And now, playing catch-up with some random pics from my phone that didn't fit into other more specific posts. =) Starting with this random FB thing... what in the world - how freaking adorable is the dog version they picked for me!? lol She looks a little unsure and her left ear is a little wonky, but aww, so lovable! This was super random, but it made me smile.
This was the night I met Chet and Sarah on 12-17-2008. Shutterfly sent me an email with these pics, and it made me happy seeing that we randomly sat by each other during the Dirty Santa game. Who knew!? lol #Goddid
Rach painted this sign for her friend, Courtney's store... and they show it during her Fashion Friday news segment - YAY!
Real talk for a second - this article was scary and painful for me to read, and then the FB comments were brutal to a point that I unfriended the distant connection who posted it (after crying for about 20 minutes and then talking myself down). There were jokes in very poor taste about looking like a stroke victim and how anyone dumb enough to get the vaccine deserves whatever they get... it was all particularly offensive to someone who's had Bells Palsy more than once and has lost a beloved grandparent to a terrible stroke and has been so looking forward to the COVID vaccine as a light at the end of this tunnel. I could cry right now if I let myself think about it too long. Anyway, I've known for a while that Bells Palsy is a raw and triggering pain point for me... it's been 20 years now, but it's still a big part of the reason I have the laughter defense mechanism and take so many pictures (because I avoided them for several months, and I subconsciously covered my mouth and laughed a lot to express joy so people wouldn't think I was just being rude for not smiling)... and I still end up crying if my facial muscles do anything out of the ordinary or after anyone asks what's wrong with my eye. In addition to the emotional aftermath, there are several minor physical after-effects still in play (like my left eye watering all the time and certain facial muscles being cross-wired and occasionally twitchy), so I didn't appreciate this article casually minimizing all that. Being in the rare group that's had it twice, I know I would be in the more susceptible group for that side effect, and the paralysis can be permanent for some. That is not a small thing to me, and I'm reminding myself that it's not a small thing to God either. Anyway, not sure what my plan is yet on the vaccine - I'm trying to weigh out what living with a God-given sound mind and not giving in to fear looks like here, because people could (and have) easily make the argument for both sides - but that's between me and God in the end, and I'm truly not asking for anyone's input. I mostly wanted to write this as a reminder to be kind and try to be aware of how deeply your spoken or written words can affect people, even quiet strangers or distant friends reading them on social media.
Okay, much lighter note - this little SNL song still makes me happy!
This made me laugh and think of Rachael... there have definitely been times where the kids have fallen or something and she's stopped me from reacting too strongly because they stay so much calmer when you are calm. lol
Sent this to Rach as an excuse to use when she had to work on Christmas Eve Eve. lol
I spent that day baking and watching Christmas movies...
Mom and I made it at her house later that night, and I felt validated that she also had trouble getting it out of the pan with this particular recipe - although hers was salvageable and we were able to make it pretty!
Mine... not so much. lol
These were the Top Nine pics I selected for a 2020 recap.
They got crazy snow in OKC area on New Year's Day! Here's C, J, and K outside playing with the Rutherford girls!
This juxtaposition of summer and winter makes me smile!
And finally, December 30th marked 14 years since I moved to Tulsa, so here's a post I wrote to commemorate that:
Another hot tip, gang: Don't destroy pictures you cannot recover! It's totally crazy to me that there's an 8-month period of my life from which I can only salvage one photo. Lord knows it is not for a lack of taking pictures.
It's also very comforting to me that God holds ALL our memories, and that nothing we lose (or destroy) here on earth is lost for all eternity - be that photos or relationships or my ability to smile or life itself. The promise of restoration brings me so much hope!! ❤
Hmm, that got deep for a Phoning It In post. lol Happy 3rd day of 2021! Hope you're enjoying your first weekend of this new year!!
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