Random Thoughts Friday

Alright people, it’s Friday after a long 4-day work week - whew! Sometimes I don’t write blogs because I don’t feel like I have some huge introspective thought to share with the world. However, I like reading lots of small, fun thoughts on other friend’s blogs so I thought I would go for it…welcome to random thoughts Friday!

I’m no Rachel Ray
I have secretly been trying for the past several months to cook/bake/perfect something edible that makes Ben fall in love with me even more. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so we shall see. btw, I have not hit the jackpot yet.

Movie Critiques
We have been renting movies from the $1 kiosk like crazy lately since there’s no new TV on (except Jon & Kate Plus 8 & The Bachelorette). No need to fear, Big Brother starts July 9th & will consume our lives 3 nights a week (Ben hates this show & rolls his eyes like I do during football season). Here are my ‘Monica’ rankings for said movies in the theater & $1 kiosk: Angels & Demons (B+), Doubt (B), Star Trek (A+), Bride Wars (B-), Personal Effects (B-) & Body of Lies (C+).

Really?
I am convinced that children who have ADD grow up to be adults who consistently whistle.

The Thompson’s Go Green!
Almost every single time we go to the grocery store we forget our environmental friendly shopping bags that are tucked behind the seat in the car & then one of us has to run out to the car to get them while the other one is standing in line. Good exercise - yes. Incredibly annoying - definitely!

I Don’t Like it Black
Every morning at work I put a heaping spoon of creamer & 5 sugar packets in my coffee. This morning a co-worker asked me if I would like some coffee with my sugar. To my defense, I never drink the last several sips of my coffee which I’m pretty sure is pure sugar. Drinking coffee makes me feel like a cool adult like going to Home Depot or being carded for alcohol.

That’s all I’ve got - I’ll keep it short & sweet. “Lovin’ Life: 24/7” (you will score cool points w/ me if you know what movie this quote came from - no googling allowed!)

4 the 8

So, they didn't exactly blame it on falling away from each other. It seemed like they saw it as Jon's problem. Then, the phrase that wouldn't stop—for the kids. Just doing this for the kids...in this for the kids...I'll stay for the kids. I fear what for the kids means and hope that it doesn't end like so many for the kids stories.

At the same time, marriages are saved because parents initially stay in them for the kids. It is not a bad reason unless it remains the only reason; besides, what an awful position to put kids in! However, when the decision becomes based on what they want and need for their marriage, they'll do the greatest act they can do for the kids.

Blah, blah, blah... Enough moralizing for one blog. I felt silly the other day when I thought waterboarding was a new sport I did not know about, but really wanted to try. I think I understand what all the fuss is about now.

Jon & Kate Plus F8

Didn’t we all see it coming for awhile? The communication styles they had, the little teasing stabs, the unhealthy verbal exchanges. The power and control issues were so easy to point out in them while we patted ourselves on our backs for not being like them (but feeling a little guilty we were). Fortunately, we are not talking about you this time—oh, snap…

Now, the nation plays the blame game. Finally, something we can’t blame on the economy or a past president (like the dollar increase in the amount of my haircut). So, we run the episodes through our mind, look at the tabloids, find the dirt, assign the blame, and cast the stones. It is common to villainize one and excuse the other. Depending on your upbringing and views on such things, you may be leaning towards Jon or Kate. I see a lot of blame in the media on Kate and she is winning so far. The controlling wife with no respect for her husband or his feelings, the stereotypical b word—she had it coming, right (kind of like those beauty pageant mothers)? Oh, but Jon, not being assertive, letting his wife push him over, shrinking in her presence, and running to the nearest sorority house—he’s the bad guy. Let’s not forget the tyrant destroyer of all high profile relationships—the media—with its ruthless ability to rip couples apart.

I choose to blame neglect. They neglected their commitment, they stopped trying to improve their relationship, they focused on being mom and dad rather than husband and wife. We knew it was coming and acted surprised when it did. I hear it is hard enough to stay connected when you have one kid. Eight?!? A monumental task for sure.

And they’ll say it in their premier, “We just didn’t take care of our marriage and then it was too late.” “Yeah, of course. Makes perfect sense,” we’ll think, as we are heart-broken, but once again patting ourselves on our backs for not being that foolish (but again feeling that twinge of guilt). With guilty pleasure we will watch a broken family try to pick up the pieces and then analyze the kids behaviors to death as we see them as innocent victims of a neglectful marriage; and maybe, just maybe, we’ll consider extending ourselves that same grace we needed as children. The bravest of us all might even look at our own marriages and think about how it is not the vacations, the children, the stuff, or the money that will keep us together; but for many the pondering will stop, and it will be time to cross another show off the TiVo list.

Benica Spring '09 Update

What’s new with us you may have been asking yourselves? Sometimes our blog becomes more of a philosophical outlet & we forget to write about the fun day-to-day things. The past few months have been a blur, but I will attempt to catch everyone up in a ‘promo’ of our life sort of way…

In March we went on a 10-day survey trip to Dublin, Ireland & have decided to pursue the possibility of going there with a mission team for 5-yrs. We are currently in the massive application process & psychological testing, so once they find out we’re crazies we may be out.

Neither of us had ever traveled to Europe & Ireland was amazing! The country, the culture, the people - it just felt right.











We’ve been to OK a whole lot in the past several months & the odometer on our car will prove it! On one of our many trips I was able to get together with two of my favorite girls in the world. Lacey, Christel & I have not all been in the same place in 3-yrs. since Christel’s wedding, so it was GREAT to catch up right where we left off!

On another OK trip we saw my brother & sister-in-law graduate from Oklahoma Christian University. Michael wore a very cool lime green shirt from Express & Ryan had on a super cute black, white & red dress - oh, & we were very proud of them for completing their college degrees too!

Some honorable mentions: Cali had her first ‘professional’ bath & got super cute bows in her hair, Ben & I have started listening to Christian music which (if you know us) is a BIG deal because we have always made fun of “those” people, our house could have burned down because of an electrical issue with our dryer but Ben saved the day & Monica found an awesome hot corn dip recipe that has been a big hit!