another new friend (a MIRL!)

Yeah, I just stole this picture off of Bev's blog, Scratchin' the Surface, because I have no idea where the camera is at the moment and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to find the cord to connect it to the computer. But, all the clothes are unpacked and the laundry is done and put away. Can you believe it?

We just got back from a 1300 mile round trip to New York City. I will post pictures of everything in the next few weeks as I stumble back into the swing of things. We went to NYC so the boys could take in the Reds/Yankees game at Yankee stadium and the girls saw Mary Poppins on Broadway. Along the way, we stopped at the Hershey Factory in Hershey, Pennslyvania, the Crayola Factory in Easton, Pennslyvania, four minor league parks, and most importantly, we stopped so I could meet my bloggy friend, Bev.

I emailed her when I realized we would be passing near to where she lives. We hammered it out and the next thing you know, I'm sitting in McDonald's with a stranger that I know a lot about. This bloggy world is neat because you get past all the surface things and really see a person's heart. I knew from reading Bev's blog that she has such a sweet soul and meeting her only confirmed that. We spent an hour or so catching up on things and chatting away like we'd known each other for years. And it felt like we had. We discussed big stuff and little stuff. I was sorry when the time came for us to leave. I'm thankful that there is that little thing called email so that our friendship can continue.

Oh, and just for the record, I do own more shirts than my Amy Grant Fan Club shirt. I was wearing it in the last picture and happened to be wearing it yesterday when I met Bev. My husband said he thought I did it on purpose. I didn't. I joked that it was my meeting strangers shirt. And also for the record, I got my haircut the day before we left for vacation and shouldn't have. It always takes my hair a few days to settle down. Still waiting... And by the way, for those of you who don't know what MIRL means - it means Meet In Real Life. Yeah, I didn't know that either for the longest time. Glad to be of service! :)

Thanks again, Bev, for being so gracious and kind! My kids adore you and are still talking about you. And wondering when I'll take them to McDonald's again... (yeah, thanks for that set up!)

question and answer #2

Time to finish up this question and answer thing. Here are the last questions...

I answered a question from Barb at A Chelsea Morning in my last post. She also had another question:
I know you've lived in Ohio all your life except for a brief time in Kentucky when you were in college. Have you ever dreamed of living anywhere else and if so, where and why?

I am going to combine my answer with this question from DK from A Flyover Blog:So, tell me what your "perfect vacation" looks like.

I dream of blue water. Anywhere. I love it. It speaks to my soul every time. Last summer, we took a trip to Put-in-Bay, Ohio. It's an island on one of the Great Lakes. I posted about it here (with pictures!). I really felt like I was home when I was on that island. I even took a couple pictures of my favorite house on the island. Sometimes when I'm having a really stressful day, I dream of being on the shore of that water and things melt away. The only thing I would change about that trip to make it my "perfect vacation" would be to stay somewhere with a bed. We camped and while I love camping, I'm not as young as I used to be. My dream is to one day have a home on the island. On the other hand, I also dream of living near Chicago. I think it's a cool city and it has blue water too - what a great combination! I've spent many moments at the end of the Navy Pier, soaking up the peace of the blue water. Both places are dear to my heart.

Diane from Diane's Place asked: If your house was on fire and you could only save one thing, what would it be? People and pets are a given, so I'm speaking of material things here.

It's hard to come up with just one thing. I mean, I'm not all that materialistic but our worlds do seem to be full of stuff, ya know? My thoughts gravitate towards things that can't be replaced, like pictures, letters, keepsakes. I'm so glad that the digital era is upon us because it's easier to save those kinds of things. I thought about saying my laptop because who knows what all I have saved on here that I don't want to lose. But then I figured if I don't know I have it on here, it probably isn't all that important, huh? And then it hit me - I've been keeping a journal since the day after my wedding to Handsome. It's spotty in some places. It kind of tapers off once I started blogging but it covers almost five years of my family's day to day life. That's something my great-grandkids might enjoy reading someday. My own kids may even like to see it. I often go back and read it myself. So, long story short, I would save my journal.

