A Handful of Life

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Contentment

2011-11-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

I had a moment today.

It was a normal day full of the usual activity; I went here, I did that, I was late for the other. I came home to a houseful of children. There were my 6, the 2 I babysit, and 2 from down the road. Someone is having a birthday tomorrow, so I baked her a cake. I did dishes, I washed counters, I frosted a cake, I hugged a crying child, I sent a cake home with the birthday girl, I warmed up a big pot of soup, fed it to all the kids- even the baby who has decided to protest his dinner as a nightly occurrance.

And through it all, I breathed in gratitude. So thankful to be in a home that is crazy, filled to the gills with people and all their mess. So glad to have people and relationships, love and contentement.

Yep, it feels good.

Grasping At His Hem

2011-11-09T23:30:00.001-08:00

He walked right past her. He was so near. He was a world away. If only she could reach Him. Just one touch.

But the crowd that parted before Him swallowed Him up from behind.

She wanted to call out to Him, to grasp His hand, to fall at His feet and weep on Him.

But she couldn't. She had an issue.

Boy, don't we all. I have issues. I have ugly uncleanness. I have a blackness that trails behind me like a slimy slug. The difference? Sometimes only I can see it. Well, me... and Him. I don't have to go through my day declaring my uncleanliness. I am not bound by any law that says I have to warn people that if they get too close to me they might be affected by my bad mood, they might be sullied by my dark cloud of worry and despair. But I am still unclean.

She could stand it no longer. He was Her Jesus. He was here for her. And all these other people. But for her. Risking her very life and all she held dear she lunged forward. Pushing and shoving against the crowd, she defiled them all.

The exertion was almost too much for her in her state, weakened as she was. At last she was near enough. Lunging forward she fell to the ground, grabbing just a handful of His hem. Scandalous!

She was desperate. She was an out cast. Society dictated it. Me? Not so much. I live a relatively cozy life. Even when I issue blood, as she did, I am not hidden away from society- although it would be nice at times. She had nothing. Nothing but her Jesus. I have everything. It is easy not to need my Jesus.

He turned and saw the defiled woman still clutching His cloak. Her grasp causing His clothing to twist around Him. She was so bold as to sully the only perfect man? He would have been justified in having her put to death, but there was no rebuke. He simply looked at her and told her that she was whole.

I wonder if I could have read this passage the same without my issues. I need my issues. I need my issues so that I need my Jesus. I need not to hide my ugliness. I need to acknowledge that I am unclean. I need to be broken, so that He can make me whole.

Matthew 9:20-22

A New Perspective

2011-11-09T23:12:00.000-08:00

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:2-3

I'm Not Alright

2011-11-07T22:13:00.000-08:00

I'm broken inside, broken inside.

I am afraid. Of so many things.

I can't even begin to tell you all the things that hurt inside of me.

Because, honestly, I find myself crying and I don't always know why.

Only other time in my life have I had so much hurt.

Once before I have felt the daily ripping of my heart,

tearing it from my chest.

Once before I have felt the daily pain.

The pain that moves me to tears in the middle of nothing.

In the middle of everything.

The pain that had me clinging to my Jesus.

Clawing at the hem of His garment.

Begging Him to take it away.

Looking back at that time I see how God chose to bless me with a deeper understanding of His love for me.

He taught me that I am never alone no matter how adrift I feel.

He taught me that I am precious to Him, and He desires to give me good gifts.

So, I wonder, What do I have to learn this time?

If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of
Then cool is just how far we have to fall
And I am not immune, I only wanna be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall

Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth, I need to confess

I'm not alright
I'm broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you

Burn away the pride, bring me to my weakness
'Til everything I hide behind is gone
And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on

'Cuz honestly, I'm not that strong

I'm not alright
I'm broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you

And now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, closer to you
And now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, closer to you
And now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, closer to you
And now I'm moved, and now I'm moved, and now I'm moved

I'm not alright
I'm broken inside, broken inside
I'm broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
Leads me to you, leads me to you

I'm not alright
I'm not alright
I'm not alright
That's why I need you

AND...

2011-11-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

...Exhale.

Hurt

2011-10-30T20:50:00.001-07:00

Sitting. Just sitting.

Sitting and waiting.

For...something.

It hurts to breathe.

Shallow. Gasping. Gulping at the air.

Trying to make sense of the enigma.

She. And me.

Suspended

2011-10-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

A small jolt,

the dropping of the stomach,

eyes closed at the apex of the swing set.

Suspended,

beyond all probability,

between white mountains and white sky.

Leaving below all that is known

and stretching upward

to things not meant to be fathomed.

Dangling,

somewhat perilously,

between the lives known and loved

and the angels that watch in awe.

This is flight.

Twelve

2011-10-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

Hey! Those Are My Kids You're Talking About!

2011-09-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

Today I received the best e-mail mama can get. I am busting my buttons with pride over my kids. Wanna read it?

Mr. and Mrs. Gae,
I feel so fortunate to have Ella and Caleb in my sixth grade classes; they are exceptionally kind, gentle, curious and helpful. Oh and very bright too! The physical resemblance to Jesse was unmistakable with their big beautiful eyes. Each day they make me smile and I am a happier teacher knowing these fine role models are in my classroom demonstrating a yearning to learn and an appreciation for their education. Parenting is a natural calling for you as all of your children are cool people and good for this earth! I don't know how you manage a household with all those children, but they are amazing!! Congratulations! Perhaps you could write a guide to assist other parents!!
Grateful,
Ms. Brule'

Oh, yeah, Baby!

Upside Down

2011-09-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

Last week I had a new friend over. We sat in the kitchen and had coffee and Pavlovas. It was a perfect afternoon. The kitchen was clean and homey. The sun was streaming through the dining room windows. The birds were chirping outside and all was right in my little corner of the world.

Until we walked into the living room. I am not kidding you when I say that the couch was upside down and backward. Literally. Why? Because the day before I had been on a frantic search for a small item that I thought might have been lost into the far reaches of the couch. The curtains were drawn and there were blankets, books, dishes, shoes and video games strewn all around the room. It was not my proudest moment. It didn't fit with the front I had created. It was a clashing symbol in the symphony of my morning.

Strangely, I didn't mind showing her. In fact I decided to show her so she would know that the kitchen was just a facade. That my real life was messy, disheveled, and harried just like every one else's. I am a real mom, with real messes, and a whole lot of living goes on in my living room.

I am going to go see my new friend today. I hope she doesn't knock herself out cleaning just for me. And I hope the coffee is hot and the conversation is lively. If I have to move a stack of papers off the chair, I will know it is because there is a whole lot of living that goes on in her house.

Dear Son;

2011-09-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

You are 14 now.

To be honest, when you were 12 I thought I might sell you to the gypsies. Or kill you. But I managed not to do either, and I am glad.

Oh, you know we still have our moments- let's not pretend we don't. They still come more frequently than I would like. But then there are the other moments. There are the moments when we stand side by side and have a mature conversation. When you enlighten me with your compendium of useless knowledge. When you take initiative.

I was impressed the other day that you seamlessly brought your brother and sister into your circle of influence. I liked the way you made sure to show them how to get to school on time on their first day of middle school. I was even more impressed that you included them in your teen hang out scene. It was almost like a rite of passage and you initiated them into the "club."

Sometimes, I still wish a 14 year old was a man with a trade. Sometimes, I still think you haven't got a clue. But most of the time I think, "You are all right. I like you."

Love, Mom

Salmon River 2011

2011-08-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

Abigail

2011-08-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Abigail (Hebrew)- My Father is joy, My Father's joy.

On June 20th, my baby girl turned 9.

I love you, Abby.

Fifth Grade Graduation

2011-08-11T14:13:00.001-07:00

We kicked off summer with 5th grade graduation. Times 2.

That's right. Next year I will have a high schooler, two middle schoolers,

and 2 elementary schoolers. Caleb and Libby will be leaving their elementary

school for the middle school down the road.

(Yikes! I may not be ready for this!)

This year it was a bigger deal because the principal who has been here longer than we have is taking a position at another school in our district. It was also a farewell for him.

Libby was one of the students chosen to read a poem for the principal at the ceremony.

We are going to miss our 5th grade teachers.

Luckily we have a few more coming up in the grades!

June? July? Where Did They Go?

2011-08-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

Here it is the first full week of August.

How did we get here?

It was such a blur, but I remember a few highlights.

There were birthdays.

There were many days spent in the pool.

There was the kind of news that makes you stop and reevaluate.

A broken car.

A broken washing machine.

Sun.

A river.

Visits to see people we love.

I owe you some posts.

I'll get to them.

Soon.

Life Is Too Short

2011-07-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Use the bendy straws.

Eat dessert.

Snuggle your child.

Hug them.

Say I love you.

Mean it.

Because life is too short.

The Things We Don't Say

2011-06-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

I don't call you often enough. I don't tell you how much I love you. I don't tell you how I wish you would get your life together and act like a human being. I don't tell you when you are making me so angry that I could eat nails. I don't tell you how proud I am of the choices you make. I don't hug you.

Because if I did, I would have to let you in to the places that ache. I would have to let you see me. I would have to show you all the tender places that hurt for you, that cheer for you, that are afraid for you, that are afraid for me.

But, just so you know, I DO love you. SO SO SO much.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

Tommorow is the kids last day of school and they are so excited! For school tommorow all they are doing is watching the slide show and it's only 2 hours. After school we are going to have a teacher appretiation lunch and all of their teachers are coming. We're going to have a full house!

While Waiting For Inspiration To Hit...

2011-06-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

I got hit with something else. It felt like this:

All over my body.

Except my throat.

It feels like this:

And my chest?

It might have one of these on it:

Except when I cough.

Then it is most definitely one of these.

So, I'm going to lay down for a few more days and hope something comes to me in a cough induced, oxygen deprived spasm.

If I live that long.

***********************************************************************************

So, I took myself to the doctor today and she said, "You have bronchitis, and probably the early stages of pneumonia. Here's your prescription."

Thr good news is that thanks to the advances of modern medicine, I will live.

