Shelley R. Lee

Dancing

2012-02-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

   A good friend of mine and I managed to get our men to go out dancing with us last week.
   A restaurant in Toledo has dancing after nine o'clock organized by a local ballroom dance studio.   Dave and I had gone to a New Year's event where the same studio gave a short dance lesson followed by people dancing mostly ballroom (to apply what you learned presumably). But we didn't feel too out of place just dancing however we wanted to either.
Aside from New Year's Eve, Dave and I have taken a few lessons - and have forgotten most of it. No, that's not true. We have forgotten all of it. So, now we are in Toledo with our friends, Brett and Lisa, waiting for a short dance lesson. I asked the dance instructor about the lesson and he informed me that they don't do lessons there, but he would take me around the floor for awhile to refresh my memory. I let Dave and our friends know so they could watch and learn.
   I had such a fun time! Let me tell you what I learned.
   I learned that the instructor is a very good dancer. I learned that I had no trouble following him. I learned that my friends and I were on our own with the dancing that night. So, we just made things up and twirled around with our partners and had fun.
   At one point when we sat down for a drink Brett said, "I don't think we're all doing so bad. I mean, we're the ones people are watching. Some people are even pointing at us!"
   After a good laugh we decided we were signing up for lessons soon.
   I got to thinking that a lot of things in life are this way. It's okay to just enjoy something, but if I want to be good at it I need to humble myself, seek good counsel or instruction, and apply what I learn (over and over and over again). I also got to thinking how glad I am that God is patient with me.

My Books in the Window!

2012-02-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

On a day that I was feeling really sick I made one last stop in Bowling Green before going home to collapse. I was bringing business cards to Divine Interiors, where the shop owner is carrying my books in her gift shop. I'm so glad I stopped! The surprising sight of seven books I have worked on, all in one window, felt like the sun bursting out of me! I could not believe it - felt like medicine for my ailing self. The only thing better than this in my writing world is when I hear how God uses a story I wrote to help someone. That is my hope and prayer. Thanks for reading! : )

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the dreams come true, there is life and joy." Proverbs 13:12

Persistence of the Ladybug

2012-01-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

   Snow swirled around the big pine trees outside and blew around the half burnt out Christmas boughs still on the fence.
"Mom, there's another one of those ladybugs." Dexter said.
   Climbing slow and steady up to the top of the wall in the dead of winter was a dark orange ladybug.
   "Maybe it's because we've had a mild winter." I thought out loud, as I cringed at the cob webs I now saw on the ceiling.
   I'm pretty sure this is about when the dog ran through the kitchen with muddy feet right past the piles of laundry.
   Not only did my house need obvious attention, but there were writing projects coming due that needed my time, and there's only so much evening to work on things.
   There are days when I feel like I'll never get it all done. Then I got a nasty cold,and had to spend my evenings recovering from my days. Finally yesterday I started feeling better, and wouldn't you know, there was another ladybug (Can you see her in the picture? I know it's a horrible shot.). It crawled slow and steady through the kitchen sink right toward me.
   I love how God's creation has so much to teach me all the time. This time: just go slow and steady.

I know this is atypical & not humorous, but I felt like I should share it. More funny stuff is in the arsenal - no worries!

Christmas Vacation Skating

2012-01-02T22:08:00.000-08:00

Dave and I were out shopping the week before Christmas and saw a little outdoor skating rink. After I pushed beautiful Rockefeller Square skating visions out of my crazy head, I commented what the ice might be like without a Zamboni to smooth it. A man was pushing a grooming tool around on the rink surface. "He's the Zamboni." Dave said, and we laughed.
I thought it would be fun to come back to skate sometime. So, I looked up the info on it, got the hours of operation, and discovered it was totally free. Even the skate rental - what a deal!
So, my friend Tracey and I rounded up a few of our kids and headed out skating a couple days before Christmas with anticipation for a fun Christmastime experience. We arrived at the little skate rental sheds and put on the stiff plastic issue skates - but no complaints, it was free.

   I noticed a couple of the boys waiting for the rest of us, and they weren't moving on the ice. I entered the rink carefully to get a feel for the slick surface and warm up my skating legs. I love ice skating! Then I realized that something was really off about the surface, I could hardly move. Suddenly I understood what "Synthetic Ice Rink" meant. Both Tracey and I assumed it meant something along the lines of man-made. Which was close. It was plastic. Giant puzzle pieces of white plastic, plastic just like the skates. We alternated between laughing and true disappointment for the whole ten minutes we were on "the ice". We managed to convince a young man to take a picture of us (and part of his finger) to capture the memory.
   The next day we were so wanting to ice skate, for real, so we gathered whoever was free to head over to the BGSU Ice Arena. I noticed that the word synthetic is missing from their sign, which was comforting. It was not free, but it was like running downhill with the wind at your back. So fun! And Dave was free that day too, so he came along. It really was a nice thing to do this time of year.
   The synthetic ice made me think how there are many deceptions in life, many things I think will be good that are not good at all. I am praying more this year for wisdom to see the difference - and that the lies will not snag me into bad situations.
   I hope and pray that your 2012 is a blessed one!!

More Christmas 2011 fun...

Bruce enjoying Christmas morning wrapping

Trev and Wes working on a Trevor's gingerbread house -a finished photo is on facebook.

Redemption From the Pile

2011-12-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

The pine trees outside my dining window were much easier to decorate 10 years ago. Since they are now so large I thought that I would just hang lights on one of them. I had a pile of odd lights that I thought might make a nice Christmas menagerie on a tree. I spent an hour just before sundown untangling and hanging these half-working lights- overlapping the dead spots with the hanging icicle type mixed with the net type. As twilight approached I could see more clearly, ironically, how awful the project was looking. I decided to scrap it entirely and focus on something more manageable, and quickly, before my fingers froze off.
I found an old fake tree with no stand, that sat dangerously close to the trash barrel. I reshaped it's mangled wire branches, draped the mess of lights on it and bungee strapped it to deck railing. It shone super bright in the darkness next to my Adirondack chair and made me smile. Redemption from the messy piles - I think that's what Christmas is all about.

On an even brighter note, here is a picture taken during some Christmas shopping time with the boys. This has been one of the highlights of the Christmas season so far for me - these guys are so awesome! It gets me thinking that this is just a fraction of how God feels about me. And that's why He sent Christ to rescue me. To rescue all of us.
Merry Christmas!!!

Shiny Tennis Balls Hanging from the Tree

2011-11-29T16:37:00.001-08:00

Twinkling lights glitter the landscape and Christmas music started playing on the radio two weeks ago.Yep, it's that time and I love it!
Walmart decorated way before Black Friday, which has nothing to do with the fact that for the first time in my life I was one of those people who waited in line for the equivalent of a day for a crazy deal. But before you judge, let me explain.

Our family room TV came to us when one of Westley's friends salvaged it from the curbside. It has duct tape covering a couple of the buttons so they don't shock you. It was a step up at the time. It still works, but when we had the opportunity to get a nice, much larger TV for such a great price we decided to go for it. Westley, Dexter and I and our friends Joe, and Taylor arrived at the store shortly after Thanksgiving dinner (now you can judge me). We were the first in line and there was hardly anyone in the store. One of the managers told me I couldn't sit on the low shelf. We waited there for seven hours and fifteen minutes until midnight. We witnessed pandemonium, saw a lot of weird people, stopped caring about the germs on the floor, and used it as a dinner table at one point. We discovered that you can fit three 40 inch TVs in an Impala with five people. I won't do that every year but it was worth it, that TV is beautiful.

Frank

     Frank came home for a visit today and as usual, was asked to drop his slobbery tennis ball outside the door. He saw the tree in the other room before I could catch up with him. I heard a 'tink' and ran in to find a gold ornament on the floor. Frank would like to know why there are shiny tennis balls all over the tree...inside the house. He would also like to know why they don't bounce like tennis balls, such a buzz kill, he says.
   Those are a couple of the lighter holiday happenings that help me smile amidst the heartbreak of loved ones who are hurting, and friends who are deceived and broken. I'm not telling those stories here, I'm praying over those ones, and doing whatever I can in my small way to help.
   I try to see all this, with my feeble mind, in a way that I think God might see it.
      ...and I got nothin.
      What I do know is that I can trust Him, and that He gives me joy along the winding way.
     I better go check on Frank now.

2011-11-22T13:49:00.000-08:00

One day last week:

I was having one of those days. The kind that I felt like a bumbling fool...couldn't seem to do anything right. Do you ever have days like that? I left stupid long voice mail messages with no option to re-record. I called someone by the wrong name, someone I knew well. Wanted to kick myself. I couldn't figure out a document set up/printing issue and wasted way too much time on it. The sticky part of the bottom of my shoe was grabbing onto the floor and tripping me. I know it's for traction, but seriously.

Then it started raining pretty hard outside, and the dog started following me around, walking all over my files that I had organized next to my desk on the floor.

The increasing thunder and wind was concerning her. She needed some comfort, could I blame her?

I got a cup of hot tea, hunkered down at my desk to work some more and I let Zoey curl up at my feet, after I took those shoes off.

I thought of how God does this for me any old time. He is always there, patiently at work, and He doesn't seem to care that I'm messing up His area. He sits with me until I can get up and go again. Then He goes with me.

This Thanksgiving week as I think on what I am thankful for, I am genuinely grateful for that.

I am also thankful that the headlight Dexter fender-bendered off my car only took $25 and a small dent to...fix. Beautiful!

I am thankful for my hot and funny husband, for my amazing, wonderful sons, and so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving! Truly.

Happy Birthday Thunks

2011-11-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

"Ma'am, do you have a Golden Buckeye card you would like to use?"

My 40-year-old face at the time was immediately horrified. First of all, I can't be old enough to be referred to as Ma'am. And clearly, I had done something to offend this 60-year-old who looked 70 and thought I was 55. But I'm over it.

Getting one year closer to that Buckeye card this past week gave me pause for reflection, among other things....

The day before my birthday I was about to head out the door to an early work meeting. Dave had just gotten in his truck to get to work himself when I heard a really loud THUNK, of the metal-to-metal kind in the vicinity of the driveway. I ran to the window and peered out into the darkness trying to see what had happened. That's when I heard Dave's visceral yell of frustration, sort of like a long growl with one vowel sound and a resounding r. "I think Dad needs help!" I yelled up to the boys.

Upset with himself he came storming into the house, "I backed into the van!"

Turns out Dexter had no where else to park the night before, except the side of the driveway. The damages? The truck needs a couple hundred dollars worth of repair (a discounted cost from yet another kind person). The van just looks worse than it did before. I used to notice the scratches and dents here and there on the ugly green machine. Now, I notice the undamaged little patches here and there, so beautiful when the sun reflects off the metallic paint. More importantly I focus more on the fact that the wheels still turn, and it's paid for. But let me emphasize the word focus. I have to focus on these areas.

I guess it's something like turning 47. I'm learning more and more to focus on the good stuff. I thank God that He puts good stuff all over the place. This time of year there's anything from pumpkins to peace. Of course peace is the best, but even the rotting pumpkins with 99-year-old faces make me thankful. First, that my face doesn't look 99 quite yet, and that soon there will be cheery Christmas lights to replace the harvest wares.

It's all good, aging has its beautiful pay offs. So go ahead, you can call me Ma'am (but don't ask me for my Buckeye card just yet).

Took a Chance

2011-10-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

     It's really good to take chances. I want to try to take a chance everyday.
     New experiences grow new memory paths in your brain, or something like that. And I just know it's good for my somewhat too-calculated self. Also, it can be...exhilarating, yes, that's the word.
     It's especially easy when it's only an $8 dollar chance at the Goodwill. It was a VHS/DVD combo player recorder, for goodness sake. Remember when those cost $300? Yeah, me too! So I weighed the pros: VHS will be extinct some day and I will still be able to play my extensive collection; I can play parts of my new DVD collection in the same device; my boys will be so proud of my find; I do not need to feed this thing when I get it home; I will not have to live with this decision for the rest of my earthly days; the power turns on in the store; it's only $8. Okay, now the cons: $8 can buy a very small bag of groceries- I could be throwing away a bag of groceries; this Goodwill store is an hour from home- if the thing doesn't function properly it's not worth the return gas money; and lastly, it could be a piece of crap.
      I bought it, along with a jeweled pair of $3 garden Croc shoes - it was exhilarating!
   Below is Dexter's product testing report.

I have a new path in my brain. I also was able to save The Emperor's New Groove. Life is good!

Laughing a Little

2011-10-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

Been working on some other stuff...so rather than no blog post at all, here are a few things that have made me laugh lately.

I would like to make this the new rage to calm road rage. I was really hungry on a long ride home with groceries and discovered that is especially helpful through a construction zone. Almost as good as a Starbucks red-eye.

Bruce. Unstaged. He makes me laugh every day.

Here is the latest book that has 5 of my stories published in it, by Barbour Publishing.

Considering what I have packed in my overnight bag, I should consider reading this book.

The Life

2011-08-18T02:45:00.000-07:00

Funny, how I find myself jealous of our cat, Bruce (also funny that we named him Bruce Lee because he is more of a bug slayer).

We find him keeping tightly to his rigid nap schedule as evidenced here, and obviously any place is a good place to lounge or nap.

It is common to find one of us staring at him (and laughing), and commenting on how nice it would be to have his life. He comes and goes, opening the sliding screen door at his leisure (bravely protecting the household against all sort of enemy bug).

