What if...

Singing the Sunday Blues

2010-04-25T21:57:00.004-04:00

Closing out the weekend is always a blah time in our household. We love weekends (doesn't everyone?), and it always brings a measure of sadness when Sunday hits the time of day that feels less like a weekend and more like a weeknight. But a what a great weekend it was. I started the weekend off with some of my favorite friends and ended the weekend off with my favorite neighbors, and in between I enjoyed sunshine on the lake, pizza and a movie with the family, a wonderful time worshipping the Lord at church, and a Sunday afternoon nap. Ahhh, good times.

So I salute you, Weekend, for your consistency and your flexibility, for girls-only getaways alongside great family time. For nights with too little sleep, balanced by days of napping the afternoon away. For friends, and family, and coffee, and gummy bears. And although you always leave me wanting more, Weekend, you are a friend of mine - always welcome in this home. Come again, and next time, stay a little longer if you will.

BDAY MVP

2010-04-10T12:13:00.003-04:00

Luke hits the ball every time he's up to bat. Unfortunately, he hits it almost directly to the first baseman. But last night, on his birthday no less, he finally hit it past that first baseman and made it to first without getting out. We clapped and yelled as if he was running for Olympic gold! Now, no offense to the next couple guys in the line up, but with one out already, it didn't look good for Luke to get any farther than first. But I prayed. He's never run around the bases during a game. I prayed hard. And I played the birthday card, not that I think God didn't see that one coming. But I'm inclined to think birthdays are pretty special to our Creator as well - 'cause that next little guy hit a single, advancing Luke to second. And although the poor little fellow after him struck out, that brought us back to the top of our line up. David and I were up off our seats as the lead hitter hit a double, bringing Luke home. You may think David isn't the excitable type, and for the most part that's true, but with the look on Luke's face as he rounded third and headed home, you'd have to be dead to not be excited. Three of Luke's little friends were with us and along with Lily, they were all jumping up and down as he crossed homeplate. And even though the sun was setting behind us, I kept my sunglasses on - to hide the tears.

The team won, and as Luke left the dugout his friend Jed said, "Luke, you're the best at that game that I've ever seen!" Luke shrugged and said, "Nah, there are a lot of boys better than me." But I tend to agree with Jed, because I've never been so excited at a baseball game in my entire life!

2010-04-08T21:12:00.003-04:00

Just about the time the birthday cards and gifts stop rolling in for Miss Lily, a new batch begins to trickle in bearing Luke's name. Yep...it's now time to celebrate the main man - Luke David. Tomorrow, April 9, is Luke's 7th birthday - and boy, is he ready. He's been counting down since, well, January-ish. I'm not sure what we're going to count down to once the birthdays have come and gone, Christmas maybe?

It's not surprising news to share that Luke was a surprising arrival. Born just 12 months and 2 weeks after Lily, we certainly weren't planning on expanding our family so quickly. But Luke's birth will forever be a great lesson in faith, a lesson in trusting the Lord's plans for my life. I was a mess when I found out I was pregnant and could not, no matter how hard I tried, figure out how having 2 little ones so close together could ever be a good thing. Well shame on me for being so faithless and short-sighted because I can say in all honestly that having 2 little ones so close together is actually better than good, it's the best! I was so worried about Lily, and how Luke's arrival would impact her life, and his arrival certainly did impact her life -but for the better. It's kinda like God knit Lily her very own best friend and delivered him to her life just 12 months after her own birth. Actually, it's exactly like that. Sometimes, I feel like he belongs to her more than me, and I now I can't imagine a greater gift that David and I could have given our daughter than a life long friend and companion.

I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude as we celebrate the 7th birthday of the biggest surprise of our lives!

2010-04-07T20:32:00.003-04:00

So today, while driving on interstate, I ended up behind a car with one of those "COEXIST" bumper stickers. You know, the ones that have a different religious symbol for each letter. I have my own feelings about the general message of that sticker, but that's another post for another day. The funny thing about today's was - it was taped onto the back windshield. Taped. As in scotch. So apparently although "coexistence" is a nice thought, this driver isn't completely committed to the idea.

Easter 2010

2010-04-04T15:19:00.003-04:00

Well, the day is only half over but so far I've...

- successfully avoided the "is the Easter Bunny real?" question by talking in circles that I didn't even understand myself.

- got our family fed, dressed and out the door on time (even with the distraction of new ZhuZhu pets).

- made it out the door without any silly bands on my children to clash with their Easter clothes.

- ridden public transportation with friends - and lots of strangers - twice.

- worshipped our RISEN LORD with 11,000 or so of my closest friends! Such an awesome experience!

- celebrated and prayed and cried with a few new believers - Jason, Bonnie and the others who's names I can't recall right this minute - you truly are an answer to the prayers of many, many people, and I'll continue to pray for you, maybe our paths will cross again.

- enjoyed a wonderful, fuss free meal with the family (an Easter miracle indeed!).

and currently, I am fighting off a nap but this battle may be lost!

Happy Easter everyone - may the hope of Christ represeted in His power over the grave resonate through your life today - and everyday!

I remember the day you were born.

2010-03-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

I remember the day you were born. What I wore. What I ate for breakfast. The lump in my throat when the ultrasound tech told me you'd be 9 pounds. No wonder my blood pressure hit the roof! I remember calling my friend - and labor nurse, Karen, and telling her the Dr. was ready to induce. I remember how Rhonda and Courtney beat us to the hospital - even though they were 30 minutes away and we were right across the street. I remember signing the paperwork to have an epidural - then later deciding not to. And I do remember how badly it hurt. I remember Karen telling me not to push, and crying back at her that I couldn't help it. I remember hearing "It's a girl!" for the first time. A baby girl. A "big girl" they called you - 8 lbs, 7 oz- but you looked so tiny to me. I remember your Daddy cutting the cord, and later telling me how he carried the pink slip of paper to the waiting room and held it up to the window to show the awaiting crowd a daughter was born. I remember your Grandma June looking pretty rough - as if she was the one who'd just given birth. She probably would have fared better had I gotten the epidural. I remember how intently you stared at my face, with your blue-gray eyes, as if you were as anxious to know me as I was you. You felt brand new, yet so familiar all at once.

So my Lily-girl, when I get a little teary eyed as each birthday comes and goes, you'll just have to understand - it's because I remember the day you were born. And that's probably the biggest difference between me and you. A day that you will never recall is forever ingrained in my memory, as if I lived it yesterday. But sadly, the other 2, 919 days of your life blur together, passing much, much too quickly. And so as happy as I am to celebrate you and your precious life, your birthday will always be bittersweet, because my love, I remember the day you were born - 8 years ago today. Happy Birthday, my Lily.

Funny Girl

2010-03-21T20:34:00.005-04:00

Lily has an awesome sense of humor. She's not just funny, she's clever. Phineas & Ferb fans will appreciate this one...

Lily has always been amused by the amount of hair on David's arms and chest. As a toddler, she called him "furry." But about a month ago, she became a little more sophisticated in her name-calling. She's affectionately named him "Hairy the Dadypus."

Love it, love her, can't wait to hear what she comes up with next!

* For anyone not familiar with Disney's Phineas & Ferb cartoon, there is a character (a household pet/secret agent) named Perry the Platypus.

Hello? Anybody out there?

2010-03-21T20:11:00.005-04:00

Obviously, I've all but abandoned this blog. I say "all but" because although I haven't posted since 12/18/09, I think about blogging at least once a week - and it's the thought that counts, right? But this week, I'm dusting off the blog...

So what would bring me back after 3 months of silence?

Lily's birthday is this week, and if there is any topic I can find plenty to say about, it's my sweet children. So in honor of my almost 8-year-old favorite girl in the world, I WILL post at least 3 more times this week to share some Lily-goodness.

To start I'll share the latest Lily news. About 2 weeks ago, Lily started playing softball. She loves it! This is her second taste of the sports world, she played soccer in the fall of '08 and was only mildly impressed with the sport. Softball however has really captured her fancy. Her favorite part? The other girls, and the chants they shout from the dug out. Just so you know - her team is BOOM dynamite. (Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick, BOOM dynamite!) My favorite part? The way her daddy glows when he tells me about her practices. He's so very proud of her positive attitude and enthusiastic approach to anything and everything she's asked to do. We're all looking forward to a fun season.

That's all for now, but I'll be back...really, I will!

"ing"

2009-12-18T06:56:00.003-05:00

Freezing. Did I fall asleep and wake up in January...February, maybe? This cold, gray weather seems a little early.

Warming up. Finally bought myself a pair of wool socks because I hadn't felt my toes in several days. Hello toes, nice to know you're still there.

Counting down. Christmas is just a week away!

Praying for safety. David is hunting today - a work thing. I personally think frozen fingers and triggers don't mix, but what do I know?

Remembering Tuesday! L7, I am blessed to surround myself with such an amazing group of women - our caroling may have been a little (lot) off key, but the rest of the night was right on! That's by far the most fun I have ever had unloading groceries.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Lightning Round

2009-12-13T20:49:00.002-05:00

I'm thinking my blog strategy for the time being will be "lightning round" style. Quick snippets. Little glimpses of what's going on around here...at least until life slows down enough to compose a complete paragraph.

Brrrrrr! It's cold! And wet. Nasty combination.

I am really enjoying Christmas carols this year. Usually, I tune into the two radio stations I can find not playing them, but this year we are listening to carols 'round the clock. I love hearing the kids sing along (getting most of the words wrong!). By observation, I think Lily's favorite is Silent Night and Luke's is Jingle Bell Rock.

Went to the urologist with David last week to follow up about his kidney stones. Nothing like seeing your husband manhandled - literally. Heeheehee.

Looking forward to Tuesday night with my favorite "book club"...or something like that!

We had a great Sunday. We stayed in PJs all day, I fried chicken for lunch, and we went to church as a family this evening. I love my family, and I love my church...and David loves fried chicken...family and church are a close second I'm sure! :)

2009-12-03T19:54:00.003-05:00

Cinnamon rolls, my husband and the family dog were not exactly where I expected the "thankful" train of thought to stop last month. I had a few other things I wanted to mention - my kids, my church, my friends. But somewhere between a kidney stone and a miserable drive -this blog shuffled it's way from low on the list to last on the list.

The holiday week is a blurr of too much food and too little sleep, but through it all, thankfulness was never far. In an ER, at 4 a.m., you can't help but be thankful when you're husband, in excruciating pain, is given almost immediate treatment. You can't help but be thankful for clean medical facilities and health insurance. For drugs.

And though the kidney stone was the standout down side of the holiday, a not-so-close second was the miserable drive home on Sunday. Our ten hour drive became fourteen, and trust me, adding four hours to ten feels like you might as well add another ten. But again, the experience just provided more to be thankful for - we traveled fourteen hours in terrible traffic - and arrived home safely. It may not have been words of gratitude rolling off my tongue at 1:30 a.m. when the vehicle walls began closing in on me after more than 12 hours, but I was thankful none the less. The bright spot on the drive was Luke's attempt at describing his anxious anticipation of arriving home. I'm certain it won't translate as well in print as it did rolling off his precious tongue but he said: Whenever I walk in the door, I get a strange feeling...kinda excited. Think of your favorite thing - like swimming - that's how I feel, excited, like I'm swimming. I feel that way when I get home. Man, I love that fella. And my girl, well, she is my girl and her snarky response was, Ummm, so you're saying going home feels like swimming? Gotta be thankful for those two.

Puppy Love

2009-11-18T20:22:00.017-05:00

Just so you know - my little assortment of "thankful" posts are in no particular order - I haven't mentioned my children yet, but today, I'm posting about the dog! But when the kids are gone, and the house is quiet, I realize how much I appreciate her presence in our home. I have to admit, although you won't hear us gush about KC often, I am very thankful for her - she's a great, great dog.

Before I had kids, I was a dog lover. Now, post children, I'd have to say I like dogs as much as the next guy - as long as the next guy just kinda likes dogs. But I do love my KC. If you've met her, you know how awesome she is - and chances are you've complimented me on her sweet demeanor, her patience with children, or her obedience. In general, we get far more compliments on the dog than our children. :) Sad, but true.

Several years ago, Lily and I decided we'd really like to add a dog to the family. David, who isn't a dog lover - or a dog liker for that matter, wasn't budging. But when he was scheduled for night shift with the Sheriff's Office, we had him right where we wanted him. I played the "I'll feel better with a dog in the house since you'll be gone at night" card...but Lily, 3 at the time, trumped that when she played the "I'm praying for a dog" card. Nicely played, Lily, nicely played. We first thought we'd adopt from a local shelter, and we weren't too particular though I had 3 non-negotiables: I wanted a dog - not a puppy, I wanted a female, and she had to be great with kids. I prayed God would bring the right dog into our home - probably because I didn't want to hear an "I told you so" from my anti-dog hubby. Early in our search, my prayers were answered when we were offered a beautiful 2 year old Boxer from a family friend who's in-laws were breeders. After a google education on Boxers and a Boxers for Dummies book, we (I) were convinced she was the dog for us - and her birth date is our wedding anniversary, which had to be a sign, right?

Four years and no regrets later, KC is the kind of dog that will no doubt ruin us for any future dogs. I seriously doubt we will ever find another dog with the perfect blend of puppy playfulness mixed with patience and obedience - and best of all, she just came that way! Not one, not two, but three different families who've dog sat for us went out and got dogs after having KC in their home. She's just that lovable. And where do I begin with how amazing she is with kids - and not just my kids - all kids! She's been dressed up in feather boas, bitten by visiting toddlers, forced to be the caboose of many a conga line - without so much as a whimper or snarl. Her love for Lily and Luke is the kind of thing movies are made of, and I'm certain it's her obvious devotion to them that sealed her place in a home where the leader of our pack, Daddy, would prefer not to share his space with a snoring, death-breath, four-legged family member.

So as she squirms and snorts, dreaming away at my feet, I'm thankful for KC and the love and loyalty she's brought into our home.

