Strategy?

Years ago, when Johnny was about four, we attended a family game night with our fellowship group. At one of the tables, we had a game of UNO going. Johnny had never played UNO before, but we added him in and taught him how to play. To keep things simple, he played with all his cards spread out, face up, on the table in front of him. Everyone else playing was an adult. If you've played UNO before, you know that keeping your cards hidden is to your advantage. We all chuckled when he won the first game. Pretty funny, beating all those adults with all his cards face up on the table. We played a second game and he won again. The laughs were less hearty and eyes began to narrow. But when he beat us all a third time, we just had to shake our heads and change games!

This past Thursday, Chris & Sarah invited our family over and introduced us to "The Settlers of Catan". Chris patiently explained the MANY rules to us while Sarah handled Bekah & the bank. I have to admit, I was pretty clueless. I wanted to protest when they all made fun of me, but I couldn't because I deserved it. Chris tried to guide me occasionally, but my version of strategy just did not align with what he knew was strategy. It seemed like he had to explain rules more times to me than anyone else. Part way through the game everyone noticed the lovely "Duck" I'd built with my spare cities, settlements, boats and roads. When I ended up winning the game, I imagine Chris might have felt a little like we adults did the night Johnny cleaned our clock at UNO.

I look forward to playing again. I may never again have the pleasure of winning, but I enjoyed making that duck!

Painfully Beautiful

Just a short post to let you know we at the Rowlands house are currently experiencing technical difficulties! If you read my last post, "The Beauty of Technology", then you know how delighted I was to be able to use a little photo editing to make everyone happy with our Christmas picture. So imagine my delight when my Christmas gifts included Adobe Photoshop elements 5.0 AND my own laptop!!! Delight is not a strong enough word! Granted I have been hinting, not so subtly, for a laptop for over a year, but I didn't think I'd really get one. We are not big ticket gift givers so this was nothing short of incredible.

However, even though I'm still a bit giddy about the new toys, getting set up has been a little trying. In the process of setting up "Jen's Baby", our wireless router somehow ended up fried. To make a long story short, my dear husband used the best part of the last two days trying to restore a consistent internet connection for our three computers (including Jen's Baby). Today he had the joy of spending a good deal of time on hold for Tech Support. It has been so very frustrating.

Small problems in the big picture, but good reminders that beauty can be very painful!

P.S. I thoughts the synonyms for painful might add insight:

Synonyms 1. distressing, torturing, agonizing, tormenting, excruciating. 2. arduous.

The Beauty of Technology

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! I have some funny stories for upcoming posts (at least I hope they're funny, because they were rather inconvenient to experience and I'm hoping the humor factor, combined with what we learned from them, makes them indeed valuable) . Until then, you will have to settle for our family Christmas picture.

This year's picture demonstrates my growing love for technology. As much as I like to say "It's not all about me", it sometimes really is. The first person I look at in every picture is ME. If it's good of me, it's a good family picture. It it's bad of me, it's just a BAD picture. Well, the one I liked best of me was not so good of anyone else. I tried to convince myself, and the rest of the family that they really did look good and those were relaxed expressions on their faces. I finally had to admit, however, that the best one of everyone else (including Beamer & Squiggy) was not good of yours truly. In spite of my vanity, bowing to the greater good, I went ahead and ordered a few of the majority best picture for Christmas cards. I was playing around with borders and sizes so they were only samples. After I got them back, I realized I was just too vain to send 100 of those pictures. After all, I am the one who puts every single one into the envelope and sends it off with our letter. I've done that before and every single time I stuff the envelope I think, "I don't like this picture." So, I tried my hand at a little digital magic and cut & pasted my head from my favorite into the other. I didn't have any sophisticated software so did the whole thing on "Paint", but assuming you don't study it too hard, I was pretty pleased with the results--or to be more accurate, I liked the end product much better than the one I began with.

Technology can be a beautiful thing, especially when you're not!

Thanking the Little People

Have you heard I was voted "Time's Person of the Year" for 2006? Yes, it was a surprise to me too. Apparently I've joined the ranks of Pope John Paul II, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Nikita Krushchev, Charles Lindberg, Elizabeth the II, every American President since FDR, and Bill Gates, among others. To quote Pig Pen, "It kind of makes you want to treat me with more respect."

Yes, I have achieved something I never even thought to aspire to. The fact that I share this award with countless others in no way diminishes the glory. To quote Time's website:

"And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME's Person of the Year for 2006 is you." (From TIME.com, Cover Story Person of the Year: You. Posted Dec. 13, 2006)

So for all of us exchanging ideas and information through the internet, here's our pat on the back and something to put on the résumé!

And I want to assure you that this honor will not change me, or my blog at all. Finally, I'd like to thank the little people...

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

I've had many ideas running through this scatterbrained head for possible posts. One of my dear friends, who is going through some agonizing times told me Sunday how she enjoyed reading the "Bad Doggie" post and having a good laugh with us. It made me think again about the ministry of being transparent enough to shows one's weakness in a humorous light that encourages others and at the very least gives them something to laugh at. Since the night of our barfing Beamer we've had much material to poke fun at and some may appear in a future post or two. After all, giving people something to laugh at is one of my ministries!

