Desperate Housewives is my FAVORITE television show. And, no, it’s not because I’m a desperate housewife!! I love the characters, and I relate most to Susan. Susan is emotional, reactionary, and a little ditzy, all qualities that can often be seen in my life. Edie is a desperate single woman who would steal anyone’s man and should have the mantra “all’s fair in love and war” tattooed on her forehead. (I have a feeling that I used to be an Edie before Rowland rescued me from myself!) Lynette has a gazillion kids (okay, I can relate to that part), but she is too level-headed, too analytical, and likes to have a career, none of which mirrors me. I wish that I could be Gabi. Yes, it definitely scares my husband when I say that! I love how conniving she is, how self-absorbed to the point of being humorous, how absolutely gorgeous she is, how she does those mean things that go through my mind but that I could NEVER do…. Then there’s Bree, the always put-together, perfectly OCD (obsessive compulsive), Ms. Make-Everything-Look-Okay-on-the-Outside NO MATTER WHAT!

While this show may seem like fluff to many people, there are actually lessons to be learned (besides how to bake a perfect pie, how to steal a man, how to beat up your husband when he’s down, etc., etc.). This week, poor Susan who is pregnant had an emotional moment - actually a couple of emotional moments. Bree, with all of her sympathy garnished into one beautiful basket, told Susan to JUST STOP CRYING. When Susan didn’t know how (often a problem of mine once I get going really well!), Bree explained her most unhealthy way of dealing with her own emotions. She simply pictures an empty box, pours all of the things that she doesn’t want to think about, those things that are upsetting to her, into that empty box. After placing the lid tightly on the box, she imagines placing the box on a shelf in a closet full of empty boxes. She then calmly closes the closet door securely and goes about her day. I’m pretty sure she was describing “stuffing her emotions,” but what a beautiful image!

My goal for each day now is to spend just a few minutes pulling out an empty box, pouring my frustration into it, putting the lid on tightly, and placing the box on a shelf in my imaginary closet. Hopefully, I’ve imagined a big enough closet!!!

Today is a bittersweet day as we remember Rowland’s dad who moved from this life to the next on this day four years ago. Since moving to Colorado, there have been so many times that Rowland has re-lived places his dad visited and loved. For many years, Bill spent every Summer here, and being here as made Rowland feel especially close to him. Rowland’s brother Graham, sister Marci, and step-mother Cydney have all been here within the past couple of weeks, and he had some wonderful talks with Graham about their dad.

Bill and I didn’t have an easy path in the beginning, but I grew to love him as I watched him love my children. He had a good sense of humor and was fun to tease with. Of course, most people knew him as a true God-follower, a man who devoted his life to pouring into other men for the Kingdom. Our kids just knew him as “Papa” and still talk about missing him even though they were young when he died. Unfortunately, he never got to meet Jia, but I know that he would have loved her giggles!

Most of all, I see so many wonderful characteristics in my husband that I know were instilled in him from an early age. Rowland is a hard worker. He would do whatever it took to support his family. Rowland is a God-follower who has not “arrived,” but loves the journey itself! He is a man of high integrity, true to his word, faithful to his family and his God. He is also a strong, intelligent man with a great business sense like his father. If Bill were alive now, I know that he would be proud of the man Rowland has become, the devoted father and amazing husband.

Today, we celebrate a great man’s life and the legacy he has left for us all! If you are a pray-er, please keep Rowland in your prayers today as it is a truly bittersweet day spent in the beautiful Colorado mountains alone with his cigar, his lab, and his precious memories!

Rowland and I joined a couple of friends of ours last Monday night and signed up for Weight Watchers. None of us have much weight to lose, but we thought it’d be fun to do it together. We did have a good time at the meeting. We giggled and trired to come up with ways to “cheat” before we even started! Rowland came up with a great marketing idea for getting more men to sign up for the program since he and our friend were the only men present. Rowland’s great idea - On the average, men get more “points” (points = food, basically) than women. Rowland felt sorry for me (right!) because I had almost half of the points that he had. His generous solution - “I’ll trade you points for sex!” Genius marketing plan! You can imagine how many times I’ve been offered extra points in the last few days!!!

Since I did WW a few years ago, I know how the program works. I have basically tried to live within a maintenance plan for the last three years. Most days, I only a few more points than I have allowed for the weight-loss segment of the plan. You’d think those few points were liquid gold! Now that I don’t have those extra points, all I can think about is how freakin’ hungry I am, how weak I feel, how I need sooooo much more food! Last night, I had a dream that I was at the Olympics. I was watching this amazing helicopter racing event. (I have a feeling that it’s not going to be in the Olympics any time soon!) Throughout the race, I was obsessed with the cinnamon rolls that were being sold only a few feet away from where I was sitting. I kept trying to calculate the points for those ENORMOUS, dripping-with-icing, melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon rolls. I woke up looking for the cinnamon rolls, but alas, all I could find was my morning Power Bar!

