A friend in 'Deed'

What is a true friend?  There a many definitions, by many different people.  Some say a friend is always there when you need them.  Others would say a friend listens when you really need to vent.  Then there's the friend that tells you like it is, when you need to hear it, even if you don't want to hear it. 

I have lots of different kinds of friends, and it's really special knowing that because I can call on a different friend for a different reason.  It allows me respect the best in my friends, and not expect something of them that I know (or suspect) they're not willing to give.   I like friends that have those same considerate (some would say low) expectations of me. 

There are really two ways of looking at your friends.  You can expect everything of them, and wear them out like a pair of  favorite socks that are always the first ones you pull out of the drawer, wear them around the house, even sneak outside with just them on, inconsiderate of the damage you're doing to them.  Or, you can pull them out for both regular and special occasions, not every day, so as to not wear them out, but knowing the smile they bring to your face whenever you see them is that special smile just for those socks.  Yah, you're thinking, okay, is she talking about socks now or friends?

I think that's all I have to say, except this- I had a friend stop by unannounced today.  Well, kind of unannouced.  She told me a earlier this week she'd have a surprise for me in a couple of days, but I didn't know how it would be delivered, or when.  And the big deal is, this is a friend who just doesn't stop by unannounced.  Some people are uncomfortable with that, and they just don't do it, even if they've been told 'stop by', as I have done with this friend several times.  So I was a little surprised when I opened the door and it was her.  And she was bearing a surprise in her hand, thoughtful, cutely packaged, just for me.  Even in the midst of this crud I've been fighting for over 5 weeks, it cheered me up as you can't even imagine.  So I think our friendship has grown, with the whole showing up at the door thing, and I like it.

And I hope that friend likes reading this post, especially when she finds out that the reason it took me so long to get to the door after the 4th time (or was it 5th) she'd knocked was because I was sitting on my feet at the computer playing the 'What Drives Edward' contest at the Volvo website - trying for about the 15th time to wind my way through the red-hooded Italian crowd to save Edward.  When I tried to get up, my left foot was so asleep that I couldn't step on it- I tried and just about sprained it...so I had to crawl to the living room on all fours....(yah, like a DOG!') and then carefully stand up and act normal when I opened the door.

"It is better to be in chains with friends , than to be in a garden with strangers."

-Persian Proverb

Shelby's presentation on Hungary

I'm glad that's over!

Shelby's fourth grade class all did presentations on a country that part of their family heritage is from.  Yesterday was her turn so I went in and took a couple of pictures.  She said she was nervous but she seemed very calm about it!  She even answered a few questions of the teacher and class.  The most interesting part of the presentation was when she talked about how her great-grandfather, John Heineck stowed away on a ship coming to America.  He never went through Ellis Island so he was technically here illegally, but it's thanks to him that the rest of us have grown up as free Americans.

Halloween 2009

Out trick or treating downtown Lebanon...it was a big crowd and it poured part of the time...but luckily we were mostly under awnings during the rain.  Here's our favorite stop...Bi-Rite...Mark makes a perfect Frankenstein and Kathy his perfect bride!

I'm having fun with my digital scrapbooking!

I am having SO MUCH FUN with my digital scrapbooking software from Creative Memories - Storybook Creator Plus 3.0

As you can see, the creative possibilities are endless...all without dragging out ANYTHING!   I still cling to my need to touch paper, scissors, stickers and tools, but I have to admit, digital creativity is allowing me to do things with my photos and scrapbook layouts that I never dreamed of.

Less is More

So last Sunday, (not THIS Sunday, but last Sunday) we had a great Adult Sunday School.  I missed Adult Sunday School this week to watch the toddlers in the nursery.   Now, I'm not the most adept at recall, but I do remember this.  We talked about selfishness, and how sometimes that can create our own stress and stress to those around us.  Our sunday school leader said that he often is rushing the family around trying to get ready to go somewhere, yet if he'd just gotten out of bed and done a few things a little earlier, things would go so much more smoothly and it would alleviate so much stress on him and the 4 little munchkins (and wife) he's trying to rush around to get out of the house.

When I heard that, I thought 'God, that is so me!'  I made a pledge right then to try and make a change to be less selfish.  Less snuggling back down into the covers at 6:30 when the alarm goes off and I hit snooze every 7 minutes until 6:50. Less pretending that I don't hear Scott at 6:30 getting dressed, opening and closing drawers, the closet, muttering at the cat to get out of his way.  Less grumbling at the kids for the third or fourth time that we have to get dressed NOW or we're going to be late....Less stressing the kids out when they're enjoying talking to each other during breakfast ( I mean, what am I thinking we don't have time to talk to each other during breakfast???) Less talking through doors that 'you HAVE to get off the potty NOW or we're going to be late!'  Less blame about whose fault it is when we pull out of the driveway at 8:07 instead of 7:55.   Less guilt that I'm quickly dropping the kids off at school to walk in (quickly, of course, and some times I even roll down the passenger window to remind Tristan, 'Walk Quickly BUD!) without me, when I know they love for me to walk them to their cubbies, get a kiss and a hug and a wish for a great day at school.

So last week, I started making an effort to banish my morning selfishness.  It worked almost every day (yah I slipped up one morning, I'm new to this okay?).  When I thought about how much nicer the mornings were, more time to see Scott grumble at the kitty, more time to talk, more time to listen to talking, more time to go potty in peace, more time to walk nicely into school and give each child a hug and and a kiss, knowing that neither child was stressed about classing having started without them, I think God wasn't working in a mysterious way, just working on me.

So no time spent hitting the snooze button, no time pretending that I'm still asleep, no time stressing out my family, no time stressing out myself.  Yep, working on me.

Twilight Weekly Spotlight series on ReelzChannel

Quileute ties to Twilight featured on Internet video channel


The Quileute Nation and the tribe's ties to the Twilight story are being spotlighted this week by the ReelzChannel, which provides cable broadcasts nationwide on Twilight. Four online videos are being featured. The shows are hosted by ReelzChannel's resident Twilight expert and correspondent Naibe Reynoso, Twilight Weekly: Spotlight offers all the latest info on Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and the fandom surrounding them.

Delivery from the Forks Forest

So I can't remember if I mentioned that during our trip to Forks, Washington, we went to the park where there were a bunch of Forks and Twilight related vendors set up.   My favorite vendor (and Tristan's too!) was the Forks Forest.  They are a local family, Tena, the grandmother, and her grandson who makes beautiful glass blown beads.  Tena then has created a beautiful line of Twilight inspired jewlery using the beads.   I couldn't make up my mind which necklace or bracelet was my favorite so I asked her to put my favorite bead together with the key size and tag that I liked.   It arrived in the mail last week, along with a pair of earrings as as special gift!  I'm so excited and I'll definitely be wearing my necklace to the opening of New Moon.  

In the meantime, Scott is chomping at the bit (or should I say the fishing line....) because Jim, who runs the hostel we stayed at just south of Forks, has e-mailed him several times letting him know the steelhead are running on the Sol Duc.   I'm ready to go back!