Waiting at the door for Lily and Luke....

Best friends catching a nap on the floor...

Enjoying a snow day...

BFF

2009-11-17T22:01:00.026-05:00

Sunday, David and I headed to the mountains for a little day trip. We realized we haven't gone to the mountains together since our honeymoon - over 11 years ago! We now live only 2 hours from some of the most beautiful sights, I don't know why it's taken us 4 years to make the drive together!

We had a wonderful time. I am so very thankful for the relationship David and I have, so thankful for our friendship. He truly is my best friend.

On the lengthy drive, we talked when we felt like talking, but didn't when we didn't. With David, complete silence can be completely comfortable (those of you who know him well are nodding along!). We ate our picnic lunch on the tailgate of his truck rather than the crowded (but beautiful!) park, because he doesn't really like people - but he really likes me - and that mattered more than the picture I was hoping to take of us picnicking in the park.

The best part is, though days like Sunday are a treat, we don't really need a scenic drive or special destination to enjoy one another's company. We genuinely enjoy being together, and though I'd like to think that's the case with all married couples, sadly, I know it's not. As much as I love him, I'm so thankful I like him, too!

Saturdays and Cinnamon Rolls

2009-11-14T09:15:00.008-05:00

Let's start simple. I am thankful for the weekend, and Saturday mornings in particular.

This week as I picked up a few groceries (key word - few, it's amazing how much less I need with the kids in Florida - I'm guessing my mom has realized quite the opposite about her own grocery bill!)...I grabbed can of cinnamon rolls with morning just like this in mind. Yesterday, each time I opened the refrigerator, that little Pillsbury Dough Boy gave me a smile and wave, and I could just hear his little hoohoo!

An unhurried Saturday morning, with a warm, gooey cinnamon roll and a hot cup of coffee with my favorite people in the world is heaven on earth. This particular Saturday, "people" is reduced to "person" but if I'm going to spend the morning with anyone, he's certainly my top pick. To top is off - today is our first day of sunshine in what feels like 40 days and 40 nights of rain, so the sun peeking through the blinds, as we sip our coffee and talk about the day ahead is icing. Icing on a warm, gooey cinnamon roll.

Thanks.

2009-11-12T12:04:00.003-05:00

I've been struggling with consistent blogging for awhile now. But you already knew that, didn't you? The kids are in Florida right now, we created a new holiday break in the school calendar, something like "you never need a good reason to visit the grandparents" fall break. You might think that with no kids around, no "students" to teach, that I'd have all the time in the world to blog - I may have thought the same thing - but we were both wrong.

Regardless, I am here to force my own hand into blogging by saying that over the next few days, maybe even the remaining weeks of November, I am going to fill my blog with thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for. All of us. You, too. Be it watching several families I love struggle through difficult times, or our church's amazing series on joy, or just opening my eyes to the things around me, I am sincerely full of gratitude and I'd be negligent not to share it, especially as the holiday season approaches.

So check back soon for installment one of a thankful heart's thankful blog.

Halloween: Take One

2009-10-30T13:35:00.005-04:00

We have two more Halloween outings, and I'm afraid the costumes will never look as clean and intact as they did on outing #1, so here are some pics. I snapped these pics as we were headed out the door for a lunchtime party, but then we found out it had been moved to 4, so we've actually gone through the costume process twice already. Then once more tonight. And once again tomorrow night. We are squeezing every ounce out of the 19.99 spent on each costume this year!

2009-10-26T13:11:00.005-04:00

I was recently reminded (thanks Judy!) that I'm a little behind in putting up pictures. I don't know where to begin because it's been so long since I've posted any pics, but before Halloween gets here and I have a whole new batch, I thought it best I at least get a few pictures up. These are from last weekend's trip to the mountains (beautiful by the way, we saw the fall leaves and snow, all in on one car ride!). We visited the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk and returned home with two new pets, Thunder and Lightning, who survived in our household for about 2 days - may they rest in peace.

I have got to take a few minutes to get my other fall pics organized, and when I do, I'll put up a few more - maybe.

H _ N _ M _ N

2009-10-13T21:15:00.001-04:00

I taught the kids how to play "Hangman" last week on our whiteboard and we have been having the best time with that game. Sometimes, I'm intentional and select words that help the kids practice what we're working on, like words ending in "ck" or the silent "e," but most of the time, we just play for fun. Tonight we got David in on the action, which is a big deal because he's not much of a game player. But once he had that Expo marker in his hand, he was hooked...and as it turns out, he's a Hangman hog. He didn't want to take turns, he kept coming up with "just one more really good one."

Luke, gotta love him, has used "I Love Mom" over and over. There are only so many times I can pretend I don't know what it says!

Last month was Four Corners, this month, Hangman. We are bringing back old-school games with a vengeance - too bad we don't have enough family members to play Heads Up Seven Up!

Twos, Shoes and Weather Blues

2009-10-08T10:15:00.001-04:00

The other night when we asked the kids if they had any problems they'd like us to pray about, they both said "school." I guess it's time for a little self-eval? I didn't realize they were having any prayer-worthy problems. Yikes. Actually, Luke specifically mentioned math, and I had noticed math doesn't come as easy to him as it does Lil. To be honest, the girls in the house kick butt with math, the boys not so much...so at least Luke has a father who can sympathize. Lately he's really been struggling with counting by twos. He memorized "2,4,6,8,10" in kindergarten, but seems to fall apart come 12. After realizing that he's bothered enough to want to discuss the math issue with Jesus, I decided I better get on the ball. I guess I really only have one authority when it comes to my day in, day out teaching performance - and it sounds like Luke is about to file a complaint to Him!

On another topic completely, our shoes are driving me bananas lately. Fall crept in quietly, and because some days are still flip-flop warm, but other days are damp and chilly, we've ended up with a shoe basket that's bursting at the weave with every pair of shoes the kids own. I pass by it thirty times a day and think "I gotta go through that basket" but find myself saying it again on bypass #31. All that to say, as I was thinking through the counting by twos issue, and my need to sort shoes, and I think I've decided we'll have a little twos and shoes fun by rounding up all the shoes we can find - I'll seize the opportunity to sort through shoes while giving Luke extra practice counting by twos. Or at least that's my intention - I guess we'll see!

One more thing that's been on my mind - I am so happy to trade my bad weather blues for blue skies! I really struggled to drag myself out of bed on the rainy, gray mornings that started our week (one more "pro" in the homeschool column - not having to get the kids out the door in the rain!). This morning I was greeted by beautiful blue skies and the park is calling our name.

Tidbits

2009-10-04T14:33:00.004-04:00

Rainy Monday morning. Not the best way to start a week, but not the worst either - especially when you can stay in pjs all morning.

I had a speck of something stuck inside my eyelid for SEVEN hours Friday. Seven miserable hours. David removed it for me within minutes of arriving home. Eye love you, meye hero! :)

I *heart* fall! Spiced Apple or Harvest Pumpkin may be the fragrances of fall for some, but for me, bacon and onion sauteing a pan for a big pot of potato soup is my fall favorite - if only Glade would make that plug-in!

We took our first field trip last Wednesday - and we loaded that Explorer up just like an ol' yellow bus! I'll try to get some pics up this week.

We skipped school last Thursday, for no good reason. Being teacher and principal of the school has it's advantages.

Very relaxing weekend around here - until 5:30 p.m. yesterday when David and I became responsible for 13 children, ages 8 and under. Whew. Once again, David is my hero! He can hold a baby on one hip, while pushing a toddler in a swing, like it's his job - and I guess last night it was!

How 'bout them BULLS!?!

My kids are funny.

2009-09-29T00:10:00.003-04:00

It may be that because we're homeschooling I have more time to notice, or maybe they've reached an age where their senses of humor are more developed...either way, my kids have been cracking me up lately. Just when I thought I couldn't love 'em anymore - they turn out to be really funny! And not just in the typical "kids are funny" untimely gas passing, tripping over themselves, silly kind of way. They're witty, they've got a great handle on language, and they find clever ways to bring out humor in the most mundane situation. I love to laugh, so I sincerely wouldn't be any happier if we'd just discovered a hidden musical or athletic gifting. If they're this funny now, I can only imagine the laughs we'll have as they learn more about the world around them and further develop their comedic skills. There are so many things I plan to teach them, but "real" funny has to come from within, ya know? So I am one happy mom, 'cause my kids are funny!

...ing

2009-09-21T23:45:00.002-04:00

Stealing this post idea.

Unwinding after a long day.

Wishing it wasn't too late for coffee.

Forgiving my children for the milkshake incident at Chick-Fil-A.

Researching art projects for my classes.

Laughing at this video.

Thawing a roast for dinner tomorrow - we've had sandwiches 2 nights in a row.

Looking forward to our first field trip next week.

Praying for my husband.

Going to bed and hopefully...

Sleeping in tomorrow!

How's homeschooling?

2009-09-16T09:21:00.006-04:00

I've been on the go-go-go lately (another story for another day!) and while out and about, I've been asked more times than I can count, How's homeschooling? I don't mind being asked at all, in fact, I'm genuinely touched at how many people are inquiring about our transition, rooting us on, and offering encouragement. But the fact that I've been asked this question so many times in the past week got me to thinking...maybe some of you on the other side of this blog that haven't had a chance to ask are wondering the same.

Homeschooling is great. We certainly don't have it down to a perfect science and every day looks a little different, but it's working for us. Some days, as we gather our materials and sit around the dining room table, we're like a Norman Rockwell painting...other days we're so dysfunctional that even Fox wouldn't air our reality show. But that's life, right? Homeschooling has proven to be a piece of our life puzzle that fits into place beautifully. Even if the puzzle is far from complete, this piece fits perfectly in it's place. It fits our personalities and lifestyle so well, and Lily and Luke being so close in age is an undeniable benefit -it's as if they were literally born for homeschooling. This was a "big picture" solution for us, not a quick fix for any one particular problem, but a lifestyle change that we hoped would bring widespread balance - and so far, it's working.

Obviously, there is a lot this post doesn't include - so many things we haven't figured out about our life as a homeschool family. But all those things would make this a very long answer to a short question, so for now, I'll just stick with: We love homeschooling!

Missing the Whisper

2009-09-03T08:18:00.004-04:00

...Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12

Last month I read the words "expectation destroys appreciation" on a friend's blog. I really chewed on that statement, so poignant in the writer's context of failing to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like time with family, because we tend to have expectations of perfection. That same expression came to mind as I mediated on the above scriptures. I've found myself returning to them daily, reading them over and over...wondering. In all the noise of life, with all the chaos of a young, busy family - clouded further by my own expectations - am I missing His gentle whisper? Am I expecting God to show up in one way and failing to appreciate, or missing all together, when He moves in a different way? The question hits me like a punch to the gut, because I am certain of the answer. Yes.

It would be easy to allow myself to spend time wrecked over the gentle whispers I am sure I have missed, the glimpses of God I have overlooked, the interventions I have failed to appreciate. But today my prayer is, rather than perhaps miss Him again while looking back, I'll open my eyes, I'll quiet myself, I'll watch and listen. Then I'll acknowledge and appreciate the ways He shows up today. And in doing so, I'll teach my children to do the same.

Three Thanksgivings

2009-08-29T21:28:00.008-04:00

When I started dating David, my world was opened up to the phenomenon of multiple holiday dinners. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving...three houses to visit. Sometimes the celebrations would be spread over the course of a few days, but other times, we would eat an enormous lunch, complete with all the traditional southern dishes, only to find ourselves seated in front of another huge spread just a few hours later.

That's how I'm feeling tonight - like I've just been served 3 Thanksgiving dinners. Two sessions of Beth Moore - last night and earlier today, followed just hours later by an awesome Saturday night service at my own church. I am stuffed! And now I've got so much to digest!

To Beth Moore, a long time "friend"

2009-08-28T15:48:00.004-04:00

Hey Beth. Sorry it's been so long! I know, I know...after that trip to Boone to visit you in '07, I kinda became a stranger, didn't I? Well, don't think I haven't been thinking about ya! I am so excited to see you tonight, and to introduce you to my new friend, Teri. Well, by "new" I mean relative to me and you. Teri and I met about 2 years ago, but you and I, well gosh, I guess it's been over a decade! I was thinking back to the first time we met, I did the tabernacle study with a few women from my church....you had big ol' hair and I was just a wide-eyed newlywed, trying to make heads or tails of the real world. I'd never been involved in such an intense Bible study, and though I didn't think I'd make it through, your encouragement helped me persevere. Now, many years and many studies later, you have imparted your knowledge and love for God's Word in my heart like no one else. I'm so thankful we met during those formative years; I'm certain your influence helped shape my faith walk. Like the time you told me "Forgiveness wouldn't make "it" okay, forgiveness would make me okay," I really had to chew on that one, and before too long, I saw things God's way and let go. And then there was the day David moved to NC without me and the kids. I was doing the Believing God study, and you used God's word to show me how the "middle" is often the hardest part, and since we were right in the middle of the biggest faith step we'd ever taken, I needed that encouragement more than ever. You helped me find the strength to tread on to the other side, and you were so right! If I hadn't had the faith to keep going, I'd have missed the tremendous blessings on the other side.

So back to tonight...Beth, I know everyone's faith journey is different, and Teri has to walk her own path. To her, you may just be an acquaintance, a friend of a friend, I guess only time will tell. But Beth, if I don't get a chance to tell you later, thanks for being the kind of friend who can speak God's truth to me in such a way that pierces me, challenges me, encourages me and spurs me on to know Him more. And thanks for being the kind of friend who is always ready and willing to make a new friend, I think you and Teri will really hit it off!

See you in a few hours!

Your Friend,
Erin

Learn As We Go

2009-08-27T15:31:00.005-04:00

On day 1 of homeschooling, I established two rules; two rules that I believed would be all inclusive. Rule #1 - Listen and obey your teacher, a.k.a. Mom. Rule #2 - Respect your classmate.