The ease of which this creature of God exists is enviable, to be sure.

But then, Bruce doesn't have the capacity for planning beyond the next bath or bug really. He doesn't seem to be dreaming, goal setting, and working toward...much of anything. He doesn't read or process media (that I know of), in fact, he likes to sit on whatever I'm reading. All of this you know of course, since you are reading this and not your cat.

But still, he really has the life.

Balloon Bust

2011-07-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Dave and I just finished up a week of vacation, just the two of us this time. We started with a balloon fest in Jackson, Michigan. We were going to catch the last hot air balloon launch before we headed up to Lake Michigan. Turned out that the heat was too much for them and they cancelled that launch altogether - so disappointing. We did spot a helium balloon afloat in the 100 degree heat, but it didn't do much for us.

The winning moment at the festival was when we were shopping at some of the booths. Shopping would save the day - of course! I was looking at some sun dresses next to another woman. The booth vendor walker over to us and asked the other woman if she needed any help finding a size. "Oh, shut up!" the woman said.

The vendor was taken back, completely in shock. But, I noticed that the woman shopping was wearing a blue tooth headset (she was talking on her cell phone). I started laughing out loud. Then the shopper realized what had happened. She apologized and us three strangers had a good laugh together.

So, it turns out that the balloon festival wasn't a total bust.

Since there is no balloon photo I am sharing this photo from yesterday at a graduation party. I was given a balloon flower. Isn't it awesome? Thanks Kristen!

My Boys are Awesome

2011-07-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

On the 4th of July we got a game of pool volleyball going with Dave and I, three of the boys, a fiance' and friends. I feel suddenly ancient surrounded by young people in a pool, no matter what. Add volleyball to that, yikes...but I was doing alright. During a volley one of Dexter's hits slipped and the ball smoked me in the side of the face.

After a pause to make sure I was okay, he said, "Mom, if only you had better reflexes."

"I was four feet away!"

We all laughed. Then a little later in the game Dexter was serving behind me as I stood ready for defense. The ball drilled me in the back of the head!

Everybody sort of gasped and fell silent. I was losing brain cells at an incredible rate with these knocks to the head, I didn't particularly care for it. I regained my senses, turned around and sort of pounded on Dexter. We all laughed.

The next day Wes, Dexter, and friends went off for a couple days of self-imposed running camp. First off, they're gluttons for punishment running in the sand dunes, but suddenly my house got quiet. That same day is when I grabbed this photo of Frank chewing on wood which he does all the time (I prefer this over flooring and books). I noticed that a nailed-on step from one of the boys' many tree forts was attached to one of the logs. It made me sad.

Old times are literally falling away and there is nothing I can do to change it, unless of course I could live in the past which is never a good idea.

Thank God that new experiences, adventures, and...hits to the head, are right around the corner. That's where I'm off to next. I am grateful for a growing, thriving family that keeps me growing too.

He's Afraid of the Books

2011-06-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Just days after Frank chewed up my last new box of books, another book came out. Recently I figured out that I make about $10 an hour writing if a story is accepted, so my reward is really in seeing it in print and getting the box with a newly released book inside. It's like Christmas! So, I was relieved to be around when Heavenly Humor for the Teacher's Soul arrived to intercept Frank. He sniffed the box and I told him "no". He looked down in shame. When I tried to take a picture of him with the box he didn't chew he ran from it! It's just possible that he is learning.

Here's info on the book if you want to take a look (or you can get one from me for $5)
http://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-Humor-Teachers-Soul-Inspirational/dp/1616264578

My New Book Arrived and...

2011-06-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for my new book to arrive, couldn't wait to open that box and devour the story I wrote about my friend Kim Lee. As you can see Frank beat me to it - quite literally. But you know, after I picked up the package strewn across the front yard, and beat the dog, I could still read the story. If you would like to buy the copy with a chunk of the spine missing, that one costs more. The book is Heavenly XOXO for Women, here is one place you can preorder (release July 1). http://www.buy.com/prod/heavenly-xoxo-for-women/q/loc/106/219495284.html

PS- How do you inform delivery services not to leave boxes where dogs will eat them?

Caution! Needs to be Under Construction

2011-06-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

The pool deck slopes here and there. There are hidden weak spots where you least expect them (be careful!). The carpet that was once sturdy and a sweet blue, is thinning, fading, and worn through to the sagging spots. The integrity of the deck structure has been compromised from years of changing seasons and a few winters that seemed to have no end, not to mention the rough treatment of people not always thinking. The liner, holding the very thing a pool is for, has not delivered what was promised (some people you do business with are not who they say they are). A lot of self-repair and obvious patching has had to occur. The filter basket is so fractured that the skimmer pulls it down into itself. Plumbing issues are at least an annual thing. The filter is tired of taking in the continual dirt and back washing it all out again, thank God for the waste mode when things are really bad after the long winter. The motor's casing is covered in rust on top of rust, but it keeps on ticking. This pool is old. I actually made signs for the deck to protect visitors from injury (umm yeah...in case you wondered what those pictures were).

But, the water is finally a nice shade of blue. I can't quite see the bottom clearly but it is really refreshing to enjoy the water.

All this has me thinking that my wreckage of a pool is much like life (read it one more time). Broken, repaired, getting tired, getting fixed, and overall, worth it.

Thank God.

Things Will Never be the Same

2011-05-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what I like better about this car, the bungee straps, or the fact that holes had to be drilled in the hood to use bungee straps.

One thing is for sure though, I'll miss this car in the fleet. There's so much to miss. Where do I begin? I mean, it was great how you couldn't lock the car because the door keys would not work, so to lock something up you had to put it in the trunk and lock the glove compartment where the trunk button is. And of course if you did happen to lock the doors the AAA lock out service was just a call away (on speed dial).

I loved the mystery squeak in the back of the car, and the muffler pipe held up barely by a coat hanger. These features announced Mitch's arrival home long before he entered the long driveway.

The gas mileage and longevity of the '94 will be truly missed. When a run-in with a deer delivered the Topaz's last blow it was decided that we would help her make it to 300,000. With only 500 more miles to go, a plan was devised.

Enter, bungee straps, and a power drill to keep the hood from blowing open onto the windshield again. Her previous drivers, Trevor and Mitch, were instructed regarding the plan to take her on every short run trip possible.

Yesterday she reached her 300,000 mile destination. Today she was taken in as a donor, where she will give every usable part to Wes' '94 teal Topaz. She WILL live on, maybe not in all her dull white painted glory, but certainly through her radio, her door handles (not the locks), her glove box door, ignition, and tires. It will be beautiful.

But today we say goodbye, sort of. We'll see her again but it will never be the same.

UFO Sighting

2011-05-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

There were a lot of calls yesterday for UFO sightings around here.

"Something very powerful is in the sky! There, see it? In between the crack in those clouds!"

Turns out it was just the sun deciding to make an appearance.

Just the sun? Did I say just the sun?

Seriously, the sun has been in hiding for so much of the spring, not to mention the very long winter, that this is a pretty big deal.

The atmosphere was so gray, in so many ways. To encourage myself I would think of how the sun is still always shining behind those thick clouds, but it doesn't make me any warmer.

Today, I feel like a different person with this bright UFO around. It's been hanging around all day!

Suddenly, there is warmth, brightness, hope. And I can't help but think that if I did not know the depth of dark gray days, I could not possibly appreciate this day as much as I do.

Happy sunshine northwest Ohio!

Photo of Lake Erie by TrevorLeePhotography.com

Deadly Duo and Easter

2011-04-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

The four-legged crew pictured here is now known around here as the deadly duo. Bruce scales the heights of the counters and piano top to bat things around and then swats them down to the floor level where Frank awaits his newest play toys.

Toys can be anything really, mouth guards, coins, books, a bright pink ink pen (especially bright on white linoleum), and various plastic items. Today it was a food glazing brush that was drying in the sink tray. A few days ago it was the...turtle.

THAT was a sad day. Bernie the turtle (aka Weekend at Bernie's) did not fair so well with Frank's play.

When we found him upside down, tightly inside his injured shell, we put him in water right away to try to revive him. When he didn't respond we set him on his rock halfway out of water in a sort of hopeful/state of denial.

A couple hours later I found him in the water moving his legs a bit. I was so excited, I texted the boys with the news and renamed him Lazarus. It's possible that the cat knocked him in the water and he was moving with the water looking alive, but, either way, he didn't end up making it. We were all very sad.

We call the dog and cat duo, Murderer and Accessory, but really, they're just...not thinking or incapable of such. Our punishment will not help them. They don't understand. They need good instruction and mostly grace.

This morning, Easter morning, during some songs at church it occurred to me that me and my sin/my stuff, are the deadly duo that put Christ on the cross. The reason that He did what He did. Granted, I was born into this state, and I too, am often not thinking or incapable of recognizing some things. I was and am regularly in need of good instruction and mostly grace.

SO refreshing to realize that I am offered that grace freely.

Easter is really more like New Year's Day.

The Sprinkles of Spring

2011-04-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, dreary days like these bring with them the promise of future flowers, like those popping up outside my kitchen window. Today I was admiring them along with some pansies I planted last weekend. Just at that moment one of the dogs walked up and peed right there. It's sprinkling everywhere.

On this rainy day I thought I would share a post I wrote for whatavisit. com a little while back. It sure fits today in Ohio! The last sentence is cut off in the layout...it's supposed to say "...how nice it was not to worry about leaving them sit at the table. I knocked on the window to wave at friends standing where I would be in a moment, to wait with others under the awnings for the crosswalk light. BG is a really warm town, even on a rainy day." Nothing like spoiling the ending! :)

The full rainy day story is at www.whatavisit.com/buzz. Happy spring!

Photo above from www.etwagnerphotography.blogspot.com Nice pics Lizzy!

It's Been a Rough Day for Frank

2011-02-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

I got a call shortly after I left the house from Kyle, a family friend who was at the house with Dexter. "Shelley!" he said. I was afraid someone was hurt, but he quickly relieved my anxiety.

"The funniest thing just happened! We cannot believe this!" he said gasping with laughter.
"The cat peed in the dog dish! From the laundry basket in the cart! From inside the laundry basket! A perfect stream into the dish, for like 45 seconds! We're just shocked. We're not going to change the dogs' water just so you can see it."

Then Dexter: Mom, I heard running water and hoped one of the animals wasn't peeing. When I leaned into the laundry room I saw a yellow stream and then could not believe my eyes. I yelled for Kyle, who came in with a stunned look on his face. Bruce had pushed his butt up against the inside of the basket and peed directly from a square in the plastic grid, into the dog dish, for the longest time. I wasn't even upset because the aim was so perfect it was amazing. What do you think he could even be thinking?...I really wish I could know what he's thinking.

Thankfully Bruce doesn't do this type of thing too often.

This is Bruce on the job (below). While I worked today he simultaneously slept and systematically pushed whatever he could, off the shelf, and switched locations from boxes to envelope stacks and of course cluttering the entire corner of my office.

More pets news: we installed a wireless dog boundary system and were trying to acclimate them today. When Zoey first felt the 'static' she was mid-step. She stood there with her legs crossed, at first frozen, then she started to shake. Frank's first encounter made him cry. Honestly, that's a pathetic thing, a puppy crying. We should probably dial that thing down a notch.

One last piece of pet news today (yes, a big day): Frank's Daddy, Carlos is back from Alabama! He belongs to a seasonal truck driver at a local farm.

OK, seriously. I walked away from the computer for a couple minutes to take Trevor's call and share the stories of this crazy day. While I was on the phone with him the dishwasher basket full of dirty dishes...chased Frank across the kitchen. At least that must be what he thinks. His collar caught on the wire basket and he freaked out, shriek-yelping, while flying, crashing dishes littered the floor. His dog tag is missing (the dog warden will never believe this story).

Frank will not move from under the chair where Dave sits, the only one who hasn't traumatized him today.

It's been a rough day for Frank. He's been leashed & shocked outside, chased by gorillas (Mitch and Dex) and the contents of a dishwasher inside (all while trying to help with the dishes), the cat peed with perfect aim in his water, and he found out his Daddy is in town. He didn't even know he had a Daddy.

Mamma said there'd be days like this. They'rd be days like this. Mamma said.

What A Visit

2011-02-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

So I started writing for this cool new website and have had a few other writing projects, so my blog is suffering! I figured I would share my recent little piece on the website with you. It's a sweet little true story you might enjoy at www.WhatAVisit.com/buzz .

As always, I love to hear your feedback! Hope you have a great week friends!

Above image is my Blackberry version of a screen shot. I really should learn more about the computer, AND buy a Mac!

25 Years Today

2011-02-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

When I first met him he rolled out from inside a wrestling mat, of course. His charm was misunderstood (he was flirting with her). His credibility was misrepresented over the next week ("You might know my boyfriend Dave Lee!" ...I thought he had a girlfriend at every college).

Three years later he moved in next door. He didn't remember me, but you know I remembered him. He worked at winning me over nonetheless.

The Lake Michigan beach with a bunch of friends was our first outing (that word doesn't mean entirely the same thing today). Top Gun was our first date.

I remember the day he came driving into the apartment complex, bopping along in his sporty royal blue Omni GT, the same way he walks, and he smiled that big beautiful smile. I got this crazy warm feeling. I think that was the moment he captured my heart.

How today we have been married 25 years is crazy, wonderful, and mostly miraculous.

I started out a hopeless romantic. Life in a fallen world as a flawed human dealing with other flawed humans has made me a realist with hope.

