Weekend to Remember

Now that we're promoting the upcoming "Weekend to Remember" marriage conference, I just want to encourage all of you married folks to attend if you can, whether you've been married one year or 25 years. Jeff & I went to this conference as newlyweds in 2008 and we're hoping to go again.
Our marriage has been an unfolding journey of both abundant blessings and complications of blended family life. I recently heard from a couple of listeners who are really struggling with their marital commitments, wondering if it's worth sticking out a situation that fails to bring them happiness. You know, it took me over a year to realize that marriage isn't designed to make us happy but to make us holy. I stubbornly resisted that adage myself for a long time in the midst of my personal struggles.
At times when things felt hopeless to me, I was fortunate to have a husband who insisted, "We're sticking this out to the end. Divorce is not an option. I love you and we're gonna do the hard work of making this work." Jeff had his family fall apart once...and still feels awful that his children are the victims of a shattered life. I joke with friends that Jeff is the true communicator in our family. We're 100% honest and vulnerable with each other, we talk everything out, and Jeff doesn't let a day go by without telling me how loved, appreciated and respected I am as his wife.
Last night I was sad with the winter blues. Jeff held me, listened to my heart, and reminded me, "You need to know you're my best friend...the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you more than you will ever know."
I love him right back, knowing that love is a daily choice we make--not just a feeling to coast on until something (seemingly) better comes along. I know for sure in my life that nothing better than Jeff will ever come along. He's God's best for me and I'm so thankful.

Chuck E. Cheese...

..."Where a Kid Can Be a Kid"...or "Where an Adult Can Be a Kid!" I was hoping for a quiet Saturday evening with the kids...so I thought, "Why don't we take them to Chuck E. Cheese so that we can visit with each other and play games?" Boy did I pick the wrong place for quiet. Did I mention this was a Saturday night? No one warned this Chuck E. Cheese novice that weekends are jam-packed with kids running amuck. Jeff had a great time, though, playing video games as kids looked on...

Actually I was quite surprised by the sheer volume of parents playing games and not paying attention as their million kids ran around the play center. It was sheer chaos. Jeff and I took turns taking a breather outside. I also made the mistake of purchasing 100 tokens for the kids. (It was part of their Christmas stocking presents). I didn't realize each ride only requires ONE TOKEN. But since I gave each child 50 TOKENS, they played 50 GAMES each! So you can imagine what a long evening that made for...especially with the lines...But the point is, the kids had a blast...And if they want to go again, their Dad can take them!

Reflecting Christ in India

Sometimes I struggle with hearing from the Lord--truly discerning His voice amid the self-seeking desires in my heart. But this week I heard from the Lord loud and clear about a ministry opportunity I'm so excited to share with you!!!
Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking with the founder of an organization called Charasia http://www.charasia.org/, a ministry based in Southeast Asia. It rescues girls born into brothels in India and places them in the loving care of Christ-centered orphanages. Women who were rescued from the bondage of prostitution help to nurture and teach these children both the love of Christ and English skills. (If you don't know the English language in India your chances of advancing beyond the poverty line are slim). This incredible outreach also sponsors many local churches in the area. I'm so excited to partner with them in some small way!
I know a lot of us, myself included, are scared about the economy being in the midst of a recession. It's hard for me to give liberally when I feel things are tight at home with a husband and two kids. But after watching the movie "Slumdog Millionaire," which tells the story of a boy who grows up in the slums of Mumbai, my heart was so moved to do something--ANYTHING--to help advance the efforts of shining the light of Christ in such a dark country.
While the situation seems so bleak (I cannot believe the level of depravity such innocent souls are exposed to), the truth is, we can do something about it. We can commit to prayer. We can devote our time and talents to organizations such as these to allow them to minister effectively. And we can invest our financial resources if we so choose to shine the light of Christ at the epicenter of evil.
I sure hope you understand I'm not sharing this with the intention of pressuring anyone one way or the other...But I just feel compelled to share this passion of my heart with you.
--Catherine

Rock Star Hubby

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Jeff the Rock Star of the Rock Band, Wii! Here's a great snapshot of my husband belting out "Hungry Like a Wolf" with Jeremy Tracey on guitar and our fabulous engineer, Rick, on the drums. (Thanks for the pix, Susie!). This past weekend our station threw a cabin fever party--basically a chance to get all of our families together to mingle and celebrate in the midst of this dreary weather. IT WAS A BLAST. Sometimes Jeff can be shy when he meets people for the first time, but leave it to the Wii to bring him out of his shell. Within minutes of stepping in the door, he grabbed the mic and sang (or rather, screamed) his heart out. It was hilarious! What was even more hilarious was when Jill Tracey commented, "He's pretty good!" I about died of laughter. They wouldn't let him sing in the praise band at church, he's so off-key! But I love him so! Always full of surprises...

