tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61315997319487341072024-02-19T10:34:55.057-05:0023 PenguinsChristyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-61666793367936784932012-03-08T13:02:00.002-05:002012-03-08T13:04:48.722-05:00Site UpdateThis blog has been moved over to my website <a href="http://23penguins.com">23 Penguins</a>, where I am now back in the blogging business on a more consistent basis. Please click on the highlighted name above, or go to <a href="http://23penguins.com">http://23penguins.com</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Thanks!</div><div>Christy</div>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-7825824695242170052011-01-01T10:57:00.006-05:002011-01-01T15:43:27.981-05:00Untitled Hymn<span style="font-family:arial;">New Year's Eve, and I was out running a few errands. Actually, I had just left my house and switched the radio from sports news (Rob had driven last) to music. Chris Rice was singing "Untitled Hymn." It was only a matter of seconds until tears were streaming down my face.<br /><br />I don't know if it was the memories of my friend David that it brought to mind - it's been a long year of grieving a deep loss that I still haven't found words for. I don't know if it's some middle-age thing I've got going on. I don't know if it's the turning of a calendar page and all that it represents. Maybe it's just the need to crawl up in the lap of Jesus and cry for a while. But there I was, driving up Depot Road, singing about every third word, sniffling, and wiping my eyes...<br /><br /></span><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0_hV8L65Rqo?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br />I've always loved this song. No matter what kind of space I'm in when I hear it, I am always comforted.<br /><br />So I ran into friends at the mall, walked around for a while, scarfed down some pretzels, and picked up a few things. Then on the ride home I was hit with another song - which I'll save for another post. <br /><br />2011 finds me wandering into the new year with more questions than answers. However, there is a comfort in the knowledge that the Jesus and his grace that has carried me this far, will certainly sustain me and carry me on.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-23885271419821489792010-09-30T13:34:00.012-04:002010-09-30T14:20:33.660-04:00A Damn Good Idea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7-TzD0KXO9nYdOhu6bMne7IgKmHtAJr-af6KXOXmxDcl2PSwF5_QKxy2ZaFUv-0gGXupg6ps7L0PHVKQkClU6glKYazHJf4QawvsgCBzJz05dxVjCfWZsMgTbmhckPDTlzkUQ3DsB0Eu/s1600/gentiles+and+me.jpg"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522767726951871954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7-TzD0KXO9nYdOhu6bMne7IgKmHtAJr-af6KXOXmxDcl2PSwF5_QKxy2ZaFUv-0gGXupg6ps7L0PHVKQkClU6glKYazHJf4QawvsgCBzJz05dxVjCfWZsMgTbmhckPDTlzkUQ3DsB0Eu/s200/gentiles+and+me.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiMSJkA-XQJlO7nnRkMfrs5fbNczq7AzhfdjTR7FXElqfZqXpuiANPeLjR4NHssI7h8SpeTCJapR1_DF34F71KfKS9Mv6uWqwEFxw7wAzUOrKnA4AUCpuWTN_OqJZHTQriQwYO0pUncYv/s1600/gentiles+and+me.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I don't know</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">If it's because 2000 miles</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Separated us</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">For the last 8 years</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">But I still expect </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">To be able</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">To pick up the phone</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And hear your voice</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I stare at your picture </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Or write on your </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=636821380"><span style="font-family:arial;">page</span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Willing you to </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Still be alive</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And laughing</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Smiling</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Crying</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Believing</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In me</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In our calling</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In the God we served</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In Love being Bigger </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Deeper</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Wider</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">and Stronger</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Than anything life can throw at us</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I'll never forget picking up the phone</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">The day you called and asked me to come work with you</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I don't know if it was because you wanted my help</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Or because you thought I needed yours</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">But it was a damn good idea</span></div><div> </div></div>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-26084821738529322272010-02-11T13:20:00.001-05:002010-02-11T13:22:06.441-05:00NoticeIn a funk. Since December 14th.