Last night Alex and I were watching a show called “Blue Planet” on Animal Planet, and I was trying to brace myself because the narrator had made it clear that we’d be journeying to the bottom of the sea and I knew that THE CREEPY TEXTURES, THEY WERE COMING. For a while it was all crystal blue water and the occasional fish, but then (OF COURSE) the pressurized sea craft wandered into some lake-like area where there were all manner of creatures with repetitive circular features. There were even (I kid you not) blood red tube worms that were clustered in the shape of a chimney, and I’m pretty sure that it was the closest I’ve ever come to actually dying. I tried to shrug it off and be all, “Oh, it’s no big deal” since I would prefer not to pass on that particular ish-ah to the next generation, but I don’t see any way that God can get glory through a blood red tube worm. Don’t even get me started about the dead whale and the hagfish. I just cannot.

The good news, however, was that I sat through the entire TV show without having to jump up and leave the room. I’d call that progress. I also learned that a blue whale’s tongue weighs as much as an elephant, so maybe that little tidbit-o-knowledge will come in handy should I ever find myself in an impromptu “Jeopardy!” tournament. AS YOU DO.

(Just a little while ago we were watching a bunch of sardines move upstream, and the sight of all their little mouths wide open – the THOUSANDS of them – sent cold shivers down my spine.)

(I may need some counseling.)

Anyway. I actually have a question (well, three) to ask y’all. I’m working on a little something – mainly trying to flesh out an idea. So, if you don’t mind and aren’t too busy and I’m not interrupting you at a critical point in a Netflix marathon, would you answer these three questions in the comments, por favor? Answer anonymously if you want – or just make up a name.

1. On a scale of 0-5 (0 being not at all and 5 being LIKE CRAZY), how much do you struggle with comparison in your life?
2. Do you ever feel competitive as a result of the comparing?
3. In what areas are you most likely to compare yourself to other people?

Kind of serious, I know. But it’ll help me a bunch if even 20 people answer.

Thanks in advance for your help, y’all. Remember, if you’re at Mistletoe Market in Jackson, MS tomorrow afternoon or Friday, come see me at the SoDelta Candle booth. I imagine that we will have lots of time to visit.

Hope y’all have a great Thursday!

Well, I don’t know if it was the weather or the time change or the fact that we didn’t have much on the calendar, but we had the best weekend. Friday night we went to a high school football game (even better: our team won), and Saturday I went to the grocery store and then worked on the new book for a few hours while the fellas enjoyed a little father/son time. I made a big batch of Ree’s beef stew with mushrooms, and Saturday night our friends the Hamptons came over with a big pot of chili and the most delicious corn muffins I have ever eaten (better than Jim-n-Nick’s, Birmingham people, and you know that is saying something). Sunday morning I woke up at 5:45 but didn’t even mind it; I’m just so happy that it’s cool outside and the trees have turned and IT’S TIME TO WEAR SWEATERS AGAIN, AMEN.

I’m heading out of town in a couple of days to do a little speaking and a little book signing, and I feel like I have a million things to do before I’m ready to leave. So, just in case I don’t get to post much this week (I know that there are some people who plan their posts and write them in advance and schedule them a month ahead of time, but I can’t even pretend to be that organized), I want to go ahead and share a few links before I commit all my energy to a hidden object game in a fit of procrastination and forget all about the internet goodness.

– Over the weekend someone on Twitter (I think) linked to one of the most beautiful testimonies I’ve ever read. I’m a little proud of myself that I read it in spite of the FoxNews connection (my parents always have FoxNews cranked up to stun on the TV, so between the volume and the bang! wham! zoom! graphics, it’s a channel that I tend to associate with sensory overload). However, Kirsten Powers’ story is so compelling that I might be willing to give FoxNews another try. Maybe. If I keep the volume turned way down low. :-)

– Yesterday our pastor preached on suffering, and while I know that’s not typically a topic that makes people think, “Oooooh! I can’t wait to listen to that!” – it really is so worth your time, especially if you’re dealing with some specific hurts or challenges right now (or if you love someone who’s going through a difficult time). Just scroll down to the bottom of this page, and the audio link should be there sometime today (I’m posting this Monday morning, and the file isn’t there yet, so I’m trusting that it’ll be posted pretty soon).