On day 3, I realized the "all inclusive" idea is apparently not a 1st or 2nd grade concept. We are adding new rules daily, just to clarify expectations.

Rule #3 - Pencils are for writing ONLY.
Rule #4 - Do NOT stab classmate with a pencil, refer to rule #3 for further pencil guidelines.
Rule #5 - Notify teacher immediately if you have been stabbed with a pencil.
Rule #6 - No drinks at the table. (Learned this one the hard way).

I'm thinking we'll be at ten rules by the end of the week, and at this rate, we'll have a ruleBOOK by the end of the year.

2 down, 178 to go.

2009-08-25T21:38:00.007-04:00

The kids and I were working on "All About Me" collages for the front covers of our journals, Pandora was on the computer and Somewhere Over the Rainbow by IZ started to play....the room was full sweet music, magazine scraps and the happy chatter of my children. I stopped and drank up the perfect moment...it was Kodak meets Hallmark, and I felt completely at peace with my world.

And then it hit me - it's only day two and I've already used up every cute, creative idea I'd managed to come up with this summer. With 178 days to go.

2009-08-21T15:17:00.004-04:00

It didn't take much personal persuasion for me to decide to take Luke out for a donut the other night (as mentioned on previous post). On the way out, we had an amusing exchange. Here's a little peek into the life of a my mild mannered fellow, who's decided to express his individuality in an interesting way.

Luke, you gonna get dressed, or go in your pjs?

Yep.

Pjs?

Yep.

How about underwear?

Nope.

Luke has slowly given up wearing underwear over the past 2 years, a habit that began gradually, but has increased to a frequency of 95% commando status.

I guess I'm just not an underwear guy.

Well, son, I'm not really sure that's something you get to make a matter of personal preference. I think wearing underwear is like handwashing, it's just the right thing to do.

They don't feel good. My underwear are tight and leave weird marks on me.

Sounds like we need to buy you some new underwear, maybe you've outgrown your others. Want to go right now, while it's just the two of us?

No can do. No...can...do....sis-tah.

Date Night

2009-08-18T18:40:00.006-04:00

The house is a little quieter tonight, just Luke and I are tinkering around. David and Lily have gone on their first father-daughter date night. This has been one of those "we really need to start..." experiences that we've been talking about since Lily was 3. She's now 7, and I was determined that unlike the "journal the cute things she says" or "write her a letter on each birthday," I would not let this fall by the wayside.

When I first asked if she'd like her daddy to take her out, her reply was "Sorry, I've got plans," although I'd given no indication of when! But the idea rapidly grew on her. All day she's tried to hide her anticipation, although starting to get ready 2 hours before their departure was a dead give away! When I told her she didn't have to wash her hair she said, "I want to so I can do that blow dry thing that makes it look so cute." As I watched her prepare for the big night - picking out a "fancy" shirt, putting on lip gloss - I knew tonight was the start of something very special in her life.

Though she didn't want to admit it, Lily was thrilled at the prospect of having David's full attention, but of course Luke was less enchanted by the idea. Although we've assured him that special "Dad-time" will be set aside for him too, he struggled with them leaving him behind. He's asked repeatedly what he and I will do "fun" while they're gone. I'm torn somewhere between my desire to teach him the life lesson that not everything she does will be reciprocated for him, and my own hankering for a French Delight donut from the Dunkin' Donuts!

ABCs of Summer

2009-08-15T09:00:00.005-04:00

August already?!? With the end of summer quickly approaching, here are a few summer highlights I want to savor before summer is gone for good...

Beach! A visit to Carolina Beach in May, a visit to Fort DeSoto Beach in July, another visit to Carolina on the calendar for next month...I love the beach! (and three beach trips are hardly enough to satisfy!)

Cousins! This summer was full of great memory making moments for Lily and Luke with all their cousins, including the newest, Landon.

Donuts! I introduced my children to Britt's. Mmmmmmm.

Excited to homeschool! Lily asks to get started everyday, and I heard Luke say, "I can't wait for school to start!" and trust me, those are not words Luke has ever uttered before. There is a peace in our home as summer winds down, full of positive anticipation - and it feels great!

Friends! What would summer be without friends?

God With Us! Elevation released it's newest CD, God With Us, and it's a favorite around our house. David and I had a hot date (and by hot, I mean southeast in the summer hot!) to a cool party to celebrate the CD's release.

Happy Hour! Nothing beats the heat like a Lemon Berry Slush from Sonic during half-price Happy Hour!

Ice cream! David and I drove to 3 different places one evening to get ice cream, just the two of us. He wanted to give up after the first two failed attempts, but I didn't give up so easily.

Jaws! Refer to "U" for more information, but I certainly learned to never again talk my children into doing something they're scared to do! If only I'd had a Flip, I'd be $10,000 richer because 4 screaming children diving for my lap to avoid one large mechanical shark was a riot!

Kennedy Space Center! Aunt Lisa and Uncle Larry took the kiddos to KSC; they're now full of space travel information and share it with us at the most random times.

Landon! One of our favorite summer memories will always be meeting Landon for the first time. He took to Uncle David a little sooner than Aunt Erin, but I didn't take it to heart - I'm pretty fond of David myself.

Matthews Campus! Next weekend, Elevation opens it's first permanent facility. "M" could also stand for "Milestone," what a huge one this is in the life of our church!

No Kids! It's become tradition for the kids to spend 2 weeks in FL with the grandparents...without us! This year was probably my favorite yet. Now that the kids are a little older, I spend less time worrying and more time enjoying!

One more week! Our first day of school is August 24th; that give us one more week to soak up the sun and fun before hitting the books (although we may do so in pajamas if we please!)

Pool! I have an aversion to public pools. We had a family pool in Florida, so having to share a pool with strangers was foreign to me...until we moved here. But I have finally learned embrace the joy of a neighborhood pool - unfortunately our 'hood doesn't have one so we depend on the kind invite of nearby friends!

Quiet Time! B90x has brought back my "quiet time" with a vengeance. If I thought carving out 5-10 minutes for time in the Word was difficult before, I'll have no excuses now that I'm making it through a half hour reading assignment everyday.

Run Away! I started the summer off with a little running, can't say I kept that up at all. I'll put that in my "goals for fall" column.

So You Think You Can Dance?...Dance....Dance! What a fun summer obsession!

Teri meets Beth! Last week I won (by calling into a radio station for the first time ever) 2 tickets to a Beth Moore simulcast event that's taking place nearby. It was a no-brainer as to who to take with me; although I have many Beth Moore lovin' friends, Teri.does.not.know.Beth.Moore. (insert gasps here!) So I have to introduce Teri to Beth, and I get to do so at the end of the month!

Universal Studios! Papa Ron and Wissy treated us to a fun day at both Universal parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The kids are still talking about it! I'm asked at least once a week what my favorite ride at Universal was, but I am not allowed to say Jaws!

Value! We have acquainted ourselves with the $1 theater...50 cent Mondays, $1 Tuesdays...best deal around. When the kids see a new release preview on TV, they ask, "Can we see that when it comes to the $1 theater?"

Walls! Chocolate Truffle paint transformed my kitchen from monotone to delicious!

X Games! Luke discovered the X Games this summer. He is such a boy...if it has wheels, he'd like to see it go off a ramp...and that's a guarantee on the X Games.

Yuck! Stomach bugs made a mark on our summer (and in the Exxon parking lot!). From Lily's terrible 4th of July bug that delayed our trip home, to Luke's explosion in the gas station parking lot last weekend, these are the summer memories I hope to forget!

Zoo! I'm cheating a little, it was actually spring when we made our first trip to Riverbanks Zoo, but our fun day was worthy of revisiting and there just isn't much else to do with Z!

There you have the ABCs of our summer...hope you've had a great summer, too!

On the tip of my tongue...

2009-08-10T17:58:00.004-04:00

You know how it feels to have something just on the tip of your tongue, and then you forget? Maybe during a phone conversation with a friend - and a little one interrupts for a sippy cup refill...or your husband comes home from work and as you're telling him about your day - the water on the stove boils over...and you find yourself asking, "Now what was I going to say?"

That's how I've been all week when it comes to this blog. I'm sure I've got something to say, then I sign in and find myself wondering, "Now what was I going to say?"

Oh well. I'm sure it'll come to me when the time is right. In the meantime I'll just live with that nagging little feeling you get when you've got something right there, on the tip of your tongue, and then you forget.

Dream analysis, please?

2009-08-03T13:52:00.005-04:00

Nicholas Cage holding a guitar, talking to a spider about writing a song...and the spider talks back.

David, shirtless, wearing a bandana (Jeremy Fiske style), and wrestling an alligator (or maybe it's a crocodile).

Me, with gray hair and a buzz cut, wearing a tutu to a little league game.

Just a few snippets I can recall from some of the dreams I've had the past few nights. Anyone want to tell me what's going on? A sign of the end times maybe?

Home's cool.

2009-08-01T15:37:00.003-04:00

When Lily was a baby, anytime she was dressed in denim I called her Too Cool for School Barbie. I don't really have any explanation for the odd nickname, and I'm quite sure Barbie never thought she was too cool for school; after all, she's been a teacher, an astronaut and a dentist, so she's attended more than her fair share of classes. Often shortened to just Too Cool, the silly name came along well before school was really on our minds, back when Lily wore jeans with snaps between the legs. But apparently, it was prophetic. Lily is indeed too cool for school. Or at least she thinks so. And I guess we've come to realize our whole family is; school has been cramping our style.

So there you have the lighter side of our family's decision to homeschool. I could probably write ten posts on homeschooling and still not adequately describe all the hows and whys of coming to this decision, so instead, I'll just leave it alone. Traditional school is not for us. At least not right now.

We made the decision months ago, spring time. But with the summer months still ahead, fall and homeschooling felt forever away. Until today. August 1st. Can you believe it? August!?! Already?!? I'd better get busy! Much like Barbie, I'm taking on yet another a new career.

2009-07-26T15:30:00.001-04:00

My "drafts" folder was bursting at the cyber-seams and upon sorting through and deleting posts, I found this post I'd written back in March but never posted. With the Tour de France wrapping up, and last week marking the 1 year anniversary of Luke's orchiectomy, I found it especially poignant when I reread it today. Not sure what lead me to write it or what lead me not to post it, maybe it was just meant for today.

I'm not really into "celebrity." Don't get me wrong, I love to thumb through a People magazine as much as the next gal, but I've never joined a fan club or followed a particular musician, actor or athlete enough to know much beyond what you'll find written in, well, a People magazine. However, I thought that might change in regards to one particular athlete, Lance Armstrong. I was even considering writing him a letter. Did you know our sons share the same name? Luke David. But that isn't really why he'd captured my attention.

My Luke David suffered from a severe testicular infection when he was 3 years old. In 2008, it was determined the affected testicle had not survived, and would need to be removed. So last July, my Luke became connected to Lance Armstrong in yet another way, as a fellow orchiectomy patient. Lance's battle with testicular cancer lead to a bilateral orchiectomy, whereas, thankfully, my Luke has one healthy testicle remaining. But the loss will no doubt be significant to Luke when he's old enough to understand. Because of Luke's love of sports, bike riding, and his natural athleticism, I've always kept the little bit I know about Lance Armstrong tucked in my back pocket. My thought was if, or more likely, when, Luke begins to struggle with his loss, I'd be able to use Lance's perseverance, success, and, quite honestly, his ability to continually win the affections of beautiful women (which might be important to a fella!?!), as an encouragement to my little guy. Testicular loss is not something that men are open about, at all, and so I can honestly say, I don't know any other man, young or old, that is in my son's shoes. I know they're out there, I just don't know them, and it's not exactly something I can ask around about. And that's why I was clinging to Lance Armstrong. Someone, anyone, for my little guy to look to and say, I am not alone.

So here's to ya for bursting my bubble, Google. I decided to surf the net to learn a little more about good ol' Lance. Of course, his remarkable Tour de France victories top the search results, followed by his inspiring testicular cancer battle, and contributions to the awareness of testicular cancer and research...all very admirable components of Mr. Armstrong's life. But then another word popped up: atheist. First, let me say, I am not making a call one way or another as to his spirituality, or lack there of. That's not for me, google, or anyone else to discern, and I have not heard with my own ears or seen with my own eyes any discussion on the subject. So recognizing the fragility of information gleaned from the internet alone, I still felt the word "atheist" was used in enough information on Lance to at least cause concern on my behalf. Most of what I read said Lance does not support organized religion, and I don't in any way equate an opposition to organized religion to lack of belief in God. Religion is not God. But several sites also attribute Lance to a 2004 quote in ET magazine saying "If there was a god, I'd still have both my ... (insert slang for testicles)" Hmmm, that's a bothersome comment from my son's would be role model.

There is a construction paper die-cut of a bat (think Halloween, not baseball) on our refrigerator. It's been hanging there for almost two years, the paper has faded from crisp black to a dingy brown. Luke made it in preschool; it has the words "I trust in God and am not afraid" typed on a white label in the center. The night after Luke's surgery, he slept downstairs with me. As we settled into bed, I began to ask him questions about his experience. I asked him if he was scared when they rolled him into the operating room and he said, "No, I just thought about my bat and knew Jesus was with me."

I still admire Lance's amazing physical feats and endurance. He has proven a man's a strength, worth, and abilities are in no way tied to his anatomy. I greatly value that lesson. I want Luke to have a confidence in knowing his strength, worth and ability were not lost to an -ectomy. But, more than that, I want him to know where, or Who, the greatness inside him does come from, and it seems that Mr. Armstrong may be unsure of that himself. Maybe Lance could learn a thing or two from Luke.

They're Baaa-aaaackkkk!

2009-07-21T19:21:00.002-04:00

The kids have been back in my possession for less than 48 hours and we've already visited the pediatrician. Yep. Back in the full swing of motherhood.

