Today is one of those days that sit here and think back at a memory that you aren't sure is real or maybe you saw it on tv. Well, today's memory is both. 25 years ago today, many of us sat as school children watching the Challenger, excited about the prospects it brought, only to have it blow up in the sky. I was 11 years old that day. I remember feeling like it wasn't real. (kinda like 9-11). I remember everyone, everywhere being in shock as if it wasn't possible. 73 seconds after launch. 46,000 feet into the air. An "explosion" on live tv at 11:39 am as the shuttle disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the Florida coast. 7 people lost their lives.
Michael J Smith, 40, liked woodworking, last words "Uh-Oh." Father of 3.
Dick Scobee, 46, enjoyed motorcycling and flying. Father of 2.
Ronald McNair, 35, 5th black belt, prepared to record a saxophone solo in space. Father of 2.
Ellison Onizuka, 39, first Asian American to reach space. loved the outdoors(hunting and fishing). Father of 2.
Christa McAuliffe, 37, TEACHER. "I have a vision of the world as a global village, a world without boundaries. Imagine a history teacher making history!" . Mother of 2.
Gregory Jarvis, 41, ENGINEER. played the classical guitar. Avid squash player.
Judith Resnik, 36, classical pianist. from Akron, OH
Today, as a Mom, I can't help but think of those astronauts' families. I can't help but think of those children who grew up without fathers or a mother. I can't help but think of the ladies who became single mothers.. the father who became a single father. How very difficult their journey had to have been. We all think back to what we were doing and how it affected our lives. That is so insignificant compared to the loss of these families.
So today, I say a prayer for those families who watched, along with the entire world, their loved ones perish above the Atlantic Ocean. We shall never forget.
January 28, 2011
January 27, 2011
Talking
Well, the resolutions did just what I predicted. hee hee. But I promise to come up with a better February theme (I hope) for any of you out there who like to visit and read.
Today, I'm thinking of my sweet monkey pants. My daughter isn't much of a talker. Shock of all shocks since the middlest doesn't stop talking. (seriously, he even talks in his sleep). So many days I wonder what she is wanting or thinking. At her last pediatrician appointment, Doc said to stop talking for her. That we are probably doing that and she's getting lazy. We did that... only to find she wanted to learn more sign language. I thought that would be awesome. Alec uses sign language and has since he was 7 or 8 months old. How bad could it be? Oh my, I should have thought twice about it. Now she wants to know the sign for everything and while her language is expanding, she's still refusing to talk. Even more so now.
So, funny of all funnies, she gets into the dishes pantry where she knows not to be. But she's two. I let her carefully pile up the dishes and when she throws a coffee cup across the floor and into one of the "bowl plates" screaming, I am not too thrilled. No, it didn't break. I started to let it go, but she continues screaming and can't seem to tell me what's going on. Then she starts signing spider to me. Apparently, we need to use those coffee cups more often or actually dust in there. She was frantic about a spider (which is white- haven't seen one of those before) which was located and killed. When I had verified the path of death and destruction to her, she signed Thank you to me. Here is an example. Could she have said spider? yes. I KNOW she knows that word, but she didn't. Could she have told me thank you, yes. I KNOW she knows those words. She's choosing not to.
Another poignant moment came shortly afterward when she brought me another sugar stick (airhead) and set it on the sofa. She signed, more please as she had had one earlier in the morning (yeah, let's not question that parenting decision). Then held it up. I refused until she used her words. She signed again. Again, I said no, not until you use your words. She signed one more time and ROLLED HER EYES AT ME. I said, I understand what you are saying to me young lady, but you HAVE to use your words or I will not do it. She actually stomped away and said, "I DO IT." hee hee. I laugh at that only because she used her words for that one. ;-) After struggling to open it for about 10 minutes, she walked over to me and signed as she spoke. She said, Please open. I said, good girl. Momma likes it when you use your words. Great moment when she replied thank you and signed it as well.
There are so many days that words can't describe what we want and our vocabulary doesn't have those words even if we did want to describe it. I think of that like my sweet little girl. She doesn't have all the words yet, but she's learning. We don't have the words yet, but we're learning. We have to try to be patient and keep trusting that we are doing the best we can and that eventually we will get there :-)
One small step for my sweet 2 year old today, one giant leap in the Lunsford house. :-)
Today, I'm thinking of my sweet monkey pants. My daughter isn't much of a talker. Shock of all shocks since the middlest doesn't stop talking. (seriously, he even talks in his sleep). So many days I wonder what she is wanting or thinking. At her last pediatrician appointment, Doc said to stop talking for her. That we are probably doing that and she's getting lazy. We did that... only to find she wanted to learn more sign language. I thought that would be awesome. Alec uses sign language and has since he was 7 or 8 months old. How bad could it be? Oh my, I should have thought twice about it. Now she wants to know the sign for everything and while her language is expanding, she's still refusing to talk. Even more so now.