<br /><br />Hope to find words again soon.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-48625050146938309582009-11-05T11:34:00.007-05:002009-11-06T09:38:33.739-05:00Of Cardinals and Soccer MedalsI'm not sure if I have a "theology" about this or not. In fact, Rob and I discussed it briefly the other night in reference to the pigeon that joined the kickoff team for the Philadelphia Eagles a couple of weeks ago. One of the players claimed that the pigeon was the spirit of a former teammate who had died during the offseason.<br /><br />I'm not willing to go so far as to claim that such sightings are the spirit of someone, but I sure as heck have been comforted by animals from time to time, that represent in one way or another someone to me who used to be with us. So what do I believe? Who knows and who really cares? The point is, it happens and we are comforted.<br /><br />This morning, Austin and I were working on his homework in the living room. I looked up just in time to see the brightest red cardinal land on a tree branch outside the window. I have always associated redbirds with my mom. Whether she liked them as much as I remember her liking them is probably irrelevant... it's just part of her in my memory. Anyway, this redbird shows up outside and I immediately think of Mother. I point it out to Austin. "Mom, it's gorgeous!"<br /><br />I smile and think how much she would have enjoyed him.<br /><br />As if on cue, Austin climbs up on the couch that backs up to the window and proudly shows his newly acquired soccer medal to the cardinal. I don't know why, maybe it's just a six-year-old thing; but I promise the bird turned and looked at him. Tears well up in my eyes as he has his own make-believe conversation with the bird. He has no idea what I'm thinking...<br /><br />Cool, comforting, and amazing moment.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-26649473449003705672009-10-03T09:33:00.002-04:002009-10-03T09:41:35.775-04:00Hello October!The leaves are changing. The Sox are in the playoffs. Soccer and cross country are well underway. Kindergarten is fun and 8th grade is smooth sailing (so far!). And the Patriots are trying to figure things out. Welcome to October!<br /><br />I posted on FaceBook that October is paradoxical. At least it is for me. There are a lot of sad anniversaries for me in this month, yet so many fun things happen during this time. The cool, crisp autumn air makes everything seem so alive, yet it is quick to remind us of the upcoming winter months that lie ahead. The Sox playoff run brings hope of another World Series, yet... well, who knows? <br /><br />I'm digging in to try and publish a collection of devotionals that I've written. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out the best way to do that. I've promised Austin that we'll decorate for Halloween tomorrow while Dad is at the Patriot's game. And, as always, the house needs cleaning! So we're in for a busy weekend, even though the games all got rained out for today.<br /><br />Happy first weekend of October everyone!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-72452257235336288532009-09-08T10:16:00.003-04:002009-09-08T10:22:30.773-04:00Jesus Was Right... Today Does Have Enough Troubles of Its Own ;-)Austin begins kindergarten today.<br /><br />And I'm the one who is as nervous as a cat!<br /><br />The moment of truth will be when the school bus comes. I don't know if he will get on with a smile and a wave; or if he will stop, cling, and I'll have to take him to school and peel him off at the door. I'm really praying for the first option. I want a peaceful parting.<br /><br />Then I can worry about all the other things...Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-53329371384315497462009-08-17T10:59:00.000-04:002009-08-18T19:01:45.076-04:00Good News for a ChangeThere's just too much bad news hitting the fan all the time it seems. So today, I have to shout out the good stuff...<br /><br />A friend of mine who has boys that are friends of Austin's just found out that a biopsy came back benign. Yes! Yes!! YES!!!<br /><br />Gotta celebrate that.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-20247984742082742722009-08-06T06:47:00.002-04:002009-08-06T06:57:34.041-04:00The Morning OfI am sitting in a darkened hotel room, with Austin sleeping in the bed. Rob and Robbo are in the lobby eating breakfast. It is 5:38 a.m.<br /><br />In less than 3 hours, Robbo will run the 1500M race at the AAU Jr Olympics. He has been training for this for months. He has been waiting for this for over a year. His body is prepared; I hope I have done my part in preparing him emotionally.<br /><br />He is only thirteen. I am forty-three. This is a big race, a national race, no matter what age you are. But I have years with me, I have perspective. He is a young teenager, every day is bigger than life. Every race defines you.