* I had oral surgery a couple of days ago. If we were playing “would you rather”, I’d have to go with shaving sasquatch’s legs, the yeti monster’s back, and bigfoot’s armpits over having tooth pain.
* Last week when I was putting Ava to bed, she said to me, “Dad…do you remember when we were at Andy’s house last night? When I was walking outside I saw my shadow, but I saw another shadow too and I know it wasn’t mine. I think it was Jesus’ shadow…he was watching out for me.”
* I may or may not have completely forgotten how to write a blog post.
* Hostas are my favorite perennial. Sure, I’ll gravitate towards something else for a little while, but I always come back to Hostas.
* I’ve been working with teenagers lately and it’s been way too easy to empathize with them. I remember what it was like to be stuck between to places. You’re not a child and you’re not an adult, but people expect you to choose one or the other. Being a teenager is a terrible time of identity crisis.
* We’re moving forward with a plan to sell our house and buy something smaller. It’s kind of fun because we’re not stuck in a bad spot of “needing to sell”. We’ll do it for-sale-by-owner and see what happens. If we sell it and make some moolah…we’ll be freed up to do some things we can’t do right now.
* I’ve started the de-cluttering process by moving some of my books to my church office. Today I’ll be taking more than 300 books with me…believe it or not, I’ve sold some already.
* Whenever I think of my Grandma…I always picture her this way:
* Coke is better than Pepsi, but if you’re drinking “diet”, the rundown is as follows; Diet Mountain Dew is the best, then Cherry Coke Zero, then Diet Dr. Pepper, then Diet Sunkist. I’m sorry if you disagree.
* Our little boy, Finn, is driving us crazy at night. No…he’s not staying awake too long. It’s just that…well…um…he’s uh…he’s pooping and peeing out of his diaper every blasted night!! We are changing him in the middle of the night…sometimes twice even. Tried multiple varieties of diapers…not feeding him at crazy times…the sheets are in pain I tell ya. He’s still the best though.
* For my oral surgery, I was IV sedated which caused me to say some strange things. When I was in recovery, a dental assistant told me that I didn’t look like the normal pastor that she is used to seeing. I told her that our church is a very diverse place and that we have “lots homosexuals and interracial couples there”. After I said it I immediately thought what on earth just came out of my mouth??
* We had professional wedding photos taken, but this one I got from someone’s disposable camera will always be my favorite picture from our wedding day:
* Here’s my favorite shot from my parent’s wedding…thank goodness my dad looks more presentable after about 30 years:
* Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
* I finally realize where I fit in this five-fold ministry…I am a teacher. I love to teach and I search for opportunities to do so. This can be difficult because I don’t want to come across as a know-it-all…thankfully – I don’t…so it’s not too terrible.
* Sometimes I wonder what things would look like if I didn’t take the same path that I took. I found a photo from about 10 years ago right before I went to a job interview. What if I didn’t get that job? Would I still have gotten married to Allison? Would I still have become Ava and Finn’s daddy? Hmm…
* Probably…because I’ve still got that same dumb look on my face 10 years later.
I love your posts – always something to connect to and make me think.
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I love your posts. You got a job with pink (red?) hair? Nice!
I’ll always remember my grandma leaned up against the kitchen sink looking out the window with a ciggy in her hand. Good times!
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Oh my gosh you look like you were 15 in your wedding photo. (But it’s a GREAT photo!)
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Erin A. says:
May 31st, 2010 at 10:53 pm
@Becky, Exactly what I was thinking! Did you get married the weekend after graduation?! Had friends that did that . . . remember thinking, “I could do that; I’m so ready!” Ummm, NOT!
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Two years ago we had a stillborn baby. I have been a hateful wretch ever since. Thanks to you and Ree Drummond I have started to get out of the hate mode and am doing things to restore peace and love to my life. One of those things is sponsoring a little boy in Burkina Faso through Compassion International.
When I want to have a hissy fit I look at Levy’s face and remember what we are here for and it has very little to do w/ whatever I am usually doing. It brings me right back to now. Thank you for being you, it is helping me be me.
