Mom-savant, steel magnolia, optimistic realist, frequent laugh-er, photographer-in-training, poet warrior, killer cook, lucid dreamer, Jesus freak, ellipses abuser, beach lovah, lousy iron-er, word crafter, sommelier-wannabe, social media enthusiast, PR understander & occasional reviewer. Wife to one, mom to three, friend to many. My dream job is OPI Color Namer.
While I can't respond to every one, I LOVE hearing your comments! It's easy--just click the tiny word "comment" at the bottom of the post, register and SPEAK! {thanks!!}
One of my happiest childhood memories is licking the bowl. Didn't matter whether it was a batch of cookies or batter for a cake, there was something deliciously forbidden about swirling my index finger around the rim of the bowl and savoring the sticky sweetness of sugar and flour and butter--oooh my!
Susie's mom was the best--she actually left extra in the bowl so there really was enough to savor. In our home, the bowl was nearly scraped clean; threading tongue through stainless beaters usually yielded a better reward. Had the beaters been razor sharp, I'd probably be mute by now.
I've never lived in fear of salmonella poisoning from eating raw eggs. If I think about that too long, it kind of wigs me out, but I've never gotten sick from eating batter or dough and I've never known anyone else to, either.
My husband is a raw dough and batter boy; my children are raw dough and batter kids. We feel sorry for those who deny themselves the simple pleasure.
The other night my daughter decided to make chocolate chip cookies. I don't know this for a fact, but I'd wager a quarter of the dough never made it to the pan. When she finished the last batch, she began "pre-cleaning" the bowl.
It's important to know she likes chocolate chips in the finished cookie, but her preference is to eat the dough plain. With no one else around, she accomplished this by scraping dough from the bowl's sides and spooning it in her mouth...but the chips went back into the bowl.
With cookies in the oven for 12-15 minutes, Rachel went up to her room; shortly after, my husband came in from work. He saw the bowl of dough sitting on the counter, grabbed a spoon and started scraping....
...never questioning why there might be a disproportionate amount of chips.
They aren't making eye contact and still aren't speaking.
Note: Before I tell you about about a fantastic new site that will give you GREAT reason to avoid Black Friday mayhem (which will only lead to cries of "serenity now"anyways...!) it's kinda cool to know the background of my acquaintance with it. ~~~
My whirlwind trip in March to SXSW had been unexpectedly educational, my brain overflowing with ideas and dozens of new names and faces. But after a looong weekend, I was ready to get home and see my babies, not continuing to network when I boarded the plane.
So much for best laid plains--I had a crush on her the second I saw her black and white zebra-striped shoes; their red trim sealed it. My mama taught me better than to judge a book by its cover, but I sure liked the sass I was hearing from those feet.
She spoke first, my seatmate on the flight from Austin to Dallas, and as our conversation became real, my first impression became a lasting one. I liked Paula Drum. I hoped we'd stay in touch. In a world filled with tweets and status updates and invisible strands of cyber connections, it seemed reasonable.
And so we have in bytes and pieces since March.
Following her on Twitter, I knew she was making a job change, leaving behind "the world of taxes" and stepping into the role of General Manager for a new e-tailer, Gettington.com. In just a few minutes of skimming her blog posts related to Gettington, you'll see her passion, her professionalism, her commitment to excellence in crafting a business to succeed. Her enthusiasm, palpable, makes you want to join in Gettington.com's success. Paula is a sharp and savvy businesswoman, and the care and concern for the people in her life carries over into her work.
But this post isn't about Paula...it's about introducing Gettington.com to all of you who don't yet know about it (I can't help it! I'm always interested first in the story behind the story!! :) ). Thanks to the folks at Gettington for sending me on a mini-shopping spree and asking me to tell you what I discovered. The "pluses" are many.
You'll love:
The Goodie Bag! Every time you log into your account, you have a goodie bag waiting on you with secret deals and sometimes freebies inside. Right now (I don't know how long it will last), receive a free Gettington shopping bag with your purchase. What's so special about that? Plenty: it's a Free Set shopping bag made by women in India (near and dear to my heart), rescued from forced prostitution. I love my bag because it's got that cute Gettington logo, it's bigger than most similar bags...but mostly because it represents a greater good.
