Life in Denim

Pink Ribbons: The Downside

2011-10-11T13:12:00.001-05:00

I. Hate. Pink. Ribbons.

There. I said it.

There are two things I dislike about October. I'm not fond of Halloween (although I'm mellowing a bit on that one). I really don't like the whole pink ribbon thing.

Hear me out.

My mom died from breast cancer. I have skin in the game, so to speak.

That may be why it is such a passion of mine.

People do all sorts of wonderful things to raise money for breast cancer research. They walk. They sell special ribbon shaped bagels. They dress NFL players in pink. All of it is noble. Their motives are pure and helpful. There are a couple of problems, though.

Some of it really helps. It comes down to money. Research requires money. So selling bagels in a ribbon shape, and donating a portion of the proceeds to research is a spectacular way to raise money.

I'm still trying to figure out how dressing those poor NFL players in pink helps anything. If I walk to Timbuktu, how is that assisting any researchers? It's about the money I raised for the walk. No one benefits from me starving myself, walking, running or doing back handsprings. They benefit from the funds I raise to do so. So, if it takes a walk, a marathon, a golf tournament, to make it a social event and that raises more money, I get it. My real problem isn't with the nonsensical events.

My real problem is with Susan G. Komen.

See, all these wonderful people are raising money hand over fist for breast cancer research. A HUGE amount of it goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The Komen Foundation funds a lot of breast cancer research. That is a noble thing. What isn't noble, however, is that they give big chunks of money to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion provider.

Check out these links:
http://www.lifenews.com/2010/05/24/nat-6360/

http://liveaction.org/blog/the-susan-g-komenplanned-parenthood-connection/

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/report-susan-g-komen-donated-over-600000-to-planned-parenthood-in-2009-201/

Better yet, do the research yourself.

Then, if you start looking at all these pink tshirts, ribbons, yogurt tops, bagels, etc., you will see the Susan G. Komen Foundation plastered everywhere.

My mom died of breast cancer. She, and people like her, are being exploited in order to fund abortions. That would make her sad. It makes me angry.

Please, please continue the efforts to raise money for breast cancer research. Six out of seven women in my mom's family had breast cancer. My sister's and my risk is very high, as are our daughters and granddaughters. I watched my mom fight hard, and her victory eventually came when she went to meet Jesus.

Please, please be discerning. Research it and be clear about where the funds are going. If you want your funds to help breast cancer, then be sure it isn't funding abortion. At this time, I am not comfortable recommending alternative foundations, but I am researching options.

The Latest

2011-10-11T12:34:00.000-05:00

Imagine my excitement when a friend commented on missing my blog.

"I looked at your blog to see what's new with you, and you haven't posted since May!"

Wow.

I'm missed.

Thank you, D!

So, where is my crew now?

The Big Boy is in his Junior Year at Mizzou. He spent all summer studying for the MCAT. It has been dubbed the summer of the MCAT. It wasn't too bad, but we really don't want another one. He studied a lot, but before you get to feeling too bad for him, understand he golfed a lot, too. He also spent a lot of time at the hospital working in various departments. So, in all, he had a good summer.

He took the MCAT and did very well, thank you. However, he isn't satisfied, so he will probably take it again. It appears we will have an MCAT Christmas (Break) this year, too.

The Big Girl graduated from High School and is going to school in St. Louis. She has had her share of traumatic experiences her first semester. The biggest trauma was being involved in an accident her first week of school. Someone ran a red light at an intersection and hit her, knocking her into another lane, where she was hit on the other side. She and her friend were a bit bruised and sore, but ok. We have been praising the Lord for that ever since. Her car is still in the shop. It has been a mess to get through all the hoops with the other person's insurance. Suffice it to say, we learned folks really aren't in such good hands.......ah, well. The biggest praise, other than her lack of injuries, is that she is doing great. She has good friends, is doing well in her classes, is involved, and seems well-rested and well-adjusted in every respect. Thanks, God!

The Things are in 7th and 8th grade. We had a rough start in homeschool this year. So, after a month or so of muddling through, I got my act together. We have ratcheted up our schooling quite a bit. The bar has been set higher, and they are responding well. I'll do a post on some things I've learned later. They are both active in the youth group. They are doing well.

Hubs & I were treated to a trip to Maui in September through his company. Had I not had two Things at home, he would never have gotten me on that plane to return to the Midwest. I keep trying to convince him we can make a move to Maui work. He can do the tour guide thing in the day (he'd be good at that), and learn to play the ukelele and sing at night. (He'd be really good at that!) I'll wait tables. I can do that. At those prices, surely the tips will be good! Right?

Some October happies to ponder:

Autumn leaves and beauty
A new iPhone (ordered!)
A new season of Psych starts tomorrow!
Thing 2's braces have been removed!
New Casting Crowns album!
THE CARDINALS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! (Oct baseball = always good)

What can you add?

Wow! May Already? (Baccalaureate)

2011-05-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

I would like to tell you what all has occurred since my last blog. The problem is, I don't really remember. I haven't completely lost my mind, and I don't believe I have amnesia. It is just a fact of life. It whirls by, and those many moments you think you will remember forever become a blur.

Words that pop into my mind when I think about the last few months include homeschool (of course), ski trip, Hilton Head, rain, floods, hail, tornadoes, Easter, Mother's Day, AWANA, piano, Thing 2 (birthday), tall kids, The Big Boy (home), and the big one on my radar right now is: GRADUATION.

The big party is Friday night. Between now and then, the to-do list is gargantuan. After that, maybe I can blog, showing pictures with the cool new camera Hubby gave me for Christmas (that I am just figuring out).

I have lots of blogs doing flip-flops in my mind. Steel yourself for some politics, religion, and some analysis about motivation.

But first, the Big Girl's Baccalaureate was last night. Baccalaureate has changed a little since I was young. I find myself thinking it has "dwindled". Because it has become so politically correct to make sure these whipper snappers know that they don't HAVE to come because Baccalaureate is a decidedly Christian event, and because they make it clear it is "optional", many don't come. Although in theory that is a sad thing, I can't say that I blame them. Often it is a dry message from an elderly gentleman with whom they have nothing in common. To be perfectly honest, I didn't really want to go. I was tickled to see the speaker last night was a class Dad, who related well to them as well as the rest of us, and gave a good message. I was glad I went.

It was so sweet to see the Gideons brave the rain to stand outside and give Bibles to the kids as they exited. The Big Girl giggled when she discovered they all knew her Grandpa, a fellow Gideon.

Before we braved the rain and celebrated with some Dairy Queen, I snapped a couple of shots with my phone. The first is The Big Girl, The Big Boy, Thing 1 and Thing 2:

Next is The Big Girl with her Daddy:

I promise the real pictures with my cool new camera will be much better....if I ever hook the thing up to a computer.

While You Were Sleeping (Christmas)

2010-12-24T17:30:00.003-06:00

Hubby is singing at our Christmas Eve service tonight. He is singing one of my all-time favorite songs, "While You Were Sleeping" (Christmas version) by Casting Crowns. The lyrics are so powerful.

While You Were Sleeping

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Mary shivers in the cold
Trying to keep the Savior warm
Born among the animals wrapped in dirty rags
Because there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night

Christmas Glow

2010-12-14T14:54:00.003-06:00

Christmas is a
Whispering candle
Heard all over the world....
Whose fragile and flickering
Light touched men
Everywhere,
Leading them through
The night...in prayer
And understanding,
So that all men might share
The sacredness of the season,
And walk and talk together
With the Prince of Peace.

-Annette Victorin

Copied from Christmas Ideals, Vol 27, No. 6, November, 1970.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

2010-12-01T23:37:00.002-06:00

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Another Attempt at Advent

2010-11-30T12:37:00.003-06:00

The last few years, I have felt led to celebrate Advent with our family. I started just with reading advent scriptures the first couple of weeks only to have it fall by the wayside with the busyness of the season. Last year we actually did some Advent activities for several days and stayed with the scriptures longer.

It is obvious that finishing what I started is something with which I struggle. The pile of unfinished scarves and socks is further evidence of this shortcoming.

So, I have been pondering Advent and how to create a situation I must see through. I decided the key is in the planning. So, as is my way, I started planning waaaay ahead. On Sunday. Ahem.

Okay, so I'll have to let you know later if it works. The idea, however, is that I bought some of those miniature stockings at our local discount store for $1 each. In each will be be tucked a scripture and a location. There are 24, with little white tags (straight from the office products dept of same store) labeling the days. I also picked up some treats. With four kids and a roommate (I'm sending a box to The Big Boy at college and including his roomie), it can be costly, so we are talking very low cost treats. It isn't about the wonderful gift, it is about the anticipation of our Savior. The treats just make it an exciting activity. I bought candy, chap stick, cheap toys, playing cards, beef jerky, and other whimsical items. I'm thinking the beef jerky was the most costly of the lot. Many little gifts like this can be purchased in the seasonal department. Another place to check out is the travel item section. Those little sodas in six packs are another idea. Boxes of snacks are always good.

I'll string the stockings across the front of the mantel and each day they will read the scripture and ponder it in their hearts. Of course they will. Then they will look at the location where their treat for that day is hidden.

The big boy has a box and the treats are in little bags and labeled by day, with scriptures attached. Well, almost. I'm doing that next. His covers him through finals, then he will join the rest of the family in our Advent adventure at home.

I'm hearing voices from "Christmas Vacation" in my head, "Sparky, you create expectations no family gathering can meet..." (or something like that) Voices, be gone!!!

Two great places for Advent ideas are:

Cathy's Christmas Cottage Advent Calendar

Teaching Mom's Advent Calendar

Even if you just do a couple of activities and a few scripture readings, it still is a step toward making Christmas about Jesus in your family.

The Stockings Were Hung

2010-11-27T09:16:00.005-06:00

When I was small, one of my favorite parts of Christmas was getting out my one very own ornament & my stocking. They were the two decorations that had my name on them. In the mix of things, they were mine. Allllllll mine.

Then, my mom started making stockings for everyone. Some were knitted, some crocheted, and some were stitched using counted cross-stitch. All were beautiful, and more importantly, all were different. Each pattern was chosen with the recipient in mind. Holly, whose nickname was Holly-Bear, had a red stocking, knitted, with a bear design. The bear was holding a sprig of holly. Mom made a stocking for each of her four kids, each of her four kids-in-law, and every single one of her grand kids. All 13. That would be 21. She also made a few as gifts, I believe.

Then, the tragedy of cancer entered in. Mom never met her last two grandchildren, numbers 14 & 15. That would be my Things 1 & 2. So we have dug around all these years, using old pet stockings and extras that were gifts for the older two. I kept thinking I would make them one, so theirs would be homemade, too. Last year was attempt #1. It was ok, but not just what I wanted. I only had one stocking, too. And by the time I finished it, I wasn't up for another one. Each year about this time I think about it, and either I get new ideas, or I have no hope of accomplishing the task in time for this year. Regardless, at ages 11 & 13, my Things remain stockingless. Until now.

Today, I ordered The Things stockings from Pottery Barn. No, they are not homemade. But they will have their names on them.

For Thing 1:

For Thing 2:

As much as I would love to, I'll never be able to make them a stocking from my mom. It's just one of those things that happens in life. Some day, maybe I'll make them all stockings. Maybe not. But at least now, they have their very own stockings, that are not hand-me-downs from siblings, (or worse yet, pets), and I don't have to cringe when we hang them up on Christmas Eve.

No, Christmas isn't about the stockings. It's about Jesus. It's also about family. Each year when we get out those stockings we talk about their Grandma and how much she loved them and how proud she would be of each of them. We remember how she always had Pringles and gum and lots of love and hugs for her grandchildren. We wonder just what stockings she might have made for The Things. Then we laugh, because she would have laughed. She knew how much it meant to have something that was just yours, with your name on it. She would be glad those Things finally have stockings.

Thankful

2010-11-23T14:02:00.003-06:00

Thankful, thankful, thankful.

As I scurry about the kitchen, I hear it on the tv in the next room. I hear it on the radio. I hear it at church, see it on the blogs, and on Twitter. Everyone is thankful. Even my little Clementine orange sports a sticker, "Thankful for Cuties".

Thankful.

Grateful. Webster says thankful means "conscious of benefit received", or "well-pleased; glad".

Thankful.

Full of thanks.

Thankful.

Am I?

Thankful.

Why, yes, I am.

I'm thankful for my health. I'm thankful for my home. I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for everytime I laugh. Oh, yes, and I'm thankful for my orange Cuties.

Those are all good things. It's easy to be thankful for those.

What does God's word say about thankfulness? It says a whole lot. For example, Ephesians 5:19b-20 says, "Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Sing & make music....from your heart to the Lord.......ALWAYS GIVING THANKS.....to God the Father.....for EVERYTHING....in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ.

There is a lot to be learned there.

Thankfulness is from our heart. Sayin' "I'm thankful" doesn't make it from the heart. Can you sing about it? Compose a trill about it? Search it out. Do you really mean it? Are you really glad?

Who do we thank? God the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ. The Creator. The Prince of Peace. The Almighty. Makes sense.

We are supposed to always be thankful.

For everything.

Uh-oh.

I'm not up for composing a trill about the 9x13 glass pan that dropped on my foot last night.

Nope. Thankful is not what I was just then.

I'm not really sure that is what that means. Honestly. I can say, however, things sometimes happen that I just don't like, and I have learned that God always gives me a reason to be thankful.

I have a long way to go. I know that gratitude is a state of heart, and I need to be more grateful. I'm getting there. Sometimes it just takes living life to learn thankfulness. I'm thankful that I'm learning.

I think just pondering it all & searching my heart is another step on the journey.

Juggling Phantom Balls

2010-06-21T08:37:00.002-05:00

I was inspired to write a post about this weekend after reading Staci's post about her weekend. I'm a copycat that way. Staci, just remember, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery....or something like that.

The last three or four weeks have been really busy with a vast array of activities & commitments. I kept thinking this week would be MUCH calmer. Heh.

Last Thursday, The Big Girl came home from a wonderful week at nursing camp to get turned around and leave again on Saturday morning for church camp. Unbelievably, Thing 1 also attended youth camp. I'm still astounded that he has aged so!

Youth camp required a 5:15 arrival at our church, requiring a 4 am wake up call. As is typical, bedtime was midnight-ish. You can do the math.

Once Thing 1 & The Big Girl were safely deposited on the bus, I headed to Walmart to make a grocery run. I feared returning to our home again with no groceries, as my remaining children may well have been planning a mutiny. After a fairly long grocery run, I got home, we had breakfast and headed out to the Air Show.

Now if anything makes a person more weary than a 4 am wake up call, it is standing out in hot, humid weather all day. However, I think I would have walked on coals to see the Blue Angels perform. There were many air acrobats that had us in suspense and amazed. My dad was there with us, and as a former pilot, he was a wealth of information. The Blue Angels performance filled me with awe. Each time they zoomed by, Thing 2 and I squealed giddily. I'm sure it was less than attractive for this middle-aged woman to squeal, but it was what it was.

We ended the evening cooking a few things for Father's Day dinner, then, exhausted, we hit the sack at 11ish. Wow, it was a long day.

Now we begin a new week. I have termed the phenomenon that is this week "Juggling Phantom Balls". You see, we may or may not be showing our house this week (no, it isn't listed yet. There is a reason for that. It isn't READY). If we don't show it this week, we will next week. We may or may not be going to Cedarville next week for a college visit. I may or may not be picking a friend up from the airport a couple of hours from here on Wednesday. I don't know if I'm juggling these balls or if they really aren't there, because I don't know what will happen yet. They aren't anything I can really grab on to, but there is something there, to be sure.

Tonight, though, we are definitely hosting our long-time friends in hopes of hiring him to be the general contractor on our new Timber-Frame house.

Kids at camp. House showings. College visits. Timber-Frame construction planning. I think I need to stop & take some time to pray a little more.

A Fun Old-Fashioned Family Camping Trip & Weekend

2010-05-31T15:53:00.005-05:00

My extended family owns land about an hour from here on a small river. The river is a huge local recreational area where people camp, fish, swim, float, and just spend a lot of summer hours. The land we own has several great gravel bars, fishing holes, swimming & jumping spots, and some nice areas to camp. So, this weekend my brother & sister decided it is a great time for a Fun Old-Fashioned Family Camping Trip. We planned, like my other brother & family, to visit but not camp. Until Thursday night.

Thursday night was a tipping point, when the minions known as our children begged & begged until we did the unthinkable. We gave in. We decided to go camping.

Friday we were on the run as soon as our feet hit the ground. Because we hadn't camped in many (MANY) years, we were less than prepared. We popped up the little ol' pop up camper & cleaned it out. We made a list of all the items that needed to be replenished or replaced. After a four-hour trip to Walmart & Sam's, we loaded said camper with....stuff. Lots of it. We loaded 4-wheelers on a trailer, threw a bunch of....stuff....in the back of the Expedition and Pickup, baked a cake for Aunt D's birthday, packed, iced cake, loaded up our crew plus The Big Boy's Friend That is a Girl, K, and ..... wait. What about the little dog that lives in our house? Can't stay out, can't stay in, too late to board....so Benny loaded up, too, and we headed out.

We arrived at dusk. After setting up camp in the dark & digging around to find some hot dogs & marshmallows to roast for a fine & nutritious supper, we settled down to some campfire talk. It was lovely.

Picture the setting: The river flows just a few yards away....my brother's camper is a toy hauler that is larger than our first house. It has several large beds, several tv's, hot water, microwave, and....satellite. Fox News 24/7. Deluxe. Next to that is my sister's airstream with running water, generator, beds, kitchen, etc. Verry nice. They have awnings, carpet, space, organization. Then, next to that is our popup. No electricity. Water in large bottles & coolers only. Very little space for the stuff of 7 people. A luxury compared to our previous camping abode, a small tent, but still the runt of the litter. However, we did keep up with the Jones's. We, too, had an awning.

