5 weeks!

Until Dad gets home! I am counting the days! The days actually number 24--5 weeks is a rounded number.

Mama and Dad got me a 6 month membership to a ladies' gym for Christmas. I went every weekday this past week and I feel great!

Mama is having Ethan, Naomi, and Joshua read Paul Johnson's A History of the American People for their (wait for it) American history credit. So I volunteered to read it first and write tests, short essay questions and full essay questions for them. It's a great read. I'm really enjoying it! I have wanted to read it for a while now. I figured that volunteering to write a curriculum around it would be a good way to guarantee that I read it.

Hebrew class starts up again tomorrow. I'm so excited! I hope I haven't forgotten everything over the break.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Poor Dad is far away. Everybody over here doesn't have him but we have each other. Poor Dad only has Eric, which is better than nothing.

In other news, Claremore might actually get a white Christmas.

I know it's rude to brag about your own cooking, but the soup I just made smells really, really good. Can't wait for supper. Maybe I should make biscuits to go with it.

Lazy Sunday

It's been a cold and wet day so I've stayed inside, besides church, snuggled in warm, soft stuff reading Eclipse and appreciating art on Flickr.

Today's sermon was really good. Kirk Youngblood was down this weekend from Colorado to visit Brother Archie over Thanksgiving and preached just to give Scottie a break. I can't imagine having to prepare a strong, Scriptural message at least once a week. Kirk preached on the miracle feeding of 5,000. It's recorded in all 4 gospels but he spoke out of Luke http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Luke+9&version=9">9:10-17 He emphasized that God will put before you tasks and ministries too big to do on your own. When that happens we should not be overwhelmed, afraid, and feel like failures but cast ourselves on His might and trust Him to do His work through us. God is not surprised or strained at any situation that arises. He already knows what He is going to do and is already bringing it to past. I think this has particular application to me in my job hunt.

I went and saw New Moon last week. I actually liked it a lot better than the book. Jacob is much more heart wrenching in the movie than he was in the book. And the soundtrack is going on my wish list.

Flickr is just way too much fun!

Dad called today. He sounded tired which is scary when it's the beginning of his day. I miss him so much but I at least have plenty of sleep and the rest of my family. He's tired and by himself. :(

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful!! I just got back from a brisk 30 minute walk and my chest feels the better for it.

Vernise passed away Sunday, late. Her funeral was Wednesday in Fayetteville. Samuel and I house sat for the Kelleys while they went. I got a lot of reading and journaling done. It feels good to have some of my thoughts sorted out.

Hebrew classes are picking up speed. The rest of the class is beginning to understand phonics. I can tell that, for a lot of them, this is the first foreign language they've tried. They're still asking why questions, as if language has any kind of rhyme or reason to it. I told them they had to have faith like a child to accept things just as they are. :)

We continue to be amazed by how many people are praying for Dad so constantly. Thank you everyone! I know they're a help!

Let's guess

My last blog post said I had 2 big things to blog about. Since then I have caught the influenza and have been busy coughing my lungs up. A side effect of coughing up my lungs is complete loss of brain power. I can't remember what else I was supposed to tell y'all about.

Dad called yesterday and today and emailed me! I feel loved!

I find myself expressing loneliness over missing Dad in odd ways. I seem to be seem to have a much higher emotional idling speed, if that makes any sense. It's like my emotional cup is already full with missing Dad, so practically anything will make me spill over---as in tears or anger. I think this is why not having a full time job is bothering me so much. There's just not enough faith and patience to encompass it all around. I think this calls for what's called "growth". I just need more faith and patience.

You Are My Superstar!

I'm listening to S.H.E. right now. So much fun!

I have a list of 12 different companies to start researching to approach about hiring me. I've decided that in addition to applying for posted open positions, I'm also going to preemptively strike companies about hiring me. The idea of bringing up the idea of hiring myself is rather daunting, but I think it's worth a try.

Dad called last night. It's always so good to hear his voice! He's gotten over the cold, although he said the dust is a constant respiratory irritant.

Random observation: why do people assume that if you don't speak English well you must be here illegally? I have had so many people make this assumption here in Oklahoma. I think it shows how provincial Americans, and Oklahomans in particular, are. Do they think that the possession of a green card automatically magically gifts the bearer with perfect English? I think they all need to spend some time in a foreign country where they don't speak the language and have to just learn as they go.

Speaking of languages, I'm going to start Hebrew classes in Tulsa. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I was excited to learn that it's only going to be about $100 for 9 classes. It's on Mondays, which is a bummer, but I think the class will finish in time for me to make the upper belt work out after class.

Bavido Banditos

Bavido Banditos
Originally uploaded by Purple Palindrome

Here ya go, JC! I apologize for taking approx. forever and a day to get this to you!

We took this on August 22nd, right before Dad left.

