Countdown

Okay everybody, 10 more days! Help me count them down until Brandon is done with Gross Anatomy!

Opera Mom

While driving to Lubbock for the weekend this past Friday, the kids entertained themselves with the usual - DVD player with Dora the Explorer et al in the back. Our stereo in the van quit working a few weeks ago, so I've been letting the kids watch their movies for the two hour trek while I drive. Well, for whatever reason the DVD player battery ran out early this time and we found ourselves with 30 minutes of time to kill. That's a long time with two little ones in the car if you don't have another adult to help pick up dropped toys every 5 minutes. SO, we all started singing songs and being otherwise silly with each other. After several minutes, I decided to teach them what opera sounds like ~ They both thought that was really funny and loads of giggles came from the back. After a little bit, though, Blaine had heard enough opera. Well, Mommy wasn't quite done with "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera and was finishing up despite Blaine's efforts to get me to quit. After several seconds of this, Braylon takes Blaine's hand and forcefully says, "Blaine! Mommy HAS to sing opera! Let her SING!"

Of course, that was it! I couldn't sing opera anymore amongst my own laughter. (Just as well - I wasn't doing Andrew Lloyd Weber any justice!)

Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Rain

This week was particularly stressful for me. Brandon's been gone for 9 weeks and being a single mother and traveling a lot is just now really getting to me. The house was a mess, the kids put on their best efforts to test my patience, work was busy, you know...the full meal deal.

But during my regular Bible reading, God put a passage in front of me that I had to read over and over because I just couldn't believe how relevant it was to me at that exact time I needed to hear it. It was an amazing passage in Luke 12 talking about how God doesn't want us to worry because he already has all the details taken care of. Wow!

Singing My Baby to Sleep

The last three nights the boys have had a hard time winding down for bed. I've had to open a can of Mean Mommie to get them to settle in a timely manner. Last night I had already given them one warning. Sure enough, not many minutes rolled by before I heard what I was sure was forbidden talking between the beds going on in there. I rushed in, ready to swat, only to hear Blaine singing his ABCs to his baby doll while he was trying to go to sleep. Braylon was quietly reading a book. It was an endearing scene that my temper almost made me miss out on witnessing.

Penalty point for Mommy, but lesson learned.

Movie Review: Skeleton Key DVD

I didn't intend to write another movie review until I saw another film in the theater. BUT.... Just had to. This is a good movie!

Skeleton Key PG-13: Starring Kate Hudson and Gena Rowlands

Setting: New Orleans surrounding swamplands. Kate Hudson plays a twenty-something nurse/personal aid who feels lead to take care of elderly people in their final days in part to take away guilt she feels for missing her own father's death. She finds it lucrative to take a job for a private individual who's husband recently had a stroke. While she starts caring for her patient, she realizes there are secrets kept in the house that are not normal. She believes her patient is trying to communicate something to her, but she is unable to decipher what. While snooping in the attic one day following strange sounds, she finds a room full of voodoo paraphernalia and goes on a mission to find out what happened in this house and what really happened to her patient.

Becky's rating: Solid A

The story line is easy to follow, yet gives enough for you to ponder. There were several times I had to shield my eyes because the suspense was nearly unbearable. (The mark of a truly scary movie!) Of course Kate Hudson is just lovely and certainly convincing in her role as she pries for the truth behind the mystery. Gena Rowlands is just disturbed - Or at least you believe she is. There is a remarkable twist ending that I doubt anyone will guess, even the most cynical movie goer. I felt like this movie was scary enough to satisfy my need for all things that go "bump" in the night, yet was not gory at all.

Bottom line: If you can swallow big suspense, go rent this film!

Movie Review: 1408

Earlier this month I did something I haven't done in what seems like FOREVER - I went to see a movie in the theater. For one reason or another, Brandon and I just haven't made it to many movies this year. Here's my take on the film.

