Mindless Chatter

Still Mindless......

2010-03-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

I wish that I had clever things to say and clever ways to say it. But I don't.....and I know that people don't even miss the fact that I haven't blogged in a long time. And that doesn't really hurt my feelings !!! LOL !
If you want clever and meaningful and witty, you need to read Stanford and Juliane's blogs. They are just SO good. Their blogspots are:
Stanford - stan-mccorkle.blogspot.com
Juliane - julianemccorkle.blogspot.com
We had the wonderful experience of going to China from December 28 through January 8th. I was going to do a daily blog about our trip but I am not going to put you through that. We got to do just what we wanted.....we went to class with them and met their "kids", we ate at some of their favorite places (and street food was WONDERFUL!), they shared special family times with us, we got to go to one of their extra English classes at a coffee shop on campus, they showed us some of the sights in Hangzhou and Shanghai.......we just had a great time learning about their daily life in China.
We got to be with some of the other "foreigners" that are also teaching in universities in other places. It was good to hear about their experiences as well.
All of them are learning so much, growing so much and glorifying the One who deserves the glory. They are an inspiration to be around.
Now Stanford and Juliane are having to make a decision about whether or not to go back for a second year. They have to let the university know by the 19th of March. Please be mindful of them over the next week. Also be mindful of the others that are also having to make the same decisions.They have such love and compassion for the Chinese people and they have SO much to offer them. I am just so proud of them already. And whatever they decide I will be proud of them.
Thanks for reading this mindless chatter......again, I urge you to read Stanford and Juliane's blogs......theirs isn't mindless ! ! !
Much love to you all ! ! !
Layna, "Dazed and Confused"

What A Disappointment ! ! !

2009-12-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

I USED TO LOVE SNOW.......I NOW HATE SNOW ! ! ! IT IS NO LONGER MY FRIEND ! ! !
We were supposed to leave for China yesterday morning. The weather in the northeast did NOT co-operate at all.
Saturday night we were on the phone, well on hold, for 2 hours with Continential Airlines trying to find out our dilemma. And the poor man didn't have any good news for me at all. So, he advised going to the airport at 4 a.m. to see what could be worked out. So Wilson and Jasmine were at our house at 3-ish to take us. We unloaded all our luggage just like we were going to get on the plane. She didn't have good news either. Both had to deal with MAJOR tears from me......not joking with the MAJOR !
Good news is.....we still get to go !!!! We just had to talk to our bosses and make sure we could get off. My boss told me it just gives me an extra to practice the squatty potty pose.....she is SO funny!!!
By the way, that is my only fear in going to China ..... using a squatty potty. I know, that is not a visual that you want to get in your mind. But when you have knees that DON'T "squatty", there is a definite problem.
I have had several suggestions from friends, Depends being one of those suggestions (such good friends I have, so funny they are).....don't think I am ready for those just yet. Carrying around a big bucket was another one. But Stanford and Juliane said we would be walking 30 minutes to most places. I don't think I want to carry a bucket into the establishments in China. Oh well, it will all work out ! ! !
I just want to get there. I want to see my China family and my China "family", I want to live Stanford and Juliane's life while we are there, walk the steps they walk ("Walk A Mile In My Shoes"), go to their classes, meet their "kids", and get enough hugs to last me until the next time I see them ! ! !
So, still crying, but with a new hope of getting there, eventually......just delayed, NOT cancelled ! ! !
I wish for everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New year ! ! !
I love you all...........Layna

2009-12-01T21:38:00.000-08:00

Well, here I go again with mindless chatter...........
HAPPY DECEMBER 2009 ! ! !
I love family traditions. Some of my greatest memories growing up have to do with the traditions that my Mom and Dad created for us girls. A lot of those traditions have to do with the holidays, which are coming up (or already been!).
My Dad was as good of a worker in the kitchen as my Mom was. So, big family meals during the holidays were a joint effort. Each one of us had jobs to do and we always had fun doing them.....OR Libby and I fought like cats and dogs doing them.....depended on our moods. LOL!
My Dad always cooked Christmas cookies. He would cook 6 to 8 different kinds of cookies.....chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodles, fruitcake cookies, pheffernissels (not anywhere near spelled correctly!), date cookies, orange balls, wedding cookies, and many others I cannot spell. (He was part German.) He baked them ahead of time, stored them in huge tins in the basement and threatened us within an inch of our lives if we tried to sneak any of them before it was time to put them out.
Mama always made the mixture of cereals, pretzels, nuts and whatever else with spices and sauces. There was a special dish that she always used to serve it in every Christmas. It was as if it was bottomless (like the kleenexes in a motel that come out of wall) because she would always keep some mixture in it for everyone to enjoy. She wasn't selfish with her mixture like Daddy was with his cookies. LOL! BUT, the pretzels would always disappear first because Sandra would eat them.
A favorite time for me was when we decorated the Christmas tree. Either Daddy or Libby would play Christmas carols on the piano (my Dad's favorite was 'Silent Night') while the rest of us decorated the tree. We always hung icycles on the tree and they HAD to be put on individually and NOT in clumps. I am sure that the reason I am so OCD about decorating the tree due to how my Mom was about it. Anyway.....it is a special memory for me.
The boys always enjoyed decorating the tree, too. They would get so excited at Christmas time. We lived in Denver when they were growing up. So, we always went to Tennessee for Christmas. Santa would deliver their presents to Nanee and Papa's house instead of our house in Denver. Daddy always read "T'was the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve to all the grandkids. After they all went to bed, they would hear the bells ring from Santa's sleigh. I hope that they have special memories in their hearts of traditions we had when they were little.
Now, with an empty nest, I have to resort back to those wonderful memories when I am decorating for Christmas. It is a bitter/sweet time for me. I get pretty sappy.....I know, what's new? (Danny says my kidneys are behind my eyeballs.)
If you haven't created holiday traditions with your family, start now. It isn't too late. It will mean so much to you and your children as you both grow older.
I wish a wonderful Christmas season filled with old and new memories.
I love you all ! ! !
Layna
Labels: Family Traditions

Power of Persuasion

2009-11-24T10:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I am NOT a writer by any means. But my son, Stanford and his wife Juliane have convinced me I need to have a blog. As technology challenged as I am, this ought to be interesting ! ! !
I lack the creativity that I have seen and read in others' blogs. I have NO IDEA how to get pictures on this thing. I am not even sure that these words will be where anyone can read them. This beginning blog will be VERY brief due to those facts. I just want to see if anything actually goes on the blogspot site.
So, thus the name of my blog......MINDLESS CHATTER......I hold true to that on my first attempt.
Take care and hopefully I will do better with experience.
Layna