Hope Island

2011-05-29T22:45:00.001-07:00

The Perfect (Birth)day

2011-05-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got to sleep in until 9:30. I woke up with a start because something was missing. I realized that I hadn't gotten the baby his 6:45 bottle. Grandma had to do that. I'm on vacation. I am on my anniversary vacation. The one where we don't go anywhere or do anything. It's a vacation from responsibility if nothing else.

After much laziness yesterday we decided to get up, pack a picnic, and get in our car. We started driving south and ended up in Ballard, a neighborhood of Seattle. There is a very nice park hidden at the end of the road, so we stopped there and had our picnic tucked up in a cove of dune grass, shielded from the wind. And then we laid like worms baking in the rare Seattle sunshine. I got a little pink.

We Strolled around Ballard and Sebastian found a bakery he wanted to try. He had a cinnamon roll and a coffee. I had a bite and a sip. After that we found the new location of my cousin's shoe store. My cousin has some amazing shoes at her store, Market Street Shoes.

We walked all over Ballard, then we stopped by my cousin's house to say "Hi." After we left we went out to Birthday/Anniversary dinner at Olive Garden, and then came home to watch a movie.

It was the perfect do-nothing kind of day.

Getting High

2011-05-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

On May first, in order to usher in the 2011 hiking season, my husband decided we all needed to get high together. Real high. 3000 ft high. We even brought the baby along. He's new to the family, and not real experienced at getting high. He passed out around 1000ft. Poor baby. The kids were making fun of him- calling him a newbie- but the one thing they can't call him at 18 lbs is a lightweight. I got so high that day that I thought I was going to die. I felt like my head was going to explode and I was weak in the knees... I don't think I will be getting that high again for a while. Especially not while toting that not-so-lightweight!

Free scrapbook generated with Smilebox

No Agenda

2011-04-26T22:49:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we had a rare day with no agenda. Baby D had his 7 am bottle then went back to sleep, letting me sleep until almost 10 am. By the time I got up, dressed and went to wake him, he was peed up to his armpits! I was giving Baby D a bath when I remembered that there were going to be some celebratory doin's in town.

The big boys had gone rafting, taking the family vehicle, and Jonah was "spending the night at Grandma's house, all the way until Easter!" So, the girls found ourselves alone with Baby D and no agenda.

We strolled the mile to downtown enjoying the gentle sun warming our heads, and the gentle breeze cooling it back down. We missed the parade, arriving just as it was over. But I did hear a few people remark that they had blinked and missed the whole thing.... We walked a block to the free hot dog, cotton candy, and soda lunch and then I stood around visiting with people I knew while Baby D snoozed in his stroller, and the girls partook in some good, old fashioned redneck fun. Someone had set up a tractor tire on a teepee structure. They put the little people inside the tire and twisted as much as the ropes would allow. Then they let go. My girls went on that thing 4 times. With hot dogs in their bellies. I had to drag them away before someone blew hot dog chunks.

We bought cupcakes from the cupcake shop. But, honestly? I don't get the hoopla about buying cupcakes. And I really don't understand red velvet. Ghack! Since I had a check in my purse to deposit and we had no other plans, we walked the next mile to the grocery store where our bank is. I did my banking and the girls powdered their noses. We decided to have second lunch at the Mexican restaurant and then we walked the two miles home.

As I was walking with my girls, listening to their companionable chatter I thought about how rushed we make life. A four mile walk is not hard, yet I routinely drive 1/2 mile to the nearest grocery store because I simply do not have time to slow down.

It was nice.

I should schedule more agenda free days- just not tomorrow, because I don't have the time.

Glad - Easter Song

2011-04-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

The One About Community

2011-04-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

Have I ever said how much I love MOPs? Let me just tell you that if you are a mother with children younger than first grade, run, don't walk to your nearest MOPs group. If there isn't one near you, consider starting one. Seriously.

To say that life is a little topsy-turvy right now would be an understatement. We'll adjust, but I am not sure how I would have made the transition to this point with out all my friends. Friends who, not coincidentally, are mostly from MOPs.

From the moment we heard we might be housing this precious little baby, they have been praying about and for Baby D. When we had an arrival date, my friends started collecting the things he needed.

When Baby D came a week earlier than expected, my sister went to my cousin's house and picked up a crib, brought it over and helped set up his room. All that day friends showed up with clothes, toys, and even dinner for my family.

What a blessing to me to have such a community of friends who support each other in every endeavor. I am a rich woman indeed.

Do you need this in your life? Find a MOPs. Find a church. Find a group of women in the same life phase as you are in. Women need each other and we need community.

That's why God Gives Us Two Hands

2011-04-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

If you look at the info thingy on the top of my blog it says:

When people ask me how many kids I have I hold up all the fingers on one hand and say, "A handful."

That would be all five of the fingers on one hand. One for each kid.

Except now I need 2 hands.

Yesterday we got a 6th child.

We don't know exactly how long he will be living with us, but while he is here he is going to get loved on real good.

We are crazy about babies.

We are crazy about kids.

We even like 'em when we don't agree with their lifestyle choices.

When we got the call from the very frantic mommy (who herself is like my child), there was no question that we would help her out in any way we possibly could. This is what form that help has taken.

And that is why God gives you two hands- just more fingers to count on.

Hurry Up...And Wait

2011-03-24T10:27:00.001-07:00

There is something happening around here. Something that I am not at liberty to discuss. Something that will change the complexion of our family. (Don't worry- our family core is strong and that is not what is changing.)
This is the big news I wrote about last time I posted.
It is a REALLY BIG THING.
It is not something that I persued, rather, something that came looking for me.
I am nervous because this is something I want to happen very much- and at the same time I wish it wasn't happening at all. I am being stretched as a mom, as a friend, and as a Christian who says she is willing to do whatever God tells her to do, to love the way God tells her to love.
There are so many steps in this process, and I feel like we have spent a lot of time in "hurry up...and wait" mode.
Is that cryptic enough or you?
Here's the deal, I need you all to pray.
Pray that our family finds favor in the eyes of God and man and can be used as a vessel of God's love to a broken and hurting world. Also, pray that God will take the mountain before us and command it to be thrown into the sea. Pray for patience, wisdom, and grace.
Thank you.

Big

2011-03-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Big.
That's how I would describe the month of February.
Big worry.
Big loss.
Big love.
Big news.
Overwhelming.
Huge.
Monstrous.
February made me cry.
It made me cry out.
It made me cry out to my Abba.
Do you know why?
Because He is bigger.
There is nothing so big in my life that God is not bigger still.
There is no financial strain that He doesn't already have the answer for.
There is no loss so big that He cannot comfort it.
There is no love so big that He is not in it.
There is no news so big that He didn't see it coming and already equip me to deal with it.
That's the great thing about knowing whose I am. There is no question that my Daddy can fix it all. He's BIG.

Happy Birthday, Little Bit

2011-03-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

On the 21st of February my Miss Elizabeth turned 10 years old.

She is full of sass and spunk, good will and good humor.

She is eager to please and easy to love.

Happy Birthday, Little Bit.

Love, Mom

___________________________________________

I realize that this post is long overdue.

I have had her picture uploaded for nearly 2 weeks.

I just needed to get past the fact that for the first time in her short life there will not be another birthday picture like the one below. This is the first time since she was born that Elizabeth has not shared her birthday with her great grandma. I'm sure Grandma's party was more spectacular than Libby's, though.

She would have been 90 on the 21st.

We missed her.

Like A Bird From These Prison Walls I'll Fly

2011-02-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

My Grandma's Hands

2011-02-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

I stood holding her hand yesterday, I stoked her arm, I talked to her a little, and I thought.

I thought about her hands and her arms.

For my entire life Grandma has been "squishy," but lately she has lost so much weight that the skin on her arms hangs loose. Her knuckles are gnarled by the years and by arthritis. Her hands are swollen from the IV's snaking along the bed, biting every finger and hand.

But, her hands are broad. Her fingers are not long and elegant. They are short and stocky. They are like my mom's. Like my aunts'. Like mine.

Her skin is pale, dotted with angel kisses up and down her porcelain arms. Like my mom's. Like my aunts'. Like mine.

My grandma's arms have rocked us to sleep. They have hauled our laundry out to dry. They have carried boxes and boxes of produce for sale. Her hands have spanked us. They have fed us. They have bathed us. They have dressed and diapered us.

Grandma's hands have reached all the way up her arms, and straight to her heart. They have been hands of love to each and every one of us.

Just like my mom. Just like my aunts. And I hope someday, someone will say, just like me.

A Testament To Family

2011-02-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

We are big.

We are loud.

We are opinionated.

We disagree on most everything.

We don't see each other as often as we should.

Either we can't or we won't.

We grew up.

We changed.

We had kids.

Some of our kids had kids.

But when the call came, we were all there.

Anyone who could make it, did.

Those who couldn't were there with us in spirit.

Waiting.

Praying.

Catching up.

Reacquainting.

Meeting spouses, significant others, and babies for the first time.

Remembering how much we love each other.

Wishing we could remember it more often.

In better circumstances.

Because in the end, we are family.

This picture, taken in 1996, represents about 1/2 of my grandma's direct descendants.

God Is God

2011-02-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

And I am not.

Pretty simple to grasp.

Extremely hard to implement.

This week my Grandma, who will be 90 on the 21st, had a massive hemorrhage in her brain.

I gotta tell you. I am scared. Not that she will die. I am afraid that she won't. And that she won't recover. And that she will be stuck indefinitely in a body that no longer functions. That she will be tied to this earth, not freed to be with our Savior at her wedding feast.

I was talking to my friend, Kelly, yesterday and she reminded me that God is always in control. I love the way she put it.

"God did not get up on Tuesday morning and take roll. "Mary? Mary? Mary Higgins? No Mary? Well, I wonder where she is?'"

Of course He didn't. Of course He knows when she will be making it home.

Because He is God, and I am not.

God thing, too.

A Perfect Smile

2011-01-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown

___________________________________________________________________

I love this kid, and I love his smile. He doesn't like it so much because he is misssing some teeth due to a congenital defect. He lost his baby teeth and there just weren't any adult teeth to fill the gaps. Therefore, the teeth he does have are w i d e l y spaced. This makes his bite funny and his smile, well that picture above is what I usually get in a snapshot.

