View from the Prairie Box

It is soooo good to read your own opinions in the words of another. As understood in the aforementioned mall episode, I agree with this author on the issue of low-rise.

There is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and nothing you can do to make God love you less.
(An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, Smith, 2000)

going to the mall
trying to look cute
competing with
…perfect teeny t-shirt and grunge jeans
…spiffy, fitted top and adorable khakis
…just the right pair of footwear to match the rest of the outfit

seeing others, comparing myself
hating it each time i do

frumpy and lumpy
hair all a’frizz
freckled and natural
not like showbiz
the real world is me
not perfection to a ‘t’

why care to match ‘glamour’
and other magazines
who cater to the beautiful
and wealthy-parented teens
the rest of us must be content
to wear the styles of yesteryear.
but we’re not, let’s face it
we’re so into ourselves
we’ve got to be wearing
clothes off gap’s shelves

but who sets the standard?
that’s what i ponder
as through westfield-shopping-town’s halls i wander.
wearing my shopko ensemble
not very hip
the semi-cute top
the jeans with a rip

alright! that’s it!
i’m ready to throw
fashion in the garbage
with all my silly wants and woes
who the heck cares
what clothes that i wear?

S-I-G-H

me — that’s where
i get all the pressure
me — that’s the who
that ignores the treasure
that lies within,
seeing the outside
and ignoring the beauty
that i tell everyone else they have.

practice what you preach.
buy what you can afford.
and most importantly,
ignore yourself.

You’ve gotta love this. Okay, maybe you don’t. But I did! Here it is, in all its glory… President Bush’s Poem:

Every once in awhile I get the urge to seek out other adoption opportunities, just to see if one will be a better fit for us than the private attorney route we’re currently engaged in. Every single time I’ve made phone calls to other adoption agencies I’ve hung up the phone with disappointment. Here’s why…

Today I called Bethany Christian Services — they do both domestic and international adoptions and I’ve heard good firsthand reports about them. I asked for a general picture of the fees charged for a domestic adoption. Wanna hear it?
– $500 formal application fee
– $2,000 adoptive family assessment fee
– $3,000 approval of homestudy
– $13,000 placement/post-placement fees
– $1,050 I can’t remember because my head was spinning

Now, just yesterday Stu said that God owns all the money in the world, meaning: He can accomplish anything, no matter its pricetag. So, yes, God can allow us to adopt a baby through Bethany… But let’s lay aside matters of sovereignty for one moment, HOLY CRAP! Who the heck has that kind of money?????

Make no mistake about it. When we adopt a child or give birth to one, it will be a miracle. I have no idea how or when this event will happen, but when it does we will all acknowledge it as an act of God.

The other day I was listening to “A Liturgy, A Legacy and A Ragamuffin Band” by Rich Mullins and, recalling conversations of many who have been impacted by his life, wanted to read a little about him. A few days later my dad handed me a devotional biography on the life of this musician-poet. Coincidence? I think not!

I started the book today, and have already been touched by the foreword and chapter one. However, one paragraph made me laugh and like Rich Mullins even more. Here it it, from An Arrow Pointing to Heaven by James Bryan Smith:

Rich learned a lot about the Christian faith from his extended family, particularly his great-grandmother, whom he described as “a wonderful woman [who] had a very down-to-earth approach to religion. She said bad words sometimes, and I loved that. That’s why I always liked Christmas — because it was the only time you could says ‘ass’ in church. I used to sing that line out of that carol over and over again.”

Here’s to Rich Mullins, his music and poetry, and saying “ass” in church! ; )

At the end of “The Price is Right” show, Mr. Baker tells audiences to have their pets spade and neutered. I’d like to add another plea for pet-owners: GET YOUR PETS LICENSED!

Today I encountered a wee Yorkshire Terrier in the middle of A Street as I waited for the green light by 10th. Running scared down the road, the little thing was confused and alone. I, marked by years of Yorkie-loving, jumped from the driver’s seat of my Nissan Altima, stopped traffic with one hand and plucked the dog from death. Okay, so maybe it would’ve made it to safety just fine, but it’s true that the Yorkie was lost. No collar (so no tags) and no one looking for him. After posting a few signs in the area, “Little Dog FOUND. Call _______ to claim,” we sat in the church office for a few hours — he in my lap, me trying to figure out what to do with him. Lo and behold, a public health coworker of my mother’s wanted a little dog. So tonight he rests in great foster care, perhaps a great permanent home.

All worrying about the dog’s true residence could have been eliminated by the proper licensing. My call to Animal Control could have resulted in his immediate return to “home.” But now… who knows? If his owners want him back, I hope they have the common sense to call the AC office in the city health department.

This same story happened with a very sweet orange cat just three weeks ago. Except I didn’t find anyone who wanted to care for it — I do believe it’s living at the Human Society now. (Huh? What’s that? Yes, I said “living.” Don’t tell me otherwise!! I’d like to continue living in my naive world, thanks.)

Get your pets spayed and neutered… and licensed!

Happy, happy, happy birthday to two very loved men in my life! My dear husband Jeremy is 33 today and my little brother Andrew is 22. I hope you both have wonderful birthdays and know how special you are to your family and friends!

I stumbled upon this interesting tidbit while reading The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey… In their day, Greek actors were called hypocrites. Yancey states that “Jesus would later borrow the word to describe one who played a false role in public” (p.59, Zondervan, 1995). And of course, we use the word today to describe one who pretends to be what he is not.

So tonight the truth is staring me in the face. I am a Word Nerd. I love etymologies and I love to read the dictionary. I think word histories are fascinating. I guess we all have our own areas of Geekhood. My husband likes nitty-gritty strategy games. Charity likes magazines like The Economist. I like words.

What is your favorite thing (or things) about fall?