Day 214: A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words... On Serious Business

"Why aren't you taking me seriously?"

Last week's cliche: Blue balls

Day 213: Stop. Focus. Click... On Family

I've have some time to spend with family this week for the holidays, and it was just what I needed. I love my family.

I didn't have time to make my cheese ball for the Christmas Eve party, so I gave the recipe to my mom and asked her to make it. This is what she gave me to take to the party. And to answer your question, yes, I did ridicule her for giving me a cheese boob. All I needed was another one to have a nice set.

Chloe was with my family and I this week and, as evidenced by the photo, LOVES Christmas. 

Day 212: Remember The Time... Kids Just Have A Way

One of my best friends has a daughter. I remember being with him when he got the (surprising!) news that he was going to be a father, and his daughter, Sophie, is now almost 4 years old.

I try to see both my friend and Sophie every time I'm back home. Each time I marvel at how much smaller the cooking pot her dad puts her in to take pictures has gotten, how many more words she can say, and how far her personality has developed.


I usually go over there for dinner, play with Sophie, give her a bath, put her in her PJs, and read her a handful of books before I help him put her to bed so then he and I have some time to catch up. This time was no different - except when we put her to bed.


This time, she asked me to rub her back after we tucked her in (something her dad does to comfort her). So I sat on the floor in the dark near her toddler bed, leaned over it, and ran my hand up and down her back so she could sleep. I was watching her eyes blink and the way her eyelids opened slower and slower when she took reached out with one of her hands, put it in mine, exhale-sighed, and closed her eyes all the way.


Something happened to me then.


This feeling splashed through my body me when she did that. It was a mixture of fondness, love, comfort, longing, and peace. It was an amazing feeling, actually, and I remember being surprised that such a simple thing from such a small child could be so powerful.


Children will never cease to amaze me.

Day 211: If I Ruled Lichtenstein... Chore-Sharing Would Make Life A Bit Easier

I don't mind some chores. I've never minded doing or folding laundry, going to the grocery store, vacuuming, running errands in the car, or organizing. In fact, those are the chores I actually like to do.

On the opposite end of that spectrum is washing pots and pans, cleaning the shower, and ironing. I'll avoid those chores and always put them off until last. 

But regardless of the chore, I hate that no matter how well I do it, I'll undoubtedly have to do it again. Regardless of how clean the shower gets, I'm going to have to clean it again. The laundry will get dirty again and we'll run out of food at home if I put off heading to the grocery store.


Since chores are always going to be there, in Lichtenstein we're going to make them a bit easier. There will be a chore-sharing system where you volunteer do chores for other people who will return the favor. That way, everyone can do the chores they like and get the chores done at their homes that they don't.


I actually don't know why this isn't something already done. I guess it's because if you have someone coming over to do chores at your house in the United States, you're returning the favor by paying them in cash.

Day 210: What Did Batman Say to Robin... On Pressure-Cookers

Holy BFF Batman!

Why is it easier to be friends with so many people online than it is to be friends with one in person?

My mouth gets me in trouble. It's probably a big reason why I'm a writer. I love the way I can write something really freaking stupid then read and re-read what I wrote before I hit "send" or "publish". 

However, once you hit that button, you have to be OK with it being in black and white. But I think because it's "permanent" so to speak, people are more careful.

In person, you have to actually plan a date and time to meet where you're both free. And you not only have to be cognizant of what you say, but you also have to worry about what you look like, where you go, what you do, etc. It's a lot of pressure! 

There's less pressure online. You don't have to respond right away, you can be in your underwear or however you're most comfortable, and you can be online talking to or messaging friends from anywhere and at any time. 

Plus, you can talk to several people at one time - even if they're in different social circles or different countries - to keep in touch.


So why is it easier to be friends with more people online than one in person? It's less pressure!

Day 209: Never Have I Ever... Thought My Family Was Weird (And Still Don't)

I know my family is weird - to everyone else.

We have arbitrary rules that are strictly followed, like the point, snap, thumb rule. (If you see someone younger than you sitting where you want to sit, all you have to do is point at them, snap your fingers, and make the "get lost" gesture with your thumb and the younger relative must get up right away with minimal grumbling. I'm lucky that my younger cousins were the ones who kept sitting near the fireplace where I wanted to sit.)

We make racist jokes because there just so happens to be no one in my family who isn't white.


We tease each other to the point where most would be offended, but we know by now that it's out of love.

It takes newcomers some getting used to, but to me, this is and always has been normal Christmas celebrations:

Calvin was getting two frames for Christmas from my sister. Obviously he would want photos in those frames of his mom and two sisters with the gorgeous wreathes the three of us kids made 20 years ago and with the La La Lady whose sticker eyes fell of, so my mom replaced them with googly eyes.

Too many people, never enough room (the number of Rays on my dad's side alone numbers 67... and three women are pregnant!)

John smelling Becca's money bouquet with the card denoting when it's his turn for the white elephant gift exchange safely on his forehead.

Becca thinking she's better than any present in the gift exchange (and with felt hangers, an Entertainment Book, and draft door guards as actual gifts, she's pretty much right...)

John loves the gift that was in the Victoria's Secret bag he picked thinking it couldn't possibly be girly. And then I stole his gift - fair and square.


Dad was apparently not good this year...


Never have I ever thought my family is weird... and still don't.

Day 208: Shakespeare's High School Poetry... On Worshiping Our Savior

An epitaph is a brief poem inscribed on a tombstone praising a deceased person, usually with rhyming lines.

Given the date today, I thought it fitting to write what He might have had chiseled near his tomb after his crucifixion.

He died with love so that we could live.
Forever we will worship for what He did give.