a muse-ing

When i was a kid, my mom was my hero. I wanted to be like my mom. All my friends loved her and thought she was cool because she's funny and would take a genuine interest in them as people. She would tell me stories about her as a teacher that revealed that aspect of her character that felt strongly about treating kids equally. She's not afraid to stand up for herself and is unapologetically her own person. But better than all that, she consistently chose to live a life that took Jesus, and the ways he instructs us to live, seriously.

I can honestly say that she talks about, tries and succeeds (more than any person I know) at living out the difficult ways jesus wants us to live; forgiving, praying for those who persecute, even answering with a gentle answer (when she would really rather shake the person). She rarely loses her cool, and her excellence in the art of the snide remark is typically reserved for that safe environment of trusted friends.

Lately some crappy things have been going on in her world, and even though she's still human and needs to vent and wrestle with blatant idiocy, the bottom line has NOT changed for her. And it's not a show; it's not some christian-y, sickly sweet "look, i'm doing this the way i'm supposed to, aren't i being so good"-type display. It's genuine, and it's obvious she doesn't see a choice in the matter. oh, to be of such unwavering commitment. She's armed with a bandolier of grace and forgiveness and never questions the order to use them.

i've discovered the identity of my husband's muse: wierd al.
i say this because it's always spontaneously inspired, rarely premeditated. it is wierd al incarnate.

but read on.

I am a court reporter by day, and all of the transcripts I type are proofread by the proofing department. Once the quality of my work product is consistently good enough, I get to be final copy and essentially become my own proofer; the last bastion of correction before my work goes out into the world to stand on its own.

The latest outburst of Chris' inspiration occured earlier this evening when I discovered that I will be informed this week of whether I have made final copy or not. (Can anyone already see where this is going?!) When I read Chris the letter from my coach informing me of this, he literally burst into song...and if Europe had been my own personal cheerleaders, they would have sung a song that proclaims "I made Final Copy."

The latest series' glorious moment: The Evil Empire has fallen.