Friday, April 11, 2008

Snips and Snaps

There is either too much or not enough here for a real blog post so I am just going to type whatever comes to mind...

You have to click on the link to Tami's blog and watch the video showing her sweet little Maddie hearing for the first time! I got chills just typing that sentence! Warning though, this is one of those special moments that will melt your heart and possibly your mascara. Maddie is the absolute cutest thing! I spent the better part of January following the story of her adoption from Ukraine on this blog and love keeping up with her family now on this one.

So you may be wondering what or who has me hooked on all these sweet, but at times gut wrenching, blogs about adoption I keep talking about? That would be my friend Julie! Despite all the crazy delays at American Airlines right now, Julie should be coming home tonight with her daughter Halle Grace! YEAH! I'm so excited that they are finally going to be HOME! What a privilege it has been to share their journey to find this sweet little girl. Julie is a friend from ACU, Southlake Blvd Church, and most recently Farm Fest. Julie is just so spirit filled. Her heart and life clearly reflect the love and grace of our heavenly Father. This adoption has been an amazing journey. Join me in thanking God for bringing this precious little girl home to her forever family TONIGHT!

Nothing can really top those last two, so I won't try. But here are some of the crazy tid-bits of brain lint that I thought I'd toss out there anyway...

Eldorado, Texas
If you missed the story about what is going outside of Eldorado (pronounced the way the locals do, it rhymes with tornado) this week, here is a link that will explain it. For several years Rob and I have heard people from my hometown of San Angelo and West Texas in general talk about the Jeff's/FLDS compound. There were aerial shots of this city that sprung up out of nowhere in the local news and widely circulated in e-mails. Everyone thought something bad was going on behind those tall guarded fences, but no one could prove it. It's one of those deals where you know it will be a big national news story someday, so when it is, it's not too big of a shock.

BUT if you watch the stories on TV about this, you will see shots of an old fort where they are now housing the children removed from the ranch in Eldorado. That's my beloved Old Fort Concho, in my hometown of San Angelo! I grew up going to pancake breakfasts in the summer at that Fort. It's where my 4th grade class spent a day going to school like pioneer children did. I spent many a Christmas shopping Christmas at Old Fort Concho with my Mom. Fort Concho is where I got my first "make your knees weak" kiss during a summer Fiesta Del Concho/Fort Street dance. You will also see the convention center where they have been holding news conferences and housing even more of the 400 children. That convention center and I go way back too! It's where I went to three proms, two Tri-Hi-Y formals, and helped put together a great Project Graduation. It is where I was introduced as a Fiesta del Concho Ambassador while in college. Rob and I had our engagement pictures taken across the street from that convention center and spent our first night as husband and wife in the hotel next door. I don't know what this story has done to the rest of the nation, but it has made me extremely homesick for my hometown. More on this to come.

Speaking of things you know will someday be in the national news, on Oprah or made into a Lifetime movie... I distinctly remember two years ago this last week sitting in my garage on the phone with a PTA friend. I was outside because I did not want Kolby to hear what we were saying. We were talking about the death of a teacher from Kolby's school that had occurred the day before. It had been ruled a suicide but there were LOUD grumbles and well founded suspicions that that was not the case. Things just did not seem to add up. We were talking about all the reasons why we just could not believe this woman had killed herself. "If it ever comes out that she did not do this to herself it could be some big national story like you see on Dateline... and you and I will remember this talk," we said. Well, it did. And, we do. (see former posts here, here, here, and here) Sadly the wheels of justice turn very slowly in our little part of the world. I pray for this woman's family every night and can't imagine how hard this is for them! Another friend of mine does a GREAT job of keeping us all up to date on what is going on with this case. You can find her blog here.

I think we are the last family in America not to be caught up in American Idol, The Office, and/or Lost. I feel down right Un-American. Seriously. When do you people find the time to watch all these shows?

I. do. not. like. blogger. word. verification. It makes me feel like I have special needs. Am I the only one who can not read those stretched out crazy letters? Several times I have tried to comment on different blogs but after one or two failed attempts to decipher "the code" and type it back in correctly, I have given up! I may quit commenting on blogs with active word verification altogether because it is such a pain! (Not that anyone really needs my comments... I'm just saying!) And... Is word verification really necessary on private (as in "invited readers only") blogs? No offense meant to those who have wv, just something to ponder...

And to Rachel Ray...who I happen to be sorta watching right now... Why in the world do you spell out the acronym E-V-O-O (extra virgin olive oil) every time you say it!? It bugs me to the point that I stop listening to you. Just say evoo. (sounds like a cross between emu and voo-do) We all know what it stands for and those who don't can google it. Isn't the point of coming up with an acronym in the first place so you don't have to say it every time? What if instead of saying the word "laser" everyone spelled out L-A-S-E-R and frequently followed with the explanation that it means Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation? The point of having the "laser" acronym would be lost and Physics classes would last a lot longer. Evoo. One word, two syllables, and you're "good to go!"
(OK. Maybe I need a cup of coffee? Thanks for letting me get that out! : )


And lastly... (Almost scared of where this one may go, aren't you?)
Maybe it's time for someone I know to read more than blogs, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living and the gazillion school notes that flood her house every month. If you had a friend that has not read anything on the New York Times best sellers list since "Tuesdays with Maury," who is not into Oprah's Book Club, and whose stomach churns at the sight of a Joel Osteen book, what would you suggest she read? Just your top two "makes me want to be a better person" or "could not put it down and still think about it long after I finished it" page turners please. I don't want to overwhelm her!

Happy Friday!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Steph - Thank you for bringing up Kari. She is on so many minds...especially this week. Would you mind if I C&P this portion of your blog and put it on mine, with a link back of course. I like everyone to know others think and write about her, too.

