more than enough

{30 days}

2011-04-27T19:08:00.002-05:00

i just realized today that in 30 short days my very best friend on this entire planet is moving. i've known since last fall that this day was coming and to be perfectly honest i've been pretending it's not really going to happen. but it is. and it's happening in 30 days.

i've known jean for about 12 years and we quickly became bff's. although we have many of the same awesome qualities and characteristics, we are completely different in other areas. people confuse us for the other...even though we really don't look anything alike. we're both loud. we're both hilarious! we're both stunningly gorgeous! she can sing like an angel...the angels ask me not to sing. she has a zillion friends...i have a handful of close friends. she can put on a happy face...i can not. she's a softy...i don't put up w/much. she makes friends quickly and easily...i take a little longer to open myself up to others. she likes the taste of yellow play dough...i do not.

i've been trying to figure out what i'm going to do jean no longer lives 20 minutes away and can meet up for some grocery shopping or just to grab a soda and chat after a long day. truthfully, i don't know what i'm going to do knowing that i won't be able to see her whenever i want to.

i know i'm a grown woman w/a husband and children, and you might think that she's "just" a friend, but she's so much more. jean is the sister i never had. god sent her into my life knowing she was the kind of friend i needed to help smooth some of my rough edges. jean is the 2nd person i call when something awesome has just happened or when something crappy has just happened. we raised our kids together and spent many hours in chuck e. cheese and mcdonald's playlands sharing our lives together. our lives are intertwined and i'm so thankful for her friendship.

i think i'm going to have a shirt made that says "part of my heart is in derby"...would that be weird?!

my girl....at 11

2011-04-20T20:21:00.005-05:00

yesterday, my girl turned 11. how in the world did that happen so fast? as her mom, i've gone through just about every emotion leading up to this day....ok, maybe not every emotion, but you know what i mean. emma is no longer a little girl, but she's not yet a teenager, so this stage is a little awkward for all of us.

here is a list of some of my very favorite things about my emma grace:

she's the most generous person i know

she is very quiet...until she gets to know you

she loves jesus and isn't afraid to let others know

getting her to wear a dress is like pulling teeth...i was the same way

she loves to read

she is a great and loyal friend

she stands up for people who are being picked on...i love that about her!

her laugh makes me laugh, which makes her laugh even harder, which makes me laugh even harder...

she still wants me to sing "you are my sunshine" to her at bedtime

she has a tender heart

she loves animals...especially orcas

she is an amazing big sister...she didn't get that from me, i was a rotten big sister

she can usually be found in the driveway, shooting baskets

she loves to help her dad and me

she adores her grandparents and great-grandmas

she paints her fingernails funky, fun colors...and does a HORRIBLE job! ;)

she is just my favorite girl in the whole wide world!

emma grace, i love you right up to the moon and back!

a boy turns 7

2011-02-25T16:24:00.005-06:00

today, my favorite boy is 7!

how in the world did he go from this:

to this:

these past 7 years have been a blast w/this boy! holy cow, i love him like crazy!

eli,

you are the most fun boy to be around! you are loving, compassionate, giving, caring, kind, funny...all these wonderful qualities that I've loved watching the lord develop in you. you're also a bit of a chicken and i get such a kick out of hiding and jumping out to scare you, but you hate it and get mad for about 15 seconds before you're smiling again.

you can find something fun to do no matter where you're at...a great-grandma's 80th bday party, a wedding, a funeral, anywhere! and you always invite others to play with you! i love that you always want to stick around a movie so you can dance to the credits music...cracks me up!

you are FINALLY starting to enjoy reading! of course, you still want us to read to you. my current favorite thing to read to you is Skippyjon Jones. you love it when i use different voices and accents for the different characters. don't tell anyone, but i do too! i crack up just as much as you do when we read it together!

your love for jesus is also growing more and more each day. it melts my heart to hear you singing along w/one of your praise and worship cds while your in your room or in the playroom w/the karaoke machine. i pray that you continue to make jesus the most important in your life.

i could go on and on about all the things i love about you. but more than anything i want you to know that YOU are my favorite boy in the whole world and i love you just to pieces! i can not wait to see how you grow through your 7th year...maybe your two front teeth will come in this year!

i love you right up to the moon and back, bubba!

one crazy summer...part 1

2010-08-06T21:13:00.007-05:00

I was informed today {thanks Jamie and Lindsey !} that it's been quite some time since I updated my blog. So, this one's for all of you who have been clicking over to my little blog and sadly leave without a glimpse into our world!

It's been one crazy summer in the McDaniel home! How many of you remember that movie....One Crazy Summer? I loved that movie! Cracked up every time I watched it, although I'd probably think it was totally stupid now! Anyway, back to our summer.

We left for a short vacay the day the kids got out of school, but after Eli had a ball game that evening. Crazy I tell ya! We meet our great friends, the Garinger's, in Colorado Springs. Our trip out there was not the drive-thru-the-night-while-the-kids-sleep drive we'd hoped for. Instead, we had to take shelter around midnight at a total dive motel in Russell, KS, to avoid driving directly into a severe storm a few hours ahead of us that was spawning tornadoes left and right. Thankfully, the storm had died down quite a bit by the time it hit Russell and we were able head out around 3:30am. We made it to CO sometime before noon....I was too tired to notice the time. We were able to spend some time just as a family one of the days. We visited Focus on the Family {totally recommend}, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo {totally recommend}, the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun {totally recommend}, had dinner at an awesome Mexican place in Old Colorado City {totally recommend}, and ended our evening with a sunset stroll through Garden of the God {totally recommend}. We had a great time!!! Our time with the Garinger's was fabulous too! The kids played in the little mountain stream behind our cabin and had a blast playing Twister. The big people got relax on the mountain-shadowed back porch after the kids went to bed and play a rousing game of Mad Gab....which was super funny! The dads took the 3 bigger kids up to Pike's Peak and hiking through Garden of the Gods. The kids had a blast and are still talking about it! One evening we went into Manitou Springs to the Penny Arcades and had a blast! Our families just blend together so well...Eli thinks we should all buy one big house and live together!

When we left the Springs, our family headed to southern CO for Great Sands National Park. I was not thrilled about going b/c of the distance and had started feeling better {can you say altitude sickness?} after leaving CO Springs only to find that we were rising in elevation again and I felt like poo. Then we got there and it was amazing! It's these massive sand dunes nestled at the foot a some mountains in the middle of nowhere! There was a "stream" of melt off running at the base of the dunes from the nearby snow-capped mountain and the water was freezing!!! I gave Rich a lot of grief on the LONG ride there, but in the end, I'm glad we went.

From there, we headed back home via a short, but relaxing stop at some friends in Rolla, KS. They are such an exceptional family and we love them dearly. Rich S. is on the liver transplant list, but by his actions and spirit you'd never guess he's as sick as he truly is. Sara, his wife, is just an inspiration to me! She carries herself with a grace and gentleness that astounds me considering the medical crisis they're in. Their reliance on God is certainly something to be sought after. I also adore their kiddos. Zach is a handsome young man with a tender heart for God. Kenna, oh Kenna....I just love that girl! She loves Jesus and her family and has developed a love for photography that tickles me.

Welp, that pretty much sums up the last week of May! Be watching for part 2 of One Crazy Summer soon....I promise not to wait so long! ;)

Here are a few pix from our trip....blogger is apparently not happy with the number of pictures I'm trying to post, so I'll stop here and add more another time.

it's the little things

2010-07-14T13:05:00.004-05:00

Falling into bed after an exhausting and sweltering day will be made sweeter when the landing is cushioned by crisp sheets infused with the comforting aroma of sunshine.

{she melts my heart}

2010-04-20T13:25:00.008-05:00

April 19, 2000 will forever be one of my very most favorite days. That's the day I met my sweet girl....all 4lbs 9oz and 17in of her!

These are some of my favorite pictures of Emma when she was between 4-5....that's about all I made it through before the tears blurred my eyes too much to see the pictures clearly.

Emma Grace,

How can you be 10 already? Wasn't it just yesterday that I held you in my arms throughout your 2hr morning nap? Didn't I just cry with you as you got your kindergarten shots?

Here are a few of my most favorite things about you:

-you're incredibly shy and quiet....the total opposite of me

-you have your own style and aren't easily influenced by your friends

-you love Jesus

-your tender spirit just melts my heart

-you're super compassionate and usually root for the underdog

-you love Eli and don't get annoyed w/him too often

-your face lights up when you talk about animals of all kinds....ok, except snakes! ;)

-you save EVERYTHING.....little scraps of paper, shells, rocks, ribbon, etc (just like Mimi!)

-you love to read

-music is one of your favorite things

-you aren't afraid to try new things

-you're a great and loyal friend

-you blush easily

-you still sleep w/your hands behind your head

-when you love someone or something, you love w/your whole heart

-your giggles still crack me up

-you aren't embarrassed to throw the "I love you" sign up to me

-you sometimes call me "mommy"

Even though my heart is a little sad that you're no longer a "little" girl, I totally love the stage you're in now. You are growing into a beautiful young lady! I love watching as you discover who you are and what's important to you. I'm so very proud of you, Emma!

I love you right up to the moon.....and back!

{another installment of totally random tuesday}

2010-04-06T14:34:00.002-05:00

~It's a totally windy day here in the beautiful Flint Hills.

~So windy that I've totally got wind-blown hair while sitting in my kitchen....not even kidding!

~I finally got child #2's clothes switched out, but have totally not done child #1's yet.

~I'm going to use the word "totally" and/or "total in every random thing simply b/c it makes me laugh!

~My sweet Emma is growing up so quickly and it totally makes me sad. :(

~I ate mini Robin's Eggs for breakfast b/c I totally love them!

~My hot boyfriend totally taught me how to run the lawn mower last night.

~It was a total blast....except our steep ditch totally freaks me out!

~Eli and I played baseball last night and I totally hit him w/the ball. He cried and then said he was glad that I didn't hit him in "the tenders"! I totally laughed!

~My girl is totally proving to be quite natural at sports. I love that for her!

~I want to start a garden but I totally have no clue where to begin.

~My favorite boy totally cracks me up! The other day he asked me if jet packs are real and how old he needs to be so before he can get a jet pack.

~I totally about died when I realized how much the kids' summer ball stuff cost!!!

~Totally starts to sound like it's totally not even a real word after you say it so many times!

Hope you've totally enjoyed my randomness and didn't puke from the sheer overuse of all the "totally"ness! ;)

{winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!}

2010-03-20T21:40:00.003-05:00

The other day The Nester hosted one of her totally rockin' giveaway days. There were 27 different giveaways that were amazing. AND I WON ONE!!!!

I won a BEAUTIFUL apron made by Janet at The Empty Nest! Janet, who is just sweet as honey, makes her aprons using exquisite vintage and thrifted fabrics, trims and notions. She also has an awesome etsy shop full of her unique creations. Go check her out!

My apron is called Garden Party and boasts some beautiful embroidered hankies, lovely spring colors and gorgeous trims. Isn't she beautiful?

Doesn't her beauty just make just melt?

I believe she's gonna need a name! What shall I name her?

Thank you so much Janet! I can't wait to hold her in my hot little hands!

{totally random tuesday}

2010-03-09T15:18:00.003-06:00

I saw on someones (totally can't remember who) blog this morning a random Tuesday thing and thought it would be rather fitting for me today as I've had nothing but random thoughts swirling around my brain the past few days....no weeks....let's make that months.

So, here goes:
*My throat is totally on fire today....hurts to swallow, talk, breathe......good times!

*The girls in my class at church totally crack me up! Some are super serious, some are ditsy, some are moody, some are so "pretty" they just can't help themselves. I love each and everyone of those girls! I'm sure it helps that they think I'm still in my 20's....god bless 'em!

*One of my favorite scenes from Friends was when Joey was eating all the jam. he had jam all over his face and Rachel rubbed his cheek and told him he was so pretty.

*I also loved when Joey talked about "it" being a moo point.....you know, it's like a cow's opinion. So stinkin' funny!

*I could quote Friends all day!

*My dog's been shut in the laundry room most of the day b/c he smells and I don't want to smell his funk.

*I've just recently started reading the Twilight series. I'm 200 pgs into new moon. Although I'm really enjoying them, I don't get the complete obsession some have with them. I don't get the whole "team Jacob vs team Edward" thing.

*I'm on "team Rich". Have you seen how hot he is?!

*I like to use "..." when I talk in real like....it makes me laugh.

*I'm also reading Beth Moore's new book So Long, Insecurity. It's VERY eye-opening. I'm beginning to think every woman I know should read it.

*I didn't know it was raining when my kids' school got out yesterday and they started to walk home in the rain. Then my sweet friend picked them up.....thanks Shana!!! I'm an awesome mom in case you were wondering.

*I wonder how long our Christmas lights are going to stay up.

*My heart is simply broken for sweet, little Layla Grace's parents, sisters and family. She's with Jesus now!

*I HATE what cancer does to families!

{my favorite boy at 6}

2010-02-25T20:50:00.004-06:00

fascinated and a bit obsessed with Transformers

played "organized" basketball for the 1st time

your favorite parts of bb games were snack time and when it was your turn to sit out

still suck your thumb and walk on your tiptoes

sleep with T every night

love kindergarten and your teacher, Mrs. Ginavan

love to play outside

told me I can't smooch you in front of your friends b/c they might make fun of you

will still let me hug him in front of his friends

give the greatest hugs

can almost beat your sister when wrestling

love Jesus a lot

have a very generous heart

one of your favorite meals is cheesy meatloaf w/mashed potatoes

rock at MarioKart

kick every ones tushes at sword play on Wii Sports Resort....it's a bit humiliating

crack us up w/your silly sayings

embarrasses his sister

need your momma when you get hurt, are scared or sad

doesn't like to have "Be Neat" written on his writing papers

are missing your two front teeth due to a fall and having them pulled by the dentist

have made a ton of new friends

love your sister

cry if others are crying

have an ornery streak a mile wide

think batting your eyes and tilting your head will get you anything

ride your bike like a champ

could make friends with a tree stump

love to sing.....loudly

don't like clowns

can pout like nobody's business

are upset that you didn't feel bigger when you woke up this morning

Eli, I love being your mom! Everyday you make me laugh and learn. Your turning 6 is not only a big deal for you, it's also a big milestone for our family. No longer will any of our "babies" be able to tell their age w/just one hand. That makes my heart a little sad. I'm so proud of who you are and how you show Jesus's love to others.

