Confirmation 2009

I've had the amazing privilege of mentoring Madison for the past 12 or so weeks for our Confirmation at Long's. Madison is such an incredible kid who reminds me of myself so much when I was her age. She's terrifically interested in theology and has a real heart for missions...she's really chasing full speed after God and it's totally amazing to watch! I've loved being her mentor, we've been pals for quite a while (since I first came to Long's), and it's been a true blessing to me. This weekend she 'graduates' from the class, along with almost 50 of my other children that have moved from Children's Ministries to youth...I'm a sentimental fool and so proud of them all, my little kiddies all growing up!

The Birthday Boy...

david michael mehaffey...you were born today! (well, 26 years ago today...). do you know how many people adore you? pretty much every person who's ever looked in your direction, shaken your hand, heard your laugh or talked with you about fishin or huntin or trappin or the importance of a good crisp lawn.

'Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somwhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth

For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good'
(the sound of music)

you are one of a kind, and i am head over heels in love with you.

What the rain brings...

I mean, seriously? We get to live here?

My parents got David this cute little porch swing for his birthday (its tomorrow, so stay tuned!)

We finally saw it...

'A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A waterloged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if your rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?' - Marley & Me

So we finally joined the rest of America and watched Marley & Me...it wasn't on purpose that we hadn't seen it...if you know me at all you know I'm fruit loop about movies and demand to see every movie that comes into theaters. Sometimes though, life has it's own demands, and I'm having to watch more and more on pay-per-view...

Anyways, we watched it last night and I boo-hooed like a lunatic, just sobbing away as I had heard everyone else had. I mean, I knew what happened in the end, I just didn't expect it to effect me so. When the movie was over I looked up and David and Ruby were snuggled up in the recliner, and I thought I want in on that! So much to David's hysterical protests (his old ratty chair is his beloved and he says I'm 'too rough with it'...he's always sayin 'easy on the arms!!!'...sigh) I climbed in and we had a little photo shoot with our little doggie. I ended up having to snap the camera with my left hand so it was hard to center the pics, especially with all the laughing and Ruby wiggling wiggling.

I love this one...David and Rubs were tiring of my picture taking...

And this was Ruby when it was all said and done...we must have done her in!

For another cute take on some folks and their dogs, check out my cousins blog...

Drive-By Reflections, Vol 2

The more I have to drive to and from our new home, the more I think to myself, 'How did I ever live in town for 3 years?!?'...I know it takes a little bit more time to get to and from town, but living in the country is just at the core of who I am...and I like that it takes me a while...sometimes, sadly, that's the only time of the day that I have to myself...completely to myself. I can think and dream and talk with my Creator. I can sing and belt out my thoughts and feelings in song or rant...or just be quiet. And I can see all of the things that my Love has painted there just for me, just to give me joy...like today? I'm constantly amazed at the contrast of my mountains...they are soft and rolling and gentle and soothing and inviting, and in the same range, they are sharp and jagged and shadowed and myseterious and a little foreboding. They bekon me to come explore their creeks and shadows, to touch the delicate leaves of the strong trees. They want me to come climb to the tops of their mighty shoulders and kiss the cheek of God...Then, Im looking to the left and to the right of the road, and hidden among the rolling hills all waving hello with the tallest of grasses, there are horses...beautiful, strong, majestic creatures, grazing and swishing their tails and just begging me to come ride bare-back through the mountains...And then I pass field after field thats been freshly tilled and spread with the 'good stuff' if you know what I mean (and I think you do...)...and to most it smells putrid and just looks like dirt but to me it smells like home and looks like new beginnings...and I adore it.

Kujo & David Finally Connect...

I looked outside today and found Kujo and David finally bonding...Kuj, as we call him, has been very friendly with me for the most part, however, he still wont take a treat from my hand (I have to place it on the ground in front of me for him to take it) or let David within 20 feet of him...How good to know that we are both making progress with our strange human-eyed neighbor dog! I like to think this makes God happy, knowing we are showing kindness to even a poor abused dog...

Fresh Air...

I love that the rain has brought the mountains to life once more. Two days ago there were naked trees and this morning I woke up to the splendor of a million new leaves. A gift from my Creator to his Beloved, perhaps? I like to think so...

Some Thought-Provoking Reads...

I'm a pretty avid reader... I love getting out of my own world and having to create one from scratch in my mind, one that the author has painstakingly pieced together for the betterment of my imagination. I have been reading a number of thought-provoking books as of late, and they make me want to jump up and do something...what, I'm not sure, although heading back to Kenya in February is a start. I really love talking about great books with friends, but I can't find anyone who has read the majority of these...read 'em and then let's chat!!!!

'The Kite Runner' is about a kid growing up in Afghanistan when war hits, and the struggles that he and his father have as they find their way to the United States. This book absolutely rocked my thinking and moved me to read the next book by the same author...

In this next novel by Hosseini, we see what life was and continues to be for those who weren't able to leave Afghanistan when things started getting really messy. It follows two women on separate journeys that lead them to the same man, and the story takes you someplace really special...