I rarely find a greeting card that works for Dave from me. They're so...full of it. The cards I give him usually have words crossed out and additions of my own. Things that do not make it past my pen are phrases like "long lost love of my life", "soul mate", "my destiny", "my reason for living", "my universe". Such bullcrap.

Okay, sorry! I am told there are people who feel these words are true for them. But even my eternal optimism can't comprehend it. I mean, marriage relationship is just incredibly hard. Yes, there are many good things- I for one, contrary to how all of this sounds, feel incredibly blessed. But I feel one of the keys to getting to the 25 year mark and still loving him, is just being real.

The challenges over the years, of financial hardship, making a home together, parenting, losing a child, raising four sons, navigating careers and aspirations, trials and temptations, dealing with deep disappointments & times of despair...well, I don't know how we would have survived them all without being genuine about our hearts with each other and before God, and growing through it all. Plenty of people live in a state of denial. If I may give one piece of advice, I don't recommend parking there.

Here we are, 25 years later. I'm not going to start sugar coating things now. We are committed to love one another, we're not always in love, especially not always in like. But committed, at times like an insane asylum (I'm smiling), to working with each other, and supporting one another.

And through all of it I can say I have a handsome, upbeat, humorous, hard working, man of integrity, who loves God. I am blessed beyond measure. That, I can say with certainty. There just isn't a greeting card to match that. But Dave did wake me up this morning with a card that made me cry, because he put his own words in it.

I am celebrating today, and I am also praying for many loved ones in struggling relationships. But mostly I'm smiling. Because there is Hope. Great big beautiful Hope!

Happy Anniversary Babes. I love you, and today I like you too!

5 Guys With Shovels

2011-02-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

The bulk of the blizzard sort of skipped over us. I really thought we would see huge drifts and actually get snowed in for awhile. To the north and south of us the weather was much more severe. I was a little concerned last night about power failure when the wind and sleet blasted and we saw a light flicker, but even that we were prepared for. So, honestly I was a little disappointed.

There were some nice things the "blizzard" did blow my way though.

Dinner and euchre with Dave, Mitch, Wes, and Dex, because I wouldn't let anyone leave in that weather.

The Office on DVD because Direct TV was out.

The Puppy, Frank, waiting to be let in, covered in snow and completely happy about it.

Later, Frank at the door being pelted by sleet, not as happy about it.

Two different neighbors who both came over and plowed our driveway, one of them with a back hoe! Wow, thanks guys!

I was remembering times years back when there were 5 guys with shovels and various skill sets working on that very long driveway. Today those 5 shovellers of mine are...smarter (expanded skill sets) and busy with other things. Even though the sidewalk got shovelled today, heavy equipment suits the time.

Once again, the thing I can count on is that things always change. And it's all good when we're moving forward and growing.

I am one thankful person. : )

Damages 3

2011-01-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

OK, this is part three of a series that you need to read backwards...sort of...I think you can follow this madness (scroll down and start at "Damages" and then scroll UP). Blogspot would not let me post my photos in the order I wanted, it jumped them all over the place. So, there's more than one way to skin a cat - that's what Frank said too. But then, he likes the cat as a pillow also.

Frank has unpredictable taste. For example, there is a Giorgio Armani tie, made in Italy, in the trash (thankfully I got a crazy great deal on it online for Dave for Christmas).

All this damage has strangely been worth it for the unconditional love Frank gives us all every day. He's so happy to see me every morning and every time he rounds a corner, anytime.

Unconditional love amidst the damages that come with life. Reminds me of God.

Damages 2

2011-01-18T19:47:00.001-08:00

Here's that great shot. Dave needed a new phone anyway.

Damages

2011-01-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

First, I want to say that I am completely smitten by Wes and Trev's puppy, Frank.

And here he is snacking on the flooring.

See, there was this little corner that had peeled up by the door and well, you can see the rest of the story.

And then there was the phone charger....

and the blogspot refuses to let me insert the photo of it! But it's a great shot of a chewed off end of a charger. To be fair, Frank didn't produce this damage, his brother Charley did.

Live Full

2011-01-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

Taking time to regroup, rest, and enjoy home and family over the holidays was refreshing. Happy New Year everyone!!

We are into the second year of non-0-years (oh). It will be nearly nine decades before there will be another o-year. We'll likely all be in eternity by then. So, here we are in the 20-years, twenty eleven for now.

That's weird, I know. But it helps me look closer at the time I live in, and to think about what I did with the last year of life I was given. What did I do with that flash?

I love to write down goals and look back on what I accomplished. It is really interesting. A few years after I had started doing this I found out that studies show that if you write this stuff down (and apparently only 3% of us actually do this), that you have a really high chance (a percentage I can't remember...) of achieving them. I have found this to be true. So, it's fun you should try it!

This year as I looked back at last year and wrote down a few more things for the coming year many things came to mind.

I thought about the many people I knew who have died this past year. Some lived full lives that impacted many for good, like my Grandma Josephine Carli for example. I cherish the memories and look forward to eternity. Others lives were cut short by tragedy or bad decisions.

The older I get the darker this world gets, I guess just because I'm sadly more aware of the real effects of sin in each of our lives. My shortcomings and others' combined. It's a tangled mess. But not to be discouraged, the light of eternity is getting brighter all the time too - chasing away the night.

Those are sort of heavy thoughts to start out the year, but thankfully it makes me more stubborn to live a life that is less about escape and more about joy and living fully.

Since I probably didn't make you laugh in this blog quite yet, perhaps I should share that on Christmas morning before we all opened our gifts we saw two eagles perched in a tree back along the river. We all looked out the window over the fields of sparkling snow and Dexter said excitedly, "Did Mom open her binoculars yet?!"

No, she didn't.

Photo of Shelley looking up from the spinning planet while climbing a ladder, by trevorleephotography.com

Lee Family Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-11T20:34:00.001-08:00

2010 Mat Madness Book is out

2010-12-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

The 2010 edition of Mat Madness is hot off the press! I published it with Lulu.com, a print-on-demand website. So, anyone can order a copy from Lulu. For people who want to buy one from me directly I have those too, you can save on shipping that way. Don't you love the new cover with the crazy picture of Wes putting in the banana split?! And yes, that's Trevor and Dave coaching. I was pretty happy with how well this photo fit the title. :)

For those of you who have not seen the previous edition, this is a book I self-published after a friend asked me to write down the answers to the basic questions people have about wrestling. I include several wrestling family stories as well, most of them humorous. This edition is updated to follow the revisions in the 2010-11 National Wrestling Federation Rule Book, and also includes a new chapter that made me cry again when I wrote it (that's usually a good sign).

The website is: www.lulu.com Search Mat Madness and it pops up.

As always, if you read this I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

Fresh Cup of Coffee on a Frosty Morning

2010-12-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

Frosty grass and frosty air surrounded me as I stepped outside preceded by two bounding puppies who needed to go potty. Holding my hot, fresh cup of coffee while I watched the puppies play was a good start for the day.

Then Mama Zoey came quickly outside sniffing wildly, as if needing to go to the bathroom right away. Then she promptly threw up (kind of a lot).

As if that weren't bad enough, the puppies could think of only one thing, "hot breakfast!" They were very excited that their mother provided this for them. I was not as thrilled.

Holding my cup of coffee I could pick up only one puppy at a time. I swooped up one and deposited him in the garage, along with my cup of coffee on a higher step inside the garage by the door, then ran back out to get the other happy, hungry, cuter-than-anything little guy.

With the um...hot breakfast still on their taste buds I was just about to head toward the dog food to calm the ravaged fur balls now jumping and playing around my feet by the door. That's when one of them climbed up the steps and took a drink from my coffee cup. He quickly recoiled from the heat and taste combined I'm sure. I quickly winced at the thought of what was on his tongue just a minute ago.

And that's when I decided that sometimes it's okay to have two fresh coffee starts in one morning.

I'm thankful for having seen the beauty in this morning...and for the laughter that quickly came along with a bit of inconvenience.

I hope you see the beauty in your moments today too, no matter what the condition of your Christmas preparations and everything else the day brings.

Photo of Westley with one of the puppies. One puppy is still available by the way!

If I Could Carry Beautiful in a Basket

2010-11-24T21:09:00.000-08:00

If I could carry beautiful in a basket it might look like a puppy.

You probably read about Zoey's ten puppies in my last blog. They are nearly eight weeks old now and three of them, the ones we've referred to as 'the triplets' are still here at the house.

One is going to a woman who had a great Christmas-present-for-her-girls story but can't pick it up until December 1. I'm a such a sucker for this!

Another is Wes and Trevor's puppy, Charley (right, photo at 5 weeks).

I was adamant that we not get another dog. I don't think I need more to care for, honestly, I don't. But Wes' puppy eyes were much harder to resist than the actual puppy eyes. He was smitten by this four legged ball of energy and he has met the demands I insisted on if he were to keep him...well, mostly (Wes, answer those early morning texts and let the puppy out, he is loud!).

That leaves one puppy still up for adoption, and he is so fun!

Even though these boundless loving little friends require a lot of clean up and complete loss of sleeping in, ever...I find myself thankful today.

Thankful for much more than puppies, but more about what they show me. That God is infinitely creative and loving, that He always has something to show us to help us grow should we choose it. Best of all, He loves to bring us joy in the midst of wherever we are.

My boys bring me so much joy, when they're telling stories and laughing with me (sometimes at me...). My husband brings me joy, the way he loves me no matter what. My friends bring me joy, always caring for me and walking through life's challenges with me. Thankful to be able to use what God has given me and make something good out of the mixture of stuff life throws my way.

I am thankful. I guess if I could carry beautiful in a basket it would look mostly like God and my family. I probably should get more pictures of them...

Happy Thanksgiving.

News Snippet

2010-11-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share that a new little book I wrote and compiled came out last week! You're Sweet is the title, Barbour Publishing produced it.

I have thought of dozens of funny blog stories, like Dave as a jail bird at the costume party....

or Zoey letting her first born puppy fall out on the floor and look at it like it was a moving poop...But I am working on stories for Heavenly Humor for the Teacher's Soul. I am excited to have actual writing projects! So, the blog has more photos than writing this time.

There are so many stories to tell!

Beautiful Chaos

2010-10-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am so behind on blogging! Lots of work, 10 puppies and travel have kept me overly occupied.

But last weekend Dave, Trevor, and I went to New York City to visit our friend Tony, and also got to meet up with my cousin Matt. I've been there a handful of times now and it doesn't get old. I LOVE NYC!

OK, well, I do get frustrated when I can't find my way and get on the wrong train. But even when that happens the marvel of the endless different kinds of people mesmerizes me again.

On this trip, so many funny people scenes entertained once again, all amidst beautiful fall weather. There was the tough looking rapper looking guy in the subway who Tony accidentally nailed in the...upper thigh area...with my suitcase, then almost fell on him and the guy was cool with it. There were the talented street musicians ranging from full bands to single trash cans. There were the homeless guys fighting over food in the busy square and another guy asking them to take their fight elsewhere, so they kindly moved and continued fighting.

There was the block party with live music that Dave, and Matt, and I stumbled on where chatty New Yorkers welcomed us to the free burgers and beer. It was amazing.

Then, the rooftop of Matt's building with an awesome view of the Manhattan Bridge and some one's transformer car (that's a huge transformer emblem on a car in the dark photo). So funny.

So many different people and experiences. I couldn't stop the awe. The awe in God to make so many unique people and love each one so much.

Top photo taken from the High Line with a view of New Jersey across the Hudson.

Wide Load and the Messy Mix

2010-09-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Life is usually a messy mix of really great things from grin to glee, and not so great things, ranging from just annoying all the way to disheartening rounding up on hopeless.

Today, yesterday, no different.

So, rather than unload the wide load, oversize dump truck right here I would like to site a funny scene from Malcolm in the Middle (Yes boys, I know, the show I wouldn't let you watch when you were little, you didn't need any more ideas...).

This is probably my favorite scene. It's Season 2, Episode 3 where Lois gives the boys money to buy something for her and they end up buying things for themselves. Then Hal forgets Lois' birthday altogether. She runs away from home. In her time of escape she goes to a batting cage to smack some anger out with bats in a legal way. Makes total sense to me.

Meanwhile Hal and the boys realize they need to get her back and they are trying to pull together a "this is all we've got but we love you" birthday celebration. Once the crazy crew locates her, she and Hal have a word at the batting cage. He says (with a high pitch intermittent squeak) something like, "we're at the top of our game here, Lois!"

She looks at him in disbelief and there are more comments I don't remember. Then, an onlooking motley clown says to her, "Listen Wide Load, the guy's just tryin to do something nice."

Hal looks intently at the clown accompanied by several other clowns. "Did you call my wife WIDE LOAD?"

A huge, hilarious brawl breaks out, shown in slow motion to the tune of a Kenny Rogers song. There is ankle biting and cake splattering with all the boys in full swing clown tackling comedy action.

Lois looks on in shock and finally, glassy-eyed admiration, for her crew who would do all this to defend her honor. Moments ago she had had it with them all, then suddenly, redemption.

Thank God life can be that way too. Redemption is always just around the corner.

Photo: a few of my crew...probably just before wrestling broke out in the living room.

Spit, Broken Hearts, and Beautiful Labyrinths

2010-08-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

Getting some exercise changes my whole outlook and my physical disposition. So I went running again today.