Throwback to the 80s

When Scott & I discussed a throwback to the 80's on the morning show today, I thought of my husband, who in many ways, still embraces 80's fashion. What do you think of these pants? I believe Jeff wore them in high school...and he still wears them to bed! At least he's not wearing them out in public! I'm a 90's girl myself...but my husband is an 80's baby to the core and I get to relive that decade thanks to relics Jeff has saved. I told you about our Christmas tree and its ornaments from the 70s...Did I tell you Jeff has had the same alarm clock, microwave and bedding from college? I threw out the latter two when I moved into his house...I wish I could get him to part with that old alarm clock but I can't. So I bought my own. It's hot pink. And matches his pants!

I'm getting a new computer!!!

Here's a picture of my poor Mac. I call him Sad Mac. He's on his last leg since he's going on 9 years old and in computer years, that's practically a lifetime. Jeff had to put a clamp on it and practically cement it to our dining room table because something in the board is loose and it spontaneously dies so much, this helps to stabilize it. Of course, this also drives me crazy and makes it very difficult to type and get any work done. I threw it in a fit of rage last night. Jeff finally agreed to purchase a new computer. My only criteria? It has to be a Mac. And it has to be white. Thank you, my dear husband...AT LONG LAST!!!

Art...is hard

No, you're not hallucinating. This blob of blue-green "art" to your left took me three hours to create. Turns out I'm not Van Gogh. But my art instructor did confirm what I already knew: I'm a control freak. After painting what I thought was a lovely sunset and ocean scene, my teacher implored me to, "Let go. Abstract art is a real challenge for people who like to exert control over their lives. You need to relax and tap into your subconscious--that part of your mind that takes over when you're in the half-way place between sleeping and reading a book before your head hits the pillow."
So I painted a layer of white over the canvas and covered it with blue-green hues for a backdrop of I don't know what it'll be yet. My instructor's advice alone was worth the $100 I paid for the class. It's something I struggle with in my life--I'm always tempted to exert my own desires upon my husband and the two children I inherited by marriage. I'm a planner and a do-er. I like to make things happen. But sometimes you've just gotta let life happen and roll with the punches. I'm still learning how to do that.

Car Can't Take the Cold

Alrightee...I am officially ready to move back to Hawaii! This deep freeze is not my style. I spoke a little too soon on the morning show when I praised my 13-year-old car for getting me to work. Turns out, it was fine bringing me to the station, but it flat-out died as I tried to drive it home. Poor Scott was in the cold for several minutes longer than he should've been, trying to jump-start my ancient Toyota Camry. After catching a ride home with Lindsay (thanks, girl!), I stepped into my freezing house. It peaks at 58 degrees! It's so cold, our heater can't keep up. Jeff and I can't stop hugging each other in hopes of generating body heat. I just checked in with my grandparents to find out the forecast in Honolulu. It's a whopping 79 degrees! TAKE ME HOME!!!

Abstract painting

You're looking at my first failed effort at abstract art. I signed up for an abstract painting class to jog my creative juices. I simply want to have more fun and re-wire my brain to learn a new skill. Let me tell you, I'm having a blast meeting new people and forgetting my life for a couple of hours while I experiment with color. But I find abstract art a challenge because it can be ANYTHING. My instructor encouraged me to let my brain wander and feel my way through the paints while tapping into my subconscious. How on earth can I call up my subconscious? All I know is that while I may not have much innate talent, painting is oh-so-fun! It's like therapy. Especially with abstract painting. It's not about creating art to please someone else--it's about expressing yourself with color. Now THAT I can do--even if no one finds my pieces pleasing. Scott wants me to ask you if you can interpret this painting. He says it looks like a starfish (especially when you turn it on its side) and my subconscious is screaming, "I WANT TO MOVE BACK TO HAWAII!!!" No kidding! I could've told you that! :)

Game Night...Every Night

Jeff asked me to blog about his greatest passion in life: BOARD GAMES! Not a single night goes by that we don't play a board game. Most of them are imported from Germany, like the classic "Settlers of Catan." It's a multi-player family game that's not too complex but a little too sophisticated for kids under 10. For your little ones I'd suggest a few games Max and Laney love: "Pick Picnic," "Rat-a-Tat Cat," and "Zooloretto." On the show today we talked about the importance of parents--particularly dads--interacting with their kids to further their development. We find that in our family, game playing facilitates lots of fun, interesting conversation, and quality time together. Even when Jeff and I have the night to ourselves, we'll often flip off the TV and compete with each other at board games. A couple of great two-player game are "Mr. Jack" and "San Juan." There are several others...but the point is, it's a fun way to connect instead of just rehashing the day over dinner and mindlessly staring into our television set!