Multiple payment options. Pay immediately with your credit card, divide your purchase over four months, or extend it for up to 24 months. You'll receive longer grace periods, NO default APR, a lower-than-typical interest rate and more. Gettington wants your business and has constructed payment options that allow you greater flexibility.
VIP~Very Important Perspective.Gettington wants to hear from YOU. The site is new, they're customer driven, and this is an opportunity for you to help SHAPE your shopping experience. They're listening...and it comes with reward.
Exceptional customer service. I'll be honest with you--I haven't yet received my order; there was a problem with the gift card sent to me. I called Gettington's customer service line yesterday after work to explain my issue, and I spoke with the most engaged customer service rep in the history of customer service departments! He's working to resolve my problem--it's more about the newness of the site than anything else--and will get back with me today. And the thing is, I KNOW he will, I could just tell! (Plus, I'll let you know if he doesn't!)
Soooo, I'll be sure to update with pictures of my uber-secret purchase when it arrives, and in the meantime? PLEASE get to know Gettington AND Paula Drum! You'll WANT to shop there because you'll like the way they do business! They'll have MAJOR Black Friday deals, and as added incentive PENSIEVE readers can get 15% off their purchases by entering GT273 (through December 30th!).
Any reputable Southerner knows what the title alludes to--hash browns a la Waffle House and the way I like 'em best (scattered = spread on the grill, smothered = with onions). Those who cut a much wider path than me might like them covered (with cheese), chunked (with diced ham), diced (with
diced tomatoes), peppered (with jalapeño peppers), capped (with
mushrooms), topped (with chili) and all the way (surely you can figure that out on your own).
Actually, this post has nothing to do with hash browns, though you can thank me for explaining the finer nuances of shredded potato preparation and follow Waffle House on Twitter just in case they come up with any MORE ways of fixin' breakfast potatoes.
The title has more to do with me wanting to share a few things that are all over the place..."scattered and smothered" just seemed to fit. Please take note of all:
[1] Please pray for Anissa Mayhew (and her family), a friend who suffered a massive stroke this week.
Anissa is one of those larger than life people, and to meet her is to love her. That's why it's no surprise to witness the overwhelming response from hundreds? thousands? in her online community. She's wife to Peter (who's maintaining amazing composure and sharing her story at Hope4Peyton.com) and a mom to three littles. I can see God at work in and through this sad, tragic circumstance already...and I'm eager to see how He uses this lady to accomplish an unimaginable work. {Thanks to Dawn for this picture of me and my lovies Arianne and Anissa (far right) from the Type-A Mom Conference in Asheville in September.}
If you feel a nudging to help, please click the link below to contribute ANY amount to their family, or purchase a local gift card and send it to The Mayhews, 860 Johnson Ferry Road 140-184, Atlanta, GA 30342.
[2] Need a new computer? File this under "giveaways too good to be true that ARE true!"
Another friend, Michelle at Scribbit, is giving away an HP Touchsmart 600. It's a doozie, y'all, with a $1,500+ price tag. So often I'm skeptical if I see a giveaway for a free computer, but I'm certain Michelle is credible. Click the image if you're interested...or increase MY odds of winning and don't! feel free to pass on this one if you're insane unimpressed. Someone's going to win...it might as well be meyou!
[3] Does the commercialization of Christmas frustrate you? Please visit ChristmasChange and begin "a season of giving, a lifetime of return". It's a new collaborative site that hopes to seed ideas for you and your family, and gives you a forum for sharing your own.
[5] Amazon is ready for Black Friday...they're rolling out deals before we even eat turkey! If you're hunting for something in particular, they'll probably have what you need, maybe even at the best price available (which is in keeping with spending less and giving more...).
See? I toldja...scattered, smothered...and extra crispy. It's the only explanation for a post like this!
* post phoned in because I MISS my blog more than rain loves a just-washed car and I had to at least visit my compose window. It might seem quiet here at the ol' PENSIEVE, but I've been writing "everywhere else" and tomorrow you'll find me at one of the internet's shiniest new stars, but not in the screamy "I'M-SO-FABULOUS-LOOK-AT-ME!!!" kinda way, more like the quiet and unexpected "um-yeah-I'm-the-God-of-the-Universe-and-I'll-show-up-like-you'd-least-expect" kinda way. Which probably makes no sense to you--with a healthy dose of annoyance from this wretchedly-constructed, never-ending, run on sentence--but makes perfect sense to me.