Marisa Miller
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Holly says:
May 28th, 2010 at 7:04 am
@marisa, Marisa, Tears of joy, pain, and compassion, prayers and internet hugs are being sent your way!
Congratulations on moving forward!
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Plano Mom says:
May 28th, 2010 at 10:05 am
@marisa, Marisa, from this day forward you are in my daily prayers – I hope you continue to find peace.
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For a guy that might have forgotten how to post you did a great job with this one…love random thoughts. Sometimes with 5 kids and a farm I feel like that is all I have! Kim
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Our daughter is 1, and I’ve found that whenever the blowouts become unbearable, I have to go up a diaper size. It never seems like the diapers are too small for her booty, just too small for her poops. >_< Works every time.
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Plano Mom says:
May 28th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@amanda, Amanda, that was us too – it is truly amazing how much poop can come out of such a tiny body.
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[...] This Is Reverb » 17 things… http://www.thisisreverb.com/2010/05/17-things.html – view page – cached * I had oral surgery a couple of days ago. If we were playing “would you rather”, I’d have to go with shaving sasquatch’s legs, the yeti monster’s back, and bigfoot’s armpits over having tooth pain. Tweets about this link Topsy.Data.Twitter.User['marisab67'] = {“photo”:”http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/924733124/madmax-4_normal.jpg”,”url”:”http://twitter.com/marisab67″,”nick”:”marisab67″}; marisab67: “RT @DetzelPretzel: This Is Reverb » 17 things… http://bit.ly/bOTeBX ” 23 minutes ago view tweet retweet Topsy.Data.Twitter.User['detzelpretzel'] = {“photo”:”http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/758046995/ThatBeMeWeb_normal.jpg”,”url”:”http://twitter.com/detzelpretzel”,”nick”:”detzelpretzel”}; detzelpretzelInfluential: “This Is Reverb » 17 things… http://bit.ly/bOTeBX ” 27 minutes ago view tweet retweet Filter tweets [...]
Sorry about the pooping and peeing at night thing. I have four kiddos…I don’t miss those days. I love the picture of grandma at the stove. That is SO precious the way her other hand is over her heart.
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Good post Ryan. A look back seeing where one came from isn’t all that bad. I, on the other hand, would rather leave my past where it is, the past. Happy Thursday!
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Glad you’re back! I laughed out loud at what you said while under anastethic! So funny.
I’m curious what Hostas look like. I think we may have a few hundred (no joke) growing in our front flower bed, but I’m not quite sure. I’d love a post about your plants which includes pics
I’m clueless
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The last picture instantly makes me think “Encino Man”
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about the blowouts – try a cloth diaper for
overnight. the grovia one size all in one (aio) is bulletproof and simple to use. (I used their old version – dreameze – and never leaked.) there are others that work, too, but that’s the simplest to recommend in a blog comment.
enjoyed the other thoughts, too. just hate for you to lose sleep because of diaper woes. =)
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Did you have to get your parent’s permission to get married at, what, 14? Holy cow.
Yes, go up a diaper size.
I LOVE HOSTAS. I have a miniature chartruese one which is my favorite. But I love them ALL.
I would love to see Jesus’ shadow next to me, but often I just feel his presence as a breath past my ear.
Children rock. My 4 rock my world every minute of the day.
Here is the joke my 9 year old told me the other day.
“Why did Mozart sell his chickens?”
“Because they kept saying ‘Bach, bach, bach.’”
I LOL on that.
Love your blog.
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You are a hoot…I don’t think you looked dumb…I was getting “The Breakfast Club” vibe though…lol
FYI when we downsized to the “Love Shack” we had a lot of books for sale…and we opened up an Amazon account and sold over 100 in less that 30 days. Just opt for the snail mail and you can get $3.99 per book for shipping and I mailed mine via USPS “Book Rate” and never went over that amount. We acutally made some bucks and it helps pay our movers. Good luck!