You're my favorite boy ever!

{oh my heavens.....look at my girl!}

2010-02-22T22:00:00.000-06:00

I just found this post I'd never posted from April of last year. My girl's birthday is in April, so I'm sure I was putting together a beautiful post about my most favorite girl in the whole world. But somehow I got distracted (imagine that!) and never finished after adding a few pictures.

So, enjoy these images of a time when my girl still loved the princesses, willing wore pink, didn't fuss about wearing a dress and let me put her hair in adorable braids. She still melts my heart as much today as the first time I saw her beautiful little face!

{what's in a name?}

2009-11-12T16:32:00.007-06:00

Let's take a moment and gaze at the wonderful chubby cheeks on this precious newborns face.....

Ok, now for the purpose behind this post.

After almost 6 years, my precious son fulfilled his name this past Sunday in children's church.

I'm sure you're asking exactly how he fulfilled his name and if you'll keep your pants on for a second I'll tell ya.

About 2 months before Eli was born, my younger brother, Tim, and his sweet wife, Sarah, welcomed their beautiful daughter, Amelia Jameson, into the world. Now, my dad's name is James and Sarah's dad's name is also James, so I knew there was a possibility that Tim and Sarah would use the name James in some fashion for their baby. We were also thinking of using James for Eli's middle name, but nothing was set in stone. So, when Tim and Sarah named Amelia, we were on the hunt for a middle name for our sweet boy. I began asking God to show me what to name our son.

At the time, our SS class was reading/studying The Purpose Driven Life. Every morning I sat in Eli's room and read and pray. One morning the reading was talking about friendship and how we all need people in our lives who will uplift us and we need to be that type of friend also. It gave the example of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' arms during the Israelites battle w/the Amalekites. I thought that was interesting so I looked up the passage in my Bible.

In the story, the Amalekites had attacked the Israelites so Moses told Joshua to choose some of his strongest men to go out and fight the Amalekites. While they were fighting, Moses stood on top of a hill with his arms raised. As long as Moses' arm were in the air, the Israelites were defeating the Amalekites, but if his arms fell the Amalekites overtook the Israelites. Aaron and Hur were w/Moses, so they got a rock for Moses to sit on and they each held up one of Moses' arms. The Israelites defeated the Amalekites!

I loved the idea of being the type of friend who lifts others when they can no long go on on their own. So, I began praying about the name Aaron as a middle name for my son. I prayed about it for several days before talking to Rich about it b/c naming a child is a big deal and I wanted Eli to have godly name that meant something.

A few days later I approached Rich w/the name in my heart and the book in my hand. I began by telling him the story of the Israelites defeating the Amalekites, then I went to The Purpose Driven Life book to show him. Well, I could not find the little blurb I'd read just days earlier. I ended up reading the entire book again and still couldn't find it. I took that as a sign from God that He wanted Eli's middle name to be Aaron.

Fast forward almost 6 years to last Sunday. To illustrate the story of the Israelites defeating the Amalekites, Pastor Joy brought kids up to play the parts of the key characters in the story. My bff, Jean, just happened to be in children's church Sunday and was able to snap a few pictures w/her phone. Her son, Brock, was the rock Moses sat on and her sweet Luke was Joshua. And...you guessed it...Eli was Aaron!

I excited to see what great things God has in store for my boy's future. I pray he has many more chances to lift others up in the name of Jesus.

{another miracle}

2009-10-22T19:09:00.004-05:00

Quite a few years ago...28 years to be exact...my dad was in a horrible car accident on the day I started 1st grade. My dad was 33 yrs old when he had the accident and his entire life was turned upside down. My 4yr old little brother, Tim, was in the car w/dad.

God totally saved their lives that day.

My dad suffered some sort of seizure and as Tim later told my mom, "dad laid down in the seat and stared at the radio". When the car came to rest in a cornfield, Tim was basically unharmed and Dad was a broken, bloody mess.

He suffered a broken pelvis, broken jaw, broken ankle and an unbelievable amount of blood loss. Dad technically died 3 times that day...his heart stopped at the scene of the accident, on the way to the hospital and on the operating table.

God totally saved his life that day.

Dad's ankle was a mess. In the accident, the floorboard wrapped around his foot and literally twisted his foot almost off. He was wearing a pair of cowboy boots which saved his foot from being ripped off. His ankle bone what sticking out the side of the boot...unbelievable. Dad was told he would never walk again, but he did.

God totally healed him over the following few months.

Needless to say, Dad has had trouble with his ankle/foot since the accident. About 2 years ago, the pain had started to get so bad that there were time he could hardly walk and his ankle would give out on him. It was very scary to watch. So about a year and a half ago he had surgery to fuse his ankle. He had been in more pain since the surgery, so he went to see his orthopedic surgeon in June. After doing an mri, the dr explained to my parents that the surgery done in April 2008 was not successful. There was raw bone and exposed joint where there should have been complete fusion of his ankle. So another surgery was schedule for Oct 16th.

On that Friday, Dad was prepped for surgery and prepared to be laid up for the next 18 weeks. The surgeon visited w/Mom and Dad before surgery to explain again what he planned to do. He would take a bone graft from dad's hip to complete the fusion process, insert at least 2 screws to stabilize everything and sorta clean up anything he saw. The surgeon said he hoped to be finished in 90 minutes.

Almost 2 hours later, mom and I were called in to meet with the surgeon. He walked into the room and sat down across from us. Let out a long sigh and said "it's great news".

Once he got into my dad's foot, he found that the ankle was completely fused. He even said it was "solid as a rock". He did not have to do the bone graft. He did not have to insert any screws. Dad does not have to be in a cast. Dad will not be laid up for 18 weeks.

Mom and I sat there dumbfounded. We kept asking him about the bone graft...no bone graft. We kept asking him about the screws...no screws.

God totally fused my Dad's ankle!

{bruised teeth}

2009-10-21T19:00:00.005-05:00

Several weeks ago, Eli fell and smacked his face on the ground. His two front teeth bled and were loose, but no major damage seemed to have been done. Thank goodness!

Well, a few days ago, I noticed that both teeth, but one more so than the other, had started to turn a funky color. Off to the dentist we went.

They took an xray. There is no damage to the roots and the teeth look just fine. They told me that just like w/any other part of our bodies, teeth can bruise. Who knew?!

The dr said the discoloring may fade and it may not. How's that for helpful? Seriously. They want to see him back for another xray in a month. I'm just praying that his little, baby teeth don't turn black or something gross like that. They're already a tad on the bucky side...we do not need our son to look like a buck-toothed hillbilly. Bless his heart.

{mini-update}

2009-10-13T23:18:00.002-05:00

So much has happened since my last post, but thankfully it hasn't been me finding more gray hairs!

We're all moved in to our new, wonderful house...not quite settled, but that doesn't matter at this point. We're out of the middle of the city and we all love it here! God has blessed our family so much with this new home...I'm so thankful! My kids are loving school and making great new friends. I've enjoyed not hearing sirens and helicopters and strange people yelling at all times of the day. Central heat is also a new one for us! ;)

I'm in the process of transferring all my pictures onto a new external hard-drive so I can show y'all my new house. Actually the transferring is my boyfriends job...I just tell him what I want transferred!

Internet access has been a bit of a pain in the keester. Who knew moving 15 miles west of town would put us out of reach of the major internet providers? Seriously, some people out here are still on dial-up...I'd die! We're finally connected, but w/a much slower speed than we're used to and there have been a few glitches that aren't quite worked out.

Check back soon...getting pictures of our new house are on my list of things to do this week.

{what is this nonsense?}

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

Yesterday, Sept 3rd, 2009, 15 days before my 35th birthday, I spotted the first tiny strand of oddly textured and foreign colored hair on my head. I simply could not believe that it was there...daring to show its taunting self amid my glorious muddy-hued locks. I mean, really, what did I do to deserve such a rude, premature arrival?

I'm actually quite surprised by my reaction to this new visitor. In all reality, he's been there quite some time since almost the entire 5" strand had been affected. Jerk! I was always certain that I would just accept my aging as it came and deal with it gracefully. Well, I've changed my mind! I'm not sure yet how I'll rectify this situation, but I can assure you that it will be rectified soon.

Oh and for all you "train wreck" watching, misery-of-others lovin' folks, pictures of my nemesis will not be seen on this blog...EVER! And for my real-life friends, I'm not discussing this issue.

{talk about an uncomfortable greeting...}

2009-08-27T11:17:00.005-05:00

After 8 years, we're closing the door, literally, on a chapter of our lives. Thursday I dropped my keys off at the house. I left the new owner a card telling him that the house had been a wonderful home for our family and that we pray he will be blessed there as well. I took one final, sobbing walk through the house, through each room...remembering good times and thanking God for His protection and provision through the years.

As I was closing the door for the last time I turned to tell our old house one last goodbye...with tears streaming down my face. I knew this would be an emotional time, but I had no idea that final goodbye would be so tear-filled. I had planned to walk across the street to tell my sweet neighbor, Sara, goodbye, but I was a blothcy mess that no one needs to see...gracious sakes! So, with tears still pouring out of my eyes, I turned to shut the door and escape to my car where I could cry some more as I drove away. No such luck.

There was a man standing on the sidewalk looking at me like I was crazy. Just to prove that the sobbing woman in front of him wasn't a nut-case, I straightened my shoulders and said hello in the cheeriest of voices. He continued to look at me with a very puzzled expression, so I asked if he was Steven...the "new" owner of our house, to which he replied yes. I told him who I was and that I was just dropping off my keys. He's seemed to relax a little. I then proceeded to turn into a blubbering fool before his very eyes...yes, I'm that cool! I apologized all over myself as the tears kept pouring all while trying to reassure him that I wasn't a whack-job...not too sure if I succeeded in that one.

Anyway, we talked for about 30 minutes until his realtor showed up. He told me some of the plans he has for the house and asked me what all we did to the house. He really seems like a nice kid and I pray he's as happy and blessed there as our family was.

Goodbye old house...we'll miss you!

{laundry, laundry, laundry}

2009-08-13T07:18:00.003-05:00

Jenny at Zach's Gang is hosting her very own blog carnival today...Thursday's Top Tips. Head on over to her blog, check out all the amazing tips and be sure to give her some bloggy love.

Now, here's my tip...it's kinda dirty! ;)

In an attempt to #1-make life a little easier for ME and #2-instill a little more responsibility into my children, I've changed the way I do our families laundry.

My old method of doing laundry consisted of everyone bringing their hampers into the bathroom on laundry day and I sorted all the laundry by color and a little bit by type(jeans, school uniforms, etc), then the gigantic task of LAUNDRY DAY began. {did you just hear me say LAUNDRY DAY in the big, scary voice of the blue blob on Monsters vs Aliens when he says "SUUUUU-SAAAANNN" b/c that's how it's supposed to sound?!} Once the clothes came out of the dryer, the basket was taken to my bed and dumped out to sort all the clothes into each persons pile and then was folded and put away. Now, please don't think that all of this happened in one day. I'd hate for you to think I'm perfect! More often than not, the clothes sat in the dryer so long that the dryer could have easily been called a "dresser" or I forgot a load of clothes in the washer for a day or maybe two and had to rewash it...cuz that's how I roll people.

When we decided to homeschool last year, I knew some of the household chores would have to be changed up a bit and laundry was the first to hit my radar. Thus was born my new and greatly love method of doing laundry. It's quite simple and hopefully will help you and your family.

Step 1---cut a hole in the box...oh wait, this isn't SNL nor is it a Christmas gift. Let me start over!

Step 1-have each child deliver their hamper to the laundry room
Step 2-turn the water temp on the washer to cold/cold
Step 3-start washer and add detergent
Step 4-dump entire contents of child's hamper into washer, close the lid and walk away
Step 5-put entire load of clothes into dryer
Step 6-put all clothes into basket and call for child
Step 7-hand basket of clean clothes to child w/instructions to put them away neatly in their room

That's it! This has really made doing laundry and the task of putting it all away so much easier on our whole family. I do help Eli fold some of his, but Emma is on her own.

I'd love to hear if you try this w/your family and how it works.

{another blog carnival}

2009-08-12T22:24:00.003-05:00

My sweet bloggin' friend Jenny at Zach's Gang is doing all these super fun blog hops and blog carnivals this week, so since she's so cool I thought I'd copy her! ;)

This blog carnival gives you the chance to dig up an old post that is worth a re-visit. Here's one of my fave old post...enjoy!

From June 2008...

{only Eli!}

The kids and I met Rich at Taco Bell for lunch today after I picked them up from spending the morning swimming at my friend's pool. They were still in their wet suits and didn't want to change...until they got cold while we waited for Rich in Taco Bell. So, like every good mother, I got their dry clothes and told Emma to take Eli to the bathroom to change. When I turned to tell Eli to go w/his sister, I about fell out of my chair. He was standing there...in the middle of Taco Bell...NAKED!!! He decided to just go ahead and change out of his suit right there. I couldn't help but burst out laughing. He, of course, got totally embarrassed. I had to just sweep him into my arms (to try to hide his nakedness) and pull his wet swim trunks back on. It was one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me since becoming a mom. I'm sure it will be talked and laughed about for years to come! Once they both got dressed in the bathroom, Emma asked me if she ever took her clothes off in a Taco Bell. The answer to that is NO! Emma would have never dreamed of doing something like that.

For anyone who doesn't have a child like my Eli, you're probably reading this thinking how you would have just died if your kid took their clothes off in a Taco Bell. I will tell you that God has totally blessed my life w/this free-spirited little man. He is so much like me that he drives me crazy most of the time, but I couldn't love him any more if I tried.

For those of you who know Eli, you're not surprised at all!

You can view the original post here.

{another first!}

2009-08-11T19:07:00.003-05:00

Today I'm participating in the MckLinky Blog Hop Tuesday. Today's theme is Favorite Photos and y'all know how I love to take pictures. So, without further ado here are a few of my faves: Em & Eli at the swim beach.
Em & Mimi...Em is wearing my mom's wedding dress that she made herself. Isn't this crazy!
Eli buried in the sand at the swim beach.
My tough boy...doesn't he look scary!

