Redefining Normal One Crazy Day At A Time

You Will Be Saved

2012-01-29T17:48:00.000-05:00

I was considering a passage of scripture the other day. I must confess I am too lazy at this moment to go find it and give the reference, but it is popular enough that you will know it's in there if you read the Bible at all. The verse says something to the effect that those who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. For countless years I have kept that phrase in one tiny,little, box of meaning. That it only meant to be saved from hell. However, the other day I believe that God really opened my mind to what He really meant.

It was one of those mornings and at 8:15AM I was already stressed out. Taking the advice of a good friend, I closed my eyes and inhaled and exhaled the name of Jesus. The first syllable on the way in and the last on the exhale out. After about 3 breaths I could feel fresh grace pour over me and I went about my day brand new.

What I had done was call on the name of Jesus and I was...saved. Saved from frustration, saved from a pity party, saved from anger and saved from doing something I would have to ask for forgiveness from later. How small minded of me to think that calling on Jesus would only save me from the number one issue of hell. I can imagine Jesus standing there waiting and waiting, hoping that we will take Him at His word and call on Him so he can save us from all the things that this world throws at us.

I encourage you that the next time you are anything but full of joy and peace, call on the name of Jesus and allow Him to do what He promised...to save you from whatever you face. He is good, He is faithful and He is quick!! This is one promise I will not let go to waste!!

O Christmas Tree

2012-01-04T13:57:00.000-05:00

My Christmas tree has been up for quite some time now. I am just now taking it down. As I was doing so, I starting to think about all the wonder and magic that is present when we put it up as a family and what a chore it is as I take it down alone. A month and a half ago I looked at each ornament and recalled memories. Today I see how many I can take off at one time without any of them breaking. I also started to notice a few...like the angel made out of toilet paper...huh...really? LOL That always brings me to the thoughts of my ever growing children. Like when Reagan declared she only had six years of school left and the ache that promptly starts to form in my chest. I tried to imagine what my tree will look like when everyone is grown and gone. Will it be one that matches and has beautiful decorations all symmetrically placed? I think of how beautiful yet boring that tree would be.

I can hardly believe this Christmas season has come and gone and here we are starting another year. I feel like it went passed me in a blur and didn't even really "feel" like Christmas. So now as I take down this tree, instead of a chore to be done, I am taking the time to remember the past year and all of its great memories. The ways my family has grown and the individuals in it. I am thankful that at this stage I "get it." Time goes fast and that is helping me really treasure each moment instead of racing from one thing to the next. Yes we are busy, but even in the activity there are moments and like Mary did in the Bible, I hope that I too will tuck these things away in my heart and remember them always.

I am blessed beyond measure and yet I look forward to this next year with excitement at all God has in store for us. Some things we have gotten a glimpse of and after I put the fear aside I can say I am truly excited. There are other things that haven't been discovered yet, adventures planned, and moments to tuck away. If I have one resolution it is this: to get all I can out of each moment and each day that God gives me. To live in the present and really live this precious life...

Priceless

2011-12-21T23:07:00.000-05:00

Tuition: $1286.72

Hours spent studying Math alone: 100+

Earning an A in all three classes: Priceless

Yes I am finally done with this term and I got all "A's" the jury is still out as to if I have any sanity left, but I got the grades I needed! I will post of picture of whatever sparkly I buy myself because I totally earned one!! Now I get a break (if you call preparing for Christmas a break) and then it's off to the races again in January. I learned a lot about myself this term and I think being able to achieve that A in math has really helped my confidence soar. I feel like I am more patient with the kids when they are working through something that is frustrating to them. I know what it is like to feel like you are spinning your wheels or that there is no point in what you are doing. It's really hard to explain, I just feel different. Who knows, maybe I actually grew up a little bit. What I do know is that God was with me every step of the way and I am pretty sure I witnessed a miracle on the last test I took before my final exam. I still don't understand that particular section of math and yet I got an A on that test. What was totally cool was working on the final exam and knowing that I did learn something...98% correct of something. Not sure how long that information will stick, but that's OK too.

I knew it before in my head, but now I know it in my heart...God desires to be involved in the details of our lives. Even though He knows our thoughts before we think them, it's still nice to be asked or talked to about whatever is on our minds. I know my kids love me, but if I never heard them say it ever again, that would make me sad. I think it's like that with God. That's why He wants us to ask for help, to tell Him that we love Him, because it's nice to be asked and it's nice to hear a person say those things.

If every school term has such a profound affect on my life as this one has, I cannot wait to see what I become by the end of this process. God is doing good things, and I for one, am excited about it!

Bad Timing

2011-11-10T19:27:00.000-05:00

So I think at this point it is clear that my picture a day idea is not going to work. Big surprise I am sure. I swear each time I sit in my class I get another huge assignment to do. I think it is finally time to admit that i just can't do everything all at once!

In happier news, I am currently carrying an A in all three classes, the dreaded math class included. In fact I have to cut this short because I have a math test tomorrow and there is lots to study yet! There is four weeks left and a final exam that breaks down to: Speech: 8 classes left (including the final exam) Sociology: 8 classes and Math: 13 classes...Not that anyone is counting or anything. Hopefully I can finish strong and keep all of these A's.

The books are calling...

Mental Picture Day

2011-11-07T17:49:00.000-05:00

Ha! I know that is a total cop-out, but alas all I have time for, so, picture this:

A stack of books, each one filled with page after page of non-fiction ever educating your tired mind. Next to the books is a stack of paper, waiting to be filled with the knowledge you just absorbed. A steaming cup of coffee, in hand, waiting to be sipped so you are sure to stay awake until all the assignments are complete. However, you must picture yourself walking away from this stack because you still have a 2 hour class to attend. Never fear, when you walk back through the door, that stack will be there waiting to greet you. It's good like that...it learned its ways from the dishes and the laundry. I am sad to report there is no homework fairy either...unless...gasp....I AM the fairy...drat.

Pony Rides

2011-11-05T20:14:00.000-04:00

Today my dear friend Chrissy invited us out to a fund raiser at a barn called Trails and Tails. There they had pony/horse rides for the kids and a bon-fire for us to keep warm. Turns out the fire is a double edged sword because although it is toasty while you stand by it, once you walk away the cold feels colder!! At any rate, it was fun to spend some time together. Ryan had a small melt down and Abby bit into a piece of gum and pulled her tooth out! Other than that it was a super fun morning...

Rebecca on the pony! She totally wants riding lessons now...her Aunts will be so happy.

Ryan on the horse. After a few rides he was telling the lady he could do it himself!

Thankfully she has rules to follow and that wasn't an option.

Chrissy and Abby having some fun together...before the tooth incident!

Abby with her fabulous "I love horses" face paint, taking a lap!

Reagan, who although can completely hold her own on a horse, would rather be lead around than not get to ride at all!

The super cool thing about this barn is that their lessons are super affordable. We are hoping in the spring to be able to let both girls take lessons. It was a really fun morning and I am so glad we went. Now I must get back to my homework. The kids are busy so I might actually be able to get through one of these half page math problems without someone interrupting me! Ron is watching TV with the headphones on and he keeps laughing. Every now and then I shoot angry, jealous eyes at the back of his head...stupid math.

picture

2011-11-04T23:56:00.000-04:00

Yikes 6 minutes until tomorrow... I almost missed a picture on day 3 for heavens sake!! This was taken on our whale watching tour off of Cape May, NJ

The water of the Atlantic was so smooth on this day, it was amazing. The white water was from our boat but the water in the top of the picture was how calm the rest of it was...really beautiful!

A little bit of fall

2011-11-03T19:44:00.000-04:00

I wish I could have waited for better light but alas it was kind of a busy day. Here is today's picture:

These are my two favorite trees next to my house. The yellow one can be so much better, as it is more beautiful than it shows in this picture. Behind it is a red tree that is amazing as well. That red tree is right outside a window and when the blinds are open it makes me happy that its the tree leaves that fill the window scene instead of the neighbors house!

The trees in our area have kind of been traumatized by the weather so there aren't too many that bright, brilliant colors. I have really been taking in those that do have the color. One thing I love about this yellow tree is how the yellow leaves pop against the green grass and make a nice yellow tree skirt around the base of the tree!

A new idea

2011-11-02T08:31:00.000-04:00

So I have been brainstorming how I can combine a few things that I love, into the few short extra minutes I have each day. Today I think I have come up with it...a Picture a Day. We all know that sticking with something for any length of time is not my strong suit, but my goal is to share a picture a day with all of you. Some days may have words, others just the picture, but the idea is for the next year to post at least one picture each day. It combines my love of photography with blogging and helps me put aside the homework for a minute and do something I enjoy. I hope that over the months we will see an increase in the quality of the photos I take and hopefully I can help those who don't live here experience PA. I am sure there will be "people" shots as I do those best, but I am also hoping to capture some of the beauty in the landscape of this place we call home. For today:

Rusty was so sad that he could not come trick or treat with us. Although I can see that this behavior will destroy my binds, I couldn't resist how adorable he looked. Poor guy felt left out...

My favorite thing about this time of year is the beautiful sunrises I get to enjoy out my front window. Next time I hope to have my camera down by the creek as the steam was rising from the water...it had a super cool look to it.

Snow in October?

2011-11-02T08:20:00.000-04:00

Just like they predicted we got hit with snow over the weekend. Although I tried to be adult about it and hate it...I loved every minute of it. The kids got their gear on and played, I enjoyed a nice hot drink and watched it fall. It really was the perfect kind of snow...here on Saturday gone by Monday!! It totally put me in the Christmas mood, even though it is a little early for all of that!!

These aren't the best pictures I have ever taken, but you get the idea. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

Halloween

2011-10-28T13:32:00.002-04:00

Halloween has been on count down since October first. Ever since the calendar turned over to October 1, Ryan has been excited. He was the first to choose a costume and Captain America was his choice. I thought that was an interesting choice since he has never seen Captain America, but who am I to argue. I have to say he had the shield and everything. I thought for sure I would be carrying it by the second house, but he carried it all night. I was informed that he could not fully protect me and keep the peace without his shield!

Reagan was a chef. I found the white puffy hat at a craft store but was having trouble finding a chef's coat. I lucked out at the community aid center when I found a black jacket with a high collar in the ladies department. It was the perfect fit!Add a white apron and a towel and we had a professional! As a bonus that coat was $2.50!

Rebecca wanted to be Miss America (we kinda had an America thing going on this year). At the same Community center I found the most beautiful dress and in her favorite color. As I stood there trying to decide if my limited sewing skills could alter the dress to fit her, a lady walked up to me and said what a beautiful dress it was. I explained to her that it was for my 8 yr old and my concerns. She walked me through exactly what I would need to do to fix it and made it sound so easy. So for $5 Miss America was born.

I was a little nervous about fixing Rebecca's dress when I had to go to YouTube to figure out how to thread my bobbin. However, one great video later and I was ready to go. I get everything ready and started to hem the dress and I hear Ron from the other room..."Hey Hon? What's that noise?" I reply, as if it's the most natural thing in the world..."the sewing machine." I am pretty sure I should be offended by the incredulous sound in his voice as he repeated, "sewing machine?" I got that feeling that he was making fun, kind of like I do when something is up with the car and he pops the hood. I always look at him and ask..."whatcha lookin for?" LOL At any rate, I am happy to report I actually did a good job and I am excited as ever to sew more stuff. It's not as hard as I thought....guess that is the story of my life.

Thankfully the rain stopped just before we went out to trick or treat, but it was still C-O-L-D! Yikes...we froze...we being the adults. As tradition dictates our friends, the Hoffners, came to trick or treat with us. Always a great time. Unfortunately this year their little guy who is Ryan's age wasn't feeling well and his dad took him home. Come to think of it, I think they were the smart ones, all nice and warm inside!! Reagan had two friends join us, so she had a super fun time too. Two hours later and to the bone cold, Halloween 2011 was over, well after the kids each gave me a candy for walking around with them :)

Tomorrow it is supposed to snow, and no, that is not a typo...I don't mean a few fun snow flakes...it's supposed to SNOW...inches. I am trying to be super adult about it and be irritated by that, but truly I am so excited!! I love snow...I wouldn't mind if the green leaves were off the trees first...it is a little early, oh and none of my kids have full snow gear yet...Other than that...totally excited. I will keep you posted.

What do you want to be?

2011-10-24T18:31:00.000-04:00

Ryan asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up this morning...so I told him, however, he really only asked me so he could say what he wanted to be. The following conversation went like this:

Ryan: When I grow up, I want to be a police officer (since we had just past one)

Rebecca: Well you know you can't just go around arresting people like a crazy person.

Ryan: You can't?

Rebecca: No, you have to know the laws!

Ryan: Oh. Mom?

Me: What?

Ryan: You know, if you break the law I will arrest you.

Me: You would?

Ryan: No.

Rebecca: Well whatever, I will be in Japan living the dream.

Me: Japan? Huh. Well you better start learning to like fish, octopus and squid cuz that's what they eat there.

Rebecca: Really? Gross. Maybe the dream is in Chile

I love the car ride conversations. Just another day in paradise!!

Rusty

2011-10-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

I do try to love our dog. However, it seems that every time I start to feel a smidgen of affection for him, he does something that takes us all the way back to square one! Lately he has a fascination for the dining room table. If you leave a chair not pushed in, he feels it's OK to climb up and lay on the table! Why oh why he does that, I will never know!! It's not like it's in the sun or super comfy, I am pretty sure its just to irritate me. When I came home one day I found him on the dining room table and he had the nerve to just look at me and lay his head back down!! It was as if he thought this was the most natural thing in the world! For a split second I thought maybe he was sick and that was the explanation for this strange behavior, and then it became apparent he was fine.

So now I do my best to make sure the chairs are pushed in because nothing grosses me out more than the thought of dog butt on my table. However, today I was less vigilant. Not only did I forget to push my chair in on my way out the door, but I left my full coffee on the table. When I returned home 10 minutes later, Rusty was in his usual spot on the stairs without a care in the world. I didn't think anything of it until Reagan asked why coffee drops were splashed all over the table. That dang dog DRANK MY COFFEE!! He didn't spill it, just drank it right out of the cup and then got down...boy is he lucky I didn't take a sip...just the thought grosses me out!!

Now I am waiting for the caffeine to kick in and see him become a maniac. The kids of course got a good giggle out of it, and deep down it is kind of funny. It's just nice to know that the dog has jumped on the band wagon with the kids in an effort to truly make me insane!!

Test

2011-10-18T18:31:00.000-04:00

Isn't that a crappy word? Test. It doesn't matter what area of life it shows up, it usually carries with it a negative vibe. From Elementary through college the word test can create unease no matter how old you are. When you go to the doctor or hospital as soon as the doctor says "test" the patient probably suffers hearing loss as they try to process what that might mean. Then there is just life, all the time we have different "tests" we pass, fail, or come up against. Tests of character, endurance, finances, emotional issues, relationships and a million others invade our lives all the time. I do think we can change this word into something more positive though. For an example, my Speech/Communications professor calls our tests "Celebrations of Knowledge." Doesn't that just make you want to participate??

There is one thing that can ease our way through tests and that is preparing! For those of us that take actual exams, we study until we can't imagine we can learn any more, and then we study some more. It is such a confidence booster to know that anyone can ask you anything about a given topic and you can speak to it and give answers.

Life issues are a little harder to prepare for, but not impossible. We prepare by heading wisdom of those who walk before us. We prepare by reading our Bibles and praying and walking out our faith everyday so when test comes we are armed and ready. We prepare by keeping perspective in small things and finding ways to be grateful even when things aggravate us, so when major stuff comes down our habit is gratitude.

I'm not sure there is a way to prepare for medical issues as those tend to sneak up on us. It is in those moments, when we can't find our way or we don't know the answers, that we rely on those who love us. One of my favorite little sayings about a friend is...you sing when I have forgotten the words...That is what friends and family are for...to carry us through when we can't do it ourselves.

As I prepare for tests at school and in life, I hope that I can prepare in such a way that inspires those around me to do the same. That my children will learn that even hard school work (that you might never use) should still have your best effort and you should strive for excellence. But more importantly, I hope that I can prepare them for life and the challenges that they face by own example....

Date Night

2011-10-16T20:13:00.000-04:00

Seems like Ron and I haven't been out in ages, so last night I surprised him with a babysitter. We went out to see the movie Courageous and it was really good. We laughed and cried but most importantly we walked away inspired. We were reminded of the serious task of raising our kids to be men and women of integrity and more importantly to help them reach adulthood with their faith intact. If you haven't seen it, you should!

