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I just found this fascinating link from the New York Times. I don’t read the NYT but I couldn’t resist sharing this. To think, in 1980, the US had 0 medals. And do you know why? I just learned recently that we didn’t attend the 1980 Olympic Games. Do you know why? You get a prize if you can guess.
Most other years we’ve either led in the medal count or been in the top 3.
Even more astonishing is the amount of political history you can see each four years. The names of some of the countries have changed but the people have not… And of course, the gap in the Games during the World Wars.
What else am I missing? I wish there was a chart listing “amount of sleep lost by the American Public while watching the 2008 Olympic Games”. Or “Michael Phelps-mania”.
August 19th, 2008
Dear Ashley,
You are the kind of friend who calls not only on my birthday but on my kids’ birthdays as well. You were the first non-family member I called after the kids were born. And so you would think I would do better to call you on your actual birthday.
If I have excuses to give, they are these -
1. While vacationing in South Padre (I told you about this already, so I should be in the clear, right?), we stayed in a concrete and metal building which prohibited cell phone and internet usage.
2. Also while vacationing in South Padre, I realized I did not have your current phone number stored in my cell phone. I am a dummy who doesn’t update these things. I never thought I’d be “one of them”.
3. Upon our return home, I now realize I do not know where your number is at all. If you still lived in Underwood (our dorm at A&M for those still reading this far), I would know your number. If you still lived in Fort Worth, I would know your number. If you still lived in that other part of Arkansas, I would know your number (the one stored in my cell phone). However it is lost somewhere and cannot be found.
4. I had one more thought about getting your number off our caller ID since you were so faithful to call on Colby’s birthday. But of course, the whole world tried to call us while we were gone to South Padre, so in a mere 3 days we accumulated more wrong numbers than we normally would in 3 weeks.. maybe 3 months. But thankfully we weren’t home.
Anyway, I really really am sorry and rather than send you this as an email, I’d rather admit my sins to you and to my whole blogging world (you know, all 4 of you out there. not counting Ashley.) So, buzz me, beep me, page me, fax me, email me, or call me and if all else fails send a carrier pigeon. (No wait, Cooper wouldn’t like that…) Please send me your phone number and this time I promise I’ll put it in my cell phone and burn it to memory.
Love always,
the Jenna-shmo (who is “shmo” sorry)
May 18th, 2008
Last night was the final night of children’s choir for the year. I have really had a great year with some awesome co-teachers and a great group of compassionate kiddos. I would post pictures except I forgot my camera in the diaper bag. Hopefully I’ll be receiving some from the parents of these sweet children, and I’ll post them then.
When we finished singing, one of the moms handed me something as I walked up the church aisle. I finally got to look at it, and it was a gift card to Starbucks! There was a sweet note attached with the child’s handwriting - I love you, Mis Jenna. Love, me.
I walked into the choir room last night and found a sweet story written by another child. (They write things to me and make me pictures all the time, but I really liked this one because it was so very elaborate.)
I’m keeping the spellings the same; the translation is at the bottom.
a log log log tim ugo ter livd a wish a vere men men wish. Then She strtit to seing a sog. (Insert written music notes here. Very well-written.) and trd tees into dust. then the bravis sooprhiros kam to saf the day ten evereten kam bake to norml THE END.
Which is, of course: A long, long time ago, there lived a witch, a very mean mean witch. Then she started singing a song (music notes) And turned trees into dust. Then the bravest superheroes came to save the day. Then everything came back to normal. The End.
I love it! A perfect blend of plot, character development, conflict, and resolution. Oh, and I forgot that this was written for “Mis Genu”. Hooked on Phonics! 
April 28th, 2008
Remember, this appeared in a MOPS newsletter…
Oh ladies, I am so excited to review this book for you for several reasons. One, it is hot off the press! It just hit stores earlier this year, and we are privileged to give away one copy to a lucky MOPS Mom today. Two, I read Generation NeXt Parenting and reviewed it for last year’s newsletter, and I knew what author Tricia Goyer was capable of writing.
Sure enough, Goyer did not disappoint me. The book is such an easy read because of the format and the way she breaks up all the “heavy” material with stories from Moms just like us. Isn’t that what we all need; something to refresh our minds but not burden our schedule? We’ve talked about using Love Languages in marriage this year, and I think this book is a great companion to learning how to speak your spouse’s language, even though Goyer uses different terms.
Some of you ladies might not be labeled as “Generation Xers”, or those born between 1960 and 1981. Whether your birth date falls in this gap or not, this book is for you. You just might not remember all the song lyrics she uses as chapter and theme titles! (or, you might…) Whether you’ve been married for a year or for 20 years, whether this is your first marriage or your third, this book is for you.