Edited to add: here’s the direct audio link.

– One of David’s co-worker’s sent him this video Friday morning, and I haven’t listened to much else for the last three days. You can download the song on iTunes – it’s a mighty good use of $1.29. Sometimes the simplest lyrics are the best.

– Last night one of our next-door neighbors sent over some pumpkin praline cake that was out of this world, and after I talked for fifteen minutes about how delicious it was, I started searching for other pumpkin recipes because, well, ‘TIS THE SEASON. Based on the last post (and oh my word – your comments cracked me up), I think it’s pretty obvious that I won’t be cutting into any real pumpkins, but I am all for a recipe where canned pumpkin is an option. Anyway, I found a great list of 23 Pumpkin Recipes on SouthernLiving.com. I think that the pumpkin crisp might be next on my cooking to-do list.

Happy Monday, y’all!

I rarely mention anything even vaguely political here on the blog because conflict makes me nervous – which is why online discussions about politics typically make me want to set my hair on fire and then crawl under the covers. That doesn’t mean that I want to crawl under the covers while my hair is on fire because, well, HOME HAZARD, but the point is that politics make me want to do a fair amount of screaming and then find somewhere to hide and maybe even sleep.

This is a very mature perspective, obviously. It’s no wonder that I speak so frequently at local political rallies and also debates.

(I just rolled my eyes so hard that I wondered for a few seconds if the right one was stuck.)

Anyway, this week I’ve followed the news a little more closely because I’m trying to keep up with what’s going on in Washington, and I have thought over and over again that I am REAL glad that I’m not the Health and Human Services Secretary or a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Those hearings have STRESSED ME OUT.

That’s one reason why I took some extra time to stare at the sunrise this morning.

Isn’t that just something else? Seeing God at work in that big ole sky has a way of putting things back in perspective.

Anyway. Tonight is Halloween, which is probably my least favorite of all the holidays because COSTUMES. I do not enjoy costumes. I do not enjoy making them, or wearing them, or trying to make conversation with other adults who happen to be wearing costumes. It’s totally irrational, I know, but I just prefer a holiday where I’m expected – and lo, even encouraged – to show up in street clothes. I think one of my issues with costumes is that I don’t like to pretend, so it throws me off if I see someone I know wearing a wig and talking in a funny voice and pretending to be Katy Perry. Because no, you are not Katy Perry. You are Rhonda. Hypothetically. Because I’ve never actually had a friend named Rhonda who dressed up like Katy Perry. But if I did, there’s no question that it would freak me out.

(I’m totally fine with kids in costumes, by the way.)

(I think that kids in costumes are adorable.)

(Can you tell I’ve been a little punchy this week?)

(I’ve been a little punchy.)

A little while ago I was thinking about how adults in costumes can make me feel uneasy, and then I got tickled because IRRATIONAL FEARS, I GOT ‘EM. I’m not scared of snakes and spiders and normal things. I mean, I don’t like or watch scary movies, but if I did, I don’t think they would play into my fears. Because my fears are weird. For example.

1. I am completely grossed out by and terrified of clusters of raised circles or clusters of holes. I found out earlier this year that it’s called trypophobia (I mentioned this in a podcast), and I can totally work myself into a dither about it. It really does cause great anxiety when I get a mental image of some sort of cluster-y something that I can’t shake. And I think it all started in botany lab when we would watch videos with up-close images of things like insect eggs. Okay I have to stop talking about it right now STOP IT.

2. Honeycombs. Forget it. Instant nausea. Please see #1.

3. Pictures of tumors or cysts. Just NO. Because you know those people who will put a picture on Facebook and say, “I was so surprised when the doctors removed this from my arm” – and then THERE’S A PICTURE OF IT? That picture will cause me to take a nerve pill. Because while that cyst or whatever is unfortunate, and while it’s good the doctors were able to remove it, THAT IS YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS.

(I seriously just walked in my kitchen and wondered if I have any nerve pills on the premises. I’m getting a little worked up.)

4. The insides of pumpkins or cantaloupes. It’s the combination of stringy/slimy and seeds. Can’t do it. Totally gives me the shivers.