It’s amazing! I go on a diet, and all I can think about it what I can’t eat! (or actually what I don’t have enough points to eat!) Fortunately, I only have seven more pounds to lose so it won’t be too longterm.

I’ve discovered in life that those “forbidden fruits” are the same way for me. As soon as I taste them (even mentally), I am obsessed with them. They consume my thoughts and take over my very life. Not until I throw myself on my face before God, beg for His forgiveness, and place myself back in His loving arms, am I able to see that “forbidden fruit” for what it truly is, consequences and even death.

I need to continually remind myself when I’m “starving,” that only my God can satisfy that hunger and remove the desire for all of those “extra points!”

Rowland’s brother, Graham, and his wife, Danea, were here for a few days this past week. What a wonderful time we had! We spent a lot of time just hanging out, visiting, and catching up on life. Since they left yesterday, I’ve had such a heaviness in my heart. I just love Danea so much and miss living close. She’s that person who has known me most of my life (and loves me anyway!) and helps me sort through all of my crazy thoughts and strange emotions! God definitely brought her at just the right time as I felt like He was dealing with me in a couple of areas of my life, and it was good to be able to talk through those with her. She often helps bring clarity to life - maybe I should start paying her as my counselor!!

Little Kitty just cried and cried when Aunt Danea left. She loves her aunt so much and can’t wait to make a trip to Little Rock to see her. Maybe we’ll go this Summer. Either way, Aunt Danea and Uncle Graham are weighing heavy on our hearts and on our tear ducts right now!

Here’s a picture of our cool son! He sooooo rocks!!! He’s still my baby even if he is 13 years old. Sad thing is that he has his momma and his Uncle Douglas’ sense of humor!! At least he has his daddy’s looks and talent! He’s also still my love bug who gives his momma lots of hugs - and no, I haven’t tortured him lately!!

Carson with Valentino Sitting in Awe!!

The Carsonator!!

William had the lead in his class play, “The Cheese Stands Alone.” He did an awesome job and even had the only solo in the production. We were so proud of our Mr. Cheese!!! William, You Rock!!!!

William Singing His Solo - No Nerves Here!!!

Much of the Cast

William and His Buddies

So who does he take after? His daddy who’s Mr. Rock Band and leads worship each Sunday or his momma who “acts out” everywhere she is and thinks she’s Janice Joplin reincarnate? Hmmm….He seems to actually have talent. I guess that answers that question!!

This week at school, William did an awesome report on the Cherokee Indians. Rowland and he made a wonderful wigwam from baskets and strips of leather. William also had maps of the areas where the Cherokees once lived. His grand finale, though, was when he showed a picture of “the greatest Cherokee who ever lived who is still alive today. He is 82 years old, and his name is Troy Braswell, my grandpa, Pop!” Pop would’ve been proud. I know I was!! Great job, William!!

William Holding the Wigwam

William with a Picture of His Pop

Jia and I took Carson to get his hair cut yesterday. A couple of the ladies were talking to Jia, telling her how pretty she is.

Jia: Yes, and I have dark skin like my mom-mom.

Ladies: (Laughing) You sure do!

Jia: And I have brown hair like my mom-mom.

Ladies: (Laughing a little more) Yes, you do!

Jia: ‘Cause Mom-mom’s Chinese like me!

Ladies: ………………..Hmmmm……………….

Mom-Mom: You’re so right, my princess!!!

Chinese Princess with Her Chinese Mom-Mom!!

I just had a couple more comments on the Oprah dialogue. One is that while we’re shining light on the dark, let’s be careful not to beat the lost with the flashlight! Jesus showed love and compassion to the lost. Who were the ones he verbally attacked? The religious leaders - a good lesson for us all!

Secondly, please take the time to read the quote posted by Deb under the original Oprah blog. It’s a quote from Barak Obama describing his conversion experience, and it is definitely worth the read. As Deb said, whether you agree with him politically or not, his conversion experience should not be questioned. I would go on to say that the Christians who created the slanderous video linking him “religiously” to Oprah and Tolle owe Obama a HUGE apology!

Last week was Spirit Week at school. I don’t know what Western Day had to do with Spirit Week, but William and Kitty had a blast dressing up and then acting the “part.” In fact, we missed the bus that morning because they were so busy posing for pictures, and I was playing photographer! They looked so precious that I just couldn’t help myself!!

Kitty and William Posing

William Holds Kitty Hostage

William Wrestles a Snake

What a fun morning, full of laughter and hugs! I love it when they have such a good time together. With only 16 months separating them, they’ve had so many fun times playing together. They can fight with the worst of them, but they can play with the best of them, too! I love my “Twins!!”