Em last fall...she's so beautiful!

Not Me! Monday

2009-08-10T13:08:00.004-05:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

*This is so NOT my very first time ever to participate in MckMama's super fun blog carnival! So, I'm certain that I will NOT, at some point, do something wrong in posting this and getting it to link up w/her blog.

*I did NOT just make a lunch of popcorn, grapes and a few slices of ham. How unhealthy is that! I would NEVER be such a bad example of proper eating habits for my kids.

*Speaking of that uber-delicious lunch, my popcorn was absolutely NOT drizzled {or drenched} in EVOO and an insane amount of salt! That would also NOT be very healthy...again, I'm a great example for my kids.

*My silly son did NOT just walk up to me, glance at MckMama's pictures of her kiddos on the beach and say "I loved being there!" and then run off. He is so NOT a dork and absolutely does NOT have my personality!

*I'm totally NOT sitting at the computer NOT doing my very first Not Me! Monday when I really should be packing since we're moving this weekend either.

So, what exactly are you NOT doing today? Head on over to MckMama's and see what all the other cool kids aren't doing today! You'll be glad you did!

{itchy, itchy, ichabod}

2009-08-06T23:45:00.005-05:00

Why, you ask, would I be posting a picture of a brand new bottle of benedryl and an empty tube of hydrocortisone cream?

Here's why...

My little man spent the day at his friends house and came home covered in what I thought were bug bites. I knew they weren't mosquito bites, but I was stumped as to exactly what they were. So, as soon as we got home I had him hop in the shower, gave him some benedryl and put him to bed. He woke up doing fair...he was itchy, but not really complaining. Fast forward to later this evening...the little bumps/bites had spread more and were really itchy. His little neck was covered and he had a few bumps on his face. We get home from taking multiple loads of our stuff to a storage unit and throw him in the shower again. Rich went up to help him and immediately yelled at me to get up to the bathroom. By that point, his little body was just covered! We knew it wasn't bug bites, but some sort of rash. It was spreading down his legs and up his sweet face. So, I took a few pictures and Rich headed to Walgreen's to show the pharmacist the pictures and find out what we needed to do. The pharmacist knew just from Rich's description of the rash that it was poison ivy and sent him home w/benedryl and hydrocortisone cream and instructions to apply the cream 3-4 times a day.

Eli has been such a trooper thus far...we'll see how tomorrow goes! I've got to now wash all his bedding and the clothes he had on, the towel he used and anything else he may have touched. So very excited about that...or not!

Also, I didn't know that taking a shower would cause the poison ivy oils to spread. Talk about a great mom-moment...good grief! I feel so bad for my sweet boy. If you think about him, please say a prayer that he'll not be too uncomfortable and will heal quickly...thank you!

And yes, it took the entire tube of cream to cover all the spots.

{memories...part 1}

2009-07-31T17:52:00.005-05:00

As we've begun packing and just anticipating our upcoming move, I've been bombarded by all sorts memories of the almost 8 years we've been in our house. One thing that I'm continually reminded of is God's amazing provision and protection over my family all these years. The horrifying moments have been far out-weighed by the amazing memories made by my small little family of 4.

We bought our house in Sept of 2001...when Emma was just 18 months old. She was such a tiny little thing and had us wrapped around her itty, bitty finger. This is really the only house she remembers at this point.

When she was about 2ish, I found a Little Tikes House bed at a garage sale for her. She LOVED that bed...it had a little window in the headboard w/shutters that actually worked. She stored so many little treasures in that secret hiding place...books, Squeaky, Mr. Bun, barrettes, socks. One day, while she was supposed to be napping, I heard an odd noise coming through the monitor. I snuck up the incredibly creaky stairs to see if I could figure out what was going on and I peeked through the key hole in her door. Much to my surprise Emma wasn't in her bed, but I could still hear the noise. So, I very quietly opened her door to find her perched on the roof of her house bed peeling the nasty wallpaper off the wall. She had found a loose seam in the wallpaper and took it upon her tiny self to remove it. She was so very proud of herself too! I was astonished and a little upset...her bed was covered in wallpaper shreds. She still didn't know I was there so I said, "Emma Grace, what are you doing?" Her sweet little reply was, "Mommy, I'm on a tall mountain! Look!" I didn't have the heart to get mad at her. From then on, when I heard the sound of wallpaper being torn off the wall, I just yelled up the stairs for her to get off her tall mountain.

Oh my, I love that girl! Who knew a little flashback would make me so weepy?!

{stellan needs your prayers}

2009-07-27T10:09:00.001-05:00

Visit MckMamma and pray like you've never prayed before for her sweet baby boy, Stellan. He is not doing well at all.

{ask and He'll...}

2009-07-20T14:08:00.004-05:00

When you ask God to give you patience...He won't just give you patience. He'll give you situations in which you learn patience. Really, when I've asked God for help w/something, He's never really just swooped in and solved my problem like I really want Him to. He wants me to lean on Him and not myself. He wants me to trust Him w/my future and my family. He wants me to grow more dependent on Him and less dependent on myself.

The past few months, I've been begging God to sell our house and move our family. He's sold our house and now we're waiting for Him to move us. As awesome as it's been to have our prayers answered, it's even more amazing the patience He's taught me.

I've never been a patient person...and am not claiming to have mastered it now. My natural tendency is to present God w/a detailed list of what needs to happen to ensure my request is granted. I've usually got it all figured out...or so I think. But God's ways are not my ways and His timing is not my timing. So, this chick has had to learn to be patient. I've had to give Him my anxieties and fears. I've repeated over and over again "either I trust God, or I don't"...and wholeheartedly, I do trust Him. Sometimes it just takes my brain a little while to catch up w/my heart.

I didn't totally fall apart last week when we found out that a house we all really loved and wanted was being taken off the market b/c the family decided not to move. That's huge for me! Three months ago, I would have still be a sobbing mess 4 days later.

God is working and carrying me through this time of waiting.

I'm so very thankful!

{with a thankful heart}

2009-07-11T08:04:00.003-05:00

Our amazing realtor, Deb Eberline, came over at 7am to post the SOLD sign so Miss Em would see it when she first got up. How awesome is that! Bless Deb's sweet heart...she willingly had her picture taken w/Em in her glasses! We love ya, Deb!

Em has been praying everyday that there God would sell our house and there would be a sold sign. After Deb left Em said to me, "God answered my prayer!"

Thank you, Jesus, for answering our prayers!

{water + sun + sand = fun at the swim beach}

2009-07-10T08:39:00.005-05:00

awwww...the days of summer!

{for the love of photography}

2009-07-07T13:05:00.002-05:00

Head on over to the creative mama and check our her new series devoted to photography. She's also got an AWESOME giveaway today!

***disclaimer***
if you win her giveaway, you must give it to me! ;)

{please, hit your knees}

2009-07-06T22:52:00.002-05:00

I just found out about the McRae's whose young daughter, Kate, has been in the hospital since last Monday after being diagnosed w/a tumor the size of an egg in her brain.

Please visit their CaringBridge site to follow their story and let them know you're praying for them.

Pray without ceasing!

{the summer list}

2009-07-06T14:41:00.003-05:00

Meg @ whatever does a summer activity list and I think it's an awesome idea! So, here's our summer '09 list...

Have you made a list w/your kids yet? You totally should...it's fun to find out what they think will be fun and adventure-filled.

{friday night...pizza night}

2009-07-03T19:18:00.002-05:00

The sky is cloudy and threatening rain. There's a nice breeze. The birds are chirping. There are fireworks exploding all around. The kids are riding their bikes in the driveway...seeing who can make the longest skid mark. My husband and father-in-law are in the garage talking about who-knows-what. I'm sitting on the deck enjoying this beautiful evening.

This is something we do almost every Friday evening...come to Paka's(my father-in-law) for pizza. This tradition has been going on since my husband was in grade school. Sometimes we don't make it...sometimes my sister-in-law and her family don't make it...but more often than not, we're all here. The kids play, the grown-ups catch up w/each others lives. What I love so much about it is the relationships that have been fostered w/this tradition.

So much life has been shared around the table on Friday's. Just a few weeks ago, my sister-in-law announced to us that their baby was going to be a big brother! Rich's beloved Uncle Francis used to be a constant fixture on Fridays and all the time for that matter. I'll never forget the first Friday night after Uncle Franci died...it just wasn't the same. In fact, 3 yrs later, it's still not the same. But life has gone on and we're still doing Friday night pizza.

When Rich and his sisters were young, their friends were invited to join the family for pizza on Fridays. Boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends, team members...they were all invited. Some of my friends have even joined us for Friday night pizza.

I want to start a weekly tradition w/my family. What should it be...Tacos on Tuesday has a nice ring to it! ;) What family traditions did you grow up w/that you're carrying on w/your family now?

{true love}

2009-06-28T22:52:00.003-05:00

I was blessed to spend some time this past weekend in the home of the cutest couple in the history of the world. Vernon and Joy {who are my sweet friend, Cindy's, parents} have been married for 56 years and the love they have for each other is so very evident still. I came home w/a refreshed love for my boyfriend and a personal challenge to love him they way Joy loves Vernon.

Vernon and Joy live in a picturesque setting on a rural county lake. They took my girlfriends and me on a sunset boat ride around the lake...it was breathtaking! At one point, I glanced at Vernon just as he caught Joy's eye. The grin that spread across his face and the subtle lift of his eyebrows as he shared a secret moment with his bride made me feel like an intruder in their special second in time. I think I actually blushed a little!

So, how exactly do you go through the ups and downs of 56 years of marriage and still have a sparkle in your eye when you look at your spouse? What have Vernon and Joy done to ensure that their love and marriage will endure? I asked Vernon if I could send my husband to him for some lessons! I was only kidding...I think. ;) I need Joy to give me lessons on how to love my husband.

I know they'll never read this and I'm sure they don't think they're anything special, but just observing them and their interaction w/each other has had a lasting impact on this wife of almost 11 years. I want to have a marriage and relationship w/my husband that others are jealous of. I guess it starts with me...I better get off here and go smooch my boyfriend! ;)

{the ugly truth}

2009-06-27T23:07:00.005-05:00

We still haven't sold our house, but there is a single guy and a young, married couple who are very interested in it. We've been averaging about 3 showings each week...which is great. BUT, w/each showing I have had to scurry around getting things picked up and all the staging stuff set back up.

I've become a little anal about how the house looks when someone looks at it and I don't like that about myself. I mean, it's gotten to the point where I look at the pix I took right after our realtor staged the house and then meticulously go room by room and completely duplicate what she did. Very annoying and crazy! Each morning, the kids get their beds made and we begin our day w/a clean, picked up house. By mid-afternoon when a call comes in that someone wants to look at the house that evening, things aren't the way they should be. So, I turn into neurotic mom and set about in a frenzied manner to get the house looking perfect for the showing. I've never been a perfectionist about my house...I want my family to be comfortable in knowing they can really "live" in our home. So, this newly formed compulsion is not a proud admission of mine.

One day, I sent Em up to her room to pick up while I was sweeping. When she finished she ran outside to play. I got finished w/my stuff and told Em that I was going up to check her room. When I asked her if she was sure her room was ready, she asked me if I was going to yell at her if it wasn't perfect. Talk about convicting. Good grief, what have I become?!

Another thing I've found w/this process is that I'm not allowing my family to really "live" in our house right now. I won't let the kids get any art stuff out b/c I don't want them to make a mess. I've allowed them to watch way to much tv lately...again b/c if they're watching tv, they're not making a mess. UGH!!!

So, I have been trying my best to make a conscience effort to not get so worked up about the little things when it comes time to pick up for a showing. But I'll tell ya, it's hard! I'm just ready to be done w/this house. I'm ready to not have to have my house "show" ready at a moments notice.

That's the truth...and it's ain't pretty!

{take me out to the ballgame...}

2009-06-25T15:28:00.007-05:00

The other night, we were given awesome{we were one row behind the visiting teams dugout} tickets to a T-Bones game. It was about 4,000 degrees out, but we braved the insane heat for an evening of family fun and $1 hotdogs!

These pictures are in a totally random order...thanks to blogger. We had a great time and plan to go back soon.

{8 things...}

2009-06-17T21:38:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, my sweet, bloggin' friend, Jenny over at Zack's Gang, tagged me in a get-to-know-you type of list. So, here goes:

8 Things I am looking forward to...
1-seeing how God is going to work all this our for my family
2-selling our house and moving to Maple Hill
3-a date with my boyfriend...don't have one planned, just wish I did
4-finishing school
5-kickin' up my photography business
6-my kids going to school in the fall
7-fall
8-my hair being long enough to pull up

8 Things I did yesterday...
1-spent quiet time w/Jesus
2-helped kids w/breakfast
3-taught a little school
4-cleaned house for a viewing
5-took kids to vbs
6-went to dinner w/my boyfriend
7-met couple from Manhattan w/broken down car in parking lot
8-played tic-tac-toe w/new friend Will

8 things I wish I could do...
1-say my house has sold
2-ease my parents burdens
3-travel to an exotic island w/my boyfriend
4-take my kids on a Disney cruise
5-wear a binkini...;)
6-wink w/out looking like an idiot
7-finish college
8-go on photographic vacation

8 shows I watch...
1-the news
2-Young & the Restless...guilty pleasure
3-First 48
4-Intervention
5-Real Housewives of New Jersey...another guilty pleasure
6-The Office
7-Jon & Kate Plus 8
8-SpongeBob Square Pants

8 People Tagged...
1-Jean
2-Candy
3-Mandi
4-Sara
5-Laura
6-Dawn
7-Tera
8-Lindsey

Whew...that took forever! Thanks for tagging me Jenny...sorry it took me so long!

{silly...ness}

2009-06-02T19:14:00.002-05:00

Just a little somethin' to whet your appetite while I collect my thoughts enough to put together a coherent blog post...

You just gotta love this kid! We were going to my father-in-law's for dinner and the little man wanted his hair spikey...so he got spikey! I believe this is my new fave picture!

{I've been a little busy...}

2009-05-18T21:20:00.002-05:00

To say I've been busy is quite the understatement.

This is what I've been doing!

Our house is officially on the market and I'm prayin' like crazy for a quick sale. Feel free to pass the like to my other blog on to your friends and family...ya never know who might want to buy our house!