When I run I often feel the need to...spit. Spit. You have to get some of the crud out of you (in the field OK, I don't what I would do if I ran in town). I've not been one to pride myself in my spitting abilities so I decided over recent months to work on this. You know, just in case a car happens to pass by while I am spitting.

I discovered that no matter how much I improve my abilities in this regard, whenever someone is in sight this is when I will not spit well. I would rather skip the detail here. I will say that on really windy days things get rather dicey and can impair one's vision if speed and direction are not properly judged...by some.

Also while I run I seem to workout my heart in an emotional way too. Issues come to the surface. Sometimes I yell (also when cars are passing).

Today in between spit practices and laughing at myself, it occurred to me that I have seen a disproportionate amount of broken hearts over the summer. Sad, lost, or wandering hearts. It has been so hard to see, and to be one of them, mostly in the sad department. It drives me to my knees begging God to do something. There is too much pain in this world.

I'm not depressed. I went running, OK? Life is good too, I just hate seeing the pain. It's been too near.

Awhile back I was talking with a young woman, and we were sharing about some of life's struggles. "It's like a labyrinth." she said.

Honestly, I wasn't completely sure what a labyrinth was. I thought it was like a maze, but I learned some very intriguing stuff. For one, I thought it was like a maze but it's different in that there is only one way to travel through a labyrinth. There are actual life size labyrinths...I mean that humans can walk through. They contain winding paths, often within a circle, that lead to the center of the brain-like framework. The main thing is to move forward. If you stood still and forgot which direction you were travelling you might go backwards. It seems that the point is, focus, move forward, and get to the center of the thing, whatever it is, then find your way back to live life. This is what I get anyway.

I don't know how these strange little pieces of debris come together in my mind, but they do. Today the collage of thought reminded me that what God cares about is hearts, especially the broken ones. In the windy, winding paths of life where I spit, He cares about hearts more than anything else.

God, guard mine, teach it, and hold it. You are the only one qualified for this job.

Photography from trevormleephotography.blogspot.com

Back-to-School Grins

2010-08-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

We live near not too far from the site of the National Tractor Pull in Bowling Green, Ohio. Every year this crowd of ...a few really roughnecks mixed with some good ole' down home country folk, arrive on the scene of 20,000 students moving into BGSU. At Walmart local Mom's are school shopping with their youngsters, and well, when these three crowds converge you can just sit back and enjoy the show. And why not, you're going to wait in line anyway.

The dirt cloud was still clearing from the weekend, when at our house, back-to-school morning for our BGSU boy meant bringing along a gallon of water for his radiator (With a good attitude, nice job Mitch!). Yep, it's that time of year for cars again. But really, what am I talking about, it's always that time of year.

Car maintenance with our fleet of six vehicles is like health care for a 99 year old on life support. Well, maybe a little better.

But not much.

I enjoy laughing about it, obviously. I find it way more fun than crying which I've also tried. It doesn't get results.

Dave and one his best bud mechanic friends, Storm, do most of the back yard repair, bless their weeping souls.

One time we had a free coupon at Tuffy that we'd bought at a fund raising auction. Okay so it wasn't really free, it was cheap - which makes me a cheapskate because of the fundraising thing, but no one else was bidding on that basket of stuff.

When I went in for my 'free' oil change and slid that little coupon across the counter, the mechanic came out from under my car with one of those computer print outs that the diagnostic machine spits out (maybe not quite as I'm painting it but you get the picture). My report was a couple pages long. The guy gently tried to break the news to me that the repairs my car really needed exceeded the street value of my car by $1,000 at best. I just smiled at him kindly and grabbed that jewel of a document for my blog folder.

But I forgot to tell you the funny part.

When I called Tuffy to set up that appointment a few days earlier I was in the middle of a few things. Some e-mail just chimed in and the cat jumped up on my desk and was being really funny. I started talking in the voice we have for the cat. He was saying something hilarious as I recall and totally entertaining me (I should not be a ventriloquist, I would get very confused).

Then I remembered that I had dialed Tuffy.

Gasp! I put the phone to my ear hoping to hear a busy signal (if you don't know what this is look it up on YouTube) rather than a human being. Worse. I had just left a message talking like a cat, for a cat, to men who use impact wrenches.

I hung up before they could hear my real voice.

Next morning, I called back on a cell phone hoping to God that they didn't have caller ID.

I love that life's hardships also bring laughter and joy along the way, strangely, and of course volumes of story fodder as well. It reminds me of Joseph, what the enemy meant for evil, God used for good. Yep, the good stuff.

Coffee Please

2010-08-11T01:56:00.000-07:00

Your print job is ready. No, we do not have an account for you yet.

No, we cannot laminate that.

Yes, it is raining.

It was just an annoying morning. So, I decided to cheer myself up with Starbucks while I waited for posters to get laminated (so they wouldn't pulpify in the rain....sure that's word, I just made it up).

Well, as soon as I made the decision to cheer myself up, the world cooperated with me.

This is not usually how it works, so it really caught me by surprise.

But literally, I no sooner turned on my heels after making the decision, with a heavy box full of print job, in the direction of that nearly intoxicating brew of beans, and people were opening doors and trunk lids at every turn, all going out of their way to pave my royal way.

Was there a sign on my head? I swear, I was dressed appropriately.

Even at Starbucks, a gentleman opened the door. The baristas recognized me, a regular, as I headed first to the cleanest and roomiest public restroom in town. By the time I greeted them at the counter, the cheerful cute blond girl said, "do you need anything more than your red eye?" (that's my usual coffee with an extra shot of espresso.....ummm, is there an Sbux open yet this morning?....concentrate!)

She smiled, sliding my prepared coffee toward me.

"You made my day!" I said. "I came here to cheer myself up, and you took care of that."

The guy with the cool braided hair asked what was wrong.

"Nothing big, just an icky little morning." I said.

"Because we offer counseling too." he said with a laugh in his eyes. "Spiritual help...." he grinned. I got the feeling he was genuine.

"Would this be Starbucks brainwashing?" I asked. "Because I'm good with that."

It was a nice little laugh, and the door was opened for me again as I headed out to my car.

But no one opened my car door. And that's where the time the world cooperated with me for a brief little respite, ended. But I had what I needed.

God is good with details that way.

Photo from trevorleephotography.blogspot.com

He comments: This is my Mom before coffee...actually, it was his photoshop skill.

Beauty and Affliction

2010-07-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

According to one of my favorite authors, John Eldredge, two things pierce the heart, beauty and affliction.

Now please don't get me wrong, I know what true affliction is. I've had my share. So, thank God that today affliction looked like this. Waking up to dog blood (warning, it gets worse) speckled on the floor and a pony sized stinky pile of poop. There, I said it, one of the most taboo words - POOP.

Trying to get out the door to a meeting I was delayed a bit by a 'discussion' with my husband. Then I found the car on E. Now I was really delayed.

Later at the work office, I accidentally picked at a healing scratch on my face from when the cat bit my face the other day. Yes, my face. And now it wouldn't stop bleeding. I needed to put the tissues in the bright red bio hazard trash can. I was a hazard.

In between here somewhere there were some good parts, nice people and a laugh with a co-worker.

Later, after figuring out an insurance bill while driving home from a grocery stop in 95 degree heat, I stopped to mail the payment in the nick of time to avoid a lapse in coverage.

I arrived home sweating in my dress clothes, even in the AC somehow, only to find that one of the cats used the large indoor palm tree pot as a litter box, also that he is awful with his burying aim as evidenced by the pile of dirt on the floor and the uncovered pile of disturbing POOP. Yes, disturbing, that's all I can bear to say about that.

Some more good parts came in about this time, along with Dave and I going off on a run together. I had put a few more songs into my running playlist that I hadn't heard in a while to keep me occupied for when Dave would pass me in the run. So, 10 seconds into the run I got to let the tunes play (in one ear, don't worry). And here is where beauty pierced my heart today.

The song Hallelujah, by Kate Voegele, came on and, I don't know, maybe the serotonin was kicking in too, but I got goosebumps. "Love is not a victory march, it's a cold and a broken hallelujah." Goosebumps.

Same thing listening to Susan Boyle sing "I Dreamed a Dream" on Britain's Got Talent. Seriously, if you don't get chills listening to this, in a good way, check for dark spot on your soul.

Beauty and affliction. Two more ways God reminds me that He is here for me.

Photo by Trevor Lee, TrevorLeePhotography.com

Glimpse of the Big Picture

2010-07-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Recently in a group setting someone stood up intending to say nice things, but I am sure she inadvertently made a dear friend of mine feel really bad.

Another friend of mine has neighbors who built a huge barn that blocked her entire view of the sunrise. They didn't do it for that reason of course. They have no idea how upsetting this is to her, they are just doing life as best they can, really.

Last weekend, I was in line at Cedar Point for the rockin' Raptor roller coaster, which I love! First of all, the sign said 30 minutes. Second, an 11-year old girl was breathing down my back in the 95 degree heat in line, repeatedly ripping the flip flops off my feet. Thirdly, the wait was 77 minutes. Fourthly, even if did the hiked out elbow crowd trick, she breathed on my elbow. I tried to smile and be pleasant.

Talk about annoying.

Thank God for Dexter to talk to and the interesting people to distract us. The 50-year old guy who thought everyone should see his abs. The gang member looking girl who was trying to look all tough. The couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other. The couple who looked like they'd absolutely had enough of each other sometime last year. And finally, the relief of the couple who happily unloaded their anxious 11-year old daughter on the crowd ahead of them, right where I stood.

Contrast all that to the view from the top of the Giant Ferris Wheel, another favorite of mine where I love to snap a screen saver shot (probably illegal). Even the couple with the screaming kid in the car next to us couldn't be heard when we were at the top. It was quiet with a breathtaking view.

The big picture is like that I guess.

Thank God, He gives me a glimpse of the big pictures in life sometimes, because it helps me put up with all the annoying people who are waiting in the long lines like me, and just trying to live their lives. Like me.

Rotting Potatoes Don't Laugh

2010-07-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

I was sitting out back in my white wooden Adirondack chair feeling really sad about some things a couple days ago. I noticed with curiosity a sweet potato plant that had grown out of a pot full of deadness. It was now flourishing.

I also noticed dead leaves on the peonies where I suspect the neighbor's dog/pony 'marked his territory', but that's a different story.

A few weeks prior there were these neglected sweet potatoes in the kitchen. They grew alien limb looking sprouts on them, aliens from the murky waters of Middle Earth or Death Valley or something like that.

I was about to throw them out when Dave suggested I plant them. "They'll probably grow."

So, in as much time as it would have taken to walk out back to throw them in the woods, I cut the ends off them and stuck them in a rich mucky pot of soil where another plant had died. The insides of the potatoes had begun to rot I noticed, so I didn't expect much.

I forgot all about them until weeks later, the other day, when I was sad and struggling, and I saw they had absolutely flourished.

God has a way of using His creation to speak to me, almost like He has purpose for it all. How about that, I say to myself with second level sarcasm (because I know He has purpose it in, I'm just slow to see it sometimes....).

I started thinking about the process of that sweet potato plant growing and I realized some things. First of all, isolation in the dark was a bad thing for the potato and it's a bad thing for me too. Second, sometimes we have to cut into our issues where there is rottenness. It hurts and it stinks. But if we get them into a good environment, the rich soil of truth and love, where there is light to chase away the darkness and water that keeps giving strength, then life comes out of what would have been death.

So, I chose growth and not isolation, not only for the potato but for me, and I'm glad because last night I played Apples to Apples with family and friends and laughed ridiculously loud!

amazing potato photo by shelley lee, for much better photos see www.tmleephotography.blogspot.com!

Gawking and Perfect Timing

2010-06-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

My family headed off in several different directions this morning. Dave and Wes to mow lawns. Trevor went to work, today for a torch run as a Special Olympics coach. Between my work appointments I stopped by AAA to pick up some maps in Perrysburg.

It's located in a strip mall next to a Churchill's grocery, where from a distance I could see at least eight police and emergency vehicles with their lights flashing amidst a big crowd of people. An ambulance was coming from another direction, sirens screaming.

My mind went everywhere with this. What in the world is going on? Surely, there was some awful emergency situation. My heart began to beat faster. I was suddenly more alert.

I try not to gawk in these instances. It slows down the solving of most problems and it's rather redneck I hear. I want to be helpful and by no means do I want to look, you know, conspicuous.

So as I got closer I tried to be discreet (i.e. keep the redneck on the inside) while noticing that there were also several motorcycles with riders in all black. Hells Angels?

Keep driving. Don't get in the way on the way to AAA, I tell myself. I parked close enough to see but far enough - oh whatever.

Now I see bicyclists, several of them! A run-in between Hells Angels and super fit cyclists? Ooo, this could be interesting. A rumble of sorts? Stop gawking. But I see no gurney. No one down. No one scrambling.

I use my maximum peripheral view as I walk with calculation to AAA. I need maps, honest I do. I'm not a gawker.

Then I notice a group of people with Downs Syndrome in the mix of the crowd and my crazy concocted rumble speculation is no longer calculating in my fantastical mind.

A light shines on my dark speculation.

Special Olympics. Torch run. Trevor?

With these new thoughts, now I'm gawking. Total intentional gawking, and the first person I see in the crowd is Trevor. He's taking pictures of the kids he coaches and families are gathered around in a wonderful warm cloud of encouraging spirit that wasn't visible from the road. The students were so excited to be a part of the event. Their families could easily be picked out in the crowd, beaming as the group posed for photos.

