lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

October 31, 2005
A couple of Interesting things

Last night, for the first time ever, I took my kids (the three older ones) to the local haunted trail that is put on every year. Either they have been too young or we didn't have the money or whatever. I would say we had a "good time". Things like that don't really bother me. They are "fun" yet can be startling and that is what is best about it. I don't mind the gore, because I know that isn't real, but when someone jumps out at you unexpectedly - WOW!! You should have heard the kids talking all tough before they went in. It was pretty funny when they started hollering and grabbing on to me once we went in. There was one part I couldn't look at - they simulated "The Ring". That is one movie that still bothers me after seeing it only one time. As we entered that part and I realized what was going on I just shut my eyes and held on to the kids and let them lead me through - craziness!!

Friday night on my way home from work another interesting thing happened. First, let me say, that I am an animal lover. I would have like 10 cats and 17 dogs and a couple of horses and any other animal that someone else didn't want. I would be poor due to having to care for some many animals and I would probably smell like a dog - HA! Also, let me say that I am not that way because Alan won't let me. That IS A GOOD THING!! It is kind of silly how attached we get to animals that don't have eternal souls. I still love animals though.

So, I was driving down Man 'O War just after leaving work and look over into the median and see a dog running full speed down the middle. It is busy as I got to leave work a little earlier than usual and I couldn't see how I could safely pull over and "save" this dog. So, wisely, I went on up to a turn lane and put on my hazard lights and opened the car and waited for the dog to catch up to me. I kept hoping it wouldn't veer out into the road. I didn't have long to wait as it was running so fast. As soon as I could see it, it was dark and I had gone around a curve, I stated calling it and hoped it would come to me and not be one of those scared of people dogs. Thanks goodness it came right to me and wasn't hard to persuade to get into the back of the van.

Now, I am good for bringing stray dogs home. I have done it several times and Alan gets a little upset with me. I totally understand where he is coming from, it is just that I can't help myself sometimes (a bit of eye rolling going on with that statement-HA!)

It had a collar on with an address and phone number. I called it and must have dialed it wrong because I got an error message. By this time I am thinking Alan is going to kill me for bringing home another dog. The second time I tried the call went through and a man answered. I asked him if he had a dog named Ellie and if she was missing. I was going to just take her to him but he suggested we meet at the McDonald's next to the Mac Shack. We got there almost at the same time and man was he relieved. He reached in his pocket and pulled out money, which I promptly refused. I don't do things like that because I want a reward, I do it for the love of the animal and I don't want anything to happen to them. So, I told him to come visit me at Macaroni Grill and we would call it even. He gave me his business card and I thought that was that.

The next night it was toward the end of the night and I am getting drinks for a large party when another server comes and tells me there is a couple out front asking for me. I thought it was Bryan and Heather Sherwood coming to say hi. I got out there and it is that guy and his wife. Their names are Mark and Lucy. She was really grateful for the safety of her dog and was quite insistent that I take the money she held out to me. They were very generous and that is the money I used to take the kids to the Trail of Terror last night.

So interesting things happen sometimes and it is good.

posted by Liz at 7:47 AM - permalink - -

October 28, 2005
Coffee

I like coffee. I like it a lot. It is interesting how one gets used to having and consuming such things. Coffee for me began a little before I started Macaroni Grill 6 years ago. Well, that is not entirely true. I used to drink "kid coffee" when I was little. There are also fond memories of my grandfather drinking coffee and eating donuts. He would dunk his donut in the coffee, slurp it up and say "AAAHHHH! CAWFEE!" To this day I love dunking my donuts as well, I do refrain from the phrase, but it goes thru my head EVERY time.

Macaroni Grill has some really good coffee. That is where I learned the secret of good coffee. Well there and from Pete and Trudy Matthews. Dessert was my original thought of coffee. With icecream - YUM!! Then not long after I started the Mac Shack, where we fresh grind every pot, I started drinking some in the morning as I was opening the restaurant. I became hooked. Bought a coffee grinder and beans and there you go. Once we went to dinner at the Matthews house and Trudy whipped up some Eight O'Clock coffee and that was all she wrote. To this day nothing is as good as Eight O'Clock - oh, most are tolerable, but why mess with the best thing?

So, thanks to Macaroni Grill and The Matthews for bringing such a good thing into my life!!

posted by Liz at 8:58 AM - permalink - -

October 25, 2005
A lot went on after that

I don't reckon I intended for me getting married to be such a big deal.

Of course I took him home to meet my family. Unfortunately, and I swear this came out of my mothers own mouth, I was my mothers favorite. No one, other than someone my mom had picked out, would be good enough. In the past either they were too short, or she didn't like their parents, or they didn't make enough money, or they were an only child , or, or, or.... You get the idea.