I'll be back soon w/a normal post...I promise!

{Come to the Table}

2009-05-12T13:15:00.003-05:00

Take a step back to the time when life had a slower pace and was shared while gathered around the kitchen table. God wants us to sit back every once in a while and let Him fill us up with His amazing love and goodness. What better way to do that than with a group of girlfriends! Make plans now to attend this relaxing retreat and discover hot to allow God to be the one to fill your plate. It's gonna be a BLAST!!!

If you're interested in attend, let me know!

{a very happy girl}

2009-05-06T09:12:00.003-05:00

My sweet Emma turned 9 a few weeks ago...I know, I never did a blog post about how very much I love her and how she is just the sweetest, most wonderful girl in the entire world. She truly is wonderful, just in case you were wondering.

Anywho, Em got some cold, hard cash for her birthday and she had her sights set on what she wanted. No matter how many other "things" she was interested in and her oh-so-helpful brother pointed out, she knew what she wanted and wasn't going to change her mind. That's one of the many things I simply adore about Em...she knows what she wants and isn't swayed by others opinions.

Emma has wanted another American Girl for a while and finally had enough money to get her. She was so cute as she counted down the days until she arrived...and was not thrilled about "business days" concept. The day she arrived, Emma was ecstatic!

Welcome home, Addy! You are loved.

{discouraged}

2009-04-27T13:46:00.002-05:00

Now, I'll warn you ahead of time...this post is going to be full of complaining and whining. I don't expect you to read through the whole thing, but if you do and then find yourself in a crappy mood...welp, you'd been warned.

Over the past 3 days, our area has been pounded by some pretty severe weather...wind, rain, tornadoes, flash flooding, etc. Last night, just before the hubster and I headed up to bed, I jokingly said, "this might be a good time to check the basement for water"...since it was pouring at the time. Rich just laughed it off saying that we've never had water in our basement in the 7 1/2 years we've been in this house.

Fast forward to this morning when my sweet girl goes down to said basement to feed the cats and returns w/soaking wet socks. She's so sweet...she said, "Mom, I don't think the cats knocked over their water bowl, but there is water all over the floor in the basement." My heart sunk.

I called Rich and said, "Hey, remember last night when I said it'd be a good time to check the basement for water?" All he said was "you've got to be kidding me." That's all he needed to say. I could hear the defeat in his voice and it just about killed me.

If you know me or have followed my blog very long, you're aware that we've had our fair share of issues with this 90+ yr old house of ours. You also know that we're getting ready to put it back on the market. So, of course, something else is going to come up now.

I'm not so self-absorbed to think we're the only ones to ever have water in our basement. I'm not selfish enough to throw myself a pity party when my sweet sister-in-law is literally stranded at her home today b/c a drainage tube that runs under her driveway was washed away last night in flood waters that tore through their creek. I'm not naive enough to think this sort of thing wouldn't happen if we lived in a brand new home. I'm just discouraged. Plain and simple...discouraged.

It seems to be one thing after another w/this old house. Replacing a fence 3 times...a new roof... plumping issues...electrical issues...having to paint the exterior and replace windows b/c our neighbors house caught on fire and damaged our home...an attempted break-in...an actual break-in...there are probably more "things" that I can't think of right now.

I know God has protected us through each and every scary moment that we've encountered here. So, it's not that I've lost my faith in Him. I'm just ready for Him to move us from this trial.

OK, I've got to stop w/the complaining! I've got to trust and believe that God has bigger and better things ahead for my family. I've got to hit my knees and surrender this "thing" to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all I ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within me.

I covet your prayers!

{again with the really}

2009-04-17T13:49:00.004-05:00

Wondering what all this beauty is about? Welp, you guessed! More problems w/this wonderful house we're getting ready to put on the market. This time in the bathroom.

Yesterday, I got under our bathroom vanity and noticed about 1/2" of standing water. I quickly emptied the vanity, turned off the water and threw a towel in to sop up the gross water. Then I left it for my man to deal with...cuz that's how I roll! ;)

So, now we have the pleasure of replacing the vanity and counter top before the house is listed in the next week or so. Oh and you should know that we haven't gotten it replaced yet. The kids and I get to be in this house all day, with "just the one?" bathroom that now doesn't have a sink. Eli asked this morning how he was supposed to wash his hands and brush his teeth. I told him to use the bathtub. How's that for ghetto for ya? Seriously, really?!

If I pop in your thoughts anytime, please say a prayer for me. I just might lose it before we get out of this house!

Closing with this...just because it makes me smile!

{scurry on over...}

2009-04-15T13:07:00.002-05:00

...to Kimba's blog and sign up for this amazing giveaway from the uber talented Lisa of Lisa Leonard Designs.

{easter in pictures}

2009-04-15T12:11:00.009-05:00

{pray, pray, pray...}

2009-03-30T10:24:00.002-05:00

Little 5 month old Stellan needs our prayers. Visit his momma's blog to find out specifically how to pray.

{while I'm waiting}

2009-03-27T14:18:00.002-05:00

Last week I was cleaning a space in our bedroom that easily collects clutter when this song While I'm waiting by John Waller came on. The words stopped me in my tracks...they were words my heart so desperately needed to hear. I knew the song was in the move Fireproof, but I heard it with fresh ears that afternoon in my bedroom. I'll post the lyrics at the end if you're interested in knowing them...it's also the first song playing on my playlist.

You see, I feel like I've been waiting for God to move...spiritually and physically...for a long time. And I'll tell ya, I'm getting tired of waiting. There is not a patient bone in my body. One of the things I realized after hearing this song was that God knows I'm not a patient person. He made me this way for goodness sake. He must be trying to teach me something during this season of waiting. Being the patient person that I am{not}, I have a tendency to think that I can "figure out" what God has planned for me...I like to speculate what God's going to do next....as if I could. But God's way are so much bigger than my own. Why can I not just realize that and go with it? Apparently, I'm kinda dumb!

Anyway, I've just finished doing an amazing Beth Moore study on Esther. I blogged a little bit about the study here. And in {in a funk} I blogged about a desire I have longed for for a long time. There was one video session where Beth talked about the importance of knowing #1-when it's time, #2-when it's time to wait, #3-when it's time to wait for someone elses time and #4-when the meantime is God-time. There were several points she touched on that totally spoke to my waiting heart. One thing she said was "Never in our wait is God inactive"....read that again and let it sink into your heart. I have felt like God is very inactive right now, but I was reminded that even though I am not feeling Him, He's still there, working on my behalf. Another comment Beth made was "Our strength will be depleted when we wait on the event, person, or thing instead of waiting upon the Lord." I have been so guilty of waiting to move instead of waiting for God to reveal Himself. He has a much better plan than I could ever come up with for myself and my family.

I want His will and if that means that I have to wait, then I'm gonna wait. There's so much I'm learning and being reminded of in the "wait" too. I'm being reminded of the awesome things God has done for me. He has protected my family countless time. He has rescued me from myself more times than I can remember. I'm learning that I really don't have any control whatsoever over my circumstances. I'm learning that if I claim to love God then I can't straddle the fence...I've got to live every single aspect of my life for Him. I can't stay holed up in my safe circle of Christian friends and family. I've got to be passionate about my relationship with Christ and share Him with others. I've got to serve Him while I'm waiting. I've got to worship while I'm waiting.

Well, I've rambled enough for today. If you find yourself in a season of waiting, meditate on the words to this song and apply them to your unique set of circumstances. God has an awesome destiny for you...will you wait for God to reveal Himself to you and bless your socks off? I'm praying you'll be patient.

While I'm Waiting...by John Waller
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
and I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead,
bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will move ahead,
bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I will move ahead,
bold and confident
I'll be taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

I will worship while I'm waiting

{the smilin' robber}

2009-03-25T18:16:00.003-05:00

I'm gonna let y'all in on a little secret...it's hard to be a feared robber when you can't wipe your darlin' grin off your sweet little face.

My sweet boy was getting so aggravated that he couldn't keep his "mean" robber look for very long. Don't ya just love him?

{the good, the bad and the ugly}

2009-03-24T12:44:00.002-05:00

Maybe if I start with the good, I won't stay hung up on the bad and ugly.

After a pretty stressful 24 hours, my bff, Jean, shows up this morning with a delightful bouquet of bright, happy daisies...at least I think they're daisies. Thanks Jean! You're the greatest!

Now for the bad:

Yesterday, there was some pretty vicious wind in NE KS. I'm talkin' crazy wind! I heard on the news last night that someone recorded a 92mph wind gust. Really?!

The kids were outside playing and I heard an odd noise. So, being the good mom that I am I went out to investigate. The next 3 pictures is what I find...our fence leaning precariously to the north.

Again, b/c I'm an awesome mom, I send the kids inside and immediately call the hubster. That conversation went a little like this:

Me: "Babe, we're about to loose our fence."

The Hubster: "What?"

Me: "This crazy wind is about to knock our fence over. I think we've got about 10 minutes until it's on the ground."

The Hubster: "....."

Me: "Babe, did you hear me?"

The Hubster: "......"

Me: "Are you there?"

The Hubster: "......"

The next thing I know, he's home! He hung up and raced home...how sweet is that?!

Moving on. When he got home the fence was still standing. So he races upstairs to change his clothes and then begins grabbing tools and boards to prop the fence up. He had to run to the basement to grab a hammer and when he came back outside this is the condition the fence was in...

I had just stood there and watched it happen. Again, really?!

He began working frantically to get the fence propped back up. He was hammering, I was holding...we really are a great team. He had to run in the garage for something and I was left holding the sagging fence...which was quite heavy by the way. Just then, another huge gust of wind blows through and pushes the fence in the opposite direction. I, of course, scream, let go of the fence and watch as it crashes into our yard. Sorry folks, there are no pictures of that as it was instant mayhem.

This last picture show the fence after the Hubs has sawed it apart and has begun to take it apart section by section. Now you can see our ghetto back alley and appreciate the previously standing privacy fence.

My sweet hubby worked on that darn thing all evening and is coming home early this afternoon to set new posts and begin reconstructing the fence. Bless his sweet heart.

Now for the ugly...I told you it was comin'!

I am sick to death of this house! It seems we have had one issue after another here. I am trying to hard to stay positive and trust that God has a plan. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm failing at that.

This is the 3rd time something has happened with this blasted fence. The other 2 times huge branches from our neighbors tree has come crashing down through out backyard totally wiping out our fence. Really, you ask. Really!

I have been trying to remember the good things that have taken place in this home, but I'm coming up pretty short. But, I could make a list a mile long of all the crappy things that have happened here. I know it won't do any good, but I so want to make that list and present it to God. He knows everything that we've been through here. He planned for us to experience those things. I know the Hubs and I have grown closer to each other through all these experiences and for that I'm thankful.

But enough already! I'm done!

There you have. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Pray for me!

{you know what today is?}

2009-03-20T09:40:00.001-05:00

It's the first day of spring! WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!

Enjoy it!

{that sneaky little leprechaun}

2009-03-17T09:57:00.003-05:00

The conversation went a little like this:

EG: "Um, why is our milk green? Is it rotten?"

Mom: "What do you mean, your milk is green?"

EA: "Whoa! Green milk is awesome! Does it still taste like milk?"

Mom: "I don't know. You'll have to try it and see."

EG: "I'm not too sure about this."

EA: "I love it?"

EG: "So really, why is our milk green?"

Mom: "Well today is St. Patrick's Day. Maybe a little leprechaun snuck in and turned your milk green."

EA: "That sneaky little leprechaun."

{when you homeschool...}

2009-03-13T08:56:00.003-05:00

you can "arrive" at school dressed like a princess...w/a foam crown, a barbie ring, and a save the planet t-shirt b/c that's what princesses do. Doesn't get any better than this!

This is just a pic of the boy tracing circles. He started off a little shaky, but did awesome on the bike wheel. He was so proud of himself! I'm just glad his ears are clean! ;)I hope you have a blessed Friday and a wonderful weekend!

{are you kidding me? I won...}

2009-03-11T09:41:00.007-05:00

...a blog makeover from super, awesome Mandy over at Shabby Pumpkin! Her stuff is super, duper cute and she's so creative. She also made over my sweet friend Mandi's blog. How cute is that?! I can not wait to show off her work on my blog! Thanks so much Mandy!!!

Now, on a different note...

I'm doing Beth Moore's Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman Bible study...btw, it's amazing! Anywho, today's lesson was based on Esther 7:6-7, when Esther reveals to Xerxes who it is that wants to destroy, kill and annihilate her and her people, the Jews. In those verses is also the first reference specifically to "the king and queen." Until now, Esther and Xerxes have been referred to as two separate people, not a married couple.

The hubster and I are in a rough spot in our marriage right now...no thanks to our crazy schedules. But I can totally see how Satan is working to keep us apart and against each other. We have allowed life to cause us to lead almost separate lives and we're not standing as a united front against the enemy who so desires to see our marriage crumble. So, what Beth had to say about Esther and Xerxes standing side-by-side against their enemy, Haman, really hit home w/me today. Beth writes, "A husband and wife can bond when a threat arises. We can be two people living very separate lives when, all at once, crisis shoves us onto common ground. In Satan's vicious attacks against our marriages and families, he remains unmoved until we decide, as different as we are and as much conflict as we've had, to stand together. Then, Beloved, he is terrified."

I so needed to hear that this morning! How about you? Are you and your spouse on seemingly different paths? If so, choose now to "stand side-by-side on level ground as an actual couple." It's what God wants for our marriages and families! Matthew 12:25 says, "a household divided against itself will not stand." Please join me in praying for the marriages of our friends and loved ones. Leave me a comment if you have found a way to keep your marriage strong in the face of your enemy.

{can my favorite boy really be 5?!}

2009-02-24T20:48:00.012-06:00

5 years ago tonight...

...I was cancelling my evening plans and frantically packing my hospital bag.

...I made plans for my wonderful father-in-law to stay w/Emma.

...I was afraid I couldn't love another baby as much as I loved my girl.

...I didn't know if I would remember how to deliver a baby again.

...I prayed my son wouldn't have to spend any time in the NICU since he was 5 weeks early.

...I knew our family was almost complete.

...I knew life would never be the same.

