Four Leaf Clovers

Rare in nature, but rich in legend, each leaflet of the four-leaf clover represents something different: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

According to Wikipedia, there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover. Someone better relay those odds to our children- Grayson, who found 5 , and Harrison who found 2 four-leaf clovers one afternoon this week.

With a name like Shannon, I have to believe in the luck of the Irish, right? Four-leaf clover findings aside, we find ourselves extremely lucky and blessed. "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But, the greatest of these is love". (1 Cor 13:13)

The Best Thing About Snow

The best thing about snow, if you ask our children, is SNOWCREAM. Now, some people think this treat is unsanitary, especially given the Memphis atmosphere, but if you're adventuresome, all you have to do is avoid the yellow stuff (we love our dogs) and open up your heart and give it a try. This concoction can be made in various ways, with endless recipes found on the internet. All you really need is a bowl full of the white stuff, some milk or cream, 1 tsp. of vanilla, and a little bit of sugar. You are set!

Memphis had record snowfall in the last 24 hours. It was absolutley gorgeous waking up this morning. All of us, including the dogs enjoyed playing in the snow before church this morning. The temperature is now about 37 degrees, and the ice has melted off the streets, but, we still have several gallons left of snow to make more snowcream. Good thing, because Deacon wants some more, I think.

The Love Lounge

This Valentine’s Day, we celebrated with a few 40 guests by transforming our music room into The Love Lounge. This is our second annual Love Lounge, but, its our first year to attempt this at our house. Good friends, good food and drink, and live music were the ingredients for our romantic atmosphere (oh, did I mention, NO KIDS?!). My Valentine makes me smile with my heart.

Life's Not Fair

So far, the only snow Memphis has seen this winter created quite a fuss at our house. The night before, the meteorologists on all local stations were calling for a Winter Storm Warning, and I just knew that there would be excitement as the kids would wake up wide-eyed to SNOW. In typical Memphis fashion though, when they predict snow, we don’t get it, and then without warning the city goes crazy when unpredicted snow arrives.

Picture this scenario. Ice but little snow is on the ground at 5AM when I wake up. I check the TV for local school closings with anxious anticipation, and although Shelby County Schools are closed, Memphis City Schools are claiming they will be open! I can’t believe what I’m seeing and pour myself some coffee (in order to feed the depression). Tremendously disappointed I wonder who is in charge to make such a terrible decision. How can I explain to the kids that they have to go to school? Then, a change. By 7AM, I am woo-hooing with glee as the news breaks of school closing! Almost immediately we get the call from Grayson’s school, St. Mary’s, that school will not be in session. But, before the kids can get their gloves on…. tragedy. PDS, Harrison’s school, announces it will be open. Tears were shed and many comments made that "life is not fair".

Poor Harrison! I felt so sorry for him. We donned our snow gear and went outside for an hour. We had snow cream for breakfast along with hot chocolate, and I must admit, that there will be a tardy noted on Harrison’s report card for this six-week period. Life is not fair, but all is well at the Finks’ house.

Wii Tennis

If you are “blessed” to have a Wii, you understand the fact that most of my time is spent hearing the Lego Star Wars theme over and over and over again. We’ve had to place a time limit on Wii usage in my home, because we feel it’s important not to let the kids sit in front of a television screen for hours on end wasting productive time. (Really it’s because Mommy needs a Valium after the first 20 minutes of loud boy noise when Darth Vader is purchased or when someone makes it to the next level.) Regardless, one aspect that I don’t mind about the toy is Wii Fit!

Now, let me just tell you that even though it is marketed as a “fitness game”, few of the options actually raise my heart rate—except Wii Tennis. Ask anyone who’s been my challenger (my neighbor Mark, friend Chris Martino, my son) this is something I take very seriously. I am the Wii Tennis champion in our home. It’s pretty bad. Lloyd doesn’t want to play me. Embarrassing.

Apparently, even just one week after Christmas there were 6000+ Wii Fit injuries reportedly presenting to emergency departments across the nation. I can see how it can happen too. I’ve slammed a chair practicing my serve, ran across the room to get to a volley, and stepped on a cat or two. You’re missing out if you haven’t taken part in this action! You’re welcome to come on over and try mine out anytime! But beware. I've got a pretty good backhand.

A Tennessee Christmas

I just love Christmas. I love every thing about it. I love the music, I love the colors, I love the reason for it, and I LOVE celebrating it. I usually start decorating the day after Thanksgiving, so that I’m sick and ready to take down all that I have worked so hard to put up just before the first of January. (Why go to all of that trouble if you can’t enjoy it for 4 or 5 weeks, right?) I love hearing from everyone, and of the 100 or so Christmas cards we receive, (for those of you who don’t think so), I read every word. You didn’t get to read every word from us this year, because we didn’t write anything! Our kids would say, “No fair!!!” So, because of that, I’ll let you in on how we spent our holiday.



The words to the Amy Grant /Gary Chapman tune reflect exactly how I feel --“a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me”. No snow, but, a warm house filled with people we love. To my recollection, this was one of the best Christmases yet. No stress, low key, and lots of time at home with family. Lloyd was off for the entire 2 weeks and we didn’t rush off to our usual getaways or have 1000 errands to run. Instead, we had a vacation at home. Who knew how wonderful sitting still could be?

Helga was able to share the week with us, which made the kids so excited. Grayson played the German board game “Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht” until her poor Omi had to request a nap! No rest for the weary. She definitely has inherited the competition gene. My parents were also here plus Andy and Mandy were able to join us all for Christmas Eve dinner before leaving for Mandy’s parents house early Christmas morning. And Christmas day was spent gathered around our table and playing music with friends (the Campbells) and family. A blessed community we have been given, no doubt about it.

The Piano Man

For those of you who know my husband, you know what a fantastic piano player he is. For those of you who have never heard Lloyd play, you really can't imagine how fun he is to listen to. He's my very own Billy Joel, and we enjoy many of our winter nights at our own little piano bar (right in the middle of our living room) playing music together as a family.

The point of this story is to emphasize that some talents truly are passed on from generation to generation. Think of this as an apprenticeship. From his Dad to his Uncle Andy, Harrison certainly has BIG shoes to fill of his two talented mentors. (I have no doubt that he will soon surpass the remnants of my 8 years of piano lessons.) I can only hope that he will inherit half the ability that Lloyd and Andy have. But, part of the talent is the love and desire to play. So, this fall, when he requested to be placed in piano lessons, we jumped at the opportunity.

Harrison's very first recital was earlier this week at PDS, where we listened to 40 different boys play their instruments (violin, piano, guitar) while fighting nerves tooth and nail. Harrison was the youngest to play, and his piece was age and ability appropriate. You can imagine his piano teacher's surprise when he added his final touch to the end of the song. Take a listen. We hope you enjoy as much as Lloyd and I did.