What am I doing?

Thankful still....

2011-11-25T08:36:00.001-08:00

I am so very thankful for family, friends and feet that still work!

David, Jen, Grandma Lynn and I participated in a ThanksGiving Day "Giving Thanks 5k.
It was a beautiful morning - mild temperatures for November and beautiful sunshine.
Jen ran (fast!!!) and got a new PR. David and I finished in a respectable time and Grandma Lynn participated in her first road race EVER and walked the 1.5 mile route around Como Lake in less than 30 minutes. She is one amazing lady. Did I mention that she is 82 years old?!

I pinned this on Pinterest a while ago and it means more to me almost every day.

Thankful #2 - Impromptu Invitations

2011-11-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

Today we were fortunate enough to receive an impromptu dinner invitation......which is rather like a surprise, don't you think?
I'm not really a fan of surprises. I like to be in control - and a surprise means that I am totally OUT of control. Someone else is running the show. Definitely not my favorite thing. But probably good for me.

Doesn't being a Christian mean that you have turned over control of your life to Someone Else?!?
Again, something I struggle with....but that I continue to work on every day.
So just one more reason why an impromptu invitation is a good thing for me!!

(It was an absolutely lovely dinner, by the way.... Thank you!!)

Be Thankful

2011-11-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Since it was either time to put this blog to death or revive it, I have decided to give it a go again. I was inspired by the lovely ladies at Paisley Print Shoes to be thankful and thoughtful this month.

Today I am thankful for hot showers.
Showers that I can take at home for as long as I want.....and then wrap up in my favorite towel.

I remember when Jennifer began her 11 month journey called the World Race.
DISCLAIMER - this is my two year old, unverified recollection of actual events.
While they were in Ireland they camped - which meant if you wanted a shower you used the public "rent-a-shower". You entered the bathroom/shower stall - shut the door - deposited multiple euros and tried to get your shower completed before the water shut off. (Sort of reminds of the do it yourself car wash I did last week!) Then you dried off and got dressed in the same area before entering the public space again. Interesting, to say the least.
And, suffice it to say, this was not the WORST showering experience she had on her travels.

Therefore, I AM thankful today for my shower.

for Matea

2010-05-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

When Matea comes to our house she likes to play with our old Raggedy Ann doll. Grandma Lynn sang her the "Raggedy Ann Song" that she remembered from when she was a little girl - and now Matea always wants us to sing the song. I can never remember the words so the last time we were all together Great Grandma Lynn sang it for Matea.
Here it is:

It's a Mystery

2010-05-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

So I'm not exactly sure what happened with my Momma birds. Remember how warm and wonderful it was in April?? Well that's when they started sitting on their nests. Then it got cold....and windy....and yucky. Anyway I checked on them a few times and they were still there.
But last week when I went out hoping to hear little baby bird peeps I discovered that both nests were empty!!

Did I just miss it??
Or did something bad happen?
The glass is half full part of me says that I just missed it......let's go with that.
I guess it is not my spring for bird watching.

I do apparently have a knack for frogs though.

This little guy spent the weekend hanging around our deck.
He is cute........but not very friendly - or exciting.
It has been a beautiful couple of days though!!

Waiting....

2010-04-20T16:09:00.001-07:00

This last weekend Katie, Aaron and Matea were here - along with Gary, Angela and Grandma Lynn. We had a fun birthday celebration and just hung out. The weather was so wonderful. While we were out in the yard Katie noticed a Mourning Dove who didn't seem too happy with her. She found the reason for the annoyance - we were quite close to a nest!! We then discovered that a Blue Jay also made a nest in another tree in the front yard. I'm not sure how long it takes before the eggs hatch but both Mama birds have been faithfully sitting on their nests the last few days. I haven't been able to get a shot of the Blue Jay yet but here's a peek at Mrs. Mourning Dove.

I'll keep you posted.....

January's not so bad!

2010-01-20T18:15:00.000-08:00

David's Christmas gift from the kids was that they would come down for a weekend and help him give his studio a much needed face-lift. He was thrilled with their offer of time and muscle! We worked hard for a week before they came down. We needed to clean out, sort through, throw away, donate unnecessary items and get ready.