Little Man,

Tomorrow is your 5th birthday. 5! How did that happen so fast? I'm not ready for you to be 5 yet. It makes my heart sad to know that you're no longer a little boy who needs his momma to do most things for him. I wonder what you'll want to know about yourself when you read this someday. Will you care that you came into this world 5 weeks early? Will it matter to you that you weighed 6lbs 8oz? I don't think so! You'll want to know all the fun and silly things you did as a little guy. So, here are some of my favorite "Eli" moments so far:

You screeched like a bird when you first found your voice. Our home sounded like a wild bird sanctuary and people calling usually asked if we had a bird. Nope, it was you!
You greet every morning with a huge smile and end every night with a promise to "see you when the sunshine grows up".
You can't help but boogie whenever you hear music. It has never mattered where you were or what you were doing, if there's music playing, your booty's a-shakin'!
Everyone you meet is an instant friend...doesn't matter if they're young or old, they're your friend.
No one has ever cried alone when you're around.
You love with your whole heart and you give the greatest hugs!
You don't ever want to be a man or a dad. You just want to be my boy forever.

Eli, I love being your mom! I love how tender your little heart is and how much you love Jesus!

Happy birthday, Little Man! You're my favorite boy ever!

{bitter yuck isn't kidding around}

2009-02-19T13:36:00.010-06:00

My boy is almost done sucking his thumb!!! I can not even begin to tell you what a huge thing this is for him. This boy has sucked his thumb since he was around 4 months old...that's a long stinkin' time. And he's loved every minute of it!

A few weeks ago, the kids' dental hygienist told me about a product another mom had used on her child who sucked his thumb. It's called Bitter Yuck! and is a spray used on dogs and cats to stop them from chewing on things. So, I went to PetsMart, found the spray and like every good parent, I tried it myself before forcing it on my boy. I about died it was so nasty, but I couldn't let Eli see me scurrying for some gum to cover the wretched taste left in my mouth. I then called the company to verify that it was indeed safe to put on my boy's thumb. The lady I spoke w/laughed and asked if I was serious. I told her that I was absolutely serious and wanted to know if there was anything in this "natural" product that would harm my boy. She told me it was a 100% natural, water-based product and would be ok. So, at nap time that afternoon, Eli had his first taste of Bitter Yuck! And, let me tell ya, he was NOT happy in the least.

He is doing so great now...10 days later! There were a few times in the first few days when he would put his thumb in his mouth, make an exasperated sound, then run to the bathroom to spit and get a drink all while yelling that he'd put his thumb in his mouth again. But all-in-all, he's doing great! I don't think I really expected this stuff to work for him since nothing else we've ever tried has come close. Today, he told me we needed to put more on b/c he couldn't taste it and wants to be a big boy. How proud is this momma?!

He never just sucked when he was tired...he was just so in love w/his little thumb that it was almost always in his mouth. When he started eating cereal, he would take his thumb out of this mouth long enough for me to put a spoonful of cereal in and right back in went his thumb. When he got a little older it didn't matter if he was playing w/cars or trains, he'd find a way to continue playing with his thumb in his mouth. The images below are just a very small sampling of the thousands of shots I have of Eli w/his thumb in his mouth. It's quite obvious how much he's attached to that silly little thumb.

The photo below is at bedtime that 1st night. He was bitter! He kept crying and saying that he just loves his thumb. It really was sad.

Way to go, Eli! You're so close!

{in a funk}

2009-02-13T19:38:00.006-06:00

Have you ever found yourself to be stuck in a funk? That's where I'm at now and have been for a little while now. I can't really describe what I'm feeling...I'm just in a funk. Nothing bad has happened. Nothing major is stressin' me out. I'm just in a funk. Seriously, now that I've said "I'm just in a funk" so many times, I think funk sounds like it's not even really a word!

Anyway, I'm pretty sure what has me in this funk, but there is literally nothing I can do about it. It is absolutely something that only God can change. I'm really trying to be patient and trust and believe that God knows this deepest of my hearts desires. But I'm tellin' ya...patience has never been one of my strong suits.

Here's the deal: I grew up in a picturesque little town of roughly 400 people. My friends and I rode our bikes all over town, walked to the park or the tiny grocery store(which my parents owned for a few years), played on the school playground and were able to just be kids. The town, at the time, was 4 streets wide and 6 streets long...a few years after my parents moved away a new street was added, making it 5 streets wide. Really!

I remember leaving the house on sunny summer mornings with instructions to be home when the street lights came on. If my friends and I were playing at the park and doing something we shouldn't be doing, the "mean" old lady across the street would yell at us by name to quit foolin' around before we got hurt...she'd even call our parents if she felt so inclined. In probably 4th grade, Crystal, Brenda and I started a sticker club. We met every week at Brenda's to show off our newest Lisa Frank stickers that we all kept in super cool sticker albums and we even paid dues. Does that happen anymore?

I went to elementary school and jr high with pretty much the same 5 or 6 kids. Then I went to a high school that merged 4 surrounding towns and there were 33 in my sr class. Everyone knew everything about everyone and it just worked...for the most part. Of course growing up in that tiny town, I complained that there was nothing to do...we couldn't go to the movies often, or the mall b/c the "city" was a whole 20 minutes away.

But now. Now that I'm a mom and am raising kids of my own...my heart longs to be back in that perfect little town. My heart breaks that my kids don't know what it's like to have a yard to play in. My kids have a 15x20 plot of 1/2 grass and 1/2 cement for a back yard. My kids can't play in the front yard because we live on a busy street in a not-so-great part of town and I can't always be outside to watch them. So, they're confined to their cement playground surrounded by a 6ft high privacy fence. My kids can't spend a day exploring the world around them because God only knows what sorts of things they'd dig up in the empty lot next to us. My kids have been jolted awake at night by the sound of gunshots in our surrounding neighborhood. My kids have had their home invaded while they slept in their beds 2 stories up. My kids deserve better.

So you see, my Mommy heart is very discontent. I'm praying that God will move us to a place with wide open spaces. I'm praying that I can be content in the waiting.

Apparently, I could describe what I'm feeling!

{25 random things about me}

2009-02-09T17:06:00.002-06:00

1. My Mom and I have the same middle name, Kay. I feel a little bad sometimes that I didn't carry that on w/Emma, but Emma Kay just doesn't sound near as good as Emma Grace.

2. I hate, hate, hate the fact that my little brother and his family live so stinkin' far away. I've never even met my niece, Bea...isn't that horrible?! But, they'll be here soon...I can't wait!

3. I grew up only having 2 cousins, Scott & Andy, on my dad's side of the family. Now Eli is the only boy on my side surrounded by 5 girls. Ironic, huh?

4. I have freakishly small hands. It's a Rooks thing I'm sure.

5. One of my most favorite thing in the world is Andes Mints straight out of the freezer. I don't keep them in the house b/c I'd eat the entire package in one sitting.

6. I used to have a very short fuse. I would blow up and yell at just about anybody over anything. Anger is still my first response, but God sure has done and is doing a good work in my life.

7. I don't like to be told what to do, how to do it or when to do it.

8. I went to a small high school...33 in my senior class. I loved it!

9. It hurts my heart that my kids are growing up in the middle of the city with a 15x20 plot of "yard" to play in. I grew up in a small town where I could walk to the park, the store, my friends' houses and not worry about anything. The rule when leaving the house for the day was to be home when the street lights came on. There were always adults around keeping an eye out for the kids of the town. They didn't hesitate to yell at us if we were doing something we shouldn't and they also would call our parents.

10. I did not carry any of my children full term.

11. I never in a million years thought I'd ever homeschool my kids. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it's also the most rewarding.

12. I'm pretty transparent...what you see is what you get.

13. I've never understood the purpose of having a favorite number. I think it's just weird. A favorite color, I get. A color can do things for you...bring out your eyes, cheer you up, etc. But a number, it brings nothing to the table for me.

14. I lock my children out of the house when they continually run in and out. My mom did the same thing to my brothers and I when we were little.

15. I got chased by an angry goose when I was about 4 and I couldn't get in the house b/c my mom had locked me out. Thanks Mom, that's probably why I don't like to be chased.

16. There were 8 "T" names in my wedding...Tonya, Tonya, Travis, Travis, Travis, Tim, Toni, Thad.

17. I was offered a scholarship to play tennis at a dinky college in SW KS after high school. I wish I'd gone.

18. I've only thrown up one time in my life and it was not pretty!

19. I'm fiercely loyal to my friends and family. I'd be tempted to gut you like a fish if you talk trash on someone I love. And just forget it if you hurt one of them...I'll never be your friend again.

20. I procrastinate like the day is long...I always have. It's my very least favorite thing about myself.

21. I had 3 goldfish in college...boB...who died after about 2 weeks. Then I got Calvin & Hobbes...they lived several months and died within hours of each other.

22. I pray daily that my kids will desire and develop a personal relationship with Jesus at an early age and avoid some of the mistakes, heartbreak and consequences I suffered.

23. I cherish the relationship my Dad and I have now. It wasn't always so pretty when I was growing up b/c I was rebellious, disrespectful and I always had to have the last word. God has done an amazing thing for my Dad and I.

24. I hope to one day be as gentle-spirited, peace-minded and loving as my Mom. I've some pretty big size 6's to fill. If God can change Peter, He can change me!

25. I have 1st hand knowledge of where the magic scarf comes from.

Making this list was a little hard, which totally surprised me. I guess I don't normally sit down and just think about myself. Anyway, feel free to take this to your blog and share 25 random things about yourself with others. It's fun!

{deal or no deal}

2009-02-04T09:23:00.004-06:00

So yeah, I'm little behind on bloggin'...sorry 'bout that all my faithful readers! ;)

In case you didn't already know that I'm pretty bright and a quick learner, let me tell you a cheese story.

In a far away land, there was (for one week only) an amazing deal on cheese. This deal was briefly mentioned on a blog I visit, but it was my friend Shawna at Growing Blooms who shouted its worthiness. Then my friend Jean Lo'raine at Finding Jean, finally convinced me to trek to Dillons to bestow upon my family mounds and mounds of cheese.

Have a look-see for yourself:

{and yes, I know we totally need to defrost our freezer!}

Now for the thrilling part of this story...the money I spent and the money I saved!

My TOTAL for 95 packages of cheese {plus 5 boxes of granola bars that were also an amazing deal, a .99 bag of apples and a $1.49 container of Organic Baby Spring Mix} was $64.37.

My total SAVINGS on all that loot...ya ready for this?...$325.27!

$325.27 SAVINGS...are you kidding me!!!!

In case you're wondering if I've been converted to the ways of the thrifty and wise...YES, I HAVE!!! {and you should too!}

{crafts & chocolate...could a girl ask for more}

2009-01-23T11:23:00.009-06:00

There are many, many reasons to adore Miss Cindy! She's funny, generous, sweet as honey, wise, Godly, and she loves the little girls! For Christmas she wanted to take the girlies {and their momma's} to paint pottery and then get some yummy dessert. You'd never know that Miss Cindy was a "boy momma" by the way she spoils these girls! She goes out of her way to make these little ladies know how much they mean to her...and they love her like crazy too!

Miss Cindy w/the girlies...Emma, Maggie & Ariel.

Emma & Miss Cindy

Miss Cindy & Ariel

Mags & Miss Cindy

Emma painting her box for treasures.

Me & Em

Maggie painting her heart box w/a ballerina on the lid.

Jean & Maggie

Ariel painting her heart box.

Ariel & Candy

The girls devouring their delicious, monstrous brownie a la mode!

Me & Mags making mean faces! I love that girl!

Thank you, Miss Cindy, for the awesome day! We love you!

{there were mass casualties}

2009-01-19T14:48:00.005-06:00

There's just no way to sugar coat this people...battle is tough and there will be casualties. Look away if you're too weak!

The castle was stormed by giants!

Once the dust and smoke settled, the jolly roger soared with pride.

It was a bad day to be a knight!

{calvin & hobbes or eli & t}

2009-01-08T08:56:00.004-06:00

{why?}

2009-01-07T10:06:00.003-06:00

Why am I blogging during school time? Sometimes it's because Em's working on homework, sometimes it's because I've been lazy and haven't gotten school started yet, but today is different. Today, I want to throw in the towel. Today, I want to send her back to school. Today, I wouldn't care if she went to the scary public school that we're "assigned" to. Today, I'm blogging instead of teaching...it's better for both of us right now.

I know I'm not the best teacher in the world. I don't have the most gentle spirit, the most soothing voice, the patience of Job and I didn't have the strength to keep the tears from streaming down my face during math time. I don't understand how a concept that was learned long ago can be suddenly forgotten. I don't understand how I can talk and teach and review only to get the "deer in the headlights" look. I seriously want to scream! Actually, I want to curl up on my bed and just cry.

This homeschooling thing is so far outside my comfort zone. I'm unorganized, a total procrastinator and totally unqualified. I know it's what God wants me to be doing for my daughter and my family right now. And I'm going to do it...come hell or high water! I've got a stubborn streak in me that won't let me quit even though I so want to today. I've got to push through and realize that these days will happen. But how do I not crumble when they do...that's the million dollar question.

I guess I just step away for a few minutes. Pray. Then go back and get things going again. At least that's what I'm going to do today.

{blessed}

2008-12-31T10:46:00.002-06:00

As 2008 comes to a close, I'm reminded of how blessed we've been this year. Even though there were several events that tested my faith, strained my marriage, questioned my sanity and broke my heart, there were many more moments where my faith was made stronger, a fire lit under my marriage and my heart jumped for joy. In each and every moment, good or bad, God was there. He was the one constant in my life throughout 2008.

I pray your eyes are open to God's blessings throughout 2009!

{pray for baby Stellan}

2008-12-30T08:56:00.000-06:00

Please go to McMama's blog and pray for her little baby boy Stellan. He is super sick w/RSV and in the PICU.

Pray, pray, pray!

{a Savior has been born to you}

2008-12-24T14:28:00.003-06:00

I love Nativity Scenes! I love the story they tell. I love to listen to my kids tell their version of that wondrous night. I love that the first people to know the Savior had been born were the lowly shepherds. I love that the "wise men" traveled so far to see this new King and they brought Him gifts only given to royalty. I love that God chose to send His only Son to earth as a baby to one day give up His life on the cross for me. Wow!

