The hands that hold the flowers

For Mandy's photo contest this week, I chose this photo of my mom and some dandelions we picked together while we were in Kansas a few weeks ago. Even more than the flowers, I love the close up of my mother's hands. When I think about all the cooking, cleaning, sewing, *disciplining*, hugging, and helping those hands have done, I am even more proud to be Judith's daughter.

Eye Spy

 

Because I love a good Friday photo contest...

Angie's back, back again...

After a 7 month hiatus, and under a new layout and title, I hereby grant you permission to stalk me via the ever elusive "Risley Blog". Though I have nothing profound to say today, I do hope you'll have a look at this film review. I wanna see it!

Also, I've been looking into getting an SLR. Oh, how grand life would be.

Oklahoma Youth In Line For Total World Domination

RISLEY HERALD NEWS SUN TRIBUNE RECORD TIMES
Wednesday, April 4

(photo submitted by Aunt Angie)


Angela Risley
Staff Writer and Biased Auntie

(AP) Edmond, Okla. - Stranger things have happened, you say? Perhaps. In a world where iPods reign and oil prices continue to sky-rocket, many Americans have decided merely to give up hope. Uneducated, 5 o'clock news-worthy comments such as "Well, what can I, a lower-class hillbilly from the Great Bill Clinton's home state, do?" and "Oprah told me to!" permeate these fifty nifty United States as Republicans, Democrats, Independents and "Dancing With The Stars" fans have collaboratively chosen the beaten path of denial.

Many worry about the state of the world. Is it really the end times? Sometimes it seems as though it is. Wars are wreaking havoc and tearing nations apart. Natural disasters continue ravaging their way along our nation's coastlines. Hilary Clinton is running for President of the United States. All of these seem to be pointing to the finale of our existance on this Earth; that is, before the Risley off-spring arrived.

Discovering the lack of responsibility amongst their fellow Americans, five Oklahoma children have taken matters into their own teeny hands. These children, all cousins and descendents of Lord Wiley and Lady Judith of Labette County, Kansas, took the time during their recent spring break to fix all the problems of the world. Leader and eldest of the cousins, 7-year-old Nik, approached the four younger children in a desperate attempt to realign the stars.

"I knew only two things could save this great country," Nik said. "Cokes for everyone and our combined forces. Without the five of us, and the wisdom we've gained by being Noonies [nieces and nephews] of our rad Aunt Angie, the world will surely crumble beneath the weight of its own disappointment. I can't, I won't stand for it."

The other Risley children include Nik's 6-year-old sister Izabella; 18-month-old sister Carlee; and cousins, 2 1/2-year-old Claire and her brother, 16-month-old Drake. All the children are pictured above sans Carlee enjoying their spring break. (Though she was unavailable for comment at the time of our interview, Carlee did agree to make a special appearance at the gala to be held in honor of our small heroes.)

In order to save the world, one consensus was unanimously reached during that week of intense meetings, snack times and backyard-playing: Laughter IS the best medicine and all you really need is Love. With their powers combined, the cousins agreed that in addition to the Cokes they would purchase using their fathers' gas cards, they would cheer their fellow students with great "Your Mom" jokes, as well as the classic "Knock, knock" and "I know you are, but what am I?" gags. Thusly, by introducing laughter to their friends, their friends could then, in turn, pass it along to their parents to perpetuate the cycle.

Hearing of the goodness these children are doing in their community, Presidential Republican hopeful Rudy Giuiliani simply stated "I heart NY and I want to make a t-shirt that says so. Vote for me."

In the two weeks since their spring break decision, much change has been noted. The sun is shining once again, children are still going "cookoo for Cocoa Puffs", and the death toll from falling Wal-Mart prices is at an all-time low. Indeed these young children must be ready to take over the world soon...just as soon as they finish this last episode of "Dora the Explorer."

It's Just Like a Mini Mall! Jungle Style - Work in Progress

Have I mentioned the love affair I have with YouTube? I'm so happy people like this exist in the same world as me.

All the carnies smell like cabbage

I was going through pics again and found this one commemorating the night I was 2 rounds away from winning a car. Taken at the Oklahoma State Fair last autumn, Travis and I (he's on my left) entered the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament and I was doing well until some bald kid beat me out on a technicality. (The "technicality": I held up the wrong sign. Whatever.) This pic is from when we were on top of the Space Needle wannabe they've got there. Aubrie, Lucas, Travis and I rode it twice...because we're that cool.

