Sunday Snapshot

September is a big month for The Boss and I. Lots of reminiscing and remembering all the things that God has done in our lives through our adoption story. Two years ago today, we were wrapping up the biggest adventure we'd ever been on.  But we also knew that in reality that we were heading home to face another whole kind of adventure. Embarking on the transition from a family of 6 to a family of 7. Doesn't sound like much. But we thought that was big enough. That we had a handle on what was changing.

Turns out, it was a bigger deal than even we expected. Turns out, a lot more changed than just our numbers. Turns out, what we started with that trip across the world to embrace our Li'l Empress was just an itty bitty part of the trip that God has for our whole family. Turns out, once you get God's heart for "true religion" - it changes everything you thought you knew. Turns out, it changes you.

Our last night in China, two years ago today.

(yes, the date stamp was off, still on US time...)

We spent our last day packing, shopping,

packing, eating, and packing some more.

Here is the Li'l Empress, at 14 months old,

all dolled up for a morning of Shamian Island shopping.

 

Here is the Li'l Empress now, at three years old.

The girl still loves a morning out of the house to shop.

And still loves a good pair of glamourous shades!

And the changes are still coming. The adventure is still unfolding.

Link up to the Sunday Snapshot fun,

but please leave a comment here too!

I'll try to get around and visit if you leave me a comment!

Tweaking Again

One of my goals in raising our five (so far) little Gang members is that they be strong, confident, independent adults who can take responsibility for themselves and the environment in which God has planted them.  I have a pretty focused, intentional plan for how I train that into them.  Not that my plans are perfect, nor are they always as successful as I'd planned for them to be. (I hate it when THAT happens!)  I'm not a big fan of tweaking a schedule or routine, in my own fleshly (sometimes rigid!) nature, but having five kids of incredibly diverse temperaments and learning styles is curing me of THAT darned quick.

A super great tool I've found for teaching my kids to be responsible and independent is to give them chores.  That's right. My kids work. Our chore chart has morphed considerably since we added our Li'l Empress to our home. And given that she's going to be three this summer, I daresay that it will morph again soon. She's certainly going to be quite capable very soon of handling small, guided tasks. And truthfully, she's never happier than when she thinks she is "hepping" Shaggy with one of his jobs or doing a big girl task for me.  Whether she's actually being of true help is something Shaggy is struggling with - he's super focused and of the "just get it done and over with" mentality, so when she slows him down, he's learning a ton about patience and team work.  NOT that I'd tell him that . . . he'll learn it so much better if I just keep my yap zipped!

Our chores have taken on a myriad of methods over the years, and since we began schooling the older two boys at home the chores have been tweaked even further. I've read a couple of blogs lately that have requested suggestions and tips for further organization in their homes with routine and chores and structure, so this post has been swirling in my head for a couple weeks. I check in on several websites semi-regularly for additional tips on increasing my efficiency and our "team work" mentality.  I even belong to a forum in which streamlining our homes, "stocking up," and shopping habits has been a hot topic of late.  And given my bent toward administrative thinking and organizational planning, it's kinda always on my mind. 

I'm pretty happy with our current system, in which the chores are posted in each kid's column for a week. They have from Monday morning till Saturday morning to complete them. We recently had to tweak dish duty, and  somehow Baby Blue Eyes has gotten off scott-free in that area, again. I'm going to tweak that oversight as soon as school lets out for the summer. It was on an "as requested basis" but  now that the two older boys are home and contributing to a larger dirty dish pile for their "home-schooling gourmet lunches" (Shaggy's favorite part of home-schooling!) I just gave them a whole day to handle as assigned.

I try to take the long view when it comes to parenting my kids in this area.  I know that THEY don't see how sweeping and Sw!ffering the kitchen once a week will make them model citizens. But I do.  I get that they can't "get" how carrying their own loads of stinky dirty laundry down to the laundry room will form them into accountable, dependable employees. But I do.  I totally understand that they might NEVER (this side of their own household management in YEARS to come) connect that going to bed in a tidy, picked-up room will create in them a sense of stewarship and gratitude.  But I do.  I DO.  And at this point in the game, I'm  getting pretty immune to the disgruntled commentary that they sometimes try to indulge in under their breath.  I say, "getting" because . . . I'm working on it. I'm still too reactionary for my taste in this particular area.

