They're definitely spoiled rotten.  Check out Weasley - doesn't he look like he has it tough?

Part of the love we have for our little furry friends means that, as pet owners, we need to protect our pets, and that includes protection from pests.  Vectra 3D  provides long lasting protection for dogs. It repels and kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, biting and sand flies, lice and mites (excluding mange mites).  For cats, there's Vectra for Cats, which kills fleas within 6 hours.  It not only kills and repels adult fleas, but also controls flea eggs, larvae and pupae.   It's easy to apply, safe to use, and only available through your veterinarian.

This is my friend Liberty.  She is loved very much!  Isn't she cute?

If you're a pet lover, be sure to like Vectra on facebook and enter the Protect the Love Facebook Sweepstakes. They will be giving away a $100 gift card to use at your next veterinarian visit each week for the duration of the Sweepstakes.  So the sooner you enter, the more chances you'll have to win!

Everyone who enters can also get a  free dose of Vectra flea & tick control.  Just enter the sweepstakes and then visit FirstDoseFree.com and fill out the form to print out a coupon for a free dose to redeem at a Vectra veterinarian near you.  It's a great way to try it and see if it works for you and your pet.

***Protect the love™ is the official social identity of Vectra flea & tick control. Vectra is a product of Ceva Animal Health, LLC and has multiple formulas for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. *DO NOT USE VECTRA 3D ON CATS

Be sure to like Vectra on Facebook and follow @VectraPet on Twitter for more information.

What is the Purpose of Wedding Pictures?

I've just been looking through our wedding pictures.  Yeah, looking through that wedding photography halifax page the other day got me thinking about those pictures.  It really is nice to have them, and looking through them sure brings back memories!  Wow - we were all so young back then!  And there were quite a few people in those pictures who we haven't seen in years and years, and some who are no longer with us, like my grandparents.

While there is at least one picture that I really should delete and destroy, because I really don't look good at all, and there are others where I wish the flash hadn't reflected in the mirror or that someone had told me how to stand so that I'd look better or told Jeffrey to move his arms so his tux jacket didn't pull weird, overall I like our wedding pictures.  No, nothing is perfect or perfectly posed, or even super creative, like if we'd hired someone like the photographer at halifax wedding photography, but we have a good overview of what our day was like and the people who were there to share it with us.  When we pull the pictures out, like we occasionally do, they bring back memories, and isn't that why we have pictures in the first place?

We remember that our flower girl cried the whole way down the aisle - but she still dropped those flower petals.

It's just that she was used to her daddy waiting up there at the end of the aisle - she'd been a flower girl before.  This time, it wasn't her daddy performing the wedding; it was mine.  He was waiting at the back of the room to walk me down the aisle, give me away, and then step around to the front and make sure he didn't get me back. She made it as far as the front row, found Jeffrey's mom, and spent the rest of the wedding on her lap.  She was fine afterwards.

We remember the lovely ladies who baked and help serve our cakes.  And punch.

We remember that our parents were younger than we are now.  How is that even possible?  Though Dad didn't have much hair even back then.  

And we remember that our wedding day was just the beginning of the life we would build together, and that is the most important thing of all.  It will be 27 years this June, and sometimes it seems like just yesterday.

What Says Love to You?

Apparently today was all about love - at least judging by all the status updates, pictures and posts on facebook, and all the commercials that have been running on television advertising gifts and jewelry.  And don't forget all those people who lined up at the courthouse to get married today.  I don't really get it.  Not love - I get that.  And marriage.

Lobsters (Photo credit: Foomandoonian)

What I don't get is all the emphasis and stress on this one day - like this is the most important day of the year for any relationship.  There must be something wrong with the relationship if your significant other doesn't make some kind of grand romantic gesture on this particular day, like sending 2 dozen red roses or having live lobsters Shipping in for a special dinner. (Is that romantic?  I read a book recently where the husband had lobster delivered every year on their anniversary.  I wouldn't want to see or eat those things, but it was a tradition they had.  The marriage was a bit screwed up, but I don't think it was the lobsters' fault.  Also, how about that?  Having lobsters shipped to anywhere isn't just a fictional book thing; you can really do that.)

It's not just Valentine's Day that I don't get.  It's birthdays, anniversaries, and pretty much any other 'special' day.  I mean, sure it's fun to mark our anniversary every year and to give Jeffrey a hard time about getting old on his birthday, but lots of times I forget my own birthday unless someone else brings it up. (With facebook now it is pretty hard to forget.)  I really don't expect anything from my husband.  Maybe a card.  I know he loves me.  Every day.  Or most of them, anyway.