We have consulted with an orthodontist about braces, and even though now would be the ideal time to move his teeth, we just cannot find the $4000-$5000 it would cost. It kinda breaks my heart.

When I heard that invisalign was doing a giveaway promotion, I whispered a little prayer, "Please, God?" The difference between me wanting to give something to my child and God wanting to give something to His? He owns it all, anyways. So, I am doing my part and posting about my wish for a perfect smile.

If you want to check it out, click here.

WANT. want. WANT

2011-01-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

One of these:

Go see for yourself.

Or, look here.

Or, maybe, here.

You Decide

2011-01-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

Since we built our kitchen I have wanted these exact stools for my island. I told my sister, Kris, the second hand diva, and she kept her eyes open until she found them on Craig's List for the price I told her I wanted to pay. Don't they look fabulous here? Thanks, Kris.

My only problem is that they always look like this- and worse because of all the junk and gunk that gets dropped down there by my kids. It's driving me crazy to see this every time I come into my kitchen. The other problem about this particular mess is that this is the main walkway through the kitchen.

Option 2 would be to go back to the bench that my husband built while we waited for the right stools to come along. The problem with this set up is that all that junk and gunk is harder to clean because the bench is so large, and you have to move the whole thing to clean under it.

So, help me out here. What would you do if this were your dilemma?

Hiding The Pop Tarts

2011-01-10T01:14:00.000-08:00

I’m going to be honest with you; When I went to the store today, I bought Pop-Tarts. It happens about twice a year. I throw all caution to the wind and I put a box of sugar and preservative laden, frosted, toasted goodness in my cart. And I hope that the kids don’t see them when I stash them in an appropriately high cabinet. One that isn’t for food. Where they would NEVER think to look.. When they go to bed I sneak a shiny foil wrapped no-no out and into the toaster. I hope they cannot smell the forbidden treasure as it is toasting. And then I sit down and enjoy that sinfully good morsel all. by. myself.
Tell me you’ve never done this. Go ahead, tell me.
Maybe it isn’t Pop-Tarts, but I am sure you have a secret, guilty pleasure all of your own.

“So, why,” you may ask, “are you telling me this?”
Because I am sure you can relate!

Resolutions

2010-12-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

I gave up on New Year’s Resolutions a long time ago.
Nothing ever seemed quite right.
Too hard.
Too easy.
Too perfect.
Too ridiculous.
I decided I didn’t want to try to come up with a “perfect” plan just because it was a new day, a new month, a new year– besides, in two weeks I would break my resolution and feel lousy
anyway.
That’s the thing about me. I don’t want to fail, so I don’t want to try. I want to control the
outcome of my life. I want to be master and commander of my universe. It tends to get in the way of a little thing called FAITH.
Looking back on my life so far, the times that have brought me the greatest joy and have been the most fulfilling, though, have been the times that I have listened to God say, “Go.” and I went. Not the times when I asked where– not the times I asked why– not the times I asked for how long.
The times that I have gone simply because the Lord led me have been the most rewarding
because God accomplished great things in me and through me.
It’s a new Year. Listen. Go. Do.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

CSN Stores- This Time, For YOU

2010-12-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

Remember the clock I showed you in my last post? The one I got for free doing a web review? Well, CSN is at it again. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be a chic handbag, corner tv stands or even cute cookware!
This time I am offering you a chance to win a $45 dollar coupon code from CSN. (This cannot be applied to international fees.)
Leave me a comment with link or an address showing me what you would get from any CSN store, and I will choose a random winner on Thursday, December 23rd.
I can't wait to see what you would pick!

____________________________________________________________________

Very scientifically, without telling her why, I had my daughter pick a number. She picked 2. Kathi, that is you! Congratulations, you have won the $45 "gift certificate" to CSN stores. Happy shopping.

Jonah's Room

2010-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Ten years ago I painted this room periwinkle for the baby I was going to have.

I thought the baby might be a girl so I went with periwinkle. But just to be safe I added touches of lime green and navy blue. When she was born I added in pink and purple. I loved that room.

A few years later, I updated the room for a girl and her sister. I added a cute fairy wall paper border and took out all the lime green and navy. I loved this room, too.

Last summer, I rearranged all the rooms. This one became Jonah's room. It is the smallest room in the house and since he is so much younger than his brothers, I put him here alone.

He is happy to have his own space, and everyone else is happy that he is not bugging them at night. He doesn't kick the wall to wiggle the bunk bed. No one cares if he sleeps with the door open. Nobody wakes him up at 6 am when they get ready for school.

You can't see it, but the walls are yellow on yellow stripes. The walls were painted satin and then I painted the stripes with semi-gloss. Even though you can't see the stripes, if you look closely, you can see the clock.

I love this room.

The Rains Came Down, And The Floods Came Up

2010-12-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

And the house in the 100 year flood plain stands firm.

Candy Land, Part 3

2010-12-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

The Craft

The kids made little "candy machines" to take home.

I had the kids sit and paint the little pots and a small, wooden wheel red as they came in.

I had a parent add a "door" and "coin slot" once the red paint was dry.

After cake, and before parents came to pick the kids up, I had the kids pull the top off a clear, plastic ornament and fill it with Skittles. Then we put the top back on th ornament and glued it upside down into the pot, adding the wheel to the top.

This is what we ended up with as a tke home from the party.

I took my inspiration from this post that I found through my bloggy friend, Merideth.

Psalm 100

2010-11-25T10:49:00.000-08:00

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations

Candy Land, Part 2

2010-11-24T08:35:00.003-08:00

The Cake

With cupcakes sprayed all different colors to represent the spaces on the game board.

There was a chocolate fountain to represent Gloppy's Chocolate Swamp,

peanuts and peanut brittle to represent Gramma Nutt at Peanut Acres,

Licorice for the Licorice Forest, and the dastardly Lord Licorice,

and gingerbread for the Gingerbread Forest.

Also, if you look closely you will see lollypops for Lollypop Woods, candy canes and starlight mints for the Peppermint Forest, Gumdrop Pass, and gumballs and other candies for King Kandy's Castle.

At the end of the party I loaded treat bags FULL of all this candy for the kids to take home.

Candy Land, Part 1

2010-11-22T07:20:00.001-08:00

Last week I left you with shots of what would become the main decorations for my son's 6th birthday party.

Clearly, the theme was Candy Land. Well, here they all are in their panted glory along with some of the other decorations I put out.

You gotta love friends. I mentioned to one friend what I was doing and she volunteered her stash of candy themed Christmas decorations.

The tablescapes are made from a mix of things I owned and her borrowed goods.

She even loaned me candy garland that looked like Life Savers, which I hung in the doorways.

Sneak Peek

2010-11-15T13:32:00.000-08:00

CSN Stores

2010-11-03T22:50:00.000-07:00

Recently I was contacted by CSN Stores to do a promotion on my blog for their website.

The incentive?

$20 to spend for my time.

Well, okay....

Seriously, if you do much online browsing or shopping, this would be the place to do it. CSN Stores sells EVERYTHING from contemporary coffee tables to projector screens to wheel chairs.

So, what am I going to get?

This cutie

It will look GREAT in Jonah's newly painted room.

You know, when I finish painting it.

Don't Forget:

2010-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Take Out The Trash!

VOTE!

Politicians are like diapers, They need to be changed often and for the same reason.

-Mark Twain

Think About This As You Fill Out Your Ballot

2010-10-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Government never gives. It only takes.

1 Samuel 8 - Passage Lookup - New International Version - BibleGateway.com: "11 He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle [b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.'"

1+1=11

2010-10-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

Caleb turned 11 today.

I tried, and tried, and tried to get him to engage in planning a party.

He resisted, and resisted, and resisted.

Finally, Caleb asked me, "Mom, couldn't we just have my family over?

You know, Grandma and Papa, and my aunts and uncles?"

Well, duh.

I am all about a high energy party. Caleb is all about low key.

He had a great night.

He chose chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, pizza, pop, chips,

veggies and ranch dip, and orange slices for his dinner.

Happy Birthday, Man.

You are you, and I love you just like that.

Just Do The Next Thing

2010-09-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the big picture. I get bogged down in all the things that need done. I use my busyness as an excuse not to do the things I might actually want to do. Sometimes, it is an excuse to not do the things I don't want to do.

There is an anual, one way camping trip that I have never been on. It started about three years ago. Sebastian and the kids have been walking down the Washington Coast. The first year was from Shi Shi beach to lake Ozette. The next year they didn't get to go. The year after that was lake Ozette to LaPush. This year was LaPush to Oil City. I have not gone because I had a baby that I needed to take care of. I needed to move the car.

This year I had no baby. Friends were going to meet us and they would leave their car at one end for pick up. I had no excuse so I went along for the hike.

You know the saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?" It's true. We did a lot of strolling along the beach. It was, well, a walk on the beach. But then there was also this:

One going up, and a few miles later, one going down.

I used to be all adventure all the time. Then I had kids. Now the thoughts that go through my mind are thoughts such as, "If I die, who will take care of my kids?" "If I don't manage to die, who will take care of me?"

Sometimes, though, you just have no choice. You have to move, or you have to stop living. There are no other options.

Sometimes the obstacle is not as simple as a ladder up or down a wall face. But the rules are the same. Move or die there.

All the way down the ladder I just kept telling myself, "Just look at what you are doing, and then only do the next thing."

It's good advice. I should listen to myself more often.

I'm glad I went. If I hadn't I would have missed all of this:

Struggle

2010-09-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

School has started.
My kids are there.
The house is quiet.
Sounds like a dream, right?
Feels like a nightmare.
I have been struggling lately.
I think I need to winter in Arizona.
It started about a month ago.
The days were still warm.
The nights were coming sooner.
Each day there was more left undone.
Then, about two weeks ago, I stopped going to bed at a normal time.
I starting finding non-productive things to putter with.
I started waking up on the couch and dragging myself to bed- kicking myself for all the things I didn't get done.
Two weeks ago, the rain started moving in.
Inside of me, too.
I started walking around in zombie mode.
I still have stretches when things are happy and productive, but I feel like the veil of mist that clings to the air is clinging to my heart, too.
I am struggling.
Worthless.
Unproductive.
Slob.
Those are the thoughts I wrestle with.
I know they are lies.
And don't worry, I have an appointment with my doctor.
It's a yearly discussion of pharmacology and other methods to combat the grey in my head.
It goes away when the skies turn blue again.
Just thought I would let you know.
I am struggling.