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Your blog and thoughts are just great to read, feels like someone why back on the other side of the ocean has experiences like we do. Greetings from germany
Chris
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Tracy talks about the first time she met you, with your earrings and spikey red hair! It’s not as crazy as I pictured it. Of course you weren’t dating my daughter either.
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*Sorry about the tooth pain; hope it’s better.
*I’d love to see Jesus’ shadow.
*There is no right way to write a blog post.
*I keep waiting for that teenager “in-between” feeling to go away, but at 39 it has yet to disappear. Or perhaps more accurately, it was gone for a while, but now it is back.
*Try the next largest diaper size.
*My grandma is a smell in my head, instead of a picture. I keep a bottle of Estee Lauder on my vanity just so that sometimes i can visit my grandma in my mind.
*Great wedding photos, though you look like you’re about 12.
*Sometimes i can’t believe the things that come out of my mouth when i’m NOT sedated.
*I love the red dye job on your hair.
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Haha…I love that photo of us too. But, it was from Andrea and Chris’s wedding. I think that’s the only other time you had to rent a tux
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Plano Mom says:
May 28th, 2010 at 10:09 am
@Allison, Allison, I just love the way you “correct” your husband. You are a kind, gentle wife and many could learn from the love and respect you show him.
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leslie says:
May 30th, 2010 at 2:41 am
@Allison,
It’s funny to know that Ryan forgot his looks on his own wedding! hehehe.. but I still love you both! When you really like the persons, whatever they might say, it doesn’t matter!
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Ryan,
your posts never fail to make me smile. thanks so much for that. you and Alison look so young and in love, the look on her face speaks volumes (not to mention you’re both just gorgeous).
oh, this one really got me:
I don’t belong in either group, but I’d sure like to belong to your church! wonder if there are any like that in the Dallas area? we’ve had some trouble finding a place to go, in our part of town, that fits the description of your church 
“lots homosexuals and interracial couples there”.
you mean, it’s a REAL church then!
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Holy Canoli! That last picture is just what you looked like the day dad and I met you (minus the tie). I said to him, “Allison will probably fall in love with that one. Can you imagine if someday they have kids and he is walking our granddaughter down the aisle?” And we laughed. God is good and I praise Him for giving me a loving and faithful husband for our baby, Allison.
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You crack me up. I just got a flash of a 30 Rock episode with your IV sedated outburst.
You and Allison look like BABIES in that photo.
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Thanks for the updates, I know you folks are busy, but I really miss your posting. Have a good weekend. Mary
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I love hostas right until they send up the shoots, and then I think they look.. awkward.
I think I would love your church. I have struggled with finding a church where I “fit” and so I mostly don’t go. I live in a place where people introduce themselves and the next question is “where do you go to church?” and if you don’t have one, they invite you. I always want to screen them by asking if my wife and I (I’m a woman) need to dress up or not.. and watch for a reaction. (I am actually heterosexual, married 15 years and have 6 kids, but if gay folks & my brown children are not welcome, I don’t want to be there.) But I never quite have the guts.
*sigh*
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Loved your post– I’ve been missing them lately!
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I just had my wisdom teeth pulled last Friday, but I don’t think I said anything weird… at least no one told me that I did :/
On another note, I have a friend who is moving to Cinci and I told him he should check out your church. I’m looking forward to what he reports back
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We changed to a larger diaper. That took care of the blow-outs.
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Your babies are sooo cute
So you don’t buy into the whole destiny thing? Don’t think you were destined one way or the other to marry Allison, destined to be a pastor, destined to love cooking… etc., etc…?
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Yep, we had to move Sam up in diaper size. If that doesn’t work and you want to try cloth at night, I have a couple brand new adjustable sized ones you’re welcome to. Grand plans and whatnot, but after Sam was born my husband fell in love with Huggies.
I’m going through a blog drought, too. Having to deal with that whole “real life” thing that greets me in the face every morning.