And if we did care about Valentine's Day, we'd have to celebrate a day or two later - because why pay full price for the the chocolate or special Valentine's gifts when everybody knows full well they'll be marked down the next day.  I know he loves me more when he doesn't buy me something at full price.

What says love to you? 

Book Review: Bold As Love

Bold As Love: What can happen when we see people the way God does by Bob Roberts, Jr.

About this book:

As Christians, we’re called to love our neighbors—all our neighbors. But is that even possible? And can we truly love them well?

People often think of their neighbors as those already belonging to their “tribe” or community. It’s safe, it’s easy, and it doesn’t often cause conflict—politically or religiously. But in today’s world, everyone and everything is interconnected globally in an ever-changing cultural landscape, while religious strife runs rampant. Is it feasible for Christians to live their faith boldly and lovingly while entering into a true relationship with “neighbors” of other faiths, both locally and globally?

In Bold as Love, Pastor Bob Roberts shows you what it looks like to live out your faith daily in the global public square among people of other faiths—Jews, Muslims, atheists, Hindus, Buddhists. While he admits that it can be challenging to engage people of other faiths whose beliefs are as strong as yours, he demonstrates how to enter into this critical dialogue in a radical yet loving way. “We have to learn to speak with one conversation and give the same message everywhere to everyone,” he says. “We are commanded to love God and love others. And sometimes that requires risky boldness.”

Roberts invites you to respond to this call to live a life of fearless and loving engagement with the world. So take the risk! Your faith wasn’t made to live in isolation. It’s something you do face-to-face, heart-to-heart, hand-to-hand. Whether you are in a suburb of Houston or a village in India, put away the fear and suspicion and, instead, answer the call to radically love others the way God loves. And get ready to see your life and the lives of those you touch—your family, your community, even your enemies—transformed!

This book really had me thinking about what it really means to love your neighbor.  Too often in our church tradition we hear people questioning who our neighbors really are.  Who are we supposed to love?  Are there people that God does not require us to love?  I have to agree with Bob Roberts when he says, "Loving others isn't something we do when we agree with them, or when they're like us, or even when we like them."  We are called to love all of our neighbors, maybe even especially those who don't believe the way we do.  Be developing relationships with them, we open up the dialog to share with them what we believe and why, while also understanding who they are and what they believe.  We come to love them as individual people, and not just a people - often a people we don't understand or that we fear.  Often loving others requires risky boldness and is something we can only accomplish by focusing on God first and following his commands to love others.

While reading the book, I found myself highlighting sentences and passages that really struck me.  There are some real gems in this book along with the far-reaching challenge for all of us to see people and love them the way God does.  Roberts shows what it looks like to boldly love your neighbor as God would want us to by sharing the experiences he's had in his home church in the Dallas area, and around the world, building relationships with people from all walks of life.  Imagine what the world would look like if we all stepped out and did that!

"When we love people and build relationships with them, all kinds of good things happen that were not previously possible."

Bold as Love: What Can Happen When We See People the Way God Does is available at Amazon and other book retailers.  I encourage you to pick up your own copy.  Also, be sure to check out Bob Roberts' blog at Glocal.net.

Note: I received a free copy of Bold as Love for review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Related articles

• Bold As Love by Bob Roberts, Jr.
• Book Review : Bold as Love

True Love?

chocolate chip cookies
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From my email: 

A very old man lay dying in his bed. In death's doorway, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs.

He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself from the bed.

Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands.

With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven.

There, spread out on newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Was it heaven?  Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table.

The aged and withered hand, shaking, made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when he was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife.

"Stay out of those," she said.

"They're for the funeral."

I really did not see that coming! So I had to share.

I've Got Such a Sweet Son!

Spam commenters are really irritating, but one good thing about all those irritating comments is that I'm reminded of old posts I had completely forgotten about.  Here's one from April 2007:

I took the boy to school this evening so he could go on the band trip to Boston. They had to be there at 5:00, but then had a lot of waiting around and checking of luggage and stuff before they could actually leave. I decided I might as well hang out with him, since he is going to be gone for 5 days. While we were waiting around, he repeatedly hugged me. I think maybe he was trying to make up for all the hugs he's going to miss, though he is a regular hugger. There was a time several years ago when I told him that he was always going to hug me, and he was going to like it. I thought I had to mention that because people told me that kids grow up and don't want to hug their moms anymore - especially in front of their friends. I guess I didn't have to worry about that, he never gets tired of hugs. One time today he was hugging me and turned to his friend and said, "This is my mom. I'm hugging her, and I'm not ashamed of it. So there." What a goofball! You've gotta love the kid.

