following an unknown path

name the grandparents update

Thanks to all the suggestions on helping to name my parents last month. 

My mom and dad have decided to try "Nonny and Poppy."  I think they would be ok with baby Nate changing these names, but this is what he will be encouraged to call them.

help name my parents

Ok, so they both already have real names. :)  What we'd like help with is their "grandparent" names. 

My dad suggested awhile back I ask my blog readers for some ideas--kinda like I did with my dog a few years back.  So . . . what do you call your grandparents or what do your grandchildren call you?  Or, have you heard of something cute and creative someone uses?

I'm pretty sure they've decided not to go with classic "grandma" and "grandpa."  They want something a bit more "fun."  Because . . . hey, they are!

So, please comment and help my parents name themselves.

i now "officially" look like my mom!!

I saw this over at An Open Book, and thought I'd see if a computer algorithm agrees with most casual observers that I look like my mom.  It did. :)

(P.S. My dad's name is not "dan" . . . I mistyped "dad.")

my origins (aka: where I am from)

I am from storybooks and
Cabbage Patch dolls,
from a box of 124 crayons.

I am from cinnamon rolls, banana bread,
and gravy poured over broken biscuits.

From yellow and green gingham,
the CareBears, and pink and blue bows.

I am from the new, new house
in a little bit of Forth Worth.

From the parsonage next to
the small-town church
with the two story slide.

I am from mud pies,
picnics in the front yard,
porch swings and rocking chairs.

I am from “life is not fair”
and “I told you so.”

From washing windows on Saturday
and it’s your turn to empty the dishwasher.

I am from preachers,
Sunday school teachers,
and the church pianist.

I’m from Jesus Loves the Little Children,
and Great is Thy Faithfulness.

I’m from pajama days
and a little black pick-up truck.

From chicken and dumplings,
chips and salsa, peppermint birthday cakes,
and don't forget the Diet Coke and Bluebell.

I'm from Podunk, Arkansas
and Smalltown, Texas.

From huge family get-togethers, days on the lake,
and Christmas at Grandma’s.

I am from the woman who tossed cold water on her rowdy boys,
the high school sweethearts who married,
the boy who was tricked to run down a steep hill,
the strangers who met on a bus.

I am from the boy who jumped off a bridge and broke his nose,
from the girl in the fluffy pink sweater who hated her curls.

I am from Dot and Joe, Mildred and Euel, Joi and Ken,
from love and laughter, faith and family,
hugs and kisses.

~*~*~*~*~

Giving credit where credit is due: Poems like this have been circling the web for awhile now--I first remember seeing them in the winter/spring of 2005.  They are inspired by George Ella Lyons' poem "Where I'm From." And, there is even a template to help you get started if you'd like to write your own.

Happy Father's Day!!!

When I was maybe in high school, I always thought what a rip-off it was to dad's that Father's Day came in the summer.  Since Mother's Day is in May, as kids we spent time in both school and Sunday school making things for her, but Father's Day?  Well, maybe, if we happened to be home that weekend we might make something in Sunday School for him. :)

Well, now that I live in Taiwan, June is now a school month.  BUT, today is not Father's Day here.   Father's Day in Taiwan is August 8th.  Because 8 is pronounced "ba" in Chinese.  So, August 8th is "BaBa" which is also how you say "daddy" in Chinese.  So, Baba's Day is on baba day.  Got it?

Which is also a rip off because in Taiwan Mother's Day always falls on a Sunday (it is the same day as the US Mother's Day), but Father's Day can be any day of the week.  So, everyone goes home on Mother's Day weekend and takes their mother out to eat on Sunday, but Father's Day?  Well, they go to work.

Anyway, our father's deserve our respect and admiration.  Today is a day to celebrate them!! So, Dad, today I celebrate you!

I thank you for all the ways you have impacted who I am.  I am the woman I am today because of who you are in Chirst, because of how you and Mom choose to raise me.  I am not sure, but I doubt there are many women who can look back at their childhood and teen years and rejoice because their earthly father was such a blessing.  I know you are not without your faults, but God has been so gracious to me by giving me such an awesome earthly Father.  I love you, Daddy!  Happy Father's Day!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Carla at her site, Reflections of the Times, recently held a contest about the Best Dad Ever.  I submitted this post that I wrote last father's day about my Dad.

And guess what??  We won!  And the prize was to pick out one of Carla's nifty t-shirts from her cafepress shop.  And, she even made a "Best Dad Ever" shirt for Father's Day, which is the one that I choose as the prize.  :)

Yea!  Thank you, Carla, for helping me celebrate my dad!

even more about amanda

I live in KaoHsiung County in southern Taiwan. This is my fifth year to live in Taiwan, and I enjoy Taiwan very much. I live in Taiwan because God brought me here to show the Taiwanese people His Love for them.

I am in Taiwan as a tentmaker--I support my missionary work by teaching college courses. I teach public speaking, biz English conversation, and English composition (the essay) regularly.  I have also taught Songs for EFL Teaching, Movie English, Internet English, listening, and pronunciation.

I graduated with my master's degree in Foreign Language Education (2003) from the University of Texas at Austin. I received my bachelor's in communication theory from Dallas Baptist University (2000).

My mom, dad, and kid brother, Sam, live near Austin, Texas.  Both my parents are teachers, and my dad is also a bi-vocational pastor.  My sister, Sarah, and my brother-in-law, Chad, both work for the Arlington Police department.  Everyone in my family enjoys laughing--and laughing loud--something I didn't realize on my own (an "outsider" pointed it out to me).

I am single, which is something I would love to be changed. :) 

And, last but definitely not least, I am a daughter of the King. I am saved by grace--something I of course do not deserve!  I desire for all that I am and all that I do to bring glory to God.  I desire to know him and make him known--this desire is the foundation of all that I am.

Thanks for stopping by following an unknown path!  I hope you find something that "tickles your fancy!"