Dates with Daddy

Dates with Daddy

It started a few years back, after my dad, in his
early 60’s became disabled after a motorcycle
accident. He was in the hospital and rehab for a good
part of a whole year. But when he got better, his life
was completely changed. My mom was still working and
he had many days he was, ‘in town’ for Dr appointments
and whatnot by himself. I was in my “full-time mom”
stage and he called me at least once a week to meet
him for lunch. He’s always been a social person and to
him, having lunch out alone was the ultimate waste. We
met at salad bars, café and diner’s., exploring the
local landscape of mid-priced eating establishments.
What a treat for a man who spent most of his life on
the farm, 20 miles from even the closed fast food. He
was like a kid in a candy store. We spent a great deal
of our time chatting about the kids or other personal
issues. The conversations aren’t as important as the
fellowship.
Over the next five years many things changed but our
dates remained a constant. My parents moved to town,
my mom retired. Dad was diagnosed with diabetes.
Through poor health, strokes and blindness, the dates
didn’t change. This last Christmas, I decided to make
an official commitment, an intentional effort to spend
time alone with my dad. Every Friday, rain or shine,
we go out. We do whatever he wants, usually estate
sales, then we go out to eat.
This doesn’t seem much like an incredible story
unless you know our history. We are not a typical
father and daughter. He was an abusive father and I
was his disappointment of a teen. The interactions we
had in those turbulent years would not lead you to
believe we could have this kind of relationship now.
Some how he sees me differently now, maybe I am
different, less sensitive, less confrontational… But
he is also more accepting and less critical. We have
many comments from onlookers and wait staff. “It’s so
sweet of you to be here with your dad.” Sweet wasn’t
the word, it was more like a miracle, miracle of
grace and forgiveness.

Boomi'

My tween's favorite and the Legendy, Toby Mac, wont be coming very close to us, but maybe others will enjoy this tour.

Crazy Beautiful

The Theme to the 2008 Mother/Daughter Retreat Scheduled for April 4th-6th at Butman Camp. More Details to follow. Enjoy and ponder the lyrics courtsey of Air1.com
Chasen - Crazy Beautiful
From the album Chasen

Chasen – Crazy Beautiful
From the album – Shine Through The Stars

Everybody’s been there
everyone’s the same
but mostly we don’t care
isn’t that a shame
We bring us down face after face
the inside is beautiful but the outside we want to change.
We want to change.

Chorus
Whoa you’re oh so beautiful,
you don’t need anyone’s approval
You’ve got to believe in your self you know you are
You’re crazy beautiful

There's no need to change
We're different but the same
In the eyes of the King
We're beautifully made
In his image we're made

Take a look it’s all around you
See the world from different views
The way you shine from the inside
I know with out a doubt
It’s more than what you’ll be
In the world’s eyes.

Whoa you’re oh so beautiful, you don’t need anyone’s a approval
You’ve got to believe in your self you know you are

You’re crazy beautiful

Lyrics may not be reproduced

Winter Wonder

Hoping you are using this cozy season to revel in God's Wonders,

New Season

I love Fall and as we approach Hebraic calendar's New YEAR, I enter a new season. I am closing down the retail space, The Gathering Place, in the Courtyard Mall. It has not been a great location for traffic. I am taking "my show on the road" as they say. I will be working with our Church's Children and adult ministries, planning events and prodocts to go. I am also attending Holiday Happening at the Lubbock Civic Center in Mid Nov. But for now, I am having a BIG Clearance on a lot on inventory at the store. Much is 50% off. Come by and xams sshop early. Deb

Moving skit

I dont know if I'm just emotional or what but this skit really flipped my tear switch. Sometimes it feels good to cry. Get out a Kleenex and enjoy

Rock the Desert

We are heading to Odessa, Tx to see Hawk Nelson, Barlow Girl and more at Rock the Desert. Click title for Utube of Barlow Girl. Visit http://www.hawknelson.com/ for our fave. see a video at MTV U websight.

In be “tween” the holding and the letting go

While cleaning out closets, getting ready for a new round of birthday presents, my almost 11 year old daughter decided it was time to pass down her collection of Barbies.
I wasn’t sure that I was ready to be mother to a girl who is “too old” to play Barbies. I tried to talk her out of it. But, with logic beyond her years, she expressed the same sentiment that was ruminating in my own heart.
“I want to be sad about saying good-bye, but I’m not.”

I looked back at the passing of each parenting season with melancholy longing, the memories were sweet. Sure I ooh and gooh over newborns. I love to reminisce over their baby books, but I have always looked forward to the maturing of my kids. What and honor to see the blossoming of my closely guarded prize rose crop. With much pride I parade all my visitors near to admire God's handwork He has so graciously allowed me to be a part of. I cant wait for the late night talks and the excitement of all the new things this tween season holds. Memories are sweet but the anticipation of the delights to come is sweeter still.
“Good-bye, you have always been my favorite princess. Fare thee well and Live long and prosper." She said, as she placed her Belle into the give away box...

