Help Me With My Dry Spell

I got nothin' to say.

Imagine. Me. With nothing to say.

I've been busy. Really, I have. I'm spending more time than I care to admit writing a Christmas musical, which is super hard to think about when it's 100 degrees outside every day. Apparently it's sapping every ounce of creativity out of me which is laughable if you could see what I've accomplished on it this week. Sigh. The heat and dry weather are sucking the brain power clean out of me.

Anyway, I've missed you and since my blog writing tap is dry right now, I wonder if there's a topic you'd like to talk about. Is there something you've struggled with or an idea you'd love to discuss? Do you have any burning questions? Any important discoveries of your own to share? What have you been thinking about? Let's talk about it.

Send me ideas, people!

Leave them in the comment section (I'll even let you post them anonymously) or email me at the address found in the About Me section at the top right hand side of this page. Let's have a little summer party right here on the blog.



Photo Credit: Pitchers

A Peek Into Me

Marriage Monday has been on hiatus for the holidays, but we're back today with a challenge from e-Mom to let people in on the real us (as if this has ever been a problem for bloggers). We're supposed to finish the following sentences to reveal a peek into our heads. So sit back, friends, and find out everything you've never wanted to know about me. (Should I say I'm sorry?)

I am….. too easily lost in my head and emotions.

I want….. to do great things for God.

I have….. four children who have changed me for the better.

I wish….. I could succinctly explain to others how I spend my time.

I hate….. to watch or listen to people brush their teeth. Ew!

I miss….. the carefree days of childhood.

I fear….. losing my husband or children.

I feel….. wimpy and weak most of the time.

I hear….. blessed silence when working in my office and treasure it.

I smell….. almonds (cause I'm munching on them right now!).

I crave….. ice cream and chocolate.

I search….. for ways to see God.

I wonder….. if I'll ever accomplish the dreams in my heart.

I regret….. nothing. There are no mistakes. God uses all, even my bad choices, to teach me.

I love….. my husband. SO. VERY. MUCH. I hate to think of life without him.

I ache….. for those who suffer.

I care….. too much about what people think of me, but I'm working on it.

I always….. drink hot beverages while working on my computer.

I am not….. particularly gifted at anything, but can do an adequate job of a lot of things.

I believe….. God makes good out of everything.

I dance….. like a klutz, but find it very romantic.

I sing….. to connect with God.

I cry….. when I see God at work.

I don’t always….. keep my mouth in check. Boo.

I fight….. myself too much.

I write….. when I'm depressed or confused.

I never…. think what I've done is good enough.

I listen….. to others and enjoy it immensely.

I need….. lots of quiet time.

I am happy….. when I think about all God has done in my life.

Hopefully that wasn't too painful. If not, maybe you'd like to get to know some of the other Marriage Monday bloggers. You can read about them at Chrysalis.

Have a great day, friends!

No Wonder The Kids Claimed Child Abuse

If the melted butter wasn't enough reason to turn on the air, this should have clued us in.

You Know It's Time to Turn on the Air Conditioning When . . .

Skinny Mirrors

Yes, I'm still obsessed with mirrors. Call it vanity, a midlife crisis or just plain stupid. Shh. Don't say it. Anyway, you know how some mirrors are skinny mirrors? They make you look thinner than you are? Apparently my husband, Mr. I-don't-need-to-do-anything-to-look-great, has never been aware of the phenomenon.

Me: Was that mirror in our bathroom at the lodge a skinny mirror?

Kevin: What are you talking about, skinny mirror?

Me: You know, some places have mirrors that make you look skinny, like in dressing rooms. You look skinny when you try on the clothes so you buy them, but when you get home they don't look quite the same.

Kevin: There is no such thing. You are totally making that up.

Me: No, really, there is. Ask any woman. They'll agree.

Kevin: How could anyone make a skinny mirror?

Me: I don't know, but there's those weird mirrors in fun houses. It's possible. A skinny mirror is just a toned down version. A sneaky one.

Kevin: You are so full of it.

Me: No, I'm not. You ask any woman.

So I'm asking. Am I right, girls? You've encountered skinny mirrors, haven't you? Help me make my point! Show my husband I know what I'm talking about. Leave a comment so we can set my skeptic straight.