Back to front, left to right: Samuel, Caleb, BonnieJean, Isaac, Joshua, Naomi, Anna, Mama, Dad, and Ethan.

Ocean in my pants!

(If you click on the link, skip to 2:20 in) Mama bought season 7 of the t.v. show Monk. We already have season 1 on dvd. we have given up trying to watch them in order and are nwo just snatching up whatever we can find. Mr. Monk Goes Underwater is one of my top favorites.

Chera is here! I am so excited! I think she is so brave to move across country, to a new job, away from her familiy. She's amazing!

Not this Saturday but the next I'm going to spend a few hours at Tulsa Violin Shop just taking pictures. I talked to one of the shop keepers there today (I was picking up a special rosin) and he was actually excited about the idea. I was rather surprised--I thought he would have been more cautious. I've wanted to do this shoot for a while so it should be fun!

Dad leaves Sunday. :(

This seems rather boring, but I'm lacking the inspiration right now.

ABKA Nationals Highlights

  Mr. Murry was promoted to sixth degree black belt this morning, a highly deserved honor.  Also, Mrs. Rutledge and Mrs. Lester were promoted to sixth degree.  And the crowd went wild.

  Joshua won first in his kata division.

  Dad won second in both kata and fighting.

  My foot was only hit twice and with no sustaining injury. :)

A bulletin from the couch

where I have pretty much taken up permanent residence. :)

Everyone but Dad and BonnieJean went down to the Bowie tournament over the weekend.  Samuel placed third in black belt weapons after deciding on the spur of the moment to compete.  Dillian Ramey and Crista Bailey took first and second, respectively, so he's hanging with the big dogs, for sure.  He also placed third in the super fight, coming in behind Greg Partridge and Luke Rosebure.  Ethan didn't fight because it was only a week from his black belt test, but he placed first in adult underbelt weapons and adult brown kata.  He got a nine from Mr. Holzbauer on his weapons kata!  Naomi came to help coach and decided suddenly to compete in kata!  She didn't place, but I'm so proud of her!  And after we all saw the flying pigs, she decided to do fight a 13 year old who didn't have anyone else in her division to fight.  Naomi won!  Joshua placed third in kata and second in fighting.  Isaac placed second in kata.  He lost his first fight by one point to the boy who went on to win the whole division.  Irony.  At the last tournament, Caleb forgot his kata and had to make it up.  This time he remembered it perfectly!

  Before the tournament, Scott and Theresa tested for fourth degree and passed.  I'm so excited for them!  I'm kinda disappointed they didn't do any board breaking, but that's just because I so enjoy watching them do it so well!  I can't believe they managed to test and run a tournament in the same day.

  After the tournament, little Alexis hit my right foot while I was standing in the hallway.  When I unwrapped my foot to take a shower Sunday night it was swollen really bad and black all down the right side and top of it with pooled blood under the skin.  It totally freaked me out.  Dad prayed over it right then and we called Orjala first thing Monday morning.  I didn't go to work or karate.  We unwrapped it Monday afternoon out of pure curiousity and it looked tons better.  I don't think a bruise on a normal, active person would go down that quickly.  It was just an answer to prayer!

  While I was home resting Monday night, Caleb passed his yellow belt test, Dad passed his orange belt test, and Isaac did all of his blue belt test with the exception of fighting and board breaking.  He'll do those Monday night.  I'm so excited for all of them!

  In other fantastic-answers-to-prayer news, I found out today that I passed the Comp II test out!  This means I get to graduate this May!  I am so wildly excited!

This and that

  I love my praying friends!  I have friends that I haven't seen or even maintained contact with, suddenly reconnecting with me and praying for me.  I have a group of ladies older than me in age and in faith that all pray for each other.  My Sunday school class prays for me.  My karate class prays for me.  My parents pray for me.  The Teagues pray for me because of the Friday Bible study.  Chera and JC pray for me.  I'm sure there are many more people that pray for me that I don't know about or just don't remember.

  It seems like I'm suddenly much more aware of who's praying for me.  I think even this is an answer to prayer.  I've been praying for a new understanding of God's love and working in my life.

29 Years

They sit on the couch reading

Their companionable silence is content

Sometimes they hold hands

Occasionally they read a thought aloud

Their companionable silence is content

When they share a laugh the walls glow

Occasionally they read a thought aloud

Their minds like iron to iron

When they share a luagh the walls glow

He's an artistic engineer, she an architect artist

Their minds like iron to iron

So very different but growing the same

He's an artistic engineer, she an artchitect artist

She was in ROTC, he was a hippie ten years late

So very different but growing the same

They were and are determined to make it work.

She was in ROTC, he was a hippie ten years late

They never should have made it

They were and are determined to make it work

God must be determined, too

They never should have made it

He makes her breakfast, she irons his shirt

God must be determined, too

They snuggle and pray together in the mornings

He makes her breakfast, she irons his shirt

Sometimes they hold hands

They snuggle and pray together in the mornings

They sit on the couch, reading.