After the movie we headed out to Outback for dinner. I am sorry to say they changed brands of my favorite salad dressing so my much looked forward to salad, was a disappointment. Conversation was great and we had fun! The thing I enjoyed most was being able to put aside all the stuff that needed to be done, and just enjoy the time with Ron. As I took the babysitter home I had a great sense of be reconnected with my best friend! Even though it was just dinner and a movie, it was just what we needed...

College Algebra

2011-10-15T17:07:00.000-04:00

I should be working on my math right now. I hate this class...no I loathe it with a passion I never thought possible for a subject of study. Yet this class holds me over a barrel because I need an A in it to get my 15 points toward my program. How nice it would be to just not care and do just enough to get through it. At this point, if I didn't need the A I would be perfectly content throwing my money away and not learning a darn thing!! I know, it's a tremendous work ethic I am showing here, but alas it is the ugly truth.

I am a "look at the bright side of things", kind of person, but I am struggling to find a bright side to this class. So far all I have come up with is the stress forces me to exercise...that's good. It helps me fully remember that when my children hate their homework and think it's stupid, I have no soapbox to stand on, no sermon to deliver, because I too think it IS stupid sometimes, And that provides entertainment as I let Ron deliver the "why homework is great speech" to all 4 of us as we sit at the homework table together...in misery. I have a feeling this class might get me to blog again, as blogging is like some kind of therapy!

So back to the books I must go. Perhaps if I get through this class ( I am half way) and I happen to achieve that A...I might just need to buy myself something sparkly!! In the mean time, I will try to forget how many hours of my precious life I am wasting learning how to graph -2(x+1)-4 because I'm super sure I am going to use THAT skill again...ugh!

Help!

2011-09-12T22:03:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why it is that I always seem to need to struggle with something before I will ask for help. I was reminded again today that God wants to be involved in the details of our lives, not just the churchy parts. For an example, I have been struggling with my math classes pretty much since I got the first book in the spring. Frustrated and joking that "you can't put in what God left out!" However, I had forgotten to ask the very one who made me and gave man the knowledge to create algebra (which can i say is up there with spiders and other things that bite) for the help and understanding that I need to finish this class. So this morning I asked God to open my mind and help me understand the concepts behind what I was being taught. What a difference today's class was. It was really amazing! And because God is who He is and I am who I am, it was no surprise when Rebecca came home from school needing help with math. Word problems no less, my enemy!! I am happy to report that I can do third grade word problems!

I guess the whole point to this post is that I hope to learn to ask first. Knowing that everything turns out better when I let God help me out. Some might call it a crutch and maybe it is, but I am so thankful that I don't HAVE to struggle. It's like He just sits there waiting for us to ask so He can help us out. Just like I do for my children. I don't want to take over for them, but when they are ready for help, nudge them in the right direction so they can soar.

On that note, it is time for me to tackle my math homework, bathed in prayer and hopefully with a supernatural understanding of compound linear inequalities!

Pictures

2011-07-18T18:49:00.000-04:00

It has been so long since I have posted anything, I don't know if anyone is still looking at it! However, I just in case I wanted to post some of our summer pictures. We have had some days where the kids thought washing the car would be fun...

Rebecca is always ready for the camera. I swear I will never get an embarrassing picture of her to bribe her with later...

Reagan forever making my pictures more fun...

Ryan insists on being outside in his socks, ruining pair after pair!

We also went to the PA Grand Canyon. Some of my fellow citizens didn't believe it existed, but it does and yes it is called the PA Grand Canyon. I have no idea when we will ever get to see the real thing so for now this will have to do!

This was the start of the mile trail down the mountain. It wasn't all like that...but it's a great way to fool innocent hikers into thinking this would be easy.

They did not smile like this on the way up...

Before we got all hot and sweaty trying to lug our large arses back up the mountain

My lovely Reagan. She is wearing her cousins old team shirt. Reagan hates sports herself but is super proud of her cousin!!

This is one reason we kept walking even when we had a working knowledge that the trip back up was going to be hard.

Lots of pretty waterfalls all connected to each other.

This was the base of the canyon. This was the most shallow part in the section were we came out of the trail. Next time we will bring water shoes.

Beautiful huh?

Turns out there was a small fish in the water in the space between Ron's feet.

Can you see the fish?? He blends

Another pretty waterfall

I have more to show, but I have to jump off and feed my family. I will be back later to post some more!

Hope

2011-04-21T00:18:00.000-04:00

I found myself, today, blind-sided by emotion. I have been so busy the last few months with college, my family, friends, American Heritage Girls and countless other tasks that I think it has been easy to hide myself. However, as the pace of life slows back down, I find myself trying to readjust to having a few mintues to quiet myself and see what's really going on in my heart.

Sometimes life comes at you hard. There has rarely been a conversation lately that doesn't have someone ~~walking through~~ clawing their way through a battle. Some of these battles have the very lives of the people at stake. Some battles are parents who are fighting for the spiritual, mental and emotional lives of their teens. Other battles are the moms that are exhausted from their children and their "hard" stages or those who have kiddos with special needs and see no light at the end of the tunnel. Some battles are the ones that are not our own, but a place where support and walking along side the one who is fighting has become a personal battle ground.

These battles can be exhausting and taxing on everyone involved. Sometimes it is easy to look around at the situation and think that if we just give up or just give in, it would be so much easier; it would be over. Sometimes we look ahead and the fear we feel is so intense that we can't move, can't think, can't hear or decide what the right decision is. Fear is powerful. It makes us doubt ourselves. We are afraid to make a mistake with our kids. Afraid of the unknown of a treatment. Afraid our needs won't be met. Afraid that when those we love need us most, we will end up being as useless and helpless as we feel. Yes, fear is powerful, but it is nothing compared to hope.

Hope is the armor that protects us. Hope is the instrument we use to fight. Hope is the thing that when we look at ourselves, battered and bruised, it makes us stand up again and fight another mintute, another hour, another day. For those of us who Hope in the Lord, there is comfort. A knowledge that nothing catches Him by surprise. A thankfulness, that when we seek it, rises from the depths of our soul and pours out like a healing balm. It helps us look and see how blessed we really are. A grace that is able to say through our tears, "He gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord." It is when we have nothing left, no more answers, no more ideas, no more strength in ourselves, that Hope rises.

Hope reminds us that we are never alone. Faith tells us that God has a plan and that plan gives us a future and hope. Love tells us that every tear we cry is stored and will one day be turned to joy. So don't give up, we all will make it to the other side of the fear, to end of the battle, with everything riding on Hope to get us through.

Finished

2011-01-20T11:10:00.000-05:00

Back in the fall I stepped out on a limb and way out of my comfort zone and offered a card making class at our community center. I was nervous and excited to do it. The first class saw a few people, the next a few more and then it tapered off. I have cancelled the last three classes because of a lack of response. I suppose I can look at this as a failure of what I wanted it to be, but I don't. I learned a lot about myself. I know now that I can take a risk and regardless of how it turns out...I will live through it and be fine. I also have finally got it through my head that I am not a teacher. I don't like it, I'm not very good at it and finally I can lay it to rest and stop forcing myself to do it. I am OK with not being great at everything! I still love to scrap but I think it's time (when I get that precious time) to start making things for my own family. I do so many projects for others that I haven't kept up on my own pictures that my children love to look at. So the classes are finished and to an outside person they were a complete failure, to me a great success and a stepping stone to move toward something that I will really like to do. Finally I can scrap and make cards just for fun...as it should be!

Hiccups

2011-01-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

In the stage of life that I am in right now, it seems that I am either following up on chores, breaking up fights, teaching, training or disciplining. Sometimes the fun I dreamed we'd have as we planned for children is non-existent. However, I had the privilege this week of 3 times over giving my children hiccups! That seems like an odd thing to be excited about, but it's because the hiccups originated from laughter. I am used to making my husband laugh and my friends and sometimes perfect strangers, but it is much harder to make kids just think you are funny if you are not tickling them. However, a private joke with Rebecca had us in fits of laughter for several minutes resulting in a good case of hiccups that lasted until we arrived at school. Ryan is kind of easy because the mere mention of a potty word or function sends him into fits of laughter. Reagan is a tough one lately. We are darkening the door where I am supposed to be lame and she is to merely tolerate me. However, tonight I made her laugh...hard....until she got the hiccups. For a second in time I got a glimpse of what I had always hoped for, flashbacks of rare moments with my own mom, and a hope for the future between Reagan and me. It's interesting the moments that make such a big impact, tonight with Reagan in the laundry room of all places will be one of those moments that I tuck in my heart for future reference.

My Personal Cheer Section

2011-01-13T20:24:00.000-05:00

Most of you know I started school yesterday. To be truthful it's a bit overwhelming. Since it's been a looong time since I have darkened college doors, I had forgotten just how much homework 6 credit hours would have. The English isn't too bad. It's a lot of reading and I have come to terms with all the writing and the gigantic research paper. Math on the other hand, lets just say I understand why I got sent back to a remedial class. It is taking a long time to do each problem as I have to re learn how to do even the simplest algebra. However, today I have spent most of the day working on this math. It's taken hours to do 26 problems. The great part is about 12 problems ago Ryan pulled up a chair next to me to help. He has paper and a pencil to write and when I finish a problem he pushes the "enter" button to submit the answer. If it's wrong a big red box appears and says, "sorry...blah blah blah" to that Ryan says, "uh-oh" or "aww Mom, it's ok..." how sweet is that?! The best part is when I get one right he cheers with a fist pump and an "alright!" with the same excitement every time. Even though I am tired he is so darn excited for me to get them right I push on and do another. The girls have taken an interest and ask me about my work. We have a deal that we will all try for straight A's this term as they are starting a new one soon. Ron has been super supportive and helpful being excited about all the stuff I am learning even though he could do this math in his sleep. I am so blessed to have such an awesome family to walk through this with!

It would not be right to talk about my cheer section if I didn't mention my awesome friends! You are all so wonderful and send me texts or calls at just the right time to make me smile and push on! I covet your prayers and even though I am not the first person to return to college you all have shown me the full meaning of support. You Rock!! Well Ryan is ready to push the enter button again so off to do a few more math problems before bed!

Goals

2011-01-04T19:47:00.000-05:00

Every year we make "resolutions." Some of us try to make it sound like it will stick better if we change the word so we set "goals" instead. However, being who I am, I have discovered a serious character flaw when it comes to goal setting. It would appear that I can be trucking along just fine and notice I am doing something consistently...score. So I decide...OH, I should turn this into a goal of mine! As soon as the ink dries I struggle to continue to do whatever it is I have been doing just fine, until I wrote it down.

As I thought about this, one with a logical mind would say..."just don't write it down then." Those of you who know me also then know that is not an option. I must fix this flaw. I talked with a friend and we threw around some options like:
1. Set simple attainable goals - this sounds so easy, but even this I make hard. For an example, I feel good when I exercise so therefore my goal must be to workout every single day. Talk about setting myself up for failure, but I can't seem to help it. So then I must ask myself, do I secretly LOVE failure?? Then that is a bit too insane for even me so I put a stop to the thought process before I dial the shrink and really set an appointment.

So in an attempt to save some money and avoid medication and a straight jacket, I am just going to set easier goals. Here they are:

1. Exercise once a month either on purpose or by accident

2. I will make a budget that only includes using one credit card when I run out of cash

3. I will only use bad words under my breath and when I am completely sure no one but God can hear me.

4. I will only stress about things to the point of a twitching eye, not a stiff neck.

5. I will stop buying the king size candy bars and being proud of myself for only eating half.

I don't want to over do so I will stop at five. So those are my goals with any luck I won't be able keep most of them!

In reality I have real goals but there is no way I am writing them down...at least not until I get a little better at this. Happy New Year everyone and I would love to hear some of your goals!!

Soul Friends

2010-12-10T15:45:00.000-05:00

There are a few people who go deep to your soul. They are the ones that are close to your thoughts, when they are not right...you are not right. When they are exceeding joyful...you are too. I am not sure why some people become this and other equally great people don't, but I am grateful for those in my life who do. Soul-mate it typically used for marriage, but I think it goes so much farther than that. I think it can reach to those who come into our life all at different points and leave such an impact that we cannot fathom going the rest of our days without them. Time, distance,or even other relationships cannot and do not separate a soul friend. You pick up where you left off, every time you meet. You take them as they are and they you, so being transparent is so very, very easy and completely refreshing. My life has been blessed with a few such soul friends. Some that have been there since childhood, some met in adulthood but all equally precious to me. So to my soul friends....thank you for being the amazing people I walk through life with and love beyond words...

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T19:35:00.000-05:00

We have spent the month preparing for Thanksgiving. Not necessarily for the dinner but for the family and and the attitude and the atmosphere. What I have learned this month is that when our attitude is to be intentional thankful, our outlook on every situation seems to change. For an example, when my washing machine broke it was super frustrating at first, but then I took time to just thank God for all I did have and for all of the things that were going right! All of a sudden it didn't seem so bad. It set me up for such a great blessing when He provided a brand new one for half the cost. I was such a better experience that way. God promises that He is Good and will do good for those of us who love Him and no matter how that good is packaged we are to be thankful. So this Thanksgiving take time to inventory all the things and people that you have to be thankful for and truly give thanks. When those same things and people annoy you be thankful that they are still around to do so...you probably annoy them too! LOL To all my family and friends...I am so blessed because you are in my life...Thank You...

Expert

2010-11-19T14:55:00.000-05:00

I have become an expert time waster. Of this I am not proud, but it is in fact true. I am pretty sure all I have accomplished today is starting many, many projects I don't have time to finish before Tuesday. The one thing I really needed to accomplish, I have yet to begin. Of course it's a creative sort of thing and I am feeling anything but creative lately. What's weird is that I have been very focused lately and it seems that once I signed up for college classes it has all gone to pieces. All I can assume is that in the back of my mind, I am aware that I am going to have to be organized and intentional every day once I begin, so I am slacking now. Or what if...gasp...this is some sort of random test to see if I can in fact do all I want to do? All I know right now, is you will have something to read because I am, again wasting some precious time. I do have a plan though. In the next 15 minutes I will begin. It starts with a timer and I will probably accomplish more in that one hour than I have all day! I think it is very clear right now that I don't have much to say. Well, I suppose if you are reading this, you too are in fact wasting time so at least I am in good company! I will end with a poem that I wrote for my friend. I am quite happy with the way it turned out...it was inspired by a true story...LOL

Beauty in the Broken

We walked along the beach today

A place I know so well

I thought that I had taught you

How to find the perfect shell

Edges that are smooth and round

Color perfect too

All the shells with cracks and breaks

Just would not do

With all your gleeful sighs

You must have found the one

Imagine my surprise

When I’d seen what you had done

Gathered in your tiny hand

Broken shells did lay

There was such joy in your eyes

What could I say?

You showed me all the beauty

That was in your hand

Unique shape, size, and color

Just lying in the sand

I always just walk by the broken

Without a second glance

But when you picked up a broken shell

You saw a second chance

No wonder He says, “Be like a child”

Because they know His heart

He searches for the beauty in the broken

To give a brand new start

The Tooth Fairy Lives

2010-11-13T22:08:00.000-05:00

Early in the year an informative little kid ruined the tooth fairy for me Rebecca. She came home asking if the tooth fairy was real. Being more logical than not she said to "just tell her, it's fine." So I did. Rebecca has lost 7 more teeth since then and each time i felt sad that she missed out on the greatness of the letters and cash from the tooth fairy.

A couple of nights ago she lost another tooth. Being fed up with the raw deal she has gotten I informed her that she needed to put that tooth under her pillow because the tooth fairy lives. She gave me her best 7 year old, squinty eyed look and said, "I know the tooth fairy isn't real mom." I disagreed and said, "I am the tooth fairy, I am real and put your tooth under the pillow please." She did and with great joy I took it, left a note and enough cash to make up for all of the teeth she had lost this past year.

