No Hope For Jellyfish

I am a beach walker.  I have been since my teenage days.  The reason stems from vacations with my step-mom Barbara and my dad.  If you know me, you already know my dad remarried when I was 13, after my mom died from breast cancer the previous year.  They bought a condominium in Perdido, Florida so many days were spent there decorating and planning.  NO offense to them, but my brother and sister were off to college and being the teen that I was they were not cool to hang out with, so I tooks lots of walks.  They also took me along on some beach vacations where I spent plenty of alone time on the beach tanning or walking.  One year I got my worst sunburn ever.  I had goose bumps but still managed to get burned.  I digress.

June 30 my dad celebrated his 80th birthday.  The whole family gathered at the condominium complex.  I took a long beach walk every day.  I am finally able to do that again because all of my childern are now old enough to go to the pool or beach without an adult present.  And one of my childreen is an adult, and can supervise.  How about that for cool. 

Okay, so I got to take a really long walk.  You see many interesting things along the beach, and it is never the same from day to day.  That is the beauty of it.  On this particular afternoon, the tide had washed up several pools of water.  These can be pretty yucky...filled with foam and broken shells, or sometimes they are close enough to the breaking waves to be clean and enjoyable for the little ones to play in.  This one was a little yucky, but fairly deep.  I looked down to see a jellyfish swimming in the pool.  It was fascinating to watch.  I could see it swim sideways and watch its tentacles at work.  Then I felt sorry for the little guy.  He was certainly about to die.  The water was prety shallow. Unlike something else that may have washed up, I couldn't pick up the jelly and throw him back to sea! Ouch!  So I proceeded to do the best I could at pushing the jelly into the deepest part of the water pool.  I used my foot and some sand.  Minimal success.  Then I continued my walk.  Who knows how far.

After turning around, I searched each pool along the way to find my jellyfish.  No luck.  Why?  The tide was no longer coming in as high, and water was not reaching the pools anymore.  The pool was empty...for that matter all of them were, and all I found was a (actually numerous) dead jellies.  Heavy sigh!!

Now you are thinking...who cares.  No one likes jellyfish anyway.  They sting and drive people out of the water.  You are right.  My story continues.  The water on this particular afternoon was beautiful.  It was clear and the waves were just right.  If ever there was a day for swimming in the ocean, this would be it.  So my kids and their cousins plunged in with Boogie boards in tow. When I walked up to our claimed spot of beach, I found our cousins looking forlorn.  What's wrong, I asked?  The answer...jellyfish.  My kids did not get stung, but their cousins did; hence, off to the pool and clear water.  I stayed down by the beach and watched the crowd.  I was amused by a couple of adults with nets, who really must have wanted to ride the  perfect waves.  Both men would enter the water, catch jellies in their nets, and take them on the shore and bury them.  This cleared the way for a little swimming.  Very little, because five minutes later they were fishing them out again.  Finally one guy gave in and said...too many jellies!  

So you see, there is no hope for the jellyfish.  No one likes them in the water, because they sting, you really can't remove them from the water, and if they wash up they are certain to die. In this case they kept a beautiful ocean free from swimmers.  One of the best days we had actually, but no swimming in the ocean.  

I am glad I am not a jellyfish.  I am so thankful that there is hope for my soul.
 I don't know if there is a time when you can feel closer to God, but I do know that my walks on the beach come pretty close.   This is the hymn that came to mind that day.

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Cousins

Blessings,

Monica

  

May Mania

It is just over a week into June...I'm aware of that.  We made it through the usual end of May mania, which actually begins about mid-April.  Well now that I think about it, this year it was the end of March. 

I will use this post to do some bragging, so if you are not into that, time to log off.  If you don't mind, then indulge me. 

On April 23rd, Hannah participated in solo and ensamble competition for flute.  She performed one solo, one duet, and one quintet.  Kudos for her making  a superior on all three...which is a score of one for you non-music folks.  May 3 and 4 were the Alabama Choir School Concerts.  Hannah sings in the Girls Tour Choir.  We always welcome this night of talented singers, featuring six choirs ranging in age from 2nd grade through 12th grade.  All three of my kids have been involved in the ACS, beginning with Scott his 3rd grade year.  That gives us a grand total of 13 years of concerts.  Yep...that's a lot!  May 9 Hannah was inducted in to the National Junior Honor Society.  On May 11th she played for the National  Guild Auditions (piano).  There was yet another honors ceremony for the A/B honor roll.  Applause, please :-).

