Wordless Wednesday

just morphing around

So.. since I thought that last video I posted was so cool, I decided I needed to figure out how to do that myself... so, here's a little experiment. I morphed the '57 Belvedere that was rescued from Tulsa's Time Capsule this summer. This is actually part of a bigger project I'm working on now.. but I just had to show off my morphing.

Women in Film

Just thought this was very cool and I like to share very cool things....

Cancer Sucks!

A couple of years ago my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer that had metastisized to his bones. Unfortunately, it was agressive and had spread quickly. Fortunately, it responded aggresively to treatment and my dad is in good health with normal PSA numbers today.

A couple of weeks ago, my mom was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma that effects the bones.

I have started a new blog to update everyone on my mom's condition and document all the miracles God is doing in our lives.. because He thinks cancer sucks, too!

Please pray with me for my mom's complete healing.

Sweet Memories

This a picture of Cody and my dad reading their papers. Cody is probably three here, but had a passion for reading I nearly killed when I tried to introduce Phonics. I eventually scrapped Phonics and allowed him to learn to read what he wanted in his time. On one of my loops we are discussing the value of comics, graphic novels, and other less than"literary" works in the teaching of reading. It reminded me of this picture. Sure, the Truck Trader doesn't seem very educational when compared the The Snowy Day or Blueberries for Sal.. but it was starting point. In the 4th grade, he tested at a college reading level, and he can sit down and read a Tolkien epic in a matter of a few days. Recently he has shown great talent for picking out symbolism and deep meanings in what he reads and has even mentioned majoring in literature when he heads to college. And it all started with a truck trader magazine. Do not despise small beginnings.

15 Amazing Years

Last week, Jim and I celebrated our 15th Anniversay. That is to say, we wished each other a happy anniversary in between deadlines and clients. I had a huge video project due, and Jim had a huge shipment that needed to be readied. It's OK, though. The truth is, everyday with this man is special.

15 years ago, Jim came into the recording studio where I worked. He had originally built the studio and was coming back to build a second.. Studio B. He was trading for studio time and he had the most beautiful voice.. not to mention the most beautiful eyes.

We met in September of '91. He was a bit older and had lived a whole life before he met me. I was fresh out of college and still living at home. We couldn't have been more opposite. But there was something about him. I found myself staying late after work just to talk to him... about everything and nothing. I found myself doing silly things.. like, I may have asked him to come to my office to help me hook up a printer or some such thing that I could have easily done myself.

On January 28th of 1992 I finally tricked him, er, convinced him into asking me out. Two weeks later, on Valentine's Day, he gave me a diamond ring and sang a song he had written for me. Three months later, on May 16th, we stood up in front of all our friends and family and promised our lives to each other.

We had a whirlwind romance, and 15 years later, I'm still caught in the whirlwind.

Thank you sweetie...

Thank you for our two amazing boys.
Thank you for sharing your life with me.
Thank you for all the adventures we've had.
Thank you for all the beautiful music... the music I've heard and the music that's yet to be written.
Thank you for all the times you sacrificed everything so I would have to sacrifice nothing.
Thank you for all the trials we been through. With God help, we've proven our love is stronger than any storm and we are the better for it.
And Thank you for listening to God way back in 1992. He's taken us on some amazing journeys together..... where are we going next?

All my heart,
Bunch

Overheard at my house

Overheard last night....

Me: Do you want to go play golf sometime?
Cody: No, it's itchy.

Likely to be overheard in the future....

Me: Clear the table.
Kids: aw, mom.. that's itchy.

Me: Have a good day at work, sweetie.
Hubby: I'll try, but it's awful itchy.

Hubby: Are you ready to do the taxes?
Me: But that's so itchy!

Itchy.. it's not just for wooly sweaters anymore.

I'm off to purchase some calamine.

Drum Roll Please...

I have an announcement.

No, I'm not pregnant. But thanks for playing!

Actually I have just started a new blog! Yes, you heard me right. I now have two blogs to neglect and feel guilty about. Ok, three if you count that whole yahoo 360 thing, but it really only gets copied and pasted from here.

Why two blogs? Good question. And you can get the answer by surfing on over to melaniewalenciak.com

Don't worry. I'll still be here, keeping you updated on our adventures, playing meme games and posting photos.