Trevor looked over at me in surprise. He introduced me to work friends I had heard about and grinned at my story of the chance meeting. Really, what are the chances?

To get to take in this scene made my heart want to burst, and I was so proud of him, watching him in this work environment. I watched the torch run procession go through the parking lot. Some Special Olympics participants only walked the parking lot and then headed happily with their families to their vehicles.

I uncharacteristically waited patiently for them to file in front of me into the traffic on Route 25 with an abundance of uniformed guardians, all looking very proud.

My words can't describe the beauty in these moments, I was caught up.

Contrast that to a woman arriving at Churchill's asking if I knew what was going on. Once informed she sneered, "How stupid! I thought there was really an emergency. Men!"

I just laughed not knowing how to interpret the many issues possibly in that statement. But I am glad I chose to see the beauty in it.

What an unexpected case of perfect timing. It felt like a gift. Like God was showing me that He has impeccable timing and He knows when I could stand to see it with my own eyes every now and then.

Tornado Tonkas

2010-06-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

This week I did something I've never done before, not intentionally anyway. I went to help in a disaster situation.

In about 9 hours it will be one week since an F4 tornado hit Lake Township, about a half an hour north of where I live, killing five people in its path of destruction. On Monday morning of this week my church sent an email out to see if anyone wanted to go help in the clean up. I was honestly afraid of how emotional I might get seeing the devastation, but I knew I should go.

That evening I found myself in a corn field west of Millbury, Ohio where an entire house was scattered over about 50 acres. There was no real instruction given. People just came and started putting whatever they found in piles for the wagon crew driving around picking things up for an elderly couple whose home blew violently apart and over them as they huddled and survived in the stairwell. (I know, that's a run on sentence, but it's a good one).

It was more than sobering to pick up the random personal contents of a home. Christmas decorations. Toys. A section of pages from a W-Z encyclopedia. Clothing. Bedding. A porch? Later, the W-Z encyclopedia cover.

After sobering and sad, came interesting, and sometimes funny.

One of the guys from church said, "I found a can labeled 'nails' so be careful. It was empty."

I had to laugh at that!

I found two Tonka trucks 20 feet from one another and just a little banged up. How is that possible? So interesting.

By the end of the evening I felt WAY more blessed to help than I felt I was a blessing to someone else. But I guess that's how it works. It was a beautifully exhausting experience that I couldn't stop talking about when I got home.

The rest of the week though, it felt like I was finding all those nails. While not to be compared to the loss the Lake Township folks have suffered, life just wouldn't let up for me. At one point it felt like the can of nails came at me like I had a huge magnet in me. Obviously, this is not the fun variety of magnetic power, but I had it nonetheless.

When I recovered from the big hit I took time to count the good things and thank God that I am still standing, like the Tonka truck. A little dented but still rolling strong!

(The above photo is taken from the east side of Lake High School/K-12 which is barely visible on the horizon behind the national power grid line, both were ripped through by the tornado.)

Bruce Lee Fly Slayer Extraordinaire

2010-06-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

It was a fuzzy time of day. You know, when you can hear the world, but sweet sleep beckons you not to hear. But the CRASSSSSHHH at 5 a.m.ish could not be ignored, by one of six people anyway. I walked groggily out to the kitchen to find the cat, Bruce, busy at his most important work, fly slaying.

If the fly is on the ceiling, he finds a way to get closer and wait. If the fly is on a window above golden tea light glasses on the sill, they're comin down. And that's what they did. At 5 a.m.

Since then he has attempted catapulting himself over the kitchen sink to get a fly.

But I guess he is just a naive teenager after all, rushing forward with great hope and zeal, convinced that he can do anything, but not thinking past the anything to the consequences.

Later in the day when this picture was taken he came down from his stance gently, molding himself somehow around the somehow-not-broken-from-earlier glass and not toppling it this time.

I guess he's learning. Slowly growing up, one experience at a time.

As I write this Bruce hears a fly buzz and is attempting to scale a dresser down the hall. He needs more experiences I guess.

God help me to learn as fast as Bruce. One experience at a time, taking note that You still know what You're talking about, so I don't fall off the five foot dresser with super hero figurines cascading down around me as a fly buzzes around laughing.

NEWS FLASH!!!

Five stories I wrote have been published in Heavenly Humor for the Dog Lover's Soul. You can see that Zoey loved it that there are stories about her in there! I am very excited!

It's available at amazon.com or a bookstore somewhere....or call me, I have copies too.

Ducks, Gravity, Death, and Bubbles

2010-05-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Playwright David Monet said, "We all die in the end, there's no reason to die in the middle."

Everything feels like it's dying around me. I know, that's a dismal outlook. But give me a moment, my favorite cat, Ed, is dying. One of my baby ducks just died (Not the one in the picture...and I know they're ducklings but baby duck sounds cuter). And my heart gets heavy thinking of friends dealing with far weightier losses than these.

On a daily basis time and gravity have their way with me. The age fight feels just an inch away from looking like a train wreck. And it's been raining for freaking I don't know how many days!

Okay, but it is spring, there are beautiful flowers in bloom. And in fuller beauty is my family, and my husband. I am blessed in many more ways than this world is cursed.

So, about not dying in the middle. I ordered ducklings, as you've gathered by now. I don't have experience with ducks, but we have friends that do (and just for the record, that dead duck wasn't my fault....). I took a risk. Went on an adventure if you will.

Same way, a few weeks ago at a writer's retreat I jumped in a row boat to enjoy a little time alone on the water. I almost let standing water and spiders in the boat (the kind that run with superpowers on the water) stop me from the fun. I forced persistence. Nothing a smack with my flip flops couldn't handle...a few times along the way, with banging echoes across the pond. Those sitting on benches along the water's edge ended up entertained, not my intention, but okay. It was fun and I was so glad I didn't die in the middle (I'm referencing the quote, not my swimming ability).

I think this persistence is God bubbling up inside me and I choose to let Him stay...and bubble.
I'd be a liar if I said I always let Him bubble in my life.
Sometimes the rains really get to me. But not this time.

PS- About Ed. I may choose to live in denial and believe that he simply moves to California. From there he will update his Facebook with all of his surreal feline adventures. You can ask Edward Lee to be your friend on Facebook if you want to see what he does when he...makes the big move.

Running and Saving The World

2010-05-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

One thing I needed to get done today was mail my Mom's Mother's Day gift and parents' anniversary gift (they fall on the same day this year). One thing. But several work duties, challenging phone calls, and errands in between buying the last item to put in the gift box and the send-off at the post office. About 90 percent of the day's duties were abnormally frustrating today. So when I arrived at the post office where the sign read closed at 4:15, and my watch said 4:16, and the window is under steel lock down I realized that I may have anger issues.

When I am boiling up like this the best thing I can do for the world is go running. Some people recycle to save the world, but my largest physical contribution is running. I am doing everyone around me a huge favor. Not everyone understands this though. Take for example, the people in vehicles that seem angry that I'm also using the road and don't give me any real safety buffer. Or the recent passenger who flipped me off for no good reason I can figure (for those of you who are unfamiliar with such gestures, that's a middle finger, the bird, an f-you!). Really? Did I deserve that?

Whatever, back to today. When I got back to my home office I managed a few email items, and conversations before I grabbed my iPod and running shoes. Very soon the words of the song Forever Young calmed and encouraged me. I started thinking about eternity and stopped yelling out loud to God about crazy life on earth (as if He hasn't noticed). Soon after that the happy exercise chemicals starting kicking in.

Back at home I completed a few little home repair projects with the boys' help and planted some flowers with more energy. I was a completely different person.

I know that taking care of myself physically (and in turn emotionally, mentally) does this for me. I've known it for many years and know that it is a must for me to be the best person I can be. You know, so I can save the world and all that.

So, why do I forget? Why do I put off what I know will benefit me?

Each time I get out of kilter I am baffled by myself. It's the same way with me and God. I wonder why sometimes He seems so far away. But I haven't been listening to His words. He left me a few written ones and lots of evidence of His work here. Yet, I put off what I know will benefit me.

Thank God I am reminded, refreshed, and on track again at the moment.

photo of Westley Lee (you'd rather see a picture of him running than me, trust me!) by Trevor Lee, www.tmleephotography.blogspot.com

Things Not As They Appear

2010-04-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

As you can see by the photo we went on a road trip. And those of you who know us know how typical and eventually funny our travel stories are.

There is so much I have wanted to write about for weeks but haven't felt like I could do it justice. As I've thought about the many things I've experienced recently I feel like I can group several of them in the category of things are not as they appear.

In the New Orleans French Quarter storefronts are really dirty (cool & creative yes, but so dirty). The many tiny one-way streets and narrow walkways have a special ambiance but they also wreak of garbage....and more than a few people you wouldn't trust with your children. But our hotels.com find ended up being this Bourbon Street pearl hiding beautifully inside an unassuming shell. It was awesome! We enjoyed our time in this amazing city, Jackson Square, Cafes, incredible street musicians, all amidst the dirt (here we are at Cafe' de Monde, delish!)

Still in the things are not what they appear category. fast forward to the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. It shone bright with a massive zip line across a lake, beautiful bike trails, kayaking and white water rafting, all for one low price higher than Cedar Point. We soon discovered that the first thing we wanted to do, the huge zip line, was down for repairs indefinitely. The bike trails were closed due to recent rain. The rafting was booked, with one time slot left in the day..... BUT we enjoyed 'rock' climbing a lot, what a great work out! And Kayaking on the river where there was a crazy amount of turtles was really great.

Same category... rewind to an hour before we left for the trip (first stop Houston) when I got a call from my parents that my Grandmother, soon to be 94, had died that morning. She was the reason for our Florida leg of the trip. I was so sad. We missed seeing her one last time. But as sad as all of my family, lots of Italian cousins, aunts, uncles, everybody....so sad to lose her, as I looked at her lifeless form I knew she was no longer old, frail, and limited. She

was in eternity. I can only begin to imagine how incredible things are for her now.

Indeed, things are not as they appear.

And about the Hood Up photo....the van was overheating on the last hour before our Florida stop which required pulling over every 15 minutes to pour water bottles and melted ice from the coolers (a fun sight for passersby), into the leaking radiator. Once we got to my parent's house Dave tried replacing the hose which didn't prove to be the issue. So, he found a mobile mechanic at the auto parts store. This model guy shows up in an old '79 Chevy van, turns out he's not a model. He's a mobile mechanic. But a few of us stood around watching just to make sure.

Things are not always as they appear.

Throughout our travels we frequently encountered some people who fit this category. Well, not the looking like models so much as just seeming way different than they really were. And some of them surprised me in great ways. The more I talked with them the more I found beauty inside.

That's inspiring. I want to be like that.

God, help me be like that. Better on the inside than I ever appear.

Ghetto Van Moves Down the Road

2010-03-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

"What?! You're selling the red van?!"

I'd heard this from more than one wrestler on the day that we put the red ghetto beast up for sale.

And I suppose when a vehicle is 20 years old and has gone on as many wrestling trips as this one has, its bound to have garnered some attachments.

"No, you can't sell it." (says a face in denial).

One of our boys thought we should bury it half way into the ground in the front yard, along with other Astro vans that bite the dust in the herd. The same boy thought it might be a 'viable' option to let her go out with a bang at the demolition derby.

As one of the bill-paying individuals in the household I thought we should place an ad that read something like:
Astro conversion van for sale, mature (250,000 miles) and actually dependable with many special features: child proof sliding door (only opens from outside), theft proof passenger door (only opens from inside), fold down bench seat (allows one older child to sleep diagonally), variable speed automatic window controls (sometimes they take several minutes to get back up), optional power locks (sometimes chooses not to lock some doors), theft resistant cargo doors (there's a nail-breaking trick to opening the dented rear door that chooses not to lock).....and there's more! Call 419-GHETTO-VAN

So many great ideas. None of them happened because the treasure sold in one day's time. Going, going, gone!

Next morning, the 13 year old Astro van wouldn't start.

Photo compliments of www.trevorleephotography.blogspot.com

Bittersweet and Bobbing

2010-03-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

A flurry of emotions flooded me, none of them good.

Oozing over with anger and sadness at the State Wrestling Tournament in Columbus last weekend, I was fit to be tied, or smacked, or something.

My senior son, Wes, had lost his second match due to a foot injury in the first round. He was predicted to take 2nd and now his high school career was done. This was the first in nine years of four high school wrestling sons, that two of them qualified for State the same year. It held such promise!

I threw my stuff in the trunk (that required 5 slams to shut) and sat in the car for a long time trying to cool down before I headed back to the hotel in Nascar fashion. Doing quite well, I might add...with the Nascar part....I was northbound on 315 when I noticed something bobbing in my rear view mirror. You guessed it, the trunk lid. I couldn't safely pull over and nothing was in danger of falling out unless there was a half pipe around the corner. So I just kept clipping along with traffic while I pretended not to notice people staring and pointing. I just hoped my chocolate supply didn't bobble loose.

I grin now, but boy was I angry. At God. Yep, I usually go straight to the top for this stuff. I know He could have blessed Wes, but He didn't. Not in this way anyway. It made me seriously angry.

Dexter (sophomore) was 17 seconds away from being done in the tournament himself, and down by 3 points. I was starting to feel the tears of defeat when Dexter reversed the kid (2 points) and locked in his crazy wrenching tilt where he literally leverages his entire body on the kid until he turns him to his back - and it worked! He scored two more points in the last two seconds to win the match! This was a near heart attack I tell you. I bawled. I had friends and family crying. I had people who didn't even know me crying. It was an amazing victory for Dexter and he went on to place 7th in the state.