Then two weeks ago Katie, Aaron and Matea made the trek from Duluth to spend the weekend working. Gary joined the fun on Friday.....even Grandma Lynn and Angela came to help on Saturday. In the midst of the work weekend we had a small get together for Matea's second birthday. We were thrilled to have Grandma and Grandpa Peterson join us for the birthday celebration.Happy Birthday Matea!

Here is the studio work in progress:

The Studio Makeover from Jodi Flavin on Vimeo.

Thanks for your hard work guys!! It looks even better down there now - and he's really keeping it clean and nice!!! Amazing.

Here's a quirky look at the almost finished product:

Thanksgiving fun

2009-12-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures and video from Thanksgiving.

It was cold but Matea still needed to swing.

Matea wanted to hear Uncle Gary play the trumpet so we dug it out of storage. Gary had definitely NOT forgotten how to play............and Katie gave it her best shot. She was having some trouble reaching the high notes but finally did it!!

Matea decided that she preferred to hear Gary play the trumpet - and her mom, not so much.

The turkey on the grill was great - thanks boys! That left the oven open for Katie's famous sweet potatoes and a Flavin first - green bean casserole (I know, most of you have this every year - we just never have!) We were thrilled to have a couple special guests for the day - Angela and Brandon. It was a joy to have you at our house. Thanks for coming!

We spent time cooking, eating, having fun, playing games and yes, being thankful! We even got to Skype with Jennifer. What a great day.

Thanks #3: Technology

2009-11-25T04:51:00.000-08:00

Computers, cars, cell phones...........I like to say can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

The best part about all this wonderful new technology is keeping in touch with those we love. Here are some things I am thankful for:

videos of Matea
Skype with Jen from halfway around the world
being able to find your friends and family when you lose them at the state fair...if they answer their cell phone,
using my cell phone to get DIRECTIONS when I get lost
text messages from Gary and Katie

I'm feeling a bit like Jane Jetson

(Now if I could just get that automated Maid to work better!)

I love technology, but not as much as you, you see... But I STILL love technology

Thanks #2: It's the little things

2009-11-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

Don't you think that sometimes it is the little things that make the biggest impression on us?

I am thankful for:

a good cup of coffee in the morning

Greek style yogurt with fresh blueberries for lunch

listening to my favorite CD on the drive home from work

"I Give Up" clothes to put on for a night spent at home...

Thanks #1: Toot! Toot!

2009-11-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

So, Dave, how’s the music writing going??

We hear that a lot….and my hard working, humble husband is loathe to toot his own horn.
So I will do it for him. For those of you who are not aware David has switched his focus from writing the next top 40 hit to writing production music. What is production music you ask? It is the music behind television shows, commercials, websites, videos etc. – the part that you may (or may not) really hear – but if it wasn’t there you would miss it.

Or as Wikipedia defines it: Production music is the name given to the music owned by production music libraries and licensed to customers for use in film, television, radio and other media.

In the last 3 years we have seen much success in the music realm. I always say that his perseverance and hard work are really paying off – there are few people who stick to anything with such dogged determination – but that is so characteristic of David. His music is in over 15 music libraries and he is part of a select group of composers writing for a new music company associated with Harpo productions.

Some of his successes to date:
• Hallmark Movie: Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith
• MTV: Teen Cribs
• TV Ad for Nicolas Sparks new book “The Last Song”
• Discovery Channel: Future Car Extreme
• Jib Jab
• NBC: Most Outrageous Moments, Dr. Oz show
• ABC: TV’s All-Time Funniest
• CBS: Sunday Morning; The Big Bang Theory (prime time no less!!)

So, thanks for letting me brag a bit about my husband.

Let’s call this the first installment of things to be thankful for as we look ahead to Thanksgiving and one of my favorite times of year, Christmas!

.....and the next time you're watching television listen carefully - you may hear a Dave Flavin original!!

Time for a chuckle

2009-09-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Since the world is apparently in turmoil and seems as if it is going to heck in a handbasket (what does that actually mean??) - I decided that it is time to laugh.

Most of you will remember this post from Katie and Aaron's blog:

Ah yes, we are storing toilet paper in a plastic bag again.