Photo Credit: denise carbonell

Top Ten Countdown

As I'm feeling particularly uninspired this week, I decided an obligatory countdown of this year's top ten blog posts was in order. According to Google Analytics the following posts received the most hits. No surprise to me, many of the most popular hits were from the Friday Quick Takes. I'm not sure why people like these inane happenings and observations on my family's life, but they're easy posts and fun to do, so I'll keep 'em coming.

I was encouraged that two posts in the top three are serious, thought-provoking, philosophical diatribes (or something like that--humor me, please). My friends Edie and Rachelle will be horrified at number two which for some reason gets hits from all over the world. Sorry, girls!

Without further adieu, here are 2010's top ten hits of The Next Step. Enjoy, ignore or poke fun at them, whatever floats your boat. Drum roll, please. . .

10. Quick Takes (Volume 94)

9. Quick Takes (Volume 97)--The Wedding Edition!!

8. Quick Takes (Volume 108)

7. Quick Takes (Volume 93)

6. Quick Takes (Volume 89)--The THIS is What Summer is Supposed to Be Edition

5. Quick Takes (Volume 65)

4. Quick Takes (Volume 90)--The Rocky Mountain Edition

3. Our Limitations, God's Opportunity

2. Shooting the Minnow

And, with nearly five times the number of hits than any other post, the number one blog post of 2010 is . . .

1.Outer Beauty is Important to God

Have a great day, friends.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Is there a reason to clean a trash can?

How do you know when God wants to you rely on His strength or just get a cup of coffee?

It would be WAY more motivating to spend time at the gym if you saw instant results after wards, which makes me wonder. Why is everything a process with God?

Is it tacky to wear white shorts in September, even when it's 85 degrees? If so, I tacked it up yesterday.

Who eats Spam?

Clearly, I spend too much time thinking. Have a great day friends.



Photo Credit: SarahWynne

I Am From. . .

I am from purple shag carpet, from Tide, malted milk balls and candy orange slices.

I am from the white house nestled among the trees, cattle lot in the backyard, close enough to town to ride my bike there, yet far enough for stars brilliance to take my breath away.

I am from corn stalks so tall the dog got lost, mulberry trees full of fruit, juicy and plump, staining our hands, our faces, even our feet.

I am from selling sweet corn at Grandma's with my cousins, from ample food and far too much eating, from Shari and Gerald, the hearty, ever present Kubiks and the complicated Kahlers.

I am from humor, pitch and pizza, from deep thoughts rarely expressed.

From "You can do anything you set your mind to" and "Where there's a will there's a way."

I am from kids sent to Sunday school, faith being private, morals and common sense.

I'm from Lincoln, Nebraska, Germans and Czechs, beef and kolaches.

From parents who met on a blind date set up for Mom's roommate, a grandfather whose demons bruised and tortured his family, an incredible mother who stopped the abusive cycle all by herself.

I am from Hickman, Nebraska, a town as small as it sounds, of "pottery" made from clay dug up in the neighbor's pasture, of big family gatherings with lots of cousins, many of whom I saw at school every day, of collages made with noodles, rice and beans, of relatives a few miles away in any direction.

The I AM FROM poetry contest is sponsored by e-Mom at Chrysalis. To join in the fun, click here.

Reviewing This Blogging Year

How do you sum up a whole year of blogging?

(I know what some of you are thinking--YOU DON'T!)

Sorry, Charlie, I'm gonna do it anyway. Consider it a little housekeeping task I feel compelled to do (hard to believe I used the words compelled and housekeeping in the same sentence, huh?!). I have slightly more posts this year than any previous year and should hit my 500th post in the next few months. YOWSA! I can hardly believe it!

So many words and yet so little said. Sigh. For your reading pleasure (or as a favor to you insomniacs) I'm giving you a rundown on the bests posts of The Next Step of 2009.

According to Google Analytics, the most popular posts of this year were:

Wanting More for Desperate Housewives

Assumptions

My Irrational Fear

Sometimes the Biggest Victories are Personal

But I Love You

For My Husband

But I must say I've gotten the most feedback from my 7 Quick Takes posts each Friday. They seemed to develop a following as soon as I started focusing more on my family life, giving each of my kids a pet name (what are you, a bunch of Nosy Nellies?). If you'd like to trip through them, I'm warning you, it may take a while, but here's the link. It starts with the most recent and goes back in time. I'm thinking this is a good thing, since they got much better as the year went on and you'll no doubt get tired of reading within the first ten minutes.

Quick Takes

And since this is my blog, I decided to tack on a few of my favorites which aren't already listed.

