My Little List of Happy Things

Just some things that made me feel happy today:

1. Texas Rangers in the World Series

2. Spending the day with friends doing crafty things, lunch and great conversation

3. Magic Eraser Sponges

4. Rebecca cleaning the kitchen without being asked

5. Playing a duet with Abigail at the piano recital

6. Wearing a sweatshirt

7. Cherry Pomegranate Crystal Light

8. Crunchy leaves and acorns beneath my feet

9. Payday

10. Did I mention the Rangers were in the WORLD SERIES?!?

Abigail and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

A Short Story by Genny Holmes
Illustrated by Ray Cruz

I woke up late for school this morning and Rebecca was in the bathroom so I had to go downstairs and on the way down I stubbed my toe and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

When I asked Mom if my khaki skirt was in the dryer she told me Rebecca had forgotten to put it in the dryer last night and it was still wet and I would have to wear my navy skirt. Rebecca's khaki skirt was dry and ready to wear.

While putting my books in my backpack I scratched myself on the zipper and when I went to get a Band-Aid out of the cabinet I knocked over a pitcher of tea on my white shirt and navy skirt.

I think I'll move to Australia.

I went upstairs and put on a navy shirt while waiting for my khaki skirt to finish drying and finally it was dry and when I put it on the zipper busted and stuck and I couldn't get it to go up or down. I called for Mom to please help me and she was mad because she had just bought it a month ago and now she had to cut the zipper to get it off.

I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I stomped upstairs to get the navy skirt that had a tea stain on it and I knew I wouldn't look good at all because everyone knows you don't wear a navy shirt with a navy skirt. I grabbed a white sweatshirt to wear over the navy shirt but it was going to be 90 degrees all day. Who needs 90 degrees? I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I could tell because I threw my stuff in the back of the van and got in the middle seat because it was Rebecca's day to ride shotgun. Who needs shotgun anyway? And who needs Rebecca? I hope you sit on a tack, I said to Rebecca in my mind. I hope the next time you get a double-decker ice cream cone the ice cream part falls off the cone part and lands in Australia.

Next week, I said out loud, I'm going to Australia. It's been a terrible, horrible,no good, very bad day.

Mom opened my door, kissed me on the cheek and handed me a tissue. It will be okay, she said. Some days are like that.

Even in Australia.

Grandmother's Baby

If cats could talk, they wouldn't. ~Nan Porter

After scolding one's cat one looks into its face and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood every word. And has filed it for reference. ~Charlotte Gray

The reason cats climb is so that they can look down on almost every other animal - it's also the reason they hate birds. ~K.C. Buffington


If there were ever a person who I would have believed would never have a pet, it would be my mother. We had dogs growing up, but never cats. So, the very fact that my mother has one now still gives me a little pause; however, one only needs to visit her to know that her heart has been stolen by Jack. Or, as I like to call him -- "He Who Runs the House." If you question this, how about the fact that he jumps up in her lap every morning so she can rock him? He also decides what time everyone in the house gets up (5:00 a.m. anyone?).

I have no idea what kind of cat he is, but he is incredibly soft!

I don't know what he's thinking here, and
I probably don't want to know.
Mad eyes and ears!

He tried to stand up and get water out of this birdbath,
but it was empty. I made an effort to put water in it right then,
but of course I was too late and he had no desire for any water.

And, he's finished with the likes of us peasants.

The importance of Jack is evidenced by the fact that we spent an entire day at my mother's house and I don't have a single picture of a person. Not one.

Catalyst Worship Conference

Atlanta, Georgia ~ October 6-9, 2010

A Catalyst Leader is: uncompromising in integrity, intentional about community, passionate about God, courageous in calling, engaged in culture and authentic in influence. (taken from Catalyst 2010 Program)

I traveled with a group from my church to Georgia to attend a church music leadership conference. We spent two days listening to speakers, worshipping and being entertained. The theme for the event was "The Tension is Good." Sounds weird, I know. Each speaker took a different aspect of tension and showed how it can play out in our lives to be productive. Tension is not only necessary, but it makes us stronger.