So, funny of all funnies, she gets into the dishes pantry where she knows not to be. But she's two. I let her carefully pile up the dishes and when she throws a coffee cup across the floor and into one of the "bowl plates" screaming, I am not too thrilled. No, it didn't break. I started to let it go, but she continues screaming and can't seem to tell me what's going on. Then she starts signing spider to me. Apparently, we need to use those coffee cups more often or actually dust in there. She was frantic about a spider (which is white- haven't seen one of those before) which was located and killed. When I had verified the path of death and destruction to her, she signed Thank you to me. Here is an example. Could she have said spider? yes. I KNOW she knows that word, but she didn't. Could she have told me thank you, yes. I KNOW she knows those words. She's choosing not to.
Another poignant moment came shortly afterward when she brought me another sugar stick (airhead) and set it on the sofa. She signed, more please as she had had one earlier in the morning (yeah, let's not question that parenting decision). Then held it up. I refused until she used her words. She signed again. Again, I said no, not until you use your words. She signed one more time and ROLLED HER EYES AT ME. I said, I understand what you are saying to me young lady, but you HAVE to use your words or I will not do it. She actually stomped away and said, "I DO IT." hee hee. I laugh at that only because she used her words for that one. ;-) After struggling to open it for about 10 minutes, she walked over to me and signed as she spoke. She said, Please open. I said, good girl. Momma likes it when you use your words. Great moment when she replied thank you and signed it as well.
There are so many days that words can't describe what we want and our vocabulary doesn't have those words even if we did want to describe it. I think of that like my sweet little girl. She doesn't have all the words yet, but she's learning. We don't have the words yet, but we're learning. We have to try to be patient and keep trusting that we are doing the best we can and that eventually we will get there :-)
One small step for my sweet 2 year old today, one giant leap in the Lunsford house. :-)
January 6, 2011
Difference
Resolutions are so easy to come by and easy to break. As I go on this journey, I am trying to think of what things we can do this year that we won't break. I want to make a difference. I don't know where that difference will be yet as it's early in this resolution. But there are so many ways that we can do that.
My heart is leading me to write more and to work on this book that I so feel God leading me to write. So I decided to take 20 minutes this morning and dedicate that to researching what I need to do to create and sell my proposal for it. Not a lot of time, but something. Will it make a difference? I hope so.
But there are other things that I'm thinking right now. Little differences. My Alec so wanted a keyboard for Christmas, and Santa delivered a great one. It wasn't enough though, so we signed him up for these great piano lessons. Something that seems small, but when you see the child's eyes when he talks excitedly about his first piano lesson tonight, you see that difference. It's little, yes. But it's huge to him. How do you know that the difference you make isn't huge? The smile you give to a stranger. The video you take of a homeless man with an incredible voice and decide to put on You Tube. I mean, think about it. He's not homeless anymore. He's got a job and is doing the morning talk show circuit just for one person saying, WOW, what a voice and putting it online. It seems little, but was it for him? Think about it...
My heart is leading me to write more and to work on this book that I so feel God leading me to write. So I decided to take 20 minutes this morning and dedicate that to researching what I need to do to create and sell my proposal for it. Not a lot of time, but something. Will it make a difference? I hope so.
But there are other things that I'm thinking right now. Little differences. My Alec so wanted a keyboard for Christmas, and Santa delivered a great one. It wasn't enough though, so we signed him up for these great piano lessons. Something that seems small, but when you see the child's eyes when he talks excitedly about his first piano lesson tonight, you see that difference. It's little, yes. But it's huge to him. How do you know that the difference you make isn't huge? The smile you give to a stranger. The video you take of a homeless man with an incredible voice and decide to put on You Tube. I mean, think about it. He's not homeless anymore. He's got a job and is doing the morning talk show circuit just for one person saying, WOW, what a voice and putting it online. It seems little, but was it for him? Think about it...