I think my favorite part of the whole "Christmas" story is found in verse 19 of Luke chapter 2. "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." While Mary sat holding her newborn baby, whom she knew was sent to save the world, she didn't fuss w/making sure the shepherds and wise men were comfortable. She didn't go on and on about how cute he was or how perfect he was. She sat quietly and took in all that was now, literally, in her lap. She saw the expression on the shepherds faces when they realized that the tiny baby she was holding was the Messiah. She heard the awe in the voices of the wise men as they welcomed the Christ-child. "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

It's a good thing God didn't choose me to be Jesus' mother. I would have been a blubbering mess...and that's the truth! Gracious, Eli was baby Jesus in our church's Passion Play the year he was born...he was 3 weeks old. If you saw that play that year, I was the one holding the tiny baby with a smile the size of Texas! My fabulous bff told me afterwards that she had not been aware that my teeth were as white as they appeared...good friend, huh?

I got this as a gift when I graduated from high school...15 yrs ago. I love how it sparkles! It's made from sand...interesting, huh?

My mom gave me this carved nativity for Christmas a few years ago. Isn't it beautiful! I think Baby Jesus looks a bit like an almond. ;)

I pray you and your loved ones have a blessed Christmas. Don't forget to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus tomorrow!

{we interrupt this normally very serious and proper blog with a bit of inappropriate humor}

2008-12-24T08:24:00.004-06:00

Let me set the stage for you a little. I was deep into my morning devotional time this morning. The house was quiet. Rich and the kids were asleep. The sun was still hidden and the ground was covered in a fine layer of freshly fallen snow. Suddenly, the joyous sounds coming from Emma's room alerted me to the fact that my offspring had risen from their slumber. Their laughter filled the air and I could faintly make out what they were talking and laughing about. Then in his sweet, little 4yr old voice, my favorite boy ever said, "Emma, I just farted 2 times!" Followed by much laughter. I knew instantly that my precious communion time w/Jesus had come to a rather abrupt halt.

Why are farts so funny? They really are quite gross. But, boy, are they funny! I'm sure not all families are like this, but my family thinks farts are some of the funniest things ever! I grew up in a family where one little slip of a toot could double an entire family over in gut-busting laughter. Of course, there was also the endless games of Pull My Finger...who can resist! Now, it seems Rich and I are raising our beloved children to appreciate the fine art which is tooting.

When I was in high school, our art class took a trip to the Nelson-Atkins art gallery in Kansas City and we were able to walk around the Plaza for awhile too. My friends, Kerry & Heather, and I made a stop in the public bathroom on the Plaza. Unbeknownst to us, there was a lone tooter already in there. We each went into a stall and that's when the assailant started firing. Since us girls were very mature teenagers, we didn't just bust out laughing...well not right away, we truly tried to keep it in. You know that laugh that just keeps building up and bursts through your lips in little spurts...that's what we did until we were all three laughing so hard tears were dripping from our eyes.

When Rich and I were dating we went to this newly organized church in Manhattan. It met in the gym of a school and had metal folding chairs...no big deal, it was quite cozy. The service was a little different than any church service I'd been in before, so there were some uncomfortable moments and Rich was totally out of his element. Until the baby next to us let out the loudest toot in babydom during prayer time. We, being the mature adults we were, did the "whole body jiggling" laugh and stared straight ahead to prevent the full on "fall to your knees" laugh that comes when you're in a situation where you want to die laughing and know you will if you make eye contact with your partner in crime. We never went back to that church.

I could go on and on w/toot stories, but instead I'll leave you with a few "make me pee my pants" videos from youtube.

Farting in Bed...welcome to my world

Wedding Vows...so funny

Blind Date...introduced to us by our Manhattan friends, the Carson's, who think farts are funny too

Farting Preacher 5...hello!

Jurassic Fart...let's not leave the kids out

Jurassic Fart 2

I hope I never grow to old, pretentious or stuffy to get a good laugh from the gas we pass!

{a little chirstmas cheer}

2008-12-23T09:04:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago, the kids made these adorable candy sleds to give to their friends. Chrissie over at flipflops & applesauce had made them w/her girls. She's got some super fun ideas of things to do w/your kiddos...and she's sweet as honey!

Emma has been making this kid-friendly treat since she was old enough to unwrap a Hershey's Kiss. It's so easy to make and the kids LOVE them...so do the big people! Just lay the tiny pretzel twists on the baking sheet, place a Kiss on top, then pop them in a warm over just long enough for the kisses to soften. Then push an M&M down into the melted Kiss. I then pop the whole thing in the freezer for a few minutes to harden. Then enjoy the fruits of your kids' labor! {my super cool, hairstylist makes another version of these using the square waffle-like pretzles and rolos...doesn't that sounds sinfully delicious?!}

{the best part is getting to lick your fingers when you're finished!}

{Em & Eli posing w/their creation!}

{a few goofy egyptians!}

Today, we're frosting the gingerbread and sugar cookies we made yesterday! Should be a fun, sugar-filled day!

Deep thoughts from a 4 yr old...

2008-12-19T08:40:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we drove by a cemetery where a graveside service was taking place. I commented how sad it was and Eli asked me what was going on. I told him someone had died and they were having a funeral. My sweet, tender-hearted little boy just began to cry {ya know the quite, chin-trembling, tears streaming down the face cry}. Then he started saying, over and over, that he doesn't want to die. It was so sad! I wanted to just pull the car over, wrap him in my arms and promise him that he wouldn't die for a VERY long time.

Then, last night, the kids were at my BFF's for the evening and Eli had another "death" meltdown. Jean's sweet, little Luke went out to her saying that Eli was very sad and missed Uncle Francis {Rich's uncle who died 2 1/2 yrs ago}. That got Luke goin' and Luke was crying about missing his great-grandma. Both those sweet, little guys just hugged each other and cried together!

After Eli had been in bed for a little bit, he got up and came downstairs with the saddest look on his face. He crawled up in my lap and just cried and wouldn't say a word. I took him back up to his bed and tried to get him to talk to me. When he did finally start talking, he just kept saying that he didn't want to die. It took everything in me not to totally breakdown and sob with him. Poor little guy!

I'm tellin' ya, if he's this emotional at 4, I just might take an extended vacation during his teen years!

Quick update...

2008-12-04T08:58:00.001-06:00

The mouse is dead!!! Emma was intrigued. Eli cried. Rich disposed of it. Mommas happy!

I would like to thank the academy...

2008-12-01T14:32:00.005-06:00

I've been given 2 fabulous awards by super sweet
Mandi at Miss(es) Canadian Pie. She is just a sugar and my first blog-world friend. I'm sure if we lived close to each other we'd be great friends. She's super creative and so stinkin' cute too! Be sure to swing by her blog and say hi!

So now it's up to me to nominate some of you gals. Here are some rockin' blogs that I'm totally lovin'!

1. Jean at Finding Jean. Jean's my bff in real life. You'll come away from her blog laughing and maybe with a little pee in your pants. You'll thank me for that warning later, I promise.

2. Angie at Bring the Rain. Take a tissue and be prepared to bawl your eyes out. God has gifted Angie with the gift of writing and she is not letting Him down. Her stories are thought provoking, heart wrenching and sometimes gut busting. AND she's married to Todd who sings w/Selah...hello, can you say amazing voice! I think if I knew Angie in real life, I couldn't be friends w/her b/c she's so stinkin' cute. I try not to have friends that are cuter than me! ;)

3. Courtney at cjanerun. She has an amazing way with words. She's also about the most generous person ever...she took in 2 nieces and a nephew after her sister and brother-in-law were in a horrific plane crash in Aug. Be sure to check out her blog and pray for her family. God is working miracles and it's awesome!

4. Mckmama at my charming kids. Wanna read about God's love her us? Wanna see living proof of a miracle? Wanna have your faith renewed? Go visit Mckmama. Don't forget to take a tissue.

5. Amanda at Baby Bangs. Amanda is the oldest daughter of Beth Moore. She is so incredibly gifted w/words just like her Momma. She also has the cutest little man and is preggers w/a baby girl. She writes from her heart and it comes across the screen like you were sitting across a table from her enjoying a steamy cup of hot chocolate{it's cold in KS today} and visiting with an old friend. Stop by Amanda's blog sometime.

Here are the rules girls....

1. Post the award on your blog

2. Link me for giving it to you

3. Link back to the originating post nominating you

4. Pass the award on to 5 more deserving people

5. Post these rules for your recipients

The 2nd award:

With this award, I'm to list 6 things y'all may not know about me and then pass the award on to 6 other deserving blogs.

So, here ya go:
#1- I am a middle child! Middle children seem to get a bad rap, but I think we get screwed! Just kidding, that's what a middle child would say! ;)

#2- I HATE frogs! Don't know why, just hate 'em. If you ever try to force me to look at, touch or be near a frog, you will be forever removed from my list of friends...not kidding.

#3- I have abnormally small hands. Got it from my dad's side of the family. I can wear children's gloves and can't reach an octave on the piano.

#4- I like to have secret affairs with Ben & Jerry. Please don't tell Rich...I'm not willing to give them up.

#5- I love to drive! If I didn't have a life here, I'd be happy to live in an RV and drive across the country.

#6- I hate the taste of yellow play-dough...especially at 1am.

Now, for the blogs I'm passing the award on to:
1- Chrissie at flipflops & applesauce She's got some amazing ideas of ways to interact w/your kids that go above just reading a book or coloring a picture. She had even created several coloring books that you can purchase. Crazy cool!

2- Nicol at Our Cozy Nest. Her home looks like it's ready for a Better Homes & Garden spread. Seriously, so cute AND she's made or revamped tons of her decor and furniture herself. It helps that she's about the sweetest thing in Utah!

3- Jody at Nitty.Gritty. Jody creates amazing stuff for some big wig paper crafting people. She also has a truly heart-wrenching story and she's quick to give God all the glory for carrying her and her family through all the ugliness. Her and her hubby have 6 of the most adorable babies ever! Seriously, she does more crafty stuff w/her kiddos than I've ever dreamed of doing w/my 2...AND one of those kiddos is a tiny baby! If she wasn't so sweet and fun, it'd be easy to hate her! ;)

4- Candy at No Room to Swing a Cat. How funny is that name?! Candy is one of my real life friends. From trying different recipes to making slip covers, Candy certainly got the creative bug in our group of friends. She just moved into this adorable house that's she's dyin' to put her adorable touch on so her adorable family can prepare to welcome another adorable baby. Stop by and say hi!

5- Dawn at lil bit of nothing. I also know Dawn in real life and she's super creative. She makes all sorts of awesome stuff w/card stock and stamps. She also runs a home daycare and does awesome projects w/her kiddos.

6- Cindy at Skip To My Lou. Cindy is another super creative mom who has awesome ideas of things to do w/your kiddos. Her blog is so fun too. You'll be filled w/inspiration after visiting her blog.

The post of all posts...

2008-12-01T12:54:00.004-06:00

Yeah, I know! I haven't posted in FOREVER! But, in my defense, I've been crazy busy with school, editing pictures and designing a new church directory. Anyway, let's see if my memory is good enough to remember all the great stuff that I haven't blogged about.

Oh, here's the greatest thing that's happened in the last few weeks...Eli is a CHRISTIAN! How cool is that?! Our church has a fall VBS and a few weeks ago Eli asked Jesus to come live in his heart! On the way home we were talking about it and Eli asked Emma what Pastor Steve said he was now that he(Eli) did that. Emma said "you're a Christian". So, Eli proceeded to yell...about a million times..."I'M A CHRISTIAN! I'M A CHRISTIAN!" Then he turned to me and asked "Mom, what's a Christian?" It was hilarious! When we got home he wanted to call my parents and tell them that he was a Christian now like them. I could just eat that boy up he's so sweet!

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We still haven't caught that blasted little varmint that's running around my kitchen! I don't know what the deal it, but I've had about enough of this stupid thing. Anyone have any tried and true mouse killing advice? Please don't tell PETA!

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Thanksgiving was another super special time for our family. The kids and I made a cornucopia of thankfulness {at least that's what I called it}. It was just some scrapbook paper rolled into a cone w/craft sticks inside so you can write what you're thankful for. The kids had a blast! Eli got to use a paper punch and let me tell ya, he LOVED it. Loved it so much that he's still picking up teensy pieces of paper that he punched! I've been visiting this amazing blog of things to do w/your kiddos and let me tell ya, this girl is an awesome mom. Be sure to check her out, she's super fun! flipflops and applesauce

We spent Thanksgiving morning w/Rich's Dad and sister's family. Rich's aunt Naomi was also here from Alaska for her good friends funeral. So, it was great to see Naomi, but super sad why she was here.

We went to my parents for the afternoon and evening. My mom always has the most amazing food...I think I'm still full! My Mamaw and grandpa George were there, as well as my Grandma Mitchell. There were 4 loud children running around so it was hard to really visit w/them. {ok, there were really only 2 loud children running around...Eli and Lilly can make some noise!} Our ears did get a reprieve when the kids all jumped in the hot tub...ahhhh, blessed silence! I was going to go out and take some pictures, but it was too stinkin' cold and I didn't want to get splashed. Mom, Dad, Travis, Christy, Rich and I were finally able to get a game of cards in once the kids were out and dried off. I love, love, love playing cards w/my family! I usually totally suck at cards, but I'm not ashamed to say that I rocked at the one we played Thanksgiving night. It was called Oh Rats and please don't ask me how to play it b/c yes, I've already forgotten. That's my problem, I've played all sorts of card games, but I forget how to play them. Then when I play them again it takes me a while to catch back on to the game. I'm also a pretty sore loser and my family is full of a bunch of smart aleks(sp?) and pouters...we all hate to lose and love to let everyone know when we're winning! It's a great combo! We seriously had a great time!

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Black Friday Shopping! My alarm went off at 3:20am. {yikes!} I met my bff at Walmart at 4:10am. {yikes again!} I was back home w/almost all my Christmas shopping done by 9:30am. {not too bad} I was asleep in my bed at about 10:30am. {hallelujah!}

I'm not exactly sure what it is I love about Black Friday b/c it goes against everything I claim to be about. I hate large crowds, I don't even really like to shop and I hate how Christmas has become so commercialized. But I still drug my sleepy self out of bed just to throw myself into the very mess I so despise.

