New experiences

I have had a myriad of opportunities come my way lately that I've been very excited about, AND have broadened my horizons. I've had sushi and sake' (very interesting - also learned a lot about Japanese culture and dining through the experience - fascinating), I've learned to play Disc Golf, I've gotten back involved in theater (at school)and will be (this week to be exact) going to a community theater production (haven't been to one in years and very excited to be going and scoping out how I can get involved as my boys get bigger) and have been able to explore a few museums of late (will be going to the Creation Museum this weekend). I've been introduced to Strength Finders and the Organic Church Movement (can't really say much yet...just introduced), been able to see lots of movies - old and new, may be taking Salsa dancing lessons this summer, have rediscovered my childhood at Kings Island, and I've been making new friends (both male and female) through Divorce Care, my activities, Facebook...all in all, I'm having fun kind of discovering me as a single woman.

Still working on the balance factor, though. I really need to get more involved at my church and find some group-type things for my kids to be involved in. Cub Scouts didn't really catch on with Ethan this year, but he liked his Divorce Care for Kids classes. Noah seems to be having fun in preschool and learning a ton. Ethan has experienced many successes of late and seems to be liking school more. I'd like to join the Y if I can swing it. They have some fun classes for the kids, too.

None of this would have been possible without the help of my mom and dad. They have been invaluable to me.

The summer holds the potential of yet more adventure and discovery. Ethan and Noah will be spending some time in SC with Grandma and Grandpa Funderburk. I will be having surgery and I hope I will be able to travel a bit while the boys are gone - not too far, just around my state to rediscover all the history and nature of Ohio. And visit friends in different areas of the state. I hope to take the boys for a short jaunt to South Bass Island, my childhood vacation place. I may get to take them through Cleveland, TN to check out Lee University...mommas Alma Mater. Haven't been back since 1994 and to my understanding, Lee has basically taken over the city! Would also like to take a couple of weeks back in MN to see old friends, visit Real Life Church, and let the boys visit their dad.

You know, everyone says that God can cause some good to come out of things like a divorce if we let Him. I didn't believe them. I didn't want to believe there could be anything good about the breakdown of a family. But now I'm seeing what they mean...the circumstance itself isn't good. However, we can stay there, or we can move on and find a way to redefine our new existence in good ways. I would have stayed in my "married rut"...being single has given me back my curiosity and a freedom to try new things with new people. To redefine myself as Me, alone...not part of a couple. Don't get me wrong, I like being part of a couple...but it's also nice to not have to answer to anyone for my preferences or for my schedule, or for my likes or dislikes. To just be me. And in that I'm also learning that sometimes the enjoyment level is all about the company. Dinner becomes an adventure when you are out on a date. Taking a walk has new meaning when you are with a friend. Riding bikes (or roller coasters) is more fun with your kids. Reading a book is better when shared and discussed. Experiencing your children's milestones is much more rewarding with family. Shopping is more fun with mom. Sitting at a coffee shop can be romantic if you are with a gentleman, or can be a barrel of laughs if you are out with a group of gals. Even the challenges met with single parenting and homemaking can be looked at positively - I don't really have to worry about consulting someone else when I need or want to make a decision for the boys. Things can be done quicker and more efficiently, because the buck stops here. Don't have to worry about keeping house to someone else's approval, squeezing the toothpaste tube on the end, or which way I put the toilet paper roll on the dispenser. And all that can be a nice break.

I really hope that I don't loose myself so easily in my next relationship. Instead of defining myself by the relationship or the other person, I want the relationship and other person to enhance me, and I them. Someone with whom I can continue to grow and have new experiences with. Someone of whom I will never stop wanting to learning. Someone who is never content to stay where he is, but is always looking for the next step, dance, jump, climb, adventure, learning experience. And someone who will challenge me, but accept me. Iron sharpening iron. That, unfortunately for me, takes time. I am not known for my patience, but I must learn to be patient and slow. God knows who is right for my heart, and vice versa. And I am confident that he is molding me for him and him for me as we speak.

Life is nothing if not an adventure to be lived. I am trying hard to stop and see the wonder in it all...even the minutia. But most of all in my relationships - family, friends, children, colleagues, business associates, romantic friendships, spiritual, even those day to day connections with folks who serve me in line at the store or the bank or the restaurant. I really want God's heart for people, where before I was content to focus on my household. And while our households are important, God needs us to be out there, too.

So here is to new experiences, and the life they can open up to us. Try something new this week!

Mother's Day 2009

The whole, stinkin' lot of us went to Kings Island! It was a blast.

Diamondback was and awesome ride! Ethan rode The Beast with me. The BEAST!!!! He's a beast! :)

Dinosaurs Unearthed

I took the boys to the museum center this last Saturday to see the dino exhibit and Omni movie before they were gone. It's a very nice set up - in the old Union Terminal. Several museums and a reasonable family pass price. May look in to that. Here are the boys outside the entrance.

The exhibit was fossils, skeletons, and a lot of animatronics. Which do you think my boys were most interested in? Hmmmmm???
Veliciraptors

I don't remember what this one is. They've really gone all the way with this "dinos became birds" scenario now.

Protoceretops

don't remember this one's names...one of the "first birds", but not Archeopteryx...I know that one.

A juvenile TRex. There was another one covered in downy fur. Again with the bird scenario. Listen, when I was a kid, dinos were reptiles. Cold blooded reptiles. And Pluto was a planet. That's the beauty of science...nothing ever stays the same. Except gravity. (bummer - I'd kinda like to fly)

The TRex models were fabulous! The first one Ethan ever saw was at Wall Drug in SD. He would not go anywhere near it. Now, I believe he would have mounted these and taken a ride!

