Monday, February 13, 2012

Life In A Northern Town

OK, so I don't really live in a northern town. But I am north of a lot of my blog visitors, if I am to believe my Site Meter stats. (Yeah, I'm just as surprised I still get visitors considering I haven't blogged in ages.) But that's not what this post is about. Nor is it about how much I love the song, "Life In a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy (gotta love a pop group that prominently features the timpani and oboe in one of its songs). Nope, this is one of those blog posts in which I finally play catch up and let you in on what's been going on in my life .... in a northern ... er ... state. ;-D

(This is the part in which you play the group's video while reading the rest of this post. You know, for mood music.



If you finish before the music is done, feel free to linger and listen to the song all the way to its conclusion. ;-D )

OK, where was I?

Oh yeah, life. Here are some random snapshots:


1) JS has taken a liking to reading Dr. Seuss books to his cats.

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Gus, who is a mellow cat, likes to cuddle up next to JS and listen to him read.


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Gabe, who's more on the playful side, likes to pretend he's actually The Cat in The Hat.


2) I've been working like a dog at the paper. (Yes, this is a file photo).

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OK, it hasn't been everyday, but I've been filling in for the editor when she needs a break. I don't mind doing it either because, hey, momma wants an iPhone. ;-D


3) The snow came and went. Yup, it's been looking more like this again:

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4) We watched this cat for a few days earlier this month for some friends of ours.

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Gorgeous, isn't he?


5)

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Our cat-sitting coincided with someone's NINTH birthday:


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This dude's.


6) Yes, I made the chocolate cake. And yes, it was "da bomb."

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See? ;-D


7) No birthday would be complete without a boatload of toys. :-D

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8)

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The birthday boy and his dad zeroed in on the toy circuit board set my parents bought for JS.


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My hubby said that the set reminds him of the one he had when he was a young boy, except this one has "... even more stuff!"


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So I guess it was kind of like a second birthday this year for my hubby. Oh! Did I forget to take pics on his birthday back in January? Oops.


9) My birthday isn't until later this month, but it felt like my birthday when I discovered this in our local grocery store last week:

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Can I get a "Woot, Woot!"

The store was having a 2-fer sale (buy 2 for $cheapo$), so of course I bought two.

10) I've got one week to finish the two bottles because Lent starts next week -- just in time for my birthday. Can I get another "Woot, Woot!"


And that's life in this northern town.


Peace out. ;-D


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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

On The Twelfth Day Of Christmas ...

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... We celebrate the feast of the Epiphany.


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A celebration that recounts the day the infant Jesus was visited by the Three Wise Men.


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Or, in Just Family's home, the Three Wise Men and one of the three wise guys. ;-D





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Thursday, January 5, 2012

On The Other Days Of Christmas...

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... We watched the University of Oregon Ducks beat the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl, 45-38 ...

WOOHOO!


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... And then I got sick.

*blech*



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Monday, January 2, 2012

On The Ninth Day Of Christmas...

... I took a look back.


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Last year at this time.




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Today. (A lot of sun, and still no snow on the ground.)



Not that I'm complaining, of course. :-)


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Sunday, January 1, 2012

On The Eighth Day Of Christmas ...

... we welcome a New Year.


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"The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace."
-- Numbers 6:24-26



Happy New Year!
From,
Just Family

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Saturday, December 31, 2011

On The Seventh Day Of Christmas...

... I picked my word for 2012.

Making A Splash on 365 Project

FORTITUDE


I have to be honest. I had a hard time settling on this word. In fact, I'm still kind of nervous about it being my theme word for 2012. How can I, who oftentimes fears the worst when storms hit, ever possibly hope to keep even an ounce of courage? How can I, who sometimes feels like simply giving up, even dream of remaining strong through it all, whatever "it" is?

But this word picked me.

Since the Advent season begin way back at the end of November, I've been reading a daily devotions book. On a day during which a lot was weighing particularly heavy on my heart, the scripture passage mentioned was Mark 4:35-41.

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.' Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'
They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'


Oh sure, I've read that story many times. Usually my reaction is something like, "Really, dudes. He's right there with you. Surely there's no need to overreact and panic." This time though, the message behind that story hit me and my reaction was, "Really, JM." (Yeah, I refer to myself as "JM" ;-)) "He's right here with you. Surely there's no need to overreact and panic."

I know remembering to remain strong won't be easy. It's so much easier for me to be fearful about things unknown than to remember He's got a plan. It's so much easier for me to want to take control of situations that are out of my control than to simply let go and let Him do the driving, so to speak. But I hope that by making Fortitude my theme word, I learn to "Let go and Let God" in times of distress.

Even if doing so scares me.



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Wednesday, December 28, 2011