telogen effluvium

Yes, that's a real medical phrase. It means someone is losing a lot of their hair due to something that knocked the hair growth process out of whack. It means that a once thick, healthy head of hair is being reduced to thin, sparsely implanted threads of dullness. They say it's not permanent and that person won't go totally bald. Hair growth is continuing as normal and hair loss should decrease within 6 months. Again, they say people afflicted with telogen effluvium won't go bald. And my favorite part of my internet research is the suggested treatment: reassurance. Yep, drs are told to reassure their patients as the only form of treatment. Can I tell you that I don't feel better yet? Even with all that reassurance.

I started out with hair like this. Nice thick hair with a will of it's own. I had trouble finding barrettes to hold it. I could only put 2 turns in a hair band when putting it up in a pony tail.

Now, I'm heading for this:
Ok, maybe not that bad, but it sure feels like it. I'm taking suggestions from my thin haired friends because I have never had to deal with this before.


Looks like a hair cut is in my future. I'm gonna have a lot of short little growing in hairs.... So much for my foray into long hair... Now, if I can just find a hair stylist who won't freak out on me when she combs out about 100 hairs in one sitting...

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

WOW! So, I'm probably behind everyone else in the known universe, but I just found out that:

ALOE CURES PINK EYE!

Yep, just pinch off part of the leaf several times a day and apply the juice to the eye area, trying to get some in the eye, too. If you have an older child, let them apply it so they don't get scared of you poking them in the eye with your finger. By the next morning, you've got no red, no discharge eyes. I knew this plant was useful, but I sure wish I'd known about this 7 years ago. I'd have saved hundred of dollars in doctor's visits and eye drops.

So, love the mother of young children in your life, and get her an aloe plant! (It works on bug stings, sunburn, scrapes and other skin issues, too.)

Who doesn't love a Chicken Dance?

We couldn't resist the chance to catch this on video. It will be one to pull out at his high school graduation, no doubt.

We laughed until we cried. AND made him do this about 4 more times.. I won't say who joined him, either. That was NOT worthy for video. So, I'm wondering if blogging will count for not putting together their baby books very well. It is a new century after all.. I just hope that blogspot stays around a while. BTW, thanks to those friends who have let me know that I ought to update this a little more often. I honestly haven't had much to add. But I will try for my fans.

That boy has a future!

Here's Ryan trying out for America's Next Top Jedi! Or perhaps The Highlander - Next Generation..You tell me.




I guess I have to classify this as one of those things that makes you go "Hmmmmm" And please ignore the mess in the background. We had just come back from vacation, Chris was at home by himself for 4 days...And you should see what was behind the camera. Or maybe not..

Some recent pictures from the Spring

Summer is just around the corner.. here's some of the latest from this Spring..

A view of discipleship

So, it's been a while since I added anything here. I'm pretty sure no one even checks it, so it's just me. Lately, I've been having some thoughts about church and Christian growth... Here's the latest...



How do you build a disciple? Legos.. that's it, just a lot of legos.... sounds simplistic, right?

When people play legos, they spend time together, they solve problems together, they share together, they talk, more knowledgeable people help less knowledable people about the role of certain pieces, those with creativity and vision give those without something to aspire to, those with encouraging personalities help people not get bored.

And when you get tired and put out and frustrated and try to leave, you always step on that pointy little piece and fall on your butt and don't get anywhere. Good lego friends will check out your foot to make sure that there's no blood and call Mom when there is.

And of course there's always that little instruction manual that comes with most Lego sets. It's a little vague in parts, but really does tell you how to assemble that thing on the box. You just have to look at it really close.

You don't know who'll join you. Might be the nerdy kid with no social skills. Or the shy kid who barely talks to anyone. It could the the super cool dude who just likes legos and needs a place to assemble them. You don't get to choose who and you don't know when Mom will call them home. But you invite them to come and hope that they stay a while.

That's how I see disciple building. But that's just me.