And here's the thing, if I can find time to write in both blogs, I fully expect you to find time to read both blogs!

I've been thinking....

Call off the search party.. I'm here, alive and well.. and apparently in my silence I was awarded the Thinking Blogger Award.

This could not be more appropriate because even though I might not have been blogging, I was, in fact, thinking. I was thinking about all they great blogs I could write if only I had the time. Problem is I never wrote them.. and they are long gone. My brain simply isn't the steel trap it once was. (Although, the other day Dillon found an Adam Ant video on You Tube and I still knew all the words to Ant Music.. I know, it's frightening!)

As I understand it, as part of this Thinking Blogger Award, I must nominate 5 other blogs.. and I will... soon. As soon as I think on it for a while longer.

Keep checking back this week.. not only will you find out who I nominated, but you will find out all the details on my latest venture and even hear news about a new blog...

I know, you can't wait, can you?

7 weird things about me... it's a meme thing.

Ok, I'm going to play... but I have to warn you, it's going to be difficult to narrow the field down to just 7.

1. Every once and while I develop a craving for a balogna and frito sandwich. And I don't even have to be pregnant! Although when I was pregnant and suffering from all kinds of morning sickness, the only thing I could eat was chili-cheese dogs from Sonic. Nothing like spicey, greasy to chili to soothe an upset stomach.

2. Possibly from my pregnancy diet, I gave birth to an 11 pound baby. (Ok, maybe that's not weird, but it is an accomplishment and I will mention it as often as I can)

3. Hubby and I got engaged 2 weeks after our first date. We married 3 months later. I don't know what took us so long. (Our first date was actually 15 years ago, next week)

4. I once ran a red light with Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld) in my car AND a garbage bag full of cock roaches in my car. Ok, I can see this one might require some explaining. First, the Kramer part. He was the weird one.. not me, but the fact that I actually agreed to drive cock roaches around makes it appear that his weirdness rubbed off a bit. It was on the set of "UHF" and I was driving actors to and from the set. Incidentally, the cock roach scene was cut out of the final film. It should be known that I no longer have that particular car.

5. Oh, here's something weird. I am completely tone deaf. Absolutely. And yet, in high school, my drama club (or thespians, as we hated to be called) won first place in a state competition. The character I played had to sing. Using my artistic license, (which was much easier to get than my driver's license) I made her a punk rock singer, so talent wasn't all that necessary!

6. I attended ORU for 5 years. I have yet to officially graduate.

7. And finally, I have crooked pinkies. So crooked, in fact, that I can hold my hands, palms up, and touch my two pinkies together and my ring fingers together and, voila, i have made a perfect heart. I suppose that's what makes me so gosh darn loveable!

What about you? Can you think of 7 weird things? No.. I mean about you! Not about me!

Deep Thoughts by Dillon

So, Dillon and I were having a little discussion on the Bible. Dillon mentions that God is a great story-teller and He's always writing. I asked him what he meant and this is a direct quote from my Dillon...

"Even now, He is writing the story that is me."

It makes this Mama Writer's heart swell with pride. Dillon has deep thoughts and a way with words!

Blog... such a silly name for such a powerful tool

Never, ever underestimate the power of a blog.

A few months ago, an old friend from college found my blog. I went to his family blog and from there surfed on over to other blogs.. some bloggers I knew from school.. some I didn't. One particularly caught my heart.

I check Noah Steven's Blog daily... praying for a miracle. I can honestly say that the seeking I have done on Noah's behalf, has strengthened me and brought me so much closer to the Lord. I know he is moving in my life in a powerful way today, and I just know that it is because Noah took me back down to my knees.

I challenge each to you to go read about Noah, and all he has been through in his little life.. but also FEEL... (because it's tangible... it's not simply words) FEEL the Grace that is on this family. God has not abandoned them.. but He is with the broken hearted. Noah's mother faithfully updated us but I was amazed when she would ask that commenters leave prayer requests so she could pray for them, as they prayed for her. She is an inspiration and such a woman of God.

I don't know why bad things happen.. but I do know that unless there are valleys you cannot appreciate the mountains. I know that Noah touched more lives in his months than I have in my years.

So, read about Noah and see if he doesn't lead you to a closer walk with God as well.

http://noahsteven.blogspot.com/