Weekend Ramblings

No pictures today ... just a bunch of rambling about the past weekend. Spring came to us on Saturday, and left again on Sunday. I intended to get outside for a walk, but by the time I dashed through Walmart, packed it and unpacked it, I figured that was my walk for the day! I was anxious to get to my craft corner anyway, but let's just keep that between you and me, okay?

Remind me never to wear my favorite dilapidated old black sandals again, will ya? I love them! But my feet kill afterwards. {I wonder if "road kill" and "feet kill" are somewhat related words?} So I went shopping today for new sandals. Now Spring can come for real. Have you noticed that Gladiator sandals are now popular? I call them bible sandals. I tried them on. Yuck. How did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John walk over rocks and dirt with those things on?

Desperate Housewives: Edie Britt has left Wisteria Lane forever. How CAN the show go on without Edie? It's tough to say goodbye, especially to a feisty bird like Edie. But I do love flashback shows {it must be the sapbooker -- I mean scrapbooker -- in me}. I'm just sayin.

I am now into Book #4 of the Left Behind series. Kevin was even wondering if Buck found Chloe after the earthquake ... I'm keeping him informed, of course. But most importantly, I am learning more about bible prophecy and it's exciting! But once again, let's be thankful for not having to wear Gladiator sandals.

Contrary to what most people think, I'm not completely spontaneous. I'm not opposed to it, if I have time to compile a lengthy list and address the pros and cons before the aforementioned spontaneity occurs. So it was a bold move to attend the rock-n-roll church service at 11am. It was so fly-by-the-seat-of-my pants. Kevin had to work Sunday, so it was me myself and I. {Sadly, momma does not function well before 9am so this spontaneous plan was promising!} I wore jeans. So did Pastor Todd. I heard a guitar solo that rocked the house. I knew the words to one of my favorite songs. Following the sermon, communion was self-administered during a come-as-you-are time and, oh yeah, while you were coming-as-you-are, you could visit one of the many paper shredders that were placed strategically around the alter. Lessons from the paper shredder. We were invited to write on a piece of paper something or someone that we needed to forgive, and let go of that sin. Shred it to smithereens. What a powerful symbol of God's total forgiveness. It's part of a series entitled Fall Down, Get Up, Walk On. You wouldn't believe how meaningful it was to hear the sound of all those papers being shredded. Enough said.

Okay, rambling is over. I'm just gonna sit back and contemplate my true feelings on men wearing scarves. (American Idol?!?) And hope for tickets to WICKED, which is coming to the Murat Theater soon.

Strong Girlfriend

Phew! That is hard work for Sara B. to have to stand there and hold up the Washington Monument all the live long day! Brandt sure has a strong girlfriend! This is when Brandt usually says "Way to go Momma Squires!" and the translation is "Mom, you are the Cheese Whiz in every 8 oz jar!"

I LOVE when Brandt sends me pics of his day. What Momma wouldn't? I LOVE that Brandt is enjoying a beautiful afternoon in our nation's capital with his strong girlfriend. Life is too short not to enjoy the little things. "Way to go Sonny Squires!"

I SO enjoy putting the Whiz in their cheese! It's hard being them.

Happy Birthday Kevin

Happy Birthday to Kevin! What a fun reason to celebrate with the "Hood". The neighborhood gang gathered at the local Italian joint, and I tricked Kevin into thinking we were just going over for some pizza for his birthday. NOT! It was a birthday surprise! (We really are gonna have to teach Bear how to say cheese for pictures! I can't count how many goofy looks that man can give me and my camera. Remember this movie clip from New Year's Eve? Love ya, man!)

I think Lynn is giving the Italian gesture for "Who cares how old you are, Kevin!" Did you know that everyone has a golden birthday? It is when your age equals the day of your birth. Today was not Kevin's golden birthday, unless the date is April 59th!

They say that laughing makes you younger. So what better time to try it out than on a birthday?! I'm not sure whether we are laughing at the funny birthday cards, or Fran's gift of Weed-Be-Gone! Kevin has been obsessed with getting ahead of the dandelions in our yard and he declared war on them last weekend with 800 pounds of weed killer (I might be exaggerating just a tad bit, but I'm no expert).

I LOVE this picture of Brent and Eleanore! Oh my heck, do ya think Bear and Brent got together and practiced goofy faces? Oh why do we have to stop and smile for maniac-picture-taking Kay when there is pizza involved?! Mr. Wilson - I do hereby solemnly swear on my borrowed stack of Left Behind books that I will announce my picture-taking prior to the act rather than afterwards. Deal?