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LOLOLOL that is exactly how I describe my church! And there is no IV sedation involved hehehehe. I think we say our church loves gay folks and folks of all colors, because we want this stranger to understand we love the same people that Jesus did and does. In this day and age, some people forget how much Jesus loves all of us
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What a charming rambly post! Sounds like you’re in a good space…except for that poop thing. But Finn is so cute! (Ava, too.)
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try these to help with the diaper problem
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3844600
Hope you find a solution!
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Bet Finn is teething. loved the shots of you all and the sentiments.
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Ava’s comment=wow.
Use those waterproof pads on Finn’s bed, so that you don’t have to change his whole sheet every time…they are the best.
Lots of other thoughts…always thought-provoking here.
Oh! Are you selling your picture of the sky in Honduras? (am I remembering that correctly?)
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For the blowouts try the plastic liners people use for cloth diapers. Hostas are my favorite as well. We just planted about 20 of them in our yard.
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I liked this post a lot.
Ava’s comment is precious. I love kids’ faith.
I know this sounds completely ridiculous but I’ve read that kids are a lot less likely to have “blow outs” in cloth diapers…But then you have to deal with cleaning them…so it might not be worth it.
The wedding pictures are both so great–we have one of us dancing (from a friend’s camera) that’s one of our favorites too. Allison is a gorgeous bride!
I like to think about everything that led up to where I am right now too…hindsight is always 20/20. Aren’t you so thankful you got that job?
Good luck with the house sale and de-cluttering!
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Taking a risk here..
I’m a momma to the best boy in the world who’ll be 23 this year. It’s been almost one full year since he told me he was gay. I broke down weeping again this morning, something I do rarely, though my grief inside is immense. Not because he’s gay so much as that I don’t see any evidence anymore of the boy I raised to love Jesus. I think he tried so hard to please God and his church friends–trying not to be gay–and then he finally gave up and walked away from it all. When I read your blog, and seeing the word homosexual, and then reading some of the comments…well, I just want to tell someone how sad my heart is right now. I trust God to keep him, but my son doesn’t worship Him anymore, doesn’t talk about Him anymore, doesn’t read his BIble anymore. Will you please pray for him to desire God above all else? To love him with all his heart, soul, mind and strength (my fervent prayer for him since he was a tiny baby) If only there were more pastors, more Christians…who would embrace all who Jesus died for…instead of the judging and the hate.
Thanks for listening
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I sent you an email and it was returned so will post on here instead & hope for an answer. What has happened to McMamma?? I can not find her through Google and the one site I had will not open. Since you know her through you Mission Trip I thought you might know if something happened. I know she was expecitng another baby. You can reach me at:
desanderson25@yahoo.com
I love your blog and your lovely little family. The children are adorable.
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Ryan says:
May 28th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
@Dorothy, here’s a link to her site
http://mycharmingkids.net/
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Welcome back….love the grandma photo!
You and Allison are beautiful!
Thanks for always sharing Jesus…awesome post.
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yes, you need to go up on diaper size
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you’re fine, just fine. and I like your Grandma I can just tell. be well Ryan.
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I laughed out loud at your post today. Thanks
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Use one diaper larger for night time. That’s what we had to do. The poo just needed more room. Worked like a charm.
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Hostas! Is there any other plant that is more wonderful and perfect? At least the rats with hooves (deer) think so. I wage yearly war with them to see who is going to enjoy all my hostas more, me or them. I raise my fist in Scarlett O’Hara like defiance and say, “Not this year! This year they are mine!!”
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I had my wisdom teeth out on friday and was IV sedated. I told the surgeon that I loved him and a few other things.. not sure what but I remember them laughing. Now I’ve just been drooling at random times since then and I still can’t feel my chin. Finn in just like two days younger than my girl, Ellie, and she’s been waking up and playing for like ten minutes. then she poops, we clean it, and she goes right back to sleep! What is up with that?
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Just in case the one size larger diaper doesn’t fix the leaks…..
My fourth child had this issue because he peed gallons at night. I finally figured out to use a good fitting diaper PLUS a larger diaper directly on top of the first one. Never had to change wet sheets after that!
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