Snuggled under layers of
covers this morning, I smiled through shuttered, sand-filled eyes,
awakened to a soggy Morse code of "good morning". I'm a rain lover,
and though I can't explain it, it infuses a certain "soul peace"; at
times I crave it, and to me, it is at it's best when it arrives at
daybreak. I said, "Thank you, Lord" as if He had specifically gifted
me, and I smiled to think my husband would think this a curse.
Sleep-blurred thoughts suddenly filled with an awareness that took me by surprise: my romanticism of rain is a luxury.
{Please continue reading "When romanticizing leads to compassion..." over at Blissfully Domestic. By the way, have you seen Blissfully Domestic's site lately? Re-designed fairly recently, it's definitely new and improved!}
The most compelling stories told are those that penetrate heart deep and begin their haunt at the telling. But they don't end there; you hear them over and over in your mind's ear, their truth begging your response.
If you weren't able to follow along daily with the Compassion Blogger's trip to El Salvador (for me, with a full week of work and other demands, I only was able to read in bits), I encourage you to read amazing stories of lives impacted forever. Those who gave...and those who received. You'll be inspired!
"It's literally like they live in a very small cave. But they had such
pride and joy on their faces. Their smiles were so huge. It just shows
me that material things mean nothing.... And I have found that the poorest people of El Salvador are SO close to
God - probably because He is ALL they have." ~ Continue reading Kelly's account of Compassion's Child Survival Program (she met a woman who has 15 children who lives in a ONE ROOM house with NO electricity or running water! :( ).
"And then it happened. She broke. She began to cry sharing the fears she
had about letting us into her house. (On a side note, all I could think
of was... She is afraid of letting ME in her house? Umm, she is the one
with the gang experience!) She explained that she was certain we would
look down at her because of her having the tattoos and her past. She
could not believe what I said about being the same and equal. And that
was my moment. I knew God used me to share his love for her. I did not
plan those words. They just came out, but they went straight to her
soul. It was a moment where God came and met her where she was." ~ continue reading Heather's account of how "WE ARE NO DIFFERENT!" than those living in poverty who receive love and support through Compassion sponsorship. Photo credit: Keely Scott
"My first day of interacting with people on the receiving end of Compassion has been nothing short of amazing—their stories, their homes, their openness to our presence, their excitement for Compassion and the effects it’s had on their families. My heart is somehow broken and full at the same time. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." ~ continue reading Molly's first post that introduces you to many of the children she met. Faces filled with HOPE. Be sure to read through all of Molly's posts and you'll discover one thatShaun Groves called "Possibly the best post ever written on a Compassion Bloggers trip," high praise from a modern day hero. :)
I don't suppose you're ready to sponsor a child, are ya? How can you say no to this face??
If you think everyone on the planet knows what Twitter is, you'd be mistaken. It's worth enduring the commercial to see this ear-to-ear grin-inducing video.
"...like if someone's going to the bathroom, you can know that..."
Honestly, is there anything scarier than the Burger King king with his plastically coiffed hair and creepy expression? Waking up to that face would be nightmare stepping into daylight.
And when Cole Porter claimed that "all the world loves a clown", that joker was lying! What's so funny about a grown man walking around with a smile painted on his face? He's either covering up a sad truth or forcing something that isn't natural.
It ain't right I tell ya.
When you put those two together it's a recipe for disaster. Hamburger mascot + clown (can only) = One thing.
Ronald McDonald.
McDonalds.... Somehow, the fast food franchise has peddled more fries and burgers than anyone on the planet {Let's not talk about their obviously narcotic-laced french fries--impossible to resist and instantly addictive--or the brilliance of the "Happy Meal" concept, particularly during the Beanie Babies craze.}. Maybe customers are scared to tell the clown "No-thank-yew," or they're
simply deceived by his cheerful red- and white-striped and golden
yellow clown suit.
All this to say, imagine my horror when I was driving down the street the other day and happened upon this--
Notice how they perfectly positioned him to have an almost angelic, golden arched halo behind his head--
Two stories high and looming overhead, when I saw his hand reaching out to grab me, images of King Kong and Jessica Lange flashed as my life nearly expired!
I grabbed my bag of fries camera, scrambled to my car, and tore out of that parking lot like desperate shoppers looking for a Wii on Black Friday at four in the morning.
