The Outlaw Josie Wilhoit

Merry Post-Christmas to me, I got myself a kitten!  After a diligent Facebook search (ha), I hooked up with a local family and they shared their little blessings with me.  I had already decided if I found a black and white kitten, the name would be Pepper.  If I found a cute little girl and she wasn't black and white, her name would be Josie.  Here she is...

Josie
 

Isn't she a doll?  I'm curious to see if she'll turn out to look like the Meepie.  I think their coloring is similar.  Josie is so tiny.  I can barely remember Meepie being that little.  Little Black Sambo was older when we got him, maybe 10 weeks.  This little gal is around six to seven weeks. 

I didn't tell the family that I was going to see about a kitten.  They were busy preparing the farrowing house at our friends' house anyway so it would be easy to sneak her in the house...except that she would not come out from under my passenger front seat.  I tried and tried over about an hour-and-a-half time period and finally gave up.  The family came home.  I told them that after supper I had a little project for them, but it would have to wait (I was shaking because of hunger:)

Halfway through supper I spilled the beans.  "Hey, guys, I got a kitten today and she's stuck underneath the front passenger seat of my truck."  Lane shot out of the house like a cannon.  Jay was dumbfounded.  Madolyn scurried out to help Lane.  Quickly, the kids reappeared holding Josie.  She had come out of the seat and was just waiting for a rescue.  (See, I softened her up for that.)

So snuggly

Lane was trying so hard to pretend sleep

We spent the rest of the evening loving on Josie.  Literally.  The poor thing was probably exhausted from being handled and cuddled.  I mumbled here and there about the Outlaw Josey Wales and referred to her as the Outlaw Josey Wales...Wilhoit.  I asked the kiddos if we should spell Josie with a "y" or "ie" and the vote was a clear "ie." 

Not more than than thirty minutes later I was scanning the guide on the TV, and would you believe the Clint Eastwood movie, one of my brother's favorites, "The Outlaw Josey Wales" was coming on at 9:00.  I set the DVR to record it.  It was a sign.  Josie was meant to be...even though we're still spelling her name with an "ie."    Welcome to the family, The Outlaw Josie Wilhoit!

OUT!

First off, a disclaimer:  I am not, nor have I ever proclaimed to be the perfect parent.  I do not know all the answers.  I'm learning that I'm learning as I go along :)

Christmas evening, we took the kids to see Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler & Marissa Tomei.  It was rated PG and was a cute movie.  About half-way through, I was afraid my kids probably weren't enjoying it, but they both said they did.  Good deal.

For a couple years, I have found myself, along with many others, asking the question, "What is wrong with kids these days?"  Is there anything they take seriously?  Don't they know what responsibility is?  Do they have any respect?  Have they ever heard of working hard for something?  And you probably get my drift.

Recently I had a revelation.  The problem with "kids these days" is primarily their parents.  And yes, that includes me. 

In the movie, Parental Guidance, the grandparents (Billy & Bette) are watching their three grandchildren while mom (Marissa) and dad go on a business trip/vacation.  The rules grandma and grandpa are given to parent the kids are ridiculous...and real.  Unfortunately.  For example, they were not to tell the children "no" or "don't do that."  Instead, they should say things like "consider the consequences" and "use your words."  Now, I admit that I often use the "consequence" line, but it is usually following something like, "I don't think so" or "uh-uh, no way."

The middle child, a boy, has a stuttering problem.  He's in group speech therapy.  Billy takes him to a therapy session and watches as the kids needing speech therapy spend an hour not talking, but acting out things in a circle.  It was hilarious.  I'm sure this theory has been researched by some experts, but watching it play out on screen was ridiculous.  They weren't "using their words," they were learning other ways to communicate.  Hmm, so their speech can improve...

What I think Jay and I both really related to was the little league baseball scene.  In the movie, Billy Crystal is a baseball announcer and enthusiast.  He is in the stands watching his grandson pitch three strikes and is taken aback when the batter is not "out" after the third strike.  He is told by the umpire that there are no outs and they do not keep score.  At the end, there is a tie and everyone goes home happy.  Of course, grandpa is completely baffled.

