Looking Ahead

Merry Christmas everybody! Hopefully everyone is getting their shopping done on time so they can relax and enjoy the time off! We had our Christmas early since we are going to Baton Rouge for the week. Everyone is happy with what they received, so I am very happy.

I'm beginning to look ahead to the New Year, and I'm wondering what changes I could make to improve my life. Getting back in the gym is always good, eating out less, reading more. I recently read the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. It is the best Christian book I've read in a long time. Lightly questions everything. I highly recommend it. Probably because I highly recommend questioning everything. The guy (author) is also funny. Another good thing.

What changes do you want to make in the coming year? Maybe none. It just seems like a good time to evaluate. To me, being kind to people is at the top of my list. Speaking kindly, thinking kindly, acting...you get it. I want to love more from the inside out. Not always easy.

That's all I've got. I'll see you all soon hopefully. Love, Karen

Nice evening

Last night I took Bradley and his friend, Kamron Mooneyham (we just call him Mooney),to Universal Studios for Halloween Horrors. Well actually, I dropped them off. I got to go (BY MYSELF) to Books-a-million. I went down every isle twice. Then I went to a sushi bar and got some spicy tuna to go. I got to sit in a huge bed with a plush, white comforter eating sushi in my pajamas watching whatever I wanted on TV. I watched the Florida/Auburn game. I know LSU would have benefited from an Auburn loss, but it's always ok for Florida to lose. Sorry. I also watched some EDITED episodes of Sex and the City, some Seinfeld, ETV, etc. It was nice not to have to think, speak, or listen for a few hours. I don't get a lot of solitude, and you don't miss it unless you don't have it.

We got back today at about noon. Everybody was happy to see Mom, and I was very glad to see them. Breaks are good in small amounts. I'm looking for the next one.

Move on.

Well, we all now know about how the LSU/Florida game turned out. Pretty sad. What's sadder is what winning and losing brings out in many people. I just don't like people being unkind. Bottom line.

This month has been very busy and sad. My Grandmother died. We were expecting it, but it is just never ok to see people in caskets. I've already told my family to close mine and put pictures on it. That seems more realistic. I know I'll see the people that I've lost again, but it sure leaves a hole down here on earth. (and in my heart)

That's about it. Andrew has a girlfriend (sweet Chrissy); Evan caught a one-handed, game-saving interception the other night; Bradley is going to scare himself to death this weekend at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal; Honey and Isabelle are sister-arguing as I type. That's it for now.

Tension is building over here...

Over here in Gatorland, UF has already beaten LSU (handily). Tebow has also already won the Heisman next year or (definitely) the next. You people just don't know. I remember when Rex Grossman was THE man. Then it was Leak. Now they're booing him and chanting for Tebow. Bradley and I are just staying quiet. This could be a year that Florida beats us, but I sure hope not. We'll never hear the end of it. I'm cautiously looking forward to the game. Its Florida's homecoming. Oh my.

OK, Dean....

Well, the prodigal blogger is back. And not a moment too soon. This last few weeks have honestly been some of the most trying times I've seen or felt in a long, long time. I'm sorry to not be able to elaborate, but I just can't. One of my children has been going through a trial, and, well, there is nothing worse. I am reminded that God sent His own Son to earth to suffer at the hands of cruelty. I'm not real big on the suffering of my own children. I've spent almost every moment of the last 17 years trying to prevent it. I'm sure I failed the faith test a few times. (I've got that Louque mouth) It has made me ask a lot of questions about what I believe, and why I believe it. Right now, I know that God will not snuff out a flickering wick, and if He does, what am I going to do about it? He has the words of life, so where else can I go? The fact is, if God decides to throw me in hell, what power do I have to stop that? I am completely reliant on His mercy, and I'm safe there. That's it. Stripped bare. God created me and you and my children. We can only follow the best we can and it will not be enough. Thank you, Lord, for mercy. Please give me more.

On a MUCH lighter note, Geaux tigers! What a wonderful diversion! I love you guys! Have a great weekend!

Steve Irwin

Today is so sad to me. Steve Irwin, the crcodile hunter, has died. I loved him. My family has watched him for as long as he's been filming. I thought he was such a funny, smart, and passionate man. I'm so sad for his wife and children. I know that he died doing what he loved, but it was way too soon.

The pressure is on...

Ok. Carole has plugged me. I've got to keep up with this.