Admittedly, this big-picture point of view is much easier for me to adopt than it has been for The Boss. He's much better at living in the moment, catching the present and camping in it.  It takes both sides to make a marriage work, I get that. But in order to keep US out of the middle of all the messy relational STUFF that comes of assigning jobs and holding the Gang accountable to those assignments, we've had to change up some things about the chore chart.

NOW? If a job isn't completed on time (barring extenuating circumstances like illness , etc), the job gets carried into the next week by the slacker.  PLUS, that slacker has to do the job by dinner-time on Saturday.  

NOW? If a job is done poorly, that slacker has to re-do it, subject to an inspection. And believe me, inspections are only fun for the inspector. Me.  Yup. I let myself have fun with that part of parenting.  Sick and twisted, I know. But hey, we gotta get our kicks where we can, right? 

NOW? If The Boss notices a job on the chore chart that has not been "flipped over" (our method of indicating completion) by Saturday morning, he feels free and I daresay even compelled to track down the slacker and get the run-down on the excuses reasons why.  It keeps US out of the mix of consistently assigning tasks and allows us to focus on the follow-through. It takes some of the burden off of me, especially if I'm not the only one playing the heavy because the fact that a job is incomplete is right out in the open for everyone to see.

And the best thing great side benefit about our system and our practices?  Is that by Saturday lunch time, we have clean toilets, crunch-free floors, and dusted shelves. For a whole two or three hours, at least.

So, let's chat. What kind of things do you do in your home to create independence? How do you train your kids toward responsibility for themselves and their surroundings?  I want to hear some ideas - as long as I'm going to be "tweaking" again, I might as well get the brainstorm going!

I've Been Tagged!

My new cyber-friend, Aus, and his wife tagged me for this meme. I "met" Aus and his wife when they started following our blog during our China trip. They were consistently helpful with their knowledge of the country and encouraging all the way. If you notice, their comments even since we've been home have been in the same vein. That's one of the things I love about this new "family" we find ourselves in the midst of - the international adoption community is tight-knit and so helpful. There's a real "you can do it!" mentality that we've so appreciated!

So anyway, I've been tagged for this particular several times recently and just never got around to doing it. If you are reading this, please play along! Just leave a comment to let me know you played. And then link up to me. Otherwise, have fun reading this mish-mosh of crazy random-ness about me :)

7 Random Things About Me

• I am still friends with my best friend from Kindergarten. That’s 35+ years and counting for those of you who are trying to do the math in your head. I think we are perfectly matched and besides my hubby, she’s the best friend God could have ever given me.
• My husband is appalled that I can drink day-old coffee. My words to him (just this afternoon, again, in fact!): “I don’t care what the actual coffee tastes like. If there’s room in the mug for my sugar-free hazelnut creamer, throw it in the microwave. Not down the drain!”
• I have struggled all my life with keeping my relationships in the right priority. However, I also despised the label “social butterfly” and still do. I do not "flit." I form deep, lasting and meaningful friendships that usually end up meaning more to me than to many of those I am/was in relationship with.
• I cannot stand to leave my toe-nails unpainted once April comes around. But once it's November, I could care less what my feet look like. Inside my FABULOUS shoes, that is.
• I am seriously afraid that my two junior-high boys are already smarter than me. Please, don’t tell them – they haven’t quite figured it out yet. And it’s still endearing when they come to me for help with homework. A little scary, but endearing nonetheless.
• The first big snow of the season gets me totally excited, sentimental, and domestic. After that, I’m done: “bring on the spring!”
• I love unusual jewelry. Hand-made, cultural or ethnic. I could stand in those craft booths forever looking at all the cool earrings and pins. When I find one that “speaks to me,” I have to have it. I tend to lose my frugality in the face of funky accessories.
  

There you have it. The good, the bad, and the weird. All in my little head. Aren't you lucky you aren't me?!

Come on, play along and join the fun - what quirky and random things are lurking in your brain today?

Works For Me!

This is my first WFMW post, but I had something fun I just had to share.