Have you ever thought about how much more time is spent preparing a Thanksgiving spread and cleaning up afterward, than sitting at the table and eating it?
What if I offered you a remedy of amazing proportion to hold your family and friends around the table just a little bit longer?
Welcome if you're visiting for the first time from (in)courage! I'm grateful! If you enjoyed my Thankful Box post, particularly if you're a blogger or writer, you might be encouraged by The Power of One, too. You'll bless my socks off if you subscribe in a reader or via email and follow me on Twitter!
I received this prayer request via an email from my former Precept Bible study leader this morning, forwarded from Kay with this post's title in the subject line:
Shirley Dobson will be giving a deposition tomorrow
(TUESDAY, 11-10-09) from 8:30-4:30 PM. She is being sued by a group
“Freedom From Religion” because she asked the President and other
political leaders to pray for our nation… as leader of National Day of
Prayer. I prayed with her tonight, but told her would have the staff and others
praying for her tomorrow… this is so important. I am
praying they will be stunned by the Spirit of
God… convicted… convinced they will lose… and that if any of
them are His lost sheep, that they will get convicted and saved because the
Spirit of God will be so strong in that room. She is a valiant
warrior…thanks.
Sued for asking our President and leaders to pray? Are you kidding me??!
Then, a g a i n ...Shirley should be doing a little joy-filled happy dance; this is exactly what scripture tells us will happen for the true believer ~
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." {2 Timothy 3:12}
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial
when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were
happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings,
that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If
you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the
Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.... Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." {1 Peter 4:12-14, 16}
When I submitted a recent post for (in)courage, in spite of so desperately wanting to "get it right", I felt like I blew it. Some posts and pieces I write with ease--they almost write themselves--but sometimes I labor with diligence only to toss another digital wad into the TWIA {Trashcan With Insatiable Appetite} at the bottom of my screen.
Have you ever had an end goal in mind but you can't seem to write the finish line?
I trust and support with my words (and sometimes my
pocketbook)...
Who offer hope--tangible hope--to those aligned with their organization.
I sooo wanted to serve (in)courage, Compassion and Mocha Club well...but I struggled to express my thoughts. The post was too long. I bunny trailed (if I'm not famous for that, I should be). My perceived literary failure was "confirmed" when the post received only two comments, one of those being from Holley, who as one of my "bosses", pretty much has to read my posts.
Two weeks later I received an email that gently reminded me that equating my value or success in writing to the number of readers who respond in comments is...wrong.
Particularly for the posts where I feel the Spirit's nudging to write, where I'm compelled to share my heart, when I'm writing on behalf of others (imho, the best use of my writing voice...), how dare I navel gaze to the point of feeling like a loser or forget that I'm intimately known by the Creator of the Universe?
For goodness sakes, Robin...sometimes you're an idiot.
A new (in)courage subscriber stumbled across my post, and in response had this to say in a personal email:
Dear Pensieve, This is Celeste {name changed} from {country removed to protect her identity}. I read your write up in In-Courage, dated 29 September 09 and have since sponsored a child at Compassion International. {My heart exploded on contact and my socks were blessed slap off my feet!} The thought of reaching out to needy children has been with me for a while now. I have been looking out for Christian organization involved in such effort but not knowing their credibility, I have been apprehensive. I had been praying for the Lord to direct me to a trusted organization. Having read your article and after going through Compassion International webpage, I felt the peace of the Lord to go ahead to sow into the life of a child.{In the words of my sweet friend, Amber: OH MYLANTA!!! Me? In part, answer to a stranger's prayer???} My heartfelt thanks to you for being a means to connect me with Compassion International. God bless you super abundantly. {Done, times a squillion!}
Immediately I responded to "Celeste", explaining how grateful I was she sponsored a child with Compassion, and also taking the time to tell me. She wrote again, this time feeling a comfort to share her personal, and at times, painful, story (most of which is deleted for her sake).
Dear Robin, I am equally delighted to hear from you as well. Our good Lord works in amazing ways to connect people across the globe for His Kingdom work.{You aren't kidding!} Yes, you have definitely been a vessel and the Lord's extended arm to reach out to the lost and needy. {Bless mah heart!} You may certainly reprint my email. {in answer to my request} Well, since what you write may impact another person positively to share the joy of sowing, I would like to share my personal story to you.