Jude 1:22-23 (New King James Version)
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;[a] 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire,[b] hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.January 5, 2011
Choice of Words
This morning has been enlightening. How often do we think about what we are saying? I sat listening to my precious 6 year old struggling to use words because of his lack of two front teeth. He already has an issue that sounds like stuttering when his brain cannot catch up to his mouth, so these missing teeth are really giving him a hard time. As I listened to him, I thought about my own words and others and how they seem so darn easy to come off the tongue even though we should be struggling to say them.
I think of Ricky and growing up. How many times did I sit at the bus stop and hear them calling him names! "Retard" and words that truly are obscenities. Such a sweet sweet fella. He did nothing wrong. He stood on the corner reading (normally it was the Bible or dictionary- wise beyond words if you ask me) and shouting about what he was reading. I remember being quiet and thinking how wrong it was that those other kids would be mean to him. Until one day when Marcie and I had had enough and we stood up to those kids and told them that what they were doing was wrong. It felt good to stand up for what I believed in, and I always thought he appreciated what we did in the long run (probably doesn't even remember it, but I hope he does).
Now, I type about this and think about things I say on a daily basis that can be considered a bad choice. I'm not the only one. I hear it in the grocery store when mother's get frazzled with their kids. I hear it on the way to school or even at dance or a sporting event. It's everywhere.
I think of Ricky and growing up. How many times did I sit at the bus stop and hear them calling him names! "Retard" and words that truly are obscenities. Such a sweet sweet fella. He did nothing wrong. He stood on the corner reading (normally it was the Bible or dictionary- wise beyond words if you ask me) and shouting about what he was reading. I remember being quiet and thinking how wrong it was that those other kids would be mean to him. Until one day when Marcie and I had had enough and we stood up to those kids and told them that what they were doing was wrong. It felt good to stand up for what I believed in, and I always thought he appreciated what we did in the long run (probably doesn't even remember it, but I hope he does).
Now, I type about this and think about things I say on a daily basis that can be considered a bad choice. I'm not the only one. I hear it in the grocery store when mother's get frazzled with their kids. I hear it on the way to school or even at dance or a sporting event. It's everywhere.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear"
Let's work on our tongues today. That we build up instead of tearing down. That we don't say something that we know isn't appropriate. Yes, another resolution, but is it? hee hee
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear"
January 4, 2011
What does it mean to eat healthier?
I started thinking today about food. While that's not really a shock to anyone as I clearly think of food often ;-), I was thinking about eating healthier. THAT is a shock. hahaha. If you think about it, we actually don't realize what we eat in a day unless we keep track of it. As I started tracking my food intake yesterday, I realized that, shock of all shocks, I am not eating enough food. So, I thought to myself, how do you get overweight (let's be honest-- obese) when you don't eat enough? So I started thinking about what I've eaten in the past and that phrase, I'm STARVING! Not really, but we all say it. If you don't eat enough calories in a day, maybe the next day you go overboard and eat too many calories or the wrong foods.
Let's look at some examples...
Pizza. Great food, right. My logic is there it has cheese for my dairy intake and then veggies on top and some protein if you like to include meat. If you are technical about it, you also have fruit as a tomato is a fruit and the sauce is made from tomatoes. Taking a look at what that pizza would be like in our household, requires a purchase from Little Caesar's Pizza. I like my research, but decided I'm not ready to go that far yet. So I ventured on line. We would normally get a cheese and a pepperoni (love those leftovers). Guess there goes the veggies. Oh well, so the nutritional information for the cheese that I normally eat is very interesting. One slice. How many truly eat just one slice? Well, anyhow, one slice is 240 calories and 9 g of fat. If you are watching your cholesterol or your sodium levels, you don't want me to tell you those. It's insane and high.
Can we make pizza healthier? I think so. We can improve it by using less cheese or healthier cheese options than the processed. We can also adjust the crust. I am considering using rice flour next time I make it at home. Plus at home, you can pile all the veggies on that you know you love. Broccoli and chicken with mushrooms. mmmm, getting hungry thinking about it.
Tacos.. We like Taco Bell, but our favorite is Chipolte (when the kids don't want it). This one had me going OMW. I like the burrito and while I normally get chicken, I thought I'd look it up for steak this time. Includes: -1 Burrito-size Flour Tortilla -6 oz. Cilantro-Lime Rice -4 oz. Black Beans -2.5 oz. Fajita Vegetables -4 oz. Steak -3.5 oz. Tomato Salsa -3.5 oz. Corn Salsa Drum Roll please....... 970 calories. Not a typo, I really mean that!!! 24.5 g of Fat. Makes me want to avoid that place for a little while.