You will love her life story – it is so unconventional. Her life work is even more dramatic. But most of all, you will love this book. Now, I think I’ll pick up some of Goyer’s fiction work…
April 23rd, 2008
Back to my reviewing stand. I’ve saved the best 2 reviews for last…
Who’s Mary? And why do I want to be like her? Allow me to tell you a part of their lives, the part of which Joanna Weaver pens her book:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42
(I can picture Jesus saying “Martha, Martha” in Jan’s Brady Bunch tone – like, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” Everything had to be about her work, in her mind.) This concept sounds so simple, right? We should stop and listen to what the Lord has to say, instead of worrying about how clean our kitchens are or what wonderful dish we should prepare for dinner. Easy as shepherd’s pie? Not so much, for me at least.
I love Weaver’s subtitle for the book: “Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life”. We all know that life is busy. As a Mother of preschooler(s), you KNOW life is busy. But that shouldn’t be our excuse for sitting with our Savior and drinking in every word he speaks to our lives. The dishes and laundry can wait. The Lord cannot!
One of my favorite chapters in this book is when Weaver illustrates her life as being on a teeter-totter, going up and down and back up and down again. Many of you have heard this joke:
“To be is to do.” – Socrates
“To do is to be.” – Aristotle
“Doo be doo be doo.” – Frank Sinatra
I really think Old Frank had some truth to tell, whether he realized it or not. And Weaver reinforces this by saying we must find the balance point in our lives between “doing” and “being”. I hope you’ll pick up her book and find out exactly what she’s talking about.
This book really touched my heart and I hope it will touch yours.
April 23rd, 2008
I am so glad I got to see this film with my friend Rachel, who has a fabulous post about it on her blog. Her review is so right on and exactly what I would have said. The film is on Netflix… anyone get Netflix? I want Kevin to see this too.
In addition, I will say that from personal experience, I wish I had seen this film before I had Colby. I think many in our generation are under the impression now to not trust doctors and their judgments. While I want you to form your own opinions, I also know that everyone’s body and birth experience is different. I’d recommend this film to anyone, especially first-time mothers, but also to those who think about delivering without pain meds (whether your first birth experience was bad or not!).
April 15th, 2008
I’m just waiting for the hits… if you Google the title (minus the subtitle listed below), you might land on a book which has a little different meaning… nothing to worry about here.
What Women Want: The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies written by Lisa T. Bergren & Rebecca Price
Have you been to the self-help section of your favorite bookstore? You’ll notice that there are literally hundreds of ways, methods, and techniques you can use to “feel better about yourself” or “get rid of those negative attitudes in one day” or my favorite, “wish your way to a better you”.
This book is so much more than a self-help book. It is a Bible study designed by women, for women. I am constantly amazed at how God works in my life, especially through the books I read. These authors could never have known what areas of my life I would be struggling with at the exact moment I’d read their book. And yet, it seems as if I could read this book over and over (and work through the accompanying workbook pages) and still come away refreshed and renewed.
Many times I will read a book and think, “My husband would really like this chapter.” Or, “I’ll have to let my husband read this book; he’d like it.” This is not such a book. “What Women Want”, the movie with Mel Gibson, is probably what you think of when you read the title. However, you will love to recommend this book to any woman of any age, circumstance, or background. Each woman who reads this book will know they are a PCOG, a Phenomenal Creature Of God. And that’s exactly what we are.
March 18th, 2008
I was contacted by the authors and/or their publicists to read and review 4 books for my MOPS newsletter. (Then, after the review was published, we were free to give the books away as door prizes to 4 lucky MOPS moms.) I recently gained permission to post these reviews on my blog. The books are listed in the order I read them, not in any ranking order. Enjoy!
The Busy Mom’s Devotional written by Lisa T. Bergren
Each year for Christmas I receive a devotional book as a present. I’ve seen all kinds.. The ones with Scriptures to read each day. The ones with short inspirational thoughts to start your day. The ones that make you journal to your heart’s content. Can you guess my success rate with these day-to-day, minute by minute devotional books? Yep, most of them are sitting on my bookshelf, half-read or even unread.
This book is different. I’m serious. The subtitle of the book is 10 Minutes a Week to a Life of Devotion. Only 52 stories packed inside this book, and she includes spaces for you to jot down your thoughts and prayers or even your shopping list, because of course, Moms have so many things running through our minds when we should be praying! Perfect for a type A person like me. (If you’re not type A, keep reading.) Bergren takes a beautiful passage of Scripture from The Message Bible (paraphrase) and adds a short story about her life to illustrate it. Although we Texas girls can’t identify with her stories of the Montana lakes or the cold winter’s temperatures, you will nod your head in agreement with her adventures in parenting. To say “I’ve been there” is a bit trite, but true. I wanted to include one of her stories in this review, but I honestly couldn’t choose just one.