But before I get so far into parenthood that I forget what the past two weeks were like, I thought I'd answer the number one question I'm asked every summer when the kids spend extra time in Florida with the grandparents...What do you do for two weeks without kids? A question best answered not by trying to describe the quality of the time, but rather, describing the time in terms of quantity.

I read five novels.

I didn't cook for nine consecutive days.

Bought one new dress (and shopped for hours, not because it really took so long to pick out a new dress, but because I COULD!).

Partied with dozens of friends at a fantastic no-kids-allowed party and spent zero minutes stressing over childcare.

Enjoyed lunch out with friends twice.

Two SYTYCD nights with KB and T.

One pool party at Het's, with six laugh-out-loud trips down the slide.

Rearranged the furniture in three rooms.

Painted four kitchen walls.

The extra hours of sleep are too many to count, I slept in everyday. Sometimes I went to bed late and slept late, sometimes I went to bed early and still slept late.

So I hope that gives you a rough idea of how I spend two weeks without kids. David would probably answer the question a little differently; I think he thinks in terms of quantity too, but I don't think it was novels or lunch dates he was counting. ;)

Chocolate is a girl's best friend.

2009-07-16T11:31:00.002-04:00

The original owner's of our home had apparently taken one thing to heart: neutral colors are best for resale. The kitchen's flooring was almost the same color as the pickled oak cabinetry, almost the same color as the mauvish counter tops, almost the same color as the pale walls that fill most of the house. Which made for one boring, slightly pinkish kitchen. A full kitchen overhaul is out of the question. And I don't know why it took me two years, but after a bold move at the paint counter and about $30 in paint and supplies, the kitchen walls are now Dutch Boy Chocolate Truffle. And the pale cabinets I'd come to hate have really grown on me in the past 24 hours as they pop off the chocolaty smooth walls. My camera battery is dead, but hopefully I'll post a picture soon. I couldn't be happier. Well, yes I could. I would be very happy to watch someone else finish the final trim work!

Monday Mood Swing

2009-07-13T11:48:00.006-04:00

What is it about Mondays? Nah, forget I even asked, I know what it is: it's a crash from the high of spending two days with my favorite fella...sleeping in on Saturday morning, a late breakfast - the heavy kind that fills you up way past lunch, getting things done around the house -rewarded by dinner out ...a busy Sunday at Elevation - David and I going our separate ways but meeting up for an afternoon nap, as if we had a 3pm appointment with that bed and that floor fan, ending the day curled up on the sofa with a book, TV off...quiet house. Nice weekend. Then wham, it's Monday. And raining. And the quiet house feels more like a dungeon than a retreat.

But with these quiet moments to get a few thoughts in cyberspace, and a list of household "to dos" that can now go uninterupted by drink refill requests, whines of boredom, or sibling scuffles, I'm reminded anew not to take this current solitude for granted.

And the rest of the day looks brighter, if not literally, at least figuratively. An evening with some of my very favorite ladies, but with no book to discuss this month, I wonder if we'll have anything to talk about.? Yeah right!?!

Carolina Chaplain

2009-07-09T18:24:00.007-04:00

Maybe it's because my father, and my brother, and my husband, not to mention many other loved ones, have served our country. Maybe it's just an area the Lord has tendered my heart, but regardless, when I read Chaplain Watson's most recent Facebook status asking for help, I couldn't just scroll by. Check out his site, scroll down and read the November post titled "Chaplain's Wish" and please do what you can. So often we think to ourselves, I'd help if I knew how. Now you do. Reading Tommy's wish list really choked me up, his requests make it clear how seriously he takes his calling to minister to our soldiers and he offers very simple, tangible ways we can help. I've copied his FB status comment below so you could read his request in his own words, I hope he doesn't mind. Please check out his site and send any of the wish list items you can, many things may be sitting unused in your home right now. I'm honored to know him and his precious, godly family. His beautiful wife, Jackie, was Lily's dance teacher, and both Tommy and Jackie are using their lives to serve the Lord by serving others in an inspiring way.

Thomas Watson I'm asking all my friends and churches to please take the time to send a care package to our soldiers in Iraq. Go to http://carolinachaplain.blogspot.com/ and scroll down to Chaplain's Wish list post. Choose what you will and send to my address at the bottom. I will make sure they get your packages. This is important to our morale. Many thanks to those who will respond.

Back By Popluar Demand

2009-07-09T10:45:00.002-04:00

Okay, so maybe "popular demand" is a stretch, maybe it's more like "triple demand" as in just three people (yes, one was my own mother), specifically asked me to return to blogging. But the other two requests were surprising. It is with great humility that I say, apparently, the Lord has used this blog in ways I did not know or expect. My reasons for taking an indefinite break from blogging seemed trivial when presented with the reasons to continue.

And I also missed it. Although my posts had become few and far between, it was comforting to know there was an outlet, my outlet.

It's only been two weeks or so, hopefully not long enough to have been deleted from too many feeds, but boy, did we jam-pack those two weeks! We spent ten days in Florida which included birthday celebrations (David and I, as well our good friend the U.S. of A., celebrated birthdays), camping, the beach, bowling, swimming, both Universal theme parks, a stomach bug, urgent care visit, fireworks, family portraits, and probably the highlight, meeting our new nephew, Landon. And to recover from all that, we returned to NC childless. Yep. David and I came home, the kids did not. For two weeks. I think I'll soon post an answer to the number one question I get every time this happens, "What do you do for two weeks without your children?"

Breaking Up

2009-06-26T08:13:00.004-04:00

Break from school. Break from alarm clocks. Break from schedules. Break from blogging? Yes, please.

I thought summer would present the opportunity for more posting, but instead, the blog feels like a drag. If a marriage can end because one partner "falls out of love," then surely I can break up with my blog because I have fallen out of like. I used to like blogging, it's been a fun way to chronicle life, and I have found it to be very therapeutic. I've never kept a diary, my journaling is inconsistent, and so my 2 years of blogging (I started on my 29th birthday, tomorrow is my 31st) is very meaningful to me, like a collection of home movies. I love to go back and read the posts that chronicle simple, daily events, like silly things the kids have said and done, things I might have forgotten by now otherwise. I'd like to print them all out one day.

But for now, keeping up the blog feels burdensome and distracting, so I'm taking a little summer break. But I think this break up is like a Ross and Rachel break up, sooner or later, we'll get back together.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T19:07:00.005-04:00

I am not a sporty gal, nor do I enjoy breaking a sweat for any other reason, so only for my baby-daddy would I gladly spend a very hot, bright afternoon like this...

I was the photographer for most of the outing, but I did swing the driver just a few times, a first for me, and David said I'm pretty good. But he must have meant "pretty good" odds at winning if we entered the video in a funny video contest. Thankfully, there is no video. They can keep their 10 grand, I'll keep my pride.

Happy Father's Day, D. I'll be your caddy any day.

2009-06-19T07:38:00.002-04:00

I guess I shouldn't have been so presumptuous as to end that last post with "guess I'm back to blogging." I have in fact not been back to blogging. Instead, I have been back to sleeping in, visiting the public library, hanging out poolside with G$ and the gang, staying up late, and counting down to our annual Florida trip. Our summer is off to a great start, and sadly, it's already flying by, I can't believe it's already Friday!

Hope you're enjoying your summer...stay cool, today is gonna be a hot one!

Train of Thought Derailed

2009-06-15T10:18:00.012-04:00

My intention to spend a few days blog-pondering submission and what it means in our home was delightfully derailed by a weekend of house guests. As it should be, the computer sat somewhat idle for several days as we enjoyed catching up with family. David's sister, Erica, and her husband, David, and their two children, planned to spend 2 nights with us on the way to the Smokey Mountains. (Yes, with two Davids, an Erin, and an Erica under one roof, things can get confusing!) Their plans changed (Uncle Rich's loss was our gain), and 2 nights turned to 4 which gave us a wonderful opportunity to catch up and of course do what families do best: organize our lives around good food! You know it's a great weekend when your greatest stress is trying to time the pizza delivery to coincide with television programming. Last night's hurry and get on your comfy clothes before Hannah Montana @ 7:30 followed by Food Network Challenge @ 8, with a brief visit from the pizza guy, had the children and adults equally excited. It was the perfect way to wind down a fun, low key visit. And low key would apply to all the moments that did not involve the chainsaw.

But now, with a quiet house and two worn out kids, I guess I'm back to blogging.

Taming the Tongue

2009-06-11T11:09:00.003-04:00

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19

I didn't intend for these areas of submission to be in any particular order, but this one is indeed the most significant for me. I have a smart mouth. And a stupid temper. The two can be a dangerous combination. What I lack in physical strength (and trust me, I lack), I make up for in a biting tongue. I can find the chink in David's armor, and aim my sharp words right for that spot. I can. But submission means choosing not to. Everytime? Sadly no. But more and more each day. If my call to submission is a call to empower David, any words I use to weaken, defeat, embarrass, frustrate, guilt or belittle him, even the words that just chip away little by little, are contrary to my own calling. Not just words spoken to David, but words spoken about him to others as well. He's not the only one that suffers; I do as well as I reduce myself to a "less-than" wife when I employ such tactics. The illusion of power that is obtained in the moment is fleeting, but the consequences are lasting. As I gain better control of this area, I consciously choose to bite my tongue, sometimes literally, as I feel the temptation for useless words to spill out. Something that helps stop me dead in my tracks is thinking through role reversal, how would I feel if I heard those words from him, or if I heard someone else say them to him? I want to end this point by saying, I'm not necessarily talking about extremely ugly or abusive language. In general, I've always known better than to cross that line with my husband. For me, taming my tongue has been more about the use of sarcasm, judgment, criticism, manipulation, bringing up past mistakes, "venting," or making demands.

Pleasant words are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

On the subject of words, a call to submission is not just a call to withhold the negative power of my tongue, but it's also a call to daily use my words to have a postive impact on my husband. If I'm having a bad day and I see David unloading the dishwasher, I may be tempted to withhold a simple thank you. I think to myself, "I do 100 things a day I'm not thanked for, why should I thank him?" Submission is recognizing that my words of gratitude and encouragment should not be "tit for tat." Or maybe it's not quite so malicious, maybe with the busyness of life, I just let the day slip by without telling him how handsome I think he is or how much I appreciate his how hard he works. But you know, as his wife, I may be the only person on earth who speaks a kind word to David on any given day. It's not his coworkers responsibility, and in a secular workplace, it's certainly not a priority. I don't know about you, but that's a responsibility I don't take lightly.

Submission, really?

2009-06-10T07:51:00.004-04:00

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. Ephesians 5:22

I just finished reading the book What's Submission Got to Do With It? with my fave group of book-readin' ladies, L7. Well, let me be honest and admit, with the break-neck speed of the past few weeks, I didn't read as diligently as I should have. But as always, I found the group's discussion times to be as beneficial as anything anyone else could write. As we wrapped up our discussion on the book, I realized most of our conversations had centered around our day to day application of submission. I also began to feel a tug on my heart to write a post about submission. Big sigh. Submission, really? Do I really want to go there - here?

As I contemplated sharing some of my thoughts, I was very hesitant. As hard as it is to vulnerably admit weakness in a public forum, I think there is significant risk in implying an area of strength as well. Will others begin to watch, pick apart, judge my words, my actions, try to "catch" me not doing what I'm professing to do? Quite possibly. So to subdue my fear, let me just say up front, I am far from the perfect wife. I do not have a perfect marriage. You have already, or will indeed, hear or see me say or do something absolutely contradictory to what I believe about submission. Call it hypocrisy if that's your bag. I call it trying. After 11 years of marriage to my perfect match, I have learned a few perfect lessons from the perfect Teacher; it's my application that is often imperfect. And in a marriage that is still relatively young, I'm sure I have a long way to go. But I live daily in a marriage improved by the benefit and blessing of trying.

For many years I allowed the world, both the big world "out there" and my own little world, to misrepresent what God intends for the submissive wife. To quote the book I mentioned above, "submission is represented as repressive servanthood, rather than a voluntary desire to empower a husband's leadership." Repressive servanthood? No thank you. Empowering my husband? Yes, please! But since I bought much of the misguided-mess the world was selling, submission was not a word I was comfortable with in the early years of our relationship. I knew our marriage was not exactly aligned to a scriptural picture of headship and helper, but with a passive, indecisive husband, and a bossy, strong-willed wife, weren't we just being ourselves? If it worked for us, wasn't it okay? From the selfish tactics I employed to "benignly" maintain control to the loving ways the Lord has opened my eyes, I could probably write my own book on this journey to submisison, and it would be a work in progress. But based on the conversations we as a small group of women were having, it seems what we really want to know from one another is practical application: what does submission really look like?

I am an opinionated, strong-willed, short-fused, 30-year-old Christ-loving woman. I have two young children and a husband on his own journey to fulfill his call to lead. As uncomfortable as submission can be for me, leadership can be for him, so I'm thankful we're in this together.

So what does submission look like in my home? I'll share over the next few days...

Perfect Match

2009-06-07T21:12:00.003-04:00

My "little" cousin Courtney just had a birthday. Nineteen? Ugh, I hope I'm off a year or three because I can't see how that could be right. Tonight as I was sorting through drafts and deleting unfinished posts, I came across this conversation from January. Not sure what direction I was headed with the original post, or why I never published it, but either way, it was one of those moments I'm glad I took the time to answer more than "I don't know."

Lily: Will Courtney still be in college when I'm in college, or will she be a grown up?

Me: By the time you're in college, Courtney will be my age, and she'll probably have a little one herself. And you'll love to play with her little ones, the way she loves to play with you, the way I loved to play with her when she was just a little girl.

Lily: Who's she going to marry?

Me: Well, no one knows; no one but God. He's made Courtney a perfect match, and she may already know him and she may not. Either way, she'll find him. God made someone just for her, with all the special things Courtney loves and wants and needs. And she's special, just for him. He's made you a perfect match too, and Luke, too. And you may already know them, or you may not, but God made them special just for you. Even though you won't get married for a very long time, you have a perfect match somewhere in the world, someone God created with you in mind. They could live in North Carolina, or Florida, or...

