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Silliness

Fairy Tale Lessons

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Instead of attempting mighty feats of blogging creativity tonight, I believe I’ll introduce a guest blogger, my niece Rebecca. Rebecca currently resides in Norway with her family. She and Joshua spend much of their time exchanging amusing and clever stories through e-mail. I received permission to include this one on the blog.

Fairy Tales … the Moral of the Story
by Rebecca

I have noticed that fairy tales are rich with lessons and moral teaching. Here are just a few I’ve found over the years.

1) Don’t stay out late at parties. If you do plan to stay out late, be sure your shoes fit snugly.

2) Avoid Evil Knights. You will recognize them by a black charger, a huge black cape, lots of black armor, and a visage obscured in shadow. In fact, avoid shadowy visages in general.

3) Watch your manners around old crones, they are extremely touchy. When planning a celebration of any kind, extend an open invitation so no one will be neglected or offended.

4) Be nice to every animal you meet or you will come to a tragic and untimely end.

5) Don’t ever marry a widower. Step-mothers die painfully.

6) If a talking animal, beautiful princess, very old lady, gentleman in a long robe, or pauper tells you to do something (or not do something) OBEY THEM!

what?

Okay, I’m listening. Keep going.

7) Always marry the youngest princess. The others are most likely trying to kill you.

8) Curiosity has killed many a cat and it probably will kill you too. On the other hand, if you are the youngest of three children, handsome, poor, despised by your family, and wandering aimlessly, be as curious as you like. Enter the first ruined castle you come to and your fortune will be made.

joshua's stick

Whatever the situation, it always helps to have a large club or stout walking stick on hand.

9) Wishes tend to back-fire. Keep it simple for yourself and whenever you have three wishes ask for a mop, a wooden bucket, and a keg of soap. You can’t go wrong with cleaning supplies and your mother will be pleased.

10) To overcome all of the trials in life you must be one of three things: extremely clever and able to think your way out of anything independently, extremely good and beautiful to attract a good fairy to help you, or so very stupid and clumsy that you are simply bound to stumble over the solution in time.

handsome princes

These two are good looking, clever and upright, I predict an excellent ending to their tale.

Those are some of the prominent morals that I have noticed, besides the obvious things like “stay on the path” and “don’t stick your finger on sharp spinning accessories”, and (of course) the tried-and-true “trust short people because they are either good fairies, good old ladies, or nice dwarves who have nothing better to do than help you in every way possible”.

Rebecca

princess sarah

Some of the baubles Princess Sarah has collected along her travels. Where is that Prince Charming?

Thank you, Rebecca, for joining us today. Next I hope we will get a look at Rebecca and Joshua’s analysis of evil lords and the wicked henchmen that follow them.

Kathy

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Daily Life, Project 365

Graphic Design and Staged Photos

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Tim and I are in the midst of an artistic project for church. Yes, I said artistic, as in creative design. I have to wonder how many other people said ‘no’ to serving on the committee before they came to us.

“How about Tim and Kathy? Maybe they could be on the Publicity team.”
“Hmmm, Tim and Kathy. Do they know anything about graphic design?”
“No, but they have 5 children who sometimes wear matching shirts so they must be creative. “Plus, everyone else said no and the event is next month. We’re getting desperate and they have a camera and a computer, what else do you need?”
“Right, Tim and Kathy it is.”

I’m sure it went something like that. Thankfully Tim and I do have years of experience with desktop publishing, newsletters, web design and stick figures. Tim specializes in stick figures. Not everyone can convey a jaunty attitude in your basic stick figure. It’s a gift.

stick figures

Tim’s drawings are characterized by the friendly smile and wave of at least one individual. In Tim’s world, stick figures are friendly.

Today we spent hours (surely it only seemed that long) working on a letterhead design. The pastor wanted four pictures for the bottom of the page under the words – invite, belong, serve, and give. We had some sample pictures. “These look good. How about something like this?” he said with a casual wave of his hand.

That was Monday night. He wanted it by Thursday. Somehow I needed to come up with sweet pictures that would illustrate those four words. Oh, and they needed to be of people who actually attend our church.

“Um. Sure, that sounds great,” I told him. He must have noticed my worried expression for the pastor then said, “Just get your kids and take some pictures. They’re cute. I’m certain that would work fine.”

Now that I can do. A little discussion, a few stick figures drawn on the whiteboard, and Tim and I had a plan. I called a friend to see if she could bring her 5 year old to church and set off to stage a few pictures.

Serving

middle schoolers

Now this certainly says ‘serving’ to me. Three cheerful middle schoolers carrying a table. They’re probably setting up for the church picnic. Or better yet, they are acting out the story of the men who lower their sick friend down through the roof to Jesus. Admittedly, Jacob doesn’t look very ill as he rides on the table but there’s promise and meaning here. I see this picture and I think ‘serving.’ You won’t convince me otherwise.

