Family
George Bush’s Favorite Restaurant
I planned the night.
I told Clayton to wear his new red flannel shirt and I wore my cowboy boots. If only we had worn our overalls and acquired an extra 40 years, we would have fit in perfectly. We ventured to the Coffee Shop Cafe in McGregor, TX.
Just a few miles from his ranch in Crawford, George W. Bush is known to frequent this epitome of the South. Clayton’s conservatism and deep Southern values were charged as we ate fried catfish, okra, and mash potatoes. (Though, I didn’t bother reminding him that this is also the stomping ground of Jessica Simpson).
We lingered a while with our coffee and complimentary dessert. Oh, my friend is so fun. And doesn’t he look good in flannel? I say yes.
p.s. we came home and watched Modern Family. Have you seen it? Moral of the story: I think we could all learn from the overall-wearing, accent-having, fish-eating wisdom of the rural south.
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CommentStudy Dates for Busy People
I love Barnes & Noble.
Especially with one of my favorite people. This semester our weeks are too busy to hang out very much, so study dates are the best ways to multi-task.
I’m currently trying to read Kant, but my attention span is shorter than my brothers’ interest in shopping. Clayton is studying for a logic test, and I’m testing out my logic: since it’s pouring (some people would say cats and dogs but I’m not sure what that means), I’ll take that as a sign to stay seated, dry, and warm.
And drink coffee. Lots of it.
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CommentLiving Life to the Fullest
True story.
Over Christmas break, I came home and heard James panting. Then I saw him; he was wearing a helmet, bike shorts (I still don’t think they should be allowed), clip-in biking shoes, complete with his camelbak water bottle.
He was ready for his race– against no one, the race inside, and…
…on TV. He had somehow propped up our TV on our desk, stationed his bike on his trainer, and was competitively passing other riders on the screen, resting while he went down hills, verbally encouraging himself, and determined not to fall behind.
I thought he was ridiculous. I still do.
[Note: This picture is courtesy of James himself, which explains why he's not wearing his helmet and sweating like crazy]
James is quirky, all boy (you can hardly walk in his room), eats too much Ranch dressing (I think), prefers bagpipe music over country, and has difficulty making it to class. Still, he has something right. If you’re going to do something, do it completely.
I’d rather do 3 things with all of my heart than 10 things half-heartedly.
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CommentSubjective? Nah He’s just Wrong
My brother-in-law said the most horrible thing yesterday. I felt like I had to cover up his purposeful blunder (it is a blunder in my eyes) and sing louder just to minimize what he said.
He said he didn’t like Christmas music. And you know why? because it’s the same every year. !!!! No, I couldn’t believe it either.
I didn’t think the liking of Christmas music was subjective, but I now realize it is so. Especially because the very reason why he doesn’t like it, is why I love it dearly.
On Christmas Eve our church sang a medley of the oldest Christmas hymns, echoing the Joy to the World that has spilled forth in song for generations about the coming of the Savior on this precious Silent Night somewhere very far Away in a Manger. I’m sure Wesley or Issac Watts and the other masterminds never imagined their hymns would be played on every radio station and remixed by the most obscure rock bands. Though, I must contend that a choir will always sing the hymns the best.
Radio stations have reverted to their old songs (much to the pleasure of some), but the hymns deeply rooted in tradition will transcend time yet again and be sung next year.
I think that is wonderful. 
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CommentTwas the Nights
Why I love Christmas.
‘Twas the night before Christmas
(or technically speaking it was very very early Christmas morning),
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
With Uncle John guarding, oh what a scare!
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
Until the parents lied down their heads.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
“What could it be?” Little Robert asked.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
It was only Grandmother, so no need to fear!
Wait, Grandmother at 2:30 in the morning?
Not eight tiny reindeer or even a sleigh,
She was merely checking her turkey for the big day
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
Sweet dear Grandmother didn’t know she was playing a trick
For just a moment before, we all vowed we heard St. Nick!
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Big Robert! now, Little Robert! now, Caroline and James!
On, Elizabeth and Annie! on Jonathan! on, and Ryan!”
you must not play those games!
To the top of the porch! The pillows are all out of sorts!
And on my clock, is that a big ball?
But Grandmother let her facade fall, and winked and snuck down the hall
As Santa rode his sleigh,
the children found a way to play
dash away! dash away all!”
Until the energy fell and to the pillows the heads had to fall
Around that time Grandmother’s body would cue
And she’d be up with the coffee ready to brew
But the grandchildren’s dreams were not through
In their minds to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
The memories they’d made were far from few
The next morning Grandmother kept her mouth closed;
no secrets were exposed
Until she could no longer keep her smile concealed
And the adventures were revealed!
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
complete now with proof
Echoes that Christmas is the best time of year,
full of cheer and always near
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
Making it impossible to frown
A bundle of smiles Christmas has flung on his back,
And out flows joy when Christmas opens his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, its happiness I will always carry!
The day after Christmas, he jumps in his sleigh, and to his team Christmas gives a whistle,
I wish Christmas would stay a while and not be so fickle.
But I decided to exclaim
and year-round proclaim,
That though last night Christmas drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
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CommentBeautiful Mother
“Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world.” — Kate Douglas Wiggin
Good thing all four of us learned to share more than just the remote (oh wait, we never watched TV– we learned to share more than the Brio train tracks, Lincoln Logs, and our learning enhancement toys that weren’t really toys). Love you Mom.
love,
Us.
(I’m sure Elizabeth, Robert, and James agree).
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CommentHey There
In a matter of days I'm going to marry my college sweetheart Clayton. I'll be the resident chaplain at a girls dormitory this year... which will add a few quirks to our first year of marriage. I've been adopted into Texas culture and I keep Sonic in business. I blog about faith and the struggles with faith. My first name is Jane; I'm Caroline.
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To my single friends, I just posted a cute picture of Clayton and I on Facebook. 10 minutes later we were sitting in my driveway talking about how his stress was overwhelming me and how he was stressed because I was overwhelmed. Dumb. […]
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