MarytheKaytheBlog

Tree Tings (...or, as normal people would say it: Three Things)

I'm sorry.  But "tree tings" is just SO much more interesting and fun to say than "three things." 

Wouldn't you agree?

Oh well.  Maybe I'm the only one.

I'm currently doing my best to hack up a lung.  Literally.  

(Can't you just picture it?  I just love it when people say "literally," and I get a mental picture of them literally doing...whatever it is...)  So, are you picturing me with a lung?

Speaking of hacking...What is UP with the allergies this year???  Man oh man, have they been bad around here.  They are bad with extra bad sauce on top.  And some extra bad on the side, too.

(Yep.  I just made up the "bad sauce" part.  Do you like it?  Feel free to start using it.  BUT, you must ALWAYS SAY BEFOREHAND:  "Like my very witty friend used to say...that's bad with extra bad sauce on top...")

Are you getting an idea of WHY the title of my post is "Tree Tings?"

Maybe, just maybe, I am not feeling eloquent, or deep tonight.

Unlike every other post I write.

Okay, but so I won't disappoint you good people, here are 

TREE TINGS:

Ting #1:  I've mentioned here before that we work at a summer camp.  A Christian urban summer sports camp.  Or is it urban Christian summer sports camp...?   Oh, whatever you want to call loving kids like Jesus would, and playing loud rap music and lots and lots of sports.

But, here's the real ting:  This is my 24th summer working at this summer camp.  I have spent my entire adult life summers at camp.  I haven't had a summer break since I graduated from high school.  Weird, huh?  If we suddenly didn't work at camp anymore (and the thought has crossed my mind a time or two!), what in the HECK would we do in the summers?  Is there a Summer for Dummies book?  I'd sure have to read it.

Ting #2:  I took a walk tonight, and heard the most awesome song in my headphones.  Oh my word, when this song started, I started grinning like a big ole goober face.  I wanted to wave my arms, as if I were directing the music of this gorgeous song.  But, not to worry--I kept my arms (mostly) to my sides.  I'm pretty sure my big smiley head was doing enough nodding and bobbing to direct the music, anyway.

Keep an open mind as you listen to this song.  It may not be your favorite style of music--but the melody and harmonies in it are breathtaking.

I give you Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman:

 

Ruh row.  Now, WHAT was that turd ting...

(I've been waiting the ENTIRE post to be able to say that!  Thanks for playing along.)

Ting #3: I have some really good posts in the works.  Please forgive my lack of writing lately... Moving out to summer camp, and transitioning into working full-time in the summers always takes adjusting.  Time adjusting, heart adjusting, attitude adjusting, parenting adjusting, marriage adjusting...Whew!  There seems to be a whole POST of adjusting stuff to talk about!  I'm doing my best to stay balanced and healthy in all of this adjusting.  Trying to keep the important stuff at the top.  

I just say all of this to say THANKS for being patient with my lack of writing...while I'm adjusting.

Well, there ya have it.  The world's deepest post yet.  Deep, with some deep sauce on top.   And of course some deep sauce on the side. Would I serve it any other way?

Your turn!  Please tell me TREE TINGS that are on your mind... (Don't forget the TURD ONE)

How to Remember Our Troops Every Single Day

Our daughter came up with a simple way to remember our troops every single day.  When she told me about it, I thought it was brilliant--and decided to join in!  

Whenever the clock reads 9:11--she prays for our troops.  

If she happens to notice the clock at 9:11 am, she says a quick prayer for our soldiers.

If she is still awake at 9:11 pm (and she ALWAYS is, the little night owl!), she prays for the soldiers.

It's such a simple gesture.  But, certainly, not so simple to the men and women who give their very lives so that my family is able to live a free life.  The VERY LEAST I can do for our troops is to PRAY FOR THEM.  And pray for THEIR FAMILIES BACK HOME.

Won't you join us?  Whenever you notice a clock that reads "9:11" please stop for a moment and pray for our soldiers.

