When it comes to gifts, my husband has it pretty easy. Even though I have received a few pieces of beautiful jewelry over the years, I don’t require these expensive gestures like some women do. I got an upgraded wedding ring on our ten year anniversary. It gets stuck in the fingers of my work gloves and it’s kind of annoying. I prefer a card and/or some quality time. I already know that every day comes with its own gifts, and it’s up to me to “untie the ribbons” (~Ruth Ann Schabacke). Man, is this guy lucky, or what?
We had only lived in the country for three weeks when our seven-year wedding anniversary weekend began. In our typical style, we decided to forgo “gifts” (we were starting plans to build an entire house, after all), and we opted to go out to eat. There were three restaurants from which to choose…
One of the things Red Dirt Kelly LOVES is finding talent, photos, literature, or other media with anything in their name related to Oklahoma. Above is the OK Chorale (sometimes performing as a single quartet) from New Zealand. She’s never heard the “12 Days of Christmas” like this, and guesses you may not have either. Enjoy!
Captain Karen Walden portrayed by Meg Ryan in "Courage Under Fire." Years earlier? Jeremiah, portrayed by himself, in the Book of Jeremiah.
by Alfred Lamar Jackson
Good Saturday, RDC followers new and old. Another week has gone by and we are moving closer to the New Year. Many times a new year brings uncertainty and change. For some, a new year is a welcomed fresh start. To all those who have uncertainty and fear, I encourage you to make fast and anchor yourself in truth. God has you in His hands and in His plans.
This brings me to my journey through Jeremiah. This man has really amazed me! As a reader I sometimes feel like the book is redundant because Jeremiah is prophesying what seems to be the same message over and over again. To an extent it is, “Repent evil people and serve God again!” God’s message was still the same and Jeremiah delivered it without fail. He had to have courage. It’s not a new concept of people with courage doing God’s will, but it means more when you read the whole story instead of someone telling you how courageous this man was.
In Jeremiah chapter 26 our hero faces the first written attempt on his life. I can’t put the whole chapter here so I’ll summarize. It starts as a normal day for Jeremiah: prophecy destruction, accuse leaders of evil, repent or die, and the Lord’s about to bring some pain. Normal day. However THIS day the priests, other “prophets” and the people in the courtyard reached their limit. They said, “YOU MUST DIE!” Then they snatched him up and brought him to the officials. Fortunately God was looking out for His boy and had wise people and a friend in the city’s high places. And, Jeremiah was released.
Just imagine yourself all alone amidst these odds; one person facing the murderous intent of more than a handful of people. I would surmise the crowd was in the hundreds because the temple courtyard was a pretty busy place. But Jeremiah showed resolve. He said that he was truly sent by the Lord and spoke His words. They could kill him if they wanted to but they’d have innocent blood on their hands. That’s intestinal fortitude.
Being a sports fan, I am a passionate person. Most true blue fans might describe themselves the same way. I appreciate passion, enthusiasm, emotion, and just plain good fans. But I’m also annoyed with people. There are lots of them in the realm of sports fandom who are really starting to grind my gears.
Someone needs to tell these chuckleheads that their behavior is not appreciated and will no longer be tolerated. Let’s face it; these are mostly men who have lost touch with reality. So, in my ongoing efforts to make the sports universe a happier place, I’m urging you, pleading with you, and warning you: Don’t be these guys.
THE “WEAR MY JERSEY IN PUBLIC” GUY
We’ve all seen this guy. He’s all too common and he needs to be stopped. I’m not anti-jersey. I own jerseys. If you wear the jersey to a game, I have no issue with you. If you’re a grown man wearing a jersey to Chili’s in front of your family, then you need a mirror and relatives with the guts to tell you how ashamed they are. I’m no fashion guru, but even I know that sporting a faded Favre jersey and tucking it into your high-waisted jeans is sure fire female repellent. And don’t tell me your wife doesn’t care. She does. A t-shirt, a hoodie, a cap, these are all viable options to show support for your team. The jersey is not. Spare yourself the shame and leave the jersey in the closet.
This guy is even worse than “jersey” guy. This is the Raiders’ fan who wears black face paint and a spike collar. It’s the Browns’ fan who wears a dog mask and chomps on a bone while barking from his seat behind the end zone. It’s any liquored-up loser who thought it would be a good idea to spray paint his hair, and don a cape over the cheap, knock-off jersey he bought at Wal-Mart. Clearly some synapses are not firing here. Everyone in this guy’s section is embarrassed for him, and embarrassed that he’s on their side.
This guy is probably thinking, “No one is as big a fan as I am.”
Wrong, imbecile. We’re all huge fans; we’re just fans with dignity.
Kelly M. Roberts, MS, LMFT - Clinical Instructor, Oklahoma State University
Friends, colleagues and sometimes people I don’t even know very well ask me this same question several times each year, AND I provide them with a baffled face and stammering answer every single time: “Hey, what book do you recommend for __(enter any couples issue)__ ? I’m thinking about buying a few books today.” OR …“I have a friend who is looking for a book.” OR,… “I want to recommend a book, can you help me?”
I struggle with two main issues when asked this question. First, I have no idea what the person or couple has already read. And secondly, people apply books and personal growth in such unique ways that sometimes what I think is a great read or extremely applicable might fall flat with another person. Or sometimes that flips and what I think isn’t necessarily sound or grounded information is the “key” to helping someone get out of a rut.
Therefore, understanding that you may have already read some (or all) of these books, and, that you may not get out of them what I or some of my clients have gotten, I’ve put together a list of the top five challengesI see couples face on a regular basis and books that might help in direct or indirect ways. However, I’ve also provided a bit of discussion to go along with the books so I’ll be breaking this post into two or three parts. Here we go…
To begin, I want to address the core “top three” basic challenges most couples will experience at some time in their life: opposing views on parenting, financial struggles, and sex/intimacy. In that order: