5 Things I'm Thinking Right Now

Ok, ok, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this site. I know that my audience may be small, but I am finally caving to the pressure being poured on by my wife Kim and her book club friend Brenda (you're suspending me?!?). I will blog about the first ten things that are on my mind on this Saturday night as I sit in our living room with no NBA game to watch on TV.

1) Booties and butts: Just before bedtime, my daughter Olivia says to me as she points to her rump, "This is my bootie!" I looked at her and asked, "Where did you learn that word?" She told me that she learned this invaluable lesson from a funny TV show she and her sister Kelsey were watching. Kim and I fight the battle I am sure many of you fight in trying to keep some of the world's norms from entering into our home. We had not covered the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the word "bootie" yet, but we have tried to discouraged the use of the word, "butt" encouraging the girls to use the word "buns" to refer to their gluteus maximus. This past Monday night, my parents took the girls along with their three cousins to Russ' Restaurant and the mall to spoil them. Arriving home, they entered their door singing at the top of their lungs "SHAKE YOUR BUTT, SHAKE YOUR BUTT, SHAKE YOUR BUTT!" Looking at us with a gleam in their eye, they rationalized their singing by telling us, "But our cousins were singing it!" Kim and I choose to not get to excited about this realizing we need to pick our battles to win the war. We just smile and pray that God will put friends and other people in their lives that will point them in the right directions and point them toward Him.

2) The Nieve French Teacher: The above thought reminds me of a French teacher at a school I taught at in Marion, IN after I graduated from college. I will be the first to admit that it is not impossible for teenagers to pull the wool over my eyes in the classroom. Just this past week, a young lady handed me what looked like an invitation to a graduation open house and asked me if I would be willing to come. I looked at the blank card and realized a junior had just asked me that question. But this French teacher tops that by a mile. She was an older lady who had come out of retirement to teach at the school for one year. Her class comprised a group of juniors who would not have won any awards for Most Mature. They were more likely to be nominated for a Most Manure Award. This sweet teacher would take prayer requests before class, and one of the young men began asking that she pray for their good friend Seymour Butts (anybody remember Ren & Stimpy). One day, their friend had hurt his arm. Another day, Seymour Butts was having trouble with his girlfriend. This went on for over a week. When I first heard of this, I will admit I laughed pretty hard, but I warned these concerned teenagers that they had better put their imaginary friend to rest if they did not their concerns brought to the attention of the administration.

3) Go Pistons!: I am pumped that the Detroit Pistons are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth year in a row. I have followed the Pistons since they began making similar runs to the E.C. finals in the late 80s with Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer going up against Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. This year's team like the team of the 80s plays unselfishly concerned more about winning than about individual stats. This time of year drives Kim nuts because I desire to watch an excessive amount of basketball. She enjoys watching football much more than basketball, and for that, I am eternally grateful to God for putting such a wonderful woman in my life. When I flip the channel to another NBA game, she simply rolls her eyes and picks up her book for book club entering a world outside of slam dunks, free throws and three-pointers. I am hoping the Pistons play against the Cleveland Cavaliers, so they can get revenge against LeBron James and company for upsetting them last year in the E.C. finals.

4) What am I currently enjoying or recently have enjoyed: a) The Whole Scoop (an ice cream shop) just opened within walking distance of our house. We have been there twice. Kids cones are 50 cents each. Enough to get any Dutchman's blood pressure rising. b) I just saw the new Ironman movie last Wednesday. It was one of the coolest superhero movies I have ever seen! c) I am currently reading "Hood" by Stephen Lawhead. He is an author who wrote the Pendragon series. In this first book of the King Raven trilogy, he is reinventing the Robin Hood story. I have been drawn into this gritty world of past Great Britain, and I look forward to picking up the next book "Scarlet" soon. d) When my parents took my girls and their cousins out to eat and shop, Kim suggested that we call my sister and go out together. We decided to eat at Carraba's. They did not disappoint once again. I highly recommend their Chicken Marsala or their Steak Marsala with mashed garlic potatos as a side. Every bite sent my taste buds a little glimpse of what food in heaven will be like some day.

5) 10:00 - One of the jokes about my wife Kim is that when the bell tolls 10pm, she fades quickly and needs to find her pillow. Tonight is no exception, but she will have some company on this Saturday night. It was a beautiful day outside, and the girls and I spent the better part of it working and playing around the yard. I am beat, and I am signing out! I will try to make the next blog entry occur a little bit sooner. Have a great Sunday everybody!!