We can make a burrito at home that is half the size and definitely half the calories and fit what we want in it. salsa is a low fat food. Let's focus on that. Let's use more veggies and a leaner meat than the steak. We can make it a healthy option just by using foods that are better for us.
I'm also finding that I'm eating too much in the evenings and not enough during the day. That's a hard one, but I realized that the experts do say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. By all accounts, it really should be the largest as you've been sleeping for how many ever hours you were blessed with getting before being awoken by that nasty alarm clock or that screaming beautiful child. Sleep will take some serious energy out of you and coffee alone won't do it. Today, I had raisin bran with milk and yogurt and by the look of my caloric intake, I'm not there yet. Still not enough food. My task for tomorrow is going to be finding a breakfast that is nutritionally big enough to get me through my day.
This thinking about food is too much work! hee hee. Another resolution that is hard to put to your brain when you are used to being fat and lazy, but one worth the effort, I believe. I think it's almost snack time. yum, string cheese and banana with a few crackers sounds pretty good.
Let's look at some examples...
Pizza. Great food, right. My logic is there it has cheese for my dairy intake and then veggies on top and some protein if you like to include meat. If you are technical about it, you also have fruit as a tomato is a fruit and the sauce is made from tomatoes. Taking a look at what that pizza would be like in our household, requires a purchase from Little Caesar's Pizza. I like my research, but decided I'm not ready to go that far yet. So I ventured on line. We would normally get a cheese and a pepperoni (love those leftovers). Guess there goes the veggies. Oh well, so the nutritional information for the cheese that I normally eat is very interesting. One slice. How many truly eat just one slice? Well, anyhow, one slice is 240 calories and 9 g of fat. If you are watching your cholesterol or your sodium levels, you don't want me to tell you those. It's insane and high.
Can we make pizza healthier? I think so. We can improve it by using less cheese or healthier cheese options than the processed. We can also adjust the crust. I am considering using rice flour next time I make it at home. Plus at home, you can pile all the veggies on that you know you love. Broccoli and chicken with mushrooms. mmmm, getting hungry thinking about it.
Tacos.. We like Taco Bell, but our favorite is Chipolte (when the kids don't want it). This one had me going OMW. I like the burrito and while I normally get chicken, I thought I'd look it up for steak this time. Includes: -1 Burrito-size Flour Tortilla -6 oz. Cilantro-Lime Rice -4 oz. Black Beans -2.5 oz. Fajita Vegetables -4 oz. Steak -3.5 oz. Tomato Salsa -3.5 oz. Corn Salsa Drum Roll please....... 970 calories. Not a typo, I really mean that!!! 24.5 g of Fat. Makes me want to avoid that place for a little while.
We can make a burrito at home that is half the size and definitely half the calories and fit what we want in it. salsa is a low fat food. Let's focus on that. Let's use more veggies and a leaner meat than the steak. We can make it a healthy option just by using foods that are better for us.
I'm also finding that I'm eating too much in the evenings and not enough during the day. That's a hard one, but I realized that the experts do say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. By all accounts, it really should be the largest as you've been sleeping for how many ever hours you were blessed with getting before being awoken by that nasty alarm clock or that screaming beautiful child. Sleep will take some serious energy out of you and coffee alone won't do it. Today, I had raisin bran with milk and yogurt and by the look of my caloric intake, I'm not there yet. Still not enough food. My task for tomorrow is going to be finding a breakfast that is nutritionally big enough to get me through my day.
This thinking about food is too much work! hee hee. Another resolution that is hard to put to your brain when you are used to being fat and lazy, but one worth the effort, I believe. I think it's almost snack time. yum, string cheese and banana with a few crackers sounds pretty good.
January 3, 2011
Dust Bunnies
I'm not sure anyone is truly a friend of dust bunnies. I've personally kicked them out of the house SEVERAL times in just the past year. I don't intend to invite them over for dinner and a movie, and I most certainly do not wish for them to attend my family functions at my house. But somehow, they end up all over my house hiding, eluding, evading.
So my "non-resolution" moment of the day was for cleaning today. I charged myself with removing the dust bunnies from my sweet 2 year old's room today. Knowing that I had kicked them out when I bumped her closet from 18 month clothing to 24 months not so long ago, I was shocked to find them EVERYWHERE. Yeah, they are multiplying like bunnies. Then I thought, oohh, I want to make sure to get the cool air intake taken care of. And as I sat here preparing to type this, I thought, drat! I forgot the ceiling fan. So, I have to climb my big butt up on a step stool (Fade to Wade in the background laughing as I shake and try not to shed tears due to my fear of heights).. and take care of the fan. An hour and a half after starting, I finally finished and was thrilled to watch those bunnies walk out the front door.