I love our country.  Today, I am especially grateful for the men and women before us who have forged the way, who have fought the battles, who have stood for justice, and who have given their lives.

Happy Memorial Day, America!

And, thank you.

Who are you thinking about--and praying for--this Memorial Day?

Happy Summer to you!!

When we were in my hometown last weekend, I snapped a few pictures at my brother's house.  Their home is everything I LOVE about a house--bright and cheerful, with a huge front porch with white wicker furniture that just says, "Come sit, and let's have a cold glass of sweet tea while we watch the kids run around!" 

Their front porch and yard beckon you to come and sit a spell.  

See! I wasn't kidding about the inviting part, was I?  Doesn't this make you want an icy glass of sweet tea?  Bring your kids--we'll watch them while we chat.

And look!  If the kids get tired of swinging, they can run around back to the koi pond.  

Sorry I didn't take a picture of the huge goldfish.  Guess I was a little too lazy to walk down to the bottom to snap a picture.

But, can you blame me?  LOOK what caught my attention...

I just wanted to put up my feet a moment.

Now, if this picture doesn't say "Happy Summer" to you, I don't know what does! 

 What's your favorite part about your house in the summertime?

I want to be known for that...

This weekend, we took a whirlwind trip to my hometown to attend my aunt's funeral.  Her health had been failing recently, and with her kids circled around her bed, holding her hands and singing old hymns to their mom, Aunt LaNell went to meet Jesus.  And I just bet my Uncle Berry Lee was there to greet her, too.

At her funeral, one thing that a couple of people talked about, was her wonderful laugh.  My aunt had one of the best laughs I've ever heard.  Even thinking about her laugh makes me smile.  You couldn't hear Aunt LaNell's laugh and NOT smile--and laugh along yourself.  Her laugh was happy, and full of life.  She was a bend at the waist, tears rolling down her face, full of abandon laugh-er.  You knew you'd achieved funny if you got an Aunt LaNell laugh.  It would just make your whole day to make her laugh.

Oh, sure.  My aunt was known for many more, and much deeper qualities than just her laugh.  But, there's something to be said for a good laugh.  I think being known for a happy laugh says a lot about a person.  

I think I'd like to be known for a happy laugh.  An Aunt LaNell laugh.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, 
    our tongues with songs of joy. 
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”

-Psalm 126:2

Quick and Easy Teacher Gifts

What is it about me...that I love the words "quick and easy" so much?  Today's edition of Quick and Easy is brought to you by the Letter "T"...for TEACHERS...and TARGET!!!

Ya'll know how much I love to plan ahead, so on Wednesday--my daughters' last day of school--I ran to Target to find their gifts.  Nothing like some good old fashioned out-of-time-stress to inspire a great idea. Right?

I started in the $1 aisle to find containers for my gifts.  I knew I wanted to give gift cards, but in a creative and thoughtful way.

I SCORED in the $1 aisle--because everything I bought there was on a half-price sale.  So, that made each of my containers 50 CENTS each. (My math skills are impressive.)

I bought some cute packs of thank you cards to add in.  

I finished off the gifts with darling teacher-specific gift cards, and a large cellophane basket bag (that I cut in half to use for the 2 larger containers.  I do LOVE a cellophane bag, ya know.)

Here's what I came up with.  What do you think?

Here they are up close...

Not bad for a 10-minute shopping trip, huh?  Like I said--I do love these words...QUICK and EASY!!!

(Want some more quick and easy gift ideas?)

What is your most recent great "Quick and Easy" idea?

Sometimes doing the hard thing is...really hard

One of the hardest things I do as a parent is:  Making my kids do hard things.

Do you know what I'm talking about?

Making my kids finish something they've started--even when they beg, cry, pout, get sick, get a headache, are exhausted, and beg some more.  Wanting them to finish strong, so they don't learn to be a quitter.