A bittersweet weekend to be sure.

Today a friend hit a point home for me, and I needed it. She said, (my paraphrase) "Shelley, sports teach life lessons, and the rewards they get later in life applying those lessons are the ones that matter."

I knew this, I really did. I wrote something like this in my wrestling book. The people they become, the commitment and work ethic they learn, this is what matters. I know. But somehow today when she said it, it was like I finally hit the ball that was pitched to me, and I smacked it out of the park.

OK God, I get it. I still don't really like it and I'll probably need reminded again, but I think I get it.

Cars Falling Like Dominoes Solution

2010-03-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

The college duo -Mitch & Cody, were right on time getting out the door to drive to class, no time to air up the flat tire they found on Cody's car. So, they marched over to Mitch's car while Mitch said something like, "Ya Turd, we've taken my car for the last four days!"

But his car's battery was dead, so he had to get mouthy about something else now.
By the time I saw them, heard them actually, they were pulling out of the driveway in the 1990 Ghetto-Astro conversion van. Their mission: to give new meaning on campus to the word 'class'.

I was supposed to use Trevor's car to get to a work meeting because the van was in the shop. Trevor noticed a low tire on his car too and went out to work it. He came in too quickly asking how to use the battery charger. His car was dead too.

Yes, we were 0-3 on the lot.

So, Dave had to stop home for his lunch to jump start and charge up vehicles, while on his way to exchange the van for the car he was driving that needed other repairs.

Our solution possibilities?
1) buy the car pictured here (a girl's gotta dream)
2)hitch-hike (this is not safe)
3)fire up the mini bike & strap on the helmet (safer)
4) play musical cars (this is our personal favorite and wins every time).

Today all the dominoes are standing. It's a good day.

Relax

2010-02-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

We're in the most intense time of wrestling season, and life is just plain busy. I don't have time to write a fresh creative blog story (obviously right, look at the date of my last post...).

So, I'll update you with the news that I just turned in a finished little book project for Barbour Publishing (a gift book entitled You're Sweet), the family & wrestling team are doing great, and our kitten is in fact, alive, after escaping into the winter for a night.

I thought I would do a quick little picture story for fun.

I need to relax a little more like this. Just in the middle of life....relax.

Dave and I did go to Maumee Bay for a night last weekend for our 24th Anniversary. We slept a ridiculous amount of time with this view out our window. That was one of the nice deep breaths in life.

A short time later reality awaited me at home...

Did I mention that I want to relax like this?

Bruisers and popsicles

2010-02-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

Life in a house of teenage and college boys is interesting. Other adjectives that come to mind: messy, funny, loud, challenging. But, mostly entertaining.

If they are not talking about Fight Club or movies of the like, they are hosting their own fight club of sorts (as evidenced by photo).

A typical conversation occurred the other night, accompanied by an unexpected humility moment.

Trevor was giving Cody crap about something funny, I don't remember all the background. But it went something like this.

Hanging out in the kitchen, a few of the boys were 'de-briefing' after an Elmwood wrestling dual. Cody thought a certain wrestler's stance was scary and thought it would be intimidating to wrestle him. Trevor (per normal) thought it would be fun to mock Cody. So, while eating his Popsicle (a staple around here) Trevor got in the 'scary' stance, acting all cocky, and said, just after taking the Popsicle out of his mouth, "Every time I wrestle you now Cody, I'm going to do this..." and then another hit off the Popsicle. This is when it flew out of his mouth and hand, somehow simultaneously, with perfect arc, onto the floor.

Everybody roared!

Trevor had to laugh too, with a face that said, "OK, I deserved that."

It took awhile for the laughter to die down. We enjoyed it.

Later I thought how God has a way of putting me in my place when I start getting overly confident. Humility, forced or chosen, either way, we all need it.

Thinker Sign

2010-01-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

After a busy early morning when we had all headed off in different directions I returned to my home office and found this sign on the floor by the back door. It read "Pee here!"

Living in a house full of sarcastic jokers I had to think about what it meant.

The sign could have been dropped, blown, or carried by the kitten from its original site where perhaps someone was leaving instructions for someone else who had exhibited behavior indicating that they needed some direction (don't think about that too long).

Or, the sign was exactly where it was supposed to be, in fact, at it's original site, and was a warning. In other words, don't step here and/or put this rug in the washer.

I put the rug in the washer. Heavy duty, 2nd rinse. Got the story later.

According to Mitch, it turns out that the kitten was once again confused. Rugs, just like freshly swept up little piles of dirt, can look a lot like a litter box apparently.

Now I know what the sign means and it makes me laugh!

But it reminded me of how important it is to get to the bottom of things when we aren't sure that we understand the signs of life. Whether it's a comment made by someone, or a verse that we think we know the meaning of. Truth can never be over-rated.

Keeping Track

2010-01-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

The head count was complete. The wrestling team, the statisticians, and one extra fan bobbled in their seats, headed to the tournament early Saturday morning. They didn't even get around the country block when Coach's cell phone rang.

He saw that it was one of his wrestlers and thought the call was coming from the back of the bus.

"Dad, uh, you kind of left me at the school." Dexter said.

Turns out that one extra fan threw off that head count.

A couple weeks later Dexter was the first one home from an optional wrestling team ice cream time. A little while later I saw the other three vehicles file in the driveway, one right behind the other.

Everybody's home, I noted from my cozy chair by the window.

A short while later while Wes lounged on the couch wearing his brand new wrestling shoes, his phone rang. It was Coach/Dad.

Not everyone was home.

"Wes, you guys didn't leave me a car. Someone needs to come back and pick me up!"

"Rrrright." said Wes, making his way to the door.

Seven people. Seven cars. Sometimes seven cars that run. Sometimes we carpool. Sometimes for savings. Sometimes out of necessity. It gets confusing.

Glad God's keeping track of us!

Photo above from Medina Tournament: (l-r) Coach Trevor Lee, Westley Lee, Nick Goebel, Coach Dave Lee, Dexter Lee.

Laughing and Losing

2010-01-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

Wrestling is an amazing sport.

If you don't know this about me, I live in the midst of wrestling, wrestlers, wrestling coaches, and ongoing wrestling conversations woven into the fabric of my daily life whether I like it or not. Six men live in this house with me, the one I'm married to is a head coach and absolutely passionate about the sport. This is admirable and respectable most of the time. :) Two of my four sons coach, two wrestle. Another of the boys' friends lives here, he too is a coach. All have wrestled, still wrestle. Twenty minutes ago, in the kitchen.

On Saturday six of us played our parts at an intense day of team duals. And here's where my blog story begins.

My high school senior, Wes, was wrestling an opponent who was illegally grabbing one Westley finger at a time when the ref couldn't see it. Wes was winning the match all along, but would scream out when this would happen. Wes began to get very angry and frustrated. The opponent smiled boldly in satisfaction. It was a flagrant display of bad sportsmanship. I saw his coach quietly signal him to stop, but he didn't seem able to bring the despicable grin under control. Coach talked with the ref about a separate questionable call as the Wes' temper began to flare. At one point during the match Wes yelled over at his Dad/coach, "He's laughing!"

"I don't care, he's losing!!" was Coach's response.

That made everybody grin. And Wes applied more aggressive grit than usual to pinning the joker, which he did in the third period with a move something like that pictured (photo from earlier in the season, Wes in blue). Later Wes told me that while he was pinning him, the kid was pinching Wes' butt. Classy.

These situations can get me flaring in the stands. Thankfully I was able to keep decent sportsmanslike composure. Even while demonstrating the illegal one finger move on an opposing team fan who was complaining about the "whining coach" who kept talking to the ref. That was a high point in my day.

I couldn't get the "I don't care, he's losing!!" phrase out of my head though. It was funny but it got me thinking about other things, as usual.

I've got this image of God coaching me in my constant wrestling match with the enemy of my soul, and I'm yelling things like, "He's lying!" "He's cheating!"

And God calmly says, "It's OK, he's losing."

Progress 2010

2010-01-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

No. Not another cat photo. I know.

I promise you though, I'm not a cat lady. The felines just keep giving me all these parallel stories that can't be overlooked.

After all the fighting that the incumbent King cat, Ed, has been doing in resistance of the newcomer cat, today, I found him grooming the kitten (he insists this was photo shopped).

Honestly already, you say, where is the parallel story?

Well, after all the Christmas greetings in the mail and seeing a lot people at several holiday events over the past several weeks, I found my heart extremely heavy with the brokenness that I see. There have been insults, rudeness, guilt tripping "should-upons", martyrs gone wild, manupulating madness, sensationalized stories that cause a glazing over in my soul, and then there's beautiful blind denial. There's more, but you get the idea.

Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of good things too, but this year was particularly laden with crazy stuff. I tried to respond with love, but didn't always hit the mark.

I think the best response I can offer as I start 2010 could be summed up in Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" song (seriously, listen to those lyrics).

Today I sat and examined some things I need to work on myself. I set a few goals. I went running. I made nice hand gestures at passersby. All that felt good.

I also looked over some goals I wrote down last year and saw the ones I hit.

The parallel?

Some of the things I wrestle with like crazy now will eventually be my friends if I stay in the process, like Ed and the kitten. It may take several scratches, headlocks and head thumps to the floor, but it will happen.

Fragile

2009-12-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

This is me trying to read this morning.

I know, I look different than you expected...but that's my knee and my pen with kitten all over it.

This kitten can be a real inconvenience but he's so crazy cute, that I don't mind. And when I pick him up and feel his fragile little frame in my hands, at the mercy of my grasp....well, it does something to me. I mean his rib cage feels like a furry goose egg, so breakable, and suddenly my heart gets all mushy.

This is a good mushy.

I got this picture of how I am like this to God, very fragile. He could crush me in a nano-second. I am not convenient (there are witnesses for this). Yet He welcomes me.

It is a really comforting to realize that He actually likes my playfulness, my curious questioning, understands when I am frightened or confused, AND thinks I'm crazy cute, in a flawed-from-the-21st century sort of way.

Maybe I'm thinking on this because it's Christmas week and the manger that the kitten keeps trashing is really on my mind, not so much the porcelian one though. The smelly messy real one thousands of years ago with the God-Child in it. He made Himself fragile. Like me.

He really gets me.

2009 Family Christmas Letter

2009-12-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

2009 has been a good year….

Warning, this Christmas letter contains mainly good parts of the year. There is a danger that you may fall into the erroneous belief that the Lees have it together. Be strong, don't fall for it.
Dave has kept busy all year. Late spring through mid-fall he kept the growing mowing/lawncare business going with help from the boys. He is entering his 24th year of teaching and his 23rd year of coaching wrestling at Elmwood. His favorite read this year was Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Trevor graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography in June and has been shooting weddings and other work back at home. He is helping coach wrestling with Dad again this year. Biggest news this year for him - he proposed to Jamie Hoke and she said yes! They are getting married in early fall. We are excited to welcome Jamie to the family! You can find more of Trev's story and photography at http://www.tmleephotography.blogspot.com./ Mitch is working hard in his sophomore year at BGSU. He has done a lot of mowing to pay for college and is also coaching junior high wrestling again this year. A nice article appeared recently in a local paper on all the boys' wrestling involvement, you can read it at http://www.fostoriafocus.com/viewarticle.asp?artID=14072. Wes loved making it to state in wrestling last winter. Over the summer he and Dex went to Young Life camp, always a hit! This fall the Cross Country team made it to state too and took 10th. A nice thing for the senior year. Now he and rest of the crew are in the throes of full tilt wrestling. Dexter was excited to "make it into the 16's" this year, that means running a 5K in less than 16 minutes (Crazy right?). He enjoyed being part of the Elmwood Cross Country team this year a lot! He's working really hard at wrestling along with a good team. Shelley is still working in development at BG Christian Academy. She keeps writing on the side. Really enjoyed going to a writer's conference in Philly over the summer, and has had a couple new things published. You can read more about that on her blog http://www.shelleyrlee.blogspot.com/. Her favorite read - also Blue Like Jazz! Family stuff: We all enjoyed visiting Trevor at Hallmark, near Boston, for his graduation. We also took a vacation in Port Clinton. That's right. Had a great view of the nuclear plant too. More recently we've been thoroughly entertained by a new kitten who has joined the crew. The kittten's name is a subject of debate. Mac, Leo, Bruce, or Meatwad? Send your vote via one of our facebooks or shelleyrlee@gmail.com. Bruce loves playing with the baby Jesus, and well, the entire porcelain nativity cast actually. Presently two wise men are down. ..oooh, Joseph just face planted into the camel. Ed and Zoey are exhausted just watching Mac. The hermit crabs have nothing to say.
Just in case all this good news is really getting you down, maybe this will make you feel better. Last month, 4 of our 6 decrepit vehicles (Trevor has the 2000 Alero starship of the fleet) were broken down. Six people. Two vehicles. A real kick-in-the-pants sort of week that was. Also, I did not get out on Black Friday to shop, but someone else did - with our card number. I think that qualifies us for Visa identity theft commercial appearances.

We hope 2010 is awesome and that you have very few breakdowns, of any kind….this goes out with a prayer that the coming year finds you closer to God with deep peace and a Hope beyond this world.