Now Reagan has lost a tooth. I swear someone told them I had a few bucks...teeth are falling out all over the place! It is under her pillow right now because that's how Reagan is. And even though she knows it's me her heart is full of anticipation of what she will find tomorrow. She will be such a great mom someday. She has a knack for making things so special. Anyway, what starts as an amazing milestone eventually turns into the glimpse of the future. These are molars...she is almost done being a child. I get that she has a ways to go before she is an adult, but each of these last teeth closes this childhood door a little more until it will close completely and I will hear the turn of the lock. It goes by so fast. She is almost as tall as me now. I wonder if she will keep growing and pass me up, or if she will reach her full height here in 5th grade and never grow another inch as I did? I guess tonight it doesn't matter. Tonight I get to be the tooth fairy one more time for her. I will get to write a note that she will read again and again. Tonight I get to put a stopper in the door of childhood and let it be prolonged for a few more moments. Who knew that a little tiny tooth could say so much and make a grown woman melt into tears. I am blessed, so very blessed that I get to be a mom...their mom.

It's Official

2010-11-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

After a year or so of thinking about it, I have finally made the plunge...back to school I go! I have taken my placement test...which can I say after this many years was quite challenging. Turns out I didn't need to take the English part so that was just bonus fun. It has been way too long since i have done algebra so I get to take two extra classes there. That alone is super exciting...not so much. Anyway, I met with my advisor and we have a plan. Somewhere in the spring of 2015 I will have a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography...Ultrasound Tech really. I knew I wanted to do something in Health care but Nursing has never felt like the right fit. A year and a half ago I talked with my sister in law and she suggested Ultrasound. Once we started looking into the job itself, I thought that it would be a really good fit for me. So here I go on a new journey. Ron is excited for me, the kids are happy I will be sitting at the homework table too, and for me it feels nice to have some direction. We knew with college expenses at some point I would have to work, this will be completed in enough time for us to save a bit and then not stress when it all begins. I am sure as the kids get older too they will much appreciate me having something more to do than "hover" over them...don't tell them but I can totally do both!!

Calendar

2010-10-31T18:23:00.001-04:00

So it's been two months since I have posted anything and for that I apologize. I have been super swamped over here with crafting projects and just the stuff of life that takes me away. I have missed blogging and will need to carve time into my schedule to get on here. I really do enjoy writing. Today, however, is not really a catch up day. I have been creating a baby calendar for a baby boy and I wanted to post pictures so the people that have been asking me about my progress can see the finished product. This calendar is a record as I only had a few weeks to get it done, mingled in several other commitments it was a challenge, but it proved I can do it! If you would like to see the picture closer, just click on it and it should bring it up bigger.

The Dad is a fireman and I found this cool picture to add to June...with Father's Day and all.

This is the back pocket so things can be stored there and the stickers are for marking "baby's firsts" all throughout the year.

Fishing

2010-08-30T19:46:00.000-04:00

Fishing is a sport that will separate the girls from the real women. I am a girl and totally OK with that. My daughter is more of woman than me. Here is exhibit A: These next pictures are Reagan putting a worm on a hook. As if that is NOT impressive enough...she pulled the worm apart first...gag...here is my hero baiting a hook:

I have to say I was quite proud of her and of all of the girls that baited their own hooks. It was of course not because they watched their ~~grossed out~~ fearless leader. Thankfully there were some men there to take over the training. I did watch and cheer them on and take pictures of their awesomeness. I just don't feel the need to prove myself any more so...

However the because it was dusk I did get to get some cool pictures of the sun setting:

I am sorry to say that no fish were caught...oh wait I take that back...It was this big {...........}

Told Ya...for once I was not embellishing! What I learned about myself is that I just refuse to do some things and touching groody slimy worms and just as slimy fish is one of those things. I am OK with that. I am also OK that it was my daughter NOT my son who was OK with touching the untouchable worm. I am sure as soon as he finds out they will scream and run if he has one in his hand, he will be digging them up non stop!

Back to School

2010-08-25T21:39:00.000-04:00

No sweeter words have ever been spoken! Well except for that time I tried to homeschool...then "Back to School" brought tears...to my eyes! I am pretty sure you are all tired of checking this blog just to see that I have yet to write anything new. Well I have a new system around here. It's called my day by the hour and yes writing my blog does fit into one of those hours!!

Anyway, first day of school, that's where I was. So as it has been since Ron started running a store the first day of school falls squarely on my shoulders since he is out of town all week. Monday was interesting in that I was alone and had to be at three different places all at once. I did it. With help of course and a LOT of very fast driving. Looking back probably pointless to try to do it all, but hey at least I got it all done.

Yesterday we got showers, picked out clothes and we were ready to rock and roll this morning. The morning went nice and smooth and then began the longest day of my entire calendar year. I am always so nervous all day long wondering how the kids are doing. Did they find their class room ok? Is that mean girl in Reagan's class? Did Reagan find someone to play with at recess? Will Rebecca get into trouble for talking too much? Will she struggle in the lunchroom again or find a new problem? Boy teachers...will they survive this? Before we knew Ryan and I were down at the bus stop picking up the girls....who had a GREAT day! They both love the boy teachers although Reagan's teacher is a bit strict. She is afraid she will get into trouble if she talks at the wrong time, so for now she has taken a vow of silence. She is also concerned about a boy in her class because the teacher said , "We will be the best class in the hallway, and if we can't do on our own, we will do it because we will practice until we can get it right!" Apparently this boy has trouble being quiet in line and standing still. My guess is that "practice" would come right during the walk to recess...never a good sign. What do you want though from a teacher who has it right in the rules: "NO DRAMA!" Good luck to him...has he met 5ht grade girls? LOL Reagan says she will try really hard. Yeah she will work so hard at NO DRAMA all day that we will get the lions share when she gets home!!

While the girls were gone my little man and I met friends and took advantage of the last two weeks of free bowling. However, real life is so very different than playing bowling on the Wii and Ryan was reduced to tears...again...when he couldn't get them all down all the time! He did have a rough day and talk about drama...yikes! Poor guy feels like everyone is leaving him...really? I'm here....but I don't count because I am ALWAYS here...someone should pity me. He did smash his little fingers in between Ron's car door and mine when I was changing out the car seats and he did state OVER and OVER and OVER again how very hungry he was this morning. Never mind that I was making it!!!! UGH! Anyway, he and I had great moments of a day and I look forward to him being well rested tomorrow and having the best day yet!

As for me....well I feel like a brand new woman! I was so desperate for a break that even having 2 of the 3 gone was a great relief. Meeting the needs of three people all day long is so taxing. Especially when they ask me questions ALL DAY LONG! Seriously I think this summer they forgot to think for themselves! But by the time they got home, fun, happy, thinks shes funny, mom was back in town. I think I hear the girls sighing with relief. In fact it was down right funny watching look at me to see if I was real or a happy mommy mirage. Whatever. Ron will be back tomorrow and hopefully we won't have to be apart any longer. This has been the longest 3 weeks of all time. I miss him. Well this should satisfy my 3 readers for a day or so! Oh and I just realized I forgot to call my Mother in Law back...sorry mom....trip was great....school started today...when are ya coming out for a visit?

Back to School...sweet words, but I couldn't help but miss them....I am sure I will be fine tomorrow!

Making Time, Taking Time

2010-07-25T22:56:00.000-04:00

I am sure any parent can relate to this issue...enough time. Some may think I am talking about having enough time to do all the chores, or work enough hours, or just get it all done peroid. What what I am talking about is that precious one on one time that if you don't make it, you certainly won't take it. I guess you could say it's always in the back of my head that I have always wanted to have more one on one time with each of the members of my family. Ron gets his time after the kids are in bed, but with 3 kids 3 years apart there is rarely a moment for me to just be with Reagan, or just be with Bec and I have to say Ry gets the lions share because he's not in school all day. However, even with him if I am not intentional, his time can get stolen away with chores or phone calls. However, a week ago, Reagan asked me why she doesn't get to stay up a little later than the rest now that she is 10. Valid question. The problem is that I was afraid that if I let her stay up my day would NEVER end. So one night when she couldn't sleep she asked if she could come down stairs with me. It was a particuarly long day and the last thing I wanted was more company. Ron was closing and I had few precious minutes all to myself. So I said, "no." Then the guilt took over so I told her she could come down stairs on one condition...DO NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS!!! Seriously. I was spent from meeting everyone's needs all day long and one more question was going to put me in a straight jacket. She agreed and we had a lovely evening together playing Mario Kart and trying to open new worlds.
Each night now I find myself looking forward to a few extra minutes just her and me. What is interesting I am finding myself finally satisfied with the time we have together and the relationship we are nurturing. I am also finding that during the day she is not as needy or competitve for my time. Very interesting.

Then we have sweet, patient Rebecca. Rebecca will mention something and then not bring it up again in hope that you will remember her request for your undivided attention. I am sad to admit that sometimes my precious middle child gets lost in the shuffle. That has always been my worst fear having walked in those shoes. Oldest kid needs attention because they always have some kind of drama or life changing issue going on, youngest kid can't do much for themselves so there is the middle fending for themself and taking whatever scraps are left over. Tonight as I tucked Rebecca in bed, I turned out the light and walked away sad that another day had passed us by. Once downstairs it dawned on me that Reagan would be fine for a bit by herself so I went back upstairs to Rebecca. We have been trying to read "Ramona Forever" forever. Because we wanted to read it together. We tried to find it but couldn't and I truly think Rebecca was morn interested in going to sleep. So we made a date...tomorrow night her and I "Ramona Forever." She said goodnight with a pep in her voice excited that we were going to have a date in my room tomorrow. I know just making that effort will pay off huge for her...and me.

This parenting thing is hard work. There are so many things to juggle trying to raise these precious lives to be awesome adults who live the best life God intends for them. There are so many hours needed to get everything done. However, it's developing these relationships that are the most important. I guess if somethings get left undone so that my kiddos know that I have made time for them and we can have a firm relationship. Then it will all be worth it. However, the no more questions rule will still be in place at least some of the time. I know in a blink they will be off and the shoe will be on the other foot as I wait for them to make time for me. We make time and take time for the things that really mean the most to us. It's time for me to starting showing them what is most important to me.

Baby Calendar

2010-07-14T23:21:00.001-04:00

I love to scrapbook, that's no secret, but I have projects that I especially love to do. When my sister was pregnant with her second baby, I knew how busy life would be so I made her a baby calendar. This way you fill it in when you have a chance, you have a beautiful scrapbook page and you remember to take a picture of your baby every month so you can see how much they change. Ten years later when you finally have two seconds you transfer the information to the baby book. I enjoyed putting every little detail into that book and seeing my sisters face when she opened it. Because she likes her calendar so much she has asked me to make one for her friend who is also having a baby girl. So in the quiet of my home, since all are asleep here is what I ~~copied~~ created tonight! It actually came in a kit from Close to My Heart and I followed the directions but some colors have been added a a few minor changes make it a little mine too! If you would like to see it up close just click on the picture.

Coffee

2010-07-14T01:06:00.000-04:00

Coffee sweet energy giving nectar. Coffee cursed coffee. I drank you too late and not I cannot find rest.

Summer

2010-07-11T12:01:00.000-04:00

What is summer? Summer can be defined as endless days of trying to figure out what to do! Around here it consists of learning life skills like how to get along with people you don't like, how to continue to use a glass for wine when the day calls for just the bottle and a straw. We are learning to play with our gazillion toys because the Mom has threatened to throw them all out if one more person even suggests they have nothing to do. We are learning that a house that is 80 degrees is so very much cooler than a backyard that is 102. My children are learning that as their mother I have endless lists of chores and if they are going to complain about doing one chore I will surely have additional things they can do. They learned that one super fast. I think that all of this free time searching for people we want to be with, activities we want to do and try to not waste entire days, gives us all a love for school and the routine it brings. All in all this summer has been great so far. Knock on wood the girls took my threat of their world caving in to heart and have stopped bickering. They also found that as they try to be less selfish they are having more fun together. As for me, a little work and a little play seems to be how I will have a good day! Look a rhymer. Summer, yes endless days of trying to figure out what to do...how far will our imaginations take us? I have no idea but I do wonder how many bottles of Mike's Hard Lemonade can be in the recycle before people start to think you have a problem?

My Rock Star

2010-07-10T08:22:00.002-04:00

I have to share this because you have to see it! When our friends from Seattle were in town we did a survivor game day. Included were teams broken up into different colors. We had each team come up with a name, a song and a dance that we promptly recorded! Here is a picture of Ryan as he was the star of Biggins and the Boys!

Root Bound

2010-07-10T07:55:00.003-04:00

I planted seeds way back in the winter for my garden this year. We had great plans for a garden but this and that happened and we ran out of time and money. However, I have a precious few plants that survived and are now mostly feeding the rabbits. There is one plant that has taught me a lesson though. My cherry tomato plant and the one I was most excited to get fruit from. However, I had it in a container and although it seemed to be growing it was not looking healthy and it certainly was not producing. So I took it out and put it into a bigger container and just like I suspected the plant was root bound. I put it in some water and massaged the roots and replanted it. Now the leaves are full and beautifully green and those precious yellow flower that indicated fruit is on the way have begun to form! I can't even tell you how excited I am about that.

Of course me being me there is always a deeper something I get from experience like that. I started to look at myself and see areas where I might be "root bound." Perhaps stuck in a rut or staying too long in a comfort zone when in reality I would thrive better if I stepped out and moved into something new. I guess as I take inventory of life I need to decide what areas have served me well in the past but need readjusting and what things need to stay and what needs to go. I don't ever want to not reach my full potential.

I have to say have been inspired by more than plants as well. Some time ago Ron's Aunt stepped out of her comfort zone and attended a paper crop. There she tried something new and started making cards. They are beautiful!! Once she takes the step she has an offer to make some and place them in a friends store and I KNOW they are going to sell like hot cakes!! She inspires me to be unafraid to try new things and see where they will take me. Of course I would not leave you hanging without a picture of her beautiful work. Thanks Aunt DeeDee...you are amazing!!

Hives

2010-06-16T21:27:00.003-04:00

I have them. I hate them. They refuse to go away. Worst of all I have no idea why I have them. All I know is that I am taking everything the doctor said to take and still nothing helps. Perhaps I am allergic to relaxing because as soon as I sit down and just relax for a second they pop out with a vengeance. I must admit I am getting pretty good at functioning in this haze of allergy fighting medicines. Every morning I have a benedryl hangover and all through the day I fight the urge to just close my eyes for a minute. I am getting a good amount of pity from my children though and that's always nice. I am bummed however because I have been taking St.Johns Wort and Gingko Baloba for almost two months and have been feeling great and the Doc made me stop taking it. I had fallen short on taking it the last several days so I really doubt that is what this is all about. Nonetheless I am trying to do it all right in hope that I might find sweet release from the itching!! I have to wonder though if by taking the Wort and then sitting in the sun for two hours watching Bec play soccer, if that's what triggered this whole thing...is that possible? I may never know, but what I do know is that hives are evil and I can't wait to get rid of them. I took the max dose of Benedryl so I will either get some sweet relief or it will go the other way and I will have enough nervous energy to finish cleaning up the basement. Pray for me...oh how I want to scratch!!

Bark, Bark

2010-06-14T16:16:00.002-04:00

So for some unknown reason my son has taken to pooing in his pants. Not full loads but just enough that I have to scrub it and enough that he smells like a barn until I do. I have no idea why, but this new things is so very annoying and frustrating. At any rate, the other day I was pretty upset with him about it and so I say, "Ryan, why did you poop in your underwear again?"
"Bark, Bark" was the reply, "I'm a doggie mom and I can't talk." So I tell him to become a little boy again and answer the question. So he looks at me with those dark eyes and charming smile and beings to bark a "sentence" to me while he makes gestures with his arms. Darn it all, I laughed. That single laugh was the kiss of death to my serious mom conversation. I cleaned him up and told him don't do it again, to which he said, "OK" so I dove back in with the "why did you do it?" and the reply..."bark, bark..."

Amazing Changes

2010-06-10T20:57:00.005-04:00

Rebecca has grown so much this school year I can hardly believe she is the same girl! She began the school year quiet and withdrawn, afraid to eat in the lunch room and never raised her hand. Fast forward several months and here we find a happy, confident girl who is willing to not only eat in the lunch room but buy her lunch. She encourages others to work through their fears and is talkative and reads books in front of her class. Rebecca is smart and intentional about every thing that she does. When she sets her mind to a project she works at it until she gets it and she usually gets it fast. She learned to ride her bike in two days and by the end of a week a girl who could not swim was jumping into the deep end and swimming to the edge alone. She amazes me and makes me believe that the things I have been to afraid to try are actually within my reach if I but take the first step. A few days back I posted about courage, well here are the photos to show that Rebecca was indeed courageous and it paid off big!