My mother, whom I truly love, likes to take things people say and twist them a bit to suit her needs. You see she was ready to fight this one. When you grow up Baptist, they really and truly believe that all Catholics are going to hell and that there is something wrong with every denomination but their own. Now, don't you all try to tell me different, because I was born and raised one, and I know what I was taught. Alan was a Catholic, as my father had been, and one time when we were home he said something that set my mother off and turned her against him, seemingly to this day, FOR EV ER!!

What he said was, and this might be right on or at least pretty close, "Because we have the power of God inside us, we have the ability to be perfect like Jesus was". What my mom heard was "I, Alan Creech, am perfect". I swear to the Lord above that is what she said he said. When I asked him about it he told me what he actually said, and they even talked about it. Unfortunately, you see, he was going to marry me so she was grabbing at straws.

At one point you know what my older sister told me? "God would forgive you having sex before you get married before he would forgive me for getting divorced". She was on mom's side and was trying ways to talk me out of getting married too. She was encouraging me to "try Alan out" before we actually got married. Lord, help me.

In March of 1988 just 2 months before I was to get married, my mom came to Richmond to take me out to lunch and tell me some things she had never told me before, about my father. About what they both had gone through to get me the things I was benefiting from at that moment in college, and how I would loose them once I got married. I sat in Ponderosa and cried my heart out. The information she gave me did not change my heart toward Alan.

There is a lot more to come but I will leave you with this today.

posted by Liz at 8:56 AM - permalink - -

October 23, 2005
A lot to say here recently

Of course I start a story that should carry me for awhile and then all these things hit me that I want to say. I will continue the story of me and Alan but not in this post.

Do you ever just want to run away? Not that anything is bad or worrisome, you just want to get away. Go to a distant friends house and just hang. Talk girl talk and drink coffee and wine and do "nothing"?

For some reason I am feeling that today. Not bad, but I sure wish I could trot off to Cincy to see Tracy Rains or fly up to the north to see Beth Keck go to Massachuesetts to see Linda Souza. I think I just get tired of being the strong one and want someone to lean on for a bit. I don't think many of us get to do that.

It hit me recently that I work a lot. Yes, we need for me to, but dang, I want more than one night a week to be home and be the mom and wife. I don't like dragging in at a late hour, washing my face, and then just falling into bed and passing out. That is how it has been for awhile. My husband needs me to be here more than I am. My kids need me to be here more than I am, and not worn out and cranky when I am. You know what I have been "craving" here lately? I want to make a nice big pot of beef stew in my crock pot and then actually be home to eat it when it is done. Don't get me wrong, Alan cooks most of the time and I really appreciate it, but sometimes I do revert back to being the wife - HA!

I just hope that when/if our rural community comes to fruition that I am not too wore out physically to actually do the things I desire to do. Get up early, tend the garden, feed the animals and walk around enjoying God's great gift of this earth.

Peace to all.

posted by Liz at 9:14 AM - permalink - -

October 21, 2005
And he said....

Let me tell you first that Alan said another statement on that Saturday night that I had never heard before either. It was "Love is a choice, not a feeling." Now how profound is that? That is why so many marriages break up. The butterflies go away and then you have to work, and hard too, and people don't want to invest what they should or could in their marriage.

That Tuesday night standing in the ravine, 5 days after meeting, he looks me in the eye and says "I love you". Ladies and gentlemen, I took a step back from him, thought for a second (or perhaps it was several seconds), and responded "Well, I love you too!"

Never in a million years since I was in grade school had I told a boy I loved him in such a short period of time, and meant it.

After that we were together almost every day. I did go home that next weekend. The guy I had met in Wyoming over the summer? He just happened to be "close" to Kentucky visiting family and had decided that he was going to come meet my family. I think he thought I was the one. Hell, he was 30 I think. That is beside the point, but I had to go home and deal with this guy, because I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he WAS NOT THE ONE! It was an awkward weekend - he kissed me one night as we were heading to our separate rooms and it just wasn't right. Now, Alan knew all about this and I told him how weird it felt.

A little later in the week, this is the second week of our "relationship", we were watching one of the guys that had been with us on our first date play soccer. And another of the guys was taking pictures. We were sitting on some low bleachers just hanging out talking and such. At some point Alan is down on his knees behind the bleachers with his elbows resting on the seat I am on. I was playing with his hair and looking down at him. You wanna know what I said then? You all this is good.

I asked him to marry me!!