This was a repeat of a conversation Jay and I had when our kids started little league.  (We thought it would get better when our kids bumped up to the next level in the league, nope.)  You mean we are teaching our kids to play baseball, but we're not playing by the rules?  Rules that were brought into existence many, many years ago.  Rules that make up the game of baseball.  I mean, if you want to change the rules, change the name of the game, right?  Because what you're now playing is not American baseball. 

True story, in the league Lane was in last year, if the ball was hit into the outfield, a player could put his hands in the air to stop the runner from advancing the bases.  Is that not the craziest thing you've ever heard?!  God forbid, a batter get a double or a triple...a home run, why that's completely uncalled for!  

We had this discussion with our kiddos on the way home after the movie.  (And yes, I'm sure they were so happy to be included in it.)  We were discussing that particular baseball scene and how we could relate.  We told the kids that...here it comes...life is NOT FAIR.  Not everyone wins.  Not everyone gets that job they are wanting.  There are failures, disappointments, mistakes...and hopefully, you learn from them.  Hopefully, they make you stronger.  Maybe, you learn later, it was for the best because something better came along.  If everyone is on a level playing field, where is the desire to improve and do your best?

Hollywood is totally making fun of us parents.  Do we get it?  Even they realize that what we're doing is foolish.  We are doing a disservice to ourselves and our children and their children if we think the path we're on is a good one.  Parents, do you get that your children, the ones who cannot make a good decision on their own (because we're making every single one of them), are the ones we're training to take care of us when we're old?  Our government is a horrible example of financial responsibility and morals...if we are too, what will our children be like?

First and foremost a child needs to be exposed to Christ.  Without Christ in your heart, you are on a "first-class-ticket-to-nowhere" (thank you, Ferris Bueller's Day Off).  Going to church with your kids, as a family, is one of the best things I can do for my children.  Church is not an option.  I can't just go to church and act like a Christian, I have to be one.

We also have to teach our kids how to fail because it happens, and just because a person fails doesn't mean they are a failure.  Mistakes are some of the best life lessons I have had.  Disappointments are sometimes those unanswered prayers that Garth Brooks talks about.  They become a blessing. 

So I guess my end-of-the-year rant is this...go see Parental Guidance.  The whole nation should go see it...so we realize how ignorant we look.  Parents, teach your kids how to deal with life.  Grandparents, don't give up.  And for crying out loud, three strikes in baseball is an OUT.

MeRrY CHriStMaS!

I've been on another hiatus from the blog...if you have noticed.  Working on that not-so-perfect Christmas Tree has been stressful.  And if you're wondering where our Christmas cards are, I'm going for New Year's cards this year.  Stay tuned.

I'm working on another box of chocolate-covered cherries, thanks to my coworker who reads my blog.  She's the only one that got the hint (ha).  Maybe she's my only real follower.  It's just what I needed though, there were no snacks around here at all!

This morning, I woke up.  That's right, I woke up and so did you.  And guess what?  I wasn't even surprised that I woke up.  We all survived the predicted end of the world.  Was there ever any real doubt?  Isn't it sad that people actually believed that?  I guess it's nothing to laugh about, but honestly, God is very specific in the bible that we will not know.  Period.  “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  Matthew 24:6 (NIV)  Seems pretty clear to me.

I saw someone post (jokingly) on Facebook about a shelter for the end of the world and I immediately thought, I already have one, it's called Heaven.  Those people out there that really believed today was the end, they need our prayers.  They need to realize the one and only shelter.  So instead of making fun of them, let's pray for them that they find the Lord before it really is too late.

I probably won't write again before Christmas.  I thank you (at least my one true follower) for reading my babble.  Surprisingly, I have enjoyed writing over the past year-and-a-half.  The fun of it for me is that no one is forced to read my ramblings, I am hoping people read because they want to.  Most of the time my goal is to be uplifting and encouraging about life, parenthood, Christianity, family, community.  I realize that every now and then I may get on my little soapbox, but it's cheaper than therapy.  Thank you for letting me vent.  I hope that some day my children will enjoy reading stories from their childhood and mine (might come in handy with their future therapy).