This was about the 3rd or 4th year I've gone and it was the worst. I was shocked at how rude, inconsiderate and just plain hateful some of the people were that morning. I've truly never seen anything like it. It really made me sad to see and hear all the ugliness. I pray I don't ever let a "good deal" turn me into someone so ugly.

Oh yeah, I saw a kid walking very calmly towards the bathroom w/puke on his shirt and face. Then he puked all over the floor. I about died!!!

OK, this post is getting entirely too long! I'm gonna end it now and start a new post about some awesome blog awards I've recently received!

Mama Mia!

2008-11-19T09:03:00.004-06:00

If you haven't gone to see Mama Mia w/a group of girlfriend yet, you NEED to!!!
Here's a little taste for ya...Mama Mia!

Here are some pictures of my crazy friends {I'm not sure how Deb and Emily were able to get out of being in any of the pictures...I'll get you girls next time!} the night we went to see Mama Mia! We had a pre-viewing "dance" party w/Jean and Cindy rockin' it. Then the wigs came out. Wowza, some girls are not meant to be blondes!

Now, doesn't this just make you want to run out and see Mama Mia? You'll love it!

2 good-for-nothing cats for sale...don't tell the kids

2008-11-18T16:01:00.004-06:00

In our old, old house, there are many places where little rodents can get into our basement. Much to my chagrin, we currently have a little visitor. My question to you, my faithful reader, is how in the world does a mouse survive in a home w/2 cats and a dog? This is the 1st mouse we've had since getting the cats about 2yrs ago.

I HATE mice and I HATE thinking about all the places their tiny little feet have been when I haven't been looking. Oh, it just makes my skin crawl!

I have been known to pack up the kids and leave my own home upon sight of a mouse. About 5 yrs ago, I had Jean's oldest two kiddos for the day. Mags was taking her morning nap and I started lunch...hot dogs and mac & cheese. I got Emma and Brock set up at the table and went up to get Maggie. Before I went up to get Mags, I set her hot dog on a plate on the counter to cool. When I came back downstairs, there was a stinkin' mouse nibbling on Maggie's hot dog. Seriously!!! Then, like every good parent/aunt, I proceeded to climb on a chair, call Jean and whisper that there was a mouse in my kitchen eating Maggie's hot dog while throwing gumballs at the stupid thing. My husband got home from work to find gumballs EVERYWHERE!

I'll tell you the truth, seeing these stinkin' things makes me want to cuss...A LOT! I don't think I'm going to be able to make dinner for my family tonight b/c that dang thing was on my stove. GROSS!!!!!!

Why, oh why, don't Goldy and Pablo just do their feline duty and eat the dang thing?!?

I haven't been listening...

2008-11-07T08:50:00.002-06:00

I read this devotional this morning in my Grace For the Moment by Max Lucado.

Are You Listening?
Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. Matthew 7:8

Once there was a man who dared God to speak: Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God. And I will follow. Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God. And I will fight. Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God. And I will listen.

And so the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea and waited for God to speak.

And God heard the man, so God answered. He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church. He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin. He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul.

And God waited for the man to respond. And He waited...and waited.

But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks and not lives, seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing.

Finally he looked to God and asked, Have you lost Your power?

And God looked at him and said, Have you lost your hearing?
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How about you...have you lost your hearing? I think I have. I have not been taking the time to quite myself before God and listen for His voice. I have not been opening His word and searching for His answers. I have been sitting in church waiting for Him to show me what He wants for me. I have been looking in the obvious places. But He rarely turns up in the obvious places for me. He sits and waits patiently for me to get over myself and find Him in the places He wants me to be. Sometimes that does happen while sitting in a church service. More often than not, I find Him and hear Him in the quite of my living room...while my family is still asleep...before I let the business of my day get the best of me. I hear Him in the words of a song. I hear Him in the laughter of my kids. I feel Him in the embrace of my husband. I feel Him when in the presence of my girlfriends.

Lord, I'm so sorry I haven't been listening for Your voice. My ears are open.

{who lives in a pineapple under the sea?}

2008-11-03T21:43:00.005-06:00

I'll give you three quesses as to who loves Spongebob.

1-It's not me.

2-It's not Rich.

3-And it's not Emma.

{oh, my emma}

2008-11-03T21:30:00.004-06:00

I took Em w/me the other day to scout out some shoot locations. I can't believe how much she's grown in the last few years. She keeps telling me that she's almost as tall as me. Little does she know that her being able to say that she's taller than her 5'1" mom isn't saying much!

Enjoy these photos of my beautiful girl!

What???

2008-11-03T20:55:00.002-06:00

I've sat here for the last 45 minutes pouring my heart out and adding pictures since I haven't posted in forever. Then, all of a sudden, everything's gone! I don't have a clue what happened...it's just all gone! Oh, I'm so annoyed!

Do I have the patience to sit in longer and get y'all updated on the happenings of my life? I'm gonna give it a shot...we'll see how that goes!

Hang in there folks!

"Poop, I am your father!"

2008-10-16T08:59:00.003-05:00

In a galaxy far, far away...

Darth Vader came to clean out our catbox.

{here's what 8 1/2 years of friendship looks like}

2008-10-13T09:25:00.009-05:00

Brock and Emma have been great friends since Emma was born. I've got some pictures of them that aren't on my computer that would melt your heart {an almost 2yr old Brock holding tiny baby Emma, Brock w/his arm around Em's shoulders at her 1st bday party}. I'm talking some seriously cute stuff here!

July 2004
Brock{back left} & Em {back right}

Aug 2004

August 2005

Fall 2006
Dec 2007
May 2008
Oct 2008

{I'm sure their story of friendship isn't anywhere near over...}

Trauma and Preciousness {all in one night}

2008-10-08T19:27:00.005-05:00

Last night was horribly traumatic for my sweet boy.

You see, he's sucked his thumb since he was about 4 months old. And {yes, I know you're not supposed to start a sentence w/the word and} when I say "sucked his thumb" I mean he's really had a very torrid love affair with that darned appendage. He started out just sucking his thumb when he was tired, but that quickly turned into him sticking it back into his mouth between bites of baby food or while playing. It has reached the habit stage now. His poor front teeth have been pushed so far out that he can hardly close his lips together and his bottom teeth are being pushed back to the point that they're turning in. Can you say orthodontic work?!

Anyway, back to last night. We decided that it was time to take matters into our own hands {again} so Daddy-o taped little man's thumb down w/athletic tape. The dude was not happy! He sobbed for a solid hour and this momma's heart was breaking. I finally took him upstairs to his room to read some books and try to take his mind off the fact that his very best friend was taped to his palm. It didn't quite work as well as I'd hoped. I read him stories between his sobbing and talked to him about our reason for doing the taping down of his BFF. I told him that we were trying to help him since he was having a hard time stopping on his own and he just cried "I can't help it." It was so sad!

Then he started telling me that it was stinging and hurting. He had been pulling on the tape, so the tape was pulling the skin and I knew it had to hurt. So, after about 1 1/2 hrs of pure torture for my baby, I relented and took the tape off. I thought he'd be thrilled, but he continued to cry for another 15 minutes.

I finally got him in his jammies and he asked if I'd sleep with him. Now, I'm not the greatest mommy, but I just couldn't resist his sweet little tear-stained face at that moment. So, I snuggled under the covers w/him and asked if he wanted me to sing him a song. His first choice was You Are My Sunshine and when I finished singing that I asked him if he wanted me to sing another song. This time he asked me to sing "Si no". I told him that I didn't know that song, but he insisted that I did. I finally told him that I needed him to remind me how it goes by singing me a little part of it. In his sweetest, most tired little voice, he sang, "the Bible loves me si no". So I began to sing, "Jesus loves me thi "Si no". For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong."

How precious is that?! Oh how I love that little man!

I'm a bad, bad blogger!

2008-10-02T14:25:00.015-05:00

Apparently, some of my {many} fans think I don't blog quite as often as I should. So, here's to all of you out in blog-land who have been stopping by only to be so greatly disappointed not to find a new post! ;)

I can't really think of anything to blog about so I'm going to do a list for y'all. Since it's the 10th month, I've decided to make a list of the 10 biggest events {by month, if possible} that have happened to me/my family this year.

Drum roll, please.......

January-My little ring bearer. Eli was in our good friends, Eric & Heather, wedding. He was so stinkin' cute!

{who can resist a boy in a tux!}

February-Sir Eli turned 4 on the 25th of Feb. When you hear about the rambunciousness {I don't think that's even a word} of little boys, just picture Eli. He does have his sweet spots though. He loves his momma, his sissy and nobody cries alone when Eli's around. Bless his sweet little heart!

{me and eli on the day he was born}

{mags, eli, brock & luke at eli's 4th bday party...notice eli's claim to mags}

March-A home invasion. Our home was broken into in the early morning hours of March 25th while my family was sleeping peacefully on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The dirtbag(s) pried our backdoor open probably w/a tire-iron, entered MY house and proceeded to steal a few things. They stole 2 wallets, 2 cell phones, 1 mp3 player full of my fave praise & worship songs {I bet that was thrown out the window quickly}, 2 cameras {my beloved fuji and my "had less than a month Canon 5D}, my set of keys and our van. Yep, you heard that correctly...after the dirtbag(s) took stuff from our house, they then went to our detached garage and stole our van.

April-My sweet Emma turned 8 on the 19th of April. She has been a joy her whole life. I'm so glad I got to start being a mom w/Emma...I thought I was doing everything right! ;) She has got the most tender little spirit and contagious giggle. I love this girl!

{Emma just after she turned 4...this is the oldest picture of her on my computer}

{Charlotte, Emma & Lilly at Em's 8th bday party}

May-Camping at Tuttle Creek w/our great friends. Picture a little Ford Ranger loaded to the gills w/coolers, fishing equipment, bags, chairs, bikes, etc truckin' down I-70 carrying 2 grown men{one who is 6'6"} and the oldest 2 kids...followed closely by a minivan carrying the rest of the gear, 2 gorgeous moms and the younger 3 kids. I'm sure passersby thought Clark Griswold's cousin Eddie was moving to town!

{Eli, Luke & Emma roasting marshmallows over the campfire}

June-Naked child in Taco Bell. You can read all about Eli's Taco Bell expose by scrolling back on my blog. He also decided it was a good idea to go potty off the back of a paddle boat while on an outing w/the teens from church. Oh that boy!

{this is called blackmail people!}

July-Emma Grace gets baptised. Her daddy and I couldn't be more proud of the Jesus loving, young lady she's becoming.

{I love this shot of her getting dunked}

{of course Eli had to get in on the action}

August-House for Sale. We spent all summer working on our house getting ready to put on the market. After 7yrs here, it's a little bitter-sweet to think about leaving all the memories. So many firsts happened here...Emma's 1st day of school, her first loose tooth, Eli's 1st step and tooth.

September-10 {wonderful} years! Rich and I celebrated our 10yr anniversary on Sept 19th. God has blessed my life so greatly by giving me a wonderful, godly husband. I love you babe!

October-HSM The Ice Tour. Last night I took Emma, Brock & Maggie to see High School Musical, The Ice Tour. It was a blast! There were some pop quiz questions shown before the show...Brock got every one right {his dad would be so proud}. I think the kids had a great time except none of them liked the guy who was Troy Bolton {he didn't look anything like Zac Efron}.

Welp, friends, that wraps up some of the high lights {and low lights} of the year for our family. I'll try to update more often {I promise!}

Until next time...

awwww...it's fall!

2008-09-22T17:35:00.006-05:00

Fall is absolutely my fave season! The smells, colors, sounds, crisp weather...oh I just love it all! I love to have a pot of apple cider w/some cinnamon sticks, cloves and sliced oranges simmering on the stove all day...my nose is excited just thinking about it. I love to hear the crunch of the leaves under my kids' feet as they frolic in the yard. I love to snuggle up w/my love under a blanket on the deck after the kids have gone to bed and just talk about life. I love the colors of the leaves as they transform from the vivid greens of summer to the breathtaking reds, golds and oranges of autumn. I love the foods of fall...caramel apples, pumpkin pie(w/a tub of cool whip), chili, etc. Fall just satisfies all my senses!

One of my goals the past few falls is to learn how to make a kick-tush comfort food. I've gotten homemade chicken and noodles, chili and cheesy potato soup under my belt. This year, it's a toss up between a rockin' chicken potpie or a warm ya to your toes stew. Maybe I'll be adventurous and try both. I'll keep ya posted!

Today, the kids and I took a photo nature walk to celebrate the first day of fall. We attempted this w/our beloved buddy Bentley, but had to return him to the house after about 1/2 an hour b/c he DOES NOT like to be led on a leash. So, after depositing him back at home we continued our nature walk. I told the kids that they needed to keep their eye out for anything that is a sign of fall. My sweet, simple boy didn't quite get what I meant by "a sign of fall" for a while. He kept pointing at street signs, stop signs, crosswalk signs, etc. Emma finally told him that those are just signs, not signs of fall. It was sweet! He did finally get it.

Here's some of our adventure:

crunchy leaves

fave leaf garland on a gate

naked tree branches

amazing red leaves

squirrel in a tree...a very rare occurrence in other seasons! ;) Eli saw it and wanted me to take a picture

pine cones

more awesome red leaves

leaves changing color

some leaves Eli really liked

a nut of some sort

a cicada carcass

spikey balls

red berries

On our way back home, we heard the LifeStar helicopter flying in to land at one of the local hospitals. So, we hustled over to see if we could see it before it took off again. We got there in time to see the paramedics unload a patient and wheel him inside. We were right across the street from the helicopter so we walked across the street to get a closer look. The pilot was walking around the helicopter checking things out and waved at the kids and told us to come inside the fence to get a closer look. Eli was so excited!!! The pilot told us that one of his lights was out and he couldn't take off again until it was replaced. We found out that there are 3 helicopters in our "area"...Lawrence, Junction City and Osage City. The helicopter from Osage City is the one that takes people to KC and the Lawrence and JC pilots cover if needed. I couldn't believe how tiny it is inside...no wonder family members aren't allowed to fly w/a patient! There's a seat for the pilot, paramedic and nurse and then a metal slide out bed sort of thing that the gurney is placed on. The pilot got a kick out of the fact that Eli wouldn't stop asking questions and Emma didn't say a word. He said his oldest son is the quiet, shy one while the youngest never shuts up. Thank you Mr. LifeStar Pilot...you made my little man's day!