1408 - Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson

John Cusack plays a writer who instead of writing moving novels for which he has talent, he writes virtually unsuccessful non-fiction books that attempt to de-bunk the existence of ghosts/unexplained phenomenons. Following an anonymous lead, John's character works hard to check himself into Rm 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, which is managed by Samuel L. Jackson's character. Shortly after check in to the "evil" room, the room comes alive and John Cusack attempts to get out.

Becky's rating: C+ to B-

I will not ruin the ending for anyone who wants to see this. It is not a bad movie and I would recommend renting it if you're interested in that kind of movie. However, I felt that after the first 45 minutes, the story started getting unbelievable and lost the "suspense" element. John Cusack was entertaining, as usual. Good performance. Samuel L. Jackson has basically one scene in the entire movie, but was convincing. I wouldn't have gone in that room after what he said! The one thing about the movie that had me scratching my head when I left was simple. I didn't get the WHY that I was looking for. WHY was the room evil? What was the first event that happened to make it a cess pool for violence? WHY, WHY, WHY?

Bottom line: Not a must-see, but not a waste of time, either.

Soduku Queen I Am Not

During the training from earlier this week I confirmed something. I simply am not intelligent enough to master the art of Sudoku. I'm probably not even spelling it right. It took me from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. to solve ONE EASY puzzle. And that was at the assistance of someone who had the key and could "grade" my puzzle during the training breaks. But ultimately I am ok with this revelation. I am not sure who invented this or why people feel compelled to count how many 2s are in a row - Not my cup of tea! Blessings to you Sudoku fans out there - I'll keep my computer Jeopardy or online Majong, thank you very much!

Granny, Here I Come!

I picked Blaine up from school yesterday and instead of going to pick up his "Bubba" from his school, I doubled back and headed towards my mother's house. Braylon was already at his Granny's because she had been keeping him after a doctor's appointment. I got distracted by the phone, so a few minutes down the road I was pleasantly surprised to hear, "Granny, here I come!" It's hard to convey the correct tone Blaine was using as he said this. Think in your head from your childhood days of playing Hide and Seek and saying, "Ready or not - Here I come!" Blaine repeated this several times and I just sat there, completely amazed that this kid knew that the road we were taking from downtown would lead to Granny's house. He's a smartie! (And a sweetie!)

Random Kid Moment #3

Last fall Braylon had surgery to remove his tonsils, adanoids and to have tubes put in his ears. Naturally, I had to wake him up in the wee hours of the morning to take him for his day surgery. When I crept in his room to wake him, his eyes peeped groggily open and said, "But I'm not done yet." How often have we all thought this as our alarms wake us for work!

Trippin'

Everyone few years it seems I do something really embarrassing. Since it takes a lot to truly embarrass me, this is saying something. There was the time that I fell into the fountains at the mall and got drenched in water while onlookers laughed. Then a time when I botched lines of a skit on stage in front of hundreds of teenagers and left the stage. It's been a while since I can remember being embarrassed. So I guess I was due.

Yesterday at work I attended an all day training on "Officer Saftey." There were about 40 some odd officers in attendance and I thought the class was very interesting. At the end, the instructor asked us all to complete a course evaluation sheet and drop it at the front of the classroom. The training had been held in a college lecture hall. You know the kind - The class had about 4 tiers on 4 different levels in decending fashion. I was sitting on the top level during the training. Well, anyway, I had already completed my evaluation during the last segment and was anxious to pick up my boys from school early. As I stood up, the first to do so of all the officers, and started walking down the steps, my boot caught on one of the steps wrong and I went sailing down the steps, twisting in air, and landed on my knees.

Thankfully, the only thing damaged was my pride.

Meet the Hamiltons

Brandon - Age 20-10 if you ask him. Studying to be a Physical Therapist. Takes daily vitamins and is Hitler about others in the home taking supplements. He likes to sleep in sub-artic weather, or at least that's how the temperature gauge reads. We'd never know if we had ghosts.