 

James was inducted into the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.  Both are honor societies for maintaining at least a 3.5 in academic subjects and math, respectively.  May 23rd James was honored once again as Most Outstanding French II student, and as a Band Captain for the 2012 football season.  Most importantly, he won the GIBBY award from the Seniors in NHS band.  Inside joke, y'all but it is true.  Woot!!

                                                                                         

Scott came home from Auburn on May 3rd, and maintained above a 3.O GPA.   He is spending the summer at home so it is much more like a jungle around here again.  Nonetheless I love the humor he brings to the family, and even the added sibling rivalry.  (most of the time)  It is hard to believe he has made it through his freshman year in college, to which he answered me "Yea, only 7 more to go."  Ugh! 

Oh, and did I mention Spamalot on March 22-25, Honk Jr. on April 5-6, and the RQMS/NHS band concert on May 9th, as well as two birthdays on May 11 and Mother's day on May 12?  Yep, we were busy.  Thus the absence of  blog posts. 

The perks of being a teacher:  holidays with the family.  So now we'llI have a little respite, although summer has its own kind of busy. 

Blessings,

Monica

Easter

This year continues to be one of change for me.  I really wasn't into Easter this year.  It just wasn't the same for a couple of reasons.  For one, it fell at the end of Spring Break, a much needed time away from school for all...the teacher and the students that reside in my house.  So...I was feeling really lazy, and selfish, and wanted to enjoy my last day of doing nothing.  Second, Scott wasn't able to come home.  He intended to at first, but had a biology field trip out of town on Saturday, and understandably did not want to drive so many miles for just a few hours.  I really missed him.  Our first family holiday with one member missing.  It was tough, and would have been much easier for me to hibernate and be sad.  J and Hannah wouldn't let me though. 

On the way home from church, Hannah asked when we were going to dye eggs.  We're not, I said.  No one has mentioned it this year.  (Insert a huge pouty face and whine from Han)...but, we always color eggs.  (Now it is my turn to pout)...No way!  I'm not going to Wal Mart on Easter to buy egg dye.  So I looked it up on the Internet to find out I had everything needed...except eggs.  No No No!!!   I proceeded to take my nap.  Upon awakening, I found my family ready to go to Wal Mart.  J to purchase the Starburst jelly beans that I forgot, and hubs and Han to get the eggs and store bought dye.  Aint' he a great guy!! 

I had planned our usual dinner together so as not to be too much of a spoil sport, so while they were gone I started to cook the roast.  I didn't have an onion, so guess what...hubs brought one of those home, too.  Then he disappeared into our bedroom with the plastic eggs.  Tradition is to fill the eggs with loose change saved from the previous year, hide them in the yard, and let the kids hunt.  Due to the sogginess of our yard, I really wasn't counting on this to happen either, but alas it did.  Hannah sported her rain boots for the occasion. 

We enjoyed our family meal of roast, rice and gravy, green beans, and some sauteed mushrooms.  I got plenty of compliments on the meal, and it was quite enjoyable at our table of four.  Strange, but still pleasant. 

Growing up I never liked Easter much.  There are many sad memories associated with it.  Twice during this supposed joyful time of Resurrection celebration, my mother was very sick with cancer.  Once, I was in the hospital with a rare disease called ITP.  There is a long scientific name  for the acronym that I will spare you.  The long and short of it, my platelet count was dangerously low, causing severe bruising and high fever.  I had a huge bruise on my arm, and I remember the nurses called it my Easter egg.  The doctors tested me for Leukemia.  It was negative. 

When Lowell and I first married, these rotten Easter memories continued.  It is a privilege to be able to look back and see time change things.  As we attended worship together, and later with our young children, all the poor memories faded.  I began to see the power and importance of the Resurrection of Christ, a cause for joy and celebration.  I wish I had understood that as a "tween" as the modern day term goes.  Presently, the old memories have been replaced with joyful ones, and the joy is more plentiful. 

Pastor of Riverwood Church, Tim Lien, loves Easter.  To quote him loosely...it should be better than Christmas.  I tend to agree.  Now that the children are older, Easter is much, much more than fancy clothes and a picture under our magnolia tree.  Those times are changing, but Christ has not, and never will.  I loved seeing the Facebook posts with the cute dresses and smiles, children and family from all generations.  It did make me a little sad that we were only four, and the rain kept us away from the magnolia tree.  Then I remembered...He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.   Matthew 28:6  Joy to the World!!  He is risen indeed. 