I really appreciate you ladies asking questions. I enjoyed this little exercise. :) Hope you learned something new about me. Have a great week!

question and answer #1

I've been reading all the answers of the others who have agreed to take questions and I'm amazed at the honesty. I never started blogging in search of friends. I did it to journal my kids' childhoods, to vent frustration, to prove to myself that God is ever-present, and to connect to my family. But as I read all the answers, my realization is that I do have friends "out there". And no matter where life takes me or how long I go without a post of my own, they are still there. What a blessing that is to me! When I threw my hat in the ring for this question and answer thing, I didn't know if I'd get questions or not. But some of you showed up - and asked questions! And if you haven't asked yet, it isn't too late!

Here goes with round one...

Leave it to my good friend, Barb, to pose a thought-provoking question. Actually, it has caused me days of contemplation - which is not necessarily a bad thing. I just want to make sure I say what I want to say in the right way. Her (first) question is this: I know you struggle with depression. It was pretty obvious when I first met you but it seems a lot less obvious now. So is it safe to say you're winning that battle?

Ah, Barb, but it is a war. I call it that because it is a series of battles, one by one, day by day. It's interesting that I call it a war because that's what I call my divorce from my ex-husband. It really wasn't a war in the sense that we destroyed each other, well more than a divorce already does. My friend and I joke about material things that must have gotten lost "in the war". It's around the time of "the war" when I really started being affected by depression. I'd had postpartum depression, but then again, I was barely 20 and had a new marriage and a new baby. Just a few changes... I bounced back but by the time the war came around, I was pretty battle weary.

The happy news is that the short answer to Barb's question is yes, I'm winning. But if you will indulge me, I'd like to give you the long answer. It's a mighty powerful testament to the goodness of Jesus.

I think that each of us is wired with an internal gauge of happiness. Let's face it, some people are just happy, and some are just not. While I think of myself as a happy person, I feel as if I have walked around, most of my life, with the Eeyore cloud over my head. I don't know if I feel things more deeply than most or if I am just less adept at handling those emotions/feelings. Whatever it is, there is a depth there that remains. It is in this depth that the feelings of depression, or my fog, comes about. I don't know if my soul is contemplating the issues at hand (or even past issues) or if my heart is taking time to process things, I honestly don't know. I guess if I knew, I wouldn't have this problem.

To counter this, I feel like I have been blessed with the gift of faith. By this I mean that I never question that things will work out to the good of God. I mean, during the whole two years that our old house was on the market, I never once questioned what God was doing. Well, I questioned how we'd make those two mortgage payments a couple of times, but through it all, I knew it would be okay. My gut feeling was peace. It really makes little sense to me that I usually have a great feeling of faith, a feeling of peace and the fog still consumes me. It's just the process of getting to the place where God shines through that gets me down, I guess.

With all that said, I'm doing a couple of things that have helped me. The first is that I am trying daily to read something from the Bible. Hearing God's words spoken in my mind reminds me to focus on things eternal and not the things of this world. That is such a help. Knowing that God is always with me helps me find the balance and gives me the orientation I need to find my way around the fog. I have also become involved in a Bible Study and between the ladies and the studying, I am finding it very helpful as well.

Prior to blogging, I kept a journal. Once I began blogging though, I no longer wrote in my journal. And being that this whole blog thing is not so private, I tended to censor what I was saying. It's hard to really hash through your feelings when you are censoring yourself. So, instead of turning here, to my blog, when I needed to write my way out of a fog, I've started keeping a journal type document on my computer. That's part of the reason I haven't blogged as much. Sometimes all my creative writing juices are exhausted by the time I get to blogging. But I've found my emotional footing again - and life is good.

Whew. I'll be back soon to answer more... :)

i wanna play!

Barb, Bev, Diane, Sarah, and a whole bunch of others have decided to take questions from fellow bloggers and then answer them. This idea originated from another blogger named Meredith. Boy, I bet she didn't realize what a chain reaction this would have.

I've been contemplating joining the "game". I figure I won't have anyone ask me anything because I took so long of a break that lots of people - as in the 2 or 3 that come by regularly :) - stopped reading. But after reading some of the others' questions and answers, it looks like fun! So even if I only get one question, I'm throwing my hat in the ring.

So here goes - got any questions for me? Come on, I know you have something you want to ask.

I'll be back soon to answer all of the questions that are going to pour in. LOL :)

they have names...i promise!

So, for the first time since I began blogging, I am revisiting my thoughts on what to share with you. I mean, I have been pretty fanatical about privacy and worrying about what I put "out there". I didn't even reveal my name for almost a year. You never know what internet boogie-man is out there and my, oh, my what would he or she do with a picture of my children and would he or she be able to find out where we are from and what would he or she possible want with my children and how could I have exposed them to the wild unknown and...well, whew, you get my point. But paging through the pictures from the wedding, there are so many I want to share. Due to my quest of safety, there aren't many left that I can share. I'm torn. I don't know what to do.

