Please Pray

My sweet mother in law, Mary Sue is in the hospital. 

She has Pericarditis (click to read about it).  Please pray that she will respond to the medicine they are giving her and that the doctors would have wisdom.

She needs to have her pacemaker battery changed, but can't have that done until the Pericarditis is under control.

She was given a pacemaker after battling both breast and thyroid cancer 6 years ago.  She is a wonderful, Godly woman we all adore and love.  We are praying for her healing to come quickly. 

Please consider leaving her a note of encouragement.  Thank you so much!  

Does It Match?

Me:

"Good morning Benjamin!"

B:

"Hey."

Me:

"You can  pick out your own clothes today."

B:

"Great, anything I want?"

Me:

"Yes.  Just not shirts that are the same color as the shorts."

B:

"Well, I think that matches.  I like shirts and shorts that are the same color."

:)

Third Day

On the Third Day

an earthquake rocked a garden tomb,

stunned Roman guards,

but spoke peace to weeping women,

Peter and the forlorn followers.

 

It shook Jerusalem’s peasants

with a promise of liberation,

jolted Pharisees

with its signal of fulfilled prophecy,

and took them by surprise

with its challenge to false spirituality.

 

It reverberated in Rome’s highest court

and shattered the consciences

of those in power.

 

Hidden questions were raised:

Is there a more worthy goal than earthly glory?

A more worthy God than Caesar?

 

Unmeasured by the Richter Scale,

it was the quake that cracked a death grip

and its aftershocks reach through time……….to me.

 

I too have had my Third Day

when the power of God

first earthquaked its way through my soul.

 

It shook me then and shakes me now,

but I stand secure

for I know my Redeemer lives.

(E.J. Hatfield)

I will spare you my ranting.

Let me just ask you.  

Does anyone else have issues trying to schedule a doctor appointment?

This is not in regards to my dear friend Angie.  She is our children's doctor.

This is in regards to my doctor.  He is wonderful.  

But seriously.  Why would I need to wait months to get in?  Last I checked, we aren't on a doctor shortage.  I am beyond annoyed.

Do you feel my pain?  No pun intended-well actually it was!  :)

Well, it was great

My class was tonight.  I was supposed to be there until 10:00. 

She let us out early.  Our professor is really cool.

I really enjoyed the discussion about the articles on llamas and such.

I was pleased that I was still able to answer questions about anecdotal notes, Piaget, constructivism, rubrics, and the like.

I am older, but as I sat in the room, I found I was filtering information in a new way.  A different way.  It felt good to know what actually works in a classroom and what doesn't-experience.  

I enjoyed the dialogue and the freedom our professor gave us to disagree with her and for her to disagree with us, but not to penalize anyone for it.  

So, now I'll enjoy the rest of my evening before I head back tomorrow from 8-5.  :)

Thanks for your sweet words, prayers, and encouragement!  

Still stretching~

It is getting smelly....

Tomorrow night I go to that place.  

Remember the stair wells smell distinct there.

Yes, tomorrow I embark on an educational journey.

I got an email from my professor.  

It had a lot of articles to read.

They were about llamas, construction sites, and trees.

I am not kidding.

Somewhere there was a syllabus.  

I could not find it.  Anywhere.

I am old.  I am not still in college.

There are things called blackboards.  Not that you write on, but use on the computer.

I am out of date.  I don't know how this is going to pan out.

So far, it is stinky.  Kind of like the stair wells.

Perhaps, I will find this class enlightening.  It is already stretching me and so if I don't have a nervous breakdown getting last minute material from my prof, maybe it will be rewarding.

I have to say there is a part of me that is pleased that I am attempting this.

Here's to stretching-our brains.

Do we need an ark?

I love Gerber daisies!  I don't know if there is a happier flower!  Ben got these for me and I thought they would brighten your day too!  Happy Day!

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It has rained this month.

A lot.

My yard looks a little like we have a fish pond.

I have always been intrigued with those big, huge goldfish.

The yard is beginning to look like a natural habitat for them.

Hmmm.

What do you like to do with your family on a rainy day or like 50 rainy days?

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The boys received an ant farm.

It is made out of gel.  

I sent off for the ants.

They came in an envelope that said "live."  That made me laugh that the little ants traveled in an envelope.  

So, anyway.  The gel had a packet of stuff-apparently it is a moisture control substance.

I, however, don't like instructional manuals, which is why I have a cappuccino maker I can't figure out.

I figured the packet was the little ants food.