Some Things Can Only Be Learned The Hard Way

2010-09-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Things like life lessons about mortality.

We live a couple of blocks inside the city limits. That means that just a couple of blocks away, our road turns into a two lane highway with a speed limit of 50 mph. Sometimes, cars are still going 50 mph when they pass my house.

Spike, naughty Spike, liked to run away. He never listened when he was called back, so I don't know what was different about that sunny Sunday afternoon in late August- but he decided to turn around and come back when he was called. Unfortunately, he decided to come back just as a 3/4 ton truck was barreling past our house. The driver of the truck hit Spike. He never even stopped or slowed down. Fortunately for Spike he was dead on impact and did not suffer. Unfortunately, all of my kids were either on the corner or in the yard and saw their dog die.

Sebastian gathered Spike out of the road and had the children say goodbye to him. We put him in a box and took him out to the woods to bury him. Afterward, we took the kids out to ice cream and we told funny Spike stories.

Here are the ones the kids told us:

Jonah
When Dad said roll over, Spike spun around.
I like how little Spike was when we gave him a bath.

Libby
When we gave Spike a bath he rubbed himself all over the carpet and couches!
(This was hilarious to see. Spike would either put one side of his head down and run in circles, rubbing his head on the floor, or he would lay on his side and "run" so that he scooted across the floor or couch oh his side. He continued to do this until he felt he was sufficiently dry.)

Caleb
One time Spike was running to Dad and Dad told him to sit, so he did. He slid the rest of the way to Dad.

Abby
It was funny when we went camping with Spike and we put him in the lake. He was swimming so hard to get back to land.
(Spike tolerated baths fairly well, but he HATED cold water!)

Jesse was in Washington DC with my mom, so we decided to wait until he got home to tell him that Spike died. In a wry, dry, sarcastic tone, he told me, "There's nothing worse than coming home from vacation to be told that your dog died."

We learned some hard lessons from Spike:

We learned from Spike that sometimes, we can love something and have to say goodbye.
We learned (especially the two youngest) a healthy respect for the road.
We learned that we can be sad. We can miss Spike. And we have to get up and keep living our lives.
We learned that memories are fun things when we are missing Spike.
I learned to Thank God for constantly protecting my children from unforeseen dangers.
We learned, by giving Spike's things away to the animal shelter, that even though Spike died, we could help out some other animals. We turned our sadness into actions.

I'm Not That Old!

2010-09-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

I am certainly not old enough to be the parent of a teenager.

But apparently, he didn't get that memo and turned 13 in August, anyway.

Which is pretty much impossible since I am only old enough to be his big sister. *ahem*

Happy birthday, Son.
I pray you grow into the man of integrity and compassion, just as God intends for you.

He Calls Me Mama

2010-08-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was fired. In a fit of five year old rage he fired me. Stomped his foot and fired me.
"Fine." I said. "I have some things to do in town anyway, and I didn't want to have to take you with me."
"No, Mama! The police will come and you will go to jail if you leave me here!"
"Well, I guess you can't fire me then."
He looked at his toes scuffing the tiled floor. "Well, you're still fired. Just don't leave, Mama."
So I went to read a book. I was bring a little selfish, too. A whole book. While the sink sat full of dirty dishes and the dish washer was full and un-run.
"Mama?" Chapter 12. "Can I have some applesauce?"
"I don't know. You fired me."
"Then you won't care."
And I didn't.
"Mama?" Chapter 25. "Can I sit on your lap?"
"Am I still fired?"
"I guess not."
"Sure, climb up here. But try not to wiggle. I'm reading."
He slipped his thumb into his mouth and toyed with a wisp of my hair. His breathing slowed and deepened, and the wet thumb slipped from between his lips. Chapter 31.
I sighed and shifted his weight. Only 3 more chapters to go. Never mind that my left arm was asleep from the elbow down from the weight of his sweaty head. I was almost done.
I closed the back cover of my book and hefted us off the couch. I carried my boy to his bed and tucked him in.
"Night, Mama," he mumbled as I kissed his mop of hair.
"Night, Love," I replied.

*While not entirely true, this story is inspired by actual events, and he does call me Mama. He's the only one.

Parade 2010

2010-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

What? Doesn't every one keep a stack of 5 gallon buckets on their porch?

Well, after the stack sat there for about a week, my husband started getting a little cranky with "the mess in the way," so I knew I had to move forward with my bucket stack.

I added support posts which gave me the right shape and something to staple my chicken wire to. I wrapped the top in some cardboard that a friend had on hand for various projects, and papier mached the bottom portion (Boy, if my husband hadn't liked the mess before, he sure hated it now!) to create...

a giant sized beaker! Actually, it's an Erlenmeyer Flask, but when you say that, people scratch their heads and say, "Huh?" If you say beaker, they know just what you are talking about.

This became the float for the parade in our small town. As the publicity coordinator for our MOPs group, it was my job to see to the parade float. MOPs International has given us the theme "Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering" which, frankly, I don't love, but I wanted to work with the theme.

Here we are all lined up for our parade on a grey and foggy Saturday morning.

We walked as a group with all the other MOPs groups in our area. There are now actually 4 groups in our town and neighboring areas. The newest group is MOMSNext, for moms whose kids have gone into elementary school.

We didn't have quite the turn out I wanted. The parade is always the first weekend in August, but a funny thing happened this year with Sunday being August 1st. I think people assumed the parade was going to be on the 31st of July, but it was actually on the first Saturday of August. Sadly, a lot of people already had other plans by the time they figured that out.

Any way, we got rained on, so I am sure a lot of people were glad to not be there.

And then my camera batteries died....

A Startling Realization

2010-08-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

Remember when you had your first baby? Your second baby? Your third, fourth, or fifth? No? I do. I also remember how everyone said, "Cherish these days. they will go so fast, and you will miss them when they are gone."

Well, I guess if you only have one child, "these days" tend to go very fast. if you have five... not so much.

I came to the startling realization this week that "these days" are finally over.

Last weekend we drove to the far side of the state to go to some really cool water slides. Me, and my five kids. Just us, no dad. I realized that all of my kids were old enough to play without my constant supervision. Even the youngest of my kids was told, "I am going to go ride this ride. You stay here." And he did.

Then, just yesterday, we walked in our town's parade. I just walked. two of my kids watched, and three of them walked with our group. I didn't have to hold any one's hand. I didn't even worry that they would get lost. I just handed out business cards for MOPs and chatted to people I knew along the way.

I guess "these days" are over. They were exhausting, and I think it will be a REALLY long time before I miss them.

Here's The Skinny:

2010-07-11T22:32:00.000-07:00

I am fat. I weigh as much or more now than I ever did pregnant.
I have made a couple of lifestyle changes recently. First, I gave up caffeine. Not because caffeine itself is so bad (it is), but because I only like my caffeine loaded with sugar. No more pop or foofoo coffee for me.
The second change is that I was given an elliptical machine and I have been using it almost daily for at least 25 minutes, for the last 2 1/2 months.
So, the reason I am even telling you this is that I need some suggestions. I want to start Weight Watchers again as I have had success with their "points" system in the past, but I get SOOO incredibly bored with diet food. I would like your suggestions about what to eat that won't keep me fat!
Ah, and one more thing- I am not a short order cook, so whatever I make, everyone has to eat. I don't have incredibly picky kids (well, they don't eat hot dogs or plastic cheese), but they do have limitations.
OK, leave me a comment!

Friends

2010-07-08T08:59:00.001-07:00

And Then She Was Eight

2010-07-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

Seems like two weeks ago, we were doing this:

When really, we were doing this:

Happy Birthday, Abigail!

Maid Service For Under $10

2010-06-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

I know they should do it anyway, but sometimes my kids just need a little extra incentive- especially when they have friends over. The beauty of this system is that everyone participates.

I don't really care who I give the money to as long as the jobs are done.

This is a great system for kids ages 3 to about 10 years old.

Start with a big jar.

Write all the jobs you want done on slips of paper.

They cannot be "Clean the living room," but. rather they should be components of a larger job. Therefore, "clean the living room" becomes:

"Put away things that don't belong in the living room"

"vacuum living room rug"

"sweep living room"

"dust living room"

Each job is worth a quarter. The amount of money each kid makes is determined by the speed they work.

Jonah quit when he had 2 quarters. He's 5. I guess 50 cents was enough for him.

One of the friends decided she wanted a dollar, so she did 4 jobs.

Eventually, everything got clean.

And then we had ice cream.

Speaking Of Expectations

2010-06-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

This yumminess was brought to the table by my very capable 12 year old.

He used this recipe- mostly.

I did not help in any way.

That is why we had dinner at 9pm.

But, it sure was good. And, by that time, it tasted even better because we were all so hungry.

We all decided that we did not like the bok choy because it was too bitter. The next time we do it, we will use spinach.

You Are Genius. And, I Love You For It.

2010-06-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

A love letter to the absolute genius behind Oxi-Clean;

Dear sir or Madam,

Marry me!

I have long been a fan of your original Oxi-Clean, buying it in bulk from my local Costco. I was especially fond of your powdery goodness when my children were in diapers. Any leak or downright explosion could be easily rectified. The small stained clothing was simply placed in the bucket of Oxi-water solution I kept in the laundry room until the next time I washed laundry. The last task of laundry was to create a new, clean bucket of Oxi-water. Alas, we have outgrown the need for a bucket of Oxi-water, but our love affair with Oxi-clean lives on.