Memorial Day

2010-06-03T16:57:00.003-04:00

First of all a big Thank You to all the men and women who serve and have served in our military. I am always amazed at how much those families give up to defend our freedom. In honor of our military my two American Heritage Girls got to march with their troop in the Memorial Day Parade. We were toward the end of the parade so we got to see a bunch of it. Ryan was so excited to throw candy and be in the parade too. It was great fun!

All the badges on their uniforms they earned this year. The medallion hanging under the troop number was for a eight week religion class they took, did homework for and memorized the Lord' Prayer and the Ten Commandments. They worked very hard this year we are really proud of them!

Courage

2010-06-02T17:52:00.003-04:00

Next time I give one of my children a lecture, I think I will be prepared to learn the lesson myself. This morning Rebecca was upset because they have started swimming at school. One of the tasks is to just jump into the pool toward the person standing there. For most of us that is not a big deal, but to my first grader who cannot swim, it's huge to jump into water over her head toward a stranger. So this morning I told her that before she jumps to ask Jesus to give her courage and trust that He will keep her safe and then plug her nose and jump! I also mentioned that no one was going to let her drown because Mommy could be a scary person if someone hurts her babies!! So off to school she goes. In walks Ron and says, "there is a blood drive at my store today, want to go with me and give blood?" UMMM...no? However, not wanting to appear less awesome than he, I say sure I'd love to. It took forever in the little bus and then it happened someone was about to get started and like an accident I couldn't look away. Then she pulled out the needle. Instant tears as it looked much more like a rod or skewer for ka-bobs or something. Of course I am standing there with some of Ron's co-workers so I went with the Las Vegas slogan...What happens on the bus, stays on the bus! As far as they are concerned I was the picture of courage. Then my little conversation with Rebecca popped into my head and I had to laugh at how funny God thinks He is. So I took my own advice and prayed for courage and laid on the table. Clearly I lived and it wasn't as bad as I thought. It's clear now that I cannot blame Ron any longer for the drama that goes on with our kids...they do in fact get it from me...Darn it!

Cake Walk

2010-05-14T17:00:00.004-04:00

I volunteered to donate two cakes to our school's cake walk for Family Fun night. I figured the best way to entice children to walk for cakes was to cover them with candy. So while the cakes baked Ryan and I spent 20 minutes separating mini M&M's into different colored bowls. It was actually fun spending that time with him. He is very good at sorting. The end result was a mosaic looking picture that was super fun to make. Hopefully it will be the cake of the night. I, however, will not know because we are not going. I am sorry to say that the thunderstorms are rolling in already. Hopefully they have a plan B for all of the outside games. Here are my masterpieces:

After working so hard on these, Ryan has it in his mind that we must make another for when his grandparents come on Sunday. The white one has chocolate cake and the Chocolate one has...yep....white cake. Pretty sneaky, huh?!

Stuck

2010-05-11T15:32:00.002-04:00

So I met some new friends last Friday that have children the same age as ours. In fact they even have the girl, girl, boy order. The time at the park was wonderfully fun. We had a picnic lunch and all of the kids played so well together. Because I am me and I have a daughter just like me, we always seem to be able to make the event memorable. Yes, there is a story here...

Reagan and her new friend Emily were messing around on the baby swings. Since we were initially the only ones at the park no one cared. As any good mother would, I cautioned my eldest to NOT put her legs in the holes as she will most certainly get stuck. I refuse to divulge how I know that. Anyway, Emily is very petite and she accidentally put her legs in the holes but was easily able to get her legs back out. A few minutes later my dear Reagan has this very same accident with a minor exception...she got stuck. I am not suggesting a let me help you out of there kind of stuck, it was more of a "are we going to have to call the fire department" kind of stuck. So my friend, Michelle and I are trying our best, after laughing and taking pictures, to get Reagan out. No luck. Have you ever tried to lift someone as tall as you out of something and over your head?? It's VERY hard. Anyway, soon a gracious man comes over and asks if we need help. We, all three, worked on trying to get her out for at least 20 minutes if not longer. As I looked at everyone I was mortified at the thought of calling the fire department to CUT MY 10 YEAR OLD OUT FROM THE BABY SWING!! Reagan was equally embarrassed by that thought and insisted that she could get out. Finally we tipped her backward and with the strange man tugging on her, Michelle and I were able to get the swing in position and pretty much dump her out with much shaking and tugging. This was unpleasant for Reagan so say the least. Finally out she comes. We go in the bathroom to check out the damage. Her legs look scraped and starting to bruise and then she bursts into tears. Poor thing. So I ask if she is hurt or embarrassed and she sobs, "both." So we dry her tears do a final check to make sure all is working well and dig out some ice packs from the picnic lunch. Our new friends will not forget their time with us...that's for sure!

Reagan insists that now she will listen to me more often as it is crystal clear that I am not just trying to prevent her from having fun but actually know what I am talking about...sometimes! Oh and she as a healthy aversion to baby swings too!

Rebecca and Elizabeth were across the park...I think they were pretending they didn't know us!!

I will be back!!

2010-03-07T19:40:00.002-05:00

I know it's been awhile since I have posted anything. I have been busy with a bunch of stuff around here. I will get back to posting on a more regular basis. Here are a few highlights:

I quit my job and will be done working next week.
I submitted my book to a publisher and it's not what they are looking for right now.
I redecorated my bedroom and bathroom.
I am busy concentrating on myself for a bit so I can be my best self

Kids are great. Ron is awesome. Snow is almost gone. Dog is on my last nerve but we have moments of greatness that leaves me encouraged that he will live past puppy-hood!

Lastly, Ryan was completely irritated and disgusted the other day that I had the nerve to put "nuts" in his orange...

Oh and today he shoved something up his nose and we had to do the blow it out trick and use tweezers to finish the job. I love this boy~!

The Funny Paper

2010-01-24T16:22:00.003-05:00

Today was super cool because I took my coupons out of the Sunday paper and Reagan spied the funnies. I gave each kid a section of it and they laid on the floor and read them. I had flashbacks to when my sister and I used to do the same thing. What was even more entertaining was the fact that they thought because they looked like cartoons that they would be funny to them. I also remember as a child waiting to read them and then not finding them funny at all. Today I tried it again as I saw some of the same comics I used to read as a kid. Much to my surprise they are VERY funny now. I get it. Adult humor. The best one reminded me of my husband and his sister as they had a comic about two kids sitting in the back seat arguing about how they "weren't touching each other." Ron used to hold his finger a millimeter away from Michelle and say, "I'm not touching you." He still does that from time to time to me and I make sure he pays for aggravating Michelle all those years!! LOL

Most Polite

2010-01-24T16:03:00.002-05:00

Ron and I dropped Ryan off at school the other day and his teacher called us to the side. As we stood there and waited to talk to her I ran through the possibilities of things she could want to talk about. None of them were particularly good and I was inventing ways of answering her. Much to my surprise the teacher said, "Ryan is the most polite child I have EVER encountered!" She mentioned how children is age tend to bump into a person and just keep walking, but Ryan always says, "excuse me" and "Sorry Miss Lyn." So we were instructed to keep doing whatever it is that we are doing because it's working and he is a joy to have in class. Ron and I just looked at each other and said, "thank you, we will." We were overwhelmed by such a nice compliment that really falls to Ryan for remembering his manners. Then we laughed in car assuming that today would probably Ryan's rudest day ever. That was not in fact the case and so we give Ryan a hand for being super polite!

I was trying to figure out what makes him/them so polite and the only thing I can think of is that we are polite to him. I do think some it has to do with personality, but we do make sure he uses his manners. I imagine this is surely a case of what you put in you get out. Needless to say we are super proud of Ryan!!

So Much for Everyday!!

2010-01-13T16:26:00.002-05:00

Ugh. I cannot believe that in less than a month I have not kept this resolution!! I guess I just don't have quite that much material yet. Over the last few days I have learned another not so great thing about myself. I am super competitive, but only with Ron it seems. Here is some background. We got a Wii for Christmas. Ron and I play tennis almost every day. He beats me almost every time and somewhere around game three there is mild cursing and the need to take a deep cleansing and calming breath while I repeat..."this is only a game." We play together against the computer and I am just fine. When Ron becomes my opponent I play as if millions are on the line and I might lose a sponsor if I don't win. I have decided that this very game is perfect grounds for me to learn patience and grace when I don't get my way. It's also an excellent time for me to control my ever challenging tongue and learn new words instead of those stinky bad ones. I am getting better albeit very slowly. Turns out that if I talk myself into a calm place I don't get to the cursing, yelling part. Who knows maybe this stupid game will help me achieve the calm filled with grace person I have always wanted to be. It certainly doesn't hurt to follow the tennis matches with baseball in which I slaughter Ron's team every time. Ah yes...that is wonderful. Good thing Ron loves me and doesn't take it personal win I cheer and dance when I win a match!!!

Dishes

2010-01-09T21:18:00.002-05:00

I hated doing dishes as a kid and I hate doing them now. If fact I have a sink full now and I have finally learned that waking up to them ruins the start of my day. So nothing interesting tonight just the knowledge that some things you don't grow out of once you reach adulthood. For me it's a messy bedroom and loathing the chore of dishes. Thank goodness the girls are old enough to start taking over some of the dish doing. As for my bedroom it's a battle but an important one so I am trying to keep it nice. I think once it gets it's make over it will be even easier to keep clean. Off to do the dishes...oh how I hate doing the dishes...

My Dad

2010-01-08T17:36:00.004-05:00

Today's blog is because I miss my Dad. I love the way he interacts with my children. I appreciate how generous he is with time and sometimes money too!! I love when he lets me see his soft side and makes me laugh when he acts all tough. I love that even though his body sometimes screams sixty something, his heart is my age. I love that even though life has been hard and unfair, he still loves Jesus as though it has been perfect. I love that thinking about him makes me smile. I love that God has given me the best Dad a kid could get. I love that because of my dad me and my family love and serve God and therefore have the best life ever. So Dad...thanks. Thanks for everything. The good times, the not so good times, the mistakes and the successes. It's because of you that I am who I am. I am blessed and grateful that you are mine. I love you...

Am I Worth It?

2010-01-07T17:09:00.003-05:00

I have a dilemma. This summer is the Close To My Heart convention and I really want to go. I will get to see Nona whom I haven't seen in a couple of years, spend time with Tiphanie and attend classes and have a great weekend. So what's the dilemma? It's expensive. I know I can save the money but once I do it's this big chunk of change and there are so many things to "need" instead of want. I was surprised that the real issue is do I think I am worth the money it will take to go? Much like my dear husband my paychecks get eaten up by bills and needs for everyone but me. So all this pocket money I was supposed to have has not quite materialized like I had hoped. It has been awesome as Christmas, birthday's and a bunch of other things have been paid for with my little pay check. God has been good and it has stretched far. So if I have done all this for nearly a year for everyone else, why do I feel guilty spending it on myself?? Maybe it's time I blaze new trails for Mom's like me that feel like everyone else in the family is worth great things but us. In my head it really doesn't come out as such a pity party and that's not what I am trying to convey but it is there in the back of my head. Otherwise there is zero reason for me not to be excited about going. No reason I should second guess it because it will be paid for in cash. The other cool thing is I, unlike others can drive to it. So here is what I am going to do. I am going to keep this New Year's Resolution and I am going to go. I am going to take time for myself in one giant chunk and do something that is just for me and all about what I want to do. It may be selfish it may not but I will be sure to let you know how it all works out!! Secondly I will purpose in my head that I will not allow myself to feel anything but excited. As each dollar is saved I will choose to be proud of myself and excited that I have this opportunity. Plus it will give me good practice saving because Ron is turning 40 in 2011 and as we all know it will be here before we know it! I am NEVER going to be able to quit my job...lol

Then and Now

2010-01-05T17:16:00.003-05:00

I have stuff to say but no time to say it so enjoy these then and now pictures. The years are 2007/2010.

Ryan

Too Much Garlic?

2010-01-04T21:06:00.002-05:00

So I had a lean cuisine for dinner. I was in a hurry so I heated it up and ate it kind of fast. Initially it had like zero flavor until it was gone. I literally gagged myself with the garlic flavor in my mouth. I had to go to a meeting shortly there after so now I am trying not to speak to anyone. Good thing I had a roll of certs so I ate so many of those I am working on a stomach ache. Won't be having that particular meal any more. So you might have eaten too much garlic if your own mouth makes you ill!!!

Happy January 2!!

2010-01-03T14:05:00.007-05:00

Because our New Year's Eve/New Year's Day was super lame the girls planned a party for January 2. I had to work 2AM on New Years Day and Ron Closed New Year's Eve so it didn't leave much time for much fun. I told the girls if they would like to celebrate then perhaps they could plan the party. They poured over recipes, selected them, made a grocery list and provided us with invitations. On Saturday morning Ron took Reagan to the grocery store and purchased her items. They spent the day cooking and cleaning up their messes and we had the BEST dinner ever.

Our first course was a white cheese pizza dip. This was so good it was insane. We dipped bread and broccoli. Yum!! Reagan got her first try at putting things in and out of the oven. It made me nervous but since she was following instructions I figured she needed to learn sometime. She did great!

The next course was this amazing Chicken roll. It was Asian inspired and consisted of chicken, carrots, broccoli and celery sauteed in Asian hot chili sauce and oyster sauce. Then it was scooped into crescent rolls and baked. Super yummy and I will be making this again!

They followed it up with a banana split like ice cream sundae. Oh and I forgot to mention that there was a banana smoothie in there some place but no one really liked it. All in all super fun. Once they got it cleaned up they had a movie picked out and we watched it as a family. It was neat watching both girls learn new skills in the kitchen. It was also encouraging to see them gain confidence as they read and followed directions as each dish turned out to perfection. We will be doing this again soon. I hear rumor of a Valentine's Day party!!

Things in the Night

2010-01-02T14:25:00.004-05:00

So a snowman nearly took my life today. This one to be exact:

Reagan built him yesterday. However I woke up last night and didn't know where I was, thought I missed worked and after laughing at me Ron sent me back to bed. When it was finally time to get up for work I grabbed my shower, got ready and came downstairs to let the dog out. I happened to glance out the back window and saw the white figure staring at me. Thus the near life taking. This comes off me hearing someone that is not visible saying, "Mommy" super soft and it's never my children. Well that only happened twice but if you put it all together...scary stuff. After realizing it was the snowman I laughed at myself and called the dog back in the house. Should have been paying attention to what he did out there because I thought he was finished. Imagine my surprise when I went to get the oatmeal out and my sock was warm and wet. Should have just gone back to bed then. Here is a picture of the sculptress and her creation:

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T14:39:00.005-05:00

You can't think "New Year" without thinking "resolutions." The definition of "resolution" should be: Ideas I will find silly and impossible in less than a month, or perhaps a week.
However every year I find myself "goal setting." This year is no different. Some things on my list are universal wishes like 1. lose weight 2. Get organized but this year I have added a few that I hope to keep:

3. Read every book of my Bible by the end of the year
4. Blog something everyday even if it's only a picture
5. Go back through my photography class binder and really learn the information
6. Try something new at least once a month
7. Take time to do the things I enjoy
8. Really live and be present in each moment

I will need to write these down and put them some place where I can see them so I can update you as often as needed. Clearly number 4 will be obvious. I also wanted to say that if you like what you read please leave a comment. I apparently need the validation that you all are actually reading this and it's more than therapy for me. A comment is like getting an unexpected letter in the mailbox. I should add that to the list. Yes #9 send random cards and letters for no apparent reason!!

We have been so busy lately replacing items in our life, adding items to our life and really just trying to survive on 3 hours of sleep. I have a new appreciation for Ron and those who work retail in general. If you can work retail and still be in the Christmas mood you must be a saint. By the third week of Christmas my internal advent calendar was counting down until this madness was over!! I do hope that next year I get the opportunity to savor the season and each wonderful thing about it. Our family will have one less person working retail I am sure. Hopefully it's me because we will be in big trouble if it's not!!

In case you are wondering items we've replaced:1. The Van...the transmission blew and frankly it wasn't worth the money to fix it so I got a new car. Being crazy as I am I cried my eyes out cleaning it out and watching it get towed down the street. Then I took a drive in my new Toyota Camry SE. I began to appreciate the little things like a horn that could actually let someone know that I was present and not to T-bone my car, or the fact that when it's bitter cold I don't have to wait for the car to decide if it wanted to unlock or not. The mere fact that it has a moon roof is enough for me to feel like I have reclaimed a bit of the youth I lost driving the Teal Mini-van all of these years. Ah yes, tears were shed, but I got over it. All I have to do now is recognize the darn thing so I don't have to keep unlocking the doors and looking for the lights to flash!