And yes, there are pictures, because you know me, and I can't go without those. 

Easter shoes???  And the garden hose, not a giant snake :-)

Let's count and see how many remain.

  

There is always an egg in the mailbox, maybe two.



Apparently at 16 you are not too cool to hunt Easter eggs.







Masters at work...don't interrupt, please.





The finished products



Theater thoughts

Once upon a time my husband became involved with The Actor's Charitable Theater.Since childhood,  he has always had a love of  the stage:  singing, songwriting, and acting.  Marriage, a sensible career, and three children put these activities on the back burner.  Until....the kids grew up.  Guess what?   They are talented,  and they are interested in theater.  J. tried out for some Tuscaloosa Children's Theater productions and got a few  parts.  He also did some roles at Northridge where mom (that's me) teaches.

Hubs always said that if a production of Oliver came to Tuscaloosa, he would like to try out.  At that time J. was younger and might  have been a good fit for the title role.  Sure enough, TheACT produced Oliver.  I noticed it was coming up on their website, so I informed hubs that it was indeed time to try out once again.  Thus began a journey....

Love those chops...




Seriously sad orphans

Here is the thing about theater.   When you accept a role, it isn't always the one you wanted, or even one that seems appropriate.  For example, along with the role of  the cop in Oliver, Lowell also played a barkeep.  He sang a solo and led a rousing crowd of drunks in song and dance.  Well...hubs has never even been drunk himself.  True acting, I say. 



Second role for Hubs at theACT:  Wilbur in Hairspray.  Perhaps a little more fitting as far as roles go.  Here is a character description: As Tracy’s supportive father, Wilbur wants nothing more than for his daughter to pursue her dreams. 
As proud owner and operator of the Har-De-Har Hut, he knows what it means to follow your dreams, and dream big. He tries to balance Edna’s discouragement with his good humor, but sometimes it can be difficult. Wilbur is willing to do anything for his family and friends - including bailing all of the 
women out of jail!  Wilbur may be on the lighter side, but he has a huge heart. Not so bad, really.  However, this description does not mention the fact that Wilbur has to dance with his wife, who is played by a guy dressed in drag...YEP.  Totally hilarious, but a tad bit ton humbling for the non-stage wife.  (that's me :-)

That's Joey Lay as Edna and Lowell as Wilbur.

Alisha Lay as Tracy alongside Joey as Edna

Fast forward to 2013...and the production of
9 to 5.  Hubs won the role of Franklin Hart Jr. Problem:  Hart is described as "a lying, sleazy, egotistical bigot" He treats the women in his office as sex objects.   Joy!!  Well, Franklin Hart Jr. is all of that, but hubs isn't.   Not at all.  Quite the opposite, actually.  I just thought you all should know.  

Lowell and his leading ladies

So why I am I okay with these crazy out of character roles?  Good question.  It isn't always easy.  What if people who don't know what a great guy my hubby is think he might be like Franklin Hart Jr.?  Here is what I've come to terms with.  Lowell and I have been married almost 24 years.  Our marriage is secure.  It is based on the Biblical principles for marriage, and those won't falter.  He's the spiritual leader of our household, and when he is in a production, he is also a light in the darkness to all those he is around.  The stage needs that...tremendously.  

So what's next: On the lighter side, Monty Python's Spamalot.  J, Lowell, and Greg VanderWal all have roles in this one.  One of my favorite bloggers Mary Katherine Matthews has already done a promo for this production on her blog.  Check it out:

http://mathewsfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/2013/01/spamalot.htmle.

Christmas Nostalgia

My Nanny had an ugly Santa in her attic.  I'm sure Santa wasn't ugly in his day, but let me explain.  This Santa was made out of construction paper, before the days of "acid free".  He was also made by my brother...I would guess when he was in about 2nd grade.  (So that puts Santa at about age 25 when I am remembering him.)    Every year, without fail, Nanny would hang Santa on her tree.  His red suit was rather pink, and his face a color I can't exactly explain.  Maybe you have seen it...the color white paper turns when it ages.  His belt was grey and his beard really tattered.  It is a wonder he didn't crumble to pieces, but Santa survived.  

I guess one day this will be my house, and my tree.  I have saved my favorite decorations that the kiddos made for me over the years.  I go a little overboard with Christmas decorations in the house, and many of them are home made.  Here is a sampling....