Becky - Age unmentioned. Probation Officer who is tough on crime and soft on sappy Hallmark movies. Loves Super Nanny. Disciplines her children with the "naughty corner" while speaking in a Brittish accent.

Braylon - Age 4, or 6 if you believe what he says. Enjoys coloring dinosaurs and discipling his little brother. Destined to be a choir director or music minister someday. Makes up songs about inappropriate body parts at the dinner table. Is known by all students, teachers, AND parents in his preschool. Hmmmm....

Blaine - Age 1. Favorite question, "Whhhyyy????" Favorite word, "No!" Favorite phrase, "HELP ME!" The current love of his life (other than bo-bo and blankie) - his baby doll. Loves giving kisses after creating a boo-boo. Likes answering Dora's questions.

Friends

"I thank my God everytime I remember you." Philippeans 1:3

God has placed specific people in our lives to grow us, encourage us, bless us, humble us and love us. He does nothing without purpose. Each person that I call "friend" is for a unique purpose in my life, and I in theirs. I have enjoyed all the friendships forged over the years and am thankful for each one for different reasons.

Random Kid Moment #2

My mother just reminded me of this jewel of a moment:

About a month ago my sister and her two kids were in town to visit Granny & Grampy. We always have a good (and exhausting) time while they're here. One afternoon, Grampy took the kids in the backyard to play. Braylon (4) is obsessed with knowing how old everyone is, which can sometimes provide for awkward situations in public. However, this time he asked my 6 year old nephew how old he was. My nephew answered, "I'm six and three quarters." Confused, but always quick-witted, Braylon quipped back with, "Well, I'm four and ten dollars!"

Be sure to watch for this in Reader's Digest!

Love and Marriage

I attended my sister's wedding last weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony, simple yet elegant. My sister looked gorgeous, made me get a little weepy, which is uncharacteristic for me (Okay, okay truth is I'm a big softy, but just don't want you to know it). She had asked me to play my violin for the ceremony and I did so with joy ~ A fun time was had by all and the two families seemed very natural in merging with one another, despite never having met each other before.

All of this got me to thinking, I am so thankful that God graced me with a strong, Christian husband. Now, we could write a whole blog on Brandon's imperfections (and two blogs for mine, too, for that matter!), but there are things about him that I wouldn't trade for the world. Like his goofy sense of humor and his ability to bring out my silliness. Or his commitment to spiritual growth and daily Bible reading. Or how about the fact that his boys adore him and want to be just like him?

After 8 years of marriage, I feel like it's only just begun....

Bible Trivia

Here is a fun Bible trivia website:

http://www.crossdaily.com/trivia/

Random Kid Moment #1

I've decided to write about various kid moments from our household from time to time as they pop into my head. I've got two beautiful little boys who look a lot alike, yet could not be more different. They are full of funny happenings that I will share ~

Several weeks back Braylon (4) was singing at the top of his lungs, as is the norm at our house, and playing his little guitar. If this kid isn't talking, he's singing. That's just something we've learned to accept with him. Anyway, he was particularly loud and it was grating on his mommy's nerves, so I said in a loud voice, "Braylon, please sing quieter." Braylon looked at me in full sincerity and without missing a beat and replied, "But Mommmm, I'm just praising Jesus!"

Then there was the time that Blaine (1) and I left swimming lessons to go change in the bathroom a couple weeks ago. I changed him first, then changed myself. I let him flush the oversized handicapped toilet while I dressed so he could entertain himself. I was watching him closely and had to remind him not to touch the potty, just the handle. After I was done changing, I was digging for a key that had fallen to the bottom of my bag. After several minutes of looking, I located the key only to look up to find little Blaine up to his chest in the toliet, still flushing away and laughing.

Aren't kids something?

Church Website

Check out my church's website at http://www.fanninbaptist.org/Start.php

There are lots of cool links and you can hear archieved sermons from our down to earth pastor.

My First Try

Ok, at the advice of a good friend I will try this blog thing. I enjoy reading a couple of my friend's blogs, so what the hey? Hope you enjoy...