Belonging

I had several pictures to choose from for this category but I loved this one of Rachel, Emma and Eli. Since a secondary goal was to be sure one of my children was in each of the four pictures, this was a top runner.

eli, emma and rachel blueberry picking

Unfortunately for Eli, Tim didn’t think this was the best picture for the letterhead. Emma isn’t really smiling. We choose this one instead.

the girls

Notice how Rachel maintains her big smile throughout the camera shoot. She is definitely the daughter of a photo happy, blogging mama.

Inviting

This picture took a little bit of work. I had an image in my mind of what I wanted (okay, I totally copied it from another source) but creating the right look was difficult. First I made sure Tarah and Sarah were in coordinating colors and then I tried to explain what I wanted them to do.

“Look at each other but turn towards me just a little bit.”
“Sarah, pull Tarah like you are inviting her but don’t drag her.”
“Walk this way but pretend you don’t see me.”
“Smile big, tilt your head, and point your feet over here.”
“Now look natural.”

Right. Working in my favor was the fact that these two little girls love to have their pictures taken and have a genuine affection for each other. It wasn’t a big stretch for them to hold hands and smile.

tarah and sarahcome on tarah

Last but not least, Giving

Tim and I went through several different possibilities for ‘giving.’ We thought about things the boys could give each other – popsicles, a squirt gun, the Bible, cash. Finally we settled for three items. We used candy, chocolate, and Coke. Doesn’t that sound like a great campaign?

Come to our church and we’ll give you candy, chocolate and Coke! Oh yeah.

daniel and davidchocolate bars

No children (or their teeth) were harmed during the making of this blog.

We’ll see what the reaction is to the design. I dropped the final product off at church this evening and will e-mail the file. After a while, it all starts to look the same to me.

I have to ask a few questions:

Do you ever stage pictures?
Do you include photos in your blog?
Do you use mainly candid or posed photos?
What would you do with 15 pounds of blueberries?

These are important things to consider.

Kathy
Project 365 – Day 220

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Addicted to Blogging?

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Last night Tim and I went to a meeting at church. We met upstairs in the middle school room where we spread out in comfy couches and overstuffed chairs. That’s the way to run a meeting – recliners and couches and plenty of chocolate.

The couple coordinating the meeting looked so dear sitting together, I just had to take a picture. Someone laughed and wondered aloud why I was taking a picture in the middle of our meeting. Come on, the meeting hadn’t even started yet. Before I could say anything the subject of my photography spoke up quickly and said, “She has to, she’s doing that Project 365 thing and she has to blog every day.”

randy and beckie

See how Beckie is poised to defend me.

Whoa! I guess that is how things get distorted. I am indeed committed to taking a picture every day as part of Project 365 but I never said I was going to blog every day. That implies a high level of creativity and some sort of original thought being generated daily. Not to mention the time involved in such a commitment.

It seems easy, however, even reasonable, to take a picture every day. My goodness, with five children, there is always something going on which is photo-worthy.

david, adam and daniel

For example, someone has to capture this moment of Daniel and David with Adam, enjoying some birthday Jello & whip cream (a bit heavy on the whip cream but hey, he’s the birthday boy).

I never, however, said I was going to blog every day. The fact that it has morphed into something so regular is beyond me. A mystery. The first one was free.

These thoughts were racing through my mind as I slipped the camera away in my purse. Did anyone really want to hear my thoughts on photography and blogging and my prayers for how God can use this blog for His glory? Suddenly another woman turned to me and said, “Oh, that’s right. I heard you were Addicted to Blogging.”

Addicted to Blogging???
Addicted?
Hey, last I checked blogging was legal in all 50 states.
Plus, I can quit any time I want.

elise and sarah

Sarah is sleeping over at Elise’s house tonight. Would these moments be captured if I weren’t blogging? I shudder to contemplate such a thing.

Just when I was beginning to feel a wee bit defensive, the woman asked for the address to the blog. “I want to check it out,” she smiled. It’s hard to be upset with that type of response. I can forgive a lot for a potential reader.

Do they make blogging business cards with your blog address on it? Wouldn’t that be just the thing to have on hand for these kinds of moments.

“Hi, my name’s Kathy. I blog, do you? Here’s my card. Leave a comment.” Snap. Wink.

Then again maybe a visit to Blogger’s Anonymous wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Anyone have the number? Do they have a blog?

Kathy (Blogging Addict)
Project 365 – Days 218 & 219

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Events, Project 365, Recipes/Food

Frappe Freeze, Anyone?

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Yes, it’s that time of year — the Annual Church Picnic!!

For some reason (historical smoothie scholars are not unified in their positions) our family maintains a tradition of serving blends, or smoothies, at the church picnic. Today was our third year of making mocha granitas and strawberry/lemonade blends for 400 to 500 people, or possibly 250 people, twice. However you do the math, we prepared between 400 and 450 drinks.

With our faithful blend assistants, Greg and Tina, now serving as missionaries in Thailand, we had to rely on family and a few random passers-by (Thanks Michelle and Terry!) to keep things moving efficiently. This year Rachel and Joshua moved out of the ‘carry supplies, hand out straws, and clean up the mess’ job positions and actually alternated the operation of one of our three Smoothie machines. It brings a proud tear to the eye to a smoothie-loving Mom or Dad, to pass along a love for blend-mixing to their progeny.

david sips away happily

David may be too young to run a blender, but he is an excellent taste-tester.