Hey, you hear those jet fighter (or whatever they are called) flying around this morning? I love hearing them when Bush is in town.

Thanks!

SG said...

Shannon,
I totally support what you are doing for Kari and the Dulins so do with this what ever you want. And yes, those jets are crazy loud today! I love it when Bush is here! I think we are going to hear lots of those jets this month with the big wedding coming up! :)

Susan - said...

Ooooohhhh, you are the friend. I was a little slow there for a minute.
I thought of you when I heard about Eldorado the other day. What a mess.
If RR starts saying Evoo, THAT would bug me. Sorry. Not that I watch her all that much.
Speaking of Lifetime, Primetime, etc. stories, I need to fill you in on the latest with my sil. Again - what a mess!
I'm so excited for Julie and family. I would love to see that homecoming.
I read a lot, but I can't really say any of it is life-changing. I just want entertainment at this point of my life. Now, I don't mean romance novels. Never! Start easy, don't everwhelm yourself is all I'm saying.
Comment long enough for you?

Emily said...

Sweet video of the little girl. Good thing I don't have my makeup on for the day.
I was thinking about reading the book "The Last Lecture" I think that is what it is called. He was on Oprah not too long ago. Do you know what I am talking about? It looks like a good one!
BTW- no more comment codes on my blog. Just for you! ;)

elizabeth said...

Have I discussed my same annoyance with Rachel Ray's "EVOO-Extra Virgin Olive Oil" with you? That has ALWAYS bugged me!

I thought about you with all the coverage of San Angelo. Can you live in a Texas town that isn't associated with strangeness? ;)

Hate typing in those google identifiers. I think you have to do it on mine, and I don't know how to take it off.

Looking for a light and cute read? Try The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall. Very cute, fast, and short!

TGIF-Thank Goodness It's Friday!

Anonymous said...

Loved the book Elizabeth recommended, fair warning, you get hooked and it is a series. Also, partially due to her (and CP's)recommendation I read and LOVED Same Kind of Different As Me. Not a long or hard read and very meaningful! I am just getting back into reading after a long break and love it. Our friend, CP, has recommended 90 minutes in Heaven by Don Piper so it will probably be next for me.

Carrie

Anonymous said...

Well, now that you know I am here, I will add a comment about some great books. :)
If you have not read Jodi Picoult, you MUST. She is amazing. Her most famous book is My Sister's Keeper, but after I read that I bought 4 more. After the second, I bought every thing she has written up to the new hardback that came out this spring. I went to hear her speak at the National Book Festival last fall and loved her live as well.
Enjoy if you read her!!
Hainey

Meredith said...

Amen sista! E-V-O-O is like nails on a chalk board!

Meredith said...

I forgot to add book suggestions.

A good, light and fun read are any of the "Shopaholic" series. Start with "Confessions of a Shopaholic". I bought it thinking it was a self-help book. ;) (he, he!)

A more serious one is "Vanishing Acts" by Jodi Picoult.

Angela said...

I'm a big RR fan but the evoo thing bothers me too. Is there anyone out there who doesn't know what it stands for?

I love to read too much to recommend just one book but here are a couple of my favorite authors. Some are lighter fare than others - Diana Gabaldon (I'm hooked on these right now but they are pretty intense), Maeve Binchy, Nora Roberts, and Luanne Rice. I also love the Janette Oke books and they are quick reads that are good for the soul. A great one that you might like to share with Kolby is Nim's Island. Then you could have a movie date! Guess you shouldn't have gotten me started! :)

Susan - said...

I recently finished a "Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult and enjoyed it. It is set in Amish country and that was interesting to me. I want to read "Sister's Keeper" another by her.
I don't want to offend Meredith, but the "Shopaholic" books were too silly for me. I read one (I traded books with a friend on vacation), and it was amusing, but I'm not into the series.
Just my two cents worth.

Tami said...

Thanks for the sweet words about Maddie. I still get choked up watching the video. ;)
I have made a monumental decision. I'm taking word verification off my blog too. It drives me nuts when I have to do it on other blogs, so why put my visitors through the trial. I may also take off the anonymous blocker too. I have a lot of people tell me they'd like to leave me a message but aren't technically saavy enough to sign up for an account. So thanks for the push I needed to make my blog more user friendly! :>) (Of course now I expect comments from you daily! :)

Beaner said...

I actually had no idea what evoo was - I thought maybe a female emu? I just don't watch Rachel Ray, nor do I cook often!

I like Nicholas Sparks' books, but they are kind of tearjerkers & somewhat sappy romantic too - but they're good Summer reading. Right now I'm reading "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, which is really good, even though it is a tragic story - it has a good lesson (I think) and isn't a weepy, sad book. Or just watch the movie based on the book, which is directed by Sean Penn. That was good too & left me thinking so much that I had to go out & buy the book!

Anonymous said...

I got a bumper sticker or two for ya! ;) I can catch you at school or I can stick them in your mailbox or something. Let me know.

L Hendrix said...

Stephanie--
The "Mitford series" by Jan Karon is great and there is a new one "Home to Holly Springs" which is wonderful. "Same Kind of Different as Me" is awesome! Love your blog.

Julie said...

Hi there! I just typed out this long (really good) comment on all kinds of things. Unfortunately, my computer decided to spontaneously reboot, and it didn't post. Oh well. Just wanted to say I'm back reading blogs again, and we really appreciate all the prayers and support. After 5 weeks on Ukraine, I am finally feeling normal again (whatever that is). Halle Grace is such a joy! Can't wait for you to meet her... I heard FarmFest is set for Oct. 11.
You're the best!!! :)