I'm talking about when my kids beg me at the beginning of the year to take certain classes or play certain sports...and by the middle of the year are BEGGING to quit.  And when begging doesn't work, and their parents tell them they have to finish out the year, they move on to bigger and better tactics--like claiming headaches, exhaustion, and (SHH!  Don't tell them this) the one that works the BEST on a tender-hearted mama: "Mom, don't you sometimes just need a little break from something?"

In the past couple of months, a certain class has become DREADED at our house.  This was a class my daughter has always wanted to take, has dreamed of taking.  She was exhilarated at the beginning of the year finally to be able to sign up for the class.  But, it didn't take long for the class to become difficult.  I watch this class, and I see.  It really IS difficult.  I can see--weekly--how it challenges my daughter.  It challenges her not only physically, but mentally. 

And the most difficult thing of all for this tender-hearted mama?  I can see how it challenges her emotionally.

Every. Single. Week. we have a pep-talk before the class.  I tell her that I know she can do it.  I tell her that she is strong, and can face hard things and DO them.  I remind her how much she wanted to take this class.  I also remind her how some weeks she has a good time with her friends there.  I tell her that I'm proud of her for finishing the class.  I try really hard to be a good empathetic listener as she tells me--weekly--how hard the class is, and how MUCH she doesn't want to go.  I tenderly smooth back her hair when the tears roll down her cheeks.   

But, I must admit to you.  It is really HARD as a parent to see my sweet daughter struggle so hard to quit something...and have to look into her eyes, and tell her, "Sweetie, I love you.  Because I love you, I want you to finish out this class.  You ARE going today.  Now, please go get ready."

I want to tell my daughter that she is not the only one doing a hard thing.

Sometimes, her mama really wants a break, too.

It's Teacher Gift Time!

This is one of my favorite little teacher gift ideas.  I am actually re-posting this, in case you didn't see it the first time around.  I love this idea because it is quick and easy--which is what we all NEED this crazy time of year!

------------

How about a Sonic Happy?!!

Just today I needed some last-minute gifts for our daughter's choir teachers.  I love to be able to give small, thoughtful gifts to the adults who help with our church's children's musical.  Somehow, I had forgotten all about these gifts...until THIS MORNING--the MORNING of THE MUSICAL.   AAAHHHHHH!!  Sometimes, I really wonder what is wrong with my feeble brain.

The quickest thing I could think of was a $5 gift card from Sonic.  Because WHO doesn't like Sonic???  And, in my world, Sonic = Happy. 

In order to help the Sonic gift card look more thoughtful and creative...you know--to AMP IT UP a little...I thought it would be fun to place the card inside a small Sonic cup and wrap it in a clear cellophane bag.

Stick around here a while, and you'll find that I use these bags for everything!

Quickly, I printed up some colorful gift tags that said,

"Thanks a 'TOT' for helping with our choir!"

(Update:  My niece used this idea for her school teacher, and chose to use this cute phrase:  "Thanks for all you 'TOT' me this year!")

I punched a hole in the corner of each, and slid them into a ziploc bag.  (An easy way to print these creative gift tags is with MS Word, using the insert "Word Art" feature.  I used the rainbow-colored template to type out my message.  After sizing my message to the size I wanted on the page, I copied it, and pasted it 5 more times down the page.  Literally, this took me 60 seconds to create and 60 seconds to print.)

I gathered some yellow ribbon, cut into appropriate lengths, and slid those along with some cellophane bags into the same ziploc.

I also thought it would be fun to have some colorful M&Ms in the bottom of the Sonic cup, for the gift card to rest on top.  (If I'd had some Hershey's Kisses, I would have LOVED putting those in the cups.  M&Ms are what I had on hand, so that's what I used.)

 

Here's a pic of my very-quickly gathered supplies to take in the car with me to Sonic:

At Sonic, I ordered 6 $5 gift cards, along with 6 small cups and straws, and 2 empty bags.  It took 2 tries to get Mr. Sonic to understand what I was asking.

I began assembling those puppies right there in the Sonic parking spot!

First, I plopped a handful of M&Ms in the bottom of each cup, then placed the gift card on top.

