Freeze your Eyebrows

I attended a parenting Q and A panel last week where I thought I might just cringe at all the old school, by the book advice that was sent out. There was a little, but mostly I was refreshingly surprised and even picked up a good tip or two. The best thing I learned was "freeze your eyebrows". That just cracks me up, but makes so much sense. When your kids (or anyone, for that matter) are talking to you, freeze your eyebrows so as not to give away your immediate reaction. If you don't respond right away, you have time to formulate a coherent statement, gain a little composure, and even say a little prayer if you need to. No more shock value if your teenager wants to knock you to the floor with the latest scandal at school or in their life. Maybe I'll practice in a mirror since people typically know how I feel because it is written all over my face. I need to find a non-fake, sincere, non-contemplative, and loving look. Yeah, not gonna happen. Hmm, anyone got any better advice?

This Friday:

In case you can't read the details, here's the link: Concert for Japan

It's this Friday, the 29th at 7:30pm
Desert Foothills United Methodist Church
2156 E Liberty Lane, Phoenix 85048
(west of I10 between Chandler Blvd and Pecos)

An Easter Thought

There is a blog called "project mayhem" that I tune into when the subject and writing seems interesting enough. This evening I saw that this man gave an Easter Sermon and posted it on his blog. He starts off with Mel Gibson, Braveheart, and The Passion of the Christ. Interesting beginning, and I felt it was worth the whole read if you want to check it out here. But here are his words in conclusion that hit spot on as I think about what our life here on earth is all about; growing closer to Christ:

"As the cross shows—as Christ on the cross shows us—the true love of Christ is not always easy, and it is not always rewarded. It is a love that can make us vulnerable and uncomfortable. I do not believe that it necessarily requires us to put ourselves at risk as others have...In fact Apostle Paul warns us not to do more than we are safely able. However it does require us to extend our selves, to reach out, and to speak out in ways that may be new and uncomfortable.Just as the cross on Calvary points back to the life of Christ, it also points forward to the resurrection—in both the literal body of Christ (which announces or literal resurrection) and the figurative body of Christ, which calls for us to continue that which Christ was doing. Pilate and the Jewish elite thought that by ending Jesus’s life that they would end what he had started. His resurrection signified that they could not end it, and the growing body of Christ showed that they did not. It is for this reason that we are not asked to look upon the cross, but are called to take upon the cross as well. As Christ taught, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34)

On this Easter—and in every day—as we reflect upon the cross of Calvary. May we think about the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ and how we might join, follow, and emulate our Savior. As we rise up as the body of Christ, let us extend ourselves beyond our comfort zone to reach out to those who need some lifting up. Let us extend our love, help, and our means to the homeless, the mentally ill, and the struggling drug addicts. Let us open our hearts and friendships to the strangers and those who are different—to people of different faiths or no faith at all, to immigrants and persons of different races and nationalities, and to our gay, lesbian, and transgendered brothers and sisters. Let us forgive those who have hurt us and stand up for those who have been hurt.We are called to be saviors on mount Zion. We are called to not just be like Christ, but to be a Christ to others. So let us take up the cross and be saviors to those who are in need, for “whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:9). "

Well, I couldn't have said it better myself, so I won't. I realize some of these things may be harder than others to do, but we all have to start somewhere. I have a hard time thinking about Christ's crucifixion without tears welling up in my eyes and heart, so I will continue to think about taking up the cross and helping those in need, reaching out, and being uncomfortable as I look for hope in the future and move forward with faith.

"share with you i "

Yoda was in my inbox today but he disguised himself as one of my friends. I got an email from a friend I don't see very often (I think it's been about a year now) and it read:

share with you i
Nice to see you again.
I help a friend introduced to (insert website here) Just click it and you will feel great.
Take good care of yourself and write often.

I replied with:

Hey ----. "I not thinking this was you" because you have much better grammar than what is contained in this email. I didn't clink on the link to feel great, but thought you should know someone hacked into your email address.
Hope your Easter is great!

The response I got:

Well, I try help friends with good links. I wouldn't click on it either and yes, it does look like I was hacked. I changed the password and refreshed all my antiviruses...sigh, the internet can be such a pain sometimes! Take care and have a wonderful Easter weekend!

All I can really say it that I didn't click on the link but I do feel really great. Bill, Kyra and I got a good laugh out of this. It's fun to have a 12 year old that appreciates bad grammar.

"Intaxication"

Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

Shhh... don't tell...

Tax day is actually April 18th this year. Because of a government holiday we have 3 extra days to file. Even if today was tax day, you wouldn't have to pick up your taxes from your taxman if he efiled them for you. They've already been filed. Electronically. Hence the "e" in efile. There is no magic button that he pushes to grant your request once you pay him. Unfortunately he does not have that power. But don't tell. The 30+ people that rushed down to pick up their papers today will feel dumb. (Also don't tell the taxman that I'm posting this while on the clock waiting for a client to come in and pick up their already efiled taxes from 2 months ago.) Silly people.

Oh, Jimi... really?

Knowledge speaks,

but wisdom listens.

Jimi Hendrix

The funny thing is that I know people who speak with knowledge and then don't listen to themselves. That's the really odd thing. The people that know all the right things to say and then just don't do them. Odd, funny? Funny, ha-ha? Or just plain sad? I don't know. I try to listen to other people and then reflect on that before I speak. Sometimes I need to clarify or talk it out to make the most of something someone has said. I think maybe wisdom comes after you listen, reflect, learn, and act. I wouldn't know though.

The Best Fix

"I have seen what a laugh can do.

It can transform almost unbearable tears

into something bearable, even hopeful. ”

Bob Hope

May we all find a way to find more laughter in our lives. Almost all of my memories involve laughter, even those of my grandparents funerals. My relatives have a way of remembering the good and enjoying the lives of those around them. My poor grandfather was going to be without is wife of 50+ years and we were all gathered around in their home. He was going to miss her desperately, but having us all around enjoying one another helped. Grandpa wasn't able to laugh when we were, but I believe it helped to make things bearable for him.

The best way our family knows to get out of a battle of wits amongst ourselves is to break the tension with a laugh. More often than not, laughing at our absurdities helps us get over the anger. And let's face it, most of our battles are absurd and are based on stubborn pride. Pride that needs to be laughed out to bring it back down into perspective.