So while I ponder that for another day or so, here is something else that has come up...I have never told you my family's names and still don't feel comfortable with that at the moment. But I am tired of calling them my son, my daughter, my husband. It seems so, I don't know, unfriendly or something. To make this better, I have come up with names. I've seen other bloggers do this and thought it was just about dang time! :)

Since my daughter was born, I have called her Baby Girl. I still do. Even after the birth of my son, who is now technically the baby. It's funny because I have also called her Pumpkin Butt (don't ask - I don't even know why) but I thought years down the road when she is cherishing her mom's bloggy words (and she will, right??), she might appreciate Baby Girl instead. So, Baby Girl it is.

My son was born looking like an old man. He had the scrunchy face, the big ears, and even his hair slicked down with a side part. I've always called him Little Man. He has been my little grown-up for most of his life. He just has an old soul, like me, and he imitates his dad's gestures without even knowing it. He's our Little Man.

I've thought and thought about what my husband's name can be. I have discarded a few. I thought about Knight In Shining Armor - KISA for short but yeah, that's not so manly. I also decided against the Love Of My Life - LOML because that reminds me too much of LOL and although he makes me laugh, it just didn't sit well with me. My uncle calls him Chesterfield (he has nicknames for us all) but that doesn't work for me. I don't think of him as Chesterfield (even if it does fit!). Maybe it will just have to be Handsome because well, he is. :)

There we have it - Handsome, Baby Girl and Little Man. I feel so much better now that you "know" my family! It seems so trivial but thanks for hanging in there with me. I'll be back soon, probably with wedding pictures! Stay tuned!

resurfacing...

This is always a busy season for us. For all families, I guess. I can hardly believe that it's been a month since I last posted. I've lurked around and thought about things to post but never made it here. Now, there's so much to write about, I'm overwhelmed. Here's a list of the things that have happened around here in the past 30 days...

*I have a new sister!! My brother-in-law got married a few weeks ago. All four of us were in the wedding. It was beautiful. I'll devote a whole post to it soon - I promise!

*There was a surprise party/reception/open house for my cousin that just got back from serving in Iraq. I got to hug on him and hold that new baby of his. That baby looks just like him! It sure was good to see him. He moved back to the base with wife and baby in tow today. Prayers for them would be appreciated.

*My daughter started 6th grade - and with that, came an amazing obsession with the phone.

*My son started pre-school. He loves it! I'm getting used to the idea. I can't believe he's ready for this. It's only 3 mornings a week but my heart says it's so much more than that.

*Both kids started their soccer seasons. This is my son's first time playing soccer. Those little ones are adorable. And when did my daughter learn to kick like that? I'll post some pictures soon.

*I started attending a Bible study/book study group. I've learned a lot. Most of all, I am enjoying the fellowship with other like-minded Christians. I'll post some of the amazing things happening soon. (Seems like I have a lot to post "soon"!)

*My mother-in-law's work schedule was changed so my work schedule is changing. She was the one to watch my son while I worked two days a week. Now, I'll be home every day except one. On that day, I'll go to my study group and then to work for the afternoon. A blessing for sure but it was chaotic there for a minute!

*The evaluation for our pastor had to be done and since I'm head of that committee at church, guess who had to spearhead that? It was well, um, interesting, and hopefully we are on track now. Kinda stressful for little ole me there for a bit.

*I feel so bad that I just now found out that I was given an award A MONTH AGO! Bev at Scratchin' the Surface so nicely awarded me this Nice Matters Award:
She is so sweet and I always love to see what she's up to. If you haven't had the chance to visit her, stop by! Thanks Bev! It's funny that I got this award because we've taught our kids that Jesus wants us to be nice. And they make sure to remind us when we need it! :)

Whew! I think that catches us up. As you can tell, I have lots to post about but I didn't want to go on and on and on and on in one post. So, I'll be back - and it won't take me a whole month this time!

giveaways everywhere!

Another giveaway has been brought to my attention - a 37" Flat Panel LCD HDTV!!! To enter, click here to go to 5 Minutes for Mom. The TV is being provided by Best Buy so stop by there and check out the specs. How excited would my husband be if I won this? My fingers are crossed...

and the winner is...