We had a relatively short night, waking at the first hint of light the next morning. It's funny how camping can make me a morning person. Then, after a big breakfast of 2 lbs of bacon, 2 lbs of sausage, eggs, fruit, coffee, juice, & croissants, we started a busy day of swimming, fishing, jumping, running, riding, and general playing.

Various family members & their dogs came and went through the day. We played hard and the evening brought several family members together for a Family Camping Birthday Dinner. We ate, had a Rainbow/Hippy Birthday cake, then settled in for some guitar music and conversation, when Ben (the dog) got sick. He started coughing and hacking and was terribly sick....all....night....long. I still don't know what was wrong, and he has improved significantly since he has rested at home for two days, nonetheless, it was a long & exhausting night.

Early Sunday morning meant time to load up & head home in time to shower & go to church. A Sunday afternoon nap did wonders for us, and we then unloaded & began what will be at least of week of clean up for the two night trip. At this writing, I begin to hyperventilate when I near the laundry room, and a trip through the sleeping bed/camping-supply-laden living room brings tears to my eyes.

Just when one would think the weekend is winding down, Thing 1 has a church event, and The Big Boy is assigned the task of retrieving the Thing after the event. However TBB didn't make it. He met up with a sign on the highway & after the fight, I think the sign won. Thus, Mom became dispatcher, sending Dad to the scene and The Big Girl to retrieve the Thing.

After everyone returned home & we rehashed the events of the day while eating some rather scrumptious sandwiches (made from the 10.7 lbs of lunchmeat left from the trip), we settled down for a movie. I'm told I didn't last through the opening credits....since I don't remember a solitary thing about the movie, I'm sure they are right.

About 1 am, hubby woke me to....oh, YOU thought I was going to say to go to bed. WRONG! No, it was time to watch the rest of "24"...the rest of the season.

Yes, we watched Jack fight the good fight until about 4:30 am. (Much better ending than Lost, in my opinion) So, today is a day of laundry, paperwork, cleaning, and general zoning out. In four days we have managed to knock three vehicles out of capacity with dead batteries, flat tires, and a battle with a sign. The poor dog is still staggering around in a daze. I'm not sure how long it will take to recuperate from this weekend, but I'm fairly sure there is potential for another "National Lampoon's Vacation" movie in the mix.

Ah, now I believe I have had enough writing therapy to face the monsters in the laundry room once again. Tomorrow is a new day. The diet/exercise starts anew. Normal sleep patterns shall emerge. And this weekend shall be a fond memory...

Please don't let this weekend pass without remembering the men & women who serve our country in armed services. They & their families deserve our support and prayers. Especially lift up in prayer & support the families of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

Hope

2010-03-14T14:00:00.004-05:00

Today in church a lady sang one of my favorite songs. By the time it was over, I was a puddle in the pew. Then, our pastor gave a fabulous message from 2 Corinthians 4:7-11:

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

The bottom line? God wants us to be cracked pots. Scarred, broken beyond mending; and don't try to hide the cracks or cover them up. It is so we can be full of Jesus and He can shine through the cracks. I am broken, cracked beyond mending. I find myself thinking it's for naught. Today reminded me why it is; so He can be manifested through me.

Our pastor's sermons are some of the best teaching I have ever heard. You can find links to them at CapeBibleChapel.org

Oh, the song?

Our Hope Endures
Sung by Natalie Grant

You would think only so much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume that this one has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here

Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear
But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged

How do we comprehend peace within pain
Our joy at a good man's wake
Walk a mile with a woman whose body is torn
With illness but she marches on

Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear
But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged

Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient

We never walk alone
This is our hope
Our hope endures, the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
let the earth quake
let the earth quake
let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged

I never walk alone. My hope, because it is in Christ, remains unchanged.

Soup & Sandwiches

2010-02-26T18:37:00.004-06:00

The best thing about cool weather is the cooking. I love soups and warm, cozy comfort food. Of course, I like warm weather better, but every cloud has it's silver lining.....

Spring is coming soon; I know it is true because the sun was still shinin' tonight at almost six. The days are getting longer and I'm reveling in each extra minute of sunshine.

Regardless, it is still cold out and I can still cook some cold weather food. So, I did. I'm making Shelly's Wild Rice Soup and Hawaiian Sandwiches. The soup recipe will follow, and the sandwich recipe may be found here.

Shelly's Wild Rice Soup

My sister sent this recipe from a friend of hers. It is easy and wonderfully good.

Prepare 1 box Zatarans Long Gran & Wild Rice as directed

Saute: 1 stick butter, 1 sweet onion, chopped, 3 carrots, 1/2 C celery. Add 1/2 lb mushrooms sliced thinly & 1 1/2 C Canadian bacon, chopped.

*I have used chicken and ham, as I don't keep Canadian Bacon on hand. They are great substitutes

Cook until soft & add 3/4 C flour to vegetables. Stir well. Wisk in 2 (26 oz) containers chicken stock. Add the cooked rice. Just before serving add 1 C half & half. Optional: chopped chives on top. It makes a large batch.

This soup is very filling and flavorful. Enjoy!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

2010-02-23T18:49:00.002-06:00

The good thing about homeschooling is that you can talk to yourself and claim you are having a parent-teacher conference. Or, you can schedule a date night with your husband in the name of needing a "conference". A parent-teacher conference is a flexible thing in the homeschool world.

Not so in the public school world.

I still have one child in the public school systems. Last night was conference night. I anticipated a night of bad news, given The Big Girl's level of stress the last few weeks. Overall, it was much more pleasant than that.

The music teachers love her, and think she is hard-working and sweet. The history teacher thinks she is doing great and is hard-working. The LA teacher thinks she is polite and hard-working. The Chemistry teacher thinks she is doing great and is hard-working. The math teacher has high hopes because she is so very hard-working. Though the class is very difficult, she'll do fine. Are we seeing a pattern here? Oh, then there are the Spanish teachers who love her, and think she is, yes, hard-working, and has a natural ability in Spanish and should major or minor in it in college. Wow. Then we go to ACT Prep. ACT Prep has two teachers. The first thinks she is doing great. Why the poor grade in that class from a student that primarily gets A's? Hmmm....well....she has almost all A's in my part of the class. Better talk to the other teacher.

And the fun began.

Getting on a merry-go-round and singing at the top of my lungs would have been more productive. The teacher never figured out who my daughter was, and spent the entire conversation lamenting the poor grammar skills of the high school students. Apparently seven out of eight students in her class, after weeks of instruction, still cannot identify the subject and verb in a sentence. So, she is attempting to teach juniors the grammar they should have grasped by third or fourth grade. Eight years of grammar in one semester. For ACT Prep.

Oh, and my daughter? She was the one out of eight who got the questions right. She had no idea she had a poor grade in the class because she has never seen her tests since they were graded. She doesn't know what to work on because she doesn't know what she missed.

I was left scratching my head in wonder and amazement. I'm so thankful for all the other teachers because their reports were consistent and positive. I'm choosing to dwell on them, but I'm left questioning how in the world to help The Big Girl keep from sabatoging her GPA with this class. And I'm looking forward to tonight, when I can have a homeschool-style parent-teacher conference, snuggled up to my husband.

I'm Not Too Sure About This.....

2010-02-22T10:31:00.002-06:00

My sweet children have discovered Skype . The Big Boy was home this weekend, visiting with his friend-that-is-a-girl via Skype.
"You mean we can talk to YOU that way?" they asked their big brother with hopeful excitement.

"Yes, if you get an account."

Thanks, Big Bro.

Really, it isn't so bad as long as I never go near the computer when it is on.

Why?

Well, if you have used Skype, you know the first thing that happens is a flash of "what YOU look like".

Having just crawled out of bed this morning, sipping on my first cup of coffee after a very long night being up with Thing 2, I wasn't prepared. In fact I was truly scared. I thought, "Who the heck is THAT?" Then I realized. Then I started researching surgeons.

Oh, dear. Twitter, texting, calling...all that is great. Because you can't see me! Skype? I don't know if all the makeup in the world will make that tolerable.

Four-Day Sour Cream Cake

2010-02-19T08:13:00.002-06:00

At Thanksgiving, the "hit" of the dinner was a cake that my dad's wife brought. She left some for my family and my husband allllmost refused to share. I thought it may come to blows until I offered to get the recipe. Thus, hope sprang eternal that this may not be the last of this fabulous cake.

So, I called Dad's wife, S, and discovered that she got the recipe from an old church cookbook, and it was originally from my brother's mother-in-law. Aren't small towns grand?

So, in hopes I have sufficiently given credit where it is due, I am sharing this unbelievable recipe with you. It is a cross between a coconut-cream-pie shake and cake. Trust me. Delicious.

I'm planning to have it at the one meal I get to cook for The Big Boy this weekend. Given how the week is gone, it will have to be a Two-Day cake instead of Four, but I'm sure we will survive.

Four-Day Sour Cream Cake

1 butter flavored yellow cake mix
2 C sugar
16 oz sour cream
12 oz frozen coconut (I used regular non-frozen coconut)
1 1/2 C Cool Whip

Combine sugar, sour cream, and coconut. Blend well. Chill 4 hours. Reserve 1 C for frosting. Remaining is to be spread between layers.

Mix cake as directed on package. Bake in 2 (9 in) layer pans. When cool, split to make four layers.

Mix the 1 C sour cream mixture with Cool Whip. Spread first mixture between layers then ice the cake with remaining Cool Whip mixture. Store in airtight container for four days. Can be eaten before, but gets more moist with time.

The Longest Month of the Year

2010-02-19T07:40:00.004-06:00

Don't let the calendar fool you. Anyone who lives anywhere north of Miami can tell you that contrary to the long-held belief that February, because it has only 28 days (excepting leap years, of course), is the shortest month of the year, for all practical purposes, it is the longest.

The poor football fans are left with nothing to do. Baseball fans are in eager anticipation of the beginning of their season. March madness is not quite here. The sun doesn't shine for weeks on end. The kids are climbing the walls wanting to play outside, but it is so cold they can't last long. The stores and shops are full of bikinis and shorty-shorts while we look at our own pasty white skin and fluffy winter bodies and cringe. Some cling to Valentine's Day as a special holiday, when in reality, most barely tolerate it or even scorn it because we have figured out it is a floral/greeting card induced holiday that just isn't all "that".

If February was any longer, I don't think we could take it.

In our little corner of the world, it hasn't been much better. In the beginning of the month, Thing 1 closed the car door on his thumb. It was ugly. Thankfully, xrays revealed nothing broken, but he couldn't play guitar or piano for two full weeks. Well, we all think he may have been able to, and he may have just milked it for all it was worth. No one knows for sure. Then I got a kidney infection. No one had seen Mom stay in bed for that long, let alone take a nap eight times each day. The bright spot in it all was Disciple Now weekend, where we had a house full of tenth grade boys and college dudes as leaders. They ate a lot. God moved. It was our February time to get out of our schedules and comfort zones and watch God work, which is always fascinating and enlightening. Oh, and sometimes exhausting. Thing 1 and The Big Girl participated in other homes, and we missed them. In the week following when I was to clean and catch up laundry before The Big Boy comes home from school, every spare minute has been at the hospital where Hubby's father has been for nine days now. He went in last week because the eye doctor noticed some abnormalities that led him to check BP. After spending a couple of days in ICU trying to get his BP under control, he was given some shocking diagnoses that led to surgery this week. We are praising God that he is doing well and we are amazed at how God orchestrated the whole thing to discover what was wrong before something really bad happened.

This weekend The Big Boy is coming home. The Things are participating in the Music Festival which has them such bundles of nerves that emotions are raw. The laundry in the laundry room is roughly the height of The Big Boy, and I doubt it gets much better upon his return tonight, but I don't care because I need a hug. Because, you see, as I sit typing this, the message light on the phone is blinking next to me and I know what it is. The soccer coach is letting me know when we first get to sit out in sub-zero temps watching kids kick around a little white ball.

And there is still a week left in this never-ending month.

Four Days....and "24"

2010-01-18T16:54:00.002-06:00

Four days. I'm on the fourth day of not leaving my home. I'm definitely not the type to stay home two days in a row. Four? I didn't even do that when I had a baby. Nope. There was baseball, work, groceries...any excuse. Snow days? That is simply an invitation to GET OUT. I DEFY the weather to dish up anything that will keep me in. (Maybe that will get us some snow...?) I can't imagine anything that would keep me in for four days. Until now. What has kept me in? Why, it is simple. There has been no reason to leave. That and a mild tummy condition that kept me in the one time I had a reason to get out.....

Anyway. It has been delightful. The laundry is as caught up as it gets. There is ALWAYS laundry because, of course, we aren't exactly going to not have clothes on just so I can get completely caught up. But, I digress. I have cleaned linens this week that actually were soiled during Thanksgiving dinner. That is ridiculous, I know. Believe me, I'm glad it is done.

I've blogged. Twice.

The house is relatively picked up...sort of.....well, I'll vacuum after this. I promise.

My kids have so much school work ready for them they will have NO excuse to waste time on any given day.

And.....drumroll......we still have milk. Normally when NOTHING else works, the milk thing gets me out. I thought ahead. Six gallons may have seemed like a lot at the time, but hey. I'm still here.

On an aside....."24" started last night. I haven't decided how I feel about this season just yet. I found it to be a bit....predictable...when one of its primary strengths is that "24" isn't predictable. I'm forever frustrated by silly things...the first two years it was that Jack couldn't figure out how to turn the ringer off on his phone. He would sneak down the hall, mere feet from a bad guy with a big gun and...riiiiiiiiinnnnngg! How that guy never heard it I will never know. Last night it was the bad guy. Typically when the street is full of people looking at the aftermath of an exploding helicopter on a roof, one won't stroll slong through the crowd talking on the cell about how the guy is dead and now we need to focus on the assassination and move the time up, etc....because...hello? THEY WILL HEAR!!!! The other scene that had me yelling at my tv was when Kim is telling Jack he must stay and help because if he didn't and something happened, well, he just wouldn't forgive himself. This from the person who NEVER wanted him to stay and help. Not to mention that after all he had been through, I'm thinking, yep, I'd be able to live with it just fine. I suppose season 8 wouldn't be so appealing if it was all about Jack taking his grandchild to the zoo and reading Dr. Seuss to her. So, he had to stay.

So, tonight, this last night before I finally venture from my home, I will give it another shot and presumably become thoroughly hooked. In the meantime, supper and vacuuming await me. Enjoy your night!

Help Haiti

2010-01-17T11:46:00.003-06:00

Haiti Earthquake

If you have a heart for the people in Haiti, please consider giving to Compassion. The statement from Compassion's website:

"All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to reequip Compassion's local support structure and to provide for the immediate needs of Compassion-assisted children and families. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts."

Please pray about contributing to this worthy organization.

And Then There Were Three....Again

2010-01-17T11:00:00.002-06:00

The last few days have been a mess in my little world. Despite an obnoxious amount of sleep and a day off exercise yesterday, I awoke to a queasiness that did not need to be exposed to the masses. As my family happily skipped off to Sunday School and church, I am pondering what one does with quiet time and a tummy that is a bit "off"?

After eating some yogurt (probiotics, you know), Bible Study, and cleaning up the kitchen, I pondered exercise. It would be lovely to get it done, get a shower and, for the first time in days, put on makeup. But then....that probably isn't the best use of time considering the pathetic effort it would be. It would be better to feel well first, I am sure.

So, I got online and printed off The Big Boy's schedule for this semester. It is a nasty one. Calculus 3. Chemistry 3. Calculus based Physics. Verbal Communication. Honors Logic. Then I investigated campus religious organizations. I sent him links for Campus Crusade and The Rock. I even offered to fill out an information card and send it in for him. Wasn't that nice of me?? tee hee. For some reason, I'm not sure he would agree with that.

Did I mention this is his first week back? Ah, there may be a bit of the funk of the last few days. Typically, I'm a fairly tough cookie. None of the tears and crying nonsense. Nope. I didn't even cry watching "Old Yeller" and usually if anything gets me, its the dog. People? Never. But you know, the movies just don't capture the tug on your heart when your baby heads out to the real world. I tackled his room yesterday and cleaned it top to bottom. I cleaned off each trophy remembering the hundreds of baseball games. I remembered a lot of mistakes I made as a Mom and wished I had another chance. I prayed for my nieces with their young families and for my children as they grow. I thanked God for my wonderful friends along the way who have encouraged and supported me as a mom. I prayed for The Big Boy and his friend-that-is-a-girl. I laughed at his drawings and quotes throughout a notebook from grade school. And I hugged and loved on the three that are still here. And I was glad he was gone. This is how it is supposed to be. He is learning and maturing and becoming the man God would have him be. He is becoming independent in actions and thinking. Despite the tears and tugs on my heart, he is exactly where he should be and I'm thankful.

Not much quiet time left. Excuse me, while I make the most of it.

Christmas Letter 2009

2010-01-10T16:56:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas from us to you,
This year it’s a poem, Shoo bee doo be doo.
(How is it so far?)
We usually begin with the eldest child
The year for Trav has been pretty wild.
He played his last baseball game; Mom almost cried.
Playing for 14 years was quite a ride.
After graduation from *****, (yes it is true!)
He moved to Columbia & goes to Mizzou.
Once an ****, now a Tiger he’ll be
This is the first step in his quest to M.D.
His family misses him, it makes us sad
But when he comes home we are very glad.

Our big girl, Holly, is a junior this year.
Just about everyone thinks she’s a dear.
She works at Wib’s serving BBQ,
Stop by & see her, she’d love a visit from you!
This year finds her busy with work & with school,
Driving in her car she looks really cool.
Holly enjoys providing child care,
It’s a skill of which more people are becoming aware.
A member of choir, our Holly can sing,
One thing hasn’t changed; sleeping’s still her favorite thing.

Now we come to The Things, 1 & 2
They round out this peculiar crew.
Their teacher is still their good ol’ Mother,
Fifth grade the sister, sixth for the brother.
Nathan is growing, soon he’ll be a teen.
He’s getting tall, outgrowing his new jeans.
Thing 1 or Scooter is his name,
Anything electronic is his game.
Music is another love,
Gifts like that come from Above.
2009 has been his hunting year
He bagged his first squirrel, then his first deer.
He likes to play ball, mostly baseball & golf,
As you can imagine, his summers are rough.

