Okay...I admit it...I'm an American Idol Junkie!! But then, so is my husband and brother-in-law. We never miss an episode. And we argue, a lot, over our favorites.
After this weeks shows, I've picked my two favs. Crystal of the girls group...and Casey of the mens group.
Crystal just seems to glow...and she can sing, too. Casey...Oh my...he is Hot! Hot!...and he can sing, too. Down, Kara, down girl! Your fawning over Casey is annoying and I'm sure is offensive to the other Idol-wantabes. Even Casey looked embarrassed.
My over-all pick is Casey. I think he's the one to beat.
I was a tad disappointed in Andrew Garcia...from the auditions, I expected him to outshine all of them. Maybe next week.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
EARLY MORNINGS
Lately, I've been sleeping in...getting up at 8 instead of 6. And I feel as if half the day is over already!
For you who don't know, I love the early hours of the day. My ideal morning is (from March to October)...up before the crack of dawn...grab a cup of coffee, my cigs :)..and the newspaper and ink pen...and a rag to wipe the dew off the table and chairs...and go out on the deck/porch. No other cup of coffee or cigarette tastes as good as that one, in the still-dark morning, while anticipating the first light of day, listening to the birds chirping wake up songs.
As the darkness fades, giving way to daylight, a calmness fills my soul. I can almost hear God saying "Let there be light." and my response is..."This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." This period, as the night slowly fades, is my time of prayer and reflection. My heart is so filled with God's glory, words trip over themselves as I try to express my praise and thanks. Oh, I know...I can ...and do...do the same thing sitting at my kitchen table, or even before getting out of bed...but that early morning outside commune with God is a very special time for me.
When the sun is up and it's fully daylight, I read my newspaper and work the daily crosswork. Most days, I'm finished by 7 and back in the house, at the table, for more coffee and cigs with the USA Today paper and crossword.
During the long, cold winter months I can only sit at the table, looking out the window, yearning for spring!
For years I watched the daybreak as I drove to work. How I yearned all winter (when I was at work before daybreak) for the spring...when I could leave home in the dark and arrive at work in the early daylight.
My wish for you, my friends and family, is that, during your morning rush to get to work or school, you will take a moment to look around, listen to the birds, watch the sun rise..and be amazed right along with me "How Great is Our God" who can perform this amazing rebirth every single day.
HURRY UP SPRING!!!!
For you who don't know, I love the early hours of the day. My ideal morning is (from March to October)...up before the crack of dawn...grab a cup of coffee, my cigs :)..and the newspaper and ink pen...and a rag to wipe the dew off the table and chairs...and go out on the deck/porch. No other cup of coffee or cigarette tastes as good as that one, in the still-dark morning, while anticipating the first light of day, listening to the birds chirping wake up songs.
As the darkness fades, giving way to daylight, a calmness fills my soul. I can almost hear God saying "Let there be light." and my response is..."This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." This period, as the night slowly fades, is my time of prayer and reflection. My heart is so filled with God's glory, words trip over themselves as I try to express my praise and thanks. Oh, I know...I can ...and do...do the same thing sitting at my kitchen table, or even before getting out of bed...but that early morning outside commune with God is a very special time for me.
When the sun is up and it's fully daylight, I read my newspaper and work the daily crosswork. Most days, I'm finished by 7 and back in the house, at the table, for more coffee and cigs with the USA Today paper and crossword.
During the long, cold winter months I can only sit at the table, looking out the window, yearning for spring!
For years I watched the daybreak as I drove to work. How I yearned all winter (when I was at work before daybreak) for the spring...when I could leave home in the dark and arrive at work in the early daylight.
My wish for you, my friends and family, is that, during your morning rush to get to work or school, you will take a moment to look around, listen to the birds, watch the sun rise..and be amazed right along with me "How Great is Our God" who can perform this amazing rebirth every single day.
HURRY UP SPRING!!!!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
I'm really enjoying Facebook. I am in touch with many people, friends and relatives, that I have lost contact with through the years. And getting to know some great-neices that I hadn't seen since they were little girls. Now they're beautiful young women.
Sometimes it feels like I have a full-time job. I farm on Farmville, Farmtown, Country Living, Island Paradise...cook on Cafe World and Restaurant City...raise and train fish on Happy Aquarium...take care of pets on Petville and Happy Pets....and build cities on My Town and My City. Wheh! Lots of work...but very entertaining.