Some people get the tiniest bit excited about blends. We deliver them as fast as possible, but it’s hard to please everyone.

bethany and hannah

Bethany and Hannah are ready for their blends now! Or maybe it’s just time for the sack race to start. I get confused sometimes.

There’s nothing like a smoothie on a hot day to bring a smile to the face of a passing middle-schooler.

jacob and joshua

Notice the tight clenching of Joshua’s hand and his stiff smile. Smoothie-envy.

At our church picnic, young and old alike (not that I’m calling these two fine gentlemen “old”) enjoy cold fruit smoothies.

I wear my sunglasses...

I’m not calling them “young” either. :)

Of course, some people should stick to the fruit blends and skip the doubly-caffeinated mocha granitas (it makes them a little ‘jumpy’).

daniel jumps high

Daniel’s flying high …

Sarah and her friend, Tarah, wait patiently for their smoothies. That is, until the excitement overwhelms them.

sarah and tarahhooray for blends and friends

A few years ago Tim wrote an amusing and helpful blog about having a Blend Ministry. It contains the recipes for our two favorite smoothie flavors. Sadly, there isn’t a single picture (it was from his unenlightened ‘dark’ period of blogging) so be prepared to use your imagination.

This portion of Tim’s earlier blog entry made me laugh so I’m closing the post with a (rather lengthy) quote.

Sometimes people tease me about taking blending so seriously, especially when they see me packing in all my supplies, ice, ingredients and blenders (it is not unusual for me to fill the back of my little station wagon). “It’s just a blend, dude!” they will say (as if a smoothie were not an end in itself).

There are those smug seminarians who will try to tell you that smoothie-making is not really a spiritual gift. Some will decry the cost of the ingredients and will even mock the sacred “Smoothies Should Be Free” philosophy, as if blends and vulgar cash could mix. And of course, in every large crowd there will be Philistines who do not appreciate the subtle flavor of your best blend offering, who will callously leave full blends to melt forlornly on a picnic table.

Do not go gently into that smoothie-less dark night. Resist such nay-sayers and keep cranking out the blends. For every jealous sidewalk detractor there will spring up ten young disciples. Admittedly, some will probably fall by the wayside, and a few may settle for being pastors, evangelists and missionaries. But in the end a few hardy souls will persevere to the lofty height of Master Blender.

It is said that when the new city of Jerusalem is established, that a river will flow out from under the throne of God, along which will grow the tree of life. This tree will bear twelve distinct fruits according to the season. It all seems tailor-made to me … you have high-quality water and heavenly fruit; all that is lacking is ice.

I’m thinking that the position of God’s personal blend-maker is still open and I can set up shop along the side of the river. It reminds me of James and John, and how they asked to sit at the right and left of Jesus, when he comes into His glory. I hope the other blenders of the world don’t get mad at me. tje

Go forth and Blend!!

Kathy
Project 365 – Day 217

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Those Who Look for Beauty Find It

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This weekend I was invited to join a friend at a homeschooling conference in Seattle. Tim cheerfully sent me on my way (no doubt plotting to get his hands on the blog) and off I went. It was a lovely time of fellowship with an old friend; long conversations about parenting, faith and marriage; homeschool shopping, instruction and encouragement and of course some pampering.

mirror, mirror on the wall

We found this wonderful little spa during our travels. The decor was lovely and I was especially drawn to the mirror in the back.

Between us, Martha and I have 11 children. That’s quite a collection of little (and not so little) voices and messes and concerns and needs and hearts in our care. I hardly need say that finding time for quiet and rejuvenation is pretty rare. How much more precious to have an extended length of time in which to reconnect with a friend and be away from the responsibilities of life.

To make the whole weekend all the more delightful, Martha treated me to a birthday pedicure.

pink toes

We don’t usually look to feet for beauty but dark pink polish certainly helps. More importantly it is where my feet take me that reflects beauty – do I serve my family, do I walk toward the needy, do I live out the gospel in the steps I take?

A little bit of pampering was the perfect way to start the weekend. No one in the salon asked me to get them a drink or find their lost sock or punish their brother or wipe up their spilled ketchup. Not once. It was actually very quiet.

Thank you for the lovely birthday present, Martha!!

kathy and martha

There is great beauty in relationships that have been tested in the fire and redeemed through God’s faithfulness and healing.

As I return from the homeschooling conference and a weekend away from my duties and responsibilities as a wife and mother, I am challenged to think about what I look for in my children and my husband. Do I look for the beauty in them or do I only see their faults and failures?

I want to look for the beauty of God working in my children and my husband. I want to see their hearts grow more and more in love with Jesus. I want to notice the laughter and joy more and the mess less. I want to encourage purity and innocence and integrity and faith and LOVE in my family.

I am going to look for the beauty that comes from the Lord because I know that He is faithful and will complete the work that He has begun in my children, my husband and myself.

It’s good to be home.

Kathy

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