Balance

Blasted Hormones

What I Want My Daughters (and Sons) to Know About Sex

Julie and Julia Meet the Pioneer Woman or Adventures in Failed Imitations

A Tough Lesson

Blessings in Disguise

Finally, I want to thank you, readers. Often in this blogging gig I feel like a little girl speaking to her dolls, trying to sound smart and important, but in the end knowing I am only a small voice with no real audience. Your kind words and comments spur me on and let me know I'm not alone here. Thanks for the privilege of working out my faith without judgment and often with unexpected encouragement. Much thanks goes to every one of you who has taken the time to say something in person, write a comment, send me an e-mail or message me on Facebook letting me know you're reading. You have no idea how it touches me.

Thanks for making this an adventure.

Soli Deo Gloria--To God be the Glory.

Snapping More Quick Takes

1) I do my fiction reading while exercising at our local YMCA. Most of the time people don't pay much attention, unless they are readers themselves like me, but this week the book I'm reading has caused people to stop me. On Wednesday alone, THREE different people asked me about it, one of which rarely talks to me there. And I swear ever since I've started this book, another lady has seemed friendlier to me, smiling and saying hello when she didn't before.

It makes me wonder about the impressions we give others without even trying. Even our reading choices say something, don't they? I'm not sure what to make of it because I'm not particularly crazy about this book. What am I saying to others by reading it? I'm going through it purely out of curiosity and am not all that impressed. Should I read something in public if I wouldn't endorse it?

Every action, even something as tame as reading, makes a statement to someone. It makes my head hurt. Too much pressure.

(Before you flood the comments asking, "What are you reading?" I'll tell you--The Shack.)

2) My older daughter turned sixteen yesterday. She is now the proud holder of a Nebraska driver's license, although she keeps saying it is freaky to be driving by herself. The first day she kept thinking her dad or I must be in the back seat and had to continually remind herself it was no longer necessary.

It makes me a little sad. Driving is a huge step towards independence. Now she'll be more grown-up than ever. Yet, I am happy for her too. You should've seen her on her birthday, beaming, cracking jokes, thoroughly enjoying where she is in life. I feel better when I tell myself I'm not losing a daughter, I'm gaining a chauffeur.

3) My daughter's driving escapades remind me of my first driver's test. My birthday is in January and not only was it lightly snowing, but white stuff covered the ground as well. I did the prerequisite checks--seat properly adjusted, rear-view mirror correctly placed, seat belt fully fastened. I backed out of the parking stall carefully. . .and proceeded to drive right over the snow-covered curb. Yep, big fat fail, although the examiner seemed more concerned that I hadn't brushed the fresh fallen snow off the back window and stopped in a cross walk I couldn't see because of the snow. I should of known it wouldn't take long for me to get dubbed "Crash Kubik" (Kubik being my maiden name).

4) Sometimes having four kids can make life crazy. Saturday morning I'm headed with my youngest to a drum line competition for my older daughter about an hour away. My husband is headed to a show choir competition with our younger son in Omaha and then will meet our older son in Lincoln in the afternoon to accompany him in a scholarship audition. Then the whole bunch of us is back home for a drum line competition at our high school that evening. I'm not sure if it's better to jam it all in one day or spread it out. At least this way the madness only lasts one day.

5) My husband chuckled over a commercial for some osteoporosis medication, thinking the senior cowboy girl dance troupe looked a little fruity.

"Don't laugh," I said, "that'll be me in twenty years."

"Sixty-five. You'd be retired," he said.

And the thought hit me.

Retired from what?!

6) Why is it that middle school girls want to become "mature" while their male counterparts only get more squirrely and hyperactive? Is this some sort of divine guard for blossoming girls, making the thought of dating and interacting with boys just plain gross?

7) My husband and I have the rough draft done of our summer musical production, Once Upon a Rhyme. We've taken nursery rhymes and fairy tales and put a spiritual spin on them. Little Miss Muffet is tempted by the spider, much like Eve and the serpent. The Ugly Duckling learns God makes everything beautiful in its time. We sing, "the foolish pig built his house made of straw" to the tune of "The wise man built his house upon the rock." You get the picture.

Our summer production is light-hearted and silly on purpose. We want it to be a fun family show providing lots of laughter to counteract our heavy, hard-hitting Christmas production (HA! I'm kidding. . .well, maybe just a little bit). Our intent is to illuminate God's Word in a fresh way and show people God loves to have a good time. We pray people do not find our goofiness irreverent. We find laughter opens up the soul for God to communicate to us in the same way music does. Once people are relaxed they are more open to the Truth.