I put all 171 comments into the random number thingy and this is what it said:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

105 

So, if I counted right - and if I didn't, we're going to pretend I did - the winner is.....

Toni from In the Midst of This Season!!!!!!

Go congratulate her!

dog days of summer bloggy giveaway

***COMMENTS CLOSED***

I've been otherwise occupied lately and haven't blogged in awhile. So I thought, what better time to get back in the swing of things than for the totally cool Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway? Go ahead and click on that to learn about all of the FREE stuff that bloggers are giving away this week. WAIT - don't go yet - let me tell you what I am giving away...





Here is a small kit to pamper yourself. There is a journal, a takeout for two kit, and six Partylite votive candles in the kiwi strawberry scent (yummy!).

To enter, just leave me a comment. Make sure I have a way to get back in contact with you. You don't have to be a blogger, just leave your email address when you comment. Only open to people in the U.S. (sorry!).

Okay, now you can go find out all the cool things you can enter to get - FREE! Just click on that cute dog picture!

200th post!

I had lots of creative plans for this, my 200th post, but life happened instead. This picture would be the culprit.

Yesterday, the boy was acting fine. Happy, even. As bedtime approached, he began complaining that his ear hurt. We went from 0 to 10 in 5 minutes. He fussed and cried on and off all night. This morning he complained that this ear (the other one, the one in the picture) hurt him. So, I called the doctor because for the love of all things soft and cuddly, my son wasn't. And I need some sleep. Because I love to sleep. And I'm reminded of that every time one of the kids is sick and I don't get enough. But I'm wondering here from the point (is there one?), which is okay, considering I haven't had a complete thought all day.

So, anyway, we get to the doctor and it's a double ear infection. Sitting in the waiting room, he's clutching his ear, whining, "My eeeeaaarrr hurts! I don't think it's ever going to be better, Mom." How do you feel guilty over something you can't fix? The doctor said it was a double ear infection - the one was way worse than the other. We got the staple pink stuff that my son loves for some reason. We went to Kroger and dropped the prescription off and then went down the street to get some bagels. He chose that for lunch over McDonald's - I know he isn't feeling well! When we got back to Kroger to pick up the medicine (in the drive-thru - whoever invented drive-thru pharmacies was a genius - or a mom with a car-load of kids!), my son decided he needed to go to the bathroom. NOW. So, I'm trying to convince him that he can wait and also talk to the pharmacy technician in a mature, I'm-a-mom-and-I-know-what-I-doing-ignore-the-screaming-in-the-backseat-I'm-not-abusing-him tone of voice. It turns out the technician is the mom of a kid in my daughter's class. She was so nice but was trying to chit-chat. On a good day, I'm not a good chit-chatter. On a day after a long night, and an even longer day (and it was only 11 in the morning), I'm horrible at chit-chat. I mumbled something and bless her heart if she didn't say "Well, I guess he's ready to go home - here's some extra suckers to maybe help you make it better." I'm so glad she was understanding. I do wonder what she was thinking as my son took off his shorts and underwear in the back seat of my car. Luckily, the little boy I babysit isn't fully potty trained and luckily, I picked up his diaper bag as we left the house. There was a pull-up in there that saved the day! Trying to reason with my son that it was okay to pee in the pull-up because it was an emergency was difficult. Finally, he went and he got changed and re-dressed and the crisis was over.

I took a nap when the boys did today. I think I deserved it.

So, happy 200th post to me. Here's to 200 more...

contest

There's a new contest on 5 minutes for mom! They are giving away a Dyson Slim vacuum. It may not be exciting to you but it is to me! If it is to you, click on the link and enter to WIN! :)

bloggity book club

***Disclaimer: I ended up going on and on with things but I wanted to in order to have a personal record of all I have gotten from this. I'm sorry if my wordiness prevents you from seeing the God-given joy and redemption that can be found in this book. :) ***

The first book chosen for the bloggity book club is Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore. This is my first encounter with Beth Moore, other than her blog which I found through some other bloggers. Boy, she is funny! I was really excited about this book because it deals with pits and bondage and depression. You may ask, "These things bring you excitement?" Well, I struggle with the fog of daily life, a fog caused by pits and bondage and depression. But, ya know, I had NO idea how much these things affected me until I read this book.