After I sprinkled the contents on the gel and added the ants, I decided to call the 1-800 number and ask.  They said the material was for moisture control and NOT ant food-it would kill them.

Whoops.  So, then I went about collecting all of the flaky stuff off of the gel with ants crawling out everywhere.  Oh yeah-the ants envelope said, "Caution, Ants bite."  Great.  I felt a little concerned that I had man-eating ants loose in the house.  I decided I might be overreacting a bit.

  

Our ants dug one tunnel, not a maze of tunnels like on the box.

The boys have loved it though and we have enjoyed this little life lesson.  

Oh, by the way, you can see the remnants of the moisture control along the top of the gel-it's the brown stuff.  :)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you Brad.

You have always been a thinker.

You would often challenge me to think beyond what I was comfortable with.

You are successful.  You are a practicing lawyer and you're really smart.  You don't parade your intelligence around-trust me, I know how smart you are.  You are smart because of how hard you work.

I was thankful we took French together in High School.  You had to help me, a lot!  

You are extremely disciplined. 

I remember you as a kid.  You were focused, funny, witty, and noncontroversial.  

We have so many good childhood memories.  Remember eating Bing cherries on the porch swing with mom reading us a bedtime story?  Or being sent to our rooms for punishment and creating games with socks that made even the punishment fun?  How about playing at the pool with the Summers and the Carolus' on those summer nights?  The family vacations?  Let's see, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Disney World, California, the beach, Minnesota, The Lake (both in Missouri and Eufala), Blue Water Bay (singing Van Songs), Colorado, and Idaho!  What fun we had!  I think one of the funniest times was when you were imitating the summer Olympics when we were in the parking lot in Puerto Rico.  You started vaulting over cement barricades in the parking lot and had us all in stitches!  What about our mission trip we took together to Jamaica?!

I remember walking down to the neighborhood baseball field and watching your baseball games.  Now you are training for a 1/2 marathon.  When you get your mind made up about something you are mighty determined!  

I love that you have traveled all over the place and have seen some amazing things.  

But mostly, I love you!

You are entering noon.  Welcome to your 30s!

I am thankful that you trust in Christ alone!  I am so proud of you and the man that you are.  I know that God will use you and has a plan in store for you.  Your generosity has impacted so many around the world.  May God continue to bless others through you.  

Noonday

photo courtesy of flickr.com

As I see my life, I am at noon.  No longer am I in the newness of the morn.  The morning such a bright, beautiful time; sunlight glowing magical it seems.  Now, I face noon day.  They mysteries of the morning are gone.  There are shadows that lurk-but alas, I have all afternoon.  The golden tones of the morning are replaced by the harsher tones of noon.  Ones life stands to be examined in the light of midday-the sun is at it's peak.  The noon time light is clear.  In the morning even the dust looks lovely, but at noon you see life, clear and focused.  The dust is dust; not to appear as the flecks of gold floating through the air as it did in the morning.  Twilight is not yet in sight, but the certainty of it is a fact.  For such has been the way of a day since creation.

I am at midday.  It is a beautiful time.  May I embrace this time.  Oh to see life for what it is and what it can be.  To live with nothing to hide, nothing to gain, and nothing to prove.  May I dance at noon, see clearly as I embrace the day, and most of all do all for the glory of Christ.

Spring Break!

Today begins Spring Break!

I am going to attempt to get all of the things done that don't seem to ever get done.

Like:

Polish the Silver

Catch up on ironing

Organize the boys' closets

Get to the bottom of my pit a.k.a. my car

Read

Drink coffee in my favorite mug

Enjoy my boys, all of them~

I won't be blogging over the Break, so have a wonderful, restful vacation!  I look forward to catching up with you all soon!

Here He IS!!!!! Project Spider Man!

Here is the recipe I use to make the DELICIOUS cake:

Several boxes of your favorite white cake mix.  HEEEEHEE

You thought I was going to dish out a homemade recipe!  LOL

I do make the icing from scratch and it is great for decorating and is very good on cookie cakes!

Here is the recipe:

1 box + 2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp clear vanilla (I don't always have clear and it is just fine with plain ol' vanilla)

1/2 tsp. butter flavoring (clear kind from Michaels) (I don't always have this  either and it tastes great without it)

1/3 cup water

1 cup shortening

Put powdered sugar, salt and shortening in mixing bowl.  Add the flavorings and water.  Mix until fluffy.  It does harden, so it is great for icing cakes, cookies and such!