Imagine, if you will, a bathroom that I rarely enter. A bathroom that I avoid at all costs. Against my better judgement, I pulled back the shower curtain in said bathroom and nearly fainted. Let me just say that I have seen cleaner service station bathrooms. And then I saw the commercial for Kaboom Foam.

Marry me.

Kaboom Foam cleaned that disgusting mess as easily as the commercial showed. Sprays on blue, turns white, wipe, rinse. And it smells good, too!

So, from a grateful housewife, I have just one request:

Marry me? Pretty Please?

P.S. Feel free to send me a lifetime supply of your fabulous products for this completely unsolicited endorsement. My lifetime, not yours.

Dirty Dishes

2010-06-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

Never once have I claimed to be a perfect house keeper. In fact, I tell my friends that they are welcome to stop and see me any time they want, but If they want the house to be clean, then they need to make an appointment.

My mom, on the other hand, cleans her clean house every day. She dusts her dustless furniture and scrubs her scumless tubs. But it wasn't always that way. I remember as a kid, we had to find the table so we could eat dinner everyday. I also remember PILES of laundry- which you would expect with 6 kids and various extras.

So, where am I going with this?

There are certain things that are expected at our messy house. All the kids except Jonah wash, dry, fold or hang, and put away their own laundry. Jonah is expected to put his laundry away in the drawers or the closet. Most of them can (whether they do it or not) clean a bathroom from top to bottom. The easiest thing of all, I think, is that every one is expected to load their own dishes in the dishwasher. They can all empty the dishwasher, and can all put away the hand washed dishes.

So, when kids come over and they leave their dishes on the table, I call them back, smile sweetly, and tell them that I will not put their dishes in the dishwasher for them. They will, invariably, look at me like I am off my rocker, and take their dishes to the dishwasher. I tell you, with out fail, I find those dishes right side up, on top of other dishes, with the spoon or fork beside them on the top rack. Really?

Am I really that strange to think that a child of 5 years or older should be able to take their own dishes to the dishwasher and load them so I wont have to?

It's Like A Completely Different Country!

2010-05-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to Canada. And they let me come back home. Which is good.

I don't have any idea what I actually read on the ferry schedule to Victoria, but I thought it said that a car and driver were $16 and each additional passenger was $5. Those would be normal ferry prices. We got to the ferry and we were informed that it was $75. One way. Yes, I realize that would be $75 Canadian, but the Canadian dollar is only pennies less than the American dollar at the moment, so it still would have cost $150 to get there and back. That was why we didn't take the Victoria clipper- which includes a berth for overnight.

We considered going anyway- right up until the ticket agent said it was $75 EACH WAY. Then I looked at her and said, "Suddenly, I don't care to go to Victoria. At all." We ended up driving away from the ferry terminal, but I wonder how many people suck it up because they want to go to Victoria and already have a travel itinerary.

We didn't have tea in a quaint Victorian village, but we did have a scrumptious lunch in Stanley Park overlooking the ocean. That was the highlight of the day. Seriously, that was as good as it got for me.

When our plans took a left turn, we found a Starbucks and asked what we should do in the fine metropolis of Vancouver. The baristas hemmed and hawed.

We could go to the aquarium.

I can do that in Seattle.

We could go to the Bite of Vancouver.

I can always go to the Bite of Seattle.

We could go to the mall.

Then why are all the Canadians always down here at our outlet malls?

So, soon a regular came in and the baristas asked her, "What is there to do on a Sunday in Vancouver?"

She took one pitting look at us and answered, "Oh Gawwwd. Nothing."

The day would prove her right.

So, why a different country?

The green lights on the traffic signals blink. It's disconcerting.

There are intersections where one road has a traffic signal and the cross road merely has a stop sign. It is hard to tell when you should go.

The signs are all crazy looking.

The parking is metered 24/7. No weekends or evenings off.

The hardest thing about driving there, though, is that in our area, we have I-5. It is clearly marked and easy to find. It runs north. Or south. The freeway there? well, there isn't really one. As soon as you cross the border, it peters out into a boulevard through urban streets.

It was crazy.

We came home and ate dinner at the Olive Garden. We knew where that was, right off I-5.

It was good to be home. In a normal country, eh?

5X7=Me!

2010-05-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

35 things:

I got up and exercised for 20 minutes on my free elliptical machine. I've had it for a few weeks, and 20 minutes is still hard. I did challenge myself to 25 minutes one day this week and I did 2 15 minute workouts one day.

I weighed myself and liked what I saw.

I sent my husband out to get doughnuts before the kids left for school because I just didn't want to get out of bed yet.

I just ate one.

I took Jonah to his preschool party.

I got so bored that I came home and cleaned the kitchen. Bad, huh? I went back to pick him up when I was done with the kitchen.

I folded and put away all of my laundry. That includes hanging all my clothes and putting away the baskets.

I took Jesse to get a haircut.

While I was there I asked to have my eyebrows waxed and a 'do done.

I picked up the girls I babysit.

The kids and I made home made ice cream and had cake since one of the girls I watch is my birthday twin.

I told the kids all I wanted for my birthday was a clean house.

I instituted slave labor and had the kids clean the family room, the game closet, and the play room.

I should have included the bathrooms in that list!

Sebastian brought me a bouquet of red roses and white lilies.

They are on the counter next to the anniversary bouquet of pink carnations and yellow lilies that I bought for him on Monday.

He also brought me a package of Milano cookies, since they are my favorite.

I made the kids mad by not opening the cookies.

Before you think my husband is a cheep skate, on Mother's day he brought in a huge box and said. "Happy Mother's day. Happy anniversary. Happy birthday." It was a stand mixer.

It was exactly what I wanted.

My dad called and asked if I wanted to go out for dinner.

We went to Mexican.

I had a margarita. I thought it was REALLY strong, since I was still tipsy after my dinner.

I made Jesse order off the kids menu.

We both ordered enchiladas suisa. I got 2 he got 1.

We should have just traded plates since he ate my second enchilada!

We came home from dinner, put the kids in bed, and watched Alias on dvd.

Correction: Sebastian watched Alias. I watched the inside of my eyelids. But I was already ahead of him since I watch it in the morning when I work out.

I guess that makes us officially old.

Tomorrow my friend and I are going to go to Canada.

If you recall, we usually go out to dinner and a movie.

This year I wanted to do something different, so we are going to Victoria, BC. That's different.

Only the blond and the brunette are going because the red head can't get away.

I'm not bitter... I'm not bitter... I'm n....

It kind of messes with the whole joke. "A blond, a brunette, and a read head go to Canada...."

Lucky Number 13

2010-05-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

What was so lucky about it?

Well, we were lucky that the tire didn't blow out on the mountain pass in the middle of the night. We were lucky that it waited until we hit town the next morning. We were lucky to slide into Les Schwab before the morning rush. You were lucky I bought you four new tires. Don't say I never bought you anything.

We were lucky to find friends and family to watch all five of our children on short notice so we could have a fun weekend of wine tasting.

We were lucky to get to spend some time together. I was extra lucky that you forgot your cell phone at home. No one called us all weekend!

But, mostly, I am lucky to be in love with you, my best friend.
Happy 13th Anniversary.

That's What He Said

2010-05-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

Today was leadership clean up for MOPs leadership. While the care group leaders cleaned toys, the steering team cleaned out the MOPs closet. I was brutal. I made people get rid of all manner of things that I knew had only been used once and then languished in the closet for at least 5 years.
Jonah ended up in possession of 5 little globe play balls.
As we were leaving he discovered that he couldn't carry 5 balls with two little hands. I was helping him stuff two of the balls into his jacket pockets while he protested.
"No, Mom, people will think those are my boobs way down there!"
"Sweetie, every one knows that five year old boys do not have boobs..."
"Oh, right. We have nibbles."
"What?"
"Nibbles. NI-BBLES."

*pththfffheeheeheeHAHAHAHA*

Love Believes All Things...It Hopes All Things

2010-05-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

Soooo....
We had the dog neutered. We were told he would stop marking and would not need to run away so much. Like, every time he slipped out a door. Or whenever someone unleashed him. Or whenever someone accidentally dropped the leash. Yeah...
Well, I NEVER let him out unless he is securely leashed or tethered. My husband is more optimistic. Sebastian really is a loving guy. He believes the best about people, and the dog, too.
Today, he untethered the dog- just to see what he would do. Sebastian promptly went on an unscheduled lunch hour jog. After the dog. I stood in the driveway and laughed at him. Because he believes that the dog will behave each time.

I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love suffers long and is kind; Love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Illegal Immigrants, Health care, and the IRS

2010-05-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

What do they have in common? Well, quite a lot, actually.

Now, before I go too deeply into this topic, I need to file my disclaimer.

**I married a man who was illegal at the time we married. We then worked within the system to straighten his status out. We were fully prepared for the moment when we may have had to pack up and go to his home. Technically, I would not have been required to, but the day my husband and I live apart is the day one of us will be lowered into the ground.

**I also realize, that despite the current trend of trampling our constitutional rights by the past and current administrations, we still live in the most prosperous, free, and desirable country on the face of the earth. I understand why people will do whatever it takes to get here. What I don't understand is why we (the system) don't enforce our immigration laws or seal our borders.

So, now you know where I am coming from....

You realize that if you have no health insurance- for what ever reason- that you will now be forced to obtain "insurance" from private or public sources.

Who is going to know? How will it be enforced? Well, that's where the IRS comes in. You will be required to show on some sort of 1040 schedule that you have paid your health care premium.

Who doesn't have to have health care? The government has written themselves out of this legislation. I have heard the Amish are exempt. And any one who does not pay taxes. Who would that be? Oh, yes, illegal immigrants. But where do illegals obtain their health care? From ER's that are forbidden to turn them away.

Who is paying? All law abiding citizens.

Who is receiving? Illegals.

Since I hate taxes, don't care much for doctors and hospitals, and abhor most politicians, I'm thinking about becoming plain.

Here's The Deal: Don't Touch Me

2010-04-23T23:56:00.000-07:00

Quirks. They kinda' take on a life of their own, don't they?
I don't like to be touched.
I'm not a hugger.
Don't stroke my arm as you are talking to me.
In fact, could you move about 1 foot away?

