Summer S’mores

It’s that time of year again…time for s’mores.

Imagine it…a toasted marshmallow topped with melted chocolate and squished in between crunchy graham crackers.  The crackle of a fire and the smell of the smoke in the air.  Fireflies are starting to make their way out, sending their morse code signal to alert parents that it’s almost bed time.  Soon sticky fingers and sweaty little bodies will be in the bath and bath time means bed time and bed time means the count down to a quiet house and mindless tv.  Oh my.  Can you think of anything better?

These little sticky fingers couldn’t wait for a fire.  One and a half bars of chocolate and half a bag of marshmallows were consumed long before fire was ever hot enough to toast them.  I think I’m the only one who actually waited for the fire.

Half a bag of marshmallows calls for a happy dance…

I’m not sure what this face was about.  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was “the most boring day of his entire life” despite the fact that we went swimming and we ate watermelon at dinner and had s’mores for dessert.

I can tell…it’s going to be a good summer.

Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow

Wind who makes all winds that blow
gusts that bend the saplings low,
gales that heave the sea in waves,
stirrings in the mind’s deep caves
aim your breath with steady power
on your church this day, this hour.
Raise, renew the life we’ve lost,
Spirit God of Pentecost.

Fire who fuels all fires that burn
suns around which planets turn,
beacons marking reefs and shoals,
shining truth to guide our souls
come to us as once you came:
burst in tongues of sacred flame!
Light and Power, Might and Strength,
fill your church, its breadth and length.

Holy Spirit, Wind and Flame,
move within your mortal frame.
Make our hearts an altar pyre,
kindle them with your own fire.
Breathe and blow upon that blaze
till our lives, our deeds and ways,
speak that tongue which every land
by your grace shall understand.

-Thomas H. Troeger, 1983

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday.  Disciples of Christ is not a hand-raising, dancing-in-the-isles kinda church (that one might associate with a Pentecostal church) but we follow the liturgical calendar and the flaming tongues of the Spirit made its way around the calendar again.  I’m pretty sure we sing this hymn every year but for some reason this year the lyrics said something to me.

Breathe and blow upon that blaze till our lives, our deeds and ways, speak that tongue which every land by your grace shall understand.

The story of Pentecost is a strange and interesting one.  The disciples were gathered together trying to figure out what came next now that Jesus was gone; when what came next was a mighty wind.  The Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of flaming tongues and they were each gifted the ability to speak in different languages.  They were charged to continue Jesus’ ministry and spread His good news.  The townspeople thought the sight of these men babbling their strange languages so ridiculous that they thought they were drunk.  Well now, that’s a bazaar story.  It kind of reminds me of another bazaar story.

A group of people wanted to build a tower so tall they could reach God.  In their dedication to the structure they forgot their purpose and put their work and their monument before their Lord.  As punishment they were all stricken with a different language and couldn’t communicate with each other.  The tower was never finished and they all went in opposite directions.  That’s my best recollection of the story of the tower of Babel without looking it up.  As a little kid I heard this story and my interpretation of it was something of a Native American fable…and that’s how we ended up with so many languages throughout the land.  As an adult I can appreciate the lesson the story has to tell and understand it for what it is.

When we sang the final verse of the hymn I started thinking about these two stories and their similarities.  Many languages and one purpose.  I can’t help feeling like the Pentecost story has come full circle and brings back together those who can’t understand each other.  We find it difficult to find common ground with those different from ourselves.  Even Christians can be at odds with each other and shut our ears to what the other has to say until anger and hate fills our speech.

The Holy Spirit of Pentecost is blowing through our lives today as it did with the disciples and every time in between.  Each and every one of us knows the language we need to spread the good news regardless of race, creed or religion.  It’s a universal language that we all have written on our hearts.  The language is love.  Here’s something interesting about this language and the good news that we have been charged to share…they are one in the same.  Love the Lord your God…Love your neighbor as yourself…Do unto others…Love your enemies…Feed the hungry and heal the sick.  I could go on and on.  It’s a language from which we can build a foundation to begin to understand those who are different than ourselves and those with whom we don’t agree.  When we speak this language we remember that the crazy guy next door, down the street, across the country, across the ocean or across the aisle loves their children too.  They want to provide for their family and want to feel appreciated and worthy, just like you and I.

…speak that tongue which every land by your grace shall understand.  This is a language of love and compassion and it is a part of us, we just need to remember that we know how to speak it fluently.

Teacher Appreciation Yarn Wreath

Friday was the last day of school.  I know one little boy who is relieved.  No more alarm going off at 6:30 (although he still gets up around that time).

To say thank you to Addison and Harry’s teachers I decided on a school themed yarn wreath.  This would also make a great start of the school year gift to get off on the right foot.  Nothing wrong with a little parent-teacher bribery with a cute craft.

Should you choose to honor your teacher (this year or next) with a yarn wreath, here’s what you need:

14 inch straw wreath (leave plastic on)
1 skein light colored yarn
red yarn
twine
corsage pins
brown paint
#2 pencils
crayons
2 inch styrofoam balls (found in the floral section)
green felt
hot glue gun
floral pins
ribbon (optional)

I know this sounds like a lot of supplies but it really isn’t that hard.  The most time consuming part is wrapping the wreath with the yarn.