Well, I have no toddler living at my house....and since all of the children are now grown and gone we have two cats. Yes, two. One old one who was a stray that we adopted 4 years ago called Alley Cat. We have a new kitten, 6 months old now (to keep Alley company when we are at work all day) named Boo.

Apparently, we may be storing our toilet paper in a plastic bag soon too.
Bad, bad kitty!

What did you do on your summer vacation?

2009-08-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

So does anyone remember when you would go back to school in the fall and they would ask you to write about what you did on your summer vacation?? Well, lately when people ask me what I did on my summer vacation and I start to tell them about visiting sites from the movie "You've Got Mail" I see their eyes kind of glaze over and they totally tune out.

I really can't understand this.
Just ask Katie and Jen.
What is one of the best movies ever made?
What other movie could you watch when you feel bad, lonely, crabby, happy, tired, mellow or just needing a break and it would totally fit the bill. It is the perfect movie!!
I know, I know..............there are a few caveats we have to put up with - there is a bit of living together out of wedlock presented in the movie, perhaps some premarital sex (but we never have to see it!) and certainly some emphasis on worldly values and possibly some questionable morals. Well no movie is perfect. So putting all this aside, it is practically perfect in every way.

So..........because Katie, Jen and I (and Grandma Lynn) have probably watched this movie approaching over 100 times I decided I wanted to actually visit some of the sites from the making of the movie. Thanks to Amy (who knows how to get around on the NY subway), my sweet husband David (who willingly traipsed over 50 blocks in the city with me), our good friend Dan (who is always up for something new), Jen and Michelle (the World Racers who were seeing the town before leaving the country) we visited several spots from the movie and had an absolutely wonderful time.

Here we are at the brownstone where Kathleen Kelly lived. Yes, this is the actual home and we are standing right where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan stood!!

Here I am in front of Cafe Lalo where Joe Fox first realizes that Kathleen Kelley and shopgirl are one and the same person. Great tension!!! ...and if you have to ask what Jennifer is doing, well, never mind - you've never seen the movie and you just won't get it.

Here we are at Zabar's, the grocery store where Kathleen accidentally gets into the "CASH ONLY" line and she has no cash and Joe Fox has to help her out.
Yes, I am actually in the "CASH ONLY" line!!!!!!

I can tell that most of you have already zoned out already and your eyes have glazed over. For those of you who are still reading this - I know you wish you would have been there. If you love the movie and you have the opportunity - go!!!!

Happy Birthday Jen!

2009-08-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

I have been remiss.

I have been a slacker.
I have been a no-good very bad blogger.

There is no time like the present to make a change....so here goes.

Since Jen is on the other side of the globe I will use the WORLD WIDE WEB to wish her a very happy birthday!! (thank you Al Gore)

Here is Jen at about 4 months.........what a cutie!!
And still a cutie

When she was little she had a blanket that she liked to sleep with. She has apparently graduated to Chuckanucka...an ugly doll...just like Matea.

Well - happy, happy birthday Jen. I hope you have an absolutely splendiferous day, and if I could I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils - just like mine.

Red Envelope Day

2009-03-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Please consider joining me...........and thousands of other pro-life Americans in sending a statement to President Obama and the rest of Washington DC.
We will not be dismissed. We will not forget. We are committed to making a difference.

The quick summary is that Brian Potter, the creator of RedEnvelopeDay.com is requesting that we send EMPTY red envelopes to President Obama on March 31st. On the back of the envelope we are to write:

This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.
It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.
Responsibility begins with conception.

Why do this? Here are some thoughts from the website:

My main goal is to show people that anything is possible if you listen to God.
My second goal is to communicate the message, “Fear not, God can be trusted.” By simply trusting God, this idea has reaped amazing results.
Finally, we are trying to change the president’s heart. This is a message to a man that God hears the cry of innocent blood. It is not a political stunt, although I hope it changes policy in Washington. If the capitol is flooded with so many letters that no one can deny it, I am hoping the image will be burned into Barack Obama’s mind that this is about human blood, and that he lies awake at night until he cannot resist doing something about it. Even if the mainstream media ignores this, I know I was obedient, and SOMEBODY in Washington will have to cope with 50 million red envelopes.