'What is the What' is nothing short of riveting. This is a true story of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. I didn't know much about this country or it's struggles, I had only heard Darfur being tossed around by the media with no real thoughts to what all the fuss was about. 'What' challenged my humanity and stired me to the depths of my soul. It's spellbinding and I can't think of enough ways to try and convince you to read it other than to say just.read.it.
Ah, 'The Shack'. Controversial and challenging, I struggled through this one. It so completely takes God out of the box that I wonder how I ever looked at Him in a box in the first place. 'The Shack' is so powerful, I bought about 10 copies after reading it and gave it out to everyone I came across.
'unChristian' is my current read. I'm only in the second chapter and I'm already dying to talk about it with someone... wanna jump in on this one? It isn't a novel, it's based on research done by The Barna Group about the perception that young people in America today have about Christianity...it's thought provoking 30 pages in, and I only anticipate excellence. This doesn't mean that any of it is easy or comfortable to hear, but I think if we are to be like Jesus and bring this generation to Him, it's a worthy read.

Crackin us up...

It's the paw tapping on the door handle that get us...

Midnight Orchestra...

It's been a pretty crazy week. I had church 5 out of 7 nights and David has been on call, which means he can be whisked away to restore someones power at the ring of the telephone...

So yesterday afternoon David and I are at SNL at Long's and my phone starts buzzing in my cute little handbag...I pluck it out and glance at the caller id...it's Caleb and Megan! I say 'hello' and I hear 'OH MY GOODNESS LEAH MOM AND DAD ARE GONNA GO ON A DATE AND ME AND CALEB SAID LEEEEAAAAAH AND DAAAAVIDS HOUSE!!!'. Of course, this little child who is practically my sister is squealing into the phone like a crazy person going on and on about how she simply must come see me. So after a quick chat with Julie (Caleb and Meg's Mama...) it is decided that indeed, the two munchkins should spend the night with us...

As soon as SNL is over I talk with folks and notice David mysteriously missing...so I set off for the front lawn and there is that husband of mine, very much involved in a rigourous game of tag. I really must say, that David is quiet possibly the coolest big softie I've ever laid eyes on...

Then, I see a flash of brown curls and a streak of firey red, and the next thing I know, I'm the meat in the Caleb and Megan sandwhich! (And let me tell ya, there's no other sandwhich I'd rather be in...)

So, we're off. We told the kids we'd take 'em to Shoney's for some supper and a hot fudge cake but these are some wack-a-doodle kids and they wanted Subway instead with treats from the gas station...We get home and before the car is even in park the kids have bolted for the swing...they are obsessed with it!

We had such a fun night, complete with MarioKart Wii and bubble baths and entirely too much junk food. Around 9:30 I say, we simply must settle in for the night! Since we haven't ordered our new bed yet, we have the guest bed in our room, and this is normally Caleb and Meg's bed. So, we were to blow up the air mattress, and of COURSE we had to put it in our bedroom so as to have one gigantic slumber party. After musical bed spots, it finally ended up with David having the big bed to himself (how did that happen?!?!) and Caleb, Megan, Ruby and I all on the blow up...It was quite a sight!

I always feel like there's nothing quite as marvelous as watching a classic movie as you snuggle up in bed before your eyes close and you slip away for the night. So we pop in 'The Rescuers', a timeless Disney classic. I thought for sure being an older movie it would put them to sleep but instead, they got so into it!!! Oh my goodness, they were wide-eyed... I mean, they just don't make characters like that anymore, I know, but I was quite thrilled at how it mesmerized them!

When the movie was over, we try (key word being try), to settle down and get to sleep. But somewhere, somehow, one of us picked up a frightful case of the giggles. As I'm sure you're aware, once someone has the giggles, it spreads like wildfire. Every time we would all calm down, something would happen that would set us all off again...whether it was David and Rubs having their typical snore competition, or Ruby rolling over on her back and running in the air with her paws, or even Megan just snorting into the quiet or Caleb making random declarations like 'I love French Fries'.

Eventually, Caleb drifted off under one arm, and Megs was still going strong. I tried so hard to get her to take this sleep thing seriously, but she is the worst kid to get to sleep. She keeps herself awake by petting me...no joke...stroking my arms or playing with my hair or 'tracing my face' as she calls it. She also kisses me constantly, and it is the complete sweetest thing I've ever experienced. As much as I love it, I have to eventually pretend to be asleep in order for her to go to sleep.

Once my little birdie was finally conked out, there I lay, flat on my back on a seemingly deflating air mattress with a dog on my legs, a red bird under my left wing and a brown bird under my right. It's one of the most comfortable places I can think of, with my little brother and sister both smushed up against me.

As I lay there trying to fall asleep, I was quiet entertained by the sounds of the four other bodies sleeping in the room. There were all manner of grunts and moans, little baby barks (from Rubs) and great big snores...from suprisingly all of the humans, not just the grown up one in the big bed! I just lay there chuckeling to myself, quite content with the midnight orchestra that was happening around me.

I gotta say this though: lately, I've come across two movie classics that have made me stop and go 'Uhhh, seriously?!?!' Last week I watched 'Sleeping Beauty' and was completely flabberghasted that the two kings, the fathers of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip, get comPLETEly sloshed!! Not only them, but the little servant/musican gets so wasted that he passes out under the table with the guitar on his head!

Then, in 'The Rescuers' last night, the little swamp mouse carries around Moonshine and every time he drinks it smoke comes out of his mouth and his eyes go about 75 different colors! He always tries to get everyone else to drink it too, and all this makes me think about shows and movies we have now. I mean, sometimes I'm appalled by what is targeted at our kids but when I stop and think about it, it's not always much different than what's in the classics maybe? The only thing I can figure is that now it's just so much more in your face and not quite as subliminal...