the blister underneath
Last week was a whirlwind. We started the week with an extra child (whose parents are now home from Ghana), and then we had Jodie and the cousins stay for a night. In between that, India and Kembe had a slumber party at grandma's house, and on Friday we had a night with the whole Howerton clan gathered at grandma's. It was all a lot of fun, and definitely a lot of activity outside of our normal routine. I feel like we are still on such a learning curve with Kembe. It's been . . .
pretending to be an adult
Mark and I had some friends over this evening. This is something we haven't done in a long time. We've had people over, but usually it involves other friends with kids, so there is a lot of chaos as we yell over the noise of the kids, and try to remember where the conversation left off before one of us was interrupted by rescuing a child off the side of the trampoline, or cutting someone's chicken, or telling the boys that they must allow the girls to play with them, etc etc. . . .
the paradox of choice
I've been thinking a lot lately about the paradox of choice - the idea that when people have more choices, it actually leads to greater anxiety. Kembe's homecoming from Haiti has caused me to analyze many of the ways we live life here in America. I am not one of those people who subscribes to the idea that internationally adopted children are "lucky" because they now get to grow up in America. I think that children benefit from life in a family instead of an institution, . . .
stuff white people like
I got a Stuff White People Like flip calendar for Christmas. I am enjoying it very much. This was last night's entry:The Daily Show/Colbert makes up a duo that is held in such high regard by white people that to criticize it would be the equivalent of setting the pope on fire in Italy in 1822. It just isn’t done, in fact it isn’t even considered! White people love to make fun of politics, especially right wing politics. It’s a pretty easy target and makes for some decent humor, but . . .
survivor guilt
I am a little uncomfortable with calling myself an "earthquake survivor". When I got back from Haiti, I had my little 15 minutes of fame as all the local news channels clamored to get an interview with the "local Orange County woman who survived the earthquake". It all seemed very overdramatic to me - but I realize (sadly) that people tend to be more interested in a story about someone they identify with. I did the interviews, most of them on my first full day home, because I wanted to use . . .
social justice . . . nazis. same diff.
I don't really think the latest Glen Beck quote needs any editorial from me. (Though I'm probably going to give it. Once my blood pressure returns to a manageable level)."I'm begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words 'social . . .
blogging and spirituality
I was asked to speak at my very first blogging conference this year. It's the Casual Blogger's Conference (code for "those of us not making a ton of money off this thing"). (Also code for "girl's weekend"). (You should come!) I'm excited but also getting a wee bit nervous. The topic of the panel I am on is "Blogging Your Faith: How to Incorporate Spirituality". I am starting to panic a bit (as I am prone to do) about whether or not I even know how to do this. I am spiritual -yes - but I . . .
the present of presence
I'm not really making a bunch of resolutions this year. I'm starting out the year running my first half-marathon, so I'm feeling pretty proud of myself, and not looking to make more goals involving self-discipline or achievement. I am wanting to make some changes, though, and it's tricky because the changes I need to make really revolve around NOT checking things off of a list. I have an incessant need to feel a sense of achievement or completion each day. I was poking fun at this tendency . . .
when white people talk about race
Recently, I was a part of a discussion on facebook about race. (You gotta love social networking for juxtaposing people from all walks of life into 140-character-or-less philosophical arguments). This particular discussion took a turn that I often see happen when white people jump into conversations about race. A few folks implied that racism was over. References to society's Token Assimilated Black Guys were made (Colin Powell, Tiger Woods, etc). Someone suggested that seeing more interracial . . .
righting the religious right
(The following is an article I wrote for ConversantLife)__________________________________There's something in the air right now . . .Something familiar. A growing sense of frenzy that was kicked up around election time, and seems to have re-emerged with the conversation surrounding health care reform. People are panicking. They aren't just disagreeing, or questioning the administration, or sharing opinions. People are yelling and screaming, threatening and freaking, and believing and . . .
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