One last hug, and he climbed aboard the big bus for Boston.

Everybody say, "Awwww."  I really do have a sweet son, and he still likes to hug his mom - even now that he's a junior in college.  He just gets to do it a little less often because he doesn't get to see me very much.

Waiting

it took them a while to find the part to fix the window on corys car. and then we went to the feast, and i didnt have time to get it in. i had packing and getting the house ready for an open house to do. so now we are back, and i made an appointment to get the car in today, and i have been here since nine thirty. and i am still waiting.

i hope they will be done soon. cory better love me.

.... posted from my phone which will not let me capitalize or use any punctuation except periods and commas. i do not know why. ...

Happy Birthday, Jason!

One year ago today we welcomed a precious baby boy into our lives.  It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed.  Where did the time go?

He's grown so much in the past year - learned to hold his head up, learned to roll over, learned to crawl, and now to walk!  He loves bananas and pretty much any food he can feed himself.  He gives sweet hugs and always has a ready smile for anyone who looks his way.  He's busy, busy, busy - always on the move exploring and getting into everything.  He knows what 'NO' means, and he's quick to shake his head and give a great big smile - "You don't really mean that, do you?"

He's not talking yet, except to say a few words like 'itty!' (kitty), and 'dada' and 'mama' - but he babbles all the time, so he'll be talking non-stop before we know it.  He's pretty good at letting us know what he wants anyway.

Happy Birthday, sweet Jason.  It's been a pleasure knowing you this past year, but could you maybe stop growing up so fast?  Yeah, I know - your mommy didn't listen either when I told her to stay little.

Of course, if she'd stayed little, we wouldn't have you, would we?

Sweetness!

I don’t think I take enough pictures of this adorable little boy.  He’s growing so fast.  It’s hard to believe that he’ll be a year old in less than 3 weeks.  Wow!  How is that possible?

Here are a few pictures I took this afternoon.  Can’t you just tell he is the sweetest little guy?

I love him!

Thoughts on Valentine's Day

Beth posted this on facebook:

It's nice to see she learned a thing or two from me!  I don't really care that much about the chocolate, but it's impossible for me to pay full price for something I know is gonna be half off tomorrow.  Sounds like some of that cheapness rubbed off on Beth.

If your sweetie pays full price for chocolate, does it mean he loves you more?  I think not!  And does it really mean he loves you just because he buys you something on a day that somebody else decided is the day?

Maybe Valentine's Day is a day for those people who wouldn't declare their love or show it in any way - unless somebody told them they have to.  But does doing something just because you have to really mean anything?

Maybe I do need that chocolate after all... 

I can wait until tomorrow.

Little Man in the Mirror

Jason found the mirror in our bedroom.  He got a little distracted from smiling at and kissing the baby in the mirror when I pulled out the camera – little ham!

Baby fingerprints and slobbers all over my mirror!  Somehow, I think it’s all worth it…

I Hope my Husband Doesn’t Mind

I’m in love with another guy!

(Warning: Cuteness Overload!)

Can you blame me?

Guess Who Spent the Night?

Jason!

Sunday was Beth’s 21st birthday, so she and Tim wanted to go out Saturday night and didn’t want to worry about what time they might get home – something about staying out until the bars closed so she could legally drink – so Jason got to spend the night at our house.  He’s just a little guy so he goes to bed early – about 7:30 – so his parents put him to bed before they left.  He had a bottle, and then his mommy read him (and his daddy) a book.

and then they tucked him into his Pack ‘n Play in his mommy’s old room.  We still have the Pack ‘n Play from when Jason’s mommy was a baby, but they brought the super fancy new one they have.  HIs mommy thought he would sleep better in it because he’s familiar with it.  She must have been right, because she said he usually wakes up around 2am for a bottle and a change – so we were expecting that – but we didn’t hear anything out of the little guy until about 4:40.  And then he was starving.  After a bottle and a diaper change, he went right back to sleep for another few hours and then he got to come to bed and snuggle with us for a while.

Once we finally got up Jason had a bottle and some pears and cereal for breakfast.  Yes, he eats baby food now – he’s a big boy!  When he’s hungry, though, he wants nothing to do with that food until after he’s had his bottle.  His parents came over a bit later.  I think they missed him just a bit!  But then they left him again to go shopping – for winter clothes.  Jason has tons of clothes, most of them from the little boy Beth babysits, but that little boy was born at a different time of year, and they’re just realizing that they have no fall and winter clothes that are going to fit.  So, Penney’s had some outfits on sale, and they both signed up to get JC Penney deals sent to their phones and  each got a $10 coupon off a $30 purchase.