Well, what I actually said was "I think we should get married" or "We should get married" and he responded with "Don't play with me like that". I made sure he understood that I was serious and he said "Well, don't be surprised if you see this position again" (he was on his knees, remember?).

There was one thing I hadn't counted on people - MY MOM!!

posted by Liz at 5:40 PM - permalink - -

Tagged??!!

1.Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.

It isn't a very long post and I don't think it is the actual exact 23rd post I ever did but from November 21, 2003 this is the 5th sentence of my 23rd post:

"I also think that your spouce will mimic you if you take up such a habit."

Ok, who do I tag now? UUUmm, Eric and Beth Keck, Alan Creech (hee hee). Ok that is 3 I need 2 more......Bryan Sherwood, and Trish Hiduk. WHewww!!

posted by Liz at 8:58 AM - permalink - -

Happy Birthday Conor!!

Today my son is 12. My one and only boy. He is sweet and innocent still. I wonder how long that will hang on? He loves weapons and can make things out of leggos you couldn't even imagine, but he sure can. I love this little guy, even though he is gaining on me pretty quick. I try not to ponder on the things I could have, should have, would have done. Those things make me sad and today is not a day for that.

So, to the best boy in the world - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

posted by Liz at 12:39 AM - permalink - -

October 20, 2005
Marriage?

That night, Saturday, we stood in the parking lot waiting for the movie to start. All the other guys were in the arcade playing and Alan and I were standing out next to his car and just talked. He made a statement that I had never heard before and set things on a certain path. The statement was "I don't see the need in just random dating. The purpose for me to date you is for it to end in marriage." That made sense to me. I had never had a guy actually talk boldly right out about his feelings and plans. It had always been games and this was fresh and intriguing. Really, a guy who just laid it out. Once again, little did I know.

We made plans to go to my hometown (Somerset) and go to my church the next morning, partly, no mostly so I could put him in an old boyfriends face. When you are young and immature you do things like that. After that we spent the afternoon with him "showing me off" to his best friend in Columbia. We spent the whole day together and almost everyday after together in some way.

We saw each other on Monday in between classes and I am sure that night as well. Tuesday was Worship night at the Baptist Student Union and me being the Worship Coordinator we were there. Afterwards, we walked around campus and ended up sitting in the ravine again talking. Now, boys and girls, this is Tuesday after we met on Thursday. Something very significant happened on this night.

We had been sitting on the ground next to a tree and as we got up to leave Alan faces me and says "I want to tell you something, and I don't want to freak you out". Of course my mind goes into hyper drive, he had already told me he was Catholic, I mean how much worse could it get? Maybe he lied about not lying and he already had a girl friend and was just dragging me along. Oh, Lord, how did I manage to get into this kind of mess?

He looked at me and said.......

posted by Liz at 9:41 AM - permalink - -

October 19, 2005
What did I do next?

I had explained to Alan that I was very busy and had a lot going on and that I really wouldn't be available to see him again until Tuesday (this had been Thursday night).
The next day as I am walking from one class to another I hear someone holler "Liiizzz Roooth!". I turn around and low and behold there is Alan so I walk up to him and say "Well, hello, Alan Crrreeech!" So that he would know that I remembered his name. I spoke with him briefly and headed off to the next class.

That night, Friday, I went out with someone else. I still can't actually believe I did that. But they had asked previously, I think, and there you go. It actually didn't go very well and I felt awkward and didn't actually see much of that guy after that. I think he sent me flowers at some point but I can't remember that well any more.

I get a call on Saturday from Mr. Creech asking me if I wanted to go to Lexington and out to eat and to a movie with him and several guy friends of his. We got together that afternoon and sat in the ravine and talked. I asked about his economic status, rather told him that because his hands were manicured and his car was new and nice, that I thought he was rich. To my relief I find out the contrary and find out a little about his background.

That night I "went on a date" with 5 guys, most of whom are still considered to be good friends even though we don't get to see them much. I won't give too much dirt on Alan, but it wasn't a date like I was used to.

That night, 2 nights after we met, the word marriage actually came into conversation.....

posted by Liz at 12:28 PM - permalink - -

October 18, 2005
Later that night

Sorry for the delay, life has been happening and I just haven't made the time to continue our story. So, here is a little more.

I did go down to the Ark that night. The group of friends from the B.S.U. and these new guys. There are a lot of little details I won't go into, but we(Alan and I) ended up dancing a slow dance to a Whitney Houston song. I can no longer remember the name of the song, but at least I remember the artist - HA! After that song, we all got back into a group again and danced until the next slow song.