I know, I know. I can hear you...
"How is it that you don't like to be touched? You have five kids. You OBVIOUSLY like to be touched."

Really? That's none of your business and, frankly, it's rude.
But, let's unpack this box just a little.
I have 5 kids. They like to come and lay their head on my shoulder while I am sitting down. They like to get into my bed at night. They like to sit rightbesidemewhileIwatchtv. They hang over the back of my chair while I am on the computer. They follow me around the kitchen, always *right there* when I turn around. They pull on my arm in the grocery store. I love my kids and they need to touch me.

Believe me, the last thing I want to have happen, is to be in a room of adults and have them start touching me. AAAAHHHHH!

It only gets worse if you are pregnant. Why is it that people feel they have a right to fondle a pregnant woman's belly? WHY? Would it be cute for them to come and pinch my fat? The belly is almost as big now. Want me to pull my shirt up and flash my stretch marks?

This used to TICK ME OFF! Well, after all, I was pregnant and hormonal. I was being molested at MOPs one day and I kindly asked the woman to stop touching me. She laughed and did it all the more. Ob-nox-ious. She ended up getting her hand slapped like a naughty child. No one ever tried to touch my belly again. I'm just sayin'.

So, Here's the deal: Don't touch me.

By the way, I read the book. I loved it. If lewdity (Is that even a word?) and crass humor make you squirm, don't read it. If you want to read about how someone deals with a crippling phobia and triumphs, and peppers his story with signature raunchy humor, go for it. Just make sure you get some latex gloves and do not, I repeat, DO NOT read it in the bathroom.

Meh...

2010-04-19T22:12:00.000-07:00

We had a citizenship party for Sebastian this weekend. I love a good party. This as a good one. We had about 25 adult guests show up. About half of that was my family, a few were friends we have made in the last few years, but the rest were people that had invested into his life way back when. It was so exciting to see some of those people again after such a long time.
My house has a hang over. Still. Post party let down, where you keep discovering paper plates in the bushes, really does me in.
I have been working on a cabinet for a client of Sebastian's. I hate the way it is coming out. I think it is because I have had to squeeze in the time to do it around other things. Now I need to sand and refinish the doors. I asked Sebastian to bring them home so I can work on them here. I think that will make them look better. I really do.
My sister, Trish, came down from Alaska for a few days. We planned the party for the weekend she was here. I'm glad she got to come, but that left me not free to run around doing the "sister" things. She went home today.
We all got together to have lunch today, but I didn't get to stay long enough due to the afore mentioned cabinet.
I think I need to sleep for a whole day. Preferably on a blanket in the sunshine. Unfortunately, I think I missed my opportunity for that today. I hear it may rain tomorrow.
Meh.

A Red (,White, and Blue) Letter Day

2010-03-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

Three letters. actually.

USA

After nearly 13 years, our family has reached a major milestone. And when I say "our family," I really mean the whole family. Almost 13 years ago we sat in the Federal Building with our infant son and interviewed for a green card. About a year later, and pregnant with our second son, I watched the proceedings in INS court. We were blissfully unaware when we started our proceedings that there were open orders for deportation. I sat in that court room, surrounded by family and friends, prepared to say goodbye to every one of them. I didn't have to.

Another year later, the green card finally arrived in the mail.

We rode that peaceful ride for 10 years- until this year when it was time for my husband's green card to expire.

Jesse, the baby we took to the initial interview, is almost 13. He did the initial work of finding the right form, downloading and printing it out.

I filled it out as much as I could, filed paperwork for Sebastian, and made MANY copies.

Sebastian, of course, did all the interviewing.

There are a few small details like a passport and registering to vote that still need taken care of, but we are glad have gotten to this resting point on the journey!

In The Loo

2010-03-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Remember that I mentioned that I had painted the kid's bathroom a while ago? I bet you want to see it finished. I do too- but you will have to settle for clean. In fact, I had to clean it in order for you to see it- and for the county not to condemn the place. (Bathrooms are not my strong suit.)

The bathroom is really dinky, and until recently it was painted yellow with rubber duckies. I figured that the 12 and 10 year old boys were probably done with duckies- but they still had to share the bathroom with 9 and 7 1/2 year old girls and a 5 year old boy. I chose something that was really fun with out being gender specific. Our house has walls that slope into the ceiling on the second floor, so there is no stopping point when you paint. Either you paint the ceiling the same color as the walls or you create a stopping point. So, create a stopping point is what I did. I had my husband hang some flat MDF molding around the room at the height of the top of the window and painted the lime green up to that point and white above it.

I still need to paint the trim in the bathroom, but I really want to strip the pre-existing trim and the door for re-painting. (Does anyone know how to strip trim in place without damaging the surrounding walls?)

I chose the paint to go with the polka dots on the shower curtain, and found a rug to match. Then when I got home I noticed that the kid's towels all look super hanging next to the shower curtain. Sebastian made the towel rack a few years ago and I moved it up to the top of the window frame when I redid the bathroom. Only Jonah needs a stool to hang his towel up.This is the other side of the room. See that little cart there in the corner? Look closer:I am convinced that God loves me. The same weekend I painted the bathroom, a friend asked me if I wanted it. I knew I had just the place for it. And I have 5 kids, and there are 10 drawers- in 5 colors. All the colors are close to the kids' assigned colors, to boot! Now, every one's tooth brushes, deodorant, hair pretties, etc. are put away!!!!

I really like the new look. What do you think?

Sunday Snicker

2010-03-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Today our pastor used a joke as a sermon highlight. Don't stop me if you've heard this one:

A young husband was ill. No matter what he did, he just couldn't seem to get better. Finally he had his wife drive him to the doctor. As he was dressing after the examination the doctor spoke to the young wife in the waiting area. "Your husband has a severe and rare case of anemia. He needs plenty of rest, a hearty home cooked breakfast, a hot lunch , and a meat and potatoes type of dinner EVERY DAY. Also, he needs his home to be kept immaculately. If you do all of this, he will live. Do you want to tell him, or do you want me to tell him?"
The wife answered that she would like to be the one to break the news to her husband, so she went to the exam room. Taking one look at his wife's face the husband asked, "How bad is it?"
The wife burst into uncontrollable sobs and finally managed to choke out, "He...said...you...were...going...to...die!!!!!"

I turned to my husband and said in a stage whisper, "Honey, you're going to die!"
He said back to me, "I've been dead for a long time."

Good thing the pastor was at the end of his sermon, because we had THE worst case of giggles you can imagine!

Beware of Trojans Bearing Gifts

2010-02-25T16:40:00.000-08:00

See that side bar? The part where it says buy a new refigerator? See that crossed out?

Well, we didn't exactly buy a new refigerator.

Our friend called and asked if we wanted one. It was fairly new. He just pulled it out of a rental unit managed by the company he works for. It was free. Free is a good price.

There was one catch.

It had been sitting in the unit for about a month with no power- and there was food in it. Uh...

Well, he brought it over, we pulled it onto the deck. Our friend pulled out his box cutter and started to cut off the plastic wrapped around it for transport. I suddenly had to go do... something, somewhere... else.

I was good enough to allow my husband to clean it out for me. Which he did- with a garbage can and a hose. (We threw the food away, and then we threw the garbage can away, too.) He let the fridge sit on the deck, open, for a week end. Then I went after it. I started with a bucket of Lysol. Afew days later I rubbed it down with a few boxes of baking soda. Next, I closed the door and let it sit over night. I hosed it again and then I sprayed it down with bleach water.

Finally, we brought it inside.

I called my friend to say thank you for the grossest, most heineous gift that any one has ever given to me.

*Sigh* I liked the price.

Happy Birthday Miss Elizabeth

2010-02-22T08:51:00.000-08:00

You just get prettier everyday:

What Brings You Joy?

2010-02-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

Last night, in a small group setting, I was asked the question, "What brings you joy?"
I really struggled to answer it. Not because I am not joyful, but because in context I thought the question actually meant, "What makes you happy?"

Those are vastly different questions!
My happiness depends on external factors.
Did someone spill the whole gallon of milk? -Unhappy. Mad. Grouchy for the next hour.
I got a card in the mail instead of bills?- Happy. I'll even re-read it several times that day.
Back talk?- Angry. And a spanking!
Obedience?- Totally happy!

You can affect my level of happiness. You can even take it away completely by your actions.
No one, no where, at no time, by no means can take away my joy.
My joy comes from who I am in Christ.

The Bible tells me that I am a joint heir with Jesus. I will inherit His full inheritance from His Father because God is also my Father, too.

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if Children, then heirs- heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." Romans 8:16-17 New International Version.

The Bible tells me that I can go to God and cry out Abba to him. I can call God my daddy! God is not some far off deity that cannot be approached. He is my DADDY. He longs to spend time with me, to answer my questions, to scoop me up when I have fallen down, to heal my hurts and to rejoice in my triumphs- like any other daddy in the world.

"And because you really are His sons, God has sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba (Father)!" Galatians 4:6 Amplified Version

The Bible tells me that even though I may suffer persecution, the Spirit of God rests on me and , ultimately, He will be glorified.

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. Peter 4:12-14 New King James Version

No one can take my joy away from me, because my joy comes from being secure in my salvation. Being secure in my Heavenly Father. Knowing fully that Jesus loved me enough to pay for my sins through His death so that I may share in His inheritance.

What brings you joy?

All in 2 days work

2010-02-10T22:30:00.001-08:00

This is a project my husband is working on. He bought a fancy camera to document the process. The videos will get loooooonnnggggeeeerrrr as we add days to it. Cool, huh?

Mmmm, Food!

2010-02-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

There is only one reason to go to Applebee's.

The nachos.

For a couple of years I completely boycotted them because they changed the nachos. Then one evening I was on a "mom date" with my girls, and that was where they wanted to go. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I discovered that the nachos were back.

But now, now I may never have to eat out again! I made Applebee's nachos at home tonight.

And since I am so very nice I am going to share my recipe with you.

But before I can do that I have to give you my special *super secret* pico de gallo recipe, begged from my favorite Mexican restaurant.