Cozy night

  I'm making sleepty time tea right now, perfect for a late night cap.

  BonnieJean made the most luscious guacamole this evening.  I didn't know I liked guacamole.  I had never even tried it, because I had assumed it was spicy.  I discovered, however, that it's actually quite mild and I like it.

  I got to do some quill work with Mama this evening.  Writing with a quill is twice as fun as writing with a regular pen.  We got to having fun rhyming and making up silly poems.  I'm not going to put any up here because Mama's going to put them up on her blog.

  For the first time in three years we have neighbors to our right!  They're Paul, Evette, and Nathan.  Nathan is 9; he and Caleb seem to be hitting it off well.  Evette is originally from San Antonio.  They are here for Paul to attend the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa.  They were living on the wet side of Washington state and poor southern Evette is very glad to have left.  I don't think I would survive long on the wet side of Washington, either.  I need my sunshine!

  Samuel starts his full internship tomorrow!  We're all so excited!  Everybody pray for him!  Do I have enough explanation points?!

  Dad goes back to work tomorrow. :(  He's had the last 2+ weeks off and we've all gotten spoiled.  Going back to work wouldn't be so bad I guess if he liked his job more.  I wish I could just wish the perfect job into existence for him.

  I installed Age of Kings on my laptop today.  I love that game!  Everyone hold me accountable to uninstall it on the 13th when I go back to school.

  I'm going to go sip my tea and read some out of Ephesians.  Love y'all!

Contentedness

  I'm curled up on the couch with my laptop and a mug of sleepty time tea.  *happy sigh*

  I'm so glad Samuel talked me into buying a laptop.  It's definitely been worth the investment.  I love my Hermione!

  Tonight was Chloe Cobb's birthday party.  I had so much fun!  I got to visit with Papa Ed, Jason Murry, and Mama.  We talked about drugs, Glock semi-automatics, babies, driving, Dad, Mama's dad, and other sundry topics.  And I danced a lot--Virginia Reel and the Cha-Cha mostly.  Not enough people knew how to swing dance for us to do that.  I would like to learn how to swing dance.  What little I've done, I've really liked.  Some of us did kata to Move It from Madagascar--great fun!  There was a small dance competition--some of us white kids can actually dance, whudda thunk it?  Carrie and Jeremy won, hands down.

  Tomorrow there's a karate demo and gift distribution at the Indian children's home in Muskogee, hosted by Vicki Rutledge.  I know that Samuel, Ethan, Joshua, the Murrys, and the Browns are going, not sure who else.  Pray for them.  This is a really neat ministry opportunity.

  Mama, BonnieJean, Naomi, and I are driving down to Arlington for Erica's baby shower tomorrow.  It's so ridiculous that showers are only for girls, but I won't let my outrage get in the way of seeing everybody.  I love my extended family!

  I love the fact that the price of gas has gone down so much.  It's made me really itch to travel!  Not long trips, but impulsive day trips.  The other day, in the middle of finals, I got the urge to see if I could drive to New Orleans in a day and still have time to see some sights.  I resisted, but, man, it sounds like fun!  That's just one possible destination.  I've never been to Galveston, it's been a long time since I saw the Texas capitol or Alburquerque.  What else is within a day's driving distance?

Music

One of the joys of now having high speed internet is I can find and download pretty much any song by any band I want to off of youtube. Most of the time I just use it for background music and don't even watch it, so I apologize if any of these have disturbing or nude visuals. Here are some new favorites.

Supermassive Black Hole by Muse: weirdest music video ever, but good song.

Starlight by Muse: a lot like some songs by Brave St. Saturn actually.

Tremble for My Beloved by Collective Soul: can anyone tell I found a list of songs that will be on the Twilight soundtrack?

Viva La Viva by Coldplay: no idea what it's about, beautiful song.

Irene by Toby Mac: this is actually a good music video.

So Long My Friend by DC Talk.

Sail Away by Enya: this one has a music video that looks like it was designed by Monet.

Hungarian Dance by Brahms performed by Joshua Bell.

You are Loved by Josh Groban.

On a more sober note, I let Veteran's Day past without saying anything. Other people have said things much more eloquently than I could ever hope to about what Veteran's Day means and what Veterans have done for us, so I won't go there. I think about and miss U. Freddy and Jaron a lot, but obviously I did a lot more yesterday. Please keep praying for their families. Also it reminded me to pray for Donovon's dad and Jason Joslin, folks from my church who are currently away with the military. I've never been away from home in any way similar to what they're doing, but I do know that you need prayer support even more when you're away from home. Pray also for their families. I know for me personally that I felt like we were just hovering on the edge of unraveling every single day Dad was gone.