5. Animals with opposite textures on their bodies. Porcupines. Hedgehogs. Turtles. Armadillos. Couldn’t touch any of them if you paid me cash money. Might have a heart attack if I had to look at the underside of a turtle while touching the shell.

All righty. That just about covers it. You’re so welcome. And now I’m wondering why in the world I just did that to myself because ICK.

Let’s look at that sunrise one more time, why don’t we?

Better. Much, much better.

So. Does anybody else have strange fears or phobias?

I think it would make my crazy feel better to know that I’m not alone. Seeing as how I just told the internet that I’m afraid of turtles and all.

I have an incurable case of The Shares. Therefore comma get ready for LINKS-A-PLENTY.

– Well.

Dave Barnes released a Christmas album today. It’s called A December to Remember, and it is fantastic (seriously – it is FANTASTIC). Somehow it’s classic, soulful, and modern all at the same time, with a great mix of standards we all grew up with and original songs we’re going to want to learn by Thanksgiving. I know it probably sounds strange, but I can’t wait to sing this album in the car with my family. It’s ’bout-near perfect.

– Something tells me that Ohio State’s band did some practicing over the summer. I loved the Michael Jackson halftime show, but I think this one is even more awesome.

– I’ll be at Mistletoe Marketplace in Jackson, MS next week to sell and sign books at my friend Lea Margaret’s booth (SoDelta Candle Company, booth #608). I’ll be there early Thursday afternoon through Friday night. My friend Elise will be there to sell books at the gala (which sounds very fancy) on Wednesday night – just in case anyone wants to buy books and then pick up signed copies later in the week. Email me if you have questions or if I’ve made this whole thing terribly confusing.

– I want to write like Angie when I grow up. You’ll understand why after you read this post. Absolutely gorgeous – and a mighty timely word.

– This looks awesome (giddy up, J.J. Abrams fans). (via)

– Cheeky Maiden Soap Co. has spoiled me rotten. I order all of my soap from them these days; it’s all-natural, affordable, and so very kind to sensitive skin. Plus, it smells like a little piece of heaven. My most recent order arrived last week, and as soon as I opened the box and inhaled the deliciousness, I made a mental note to pass along the link. Because I love the stuff.

– My friend Rosemary is in college and got engaged a couple of months ago. Her post about the proposal will make you cry happy tears.

– Last but not least.

Ree’s new cookbook released today, and it is a feast for the senses. The photography, the writing, the recipes – everything about it is engaging and helpful and fun. I’m crazy about the way it’s organized (holiday by holiday), and I can’t wait to try the recipes. I have a feeling that my copy will be dog-eared in no time.

Hope y’all have had a great Tuesday!

This past weekend I did two things that changed my whole outlook.

Well. Maybe not my WHOLE outlook. That would be a task for Jesus, I’m guessing. But these two things definitely put a smile on my face, and the fact that they were relatively inexpensive makes them even better.

So. Ready to be astounded and amazed?

1. I re-organized my pantry shelves.

I know. It’s terribly exciting. But I hadn’t touched the shelves all year – other than to throw and cram stuff on them – so I cleaned them off, threw away a bunch of stuff, bought a couple of new plastic bins from the Walmarts, and in about thirty minutes, I went from this shameful state…

…to this much more tidy state (and Mama, if you’re looking at this post, just ignore the confectioner’s sugar that spilled – I hadn’t gotten that far when I took the picture) (I know it’s making you twitch).

There’s Halloween candy in the mix, by the way. Lest you think that mini-Ring Pops are a mealtime staple.

So that was the first thing. Here’s the second thing.

2. I bought new soup bowls.

Seriously. It was a wild and crazy weekend around here, as I’m sure you can tell.

But aren’t they cute? I haven’t had new soup bowls in, oh, about thirteen years, and we were down to just a couple of our bigger bowls that are perfect for chili and stew and whatnot. I found these in Home Goods for a whopping $3.99 each, so I bought 6 and smiled all the way home. We’ve already used them twice.

Sometimes it’s the little things, you know?