Trust me, Fran is having fun, despite the look. Perhaps she is dreaming of Kevin's soon to be dandelion-free green yard? She is, after all, located directly across the street from us and has to look at the lush weed cover in all its glory!

Happy Birthday honey bunny! I love you to the moon and back!

Easter Blessings

My favorite (only) granddaughter is the cutie pie in the center, in the brown dress, with her arms raised to Jesus! She was in an Easter program at church and I'm SO glad we had the opportunity to attend.

Look at the little boy next to Rhegan .. isn't he a picture of praise!

The words of the song are "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Sometimes it causes me to tremble ..." and this is the tremble part.

I'm thinking these two might just have a future in ministry together?!

The looks on their faces are precious! Is it any wonder that Jesus said "Suffer the little children to come unto me?"

The little guy next to her might think as much of Rhegan as I do!

I am so proud of my favorite (only) granddaughter. She knew every word, and did every move with purpose! But more than anything, I am blessed that she is serving Jesus! After the program, Rhegan "borrowed" my camera and here are the pics she took. First up, Grandma Kay.
Great-grandma Stiller (my mom).

Aunt Jane and Grandma Kay

Grandma Kay kissing Princess Rhegan.

Grandma Jan
Pawpaw Joe

Pawpaw Kevin

Andrea, Grandma Jan, Rhegan, Grandma Kay

Andrea, Grandma Jan, Grandma Kay

Pastor Jeff had some beautiful remarks at the end of the Easter Celebration service, reflecting on the last song "At the Foot of the Cross." Let's think back about who, exactly, was at the foot of the cross of Jesus on that day of His crucifixion.

• There was His disciples, of course - who could not believe this was happening! Did they really know and understand what was being done by Jesus - that He was dying to save the world?
• Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there. I doubt she was thinking about Him being the Savior of the world amidst her grief! She was watching her son die a horrible death!
• The crowds of people who shouted "Crucify him!" ..... the same crowds who just a week before had greeted Jesus with waving palm branches and claimed Him a King, saying "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Did they really know and understand what was happening?
• But when the sky grew dark in the middle of the day, and the ground began to tremble and roll, I'm sure the crowd grew scared and dispersed.
• And there were the guards who had been ordered to oversee the crucifixion ... to put Jesus up on the cross and to see to the details of his dead body. Did they really know and understand what was happening? Or was it "just another day on the job" for them?

One guard did know. The centurian in charge of Jesus execution said "Surely, He was the Son of God." He realized who Jesus was. Do you?

A Real Friend

I received this from a true friend, and I thought it was worth passing along!

• A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps herself and doesn't feel even the least bit weird shutting your 'refrigerator drawer' with her foot!
• A simple friend has never seen you cry. A real friend's shoulder is soggy from your tears.
• A simple friend brings a bouquet of flowers to your party. A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.
• A simple friend hates it when you call after they've gone to bed. A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.
• A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems. A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.
• A real friend reminds you that when you are down to nothing .... God is up to something.

I ran into a Real Friend today at lunch, completely unplanned and unexpected. I was alone at my table, doing my bible study homework, when I looked up to see my friend's warm smile. "Look at you, trying to grow!" she said. I invited her to sit down with me and the next 30 minutes were filled with Real Friend sharing that led us through some fast conversation, jumping from subject to subject. I LOVE that about my friend!

And I got to thinking again about her comment ... "Look at you, trying to grow!" I think that is exactly what God says to us when we invite him to pull up a chair. I have learned that God is able to keep up with a fast conversation, jumping from subject to subject, while I prattle on and on. That's what Real Friends do! I LOVE that about my friend!

The Grandkids (Great-kids)

We are "breaking spring" as Mr. Squires the math teacher would say. Three whole days at Grandma and Pawpaw's house! Every good vacation starts with a good breakfast, yes? This is breakfast at Grandma's kitchen. Rhegan isn't fond of dressing for breakfast. Parker isn't fond of posing for pictures when there is a cracker with his name on it. And Clayton, being the older brother, did his best to make this family picture happen! So starts vacation!

What would you give to look at these beautiful blue eyes for three days, morning, noon and night? I gave up sleeping in on Saturday in favor of cartoons.

Parker is afraid of nothing. His 2032 trips up and down the stairs gave us pause, but it would not be in anyone's best interest to get in his way. This kid plays hard and sleeps hard, literally. While Clayton went bowling with his friend Garrett, I took Rhegan & Parker to McDonald's playland. Except, Parker fell asleep in the car on the 12 minute drive. So I laid him on top of a table in the McDonald's playland, and there I sat with him, watching Rhegan play, for 45 minutes, with 113 other laughing screaming "breaking spring" kids and their moms, while Parker snored. I think he really enjoyed his trip to McDonald's playland, don't you?