I don't know where to begin in sharing the things God has taught me through this book. First, I guess, I'll tell you that Beth Moore is one scripture-lovin' lady. And that's awesome! There were so many meaningful scriptures. I started reading the book with pencil in hand (because I own this book thanks to a really generous friend) and before long, I was underlining ENTIRE passages. After awhile, I just started marking the margin. I have never had a non-fiction book speak to me so clearly. I'd like to give you a few quotes (I'll try to be concise) from the book and how they changed me.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3
This is the inspiration for the book. When I read that, I knew God had brought me here. While I was typing that, my heart again started beating faster, knowing the calling God has given me. How exciting!

"In the light of God's face shining upon us, we also glimpse reflections of our true selves." (p.18-19)
How many times have I lost sight of God, only to lose sight of myself? Too many to count, let me tell you! When I am lost, HE is the way! Such a simple thing I learned as a child, but somehow I always forget.

In an effort of transparency because I think it could help others, this quote threw me for a loop.
"Every day she must consciously make the choice to believe her godly husband is not going to drop her off somewhere and never come back. Never minimize the choice someone like her makes daily to dig her heels securely in the rock and not slip back in that familiar pit that continually beckons, "Come home! Come home!" (p.24)
In the end, it is all about life's experiences. No matter who you are, there will always be trials. For me, it is my fear of abandonment. I won't bore you with my details of why. And even though this is such a common trial for people, my heart didn't realize others struggled with this too until I read this. My heart said "YES - THAT'S IT" and not feeling alone is the first of many important steps.

Another healing moment...
"...knowing that someone never meant to hurt us can lift us considerably in our ascent from the pit." (p.29)

The bottom line for me...
"Whoever threw you into the pit doesn't have any idea how much it hurt you. I'm not sure they would get it even if you told them in detail upon detail. No, they don't have a clue how much it affected your decisions and relationships. Humbly, but very specifically, forgive them not only for their destructive actions, but also for their ignorance. You have no other choice if you want out of that pit." (p.31)

Shedding light on true forgiveness...
"You will never use your own violition - the force of your will - more dramatically than when you agree with God to start forgiving. Forgiveness is not about feeling. It's about willing. Not stronger force exists." (p.33)

Why God allowed me to be in the pit...
"You have the capacity to be a ten times neater person healed than you would have been just plain well. Your wealth of experience makes you rich." (p.44-45)

"God entrusted that suffering to you because He has faith in you." (p.47)

A word about strongholds...
"Anything that becomes a bigger preoccupation in your mind than the truth and knowledge of God, anything that dwarfs His truth and knowledge in your imagination, is a stronghold." (p.61)
Does blogging or the TV (to say the least) come to mind for anyone? I know I felt the sting of this one.

Another stronghold: "...codependency..." (p.100)

Listening to God...
"If a new relationship or opportunity is causing you to feel trapped or backed into a corner, God could be flagging you that Satan is all over it." (p. 66-67)

The root of the problem for me...
"I had thought of my heart as only sinful. I didn't realize that deeper still, underneath that film of soil, my heart was sick. One of the most important shifts in my belief system began with the realization that I had a messed up "want to". (p. 80-81)

"We think we're too much for God to handle. That the strength of our personal draw into the abyss exceeds the strength for God's draw to pull us out." (p. 132)

And the reason I go back to the pit so often...
"So much of our propensity toward pit-jumping springs from the fact that somewhere down deep inside, we just don't trust God. We think He's like all the others who have cheated or betrayed us." (p.83)

"Nothing is more futile or leaves us more fractured than trusting man to be our god." (p.94)

"Indeed, one of the primary reasons we're so wounded is because the person knew what we were going through and still abandoned us." (p.99)

"Pride is the number one reason why a person who knows better remains reluctant to cry out to God." (p. 127)

"But smooth living invariably, eventually, makes for sloppy spirituality." (p. 147)

The answer...
"Only God can hang with us through the length and depth of our need." (p.96)

"God wants everything you've got...He alone must deliver you...or you will never be free." (p.115)

How God moves...
"I think He usually waits for us to cry out so He can remove all doubt about who came to our rescue." (p.122)

"Things don't just work out. God works them out. Blessed is the one who knows it." (p. 123)

"Your faith will be built by hearing your own voice speak the words of Christ." (p. 133)

Ah-ha moment...
"Confession in its widest sense is our means of baring our hearts and souls before God." (p.126)

