Max and Ruby....

Ruby and Max.....

For those of you not familiar with the books by Rosemary Wells or the cartoon series based on them, meet Max and Ruby. Both the books and the show are a hoot! Max is a Dennis-the-Menace type character who is looked after by his big sister, Ruby. (I have often wondered where the parent bunnies are...)

When my friend Marcy suggested we dress our kids up as Max and Ruby this Halloween, I was all for it. Aron loves them and often walks around the house imitating Max.

We went shopping for the bunny basics: ears, tails, and paws. Then we found a dress for Trinity and I made a Dragon Shirt for Aron. I think they turned out pretty cute, don't you?

Yes, I did!

I went yesterday. Got my sticker and everything. Early voting rocks! Look up your county's voter registration info on-line and go do it!

Some people may not be decided yet, but for me it is less about the person and more about the issues. I don't care if he's cool or what color his tie is. I care about the values of the candidate. Their voting record and their morals.

There are some basic things that have to be black and white, in my opinion. Like life and death, for example.

I heard a speaker today say that "We live in a culture in which it is wrong to say that things are wrong. And that's wrong!" He's a pastor at a church in D.C. and I can only imagine how much he experiences this on a daily basis.

People don't like to say or hear that what someone else is doing is not OK. They think, "Well, that's not OK for me, but it is OK for them." Where in the world is this going to get us? Is this really what we want to teach our children? This grey, mushy, vague system of right and wrong?

Not me. I am not saying that there isn't room for grace and acceptance, because if there weren't, there would be no room for me. But, I am saying that I have to stand up for my beliefs. For the absolute truths that God has given us.

And that's why I voted.

Yep, I am back in the South!

When we moved to Tennessee I was excited to be back in "The South". There really is a big difference in the lifestyle on the West Coast and I really feel more at home here than I did in Vegas. Not that I didn't have a wonderful group of friends and a great church famliy there.

But, back to what I was saying. About the South. There are several things that let you know you are in "The South". Such as Sweet Tea. If you order iced tea in a restaurant here, you have to tell them if you want it unsweetened (and that's how I drink it) or you will get a beverage made of about 3/4 cups of tea and 1 cup of sugar! Also, people here know what grits are, God bless them. I just love grits. Another thing I notice here, and love, is that people put wreaths on their doors. And not just at Christmas time. There are wreaths for all seasons in Tennessee and I think it is just charming. And sweet. And, well, precious.

But the other day, I recieved in the mailbox what I am considering the ultimate proof, the undeniable evidence, the official certification that I am dwelling in The South. I pulled out an invitation to suscribe to THIS MAGAZINE:GARDEN & GUN
Really? There is such a publication, people. I am still contemplating my subscription. It'd be a fun conversation starter to have on the coffee table, no?

"isms" and the things kids say

My friend Lisa has a small quilt hanging in her house that her aunt made. On each square is a little saying or mis-speak that her daughter, Gabrial, would say when she was younger. I just loved this idea. When your little ones are learning to talk, there are so many funny things they will say, but eventually they grow out of them.

I have found myself saddened when Aron does this and I am determined not to forget the silly, funny and cute things he has said. They're his Aronisms! Like:

"Hooken Horns" - we're Texas fans and the phrase is "Hook 'Em", but it's too cute to correct.

"Monkey George" - AKA Curious George. Aron still calls him this and I find myself doing it, too.

"Tucky"- this is Kentucky. Rudy travels to Louisville alot and Aron says, "Daddy's in Tucky."

"Funball!"-or rather, fumble. We watch a little football in this house.

"Dot Com"- this is a new silly obsession of his. Anytime he hears about a web address he has to
fill me in. "Mommy, you can go to Toyota dot com!", he said the other day.

"Let's get this party started!"-my son actually yelled this while running through the sprinkler in our yard this Monday. (yes, I know it is October. We were watering the lawn and he got excited and it was one of those moments when we just decided to let him be a kid)

"Wass Begas"- or Las Vegas- he doesn't say this one anymore, but he used to start all kinds of conversations with the phrase, "Mommy, when I was a baby in Wass Begas..."

"Bee Cereal"- what he calls Honey Nut Cheerios. There's a bee on the box, so it makes sense to him.

"Eleventeen"-this number would be interjected randomly somewhere between 10 and 20 when counting. He just recently left this one behind.

"Ernie!"- Aron actually used to call himself Ernie. Like Ernie and Bert. This was a few years ago when we were still in Vegas. I would say, "What's your name?" and he would say "Ernie!" He actually argued with me if I tried to correct him. It was short-lived, but so funny!

I am sure there are many more funny, sweet, and silly things he'll say in the future. I can't wait!

A chorus

Last we attended First Wednesday at The People's Church in Franklin. It was a special night of worship and the praise team did a live recording for a worship album. Such fun to be a part of! I love worship services, where it's all praising and singing and tonight it went on for over an hour.
Most of the song were written by songwriters who attend our church, so many of them were new to us. One of them is resonating with me still, and the chorus goes like this:

I need no other argument

I need no other plea

It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me