Pico De Gallo de La Hacienda

1 head of cabbage finely chopped

1 medium onion finely chopped

1 bunch of cilantro finely chopped

5-6 roma tomatoes, diced

2 limes, juiced

Salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients together in a large plastic container with a tight fitting lid.

Store in the fridge.

This is really fabulous on the second day when the flavors have had a chance to mix together.

I have a Cuisinart that I bought at the thrift store- it made short work of all the chopping. I just made sure to use the "pulse" button so I didn't end up with cabbage juice...

Then, you have to make the cheese sauce (This is what makes the nachos taste like they came from Applebee's- so don't skip this step!)

Cheese sauce

2 tsp butter

2 tbs flour

1tsp white pepper

milk

Velveeta or store brand equivalent

Your favorite hot sauce to taste

In a skillet melt butter. Add flour and pepper. Stir to soak up all butter. Slowly stir in milk a little at a time, stirring constantly to break up clumps of flour. You want to end up with a runny white sauce. Melt cheese into white sauce (I used 1/2 of a big brick). Add hot sauce to taste-the cheese at Applebee's is pretty spicy.

Now that you have made that, you are ready for the NACHOS.

Applebee's Nachos

Corn chips

Cheese sauce

Black beans rinsed and heated

Finely shredded lettuce

Pico de Gallo

Sour cream

**Applebee's also adds spicy ground beef and jalapenos- but that makes them too spicy for me so I leave them out.

Pile the ingredients on your plate in the order listed and enjoy!

3 out of 4 taste testers like this meal and I got to hear about how awesome I was all through dinner!

The Wall

2010-02-03T16:56:00.001-08:00

What's so special about this wall?

Nothing much.

The Book Of Eli

2010-01-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

I am a huge movie person (I'm not huge, I enjoy movies hugely), but I always worry when Hollywierd does any treatment of Christianity.

Have you ever seen the movie Saved!

How about The DaVinci Code?

Or Left Behind and Fireproof?**

Having said that, I went to see The Book Of Eli last night.

While there are some things I disagree with doctrinally, it treated Christianity and more specifically, the Bible, with respect. Denzel Washington plays the part of The Walker- and he plays it exceptionally well.

The movie is well written, well acted, and has a surprise ending.

There is even a pretty girl in the movie who looks a bit like Baby Angelina- before she ruined her lips.

If you are a huge movie person, I recommend seeing this one.

***These movies were respectful, but so poorly acted that they were not taken seriously by the mainstream. And I do not say that lightly, as I have the greatest respect for Kirk Cameron, and the stand he has taken for purity and integrity.

Even When I'm Not Late...

2010-01-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

Jonah goes to preschool on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12:30. Scratch that. Preschool starts at 12:30. Jonah usually gets there at 12:40. At 12:30 we are frantically looking for the other shoe and swiping a rag at his Spagetti-O'd face as he runs by. We find the shoe (Or coat, or Show-and-Tell bag, or communication envelope, or whatever it happens to be that is making us late on that particular day), and dash to the car for the 4 block drive to preschool. All of you who have ever lived in an urban setting need to close your mouth now- I know you would NEVER drive 4 blocks, but we are LATE.

On Friday at 12:15 I turned to Jonah and said, "How about we try something new today? How about not being late?"

He replied, "What, you mean leave right now?"

"Uh, yeah."

So we got both shoes, a coat and whatever else we needed and got in the car for our four block drive. I drove through the drop off lane and to the class room door at 12:29 and waited for the teacher to open the door and greet Jonah.

The door did not open.

And then I noticed there were no lights on in the class room.

And then I remembered that Friday was the day that the afternoon preschool was combined with the morning preschool for a field trip to the fire department.

D'OH!

Even when I'm not late, I'm late!

The One About Eating Northern California

2010-01-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

What do you say when your husband calls on Christmas eve and asks if you want to go to California? You say, "Of course," Right?
So, what if he says, "Do you want to go Tomorrow?"
Do you say yes?
Well I did- because I'm crazy like that.

We had Christmas dinner at my house, packed, and then left for California. At Midnight. So our kids would ride quietly- asleep.
We got to Fairfield, California at noon on the 26th. And stopped at the Jelly Belly factory. And ate lots of Jelly Bellys. Lots.

We went to Chevy's. they used to have those here. Sadly, they don't any more.
We ate a lot. A lot more.

The next day we went to San Fransisco. And ate at the Boudin Sourdough Company. On the way home we ate IHOP. We also got to go see Yosemite.
Where we ate out of our cooler.
But did stop to buy hot chocolate.
When it was time to go home we stopped for one more lunch at Chevy's- because it was that good.
We drove back to fairfield and went to the Budweiser factory- and tasted some beers.
Then we found out that I-5 was closed at Shasta due to severe snow storms. The only way for us to get home was to drive up the coast. So we headed west to Petaluma- where we had dinner at In&Out Burger.
We drove all night and hit Vancouver, WA at 9:30. We stopped to see some good friends- and breakfast was ready- and we were hungry!

We ended up having Applebee's for dinner that night.

So, how about you? Do you ever just take off at the drop of a hat?
Have you ever eaten an entire state?

Bump, Set,

2010-01-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

SPIKE!

We took a family vote. We did an anonymous ballot where we ranked the names suggested in order from our least favorite (1) to our most favorite (17). The I took each of the ballots and totaled the numbers. While Spike wasn't the most popular with everyone it did have the highest combined score. So, Spike he shall remain.

Where's Waldo?

2009-12-27T10:16:00.000-08:00

How Many Kings?

2009-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -
Just a child -
Is this who we've waited for?

'cause... How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

'cause... How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

All for me...
All for you...

Bump, Set,

2009-12-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

Spike.

Yeah, I know. It's not working for me either.

But, that is the name he came with so that is what we've been calling him while we decided if we were keeping him or not.

We decided he can stay, but the name has to go.

One of the deciding factors?

He puts up with a whole lot of this.

And this.

But seriously, he needs a new name.

So, here's where you come in.

Leave me a comment telling me what YOU think he should be called, and on December 31 the kids and I will decide if any of the proffered names "go".

If we pick your name, you will win either a $10 gift card to Target, or a $10 gift card to Petco.

I will announce the winner January 1, 2010.

You Are Now Entering The Twilight Zone

2009-12-20T23:18:00.000-08:00

I lied to myself today. I told myself I would just "run into WalMart" since I had a half hour before I had to be at the baby shower I was going to. The lie is that you can NEVER "run into WalMart". Never.

There is a disruption in the space time continuum as you walk in the sliding doors.

"Hi! Welcome to WalMart!" they say. Or so you think. Really, it is a secret code that stalls your personal space time continuum.

No matter how fast you walk, it is never fast enough. Even if you just stick to your list, inevitably, the last thing on your list will be impossible to find. You will look for a clerk, but the only ones you can find will be holding their name badges in their hands making a beeline for the doors- eager themselves to break free from the time suck. When you do finally find your clerk, he/she will direct you to either one or the other department. They will, of course, be on opposite ends of the store. Coincidentally, neither one will have your item. That item, you will finally learn, will be in the department next to the first one- yep, on the other side of the store. Finding the right department, you will see that the stock of said item is pitifully low- neither model will fit your needs.

You pull your cell phone out of your pocket- your only life line to the outside world- only to see that you have spent 45 actual minutes inside the timeless abyss. Now, to check out....

You quickly find the shortest line and hop in it. And then the lighted number on the pole starts to blink. It must be an electrical phenomenon, because as you contemplate moving, all the other lights either start blinking or shut down entirely. You sigh and resign yourself to the line you are in.

Standing, as you are, with no where to go and nothing to do, you begin to contemplate the company around you. Amazingly, they all look like they hit their heads on the shallow end of the gene pool. Maybe, just maybe, they have been here so long that they have given up all hope and have taken to interbreeding. Hm, it's a theory. I mean, there is a restaurant, all manner of food, bathrooms, cell phone vendors, and, come April, tax preparation specialists. It's just a theory.

When you finally break free from the swirling vortex and break for the door, they say to you on your way out, "Thank you for shopping at WalMart! Come back soon!"

No way, Buddy. Not for a long time.

Fish Wrap

2009-12-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about what has been going on around here since Jonah turned 5, shall we?

We had our first snow Sunday night. Before Christmas.

There was no school on Monday, since our little town has NO way to manage the snowfall we get twice a year. The kids could have gone to school with a 2 hour delay since the roads were all bare by 9 am, but since the district put out their automated calls at 4:30 am, I guess they just didn't know that early. I am super glad that I went to the grocery store On Sunday. I didn't go anywhere on Monday except to take Abby to the doctor.

And speaking of Abigail-

Thursday night she fell off the guest bed. the lowest bed in the house. It also happens to have the smallest space beside it because it is tucked between the eaves and the half wall to the stairs in the family room. We have no idea what actually happened, but we think she may have hit her arm on the base moulding. It warranted a trip to the ER. She is such a dramatic child that when she gets hurt- and the drama stops- we know she is really hurt. The ER doctor said that her arm is *not broken* and that was confirmed by the radiologist the next day. However, on Monday she was still asking me for pain meds about 2x per day, and it hurts her arm to be touched or jostled. She is in a soft cast- splint, padding, ace bandage, and sling- which makes dressing an adventure. I had to take the side seam out of the arm of her long sleeve shirt so she could get it on since it hurt too much for her to try to push her arm through the sleeve. We will get a follow up appointment some time this week.

I sewed a new cover for Jonah's car seat. "They" say you should replace your car seat every six years to avoid obsolescence. I don't think it matters too much if you are driving a car that is twice as old as the outdated car seat...

Anyway, Jonah's cover had basically shredded under his tush, and he made matters worse by picking at it while he was sitting in it. I took the old cover, cut the seams out and used the pieces as a pattern for the new cover. I won't tell you where the boo boos are, you don't look too closely, and we will all pretend that this is a new car seat, K? K.

Besides, all the materials for a new cover were only $10. Have you priced new car seats lately? They start at 4x as much!

I got through the MOPs brunch. I put my MOPs newsletter out on the brunch day. Since we don't have MOPs again until January, I have a feeling that the next volume will be rather slim.