Luke: New York City or Mexico.

Me: Yep, even New York City or Mexico.

Luke: You found your perfect match, Mama.

Me: I sure did.

Lily (sounding annoyed): You know he's talking about himself, he thinks he's your perfect match.

Luke: No I'm not. It's Daddy.

Question Game

2009-06-05T11:37:00.007-04:00

Holly's post about the advance preparations she's made to help restaurant trips be more more successful this summer got me to thinking about things I've done to occupy, entertain, and soothe restless children over the past 7 years. One simple "trick" that has stuck for us is the "question game," as we call it. It comes in handy as both a minor distraction while waiting on our food in restaurants, or to burn miles of time on road trips. We started when the kids were just toddlers, so the questions were simple like "Luke, tell me 5 things that are red," or "Lily, tell me 5 things that are cold." As they've grown, our "questions" (although technically they really aren't questions) have increased in difficulty. Words that rhyme, things that need water to grow, words that begin with the letter "s," words that begin with the blend "st." The possibilities are endless. It may not sound all that exciting, but with the unpredictability of kids, we always have a good time (or at least enjoy the break from fussing). On more than one occasion I have kept an SUV full of restless children occupied as they anxiously awaited a turn to "tell me 5 things..."

Inevitably, Lily and Luke will ask for a turn being the quiz master, and although I'm always up for a round of the question game, I seem to be assigned the most ridiculous tasks like, "Mom, tell me 17 things that rhyme with donut."

Apron Strings

2009-06-03T12:59:00.010-04:00

Not quite a year ago, I picked up an unexpected habit. I don't think it's a bad habit, but not something I readily admit to, until today. I tried it just once, for a special occasion, and then before I knew it, I was hooked. Not everyday, but at least 3-4 times a week.

I'm a apron wearer. I know, I know, how 1950s of me.

It started innocently enough. I was dressed for a meeting but still had to finish up dinner for David and the kids, so I threw on the blue Pampered Chef apron my mother-in-law gave me years ago. It usually makes an appearance once or twice a year, when a similar situation arises, then disappears into the drawer for 6-8 more months. But the next day came, and whether it be splattering oil from the frying pan or messy floured hands, something lead me to put the apron on again. And again, and again. It really came in handy once I started working everyday and often prepared meals still dressed in my work attire. Maybe I'm just a messy cook, or maybe there's a little more "old fashioned" in me than I care to admit, but either way, I think my apron is here to stay.

So just imagine my pure delight when thumbing through a magazine this morning, I happened upon a picture of this apron, a Jessie Steele design:

Wowzer! I had no idea aprons were widely used enough to warrant entire fashion lines of designer aprons! (After google research, I found tons of adorable aprons, like below.) Maybe it's the baking profession that keeps apron designers in business, or TV shows where housewives (often desperate!) wear cutesy aprons and heels while preparing the family meal. I'm not sure, but now that I know they exist...I think I've got to have one!

2009-06-02T20:36:00.003-04:00

No more pencils, no more books, no more students' dirty looks!

It's official, summer vacation is here...for me at least. Too bad I still have to set that 6:11 a.m. alarm for the kiddos. But not for long!

For Aunt Lisa

2009-05-30T22:28:00.004-04:00

Nobody loves crossed-eyes like Aunt Lisa! Don't worry Grandma June, we didn't keep 'em that way long enough to stick!

Love ya, Lis!

Yankee Doodle Darling

2009-05-30T22:13:00.006-04:00

True Love

2009-05-28T19:46:00.010-04:00

Luke brought this book home from the school library today: A Mama for Owen, by Marion Dane Bauer. Seemed innocent enough. Until the drowning little hippo roars for his mama, until he can roar no more, as his family is separated by the flooding river. *sniff, sniff* That's when this mama could barely hold back the tears and was beginning to wonder why on earth someone would write such sadness for children. And trust me, after the beautiful and tender description of Owen's love for his mother hippo, losing her was sad. But Owen washes ashore and finds a 130 year old male tortoise, Mzee, who becomes his new "mama." A bittersweet story. But you know what they say, the truth is often stranger than fiction.
Imagine our surprise when we finished the story and read on the last page of the book that the precious story of Owen and Mzee is true. (Apparently, the story failed to capture my attention when it happened in 2004, but then again, I had a 1yr old and a 2 yr old at the time so not much in world news did catch my attention). Owen was rescued after the 2004 Indian earthquake and taken to a nature preserve where he met Mzee. Owen was still a nursing calf at the time, and normally would have spent 3 more years under his mother's care. Mzee showed Owen what to eat, where to sleep, and for a couple years, (until it was time to introduce Owen to a hipp-ette) they were inseparable. Owen and Mzee have their own website, BBC documentary and several books. Their relationship has even spawned more than one children's song.

The kids and I spent the next 20 minutes on the computer reading what Wiki had to say, watching YouTube videos and visiting the official Owen and Mzee website. The kids seemed preoccupied with the saddest components of the story, the loss of Owen's real mother and the eventual seperation of Owen and Mzee. Those parts of the story are still hard for my compassionate little ones to understand, but I was so happy to be able to use this sweet story as a life lesson about the Lord. He provides what we need when we need it. When Owen needed a mama, he found a one.

10, 9, 8...

2009-05-27T11:09:00.005-04:00

We have officially entered the final countdown for school.

TEN more days of school.

Ten more 6:11 a.m. alarms.

Ten more car pool lines.

Ten more snack and/or lunch packings.

Then it's goodbye daylight bedtime, goodbye afternoon homework drama, goodbye lunch money, goodbye...

Hel-lo, summer!

Work in Progress...

2009-05-26T16:29:00.005-04:00

Update: No luck with the missing monkey, but I did find a little time to work on the blog. Not sure that I'm done, but boy do I have a headache, so I'm done for now!

I decided I was tired of the old blog background, so I started playing around with the blog this afternoon...the background, the template, the pictures, etc. After several failed attempts at finding what I want, and stripping the page down to nothing, there seems to be a small child needing my attention (there's a situation with a missing monkey). I'll have to come back to the blog later.

Thanks, for a great weekend...

2009-05-25T09:30:00.009-04:00

Thanks Becky and Debra, for making a detour to spend the night with us.

Thanks Jenna, for waking up at 2 a.m. and getting in bed with Aunt Erin. Sweet memory.

Thanks Jackson, for telling your mommy you wanted me to open your poptart; made me feel like a million bucks.

Thanks Liam, for getting up so early; it helped us make the most of our short time together. And for peeking in the back door and saying, Uncle Erin, thanks for saying you'll take me in the front yard. It makes me happy when you say that. Makes me happy too, little man.

Thanks Pastor and Holly, for helping us make the most of a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Thanks Nicole, for letting me share in the major milestone of Evan's first hot dog!

Thanks lifeguards, for keeping a watchful eye on the blue-lipped little ones swimming in ice cold water, in the rain no less, so this momma could catch up with friends.

Thanks Dunkin' Donuts guy, who voluntarily added more sprinkles to Luke's ice cream after the first guy was so stingy.

Thanks Adam Sandler, we enjoyed your Bedtime Stories.

Thanks Lily and Luke for sleeping in so Daddy could have a chill morning.

Thanks Bill, for doing such a great job as Professor Beaker, I'd forgotten how much fun it can be to share the "stage."

Thanks Teri, (or maybe I should say sorry!), for letting me use your check-in clipboard for a good laugh.

Thanks to the 70+ preschoolers who helped me forget what I was so irritated about in the first place.

Thanks David, for keeping the kids occupied so I could take a 90 minute Sunday afternoon nap. All that singing, dancing and story telling can wear a girl out. With ribbons in my hair and my colorful clothes and sparkly accessories, I may be dressed like I'm 10 years younger, but by the time it's done, I feel like I'm 10 years older.

Thanks David, again, for getting up first this morning with our noisy boy, the early riser, and letting me stay in bed. Suddenly, I feel a little lazy, but grateful none the less.

Thanks Millers, for hosting us, despite the delayed race's attempt to ruin our fun...missed you Dooleys, wasn't the same without ya!

Thanks Jack, for finding such a big rock, and giving us such a big, but concerned, laugh.

And most importantly, thank you to all of the service men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I am so thankful to live in a country where I can sleep peacefully in my own home, gather with friends at will, allow my children to play in open spaces without fear of harm, publicly worship God...all the things that added up to one really great weekend. Freedom is a huge blessing, made up of hundreds of little things I do everyday. May I never take these freedoms, or the ones who serve and protect, for granted.

Happy Memorial Day!

Goodbye, friend.

2009-05-19T21:48:00.003-04:00

The sand is now securely inside the Dyson, no longer in the vehicle seats and floorboards. The bathing suits are fresh and clean, smelling of Gain, no longer stiffened by salt water, hiding sand in every crease. The tender red shoulders have faded to a soft brown. New freckles have emerged on fair-skinned faces.

The beach was what it always is, a familiar friend. Different beach, different sand, different surf, same old friend.

Not goodbye, just so long, for now.

I thought you should know...

2009-05-17T16:20:00.002-04:00

Eleven years ago today, I woke up beside my new husband. I don't remember if we woke up early or slept the morning away. I don't remember what we ate for breakfast, although I do remember grabbing a bite to eat in the lovely hotel dining room. I don't remember exactly what I was thinking on that day, as I began life as a married ~~woman~~ girl. I was 19. Naive about so much of the world, yes indeed. But I knew all I needed to know about him, at least all I needed to know at the time. I knew he was mine. As far as all the other stuff I thought I had figured out, not much of that I can say I was right about.

So to you, the naive 19 year old certain you've got life and love figured out, I thought you should know...

...you think he's cute now, wait til you see him at 35.

...sex at 19 is not nearly as great as sex at 30, hang in there.

...thank him for how hard he works, don't give him grief for the long hours. His work ethic is immense, and his willingness to work long hours will help keep you at home with your babies. And it will mean the world.

...you think you're tired now, with your part time job and your full time course load. Puh-lease. You ain't seen nothing yet. Rest up, girl.

...he's right about waiting a while to start a family, don't pout like a spoiled child when he says he's not ready. The four easy years you share before the kids will keep you going in the years that follow that aren't so easy.

...you think he has the most beautiful blue eyes you've ever seen, wait til you see them on your son.

...you think his dry sense of humor is endearing, just wait until it pours out of your daughter's mouth.

...you're not always as right as you always think you are, and even when you are, being right won't always feel so good. So don't worry so much about who's right, just love.

...you think you couldn't possibly love him any more than you do right now, but you are so wrong. The hand that slipped that diamond ring on your finger will become the hand that signs your first home loan, becomes that hand that claps as you walk across your college graduation stage, becomes the hand you'll squeeze as you deliver a baby girl...then a baby boy, becomes the hand that helps change diapers and bathe babies, becomes the hand that pats your back and tells you things will get better when you can get a little more sleep, becomes the hand you'll grip tightly as you take a giant leap of faith, becomes the hand extended to introduce your family to new face after new face after new face, becomes the hand that holds yours to quietly worship or lead in new ways and new places you'd never imagined.

...you think by his side is your favorite place to be, well, you're right about that; it always will be. Enjoy every moment of it.

HSDSYA

2009-05-16T08:05:00.002-04:00

Happy-Same-Day-Same-Year-Anniversary, Teri and Kemp! Here's to eleven wonderful years, and many, many more to come! Let's celebrate our 25th in Hawaii together! (Let's start saving up now!)

You'll FLIP for this!

2009-05-15T15:25:00.006-04:00

I have to say, all the hype I've been hearing about the Flip video camera is right on! There is a 4th grader in a class I serve who's in the hospital, so the teacher used the school's Flip camera to record get well messages for him. (GET WELL SOON, BRANDON!) She's going to visit him this weekend and wanted to share the cheerful get well greetings of his classmates. It was a last minute idea, but with the handy dandy Flip, it all came together beautifully! Great idea, great camera. She'd never used one either so we were both amazed, and even took 5 minutes of class time to look up some Flip deals online. Within minutes of opening the box, we'd videoed the kids and then replayed them on the computer for the kids to see. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy as the 4th graders would say, and the video quality was wonderful. I could just see my red, white and blue tap dancer prancing across that screen (Lily's patriotic-themed dance recital is at the end of the month.) Our current means of video is the 30 second video I can capture on my digital camera, so the 60 minute Flip seems like an eternity of family fun footage. I thought Mighty Putty and ShamWow were still tops on my "wish list" but I think Flip just blew that list wide open! I'm usually not big into the latest techno stuff, but I think what I loved the most is how much fun Ali and I had using the camera, and what hams 9 year olds turn into when that red light starts blinking!

Eleven things I like about you...

2009-05-14T15:29:00.001-04:00

The way you want us to go to bed together every night, sometimes even just to sleep ;).
The way you let me know I'm running late...you look at me, then look at the clock, then look back at me, without saying a word.
The way you miss the small of your back each time you towel off after a shower.
The way you play outside games with the kids inside, then give me that little-boy grin when you've been caught.
The way you brush your hair repeated strokes, even though the first two strokes do the job.
The way you call me during the day, everyday, for nothing, even though the telephone is your nemesis.
The way you laugh out loud, with your head tilted back, when you think something is really funny.
The way you get sheet marks on your face, whether you sleep for 10 minutes, or 10 hours.
The way you think I'm so much smarter than I really am.
The way you keep your cool in high stress situations, but lose it over a lost TV remote.
The way you eat the burned toast, close the open cabinets, pick up the shoes, and every other little thing you do to overlook my many flaws.

Eleven things for eleven years, but I could go on and on and on...

Coming Soon

2009-05-13T21:14:00.002-04:00

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You:

- Multiple lovey-dovey anniversary-induced posts

- Pics from "Fort Luke"

- Weekend fun (a surprise for the kiddos!)

- Lily's birthday post (2 months late!)

- Luke's birthday post (1 1/2 months late!)