We all know (or remember) what it's like to neeeeeeeeed a shower before we actually have our hands free and our baby safely secured in her crib for a long nap. We all know how hard it is to find safe and interesting occupation for baby's little busy mind and hands while we sneak in that quick refresher.

This little treasure is my old umbrella stroller from Baby BlueEyes' stroller days. I've kept it around for visits from little nieces and nephews and friends who come by. The first week I was home alone with Li'l Empress, I was really needing to jump start my day. And I just can't do that without a nice shower to wake me up. It was 11 a.m. and I was desperate to salvage something of my day. In clothes. With a clean face and no clumpy bed head.

So I dug out the stroller and grabbed a variety of toys that are noisy and bright. The key here is that I also chose toys that could easily loop through the stroller straps and still be accessible to her royal little hands. This is what I came up with. May I present to you . . . . .

The Stroller of Wonder
(say it in a booming announcer's voice,
with plenty of drama to tickle your funny bone this morning. . .)

Another key, if you are planning to use this for your regular showering schedule, is to swap out the toys occasionally. You know, to keep the wooooooonder (again with the booming announcer's voice. Try it - I promise, it's fun.)! Note the array of toys - not too many so as to overwhelm Li'l Empress, but just enough to keep her wondering (cue voice again). And to keep me showering long enough to wash my hair AND my face. In the interest of full disclosure, I haven't tested it on my "long shower days" - you know, where I shave and condition and all that other primping we ladies need once in a blue moon. I mean, once every couple days. I've reserved this treat for only my speedy shower days - you know, the basics one needs to survive the day. The rest of the time I either gift myself with the treat of a jammy morning or I drag my sorry behind out of bed 15 minutes early and start the spackling and puttying while the kids eat their breakfast. Don't laugh, I know you've all been there. Or are there now. At any rate, here's my first WFMW post.

It works for me! Really.

A Princess in the Making

Remember that gorgeous room re-do that we did for LadyBug earlier in the summer? Well, I think I have finally figured out the source of LadyBug's growing feeling that she is, indeed, a princess. And that she deserves to be treated as royalty.

This is an issue we've been dealing with for many years. Being the only girl (well, that should resolve itself shortly!) and being smack in the middle of three "boys will be boys" brothers, she has become accustomed to a bit of pampering. A bit of special treatment. Mostly by The Boss, as he will freely and gleefully admit. Recently, the Daddy's girl treatment has escalated. Has started to be expected. Sometimes even demanded. In her ever-so-pretty and usually lady-like, adorable manner. Special whims are catered to a little more frequently. Likes and dislikes become more pronounced. In short, her inner diva is coming to the surface.

In fact, we were just explaining to the grandparents last night at dinner that she has a couple of food issues that we're trying to train her to be more flexible about. We struck a deal that she could turn her nose up at boxed mac n' cheese whenever she wanted, but that she should not expect special menus the other times that Grandma is cooking. For these 16 days, we agreed that she doesn't have to eat eggs IF the rest of the time she could help by being Miss Flexibility.

Now, I'm trusting all you dear readers to not share the following information with LadyBug. What follows is a light bulb moment for me, that I am sure my sweet little LadyBug will exploit to its fullest potential if she catches wind of it. So please, if you are unable to promise this confidentiality to me, stop reading NOW!

Grandma and Grandpa moved in last night. We gave them our bedroom, emptying drawers and closet space for them to allow them to feel fully at home. The Boss and I invited LadyBug and Baby BlueEyes to have a slumber party with us on the floor of LadyBug's room. The Boss and I slept in LadyBug's bed.

This bed is, I am confident, the source of the princess/diva escalation. I think it is the most comfortable, plush, sink-my-weary bones, and envelope-my-ever-livin'-soul, bit o' mattress heaven on Earth that I have ever experienced. In. My. Life. Ever. After the night of deep restful and luxurious sleep that I just experienced, I'm feeling a little royal today!

But please, don't tell LadyBug that I said any of this. If she hears of it, I will never be able to convince her that she is not related to the Queen of England. She'll never believe me when I tell her that she is not a real princess. I'm having a hard time believing it myself.

Working The List

I'm so in love! The last two evenings have stirred my passion and my love for The Boss like you would not believe. Hang in there with me, this is still a G-rated blog. I AM going somewhere with this one.