Remember there would not be Christmas if it weren't for the birth of Christ.  I hope that you and your family and friends have a Merry Christmas!

Celebrate Christ-Mas

...An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:20-21 (NIV)

I had to laugh this morning.  I am a subscriber to the Proverbs 31 Ministries devotional.  Every day a devotional is delivered to my Inbox.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the blogs and devotionals in that inbox so every now and then I delete them without reading them.  I learned today that sometimes my coworker does this too.  We were both ashamed to admit it, as if we are doing something sinful by not reading them.  Ha.

Anyway, I had looked through most of my e-mails this morning, but two remained and one of them was my daily devo from Proverbs 31.  I almost read it twice, but was distracted by other things and didn't. 

A few minutes ago a friend forwarded me today's Proverbs 31 devotional and said "this made me think of you."  Well, I had to read it then, didn't I?  Whoa, someone had taken over my thoughts!  It was all about the writer of the devo losing her Christmas focus because of little things like...an unstable Christmas tree that kept falling over.  (I think if you click on this link, you can read the devotional  http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/ )

Of course, I had to tell my coworker to read it, which is how I learned that she had shamefully deleted it!  (Who could do such a thing;)  She read it and was amazed by the similarity to my tree situation.  We decided that maybe it was God talking to me, telling me that I needed to get my head screwed on straight (not a tree) and quick worrying about all the petty details.

What really matters...that Jesus Christ was born into a sinful world to die for an unworthy soul (e-mail deleter) like me; that my family is healthy and nearby; that we have jobs that support our family so we don't have to struggle; that I'm surrounded by a wonderful church family and some pretty great friends.  

There's so much pressure to have the perfect tree, the best Christmas card (I'm working on a New Year's card...ha), kids in perfect Christmas outfits, the ugliest Christmas sweater, the yummiest snacks and goodies, the most creative gifts...we lose sight of true perfection.  Jesus.  Although he is lying in the manger in our nativity scene on top of our TV stand, where is celebrating Jesus on my to do list?  Hmm, I'm not sure I ever put him on there.

I'm pretty confident that God isn't concerned about whether or not our Christmas tree, one we killed for our decorating pleasure, stands up straight or has pretty white lights or ugly colored ones.  I'm also fairly certain that He isn't going to get mad at us if we go back to an artificial one next year.  What He really wants is for us to celebrate Christ-Mas (Christ-More).

Here's to Scottie!

I'm a junkie.  Anyone that knows me knows that I love sugar, chocolate, butter, bread, brown sugar, and did I mention chocolate?  I'm always excited when Easter rolls around because the Cadbury Creme Eggs come out.  It's automatically a pass to eat as many of them as I can because, as you know, they don't come out again until the NEXT Easter and that's like, twelve whole months.

One of my favorite treats around Christmas is the chocolate-covered cherry.  I have found that you either like them or you don't.  Seems like most people don't care for them, but I love them.  And I have also learned, in my many years of taste-testing, that not all chocolate-covered cherries are created equal.  You must get the good kind, and honestly I can't tell you what brand I like best, but I go by the box and the packaging.  Usually you can't go wrong with Brach's, Cella's or Queen Anne's.  Thankfully, they're cheap too.

Much to my delight, they sell them individually-wrapped also, which somehow justifies me eating one every time I'm at the Dollar store. But today, while on my lunch hour, I bought my first box of chocolate-covered cherries. I quickly gobbled down two of them on the ride back to work and will keep on gobbling until they're gone.

I have found another justification for eating so many chocolate-covered cherries: (a) it's a fruit, and (b) it's chocolate.  Chocolate is good for you, right, and of course, fruit is.  The combination of the two is simply a masterpiece!

I could always count on my Grandpa (Scottie) Lynch to have a box of chocolate-covered cherries around the holidays AND to share them with me.  We enjoyed many together in the last few years of his life.  It was a great excuse for me to buy the first box, and then another one and another one.

So as I enjoy my first box of the season,  here's to Scottie!

Operation Christmas Tree - Yikes

I think I jinxed us when I wrote about our first Christmas tree in our new house last week.  If you missed that one, we got a real tree the first year in our new house and it would not stay upright so I threw it out the back door and got an artificial.