Dad's impeccable timing

Among the many remodels my amazing father has done, I can only remember two roofing projects.

One, was November '04 (I think). Dad re-roofed the house. We had had a very mild fall. The two days we ripped shingles off, the weather was gorgeous. I might exaggerate some, but the moment we took the last shingle off, the sky turned dark, the wind picked up, the air turned cold and a miserable drizzle ensued. This continued for almost 3 weeks. The wind was so strong that it actually ruined one of our tarps. We had leaks everywhere, some of which made it through the attic to stain our living room ceiling. When it wasn't raining, we worked like maniacs on the roof in the (almost) hurricane strength wind and (almost) sub-zero temperatures. Finally, it was done. The weather turned nice again, of course.

The second roofing project is Dad's tool shed. He first started this project in early '08--right before his FEST got called to Iraq.

Not to be deterred, he took this project up again this week. He got in two days good work in good weather before the remnants of Gustav made their work to Northeastern Oklahoma.

Poor Dad. He really wants his shed back. Who cursed him with bad roofing luck?

Hey, I'm at the Hardesty Library where the nice librarian logged me onto the computer as a guest because my library card is not in my purse for some reason. I wonder where it went...

Dad is home! We're all just floating around with happiness. Of course, now we miss Samuel even more.

The poetry section of my creative writing class is almost over. All I need to do now is revise and rewrite and write explanatory pages for each revision. Hmm... now tht I write it down it seems like more than it did before.

Sorry this is so short, but I need to get something to eat and get back over to Broken Arrow in time for karate. Love y'all!

Dad will be home Wednesday night!

I have some kind of bug--everything wears me out. I thought it was walking pneumonia, went to an urgent care place today and he said my lungs are clear. He wants to run a thyroid test tomorrow.

I'm really enjoying the creative writing course I'm taking. Poetry is not as dreadfully hard to write as I thought it was. :)

Scottie had a wonderful sermon this morning about love and truth and confronting sin. Scott and Sammi Marsh sang a song called "Slow Fade" that went with the sermon perfectly.

I start fiddle lessons tomorrow. I'm so nervous and excited!

It's lightning so I'd better close this down. Love y'all!

Hey! Sorry not to update in so long. I have a million things to do before I leave for Tennessee and Rachel's house in the morning, so I'll zip through the news really fast.

I've ordered my books for summer classes, but they're not here yet. I really hope they're here by Tuesday. I handed over an arm and a leg today for summer tuition. While I was up there I turned in my acceptance letter for a pell grant of $690 a semester starting in the fall (Praise God!). I asked the lady about when I would hear about the rising junior scholarship. She could see what I had gotten on her computer screen but she couldn't tell me--there was a lady who looked like a boss standing behind her reminding her. So all I know is that the award and rejection letters will be sent out next week. Oh, the uncertain anticipation!

I love my job. Taking care of Donna is so much more fun and fulfilling than any old job as a clerk or anything else. Granted, I'm a little tired from having just worked 11 days straight, but it's cool.

Dad, I'm going to be gone on Saturday night when you call once again! We need to figure out an alternate time....Also, if we read your itinerary right you'll be getting home on the 17th (only 19 days from now!)--do you know yet what time?

Samuel and Dad, I apologize for not emailing more often.

Mama is recoating the boys' room floor and possibly repainting the walls this weekend. She's amazing.

The weather is warming up here--low 90s with 80% humidity the next couple of days. We've had a couple days break from rain, but it's starting again Saturday. I think we could qualify as having a wet season or at least being tropical.

Love y'all!

I'm still alive

I had a wonderful spring break. Nashville was awesome--worked a foodline at a homeless shelter, did repairs and maintence for a minitry called Feed the Children and painted the BCM at Tennessee State. Oh, and we went to the Grand Ole' Opry and heard Rhett Atkins, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Randy Travis among others.

I have used up all my penalty-free abscences in all my classes in order to go to training classes for work. I have the time-limited, two-day classes done with so hopefully Christine can schedule all the rest on Fridays and Saturdays. If not, I'll have to quit until June, which I really don't want to do.

School is going well. I'm a little behind in U.S. Courts (he doesn't count off for late work, but I'm just going to have to knuckle down and get it done) and worried about my math class, but I think it'll be ok.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here. I think I'll live outside from now on.

Dad is doing well. I don't know if he'll have time to write back but I'm sure he would love an email. james.j.bavido@us.army.mil

I get to sign up for classes on the 2nd. I'm going to take 2 intersesson classes (Cinema and Art Appreciation) and 2 summer classes (creative writing and a science-probably earth) and then 18 hours in the fall (Social Systems and Problems, Research Methods II, Internship II, Election 2008, Black&White Photography and Literary Traditions). Busy, busy. Then I'll only have to take 13 my last semester.

I need to get back to the salt mines. Love y'all!