Items we've added:
1. A Dog. I know. However, we gave the kids a crazy list of requirements for a dog to darken our door step and they researched for over a year until they found it. A dog that does not shed, is hypoallergenic, needs little to no exercise, can handle enormous amounts of affection, is small and does not smell. We also said no pooping but you have to give a little sometimes. I have to say that although I don't LOVE the dog yet I am in deep like. He's very cool, quiet and all in all a good dog. I was out voted in the name arena and his name starts with "R" ugh. Rusty to be exact.

Items we've replaced:
2. The cord to the vacuum, a pair of sneakers, a toy truck, several pencils, crayons and markers and roll after roll of paper towel. See "Items we've added #1.

Items we've added:
2. A Wii. So fun. Ron is quite the rock star. Rebecca is our professional tennis player with a serve you cannot return. Just like real life Reagan can out bowl any one and as for me I can knock you out in boxing in about a minute. Don't pretend that is a surprise. I have pent up issues. Ron has less bruises. LOL kidding. sort of.

Lastly because of resolution #5...I had to scroll up too. I have some pictures to share with you. The girls were outside playing so Ryan was my model. Rusty made the cut too. Happy New Year everyone. I would love to hear some of your goals!

Kate's Baby Shower

2009-11-14T11:22:00.002-05:00

Reagan and I took a girls trip up to Michigan for my sister's baby shower. We had a great time with Grammy the first day. When we arrived my mom had dinner waiting. We visited with her and my dad, Jon and Rachael. The next morning Grammy had made appointments for manicures and pedicures. After that we went to lunch and then to the mall. Reagan and I got our ears pierced and then bought new shoes. That evening we were out to Kate and Mike's house. We had dinner and had a chance to catch up and be entertained by Luke. He is such a cutie!! The next day was the shower. The restaurant(Fandangles on Pierson Rd in Flint,MI) was decorated beautifully.
The food was amazing and if you can ever go there to eat you totally should!!! All of Kate's friends and family came to celebrate with her and they are just the greatest group of people. After we ate Kate got to open her presents and received some of the most adorable clothes ever. I made Kate a baby calendar for the Baby's room. I know things get busy with two little ones so I was hoping it would help her keep track of those miles stones until she can put them in a baby book. It has room for pictures of the baby each month. I put a slide show in for those of you who asked me to see it. After the shower we went back to Kate's and because her boss at the restaurant completely blessed us by not charging us for the shower( I am still in shock over that) I bought dinner out for everyone. After we ate Christa(our cousin)Kate, Mike and I decorated Luke's big boy room. It turned out so cute. I have never seen such a little kid so in to John Deere tractors. It was so much fun!! Sunday came too quickly and it was time for us to come home again. When I arrived, Ron and the kids had the house all cleaned up beautifully and he had cleaned the carpets. It was so lovely to come home too. I sure am excited to see my new niece!

Halloween

2009-11-14T10:47:00.006-05:00

This year was a great Halloween, or "Ask strangers for candy on an obscure Night" night. We always trick or treat on the Thursday before Halloween. I have no idea why. I guess its a PA thing. Anyway as much as I tried to get costumes done early it just didn't work out, so a few days before I was running around trying to make costumes. Thankfully it all worked out. As is tradition now my friend Chrissy and her two children came over after school. The kids played while we made dinner and then we proceeded to get them all ready to trick or treat. Just about the time that is all finished the guys show up and we meet the neighbors on the street and the kids begin their night. The weather was perfect in fact I could have gone longer but the kids pooped out! Anyway I know you all just want to see the pictures so I will get to it. I didn't ask my friend if her kids pictures could be posted so I blocked them out.

Reagan was a girl football player for the Eagles of course, Rebecca was a ninja, Ryan was Mushu from the movie Mulan. The other children dressed as a shadow, snow fairy and shrek.

It was a really fun night. Everyone did really well and they got lots of candy!!

Rocket

2009-11-03T13:54:00.003-05:00

This amazingly gross creature was one of our family pets. This is Rocket the hermit crab. He came out of his shell one day and I thought it was to move into a bigger shell. I have never seen a hermit crab outside the shell and after 4 years figured out how to use the macro part of my big lens. It was so simple I feel like an idiot and I alone know how I made it work. I intend to keep that way!! I digress. ANYWAY, after Rocket sat outside his shell the whole day and didn't move I realized that he had come out to die. I took comfort in the fact that I could tell my two drama filled daughters that he didn't die alone, but there was no way on this Earth I was scooping him out. It was a perfect job for Ron. Rocket tipped over, I told the girls he died and there was much weeping. While Reagan cried she wrote this:

ROCKET:
*Hermit Crab
*I got him on July 20th, 2008
*He died on October 9th, 2009

I hope to see rocket in heaven along with a bunch of my other pets. Rocket was a great hermit crab and I am sad that he is gone. He was a boy who loved to play with speedy.(Rebecca's hermit crab)I am glad Miss Janna gave him to me. I will see him in heaven and he will be as healthy as can be. I am so glad God put Rocket and Speedy into my hands. I can't wait to see you in Heaven, Rocket...Love Reagan

Isn't that sweet? So to help the girls focus on something else my friend Chrissy invited us over for dinner so the kids could play and we could get out of the house of death and despair. We were gone for 2 1/2 hours. Upon our arrival we went to pay last respects before bed and THE CRAB WAS UPRIGHT AGAIN!!!! I immediately started having flash backs to my childhood when my bachelor Uncle let my sister and watch Pet Cemetery as very young children. We also got to eat about a trough full of ice cream...Reagan was somewhat frustrated that she had wasted all of that emotion and those kind words on a pet that was not dead. Not the reaction i expected. I suppose if I ever die and happen to be raised from the dead I won't take it too hard when they are annoyed!!
So the girls go to bed with a happy heart, I go to bed and close my door fully expecting to hear a crab claw scraping at my door. I wish I was joking. Anyway, we get up the next morning and the crab is dead again...for sure this time as he is starting to smell. I don't know if Speedy propped him up the night before or what happened but he is definitely dead now. Well he was dead or murdered because the slight smell was enough for me to put him in a plastic bag for burial. Either way, we morn the loss of Rocket who was indeed the very best hermit crab a kid could have.
Oh and I had great fun telling Reagan to take him down to show my dad on one of his visits. I told her Papa John would LOVE to see Rocket. I sat at the stairs like a child and laughed to tears as I heard my Dad say...OK REAGAN, SERIOUSLY TAKE THAT UPSTAIRS I DON'T NEED TO BE BY YOUR CRAB!!!! ROFLOL it still makes me laugh. Yeah...Rocket he was a blast...lol...

Preview

2009-11-02T06:50:00.004-05:00

I know it has been almost a month simply because I am looking at the date, but it really feels like just a few days since the last time I posted. Here are a few items you can look forward too:

1. Our trip to Michigan
2. Kate's baby shower and the gift I made. (I know some of you have been wanting to see pictures)
3. Swine Flu and the joy of caring for someone who likes to be cared for
4. Trick or Treat night...yes it's still on the Thursday before Halloween

so needless to say I will be playing catch up over the next few days!! I have it on my list to pull my camera back out so that should help me too. Hope you all are well and this bad blogger will redeem herself soon!!

Here are two pictures of Ryan waiting for Reagan to show us her moves in swim class:

This is Ry about to show me how strong he is.
Here is my cool breeze watching the kids swim!

A Camping We Will Go

2009-10-03T15:11:00.003-04:00

So yesterday was the big day. Time to get Reagan ready to go on her first camp out with the American Heritage Girls. Easy enough. Ryan and I go shopping for all the things on her giant list. One hundred dollars later we are through. After we get home I start putting things together and realize that she does not have enough clean pants so I throw a load of laundry in. Time flies by and it's time to get the kids from the school bus. Keep in mind Ryan just got off the potty a few minutes ago so imagine my surprise when I am ready to walk out the door and he is soaked in pee. Great. I call my neighbor and he goes and gets the kids. We race around the house trying to finish the packing and getting Reagan another shower since I don't know when she'll get to have one. I call my friend Angie and since neither of us knows where we are going we decide to follow each other. We pick a meeting spot and it's ready set go. I knew Reagan needed to eat dinner and since I didn't know what time they were doing what I take everyone through Wendy's. We go to pull away from the drive thru and i look in the bay...3 straws...4 drinks. I was just about to complain about this when I hear...SPLASH...Rebecca dumped what was supposed to be a small size soda but was more like a medium, all over the floor. Instead of quickly picking it up she stands there. Since I am buckled with stuff on my lap I start yelling...hurry up pick it up!!!! Too late. Entire cup all over the floor. So she grabs a towel and starts to clean it up. Now she's crying. I tell her I am sorry for yelling but she informs me that's not why she is crying...she has no drink now. I say don't worry about it you can share with Ry because he doesn't need a 2 liter for a drink. Now we are running late. I pull out of the parking lot and over goes my soda and my fries go flying. At this point I am like...seriously?? I get a call, it's Angie she has forgotten her own jacket and since she was staying with the girls she has to go back. We just bought ourselves 20 minutes. I stop at another light and hear...OH GREAT!...it's Becs again...spilled fries. UNREAL. We finally get to the meeting place and i get out to pour some of Ryan's drink into Becca's cup and Reagan says the words I am starting to dread...OH GREAT! I look over and she has spilled her fries. Then she has the nerve to say...Bad things always happen to me....REALLY??? My car just got baptised in root beer and fries and bad things happen to her? I think not. Well God spared her a lecture because one minute later Angie pulls up. So we are on our way. The ride there was uneventful except for the last 20 minutes where Ryan starts to cry because he has to pee. He's yelling...it hurts...which i have finally figured out means...I am holding it and I can't do this much longer. I tell him, and did I mention he had no nap, just pee you have a pull up on...it's OK. He doesn't get it so continues to cry the rest of the way. We finally arrive at camp it's dark and pouring rain. Like Movie rain where you are soaked within minutes. Our tent is not ready so we put all of our things in on tent. Ryan is still crying because he has to pee and now he's getting wet, Rebecca admits she lied and did not go to the bathroom before she left and now has to go and Reagan has disappeared into the dark before I could give her some last minute instructions. I send Bec to the bathroom with some of the older girls, hold Ry, put him down, pick him up, put him down beg him to tell me why he is still crying and then it happens. Sweet relief he can't hold it a second longer and he finally pees. See, I told you your pants wouldn't get all wet. Thinking not much else can go wrong I kiss Reagan good bye help her get her poncho on, remind her not to get lost and we head back to the car. Becca informs me that the bathrooms/outhouse smelled so bad there was no way she was going in there. As we get back to the car, it's still pouring and I am soaked, I tell bec to go to the front of the car, pull your pants down and squat down and pee. I reminded her to hold her pants out of the way. I get Ry settled and her comes Becca around the corner soaked from waist to ankles with pee. She didn't know I meant she had to pull her pants all the way down. Now I just start laughing. It's so ridicules at this point all I can do is laugh. Thankfully I had one more blanket in the trunk so I told her to strip down and to wrap herself in the blanket. I get a few things switched around and I look in the back seat and she is sitting there half naked on top of the blanket. I said...don't you think you might get cold? She replies yes I am freezing. After a long exhale I tell her to WRAP herself in the blanket like a towel around her waist. We are finally headed home. The only thing left to do was have my car break down or get lost but thankfully none of that happened. What a night. This morning I took Reagan new shoes because hers were soaked and some new socks because by the time they got their tent set up the floor was wet. So glad she had a mat to sleep on. Tonight will be cold and the windows in her tent do not close. Hopefully all the other things I gave her to keep her warm will work. She is however having the best time ever. She was learning to build a fire when I left.

Camping

2009-10-01T17:22:00.002-04:00

Reagan is going camping tomorrow night with her scouting program. Thankfully my Dad has camped in a tent before and gave me some advice of how to keep her warm. It has been quite chilly here at night so I am hoping it works. She will earn about 6 badges this weekend which is awesome for her, not so great for me. That means I have to sew them all on the vest. Ugh. However, I think I am going to find that boy scout store because they are smart and have this super sticky stuff just for badges. No sewing!! I am sure that will look about a million times better as I am a terrible sewer. I hope to hear some good stories from Reagan when she returns. I cannot go because I and Ron have to work at one time or another. I am trying to be super sad about that, but my version of camping has a camper in it with a bed and heat for heaven sakes. I seriously need to pull my camera out. It has been ages since I have posted anything with any pictures. I have been a little stressed lately and I think it's coming out in my posts!! I promise some more light hearted stuff soon.

On a totally unrelated note, Rebecca has been scared to death to eat in the cafeteria at school. It's been a couple of weeks that she hasn't been eating her lunches. She had herself so worked up that she couldn't eat anything. Well we partnered with her teacher and I went and had lunch with the other day. She was right it is loud in there. However, we were able to look at the situation piece by piece and come up with some tangible solutions to make it less scary. Today she came home, had a great lunch, wasn't scared at all. Thank goodness for teachers that work with parents! I know I couldn't have done it alone and I am blessed to have such a great teacher for Rebecca. She has gone out of her way to help Bec work this out. I have a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Flynn!! Hopefully I am not celebrating too soon. I am just so thankful that she ate today. I have been so stressed out trying to figure out how to help her. God has given amazing wisdom to us and to her teacher and a fantastic amount of grace and courage to Rebecca.

One more unrelated note. I am potty training Ryan. pray for me....

Why Family Matters

2009-09-29T17:05:00.002-04:00

I have always wondered why my girls have a hard time telling other people how they feel. In fact, when it comes to other adults they often hide their feelings. For example, when Reagan was taking horse back riding lessons, the giant horse stepped on her little first grader foot and she didn't cry until 1/2 hour later when she got into the car. Why? She didn't want her teacher to see her cry. Rebecca is afraid to tell her teacher when she is feeling homesick or scared about her lunch time surroundings. Today it finally dawned on me. In the crucial years of their lives we didn't live near any family. My children haven't had other adults consistently present in their lives where they would learn to confide in someone apart from Ron and I. Even now we are closer but the relationships are surface at best and still the time we make is not often enough to foster a trust relationship. It makes me wish that our friends from Seattle were still so near. Our families have nearly the same dynamic, same core beliefs and the same interest in seeing each others children reach their full potential. How great it would be to have them be near so our children had other adults to tell stuff to as they grow in case they felt they couldn't tell us. I am, however, grateful that at this point my children share with me what's going on in their lives. I hope that as they grow listening to stories about recess and who threw up today, will lead to stories about more important things. For now I am grateful that our families get to be involved way more than they used to. I know that has great benefits of its own. This parent thing is so HARD!!!!

Did I Teach You That?

2009-09-28T14:11:00.002-04:00

It has happened several times now and event followed by floods of tears. Reagan is upset because there was a project to do but she didn't get to participate because the other kids were in the way. Rebecca wants to try something new, but doesn't get a turn because she didn't speak up. Kids say or do things to them and they don't say a word. How did they get like this? My girls are afraid to stand up for themselves and seriously lacking assertiveness. I have always taught them to watch out for those smaller than them, be polite, take turns, don't be selfish, be kind, be careful what you say so you don't hurt another persons feelings. However, some of the message got lost in translation because they are becoming doormats for other children who don't care about their feelings or care if everyone gets a turn. I can honestly say that at this point I have no idea how to teach them the difference between being a nice person and standing up for themselves to be sure they are heard too. I know where it starts, but I didn't think it was obvious. I am a people pleaser. Worried about hurting someone Else's feelings or how they will react at my own expense. My children have caught on to that and I must say it's not what I want for their lives. It's so hard to walk this line between being courteous and being taken advantage of. Especially in this day and age. I don't think half of us realize what our children have to deal with at school. Kids are mean and rude and disrespectful and if you have any concern for those things at all, your young child is swimming up stream against all this nastiness coming their way. I am amazed at how much they have to deal with daily and yet still have to grow and learn what is right when all around them others do whatever they feel like. I am learning to stand up for myself because if I don't show them the proper way to be confident then they will never learn and have the same fate as I. I have never been more aware than I am now of how much we need to pray for our children. They face way more than we ever did and it is scary out there. However, I do believe that our kids can be light in this dark world but they can't do it alone. I get now, more than ever how I need to be the advocate for my kids, cover them in prayer and strengthen them as they face their day. The time is gone for my own selfish behavior and the day has dawned for me to step up and be the woman that my kids can look to for encouragement, strength, grace and courage. Most of all to be those loving arms that hug away a day of mean kids, contradicting truth and a battle that I can only imagine that they face.