This time Alan asked me, where I had asked him the first time. As we were dancing there slow and close there was a mutual leaning in and touching of lips. Yes, dear people, we kissed in public within hours of meeting each other. This is the type of behavior that I have spent much time on for my kids to not do. During this very nice time, one of Alan's friends walked by and barked, yes barked. It was him calling Alan a dog. After the kiss Alan looks at me and says "So, does this mean you will go out with me?" Well, Duh! Big Red Truck!

As we were leaving he offered to drive me back to my dorm. He walks me over to the parking lot and we get into a very nice brand new Honda Accord. My mind starts going and I instantly think this boy has money and I was very afraid. Not really afraid, but I have always avoided people with money. That is a whole other story so I won't expound on that right now. So, he drives me back to the dorm, and bad form, doesn't walk me to the door, just drops me off. Before I get out of the car he leans back on his door and says "I like you Liz Roth." I said "I like you to Alan." He said "What's my last name? You forgot my last name!" in a teasing kind of way. I admit to my fault and he tells me it is Creech. I get out of the car and go to my room mooning about how I am in love. Little did I know!

posted by Liz at 8:19 AM - permalink - -

October 09, 2005
How I met Alan

I thought that I would copy Beth Keck and do installments of a story so that I won't talk about house stuff for awhile.

It was the summer of 1987 and I had just returned from a summer mission trip to Wyoming for 10 weeks. It was a good time and I had met a guy there(gasp!). It was welcome week down at the B.S.U. where I was the worship coordinator and we were having a Mexican Fiesta theme party to welcome the students back. I have this "do everything myself" mentality so I did not notice much other than the stuff that had to be done until the very end. I was sweeping up in the cafeteria area and happened to look up into the hallway where 3 tall good looking boys stood. Now, tall and good looking together were an anomaly at the Baptist Student Union in those days. There was a blond, a red head and a dark haired guy standing out there. Now, I have to tell you that I am attracted to dark coloring on men. When they came in and started flirting with me the dark haired one starting using this Scottish accent. I think all women are a sucker for accents, and I am no different. They introduced themselves as Keith, Kent, and Alan. They, especially Alan, were trying to talk me into going down to "The Ark", a Christian dance place - no smoking or drinking just dancing. Everybody was going and they thought I should go too. I have always been an early to bed early to rise type of person in those young years and I was tired. I told them I would think about it....I ended up going. Let me just say that I am so glad that I did. Even to this day with all the average day to day living and fighting that normal married people do I am glad that I didn't blow those guys off.

More next time.

posted by Liz at 6:51 PM - permalink - -

October 04, 2005
Something else

I thought for sure, once we got in this house, we would stop talking about the process. I am amazed at how consuming the whole thing is. I don't ever care to move again, except for the dream of a rural monastic community, nothing ever would make me want to go through all this again any time soon, soon being at least 20 years. Old house not sold - lord have mercy. Now there is nothing to help camouflage the little mistakes that need fixing. Nothing a little elbow grease, some fresh paint and new carpet won't fix. I got some carpet remnants yesterday to install myself to make the rooms that need it look better. No, way in hell am I going to attempt stairs. I mean I think I could but not if I don't have to.

I now have the dilemma of the real estate agent doing enough to sell the house. I figure, friend or not, if there aren't enough people going through the house, of course no one is going to buy it. And if I have to pay so much money seems like a lot more should be being done. Hell, I don't know. I just want to lay down and sleep for like a week.

Well, with all the stuff going on our school time has suffered. They are doing art right now so I can do this. And there is several rooms of furniture in there that we have to work around. I reckon here in 3 years or so we will get it all together - I hope :-)

Peace to you all!!

posted by Liz at 11:35 AM - permalink - -

spiritual

> vine & branches
> vineyard central

blogs

> Garden Escapades
> Trish Hiduk
> Maryann
> Alan Creech
> The Vine
> Little Houses
> Amber Bishop
> Jody Nixon
> Laura Ogle
> Debi Warford
> Jason & Brooke Evans
> Eric Keck
> Beth Keck
> Pete Matthews
> Trudi Matthews
> Brian Phillips
> Bryan Sherwood
> Malie
> Kim Johnson

Homeschool

> vegsource homeschool
> discovery school channel
> saxon math and phonics

general interest

> john rosemond's affermative parenting
> lisa welchel
> thunderstruck
> Homestar Runner

gardening

> Kids Gardening

books i like

Here are some books I suggests if you are looking to homeschool or just for information. I gleaned a lot from them. Our church gets credit if you buy through these links.

In their Own Way
by Thomas Armstrong

Seven Times Smarter
by Laurel Schmidt

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Teen Proofing
by John Rosemond