The first thing to do is paint the end of the corsage pins brown.  These will be the stems to the apples.  Just dip them in brown acrylic paint and let them dry about 3 hours.

After the wreath is wrapped in yarn, use the twine to wrap a criss-cross pattern.  I use the floral pins to secure the yarn and twin.  Secure the yarn to the pin by tying it with a double knot then stick it into the wreath.

Next, wrap the styrofoam balls with red yarn.  Secure the yarn with hot glue and don’t worry about it being messy because the felt leaf will hide the glue.

Next, glue two sets of three pencils together.  This time you do need to be careful about how much hot glue you use and getting it messy.  Try to use it sparingly and at neatly as possible so you don’t see too much of it when the pencils are secured together.

Position the pencils on the wreath however you like then glue down.  I made sure that there weren’t any pointy ends sticking out from the wreath.  We don’t want any little munchkins running by, scratching themselves on the wreath and accidentally get led poisoning.  Then the parents would sue the school, the teacher would probably get fired, it would be in all the papers, the school district would ban #2 pencils, Fox News would pick up the story and have some ridiculous headline like “School wages war on pencils” and you would be ashamed to make another wreath.  The whole debacle would be tracked back to this blog post and the next thing you know I’m doing a remote interview on GMA about the dangers of yarn wreaths and how to keep them safe.  Wait, that would be really good PR for my site.  I could get thousands of new readers…on second thought…

Back to our craft.  Cut out leaf shapes from the green felt.  Secure it to the red yarn apples with the corsage pin (make sure the paint is completely dry first).

Position the apples where you want them (taking time to review them from every angle) and glue them down.

Glue crayons down.  Don’t put hot glue directly on the wax as it will start to melt.  Just put glue on the paper.

If you’re a bow kind of crafter you can add a bow to hide some glue mishaps.

This wreath gets an A+

Color Me Rad 5K

If you know me, you know I’m not a runner.  If you love running then more power to you but I just don’t get it.  Dear Husband ran two marathons and while he said he enjoyed the training and actual race I’m not sure if I truly believe him.

Running a 5K (while much more manageable than a marathon) has never really crossed my mind.  Until now.

Imagine running a 5K, starting out in your white t-shirt and shorts and ending up looking like this…

You may have heard of The Dirty Dash.  Those crazy runners have come up with a new 5K concept.  One in which you get blasted with color throughout the race.  That actually sounds…fun.

The good people at Color Me Rad contacted me to see if I would be interested in participating and helping them spread the word about their run in Oklahoma City.  The colorful insanity will take place at the OKC Fair Grounds on July 14th.  The run will benefit The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, OKC Chapter.

I’ve got THREE (3) free entries to give away!  The first three people to leave a comment here will get a code that will give them one free race entry.

If you don’t comment in time, don’t worry.  I’ve got a 20% entry discount for you!  Hop on over to the Color Me Rad website to register.  Use promo code: HUGSKISSESSNOT20

Have I peeked your interest?  Who wants to run with me?!

How I’m going to save money on my electric bill

It’s almost here…we’re done counting down the days and now counting down the hours.  Summer is one last bus ride away.

Along with the joys of summer comes the sorrow of our electric bill.  If last year was any indication of this year (and I’m praying that it’s not) then we’re in for a scorcher.  Water park and popsicle here we come.  But what am I to do about this dern electric bill? Continue reading →

Galveston Tree Sculpture and Historic Home Tour

I have a confession to make.  My entire life I’ve always pronounced Galveston; Gavelston.  I don’t know what it is but I have the hardest time putting the “l” before the “v.”  I feel like poor ‘ol George W. trying to give a speech on nuclear energy.  It never comes out just right.

On Saturday of our little Galveston trip we took a historic tour.  We met Bobby Sanderson (a 4th generation Galvestonian) at the visitor’s center for a two-hour tour.  He runs the Galveston Island Historic Tour and is a self-proclaimed expert on all things old on the island.  I have to admit that he was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide.  He took us on a tour of historic homes and tree sculptures.  In 2008 hurricane Ike ripped the island a new one and destroyed homes, trees, businesses, you name it.  At the time we wondered if the island was going to recover.  Those Galvestonians made lemonade out of those lemons and have come back with a bang.  There are new businesses catering to tourists along the sea wall and when a historic hotel on the pier was damaged beyond repair they tore that down and are about to open a new amusement park on the pier complete with roller coasters, ferris wheel and a Bubba Gump Shrimp.  Things are looking up for Galveston. Continue reading →

4th Annual Big Girl’s Tea

The school year is winding down, spring is giving way to summer and 5th grade girls are standing on the edge of a vast chasm.  They must cross a rickety bridge to get to the other side called middle school.  They eagerly look ahead to independence, 8th grade boys and mascara stashed in their back packs.  Before they take that step away from childhood I want to honor the girls they were and the women they will become with a Big Girl Tea Party. Continue reading →