Luau time!

The dead of winter is prime time for a luau! At least, that's what Scott & I thought...what better way to beat the winter blues than to bring the islands to our studio? We held our first "Hawaiian Taste Test" and invited three listeners--Donovan, Erica and Aaron--to try some of my favorite Hawaiian snacks! My mom sent Scott an assortment of goodies from Oahu and since misery loves company, Scott wanted listeners to come in and grind down with him! It was so much fun! My favorite part was watching Donovan's eyes bulge when he popped that lemon peel in his mouth!

Here's a snapshot of the snacks. We started out with the dried cuttlefish...and then tried the dried lemon peel, pickled mango, arare (salted soy crackers wrapped in seaweed), popcorn with li hing mui power (salted dried plum), and seeds covered in the salty/sweet li hing poweder. It was fun to bring some of my heritage to my radio family. You can learn so much of someone's culture by trying their favorite foods. I hope Scott's palate recovered!

I'm Just a Guy

Ok, so I don't know what a Burberry pattern is... and we found out today I've never heard of Manolo Blahnik shoes. Excuse me? Just look at the picture of this boot. Is that not the ugliest thing you've ever seen? Unless you're going to play Cat Woman in the next Batman movie, I just can't see it. I'm glad I've never heard of these things, proves I'm not that crazy. Well, not crazy enough to cram my meaty calf into this torturous item. How in the world can you even walk in footwear like this? Batman is gonna catch Cat Woman every time if she's sporting these puppies. - Scott

Burberry

I was hysterical during the morning show today when Scott didn't know what "Burberry" was! (BTW, don't feel bad if you don't). I just grew up knowing it's the creme of the crop in fashion...you'll find a store in just about every city...although I could never afford anything in there! It was right around the corner from me when I went to school in Boston.
Do you see the pattern to the left? This is the distinctive "Burberry tartan pattern" that's been widely imitated by companies selling scarves, purses and clothes.

Burberry is a British luxury fashion house that makes clothes and perfumes way out of my price range! But I was thinking of buying a knock-off purse because I love the pattern so much! A lot of girls I know have this bag...and I'll bet most of you have seen it around in department stores...but I'm a Kate Spade girl myself. Do you know what THAT is, Scott? :)

True Love

Today on the show we talked about a new report that indicates true love can last a lifetime. Using brain scans, researchers at Stony Brook University in New York have discovered a small number of couples respond with as much passion after 20 years together as most people only do during the early throes of romance.
I believe that's true after watching Scott & Susie--they're really cute together and clearly love each other after nearly 25 years of marriage and three kids. I hope Jeff and I have that sort of passionate longevity!
I read an interview with Michele Obama in which she said she was sold on her husband from their first date. I was in love with Jeff well before our first date! We've certainly had our share of ups and downs since then but our love for the Lord and for each other has gotten us through the tough times...and hopefully will continue to do so in the years ahead.

Guess Who?

With the temperature dipping today, we spent the entire afternoon with the kids indoors, playing one game after another. While the kids are still enthralled with their new Wii console, good old fashioned board games will always be welcome in this house. Max and I played several rounds of "Guess Who?"--one of the more conventional games you'll find in our home. Jeff collects board games from Germany--they really are the best--but sometimes it's nice to go back to basics. What do you do when it's too cold to venture outside?

Salsa dancing

For a couple of hours tonight, I was transported to a new culture and burned a few calories thanks to the rhythms of SALSA DANCING! We had TOO MUCH FUN taking a lesson and dancing with our friends Michael & Crystal. Jeff & I have two left feet while our friends are old pros, so they swung us around the dance floor to teach us a few moves. Why on earth haven't I done this before? I was mesmerized by the beauty of the dance...and for the first time in a long time, I forgot I was in the Midwest--it felt like being back in Boston, a multi-cultural city with lots of urban flair. I'm so excited about this experience, I just want to encourage all of you to get out on the dance floor, too! You couldn't be worse than me and Jeff! Try the merengue--it's practically fool-proof!

Happy 2009!

I'm excited to start anew. I love change! My greatest desire for 2009 is to break out of old routines I found myself stuck in and embrace new skills and new friends...and maybe I can get Scott to try some new foods! I've got plans to take an art class (how does abstract painting sound?), swing my husband around the dance floor with the help of an instructor (we've both got two left feet so it should be funny), and possibly join a writer's group if I can find one (if you know of any workshops, please let me know)! The thought of exercising any sort of creativity is daunting for me because I may come up short--I don't have a single talent that I can name...but I don't want to let another year go by without at least giving it a try!