I Will Come Back to You

2009-09-15T16:29:00.005-04:00

If you have talked to me in the last couple of weeks you already know that I have been struggling with the kids being back to school. I also realize that most of you think I am insane and I am OK with that. I am used to Reagan being gone all day. Although I hate that I only get so few hours with her and when she has something in the evening it's even less. However, this year Rebecca also started going all day. We've been back for a few weeks and yet everyday at lunch time I get a little twinge of sadness because I know she is not coming home to eat with us. The biggest change has been taking Ryan to preschool. That was my hardest day yet. Let's just say it was a very quick goodbye as I could not hold the tears back a second longer. Thankfully my dear friend Tiphanie was there to the rescue and kept me busy that first morning. So here I am in a new phase of life. I remember counting the days until I would have some time alone and now I look back and see just how fast it goes. So here I sit having zero idea what to do with myself. Well I have some idea, it's called "clean your house" but really who wants to do that when they are trying to redefine normal. Anyway, fast forward to today. At the front of Ryan's school is a fenced in playground. Nothing special but he always wants to stop in and play. So today we went in and played for a while. There is one toy that has a steering wheel some slides and stairs. Ryan dubbed it his school bus. While he was waiting to take his turn driving he sat on the "school bus." Then he looked at me and said, "Mommy I am going to go to school now, but don't worry when I am done I will come back to you." Those words have been in my heart and on my mind all day long. The truth of the matter is that if I am doing my job right as they go experience life and independence they will come back to me. They will come back for support, a hand to help them up with they fall and mess up, encouragement and most of all a soft place to land. If I am doing my job right then my kids will know like the song says that I am in fact the greatest fan of their lives. At the end of the day I am so grateful that it's only elementary and preschool and not college or marriage that I am sending them away to go and do. It means that I still have time to get the most out of every day and every moment. It means that I still have time to get it right, to build a relationship with my children so when they are grown they will indeed come back to me. Here are some pictures from every one's first day of school. Fourth grade for Reagan, first grade for Rebecca and preschool for Ryan.

History Repeats Itself

2009-09-09T16:30:00.003-04:00

School lunches are always a fun and passionate subject around our house. I think almost all of us can remember our school lunches and not appreciate all of them. I for one can remember egg salad sandwiches and my dear mother not caring how terrible it smelled by the time I got to lunch time. I can also remember tossing my lunch and a special squirrel God picked out just for me to dig it out of the garbage. Yes I got in trouble but that is a story for another day. Ron's passion lies in the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches his mom made for him. His working, tired mom that slaved over these sandwiches, filled with love I might add, for her teenage son. (see mom, I've got your back!) Ron insists that every day his mom would make his sandwich and then squish the bread together with her hand. I have heard that his mother has no recollection of this. Anyway, by the time he would get to lunch it would be all mushy and seeping through the bread. I would like to present exhibit A:

This is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that Ron made for Rebecca this morning. This is the sandwich she found at lunch and could not get herself to even try to eat it. Clearly the apple did not fall far from the tree! Ron insists that he did not smash it but does admit that maybe he put a little too much jelly on the sandwich. I whole heartily agree!!

Playing

2009-09-05T19:21:00.004-04:00

Rebecca has become quite the willing model so I was playing around with my camera the other day and got these shots!

Another Milestone

2009-08-27T09:54:00.009-04:00

I took the girls back to school shopping last week. They did really well and we had lots of fun. This is a first for us when it comes to shopping. At any rate, it was time to get Rebecca new shoes for school. However, she is out grown the Velcro phase and all we could find is tie shoes. She didn't know how to tie them so I told her she could learn or I could double knot them in the morning and she'd be set. So we bought the shoes. Two days later Rebecca comes to me and tells me she is ready to learn. As Rebecca's mom I have learned to wait for her to be ready to learn something. Once she is ready then the teaching can commence with little frustration on either part. I was not prepared though for how quickly she would catch on to this skill. after a few tries she had it figured out!

Rebecca makes the "X" and step one is complete!

Now it's time to make the bow.

It's finally time to pull it tight!

With that she is ready to show off her great work!! I am so proud of her.

Fun with Light

2009-08-27T09:29:00.006-04:00

I have been enjoying my photography class although not getting to participate as much as I had hoped. I have been pouring over my lessons though and taking some time to play. My latest lesson was all about light. I took a few shots playing with the different features of my camera. Although I don't see myself shooting in blue too much I just love this picture of Rebecca:
It's been interesting to see how different colors work with different skin tones. Reagan cannot do the sepia tone pictures. It just makes her look ill. Its the same for Ron. I think it is their intense olive color skin. However, Ryan can't do black and white as well but seems to thrive in the sepia tone colors:
It seems the onslaught of puberty has hidden Reagan's smile more than it reveals it but I did get her to tolerate me while I tried to get the "catch lights" in her eyes. When you get this light reflection in the eyes it really puts life into the picture. After I showed her a few of her Eeyore pictures I was able to get this smile with the lovely catch lights in her pretty eyes:

New Stuff Coming

2009-08-25T19:45:00.002-04:00

I know those of you who check this blog out are so tired of seeing nothing new. I apologize for disappearing for so long. Things have been crazy but I do have lots to share. The kids go back to school tomorrow so I will have some time to catch up. However, right now I have to run. First day of school tomorrow and I have to get the crew to bed. I will post soon with pictures to boot!!

A Day with the Fish

2009-08-06T09:07:00.017-04:00

We recently took a trip to the aquarium! It was really cool and the kids had a great time, but we felt it was really over priced for the amount of exhibits that we got to look at.
However, I still wanted to share some of the things we saw. The first thing we did when we got there was check out the Dolphin show. This was lots of fun to watch.

We were a short time into the show when our first attitude popped up. I can't say I blame her, but Reagan and I have two different cameras. Mine shoots really fast and hers doesn't shoot until the dolphin was already back into the water. I finally convinced her to just enjoy the show and take pictures of slower moving objects!

Dolphin saying hello!

The dolphins went all around the tank and just sat there and looked at us while they blew bubbles! I thought this was really funny.

The height that this dolphin got was pretty impressive. Next we were off to see the sting rays and I believe there were a couple of sharks in there too. The tank was huge and just full of all different kinds of sting rays!

Later on in the day Ryan learns that the world is full of corners! There was quite a group of people that felt sorry for Ryan and thought I was evil. I base that on the AWW's Ry got and the dirty looks that I received. That's OK because what those lovely people forget is that if he doesn't stand there, they too will be annoyed by his behavior.

Ron and Bec stop to pose for a picture by the turtle tank. As you can see in the background Ry got out of the corner

The Jelly fish were most of our favorite part. Ryan screamed bloody murder so I took a quick spin and got out of there because those same people that were giving me dirty looks, were giving them to me again. Ugh. I just can't win!!! LOL Still Ron got some super cool shots.

This last picture has nothing to do with the Aquarium I just love this picture of my little royalty!!

The Franklin Institute

2009-07-19T18:01:00.006-04:00

We went out to Philly yesterday and took the kids to the Franklin Institute. It was a great time although a little overwhelming. Ron was excited as he relayed memories from his childhood and ran right to the big heart that you can walk through. I am quite sure the kids learned nothing as they were so excited to just try everything that they didn't stop to read directions or to see what they were looking for. Turns out for an extra $27 we could get a year membership. So we did figuring that we would like to go back again. Next time we will have some questions for the kids to answer so it's more productive. We sure had a fun day though and everyone did really well while we were there. We enjoyed and under the sea movie at the Imax which totally freaked Ryan out at first, but he got used to it. Of course there were strange sea creatures mating, although discretely it was enough to start, "what are they doing?" questions. Then there were preying/eating scenes those are always a crowd pleaser for my animal lovers! Lastly I thought Ron was going to fog up the giant screen with his sighs as they preached about global warming and how we are destroying everything. I had to play devils advocate and ask if he's ever been deep sea diving and if not then how does he know it's not true. That sigh did fog up my glasses! LOL Anyway I used this opportunity to complete a photography assignment and I am in the "my photos are worse before they are better" place. Here are the few that turned out. I won't tell you whats wrong with them so you can just enjoy!!

Ron and Ryan building moon cars.

Rebecca building a moon car

Ben Franklin

Reagan watching an open heart surgery

Is it needed?

2009-07-16T17:19:00.002-04:00

Rebecca is in a place of quoting movies. The only problem is she integrates them right into her sentences so you think she is mouthing off. For an example, the other day the girls had done the dishes and a few hours later there were more to pick up. So I call Rebecca into the room and ask her to clear the table and she says, " I just cleaned up this mess, can't we keep it that way for more than ten minutes?" Shocked and somewhat irritated I ask her to please repeat what she just said. Sensing that she just entered a dangerous area she says, "you know Mom, like Mr. Incredible says, I just cleaned up this mess...I thought it would be funny." Oh well, yeah it's kind of funny when one is informed that movies are being quoted. So this morning, I have no idea what she did but Ron asks Rebecca..."Is there a brain in your head?" and without missing a beat she comes back with a Monsters vs Aliens quote and says, "Turns out you don't really need one!" LOL I waited and then there is was, the pause and then the "What?!" from Ron. This gave us all a pretty good laugh. I've said it before and I will say it again, "she's lucky she's cute!!"

The Ultimatium

2009-07-13T20:47:00.001-04:00

All of my children and the neighbor boy have set up a little village in our basement and name it Roxaboxen after a story they read in school. They have used bins and boxes to create a little town. It seems as of late the village has some unrest as I was presented with this letter by Rebecca:

Dear Becca,

If you don't stop destroying Roxaboxen and the idea, we will shut down your business and remove it off the map!

Sincerely,

Matt and Reagan

P.S We will give you 2 gifts if you stop
PSS We will tell mom a good reason why we should shut the Puppy Place down!

Kids never disappoint when it comes to dealing with their own problems and giving me a laugh. Reagan thought she was going to be in trouble, but realized it was fine when Ron and I just laughed at this letter. I am sure to pay the piper for posting this as I was informed that it's not funny but serious business!! LOL I love kids.

Forget The Candles

2009-07-13T16:44:00.003-04:00

The last few times I have been at work I have gotten to stock the aisle with all of the room fresheners. I love this aisle because it smells so darn good. While I am in there I always think that I should come back later and get this or that for the house. Well as you can imagine I always forget. So today I decided that I was going to try something and it really worked well. I got a small pot and filled it half way with water. I added 3 Cinnamon sticks and a long squirt of vanilla extract. I got it to boil and then placed it on simmer. OH MY WORD, it smells so good!! Reagan came up and asked what I was baking, Rebecca wanted to know what was for dessert. I turned it off a while ago and the house still smells so nice. I may just forget about buying the smelling candles for now and stick with this!!

Good For You

2009-07-13T08:20:00.002-04:00

Ryan woke up in a mood this morning. As I was sweeping the floor he comes down stairs with his list of demands. "I want to pick something!!" translated it means I would love it if my dear Mother would allow me to indulge in a sweet confection. My response, "No candy, Ryan we need to have breakfast." He insists, I say no way. Then he comes up with his favorite saying..." I PROMISE!!" Now that phrase is never in the right context and so we have zero idea what the heck he is talking about. Finally after the 5Th time (I can't believe I let this go on so long) he says, "I WANT CANDY!" and I say, very adult like, "Good for you." He looks to one side and then the other and comes up with a brilliant plan in his three year old mind..."OK, I want good for you!" I tried to explain that "good for you" wasn't something to eat but simply sarcasm clearly lost on this child. One minute later he was standing in the corner trying to get happy.

I have to thank my Father in Law for reminding me of the greatness of the corner. Up until 2 weeks ago we were, "GO sit on the chair" people. Then one day my FIL asked me if I ever put them in the corner with the only thing to look at is the wall. Brilliant. Nope. I had forgotten about the corner. Guess what? It is like a miracle. Takes Ryan about 2 minutes to realize this is not great and he comes away with a brand new attitude. I can get him to eat his dinner, gain pleasant perspective, and be kind to his sisters all by having a few minutes in the corner. Pop-Pop has given advantage to our side and I am thankful. I don't dare tell Ryan it was his Pop-Pops idea because Ryan thinks my FIL is the coolest!! So thanks to the generation before me that imparts such awesome wisdom!!

Yum, Pie

2009-07-11T16:27:00.003-04:00

Remember those blueberries??? Well I made pie. I can't wait to taste it. It's so beautiful on the outside, I just hope the inside doesn't disappoint!

I realized something about myself today. I am quite sure this won't be news to any of you, but it has taken me this long to pin point the actual root of this particular flaw. I am vain. Ron said something today that at first I thought was ignorant and untrue, but it's just marinading in my head and darn it...he's right. I was complaining about the thing I ALWAYS complain about...my weight. I swear he is a saint because he has been listening to this since Reagan was born. I won't lie it has been a struggle for me and just so frustrating that I can't seem to get it under control. Anyway what he said was, " It's a shame that you are going to waste the prime of your life being consumed with this issue." Wow. OK. So as I have been thinking about that statement all day...actually weighing it to see if there is truth in it... and i came up with Vanity. For some reason I seem to think other people care what I look like! Ha. Like I have always told my daughter, "have confidence everyone else is so busy thinking about themselves they aren't noticing what you are insecure about!" Well duh, nice that I have taken my own advice. If I am trying to be healthy and slim for me and because it makes me feel good, then GREAT, but if I am doing it for the praise and attention of those around me then YIKES! Not great. I don't know how this will all play out, but I have a feeling that once I deal with this issue of vanity and might as well call out pride too, then I think I will finally have success. While I figure out how God wants to deal with this, I will continue to work on the outside, doing what I know to do, but I will be changing my focus to my inside. The last thing I want to be is a stereo-typical cheerleader...beautiful on the outside, empty and ugly on the inside. Please don't send me hate mail, I know that is NOT what all cheerleaders are like, I am just going for the imagery here. We've all seen beautiful women of zero substance or heaven forbid just down right mean. Anyway I can't wait to see what happens when I get out of my own way.

BTW. I took a break and tasted the pie...Delish!!! Maybe there is hope for me too!! LOL

Point of View

2009-07-10T11:30:00.005-04:00

I am taking a photography class. I must admit I am already behind, but am hoping to learn a lot as I catch up. What I am concentrating on in these pictures is view point or perspective. Perspective can change your subject from being a portrait to telling a story or the other way around. Last night before bed I took these pictures just to see if what I am learning is true. You'll have to forgive the quality of some of the pictures because I am still learning to manually focus my pictures, but I think you'll see what I am talking about.

As I was looking at these photos and how the look of the same exact moment changes with perspective, I of course got to thinking. I was thinking how important the people around us and, more importantly, God is in our lives. Each day we walk through life and if we only ever see our circumstances through our view point, we seriously lack information. However, when we can talk with those around us and pray to the God who sees and knows all...how very different and well rounded our view becomes. Just like in these pictures, each angle tells a different story. If I hadn't laid on the floor, I wouldn't have gotten to see what this shot looks like with me below Reagan. It's my favorite shot. Well except for the terrible reflection in the glass of the fire place. We all need people to be a witness to our lives. People who will stop and say, "wait a minute let's look at this, or think about it that way." Everyone has a different perspective on so many different issues of life. I think we lose out if we don't seek them out on occasion. For a particularly fun perspective ask a child. They really see life in an unique and fun way!!

Blueberries

2009-07-09T20:57:00.002-04:00

Rebecca has not eaten a blueberry since the day she fell out the window four years ago. Today we went blueberry picking which I have not done since she fell out the window four years ago! We had tons of fun today searching for the best and biggest berries. Ryan did well but mostly walked around and stole my berries so he could show everyone how many he had. When we got home I washed them up. Some for the freezer, some for a pie and a bunch just to eat. When Bec came into the kitchen I asked her to do a very big girl thing and she did it. I asked her to put aside the story of how she doesn't like blueberries and pick a nice big blueberry and eat it. I asked her to think only about how it tastes and to see if she does in fact maybe like them as she used to love them. As she put it in her mouth and took a bite, her eyes lit up!! " I really like these" she squealed and then asked for a small bowl of blueberries so she could go show Ron and Reagan how much she now enjoyed them.