Next on our list is child number four,
She answers to Annie, Lizzie, Nini & more.
Still getting taller, she’s about to pass Mom,
She giggles ‘cause looking down at us will be so much fun.
Like her sister, she’s a lovely young lady,
But she’ll always be her momma’s baby.
She plays piano, soccer, & volleyball,
And the girl has fun doing them all.
But like her mom, her real love is a book.
It seems this year she really got hooked.

We still have the pets; Tiger, Benny & Charlie,
And Dad still loves to ride on his Harley.
Dad’s still working for Farmers, it’s just his thing.
When he is at church, he gets to sing.
He doesn’t have much time free,
But when he does, at our new land he will be.
The pond is full, the levy has grass.
I think he enjoys every little task.
As you can see, we have blessings galore.
There is ever so much to be thankful for.

The thanks and the glory go to God on High.
To take any credit would be a lie.
He sent his Son, the Christ, Jesus,
Who is Emmanuel, God with us.
When we turn our lives over to Him,
He cleanses us and takes away our sin.
We can walk by His side every day
His Holy Sacrifice provided the way.
Christmas is fun, full of gifts, food, & mirth
But it all began with that sweet baby’s birth.
So remember the really important part
And let Jesus come live in your heart.

Merry Christmas!

With love,
******

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 18:23 NLT

Book Review: "Going Rogue"

2010-01-10T16:17:00.003-06:00

I was thrilled to receiveGoing Rogue by Sarah Palin for Christmas. I had picked it up multiple times and each time decided to wait. It sat in my Amazon cart for weeks and I always bypassed it. All the waiting was in hopes of receiving it as a Christmas gift.

It was exactly what I expected. Perhaps more in some spots, a little less in others. I found myself relating to Palin on several levels. First of all, she is very close to my age. Her upbringing, although more rugged than mine, was similar. We both are blessed with a spirit of independence, not relying on others too much. I wonder if her mother ever called her "an independent little cuss?" I think the first half was my favorite part of the book, reading about her formative years, then raising a family, and the steps she has followed in the political process. One thing she has that I envy a little is an incredible self confidence.

The book was entertaining as a recap of her life, all the way through the election of 2008. In the post-election section the book became a bit wordy. It included a lot of her political positions, opinions on policy, and several defensive shots at both her political opponents and some of the McCain staffers. It seemed a tedious part of the book, but then, it reflected what was a tedious part of her life, in defending an endless array of ethics charges and slams from the press. Despite those facts, I found myself thinking the same points could have been made in a much more concise fashion.

I'm not sure my hubby loved me reading the book because of my continued insistence that we move to Alaska. Palin's love for her home comes through vividly. Of course, I would want to wait until spring to make such a move. It would be silly to go any sooner!

"Going Rogue" isn't for everyone. If you are simply looking for her take on political issues, go immediately to the back third of the book. But if you want a look inside the mind of this brilliant lady, pick it up and enjoy.

Twenty Years? You Kiddin' Me????

2009-12-08T15:59:00.004-06:00

One of the most fun things of the Christmas Season is watching "Christmas Vacation". I'm hearing it has been 20 years since it came out. That's impossible. I'm not much older than that.

After recovering from the shock that yes, I am much older than that...cough! cough!....In an effort to kick off our "Fun Old-Fashioned Family Christmas", we sat down and enjoyed it again.

This scene is a classic...(language warning!!)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGxyIhsSAow

And another one.....(even worse language, I'm afraid)....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk74WprmZxY&feature=related

I don't think a week goes by that someone in our family doesn't toss out a one-liner from that movie. That, my friend, is the mark of a classic.

'Tis the Season....

2009-12-08T15:45:00.003-06:00

.....But you sure wouldn't know it to look at my home. We still have little wooden pumpkins and scarecrows adorning the manor. Aw, gimme a break. I've been really busy.

This week, it will change.

We did, however, have a big Thanksgiving.

We cooked two turkeys plus two turkey breasts, ham, and a bunch of deer meat. A plate of turkey and 1/2 the ham was left. We have some big eaters. Yes, we had allllll kinds of fixin's. I practically wore out my America's Test Kitchen cookbooks.

Dad and Nathan getting a turkey out of the oil-less turkey fryer...yum!:

Hubby's parents were blessed ten years ago with four granddaughters in six months. My, how they have grown:

My dad, a renowned (well, in our area anyway) pianist asked the kids to play. Thing 1 played a song he composed, and here you see Thing 2 preparing to play one of her songs from lessons:

The Big Boy played "Moonlight Sonata". There sure are a lot of notes on those pages. They didn't play perfectly, but it was good enough to make Grandpa tear up a bit.

Last weekend I finally put away all the dishes. Now, we can move on to Christmas. I just have to convince myself that it's worth it this late in the season.......

Hawaiian Sandwiches

2009-10-31T22:40:00.002-05:00

A dear, sweet friend from church made these for us when we were moving a few years ago. My kids loved them and insist I make them on a regular basis.

Hawaiian Sandwiches

2 pkgs Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Cut in ½, put in 9x13 pan….holds 24 rolls
Top with:
1# ham
1#shredded mozzarella cheese
Put on the roll tops.

Mix:
1 stick melted butter
1 t Worcestershire
½ t dry mustard
Pour on top
Sprinkle with poppyseed
Cover with foil
Refrigerate overnight
Bake 325 degrees 30-40 minutes until cheese melts

Great to take to friends and neighbors when a meal is needed!

Meatballs

2009-10-31T22:38:00.001-05:00

This recipe was given to me by a good friend many years ago. It is probably my most requested recipe:

Meatballs

Frozen Italian Meatballs (from Walmart or Sam’s)
Cook a little while in crock pot until partially thawed.
Add:
2 C Ketchup
1 C Brown Sugar
2 t liquid smoke
¼ t garlic powder

Let simmer until cooked. Can stay in crock pot on low for a long time.

Extremely easy. Simply scrumptious!

The Mighty Hunter

2009-10-31T21:44:00.004-05:00

Last year during deer season, Hubby determined Thing 1 is a pretty good shot. He set a cup up about 100 yards away, and when the boy shot, they thought he had missed. It was still standing. Upon further inspection, however, they learned he had hit it so dead center it hadn't moved.

This year, he is putting the skill to good use. Earlier this year he went squirrel hunting:

Today was youth season. He spied an unsuspecting buck. He aimed. He shot. He scored!

His first buck. It's a banner day.

His celebration wish? Bob Evans. Of course.

Speed Bumps....the Bane of My Existence

2009-10-28T17:18:00.003-05:00

Despite my attempts to cut back, scale down, and whatever other ways you can say "have less to do", this autumn has been rather frenetic. Not the worst, but busy nonetheless. But more than busy, it has been mentally and emotionally challenging. I'm so thankful I heeded the nudge to say "no" over and over in preparation.

The sources of the challenges are, as it often is, multi-faceted. Probably the biggest adjustment is The Big Boy heading off to the University. I do not think I realized what a stabilizing force he was until he was gone. His absence has been an adjustment to everyone in the house. Although it has been difficult, I wouldn't change it. I think it has been hard, in many ways, because we are all so close. The kids are all pretty tight. When he has come home he has committed the entire weekend to the family, and has had his siblings piled on top of him until he has had to extricate himself on Sunday afternoon. Literally. The Things are so excited they barely breathe all weekend. The Big Girl and I cry when he arrives and we cry after he leaves. I'm still trying to figure that out.

We are adjusting. When I go clean downstairs and there are NO DIRTY UNDERWEAR ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR, I'm not feeling too misty-eyed. There are no tugs on my heart when I pick up the living room and note the lack of popcorn scattered on the floor. At least, not yet. But then again, I must admit I was pretty thankful for the full laundry room last time he came home. I was very glad to clean it all for him.

Another adjustment we have made is in homeschooling. I have "kicked things up" a notch. Or two. Maybe three. The bar has been raised and the Things have balked a bit at the new expectations. It has been all Clay and I can do to get them rolling again. Bless his heart, I couldn't have done it without him. I think, finally, they are getting the hang of the new schedule and adapting. As we (ahem) knew they could.

Clay has faced multiple huge challenges in his job. As with any career, there are "those" days and, well, this has been one of "those" years. The stress is wearing on him, causing us both a lot of sleepless nights and anxiety-filled days. We are thankful and blessed that he has a job to stress him out. We do understand that. It has been a rough haul, though, and I'm thinking the only ones benefitting are some obscure attorneys and the Sam Adams Brewery. Octoberfest came at a rather opportune, time, I might add.

At our new land, we installed a game camera. We piled corn on the ground so we could get pictures of the pretty deer we have spotted around the area. It was stolen. Who would do that? Meanies.

Though all of this has lent its own twist to the challenges of each day of soccer, baseball, school, work, etc., one might be surprised at the one thing that is about to send us over the edge.

Speed bumps.

We have lived in a subdivision of gravel roads for 3 1/2 years now. Coming from a rather rural area, i.e., "the country", that hasn't been a big deal. Gravel roads are a source of entertainment where we grew up. Have you ever been line birdin'? If not, some would say you haven't lived.

Recently, our subdivision had a vote and the majority went to paving the roads. We had visions of rising home values, clean cars, and less dust in our homes. It really is nice. Well, it was. Then, they put in speed bumps. And given the cash we forked over for those lovely paved roads, you can be sure it was under the assumption that they would be smooth, speed-bump free roads.

If you want to see the rebellious side of a person come out, put them in a speed bump maze. It doesn't take long for them to floor it and tear out of it, with no regard to auto damage. What are a few shocks when sanity is on the line?

Yes, we can handle stolen cameras, our chicks leaving the nest, school, jobs, and a world of hate. But speed bumps?

I'm not so sure.

"All I Can Say"

2009-09-22T11:27:00.004-05:00

The David Crowder Band's new release, "Church Music" comes out today. I already have it ordered and hope to see it before the week is out.

I really enjoy their music. Today on the way to work I was listening to their song, "All I Can Say". The good thing about the trip to work is that it is about 45 minutes long, and if I get in the mood, I can sing along with music from the iPod.

So today, for nearly 45 minutes, I listened to (and sang) "All I Can Say" over and over. Read the lyrics, and maybe you'll understand why.

All I Can Say
By The David Crowder Band

Lord I'm tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I'm so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I'll stop
Rest here a while

And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give

And didn't You see me cry'n?
And didn't You hear me call Your name?
Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You'd remember
Where you sat it down

And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give

I didn't notice You were standing here
I didn't know that
That was You holding me
I didn't notice You were cry'n too
I didn't know that
That was You washing my feet

And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give

He's a Tiger!

2009-09-21T12:52:00.003-05:00

It's official. Travis is a Mizzou Tiger. He has been there a bit over a month now, and is facing his first round of tests this week.

He came home for Labor Day Weekend. He didn't even bring his laundry. He said he could do it at school. I was shocked. Then I was sad. Then I did a skip as I left the laundry room. But I still wouldn't mind if he brought it next time.

The following weekend we visited Travis. No, we aren't going to hover and make sure we see him every weekend. It was: a) Family Weekend; and b)His birthday. We dressed in gold and went to the football game. We have some die-hard fans in this family.

The Things very much enjoyed the game.

Everyone was glad to see Travis, who was the recipient of lots of hugs.

We saw him some, but when we weren't with him, we had a ball with Sister and her husband. They are The. Best. Hosts. In. The. World. So there.

Time to go home came very quickly. It was shocking, really.

Yes, that is a real shiner, not makeup. But, you should've seen the other guy. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

We are looking forward to seeing Travis in November. In the meantime...

GO TIGERS!!!!

Salsa

2009-09-15T13:03:00.004-05:00

According to this Seinfeld clip, "salsa is the number one condiment...."

If that is the case, I am on the cutting edge. I've made three batches so far this summer. I've used the same recipe for years, then tweaked it a little last time. This salsa is really yummy!

Salsa

16 C Tomatoes: Dip in hot water to blister the skin and peel it off, then cut into chunks
4 C chopped onion
2 C green pepper, chopped
Hot peppers, diced: 7 = medium; 17-20 = hot. The more seeds, the hotter ***
2 T chili powder
2 t cumin
2 1/2 C white vinegar
1 C sugar
1/2 C table salt
2 t pepper
1 t alum
1 small can tomato paste
Juice of 2 limes
2 T cilantro (dried...use more if fresh)
2 garlic cloves, minced or grated

Put in a huge pot and cook until thick, about 30 minutes or so...maybe longer.
Add a bag of frozen corn.
Take out some sauce and mix with 3/4 C cornstarch.
Stir the cornstarch mixture back in, until smooth.
Fill clean, sterile jars, and put on a lid and band.
Cold pack for 5 minutes.

***BE SURE to wear gloves when chopping the peppers....last time I wore gloves and still had burning hands. If you get the oil from the peppers on your hands, rinse with rubbing alcohol. As a last resort, use a bleach/water mixture. The idea is to cut the oil from the peppers, and regular soap and water won't do it. Yes, this is the voice of experience speaking, to be sure.

Enjoy!

##Added later##

Oh! I forgot! I also put a bag of corn in the last batch, so I added it in the recipe and here... mmmmmmm!

Quick and Happy Notes

2009-08-20T08:18:00.002-05:00

I was very happy to see Staci is blogging again. Very happy.

The Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen is a new discovery for me. Oh, yum!

I'm scrambling to get homeschool planning done. I like this time of year...it is a sort of fresh start....like New Year's Day....I can plan to my heart's content. Actually implementing it? We'll see.

Yesterday was a happy birthday. Calls from The Sweetest Nieces Ever, gifts and cards from Hubby and kids, a call from Sister, choosing my very own cake and eating lots of icing, well wishes from friends and family made for a good day. Thanks, Jesus!

These are especially cool. The best I can tell, it would require getting out my sewing machine. Gasp! Ah, well.... ht Staci

A website for Christian women. Incourage Me. Worth a look see!

Dreamin'

2009-08-20T08:05:00.002-05:00

In the chaos of packing for college, licensing vehicles, repairing vehicles and motorcycles, and preparing for school to start, something special happened. We finalized the purchase of a parcel of land. It is a beautiful spot, full of woods, trees, birds, poison ivy, ticks, snakes....but I digress. It really is beautiful. Our hope is that we can build there in a few years.

We have been looking at floor plans, scouring home magazines and tearing them apart to file in the "Ooooh, that's pretty! I like that!" file. I have a lot of dream homes, but a home must fit the surroundings. My dream beach home, for instance, would look silly in the mountains. Some styles I really love, but they would only fit in a metro area. So this home must fit in the woods. I'm thinking the Three Bears meets HGTV...or something like that. Thankfully, Hubby and I think alike in style and decor, and I have plenty of time to sort it out and think it through.

So, at night, God and I talk about this home. I want it to be a place where He is glorified, above all. It should be a haven, of sorts, where people always feel welcome. Then, I drift off to sleep imagining the possibilities.....

He's Off!

2009-08-20T07:43:00.003-05:00

I was feeling rather overwhelmed a couple of weeks ago. There is quite a lot to do when sending a child off to college for the first time. We took Travis up to Mizzou on Sunday. The trip was eventful. Wow. Because of a closed highway (I guess I'm glad they are inspecting those bridges after all....) we had a bit of a detour in which our three-vehicle party was separated. I am, however, using the term "vehicle" a bit loosely. Trav was driving his car with Annie, Holly was driving me in mine, and Hubby was on the Harley with Thing 1. As we were about five miles from a designated meeting spot, in a downpour, we got a call from Travis saying he was already there and waiting for us. About the time I processed that information, we drove by an underpass full of motorcyclists. Apparently Hubby wasn't the only one who believed the weather forecast predicting a small chance of rain much later in the day. I spied Hubby and The Thing amidst the leather and helmets and we stopped and picked up a very wet and cold boy. Hubby took advantage of a lull in the rain and came behind us. Unfortunately, he didn't make it to the next destination, my Sister's house, before the monsoon hit. Poor guy was soaked through to the skivvies by the time we arrived. We were thankful we had Trav's ENTIRE CLOSET packed (his idea, I assure you) so Hubby could change clothes. We were also thankful Sister has a heavy-duty drier to handle the soggy mess.

The refreshed and now dry crew departed for the final destination, The Dorm. God showed us grace by allowing the rain to depart and we unloaded in dry weather. We took load after load into the room, dropping everything where we stood, anticipating we would help The Big Boy arrange it. You can imagine my amazement when he said, "Just leave it. I'll sort it out and put it away later." Dragging my jaw along with me, we exited and headed to run a couple of errands and eat. Holly had to get back for school the next day, so we made a fairly quick departure to get Hubby and Holly back on the road. The Things and I stayed another couple of days to help out and visit Sister.

The Big Boy is sharing a dorm with one of his best friends. They have done a good job of organizing their room. I think they are kind of excited about being on their own. Although I want to know how things are going and what he is experiencing, I'm refraining from calling for now. Far be it from me to be one of those hovering "helicopter parents". I did that the first 18 years. Now it's time to back off and watch from a little farther out. That is a difficult task for a control freak like me.

2009-08-06T09:20:00.002-05:00

I read this on Between Two Worlds, and deemed it very worth sharing:

Posted by Tony Reinke.

“Sin lives in a costume; that's why it's so hard to recognize. The fact that sin looks so good is one of the things that make it so bad. In order for it to do its evil work, it must present itself as something that is anything but evil. Life in a fallen world is like attending the ultimate masquerade party. Impatient yelling wears the costume of a zeal for truth. Lust can masquerade as a love for beauty. Gossip does its evil work by living in the costume of concern and prayer. Craving for power and control wears the mask of biblical leadership. Fear of man gets dressed up as a servant heart. The pride of always being right masquerades as a love for biblical wisdom. Evil simply doesn't present itself as evil, which is part of its draw. You'll never understand sin's sleight of hand until you acknowledge that the DNA of sin is deception. Now, what this means personally is that as sinners we are all very committed and gifted self-swindlers. … We're all too skilled at looking at our own wrong and seeing good.”