 

Then, I put on the lid, slid in a Sonic's happy red straw, placed the cup into the cellophane bag, and tied on the yellow ribbon and gift card.

 

Voila!  You have zee Sonic Happy!!!  Doesn't zees just make you SMILE?

I placed the 6 Sonic Happies into empty Sonic sacks to transport them into church.  I sure did notice lots of glances toward my Sonic sacks.  I think they were wondering if I was transporting TOTS into church!  Yum Yum, me love tots!!

There you have it!  A QUICK, CREATIVE, THOUGHTFUL and INEXPENSIVE gift idea! 

 Those are my 4 favorite words when it comes to gift-giving!  How about you?

(Need MORE teacher gift ideas?  Click here!) 

What is your favorite teacher appreciation gift?

Linked up with:

Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Pointer Hatchet Schoolroom linky dinks

Well, well, well.  What have we here?  

I do believe we have what is commonly called...A WEEKEND!!!!

(Imagine that I am doing a little jumpy dance over here.)

We have no big plans this weekend, which makes me vury vury happy.  We are about to head into our cuh-ray-zee busy summer mode, so a lazy weekend sounds heavenly!

You want some links?  I got some links.  Don't say I never gave you anything.

Word.

 

Honey, I changed my mind (again.)  THIS is what I want for Mother's Day.  A week would be nice.  (pretty pretty please?)

 

If you're not a mother, and sometimes you want to RUN AWAY rather than attend church on Mother's Day morning...I wish I could give you a hug right now.  I've been right there...and I am really sorry if Mother's Day is a sad day for you.  I don't even have the best words to say to you to make things all better.  Because, sometimes nothing can make it better.  Right?  Anyway, I just wanted to say that I will be thinking of you this weekend.  And if I know you, I'll even be saying a little prayer for you.

 

We don't have any plans to homeschool our daughters in high school, but this box of books for a high schooler totally fascinates me. I found myself mesmerized by some of the books. I want many of them FOR MYSELF--namely, The Visual History, Our Century in Pictures, and Made You Look.

 

I really LOVE seeing how different people organize. The painted pantry INSPIRES me to paint mine a fun color! Which space is your favorite? Also--Jen's colorful blog just makes me happy.

 

This Tim Hawkins clip about hand raising in church made me laugh HARD. Do you have hand raisers at your church? (Click here if you can't see the video below)

In closing, I leave you with 3 words..."Pointer, hatchet, schoolroom."

Please help me pick out a lamp

I don't know if you noticed how sneaky I was the other day...when I asked what was on everyone's wish list--and just-so-happened to mention what was on MY LIST.  

I just figure ye have not, because ye ask not.

Do you agree?

Anyway, I need to amend that list.  After looking with my mom at the table that I wanted to put the orchid on, she wondered what a lamp would look like, instead of the orchid? She was worried the orchid might not get enough sunlight in that spot.

So, today, I tried out a lamp that I already had, and I also walked through the lamp aisles at Target.  But, I'm no good at this decorating stuff.  My decorating style is called "Hand-Me-Down Decorating."  Nearly everything in my house is from family.  I LOVE having furniture that was my grandparents' and my parents', but when it's time to purchase something new and different, I am at a total loss.

Which is why I am coming to you, dearest readers.  I know that many of YOU are fabulous at decorating.  I've taken a couple of pictures, and I really hope you will help me figure out what to do with 2 tables in my living room.

Ready?  Let's get started!!!

This first picture is how I've had this corner table for years.  I originally loved the silk plant with pomegranates, but now I can't stand it another second.  It is a terrible dust collector, and I just don't like the look of it anymore.

I am open to changing anything on the walls, and anything on the table. Please don't tell me you don't like the tablecloth--I really love the fabric, and love the way my curtains bring out the red tones in it.  The shelf was my grandmother's, with several angels from her collection.  The pictures I bought years ago when we visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Oh, and in case you can't tell from my lame photo-taking skills, the walls are a buttery yellow.