Last night, finally, at least Jay, Lane & I were available at the same time, when it was still daylight, to go get a REAL Christmas tree.  I thought a nice Fir tree already cut by the door of the tree farm was per-fect...but the fellas wanted to go out and find our own tree and have it cut down...so that is what we did.

We brought it home and got it inside and quickly discovered the base/trunk of the tree was too skinny to fit in the stand.  Jay grabbed some shims (ha, yes) and fashioned them in there to make it hold.  He had to leave right away for work so Lane and I were left to decorate the tree.  Hank sat back and supervised, he must have had a very hard day.  The tree was not the 'perfect' tree by any means, but we knew we could turn it to make it look decent.  After this picture was taken, Jay stepped back and we both started laughing, quoting those famous words meant for our fun-old-fashion-family-Christmas hero, "She's a beaut, Clark."

First thing I had to do was go to the basement, remove the sheet and get the lights off the already-decorated-and-ready-to-go tree stored away.  That was no small task.  I decided it was good though, I know I burnt at least 300 calories wrestling with the tree and the light strands.  Lane kept sneaking off telling me he had "something" to do but he would be right back.  Uh-huh.  I know that line well...I will say Lane did help decorate the tree for quite a while.  He sorted through and found all the 'fun' ornaments, you know, the ones I like to put on the backside, and got them on the tree first.  Then he decided to sit down and curl up with Hank on the couch, who, as you can see, is exhausted. 

 

I then took over and started sorting through things to find the ornaments I like best.  I went to the kitchen for a drink or something and heard a loud CRASH.  When I turned around, there it was.  Lane was speechless, and Hank was, well, undeterred by the commotion.  The stupid thing had fallen over.  Apparently the shims were a bust.  I considered taking a tarp strap and attaching it to the curtain rod, but Lane thought it would just end up pulling the rod out of the wall.  Smart boy.

 

After cleaning up the water mess...oh yes, Lane had already filled the base with water...I stood the tree up and leaned it over against the chair.  I was so frustrated...Jay was off at work so a support system for the tree will have to wait until later today when he wakes up.  I knew if I stayed at home, I would end up rigging something up on the tree so the kids and I took off for the Varsity basketball game.



 

I'll let you know how this ends...

 

Upside Down

If you live with a daughter in gymnastics, you know what I'm talking about...you often see her upside down.  Madolyn has been in gymnastics since she was about three years old.  Because none of our friends had kids at the time and she didn't attend daycare or preschool, we thought she needed some social interaction.  I took some gymnastics lessons when I was younger and, like usual in hindsight, wish I would have tried a little harder. 

Our living room has been the scene of several gymnastics events, tumbles, crashes, experiments, etc.  Thankfully the carpet is padded!  One Christmas Santa brought Madolyn her own gymnastics mat and she could use it in the basement.  That was helpful.  Right now I think it's in the barn (good place for it...you know, in case the animals want to try something).

I didn't realize it, but handstands are very important in gymnastics/tumbling.  I cannot tell you how many times this girl has practiced handstands in the living room...or wherever she happens to be.  (My grandma often tells the story of 'someone' doing cartwheels all the way up to the doors of the Hutsonville gym on the way into a high school basketball game one time;)  You can be trying to carry on a conversation and walk into the room and she'll be upside down saying "Count how long I can hold it."  Funny girl. 

But for one year of dance classes, which didn't seem to be her thing (thank goodness), she has been in gymnastics/tumbling classes ever since she was three years old.  I am thrilled to say that after almost nine years of training, she is actually starting to use some of her skills in cheerleading.  She is becoming more and more confident and starting to do some tumbling in the gym.  She hasn't done it during a game yet, but she's done them before and after the games when fewer people could see her.  Baby steps...I'm okay with it.  I would be a nervous wreck too!

That's Madolyn with her mouth open.  Ha.

A few weeks ago, she was warming up in the living room and I took these pictures.

Splits in the air.

And I have no idea what this is called.
 

I love my little gymnast even if I have to talk to her upside down...