<br /><br />Which is why I have (I should more accurately say "we," as in his dad and I) kept telling him to "have fun," and "do your best." It's why we remind him that "all athletes have good days and bad days." It's the reason we are quick to point out the examples of great athletes coming back from poor performances.<br /><br />I want him to succeed more than anyone. But I guess it's only parental nature to want to help prepare him for any falls along the way. I want him to know that he is good enough no matter what. That he doesn't have to run fast or get good grades or score a lot of points or anything like that to be someone special or to be loved. Just being himself is enough.<br /><br />So go, Robbo. Go and run this morning. Run knowing that you are loved by God and by us...Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-79911948913396573132009-08-03T07:17:00.004-04:002009-08-03T14:55:41.804-04:00Thousands of MilesI woke up this morning to the sad news that Maggie Lee Henson is no longer with us. Maggie Lee was a 12-year-old who had been fighting for her life since being injured in the FBC Shreveport bus accident in Meridian, Mississippi, three weeks ago.<br /><br />I have no personal connections to Maggie Lee. I don't know her. I don't know her parents (although we travelled similar paths at Baylor and Southwestern). But it could have just as easily be me sitting in that critical care unit - either as a patient, or as a youth minister, hoping and praying for one of my students to survive.<br /><br />I can't count the number of miles I have travelled on a bus carrying kids and chaperones. Youth camps. Retreats. Choir tours. Ski trips. Mission trips. Thousands and thousands of miles. <br /><br />I have no words. A lot of questions. A lot of gratitude. But no words except these:<br /><br />Go headlong into the arms of Jesus, Maggie Lee... go and giggle and dance!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-60687959504897488402009-08-02T17:11:00.002-04:002009-08-02T17:27:06.649-04:00Kindle vs. BooksRob got me an Amazon Kindle for my birthday. It should arrive tomorrow, so I am anxiously awaiting the big brown truck to pull up at the end of our driveway. I'm not sure whether or not I'll actually allow the driver to take a few steps up the hill or whether I'll meet him as he hops from his always-open door. The answer is probably as simple as whether or not we are home at the time of his arrival.<br /><br />I am excited, as you can tell.<br /><br />I must admit, I have always been a lover of books. Not just of reading, but of books themselves. Books are friends. They are a comforting presence, a sign of accomplishment, an open invitation, a collection of memories - both published and created. I like to hold books, touch the pages, see them on the shelves. I'm not sure how it will feel to just jump ship to an electronic version. It feels like I am committing an act of betrayal.<br /><br />Yet I am loving the idea of acquiring a new read in less than 60 seconds. In having a newspaper waiting for me each morning. Of not weighting down my backpack on a trip with multiple books (rather with 10.6 oz.!). Of being able to pull out my Kindle and read without a thought of "now which page was I on?" There are a lot of things that I am looking forward to with my new gadget.<br /><br />My bookshelves might start growing lighter as time passes. But there are some "friends" that will always come to live on them in hard copy no matter what...<br /><br />Even if I do happen to read them on Kindle first!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-68781431131829036512009-08-01T08:53:00.002-04:002009-08-01T09:06:12.734-04:00The First Day of My Forty-Fourth YearYeah, yeah... "today is the first day of the rest of your life." That's true every day for every one of us. But today, on my 43rd birthday, I want to intentionally make some choices about how I will spend my 44th year. <br /><br />I feel like my life is becoming somewhat my own again. Not completely, because, well, it just isn't. When you are a mom and a wife, you are not your own. ;-) But Austin will start kindergarten in a month, which means I will have about two-and-a-half hours a day to spend of my own choosing. I want to use that time to write, hone my coaching skills, read, be creative, and catch up on movies and music that have piled up during the last five years of diapers, playdates, track meets, and tournaments.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, my fourty-fourth year will be just as fast-paced, if not more so. I'm just trying to be more intentional with how I spend my "My" time. And posting it here is one way to make myself accountable.<br /><br />Day One: Off to work on the book...Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-90500063648424047252009-05-06T17:15:00.008-04:002009-05-06T17:22:38.549-04:00Judson Louis Hale, Sr. (1937 - 2009)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBMsZyANJQKK6gAFksAX_qhvww9BkbsHZ8nfRmOWllK7ss-2ou_qn3qV5YsVWDsYH91NDlZysjy9bn0wZ-yUKhRXbh0PHoKX_scndX4869chp2-9ObDIPnOcejo2pbs71tR7V7tdLIVUH/s1600-h/jud+hale.