—Paul David Tripp, Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy (Crossway 2008), p. 32.

Cash for Clunkers....a Rant

2009-08-06T08:50:00.003-05:00

The whole Cash for Clunkers is reason to shake a head in disbelief and wonder what third graders are running our country.

There is a litany of reasons I think the program is a joke. It is not the most important issue out there, nor do I think it is all that damaging. As an indicator, it is frightening, though.

1. As a stimulus, it is narrow-minded. If, indeed, stimulus was the objective, wouldn't it be more prudent to just cut our taxes? Give us the $4500 to spend freely, therefore stimulating a number of industries. Raising taxes, taking on more government control, and throwing out a goofy little program like this is insulting, not stimulating.

2. As a help to the environment, it is worthless. The benefit of getting "gas guzzlers" off the roads is so microscopic it won't matter. However, the cost of junking those cars in enormous. Perfectly usable parts are being destroyed, causing us to require so much more in resources to make new, costlier ones. It costs something to shred vehicles that are very usable and good tools for a number of purposes.

3. Dealers are being shafted. Auto dealers won't feel the effects of it for awhile, but when their "Clunkers" start being rejected, long after the deal is made, because they didn't meet some obscure requirement on page 117, paragraph zz, they will know the program isn't "all that". In addition, putting them in the car destroying business, many for the first time, is questionable. I've a feeling that destroying some of the fine vehicles they are having to trash is akin to "putting down a good dog" for many of them.

4. Helping out the lower income folks would be to allow them to PURCHASE these vehicles and use them. It would be to allow them to use the PARTS from these vehicles. This is taking away many helpful resources to folks who need the parts and vehicles to keep driving back and forth to work.

5. Hello? People? THIS is the government in the used car industry. Their 4 month plan lasted a week. THESE are the people you want to run our health care industry? Okay, I know some extremely well-spoken and intelligent folks who sell used cars. It is a generalization to categorize them all with the homemade commercial guys who yell and wear funny costumes. As in any industry, there are those who appear less intelligent (understatement?) whose image is projected on the whole industry. You need to know what you are doing to succeed in used cars. Having said that, it is clear that it doesn't take a doctorate degree to survive selling used cars. Our government, however, hasn't survived in the industry. If you argue that they are, I will answer that printing more Monopoly money to stay in the game is cheating. This is an indicator. If you don't want a minimum wage, chicken costume wearing surgeon performing your surgery in a few years, you really should be paying attention now.

Having hit a few high points, I believe I will cease this rant before I lose my breakfast. I'm going to go sit outside, read my Bible and remember Who is in control of this world, the health industry, my health, and my government. I will put my trust in the Maker of this world. I will pray for the Peace that I cannot understand and then I will get on with picklin' some peppers. Pickled peppers, now that's gotta be good for you.

Homeschooling Changes

2009-08-05T09:47:00.003-05:00

So, after hours and days of planning before buying last spring, here I sit. You know what I did? I changed it....a lot of it.

On a whim, I decided to purchaseTapestry of Grace Year 4. Even though it was a late night, weary, spur of the moment purchase, it was a good one. I'm a bit more settled now. I've even started using my Homeschool Tracker again this year. Now for 36 hours of uninterrupted time to finish planning and typing and printing and copying...oh, wait, that won't happen. Well, as I squeeze in an hour here and and hour there, hopefully it will get together. It is moving up on the priority list, to be sure. I have the college purchases done. I have the auto purchase done. I spent all day yesterday pulling weeds, picking produce, and watering plants (yes, then we were the happy recipients of four inches of rain last night....it always works that way!) Now if I can knock out the home interior and the processing of garden items, the homeschool planning will again be priority #1 on the to do list.

The TOG Year 4 is all recent history. I had hoped to go through most of it over the summer (when will I learn????) and start ancient history this fall, but now I will take all this year to go over history from the turn of the century to now. That is exciting to me. I looove that time in history. And, next year's core is already purchased.....so, it's not really a waste. (Whew!)

Now to figure out Homeschool Tracker....not sure about it just yet.

Long Time, No See

2009-08-05T09:16:00.002-05:00

So, what do I say when it has been so long since we talked? How to begin to catch up?

Let's see.....

As usual, I'll start with the kids.

Travis, a.k.a., The Big Boy, will start school at Mizzou in a few weeks. He's almost ready to go, as far as I'm concerned. I've done all the dorm/school shopping I'm going to do. The rest is up to him. We have sheets, blankets, towels, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, a new Macbook Pro, an IPhone (I got one of those, too...love it), boxers from American Eagle, jeans, shirts, shorts, shoes, shower shoes, shower scrunchy, hangers, oh, and did I mention the Explorer we added to our, ahem, fleet? A really nice high mileage rig that I'm soooo thankful didn't get sent to the Clunker pile. Oh, but I'll not get on the Cash for Clunker rant...yet. Clearly that's not all, as his room is about 1/3 covered with school-bound supplies, but you get the drift. He will have to fill in the rest.

Holly will begin her Junior year in less than two weeks (sob!). She is poured into the love seat as I write this with a sprained ankle that will require therapy beginning today. She has spent her summer babysitting and hanging out with her friends. She has gone to outreach places a couple of times and loved hanging out with the kids there. We are hoping to go to the DR on a mission trip next year. She and Trav took a roadtrip recently, which was interesting when observed from the outside looking in. They were on the road by early morning every day, even on the day to come home. Not sure how that happened, because neither is an early riser when I'm with them!

Nathan and Annie went to camp this summer, have been swimming, and are looking forward to a trip to a Midwest Amusement Park in about a week. We are hoping Holly can walk well by then. They are a bit out of sorts, and if I was even slightly prepared, I would start them on school just to get them in a routine. That, however, is another story.

We are in the process of purchasing a small parcel of land near here with the hopes of building in a few years. It is all wooded, with a small pond, and when we visit there, it gives us a sense of "going home". The peaceful feelings of sitting among the trees, watching the tops sway with the wind is only disturbed by the occasional tick or snake that crawls around us. I love going there, even though each trip brings a new case of poison ivy and a tick or two. When I have time, I obsess over house plans. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time for that OCD kick lately.

Our garden has exploded. I think I've figured out the whole garden problem. We plant at the beginning of summer when it is cool, and nice, and I can't get outside enough. All the produce comes at the time when I am trying to prepare four kids for school and get ready to teach and we are trying to cram in the last of the summer activities that haven't been checked off our list yet and WHO HAS TIME TO PICK CUCUMBERS AND MAKE PICKLES????? I sit here among eight bags of peppers and cucumbers and today I will make....whatever....to preserve them to the best of my ability.

So, I had better get at it. Nathan is emerging from the shower where he has been singing "Carry On My Wayward Son" over and over and over....thank you, Rock Band. You may exit my home any time now. Maybe if I give him some jobs he'll switch to "Whistle While You Work"......

The GPS is my Friend

2009-06-26T12:58:00.002-05:00

The GPS is my neeewww friend, and I call him Chase, and I hug him and squeeze him, and when he is bad, I threaten to throw him out the window.

I've always been a map kind of gal. I like pictures, to be sure. Pictures are good.

On our recent road trip, The Big Boy and I threw caution to the wind and didn't even visit an online mapping tool before we left. We took the GPS.

Along the way, we played with the GPS, trying various accents, etc. Right after the purchase, we set her on a British lady. On this trip, however, we changed it. We really like the voice of the Aussie male. He sounds just like Chase, from House.

There were a few times when Chase made me really, really mad. I yelled at him and told him to straighten up or he is going OUT THE WINDOW!

Other times, I could have kissed him.

Then, when I knew where I was, and to where I was headed, I didn't need his sweet voice chiming over and over, "Recalculating", so I told him, "Honey, you can be quiet now...I know where I am." That sent The Big Boy over the edge, laughing at me.

So, I'm still a map kind of gal. When Chase took me all over the countryside, on county roads in counties I didn't even know existed, I'm not sure that was really the best way. Chase, however, has a new spot in my heart, and I really like him a lot and I hope we travel many miles together.

Someday, I may just introduce him to my friend, J's, GPS. Her name is Athena.

Feathered bangs and Beat It, Gone in a Day

2009-06-26T12:13:00.002-05:00

I'm having a sad time. Two of my childhood icons are gone in a day.

Farrah Fawcett.
The swimsuit poster. Feathered Bangs. Charlie's Angel. Guys drooled over her and girls wanted to look like her.

Michael Jackson:
The Jackson 5. I listened to the album over and over and over when I was very small. My family was worn out on Michael before he turned 12, thanks to me. Then, high school, well, was framed largely by his music, his dance moves, and his style. He was fraught with talent and a musical genius. His later years are evidence of his search for....I don't think he ever knew what he was missing. Maybe he did. He always seemed so lost and just messed up. He made himself a bit of a freak trying to satisfy something in his soul. He remained a musical genius and an icon through it all.

Having said that.......

These two people, beautiful, talented, icons of our culture had so much that we, as a society, covet. Beauty. Perfect Pitch. Gracefulness. Ability. Money. Power. Prestige. Fans.

And now, they are gone. Now, what do they have?

Last night, I told my kids, that despite all they have had for all these years, at this point in time, what do they have? As they meet death, as they account for their lives on earth, what do they have?

Only Jesus knows for sure. Certainly some mom in the Midwest who has never been within hundreds of miles of them cannot account for the state of their soul.

What I do know, is that all that they had while on this earth is dust to them now. All the nice things they did, all the bad things they did, all their earthly possessions, and all their devoted fans are worthless.

Because, in death, we all stand before an audience of One.

He is the only fan that counts. He is, indeed, our fan. He sacrificed it all for us. He holds us accountable for every deed, every word, everything. Despite it all, our deeds and words cannot give us eternal life. It is only by His Grace. His Sacrifice. His Love.

So, the answer? At this time, unless they have Jesus, they have nothing. (At this point my kids giggled and pointed out that their aunt, my sister, made a similar speech to them recently and boy, we are so much alike! That, my friends, is quite the compliment)

It is sobering.

For what am I laboring?

Unless it is for my audience of One, it is for naught.

Laundry Room of Horrors

2009-06-25T10:44:00.002-05:00

Have you ever pondered the effect on a laundry room when two Things go to camp? Add to that the mom and Big Boy going to a baseball tournament, not to return until a few days after the Things return. I assure you, the sight, and smell, are not for the faint of heart.

It is enough to make Jack Bauer shrink in fear.

It is enough to make Gibbs head back to Mexico.

At such a sight and smell, the smoke monster will retreat, never to be seen again.

I would post pictures, but they would have to have a disclaimer, and I am no attorney.

The Things returned on Friday. Thing 2 must have forgotten those plastic bags for wet things shoved in the bottom of her duffel. So, wet swimsuits, towels, and I don't want to know what else, were evenly distributed throughout the bag, assuring everything in there would be subject to the wet....on Friday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, when said bag was discovered by mom, it was utterly nauseating. Having not been here on the Things return to quickly open the bags and get the stuff OUT (I know my Things, after all), it sat for an extra few days.

That smell has to be the same stuff that lurked in the car after Jerry (Seinfeld) had it parked by a valet. The smell that lingered in Elaine's hair, and despite efforts to rid herself of the scent, it wouldn't go.

I have discovered that there are no methods available to man that will dissipate the scent in anything less than three long, heavy duty washings. It involves a lot of oxy cleaner, soaking, and a high-temp sanitize wash.

Only a persistent, stubborn mom could prevail in such circumstances.

The laundry room is thanking me. I think it was starting to crumble, so defeating was its contents. I'm sure it felt hopeless. There is an end in sight. The floor has been discovered again, and I'm confident that with the team of Tide, OxyClean, Downey, bleach, and a rockin' new washer and dryer, we will prevail.

Summer, You Have Changed!

2009-06-24T09:35:00.003-05:00

Every spring as the robins and martins come, the flowers bloom, and the trees and grass turn that light green that is so near and dear to my heart, I dream.

Every Easter as we dress in our summer outfits which are always light, airy, and sleeveless and FREEZE because in reality, despite the aspirations of our clothing, it is STILL WINTER, I dream.

Every May as I traverse from one year-end banquet to the next, and furiously scramble trying to get homeschool to be over BEFORE JUNE, I dream.

I dream of lazy, hazy days, lounging in the hammock, reading a really good, non-homeschool FICTION novel that takes me away.

I dream of lemonade on the front porch watching the birds fly, the kids play, and the cars go by.

I dream of lounging by the pool reading while my children joyously frolic in the water, just happy to be there and together. (Okay, maybe I don't go THAT far....)

I dream of baseball games, picnics, berry picking, flowers, farmers markets, and that sought-after commodity, TIME. Oh, time. I dream of that one a lot.

So, my summers, in my mind, are a conglomeration of blissful moments from the past summers, which dance in my head, giving a warm, fuzzy feeling to my heart.

Now, I sit, scratching my head, wondering.....why has summer changed? I feel ever so betrayed!

I admit, I have enjoyed some exciting and fun baseball games, visiting with dear baseball friends, and watching the boys play. The rest of it? Sigh. Nope, not at all.

No moments on the hammock reading even a homeschool, non-fiction book. The flowers are there, and because we are enduring the late July 100 degree weather, they are looking like late July flowers and I'm sorry, it's just not as much fun! (Maybe after the tlc I gave them this morning, they will snap out of it....) The few front porch moments I had were punctuated by the Really Cranky Neighbor cussing at his dog and screaming at people to "Slow down! You drive too fast!" (Ah, and that is fodder for another blog, to be sure..)

And worst of all, no moments by the pool. I realize there are people who are EVER SO MUCH WORSE OFF than I, and I am being a pampered, spoiled child right now, but I don't think folks realize how much those moments by the pool maintain my sanity. I don't just benefit in the summer, but all winter long. Because, you see, if I don't have moments by the pool, of what will I dream those long, gray days in March when the sun doesn't shine for a few weeks in a row? Really....I need moments by the pool. With a friend, alone with a book, I'm happy either way. I am happy by a creek, river, or lake, too. Two ingredients fit the bill: Water and sun.

So, this week? We will go to a pool. We will pick blueberries. And despite all that is not right in the world, I will make some memories that will make all the difference next winter and spring....

No, Mr. President

2009-05-14T10:02:00.003-05:00

What a powerful message by >John Piper.

No, Mr. President is his response to President Obama's statement regarding the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. It is short.....I promise you have the time.

HT to Justin.

That Was a Wild Ride!

2009-05-11T10:09:00.003-05:00

Last weekend was, to say the least, a wild ride. We started with a big storm, winds a gazillion mph (I heard 80 was possible, but didn't see that here....Friends did, though). Unlike our friends, our worst damage was a hunk of siding from the construction project across the street that now resides in our front yard. I was at Walmart when it hit. Suffice it to say the water in the lot was ankle deep and I was completely drenched before I got the two carts unloaded and into the car. On to birthday prep!

With my sweet friend, D's help, we cleaned, decorated and made a cake. When everyone arrived, we went to the pottery place to paint our ceramic projects, then met the family for pizza. We came home and the girls played, then we had cake and ice cream floats...yum! I gained every bit of six pounds this weekend. It was sooo good, you see! The girls stayed up until about 5:30, but I only lasted until 1:30.

Up at seven, preparing for the day and the first pickups...we had eggs and chocolate chip pancakes. As they left, I started preparing for prom. Trav ran errands in town for me, and I gathered items needed for a dinner at a friends' house. Once he was dressed and out the door, I finished pulling weeds and changed to help at the dinner. My friend, J, served her son and seven of his friends dinner before prom. It was so lovely and she went all out. When I came home, I brought supper for my crew and got them to bed. I sat down to watch tv and fell asleep way sooner than anticipated. Hubby woke me up to go to bed, but once I got changed and washed up, I was completely awake. Trav was still out, so I grabbed my knitting to watch House and wait for him. He came in about 1 with friends in tow, so I stayed up until 3, when I finally realized they would, no matter what, outlast me.

The best thing about Mothers Day is that it was low-key. We went to church, did some quick errands then shopped and shopped for flowers. The big kids had a rehearsal for a concert. After getting home, the girls and I put out 15 pots of flowers plus some. Hubby and Nathan rode the motorcycle to visit the grandmas and take them their gifts. Trav had baseball practice, then we grilled and had the WHOLE family at home at one time for supper. Now that was a happy Mother's day. All my blessings, all together.

Today we hit the ground running again, in prep for Pop Concert and graduation. It is a beautiful day, so I'm hoping I can manage to find a way to do graduation announcements outside. If you get one with some dirt smudges, you'll know what happened.

A Perfect Ten

2009-05-07T23:54:00.003-05:00

Tonight I go to bed reflecting about this same night ten years ago. (The scene fades away to the scene ten years ago....) Nathan was all of 18 months old and still hadn't slept through the night. I was very pregnant and trying to carry Nathan about while caring for Holly and Travis, who were six and eight, respectively. It was a Friday night and I had mowed, spending a lot of the time with Nathan on my lap. It was his favorite way to take a nap...on my lap on a mower or tractor. Please don't go into the safety issues. I was a pregnant woman desperate for this child to sleep. I took it how I could get it. If memory serves, I was on that mower for about three hours that day, riding in fields, up and down the road, just passing time so Nathan could sleep. I recall the Schwan's man coming and ordering a few things, while the kids played in the yard. The next thing I remember well was going to bed about 11:30 or 12, then waking up about 1:30 with Nathan crying. I tried to soothe him, walking, rocking, and laying on the sofa with him. I hadn't been up long when I felt a strong contraction.

The contractions weren't unusual, I had them with every pregnancy, and this one was no exception. As I wrestled Nathan, I noticed the contractions increasing in intensity. Finally, a bit after 2, Nathan dozed back off, and by then the contractions were coming with alarming frequency, especially given the baby wasn't due for a few weeks. The remedy that had worked the best had always been to take a shower. The warm water had always calmed me, body and spirit, enabling me to stop the contractions and get some much-needed sleep. After a few minutes in the shower, I realized they weren't going to stop. I had to get to the hospital.