Princess Rhegan loves to talk (wonder where she gets that? Did I tell ya about the time she introduced me to someone as her talky talky gram gram?). So we talk talk talk talk talk, and talk some more. She can talk her way into and out of almost anything. Except going to the potty right before bedtime. It wasn't pretty. The next morning, she came skipping into my room and made the following announcement: "Grandma! An angel came to me during the night and told me that if I wake up happy and I'm sorry for being a bad girl last night, then Grandma will take me shopping!" Do you think a trip to Wal-Mart was in order?!

Parker learned many new things while visiting us, playing the piano being one of his favs. I happen to like his playing very much, and encourage lots of practice, because then (and only then) do you really know where he is! If you lose track of Parker for one minute, it is probably because he is turning over the bowl of cat food into the water bowl. But let's give credit where credit is due. He came to me jabbering and pointing in the general direction of the mishap, so at least he reported his own crime. But when grandma responded with "Parker! That's a no-no!" his feelings were hurt so much that he ran through the house wailing and buried his head into the couch and shed 12 real tears. Ouch, grandma.

In a nutshell, here's what you can do in three days with your Great-kids:

1. Meet Papaw for lunch at Chicago's Pizza Buffet, and invite your neighbor Lynn and her grandson Garrett.

2. Go duck-pin bowling.

3. McDonald's Playland - you can play or sleep, it's totally up to you.

4. Go to the movies and buy a large bucket of popcorn for $7. Monsters vs. Aliens is the newest cartoon flick now playing (why DO they always release something on Breaking Spring week?) Only once, did Rhegan whisper to me "I want to go now" but that was during an alien space ship chase scene. I calmly replied "We can't go until Ginormica saves the planet!" and that was that.

5. Color Easter eggs. Egg salad anyone?

6. Buy battery operated bubble-making machines from Cracker Barrel and pop them with your nose.

7. Culvers - for butter burgers and frozen yogurt. Don't forget to ring the bell for good service on your way out. Be sure it's on your way OUT, so the staff does not have an opportunity to yell at you for continuing to ring the bell.

8. Buy a multi-colored pack of plastic sunglasses, one for every outfit.

A little retrospect: On Thursday afternoon at work, one of the attorneys stopped by my office with a research project. "I can't" I said. "I'm taking off work tomorrow to play Grandma." He thought that was great and asked me how old the kids were. "18 months, 4, and 9." To which he replied: "You are so screwed!" LOL Kevin & I really had a good time! You don't get memories like this without making it happen! I wouldn't take back one beautiful mess, one poopy diaper, or trade one sloppy kiss for anything in this world. Now, we do, however, want to thank Andrea & Shawn for giving us Sunday to recuperate!

Grandma: Goodnight Grandkids -- I mean, Great-kids!

Clayton: Goodnight Grandma -- I mean Great-ma!

Ten

Ten completely random thoughts for today:

1. You can blast or bury it. That's what I heard on my car radio today from Dr. Charles Stanley who was speaking to your reaction to hurt. You could go into your bedroom, shut the door, and blast away if you must get it out of your system. Or bury it - not good.

2. Guess who's coming over tonight for 3 days and 2 nights to spread laughter and beautiful messes? The grandkids - or greatkids, as my son-in-law likes to remind me.

3. Why must flat tires happen at the most in-opportune times? Well, is there really an opportune time? Prolly not, but there is more opportune times than others. Like when I am NOT taking my friend, Karen, to her doctor follow-up appointment to remove 18 staples in her leg following knee surgery. Pfffft.

4. On April 8, I'm going to win a series of DVD's from the Allaccess Blog. That is, if God wants me and the ladies in my bible study to Discern the Voice of God. Well, I'm quite certain He wants everyone to discern the voice of God, but ...

5. What do you say when asked "how are you today?" I always say "Just peachy!" But sometimes I jump between peachy and dandy. Even if you are not, saying is believing.

6. If I were a cat, I would not hurriedly jump on top of my mom's clothes hamper and crook my head through the blinds to see the birds in the tree. (But I wish I'd had my camera when he did.)

7. I hope Keaton is enjoying his first Spring Break --- as a teacher.

8. Take Note: March is gone. Where did it go? I hardly remember it! I think I slept through it. Like a hibernating bear, only one with a cold/cough. (April Fools!)

9. I'm feeling all sorts of creative. I love it when that happens! Like, when I strolled through the Martha Stewart isle at Michaels and found twine in spring colors. Ohhh, be still my heart!

10. My husband is my hero. I'm keeping him.