Words invented by Toddlers

Difflicated (Dif-fli-ca-ted)--mixed up.

As in: "I need mac and cheese, I'm all difflicated."

Undifflicate (Un-dif-flic-ate)--getting mac and cheese.

As in: "Mommy, I need mac and cheese to undifflictate me."

These are words used by Jonathan today. When I asked where he heard them, he told me he made them up by squishing daddy's shoes (he was wearing Mark's shoes at the time). He was very serious about his new words, although I'm not sure "serious" is the best word to use since Jonathan has redefined it too:

Serious (seer-ee-us)--Mad

As in: "Mommy, time-outs make me serious!"

A Mommy Job

Jonathan is three years old now and he talks all the time. He understands pretty much everything we say, so s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g is a regular form of adult communication. He corrects us if we use "bad" words, most commonly "crap," but sometimes I get corrected on other things that I was unaware were impolite.

He dropped an apple slice on the ground while snacking, and I asked him to pick it up and throw it away. He picked it up and handed it to me saying, "Here, Mommy, it's icky and will get me all icky-dirty. That's why it's a Mommy job." While I was silently laughing at this he turned around and very seriously told me, "And I tooted. I toot-toot tooted." So, this is what raising a little boy is like.

Why Blog?

Well, I have been blogging faithfully several times a week for nearly a month. I have enjoyed the chance to put down my thoughts, but it is quickly becoming clear to me that my time might be better spent elsewhere. For one thing, no one reads my blog, and I already know what's going on in my life, so why am I spending so much time blogging? For myself? I think not. This will probably not be my last post, but it will probably be the only time I question blogging on my blog. My last post will almost certainly have no indication that it is the last, because I will probably have decided it is a waste of my time and just stop without telling my blog. Because, let's be honest, who would I be telling? The same people who are even now not reading this? I predict the demise of my blogging career will coincide with the weather perking up and me not wanting to fill my hours with anything but sunshine. So, to all of you not reading this, be prepared and don't say I didn't warn you.

Outside in Tulsa

I love spring weather in Tulsa! The days are absolutely beautiful, warm enough to love being outside, but cool enough to love actually doing anything! Jonathan and I have been walking up to the gym, I work out, he plays and watches TV, we both have a great time if we finish in an hour! Then we go to the library or the park, and we walk all the way (well, I walk, he "drives" his stroller). It's just fun to be out doing things and not stuck inside with nothing to do but stare at a TV all day. The TV is on during breakfast, then off until the news comes on, I love it!

Free Speech Doesn't Apply to Truth?

An Oklahoma Legislator, Sally Kern, made anti-gay comments in a speech she gave in her district to about 50 people. She is getting crazy backlash. Nothing she said was untrue or hateful, but her words are being labeled "ignorance" and a "hate crime."

She said that public schools are indoctrinating young children with gay agenda. (This is TRUE)
She said that it is a lifestyle that leads to death because studies show a higher incidence of suicide, depression, disease and illnesses along with a shorter lifespan in gays. (This is TRUE)
She said that the Bible tells us God does not approve of it. (This is TRUE)
She said that she thinks the gay agenda is a bigger threat to our nation than terrorism and Islam. (This is her opinion, she has a right to say it even if there is no statistical data to back her up. She didn't call gays terrorists, or advocate any hate crimes against them.)

Now the media is involved, their teasers say things like, "Tonight at 10:00, hear why this Oklahoma Legislator calls gays terrorists, and why many are calling for her resignation."

Free Speech: A constitutional right that applies to graphic movies, controversial artists, and anti-Christian activists of all kinds, but NOT to the Bible, Christians, or anyone speaking the truth, if that truth is unpopular or in the process of being suppressed.