This is waiting to get in the first morning.
When you are one of 13,000 people,

you can feel a little overwhelmed.
(Especially when you are all going into the same doors!)

Catalyst Worship Team

the amazing Kari Jobe

Beth Moore

Hard to tell from this picture, but there is a
guy near the center on a huge trampoline.

Yes, this guy crawled in the cannon and was
shot out of it moments later. Crazy!

Here he is in the net after he landed.

T.D. Jakes, who told us to "get off the caw-nuh" (corner)
and into the middle of the action

More great speakers were: Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, Gabe Lyons, Seth Godin, Perry Noble, Craig Groeschel and Christine Caine. Too much information to even write about here. Sooooo good!

Some of the guys - Jeremy, Jeff, Aaron

Some of the girls - Me, Stephanie, Shauna

A few thoughts from the emcee, Reggie Joiner, about tension...

There is not one aspect of life where tension doesn't have critical value.

If you want a good example of the potential tension has to affect your team, think about the relationship Jesus had with his disciples. A close study of the New Testament recognizes that it was packed with tension. Too many Christians have an image of the twelve best friends sitting in a circle on a peaceful hillside listening to their teacher tell inspirational stories. It's just too easy to miss the point that Jesus almost always made His point in the middle of some extremely tense moments. He actually leveraged tension to mold His disciples into the kind of men who would change the world. Think about it.

He partied with tax-collectors and prostitutes -- to challenge the disciples' deep-rooted prejudices.

He broke sacred traditions -- so they would value people.

He led them into a stormy sea -- to take away their fear.

He let one of his best friends die -- to show them the power of resurrection.

He died a violent death -- to show them how to forgive and be forgiven.

The tension is good. Do I believe that? Well, I'm working on it...

SFA - Parents Weekend

Rumors have abounded lately that I am old enough to have a kid in college. Well, I am here to finally say, "I'm sorry, but it is true." We went to Nacogdoches last weekend to enjoy the campus Parents Weekend. In a nutshell that means, taking Katherine out to eat, putting a license plate on her car and taking her to WalMart for supplies that can only be bought with "our" money. She doesn't want to spend "hers."

We drove down Saturday afternoon and took the girls to lunch at The Jalapeno Tree. We also celebrated Abigail's birthday with cupcakes. Then, Saturday night we went to the SFA vs. Lamar football game at Homer Brice Stadium.

Loved the SFA band. They sing! In harmony! So cool.

The students wear shirts that say "Purple Haze" and I love it!

Here we are with The Moseley's after we've all been
sweating to death in the 1,000% humidity.
I had forgotten the insane heat in East Texas. Blech!

It was "Purple Out" night so we joined in the fun,
except Abigail who refused and wore black.
We did force her into an SFA shirt though.
(Bet she never wears it again. She is strictly an Aggie girl.)

On Sunday morning, Katherine joined us at the hotel for breakfast
and then we went to church with her. It was a great service and we gave
the church our stamp of approval. (although Katherine said
she would go there even if we didn't like it!)

The three lovely girls who went to church with us --
Katherine, Kaitlin and Erinn

A great weekend...so glad to see Katherine doing well in her new environment.

It's A Teenager!

On Sunday, September 26 when Abigail Grace Holmes had a birthday, I started thinking....

How long exactly does it take to go from this....

TO THIS???

Through the years it seemed a long time...

but it really happened overnight.

Happy 13th Birthday, Absie!
I know that you know that I love you and
I don't have to "hug and kiss you all the days"
but I'm going to whether you like it or not,
because you're still my little baby girl.

And In A Strange Mozzarella Cheese Follow Up Post...

If you're checking this blog and reading this post, STOP! You must read the post below this first. And, it would probably make more sense for me to wait and post this one tomorrow or the next day, but I'm on a roll and the greatness may only continue for the next few minutes, so I'm going with it.