"Think about how often you've tried to affirm someone for his strength in a certain tribulation, and he wouldn't take the compliment. He knows the fear he faces in the night, just like we do. He is painfully well acquainted with his own weakness when no one's looking, just like we are. I don't believe many people think themselves strong." (p.189)

Keep hanging on to God...
"When the battle heats up, rest assured that you're worrying your enemy, and he's trying to distract or discredit you." (p. 135)

As you can tell, this was a very personal journey. And the best part is - it isn't over. At the end of the book, there are a week's worth of scripture-based prayers. I intend to do them over and over until I have them memorized. Then, I can use them when I feel that fog a-callin'. I have hope that I can avoid the pit and be free. There is no better solution for me!

ultimate blog party

Welcome to my little corner of the world! Please ignore the loud, boy noises coming from the two over there. Oh, and could you shove that bottle into the mouth of that screaming baby? I think I hear the drama queen coming in from school. Her attitude may need adjusting and her eyes must not have very strong muscles because they roll a lot. But I'm so glad you're here! Sit back and stay awhile!

My name is Andrea. I'm so glad that 5 minutes for mom is hosting this cool party. What a great opportunity to get to know new bloggers! If you are interested in joining in, just click on that button at the top and head on over to their site (that is, if I did that right!).

I started blogging about a year and a half ago. At first, it was just my journal online so that my husband could read it at work. About a year ago, I stumbled upon Lisa Whelchel's website and she suggested her friend Sarah's blog for moms of young ones. From there, I found a bunch of other Christian ladies and blogging took on a whole new meaning. I think it's so wonderful to have developed the friendships I have. I was always so cautious about online stuff (and I still am) but there are so many neat people who really care in this blogging community. What an encouragement!

I've been married almost six years to the love of my life. I work part-time at a bank. I used to be a full time stay-at-home-mom but circumstances made it so I needed to work some. I am thankful for the time I am able to be at home. I have a girl who is 10 (going on 16) and a boy that's 3, almost 4. I also babysit a 2 year old boy on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. He's been with me since he was 6 or 7 weeks old and feels like one of my own. I just started babysitting a 2 month old girl on Fridays. (I totally forgot all that a newborn needs. How quickly we forget!) Oh, and I sell Pampered Chef too. Not as much as I used to but I still keep my hand in it. As you can see, it gets a little crazy around here sometimes.

Well, I'm glad you stopped by. Please feel free to look around awhile. Comment if you get a chance - I'd love to come visit you too! :) Happy Party-ing!

the bloggity book club

Books and blogging? Together? Oh. my. goodness. You don't know how excited I am about this. Click on the button if you'd like to join us in reading "Get Out Of That Pit" by Beth Moore. I haven't read many of Beth's books but from what I understand, she is AWESOME! I really look forward to reading this and sharing with others about it. Hope you can join us!

Oh, and Bev, THANKS again!

ultimate blog party

The thing I like best about blogging are all the nice bloggers out there. It really is a community of support. There is this cool thing going on that will help more people connect with one another. Click on the button below to find out more. Come join the party!

snow

We woke up this morning to snow. Lots of it. Well, in light of the ice storms and recent Colorado snow storms, it wasn't really lots. But for the mild winter we've been having, it's lots. Our son is having a cow over all the snow. He wants to build a snowman, thanks to the suggestion from the lady that cut his hair yesterday. I'm hoping that will be a project that Daddy will tackle with him. I'm not really into playing in the snow. Something about being bundled up, wet, and freezing just doesn't appeal to me. However, being curled up on the couch with a good book and a hot cup of tea sounds heavenly.

My son got his haircut yesterday. As she was cutting it, he said it looked like Rascal Flatts. He thinks the singer from Rascal Flatts is indeed named Rascal Flatts. The first couple of times he said that, I just laughed. Could you imagine a mother calling for her son, "Rascal? Hey Rascal! It's time for dinner!" I apologize if anyone's name really is Rascal. I know that the name fits for my son sometimes but anyway, I digress...The singer has his hair spiked in front. It really looks like he didn't comb his hair that day. Actually, it probably takes longer to do his hair than it takes me to do mine. Well, the lady that was cutting his hair asked if he wanted her to put gel in it and make it look that way all day. He was ecstatic. My husband has done this for him on occasion but apparently he loves it. This morning it still has that little piece in the front sticking up. I think it looks like a cross between Dennis the Menace and Mr. Cool Guy. Oh, I love having a boy.