Previously, I've mentioned the flurry of home projects and the intense pace we've been keeping with our "To Do" list. Most of the work tackled by The Boss has been painting and trimming out rooms, moving furniture, repairing dressers. You know, the manly arts that require grunting and sweat. I've kept silent, doing my tasks and watching the list whittle down. Knowing that the "BIG ONE" was studiously being avoided. Knowing that he was turning a blind eye to the four large and overflowing file drawers lining the wall in the front living room. Not because he expected me to do it, not because he's too good for that kind of work. Rather, I've watched him circle round it all trying to wrap his brain around the mettle and fortitude the task would require. The task in question: purging our filing system.

Side note here: We had to move the file cabinet out of the former guest room and agreed that, while we were moving it, it would be wise to tackle the mess within its drawers. Mutual agreement, I promise.

In the four years we've lived here, the cabinet has been out of sight from The Boss's daily traffic patterns. I knew when we placed it there that it was risky, but we really saw no other place for it. And it's huge: a four drawer, 1960's era file cabinet that we got for free and painted a nice bright white for the office in our previous home. The huge, open and deep drawers lent themselves to one of two scenarios: a well-organized, room-to-grow filing system OR a well-intentioned beginning system with lots of room to just dump papers in to hide when company was coming. Guess which scenario I found every time I opened the cabinet to find something? Yeah, you got it.

The second or third time I found the toxic dumping ground, I washed my hands of the whole mess and told The Boss that until he was ready to change the current "system" (and believe me, a looser definition of that word cannot possibly exist!), I was not going to keep trying to organize it on my own. I felt that it was a fair declaration, in light of the fact that he uses the "system" way more often than I do, as taxes and mortgage and bill paying usually fall under his domain around here. He agreed - something needed to be done. But while he knew it needed to be done, the fact that it was out of his traffic pattern just allowed him to keep avoiding it.

Until. We. Emptied. The. Room.

One by one the drawers came out. Shaggy and I stared in disbelief. If I recall correctly, we actually just burst out laughing. There was no other recourse. We just laughed. At that point, The Boss and I had already made our big list and he sheepishly admitted that adding a vicious purge of these four drawers to the "To Do" list was in order. That was in early June.

Saturday night, The Boss and I went on a search for lampshades for the girls' rooms and squeezed in a little date while we were at it. Over dinner, I gently reminded him that the filing project was looming. He agreed that he should start it soon. Maybe as soon as we got home from some time at the lake with my folks.

Imagine my great surprise and joy and excitement when he sat down, Sunday night and diligently purged the entire four drawers. In one night. He filled garbage bags with mortgage and tax papers from our very first home - circa 1994. He trashed medical files from college. He ruthlessly destroyed homeschooling records from 1999. He eliminated duplicates and emptied files left and right. It was a glorious sight. I was in ecstasy.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, he sat down AGAIN last night. He organized files. He sorted and attacked the FOUR YEARS OF FILING that I didn't even know he'd been squirreling away. The angels were singing. The birds were warbling their glee. I was beside myself.

My love and my joy have bubbled over. We leave for the lake tomorrow and the bulk of this looming monster of paperwork that he has declared his domain has been tamed. It is now a quiet little mini-monster leashed and caged and waiting for our return. I am in love with my husband all over again. My knight in shining armor has conquered his personal dragon of household paperwork.

Swoon.

America's Favorite Mom

I'm way behind the times, apparently. For a while now, the Today show has been running a great contest in conjunction with Teleflora Florist, for"America's Favorite Mom." This morning, while making a real breakfast and sipping my creamy hazelnut coffee, I got to see the semi-finalists in the "Non Mom" Mom category. The definition of today's featured category is as follows:

"Grandparent, stepmom, or mom to adopted children,
each one raising and loving a child.
A priceless gift for everybody."

I know I'm a sap. I know I'm the worlds' easiest target for all Hallmark and retro McDonalds' commercials (you know, the one with the little sister and the big brother's letterman's jacket?). So, when I tuned in and turned it up, I knew the stories would get me. And I wasn't wrong! You really must head over and view the stories of each of today's moms yourself (Go to the "vote May 8th section of the page).