I also got to sing some special music and lead Christmas carols with some of my girlfriends. The Moppet Coordinator happened to be in the room to hear it and said, "G, it just doesn't get any better than that." Little did she know.... The Moppet helpers have their brunch after the moms, and we steering stay to help serve. We ladies sang our songs again, only this time we brought Mr. Five-Year-Old-Jonah in on the last song, Go Tell It On The Mountain. For weeks we have been singing this song together. I sing the verses, and he belts out the chorus. My little man brought the house down! I remember singing my first "Special" at a church picnic when I was 5- and I have been singing ever since.

I painted my kids' bathroom. I forgot to take a before picture, of course. The kids had been gone with their dad on a "snow hunt" into the mountains so I decided it was a good time. The bathroom had a wall paper border, but since the kids always forget to turn on the main light/fan combo, the paper was really peeling. I painted the upper section white and the lower section lime green. I also bought a new shower curtain and rug. They really liked the color I chose. I still need to hang the towel rack and I plan to run a flat, white moulding at the color change. Ugh, everything just takes so much time- and power tools. I will have to ask my husband to bring the proper ones home....

Of course there has been homeschooling, house cleaning, business running, bill paying, child bathing, tooth brushing, bed time praying, and clean head kissing too.

I guess that's about all the news that's fit to wrap your fish in.

The End Of An Era

2009-11-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

Does any one care to guess what this is?

If you said, "Well, duh, it's a gumball machine." you would, technically, be right.

But actually, it is SO much more than that.

It represents the end of an era at our house.

Let me back up and explain this to you...

When I was young, and single, and childless, I had a lot of nieces and nephews- and I took notes.

My oldest sister, Karyn, had a rule at her house. No gum until you are 5 years old.

When I had kids I realised why....

So, I adopted the 5 year old gum rule.

And the milestone has been reached wherein my baby has turned 5 years old. (Truthfully, I wondered at my past rate of conception if I would ever say something like that.)

And for his birthday he received a gumball machine.

He requested a MONSTER birthday this year, so this is the cake idea I stole off the Internet- with the exception that I added coconut "fur".

We sang happy birthday and let him spit all over the cake blow out his candle.

We played with friends- and our favorite baby who DOES NOT live at this house.

Happy Birthday BIG BOY! I love you!

P.S. I really hope you didn't find anything good up there- especially since I am wearing those jeans again today....

In Which I Rant- Again

2009-11-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

Remember how much I like shopping with dogs?

Well, here's another stellar example of rampant disregard to put on the pile:

I was in Target about a week ago with my girls and I noticed that some skangy looking guy and his equally skangy friend were shopping with their rats dogs. I muttered under my breath as I walked in another direction about how I hate it when people bring their rats dogs into store with them.
Later, we were wandering into electronics when we passed Skangy Dude 1 again. My daughter was fiddling with her coat and had it over her head as she passed by the cart. The cart with the rat dog that I didn't even see. The cart that was about 2 feet away from her.
The little rat dog craned her neck, bared her teeth and growled/barked/snapped at my daughter and startled us all.
Skangy Dude whirled around (He did not see a thing) and snapped at my daughter for approaching his rat dog.

#1 All of my children from the 12 year old to the 4 year old have been trained to never approach a dog unless they have asked permission from the master- and then to approach the dog in a non-threatening, even submissive position.

#2 Dogs do not belong in the store!!!!

I yelled at him that she didn't even know the dog was there and that his rat dog didn't even belong inside the store, and I promptly informed the front end supervisor that I think the policy of allowing dogs in a store sucks. And then I left.

My point is this:
I respect the fact that people need service dogs.
I can even buy the argument that there are some people who need a companion dog to function on some level of normal.
The thing is, that ONLY service dogs should be allowed in stores, and those dogs should be marked as service dogs and fully trained not to interact with the general public- And certainly not to snap at a little girl who happens to pass by.

The dog is just lucky that it didn't touch my daughter... I'm just sayin.

Now, I have a letter to write to the Target headquarters and a newspaper editorial page.

Maybe I'll get a dog like Marmaduke and take it shopping. We'll see how long that stupid PC policy of not requiring dogs to be service animals lasts.

Bless That Stupid Alarm Clock

2009-11-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

because it averted a house fire.

Last night, Elizabeth brought me her alarm clock with a bent plug. I straightened it, she plugged it in, set the clock and turned it on. But, she forgot to set the alarm. Which meant that the alarm went off at midnight.

At midnight, I yelled for her to turn it off. "Mom, I can't..." came the sleepy reply from just outside my door. She pushed her head inside my door. The one that had been shut.

"So, unplug it, please."

She wandered back to her room, unplugged the clock, crawled back in her bed, and promptly fell asleep. About 2 minutes later we smelled it. HOT. I hate the way hot smells. I always have. Sebastian got up to investigate. It seems that the fire he had built before we went to bed (just like so many other nights) had super heated. The stove was full of white hot coals, and the wooden guard that we keep in front of the hearth was almost to it's combustion point. Sebastian pulled the guard away, opened the doors and pulled the coals apart. After about 20 minutes he came to bed.

That is why we were still awake when the fan cord shorted out and started throwing sparks everywhere. Into the room. Under the insert. That smells even worse than hot. Electrical hot is horrible.

We got the insert unplugged and poured some water into the fire to cool it down even more. We poured cold water on the hearth and it immediately sizzled and evaporated. We kept at it until the area around the fire place had cooled down. Sebastian went back to bed, and I stayed up for an hour more to make sure it was going out.

And that is how the stupid alarm clock assured that we would all wake up safe in our own beds this morning. I'm going to make sure to kiss my kids this morning!

Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

I'm Cool Like That

2009-11-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

On October 8th, Caleb turned 10.

Unfortunately, on October 8th, his sister brought home the flu. Not the swine flu, thank goodness, and not the puking flu either, but the high-fever-want-to-die flu. And she shared.

Finally, on October 25th we were able to have his party.

Being nearly Halloween, Walmart had these cool black light bulbs for a dollar.

So we decorated the house with white.

And we colored on the table with highlighters- they glow really cool!

This is what my pictures looked like when I used flash.

And this is what it looked like in real life (except the highlighters glowed much better).

We even had glow sticks to brighten up the night.

Every one left a message for the birthday boy on the table- even our baby cousin.

Here's the cake I made in keeping with the black and white theme.

Remember the cake I made last year? This time I made 7 minute frosting. I maybe should have made 5 minute frosting. It was hard. And crunchy- but no one complained.
And a very happy ten year old opened his gifts.

Of course, no party is complete without a few crazy games...

I kept trying to rescue Baby D from the middle of the chaos- but that was where he wanted to be, so I finally had to let him go and let it go.

A parting shot. I hope it isn't a lampshade in a few years!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

He Even Smells Like School

2009-10-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Could it be the bubbles he spilled on the deck just before coming inside?

Maybe it was the batch of salt dough we used to shape letters and numbers.

Could it have been the Spagettio's he loves to eat for lunch?

Or maybe just the nostalgic smell of Crayola Crayons?

Whatever it was, I almost cried. Almost.

Remember Building A Fort With Your Dad?

2009-10-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah, me either. I remember doing other stuff* with my dad.

But, sadly for me, my forts consisted of a couple of rusty nails and a pallet or two.

They usually fell apart fast. Or they were moved. Or they were chopped up to keep us warm.

I liked to play on an old rotted stump in a line of trees on a little hill. In the summer the stump grew huckleberries. If I sat real still, no one could see me, and I could eat all the huckleberries before anyone else knew they were ripe.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I just never built anything like this with my dad.

Do you suppose they realize how lucky they are that all their dad wants to do is come home and play with them?

'Spose they'll remember tea parties in the fort after dark?

That it was Dad with them out there?

That Dad was the one who ran to the store to get the Oreos?

You bet they will!

*Other Stuff: castrating pigs and cows, watching piglets being born, butchering chickens, hiking, rollerskating, AWANA, picking berries, and most importantly- sneaking out to the bakery before school.

Ruining The Track Record

2009-10-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

I have 5 kids.
I have been to the E.R.
I've been with a baby in tow when my 10 year old fell head first off the half wall onto the stairs below.
I've been in the middle of the night when the same child had a croup attack badly enough to make us call the neighbor and head out in the snow.
I've made appointments to have various items removed from facial orifices.
I've had an infant taken from the doctor's office to the Critical Care unit for pneumonia and RSV.
I've left church for stitches at the walk in clinic.
I've forgone stitches for butterflies.
But NEVER in my mommy career had I needed to call 911- until Tuesday.
Hello. My name is Gina. I'm a bad mom.
Hi Gina.

We have a prune tree. It's a nice tree. The prunes are really yummy, and we have been snacking on them for weeks. The kids have been moving higher and higher into the tree in their quest for the purple-black goodness. See:

But look again:

That's about 15 feet up. He's about 3 feet tall. He is 4 times over his head and more than twice over mine. And I mentioned the kids climb this tree. I do not. As nice and plummy as it is, it will not support me. I also couldn't find a ladder tall enough to get him down. Somehow he has gotten all the way out to the end of the branches- wearing his "new" camo rubber boots- that are 3 sizes too big for him and afford very little hold on the tree branch. Needless to say, he was not getting back. Enter 911.

I have mentioned I live in a small town, right? See this guy? Our families hang out. We barbecue. His wife does my hair. They go rafting with us. Um, yeah. "Hi, Officer Brian."

Luckily, the day before at preschool, they had a fire safety talk and had met a fire man. The fire man said that when a fire man comes to get you you go right to them. Good thing, because he knew exactly what to do.

It was all fun and games until he was safely on the ground.

Blew my track record right out of the water.

What To Eat... What To Eat?

2009-10-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have this problem. I hate to make lunch. Seriously. What do you folks eat? I made a grilled cheese for lunch today, and half of it is still sitting on my desk- wishing itself into a Jack in the Box chicken sandwich. *sigh*
My better behaved self tells my spender that we need to eat at home, but we just can't seem to like anything in our fridge at lunch time.
HELP!!!