So, I'm going to leave. It's been great and all, but I'm a pushover and I've got a lot of peer pressure. I'm sorry if it takes you a million years to remember that I've switched and you always have to go to this page to find my new one, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm moving over to Blogger. I started a little while ago and I like it alot. You should think about switching too! Whatever you do, please don't stop reading. It's just a hop, skip and a jump away. Here's the link to the new site: http://kjmck.blogspot.com/ Please enjoy the pink splendor of it. Later gaters!
So there are some landmark things as a mom that tell you that your kids are growing up and there's nothing you can do about it. One of them has just happened to me. Eleanor informed us that her armpits stink and that it is happening on a regular basis. So today, I bought her her first deodorant. It's cute and says "girl" on the front and smells pretty girly. She was so proud to be grown up enough to wear it that I don't think she noticed that Erica stated that she was mortified the day her mom told her that she needed to start wearing something to cover her stench. So, now my daughter is growing up. The boys were very impressed at her new level of maturity (although her father says that producing body odor should not be considered maturity). Anyway, all in all, a momentous occasion at the McKenzie house. Here she is on her first deodorant wearing outing.
When I was a preteen, my best friend April and I were about the most indecisive girls you could find. We could never figure out what we wanted to do on those lazy days of summer. So we developed a way to narrow down our choices and find something we wanted to do. It started like this: "Inside or outside?" Then let's say it was inside, then "My house or your house?" "Upstairs or downstairs?" and on and on until we had figured out what we really wanted to do. (Maybe this is indicitave of the angst of the preteen to discover their true selves - or maybe it's just two wishy washy girls). In Chad, life is lived outside. You use the inside to store your things, some parts of the year you sleep in there, but pretty much everything else is outside. The market is outdoors, visiting is outdoors. Clothes washing, most of your food prep and eating are all outside. I saw that when you live like this you know your neighbors because you see them. A lot. You spend time with those around you while you work, while you relax, while you live. You know when they are hurting or in need because it's right there in front of you. Prime opportunity for loving your neighbor. There's nothing fancy about it. It means you get sand in your shoes, on your hands, in your food, but the food tastes sweeter with a friend and sand than gourmet and alone. It's hard in our "indoor" culture to be a part of our communities. We value these private spaces we've carved out for ourselves. And more often than not, we may live in a neighborhood and never even know our neighbors, let alone love them. And we sit wondering why we feel so lonely. The simple act of sitting on the park bench outside our building, though, can be an introduction - a seed planted. Greeting on the sidewalk can be a little water. Shoveling their driveway or inviting them for a bbq can be the fertilizer for a relationship with someone who doesn't maybe run in our circles, but may bloom into a joyful friendship. So... inside or outside?
A friend of my mom's had this poem posted and the following video. The poem is said to have been on the wall of Mother Theresa's orphenage and the song is Martina McBride. I have to say this really touched my heart. I have carried around since I was a teenager a little tract in my wallet that is tattered and torn, but it has reminded me over the years that though the world think you a fool, following Jesus and doing the things He asks of you are more valuable than anything you could do that might be counted success in the world's eyes. These two reminded me once again, that taking up your cross doesn't always mean moving across the globe, but it also means loving your next door neighbor. Is there something on your heart today that the world counts as foolish - do it anyway!
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
So normally I don't do games like this, but I thought this one looked really fun, so:
New Idea using Google Images
Here
are the rules: Put the answer to the question in Google Images, and use
the FIRST image that comes up (no clicking down to page 443 to get a
pick you like).
The city and state of the city you were born in, no quotation marks:
Virginia Beach, VA
The city and state you grew up in, or that you consider “home,” no quotation marks:
Charles Town, WV
The city and state you currently reside in, no quotes: Chambery, France
First and last name, no quotes:
Kirsten McKenzie
Well, the first one that came up was copyrighted, so this is the second one. This lady is not Kirsten McKenzie, but apparently she own a pilates studio where Kirsten works.
Your grandmother’s name:
I have two.
Gloria Acly
Not sure why this image came up!
and
Thelma Hicks
I told you all I'm black on the inside!!!
Your favorite food:
Spaghetti
Your preferred drink:
Sweet iced tea
Your favorite smell: Jasmine
But I don't mean her, I mean the flower
A favorite song:
The queen of my double wide trailer
Actually, I just wanted to see what pic it would come up with!
Feel free to do this! (If you haven't already) It's fun and different
