Look Who Was Behind The Kona Menu!

Wow! Mother's day was so much fun. It started out with my men singing in an all men's choir in the loft at church. All wearing blues that blended so beautifully. A literal "sea" of men! Men singing for God...there's nothing nothing more powerful. Then, a wonderful surprise at Kona; Popdaughter hiding behind the menu! She had not planned to come home before her India travels but alas she did. It might have had something to do with my sobbing every time I spoke to her last week and flight schedules, passports, and "layover in Frankfurt"..."when I get home in July" peppered our conversations. It was great to see her smiling face waiting for me at the lunch table.

Blog Photog

Grammie and grandsons blow out birthday candles.

new rug, warrenton find

ladder, basket, chair, warrenton finds

Easter table, yes, I grew those red irises!

popkids Easter weekend

mama bird sitting on eggs, grammie's patio

Happy Popdaughter

mer

reflects








two adorable singers

The So Longs, Farewells, and Auf Wiedersehens Of Life

Endings. I really don't like for things to come to an end. I avoid most endings at all costs. But sometimes when something comes to an end, it is a big, fat, relief. Like tonight for instance. Popson ran his last track meet. A season of training, working hard, fighting through the wind and rain of spring and coming out on the other side of the season feeling accomplished. It feels good to close that door until next year. ( my son might say SLAM the door.) The practices every single afternoon grow tiresome and so I know my son is glad for a break. And this may sound scroogy, but I'm always glad to see holidays come and GO. All holidays and that includes Christmas. You heard me right. The month of December is just so demanding. Likewise, learning the Easter music for our church choir was exhilarating and fun, but when all was said and done, I felt like I had given birth or climbed mount Everest. So when that last note was sung Sunday ....whoooo hoooo! See I told you it was scroogy. I'm always glad the party that I so excitedly conceived of throwing....is over, cleaned up, dishwasher loaded, counters wiped, FINISHED. What's the point Popcorn? There's not one, or at least not a clever one. I just find it interesting how life is a constant series of ins and outs, ups and downs, starts and stops. Finding the physical and emotional energy to hang on, see it through, ride it out...is name of the game. If I hang on and ride the crest of the wave until it subsides I always glance back at the experience with either pride, fond feelings, or sometimes regret; but always happy for the opportunity to move on to something else, the next thing. Other random things that were good in and of themselves, but that I was glad to wave goodbye to... college, pregnancy, teenage years, girl scouts, fake nails, aerobic excercise classes, there's lots more, but you get my drift. Nuff said.

He Is Risen!

Ever Noticed This?

Forever 21 is a great store. It is owned by Christian couple Don and Jin Sook Chang, first generation Korean immigrants. They share the gospel with everyone they meet. They hire Christian designers and the clothes are made here in the states. Mrs. Chang, who attends pre-dawn services every day and strongly encourages her vendors to do the same, makes it a point to give Christians in the industry a leg up, too. "She plucks young designers out of the companies she's working with," he says. "And if they're Christian and religious, she puts them in business." Rowena Rodriguez, a 33-year-old fashion consultant who was born again with Mrs. Chang's help, is one of those lucky designers. "In the short time I worked with Mrs. Chang, my life was transformed, and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior," she recalls in an email interview. "Mrs. Chang prayed me into the Kingdom! Rodriguez says she has been approached by executives looking for the secret to Forever 21's phenomenal success. "I usually say, 'If you really want to know, I'll tell you. But you won't believe me...The Changs love Jesus!" Wow. Who knew?

Seasons

If she said it once, she said it a hundred times, "Nothing stays the same." My sweet mom is right, nothing does. To that I say, thank goodness! Number one, I like change. It's part of my m.o. I can't really stand to do too much the same way for too long. It is also comforting to realize that if something is going on in my life that I don't like, if I hold on to God long enough, the stormy season will soon blow into clear blue skies. A fresh start will be at our fingertips and our souls will beat steady as the tick of the clock serves as the melody to another season of our lives. One foot in front of the other, the next night's sleep, the poetry of shared kindnesses gifted one, then two, then over again.

photography by E.C.

Psycho People Pleasin' Popcorn: Pathetic!

Since far away college Popdaughter is coming home tonight, I find my mind wandering to memories tied to her. I am painfully red faced at one in particular. How stupid am I?? What kind of psycho people pleaser does this? Did I suffer from some sort of I'm a hero syndrome??? Can I get a diagnosis PLEASE?! I spent one night in the hospital then came home after giving birth to this child. THREE days later do you know what I did??? I got up at 5:00 and took my turn going to the Farmer's Market with my vegetable club. What? Did she say vegetable club?? That's right. I hauled my still very fat self wearing my stylish black t-shirt knit zip up the front jump suit with the hot pink stretchy belt I purchased at a home party (no doubt given by a fellow vegetable club member) and espadrilles. Or was it my white Mexican dress with flowers embroidered around the neck? If memory serves (hopefully it doesn't) my hair was atop my head in a scrunchy. Can you get a visual? I'm sure I had on bright lipstick and huge silver earrings shaped like bunnies finishing the ensemble with a necklace of graduating silver balls. CP I hear you laughing out there!!! I think you had the same jumpsuit in a springtime floral didn't you? Now picture this with me.. there I was, traipsing around with belly a floppin', exhausted from nursing, fiendishly piling corn and tomatoes and green beans in my wagon like it mattered. What did that psychologically pathetic sight scream about poor Popcorn as a young mother lo those many years ago?? I don't want to think about it ..but I cannot quit guffawing! By the time I got home I felt like body parts were falling out. Good heavens they probably were. But Pophero didn't care, she got her radishes!!! The tables of all the esteemed vegetable club would, thank Hector, have their salads. There you have it, the most ridiculous thing I've ever done. Apparently I was a stupid vegetable. What an absolute idiot. I'm embarrassed of myself. Believe you me, I've learned to say no since then. I've graduated from a people pleasin' veggie to a wise ol' kernel of grumpy Popcorn. Go get your own vegetables!