This year's show has the potential for a powerful ending with a rendition of Mary had a little lamb, you know, THE Lamb, that saved the world. It's not all fun and games. We take our responsibility seriously and pray fervently God uses our measly human effort to glorify Himself.


Take a little break this weekend and read more Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary. Our lovely host, Jen, is scheduled to have a baby on Monday and is actually considering "tweeting" through labor. That's commitment, people! Wow. If that's what it takes to be a big time blogger, I'm sunk. Have a great weekend, friends.

A Bloggy Award?

My blogging buddy, e-Mom, has given me this little award. Hey, babe, thanks! I've been instructed to list five things I'm "addicted" to (wait, is this a trick?) and tag five other fabulous ladies. With a big gulp and slightly racing pulse, I present to you five of my addictions (we all know there's more than five).

1. My husband. Really. Truly. I can't get enough of this guy. I rarely get tired of him. He's funny and smart and dang cute too. It doesn't hurt that he loves me like no other either. I'll keep you, honey!

2. Warm beverages. Tea, coffee, lattes, ghetto cappuccinos, hot apple cider, you name it, I'm up for it. I do my best thinking with a mug of something warm pressed up next to my cheek. Just ask my family how many times they've seen me that way staring at my computer screen.

3. Deep discussions. I can kill so much time discussing life's issues with people. It really turns my crank, if you know what I mean. LOVE it!

4. My laptop. I've got a little refurbished iBook I adore. I thought it was toast this summer, but thankfully found someone who fixed it up for me. It would be easy to spend hours and hours on this thing (okay, true confessions, sometimes I do). I know I could live without it, since I did for a few months, but I don't like to.

5. God's Word. Yep, I did it. I went all spiritual on you. I couldn't help it. I absolutely rely on God's Word to get me through each day. I can't tell you how it has sustained me over the years and guided me through tough times. It is my direct line to God and one I do not take for granted. I hate to think about where or what I would be without the wisdom from the pages in my Bible. Thankfully I became "hooked" on it as a teenager and the attraction has never worn off.

And now I'd like to award (embarrass?) some other blogging friends.

1. Rachelle at Surrendering to God's Gift of Ellie Grace. (Throw us a bone and show us some weaknesses, babe.)

2. Lelia from WRITE FROM THE HEART. (You need something silly to think about for a change.)

3. Kelly from Kelly's Korner. (Your discerning readers want to know.)

4. Emiley from JOY Today. (Give us some juice, lady.)

5. Linda at One Voice. (You can do it, friend. Tell us something shocking.)

Have fun or curse me. Either one.

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

I was tagged over the weekend by maudie-mae for the Six Random Things meme. I've done two different versions of this (see 7 Things About Me and Of Meds and Memes if you're interested in my other quirks), but decided it would be fun to play along as there's enough fruity things about me to provide some fresh, random weirdness. I also wanted to join Jennifer F. at Conversion Diary for her new meme, 7 Quick Takes Friday. So I'm lumping the two together for one whopping big dealie bobber. Are you getting tingly yet? (Don't worry. The feeling will depart quickly as you start reading!)

(1) As a child I was terribly jealous of my blue-eyed, blonde sister. I got my jabs in by telling her she was adopted. I gave the poor girl a terrible complex, causing her to doubt her lineage every so often, even as an adult. (Yep, I was a big meanie.)

(2) I wish I had a buff, athletic body. I work my tail off at the local YMCA, but have never achieved that chiseled, sculpted look. I suppose I started out bad having cellulite by the time I was ten. Sigh. I guess I can take comfort in the fact that I rarely get sick, so the exercise is paying off somehow. My dad used to say I was made from "sturdy stock". As a teenager I didn't appreciate that much, but as I get older it doesn't sound so bad.

(3) My maiden name is Kubik, pronounced like cubic. I used to hate the looks I'd get in math class whenever we were studying volume, but later wished I could go back to those days when the girls in gym class found a "naughty" word to rhyme with my surname. My first name came from a soap opera character. (Good thing the writers of that show didn't meet the girls in gym class--it would have made for a doozy of a soap opera name.)