My job has almost come to an end. My hope is that the extra 30 hours a week I'll have on my hands will yield a more prolific blog!

Five to Eleven

2009-05-11T15:16:00.000-04:00

It's 5/11, and in 5 days, David and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage. I feel some listy-lists a brewin'...and it's been awhile since I've oozed my "isn't David dreamy?" mush all over this blog, so expect some of that to come your way soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T21:38:00.004-04:00

I have a tendency to get a little weepy around holidays; I think because holidays cause reflection on the passage of time, which can be startling, I've had so many thoughts swirling in my head as Mother's Day approached, and now that I've enjoyed a wonderful day with my family, I'm even more full of sappy sentiment! I'll hopefully find the time in the coming days to turn some of those thoughts into posts, but for now, here is a quick Happy Mother's Day! to all the special moms in my life: my mom, my mothers-in-law, my sister, sisters-in-law, grandmothers, friends...and to my husband and sweet children. I am so blessed.

Oooh, just in case the days ahead get away from me, I don't want to miss a chance to say: Rock on, Holly! I am honored to call you a friend. You spoke a poignant word today, David and I just finished our "take away" discussion. As we unloaded the dishwasher together, we had a necessary conversation about that fear-risk-faith point you made and a specific area it applies to in our lives. Well said. Well done. Happy Mother's Day!

34 Years and Counting...

2009-05-03T21:04:00.003-04:00

Before we moved to North Carolina, we lived just two houses down from my parents. You might think living that close is how you really get to know someone, and at the time, I probably thought the same. But move 600 miles and you'll find your viewing lens becomes larger, your vantage point grows, and as it turns out, the distance enables you to see more, to know more. To know better.

In the past 3 years, I have seen far less of my parents, and I know them all the better for it. I know they will travel 600 miles for a sick grandchild. For that matter, I know they'll travel 600 miles for a healthy grandchild, too. My dad will burn every second of his vacation time to spend time with our family here, or there, or anywhere in between. My mom will rearrange her schedule to be here for a birthday, or a surgery, or turn her quiet, "empty-nest" home upside down for weeks at a time for the kids to have an extended visit. My parents are not wealthy, and they will do without if it means they can do for us. And they have. Many times.

Not long after we moved out of the home two doors down from my parents and into a two bedroom apartment in NC, my parents came for a visit. One night as they were crowded in the kids' bedroom, with both kids of course, I listened in at the door. I heard giggles, and I love yous, and singing; then more giggles, and more singing. And in that moment a sadness I'd been carrying inside for months, a fear that my children would not have a close relationship with their grandparents, just melted away. Right then and there, I understood that the change in quantity of time did not have to mean a change in quality of time. Only, as it turns out, the quality did change, for the better.

Whether it was an unspoken commitment they made in their hearts, or a decision they sat down and made together, sometime in my parents' 30th year of marriage, they realized they had a new challenge to face: a 600 mile hurdle. Would they, could they, continue to build and maintain a relationship with their grandchildren? Children who had lived just two doors down. Children who now lived 600 miles away. Would the emails and phone calls and photographs and holidays and weekend trips and summer visits ever be enough? It would have to be.

Yesterday was my parents' 34th wedding anniversary. There are so many things I could say about their 34 years of marriage. Imperfections of course, funny stories galore, strange habits and oddities no doubt. Or I could applaud them for their amazing example of Godly generosity, love, and selflessness. I could praise them for their commitment to marriage and family, and the lessons David and I have learned. But tonight, feeling overwhelmed by the passage of time, and how fast my little ones have grown in our years here, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude.

Mom and Dad, for seeing the distance between us as a challenge, not an insurmountable obstacle, and rising to that challenge beautifully, thank you. Happy Anniversary.

Captain Destructo

2009-05-02T15:46:00.005-04:00

You know how you often hear the story of a successful engineer, scientist or all around genius and it involves something like "as a child he (or she!) loved to take things apart and put them back together, just to see the way things worked."

Ever hear an inspiring story that begins with "he loved to break things...destroyed stuff all the time just for the heck of it," anyone?

Yeah, me either. Rats. I don't know what we're gonna do with this boy of ours. If there's an opposite to "everything he touches turns to gold," such as, "everything he touches turns to garbage," that's where we're at.

Moms of older boys, please feel free to comment and tell me destroyer-mode is a short lived phase. If you know otherwise, please keep it to yourself!

Learn Something New Everyday

2009-04-25T20:50:00.005-04:00

Ice cream sundaes are good, but muddy creek water is great!

Funduscopy is not as fun as the name would indicate.

"No Girls Allowed" signs do not pertain to mommies.

A boxer's smooshed snout is not conducive to catching baby bunnies. Thank you, Lord.

A baby bunny is fast, and noisy, when under attack.

I am fast, and noisy, when a baby bunny is under attack.

A fort built in the dining room makes a great place for a family of four to take a 2 hour nap.

If the weather is so beautiful that you hate to grocery shop, it's a great time to grocery shop...no lines!

2009-04-22T13:15:00.002-04:00

"Things are just easier when you're beside me," he said as we sat side by side on our loveseat, while he worked on his first expense report...the one he's been dreading ever since he learned he'd now be handling his own expense reports.

He could say I'm the most beautiful woman in the world. He could tell me I cook the best food he's ever eaten. He could say he loves my new hair cut. He could proclaim that my mothering skills are the finest he's ever witnessed...but I can't think of a thing he could say that would mean more to me than, "Things are just easier when you're beside me."

He may not say much, but when he does, it's worth hearing.

What Daddies Do Best (or at least this Daddy!)

2009-04-19T19:31:00.001-04:00

He's great at the carpool stuff, the homework stuff, the bathtime stuff, the bedtime stuff...but what this Daddy does best is the FUN stuff! :)

I heart Springtime!

2009-04-18T14:40:00.002-04:00

Days like today remind me of why I love the Carolinas...spring is here, and maybe?!? it's here to stay (I have not watched the weather forecast for next week, so if you know better, please just indulge me today and play along!).

Way too nice to be indoors...gotta head back outside!

Catching up on...

2009-04-13T14:27:00.002-04:00

email.

voice mail.

dirty laundry.

clean laundry.

the fish bowl.

the toilet bowl.

I am behind on everything. The rockstar wall stickers from Lily's sleepover are still on my dining room walls. There are stacks of paperwork I need to read about health insurance and benefit changes due to David's company changing hands. There are suitcases needing to be unpacked. The fish bowl is murky. The dog is stinky. The shower door is cloudy. Easter grass is everywhere.

If I owe you a phone call, or an email reply, or thank you for an Easter basket or birthday gift, please just give me an extra day or two, and an extra measure of grace, because whatever the reason (and I'll spare you the list), I'm a ~~little~~ a lot behind.

You may be interested to know...

2009-04-11T16:00:00.002-04:00

that Eulonia, GA is not the place to visit if you intend to catch up on emails or blogs. Apparently, technology in general has met it's match in Eulonia. I was informed by a frustrated, and lost, U.S. soldier that his GPS has successfully navigated him through third world countries, but could not find it's way around Eulonia.

But in it's favor, Eulonia is full of beautiful red-tipped whatchamacallits, possibly better known as red-tipped thingamabobs, or something-or-others. It also has some great monkey climbing trees, if anyone knows of a group of monkeys looking for a place to hang out.

Simple Pleasures

2009-04-02T20:31:00.005-04:00

A $3 shirt off the clearance rack.

"Rock star parking" at my local Walmart, that's a phrase I learned from my sister in law to describe a better than expected parking spot.

Going into a CVS at 9pm to purchase a box of hair color and a pack of Twizzlers.

Those classic, old hymns...like Rock of Ages by Amy Grant, Vince Gill and the Fairfield Four, what a soulful version, love it.

Luke putting my face in his hands and saying "mi corazon," something he learned off Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but it still melts my heart, even if he learned it from a dog.

Party Like A Rockstar!

2009-03-31T21:43:00.014-04:00

Give four feisty girls (and one handsome boy!) a little music, a little freedom, and a master bathroom that's been transformed into a "Rock Stars Only" dressing room, and this is what you get...

*Note: all pics were taken with camera phones, unfortunately, this paparazzi has lost her camera!

My favorite moment of the night came when Luke decided to dress up too, and if you know Luke, you know he avoids drawing attention to himself at all costs, so this was BIG! We quickly decked him out and called him our "Bonus Jonas." But the minute the handsome little rocker emerged from the "dressing room," he quickly lost his nerve and began to strip off the vest and pat down the faux hawk...that is until his big sister shouted out excitedly, Hey Luke, you're in the band! She and the other girls had been "performing" for quite awhile but quickly, and graciously, welcomed him as their new band member. With her words, he yanked his vest back on, re-spiked his faux hawk, and hit the stage. It was just a flash of a moment, if I'd have blinked, I'd have missed it. But I didn't miss it; it captured my attention, and my heart. For all the sassy talk, eye rolling, and foot stomping she's tested out on me lately, that girl is my girl, and there is nothing on earth we'd rather do than party alongside our boys. May she always be the voice in the crowd shouting encouragement in his direction, and he the same for her.

Helpful "How To"

2009-03-27T11:17:00.002-04:00

Burdened by the fragrant aroma of freshly baked goods? (coconut cupcakes for example!)

A simple, inexpensive way to remedy this problem: extend microwave time on a bag of popcorn just to the point of a small fire, paying careful attention as not to reach raging inferno. Open the charred bag, allowing odious smoke to fill the house, and wha-lah, problem solved...no more annoying home baked goodness.

Stay tuned for more helpful how tos!

Beach Birthday?

2009-03-26T15:08:00.005-04:00

The coconut cupcakes are in the oven; the coconut extract is still sitting in a puddle on the counter top, where the tiny bottle tumped over (btw, is "tumped over" in anyone else's vocabulary?).

I would say it smells like a birthday 'round here, but actually, it smells more like I'm baking in the sun, than baking in my oven! Mmmm, birthday and beach, what a perfect combo.

Happy Birthday, Lily-girl!

7 for 7

2009-03-23T15:30:00.005-04:00

I would apologize for being such a blog-slacker, but an apology might imply an attempt to do better in weeks to come, and that's doubtful. But this week is Lily's birthday week, with 3/26 being the big day. But I want to celebrate her all week, so to start off, here are 7 things I'd like you to know about my soon to be 7 year old.

Lily is exactly what you'd expect if you put David and I in a blender, which creates a bit of a walking, talking contradiction. She's very easy going but often moody, social and outgoing, but doesn't like to be the center of attention...the list of "this but that" is never ending. She's hard to peg, and I really love that about her.

Lily was 8 lb, 7 oz at birth, which is considered a big baby, but then became the most petite little "pee-mite" as her Grandmama Wissy would say, barely tipping the scale to 19 pounds on her first birthday.

Lily is an amazing big sister. She walks Luke to class everyday, and that's just one of many kind things she does on his behalf.

Lily is my Easter baby, which is how I chose her name. The year she was born, Easter fell on 3/30. She was due 4/1, born 3/26. You can imagine how many Easter lilies, stuffed bunnies, and frilly dresses filled my hospital room upon her arrival.

Lily and I share a middle name, Michelle.

Lily loves dogs. Especially her own "baby," as she calls our boxer KC. But she also has a deep affection for our neighbors' golden retriever puppy, Cooper, and my parents' dog, Penny. Lily loves all dogs, but I hear more about those three dogs than I do friends at school.

Lily is very generous, and truly has a heart of gold. This morning when I told her I'd bring a treat from Dunkin' Donuts (her fave!) to her class on Thursday, her first response was, "Could you grab my teachers a cup of coffee? They love coffee." And recently when her Aunt Brenda sent a bundle of pencils, she immediately began dividing them out to share with others without a moments thought about keeping them all to herself. Hmmmm, makes me wonder if gifts is her love language.

Going Green

2009-03-17T21:38:00.006-04:00

With a Gaelic name and a household that's 50% redheaded, you might think March 17th would yield a dinner of Shepherd's pie and Guinness...but you'd be wrong. To celebrate the not-quite-sure-what-it's-for-anyway holiday (no offense St. Patrick), we all donned our "pinch me not" green and dined on spinach salad, creamed spinach, green eggs and ham, lime jello jigglers, pistachio pudding parfaits, and Sprite. Hardly Irish, but certainly fun!

David was a great sport. Gotta love a guy that eats that for dinner one night, and cold cereal the next, without so much of a hint of disappointment. Thanks, D. I'm lucky...and you're charming. ;)

Not My Finest Hour

2009-03-16T21:03:00.003-04:00

Why is it that for my yearly female check-up, I plan days in advance, making sure I have nicely pedicured feet with freshly painted toe nails, cleanly shaven legs (all the way up, all the way down), and my finest undergarments, even though the gyno doc never even sees them... BUT when visiting a specialist today, when I should have known I'd have to strip down, I somehow forgot to shave, had chipped toe nail polish, and just happened to be wearing black socks, leaving a layer of linty debris on my feet and toes, as if I had given up washing my feet for Lent. In the moments before the tech came in, I stood there in my paper shorts (very cool BTW, never been given a pair of those!), staring down at my ashy legs, needing a shave and a tan, and my linty, toe-jam looking feet, and debated using the antibac gel or Lysol cleaning wipes I'd spotted on the counter to at least get rid of the top layer of winter scaliness and black sock fluff. However, I opted not to try that, certain that although it would give my legs a more moisturized look, the strong scent would give me away in no time. And I'd rather be seen ashy and linty than caught slathering my legs with antibac gel or Lysol wipes, 'cause that'd just be weird.

Fortunately, both the ultrasound tech and nurse were very kind and understanding. We all got a good laugh out of my sincere apology to the gentleman applying the ultrasound jelly to my legs for the black stubble he was forced to encounter. I was worried he may snag his latex glove. I truly valued the way they both reassured me they have seen far worse, and that's always a comfort.