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332823465347144770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBMsZyANJQKK6gAFksAX_qhvww9BkbsHZ8nfRmOWllK7ss-2ou_qn3qV5YsVWDsYH91NDlZysjy9bn0wZ-yUKhRXbh0PHoKX_scndX4869chp2-9ObDIPnOcejo2pbs71tR7V7tdLIVUH/s200/jud+hale.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiOM5X5XXOmb3HI0nR1Rp8RA81RB3dpjbtXNrSpscbFHde3luMWw-6xN2-Ig_ifABhWlIMVxeZ7pLe8j7aksvWF4ywJNeZk4K4J3pjmccyfHfsfN4wJS2tTz0G_gApNuRsah0IRVQe5_V/s1600-h/jud+hale.jpg"></a><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">For Mr. Hale -- Things I Remember<br /><br />It's been three decades and more<br />Since I played daily in your yard<br />And often ate at your table<br />With you and Ms. Ann<br />And Judson, David, and Missy<br /><br />As I've strolled down memory lane<br />I've realized how fortunate I was to know you<br />To have best friends that called you "Dad"<br />Which meant I got to be one of the kids in your village<br />I guess that's the luck of geography<br /><br />There were the countless evenings at Babb Park<br />Cheering on whichever team Bucky and Diggy<br />Were playing on at the time<br />And rides in the El Camino up the hill to Dairy Queen<br />To celebrate someone's home run<br />Or just because someone asked if we could go and you said "yes"<br /><br />I remember you being lots of fun<br />But also knowing you meant business, too<br />You commanded respect and taught obedience<br />Which is probably why we scrambled and sweated all afternoon one day<br />Cleaning up a powder-filled storage room, after setting off the fire extinguisher<br />Desperate praying for the delay of your arrival home<br /><br />Time can do funny things to our memories<br />Things that we remember to be larger than life<br />Somehow seem smaller as adults<br />However, there is one thing that I remember about you<br />That time will never change<br /><br />It was the twinkle in your eye when you talked about your kids.<br />I remember being 9, 10, 11 years old and watching your eyes light up<br />Whenever you said anything about them.<br />I knew you loved them.<br />But I could sense that you <em>liked</em> them too.<br />How cool was <em>that?!?</em><br /><br />It was all about the twinkle<br />I can still see it when I close my eyes<br />And it reminds me that not only does my Heavenly Father love me<br />But he <em>likes</em> me, too<br /><br />I was blessed to have you play such an important role<br />During my growing up years.<br />And for you and your family, I will always be thankful.</span></div></div>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-30161175039431730612009-02-11T10:36:00.005-05:002009-02-11T10:49:58.830-05:00FacebookBetween Christmas and New Year's for the last four years, we have flown south (for the winter!) to see my dad and Nancy. My sister and her family have driven down from St. Louis around the same time, so we have all gotten to spend some time together at least once a year. It's been a great gift!<br /><br />Well, this year Rob and I took the boys to Sci-Port to see the model train display. As we were leaving, I realized that Jeff Luce's business was only three or four blocks away (or at least it was the last time I went there - which had only been nine or ten years ago!). On a whim, I had Rob drive by the "last known address" and I hopped out and walked in. A few minutes later, a very suprised Luce greeted me with a hug and came out to meet my family!<br /><br />This is a very long way of getting to my point, but I liked the story.<br /><br />Anyway, Jeff suggested I join Facebook. Enjoying the high of reconnecting with a friend from years-gone-by, I solicited a tutorial from my high-tech nephew when we got back to Dad's house... and wah-lah! I became a FB junkie.<br /><br />You got it. Hello. My name is Christy and I am a FB-a-holic.<br /><br />Ok, not for real, because I just don't have the time. I have too many irons in the fire. Irons with names like Austin, Robbo, Rob, travel basketball, AAU basketball, housekeeping, laundry, cooking, writing, reading, taxi service, playdate coordinator, etc. But believe me, with a little more time on my hands, I would LIVE on FB!<br /><br />I love the connections I have made and am still making. I only wish for more time. I am not doing justice to the re-connections I have made. There is so much to say, so much to write, so much to do.<br /><br />So for now, I will be content with the knowledge of how to get in touch with people only six weeks ago I had no clue how to find. And slowly, one by one, I hope to let them know what they mean to me.<br /><br />Now... off to Facebook! ;-)Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-47429150225394760632009-01-24T09:22:00.000-05:002009-01-24T09:23:29.381-05:00Amazing Post...Just read this on a friend's blog and had to pass it along:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=4567">http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=4567</a>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-14292678804949572222009-01-02T15:25:00.005-05:002009-01-02T19:07:31.418-05:00Time Flies Into 2009Whoa. Where does the time go?