My daughter is off to her dad's for the weekend. She didn't want to go again. But she came around when she figured out they were going out to eat. Is that all it takes? Is she really that fickle? I hate having to figure out these things. Trying to take her opinions and judge them against adult standards to figure out if she is ready to make decisions about who she wants to be with and where she should go - impossible! Most days I just throw my hands up and move on. But someday - and someday soon I'm afraid - this will face me and there will be no avoiding it. In the meantime, I can't wait for her to come home tonight. It's so quiet around here without her!

I finally just hit "all read" on my bloglines. I had been avoiding doing that because I figured I would get to all the posts eventually. But by the time I was getting to posts, it was such old news I felt dumb commenting on it. So I decided to start from scratch. Hopefully that will get me back in the swing of things. I look forward to catching up with everyone!

i'm here, i'm here

september
is always so busy
around here

there's school
of course
and soccer
meetings to attend
bell choir starts up again

to top it off
i went back to work
part time
and that's been hard
although the adult conversation
is a definite plus

my poor blog
has been neglected
and i'm afraid
i've lurked at all 50 blogs
that i read
no comments at all

not that i commented a lot before
but i feel AWFUL lurking
knowing that i wish all
would de-lurk

i'm here y'all
and i'm reading
i hope to get caught up today

and i hope to see you
more regularly
'cuz i miss you guys!

this and that

busy day for me
worked at the main office
been out of the loop
and it is hard and exhausting
to be part of the working world again
even if it's only part time

especially when my heart
is still anchored deep
at home

sad news today
my friend with cancer
had a doctor's appointment today
and he said it would be best
to call in hospice
i talked to her daughter
who said the doctor
was not all that encouraging
and her time here with us
is short
on one hand
i am grateful that this faithful spirit
will be united with her Savior
and feel no more pain or hurt
and have no more tears
but i'm selfish
i don't want her to go
there's so much more i want to say
but how do i say it?
what is it exactly i want to say?
i don't know
and i feel the pressure
of time running out
i want her around to encourage me
as she has done for years now
who will continually remind me
that God is forever faithful?

you know
sometimes you just meet a kindred spirit
but i've never had one leave before
what do i do?

oh, Jesus
all i know is to come to you
you know my heart
you know how this is weighing on me
the tears that won't spill from my eyes
the ache in my chest
hold her
hold her close to you
ease her breathing
gather her strength
give her courage
most of all
sweet Jesus
surround her with your peace

blessings from fellow bloggers
i am continually amazed
with this blogging community
read a new blog today
she touched me with this post
especially in light of my friend
and a minute later
i was laughing my butt off at this
(did i just say butt in my blog?)
then there is brenda
and she visited my blog
when we were explaining our blog names
she said that my title reminded her
of an old gospel song about a lighthouse
i am just so touched by these words
and the music too
there are a few more blessings
i really want to share
but i'll save them
for another day

ending with good news
i was trying to find a blessing
in my day
and guess what?
i found TWO...
one, i met a really nice lady at work
and we had a conversation
about the local christian radio station
good stuff
and two, my friend's dad
that had the stroke
gets to come home friday
still lots of therapy
and a need for his short term memory
to restore
but he's coming home!
HOORAY!

now...if i can just catch up on
all those name explanations...

word cloud

Found this on Barb's blog...it takes all
the words you use on your blog and
creates a little list, with the most used
words being bigger and bolder. It's kind
of neat to see what words you use most.
If you'd like to try it, click here.

thankful

have been so amazed
at this blogging community

so many Christian women
full of faith
and encouraging eveyone

this is what i've been missing
since i chose the mommy path
and stopped shuffling money

the only thing
is that they are so open
and online that scares me
it's something i can't do

so i'll continue
to write in cryptics
and maybe there will be
a spot for me
somewhere

by the way
just wanted to mark
this special day
....drumroll....
my husband cleaned
two rooms of our house
while i took a nap (!!)
today

i am so thankful

and another thing
my son peed in his potty today
for the second time
which means the first one
wasn't a fluke...
we're on our way!

funny the things that
make a mommy happy

reading
taking care of the me in mommy
by lisa whelchel
very good stuff
help with squeezing
memory verses, prayer
and bible study
in a hectic day
at least that's what it has so far
only 2 chapters in
but i highly recommend it

take care everyone!