My last two deliveries had gone rather quickly. Dialation from 4 cm to 10 cm had taken 15 minutes or less. Living 45 minutes from the hospital shed a new urgency on getting to the hospital. I dried off, threw on some clothes and grabbed a duffel bag. I hadn't packed for the hospital, thinking I had several weeks to come up with something. As I grabbed clothes and stuffed them into the bag, my husband, bleary eyed, asked what I was doing. When I told him I was going to the hospital, he woke up with a start. I explained the house was a mess, the other kids needed him here, and he should allow me to drive myself to the hospital. I had, after all, done it with Nathan (under somewhat different circumstances) and could do it again. Smart man that he is, he vetoed that plan in a hurry and called my dad. By that time, I was having trouble standing, the contractions were coming so fast and hard. Recognizing my typical signs of going through transition, he hurried me to the car and told me my dad was on the way, the kids were asleep and would be fine for the few minutes it would take my dad to arrive. We had to go. This baby is coming fast.

As soon as we were in motion, he called for an ambulance to meet us. We received instruction as to where to go for the rendezvous, where they hustled me into the white van and took off with my husband following. The ambulance EMT called the hospital and gave them updates while repeating to me, "Do that breathing stuff! I don't want to deliver this baby tonight! Do that breathing stuff!" By the time we reached the hospital, I could have delivered the baby many times over, but held off due to the insistence of the ambulance dude. I was checked by a nurse who promptly rolled me into the hospital to the maternity ward while barking instructions to people around and asking me questions faster than I could answer. Miss Annie was born about four minutes later at 4:03 am, with a cord around her neck and bruises everywhere. It had been a stressful delivery for her and it showed. They let me hold her, but I noticed that where my others had immediately turned a pretty pink color, her skin remained a purplish-blue. I knew something wasn't right. I looked at the nurse and said, "She is sick, isn't she?" The nurse, nodding, confirmed my suspicions and said they really needed to take her then. Little did I know it would be several days before I could hold that baby again.

Concerned about my baby, I was taken to my room, but not able to relax and rest much. Doctors came in and out, giving me updates as to her condition. My husband was gone, helping his folks put a roof on their house. It was a long day alone. Later in the evening, my husband brought the kids over and they were disappointed they couldn't see their new baby. They understood they needed to pray for her because she was really, really sick. Awhile after they left, at about 11:30, the doctor who had been by Annie's side all day came to my room. He explained that she wasn't doing well, and for her to have a chance to survive, they needed to air evac her to St. Louis, MO. They offered for a priest to come in, as she may not make it through the trip. I declined the offer, determined that losing this child wasn't an option, even though I knew it wasn't remotely in my control. I phoned my husband who headed over to the hospital to join me in what could have been the last few minutes we would spend with our child.

I was allowed to touch her one time before she left. My choice was to touch her silky black hair, because I had never had a baby with hair before. We took pictures, then as they loaded her to go, I went back to my room to pack and prepare for the journey. She left the hospital just before five, and we were out the door only minutes after. We drove while she flew to St. Louis, and I knew it would be the most exhausted I would ever be.

By Tuesday, they were giving her about a 50-50 chance. Her lungs were not developed, she had a hole in her lung, and this was just the most serious of her long list of conditions. They were going to try a procedure that they felt would make or break the situation. Either it would work and she would heal, or it wouldn't, and, well, she probably wouldn't make it. It was a terrifying 24 hours. Thankfully, the procedure was a success and she began to mend.

We spent eight days in this hospital in St. Louis in addition to the one day we spent in the hospital near our home. On Sunday, May 16, I brought home the newest little member of our family. Her first week at home included five baseball games. She has been on the go ever since.

My Annie. Ten years old. I just don't know how it happened. How very, very blessed I am.....

Post-Shred Review

2009-05-06T11:34:00.004-05:00

Quick observations about the 30 Day Shred include:

1. It is totally doable. I'm tired, I've got that "I just had a good workout" feeling but I'm not discouraged or frustrated.

2. It is short and thorough. The methods used combine exercises for a complete but short workout. Short and thorough. Both are good words.

3. The Things joined in and loved it. Thing 1 just commented, "I think I'm in a lot better mood now." Maybe I am, too.

4. I love Anita. Her "modifications" are part of what made it doable.

5. I don't want to do 1 1/2 shreds in one day ever again.

6. Those women are good motivators. I couldn't pay for abs and legs like that, but they sure make me want to try harder.

7. I'm kind of looking forward to tomorrow. Ack! Did I just say that????

That's all I can say for now. Piano looms on the horizon and I have to wash off all this sweat. Just after I eat a piece of bacon.

Just a Shreddin'

2009-05-06T10:24:00.003-05:00

Last week, I read where Sophie and Melanie were joining Vicki in a new get fit ~~scheme~~ quest. They are doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I read phrases saying that children commented on abs appearing where previously there were none. There were testimonies of making clothes purchases because the old ones are too big. Arms with flags were being upgraded to arms with muscle and definition. Either someone died and their testimony is coming straight from heaven, or it works. Or they lie.

On Amazon, the dvd is ranked, get this, "#1 in Movies & TV ". Apparently, there are a lot of desperate individuals out there like me. You know what they say about a sucker being born every minute. But #1? It isn't a measure of customer success in getting fit, but no matter how I cut it that #1 rating influenced me. That, and the idea of being a workout stud.

I was sold.

Said dvd arrived in glorious style in yesterday's mail. Brown cardboard being glorious and all. So, this morning is it. Day #1 in my 30 day quest to removing 25 years from this tired ol' bod. Ten minutes into it, I glanced at the clock and had to quit. I'm guessing it was subconscious, but I had started the dvd knowing in 18 minutes I had to be on a conference call from work, hoping I could squish it all in the allotted time. I'm so happy I couldn't. Allowing time (which, of course, wasn't enough) to access the email with the numbers for the conference call, I just had to stop.

Now I'm faced with a decision. Start again, doing 1 1/2 Shreds today? (Heaven forbid it! Please?) Or, start mid-way, not getting the full effect of the 20 minutes of ~~hell~~ health? Or, just call it a day, and forever be 1/2 day off on my shred count.

I'm thinking if I type long enough, the decision will be made because of piano looming on the horizon. Or, I think I'll just go back, start again, and know I will be better for it.

Has "exercise video" ever been listed as a cause of death? I think not! I'll just imagine that funny guy on "Waterboy" is here cheering me on saying, "You can do it!"

Sermon? You Mean There is a Sermon on Sunday?

2009-05-02T23:43:00.002-05:00

It seems I have a difficult time hearing the sermon each week. I have to miss a lot of services because I work with several children's programs. Some folks never hear a sermon and I really hate that for them. We have a great teaching pastor and it is a shame they have to catch him online, for I fear they won't. Tomorrow I get to hold babies while the Mommies and Daddies hear the teaching. The whole baby-holding thing makes me very happy.

Back to the sermons. Some weeks, I have no reason not to hear the sermon. Except things just...happen. Take last week for example. You know the two glasses of water, one cup of coffee and two glasses of oj I had before church? Who would have thought that would have all processed and I would have found myself about to float away by the time praise and worship began? So, when the children were dismissed to children's church, I slipped out to go to the restroom. Note I slipped out at a time to cause the least amount of disruption. That's how I am. Really. You'll need to know that in a moment.

So, I get done in the restroom and it is on my mind that Annie's finger that is injured is swollen and causing her significant pain. I know that buddy-taping it will help, so it occurs to me to go find a first aid kit and acquire a strip of medical tape to use on it. Said first aid kit has no tape. There are, however, a lot of antiseptic wipes and an emergency blanket for those times we'll need one in church (??). Making a mental note of where the emergency blanket is because I know it is knowledge I will need at some time, I head on to the nursery thinking I can acquire some sort of tape there. Finding masking tape, I rip off a long piece and head back to the service. I slip in the back, quietly hugging my dear friend, the bass player, who is also slipping in, and I head to our seats in the, ahem, front of the church. I get about half-way to the front and it occurs to me that Annie isn't there. That would be because I had sent her to Kids Worship to help lead praise and worship there. Making a quick right turn, I head on out the side door knowing people are shaking their head at that crazy lady with the long piece of tape flowing behind, and hoping they don't think I'm being all disruptive on purpose. I also hope the pastor doesn't hunt me down after the service.

I head to Kids Worship, where the songs are in full swing. I can't access Annie's hand, because to do so would require disrupting the song service and, of course, I can't do that. So, I sing along, digging all the cool motions until the songs are finished. Annie and I head to the hallway where I tape her fingers with the masking tape, which proves to be a pretty lame excuse for buddy tape, but is a bit helpful nonetheless.

Task completed, I briskly walk toward the sanctuary to try this whole sermon thing again when I am asked to please assist a visitor in taking their child to the nursery. Happy to help, we proceed to our two year old class, helping her sign in the child and explaining the security process, etc. We then rejoin the church service. Being as stealthy as I know how, I slip into the pew, only climbing over five or six people to get to my seat. Holly comments that it sure took a long time to go to the restroom....by the time I complete a note to her with a thorough explanation of where I have been, there is enough sermon left to leave me completely at a loss as to the point of it all. It occurs to me then, that there is some significance in that. What it is, I'm not sure.

So, I'm thinking that in a couple of weeks I'll be able to try it again. I just hope, since it will be Senior Day, I can keep from bawling the whole time. Now THAT would be distracting.

It's Settled. I'm Sure This Time. I Think.

2009-05-02T23:34:00.003-05:00

I'm really done this time. I stuck with the plan with one variation. I am adding Tapestry of Grace 1 to the mix. It has so much to add, and of course, I really want to have all of the best. I really believe my best includes TOG. So, all that is left is organizing it, filling in literature/history books that may be missing, little things like that. I think I can relax about it until I get the oldest over the graduation hump. I really hope so.

Speaking of which, I started addressing announcements and I went through about 1/10of the pictures for all the slide shows for church, banquets, etc. Church needs 6 to 10 pictures. This child is:

a. The oldest. We all know there are waaaaay more pictures of the oldest. (Spoken like a true baby of the family.)

b. 18 and a HALF! That is not even one picture a year!

Well, it can't be done. One cannot capture the "heart" of some one's life with ten pictures. Nope. So, when I turn in, say 16 pictures (give or take), I triple-dog dare 'em to eliminate any. How could they, after all?

I'm Ready to Play

2009-05-02T12:29:00.002-05:00

It is a typical May in this part of the country. Either we are freezing, checking windchill, and shivering in shorts, or we are enjoying a spectacular sunny day in which the grass grows at least three inches per hour. The last couple of days have definitely fallen into the former category.

Trav has pitched two games this week, doing very well at both. The first, unfortunately, doesn't count, because the Heavens opened and a downpour to rival Noah's ensued. Thankfully, this one was much shorter than Noah's. Not so happily, we lose our 8-1 lead because we hadn't completed enough innings for it to count.

Last night he pitched a complete game (despite sprinkles and winds straight from the Arctic) and we won. It was a really good game. His batting is on, his pitching is one, his teammates are really, really on, and the stars have all aligned.

So, despite the plummeting temperatures, a good baseball game is proof that spring is here and summer is coming very soon. It always brings to mind an old favorite song. For all the baseball fans out there:

Ready To Play (Put Me In Coach) by John Foggerty

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man; (ahem. In case you didn't know, that is Travis)
Anyone can understand the way I feel.

CHORUS:
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.

Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out.
So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio;
Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now.

CHORUS:
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.

Yeah! I got it, I got it!

Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

CHORUS:
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield. (x2)

Yeah!

God Knows About the Whole Time Thing

2009-04-29T08:12:00.005-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that if I'm waking up before 6 am consistently, something is wrong. This week, I haven't slept past about 5:30. Why? The reasons are many and varied.

First of all, my first baby is graduating in three weeks. No, I'm not all weepy and depressed and sad...actually, there are days when I'm ready for his new roommate, B, to take him and go! That isn't usually the case, you understand, but there are definitely those days. I'm learning, though, that having a senior comes with a very long "to do" list. Do you know how many people want pictures of this boy for various things? Not senior pictures, but pictures all through his life. Not that it is so terribly difficult....I just have to dig through unorganized boxes and find those perfect few....but it is a "to do". (And what about those brown recluse spiders that reside in such untouched boxes in storage? It is a risky "to do" as well!) There are announcements, parties, and we have senior recognition banquets out the wazoo.

Secondly, it is almost May. Even without a senior, May is busy, busy, busy. Every program that is coming to a delightful end has a banquet or performance to show the many accomplishments of the year. The church programs, jump rope, piano, choir, and every organization in which any of the four have remotely participated are vying for calendar dates that are already covered with baseball and volleyball games and practices.

Thirdly, I want homeschool to end. I want to be done. However, I'm struggling with finding the time to effectively launch a crusade to accelerate the process. Bless The Things hearts, if they have learned anything this year, it is working independently, and at least Math, English, Reading, and Spelling are progressing. Given that we had HOURS of history on the trip, Science is the only thing that is falling through the cracks right now.

Lastly, and although it could wait, in my OCD mind, it is the primary item on the radar right now, and that is planning for next year. WHY I can't delay this until Memorial Day, I'm not sure. It's a mental issue, to be sure. I've pondered and pondered and then, this morning, as I read online essays about various educational theories and looked at curriculum, a brand new idea occurred to me. I could do Tapestry of Grace Year 4 next year, and really hit the time from the Civil War to now thoroughly. THEN I could begin the History cycle again the following year. That would mean 80% of the books in my living room would have to be stored for a year. That would mean that instead of starting the next four-year history cycle with Nathan in 6th (already a year behind) and Annie in 5th, it would delay it another year. Do I want to do that? I don't knoooooooowwwwwww!

The one thing I know is that there is not more to do today than I can do. God has ordered my steps and purposed my day to serve Him. He knows about the whole time thing (He created it, after all) and He hasn't scheduled more in my day than is possible for me to accomplish. So, if I just stop and turn it all over to Him, He will provide the priorities and the time, and it will fall into place. And, maybe, that is why He is waking me up a little earlier. He wants me to spend time with Him to learn about His plan for my day. So pardon me, I have a Friend waiting. He may be waiting for you, too.

Swine Flu Map

2009-04-27T12:19:00.002-05:00

Here is a link to see where the swine flu has been confirmed:

Google Swine Flu Map

Manhunt

2009-04-24T15:26:00.003-05:00

On our recent trip to South Carolina, I tucked into my bag an audio book, Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. I had actually purchased it for my dad for Father's Day last year for a trip he was taking. He knew the kids and I were studying the Civil War in homeschool and brought it so we could listen.

It is very long, 9 hours, to be exact. I'm glad I saved it for a long drive. We listened to about half of it going, and everyone was excited to pop it back in to hear the rest on the return trip.

It is a riveting account of the events surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln, and the events that followed. It is all very factual, and based on extensive research by the author, but presented in the fashion of the best sort of page-turner. The characters literally come to life as the author explores their motives, backgrounds, and personalities. Richard Thomas is a fabulous storyteller, so the excitement is maintained in the telling. There are a few spots that are a bit gory, so use care before listening with small children.

I highly recommend the book. It is exciting, and in the process, I learned much about an event on which I already felt relatively well-versed.

Kathy Ireland Shares Her Faith; Views on Abortion

2009-04-20T11:14:00.001-05:00

Very well spoken, one of the best pro-life arguements I have ever heard. Take a look and listen!

Kathy Ireland on Fox's Huckabee

Done. Whew!

2009-04-15T10:02:00.003-05:00

The quest for next year's curriculum is over. I'm not sure that I did it all the best way, but if I didn't, it wasn't because I didn't obsess over it all enough. However, I've pulled the proverbial trigger, and it is all on order, and on its way.

First, we evaluated foundational curriculum. The spine of it all, if you will. I looked at Tapestry of Grace, Sonlight, and Veritas Press. I am convinced I could not have gone wrong with any of them. They are all wonderful and thorough curriculums. We settled on Sonlight for a few reasons. First of all, unlike Veritas Press, our times/needs were in sync. We will be ready to begin world history over again, starting with the ancients. I would have been able to do that if I jumped Nathan up a year, but I wasn't sure if it would work with Annie. Tapestry allows you to do any of it any time, which is wonderful. I seriously contemplated using Tapestry. I made lists of the books used for each curriculum and compared them. I really like a lot of the features of Tapestry, and one of my best friends uses it and it works well for her. The bottom line, however, is that I'm familiar with Sonlight and how it works. I've gathered that Tapestry is a bit more work and because I don't have children widely spaced in age, I'm not sure it is necessary. So, in all, comfortable won, and I ordered Core 6 from Sonlight. Because Nathan is a quick and avid reader, I looked at "The Well-Trained Mind" by Susan Wise Bauer and compared it to Tapestry of Grace books and ordered a few more books to supplement Sonlight's books. I found some used and was able to get them for just a bit more than a song.

After several years of grammar trials, last year we tried Rod and Staff and we loved it. It is absolutely wonderful and I'll thank Staci for a very long time for recommending it to us. So, Annie will use the 5th grade one from this year, and I ordered a 6th grade grammar set for Nathan. This will be supplemented by Sonlight's LA program.

For science, I read board after board, review after review, and narrowed it down to four programs: Science 4 Kids, Rainbow Science, Apologia, and Noeo. Then, because I felt they need a really general, all encompassing program at this point, I was able to select two of those: Rainbow and Apologia. We looked at them and evaluated them. I asked Nathan what he thought and his answer was to get the one with the most experiments. Ha! I would like to finish it this year, so we ordered Apologia General Science from Sonlight. It is 7th grade, but I think it is completely doable for them.