<br /><br />Let's see. Last time I was here, we were hanging out in a motel room in Chantilly, VA, waiting to head into DC for a family day of touring the rainy Capital city. Well, I didn't bring the memory card adapter, so hence, no posting of pictures that day. But the day after... Robbo and his buddies <a href="http://www.robbosrunnings.blogspot.com/">won the silver medal </a>at the Junior Olympics!!!<br /><br />We came home early Sunday morning to no power - a result of the ice storm that invaded New England. The temp inside the house was 39 degrees. The cats and turtles were cold, but alive; healthy, but definitely not happy! The power stayed out until late Monday evening, so we camped out in the family room in front of the fireplace at night. We were some of the lucky ones, however. Some Westford homes were not restored until later in the week.<br /><br />Schools were closed for several days, so my precious "Christmas prep time" I was counting on while Austin was in school was severly limited to a couple of hours. Yikes. Rob was a huge help and played Elf several time so that I could get what needed to be accomplished all done.<br /><br />We just returned from Louisiana last night, after taking a little detour on our way home since a storm cancelled most flights on the day we were to return. It's good to be home and I am looking forward to returning to some form of normalcy and routine soon. It really feels like I've been caught in a whirlwind for the last few weeks!<br /><br />Happy New Year!!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-82266190324134757442008-12-11T06:36:00.003-05:002008-12-11T06:41:50.995-05:00Morning in VirginiaAfter a very late night, Austin and I are up early (of course!). He is playing airport on the coffee table while Robbo and Dad continue to sleep. We'll head into D.C. in a little while, with no serious plan, except to hit the highlights.<br /><br />Oh, I do have a walking boot/aircast on my foot, so it's a bit easier to get around now painfree...<br /><br />I'll post some pictures from the day later on.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-64186076542168965212008-12-10T06:01:00.005-05:002008-12-10T06:12:36.818-05:00Lows and HighsI have our Christmas card name and addresses in an Excel document. Each year I try to update addresses through the year, but usually end up scurrying around to update the list at the end of November and throughout December. There are always names to add to the circle of family and friends and those who have died or I've just lost touch with.<br /><br />This morning, I finally and painfully deleted a friend's name. After 22 years of friendship. I probably should have let go a few years earlier: but as many of us tend to do, I kept holding out hope that fences would be mended. It's finally time to let go and move on.<br /><br />Reconciliation takes two. That stinks sometimes.<br /><br />On a brighter note, the three men in my life and I are headed down to D.C. this afternoon for a little fun before <a href="http://www.robbosrunnings.blogspot.com/">the big race</a>. Keep ya posted!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-26522674627291678532008-12-08T19:58:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:04:49.961-05:00One Sentence ParagraphsI updated both <a href="http://www.robbosrunnings.blogspot.com/">Robbo's</a> and <a href="http://www.adventuresofaustin.blogspot.com/">Austin's</a> blogs recently.<br /><br />It snowed for the first time this season yesterday.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=WESTFORDTRAVEL7B&s=basketball&p=home&t=c">basketball team I coach </a>won all three games we played this weekend!<br /><br />I broke my big toe yesterday.<br /><br />It hurts.<br /><br />We leave for Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.<br /><br />Robbo runs cross country at <a href="http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USATFJuniorOlympicXCChampionships/">Nationals</a> on Saturday.<br /><br />Christmas is coming way too fast!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-21299964058382506922008-11-16T11:35:00.004-05:002008-11-16T11:53:14.330-05:00Just Around the CornerIt's only taken me a few years in New England to figure it out. When the "sticks" (as Austin calls them) go up on the fire hydrants, winter is just around the corner.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269296538289672370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfAcfwGKmWu4Gd21ucU-x4C0-z8Yjfr7qYoTPDpwmqAbfpqFMNtHkiTGejnlmvsTM_SHCLjU3eJrpcQy7IBRN1LClzuS5bhh9L0oUNlKG3k6ZjXHtbM36x5mpKJyY_MjnQ9H4zyhrq9Xr/s320/downsized_1110081603.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>The sticks are up. </p>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-57076979969066382332008-10-26T20:00:00.003-04:002008-10-26T20:11:33.676-04:00Life Is... A Series of DetoursAustin was playing independently for a few minutes this morning (I know, a minor miracle in and of itself!) with his construction toys. As I was eating my breakfast, he popped up on the bannister between the kitchen and the family room and held up a miniature road sign. "Mom. What does this say?" "It says, 'Men at Work'."