So, if you have nothing better to do, join me!
Sometimes it feels like I have a full-time job. I farm on Farmville, Farmtown, Country Living, Island Paradise...cook on Cafe World and Restaurant City...raise and train fish on Happy Aquarium...take care of pets on Petville and Happy Pets....and build cities on My Town and My City. Wheh! Lots of work...but very entertaining.
So, if you have nothing better to do, join me!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
SELF-PITY
Normally, I have a pretty upbeat attitude about growing old and all my major and minor medical problems. But, last night, I gave in to self-pity and wallowed there for awhile. It wasn't a major crisis that brought it on. That's why it took me completely by surprise.
My youngest son called and said they would be in Bourbon and were going to a basketball game there Friday night to see my nephew play for Tippecanoe High School against Triton High School, where my son used to teach and coach basketball. He asked if we'd like to join them. Now, I would like nothing better than to see my son and his family..and I love basketball. But, due to my declining health, I had to say no. Number one, I can not drive that far, especially at night. I have a medical condition where my muscles cramp up...legs, feet, toes, chest...neck...when stretched or twisted (as in turning to check for traffic). Second, my night vision is not what it used to be. And, walking...forget it! I'm lucky to walk from the car into the house and even then I'm in terrible pain and short of breath. My brother-in-law has only one eye..and its not real good...so him driving is out. My daughter has to babysit her three year old grandson, so she can't go.
When I got off the phone, I was all choked up..lump in my throat, tears flowing. And it wouldn't stop. I went to my bedroom and gave myself permission to have a good cry...which I proceeded to do. When I decided I'd had enough wallowing...after a half hour or so, I got up and tried to play on the computer...but my eyes continued to leak and I couldn't see the screen nor concentrate on what I was looking at. Despite all my efforts, the self-pity had taken over.
After two hours...loong pitiful me hours, I knew it was time to let go and let God. Since my favorite praying position...on my knees by my bed...is no longer an option, I curled up on the bed and told God I needed His help. I told him I know He has given me these afflictions for some reason known only to Him and most of the time I can accept it..that He knows what's best for me. I prayed for better acceptance. I asked Him to rid me of this miserable self-pity. And you know what? Suddenly, I realized my mind was calm. My tears had stopped. I ended my praying with all the praises of thanks I could think of...and at the end threw in "God, you have answered my prayer almost before the words were out of my mouth..now, if it's all the same to you, how about throwing in some healing, too? Then, even though I know God knows my body even better than I do, I listed all my ills, aches and pains.
Well...I don't feel any healing of my afflictions, which only means God still is not through with me. But, Praise The Lord, He did take away the paralyzing self-pity almost before I asked Him.
My youngest son called and said they would be in Bourbon and were going to a basketball game there Friday night to see my nephew play for Tippecanoe High School against Triton High School, where my son used to teach and coach basketball. He asked if we'd like to join them. Now, I would like nothing better than to see my son and his family..and I love basketball. But, due to my declining health, I had to say no. Number one, I can not drive that far, especially at night. I have a medical condition where my muscles cramp up...legs, feet, toes, chest...neck...when stretched or twisted (as in turning to check for traffic). Second, my night vision is not what it used to be. And, walking...forget it! I'm lucky to walk from the car into the house and even then I'm in terrible pain and short of breath. My brother-in-law has only one eye..and its not real good...so him driving is out. My daughter has to babysit her three year old grandson, so she can't go.
When I got off the phone, I was all choked up..lump in my throat, tears flowing. And it wouldn't stop. I went to my bedroom and gave myself permission to have a good cry...which I proceeded to do. When I decided I'd had enough wallowing...after a half hour or so, I got up and tried to play on the computer...but my eyes continued to leak and I couldn't see the screen nor concentrate on what I was looking at. Despite all my efforts, the self-pity had taken over.
After two hours...loong pitiful me hours, I knew it was time to let go and let God. Since my favorite praying position...on my knees by my bed...is no longer an option, I curled up on the bed and told God I needed His help. I told him I know He has given me these afflictions for some reason known only to Him and most of the time I can accept it..that He knows what's best for me. I prayed for better acceptance. I asked Him to rid me of this miserable self-pity. And you know what? Suddenly, I realized my mind was calm. My tears had stopped. I ended my praying with all the praises of thanks I could think of...and at the end threw in "God, you have answered my prayer almost before the words were out of my mouth..now, if it's all the same to you, how about throwing in some healing, too? Then, even though I know God knows my body even better than I do, I listed all my ills, aches and pains.