On to math....ugh! Annie was easy...she will do what Nathan did this year, Horizons 5 via Sonlight. Done. Nathan, however, is another story. I looked and looked and AGONIZED over it. I talked Clay's ear off, poor guy, until his eyes glazed over and I think he was about to run away. Nathan is pre-algebra/algebra, depending on the program. Chalk Dust is an amazing program, but a bit pricy. Not knowing how taxes would turn out, I was not sure about the cost, and not confident I could put it together well enough from used sources. I evaluated Teaching Textbooks, which looks great, but their Algebra I was essentially the same as some of the others' PreAlgebra. That's fine as long as I know what I've got, but I'm not sure where that leaves me later on. I'd like to stick with the same curriculum for awhile to prevent concepts from slipping through the cracks. So, I ended up ordering Life of Fred Decimals and Beginning Algebra, and also Jacobs Algebra, which I was able to procure from Amazon at a fantastic used price. Jacobs is recommended for 7th grade in Veritas Press, therefore, I'm thinking I'm going to be thrilled. He wasn't too keen on having a video instructor (I've still got him thinking I can do it....yikes!) so that pretty much settled the decision.

Now, orders have been placed with Life of Fred, Amazon, Sonlight, and Rod and Staff, and I'm ready to focus on wrapping up the current year.

What He Did, and Why He Did It

2009-04-11T09:27:00.003-05:00

Acts 2:22-40 (New Living Translation)

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene[a] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[b]
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’[c]

29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”’[d]

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles[e]—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Happy Easter!

Too Many Choices

2009-04-08T17:11:00.002-05:00

We have discovered, my homeschooled two and I, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This homeschool year is almost over....just a few more weeks. Honestly, we have more than met our requirements, and we are farther than we were when we finished last year, but there are just a few more things we need to learn before the blessed summer break.

I'm in a peculiar spot now as I ponder the curriculum for next year. We are at a crossroads in several ways. We (finally) are finishing the four years of world history that we started, well, about four years ago. Now what? Start again, I'm sure....or maybe not. (probably). Nathan is ready to jump up in math. To what he is jumping, I'm not sure just yet. I think the elementary math is sufficiently ingrained and a bit of a challenge is in order. Pre-Algebra? Is he ready for Algebra? What curriculum? The questions are endless.....

Essentially, it seems in most subjects Nathan is ready to jump a year. Don't tell him that, please. I don't need an endless litany of arguments about him being in 7th grade, ready for youth group, etc. It'll be our secret...okay? Okay.

Then there is Science. I'm sure we are ready for an Apologia Science, but which one?

When I first started homeschooling, the options were very limited. As homeschooling has taken off, the number of choices has jumped exponentially. There are several really good programs out there, and though the vast array of choices is nice, it also makes it difficult. But I'm NOT complaining! I'm thrilled. As the catalogs come in, I spend time at every baseball/soccer game perusing them, reading cover to cover what each company has to offer. It becomes so exciting! (I know, only an egghead would get a kick out of such a thing....what can I say?) Planning next year is ever so much more fun than finishing this year. Now, on to those Latin reviews....

Opening Day!

2009-04-06T14:18:00.005-05:00

It is MLB Opening Day! Yay!

There is just nothing like the perfectly groomed fields in the MLB, or the not-so-perfect little league fields, but both look better with a baseball flying around.

I even get excited about washing lots of dirt out of uniforms. The dirtier, the better, because it means he's working hard.

Go ST. LOUIS CARDINALS!

Unredeemed

2009-04-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

Quick! Go to Angie's blog, "Bring the Rain" and read her beautiful post. You must do so in haste! The song she has linked is only there for THREE DAYS! It will minister to you....I promise.

Decorating? Fun? Gasp!

2009-04-01T11:20:00.002-05:00

We have, for a few months now, been in a redecorating mode. The painting is almost done, and we have been getting wall decor done. Last fall, my friends, April and Deanna of Drawn By Light Photography took amazing pictures of the kids. I'm in danger of making the place a shrine, I have so many of the pictures around now. We had one series done in black and white with just a green chair and it is The. Coolest. Picture. Ever.

You can't really tell. You just have to see it in person. Anyhoo, this is how it looks on the wall:

Honestly, though, there are pictures of the kids everywhere, and they are soooo good.

The other source for wall art in my home is my brother. He is a gifted amature (that means it isn't his real job) photographer. I have some prints coming, some I'm framing, and then there is this one that I especially love:

We had a split canvas made of this one. Isn't it beauuuuuutiful????

This decorating thing can, in fact, be fun. That was news to me. I could do it for a living! Not!

Third Day Concert

2009-04-01T10:29:00.009-05:00

About a week and a half ago, we, less Travis (who had to play baseball, of course), went to a Third Day concert. It was ever so much fun.

It was a very long drive, about three hours each way. It was cold standing in line, but thankfully, we didn't have to wait long. Holly and Annie kept each other warm....long enough to snap a picture.

First to open was the Australian group, Revive:

You may have heard their song, "Chorus of the Saints". They were really good, and it was interesting, because even though we weren't familiar with all the songs, we liked their style and the music enough to get one of their cd's. That may be a first for us....usually we are drawn to the music with which we are most familiar. I hope the poor guys get their van repaired soon!

Next to appear was Brandon Heath:

We are big Brandon Heath fans. He and Revive were worth the cost of the tickets and the drive. But then, the headliners came on:

It was fabulous. I loved watching my children praise God:

Fun was had by all!!!

Blessings of a Cubbie

2009-03-29T21:58:00.002-05:00

Overheard tonight while on of my Cubbies was asking God to bless our snack:

"God, thank you so much for this wonderful snack that I made! And thank you for all these boys and girls. You make great kids, God! God, please give each boy and girl a hamster for Christmas. Thanks, God!"

I just love my Cubbies!

There's No Joy in Mudville

2009-03-26T22:06:00.002-05:00

Well, the news isn't good. Travis insists he was rejected by Duke. I insist he was not accepted. I maintain there is a difference, although I'm not sure what it is.

He chose to escape and head to his favorite cousin's house to hang out and get his mind off it all. They're gonna talk baseball. I'd go there, too, if I could.

On a brighter note, it was a beauuuuuutiful day outside today! We did some school outside. After school I worked in the garden a very little bit, planting spinach, lettuce, peas and onions. Then, in a concerted effort to not come inside, I cleaned the front porch furniture.

Holly watched her cousin "kick booty" in volleyball, then she treated with Andy's. That is two nights straight she went to Andy's....hmmmm...... Annie had one of her best games ever in soccer. It was too bad she could only stay for half the game, but volleyball called. She really liked that, too. Nathan hunted worms and frogs with his buddy down the street, then they had a rather successful fishing trip. All in all, it was a pretty good day. Perhaps there is some joy in Mudville.

Now, I'm gonna snuggle up to watch the Lost episode that I think I tivo'ed last night. My hope is that my eyes can stay open that long.

Oh, on a random note: forget butterfly pictures. Annie released them today and I completely forgot to get pictures. Typical. The ones I took earlier were....bad. So, just know it was an educational, inspirational, and enjoyable experience to raise a few butterflies.

Tonight is Very Important

2009-03-26T15:32:00.003-05:00

Travis is a senior, as you know. He has applied to Mizzou and been accepted. He has also applied to Washington University, Vanderbilt, and Duke.

If anyone ever tries to minimize the importance of campus visits, don't believe a word of it! In Trav's case, it was life-changing.

First, we visited Mizzou, a place of legacy in our family, and he really, really liked it. He became excited about college. Annie pledged her loyalty immediately and refuses to ever entertain any ideas about attending elsewhere. Nathan loved it. Holly loved it.

Then, we visited St. Louis University, and the love? Not so much. Wonderful school, but just no chemistry with the family and SLU. Then, after much begging, we agreed to visit Duke. We flew to Durham and back in a day. There, Travis fell in love. His teachers have said repeatedly that they don't know what happened that day, but he returned a different person. He wanted so very much to get into Duke that he poured everything he had into doing what was necessary to give it his very best shot. He was motivated.

We didn't ever visit Vanderbilt. If he is accepted there, we will make the visit. It was difficult timing, and now it makes sense to wait. We should hear from them within a week or so.

He was wait-listed for Wash U. That's really good, because they had over 23,000 applicants for 1,400 spots and he is on the waiting list in the case they aren't filled. We did visit Wash U, and it was nice. He may be able to play baseball there.

But tonight? Tonight we find out the question we have asked since September. Is Travis accepted to Duke? I have prayed for God to guide us and open and close doors for us, making our way clear. I know He has a plan for Travis, and Trav's future is in His hands. I'm not sure how we will afford it if he goes, and I really don't know how I'll do with him so very far away. If he doesn't get accepted, he will be devastated, and I fear a loss of motivation. Either way, God knows what the answer is and will prepare us and work us through it. Please pray for His will to be clear for us tonight, and for us to trust Him, and accept His answers.

I Get to Stay Home Today.....Stellar!

2009-03-26T07:58:00.005-05:00

It has been awhile. I'm trying to recall when this last happened...I'm really not sure. I'm so happy, though. I'm drinking coffee, reading my Google reader with its hundreds of articles, and I have no less than 12 tabs on this Explorer screen.

We do have to leave at some point, although I'm not sure where I will go. Annie has volleyball and soccer tonight at exactly the same time....I hate it when that happens. I was soooo hoping for rain, but the day looks to be fabulous.

It has been a wild 'n woolly week. Sunday: church, baseball, soccer, AWANA, whew!
Monday: work and baseball. Small group was cancelled. Hmmm....Monday.....
Monday was one of those days when I would make small progress and fall back in a much more significant amount....you know, I ended the day farther behind than when I started. So, when I got home to pick up a daughter who had left already and I realized I had driven at least 30 minutes extra for no apparent reason, I pulled a stubborn mule and, figuratively, sat down. I decided I was not attending Trav's first baseball game. Ok, please know there was more to it than just the frustrations of the day....but as I settled down, I knew I should go. So, I headed on down to the town on the other side of the world from here, and discovered Trav wasn't playing. I muttered more than once, "He should've just missed practice on Friday and gone to the concert with us!"....well, it may have been a bit more than a mutter....then lo and behold, they bring him in....to pitch. Ugh.

I love, love, love watching the boy play baseball....put him in, coach! In the infield, that is....NOT PITCHING! I found myself unable to take a deep breath. I quickly became very involved in a friend's request to load her new cell full of cool ringtones via bluetooth. (Yes, I have some pretty fab ringtones, if I say so myself.) We were up 9-7 when he came in.....it was tense. He allowed one unearned run until we found ourselves in the bottom of the last inning, 2 outs, runners on, (of course with the new run, it is now 9-8), and he delivers the pitch. The batter, who I know well and is one of the best players in the region, hit a screaming line drive waaaaaaaaaay out......straight to the center fielder, who caught it quite handily. Game over. My victorious, "Yes!" set my physical therapy back a few days, but it was so very worth it. I might add, in case you haven't heard, that the regional newspaper called my son's performance, "Stellar". I like that word very much.

After some Pizza Inn and "24", I was happy to put that day to rest. Then Tuesday came along.

Tuesday began with roughly 473 items on my "to do" list. Not one was checked off by the end of the day. I became frustrated with "less than stellar" customer service (don't you just love that word?), extreme rudeness displayed by a larger than normal amount of people (there are some great stories there, but unless you can see the storytelling in person, the entertainment value gets lost...sorry) and the fact that we get to shell out ANOTHER few thousand dollars for MORE braces this summer. By the later part of the day, I was lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut. Well, not really, but it sounded good. I was ever so glad to get to the baseball game and see another "stellar" performance. Fifty mph winds across a dirt infield make for some gritty teeth, but hey, it's part of it. What isn't part of it, however, is playing two innings through torrential rains with players sliding in the mud trying to get to the ball and get the out. Considering that the conditions were a bit of an improvement to the rest of the day wasn't very comforting, so I was happy to get home, fix supper and bask in a short but very warm bath, knowing Wednesday would be much better.

And it was.

A good haircut does wonders for a lot of things, doesn't it? That and a trip to my favorite BBQ place for lunch and I was a happy camper. I taught the Wed night class of upper elementary kids...we talked about the tongue. I'm forever in need of reminders about the evils of my tongue. The number of scriptures about it astound me. There are so many places where the tongue and the heart are so closely intertwined, it is apparent that the state of the heart is instrumental in what escapes our mouths. I'm glad I was able to teach...I needed to hear it. I think maybe they did, too.

So, I have high hopes for today. Laundry (lots of wet, muddy clothes in there, you know...from that ballgame). Online work. Homeschool research. A blog post (check). LOTS of homeschool. Housework...ooohhhh, the housework. But if I'm actually home, I can get at least some of it done. Thank you, Lord!

One last thing: The Revive/Brandon Heath/ThirdDay concert Friday night was spectacular. They rocked the place! We LOVED all three performances! If you get a chance to see any of them, TAKE IT!

Oh, My Heart Be Still.....

2009-03-17T16:43:00.003-05:00

They're coming!!!!! According to Luke Holzmann, and he should know, the Sonlight catalogs are in the mail. It seems when I am just about to the end of my homeschool rope, all the new catalogs come and hope springs eternal.

Lighter Fare

2009-03-17T16:26:00.002-05:00

On a lighter note, cruise on over to Boo Mama's March Madness. I think it will be fun to follow the brackets and see who wins!

I was reminded that we used to have green pancakes, clover cookies, and we celebrated St. Patrick's as if we actually had some Irish blood in our veins. My sweethearts are not happy with donning green shirts and calling it a day. So, I guess I will get along and begin our traditional corned beef meal. Or, semi-traditional. I just don't wanna make a grocery trip for cabbage. Perhaps I can try out these clover cupcakes. HT to Melanie for the link.

Coming soon: We had caterpillars. Now they are in their chrysallises...or is it chrysalli? Whatever, I'll have pics as they emerge as beautiful butterflies!

One Trillion Dollars

2009-03-17T15:56:00.002-05:00

These bills Congress is passing for bailouts and stimulus are making me crazy. Everything they are doing flies in the face of every concept of free market. Senator John McCain has been twittering. For a few days, he twittered the top ten porkiest earmarks in the bill. It was pretty interesting. Several would have been funny if it had been Monopoly money we were talking about. However, it isn't. It is our money.

I am completely incapable of wrapping my mind around the kind of numbers in these bills. To help visualize it, I found this website. Check it out. I'll be listening for your "Wow!" (I would HT the blog that first directed me to this site if, for the life of me, I could remember who it was!)

24 Tonight

2009-03-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

I like 24. There. I've said it. I spent years avoiding it, enduring the gaping-mouth stares of friends and family saying, "You don't watch 24? You would love it!" So, last January - March, my hubby and I watched Season 1...and 2....and 3....and 4.....and 5...and 6. At some point during nearly every episode, my adrenaline kicks in and I sit and just shake. No, I'm not cold, thank you. No, I'm not sick. I'm watching 24. This is how I watch it. Teeth chattering, and body quivering.

As an aside, a year or two ago, we had a night where the teens in our youth group were assigned to find certain parents in the mall. I had gotten a new cap and hoody, knowing my daughter wouldn't look for me like that. I don't even wear my hair up much, let alone in a ball cap...ANYWAY. I was having so much fun. My secret agent-FBI moves gave a new meaning to "stealth". I've gotta tell you, though, my adrenaline was pumping. Every time I ducked behind a display or slid into a store to get out of sight, my heart pumped and my breathing all but stopped. I decided then and there, life as a real secret agent isn't for me. This is all the excitement this ol' girl can handle. So, you see how it is when I watch 24. My excitement level has exceeded anything I hear on Adventures in Odyssey, so my adrenaline goes into overdrive.

Some seasons I like better than others. I wasn't crazy about the first season, and I didn't like the one where he was addicted to heroine fighting the Mexican drug lords. I still watched it, glued to every scene, but it wasn't as enjoyable as other seasons.

Now, this year, I'm liking. I think Jon Voight makes a great bad guy. I'm suspecting who the other bad guys are. You know, the surprises. My issue with this season is, how stupid do the writers think folks are? If they are going to take the time to write complex, plot twisting stories, at least let's try to make it a little believable! There have been too many times when I want to say, "Hello? Use the cell phone?" or "Yes, while Jack stood in front of you, he was really rigging the a/v feed to loop so you couldn't see what he was doing and you would think he was really still standing right in front of you. Larry Moss, you are a MORON!" Unfortunately, although I tell myself it's all scripted and not real, I fear there is a bit too much "reality" in this drama. The writing works well, in part, because although it is a work of fiction, we see alarming similarities to our own bureaucrats. It draws us in, as we root for the good guys to win, again and again. It gives us hope that maybe in real life, they will.

I Won!

2009-03-09T19:29:00.003-05:00

Staci, at Writing and Living, had a giveaway for this book:

Just guess who one of the winners was! Just guess! Just guess once! Well, okay, I guess since the title of this post is "I Won!", I probably took the mystery out of it. Yup, I did! Can you tell I don't win much? I'm sooooo excited! Thank you, Staci!

Lovin' this Homeschooler

2009-02-28T11:04:00.003-06:00

Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.

--Beatrix Potter

Thank goodness, indeed.

Catching up....

2009-02-24T16:51:00.003-06:00

We've been plugging along....Travis is hoping to hear from a college soon. However, we know it will be April before he knows anything for sure about where he may or may not be accepted. It will be the end of April before he has all the information to make a decision. In the meantime, baseball starts soon for him. He is spending this week getting everything else done....physicals, eye doctor appt, dentist appt, haircut...you name it. You know, sniff, sniff, he'll graduate soon.

Holly has her car back. After it was repaired and THEN I got my car unstuck from the front yard (where we found it after our return from Mexico), she got to drive again. She and Trav participated in Disciple Now this weekend. It was pretty amazing, from all I hear. Ours is a community-wide DNow, which included 11 churches from several area communities and somewhere around 450 kids and 100 plus leaders. I think they had a lot of fun, and although we sent cheerful, happy kids and got back zombies, I'm pretty sure they grew up a little, too....spiritually and otherwise.