Here's to the State Fair cinnamon rolls, Indian tacos and funnel cakes: we salute you. 

2-007

It's been 10 days since we kissed 2006 goodbye and welcomed in the year of 2-"007". I'm so excited to be in the year of Pierce Brosnan, especially since I've heard great reviews about the latest "007" movie (even if it is sans Brosnan this time). With resolutions flying around, it's common to hear about what people swear to give up, as well as what they promise to start. I do, in fact, make resolutions too, however I don't start mine until February (most people quit theirs by then anyway, so I'm just cutting out that frustrating month). This year, I've set goals for myself, etc., but part of what I want to accomplish also lies in looking back and counting my blessings. It's true, I've lived a blessed life. I want to relish in that, soak up all the memories I can and use them to make this year a great one. The best, in fact.

The photo above is of my church in Loughborough. That is from last January when we took a church hike through this beautiful, hilly area in our county. What a good looking group, huh? I'm so proud to have worked with these great, encouraging people. They remind me what I've done and how I got there; it's amazing to think of how many people help me along my daily journeys.

If I can help someone because of what I've experienced, I should. I want to. I'm resolved to.

After all, it's what 007 would do. 

Don't fake it this year...

AULD LANG SYNE

Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Meanings

auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two

Happy 2007, everyone!

Had myself a merry little Christmas...

Of course one of the best parts of Christmas is the wonderment visible on children's faces. My 14-month-old niece, Carlee, obviously was awed by the snow and grand tree behind her.


Though we actually didn't have a white Christmas, Darren, Nik and Izabella used the snowy backdrop to their advantage as a festive Kodak moment.


Not the greatest quality photo, this sets the scene for the billowing bounty of blessings we Risley's did enjoy. (Why are kids always more enthralled with the packaging than with its contents??)


And what picturesque Christmas is complete without gawking at elaborately lit trees? We caravaned and took the whole family 45 minutes to Chickasha, Oklahoma to see the popular "Festival of Lights" on display there. Over 2 million lights transform this park into a majestically Christmas wonderland.

Now that all the hussle and bustle is over, the presents are all unwrapped, food mostly eaten and families back in their respective homes, we now prepare to transition out of this familiar 2006 and into the unknown of 2007. Whether you make resolutions or not, let me encourage you to take some time to reflect back upon the gifts you received this past year. Use the knowledge, talents, friendships and memories you gained in 2006 to illuminate the paths of 2007; make this the most joyous and fulfilling year of your life. May you plan to also, in turn, enrich someone else's life because of all you've been blessed with. And, may you also finally learn the words to "Auld Lang Syne" before midnight on the 31st so you can confidently sing along instead of lip-syncing this year!

Good tidings and all the best for you in 2007!

O, Tannenbaum

I've been taking a journey down memory lane today and came across this photo from last Christmas in England. It was my first real Christmas tree experience and I purchased it for 10 pounds from the tree lot at home store B&Q. My friend Carla-Marie came with me and we ended up taking it home that night...in her tiny car! Later she helped me trim the tree and I'm not ashamed to say that it stayed up in my home until nearly February! The conversation piece of my home that season, my wonderful friends cut a piece of its branch and made it into a tree ornament for me to have. In putting up my fake and inferior tree this December, I placed the tree branch ornament in the very front, which reminds me of the splendid holidays I spent in Loughborough with genuinely splendid friends. -- "...how lovely are your branches!"
 

Milestones = Piles of Fun

My youngest Noonie, Drake MacArthur, celebrated his first birthday with a family party last Saturday. Complete with balloons, an awesome collection of birthday presents (including a revamped hand-me-down teddy bear from his Daddy), and, of course, his own cake, Drake had a swell time.

They sure grow up fast, don't they?

Frozen raindrops on roses...

and snow play with Claire Bear... these are a few of my favorite things. Oh, what fun it is to be walking in a winter wonderland with a niece! During "The Big Chill" (as Oklahoma City tv stations were calling it) last week, Claire and I got to help my brother Dustin put up garland and lights around the outside of the house, a perfect introductory time to the season that's come upon us...upon a midnight clear.