One Christmas wreath from each kid.  Scott's is already starting to look like that Santa, and has a drip of paint on it from one year when it was hanging and I was (guess what)  painting :-).

Two lovely creations from Hannah.  The manger scene was created
at a parents day out at Riverwood church, and the angels
in 2003 at Northport Baptist Preschool.

Two glittery candles made by Scott and James in
the first grade.  Yes...they had the same teacher
James' is the blue one with the 3D flame.

This wreath was made from James' tiny little hands in Kindergarten (I think)

Don't worry....only two more.  Just be glad I did not attempt to explain every ornament on the tree (which I can do for most of them)

Lots in this picture...two hand crafted angels,
a white nativity glazed by my grandmother, and
a lighted church recently given to me by  Barbara.
The church belonged to her aunt.

And not to be left out...Lowell collects guitar playing
Santas.  Something he thought he would never have many
of.  Oh, how wrong he was.  This is just a sampling.  They fill the tree and other areas of the living room as well.

      Did I say only two more?  Sorry about that.  Guess what?  I have an ugly Santa, too.  I won't divulge the crafter, though. As I breathe a heavy sigh because this will be the first Christmas I have not received anything homemade,  Merry Christmas 2012 from all of us!     

                             

On the Craft Table (for under a dollar)

Last weekend I spent some much needed time away in Huntsville, and at my dad's lake house in Guntersville.  Saturday I had lunch with a dear friend from high school.  It is always nice to catch up and talk with someone who really knows you well.  Deb and I graduated together, were married in the same year, and also lived in T-town together for a while.  I'm glad I had a chance to catch up with her. 

Sunday was a beautiful day at Lake Guntersville.  My brother and I started a fire in the fire pit and burned some of the rubble on the property.  We barely made a dent in the piles of downed trees and brush, even though we kept the blaze going all day.  For a couple of hours I walked the property and picked up gum balls, acorns, and hickory nuts.  I brought home three quart Ziploc bags full.

There was a reason for collecting these nuts, other than trying to control the squirrel population.  I was scheduled to have a brunch at my house Nov. 17th for the girls in our youth group.  For quite some time I have had a craft in my head involving acorns, pine cones, gum balls, and hickory nuts.  Unfortunately, the brunch did not happen but I crafted anyway.  Hannah helped me a little but I did most of this myself.  Here goes:

I searched the internet for leaf templates.  I chose a maple leaf shape and an oak leaf shape.  Then I cut card board bases for my wreaths.  I placed a votive candle holder in the middle and started with a circle of acorns.  Next remove the votive holder and grab the glue gun.  Add the nuts in any pattern you like.  My original votive holders were pink, so Hannah painted them fall colors for me.  I have a red and a green which will serve a dual purpose and show up again at Christmas.  I have enough nuts left to make some nice circle wreath holders for Christmas.  To put the final touch and pretty things up, I found a good use for my spray ModPodge.  I sprayed the wreaths to make them shiny. 
               Here is the finished product:

You can see the card board.  To avoid this, cover with felt or burlap first.  I was just being lazy.



 Credit for this craft goes to my mom.  She used to take numerous walks in the woods, gathering nuts and pine cones.  Of course I used to help.  Did you know that Mobile pine cones look different from Huntsville pine cones?  It's true, and they are also prettier in wreaths.  Mom used to make large scale wreaths with plywood bases and take orders for them at Christmas.  They were huge pine cone wreaths and could be hung on the door or placed  flat with a candle in the center.  These are just a mini-version.  But they were fun, and I'm sorry the girls didn't get to help and take one home for their Thanksgiving table. 

The best part, I only spent $.84.  I already had the votive holders...left over from my wedding in 1989.  (Ummm, yes, I save most everything.) The nuts and gumballs were found on the ground, except for the squirrel I had to wrestle.  I already had acrylic paint and  ModPodge.  I paid only for the brown votive candles themselves...on sale at Wal-Mart for only eighty-four cents :-). 

And that's it in a nutshell.

In other news, S is home for Thanksgiving break, and it is great to hear the sound of my three kids together again.  Han quickly asked S to complete a level for her on one of her Ipod games.  Hours of gaming commenced...together.  J and S are horsing around and J may be close to overpowering his older brother.  We'll see.  S was still the victor and brought J to his knees.  :-)  Nothing was broken and I told them if they broke something they had to pay for it.  Still, it was great to see them acting like boys brothers.
For most of Saturday there were three teenagers in the house, and one tween, and it was awesome.  Of course, I was gone much of the time on a date with hubs.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone and Roll Tide!!!