The phrase “Busy Mom” is an oxymoron. If you’re a Mom, of one or especially more children, you will be busy. This book is a great way to steal away some time to focus on your Heavenly Father. After all, if we’re not focusing on Him, then the focus on other things will be blurry. I highly recommend this book for reading.
March 18th, 2008
Or maybe, I should title this post: Santa, Part “Ho”. Read this article. And then read this hilarious commentary on the article.
So today Kevin and I are off to Bedford to celebrate Thanksgiving. His family does Thanksgiving the Saturday before, so that we can spend Thanksgiving Day with my family. In honor of Thanksgiving, knowing that Christmas is just around the corner, I wanted to show you a silly/serious video and share a poem. I didn’t make the video, nor did I write the poem, I just agree with both.
Video: Christmas with a Capital “C”
Poem:
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.Why the PC Police
had taken away,
The reason for Christmas -
no one could say.
The children were told
by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men
and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings,
the teach ers would say
December 25th
is just a ‘Holiday’.
Yet the shoppers were ready
with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down
to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna,
an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing,
something quite odd!
Retailers promoted
Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by
Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging
their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas -
was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples
and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas;
it won’t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive,
Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used
to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden,
Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather,
on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate,
there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus,
in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word,
as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak
of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas
was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season,
stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’
under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks,
listen to me.
Choose your words carefully,
choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!
November 16th, 2007
No, I’m not speaking in tongues. This is a pseudo-acronym for National Blog Posting Month. If you’re wondering why we’ve been blogging so frequently, this is your answer! And, the only requirement for NaBloPoMo is that you blog every day in November. It gives us a chance to update the world on us, and it gives you a chance to read our musings.
Today, this is all the update you get.
November 6th, 2007
Kevin’s dad just bought a flat panel HDTV that he’s hanging on the wall. Kevin’s comment to me - “I want a tv we can hang on the wall.”
Kevin’s comment to me about the blog lately - “Stop entering us in all these contests!” To which I said, “Okay, then I guess we won’t try to win a tv you can hang on the wall? And, it’s from Best Buy.” (his favorite store)
(Long Pause)
“Okay, I guess you can stop after this one.” We’ll see.
July 27th, 2007
Wow, I love free giveaways. Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
(ahem, this is not for a free lunch, it’s for a super cool Vera Bradley bag and coin purse from Pinks & Blues Girls, plus some coconut body butter from The Body Shop. Total Value=$90. Check out their links!)
July 6th, 2007
Found this site today. Looks like they’re having a giveaway… on July 4th!
July 2nd, 2007
Okay, went to the doctor today… I’m 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. My mom says at this rate I have 7 more weeks to go! :) Doctor says the baby weighs about 7 pounds now and that things are looking good. He said to call him when contractions are 7-8 minutes apart, instead of the normal 4-5 minutes… He’s thinking things will progress quickly once they start. And, I hope he’s right!
Tomorrow, March 30th, is Kevin’s birthday! So, we’ll see if Baby Girl really IS a Daddy’s Girl. Last night she was moving and moving and moving like crazy. I picked up Kevin’s hand for him to feel her and she completely stopped. The doctor says Kevin has a calming effect on her. Guess who gets to handle the midnight diaper changes? 
Speaking of, his birthday cake is in the oven and the timer’s going off. Yellow cake with chocolate icing. (Well, the yellow cake is in the oven, not the icing.. that comes later.) This is Kevin’s favorite. Thank the Lord for Betty Crocker.
March 29th, 2007
Whether you read this on Christmas Day or not, I wish each one of you a very Merry Christmas! And, if you didn’t get a copy of our Christmas picture card, it’s because we ran out of them… sorry. !! I will bug Kevin to scan it in for viewing in our gallery.
Speaking of, if you can access our gallery, you are either a spy or a hacker… Kevin says something is broken and the link has been taken off for awhile. I’ll get him to fix it and then post when it’s fixed. It will be a Christmas miracle!
I’m trying to think of Christmas movie one-liners… And, it is late, so my mind’s not working. Feel free to add more to my list!
“God bless us, everyone!” (I guess that’s not so much a movie to begin with…?)
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
“Fra-jee-lay. Must be Italian.”
December 25th, 2006
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