Spectacles

Les Grandes Eaux Nocturns is the evening program around the gardens and fountains of the Castle (Chatau) of Versaille. So large it will take more than one visit to see all the grand statues and water features, music is piped in and sometimes even fireworks to enhance your enjoyment. After the tulips of Holland Rich was a little underwhelmed by the French formal gardens but for those who enjoy art, classical music and a nice evening stroll, this seems perfect.

Click on the title and follow any or all of the links for a taste of classic French culture.

Precious Pearls

Like a tiny seed, a child enters our lives, not much more than an annoyance and a promise.
You hold her, feed her and protect or as she grows bigger and stronger every day.
The seed pearl must remain inside it’s protect shell of the oyster in order to continue to grow as it is daily bathed and nurtured.
So must our daughters remain under the authority God has placed over her, inside the safety and protection of her home, daily bathed in the word and nurtured towards wisdom..
Parents of the precious pearls of the future,
we must make sure they are safe and protected
until the day comes that they are ready to emerge,
full grown with their own protected surface to guard them.

ICRS

Hello from International Christian Retailers Show in Atlanta. Maddy and I have met lots of celebrities (Her favs, Hawk Nelson, Casting Crowns)
I had my book signing yesterday, lots of great responses and comments. Who knows what God has for us now.
We went to a Faith Girlz mother/daughter event yesterday. It was fun. I met Nancy Rue, the author of on of the tween series I've been recommending. We had a chat later about the need for parent training and her possibly speaking at an event next summer. Good connections and a love for little girls hearts. She was especially taken by Maddy.
Maddy's favorite book is called "Paddywhack Lane" It is for a book and doll line of Toddlers, very sweet.

The passage of time

My husband, Richard, turned 39 This past week. I found it useless to tell people I was 39 because they would do something like, wink and say "oh, I get it, 39 and holding" and that greatly annoyed me. I'm not ashamed of my age but I am feeling it more. (especially in my joints) but I wonder if the passage of another biblical "Generation" of 20 yrs had made me more contemplative? Since I am 2 months and a year older than my sweet hubby, I always get to experience these passages first. Let's see how he process it. TICK-TOCK

Keys

This is a collection of all the keys that this one house used. I love them. deb

Black and White Night

The "Black and White night" was a hit as the Henderson, and Iserman girls, (and Josephine)put on the Ritz and went out on the town in Paris. We ate at an old private chapel, now 2 stories under ground, that is a traditional French restaurant run by a Cantonese family. We had a great time!

The problem with "Polution"

This is one of my favorite pics from our recent Paris trip. I am now a true believer in "Anti-Pollution" Aren't French signs fun?

Aurevoir, France

We had a spectaculare weekend in the French countryside , L'Oise river valley, in the village of Pierrefonds. Check out the quaint B and B we visited. It is around 150 years old and recently redone. The hosts are Elizabeth and Jacque Dandoy. I'll soon post pics. Check out their websight. See you back in Texas.

Tulips in Holland

Bonjour

Here we go again. Maddy, Wesley and I have been trying to meet Rich and Nathan in Paris for a week. First, the passports were late and yesterday our flights were canceled due to storms in Dallas. Now we are trying one more time. Hopefully by this time tomorrow we will be jetlagged in France. I'll blog pics soon. Blessings deb

Jawbone of an Ass

I told my son that I believe the true lesson of Sampson's story for me is that a lot of times, we make our own trouble. By not controling my own jawbone, I make an ass out of myself. (Then we get ourselves into a lot of trouble. We want to blame "bad guys" like Philistines but really, isn't it just reaping what we sowed and blaming the weeds? But,more on this later.)
"I thought the jawbone represented the Power of God?" my son commented.
"I think in Bible symbolism it does, but I also believe God is big enough to have known that "Ass" would mean multiple things in our culture today. Like in Shrek, when Puss-n-boots says "You still look like an ass to me." He's saying he still looks like a donkey, but also that he thinks his is a metaphorical ass too. It means a person is full of themselves and makes a fool of themselves because of it."
"Oh, you mean like Oscar in A Shark's Tale?" my son asked.
"Exactly, you got it." I'm so impressed at how easily he understands when I explain it in terms he can relate to.

Wesley's Heart

Thanks for all the prayers for Wes's Heart. The Murmur and his spiritual heart. We received some good news. The blood pressure meds he's been on for 2 months is reducing the leak. He will continue on it for a year. He also asked Jesus into his heart on Easter Eve, while taking a break from viewing an movie on the crucifixion (cartoon) "Mommy, I'm so glad that Jesus gave His blood for me." This is a tradition in the Griffin Family, Uncles Howard Adam did the same thing and were baptized Easter Sunday. We'll give him a few more years to go for the wet part. But, all these prayers for his heart are blessing us all in many ways. THANKS SO VERY MUCH, Blessings, deb