 

Here's the next table I need help with. Again, this is the way I've had it for years:

Ya'll, these pretty chairs were my great Aunt Mae's  I can just see her tiny self perched in one of these, as we'd visit in her living room.  That needlepoint footstool was made by my grandmother, and sat in her living room. I can remember my uncle's gigantic feet propped on it, as he'd con me into giving him a foot rub.  The tiered table was also my grandmother's, and probably sat very near the footstool in her room, too.

I know you don't need all of these sentimental details.  But, I just can't help myself.  I just love furniture that tells a story.

 

Okay, next picture.  Here is the first table as a blank slate.  What would YOU put on it?

And here is this table with the dark red lamp (from the other tiered table).  What do you think?  Is it too much red?  (The light makes the lamp look funny--but it is the same deep red as the curtains.)  Would a darker color lamp look better?  Black?  Rubbed bronze? Or a different lampshade?

 

Here is the tiered table with nothing on it.  Except for a doily.  I know, I know.  People haven't decorated with doilies since the early 1990s.

 

 

As I walked the lamp aisles at Target today, I snapped a few pictures.  Do you think any of these lamps/lampshades would work on either of these tables?

 

The pictures don't do these lamps justice.  I just love the gold (glass) lamp!  Also, anything mercury glass makes me swoon, and this "antiqued" mercury glass lamp is no exception.

 Please don't tell me to use the Eiffel Tower lamp.  My favorite lamp here is the dark rubbed bronze twisted lamp on the right.

 

Oh, how I love this golden yellow lampshade.  I realize it has more of a modern flair than my very traditional living room.  However, I'd love to transition it slowly into a slightly more modern space.  (Emphasis on "slightly.")   What would this lampshade look like on a dark lamp--on the 2-tiered table?

Okay, there ya have it!  Please please just make out a plan for me, and tell me what I need!  Oh, and could you do it soon, please?  I need to tell my daughters what they need to "suggest" to their dad for Mother's Day.  *grin*

THANK YOU for your help!!!!  I promise to post pictures after you guys tell me what do do!

Let's tell some truth together...

In honor of Tell the Truth Tuesday, I thought it would be fun to play a little Truth or Dare with yous guys.  

Okay, not really Truth or Dare.  I just said that to make you nervous.  

But, I thought yous guys may get sick of hearing all about me...So, I'm turning the tables on YOU today.  

I will answer some questions about myself.  But ONLY if you PROMISE to tell me YOUR ANSWERS.

Pinkie promise?

Okay, here goes!

1.  What book have you read recently? (I'm currently reading Unbroken, and LOVING it!)

2.  What's your current breakfast of choice?  (Lately, I've been alternating between Oatmeal Raisin Crunch cereal or a cinnamon raisin bagel.  Yum.  I'm hungry now.)

3.  Are your toenails painted right now?  What color?  (Yes!!  I keep mine painted all during my beloved Chaco season.  Right now, mine are painted Revlon's Love that Red.  Speaking of toenail painting...Have you read my brilliant post on perfectly painted toenails???)

4.  What household chore do you like LEAST?  (Hmm...it's a tie between vacuuming, and putting away folded clothes.)

5.  What household chore do you like MOST?  (None of the above.  Okay, if I HAD to pick...it would be washing a load of white clothes, and putting in a leetle beet of bleach.  A capful of bleach makes me happy.)

 6.  What is the LEAST HEALTHY thing you do? (Okay, okay, I admit...sometimes I really love having a bowl of ice cream at bedtime.  I know it is a terrible terrible thing to do...but it just tastes so delicious while I am watching something in bed...)

7.  What is on your gift list for Mother's Day...or birthday...?  (Well, since you asked, I'd have to say...I would love a live plant in a pretty pot to replace an old silk plant that is about to PUT ME OVER the EDGE.  I'd really like something tall, and would love something that blooms--like an orchid.  I'd also like either a Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred dvd, or the book about running written by an old Kamp friend of mine--Run With Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of Poo.

Okay, that's it!  Now, it's YOUR turn!!!

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