Every once in a while I get the end-of-weekend blahs on Sunday nights, but I am actually really happy that tomorrow is Monday because I have a hair appointment on Wednesday that cannot get here fast enough. I have a terrible case of the flathead that can only be cured by a healthy dose of blonde highlights and a significant increase in layers. Sometimes that is all that will do.

That was really random way to start a post. Perhaps I should commence with a recap of the weekend.

Cold weather showed up for at least part of this weekend, and I was just as tickled as I could be. Friday night we went to a high school football game, and it made me so happy to bundle up in a big, soft sweater coat and reacquaint myself with wearing gloves. If it’s windy and cold, I am usually sort of miserable (please see: last year’s State / Alabama game), but I can generally handle regular ole cold weather (well, the Birmingham variety, at least) for four quarters of football. Thankfully that was the case Friday night. Our team won, Alex and his buddies got to run all over the place for most of the game, and last but not least I remembered why I am such a devoted fan of heated seats when we got in the car after the game.

Saturday I had a book signing in Boaz, Alabama, which is a little over an hour away from us. Alex decided at the last minute that he wanted to go with me, so we set off on a little mama / son adventure while David stayed here and worked in the yard. It was a beautiful drive – the leaves are just starting to turn in northeast Alabama – and I loved getting to visit with some sweet people at the bookstore. We made it home by 3:30, which means that I was in my pajamas and watching college football by 3:31. That suited me just fine.

I decided early this morning that I was way overdue for stock-up trip to the Walmarts; I just needed a bunch of stuff like garbage bags and light bulbs (WHY IS LIGHTBULB SHOPPING SO UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATED AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN HISTORY?) and mascara other boring things that I don’t like to buy at the grocery store because I have an oddly compartmentalized mental list of what stuff you should buy at what stores. So, after our Sunday morning routine of church and Chuy’s (AS WE DO), I told D that I was going to push through and brave a trip to the Walmarts before I lost the will. This is where I’m tempted to go off on a tangent about how people were doing some really impressive things with scarves this morning at church (not, like, dancing with them – I mean wearing them in creative, sassy ways), but I’m going to resist that urge because I have something so much more important to tell you.

Because.

When we were leaving the Chuy’s parking lot, I heard a familiar sound on the radio, and almost instantly I was transported back to 1998 – when D and I had just bought our first house and spent most of our spare time painting and also painting and then, for fun, MORE PAINTING. It was a time when my clock radio was my ever-present musical companion, regardless of which room we were working on, and my favorite top 40 station played three particular songs at least once an hour, it seemed.

1. “Lullaby” by Shawn Mullins
2. “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah
3. “Never Ever” by All Saints

Which brings us to today. And the fact that I heard “Never Ever” on the radio. I still knew all the words – and after a verse or so, I got so tickled.

Because you know when you’d write a Very Meaningful Poem with Many Deep Thoughts in junior high?

That’s sort of what this song is like.

These are the lyrics to the “spoken word” portion of the song, and just so you know, I listened to the first minute about sixteen times this afternoon. I even downloaded it from iTunes because I’m certain that I never ever want to be without “Never Ever” again.

A few questions that I need to know
how you could ever hurt me so
I need to know what I’ve done wrong
and how long it’s been going on
Was it that I never paid enough attention?
Or did I not give enough affection?
Not only will your answers keep me sane
but I’ll know never to make the same mistake again
You can tell me to my face or even on the phone
You can write it in a letter, either way, I have to know
Did I never treat you right?
Did I always start the fight?
Either way, I’m going out of my mind
all the answers to my questions
I have to find

I know. It’s so cheesy. And they manipulate the rhyme like crazy. But I can’t help it. IT DELIGHTS ME. And more than anything else, I think, my rediscovery of “Never Ever” has reminded me that some songs are great even if critics would say that they’re not very good. Because sweet mercy, that whole spoken part? THAT IS ENTERTAINMENT.

What about y’all? Do you have any favorite songs that might err a little bit on the side of cheesy? Or maybe they’re super-sappy but you don’t care because “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” spoke to the most tormented parts of your teenage heart?

I can’t wait to read your comments.

(You can tell me to my face or even on the phone.)

(You can write it in a letter, either way, I have to know.)

(The end.)