In the Christ who came to a messy manger to rescue us,
Love, The Lees

New Book Contract News

2009-12-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

I am excited to share that I have a new little book contract! I will be compiling and writing a gift book for Barbour Publishing entitled You're Sweet. Release date TBA.

The book I contributed to, Heavenly Humor for the Dog Lover's Soul, will be released in June 2010, also by Barbour Publishing.

Cutest Upset

2009-11-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

This fuzzy little kitten is curled up at my feet as I write. Trevor found him at a photo shoot and said I should get him because he looks like our 12 year old cat, Ed (I mean, King Edward)...who we don't know how much longer we will have.

So here this kitten is, as cute and good as a kitten could be, really. I thought his good behavior would wear off as he got more comfortable with the dog and the now, very grouchy cat. But he has been good and accident free from day one.

Edward does not see the value in any of this. He's delivered many paw bats and blows to put this threat in its place, which should be in the woods if he had anything to say about it. The kitten is not detered though, he still persues Ed's approval, approaching him playfully or following him in constant observation of how big cats do what they do. His punished persistence is admirable and at the same time, a bit heartbreaking.

Sometimes the kitten will be sitting three feet away or so and Ed will charge over and bat him a time or two. The kitten just closes his eyes and braces himself. Minutes later he follows Ed like nothing ever happened.

Today Ed watched him try to acsend the couch where Ed was perched and gave him a "you fool" sort of look. I have to say, I think he's warming up.

I have to look at this from Ed's perspective. After all, we did crown him as King Edward. He's ruled the place for 12 years. The dog, five times his size, fears him. Ed had a really good gig going and now a mini-me shows up completely unexpected. I mean, certainly Ed had some expectations, as much as a cat could, I imagine. Dreams, if you will, and we made a train wreck of them.

This little blog story has got me to thinking more than some others. I have had many expectations in life, haven't you? I just wanted and expected a few things to go a certain way. When they didn't or don't I get to being pretty grouchy myself. I have to remind myself that life is pretty wide open and limitless, or at least it can be if I work with what I've got and hold fast to my dreams. I need to be more like the kitten, expecting the best, exploring my world in amazement, living in punished persistence sometimes, and curling up at the Master's feet.

The better of the two above photos was taken by Trevor Lee, http://tmleephotography.blogspot.com/

Improvement Obsession

2009-11-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

I've been ridiculously obsessed with home improvement projects lately.

The beginning of the holiday season and my love of decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving really motivated me to speed up the home stretch, not to mention how good it feels to see a room transformed. Five rooms have been completed and I think I'm addicted.

Most recent in my two month fix-it stint was the back room. This is the catch all room- laundry, shoes, dog food, and dirt storage (that was kind of a joke).

We stacked the washer and dryer, did you know that you can do this with most front load models? It's great. Saves room, looks kinda cool, and when they are both in use and get to spinning at the same time it's interesting (Yeah, maybe I have more fix-it work to do...).

Dave and Mitch got the machines stacked up and they worked fine. Then with Dave and Dexter's help I got to work on a cabinet/sink/counter addition along the same wall. This required that I buy a longer dryer cord than the manufacturer makes. No problem, the people at Menards and Home Depot (note the multiple store list) were very helpful. I've wired in a do-it-yourself plug and cord before, this would be no problem.

Well, since I'm writing about it you probably figured out by now that it was a problem.

The first attempt at flipping the breaker back on gave me a "Pop. Click."

Ew.

Try again, check the wires, had them flipped. And again no dryer.

Three tries. Each time perched on the new counter top, reaching, looking in a mirror, straining to see and work in the little half hidden space on the back of the dryer (the stacked set had already been put next to the wall and it seemed silly to move them for such an easy repair).

In the midst of this my husband was trying to help me troubleshoot the problem. He suggested a few people who I should call but I didn't want to bother anyone.

Then, we both suddenly smelled something really bad. "What is....it's a skunk." We opened the back door to find Zoey happy as can be while she smelled as bad as she ever has. It was horribly strong.

From my counter top perch, now breathing through my mouth. I was trying to figure out the dryer in extreme frustration. I happened to look over to the bathroom where I saw the toilet overflowing.

Sure, it's funny now.

The next day Trevor was kind enough to make a trip to the launder mat for me. Meanwhile In a conversation with my brother, Ray, about Thanksgiving I mentioned my fix-it projects, and the dryer issue. In less than 10 minutes he told me what he thought my problem was (he's way better at these things than I am!). In another 10 minutes the dryer was working.

WHY didn't I think to call someone wiser BEFORE I got to the frustration and failure stage?

Made me think of how many times I do this with God. He knows what I need and has given me a lot of resources to help me. I just don't ask or look in the places He gives me. He doesn't even consider me a bother. Hmmm.

Doggy Diaper

2009-11-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

Our dog has a problem, and a trail of blood on the carpet later it become our problem. Please don't tell her I told you, but Zoey is in heat. She seems pretty embarrassed by this ordinary situation that can't feel so ordinary for her.

In order for Zoey to be in the house doggy diaper shopping was in order. I found pet products I never knew existed at StuffMart. "They don't have her size. I'll have to go to the actual pet store," I told my husband, Dave, as we happened to pass one another in the parking lot.

Once at MegaPetMart, I experienced new-product-awareness-overload....whoa. Glassy eyed, I found them next to the Wee Pads (at my house we call these newspapers, but I admit they looked a lot nicer in that package). They wanted over $20 for 12 doggy diapers. I think the look on my face is what they call sticker shock.

I quick called Dave, still at StuffMart, and asked he and Mitch to get a package of large baby diapers. "Thirty-five pounds and up," Mitch read from a label, "is that good? It's the biggest they have." I guess there aren't many 50 pound toddlers in diapers now are there?

There were 36 in a package for less than $9 so...we'd make it work. Cut a whole for the tail (perfect placement took only 4 diapers to perfect) and add duct tape to keep it on. We've SO solved our problem.

But one look at Zoey and you don't feel like you've totally solved things. Her long eyes beg you to take off the restraining contraption. Her teeth rip it off with no begging whatsoever when you're not looking. She is sad.

I think that Zoey thinks this is how life will be for her from now on.t is grim. This is what her face tells me.

Little does she know that this too will pass and things will be brighter just around the corner. All the Young Life kids were at our house tonight and Zoey is so happy again, she loves people. See Zoey, things are getting better already.

I could stand to remember that myself. When I'm in the duck-taped diapers of life (please, it's an analogy, work with me here) feeling confused and embarrassed, things will get better.

A Good Car Cry

2009-10-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

by Shelley Lee

Good car cry is not to be confused with good car, or a cry that is good. Let me explain.

Our family of six possesses a fleet of six vehicles, each with...character. LOTS of character.

Trevor's 9-year old Alero is the starship, we all love a chance to drive it. It excellerates like a race car, I'm sure of it. It also isn't all dented up. A real plus.

We have gone an incredible stretch of time, the entire summer I think, without needing any major repairs at all.
So I should have seen this coming.

It started last week with Wes' Teal Topaz, he loves this 6 cylinder manual. It had overheating issues, and needed a new thermostat. Dave decided to get him a new exhaust while he had it at the mechanic. When it came back, not only could I not hear Wes coming up the drive (a real downer), but the car had a new noise (not a good noise said the mechanic listening on the phone).

Too bad that when we picked it up we had dropped off Mitch's White Topaz with a fried clutch that apparently is my fault because I had to drive it when Teal Topaz and the now-not-starting Green Machine Astro were putting a squeeze on our 'normal' routine. Someone else had my Crunched Cavelier. So, if you're counting, three cars are down. Keep counting.

This morning Trevor hitched a ride with a friend, "my window fell inside my door...I heard glass crunch." he said. It was raining.

The Red Astro is off with the Lee Lawncare crew (see photo, she's a beauty), and Crunched Cavelier is off assisting the teenagers with their social lives.

Stuck at home this evening with only dirt bike and bicycle options, I was writing a story submission to a publisher. The point of the story was not being afraid to ask God for things, because He actually cares about us and wants to give good things to us.

Well, I have to admit, as I looked outside at our stellar fleet lined up for the mechanic (who apparently can only work on one at a time) I got extremely grouchy and sad, and well, I regret that everybody around me felt the ugliness of this.

So, God, would you help me with what I need most. Unfortunately, it is probably my attitude about 'stuff'. But a couple decent cars gently dropped from the sky would be OK too.

Photo by Trevor Lee http://tmleephotography.blogspot.com/

$150 experiement and no regrets

2009-10-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

When I saw him shopping for a pocket camera in the electronics department at StuffMart, our conversation from the day before came back to me.

He had walked excitedly in my office holding a hand crafted contraption made of styrofoam, duct tape and fish line. The likes of a five point harness - but for a camera. His girlfriend's camera.

"I'll buy her a new one if something happens to it." he said.

Trevor is a photographer by trade and endlessly creative. He and his friend Marky teamed up on this idea that would fly a camera through the sky via several helium balloons, while recording video. They would post on facebook a time for all who could gather on campus to look up at the camera upon take-off. It would be "sweet".

I am first a skeptic, but I really love a spirit of adventure, and quite honestly, I'm jealous that they have the time and energy to do this kind of stuff.

I was looking forward to the gathered video footage with great frames full of bright young faces looking to the sky. Their expressions would grow unrecognizable as each faded to a dot on the landscape. And then a jerky aerial view of Bowling Green as the flying contraption would bobble about the city taking it's challenges from the wind and impending rain. The journey would end victoriously with a few scratches and elevation drop balloon pops for good story fodder (which I would scoop up for the blog file if he'd let me).

As it turned out, the first flight went pretty much as planned, but the 30 balloons tethered by 10 pound fishing line went up about 100 yards. It really needed to be better, a higher, beefier flight. So, a second run was in order.

It got high alright. Real high, and this is about when the wind did the same. It went up about 300 yards. As they pulled it back in the wind pushed it down below 45 degrees. The colorful, now 40-balloon zepplin, was no longer flying free. Sitting atop a 60 foot tree in someone's backyard, it was entangled in high branches aloft rustling fall leaves. No one at the tree owner's home answered the door.

It rained all night.

They went back the next day. Still no one answering the door and the camera had apparently been taken away by balloons again flying free anyway.

This is where we end up at StuffMart, in the electronics department.

"Hundred fifty dollar experiment?" I said over his shoulder as he compared the available options.

"Yep." he said without a hint of regret in his voice.

One of his friends asked if he regreted trying this.

"I don't regret it at all." he said with a smile.

What the video actually looks like we may never know. What we do know is that taking risk is worth the trade-off of the regret of never having tried.

I want to make some spritual application here, but I believe it's already there.

I love learning from my kids.

Photo by Trevor Lee, also posted on: http://tmleephotography.blogspot.com/

What I'm Looking For Eludes Me

2009-10-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

Like a lot of you, I love music. It's not that I'm musical really. I mean, most of the time I have to search for the lyrics to understand half of what's being sung. I just spent 10 minutes trying to think of a funny mis-heard-music example, but my memory fails me at the moment. I do recall of one of my brother Ray's mis-hearings.

When we were little kids he insisted John Denver's song was "Country Rose". I told him it was Country Roads, but he insisted to the point of singing the song to a saleswoman at Topps Department Store who had told him they had no record entitled "Country Rose". He sang nice and loud. It was great! (I get this funny feeling that my brother is going to remember some things for me now).

Recently in a John Eldredge book and then from my husband Dave, it was brought to my attention that U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" tells the Redemption story. Interesting. I had listened to that song many times in college in less-than-holy scenes (which I now understand is most of life's scenes but that's for another day). All I remembered was "still haven't found what I'm looking for". No surprise.

I googled the lyrics and printed them (not for redistribution or sale in case you're worried). Two pages.

The other day I was reading them again, as I pondered how the relentless search for full satisfaction in life eludes me.

As I turned to the second page of lyrics the only line there on the blank sheet was "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Emptiness.

I laughed at the irony of that. But it really got me thinking on how even though I have eternal hope and a living faith in a living God, that I still don't have what I'm looking for.

Oh I get lots of glimpses of what that fullness will be someday, but only peeks through the cracks of life. Lots of things give me hope that things are going to be OK. There's the love of my family and friends, my next accomplishment, a completed project, a significant milestone, or point of growth.

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

In the meantime, I'll take more of my brother singing at the top of his lungs in the store and making me laugh.

Mrs. Beasley I miss you

2009-09-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl I had a Mrs. Beasley doll. She was the best with that polka-dotted blue and yellow dress and silly face that made every girl feel absolutely beautiful. Really though, I loved her. She had a string that came out of her back that would make her recite really great things that I don't remember. But the best thing about her was she was my unconditional little friend. You know childhood can be rough. Kids sometimes steal your candy and slam the door in your face (that's a story for another day). You need an unconditional friend, anyone being nice to you is good too...you think.
So when the older neighbor girl, Ruthie, from down the street came knocking at my door and wanted to play with me and both of our Mrs. Beasley dolls I quickly accepted. My mother seemed to think it was nice that the older girl wanted to play and went about busily in the house. I ran to get Mrs. Beasley as Ruthie so impatiently requestly. Eager to play with me, I thought. That's nice.
Now out on the front porch, the same concrete porch that held the day's heat and warmed me in the evening, on this porch she told me, smiling from her large frame, to take the scarf I put on my Mrs. Beasley, hand her my doll ,close my eyes and spin around. I did. She handed me Mrs. Beasley and said "they look exactly the same." Yes, they did.
That was all the playing she wanted to do. Odd I thought, but whatever. I went to my room to have tea with Mrs. Beasley. That's when my little girl world unravelled. Mrs. Beasley would no longer speak her kind words that I don't remember to me. The string was stuck, broken. I had been duped by the classic bait and switch! I ran crying to my mother.
I approached Ruthie's house many times in an attempt to get my friend back. She had two very large, very mean brothers, which could explain a few things. But I never did get my Mrs. Beasley back.
As a child I was sad for quite awhile about this and I couldn't fix it, no one would fix it. I have thought often of this since, and thought how mean Ruthie was, how much I'd like to tell her a thing or two about how to treat people. But then what could I say about how I treated her?
This story brings me back to the only thing that can fix the unfixable stuff. Forgiveness.
Makes me think of how many tangled situations I've put myself in when I make bad choices, it gets unfixable. And God forgives me every time.
OK, so Ruthie, I still miss Mrs. Beasley, but you're off the hook.
Forgiveness fixes a lot of things, not Mrs. Beasley's voice box, but still, a lot of things.