Making a list...and checking it thrice

This past weekend as I communed with other Risley brethren for the Thanksgiving holiday, we started making our Christmas wish lists. Like usual, Dad didn't know what he wanted or needed. If you're like me, you don't like just passing out impersonal gift cards or cheap fishing lures that he probably won't use anyway. Instead, I like to search out great gifts for everyone because I'm convinced that even if they don't know what they want, there's something for everyone and that I should be able to find something worth writing home about.

A big part of this process, I think, is really paying attention to those you're shopping for. Think about their hobbies: is there something related to their hobby they could use that they maybe wouldn't buy themselves? Are they taking a family vacation next summer to somewhere they've never been? Why not let them get started on planning by giving them a great guide book or handy carry-on? For the sports fan, look online early to find your loved one some tickets to see an upcoming game, or if you know they have tickets, try to see if you can upgrade them. Concert tickets are a hit for that friend of yours who's been dying to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or why not offer to take your mom on a shopping trip for a weekend?

Still, even with my stellar ideas, you're bound to run into the inevitable of "but what do I get for ______?" Faced with my own dilemmas, I've found some fun websites willing to assist me in my giving woes. If you can't find anything on Google, eBay or Amazon, try out a couple more sites that encourage creativity. My favorites this year are Spilsbury, Gifts and Gadgets. I've found some semi-random things on here that are fun and sure to be one-of-a-kind gifts for some of my pals.

And, if all else fails, perhaps you'd be interested in buying a polar bear (at the discounted 20% off rate!) at Last Minute.

Happy Hunting!

Rolling Stones - Angie

Here's the actual YouTube video, which I had to include. I think the hat and eyeliner really add a little something...

Rolling my Stones...

I can't explain it, but there's just something about the way Mick Jagger sings (and whispers) my name...

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good pie!

Epiphany vs. "I'm a phony"

I've got it.

I know why I was struggling in my decision to go to either Japan or Portland: I'm not meant for either one. Well, at least for right now.

When I was 7-years-old, I saw some documentary on New York City and decided then that I wanted to live there. That decision later escalated to me wanting to travel everywhere (yes, everywhere) and to see and do and learn and experience all I could during my life. Once I learned what humanitarianism was, my next decision revolved around me wanting to do all the good I could during all the marvelous travels I'd planned. In college I majored in Journalism; all good journalists write about what they know and their own experiences. I planned on having plenty of them, so what better way to take advantage of my obsession with writing?

Now, three years past college, I've been trying to make decisions that would be leading me down different paths. Sure, teaching English to Japanese children or starting a good career in Journalism are great options for me, but I'm missing the crux of the matter: helping people. For the past four months I've been so keenly interested in helping Angie Risley that I've forgotten that I want to help those I can. Instead of looking to my own desires, why haven't I realized that I want to aid with something greater than myself? If I go through my whole life without doing that, what have I gained? What have I bettered? There's no use in me becoming a famous author or proficient linguist if I lose the essence of Christianity along the way.

Therefore, I've decided that neither Japan nor Portland will be in my immediate future. (I'd still love to do both opportunities, but I feel the need to make a bigger difference in the meantime.) Instead, I'm contemplating doing some work with under-privileged children, perhaps in Ghana, Africa. There is such a need there in orphanages and schools, and I am all too aware of how important it is that each child have a chance...or second chance, as it may be. Shouldn't I be using my experiences to lighten the loads of others? (An emphatic "Yes" is the answer.)

I'm excited. For the first time in months, I see a need for hope (coincidentally in a village called Hope) and I feel absolutely stricken with a desire to meet some needs. Shame on me for my blogging procrastination lately, but it's been a long road and I finally feel like I'm making some correct turns. Join me on my journey, won't you? I always need someone to man the radio.

Risley's Anatomy

Alone with my thoughts...

I agree that it's dangerous for me to have so much time to myself since it inevitably gets me thinking about odd, sentimental and superfluous tangents. I just can't help myself.

A brief disclaimer first: This post will be partially about England. My apologies if you're sick of hearing about it. If you are, get your blinders and 'muffs on now. It's my blog and I can rant if I want to.

*****

I'm tired.

I'm tired of not knowing what I'm meant to be doing with my life. It seems that everywhere I look, there are successful people my age (and younger) who've figured out their life's purpose and are quite happily taking steps in their respective directions. Friends and cousins my age are buying houses, starting families and reaping the benefits of work-sponsored health insurance. People I used to laugh with in the dorms have traded in their carefree two-door vehicles for SUVs and are now toting diaper bags and strollers instead of laptop bags and backpacks. My biggest concern about what to carry during the days rests on which bag is most practical. Oh, and my trusty Ozarka bottle.