My shining moment was when they asked to photograph my legs and feet. Yes, please, immortalize this moment! Sure, they told me it was so the doctor (who was out today) could see a picture of my AVM, but I'm not so sure those pics won't end up as the "before" pictures on some low budget product ad. Maybe an ad for no-chip nail polish top coat, or "end severe winter dryness" specialty cream, or better yet, a hair removal tool. If they snapped a pic of my heel area, I'm sure I could at least be a "before" Ped-Egg model.

On the up side, by the time I left, having had blue jelly rubbed all over my legs from top to bottom, I was no longer ashy...just a little sticky.

**BTW, this appointment was primarily to establish a relationship with a specialist I may need in the future to address the life long vascular anomalies I have (think blue ear)...just wanted to make sure I didn't worry anyone. You should be more concerned about my apparent lack of up-keep than my health!

Not-so "Sun"day

2009-03-15T21:58:00.004-04:00

Rain, rain, go away!

No cutesy song, no rhymes, please, just go away. Or at least bring some impressive thunder and lightning...make the electricity go off so I can find some candles and complain about the inconvenience even though I really think it's kind of fun...until bedtime, then I need my fan. But at least a good storm brings a little excitement. This however, this rainy system that's been plaguing us since Friday, it's just dribble. Like being drooled on, constantly, for days. I'm tired of being drooled on. I need some sun.

Speak No Evil

2009-03-11T21:19:00.003-04:00

I asked Lily and Luke if they were hearing any words on the bus that they knew were ugly words; I thought having an open conversation may take the mystery and allure out of the ugly language that I'm certain slips from the mouth of the bigger kids on the bus from time to time.

Luke stayed quiet, but a sly grin quickly formed on Lily's lips as she cautiously said, Yes...the s-word...shut up. Luke then chimed in to relay a story about a time a big kid used the s-word to him, his excitable tone of voice indicated he was appalled at the boy's use of such language. Shut up, whew, dodged a bullet on that one, but not for long. And the f-word, Lily hesitantly added a few moments later. Big gulp. I looked across the room to see David's eyes enlarge to the size of the dinner plate he was loading into the dishwasher. Okay. Tell me the word. Fart. Whew, that is indeed an ugly word in our house, but I dodged more than a bullet there, I dodged a bomb...the f-bomb. Anything else, Lil? Well, I think damp maybe a bad word too.

What a difference a week makes!

2009-03-09T12:32:00.003-04:00

Last week...

this week!

I've got a secret...

2009-03-06T14:52:00.002-05:00

I am crazy about these two!

My Girl's Girlfriends

2009-03-04T21:44:00.003-05:00

Sarah, Emely...this is my daughter, Lily. Would it be okay if she joined you on the slide?

Sure! Yeah!

And off they went.

A few minutes later, I watched them run back by, all grinning ear to ear. Not long after that, Lily returned to get a sip of her drink, and after scanning the noisy room said, "I can't find my friends." So I helped her find them, quickly. After all, these days are fleeting, and I don't want her to miss a second of these easy, breezy friendships. These are the slide together, enjoy the same TV shows, sit by each other in class, first name basis is good enough kind of friends. Sure, they are immature relationships, lacking the depth and intimacy that will be the hallmark of her adult friendships, but boy, are they easy. And sometimes, there's just something to be said for ease.

One day, when her investments of time and emotion are greater, as she makes herself vulnerable, she'll learn the beautiful paradox found in the complex simplicity of having grown up girlfriends. Surely, as she learns the hard lessons of flawed humans building relationships, a time will come when I'll long to rewind to the day when her Daddy, little brother, and I were the only ones trusted with her heart. But I'll know then what I know now, which is, I would never want her to miss the joys of having wonderful, Godly friends. Though the friends that burrow a place deep in her heart are the ones who have the power to break it, they are also the ones who'll know just how to mend it when her man says something stupid, when her fat jeans are too tight, or when her dream job turns into a nightmare. She will have friends that she can laugh with until she cries, that recognize the break in her voice when she's trying not to cry, and that hold her hand when she can't help but cry.

And these women, these friends, be they many or few, are somewhere in the world right now. Little girls, making friends with ease on playgrounds and in classrooms. Little girls who are best friends today, then fussing tomorrow, then best friends again, as they awkwardly navigate the waters of developing friendships. And though I've prayed for her to love the Lord, prioritize her education, follow her dreams, find a Godly husband...I have never prayed for her grown up girlfriends. Girlfriends who will enter her life early, or may be in it already; and ones who will come later in life, just when she needs them. The friends that will carry her through life's ups and downs in ways that I can not. The friends who will support her, encourage her, correct her, and pray for her...the ones she'll call when she knows I'll overreact, or thinks I just don't understand.

So tonight, Lord, those little girls are on my mind. I do not know who they are, but You do. I pray for her discernment and wisdom when choosing friends, her tenderness and compassion when relating to friends, and her strength and integrity when protecting her friendships. Lord, help me set an example of how to be a friend, the kind of friend You desire sisters in Christ to be. A trustworthy friend, a generous friend, an intuitive friend, a patient friend, a prayerful friend, an encouraging friend. Lord, please bless my girl with a lifetime full of gut-busting, cheeks-hurting, mascara-running, laughter-filled moments with these friends. May her grown up friendships hold more tears of joy than tears of pain, and may those relationships last well beyond the years when she begins to pray for her own little girl's future friendships.

Two Hour Delay

2009-03-02T22:06:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow's two hour delay for school is the icing on my snow day cake. (And I think the icing is my favorite part!) Doesn't require an alarm clock, doesn't require a make up day. It's the best of both worlds. Kids to school by 9:30, get myself to work by 9:45...sounds so good to me! Wish every day was on a two hour delay.

The Chaos Before the Storm

2009-03-01T20:34:00.002-05:00

For the second time this year, I have spent a little time in the grocery store the day before an expected snow. Busy, very busy, but that's expected, so I just take it in stride. But both times, I've run into the same annoying situation... customers complaining about the people who rush to the grocery store for staples the night before a storm. I know I should just keep moving, without wasting an ounce of energy being annoyed at these people, but I actually find myself stalling on the same aisle, pretending to sort through my coupons or check out the best deals, when in reality I'm imagining how good it would feel to yell out, "Hello, POT?!? It's me, Kettle. You're BLACK!" or maybe just a simple,"Then why the heck are YOU HERE!?!" I mean, seriously, am I supposed to believe they just happened by the grocery store and put that milk, bread, and water in their carts just because? The fact that I'm in the grocery store does not mean I'm panicked about the snow, it means I'm so darned spoiled by the convenience of living right by a grocery store that I tend to let that last drop of milk pour or that last slice of bread toast, before I think to replenish...which could create a bit of an inconvenience if I don't prepare a little. So word to the wise, don't stand and complain about the amount of people who head to the grocery store when the storm is approaching while YOU are standing in the grocery store as a storm is approaching!

Yeah - Yeah

2009-02-28T18:49:00.003-05:00

I am in bit of a blogging slump. I really don't know what to say, but...

Gotta blame it on something.

Blame it on the rain, yeah, yeah.

Cuz the rain don't mind.

Not only is that my way of saying sorry for not blogging, it's a little shout out to my Carolina Beach van-mates...

Watery Mouths and Party Planning

2009-02-24T15:43:00.002-05:00

Luke saw a mint sitting on the counter yesterday and said, Maaaaaama? Can I have this watery mouth mint? (And he put great emphasis on the watery mouth). After asking him to repeat, which he did, saying "watery mouth" once again, I said, I think you mean mouth-watering, and yes you can, how could I say no to that impressive request! I don't know what tickles me more, that he said "watery mouth" or that he's added mouth watering (or his version of) to his vocabulary in the first place.

Lily and I decided to do a little party planning today. She'll be seven next month. Seven. (Brief pause while I let that soak in.)

Okay, seven. She grabbed a notebook and pen, I grabbed my Family Fun magazine for ideas, and we somehow ended up in my master bedroom closet, which is inside our master bath. I'm not sure how it happened, we didn't start in the bathroom and I certainly don't have a luxuriously large closet that doubles as a sitting room. But there we were, crowded by hanging clothes, scrunched together on the small amount of carpet not covered by shoes. It turned out to be a great place to keep her attention, no distraction of TV, Luke, or 1,000 other random things that make it difficult to carry on a conversation with a not quite seven year old girl. We'll have to do it again sometime.

A Hypothetical Question

2009-02-20T05:31:00.008-05:00

You're a great swimmer. Sure, it's been awhile since you've been in the pool, but you were always a great swimmer. Born with an aptitude, a God given gift to take to the water like a fish. So you take a job as a lifeguard, at the kiddie pool...a good way to get your feet wet again. And you eagerly go to the kiddie pool, expecting to see happy little swimmers just needing a watchful eye, a little extra encouragement, a "push" to jump, but not dive, into the deeper side of the pool. And some kids in the kiddie pool are just what you expected, but others are in way over their heads...and this is just the kiddie pool.

Sometimes you can't help but look up, and see the big pool. There are lots of lifeguards around the big pool; some are sharp, strong swimmers like you. But some are not. And there are a lot of kids. Too many kids. Some of them never learned to swim in the kiddie pool. Some are new to the pool and never received a basic lesson before they were thrown into the big pool. And so some...well, some are just drowning. Right before your eyes. You see it, and wonder if anyone else does. But you can't leave the kiddie pool, you have a responsibility to your swimmers there...don't you? From your post at the kiddie pool, it seems that some of the lifeguards are trying to save them. But some are not. Some turn away. Some throw the struggling swimmers a brick. Some say they'll hop right into the pool once the paperwork is done. And so some of the swimmers go under, and there are just.too.many.to.save.

And it keeps you up at night. And then it wakes you up at 4 a.m. And you've shed more tears than you ever knew a job at the kiddie pool would require of you. Because you'd save every one of them if you could. The one who can't understand the instructions being yelled to him because he came from a foreign pool, and returns to it each night. He's sharp, could be a great swimmer, but just needed more time before he was thrown into the big pool. But there is never.enough.time. And there may be a struggling swimmer who can hear what the lifeguard is saying but his body has grown in ways his mind has not, and the lifeguards are deceived by size. They use really big words or hold up signs for him to read, but it doesn't make any sense to the big, little man who's drowning; so confusion leads to fear, which leads to frustration, which leads to misbehavior, and then no one wants to save him anymore. But you do. And the pretty swimmer is drowning, too. The so sweet, so quiet, barely makes a splash swimmer. It's easy to overlook swimmers like her when there are so many noisy ones in the big pool. But you notice.

And there are other swimmers who just need a good night's sleep. And others that need a decent meal. Some just need a little more practice. And some need the right equipment, they've jumped into the pool in heavy boots because they don't know any better. There are some swimmers just needing to hear a voice above the others yelling, "Good job!" And some are just in over their heads, and need to get back to the kiddie pool, and start with the basics of holding onto the wall and kicking.

And you wonder how they got into the big pool in the first place. Were their parents just not watching? Were the lifeguards too distracted by the overcrowded pool, and the mound of lifeguard paperwork, to notice them tiptoeing dangerously close to the big pool? You know some just fell in by accident. While others were pushed.

So what do you do when you're the lifeguard at the kiddie pool? And it's already too crowded with little swimmers, but you wish they'd send you more. You wish you could scoop a few, or many, out of the big pool and start over with the basics. You wish someone would ask for your help because you know the right answer, afterall, you were born to swim. So what do you do?

Tough Act to Follow

2009-02-17T21:20:00.004-05:00

-Treats and surprises (including handmade dresses)
-Crafts involving glue, google eyes and glitter
-Valentine party complete with decorations, candy and balloons
-Spaghetti dinner, followed by Red Velvet cake for a "Red" themed menu
-Staying up late for movies, popcorn and ice cream
-Date night for the mommy and daddy
-Bowling (on a school day!)
-Dollar Store "shopping spree"
-Silly String (and willing victim)

Throw in a park trip, lunch at the new Taco Bell, two pizza meals, laundry basket balloon games, riding "horses" and playing hooky from school for an extra day of fun, and you're left with a serious case of an "Aunt Brenda Buzz."

I'm just warning all of you future house guests, unless you come with a pony, you'll probably want to let the buzz wear off. Aunt Brenda is a tough act to follow.

Valen"times" Past

2009-02-15T14:16:00.008-05:00

Happy Valentimes Day, Mommy, Luke said in his sleepy voice at 7:01 a.m. as he stood by our bed. Then he crawled across me to give David the same sweet greeting. After he wiggled his way in between us, I said to David, If I'm going to be disturbed at 7 a.m. on a Saturday, I can't think of a better way. Valentimes. I just love the way he says Valentimes. Lily used to say it the same way. And it started as Balentimes. But now he says the "V" and I know before long, he'll get the "n." Because time passes quickly, and with time, everything changes. Even Valentimes.

There was the Valentime 13 years ago, when David first told me he was in love with me.

And the Valentime 11 years ago, when as an engaged couple, we ate our dinner on the floor of David's newly leased apartment which would became "our" place 3 months later.

It wasn't too many years before the Valentime I was 7 1/2 months pregnant.

Followed by the Valentime I was 7 1/2 months pregnant.

And the next Valentime, with a not quite 1 year old, and a not quite 2 year old, and a not quite for any romance.

There was the first Valentime we bought those little cards and each of them scribbled indiscriminately on the fronts, backs, and envelopes with crayons...and then I proudly passed them out to friends and loved ones.

Then there was one Valentime when David took Lily shopping for my gift, and she picked out diamonds. That's my girl.

And the Valentime 3 years ago, in a two bedroom apartment, with two toddlers that each got two boxes of those little cards (that's a lot of Valentine cards), and rather than pass them out to friends, they played "mail" with each other for days. We had thin, perforated cards all over the place...and found them stashed in every drawer and cushion for weeks to follow.

And the next Valentime, when we filled out cards for preschool classmates and Lily could write her own name on each card.

Then the Valentime to follow, with two class lists and two school parties and two little hands tightly gripping markers and printing their own names.