Dilophasaurus

Juvenile TRex from another angle. Sans kids... no, they did not get eaten.

Here's momma...

Momma after Weight Watchers! :)

Pterodons/Pteradactyles

Unless I'm mistaken, this would be a Plesiosaur.

Apatasaur

Parasaurolophus

Triceratops

Stegasauri. and humans.

Another view of the stegasaurus.

The boys in front of the Brachiosaurus (I think) outside the museum.

One thing I found intriguing about the movie...they kept coming back to "we think all these mass burial sites are due to sudden flooding". But, of course, it couldn't be what you and I are both thinking, could it? ;)

It was a very fun day.

The Lord's Prayer

Voice surgery

I have it scheduled for June 12. Please be praying. I feel pretty confident in this doctor. He seems to be sensitive to the fact that 1) I use my voice in my career and 2) I get great pleasure in singing and want to continue. While there is no guarantees, of course, he did say he takes extra care and does a few little extra things to aid the healing and protect the cords for people like me - who don't want to simply restore their voice, but want to try to get it back to its original quality.

The rest will be in God's hands. I was having a discussion with a friend last night about how there are times that I don't know what to do without my voice. I feel lost and invisible. And maybe that's the problem. Perhaps God is stripping me of everything I've ever put my identity and worth in to show me that all I really need is Him. I know when my voice first started going I wasn't sure how to worship. I used my voice to glorify God. But it didn't take me long to realize that I have many other "instruments" by which I can praise Him, so I threw myself into using those. I want my voice back, but if it is never restored, I will still praise Him. Through the dance, through my writing, through motherhood, as a teacher, through my relationships with friends and family, through service, and the hardest of all: through my attitudes - at least I will keep trying to do the last one (I don't always succeed, surprise, surprise! )

Please pray that the hands of God will guide the surgeon and will touch my body with healing that only He can provide. The human body amazes me. A wondrous creation that God has given wondrous abilities to. But there is only so much Biology can do - the rest if up to God. Biology can heal my chords. But only God can restore my voice.

And I simply cannot imagine that He has pursued me and sustained me thus far only to drop me and walk away.

the winds of change they are a blowin'

I've had some very interesting changes in my life here very recently. Some good, some bad, some indifferent. All I know for sure is.. God is up to something. I'm not sure what. But I've stopped trying to figure it out. I'm just along for the ride.

I'll let you know more when I can, or when He lets me know more. Otherwise, I just ask that those of you who pray for me regularly...please continue. Those of you who may have forgotten to pray for a while because you've not heard of any major request, please just mention my name from time to time for wisdom, guidance, direction, continued healing of both heart and voice. And more unity between my head and heart and spirit...sometimes the three of them have very different ideas! LOL!

Just some candids...

Chuck E. Cheese "date" with Uncle Brandon

After Wed. night church one night. Our church has an awesome kids program, but this meant unexpected showers before bed on an already late night. Ethan was bummed I wouldn't let him keep it (I think his teacher would not have appreciated it on Thursday.) :)

Kings Island

I remember growing up, a special treat was a day at Kings Island amusment park. Then, as a teen, I remember getting a season's pass for my birthday several years in a row. Well, the entrance fee has become such that 2 trips will pay for a season's pass, so season's passes it is! It's close enough to make going just for a couple of hours worth it - meaning we can go on Friday after work (when hardly anyone is there) or Sunday afternoon (when hardly anyone is there) or on holidays (when hardly anyone is there...) Add to that the fact that my brother's family and my cousin's family has them, and we have an instant outing and playdate for kids and parents alike! Here's some pics and videos from the boys first few trips so far this year...

After spinning in circles for the first half of the ride, Noah finally got in the game by cousin Abby ramming him. He loved it!

No fear. My boys are coaster fans. Good for them. Took me until the age of 14 or 15. But once I did, I was hooked.

Noah is still young enough to appreciate the simple rides like the choo choo. The sheer joyous expression says it all.


Ethan is ever ready to mug for the camera. He REALLY surprised me. As a toddler, he was always so careful. Now, he throws himself into some things without even thinking. The kid got on the Son of Beast with me! 80 MPH wooden coaster that goes unfathomably high. He was a little nervous at some parts, but when it ended and I asked him how it was, his reply was "just right!" There was one moment I was sure he was gonna barf on me, and I kept hearing him reassure himself "I'm OK. It's almost over." But he's ready to go again...

Below are a couple of videos that Uncle Tom took of the boys. Hope they work.

7 Wonderful Years

With my first born, Ethan. Had pizza, cake and a play date with ALL the cousins.

opening gifts

He really is an amazing little boy. God give me the wisdom and where-with-all to guide him into manhood.

why blogging in two places is confusing...

Because you make a comment on one that is related to a comment on the other, and your readers end up confused.

It was brought to my attention that some of you had no idea WHAT I was talking about when I referred to the "sexiness" I had achieved with my lights as being negated by the tediousness of the sound system. I thought to myself "what's wrong with these people? Can they not read my very clever and witty statement about feeling all sexy with my baseball hat backwards, work gloves on and my pockets full of wrenches while I adjust the theater lights?" And then it hit me - that very "clever and witty" statement was a status update on Facebook. Duh. No wonder some of you were wondering what was wrong with my head (not that you don't wonder that anyway... LOL).

So anyway, to clarify - using tools and knowing what you are doing = sexy. Having an unruly sound system kick your butt and show you you have NO IDEA what you are doing = unsexy. There you have it. Yin and Yang.

As far as the play goes - the lights were beautiful. The sound, however, made it's debut as diva in training. Until someone who knew what they were doing helped me out. I got the lights. But I still have a lot to learn about that sound board. GRRRRRRR....I'll get it, though. NEVER GIVE UP!!!