<br /><br />A couple of moments later, the same thing... "It says 'Detour'."<br /><br />"What's <em>that</em>?"<br /><br />"It's when you have to go a different way that you had planned to go. You know, like when they are working on a road, and you have to take a different road?"<br /><br />"Oh. Yeah." And he hopped back down to play some more.<br /><br />When you go a different way than you planned to go. As soon as the words left my mouth, it occurred to me that it was also a good description of life. Sometimes, things happen like we plan. But most of the time? Detours.<br /><br />Thank God that life doesn't always happen the way we plan it... and that detours aren't always a inconvenience. Sometimes the most incredible blessings happen on detours.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-6537800245310012042008-10-21T18:19:00.002-04:002008-10-21T18:21:55.719-04:00Craziness<p>The last couple of weeks have accelerated into the world of non-stop craziness. Without going into much detail, since the last post:</p><ul><li>I have become the head coach of the 7th grade boys travel basketball team (after a messy political drama from which I tried to hide, but kept surfacing as mediator and friend to both sides).</li><li>All, yes ALL, of the invitees to Austin's Halloween party have responded that they will attend. Yep, that's 20 - count 'em - 20 preschoolers in the house on Saturday.</li><li>We had a wonderful long-weekend visit with Melanie and Richard (my sister and brother-in-law who live in St. Louis); and even got an extra night to be with them when their flight back to Missouri was cancelled!</li><li>Robbo has run in five cross-country races. And he has two big races coming up this week - the Carlisle Invitational on Thursday, and the Mayor's Cup (a big race in Boston) is this Sunday.</li><li>Rob spent last week in Florida on a business trip, and is headed to Connecticut tomorrow.</li></ul><p>All that to say, each time I have sat down at my computer to think about posting, something else pops into my mind that needs to be done. So my writing has dwindled.</p><p>But. Life is good and I am thankful. </p>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-91956013666131820322008-10-04T17:56:00.005-04:002008-10-04T19:58:20.139-04:00The Little PicturesRobbo scored the winning touchdown in the first of his <em>three</em> flag football games today. He ran wildly out of the endzone back to his team with his arms outstretched and the biggest grin on his face.<br /><br />It's so easy to forget how it feels to be a kid. In the big scheme of things, it's just a football game and doesn't make much difference in the world. Which is how grownups (like me) tend to think of it most times. But to him and the rest of his team, it was pretty monumental and exciting!<br /><br />I don't want to get so caught up in the big picture that I forget the importance of the "little pictures"...Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-54153349902494439872008-09-29T18:18:00.005-04:002008-09-30T15:59:29.129-04:00When Kids Think You Aren't Listening...Robbo and Austin are in the TV room playing XBox360 even as I type. They are playing the demo version of "The Bee Movie" game. Here's the conversation I just overheard:<br /><blockquote>Robbo: "Oh, so you've played this with Dad?"<br /><br />Austin: "Yeah." (laughter)<br /><br />Robbo: "What's wrong?"<br /><br />Austin: "He always gets mashed in this part!"<br /><br />Robbo: "So he's not very good?"<br /><br />Austin: (more laughter) "Nope. He's <em>terrible</em> at this game!"<br /></blockquote><br />Good thing I haven't tried to play it... He'd laugh me off the couch!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131599731948734107.post-41811083352786995192008-09-27T14:28:00.005-04:002008-09-27T17:58:45.862-04:00Dora at Church?I took Austin to the movies this morning. The local theater shows a Nick Jr. (Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, and the Wonder Pets) movie at 10am on Saturdays. So this morning, Austin and I went to see <a href="http://www.nickjr.com/shows/dora/index.jhtml">Dora</a>. There were about 75 other preschoolers and parents there, too.<br /><br />If you are not familiar with Dora and Diego episodes, they usually have some sort of mission/goal they are trying to accomplish. And along the way, they ask for your help... such as counting, finding objects, saying commands in Spanish, etc. After each request, there is a pause long enough to allow for a response.<br /><br />Each time Dora would ask a question, several preschoolers would respond audibly. As the show went on, more and more joined in the chorus, until almost everyone was participating.<br /><br />I couldn't help but wonder what church might be like if the congregation responded audibly to questions from the pastor or priest. Rather than just assuming the questions are rhetorical, individuals simply answered aloud. Something tells me it might be quite beneficial for all.<br /><br />And definitely more interesting! ;-)<br /><br />Sing with me now! "Doot doo doot, doot da Dora..."Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14922901032236972844noreply@blogger.com0