These women are doing great work and I am happy to report that the common denominator between all three of these awesome moms is their belief that they are doing God's work. That God created these families with which they have been blessed. That the children they have the privilege of parenting came to them via God's hand. It was a good thing for me to see today. And a great reminder for all of us: these precious ones are God's and when we serve them, we are serving Him!

Go. Read. Cry. Vote.
And be encouraged: you are doing God's work today, Mom!

Monday Musings

"The only normal people

are the ones you don't know very well."

~Joe Ancis

I can't believe it, I actually got a Monday at home and I can finally participate in TCC's Monday Musings. And I'm so glad that this is the Monday I hit - the quote itself doesn't require a dictionary to decipher (just joshin' ya, TCC!) and it's actually one I've been pondering since lunch with my friend on Wednesday. Let me explain . . .

Lately, I've been spending a ton of time (for me) at home, alone or with just one or two of my kids. Flu and fever season hit us a bit harder here at The Gang's house than in winters past. Anyway, as an extrovert (like squared!), a lot of quiet time often leads me down the path of introspection. Introspection is not, in and of itself, a problem. But for me, lots of introspection turns into self-focus and self-absorption in the form of re-hashing conversations (with humans and with God) that I could have handled better. It becomes a conversation in my head of how ridiculous it is that at my age (gasp!) I'm not over this by now. That I should have learned this lesson and moved on already. If I am not diligent to stop those conversational tracks in my head the minute they start laying rails westward, I am full steam ahead to the end of the rails: comparisons that always result in me coming up short in some area. I fly right past the stations of "Wait, I'm Not Alone" and "Stop Here - Renewals by the Holy Spirit." I screech with all my brakes smoking right into "I Am So Screwed Up." Or I limp with squeaky wheels and sputtering engine into "Why Can't I Be Like __________?" By then, my tracks are a wreck and my wheels are chewed up beyond recognition.

So at lunch on Wednesday, I was sharing with my friend about some things going on in my life. It quickly became a conversation full of me, what I'm "really" like, and what's wrong with me. While the conversation was helpful and encouraging and insightful (she's a wonderful, wise woman, no matter what she thinks about herself today!), I also heard this Station Master in my head questioning me. Asking me if this was all really necessary. Checking with me to see if I could possibly be so ridiculous to assume that I was the only one who didn't have this issue (or any variety of others) together by now. Reminding me of the supreme vanity of thinking that I could be or should be comparing myself to others around me. Questioning the wisdom of my starting point that everyone else is normal and I'm the one that's beyond salvage-able.

As we ended our time together, I thanked my friend for her ability to be so real - I even used the word normal. And she is - she's vulnerable about her failings, but she's also real about her part in those failings and in her dependence on Her Father. But what struck me after I left our time together is that I thanked her for her normalcy, as if I have precious little of my own. As if being with her is what boosted my normalcy quotient for the day. And I felt convicted about that. When I was able to sort through it all by way of running conversations and debates with the Station Master, I realized that even within all of her own transparencies in our times together, that couldn't possibly be all there is to her. I realized (seriously, it was like a series of V8 moments for most of Thursday and part of Friday!) that I view her as normal, but given the things that she's shared with me, she may struggle to see herself as normal. And that others (God help them!) may actually view me as normal.

The funny thing is, all of us are normal in our propensity to screw up. In our struggle to make it through in our own steam. In our need for a Savior. In our desperate, daily need for "Renewals by the Holy Spirit!" All of us should be making those stops, cruising up to the platform and letting our engines cool down and be tuned up.

The equally funny thing is that none of us are normal. We are all individuals, all unique in our own right. We can never be fully known by any human relationship on this train route. We can only depend on Our Father to know us more intimately than any other. In this dependence, it matters less and less that we know normal people. And it matters less and less that we be known as normal people.

Kid Friendly Food

My kids hate when The Boss travels out of town for business. When we lived in South-Central PA, he was gone sometimes 3 or 4 nights a week from September to December or early January. It was open-enrollment season in the Human Resources department in which he worked, and his supervision and training was required at the various sites across the country that were owned by his company. I confess, I hated it too.