Then I walked into my bedroom and saw their cousins have moved into my room. Guess I'll get started on those next.....
So my "non-resolution" moment of the day was for cleaning today. I charged myself with removing the dust bunnies from my sweet 2 year old's room today. Knowing that I had kicked them out when I bumped her closet from 18 month clothing to 24 months not so long ago, I was shocked to find them EVERYWHERE. Yeah, they are multiplying like bunnies. Then I thought, oohh, I want to make sure to get the cool air intake taken care of. And as I sat here preparing to type this, I thought, drat! I forgot the ceiling fan. So, I have to climb my big butt up on a step stool (Fade to Wade in the background laughing as I shake and try not to shed tears due to my fear of heights).. and take care of the fan. An hour and a half after starting, I finally finished and was thrilled to watch those bunnies walk out the front door.
Then I walked into my bedroom and saw their cousins have moved into my room. Guess I'll get started on those next.....
January 1, 2011
Monthly Themes for 2011
In 2011, I thought I’d challenge myself to have a certain theme for each month. So, for the month of January, I would like to talk about resolutions as that is something so many people are working towards when beginning a new year. If you are a friend of mine or know me decently well, you will think, but Kim, you dislike resolutions. Why would you want to write about them for an entire month! You are right; thanks for paying attention.
These won't be your normal resolution postings of I will lose weight (won't we all) or will use technology less (yeah, cause we don't live in a world that depends on it) or even will exercise more (really? What kind of crap are you selling yourself there!). Off my rant ;-)
So let's move into resolution number one for our first day. I resolve to not resolve. Yes, you heard me right. I just announced a resolution theme and am refusing to follow it. I will not resolve to do anything different this year because today has been a day of feeling yucky and I cannot commit to anything at this time.
Sound familiar? Something you've been meaning to do? Yeah, I didn't think so. I think many of us start the new year with all these grand ideas of being a better person, doing better things or accomplishing something you've been meaning to do. But if you think about it, we are the best procrastinators ever. I don't know the specific stats, but if you ask 10 of your friends their resolutions and then you ask those same 10 friends how many achieved those goals, I believe that at most, 2 of them would say they did. We are sinful, human creatures by definition, and therefore, we mess up. It's nice to have goals and strive to move forward with those, but let's be more realistic about who we are.
We cannot underestimate how easily we sin. So when we make those resolutions, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Even Paul, probably one of the greatest spiritual leaders, was struggling with his sinful nature.
Romans 7:15-20
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So our battle continues as it has for thousands of years. Chocolate is always going to be a thorn in your side if it has always been a thorn in your side. Let's take today and resolve to not resolve and to accept our sinful nature and acknowledge our failure.
I look forward to continuing this journey with you this month and to give you a chance to think about those resolutions you have selected.
These won't be your normal resolution postings of I will lose weight (won't we all) or will use technology less (yeah, cause we don't live in a world that depends on it) or even will exercise more (really? What kind of crap are you selling yourself there!). Off my rant ;-)
So let's move into resolution number one for our first day. I resolve to not resolve. Yes, you heard me right. I just announced a resolution theme and am refusing to follow it. I will not resolve to do anything different this year because today has been a day of feeling yucky and I cannot commit to anything at this time.
Sound familiar? Something you've been meaning to do? Yeah, I didn't think so. I think many of us start the new year with all these grand ideas of being a better person, doing better things or accomplishing something you've been meaning to do. But if you think about it, we are the best procrastinators ever. I don't know the specific stats, but if you ask 10 of your friends their resolutions and then you ask those same 10 friends how many achieved those goals, I believe that at most, 2 of them would say they did. We are sinful, human creatures by definition, and therefore, we mess up. It's nice to have goals and strive to move forward with those, but let's be more realistic about who we are.
We cannot underestimate how easily we sin. So when we make those resolutions, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Even Paul, probably one of the greatest spiritual leaders, was struggling with his sinful nature.
Romans 7:15-20
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So our battle continues as it has for thousands of years. Chocolate is always going to be a thorn in your side if it has always been a thorn in your side. Let's take today and resolve to not resolve and to accept our sinful nature and acknowledge our failure.
I look forward to continuing this journey with you this month and to give you a chance to think about those resolutions you have selected.
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