What I learned from her today, is that sometimes we have to revisit things or experiences that we think we don't like, just in case we are missing out on something great because of a predetermined mindset. I wonder how much of life's experiences we let pass us by because we don't have the courage to try it and see if we like it. I am proud of my blueberry eating girl and I laughed when she told me she was going to limit how many she ate because she didn't want to throw them up. I guess the details are still a bit blurry for her. I hope to make her some blueberry pancakes so she can enjoy that delicious breakfast for the first time. Today I am so glad that we could make a new memory with blueberries. Such a small little fruit, such a big day.

Ten Years

2009-06-27T09:55:00.002-04:00

I can hardly believe Ron and I have been married for ten years. Last night we actually got to go out and celebrate. A friend of mine offered to watch the kids. I believe that by the time we got home it was an offer she regretted. Ryan and Rebecca have a bit of a cold. Ryan's is starting to break up so there is a lot of "stuff" when he coughs. Well apparently he got busy coughing after he went to bed and threw up spaghetti all over his blankets. On a super fun note, she let them catch fire flies. To which Rebecca wanted to show me so she slept with hers. LOL that cracked me up. As I tried to pry the container from her clutch of death she woke up. Then she told me i could let them go. Lucky me. I hate bugs, let alone bugs that have been trapped for a couple of hours. I was brave, though, and I took the lid off outside. Only one guy had a light left and there was a huge one in there. I was later informed that the big one was the queen. Rebecca also decided to fake and ear ache. I am not sure if I should send this friend and Thank You card or an I'm Sorry card.

Anyway, back to happier things. I decided that we needed to do something different for our 10Th anniversary. I asked Ron if I could plan the evening and also asked him to keep an open mind. We went to a pottery painting place. We chose and oval platter and on it we are creating pictures of some of our most significant memories over the last 10 years. It's pretty cool and was super fun to see what things we could recall. It was also fun to create something together. We didn't finish it so we know we will have a few more date nights there to get it done. I will show a picture when it is complete. I have to say it looks a bit like elementary students worked on it, but we never claimed to be artists. It will be a piece that I treasure though because it is all about our lives.

The Bible is true once again when it says our lives are like a vapor. I just can't believe how quickly 10 years has gone by. As I take a step back and look at how big my children are, it seems like just yesterday I held my little 5lb, premature baby. Now I see a girl who is knocking on the door of becoming a young woman and I am shocked. The good news is that as we took the time to look back, we realize that we have really lived out these last ten years. They weren't wasted, we have no regrets of what we could have done or should have done. That alone makes me grateful. We have lived a lot of life together in these last ten years. We moved 4 times, said goodbye to Grandparents and Others, made friendships that will last our lifetime, and have grown as a couple. It would be a lie to say that I feel the same about Ron as I did when I married him. What we had ten years ago was new, fresh and exciting, but what we have now is deep, tested, and thankfully still exciting. I am thankful for my husband and the way we work through things together. Thankful that there are no yelling and screaming fights between us. Thankful that because Jesus is the center of our relationship, we have a solid foundation that hasn't been shaken. Thankful that after all of this time I can say that he is the love of my life, deep and true. We've walked through a lot of life in our few 10 years, but it has been great life and I am so thankful for it. Who knew that the crazy couple that met through email and married "too quickly" would be such a success story?!

One Thing Is True

2009-06-11T17:45:00.009-04:00

A man I've only met through family stories lies dying in a bed while his parents grieve outside his room. A family member is in the hospital cheating a situation that normally would take a life. A friend has had an adoption fall through for the second time and is grieving that loss. Jobs are lost, health fails, wombs are closed. All of these people have one thing in common, they are good people. Great people, in fact, and the rest of us that are supporting them are wondering why this is happening. I have no great answer. I wish I did. Most of us automatically blame God for being cruel or unkind. We expect that if we are good by our standards that nothing should ever go wrong, nothing should hurt and nothing should be taken from us. The fact is that God only promised that when everything fell, we'd be held. That's from a song I've heard. Most of can't see it in these situations and I guess that is where faith comes in to play. Faith that resounds in our hearts and minds that says, " I choose to believe that God is most definitely Good and He is Good ALL of the time." We may never get the answers we seek on this side of life, but God also says that He has a plan and a purpose for our lives. That His ways are not our ways and they are Higher than our ways. He also said that He has sent His Holy Spirit as our Comforter. I encourage all of you who are having things around you fall apart, let Him hold you. Ask for the grace and the love of the Comforter and He will most certainly run to your side. We may not get our "Whys?" answered, but we can choose to trust that God is aware of the details of our lives and He is there if we but choose to seek Him when we hurt.

Ryan Turns Three

2009-06-07T17:56:00.011-04:00

Ryan's birthday was so fun this year. He is finally old enough to understand and be excited about what is happening. We planned a carnival birthday party and invited his little friends over. The kids played games outside and we had a BBQ with the children and their families. It was a perfect day. Everything ran smoothly and the weather was amazing. My son is getting bigger every day and I am just so thankful for him as a person. He is a delight and a joy and I couldn't imagine our family without him!

Ryan just loved his cards this year and carried this one around until he ripped it in half.

This was on Ryan's actual birthday. His party was a couple of weeks later.

Getting Ry to look at the camera is next to impossible, but I love this picture because he is right in the middle of a belly laugh.

Ryan does NOT like to have the Happy Birthday song sung to him. As soon as it was over he took his hand down!

When we talked about Ryan's birthday all he really wanted to do was blow out the candles. So we got him trick candles. Really good ones. It took forever to blow them out. At least all the kids got a turn. Since I got to blow them too, I also made a birthday wish for Ry!

My son got his wish early. Pure sugar and no one to stop him from eating it! Fun Dip was one of the prizes from the carnival games.

TIred of Seeing Nothing New?

2009-06-03T15:50:00.004-04:00

It's been ages since I have written and for that I apologize!! I started working at my own Target and have since been trying to find some sort of normal balance around here! My crazy shift is 4AM to 8AM a few mornings a week. I like it because it doesn't effect my day too much, but I hate it because I have to go to bed so early. It wasn't bad when it was nasty outside but now that summer is here I am finding it hard to go to bed. I imagine that is why my children always complain about going to bed so early!
We are in the home stretch for this school year. The girls will be done on Friday. I am so ready for summer vacation to be here. We are making plans for visits all over the place and just some fun in general.
I went to the doctor yesterday and it turns out that I have done the unusual and have gotten carpal tunnel in BOTH wrists!! LOL only me. The braces seem to be helping so hopefully that will be the cure. I have Zero desire to go to the next step which is some sort of shot right into my wrists by the nerves. Um, yeah. I don't see that happening!
Ron finally found something that he really likes to do and it's his new motorcycle!! It is very cool and once he gets all of his stuff on to ride, I have to say my man looks pretty darn hot!! Needless to say I am certainly enjoying this new hobby of his and i can't wait for him to get good enough so I can jump on the back.
Lastly, this is my birth week and you all know how much I love my birth day. Ron has certainly not disappointed. Last Friday started with me waking up at 3AM to an amazing red rose, an energy drink and a snack for work along with a lovely note. Imagine my surprise as I had forgotten birth week had begun. Saturday I was greeted with breakfast in bed. It was so yummy. Sunday Ron brought me home a nice, yet simple, watch that I can wear to work so I can see just how much longer i have to go! Monday I got to go get this super cute pair of Capri pants. I don't actually have them yet, but the idea is for me to pick them up. Tuesday I discovered that I have once again inspired poetry. This is too awesome not to share so here it is:

Worthy
What makes on worthy? Is it the gifts one gives? or the ability to always say yes to any request? Perhaps one is worthy for their acts of random service or for their open ear by which they take in the spoken anxiety from the lips of others.

How does one show the worth of another? Is it through flowers, chocolates and fine jewels? Or through the heaped words of praise spoken in their absence? Perhaps it is through the written word or by being the open ear when the weight of others needs release.

Yet as much as it is tried and failed to reflect your worth in words and deeds, all that one may need is to speak these words: "You will forever inspire me to love you completely."

Isn't that so great?? I smile and ooze with mushy feelings every time I read it. I am truly blessed with an amazing husband who makes me feel more loved than I ever thought possible. I have more to share and some pictures too, but I want to get this posted so I will close for now and continue a little later.

What Happened to the Ribbons?

2009-05-12T17:34:00.003-04:00

Today was field day for Rebecca. Even though I have a terrible cold, I dragged myself out with Ryan to watch. Thankfully it was a nice day and I was glad I went. It's amazing what a few crocodile tears will make a person do! As I was watching this field day and all the little "sporting events" the kids do, I remembered my own field days. In my day, LOL, we used to have races and all kinds of events. We competed and got ribbons. There was a first place through sixth place and then if you didn't get any of those you got an honorable mention. In fact I remember in one race I was about to beat a girl named Rachel and she pushed me out of the way to win. I was angry at her, but I lived. Clearly I am not bitter!! I remember being so proud of my ribbons even if most of them were honorable mention! Today as I watched the kids, it all seemed pointless. It was like having gym class outside. At what point do our kids learn about the challenge of competition, the "ok-ness" of not coming in first?? It seems everyone is so worried about little Zach or precious Victoria having hurt feelings that we've forgotten failure is what makes us great. I think this idea of protecting their little feelings actually breeds complacency instead of self esteem. There is zero reason to do your best. Zero reason to try harder next time and zero reason to be apart of a team. There is no goal if you just play until the whistle blows. Unfortunately for most of them they will never learn these lessons until they are much older and it is much harder to adapt to the fact that in the real world no one really cares about your feelings, just their own. Thankfully as a family we play games where there is a winner and a loser. Games where if you don't come in first you can try for second. Games that if someone else wins you get the chance to be happy for them and plan a rematch where you can try to conquer the game. It's not easy learning to be a good sport, but it is necessary. We do our children a disservice if we don't teach them that failure, and effort and trying again and again are the very building blocks that will lead them all to a successful, fulfilled life! I guess for my Kindergartner who will never know different at school, all that running around was for the double Popsicle at the end!! A great prize in her book. As for me, I will leave wishing I could have shared the excitement of hearing her relive her ribbons and wondering why on earth that man gave me a dirty look when I cheered for my daughter. Oh well, I am too hopped up on Cold medicine to care. Great job Rebecca...you get a ribbon of every color in my book!!

My Baby's Birthday!

2009-04-28T12:56:00.003-04:00

Earlier this Month Ron turned 38!! It's our tenth year of celebrating together and I feel blessed that we still not only like each other but love each other too! The kids and I decided to get Ron a Satellite radio system for his car, which will be installed tomorrow. Because we didn't have it in hand he had to put together a puzzle to find out what his gift was.
The week before his birthday we celebrated with some friends and had cake and ice cream. So on his real birthday we decorated the kitchen with balloons and streamers and I let the girls pick a dessert to make for their daddy. Reagan choose lemon bars. She made it from start to finish and only got assistance when putting it in and taking it out of the oven.
Rebecca chose ice cream sundaes. She selected several different toppings and chopped them up and put them all in little bowls.
When it came time to put them together she assisted us in pouring on the toppings. Ryan was my tape holder and helped us get everything ready. As it came time for Ron to make his wish,
I looked around and realized how very blessed we are. It was indeed Ron's birthday, but I feel like I was given the greatest gift when God hand picked Ron for me. He is more than I could have hoped for in a husband and consistently amazes me in the ways he evolves as a father. Our little family is certainly blessed to have Ron in it. Happy Birthday Honey...You are the best!!!

The Sounds of a Holiday

2009-04-21T06:53:00.014-04:00

Pretty much since Ron and I got married we have spend our Holidays alone. There was one Christmas that we were with family, but between a little one in the hospital, a death on my side of the family and everyone getting the "just kill me now" flu, we don't really count that one!! There were a few Thanksgivings along the way that I got to spend with my sister and I treasure those too, but for the most part it was our little family. Don't get me wrong, I love that time, but when I grew up the excitment of the holiday came waiting for relatives to arrive. All the smells of food cooking and the joyful sounds of guests arriving, really made it feel like a Holiday. When it's just your small family it feels more like just another day with a lot of dishes!! We've been back East now for almost two years and we've had some Holiday's together, but each has fallen short of what I remember as a child. I began to think that like so many other childhood things, maybe it's just not as great as an adult. Take Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, there is nothing better as a kid, but now as an adult I take a bite and the "greatness" is totally lost on me. However, this past Easter was different. My sister in law and her children came out a day early to spend the weekend with us. We played all day, got some meal prep done, colored Easter Eggs, filled baskets and eggs and just had a great time.

On Easter Sunday we all surprised ourselves when all nine of us were dressed and ready for the early service at church. We jump in the car and only arrive a few minutes late. HA! we were so far in the front we were in front of the Pastor!! However this was a super cool experience for all of us. When you sit that close there are zero distractions, the music just surrounds you and you know you better pay attention to the preaching because the pastor is just feet away. Having the great reminder that just one amazing encounter with Jesus will set your life on a whole new direction, was just one of the points that we got to take home with us that day. As we drove home there was chatter about the service and what we liked and got out of it and it was a really nice time. Upon arriving home we looked for baskets and eggs and of course couldn't find that one egg that is bound to smell up the house at some point!!.

We did find it the next day, thankfully. Once we told kids big and small that they must stayed dressed up until Nana could see them, everyone kind of settled into their day. Then it happened a squeal of delight as it was announced that Nana and PopPop had arrived followed shortly by Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. As the house filled up with people and noise it was starting to feel more and more like a Holiday. At one point I was standing doing the dishes and I just closed my eyes for a moment. There it was...the sound of a Holiday. I just stood a second and soaked it in so I could keep that moment with me always. The laughter and conversations the t.v entertaining those "sleeping" in the living room, that is just what I remember. As I opened my eyes and looked around I also got to see my children sitting on laps of their family learning a new game together.
I got to see Reagan make the trasition from just being a "little" kid to a girl who could also hang with her older cousins. I heard Uncle Mel teasing my husband while teaching him how to put our garden together. This is a Holiday. When we finish a meal and move our chairs in to big rectangle and just share stories and laugh. We are blessed with the baskets and the candy and beautiful dinner, but it is the people that we share our lives with that make these days special. I am so thankful for the family God has given us that come together on at these times to remind each other that no matter what life has delt us at the moment we can get through it because we have each other.

Making It Right

2009-04-05T11:25:00.002-04:00

Every now and then we get to fix a mistake and make something even better than it was before. Here is the scene, it's Wednesday morning I am making breakfast and Reagan is getting her folder together for school when she discovers she has done the wrong math page. For the next half hour I battle with her and myself between frustration and stress all over a silly piece of homework. I yelled and I tried to walk away but I just couldn't leave it alone. My daughter got in the car with Ron and headed off to school with tears running down her cheeks. Each tear was my fault because I choose to yell instead of be in control. Taking a page from a friend's play book, I got ready for my day and told Ron I needed to go to the school. As I walked into the office there sat the lady that always makes me feel like an idiot. Oh well, not today, I am on a mission. In my most matter of fact voice I announce, "I am Reagan's Mom and this is the class she is in and I need to speak with her right now!" as the woman just stared at me I finished with a "Thank You" and I turned around. About 5 seconds later I heard her pick up the receiver and call for Reagan. Surprised was the look on Reagan's face as she came down the hall and saw me standing there. I didn't mean to cry, but I was so upset with myself that I couldn't help it. I'll spare you the details but I made sure she understood that our relationship was way more important than that math page and that I was wrong. I didn't want her to carry my mistake with her all day. I've been that kid, I didn't want that for her. After we were done she went back to her class and I went home. When I picked her up from the bus I got a giant hug. I asked her what that was for and she replied, "Because you came all the way to my school just to make me feel better and that was the most awesome thing any Mom could do." Wow. She is like a new person. God took my mistake and because I humbled myself with my daughter He has healed a relationship that was starting to form cracks. Even Reagan said she feels like our relationship is in a whole new place. I could have waited until she got off the bus, but I don't think it would have had nearly the effect it did. No wonder the Bible says..."If you have ought with your brother, leave what you are doing and go make it right..." I'm so thankful that this time I did, what a great gift making it right has given me.

My Store!!