As we were still building our family and homeschooling in those years, I had to find ways to lighten the load on myself while I was alone with the three, and then four, little gangsters. And I had to find ways to make the long days and nights fun for us all. Like any self-respecting mom, I played with my food! I offered funky sandwiches, breakfast for dinner, and various assortments of frozen foods not normally approved for dinners with the whole Gang. Along the way, we discovered a couple of family favorites. This one is from one of those old church cookbooks, when I was once frantically searching the pantry for something, anything (!) that I could make without hoofing all four kids to the grocery store in the dinner rush. My kids would cheer and high-five each other when I announced this menu, as if I was preparing the coolest feast possible. What they didn't know (and please, don't tell my secret!) is that I loved it because it is so easy and inexpensive. They love it because it's simply delicious - and I made it sound like so much fun. And now, we all love it so much, we even share it with The Boss! And now, I have to quadruple the recipe for the HOOVER members of the Gang.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Pie

• 1 egg
• 3/4 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 c. milk
• 1 c. shredded cheese (any flavor you prefer)
  

In a small mixing bowl, combine egg, flour, salt, pepper, and half of the milk. Whisk or beat until smooth. Add remaining milk and beat till well-blended. Stir in 1/2 of the cheese. Pour into a well-sprayed 8" pie plate. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top and bake until melted and just starting to brown - about 2-4 minutes.

Variations to add in any combination that sound yummy:

• thinly sliced deli meat of your choice
• chopped pepperoni or cooked sausage
• cooked and finely chopped hot dogs
• cooked ground beef or ground turkey
• finely chopped onions, peppers, or mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp. garlic or other Italian or Mexican seasonings
• top with salsa, ketchup, mustard, or sour cream to taste

It's a fun dish to make with the kids, and can actually be a really healthy alternative to the pre-fried, frozen things like chicken nuggets, dino bites, and so on. Not that none of those ever appeared on our table . . . But after two or three dinners like that with 4 little ones 6 and under, I quickly got to the point where I couldn't look another bowl of fake mac n' cheese in the eye for weeks! Or at least till the next trip of The Boss's.

Do you have a special treat or meal that you offer to get you through nights like that? Something that you fall back on that is cheap and easy and feels like a real treat to the rest of your gang? I won't tell your secrets, I promise! And if you make this one, let me know what you think!

Great Start to the Week!

Imagine my joy! First, I get to start my week slowly and quietly at home with Baby Blue Eyes and my cousin, S. Then, the pinnacle. The joy. The perfect start to a quiet, peaceful Monday morning.

David Boreanaz and his dad, Dave Roberts, on Live with Regis and Kelly!

They talked about Philly, about his dad's weather gig on Action 6, about his adorable little boy, and of course, about Bones. There was a clip of an upcoming episode. Oooooh, I love that show. The dialogue, the intrigue, the science. Well, I could do with out the cutting and the dismembered body parts. But I do love that show. If you don't watch it, you really ought to give it a try. But be warned, you'll get hooked. It's simply one of the greatest crime shows out there. A perfect balance of levity, snappy dialogue and serious crime. Intelligent crimes, none of that thug knocking other thugs off stuff. Smart stuff. Really! There was a passing mention of a new movie coming soon, filmed here in the greater Philly region. I know I didn't miss the title or the date of the movie, as I was glued to my seat and the volume was as loud as BBE would tolerate it. So, now I must google it and see what to expect and when I can expect it.

But that was a great start to the week. I may as well not watch any more morning television all week. They can't top that. That was the perfect Monday morning kick-off. Especially on the heels of the news and other important updates and features by Matt (Lauer, of course!). Really, the week is off to a grand start!

My Secret is Out!

Back about mid-August, I was up late on a Friday night channel surfing while The Boss snoozed by my side. It was a normal Friday night, quiet with the kids tucked in after a night of swimming and hanging out with the neighbors. But when I clicked over to CMT (Country Music Television), nothing about my Friday night stayed normal. I found a new secret addiction. I'm hooked. And slightly shocked and a little embarrassed at just how much I love this new addiction.

Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull-Riding!