Cake for Breakfast Plan

2009-09-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

I am NOT a morning person (yes, I shouted that so you'd know I mean it).

If I have to wake up at some awful early time, I like to do something to make me sort of...happy to be awake, even thought that is a contradiction in terms.

I like to set the coffee maker to have a pot of strong coffee that wafts its amazing power to my bed and beckons me to a beautiful morning moment (I try, I really do).

Last weekend I saw this cake recipe that I could set on a timer to bake in the break maker overnight. What a great thing that would be to wake up to, I thought. So, I measured everything exactly, as the break maker demands, and set the plan in motion that would woo me from my most comfortable snuggly place to an upright, even vertical, forward movement into the day.

I was looking forward to awonderful aroma, much like the Birthday Cake Yankee candle, and... birthday cake.

Then, in the semi-conscious warmest moments before the alarm goes off (unbeknownst to me how we know when that is, but we do) I started thinking that I didn't do something right with the bread maker.

Alas, I found my cake. Smelling OK, but not amazing. Looking....crumbly. Tasting quite wrong.

Turns out I had put the ingredients into that bread maker pan, but had not engaged the pan into the break maker. So, the beautiful cake was one click away from mixing. NO click away from baking unmixed. And really mixed up....actually not, mixed up.

We tried it, but only the birds ended up liking it.

Got me thinking. Yes, of course, thinking.

That sometimes in regard to my faith, I have all the ingredients and a great plan set in motion. But if I am not connected to the power of God, if I have only gone through the motions, and put myself in proximity to Him, but not really connected, I do not see the result I had hoped for.

So, I'll try a great morning cake wake up again sometime, but I'm pretty sure next time, I'll remember to connect the plan to the power.

Slow Mo for fast days

2009-09-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Ever had a moment when something in this world seems to scream "You're an idiot!" and you look around and wonder who's behind it all.

Well, it happened to me today.

It was not really a crazy work day, but a message someone left on my voicemail was so fast I couldn't grasp it. The second time I listened to it I caught the name and address, but still couldn't get the email address. Maybe I didn't drink enough coffee, I thought, but I had to listen to it a third time.

This time a noticably slower, groggy voice repeated the same message....."you can e - mail me at b f a s t e r@ l i f e. c o m."

OK, I changed the email address to protect the innocent, but unless I am completely losing it (which is debated by some), Verizon has provided a helpful service for slow people. But I'm pretty sure that what they are really saying is "Moron, get the message and delete already. There are other people who need this storage space. Obviously (still the message talking between the lines here), you are having issues keeping up with the pace of the world we live in. Lucky for you we are in a time of recession and must compete for all customers, even the annoying ones. We hope you have a nice day, quickly."

Made me appreciate, well, first, a good laugh.

Then, the patience God has for me. I need it.

Hermit Crab Shock Factor

2009-09-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

The first time a child sees or discovers something is so fun to watch, usually anyway. A kitten, furry and playful - you have to wonder what thoughts are running behind a little kid's saucer size eyes. A massive world is busting out with discovery, continually unfolding.

At our house discoveries like these are still occuring for our 2 year old dog, Zoey. The cat and his claws are old news for her. The two new hermit crabs were not.

When we bought the unusual shell-abiding creatures at the pet store, we also purchased a rawhide bone for Zoey to accomodate her obsessive paw-chewing, blanket drooling habits - we hoped.

Very excited about her new chewy bone, she held the large clunky double-knotted rawhide in her teeth and would not put it down. In all the excitement and preoccupation with her new possession the presence of the new pets had escaped her.

Hermie and Pearl clunked around in their aquarium, still unnoticed. So we decided to introduce them. We put Hermie on the kitchen floor and let him crawl around. Zoey was standing at attention with the rawhide still jaw-locked. That is, until she noticed that the shell had legs...that functioned. Her eyes grew to the saucer stage at precisely the same time that her body froze and her jaw dropped. The huge bone clunked onto the floor. Hermie's shell clunked onto the floor, legs drawn in.

Zoey went into a playful frenzy, barking and pawing at her new friend. The newness, as predicted, has worn off.

I am thankful that the discoveries of this world and God's greatness are never ending, even though the shiny new bone is now gnarly nastiness and buried somewhere, and Hermie clunks around all night in his aquarium while Zoey sleeps nearby.

Don't Step Here Signs

2009-08-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

In the middle of night a demonic sound screeched from the upstairs hallway. Makes my heart race. Not the sort of thing I welcome during my coveted sleeping hours. Good thing my husband is the one who heard it.

When he reached the top of the stairs he found all the bedroom doors shut, "spooky", he said, not normally one to fear much. What he found was our cat feeling quite ill, working on a puke puddle which did not 'surface' until morning (for us anyway). That's when our son Dexter decided to do something about the mess.

He made a nice little 2-sided cheeseboard sign that read: "Don't Step Here". Very helpful considering the convergance of camoflouge and the early morning slumber walk to the bathroom. However it ended up, a Canon moment to be sure.

I've thought how nice it would be if life offered such signs. Something flashing and illuminated, like "Really Big Mess Ahead. Go Around." That could be really convenient. I mean, there are a lot of life situations and annoyances I'd rather skirt around and stay on the pleasant track.

But wait a minute, if there were just a bunch of redirecting signs who would clean up the messes? God knows there has been a cheeseboard sign over me at least once (ok, maybe twice), and somebody cared enough to stop by with a mop and an encouraging word that moved me out of my muddy puddle.

So, Dave and I gathered the Resolve cleaner, damp rag, paper towels, plastic bag. Blot, blot, spray, blot. Cleaning up what we could and moving along.

The sign is still there though, just for a grin.

"HI Shelley!" and the Really Blank Look

2009-08-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

After a work meeting, complete with name tags, I spent my lunch time Friday school shopping with one of my boys. As I meandered through the trendy store, endured an overly chipper fast-talker of a sales girl's explanation of the difference between loose fit and low loose fit vs. low boot loose...and that's where she lost me. I nodded politely, I think, and then a woman came out of nowhere "Hi Shelley!"

I could see she was also school shopping with teenager, but for my life I could not have told you who she was and my blank face conveyed it. Then it occurred to me, I slapped my hand over my name tag and peeled it off with a smile. "My name is Shelley," I said laughing, "who are you?"

I guess really the question should have been, what is your name? Because before I knew that I could have told you a bit about who she is, a friendly woman with a great sense of humor.

"Shelley," Becky said a few minutes later, "what do you think of this shirt?" And we talked a little about how even though we're school shopping for our kids doesn't mean we shouldn't look for ourselves. This is what I've been telling my kids for years, even when we're not school shopping.

Funny how a little humor goes a long way. I left there with a smile, a story, and a new shirt.

Thanks Becky, I hope you find this blog!

Back-to-School cars

2009-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Mom, did you hear that? 'Back-to-School laptops and ipods'?" said my son Wes in disbelief of a radio commercial. "Who are these people?" Then, with a bright sarcastic smile, "Mom, can we talk about Back-to-School cars?"

The next day my 23 year old son Trevor, "Mom, did you hear that (television) commercial? Back-to-School laptops for high school kids?! Even in college I never saw every student with a laptop." He laughs, "What are these companies trying to pull?"

I just laugh! -in not only good humor, but with gratitude, for practical minded kids. They don't always like to hear this, but I guess not being able to, and at other times, choosing not to buy them everything they want, is paying off!

But I have to say, a Back-to-School car really does sound good.

2009-08-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

I rode my bike into town today for some exercise and to mail my mother's birthday gift. I thought while I was there I should check my PO Box that I have just for writing, but I have to confess, there usually isn't much there. Mixed up in the myriad of junk mail was a thank you note with such encouraging words from someone my husband had given a book to, and there was a check...dated from March. Huhmm. I decided that I should have more faith and check that box more frequently.

And now I guess if I'm going to see more in that box I better get to finishing those stories for Heavenly Humor. I learned so much at the writer's conference I went to in Philly, I'm excited to already be applying some of it.

2009-08-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Barbour Publishing accepted two stories for Heavenly Humor for the Dog Lover's Soul, and asked me to write three more. I love writing these funny stories from this crazy house where lots of people and pets come and go!

Also, I recently was the recipient of a Cecil Murphey scholarship to attend a Writer's Conference in Philadelphia. I am very excited about what I will learn there - Thank you Cecil!

Article accepted in Encounter Magazine

2009-02-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

I received last week that a story I submitted to Encounter Magazine, a Christian teen publication, was accepted. I am very excited! It will appear in the Dec. 2009 edition. After that time, I will be able to post it here.

I have added some links to other writing if you are interested. Let me know what you think of what you read. I enjoy hearing feedback!

Funny thoughts on keeping up with the times

2009-01-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

When someone in their 50s or 60s asks me to get a schedule to them, I agree to do them the favor. Then I realize that I will go to the same website they could go to and I will print it out the same way they could, as if they were an invalid.
Now, I don't mean to sound critical, but am I really helping this person by doing them a favor? I mean, I would be enabling them to fall behind in a world that needs kept up with if any of us aims to be effective with others and not an eventual burden on society.
As not to sound uncaring, let me clarify, I'll let invalids, those with special needs, toddlers, and my 91 year old Grandma off the hook.
As for the rest, a request for said schedule is the equivalent of asking me to hitch up my horses and make a special delivery over the river and through the woods.
I could do that in a virtual program, but in this dimension I sold my horse and buggy last week. You know how to drive and you have a car. Transport yourself to the library computer lab or Circuit City (oh wait, they closed...), well, hopefully you get the idea.
As for my friend's specific request, I'm actually nicer than I sound. I plan to call him up and walk him through finding that schedule online himself...in the most loving way possible.

Family Christmas Letter 2008

2008-12-17T05:18:00.000-08:00

A wise friend of mine, years ago, in the midst of my boys punching each other between the pews, told me that they'd be grown before I knew what happened. It would be at least 10 more years before they would show some semblence of adult independence. I thought she was crazy and very bad at math.

Well, I blinked and these four boys of ours are now all in high school and college. She was right. Still bad at math, but so right.

Dexter is now a freshmen in high school. He works hard in school and earned a 4.0 his first grading period. He recently got his driver's permit and started racking up some drive time by driving Dad to school (they're on the same campus). He ran on the cross country team and early in the season started passing his brother Wes, now a junior, in races. Talk about competition being a catalyst for improvement!

Wes was up for the challenge and ran a 17:00 5K this season with Dex on his heels at 17:02. The team had other young runners who also drove the effort and they won their region, first time in school history. The trip to state was a good time, not to be confused for good times, but nonetheless, a great season. Wes is also making the honor roll these days and has grown to be a proud 5'9", passing Trevor much to his (Wes') delight.

We celebrated Mitch's graduation with a fun party in June. His 3.8 GPA helped him get some scholarship money toward tuition at BGSU where he attends to study Business. He has worked hard to pay for his share of college by working the mowing business with Dave and now, as one of the wrestling coaches for Elmwood Middle School.

Trevor made a big move this year to the Boston area where he attends Hallmark Institute of Photography. We have visited him a couple times, it is absolutely beautiful out there! He is doing really well at the school and graduates in June. You can view his photo blog at http://tmleephotography.blogspot.com/ to see what he's up to.

Dave is in his 22nd year as Head Coach for Elmwood Wrestling. We are off to a respectable start, but if you want those details contact one of them. I just don't retain those stats very well at all! Dave is still teaching CBI (previously OWE) for Penta with his classroom at Elmwood. He has a pretty big class of students this year which keeps him busy. The mowing business has grown which keeps the boys working on the off season and Dave going pretty much non-stop year round. Dave was recently elected to our church board where he has served in previous years.

I have had a challenging year of change, taking on an exciting new job as the Development Director at Bowling Green Christian Academy where we are raising funding for a new Pre-12 school. This is the school where the boys attended for some time, it's good to be back there for me. I still write for Findlay NOW magazine and am involved with NWOCC, a writer's group which I enjoy. Dave and I are on the Wood County Young Life Committee and still host the Elmwood high school club, such a great group to support!

Well, time to go for now. On behalf of the Lee crew, I hope you get to enjoy a nice Christmastime and New Year's celebration. May you be blessed, surprised by simple things, and find joy where you didn't expect it.

With Love,
Shelley, Dave and boys

Christmastime 2008

2008-12-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

The Family Letter is going to be posted here soon! For now, a picture taken by Trevor.