(4) I've never been a great sleeper. I was a colicky baby. My mom talks of driving me around in the car a lot the first few months of my life. As soon as the car started moving, I'd be out. Forty-four years later, riding in a car still makes me sleepy (which can be tricky when you're driving). If the ride is longer than 30 minutes and my husband's behind the wheel, I'm a goner.

(5) Don't you just love people? I can sit for hours listening to their stories, trying to figure out what makes them tick. It is a lifelong habit of mine to focus in on what they're saying and determine from their body language what they're NOT saying. As a child I entertained myself by sitting in a corner quietly, observing every scene happening before my eyes. It is not a judgmental thing at all. In fact, it is frustrating to me that I can empathize with just about everyone. How do you decide who is right or wrong when you can understand the motivations of every side? I would make a terrible judge.

(6) I love, crave, need, even get up early for quiet and feel a little off if I don't get enough of it. I'm naturally a night owl, but having four kids has made the early morning hours a necessity. Now I find 5:AM just as refreshing as 12:AM (to my dear college roommate--if you're reading this, don't spew your coffee on your computer and ruin it!) My body's clock has adjusted fine (until I get in a car, that is).

(7) I take great delight that my husband's taste in women has changed over the years. In high school, he was attracted to blondes. He's always had a special fondness for his sister, a fair-haired, blue-eyed beauty. When we were first dating, his favorite actresses were Kathleen Turner and Michelle Pfeiffer. Now, Catherine Zeta Jones is at the top of his list. For those of you who don't know me IRL, take a look at my profile pic. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? I've swayed him to the "dark" side. I love it.

And there you have it, more than you ever cared to know about yours truly. Feel free to play along on your own blogs if you're so inclined. Go ahead. Take a whack at it. It could be fun.

Have a great weekend, my friends.

Satan's Sucker Punch

Man A is oblivious to Man B, but sure likes his wheels.

Not get the joke? Check out Satan's Best Trick.

Mismatch

You know how the way you think about yourself doesn't always coincide with the view others have of you? Whose impression is more accurate? I mean, we LIVE with ourselves, so we should know ourselves best, yet I know I tend to notice my negatives more than my positives. Are we too close to get a good perspective? Other people, for the most part, probably get our best effort. They see the good we are capable of, the correct choices, without the snarky attitude that may dwell inside. So which one is the correct picture?

Perhaps the people we live with would know best? Yet even they don't know what's going on in our heads.

Or maybe too much attention to this subject is pointless.

What do you think?



Photo Credit: becstarr

Along for the Ride

As darkness turns to light before my very eyes I am almost sad my quiet time this morning is nearly gone. The day must begin, WILL begin whether I am ready for it or not.

I read Jesus' prayer in Gethsemene this morning and was struck by His words: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory. . ."

Mmmm. . .me too, Lord, me too. I want to be with You and see Your glory. With You no day will be ordinary. With You TODAY will not be ordinary. Thanks for letting me join You. The ride is never dull. What's on tap for this day?

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us--
Yes, establish the work of our hands."
Psalm 90:17

Have a great day, my friends.



Photo credit to nevrlndtink1226.

Tittering and Whispering

Here's one for my fellow choir buddies. I laughed out loud as I was reading this to my kids last week. It comes from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.


"The congregation being fully assembled now, the bell rang once more, to warn laggards and stragglers, and then a solemn hush fell upon the church which was only broken by the tittering and whispering of the choir in the gallery. The choir always tittered and whispered all through service. There was once a church choir that was not ill bred, but I have forgotten where it was, now. It was a great many years ago and I can scarcely remember anything about it, but I think it was in some foreign country."


You think Kevin would say a hearty AMEN?!

Brain food

These words from others got my wheels spinning this week. Bon appetit!


"I lost my religion two years ago."

". . .can there be life without risk? Did God take a risk by creating man with a free will? Did He know of the horrors that would follow?" (I don't want to get clobbered by the copyright police. I've got to give credit for this one to Ted Dekker.)

"Why don't Christians want to think outside the box? If we don't use our minds, aren't we just following the law? "

"I don't know where God fits in my life. I believe in Him and know He has worked. I just don't know where He fits right now."

"It is important to remember that not everyone will understand, or connect or enjoy what we do. But, there is someone out there who God will touch through it. Just take the message of the gospel for example. It is a stumbling block, it is convicting, it is joy, it is freedom it is embraced wholeheartedly and it is rejected vehemently . It is the most important and heart felt message in history. We can expect no less from our tiny personal message."