What a fabulous start to my favorite season!!!

"Those silly fish slappers!"

2008-09-14T11:04:00.004-05:00

Me: "Eli, what is your favorite Bible story?"
Eli: "Jonah and the whale."
Me: "Tell me about it."
Eli: "So, this guy named Jonah got on a boat and fell off and a big whale ate him. Then the big whale frowed him up on the sand."
Emma(in her best big sister totally exasperated w/her little brother voice): "There's more to the story than just that Eli."
Me: "OK, Eli, why did Jonah get on the boat?"
Eli: "Well, he wasn't minding God and was going to wrong way."
Me: "What did God tell him to do?"
Emma: "God told him to go to Nineveh to tell the people about God. But Johan didn't want to go to Nineveh."
Me: "Why didn't Johan want to go to Nineveh?"
Emma: "The people of Nineveh were mean!"
Eli: "They slapped each other in the face with fishes! Mom, can you believe that? Those silly fish slappers!"
Me & Emma: LOL!
Eli: "Mom, why would they slap people in the face with fishes?"
Me: "Well honey, I don't think they really slapped people in the face with fishes. I think the Ninevites were just ugly people. They were mean to others and did things that God didn't like. The slapping with fishes was just a VeggieTale thing to show you how mean they were."
Eli: "No Mom! They really slapped people in the face with fishes and that's why Jonah didn't want to go there."
Me: "OK Eli."
Eli: "Are we almost to Mimi and Papa's yet?"

Did you know that Jonah is an asparagus? Oh, the things you can learn from VeggieTales!

15 yrs is a long time

2008-08-31T21:57:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to write this post for the last several days, but I just can't seem to voice what I feel in my heart. Maybe I'll make it through this time.

August 30, 1993 was the day that my life took a very unexpected and heartbreaking turn. For you see, my son Christian was stillborn on August 30, 1993. I never got to hear him cry, say mama or make a boo-boo better w/the magical kiss of a mommy. I never got to watch him run around the bases while playing t-ball, learn to ride a bike or go off to his 1st day of school.

OK, this is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Even though 15 yrs is a long time, 15 yrs doesn't erase the fact that I don't have my son here w/me today. 15 yrs doesn't erase the memory of that horrible night when I shut off a part of my heart b/c it hurt too much. 15 yrs doesn't stop the tears from falling fresh. 15 yrs can't erase the feeling of his tiny 14 oz, 11 in. body in my arms. 15 yrs can't erase the memory of picking out a tiny casket and headstone for my precious little boy. 15 yrs doesn't erase the smell of the fresh dirt at his grave site. 15 yrs doesn't erase the pain.

15 yrs ago feels like it was yesterday.

Watch out world!!!

2008-08-28T22:15:00.005-05:00

Look at these sweet baby boys! This is Eli and Luke the day after Luke was born...Eli was 6 months old and had just gotten his first tooth. Oh, they're so little and angelic!
BUT

that

was

FOUR

years

ago!

Here they are today...

making faces,

checking out some rockin' ViewMaster slides,

and being the goofy, best buddies they are!

Eli and Luke, you were born to be best buddies! You're still so sweet and angelic...just w/a little more volume, dirt and orneriness than on the day you first met. I love you both!!

I need thee...

2008-08-21T16:14:00.003-05:00

I have been reminded today just how much I need God. I don't just need Him when things aren't going the way I want them to be. I need Him every hour of every day. I've had the chours of an old hymn in my head all day and have been randomly bustin' it out...don't you wish you could hear me?! ;)

Here are the words to this amazing old hymn: (the part in red is what I've been singing all day)

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee;O bless me now, my Savior,I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

Here's a cool video from you tube of Selah singing I Need Thee Every hour and Through It All :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ULhi1szjk

We are in a place in our life right now where so many things are up in the air or just plain new...selling our house, finding a new home, Rich's job situation, homeschool, etc. I like to know what's going to happen w/everything and right now, I know nothing! It scares the poo out of me and I don't always handle that so well.

I've just got to remember that my God has a plan for us. He has a perfect plan! Why is that so hard for me to grasp? He doesn't need my help figuring out what will be best for my family. I'd like to help! ;)

I'll leave you tonight w/my, silent to you but very audible to my God, version:
I need Thee, O I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee. O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

Come on buyers!

2008-08-15T16:47:00.005-05:00

Our house has been on the market since last Tuesday and several people have come to look at it. A couple "nosey-neighbors"(how funny is that?!) came through on the open house night, but that's ok...maybe they know someone who wants to buy our house! ;) There are 2 more showings scheduled for tomorrow...WHOO-HOOO!

Now, when you view the pictures of the various rooms of our home, please don't come try to rub on me hoping that my "Martha Stewartishness" will rub off on you! And in answer to all your questions about how this amazing woman can keep her house so clean w/a little cyclone like Eli living beneath its roof...welp, poor Eli is learning how to survive on very few toys! The majority of his and Emma's toys are in storage. Every time they walk out of a room whether it's the bathroom or their bedroom, I ask them if that room is ready for someone to come look at it. Poor kids!

So, without further ado...here's our home:

There you have it! Who wouldn't want to buy our home? Please be praying that someone will buy it quickly!

You have got to be kidding me.

2008-08-05T20:17:00.002-05:00

Seriously! If I believed in luck, I'd think that I had lost my "fuzzy purple rabbits foot on a chain". If I believed in karma, I'd think that I'd done some pretty rotten stuff. If I believed in "the gods of the universe", I'd think that I had royally pissed "them" off! But I don't believe in any of those things...I believe in a God who loves me, wants what's best for me and uses life to teach me how to be more dependant upon Him. So, what was He trying to teach me today? I don't have a clue...maybe someday I will.

I got an email from paypal informing me that my account is currently inaccessible b/c they believe it may have been accessed by a third party. Accessed by a third party it has been! Someone or 3 someones has/have gotten access to my paypal account and 3 different transactions have been made. The first one is for $350, the 2nd one is for $600 and the 3rd one is for $1200. A whopping total of $2,150!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!?! All 3 transactions are on "hold" w/paypal and in pending status on my bank account. When I realized all this, my heart literally stopped beating for a few seconds. I quickly called Rich...as if he could stop $2,150 worth of unauthorized paypal transactions from being withdrawn from my account. Then, I tried to call my bank. Of course, it was after 4pm and no one was around to answer the stinkin' phone. While trying to get through to my bank, I was on the paypal website trying to get a dispute filed. What a stinkin' mess!!

I did find the "names" and email address to where my $$$ was being sent. I googled one of the names and found a teen aged kid from California. After trying to find his picture on his high school's website, I decided I'd better quit looking before I did something crazy...like buying a plane ticket, flying to CA, hunting some stupid kid down and then kicking his stupid butt. I didn't think "Crazy middle-aged woman from Kansas sends California teenager to hospital with life-threatening injuries over unauthorized paypal transaction" would look good on my resume.

It just sorta feels like if something unbelievable is going to happen to somebody, it's going to happen to me. I guess I shouldn't complain too much...I haven't had to flee from my home in my nightgown while my 16 month old twins were napping due to a BAT flying around my kitchen like my dear friend Courtney has. Now that's some bad luck! Sorry Court, I just couldn't resist! ;)

Take a walk with me...

2008-07-22T22:04:00.005-05:00

My eyelids are in a fierce battle w/my guilt over updating this blog right now...I think my eyelids are going to come away victorious! I am so stinkin' exhausted from all the long days and late nights spent trying to get our house ready to put on the market. Although this post should be rather lengthy, I'm going to shorten it up w/a few strategically placed photos.

all these tools and such have been in my dining room for about 2 months...whoo-hoo! ;)

a view from our bedroom door

my amazing husband hung the sheetrock, texturized the walls, sanded/stained/polyed the wood floor, installed 3 new windows, painted, etc.

part of the kitchen...the cabinets and beadboard are all white and the walls are an awesome green color called grasscloth

Office area before...yes, this is the only room I took before pix of...the after isn't finished yet

the entire 1st floor of our house was like this when we moved in...ugly white plaster walls w/even uglier dark blue trim

Office area 1/2 way finished

the front of the house after unloading a truck load of mulch w/Jean and "planting" those beautiful red flowers...ask Jean what they are cuz I don't have a clue

Isn't it so pretty!

the garage...Rich, Seth, Eric, Jeff & Dakota worked their tushes off painting on Saturday

my poor living room...this cluttered mess is driving me crazy!

So, we're really close to being finished and I couldn't be happier! We're scheduled to have an open house in 2 weeks...YIKES!

Last, but certainly not least, we have a new addition in our family.

Meet Bentley. He's a 2 1/2 yr old Cocker Spaniel.

Emma is in heaven!

Until next time...

My husband is amazing!!!

2008-07-05T22:41:00.002-05:00

We...or should I say Rich has been remodeling/finishing our bedroom for the past few months. He sheetrocked the walls and ceiling, sprayed a texture on the walls, painted, tore carpet out, sanded and stained the hardwood floor, installed new windows, outlets and light fixtures, etc. Tonight we were able to move our bed back into our room! I've been waiting for this day for a LONG time. Since the remodel began, we've been living in Eli's tiny room w/our big, honkin' king-sized bed. I've been crammed against the wall and have had to climb over Rich every time I have to go the bathroom during the night. BUT not anymore!!! Our room looks amazing!

You would think w/me being a photographer I would have taken before, during and after pictures...but I didn't! I'll take some pictures very soon to show you what an amazing job Rich did on our room. I'm so proud of him!

Now we...or should I say Rich...gets to start on the kitchen! ;)

Seriously?!

2008-07-04T09:07:00.003-05:00

Eli has quite a fascination w/his friend "peni"...yep, it's his penis. He is always holding it or just messing with it. We've asked him to not grab himself all the time, but he just can't help himself. This morning he's just wearing a pair of undies and a jammie shirt. I sat down to watch some Wonder Pets w/the him and he said "Mom, I'm petting Peni b/c he likes to be petted." He was actually petting his junk like you'd pet a cat. WHY??? I'm going to need some serious counseling when this kids grown!

It's a good thing Emma was born first. Eli would absolutely been an only child!

The Cloak of Worry...sounds inviting, huh?

2008-07-03T08:04:00.001-05:00

We have some stuff going on in our life right now that has caused me great worry. I don't start out wanting to worry...I just end up worrying. I let worry rob me of any joy that I may experience. I can't even begin to imagine how much joy I've missed w/my kids, husband, friends and family b/c I've been so consumed w/worry. It sometimes feels like I wear that worry like a cloak. It's too hot to be wearing the worry cloak for goodness sake! So, I've been asking God for help in the worry department.

During my devotional time yesterday wouldn't ya know God lead me to read Matthew 6:25-34...here's the passage for those of you who don't have it memorized! ;)

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (NLT)

I've got one of those awesome study Bibles...it's not an NIV study Bible, but a study Bible nonetheless. And of course, it had a little snippet called Seven Reasons Not To Worry.
1-The same God who created life in you can be trusted w/the details of your life. (v25)
2-Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today. (v26)
3-Worrying is more harmful than helpful. (v27)
4-God does not ignore those who depend on Him. (v28-30)
5-Worrying show a lack of faith in and understanding of God. (v31-32)
6-Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue. (v33)
7-Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed w/worry. (v34)

Then I found this treasure in the "study" part: Worriers are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere w/their relationship w/God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship w/God today.

The "they let their plans interfere w/their relationship w/God" part smacked me between the eyes. I have a PLAN for how I want this current situation to work out. I mean, what worrier doesn't have everything figured out? I don't want to be a faithless follower of Christ and I don't want to continue wearing this worry. God is going to provide for us and take care of us way better than I ever could...even w/all my planning!

God has already provided!

Guess that object?

2008-06-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

Tonight we saw a woman carrying something strange looking and I asked R what he thought it was. Ready for his response? He thought she was carrying CHICKENS! Now, I did have to quietly remind myself that my husband is as blind as a bad and I thought maybe his contacts had spontaneously popped out of his head. Although I wasn't exactly sure what it was, I was certain it was not chickens. When we got close enough to really see what she was carrying, I burst out laughing and could barely catch my breath. What my dear husband thought were chickens was actually a chandelier.

After the chandelier/chicken experience, we went to dinner(w/out the youngins) at Chili's. We had the absoulte worst service ever!!! R doesn't get upset about too much, but bad service just drives him crazy. Poor Ian was too busy gwaking at the girl w/the way to revealing top to worry about his other tables. He got $0.25 from us...$0.25 more than R wanted to give him.

R and I have spent the past few days working our tushes off trying to get our bedroom finished. We've ripped out carpet, put up sheetrock, added new windows, painted and are in the middle of refinishing the hardwood floor. HOLY SMOKES...this is a lot of work! There are parts of my body that I didn't even know could hurt. My hands are covered in several colors of paint, I've got a splinter inbedded in my palm and there's an air compressor in my bathroom. Do you feel sorry for me? ;) Actually, I have loved working alongside my husband these past few days. We're both on a mission to get this project finished and move on to the next thing God has planned for us. We've still got a few things to finish up in our room before we can move out of Eli's tiny room and back into ours. Thank goodness one of those things isn't installing a chicken chandelier!

Only Eli!

2008-06-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

At arm's length

2008-06-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

I've started several blogs in the past few years only to 1-not ever do anything on them and 2-forget my passwords. So, here's hoping this time around is a little more productive.

I've been reading a blog http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/ I've cried through most of her postings, but her most recent post has found me on my knees before the One who continues to reach His hand out to me time and time again. Like this woman, I believe in Him. I love Him, but I have kept Him at arm's length just in case He let's me down. When I read that part of her post, I literally gasped and began to cry. THAT IS ME!!! I have felt this uneasiness in my spirit for a while and haven't been able to put my finger on it, but that is totally it! I have had circumstances in my past where I felt like God could have intervened and He didn't and I was devasted. I like to be in control of my life and I was sure I could have managed things much better than God did. I give God the "big" things to handle while I take care of all the other things. Like I have to actually hand things over to God...how rediculous of me. Anyway, I don't want to have my own fears, pride, selfishness...anything...put any distance between God and me anymore. I'm reaching my arms up to God to let Him grab hold of me and pull me into His arms and let Him take care of me (I haven't done such a good job).