For two years, I was "someone" in England. I was the girl with the American accent. I was the mission worker who was known by many people in the small community where I was living. For 24 months, I organized activities with young adults, volunteered with community programs, and spent numerous hours working for a church who wanted my help. I had specific tasks, loyal friends and, perhaps most obviously, an esteemed status. I was valued, I was unique and I was noticed.

I woke up the other morning and actually cried a bit because I couldn't believe my England life was finished. (I'm not saying this to gain sympathy; trust me, I can throw my own pity party beautifully myself.) But it's amazing to me how one 8-hour flight from Birmingham, UK to Detroit turned things around so quickly. When I arrived back in the States, the sound of American accents had me overjoyed. I was thrilled to be back home amongst the family and friends I had missed so terribly. Being welcomed back at the airport by loved ones made the homecoming even sweeter, and my friends even went to the trouble of bringing me some of my favorite American treats to make sure I knew how much I was loved and missed.

So why on EARTH am I not overflowing with gratitude? Why can I not just accept that my time in England is done and that my life in America must now recommence? Why can't I just be happy with a church family who is doing their best to support me during this time? How long will I feel out of place and what can I do to change that? WHEN WILL I BE NEEDED AGAIN?

It's funny the random things you remember. At a birthday party for a friend of mine in elementary school, I remember asking my friend's mom if I could help do something. She told me that if she needed my help, she would ask. It struck me as odd even at the time that she would be so short with me, but I never forgot her mannerisms and sometimes I get that feeling all over again. "Does anyone want me to help them?" "Is there a place for me anywhere?" "Have I nothing special or unique to offer to anyone??" --- Feeling unnecessary or easily replaced is like getting a Charlie Horse in the middle of the night: it's painful, obvious and uncomfortable, but it eventually goes away. Or does it? I've been home for 14 weeks now, but I still feel like I'm sitting awkwardly on someone else's couch.

I'm tired emotionally and spiritually.

When I tell people that I've been doing mission work for two years, I get a lot of raised eyebrows, "Wow!"'s and "Well, that's great"'s. I immediately feel like a disappointment because the level of my faith right now wouldn't be able to tell anyone I'd been immersed in church work if words weren't available. It's hard to describe, and I can barely understand it myself, but it's so difficult to keep an even balance between "church" and "work" when church IS your work. In Loughborough, I was spending several hours a day and nearly everyday at the actual building working on different things. When you see the inside of a building that often, it's hard to switch on the "worship" button when you enter on Sunday mornings, nights, Monday nights and Wednesday nights. It all started to feel the same and spiritual complacency dampened the passion I had in the beginning.

I'll be honest: I'm searching. I'm looking all over for my faith again because I know it can't be far. Since I've returned, I've spent time at different congregations desperately seeking the "Everglow" (thanks, Perrey's) I once had. My Thomas heart wants to believe I'll get back to "normal" but the Purgatory in the meantime is killing me.

At 26, I'm trying to make healthy decisions that will lead me down paths of service, humanitarianism, aid, betterment, Journalism, happiness and contentment. I know I'm capable of achieving greatness, but I'm not patient enough to wait around for it. I'd start yesterday if I knew which direction to go. Due east to volunteer relief? Or should I take a right and author my first novel? I want to be someone others look to for guidance; I'm not good at being in the passenger's seat.

I'm ready to be "someone" again. Perhaps God only made me that "someone" for a season? Who knows? I miss England -- and the people there -- every day and I know I always will. But for now, I really want to concentrate on who I aspire to be while still remembering the people and experiences who have made me into me. I know I'll go back to Britain again so now I should be looking ahead with anticipation for the unknown that lies before me. I've decided to follow Paul's example to be "content in all circumstances". The future looks bright and I know I am "someone" to God, so what else matters? I've got a new place to live, great family and friends, my '96 Corsica and a heart to perservere. Oh yeah, and that trusty bottle of Ozarka water.

The "Others"...

"They're ba-ack."

Ladies and gentlemen, it's October 4th.

My anticipation for this grand reunion with my favorite victims of an ill-fated Oceanic flight has me giddy, shaky, nervous and a bit nauseous -- much like a first date. How glorious!

Click here to read the LOST blogs.

The season 3 premiere airs at 8 p.m. CST.

 

Foggy London Town

I miss England.