Friday, January 16, 2009

A Couple Things to Keep Us Smiling

It’s seems like a gloomy week on our blog with the announcement about the mystery club closing. It’s -2 on the thermometer outside my window, but the thing is so old, I’m not sure it’s capable of an accurate reading below zero. It’s been days since I’ve been out of my house (for church on Sunday), and I’m going a bit stir-crazy. All of these seem like good enough reasons to just curl back up in a warm bed and block out the world.

I thought we all might need some cheering up, so I want to share two things. First, here’s some scripture we studied in small group this week that was a great reminder to me in a constantly changing, uncertain world: “Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" James 4:13-15

And here’s a cute story to make you smile: Jodi has a little table beside my desk where she likes to sit sometimes while I’m working. She’s in a fun stage where she repeats everything you say, especially if it’s something she’s not familiar with. Tuesday night she was perched in her little chair at her table, and I was at my desk on the computer. I looked over at her and asked, “Jodi are you working?”

“Working!” she agreed.

“Do you have a big project?” I asked.

“Project?” This was a new word to her.

“Do you have a deadline?”

“ROOOOAARRRR!” she growled loudly.

I was stunned for a second. Then I burst out laughing as I realized that to a 17-month-old, deadline sounds a lot like dead lion. And at the mention of a lion, one should always growl, of course! I bet many of us can relate to growling at the word deadline if we’re not quite sure we’re going to meet it on time!

Stay warm this weekend if you’re in a frozen part of the world, and if you’re not, feel blessed. :)

6 comments:

Rachel Overton said...

Thanks for your encouragement throughout this week, JoAnne. I appreciate you so much!

What a great story. You are definitely in a fun stage. It will last for a couple years. Caitlin was always coming up with things like that. We have an expression in our family: I'm just "kickin' your foot." Because at 3, she knew there was an expression about teasing someone that had something to do with your leg, but she couldn't quite remember it. She got pretty close: "Mom, is he kickin' my foot?"

It stuck! (The expression, not the foot. Haha.)

Or, can you figure out what a "keteer plane" might be? Let me give you some clues. She had just watched the Tom & Jerry version of the Three "Mousketeers." We live near an airbase. A big green plane went over, very low. "Look Mom, a Keteer plane!!" Took me a few minutes to get that one.

I miss those days. Now if I don't know what she means, it's because it's a teen thing, and I'm just waaaaaay behind the times! :-)

Have a good weekend, everyone. Stay warm! (It's -9 here!)

Janet Spaeth said...

A dead lion! Oh, I love this little girl!

My daughter had a lot of those phrases too. "Kibberhearts"(Care Bear hearts--applied to anything that was a heart)was my favorite.

We're finally edging back up to zero, having been at 37 below earlier this week. But the tradeoff is that now it's snowing again.

As Gilda Radner used to say, "It's always something."

Enjoy your weekend. I've got a dead lion myself so I know how I'll be spending my time!

CatMom said...

Encouraging post, JoAnne - - thanks! ~ What a precious Jodi story you shared!! She's not only adorable, but smart too - -wow! Enjoy this stage she's in...such a fun time as she learns new words.~
Blessings from Georgia (where we're freezing from our low temps, but shouldn't complain after hearing how COLD it is for you northern folks!), Patti Jo :)

Lauralee Bliss said...

This was so cute, thanks. I needed it today, as I was feeling a little glum. :)

Mary Connealy said...

Hi, busy baby sitting. I've got my own cutie now to compete with everyone. :) My new grandbaby, a girl named Elle.

Very sweet. It's late. she's asleep I'd better go and get some shut eye while I have the chance.

My oldest daughter and her husband are conked out for a few hours.

Vickie McDonough said...

Too funny. Kids are so much fun!