JENNI'S OPINION: God loves us all, God calls on us to love everyone too, even if we don't agree with them, even if they hurt us. God loves me and God loves gay people too. But God also disapproves of the gay lifestyle (Leviticus 18 outlines all sexual practices that God doesn't approve of including incest, adultery, bestiality, and homosexuality Lev. 18:22). In Leviticus 18 the Bible specifically says that such sexual practices are not only abhorred by God, but that they will destroy the people/nations that practice or allow them. (Lev 18:26-28)

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/502412.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFxk7glmMbo

The Perfect Funeral

I don't mean to sound morbid in this post, but I've been thinking about what I want when I die. We went to Mark's Grandfather's funeral yesterday, and it was the best one I have ever been to! I know that sounds strange, but I usually dread the big, quiet, crowded room, the long, drawn out sermon (especially when the preacher is a stranger), and above all, I hate the varied and excruciating ways to make you cry.

Every funeral begins the same way for us. We all dress up in uncomfortable, but "appropriate" clothes, even though Jonathan is usually toted off by a friend or family member. I apply "church make-up" to go with the clothes even though I know I will cry and turn myself into a make-up mess (I own water-proof mascara exactly for this). We walk in and stand around in the family area until we are seated; this is really horrible for family, I think, because we are paraded past all the other people to sit in the front of the church as a kind of showcase of tears and drippy noses. Then come the songs, all lullaby or dirge-like hymns, often about heaven or death. Then, when your Kleenex is sopping wet, they bring up the preacher, who seems to love having a captive audience in the middle of the week and drones on and on, or a eulogist, or, in the worst cases, a line of eulogists who give sad remembrances over and over and over. Finally, just when you are breathing a sigh of relief that it is nearly over, they open the casket (which is right in front of the family section) and the rest of the people line up to file past you, the family, and the open casket. The family goes very last, then they load everyone up, and go to the grave site. Here, there is standing room only, the preacher gets another sermon in, and just when you have resigned yourself to it never being over, it is. Everyone mills around for a few minutes, then leaves. It feels lonely and strange standing there. This is the point when the part of me that is so glad that it's all over is warring with the part of me that feels sad, and guilty for feeling glad it's over. Somewhere during the course of all this there is usually a family lunch provided by someones church. Lunch usually consists of congealed ham, piles of green beans, and cold, store-bought dinner rolls. It's weird that every church who feeds mourning families seems to have the same bad cooks.

Anyway, the whole process is emotionally and physically exhausting, not to mention leaves you hungry and uncomfortable, and in need of a good face washing. So, yesterday was wonderful by comparison. We did dress up a bit, but it was supposed to be casual, and when we got there the whole funeral home was full of family and friends, talking, looking at pictures, and just hanging out. Jonathan got to stay, because there was no quiet anything in sit-still pews, he ran around, ate candy and entertained everyone with his ABC's and his funny phobia of his 10 month old cousin. There was a slide show playing on a loop in one room, it showed pictures from his life and pictures of his family growing up. The casket was open and surrounded by flowers in a viewing room, so you could go in quietly, and by yourself. I didn't see a single tear. After the viewing party, a small group of family went to the grave site where a close family friend and preacher said a brief word and had a prayer. The rest of the afternoon was spent at grandma's house eating all the food people had brought (it was really good food and there was way too much for one old lady).

It was perfect, it was not depressing, tear-jerking, or guilt-inducing. If I live to be a retired grandma, that is exactly the funeral I want. Why not the funeral for a young death? Because a young death is sad no matter how you look at it. Leaving behind children, close friends, and business friends, leaves so many different people who knew you, but didn't know each other, I don't think being forced to mingle with strangers would be as comforting. Besides, I think this really would only work as a small thing, family and close friends. Still, this, and then cremation is my choice for an end to my life on this earth.

New Stuff in our Life

Well, it is official! Jonathan is now counting. He knows 1-3 and 8-10! He will ask for "one more" or "two please" and knows exactly what it means. He will point to pictures in books and count them 1-2-3-8-9-10 (nobody's perfect).

He now loves Clifford the Big, Red Dog, and wants to read his books all the time. He is also starting to take apart toys like his racetrack and bring pieces to me saying, "What happened." (which is usually what I ask when he brings me disassembled toys).

He knows some colors, but I don't know if he doesn't know them all, or just doesn't really care which is always which, but he surprises me now and then by pointing to something and saying its correct color.

Also, Mark and I got our new phones and numbers today! If you didn't get a text already, I probably don't have your number.