Friday, October 20, 2006

Just for Fun.

I've got some time on my hands, babe is asleep and I have thirty minutes before Evan gets home. I thought this little questionaire that some other blog friends have done looked like fun. I just love music and often have it playing when I am home. My car stereo was stolen a few months back and has yet to be replaced. Despite my own singing accompanied by Johnny's yells, giggles and "gawks", driving just isn't the same.
Anyways, here it goes...
WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR LIFE BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
* I did skip songs, but only the ones that were strictly Evan's music and songs I never actually listen to.(i.e. he is a big dinosaur jr. fan, me, not so much.)

*Opening Credits: Metal Heart- Pedro the Lion.
*Waking Up: The One Red Star- Songs:Ohia.
*First Day of School- A Hunting We Will Go- Hem. ( I actuall skipped the Jimmie Rodgers song, Pistol Packing Papa, because I didn't think it counted as MY music. This was what came on next.What's with the gun theme?)
*Falling in Love: Quito- The Mountain Goats.
*Fight Song: Smooth Death- The Danielson Family.
*Breaking Up: All the Morning Birds- Jolie Holland
*Prom: The Beast in Me- Johnny Cash.
*Life: Lucky- Hem.
*Career: Byrd Joel- Red House Painters.
*Mental Breakdown: Ghost Waltz- Jolie Holland.
*Driving: Stable Boy Song- The Mountain Goats.
*Flashback: Big Decision- Damien Jurado. (Just saw him in concert Wednesday night.I was hoping he would show up on this thing.He is one of my favorites!)
*Getting Back Together: Willful Supsension of Disbelief- Modest Mouse.
*Wedding: He Lays in the Reins-Calexico/Iron&Wine.
*Birth of a Child: Show Me- Over the Rhine.
*Midlife Crisis: To Those Who Will Burn- Damien Jurado.
*Final Battle: Carry Me Ohio- Sun Kil Moon.
*Death Scene: I Can Not Have Seen the Light- Magnolia Electric Company.(well, that wasn't planned)
*Funeral Song: Rosewood Casket- Damien Jurado. HA! I am entering these as they play and it's pretty funny how well this last one works.A rosewood casket will be just fine for me, thank you. It's a very pretty song, and if you haven't heard of him, I'd encourage you to give him a listen.
*Ending Credits: Disillusion- Badly Drawn Boy.
The End.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Pumpkin Patch, Petting Zoo & Pony Rides

I have really come to love Mondays. They are Grandma day. She come out and sometimes we just hang round the house and play other times we go on little adventures. I love that Johnny has this day with her and it is so nice for me, too. Not only to have her there keeping my son so happy, but I also just love her company. Last Monday was quite fun and I've been meaning to blog about it, so, here I go..About thirty minutes east of us gets you into the country with lots of open land and ranch homes. Amidst it all is great place called Bates Nut Farm. We headed out there with Johnny's Grandma and GiGi (Great Grandma) and our friend Tanya. It was so green and beautiful all around, it definitely beats those pumpkin patches in the parking lots of malls..




Johnny was pretty serious about the pumpkins, he climbed on them a bit and liked just running around. But his whole demeanor changed when we stepped in the petting zoo and he met his first goat. He was so gentle and just sat by her in that little house stroking her and making funny faces at me.


Then we got to the ponies. He was interested but I was pretty certain once we put him on one he would flip out. Afterall, he cried when we let him ride those silly mechanical cars in front of the grocery store. Boy, was I wrong! This kid just loves animals. He had the greatest faces the whole time and was squealing and laughing. He kept stroking the ponies mane and when the ride was over Johnny was still bouncing in his saddle ready for another go. We did let him ride again later that day, it was just too cute. The whole time he was riding, I just couldn't get over how he looked like such a kid, not my baby. Sigh.


Saturday, October 14, 2006

My son is sick. It's hard for me to even write those words. I feel personal failure when Johnny gets sick. Of course, overwhelmingly, I am just sorry to see him hurting but his illness also causes me to question myself. What I am doing wrong? Aren't nursing babies supposed to be immune to illnesses, especially ear infections?? Where's the pay off for all the time I spend nursing him still? I am realizing that this attitude is pervasive in other areas of my life. When Evan and I struggle financially, I question, why are there so many wealthy with excess when I just want enought to get by? Evan works hard, finished his college degree, where are the benefits of that? I guess I feel owed something. How terrible!
What I fail to see is, in the 15 months my son has been around, probably ten days have been spent sick. We may not have a whole lot of money, but there is laughter in our home everyday. That prayer I found in my prayer book could not have come at a better time. I so easily focus on the problem, the despair, the emptiness and threats. I fail to see the meaning, promises, possiblities and hope. I fail to see Christ. When I do, how can I ask what I am owed? Everything I've already been given I never deserved in the first place.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Put Me in the Zoo!


Johnny and I made our way to the beautiful San Diego Zoo today. It was nice to spend that time alone with him. I kind of just let him lead the way, we didn't even end up seeing a whole lot of animals but the ones we did see we spent a lot of time looking at and talking about. More than anything, he just liked exploring, people watching and climbing on any and everything. He is so much fun! On a different note, Johnny was called a girl more than once today. Oh well, I am keeping the curls! (for now, anyway.)

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Fathers and Sons


Sunday we got together with some of Evan's family. Johnny is blessed to have two Great Grandpa's and three Great Grandma's in his life. Here are four generations of Keeling men.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

O Lord, Help Me...

In silence
to find peace, not just emptiness
In suffering
to find meaning, not just agony
In knowledge
to find wisdom, not just information
In routine
to find order, not just boredom
In order
to find purpose, not just the expected
In daily life
to find surprises, no just conformity
In prayer
to find You, not just my own desires
In change
to find promises, not just threats
In opportunities
to find possibilities, not just problems
In sin
to find forgiveness, not just guilt
In problems
to find hope, not just despair
In leadership
to find directions, not just power
In challenges
to find trust in You, not just personal insecurity. amen

~I found this prayer in the back of one of my prayer books. Just thought I'd share it.

Monday, October 02, 2006



We celebrated our precious goddaugthers' first birthday on Saturday. It was so much fun! Evan and I continue to feel so blessed to be a part of their lives in such a special way. We just love them and it's so great to see them turn into such individuals. Little miss Ainsley is dainty and sweet. She has become so social and will say “hi” in her sing-song voice to just about anyone. Ava girl is active and strong, she loves pushing her sister around in their push cart (whatever you call it). She can stare you down when in the mood but also has a great belly laugh. It's wonderful to live close enough to see them throughout the week. May God grant our dear girls and their parents who have worked so hard and done such a great job the past year, many many more years!
I got inspired by some of you bloggers and made the girls a banner and birthday crowns. I included pictures of those. It was so much fun to put them together and I will definitely be making more. I am working on one for my niece, in fact. Thanks for the ideas!