The desire to comfort and encourage looms very large right now as I know of so many dear ones who are hurting as they endure extremely painful circumstances and losses. How do you offer comfort to someone undergoing hardship beyond your experience? The Lord brought to mind one of my favorite verses, Hebrews 4:15,16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I LOVE this verse and find immense comfort in the fact that Jesus knows and understands our pain. He sympathizes with us, not from the standpoint of an outsider looking in, wondering what we must really be going through, but as One who truly understands every aspect of that pain intimately, AND as One who is able to help and give us mercy and grace in our time of need. When Jesus came as a human baby to humble parents in a troubled time, He not only came to offer salvation, He also offers understanding and sympathy which bring comfort along the journey. What an incredible gift God gave when He sent His Son!!!

You WANT to Read This Post!

What better way to get in the Christmas spirit than taking a Christmas survey??? Okay, I can actually think of many better ways, but it's rather painless and it helps me out.

I want to play "Christmas Family Feud" at our Christmas party on the 21st. This particular party is one we have had for the last 11 years. It began as a "Story Night Party" where we centered the evening around the reading of Christmas books to our young children. We mixed in good food & the occasional craft & caroling, and have kept it going for all these years. We have come to the realization, however, that our kids have grown--it is time to evolve. So this year, "Story Night" will become "Game Night". A game of Christmas Family Feud will be just the right addition to our new tradition.

Anyhoo, you know how family feud works..."100 people surveyed, top 6 answers on the board..." Therefore, I NEED to survey 100 people!! I sent out many emails and the surveys started coming back within minutes. I thought, "This is awesome! I am going to have NO problem surveying 100 people!!" However, things slowed significantly and I have remained at 50 surveys for two days now! That means I still have 50 surveys to go for heaven's sake!!! So now I am appealing to your sense of fun, your desire to be a part of a Christmas tradition, or at least your sense of pity. Could you help me out here?

What I want you to do is read over the questions and either email me the answers or put them into your comments. I'm sure Santa has better presents for those who compassionately help out crazy people that take on silly projects at the busiest time of the year. For those of you who have already responded, thank you very much!!! If you have a split personality, feel free to take it twice.

1. Name a store people traditionally shop the day after Thanksgiving.

2. Name something that is traditionally eaten Christmas day.

3. Name a favorite Christmas carol.

4. Name one line from the poem, “A Night Before Christmas”

5. Name a Christmas movie.

6. Name something that is used to decorate for Christmas.

7. Name something that is traditionally baked during the Christmas season.

8. Name a gift that dad is likely to receive on Christmas.

9. Name a gift that mom is likely to receive on Christmas.

10. Name a gift that dad does NOT want to receive for Christmas.

11. Name a gift that Mom does NOT want to receive for Christmas.

12. Name a gift that a teenager would like to receive.

13. Name a gift that a teenager would NOT like to receive.

14. Name a gift that Grandma might give.

15. Name a place that people traditionally go during the Christmas season.

16. Name a least favorite task associated with Christmas.

17. Name a favorite cookie eaten during the holiday season.

18. How many Christmas cards do most families send on Christmas?

19. How many Christmas gifts are under most family trees?

20. What is the most likely gift to be returned the day after Christmas?

21. Name one of Santa’s Reindeer.

22. Name one of the gifts given in the 12 days of Christmas.

Bad Doggie

Today's post is dedicated to our Thursday adventure with Beamer. Scott & I enjoyed an evening out, while the kids kept the home fires burning. At some point in our absence, Beamer snuck upstairs and raided my closet where I had put together some packages of chocolate truffles for two of my high school buddies. I was dismayed to discovered about 14 shiny wrappers strewn about and chocolate smeared upon my carpet.

As it was about 11:00 p.m., I had to call an emergency vet to get some instruction. The first vet simply said, "Bring him in now." When I relayed this information to Scott, who had already climbed into bed, he didn't think that was good advice. I agreed to get a 2nd opinion and tried again. The next vet walked me through instructions to make Beamer throw up using hydrogen peroxide. I proceeded to squirt the liquid into my unappreciative toy fox terrier. About 15 minutes later, the fun began. Not only did he throw up through the night, he also howled and whined the entire time. In the process of letting Beamer out, the kitten escaped into the dark & freezing yard twice. Both times saw me fishing him out from under the trampoline. At 3:00 a.m., I received a phone call on my cell phone from my son-- he was calling from his bedroom to ask if he could skip school the next morning since Beamer was keeping everyone awake. In the process of checking on Beamer, a couple of minutes later, I realized that the Christmas carols were playing downstairs. After checking with each of the kids to see if they'd turned on the music, the mystery began. I was suddenly worried about more than a sick dog. I woke up Scott and told him, "You'd better come downstairs with me. The music is on and now I'm wondering if someone is in the house and that's why Beamer keeps barking?" (It made sense in the wee hours of the morning.) Scott came down with me and while I cleaned up the newest upchuck, he searched the house for our musical intruder. A couple of minutes later, he was back downstairs checking a closet he'd forgotten to look in. For the next hour, I lay awake worried about Beamer, and a lurking Christmas carol bandit. Daylight could not come soon enough.

The long & the short of it is we are all recovered. However, we have no high hopes that Beamer learned any kind of lesson, so we have invested in a portable gate that blocks the stairs. May your dog be healthy, your chocolate's stay wrapped, and may you be spared the agony of the Musical Intruder.