2009-04-01T14:51:00.005-04:00

Well I finally joined the Etsy store world!! My shop name is somethingnew4you. I plan to add all kinds of items as I make them. There is also a spot that if you need something in particular you can see if I can make it. This is really cool and I am super excited!! Here is a picture of my first listing!! The link can be found at the bottom of my blog page.

Where Have I Been?

2009-03-30T14:17:00.004-04:00

I cannot believe it has been over two weeks since I have posted anything. I wish I could say that I have been keeping all kinds of great stories from you, but the truth is it's been pretty slow around here. I had a migraine for nearly an entire week which sent me to the doctor. Wanna know what they call Migraine Therapy...a very powerful little pill that you take when you feel the headache come on. I have to say I was expecting way more than that when you attach the word "therapy" to something. LOL I did take the pill and I have to say the pill is almost worse than the headache. Thankfully it was near nap time so I was able to sleep the worst part off. Ron and I have started to watch 24. We finished season one and are on to season two. So I don't feel like I am wasting my time entirely I have started to make a blanket. At this point it is about as wide as two scarves put together. It's finally getting to that point where I can actually envision this blanket. Hopefully I will have it done by the time we get all caught up. We call it the 24 blanket. I also have started to play with chocolate and making candies and suckers. This is exciting because it was on my list for my 40 things to do by 40 years old. Anyway, the girls and I made all kinds of suckers and have a bunch more to do before Easter. Turns out for a little bit of work you can look like a creative genius!! I took pictures but they didn't turn out so you will have to wait until Easter to see them. One last item before I close. The other day Ryan and I were in A.C. Moore getting chocolate supplies and he ran to the end of the aisle and looked back and said, "MOM! Come follow me..." with that his head snapped in recognition of the starting words of his bible verse for Sunday school and finished the sentence with, "...Jesus said. " I am pretty sure it was one of those "had to be there" kind of moments, but if you could just hear the intonation of his voice it would make you LOL. Alright, I will try my very best to come up with something interesting in the next day or so. In the mean time I will be enjoying the everyday stuff that would bore you to tears!! Here are some pictures I took of the kids one night after showers and before bed!

I have candy!!

2009-03-11T16:59:00.003-04:00

Last night at dinner time Rebecca wasn't overly thrilled with her chicken and pasta. Thankfully there is usually one child ready and willing to tattle on the other. If you listen carefully you can hear the deal going down.

Rebecca: Ryan, I have candy...come over here
Ryan: OK, I coming
Rebecca: Here you go
Ryan: NO I not want that
Rebecca: Really Ryan, it's not chicken, it's candy...it's good...taste

With that Ryan is not duped and runs away. At this moment is when Reagan feels the need to put a stop to the goings on at the table. So she says in a rather loud voice, "Rebecca! stop telling Ryan your chicken is candy and trying to get him to eat your dinner!! LOL I have to give her credit for being creative at least!! Thankfully Ryan isn't as dumb as his sisters think he is!!

No Way!!

2009-03-03T21:27:00.003-05:00

So the other day my girls had to clean their room. They made the mess, I simply asked them to clean it. Let the complaining and arguing commense. So in keeping with our family memorizing of Bible verses I put a new one on the board..."In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing" Rebecca comes up and I am helping her read it and so she is repeating each word and when I get to complaining and she starts to slow down. Once we say "and arguing" she looks at me and like only a five year can and says, "NUH-UH, You made that up!!" LOL I promptly told her that I did NOT in fact make it up and that it was in God's book and I showed her. She then says, "I totally thought you made that up but since you didn't I guess I had better learn that one." I wish this verse was only for my children, but it is indeed good for me to learn as well. So hopefully next time it's time to clean the old bedroom this truth will be hidden in their hearts and I'll get a little peace. Are you supposed to use Scripture for selfish purposes?? I am sure there is one in there about that too, God is good like that!!

Great Love

2009-03-03T21:13:00.002-05:00

I am in a Bible Study called "Lies Women Believe." One of the things they were talking about was why on Earth would God allow Eve to eat the fruit or put the serpent in the garden knowing the end result. I know why I believe what I believe but I have always had trouble explaining this part. Why would God create people if He already knew what they were going to do. Tonight I get it. God knows the beginning and the end so He did know that His own creation would reject Him. So He already had a plan of Salvation in place. How great is His love for us that even though He already knew Adam and Eve would choose the knowledge of Evil over their relationship with God, He created them anyway and put our lives into motion. He took that rejection and subsequent rejection for the love and relationship of the rest of us. Amazing. That is deep love. So Adam and Eve reject Him and break that relationship with God and so God sends Jesus. Jesus is rejected and put to death to pay for everything I do wrong before I am even created. Why? To restore relationship with me one day and to be able to lavish me with His love. All He asks in return is that I acknowledge His work on the cross and live my life for Him. Which is in reality a life full of blessing. All of this just to know me and so I can know Him personally. I am so glad that He would take that rejection over and over again and created us anyway. Welcome to the Joy and miracle of the Easter season.

Mother of the Year

2009-02-23T09:38:00.004-05:00

Anyone that knows me knows that when a sentence starts out with "Mother of the Year", something awful is about to follow. I forgot Rebecca at church. Now, I didn't make it out of the parking lot, but if I hadn't talked to Ron on the phone I would have. Don't send me hate mail, I feel bad enough. Let me take you back in time before the "incident." I was up quite late on Friday and exhausted from a busy week. Saturday morning I got up and ready to roll at the fine hour of 7AM. Six short hours of sleep...darn. So I drag myself through the day being productive with house work, laundry, heck I even made a full dinner meal before Ron left for work so he could take it with him. He closed Saturday so the evening activities were all up to me. I got all the the kids showered and church clothes picked out and everyone was in bed. I check the calendar and realize that I have to teach the two-year old Sunday School class in the morning. I do a little scrapbooking and wait for Ron to get home at 11PM. Then I hear it...a horrible barking, wet cough coming from Ryan's room. He is burning hot, and coughing that scary cough and he is wide awake. I put him back to bed after I get him set up with some Tylenol and a humidifier. I spend some time with Ron and when I go check on Ryan he is still awake. I ask if he's OK and he, being the sweetest sick kid ever, says, "Yes, mommy, I OK!" I go to bed at which case it is now 1AM and I sleep for one entire hour. I wake to Ryan calling my name and saying all kinds of weird things. I pick him up and he says he's hungry. So downstairs we go and we remain WIDE AWAKE until 5:30AM! When I can no longer stand it, I take him upstairs to my bed and he falls asleep right up against me. I have literally about 1/4" of the mattress now. I do my best to fall asleep. I tell Ron that he can't be my "helper" in Sunday school because Ryan can't go. Ron asks if I care if he goes to first service and then we'll meet with the children and I can teach the Sunday school for second service. I don't mind and off he goes. Now the plan is that I will drive to the church, Ron will come out and take Ryan and Rebecca home with him. Reagan will be my helper for the Sunday school. After church is done we will race home because Ron has to get to work. Upon pulling up to the church, my awesome husband has a cup of coffee for me in hand, made just right! Now Rebecca doesn't want to go home, she really wants to go to Sunday School. Well what kind of a parent says, "No you can't go to church!" So I change my mind and tell her OK she can go. I drop her off, Reagan and I run upstairs and do our thing. Had a great time with the kids...what a great age group. So time is ticking and parents are taking forever to pick up their kids. Ron calls and is like, "Are you almost done??" Finally I get the last kid off to a parent and Reagan and I run out the door. We are so late I am meeting Ron at a McDonald's so he can be on his way. The parking lot after second service is a nightmare. It takes a good ten minutes to get out of it. So I am waiting in line and call Ron to tell him I am just trying to get out of the parking lot. That's when he says, "how was Rebecca's class? Was it the normal one that she usually attends?" to which I reply, "shut up, she's with you." Imagine my panic when through the fog of my brain our change of plans becomes crystal clear and I realize that my daughter is sitting in the Sunday school room with no parent picking her up. I drive like a crazy person out of the car line and try to be patient as I hear Reagan in the back saying, "OH MY GOSH MOM!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU FORGOT REBECCA!!!" Now I didn't realize until Ron pointed it out later, that Reagan didn't remember her either...but alas it's not really her job to make sure I have all the children. So we run into the church and Reagan's says as loud as possible, "Rebecca, MOM TOTALLY FORGOT YOU!" The Sunday school man looks at me and tries to say something nice like, "it happens when you have two parents picking up kids." Did I mention that there was Rebecca sitting alone on a bench looking at the floor all sad??? Ugh. My poor baby girl. Anyway, I apologize over and over again and she of course forgives me. Now I am even more late to meet Ron and I decide that because I am such a great Mom the least I can do is get the kids McDonald's for lunch. I guess this will just have to be one more session of therapy I have to pay for when my kids get older.

How big is Jesus?

2009-02-18T20:54:00.002-05:00

A while back we were walking past a cross hanging on the wall at our church. It's really big and cut out of marble, my best guess is the cross is about 15 feet high. As Reagan was walking past she looks up at it and says, "Mom, just how big was Jesus?" Needless to say we laughed and let her know that this particular cross was for decoration and to remind us what a gift Jesus gave us on the cross. I just love the way kids think!!

Giggles with Bob!

2009-02-12T20:56:00.003-05:00

Ryan has a build a bear...bear, named Bob. Well last night Ron and I are upstairs watching American Idol and we hear laughter coming from Ryan's room. It was so funny. So we pause the T.V. and try to figure out what he is laughing about. Even though all my kiddos know better than to get out of bed, I thought maybe Reagan was in there producing this belly laugh from Ryan. Finally Ron and I could take it no longer and we went to look. There in the dark is Ryan and Bob having a fantastic laugh. When we asked what he was laughing about, Ryan simply replied, "I dunno!" and proceeded to laugh some more. I so wish I had a recorder handy so I could play it for you, but alas it will just be one of those I have to keep in my own mind. What a fun end to the day!! Here is a picture of Bob...He does have two eyes you just can't see the other one.

That Was Easy

2009-02-10T15:39:00.003-05:00

So I took the plunge and decided to try to take a bible study course at my church again. I think I mentioned recently that last semester didn't work due to someone small not cooperating! Anyway, we went this morning and when I took him and pat (his hammer)to the room I said, "OK, Ry, Mommy is going to go." He looks at me from across the room and says, "You coming back for me?" I said, "yes" he says, "You come get me right?" I replied, "Yes, when mommy is finished I will come back for you, I will always come back!" With that he smiled and said, "OK then, bye!" and ran off to play with the kitchen. I had a great time and so did he. On the ride home he was telling what he played with and then kept asking for what I thought was a hamburger. For most people that is a no brainer and a trip to McDonald's, but Ryan doesn't eat hamburgers so I wasn't sure. Finally upon turning onto our street I figure it out...Yep...HAMMER! He forgot Pat at church. Now it's in the preschool wing so if I go in there on Sunday they are going to think I am stealing toys, he wasn't even in his regular room. I can't turn back because Rebecca was going to get off the bus in 15 minutes. I couldn't go after because everyone would be gone. Then it dawns on me to call my dear friend and my "bail-outer person" Tiphanie!! Thankfully she was still at the church and took the weird looks from the room ladies and got his hammer! Mrs. Stewart is Ryan's new hero. Next week...no toys go in the room with him!! Kudos to my brave boy, He finally did it!!

It Works!!

2009-02-07T11:26:00.003-05:00

So Ron has been on vacation this week. So far he has had the flu and Ron, Rebecca and I have a head/sinus cold. The coughing at night has been the most frustrating for Ron especially. So last night I remembered reading about putting the Vapor Rub on your feet and then putting socks on. Well it worked like a charm!!! Neither one of us coughed even once last night! I am so glad I remembered this trick because I have been wanting to try it. Ron looked at me like I was crazy, but I told him that if it worked how jealous he would be that I was sleeping soundly while he was coughing away. It didn't take him long to join me in my apparent craziness!! LOL So if you have a cough put the Vapor Rub on your feet and slide them into some socks and rest well!!

The Silent Offering

2009-02-04T22:55:00.002-05:00

In the fall I started going to a Bible study. I was with my good friend in the class and I was enjoying it. Well schedules changed at home and I had to start taking Ryan with me. At the time, Ryan had zero interest in being left in the childcare and so I started to miss meeting after meeting until I finally gave up. Then one day I received a card in the mail that changed my perspective 180 degrees. The card mentioned how I was missed in the class, but went on to say how one day it will be my turn and to be thankful to the opportunity to give my family my silent offering. The silent offering of their care, a clean home and meals on the table and in lunchboxes. As I pondered that thought, it became less of a thankless job, less of a frustration that my son would rather be with me than anyone else and more of an inspiring task that I have been given to do. An offering is given with a willing heart. An offering expects nothing in return, but the joy the giver gets in giving it. So in the months followed, I began to enjoy the last little bit of time with Ryan before he would tell me, "Score! I get preschool!!" and would run in the room to have the time of his life, while I walk away to do "my" thing. So many of us have areas of our lives that if we could look at it as an offering and not a duty or a job, we would find that joy that comes from giving. Today I woke up a little early to make little tiny rice krispie treats for my girls to take to school. Treats they had requested at 8pm last night. It was my offering to them, to make them happy and all it cost was a little sleep and a warm shower. Around here if you don't get in the shower before Reagan...well...goodbye hot water!! LOL However, tonight I got a Valentine that said, "Dear Mom, you are the best Mom in the entire world! I love you, Reagan." Today my offering was noticed and because my attitude was right I was able to be blessed by Reagan's comment and not feel guilty that my heart was irritated this morning. That's pretty great. So now I am starting to put God's Word into everyday action. I never could get this concept of "Do your work as unto the Lord..." I always thought that I would be taken advantage of and that it was too hard to understand how to "Work as unto the Lord..." Now I get it. When your work is an offering to those around you, there is no feelings of being taken advantage of, no score card to keep track of, just a silent offering that I choose to give to those I love.

A Great Big Sister

2009-01-30T10:02:00.002-05:00

Rebecca got glasses yesterday. As soon as I can I will post a picture because they really are cute. However, upon getting them yesterday she was a little nervous about how people would react to her. Ryan and I told her we really liked them as did her friend Grace, but Rebecca was holding out for Reagan's opinion. Reagan doesn't always do any kind of change very well. So I was a little nervous. When Rea came home she just looked at Rebecca and went on about her afternoon. Now she was in a pretty big hurry because the boy across the street wanted to play but Reagan had to do her homework first and then she got invited to stay for dinner. Rebecca confided in me that she thought maybe Reagan didn't like them or perhaps she was mad because she didn't say anything about her glasses. When Reagan got home I took her on the side and asked her if she could say something to Bec about her glasses. I told her Becca thought she didn't like them. Reagan was surprised at this and promptly went over to Rebecca. I expected her to just say, "I like your glasses." Instead she said, "Hey Rebecca, what color are your glasses?" Rebecca perked right up and said, "they are purple but look here, on the inside they have flowers." Reagan replies, "Wow that's really cool and I think you look beautiful with them on! You picked out a great pair of glasses they look really good!" With that Rebecca invited Reagan to come upstairs and see her case and cleaning stuff. Reagan ran up with her chatting with real excitement for her sister. These are the moments that fill my heart. The glimpses that show they do love each other and they are getting it. I am really proud of both of them, but this particular night I have to say Reagan stole my heart with her tenderness and excitement for her sister. Way to go!!

The Holy Grail Of Cleaning Products

2009-01-27T11:30:00.002-05:00

I have found the Holy Grail of cleaning products. Anyone who has to deal with soap scum has got to try this stuff. My girls took a bath and used those stinking bathtub crayons all over the walls. They tried to scrub most of it off, but it's really hard. So I am looking at the shower of wall to wall soap scum (that sounds so nasty). I have used soft scrub in the past and worked up a good sweat trying to get it off. Well yesterday I bought Kaboom - shower, tub and tile. Wow!!! No wonder the guy on the commercial is always yelling about it. I can't believe how well it worked. I literally sprayed it all down, and it didn't even smell that bad, waited the 1-3 minutes and it all literally wiped right off!!! I had a wet cloth and just wiped it off!!! I can't even tell you how easy it was. The hardware that had water spots on it...not any more...shiny as it was when it was installed. I can't believe I am practically doing a commercial myself but this stuff is AMAZING!! I will never dread cleaning the shower again. I of course bought it at Target (there's a plug for ya honey!)It's in the pretty dark purple bottle. Try it, you'll look for reasons to clean the shower...in fact try bathtub crayons!!