Bowling Green, Ohio

Feb 04

Mostly Sunny

High 25°F

Low 16°F

Precip 10 %

Yep, we are actually flying to this place.  :(

Time to buy wool socks. Do they sell those here?

Grandma Ruth

Ruth Matheny

Written by Sentinel Staff

Monday, 26 January 2009

A memorial service for Ruth (Ketzenbarger) Matheny will be held Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. at First Christian Church, Bowling Green. Rev. Brent Pomeroy will officiate.  Mrs. Matheny, 89, of Bowling Green, died Saturday (Jan. 24, 2009) at Wood County Hospital. She taught for 30 years and retired from Eastwood Junior High School. Mrs. Matheny was a life member of Wood County Historical Society, Wood County Retired Teacher's Association and Ohio Teacher's Retirement Systems. Other memberships included American Legion Auxiliary No. 45, Union Grange No. 1475, First Families of Wood County and the church. She was a graduate of both Bowling Green High School and Bowling Green State University. Born March 4, 1919 in Wood County to Earl and Goldie (Carter) Ketzenbarger, she married Dale R. Matheny. He died in 1993. Also preceding her in death were a son, Jerry Lee, a granddaughter, a brother and a sister. Surviving are a son, James, of Las Vegas; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.   Memorials may be made to the church or St. Jude Children's Hospital. Condolences may be sent at www.dunnfuneralhome.com.

Fear

Sometimes I wonder what I am really doing in life. I have all of these dreams and goals, but set them aside to work on "the important things" only to realize I forgot about my dreams and goals. And one day as I look at them all stacked up on the floor in the corner with dust on them, I get inspired to clean them off and pick them up again only to get distracted once again. It's a vicious cycle I have been stuck in lately. I'm tired of being stuck. Who is really stuck anyway? Stuck is just a comfortable place we like to go to when we are avoiding the actions we fear doing. Because its fear we are really hiding from anyway. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of judgement and so on. Fear, now that's something I could write about. Fear is one of those subjects we can all relate to in one way or another. Everyone has been afraid of something or someone at some point in their lives. Think about it. Who has never experienced fear? And how is it that fear can have such control over our lives anyway? Because we let it. We choose to feel it and embrace it sometimes depending on the situation. It keeps us in comfort and allows us to avoid the icky and unfamiliar. Fear. Such a simple little word with such huge impact. 

Lake Mead 2009

Took the girls to the lake today because they have never been. It was kind of fun, but kind of sad too. The water level is so low it's hard to look at. But the mountains and all are very beautiful. They are part of what I love most about living here. And the heat, I love the heat for some reason. Call me crazy I suppose. It wouldn't be the first time.

A Storm is Brewing...

My life has been a little stormy as of late. For those of you who know, it's not over, but it's not over, you know?

Anyway, I took these pics on Christmas Day and I thought it was kind of funny that the sky represented what I was feeling for the moment. A little cold and stormy. Perhaps I will use them in my next picture book. 

On another note, after seeing the wonderful opportunity Joe came to receive in the way of a book deal, it prompted me to start working more on my own book with the hope that one day I too will become published. Perhaps I will share some of it at a later date. 

Happy Faces

This last one is my favorite!

Frog, Earthworm, Crayfish, Perch?

I'm like a kid at a candy store! We just got in our Biology supplies for dissections and I am so excited to get started. Dissecting is going to so much fun!

Okay, so can you hear the sarcasm there? Actually there isn't any. I really am excited to do the dissections with the class. But I am trying to practice hyping it up so I can get the students excited. It's not an easy assignment when you are a teen and everything is either cute and fuzzy or gross and slimy. I have faith we will get through it though. 

Cartoons and Jesus

Every morning I sit and wonder how I end up all alone watching cartoons. I don't start out alone in front of the TV. Usually I am asked to watch cartoons with my youngest. She turns on her favorites and we sit and watch them, then suddenly I realize I am the only one in the room. How does that happen? Perhaps I only imagine her wanting me to watch cartoons. Perhaps it's all in my head. Maybe, just maybe I really just love to watch cartoons and I just make up a reason to watch them so no one will know. Because what might others thing if they found out I was a cartoon lover? Naw! That's just silly!

So why do I end up worshiping alone? I didn't start out alone. I usually would be asked to gather together with a group of fellow worshipers and we would worship together. But then suddenly I found myself all alone with my bible. Perhaps I only imagined the others who wanted to worship together. Perhaps it's all in my head. Maybe, just maybe I really love to worship and I just made up a reason to worship so no one will really know. Because what might others think if they found out I was a Jesus lover? Naw! That's just silly!

Fido Photo Shoot

I had my first fido photo shoot. I was asked to take pics of some pretty pups that are the best of friends. One I am told is sick and not doing well. (The Doberman) You could have fooled me. They both looked healthy and happy. The white one is my favorite to photograph. He had a lot of personality.

I did learn that dogs are not that easy to photograph. They move around so fast and every time I got down to their level to take a picture they would try to lick my face off. It was a lot of fun though and I look forward to my next fido photo shoot. 

Not to be a whiner but...

I just worked really hard last night, staying up until well past midnight, so I could put together an individual paper that was to be done before my team meeting which was this morning at 10am. Each team member was to bring his or her paper and we were to choose one to present to our class on Monday night. Pretty simple right? But, no one came with a paper except me. As a matter of fact, the members of my team sat there staring at me and asked if I was going to put the team paper together this week. I had to explain that we didn't have a team paper, we had a presentation on one of our individual papers. I was met with blank looks. I guess they didn't understand the assignment. 