*********************

I would love to share the cookie cake with you too!  I promise it is the best cookie cake!!!!!!

1 cup Crisco

1 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Beat all together until well blended.  Then mix the following with the above mixture:

2 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all together and add 1 bag chocolate chips.

I use a disposable foil pizza pan for the cookie cakes.

Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.  It will look like it's not quite done, but it is.

I promise you'll want to eat the whole cake.  HMMMMM, sounds like one talking from experience!  

A Few Tidbits....

T-Ball has started.

We have rest time and then fun, healthy snacks before the practices and games!

I feel like I am actually more organized due to the necessity of orchestrating this many boys for the great American pass-time!

************

I love shoes...

Today I wore a pair of pointy Jessica Simpson shoes.

Benjamin came down and looked at them in my closet and said, "Now those do NOT look comfortable at all.  They will make your feet into triangles."

HEEEHEEE!!!!! LOL

*************

David turns 3 in September.  He has taken a terrible turn and has decided he doesn't like afternoon naps.

The thought of it!

We will enter Baby Bootcamp next week.

I am looking forward to our Spring Break.  We are going to do some fun things.  

Like stay in our jammies-way too long.  Drink coffee on the porch.  Take walks (after allergy medicine kicks in).  Oh yes, a road trip too!!!!!

What are you looking forward to doing for your Spring Break?

The Splinter

There are two types of people.  Those that allow splinter removal.  And those that resist with great force.

I am grateful I do have one child that allows splinter removal.  Tonight, he was not the patient.

Luke was the one with the splinter and he unashamedly falls into the resists splinter removal category.

Luke showed me his splinter and said he needed it to come out.  I agreed and pushed gently with my fingernails.  He did not agree that it was gentle and at this point (about 8:15 pm) he began to scream.  We had multiple intermissions during the hour.  He did not finish crying until almost 9:30.  It finally came out.  I was sitting on him and pinning his arms down with my legs.  Too bad Benjamin didn't get a picture!  I am quit certain it was a sight to behold!

Now for most splinters, we let them ease their merry way out of the foot or hand in a warm bath.  This one needed to come on out.  It was red and puffy.  :(  

Just for a good laugh, picture me restraining my child in order to retrieve a sliver out of his foot.  I am worn out physically!  So is he.  Sound asleep, so peaceful and calm.  

Wacky Wednesday

We enjoyed Wacky Wednesday today in Kindergarten.  

Benjamin really lived on the edge and wore his pajama pants and superman tee shirt to school.  He loved it!

I dressed wacky too for my class.  We laughed so hard and had a fun day!  I was having some special time with Luke today.  He made me change my hair, shirt, and take off my wacky tights! We went to the Library and had a fabulous time of me NOT saying to hurry!  Then, we picked up Benjamin and a friend.  Then enjoyed time  this afternoon at the park and a Sonic slush!

Happy Hour!!!  It's from 2-4 everyday.  You get your drinks for 1/2 price.

Well,  yesterday I received a phone call.

It was 9 minutes long.  

It was from a survey agency.  He asked a lot of questions about GUM of all things.  Like 9 minutes worth of questions about my gum chewing habits!  I felt that after 9 minutes, I had provided more than an adequate amount of information about my gum chewing.  I cut him off after I was simply tired of trying to answer questions about gum.  

Today, I got a call about my T.V. habits.  I answered this one simply.  I watch Fox News OCCASIONALLY and my kids sometimes watch PBS.  The caller wanted me to keep a TV journal and send it in to her.  I snickered to myself, because the only journal I keep is one with my daily prayers.  It is a priority and I regret to say, I haven't written in it since last week.  I have prayed, just not written down.  You get my drift.  I don't have time for a TV journal. Thank you anyway.  

Yeah, I am feeling a bit invaded by these people trying to do their job, but really it is a bit much.  A survey on gum that lasts well over 9 minutes on the phone is too much.  Would you agree?  

Popeye

He did important things for Gulf Oil.

He ran 7 miles a day followed by a game of tennis.

He was organized and planned life to a T.

He was a caretaker of his bride while she was not well.

He was lonely when she died.

He loved to grill and work on the computer.

Popeye, my grandfather, died early Sunday morning.

We shared Jesus with him different times and in different ways.  We trust that the Lord is in control of all things and we can rest in knowing that we walked by faith, sharing the love of Christ in an imperfect way, but trusted His perfect love to work in Popeye's heart.  

I don't know if he ever became a believer.  

Is your faith for eternity in Christ alone?