Jason was sleeping when they left, and he slept for quite a while.  Then he wanted to eat again, and we played and snuggled and just hung out.

Yep, it was tough, but someone had to do it!

His parents found him some cute outfits, and they stopped at Goodwill, too and found a high chair to leave at our house, a nice hamper for Jason’s dirty clothes, and this adorable little costume.

Oh, the things we do to these little people!  But isn’t he cute?

It was fun having Jason spend the night and most of the day.  I’m sure he’ll be doing it again!

On Being Three Months Old

Jason, 3 months old - 8/10/11 (I took the video last week, but just now got it uploaded)




I'm not sure exactly what he's trying to say here, but he's sure cute saying it!  Telling us all about being 3 months old, I guess.  He'd just eaten and had a diaper change, so he was a happy boy.

Also, I think his great grandpa in Missouri will really appreciate this.  He hasn't met Jason yet, and since he's blind, he hasn't been able to see any pictures either - but hearing that precious little voice is something he can do!  And the rest of us can enjoy it, too.  I think it's impossible to watch this video without smiling.  I dare you to try.

Romantic Getaway in Branson

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

"There's just something about a luxurious hotel room that makes whispered sweet nothings sound even sweeter."

I don't know about those sweet nothings, but I do know there's something special about getting away from home and spending time with that special someone.  In my case, that's my wonderful husband Jeffrey.  Yeah, I still like him just a bit, even after all these years together.  We get to spend plenty of time together, and now that the kids are out of the house, it's usually just the two of us - but day-to-day life still gets in the way.
We're still trying to figure out what we want to do to celebrate our 25th anniversary this year.  I'm pretty sure it won't be until much later this year, but the Valentine's Day Romance Package at Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing sounds really nice.  It's available the whole month of February and includes:

• In-room sparkling wine (where permitted by law) or cider upon arrival
• Access to hotel health club, pool and whirlpool spa (where available)
• Full American breakfast for two in the room or in the hotel's designated restaurant.
• On stays beyond one night, buy one entrée and get a second one of equal or lesser value at no additional cost. (Choose from either lunch or dinner in designated restaurant)
• Late check-out available upon request

It's a chance to get away from it all, stay in a really nice place, just relax and focus on the two of you.  I'm thinking sparkling wine and a hot tub in the room would be perfect.  They've even got a special menu for Valentine's Day, featuring some really fancy food.  The salad sounds interesting - Aged Balsamic Roasted Figs | Pancetta | Swiss Chard | Red Onion | Maytag Blue Cheese | Blood Orange Avocado Oil - and the whole meal would be quite an experience.

A touch of elegance, a hint of indulgence, and you've got the makings for a great Romance Package.  If you're looking for a Valentine's Day getaway with someone you love, check out the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. They may just have exactly what you're looking for.

Care Packages Made Easy

Remember care packages?  Those boxes full of goodies from home when you were away at summer camp or college?  It was always so exciting to get one and fun for everyone in the dorm because, of course, care packages are to be shared.

Now that my son is getting ready to go off to college, I guess that makes me the mom, the one who gets to put together care packages full of special things from home.  Or I could just pay the Residence Hall Association to do it for me.  That's right, for a fee, they will send care packages to my student 'at the most important times during the school year' - so I don't have to do it.  All I have to do is select the packages I want to send him, write a personal message for each package on the back of the enclosed cards, and pay for my order.  Instant care packages!

The packages are full of all kinds of snacks and munchies - candy, cookies, popcorn, chips, etc. - but the only personal touch is the little enclosed card.  None of the student's favorite things from home.  No homemade cookies.  Nothing different from what the room-mate gets - so no need to share, I guess.  I suppose a care package like this is better than no care package at all, but I think I'd rather put together my own.  They're aiming for 100% parent participation, but I don't think they're gonna get it.

Of course, since Cory is going to school only about 15 miles away and will probably be home on the weekends at least every once in a while, I doubt I'll be mailing him anything either.  I'll just put together stuff he'll enjoy and send it back to school with him when he goes.  I think he'll still know I care.

What do you think?

Oh Happy Day

Happy first day of Summer!

Happy Fathers Day!

and Happy Anniversary to me and my Honey! 23 years today.