In the end, we spent five minutes listening to one person's "plan" for what we each would present and then everyone left. I sat there wondering what had just happened. Now I sit fuming. I want to avoid any confrontation, but I am having a hard time with this group as their actions affect my grade. ARG! Can't I just do my work and turn it in and get through my classes so I can graduate already?!! 

Okay, I'm done.

Things I've Missed

Just thought I would share a list of things I missed while away the last three years...

the rain

the smell after rain

clouds

Red Rock

dust devils

suspicious neighbors

lizards

aloe plants

neon lights

24 hour business

It's good to be back home.

So we went to this pumpkin patch for Halloween and I was totally let down. We spend $30 on tickets for the younger kids to ride rides and play games. At three tickets a ride or game with 5 kids, we were out of there in a matter of minutes. Guess we will be having a party and haunted house next Halloween.

Note to all pumpkin patch people: You need to lower prices or upgrade the patch!

Go Vote Silly!

For anyone who ever had a gripe or a negative thought or suggestion for our government, today is your day to participate in making changes. So go vote already! It is totally painless, and only take a few minutes but makes a huge impact and allows your little voice to be heard in a big way.

Matheny Creations...

is the name of my new business. I am creating customized photo books and putting together a book of my own work. I'll share more later on all of that. But here are a few pics from todays outing that I thought I would share with you. Enjoy.

We Chose Breakfast Over Church

I'm in the process of creating my first business called Matheny Creations. I'll fill you in on the details later but it has to do with photography and books. Two of my favorite things. 

So we chose breakfast over church today. There is a church a little ways away from our house that I went to last week alone to "check it out" for the family. It was small by comparison to most other churches here but large enough to hide in the back while listening and watching everything that was going on. The worship was fun and reminded me a little of old Apex days. The message was a little ADHD though and I found it hard to understand what the main subject was. But for the most part it was painless and we as a family decided we would attend together this weekend. However, once we got up and started getting ready to go we realized that none of us had breakfast yet and it was already 9:30. (church started at 10.) In the end we took the left turn instead of the right turn and ended up at the near by Denny's having breakfast and talking about Legos, biology, music, and God providing opportunities for growth. We never made it to church, but it kind of felt like we were connected as a family and we were definitely feeling blessed to be together. I find it kind of funny that we haven't managed to get to a church together for the last three years. Maybe we will try again next week. Or maybe we will continue our "gathering" at Denny's. 

I love it!

Only some of you will understand the humor I find in this. But I get a call yesterday that my in-laws need a ride to the airport. No big, I will take them. Later that night I get a call from my dad who also needs a ride to the airport at the exact same time. I think to my self, "now that would be great to see, all three of them in the back of the truck made to sit together for a 30min ride to the airport. Would they behave?" and I laugh real hard with the visual. Reality kicked in though and we worked it out where I will take my father, and Shad will take his parents. Isn't God humorous sometimes though? I love it.

(Back story is obvious. The in-laws and my father do not like each other at all. They have not spoken since the wedding over 14 years ago if they even spoke then which I doubt.)   :)

A Bit of My Story

When I was 4 years old my dad abandoned my mom, my brother, and myself and chose to live a single life. Being that young I really didn't understand what was going on and just loved my dad and wanted him to be proud of me and to love me as much as I loved him. I also didn't understand why he would always have to leave just when he got back home from being away so long. 

Over the years it became clear that my father was never coming home but rather just visiting. It became the norm for me and I adjusted accordingly. However, as I have grown up I have had much difficulty dealing with being around him as I would instantly regress into that child who just wants to be loved by her father, and who wanted her father to stick around a little while. I came to realize that he chose to abandon me and my family. And somewhere deep down inside I felt I must have done something wrong, or must not have been deserving of a father's love.

I share this because my father is currently visiting and I found myself writing in my journal tonight, wondering just why I have been so not myself today. I realized that even after 33 years I still tend to try and regress into that child who wants to be loved by her father. Even worse, I found myself bummed that he will be leaving tomorrow night and feeling like we just don't really know each other as well as we should. 

And then I remembered that the choices he made in his life were his to make, not mine. And even though his choices affected my life in many ways, I was able to find a true Father whom loves me and has loved me all along. Well before I came into this world.

I screw up as much as the next person in life when making choices and living life but this Father never criticises me or abandons me. Instead he continues to love the imperfect me just as He always has. And this brings me a sense of relief knowing that I don't have to be perfect in order to love or be loved. 

And I just felt that I needed to share that little bit of my story tonight. 

Need a job!

Looking for a job. Let's see, it needs to be part time for now, it needs to work with my personal school schedule, it needs to fit around the fact that I home school my kids, and it needs to be something I will enjoy and grow from otherwise I will get bored and not want to do it for long. Oh, and I have to get paid something. Preferably money so I can contribute to our income. Not a lot to ask for right? Any suggestions?

Hailey's Blue Hair!!!

She decided she needed to have her hair black and blue. It is blue under the back as well. She just woke up in this picture so it isn't brushed or anything, but I like it. It's fun to see people's reactions when we go places too. And it is a good lesson in pre-judgement. 

Random things

I found Hot Tamale popcicles! I'm eating one now! Yum!

 Oh and my daughter's hair is black and blue. I'll post a picture soon...

We had a house church reunion type thingy (if you can call it that) the other day. The Carder family was here minus one, and Susie was here! She brought these awesome cookies that I love. (Thanks Suzie!) It was great to finally catch up with everyone. We were missing a few people but it was nice to see everyone that could come hang out. Maybe we can do it again some time soon. 

Pen 15!!! hahahaahahahhaa! I can't get it out of my head.