Everyone is doing fine today. I'm happy most of the time, but I sure miss home. No, I'm not talking about heaven. It's the next best thing...Red Stick. Baton Rouge, baby. It's hard to explain the way it feels to be so bonded to a piece of geography. I relate it to Scarlett O'Hara's deep need to go back to Tara. And it doesn't look like I'll be back any time soon.

My kids have wonderful lives. They have good friends, a good church, happy times. We have a home that is the Grand Central of teenagers and kids. It's never clean (the house)and I could not care less. Some of my kids' friends will come and spend the night even if my own kids aren't here. Football season has become gumbo season for these Florida boys. I love it. But I need to go home. I need to go to the Mobil station and eat a tiger burger. I need to see my mom and laugh my butt off at Kandi. And Little Ken. I need to go shopping with Ashley and go anywhere with Kay Lynn. I need to see my brother and hear him laugh. I need to see my boys play with Micah and Dalton. I need Dean and Carole to block off their whole week to come sit around and do nothing with me. I need to go to the cemetery and cry. I really need John to cut and color my hair.

So, pray for me. People I love are living and dying and I'm 600 miles away. I know I'm just homesick, but I never want to be cured of it.

OK. I'm obviously not very faithful to the blog. I just have so much going on.

School started. Bradley is going to school (he's a Senior) and running Cross Country. Andrew is taking guitar lessons so he can be in the church band. He is really good. Evan is playing Jr. High football and homeschooling. How am I homeschooling since I work? They (the football team) start hitting on Monday. I have become one of those Moms. I can't wait. Evan is probably going to get cut in half, but hitting day is awesome. I'm bringing my camera. He is also playing the drums now, so there's a constant jam session in my dining room. Honey is taking gymnastics and art lessons. Isabelle is also taking gymnastics. I'm responsible for my 3rd and 4th grade class's education for now. Brad is helping me clean and cook even though he thinks that it's God's will for me to do that. (!) Whatever, man! I love my life, but it's hectic. Anybody wanna come visit me? I wish you would!! I love you all. Pray for us!

Is that it??

Most of you know that I have 5 children: Bradley,16, Andrew, 14, Evan, 12, Honey, 10, and Isabelle, 7. It never stops being amazing that they are all so different. I am so amused and shamelessly proud of all of them. It's almost tacky.

Recently, while sitting on the couch with Honey, watching a little Sponge Bob, God spoke to me. His voice was not thunderous, or still and small for that matter. It was a high pitched voice, not shrill, but up there, with a heavy southern accent. He said, via Honey, "So. Let me get this straight. God made us to live for Him? We pray and worship Him. We go to church. Is that it? (if you're not saying this in the high voice with the accent, you're robbing yourself. Back to Honey) What are we doing here? Why did he make us? What's the point?"

Now, I know that everyone has eloquent answers to these questions. I pride myself on being able to come up with some deep stuff in a pinch. Unfortunately, I, that particular day or week (ok, month), wasn't getting the whole 'Why are we here?' thing. In fact, I wasn't even caring enough to inquire. Now, if God would have asked with his big, outdoor voice, I could have just fallen limp, flopped like a dying fish, and said "I don't know, God. Don't you feel sorry for me?" But since He was using Honey (nice touch), I had to come up with something. Here is my child, my love, my extention, my 10 year old looking to me for hope and meaning in her young, unjaded, green life. Here I am wanting to say, "Well, Honey, it stays just like this, and then you get to do other people's laundry until Jesus breaks open the sky. Good luck. Keep a positive attitude, too." No, I didn't. But I thought it. Then I dug deep.

I told her that we are supposed to let God change us into His likeness, and the way He does that is by us loving other people, especially the annoying ones. That's it. The meaning of life. Love people. Don't just talk about it. There is always someone to love. I've never been without in that area. Everyone needs it, and we are transformed when we do it, and we are transformed when we receive it. Honey said, "Oh." as she nodded slowly. Made sense to her. That's not so deep. God's going to take care of the judging. It's our job to love, to touch, to hug, to feed, clothe, teach, play with, listen to, pay for, pray for, and on and on. Good luck. Keep a positive attitude, too!

My first...

Well, hello. I've decided that if Dean is willing to do this, then what am I waiting for? The title of my blog is a reference from the end of To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout had walked Boo Radley home and thought, "Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough." I'm completely in to that. Perhaps some people will also benefit, enjoy, or just laugh at the world from my porch. So pull up your rocking chair, and I think there's room on the swing. I have a story to tell you...