Radgirl's Portland Playground

Big Willie was the type of guy who would do anything you asked of him, even if he wanted to scream every second while he was doing it that he didn’t want to do it. He was the ‘teddy bear’ of our group. The guy you could always count on to lend an ear, a shoulder, or one of the best hugs west of the Mississippi, or in the world for that matter. Big Willie wasn’t my closest friend, but he was far from my most distant. He was the life of the party, the glue of the group, and the least deserving of everything that happened to him. I became pregnant with my third child right about the time his first was coming up due. Mid way through my pregnancy, his baby was born, and all he could talk about was how proud he was to be the daddy of that child. Every time I saw him, the picture would come out of the wallet. The baby’s mom was struggling with post partum depression on an extreme level, and Big Willie and I had many lengthy talks about it because I also suffered from post partum...

At first sight, they seemed odd. Most people walked around them, ignored them, and didn’t at all attempt to talk to them. You see, the woman was physically deformed and bound to a wheel chair. To most, she looked sort of scary. The other was obviously suffering from mental difficulties, but he pushed her along talking and laughing about nothing and everything. Knowing who I was before I walked in Christian shoes, I may have smiled at the couple as they passed, but that would be it. I might have felt sorry for them, or thanked God that I was not bound to that wheel chair obviously suffering some horrible pain filled disease. I might have told a story about them using words like hideous or horrifying. Lucky for me, the woman was thrown into my life as a patient in my care. She was a demanding patient only due to her medical need, but her soul was so strong and bright that it wasn’t a burdon to care for her no matter how many times the call light came on, what I was in ...

Check out this great MSN video: Corn Maze Time-Lapse

Matthew 5:22-24 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Well, this is a hard one. The concept is easy, but the practice is not, especially in today’s society of sarcasm. It reminds me of a story: Sally had the perfect life. She was a stay-at-home mother of three small children and the wife of a fantastic man. Her husband worked long hard hours to support his family and allow Sally to stay home with their children, but it was something he felt passionate about, so he did it without griping or complaining. In return, Sally cared for the children, kept dinner warm for her husband as long as it took him to get home, and sometimes had to throw it out and start new. When he arrived from his long day, she would serve him dinner, rub his back, and take care of any needs he had. Times weren’t always perfect, but they did the best they could. One rainy day, Sally’s husband wa...

Day one was a cake walk. I made Apple Baked Chicken, fruit salad, and pasta. we all sat at the table, said grace, and followed the rules. The conversations were great, the kids were happy, and we cleaned up right after. When all was said and done, I relaxed on the couch totally proud that I had accomplished rounding up the family for dinner. My teenager didn't even mind that it was a cell free zone. Day two was a little harder. With two children in private school across town, one of which is in after school drama that started on day 2 during the time we were going to have family dinner before her doctor's appointment that we couldn't cancel. I have now realized that a plan B needs to be included in the master plan. It was clear that my 13-year-old and I were not going to be home for family dinner. Still, I made turkey veggie casserole and headed out for the evening. At least half of the family could carry on the family dinner. Family Dinner=1, Busy Life=1 Day 3 was...

By now, you should have had a chance to talk to your family about the Dinner Dare. Through the moans and groans, you have made it clear that this is very important to you, and if your family would just take one month out of their busy lives to do something for you, you would appreciate it very much. If you have not done so, take the time to do that tonight, because day #1 is Monday. Now is the time to start thinking about time management. There are many of us who have families with church, sports, and other activities, so get out your calendar and decide what time dinner should be every night. If you have to be at church on 7 on Wednesday nights, for instance, then dinner should be planned well enough to be done by 5. If on Thursday, your kids have drama until 5, then dinner should be planned well enough to be on the table at 6. Write the dinner times on the calendar every day and highlight them so that your family can clearly see what time they have to be at the table. For you...

There are a lot of references to filling up your life water bottle on this blog. You'll see it in almost every post, in the explanation section, and off and on, well...everywhere. Water is the one thing that most of us have a hard time keeping under control. It has always been a problem for me. I've tried a billion different things to remind me to drink my daily allowance, but I was always left with a choice at the end of the day-go to bed dehydrated, or chug the four remaining glasses I am supposed to have today and spend all night walking back and forth to the bathroom. That is not really the work out plan I was intending. In my spiritual walk, I have also made it a goal to pray 8 times every day. I have always prayed at night, or as the roller coaster got to the top of the first hill, or strapped into the sling shot right before the operator pushed the button that would send me flinging 250 feet into the air at 5 G's, but I was lacking in praying when I didn't n...