Nathan had his last regular season basketball game. He did really well this season despite some difficult circumstances, and we are proud of him. He will have the season-end tournament this weekend, then it is on to baseball....

Annie played in our regional music festival on Saturday, earning a "Superior" ranking, the highest available. She overcame serious nerves and fear to perform and do well. It was a great experience for her in a number of ways. Now, she begins soccer this week. We like soccer, but we really like fall soccer, summer soccer, and indoor soccer. Spring soccer is pretty nasty, as it involves below-freezing temps, a field in a wind-tunnel, and occasional sleet-filled games. Summer, please come soon!

My sweet nephew, Andy, is getting married in April. Our family is excited about making the trip to the East Coast to see the wedding. Getting to see a beach and an ocean is a thrilling bonus!

The new additions to the family, members I plan to spend a lot of time with, arrived yesterday. Today they had their final installation, and I am, as I type, doing my first load of steam-infused towels, which, according to the books, should come out 99.9% germ free. The new washer/dryer are just beauuuuuuutiful. We all know that pretty appliances make life worth living. Some days, it is just the thing to get us through.

I'm so excited, having made it almost all the way through two months of reading the Bible through and still being on track. I have to give kudos to Staci, for her recommendation of the ESV Bible Reading Plan, which splits each day into four sections. It is the MOST doable plan I have attempted, and I'm learning and enjoying every minute. I really was skeptical, but I have to say it's the best.

So now I'm hearing, "Mom, can you please fix supper? Time to run...parent-teacher conferences are tonight as well. Enjoy the day!

It's Almost Heeeerrrrreee.....

2009-02-24T16:21:00.005-06:00

The signs are starting to appear. Recently, I have been hearing of my nephew's college baseball team's games. College baseball is the very beginning of baseball season, which is one of the first signs of spring.

Yesterday I read where the Cardinals have their first exhibition game Wednesday. That's, um, tomorrow....

My pulse begins to quicken.

This morning I looked out to the yard to see 2, 4, 6, oh, I don't know, maybe a dozen or more robins. One with a big ol' worm hanging out of his mouth....They looked just like this one:

My breath caught as it hit me. Spring is, well, here. It may snow, it may get very cold, but it will be a spring snow, and a spring cold snap. Soon we will see lots of these:

Oh, my heart be still. Gardens, baseball, flowers, swimming......I don't know if I will be able to sleep tonight.

If This Doesn't Concern You.....

2009-02-13T15:42:00.003-06:00

....you really need to get your head out of the sand.

Hat tip to Everyday Mommy for this quote:

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers ~~

Well said.

Glen Beck has figured out that a legislator has to read 640 words per minute from the time of receiving the bill in order to have read it before the vote, thanks to the fast track it is on. That is, in order for Nancy Pelosi to stay on schedule for her trip to Europe. Given that no legislator is capable of reading that fast, this bill will be voted on by people who have little to no idea as to what it even says. This is the largest expenditure in the history of the nation, with many, many naysayers, and they are jumping into it blindly. Can you say irresponsible? Insane? Utterly frightening?

It's a Plot

2009-02-13T14:22:00.002-06:00

It has been awhile, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Staci wrote about appliance rebellion. I have further proof her story is accurate.

I'm not sure how, but I am convinced my dishwasher heard about me replacing my washer and dryer. Whether it overheard conversations (which would suggest appliances have some sort of hearing device akin to our ears), or if somehow it picked up from the laptop (perhaps some sort of satellite communication?)the number of times "Washer Ratings" was entered into the search engines, it knew. And it decided to revolt.

The dishwasher is pretty new. In fact, it is almost exactly 1 year and 3 months new. It was enough that there was some issue about whether it fell under warranty or the extended service protection plan that I am now sooooo happy I added at the last minute. The ESP won out, so eight phone calls and five trips through online forms later, a service tech is scheduled to come. Next week. I'm already on my fourth sink full of dishes to wash today. I'm seeing a serious purchase of paper plates and cups coming.

Oh, but that is not all the evidence I have. My car got wind of the coup and decided to join. Last night as we exited the car, Nathan investigated a hissing sound...it was the melody of a tire going flat. Quickly we drove it to the tire place, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, getting there before the flat was too far gone. Okay, I know a car isn't an appliance, per se, but you will not convince me this is coincidence.

So, today, I am without a car and a dishwasher. But that's okay. I get to stay home allllll day. What a blessing! And I can wash dishes allllll day, which is the perfect reason not to accomplish something more meaningful. Some days, I just need to be mindless. Maybe I can turn on House and do some baking to dirty up more dishes.....but only after I lovingly speak to my fridge and range to make sure they don't turn on me, too.

If You're Gonna Be a Bear.....

2009-02-12T12:17:00.004-06:00

Be a Grizzly.

My family has told me that all my life. Usually, the philosophy pays off.

I'm in a rather unique position. I have a husband who is begging me to get a new washer and dryer....and mine still works. He just hates them. Really, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with these appliances. I love anything that takes stinky icky things and makes them smell all fresh and clean. However, there are issues with the whole fresh and clean thing.

So, my poisition is unique because, a) my husband really wants me to make this purchase, and I've been saying no (I've been doing WHAT?) for over a year now.
b) mine isn't broken so I'm not in a complete panic begging the sales guy to let me take whichever floor model home just so we can have some clean towels!!!!!!!!

I kinda like it here.

Hubby is what our sweet babysitter used to call "ticky ticky". He is rather particular about his appearance. The whole unknown spot from the washer, worn place in the new pants completely grates on him. He knows I try very hard to do a good job on the laundry and doesn't blame me. He blames the washer with its many issues. This thing would need intense counseling if it could talk, it has so many issues. But, it hasn't completely collapsed, with its tongue hanging out and little x's for eyes just yet, so I haven't been able to justify the purchase. Plus, given my propensity to wear denim anything and a tshirt which probably has a bleach stain, I don't stress too much about it.

This week, for some reason, it hit me. It really bugs him. I can get a new washer. WHAT AM I WAITING FOR??????????????

Lest you think the dryer is just along for the ride, I'm sure it is repairable, but it has issues of its own, including a cycle that takes almost two hours when it used to be just over 30 minutes. The additional time makes it difficult to keep my laundry quota up. Laundry in this house averages 5 loads per day, 6 days per week....give or take.

So, anyone who knows me knows researching new appliances is a great time to be OCD. What is information overload for most people is just the tip of the iceberg when I'm making a purchase of this size. I've talked to service people, sales people, housekeepers, looked at an unknown number of websites, been in various small and large retailers, and although I'll always have some buyer's remorse, I'm thinking it is time. I had settled on a particular model in Whirlpool, but I had a small issue. One of the things that excited me is that I can get a w/d set in some rockin' color. The model with the features I desire comes in white and aspen green. Aspen green is beautiful, but it will clash horribly with the new lemongrass walls in my laundry room, courtesy of the sweet painter ladies. Then my friend took me to Sears (again). The Kenmore that is just like the Whirlpool I like comes in wonderful colors. After more research (that heart-stopping red only comes in a size that is .4 cu ft smaller...did you know that?), I have settled on this: (lights, angelic background music, drumroll)

Well, add a dryer and minus the pedestals. It was a Chevy Chase Christmas Tree moment, to be sure.

Quotes from the Breakfast Table

2009-02-07T11:02:00.003-06:00

From my sweet brunette that must really be blonde:

Discussing future college choices, we asked how important the gender mix is in her future college, i.e., would she want co-ed or all-girl/boy? Her answer?

"I really don't want to go to an all-boys school because I'd be the only girl there!"

No, she wasn't kidding.....

And later...

"Isn't Scotland in Italy or something?"

This cannot possibly be my child.........

Speedy Little Devils

2009-02-03T09:07:00.002-06:00

A good friend gave me a cookbook called, "Friends on a Mission". The proceeds from this cookbook go to the American Cancer Society.

The first recipe I made from it, my family devoured quickly. Then, I made it again, with a slight modification, and once again, they devoured it. Anything with chocolate and peanut butter is a hit here, but this exceeded any expectations. Give it a try!

Speedy Little Devils

1 devil's food cake mix (I have used choc fudge and german choc....all choc is good as far as I'm concerned)
1 stick butter/marg, melted

Mix together with a fork. Reserve 1/2 C crumbs for the top. Pack remaining crumb mixture in an ungreased 9x13 pan.

Stir:
3/4 C creamy peanut butter
1 jar marshmallow creme

Spread over packed crumbs. Wet fingertips to spread evenly. Sprinkle reserved crumbs over the top. Bake 350 degrees for 20 mins. Cool and cut into squares.

Variation:

Add:

Mix 1 pkg cream cheese, 1/2 C sugar (something like that) and 1 egg. Spread on packed crumbs. Spread peanut butter mixture on top. Bake about the same.

I kept it refrigerated when I did this...it was really good, too....

Enjoy!

LOST

2009-02-02T20:18:00.003-06:00

Um, just fyi, I'm caught up. Completely. Through last week in this, Season 5. It's a bit frightening to suffer from this measure of OCD....

So, What's Been Going On?

2009-02-02T19:42:00.003-06:00

For starters, we just returned from Mexico. We had a business trip over the weekend that took us to Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun. I would like to pretend I was "put out" by having to leave my babies to go to the beach. I could focus on the weather that was cool enough to merit jackets and blankets by the pool. I could tell you how annoying it is to make all the arrangements for a weekend trip. All of it would be true. However, the truth is, I liked it. My babies were just fine, barring the car stuck in the middle of my yard when I returned and a house that looks like a train wreck. Yes, the weather was cool, but I found a perfect spot that blocked about half the wind and I am a DIE HARD so I endured with nothing more than a swimsuit by the pool. And, although it is a lot of work to leave, for a weekend or for weeks on end, the timing was just perfect, getting me back home to get everyone whipped into the routine that begins tomorrow.

They have been off school for a week because of what our local media refers to as "Winter Storm '09". Should we get hit again, I am hoping they call it "Winter Storm '09, Part Deux". Last week on Monday night through Wednesday morning we had about 30 hours of sleet, followed by snow. The end result was a bit more than ten inches of "white stuff" which provided days upon days of high energy entertainment for this crew plus a few. I am ever so thankful that we maintained our power. Not very far south of us are thousands of folks who are in their second week of no power in this frigid weather. When we were getting sleet and snow, they were getting freezing rain. The pictures my hubby took while checking the area out for his job were indescribable. We had an ice storm in '08 that cost us several days of power. Many of these folks have been told it will be four weeks or more.

As homeschoolers, we would normally do at least a bit of school on these days, but given the preparations being made to be gone and the really amazing, perfect play snow which comes so seldom in our area, I didn't have the heart. Instead I made some wonderful desserts, soups, chili, and homemade hot chocolate from Dove chocolate, no less. We consumed about five gallons of milk in about 36 hours and getting out to get a refill wasn't an option. There were a few tense moments when we had to ration the milk.

Probably the highlight of the weekend was the Superbowl. I wish I could watch it like that every year. The property where we were staying opened an on-site movie theater where they projected the Super Bowl and had snacks and drinks just outside the door. The place was mixed between Steeler and Cardinal fans. We could yell and scream to our heart's content. I was rooting passionately for the Cardinals, and more specifically Kurt Warner. I was terribly disappointed in the loss. Then, during the post-game interviews I was reminded that the Steelers are a classy organization, and the thought of Bill Bidwell making the acceptance speech made me cringe (a hint of bitterness that goes back to when he moved the Cardinals from St. Louis), so I just couldn't be too sad. It was one of the most exciting Super Bowls I remember with some amazing highlights. And, being a Marketing major, the commercials are always intriguing. I especially liked Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head for Bridgestone.

There you have it. Tomorrow we are getting back in sync and hitting "it" hard. Hopefully we will be able to extract my car from the yard. Our efforts thus far have proven fruitless.

Praying for Kelly, Harper and their Family

2009-01-17T10:46:00.002-06:00

Kelly was blessed to have Harper just after 7 last night. However, Harper is having a lot of complications and has had to be air-lifted to a NICU in Tulsa. Having been through a similar situation with Annie, I have some understanding of what they are enduring, and ask you to join our family in prayer for them.

Life at Our House Lately.....

2009-01-16T14:06:00.003-06:00

It appears my dire hopes for normalcy after the Holidays was in vain. Last week was a hum-dinger. It is a constant juggling act with the four younger people in our home, but thankfully, the juggling usually involves only one or two at a time. Not the same one or two, they switch off, (I'm convinced they have contrived some sort of tag-team, but I haven't been able to catch them in the act of the tag just yet) so it's doable. Once in a blue moon, and thankfully not more often, they all blow up at once. Last Wednesday that is exactly what happened. One had behavior issues, one had the stomach flu for five days, once had chest pains that ended up not being serious, but in the meantime an abnormal EKG kept us on our toes for several days until his heart was checked out and cleared, and one has had some big driving issues. I apologize for that excruciatingly long sentence. I won't publish pictures or names to protect the not-so-innocent, but you can probably figure it out. I didn't like that week. I'm glad it is over. This week has been a little odd, but certainly much closer to "normal". It's Friday now, and I have high hopes for next week!

In the meantime, I'm happy to report I've been able to maintain a bit of an exercise program, and I've kept up with my Read Through the Bible this year. Yay! 15 days! It is scary that it feels like such an accomplishment. No, I didn't get sucked into 24, although it is sitting on the dvr just waiting for a weak moment. No, we haven't watched Idol, yes, we are progressing in Season Three of Lost, and....confession time....I'm hooked on House. It is really frightening how much Travis and I relate to him. I hope I'm not that much of a jerk....on the outside, anyway. It really helps the exercise fly by, for which I'm grateful.

So, now I'm in catch up mode. Speaking of which, there is a vacuum downstairs calling my name. Have a great weekend!

Big Mama Ties One On

2009-01-16T14:02:00.003-06:00

Big Mama teaches us no less than four ways to tie a scarf. For the fashion-challenged like me, it's a Godsend. I want to encourage you to pay close attention to her statement at the end regarding jeans.....she loves 'em, too!

The Perfect Job

2009-01-13T18:05:00.001-06:00

I would love ever so much to have this job. Should I apply?

Women Undervalued

2009-01-13T17:51:00.002-06:00

I read two articles today on Fox News that made me sad for the way women are incredibly undervalued. In the first article, a woman completely underestimates her worth. She also underestimates her value to her future spouse. It is incredible irony, too, that despite the millions she will potentially collect for her actions, she is basically just cheap.

In the second article, a very young lady has an even more tragic story in that she is being told she is worthless by her own father. Well, she is being made to believe she is worth $16,000, some beer and some meat. After this, will she ever be able to believe she is worth so much more? Will she ever realize she is priceless?

How thankful I am to have a Savior who values me so much he layed down his life on my behalf. It is so hard for me to see value in myself. I can't imagine that the minimal value I do see could overcome the challenges set forth in these women's lives. They so desperately need Jesus and to know their worth in His eyes. Join me in praying for them.

The TV is trying to take over again.....

2009-01-05T14:28:00.004-06:00

And it is being wildly successful.

After a couple of years of watching almost no TV except the occasional, warm, fuzzy, Andy Griffith Show,

last January we succumbed to the intense peer pressure from family and friends and started watching both 24

and Lost.

We watched a season of each, then by popular demand within the family, continued watching 24 until we were.....completely.....caught.....up. That's right, SIX seasons in about as many months. It is a wonder we didn't shoot the place up. And, yes, we watched the special in November. Our plan is NOT to watch it when it begins again in just six days, quite frankly, because we may tear our hair out waiting from week to week.....so, we can wait for the videos. Maybe.

So, in the meantime, we have picked up with Season Two of Lost. I'm telling you, these shows cannot possibly be good for a person. They are highly addictive, affect sleeping patterns (you have to find "the right place" to stop for the night and sometimes that may take until 2 am(!), not to mention those weird dreams...), and I'm sure beyond a shadow of a doubt they are turning my brain to mush. After all, that is what I have spent years telling the kids would happen if they watch TV.

Oh, and that is not all, no that is not all. We have another series trying to worm its way in...first through Ljo....we have managed to keep it quarantined to her college house until.....last night. When I arrived home from AWANA, guess who had introduced House to our....ahem, house?

Yes, Travis! It seems his girlfriend brought a season over and left it. Now, we have seen House on TV now and then, sometimes several episodes straight. And, I must admit, I find it entertaining. But honestly, I considered going down in protective clothing to put it in a Ziploc bag and take it out to a nearby field. I'm convinced there is something contagious in seeing how absurdly people behave when addicted to these shows.

But, I didn't. I left it down there. I'm determined to have more will power than to get started on yet another series.....

Oh, and let's hope the family doesn't realize American Idol starts next week. We may not recover.

So What is the New Year Good for?

2009-01-02T11:19:00.003-06:00

I have explained that I have, well, a rebellious aversion to resolutions. So what is the New Year good for? Hmmm....I'm glad you asked.

First of all, it is an excellent time to start reading the Bible through. Most plans begin with Jan 1, so it makes sense. There are several plans to do this. Justin at Between Two Worlds has a thorough presentation with many options. Rest assured there is a plan for you!

It is a great time to spend a lot of time in prayer. Well, any time is a good time for that. Anyway, you know what I mean. Yesterday's verse of the day from Heartlight is a good example:

VERSE:
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against
the LORD.
-- Proverbs 21:30
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Proverbs+21:30

THOUGHT:
No matter how fresh the start nor how great the plans we have
made, if we do not walk with God, the coming year will not be a
spiritual success. As we receive this gift of a new year, let's
commit to serve the Lord. As we make plans for the coming days
ahead, let's make sure that those plans are made based on the
LORD's revealed will in Scripture and prayerful consideration of
what our God wants us to accomplish.

PRAYER:
God of the ages, my Father in heaven, thank you for being very
near as I start on a new year. Please help me know your will each
day. Bring the people into my life who will help me love you more,
serve you effectively, and bless others in meaningful ways. To you
be all the honor and glory in what I do, think, and say in the days
ahead. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

John Piper has an excellent post on What Should We Pray For as well. It is a list based on New Testament Prayers that he suggests we read through periodically. I think it is a wonderful suggestion.....