Well...I don't feel any healing of my afflictions, which only means God still is not through with me. But, Praise The Lord, He did take away the paralyzing self-pity almost before I asked Him.
Monday, February 15, 2010
NEW GREAT GRANDCHILD
Today I got to hold my newest...sixth...great-grandchild. He's a little over two weeks old, but due to illnesses and weather, today was the first time I've met him. He's wonderful! So tiny ..so perfect.
Since his birth, I've been told he looks just like Grant did (his two-year-old big brother), that he looks even more like his dad, Anthony than Grant did. But when I look at him, I really don't see anybody but him. And that's my wish for him. That he will grow up to be himself...and the best himself that he can be.
Maybe he'll be president and preside, with God's help, over a peaceful nation. Maybe he'll be a doctor, prescribing God's love along with his medicine. Maybe he'll be a scientist and, with God's guiding hands, discover a cure for the common cold. Maybe he'll be a truck-driver, riding with God, delivering necessary material and goods to a needy world. But whatever he chooses, I pray that he will always rely on God's love to make him the best he can be.
Welcome to my world, Wyatt Glenn Knudson.
Since his birth, I've been told he looks just like Grant did (his two-year-old big brother), that he looks even more like his dad, Anthony than Grant did. But when I look at him, I really don't see anybody but him. And that's my wish for him. That he will grow up to be himself...and the best himself that he can be.
Maybe he'll be president and preside, with God's help, over a peaceful nation. Maybe he'll be a doctor, prescribing God's love along with his medicine. Maybe he'll be a scientist and, with God's guiding hands, discover a cure for the common cold. Maybe he'll be a truck-driver, riding with God, delivering necessary material and goods to a needy world. But whatever he chooses, I pray that he will always rely on God's love to make him the best he can be.
Welcome to my world, Wyatt Glenn Knudson.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
GOODBYE, GARY. REST IN PEACE!
Today is the funeral and cremation of a good man. When I started writing this, I tried to think of more adjectives to describe Gary Burke. But none of them are better than "good man."
I haven't seen Gary often since 1965. He was one of my brother's best friends from Belleville, Michigan, in their early teen years and stayed close through the years. I sometimes saw Gary and his wife Linda when they visited Jim and Loretta. Always, without fail, his conversations centered around his children and grandchildren. I got the impression he was a very family-centered man.
For a few months, after he got out of the Army, in 1965, Gary was a frequent visitor at my house. My children, Tammy and Buddy,(6 and 7 at the time) adored him. In fact, Tammy insists he was her first crush and wanted to grow up and marry him. Gary developed a crush on me and I worried about "crushing" him when I gently explained my feelings toward him were very brotherly. Unforturnately, that ended his visits and I missed him horribly. I was so happy for him when he married Linda Jones...a younger sister of my own teen-age best friend, Helen.
My brother, Jim, is devastated. He went to see Gary just a week before he died of cancer. We planned to attend the funeral, but the weather has prevented that.
The world has lost one of its brightest lights and is a poorer place without Gary Burke in it.
Rest in peace, my friend.
I haven't seen Gary often since 1965. He was one of my brother's best friends from Belleville, Michigan, in their early teen years and stayed close through the years. I sometimes saw Gary and his wife Linda when they visited Jim and Loretta. Always, without fail, his conversations centered around his children and grandchildren. I got the impression he was a very family-centered man.
For a few months, after he got out of the Army, in 1965, Gary was a frequent visitor at my house. My children, Tammy and Buddy,(6 and 7 at the time) adored him. In fact, Tammy insists he was her first crush and wanted to grow up and marry him. Gary developed a crush on me and I worried about "crushing" him when I gently explained my feelings toward him were very brotherly. Unforturnately, that ended his visits and I missed him horribly. I was so happy for him when he married Linda Jones...a younger sister of my own teen-age best friend, Helen.
My brother, Jim, is devastated. He went to see Gary just a week before he died of cancer. We planned to attend the funeral, but the weather has prevented that.
The world has lost one of its brightest lights and is a poorer place without Gary Burke in it.
Rest in peace, my friend.
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