Yes, I know, what's a nice suburban girl like me doing watching CMT, let alone BULL RIDING? But wait, before you think I have completely wandered off my nicely paved roads and prettily landscaped sidewalks onto a meandering country lane in the middle of nowhere, let me explain myself! See, the promos were running for the show and I caught a glimpse of one of my favorite Christian celebrities: Stephen Baldwin. Now, say what you will about the famous Baldwin family: this boy has it GOIN' ON! He's relatively new to his Christianity, having dramatically committed his life to Christ in the aftermath of 9/11. I'd seen stories and interviews about his conversion and have loosely followed his walk and growth in the faith since then. I even read his book, and reviewed it for you all here. I like what I see in this man's life. I love not knowing what's gonna come out of his mouth next! He's a bit more "out there" and waaaay more blunt than I ever am, but I think that's what I like best. He often gets caught saying what a lot of us may be thinking about this thing called Church and this walk called faith. So, I was intrigued about his place on the new reality show being advertised before me.

Then, the icing on the cake. "Rocket" Ismail. Let me tell you, I have a history with this man. No, no, no, not that kind of history! Allow me to explain. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail went to one of our rival high schools, in the Wilkes-Barre area. I'd heard of his small town celebrity, but had never seen him play football in person. I think I'm a couple years older than him, as much as it pains me to admit that. Anyway. But one year, my Li'l Sis had made it to some regional track & field event and he was competing. I. got. to. see. him. run. Watching him run hurdles was a thing of beauty. There's no other description for it. He was fast, he was clean, and he ran like a gazelle. I was amazed. I'm no athlete, but I grew up in a very sports-minded (read "Notre Dame & Syracuse football") family and I know true art when I see it running by me in a blur of beauty and grace. Several months later, (the timeline for me is fuzzy here, sorry if my facts aren't totally accurate!) our church joined with a few other regional churches for a family baptism service. Li'l Sis was being baptized by my dad and lo and behold, so was "Rocket." I got to see "Rocket" Raghib Ismail declare before our little company of people that he was a new creation in Christ and was commiting to serving Him to the best of his ability all the days of his life. My Dad dunked Rocket Ismail! (Incidentally, his brother, Quadry a.k.a. "GQ" cuz he was such a spiffy dresser, was also baptized that night) "Rocket" went on to star in Notre Dame's starting line-ups during his four years of college and on to the CFL and ended his NFL career in Dallas. Let me make this point abundantly clear, I am NOT a Dallas fan, but I still loved watching that man run. That man CAN RUN! Imagine if you will, my DOUBLE delight that a show would be featuring two of my favorite Christian celebrities, in one exciting, dangerous, and addicting reality series. And so, Friday nights on CMT became my very own little secret treat.

For the past few weeks, I have been up late watching the reruns that I've missed of CMT and Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding. Watching these two men conduct themselves with honor and integrity. They were consistently gentleman-like, polite and amazingly encouraging to the other men on the show. I think it's safe to say that they were an excellent representation for Christ. Rocket, in particular, was such a motivator and encourager that Ty Murray deemed him the team captain. Stephen was laid up early by a nasty break to his shoulder, so ended up only in 3 or 4 episodes. One late episode, before the nail-biting "big ride" at a Professional Bull Riding competition, showed these two men (Baldwin returned for the finale) and another cast member attending "cowboy church." If I wasn't ecstatically insane about this show before, this episode SEALED. THE. DEAL. Bunches of jean-clad, 10-gallon hat wearing COWBOYS gathered around the bull-riders, LAID hands on them and prayed over them. Prayed over them on NATIONAL TV. ~sigh~ I'm so totally hooked. Totally in love with this show.

But, now my secret is out. I've come clean, in the vain hope that others will pick up my obsession and pass the word around. This show is good, clean fun with just a hint of danger and an element of surprise. After all, who knows what's going through that 2,000+ lb. bull's mind? And I guess I also came clean because I'm finally coming to grips that I'm a little bit of a hick. I love country music, as I've shared here, and I guess it's time I admit that actually spend a good bit of my channel surfing time on CMT. Okay, okay, the secret is already out, I may as well admit: CMT is actually programmed into my favorites. And has been since we got our new provider back in May. I'm hooked, the secret is out and I'm not even embarrassed any more about this addiction! Not even the teeensiest bit! I'm not. . . .