And, the New Year is the official end of the Holiday Season. It is time to get those Christmas decorations down, clean the house and prepare to get back to normal! I have to admit, I'm looking forward to getting back to a routine....with a little more reading and praying involved. And maybe more exercise. We'll see.

About those Resolutions.....

2009-01-02T11:01:00.003-06:00

I have a bit of a different take on resolutions. I think I was a bit indoctrinated on this way of thinking by my daddy. I have always been a bit of an extreme thinker/perfectionist. So, when I have a fresh slate, I keep it perfect as long as I can, but when it isn't perfect anymore, well, it's not worth keeping. Somehow, I suspect I'm not the only one thinking this way, because of all we hear about New Year's resolutions. Then, we hear how very few of them actually stick. So, once we blow the diet, the exercise plan, the plan to be thankful in all things, whatever it may be, we give up!

Seeing this quality in me, my daddy started early on explaining that every day is a day for resolutions. I saw it in him when he quit smoking....not on New Year's Day, but on a random day mid-year! And it wasn't the Great American Smoke Out, either! And he explained that a day when we mess up isn't a total failure, just a set back. He almost had an aversion to making any sort of resolution on Jan 1. The rebellious part of me causes me to be that way as well. Far be it from me to do ANYTHING like the mainstream.

So, when I finally decided to read the Bible through in a year, I succeeded. It took two years, but I didn't stop. I kept plugging through. I learned a lot. And you know what? It was okay that it took two years.

When everyone is making all these plans for glorious change on Jan 1, I'm content to make it a day I relax. Because I can make those resolutions Jan 2, Feb 20, June 18, October 7 or any other day of the year. Every day is a day to take stock and make changes to improve yourself.

So, the holidays are over. Yes, I need to drop a few unwanted pounds. Yes, I would feel better if I exercised. So, I will work those things into the schedule. But no matter what, Jan 1 is the one day of the year I will eat what I want and refuse to exercise...unless I just want to.

Happy Birthday, Daddy

2009-01-02T10:44:00.003-06:00

Today is my daddy's birthday. My daddy is....

....funny. His was one of the most entertaining families I've ever known.
....talented. His ability to play the piano with those fat fingers will make your jaw drop.
....smart. This list could go on and on...first of all, he married Mom. Then, together, they took a company from the bleak start in their basement to a $20 million company. Now, said company had over $100 million in sales. Now that is a smart businessman.
....humble. He never forgets from where he came.
....a God loving Gideon. God has blessed him abundantly, and he knows it.
....owner of the sharpest knife around. Just ask him! You can shave with it at any given time! (Though I always wondered why you would want to....)
...determined. He spent decades managing his diabetes with diet and exercise (using the term managing a bit loosely) in order to keep his pilot's licence.
....an explorer. He loves to check it out...whatever and wherever "it" is. Perhaps a gravel road on a snowy night, perhaps a trip to Australia to find out how the water really goes down the drain.
....a fisherman. And the challenge is to NOT use live bait.
....a daddy. My daddy.

Happy Birthday!

Quick Update

2008-12-23T12:38:00.002-06:00

Dinner Party: Went wonderfully. We were blessed to have 39 people to join us for Christmas Dinner. I just wish I could have visited with each one so much more. Not enough time!

Sunday: Nathan and Annie were baptized. Clay's folks plus every single member of my family was there. As my sister says, we had Dad and his wife, every sibling and their spouses, every niece and nephew for two generations, all at a church service together, and it wasn't even a funeral! Praise God! Lunch at our house afterwards was more time for fellowship and fun.

Laundry: After everyone left, I hauled everything I could to the laundromat, and Travis brought the other half in his truck and we did 25 loads of laundry in four hours. Clean underwear! Yay! Still no washer.

Christmas Shopping: 99.7% done

Holly's 16th birthday: SHE PASSED!!!!!! Look out, world! Happy, happy day! Her dad took her out on her birthday date to dinner and a movie then she met me and drove her sister home all by herself! She even had to stop to wait for three deer to leave the roadway and we are thankful for God's protection on her first drive. Happy night!

The Barlow Girls Take a Stand

2008-12-23T12:32:00.003-06:00

Becca, Alyssa, and Lauren Barlow are taking a stand against abortion. Care to join them? All the info is on the Never Silence Life website.

"Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you..." - Jeremiah 1:5

O Come O Come Emmanuel

2008-12-23T12:26:00.003-06:00

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Words: Latin, twelfth century;
trans. John Mason Neale (1818-1866), 1851

What kind of idiot does this?

2008-12-18T07:59:00.003-06:00

This year is the first time I get to have my family's Christmas dinner at MY HOUSE! I'm am beside myself with excitement. Now, as I may have said a time or four, when I was little, there were six of us. My mom, dad and their four children. So, when I started counting for dinner.....I kinda lost track after 35 or 36 or 37....and I don't want to start again.

Dinner is Saturday evening. I'm just giddy about seeing all my nieces and nephews again! I am following in the path of some of the most amazing hostesses I've ever been allowed to know...my mom, my dad's wife, and my sister. Those are some humongous shoes to fill. No stress there. So far, just giddiness!

So, I decided I just couldn't do it all unless I started a remodeling project. I will have before and after pics when I get time. For now, just know, that although not completely finished, today is my first day without painters here in awhile. Please understand, these painter-ladies are some fine Christian friends whom I love dearly, but I was glad to see their painter stuff go and be able to start putting Christmas decorations back up and putting furniture back again...you know, today is Thursday. The dinner is Saturday.

What kind of idiot starts a remodeling project at a time like this? Well, apparently this kind of idiot. Let me tell you, the house is looking sooooo much more "me". I told a friend I feel more relaxed and cozy than I have since we moved here. I just like....color.

Nathan's Room:

The living area and stairs:

And check out Annie's pink and black room:

The paint is too fresh to hang pics, so that will be...Saturday?

So, I'm plugging along on the lists. I have lists like, "To do this week", "To do Thursday/Friday/Saturday" (3 lists), dishes needed, shopping list, and the, ahem, list goes on. Then, yesterday, the washer quit. My laundry room is piled so high, I'm not sure how a repairman can swim through it. I'm debating on letting him try as to accentuate the NEED here, or get it all out so he will like me better. Ok, NOW I'm getting just a wee bit stressed. But hey, the tables linens are clean, so I'm still good.

Today I tackle the Thursday list. Oh, and I PROMISED to take Annie shopping for Christmas. Now THAT girl is stressed. I'm still just really excited.

Another upcoming post: Sunday is a very wonderful and special day!

Christmas in Washington

2008-12-18T06:58:00.004-06:00

Last night we were able to catch most of "Christmas in Washington". I always avoided shows like that thinking they would be boring. My husband said, sit down and watch this! It's really good! So, thanks to the DVR, he rewound to the beginning of where he started watching and who filled the screen? One of my verrry favorite groups, Casting Crowns! They were singing what I think is my favorite song off their Christmas CD, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". It is not even a different rendition of the traditional carol, it is completely different and I love it! In fact, I'm lobbying for my husband to sing it this season at church. He would definitely do it justice.

Several wonderfully talented people sang, but the next time I felt like jumping up and down was when Straight No Chaser came on. If you love a bunch of handsome men singing acapella harmony, check these guys out! They are You Tube sensations and that is where I first saw them. Because my son loves to sing music like this, we have all become huge fans. They have released a Christmas CD called Holiday Spirits, which I promptly put into my Amazon cart! For a taste of what we watched last night, listen to them singing "Carol of the Bells" on YouTube.

Madrigal Feaste

2008-12-16T03:50:00.006-06:00

Last weekend, we had the privilege of attending a couple of fantastic Christmas shows. No, they weren't on Broadway. But they should have been!

First of all, on Friday, I helped other parents in the backstage at Travis's Madrigal Feaste. Then Saturday, we were able to attend it as part of the audience.

Holly and her Grandma

Holly and her Grandpa and Dad

I know, you think I'm one of those moms who will get all excited and tell you how spectacular it was and how you would never believe anything like that could come from a bunch of teenagers, that a lot of it was professional quality, etc. You will think I'm just a gushing mother. Well, you would be right. I am a gushing mother. But then, I'm right, too. It was....unbelievable.

Trav was Czar Tripsachov, who spoke with a deep "Russian" voice (sounded like a take off on Arnold Schwarzenegger, but, well, everyone was impressed anyway). He also tripped. (Tripsachov? Trip?...maybe you had to be there) He was at the head table, where, while we dined on "fine swine" (chicken cordon bleu), they ate such things as carryout pizza and chicken wings. The show began at 6 o'clock, when they started seating everyone. B, a good friend of ours, was the town crier, announcing every single family in his frumpy crier's voice. We were led to the table by lovely young wenches and ladies-in-waiting, asking in Olde English droll, "Would you like tea or watah?"

My Dad was selected as the Table Master

The show began with some old Latin hymns, and an acapella prayer. I think even God got goosebumps hearing that one. As the show progressed, we were served a fine meal, and our entertainment consisted of a show, a wide variety of music, the guys dancing a clog dance, the ladies and wenches doing period dances, a ballerina dancing a bit of the Nutcracker Suite, jesters, minstrels, and when the knights fought over the fair maiden, she declared her true love was....right, Clay. She gave him a kerchief (tissue) with her kiss on it for him to keep. Later, she came by and properly arranged it in his pocket. We were even treated to a fire-breathing dragon! My nephew was part of the dragon and had us rolling in laughter as he, um, "growled" at us. Sounded like a purr to me.

My dad and Mr. Dragon sans Dragon Costume

The acting was, eh, for some, and outstanding for others. There were lots of solos (yes, Trav had one!)

Trav and Holly

Trav and me

If only you could see the bottom half of that outfit.....men in tights galore! The night ended a full three and a half hours later with a lot of teary-eyed seniors mourning their last stage exit, and the MOST stirring rendition of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" I have ever heard. It is my new favorite song of Advent.

Soon, I will share pictures from the other show we attended.....stay tuned!

Lovely Links

2008-12-15T11:32:00.002-06:00

This Post by Dr. Mohler speaks about recommended Study Bibles. Because at this time of year I am always thinking ahead on what version of Bible I will use to (attempt to) read the Bible through next year, I found this interesting.

Boo Mama's Christmas Tour of Homes 2008 is today! Enjoy!

Coming soon: a glimpse of the weekend's Christmas Productions. Madrigal Feaste was unbelievably wonderful and the perfect cap to the weekend was Nathan's and Annie's Christmas Program at church.

The Christmas Letter

2008-12-13T11:39:00.003-06:00

Merry CHRISTmas!

We hope this finds you healthy, happy, and enjoying the 2008 Season. We have been maniacs this CHRISTmas Season, and boy, has it been fun!

We are reflecting, as usual, but this year we are doing a little more of it. There is a reason for that. If we were to choose one word to describe 2008, it would be “transition”.

Of course, the year began with a huge transition for Clay. In March, he moved his office from Advance to Cape Girardeau. He enjoys working so near to home, and since Cape offers a few more dining options than Advance, lunch is a bit more of an adventure. Sometime when you are in the area, drop by and take a “tour”. The highlight of his year was when we rode the Harley to Milwaukee for the HD 105th anniversary. It was a week unlike any other…..ever. ‘Nuf said.

Travis is in big-time transition mode. When you see Trav, you must look up. At 6’ 3”, he looms over the rest of us. He is in the throes of making the life-changing decision of which college he will attend after he graduates in May. At one time, it was narrowed down to two. Now, we’ve lost track of where he is applying. You know it is bad when the siblings complain about not seeing their brother enough when he is still living at home. We are sure he is still living here when we see large piles of laundry in the laundry room floor and all the lights are left on in the downstairs. He is having a lot of fun, though, and between choirs, baseball, work at Wib’s, volunteering at the hospital and tutoring, he doesn’t have much free time. Volunteering at the hospital has been great preparation for being a doctor. It has also provided some great stories for when he does show up around here.

Since Trav is gone so much, we really need another driver. That leads us to the transition for Holly. Guess who will be 16? It is a matter of days. Then, our beautiful sophomore will be able to go to any youth event, to school, to Cape, and best of all, she can get Wib’s BBQ and ice cream whenever she wants! We don’t know if there is enough gut medicine in the world for us to send her off on her own. Have you noticed how many crazy drivers there are these days? Of course, one of them may be her. That smile on her face seems permanent, at least for this month. She is full of anticipation for the big day. Oh, and thanks to Christmas break, she will be out of school for a couple of weeks. We’re not sure which is better!

Nathan and Annie have pretty much transitioned into that not really a little kid, but not really a teenager stage. The media calls them “tweens”. You know this has officially occurred when there are no toys on the Christmas list. (Exception: video games. There is no age limit for those.) They are being homeschooled in 5th and 4th grades, respectively. You know how those homeschoolers are, they never socialize.

Please don’t tell “Thing 1 and Thing 2” that, though. They would hate to give up jump rope class, piano and guitar lessons, soccer, baseball, basketball, and an endless array of church activities. We are especially thankful this year, as they are both going to be baptized the week of Christmas. What better time to show the world they have made Jesus Lord of their lives than the week of His birthday?

Nathan is a typical 5th grader; he makes up a lot of stories and jokes, plays video games, hunts, and annoys his sisters. He provides endless laughs and entertainment to us all, and we are fascinated by what seems an endless imagination. He is a social young man, but if you want to know a little secret, his favorite place to be is home. He is quite a homebody and we love that about him.

Annie is still pink. In fact, she is really pink. Let’s clarify that, though. Annie isn’t soft, gentle, ballerina pink. Annie is bright, dazzling, hot glittery pink. She is still growing tall, and soon will pass up her mom and sister. On a typical day you may walk in to our home and find Annie still in her jammies (at 4 o’clock), singing and dancing around or helping Mom cook. It would be at that point you would urge her to hurry and get dressed before her dad comes home! Then, if you knew Becky when she was little, you would laugh at how much Annie is like her momma.
Speaking of her momma, as with most moms, when the family is in transition, so is the mom. Say a few prayers for her to keep the mascara from running at all the senior and graduation events. To see how it goes, check out the blog at http://www.lifeindenim.blogspot.com/.

We are even in transition where pets are concerned. This spring, our faithful black lab, Buck, passed away. It was a sad time for our family. We are thankful for our other furry friends; Tiger, the cat; Charlie, the yellow lab; and Benny, the westie.

The whole family went to Mexico this summer with our special friends, the Beels. It was a ton of fun on the beach, in the jungle, and in the pool. We were hoping it would be a great culture lesson, and perhaps be especially valuable in helping Travis and Holly in their Spanish classes. It was a remarkable experience, but as for helping in Spanish…..not so much. In the end, we all came home with priceless memories and we are looking forward to someday going back.

So, there is 2008 in a nutshell for this crew. We cannot possibly fathom what 2009 holds in store. It is exciting, a bit frightening, and, we’re sure, wonderful. Stay tuned to see what happens next! Have a blessed and safe Holiday Season.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

With love,
The Hursts: Clay, Becky, Travis, Holly, Nathan and Annie

Revival and a Quote to Ponder

2008-12-11T08:39:00.002-06:00

For a laugh, head over to The Sacred Sandwich. After you have a belly laugh, get serious and spend a little time pondering this quote, also found at The Sacred Sandwich:

“An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.”
-A.W. Tozer

The Cat in the Hat

2008-12-10T08:24:00.002-06:00

I frequently refer to Nathan and Annie as "Thing 1 and Thing 2". This is because, well, if you knew them, you would see how appropriate it really is.

This morning, I would have had to refer to myself as "The Cat In the Hat". I'm not sure which one it was, I'm pretty sure it is "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back" where the cat finds himself fighting an ink spot, where once removed from one thing goes to another, etc....

Thus, my morning.

First of all, let me preface this by explaining that last night, while cutting sweet potatoes, I made the statement, "I hate cutting these things up! It is like cutting pumpkin!" About 10 seconds later, the knife and the sweet potato took on some sort of enchanted lives of their own, and sprang to life! The potato jumped two ways at once and the knife did a ballerina twirl...in my hand. So, the ensuing loss of blood and trauma led me to really not wanting to get my hand in water too much this morning. It seems to make it require pressure again.

Okay, so no water. No problem. I'll start my grocery list with pen and paper. Not since elementary school has a pen exploded in my hand like that. It was everywhere. It was even cool to spray hairspray (the well-known ink remover) on my hand and watch the dark blue liquid pool and then drip, drop into the sink. (Why the Cat didn't try hairspray is beyond me) Ink residue, I might say a lot of it, still resides on my hands, but a good portion also went into my white porcelain sink. Like I said, it was pretty fascinating and made me wonder about the chemical reactions taking place to make such a wondrous sight appear....until I tried to rinse out the sink. I was starting to really relate to the cat at this point.

My previously-white-now-blue sink is sitting, as I type, with slightly abrasive bleach filled cleaner on it, attempting to rid ourselves completely of the ink spot. I have new respect for the Cat and his cohorts, Things 1 and 2.

Martha Stewart, Move Over....or not.

2008-12-06T16:11:00.005-06:00

Finally finished. Part 1, done.

Christmas Preparation basically consists of four things:

1. Decorating.
2. Cards. (Letter, pictures, addressing and mailing)
3. Cooking....cookies, snacks, candy, etc....
4. Gifts. Purchase, wrap, deliver.

1. Decorating, done.

This year hubs moved his office to a new and better location. I gave them a chunk of Christmas decorations, chucked some of the others (21 years takes a toll, you know), and got a bunch of new ones.

We got prelit garland, berry branches, bags of pinecones and wire and although it ain't exactly ready for Better Homes and Gardens, it'll do.

Look! I learned how to make a bow! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! I looked online and watched this video over and over 'til I figured it out! It was a proud moment!

Big bags of cranberries from Sam's brightened up this spot:

The worst thing about decorating is the mess.

I'm so glad #1 is done.

On to numbers 2-4.........