It won't be long and the Valentime will come when Valentine has long since been pronounced correctly, and I'll no longer be the girl Luke can't wait to see. And Lily be the one getting diamonds. And there will be no one in the house filling out small, perforated cards. It'll just be me and my Valentine, and I will have lost count of how many years it's been since the Valentime he first told me he loved me. And maybe we'll celebrate our many years of Valentimes together by sleeping past 7 a.m.

Feelin' the Love

2009-02-11T21:12:00.004-05:00

I've started several new posts in the past week but can't seem to stay in one stream of thought long enough to finish up the drafts I've started about Elevation's 3rd Anniversary, the story of my good-Sharpie-fortune, or my lament about the time problem we're having in the evenings (as in, not enough of it!). Those posts will have to stay in the drafts folder for at least another day, but I'm desperate to have something other than my ode to the Electric Pencil Sharpener pop up when my page loads, so I'll just quickly share this ahhhhh moment.

Everyday, several times a day, Luke tells me, "I love you more than you love me," to which I always respond, "Impossible!" It's kind of our thing. I don't love the way it sounds when he says it in public because I'm afraid others may think my child doesn't feel loved, but I do think it sounds a little better than "I love you more than God" which was his long time phrase (in his attempt to describe his love for me as bigger than the biggest thing he knows). But somewhere between my "Impossible" and the brief explanation I always give about the depth of a mother's love being incomprehensible, he reached his hand up to my face, stared at me with those big blue eyes and said, "One day, you'll understand how much I love you."

Isn't that supposed to be my line?

Weekend What's New?

2009-02-07T09:18:00.007-05:00

Electric pencil sharpener. Cashed in some bonus points for this beauty. Love it! It's not so much the speed of which it gives me a perfect point, it's more the fact that we don't lose it. The "other" sharpener was very small, very easy to lose, and very easy for the kids to make a mess with. It was a thorn in my side. Key word, was.

House guests. In 2008, our out-of-town visitors were few and far between. I love house guests, so the fact that it's only February and we're counting down to visit #2 makes me a happy girl. A couple weeks ago, my sweet, pregnant cousin and her husband stopped by, and next weekend David's aunt is coming to spend the weekend. May 2009 be the "Year of the Houseguest." Okay, there you have it. That's as formal an invitation as you'll get, come see us!

Working girl. I finally started the new job yesterday. It's flexible, pretty laid back, and temporary. That's my kind of job. Oh, and the best part, it requires no child care arrangements. That's what makes a good job great.

Elevation's 3rd Anniversary. More on that to come!

Warm weather. Beautiful, warm weather. Short sleeves and flip flops warm weather. But the warm weather gives me a little spring fever. Now I can't wait for spring to get here and facing the next cold spurt will be hard to do.

"New" furniture. The spring-ish weather has me in the mood for "new." So using some paint that's been in our garage for awhile and the ounce of creativity mustered if David and I squeeze our heads together, we repainted our TV stand, from light wood to black with distressed edges. It's not complete yet, but it's looking good, and proves that change doesn't have to be costly. We already had 2 cans of spray paint, so our investment has been around $5 for a little more paint and a trigger handle. But it feels like having a brand new piece of furniture. I'm already brainstorming other "new" looks for the house. There are websites galore (usually blogs) of ingenious, crafty women who can turn a blah room into a magazine cover on a dime. Very helpful for ladies like me who are decor-deficient.

So that's what's going on around here. What are you up to?

Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr....What now?!?

2009-02-04T20:24:00.003-05:00

When I was a kid we played a pool game called Alligator Bait. For all of you deprived people who aren't familiar with the game, there is an "Alligator," which is traditionally known as being "it." The alligator/it person stood on the diving board and after yelling Alligator Bait (which typically came out like Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr Bait!), would dive off the board and attempt to catch the "bait" before they could reach the other side of the pool. At the start of each round, the "bait" would line up along the wall of the shallow end of the pool and listen intently for the key phrase. But you had to listen carefully 'cuz that sneaky, silly gator would often yell the wrong word, just to see who could be caught off guard. Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr Bake! made ya jump...heeheehee... Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr Bang!...gotcha again, heeheehee. Being the impatient person I am, this annoyed me to no end, but of course when the tables were turned and I was "it," I played the same way. That is if I didn't call a time out for a bathroom break, or just quit all together, which is what I often did when I was "it." But cut me some slack, I was the youngest of the 9 grandkids and often played with my brother's older friends too, so if I was "it" I was stuck being "it" for awhile.

I feel like I'm caught in a adult game of Alligator Bait this week. As I mentioned last week, I've taken a job as a reading tutor at a nearby elementary school. I'm really excited about it, the hours are great, the pay is respectable, the commute is practically nonexistent...but try as I may, I can not get anyone to yell Bait! so I can push off the wall and start swimming. I'm in the pool, at the wall, one hand on the side, legs tucked under me, feet ready to push against the side for a strong start...just yell Bait already, would ya? Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr Processing Delay...Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr Snow Day...Allllll-i-gaaa-torrrrr 2 Hour Delay Makes the Day Hectic So Let's Push It Back One More Day. Three times I've expected to start, three times I've been deferred. Should I consider this a sign? Have I been pitched three strikes before I even had a chance to swing? Nah, I don't think so, but if Friday comes and I'm still sitting at the wall, it might be time for me to towel off and go home!

Belated Frog Hog Day

2009-02-03T21:14:00.002-05:00

Sorry this is a day late, but Happy Frog Hog Day to all of you! Oh, you don't celebrate Frog Hog Day? Well, it's one of our favorites around here.

When Lily was 4 she came home from preschool and told me it was Frog Hog Day, then she crinkled her nose in that precious way she's done since infancy, which told me she knew she wasn't getting it quite right, but close enough. She meant Groundhog Day, but I'll take "Frog Hog" any day of the week.

Lily's silly, unintentional way of mixing up names and words is one of my favorite things about her. Sometimes it seems she's just forgetful, like a little old lady who calls you by a name very similar to your own, but not quite. Or sometimes it seems she just hasn't mastered her ever expanding lexicon, like an un-cool parent that slips slang into a conversation but uses it wrong. But most of the time, her brain just seems to do a flip-flop with words that have similar meanings. As a toddler, she called shampoo "hairpoo." And then one day, she just didn't anymore. Sad day for me. Two summers ago when my mom was visiting, Lily came running inside, as serious as could be, and asked if we had "goose tape" for Grandma to fix Luke's broken stomp rocket (of course meaning "duct"). On a recent trip to return a $1 DVD to the machine, she called Bi-Lo, Payless. But it makes sense, doesn't it? Buying something low means you pay less. Love it, love it, love it.

So Happy Frog Hog Day (a day late!). You can keep your groundhogs and shadows and 6 more weeks of winter, because 2/2 is our day to celebrate the lesser known "frog hog" and all the joy she brings into our lives.

Greatest Show Vs. Grumpiest Mom

2009-02-01T20:46:00.006-05:00

It's the end of a very busy day. David is glazed over in front of the Super Bowl, the kids are in bed, I'm sitting on the love seat surrounded by coupon clippings from the Sunday paper, wondering...was the Greatest Show on Earth enough to cancel out the Grumpiest Mom on Earth?

Our surprise trip to the circus was a success, the kids didn't suspect a thing as we got up and dressed for "church" and only questioned us when we were about 8 miles past where we would have turned for church. As we told them about our big surprise, Lily grinned ear to ear, but Luke said, as he shook his head, "But we're not really going to the circus, right?" Apparently, the little guy has had too much disappointment in his life to believe a good thing when he hears it. What?!? I don't think so! I don't know what made him think I'd tell them all about our circus plans, then say, "Just kidding!" He squealed with joy when I confirmed that YES we were indeed going to the circus. It was a great show, and they're really at the perfect age to enjoy it. Unlike the baby beside me who was scared to death at first, then fell asleep. I'll post a few pics when I get them on the computer, of my own kids, not the baby beside me. I was thrilled with the seats I'd picked, somewhat blindly, when I ordered the tickets. They were great, aisle seats, and best of all, they were a steal! I wanted to share my news with all the people around me that I was certain had paid full price, or those people in the "cheap" seats way up high who paid more for theirs than I did for my lower level seats. Not to gloat, just to inform them about the beauty of searching for deals. Really, not to brag, but to be a public service. But back to the show...there were times my heart was pounding with excitement, times I teared up as I watched Lily and Luke soak up every moment, times I thought I'd go postal on the little kid behind me kicking my seat. Every range of emotion, that's how you know it's been a good show, right?

After the circus, we made it home for a quick wardrobe change (clothes covered in snowcone and public arena grossness), before heading to church for a cookout and services. Amazing worship tonight, and an awesome message. A great way to top off a day at the Big Top.

So all that to say, it's been a busy day. A very busy day, following a long week of sick kids and disrupted sleep. Add to that my biological propensity to be very moody this particular week of the month, and by bedtime I was one grumpy mom. Maybe, the Grumpiest Mom on Earth. But nobody buys tickets to see that, not even with a discount. Sadly, if I'm honest, it's not just today either. It's been several days now. And although I know my general sense of well-being is interrupted by my once a month "I hate being a girl" hormone variations, I also know that I'm the only one who can choose to, or choose not to, lose my cool when the cereal is spilled, the wet paint on the school project is smudged, the teeth aren't brushed the first time I ask, the silliness at bedtime doesn't stop the minute the lights go out. Once the moment has passed, it's my lack of self control that bothers me far, far more than whatever it was I lashed out at. It's my misbehavior that sticks with me, not theirs.

So tonight, as Lily and Luke drift off to sleep, I hope the elephants, tigers, trapeze artists, motorcyclists, clowns, dancers, jugglers, horses and all the other wonders that captured their attention still linger in their minds. And amongst all that happiness of the day (including a trip on the light rail, which to the kids is almost as exciting as the circus!), I hope there is just no room left for my raised voice or frustrated sighs to ring in their ears.

Today was the last day of the circus in our area, and as the Greatest Show rolls out of town, I sincerely hope the Grumpiest Mom is on her way out, too.

2009-01-31T23:15:00.000-05:00

Only a week since my last post? Man, it feels like it's been at least a month since I had a chance to linger at the computer long enough to log in, much less write a post. I am so glad the week is over, with tomorrow starting a new one, fresh...and healthy!? Crossed fingers. Strep paid a visit last week, and although the refrigerator still holds two bottles of cold pink medicine, reminding me twice a day of what was, the kids are happy and healthy and sleeping well again. Life is good. And strep has moved on.

But the week wasn't all bad. Between taking temps and giving meds and cleaning puke, I managed to snag a great job that I'm very excited about. Starting very soon, I'll be the PreAssessment Literacy Support Specialist at a local elementary school. Nah...I'll be a reading tutor, helping 3rd, 4th and 5th graders prep for end of the year testing. Just thought I'd throw in a completely fabricated, yet impressive sounding title for any of you that dig that kind of thing. Subbing has been fun, but this is a much better gig for me right now. Not only does it fit perfectly into our schedules...and our checkbooks, it also gives me a chance to scope out the school that Lily and Luke will attend next year (we've been rezoned). And hopefully with sickness behind us, we'll all make a smooth transition.

Exciting day ahead tomorrow, we've got a surprise planned for the kids. Two words...BIG-TOP!

What day is it?

2009-01-24T22:06:00.002-05:00

~~Saturday~~

Satallday

Really. All day. Ahhhhh.

Friday Fun Facts!

2009-01-23T12:34:00.001-05:00

Thanks Heather for passing this my way. Here are my 15 random things, a perfect way to end what has been a very random week!

1. I'm a rule follower.

2. I married David when I was 19 years old; completed my BA, Magna Cum Laude, two years later. (Eat that naysayers.)

3. I really enjoy random lists like this.

4. I have an excellent memory for the obscure and pointless, but struggle to remember the ages of my children's milestones, medical terminology, scripture references, or any other important information.

5. I have very eclectic music taste; my latest downloads included Pink, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and a string quartet album.

6. I cry at everything, from worship music to Hallmark commercials, and most certainly, Disney movies.

7. I get attached easily...to anything. Including house plants. And most recently, Rudy, our new betta fish.

8. I have kissed my husband, in the rain, under the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower.

9. The inside of my left ear is discolored like a dark bruise. It has a medical name, but I can't remember it (see #3) so we just call it a birthmark. It is not: medicine, a hearing aid, a quarter, a tattoo, ink stain from scratching inside my ear with a pen or marker...you name it, I've heard it.

10. I HATE frogs.

11. I love PopTarts. My favorite flavor is the Chocolate Vanilla Creme, which, despite the similarities, is not the same as the Oreo or Hot Fudge Sundae flavors.

12. David coming home in the evening is the highlight of my everyday. On Fridays, with the weekend ahead, I'm purely giddy. Yay!

13. I just overcooked a batch of cookies. They're done, but I prefer them slightly underdone.

14. When Lily was 4 months old, I found out I was 5 weeks pregnant with Luke. I corrected the nurse who informed me by saying, "No, my baby is in the waiting room."

15. I love to check email, flip through magazines or fold laundry while I watch TV, but it drives David a little bananas.

A Welcome Guest

2009-01-20T11:31:00.002-05:00

Snow, we are so happy to see you today! Thank you for stopping by. It's been awhile, and I must say, you're looking better than the last time you visited; actually, the best I've seen. And thanks for playing with the kids, they love your visits and anxiously awaited your arrival when they heard you'd be coming our way.

Please don't worry about the messy footprints in the foyer or the piles of wet clothes in the laundry room; your visits are so rare, I'm more than happy to clean up after you for the brief time you're in town.

But, Snow, some guests, yourself included, are best enjoyed in small doses. Let's not ruin a good thing. With the slick roads and sidewalks, the blanketed vehicles, the runny noses, chapped cheeks, frozen fingers and toes...I must admit, I hope you don't overstay your welcome.

But never the less, it's good to see you. Please stick around at least for today.