There's more information and lots of options for sending the envelopes on the website. Here's the link - I hope you will consider joining the fun!

Good News!

2009-03-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big TV news watcher but even so it seems that we are surrounded by bad news. The stock market - well let's just say that it hasn't been so good lately. The Democrats have taken over Washington DC and are doing things that I totally disagree with. It's been a really long and cold winter. It doesn't look like Joe Mauer will be the starting catcher for the MN Twins when the regular season opens....

Well, I say: "ENOUGH!!!" It's time for some GOOD NEWS. So, I'm going to list some that I can think of. Perhaps you would like to start your own list.

Here's mine:

This Friday, March 20th is the first day of Spring!!
I won the "Find the first Robin contest" (Sorry Lynn)
David and I ran 2 miles straight without having to stop - we've got to get back in shape to run Grandma's Half Marathon since our names were chosen in the lottery!
Jennifer will be a member of the World Race August 2009 team - an international mission trip. (You can check it out here.)
Gasoline is less than $2 per gallon.
Matea has figured out "mama" and "dada" which is too cute!
Grandma Lynn celebrated her 80th birthday with friends and family last weekend.

Well, I think you get the idea.

The most exciting good news of all as found in Luke 2:10-11
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord ."

Have a great rest of the week!

three

2009-02-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

A pretty significant number....

the Trinity
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day
Jesus predicted Peter would deny Him three times
the Wise Men who visited Jesus after his birth left him three gifts
the "theological virtues" are FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

And then perhaps some less significant but worth remembering....

the Three Monkey Philosophy: hear no evil - see no evil - speak no evil
Witness stand truths: the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
3 R's: Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmatic
In early video games the number of lives commonly given to the players at the start of the game (I usually needed more than three)
In baseball (the best sport ever!!) 3 is the number of strikes before the batter is out AND the number of outs per side per inning AND it also represents the first baseman's position AND the number 3 position in the batting order is generally occupied by the team's best hitter

And then on a more personal note....

The number of decades David and I have been married
The number of children we have raised
The number of years I have now been CANCER FREE! Wow.

After I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 2006 and then went through surgery and radiation I was greatly affected by the lyrics of the song Blessed Be Your Name. Here is part of the song:

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Life is complex. Our days are filled with the mundane and the wonderful, the simply tiresome and the seemingly impossible, things we don't understand and things that we want to hold onto forever.
I want to choose to say "Lord Blessed be Your name" in and through all of it. It is a choice I make.
God, help me to be faithful and choose to honor You more.

farewell to our President

2009-01-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

Last night we watched President Bush's farewell speech. I realized how much I am going to miss him as president. He isn't perfect - who is? He did a great job for us. I decided to write him a letter which I am mailing today. He will probably never see it - but I hope he does. Here is what it said:

Dear President and Mrs. Bush:

I have just watched your farewell speech to the nation and am moved to write you this letter. I am doubtful that it will find its way to you but I am hopeful that it might. I am sorry that I have not written before to thank you, honor and encourage you in the wonderful job you have been doing.

I, and many other Americans, have been remiss. You have been hard working, honest and faithful in your service to this country. I have watched you, listened to your speeches and read articles and books about you. I have heard many in this country, especially in the media, not show you that respect that you deserved. I should have taken the time then to contact them and let them know that they were wrong. I have prayed for you often – but not often enough. I have defended you to friends and acquaintances – but not passionately enough. You have been steadfast and faithful in defending this country and the principles it was built on. You have kept us safe and so much more. I thank you for your strong faith in God. I know He has used you. We are all so thankful for the wonderful influence you have had on this country and especially Washington DC.

Thank you for keeping us safe.

Thank you for praying for us and standing up for us.

Thank you for defending those who were unable to defend themselves.

Thank you for fighting the good fight.

I wish you well as you leave the White House – but please don’t go too far. We may need you.

With deepest respect and thanks,

I am thankful to have had a president for the last eight years who has shared my belief that the Bible offers us guidelines to live by and hope for tomorrow and beyond. I am nervous about the future but commit to praying for our country and our new president.