Leaf Raking with God

I think this leaf came from someone else's tree, mine don't turn red.  Anyway.  I have always loved fall.  When I was young it meant my birthday, football games and bonfires.  Later new sweaters and jackets.  And then I lived in Texas where there is no fall.  I so missed it.  Now I am back in Michigan and raking leaves.  I whine about it, but fall has come to represent something else to me in the last couple years.

As I see the leaves falling, I think about how God removes things from me, let's me rest, and then in a time, gives me something new and fresh.  I could not have the new, fresh, and better without getting rid of the old and finished.  I have lost two jobs in about two years and each time, He takes care of me during a rest period, and then gives me something new and better than what I had before.  It happens like clockwork, whether I want it or not, whether I am ready for it or not.  So, I thank God for fall and the reminder that He promised to do a good work in me and He will carry it on to completion until Jesus comes back.  You too.  What is He getting rid of in this season to prepare you for something new and fresh?

Normal Girl

Reinventing Yourself

Did you read this story today?  It made me laugh.

Teenager changes name to Captain Fantastic
A teenager has changed his name to Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined.

By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 2:37PM GMT 04 Nov 2008

The teenager thinks his new name is 'crazy' Photo: South West News
The record-breaking name, now thought to be the world's longest, was the idea of music graduate George Garratt, 19.
He changed his name by deed poll online for £10 last week.
Captain Fantastic said: "I wanted to be unique.
"I decided upon a theme of superheroes."
Captain Fantastic joins a number of people with unusually long names, including Rhoshandiatellyneshiaunneveshenk Koyaanisquatsiuth Williams, a girl born in Texas in 1984.
The teenager, from Glastonbury, Somerset, added that while he thought the new name was "crazy", his grandmother was no longer speaking to him.
Last month in Italy, a couple was banned from naming their son Friday - Venerdi - because the name could expose him to ridicule.
Named after the manservant of Daniel Defoe's famous novel Robinson Crusoe, the court ordered the boy's name be changed to Gregorio, named after the saint's day on which he was born.
In February, a judge in New Zealand made a young girl a ward of court so she could change her name from Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.
Other banned names include Sex Fruit, Keenan Got Lucy and Yeah Detroit.
In New Zealand again, last year a couple was banned from naming their baby 4Real, so they chose Superman instead.

So, you know my question.  What new descriptive and creative name might you give yourself?

I am trying this on for size: Normal daughter of the Lord Most High, learning to love her neighbor, aging, dancing, glittering, wearing bigger jewelry than all of you Girl.

Although I think it might be more fun to name each other,

Normal daughter of the Lord Most High, learning to love her neighbor, aging, dancing, glittering, wearing bigger jewelry than all of you Girl.

Meet My Tree

This is the hardest working tree in my yard.  

This maple tree:

- is home to woodchucks, raccoons and squirrels

- is a good neighbor to two apple trees

- sometimes holds a swing and wind chimes

- grows a large root system that prevents grass from growing in the yard, saving me mowing time

- gives me several hours of raking exercise each fall

- gives us all shade when the sun is beating down

- is pretty all year

She is in fine form right now.  Usually in the fall, the leaves turn brown and drop off.  This year, the leaves are a nice amber color.   It must have something to do with the weather.  Whatever the reason, I love fall!

Normal Girl

Not Like I Imagined

I did a little experiment tonight at the middle school gathering.  I wanted to take some kids, teach them a short STOMP-like bit and let them show it to the rest of the kids.  It went a little wonky.  I got a pile of volunteers, but when they volunteered, they did not know what for.  SO, I got them away from the group to start learning.  Some of them were mad that they were missing the games.  sigh.  kids.  We worked about 10 minutes and we were called back to perform the piece.  Yikes, they were not close to ready.

Poor kids.  Not one of them had a sense of rhythm, and we did not have time for them to get comfortable with it.  So, it was not so great.  But they tried, they really did.

So that really cool thing that I had in my mind?  Not so cool.  But, I did enjoy them: Robert the Awesome (that is how he introduced himself), sweet little Megan, Marissa who had the most fun of all, and Ellie.  I met Ellie in Pioneer Girls four years ago.  She told me then that her name was Beaver, except when she wanted to be called Cocoa Puff.  So, I called her Ellie Beaver Cocoa Puff.  She was smart as a whip and twice as wild.  She has grown into a beautiful girl who could be a model.  

Not ready for Carnegie Hall, but fun,

Normal Girl

I've Been in Therapy

I have actually invented a new kind of therapy.  Glitter Therapy.  Glitter as mood enhancer. Cheaper than traditional medications.  And sparklier.  I dare you to glitter something until it shines, and be sad or depressed.  

I have been glittering stuff in Girl World for two days.  I have had a great time designing projects for a summer booklet for Jo-Ann Stores.  

In case you are not aware, there has been quite the controversy over glitter this year.  At the beginning of the year, Ellen Degeneres asked for the next POTUS to issue a ban on glitter.  It just proves what an unfortunate, mixed up girl Ellen is.  

Of course, my friends who make and sell glitter went crazy.  My very creative friend Penny Costal, who is a designer for Michaels Stores made this.

This is a 4 foot tall letter G that is covered in glitter.  It weighs 989 pounds and they mailed it to Ellen.  Of course, she hates glitter, so what were they expecting?  They got no response at all.  Probably because she was busy hiding from the glitter rally being held outside the studio.

I hope that pic did not give Owen's Grammy apoplexy, she has a serious glitter addiction.

All that to say, I really believe the answer to the winter doldrums is glitter  Stock up now.

Normal (sparkly) Girl

Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

HPB spent part of the morning chasing some office girls around with this package, making them squeal.  Then she sent me the pic to see if she could gross me out.  One of the girls she knows there in China has not been feeling well, her western doctor has not helped her, so she went to the eastern medicine guy.  Her prescription is this pile of stuff....see those big creepy bugs??? Click on the pic, make it nice and big and get a good look.  She boils it and drinks it.  Yum.  Could you do it?  She reports that it is making her feel better.

That is real bug juice.

Normal Girl

New Glass

While hiding in Girl World last night, I made a few beads.  The blue and purple are some new glass I bought.  I like the kind of pearly sheen it has.

To the Diplomat, I am starting your beads today!

Normal Girl