The Great Outdoors

I've always been an outdoor girl.  Credit that to my Dad, whom I spent lots of time with during the pre-teen years.  My Dad owns property on Guntersville Lake, and he spent many weekends working on the property.  I would always tag along, roaming through the woods while he worked.   I had a friend named Kenny whose parents owned the lot  nearby. We would run through the woods with "swagger sticks" blazing trails. We jumped from rock to rock on the banks.   I also swam in the lake and learned to ski, albeit not very well.  The swimming hole was best at Kenny's because you could touch bottom there, but beside our red boat house there was an excellent fishing hole.  We still pull bream and catfish out of the water  today and all of my kids caught their first fish from the boat house dock. 

 I was also a girl scout and loved camping, and went on to become a summer church camp counselor for two summers post high school.  No air conditioned cabins at the time.  No bother to me. If you visit my house today, you will see I would rather work outdoors than indoors.  It the weather is nice, I might mow the lawn instead of clean a bathroom.  Oh well.

So recently my family went on a camping trip to Auburn, Al.  Hannah has not been camping since she was three with the family, so I guess you can say it was past time.  We took a borrowed tent, and one borrowed sleeping bag since one of ours seems to have disappeared.  (don't worry...we had the other four on hand so no we did not all share one sleeping bag).  We picked up Scott at Auburn and went to Chewacla State Park.  Chewacla is about 5 minutes from his dorm room.  Somehow Friday night the campground was booked, so we took a very disappointed twelve year old to a hotel for one night.  ***Note we did try to make a reservation but were assured that one would not be needed.  That's Auburn people for you.  Oh well.  We arrived early Saturday morning for try number two and set up our tent.  The campground is really quite nice and the first hint of fall was in the air.  Temperatures were great and it was wonderful to spend time with Scott. 

Outdoor camping is a lot of work.  Especially the preparation beforehand...packing and loading the van with all the essentials.  The difference from just checking into a hotel (which my hubs prefers) is packing the food and drinks, items to eat them on and eat them with.  Also, packing your own bed. Quite an extensive list for folks who don't camp regularly.  In order to save money we cooked all of our meals at the campground on the grill, and also a Coleman Stove for breakfast.  Lowell, Scott, and James set up the tent twice.  That is because when we arrived early Sat. morning we claimed the first spot available, but later found one we liked better and relocated.  Above is a picture of the first site.

So, what exactly did we do all day?  We hiked to Chewacla Falls.  I am using the term Falls extremely loosely.  Due to the lack of rain in Alabama, they were more of  a trickle.  You will see what I mean.  After our hike, Scott returned to his dorm room to do some studying and Hannah and James got a little bored so they explored some more.  Chewacla has an old fashioned playground equipped with a teeter-totter.  I laughed so hard I cried watching James torture Hannah on that thing.  I did get some video but not the funniest.  When I got on the teeter totter James did the same to me.  If America's Funniest Home vidos had been there, I can guarantee we would be winning.  I screamed my head off.  You see, due to child birth, I really don't have any abominal muscles.  When James tilted me upright at a 60 degree angle, I was sure I was coming down face first.  I couldn't straighten up my back to compensate for the tilt.  It really was scary, and I am sure I was way more than 3 feet off of the ground...honest!  Anyway, we eventually mastered the crazy see saw and had fun together...like you are supposed to do in the first place. 

The rocks are black where there was actually a little water falling.  The boys climbed up the middle to view the lake at the top.

                                                                                 

That's me making the Hobos.  I would like to point out the mini-van in the background, our version of a truck, which was packed to the ceiling with camping equipment.  I have to point this out because one day, young mom mini-van haters who drive them any way, you will appreciate yours!

Scott returned later that afternoon and we cooked Hobos on the grill and made S'Mores on the campfire for dessert.  We played a round robin game of storytelling where everyone adds a sentence until you have some crazy story.  We  played that for a long time until ours were the only voices in the campground.  Time for some shut eye.  The sun shone brightly into our tent at about 7 AM and a few of us got up, others slept a couple more hours.  My only complaint?  The bath house was a bit far away and of course I had to go in the wee hours of the night.  I should have slept next to the tent door because I had to climb over Lowell to get out.  We had a great time, stayed on a budget, and got away from the hum drum of T-town for a while.