I should have titled this, "String Cheese: So Many Recipes, So Little Time!" Large amounts of string cheese are devoured in this house, especially since I've been (kinda, somewhat, sorta) eating on the Flat Belly Diet Program. I'm on the 3 days on, 7 days off plan. And, let me tell you, that's not actually working. So, gonna need to get more serious about losing weight. And exercising, which I'm sure I've mentioned on more than one occasion that I. do. not. like. But, I digress...

I took this picture because it represents a big portion of what I've been focusing on this month. Yes, string cheese and almonds. Don't you wish you lived my life? The problem comes not in the foods I'm told to eat, but in the willpower, people. Or, in my case, willpower, see also lack of. I will follow the plan strongly for days, eating my 1600 calories a day. Most days you could wave a chocolate chip cookie under my nose, and I wouldn't flinch. Now, a snickerdoodle or oatmeal cookie, that's a different story. Does it smell like cinnamon in here? Anyone? Anyone?

And, while these two posts really have no impact on the world at large, or me apparently, for some reason I felt the need to spend a good 30 minutes of time talking about string cheese. I guess I could have written one post entitled, "String Cheese: Friend or Foe?" I can answer that. Foe, when breaded, fried in oil and eaten with marinara sauce. Friend, when eaten straight from the package as part of a healthy, 1600-calorie-a-day diet. And, since honesty is the best policy, I think I have to say I prefer "Foe," dipped in marinara, of course.

Did I Mention They Were Homemade?

For some people, "homemade" means they take it out of the box or bag, stick it in the oven, allow it to cook and then serve it. Of course, I've even done this and joked about it being homemade because I. made. it. at. home. Yea..so...

These mozzarella sticks are what my mother and grandma would call "made from scratch." And, before you ask, no I did not make the cheese. (Although I could if I wanted to because Martha Stewart has nothing on me.) I did, however, make the batter, coat them and fry them up. Let me tell you, I'm actually not sure if it was worth the effort, but they were very tasty. I could, in five minutes time, drive down to Sonic, plunk down $2.99 or so and bring 5 of them home with much less effort. But, this was just something I wanted to try -- for fun. And it was! The girls and I ate every last one of them. Let me know if you want to try them for yourself. I'll be glad to share the recipe.

When It Rains, It Flash Floods

The effects of Tropical Storm Hermine were seen yesterday in Arlington at Grace Prep Academy. Jeff drove the girls to school as he always does when it's raining hard. I-20 is usually a nightmare trek, so I was glad to stay home and watch the rain as I drank my coffee. He dropped them off at 8:00, only a few minutes late. Two hours later, the girls texted us telling us they were going to be evacuated by Arlington Fire & Rescue. Rebecca's text (almost) made me smile:

"We are fine! No danger! Do not come to the parking lot. It is flooded. Cars are almost covered! D:"

Students were evacuated to Arlington ISD school buses and driven to the church around the corner where we picked them up a couple hours later.

Here are some pictures I received that people took on their iPhones...



It's shocking what can happen in just two hours. The principal later said she wishes she could have sent the students with cars to move them to higher ground, but there was just no time. I am so sad for the amount of loss that will be experienced with cars and property; however, it is just stuff. (Notice I can say this freely because my car was not in the parking lot.)

This is definitely not the way to make the local news. I am grateful for the safety of everyone, however, and thankful for God's protection over the girls.

Dear Maybelline,

Here are three of your top-selling mascaras. One of them is not like the others. Can you tell which one? I can.





Mascara #1: You promised that my lashes would be VOLUMINOUS, and oh, they were. I think. But every time I turned around there were little flakes of black all over my face.

Mascara #2: You promised that my lashes would be COLOSSAL, and oh, they were. I think. But every time I turned around there were little flakes of black all over my face.

So, Maybelline, you leave me with no choice: I must return to the old tried and true, GREAT LASH, in the "pink and lime green since the dawn of time" tube. I will be returning to the mascara of my youth. And, it's cheaper than those other "promise the world, but don't deliver" mascaras you're putting out there. Stick with what you do best, people.

Sincerely,
Blackest Black with No Flaking