Singalullaby

My Child

Isn't there a word for snorting laughter that turns into weepy tears?  And, does the definition say that it involves a mom and a teenage boy?  Because the baby that she rocked to sleep, the boy who sang the "B@rney" song adnauseum, is on the brink of manhood and will be leaving the nest in three short summers?  

If you know the word, go on over to Wikipedia and embellish the definition.

Title Tune by Plumb

Something's Got To Change

"We know we're made for more than this.

We're just not sure whether to bury our longings or embrace them---

whether to deny the disappointments of everyday life or 

dive deeper and plumb their depths.

Like it or not, we live each day struggling to reconcile

'how it is' with 'how we hoped it would be'."

The Beautiful Ache by Leigh McLeroy

Tears ran down my cheeks as I read this paragraph on Sunday.  Why was I crying?  I'm not sure.  Today, I'm convinced that a fierce case of PMS overcame me.  But last week, I cried about a colorful mix of things:  MidBro grew an inch, BigBro got his driver's permit, DollyGirl danced like a dream at recital, Hubby was traveling again, "Serendipity" is a poignant movie, I want to banish cellulite, I like to eat ice cream...etc, etc.

From there, I descended into a quicksand made of memories.  Or, more accurately, longings for stuff that didn't happen, will never happen.  I'm not going to reveal my bruised heart today.  It's enough to admit that the quote above struck a chord in me.  I also think it's about more than just 'seeing the glass half-full' or keeping a graditude journal.  There is a deeper revelation at work and I intend to unfold the map of my heart.  And, so, the journey begins.

On a lighter note, I'm updating the "Noteworthy Blogs" Page.  The list is extensive!  If you don't see your blog and want to be included, please leave a comment with the info.

Title Tune by Josh Wison

#200

Gift cards will be sent to the two people who left questions; I love them both and just can't choose between them.  Congrats to JB & MsDeb!

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Title Tune: Pat Benatar

MidBro is throwing a pitch in this photo.  He is rather double-jointed, but this is ridiculous!

Majesty

On their way to Cooperstown, Hubby and MidBro took a scenic sidetrip.
My water exposure involved the neighborhood pool.  No fair!

Giveaway!

In honor of this numerical accomplishment, I will be giving away a $10.00 gift card to Borders!  To enter:  Ask me a question in comments.  I'll be asking my friend LM to choose the most interesting question as the winner!  Comment questions will be accepted until Friday, June 14.  

Post #200 will announce the winner!

Dancing With Cinderella

Title Tune"  "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman

LilDollyGirl and her daddy earned a Girl Scout badge at the father/daughter dance.  She was thrilled to get dressed up for a date with her hero.  He cleaned up nicely, too!

I'm Still Jessie's Girl

Title Tune:  "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield

It's been 26 years since I gave a little piece of my heart to Mr. Springfield.  He'll never know, but he had some stiff IRL competition.  A doppelganger, actually.  Rick's string of albums mirrored that relationship for nearly four years.  He sang the songtrack of my first real love! 

He has a new album on deck!  I hope the message is positive :-)

Center

*Post Title Tune:  "Center" by Charlie Hall

The children gave me an iPod shuffle for Mother's Day.  A few nights ago, I created a 10-song-set, guaranteeing a 40 minute walk.  Shiloh danced his paws along the sidewalk as I set our pace.

"Center" is a 'raise your hands' kind of song.  And I'm wacky enough to do just that, caring not about the taunting teens in the cool black truck.  Decades ago, God began to germinate a seed in my heart regarding worship.  I don't have a name you would recognize, I don't have a record deal... I do know the joy of leading a congregation in a time of reaching heavenward and the thrill of singing backup on a few recordings. But those seasons have been scattered; during the years I was childbearing, my songs blossomed as lullabies.  There have been years when the seed seemed to be hibernating, leaving me unsure about its purpose or existence, only to spring up to be used in a surprising way.  This last year found me back in a place of quiet, wondering if the seed would bear fruit again.

Under the shadow of His wing, I sing.  

He inhabits the praise of His people.  

Somewhere in the middle of "Let Christ be the center of our lives, on Him we fix our eyes", a solid peace filled my heart.  I realized that He has always been my first love, the One I hope to please, lover of my soul and knower of my secrets.  I cannot hide from Him.  In 2008, I've wanted to run from quite a lot of circumstances and I've been crying on God's shoulder. The peace that followed me forward through the 10-song-set was a welcome reminder that I have been a friend of God through all the seasons of my life, the happy ones and the sad ones.  I'll just keep singing,  He knows what's happening to the seed and that's all I need to know.

Have you come upon new songs that could extend my iPod list?  I'm working up to a 15-song-walk.

Is Anybody Out There?

*Post Title Tune:  "Foolin" by Def Leppard*

Like many 'mommy bloggers', I started my blog as a way to capture the moment.  As we've all discovered, it can become a whole other thing; at times we dive in and pass the meme or host a give-a-way, sometimes we pull back and take a break.

I miss a bunch of you!!!  I haven't given anybody much to read lately, or to remember.  But summer is here!

Please, leave a comment and let me know you are out there!  I'll drop by your place with a smile.