Celeste went on to explain her dream since her teenage years was to have a happy marriage with 2 children, a boy and a girl. She now has a nine-year-old son, but after years of trying with disappointment, never had a daughter. About three years ago, she "knew" she was never going to give birth to the girl she so deeply desired; and at that same time, she decided that even though she may not have a daughter to call her own, she was determined to reach out to a child in need, especially a girl. She recalled that being the day she began looking for an avenue to sponsor a child.
Celeste's marriage was emotionally painful during its 11-year duration; in spite of great difficulty, she tried to make it work for her son's sake. The date my post was published was the day the court finalized her divorce. In the midst of a hurtful, tumultuous season of life, Celeste subscribed to (in)courage for encouragement.
"A few days later, I chanced upon your article and was inspired to sponsor a child."
"... I have done my fair share of mourning, murmuring and complaining to the Lord. In fact at one point, I was so negative and angry with the Lord, I was tempted to let go of my belief system and live life without any values. Through the prayers of close ones and friends, the Lord in His mercy has renewed my thinking and outlook in life. Now, I want to spend the remaining days of my life, here on earth being a salt and light for the Lord. Sponsoring this child, is my first step towards that goal.
"...you have played a very important role in connecting me to Compassion International. Now the ripple of your action will influence and impact my circle of friends and family, whom I will encourage to be also a part of Compassion International.
May the Lord's blessings always abound in your life!
Shalom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sometimes the noise inside my head is not just deafening, it's blinding. It blurs my focus. I'm thankful the Lord brought Celeste into my life to encourage me, challenge me, and remind me in the economy of God, it's never, no never, about me.
Heartfelt thanks to "Celeste" who continues to make a difference in the life of her Compassion child...and to me, who needed the encouragement she extended. Funny, it was like a gentle slap in the face, the "softer, kinder" version of Cher and Nicholas Cage in Moonstruck. Remember?
I've always loved the message of Barlow Girl. Yes, I like their musicality, passion and conviction, but the underlying message of their lyrics is one I'm glad my children are exposed to (both my daughter and sons are fans). It's positive, it speaks Truth, and sometimes they write with a depth and wisdom beyond their years. "Mirror--from their self-titled debut a few years ago--is one that serves as a reminder of true beauty in the eyes of the Master Beholder.
"More Beautiful You", this time sung by a guy (Johnny Diaz), offers the same message of beauty and uniqueness in each young woman. It's a message we all need to hear at that vulnerable age when "super model" seems to be an achievable? desirable? standard (which eventually we learn is a lie) when a zit or bad hair day makes us feel like a troll instead.
Honestly, I didn't care for this song much when I first heard it...until the bridge. I loved that (beginning at the 2:16 mark) and it gave me reason to listen closer the next time I heard it. Then I googled the lyrics. Then I watched the video and caught a glimpse of the wonders of model-y photoshopping. Then I decided to share it with you. Enjoy; I hope you do so with a tween or teen girl in your own life, to help her see, to remember, to believe she's one of a kind.
I LOVE making someone else's day!! Over at my sometimes forgottenaward-winning review blog, Show & Tell & Give & Take, I get to give away a $150 spa gift card compliments of Pepperidge Farm. Gosh, I hope you win...but that can only happen if you pop over and tell meif you had a day to yourself, how would you spend it? It's that simple!
Who would've suspected shrimp cocktail can reveal personality?
Meet my husband, left-brained engineer:
Neat
Orderly
Precise
Linear
Calculated
Meet me, right-brained writer:
Messy
Cluttered
Unconfined
Careless
Unbound by convention
He bit the shrimp to the point the shell stopped; I split the tail and got every morsel.
Unexpectedly, we found ourselves in Atlanta just in time for dinner and decided to try a restaurant we've heard great things about but never before had opportunity to try--Pappadeaux, deliciously exceeding our already-hopeful expectation!
As we enjoyed quiet conversation in a cozy corner overlooking a lush, verdant view, I looked down and noticed our appetizer plates...and, smiling, said a silent prayer of thanks to have a camera in my phone.
There we were in pinkish, translucent shells, the resemblance uncanny. "Reading" shrimp...one step up from Tarot cards, I guess.
" for the title alone. 
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