A Conundrum . . . continued . . .

I just threw the milk in my van and left . . .

That's what I did! My conscience told me to do otherwise, but I was just too darn tired - and the kids were too darn exhausted.

I did like Dana's comment on my origional post though . . . she said that when this happens to her, she just pays for it the next time she's at the store. The store clerk might look at me a little wierd . . . but at least it will be off my conscience. Thanks for the tip Dana!

So much for doing what Jesus would do . . .

Happy Birthday Mike!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!

A great picture of Mike in one of his 'awesome dad' moments - letting Faith do his hair.

I must take a moment to acknowledge the best husband/father around! Yesterday was Mike's 33rd birthday! In addition to that, it was the 6th anniversary of his cancer surgery - he has been officially cancer-free for 6 amazing years!

To think . . . 6 years ago we were at a pretty low point in life . . . struggling with infertility . . . Mike diagnosed with cancer . . . we weren't sure how far it had spread . . . if he would need radiation and chemo. It seems like a life-time ago!

But I don't ever want to forget God's amazing faithfulness to me!

Thank you, God, for blessing me with such an amazing husband! Thank you for sparing his life! Thank you for seeing fit to bless us with our beautiful girls! Thank you for give Mike 33 terrific years!

I love you Michael!

A Conundrum . . . or is it?

Co.nun.drum - a. A problem admitting of no satisfactory solution. b. A difficult and complicated problem.

OK, I have a little conundrum to run by all of you . . . I call it a conundrum, but as I look at the definition of conundrum, I don't know if it really is . . . decide for yourselves . . .

Yesterday I ran to the grocery store for my weekly grocery needs. I left the house a little later than I had wanted to and ended up pushing Bella about an hour past her regular nap time. For some reason, Faith was off her game yesterday too. So . . . by the time I'm near finished with the shopping . . . both girls have had it! There's crying, there's whining, there's pushing and shoving . . . even a little yelling (by them, not me - not to say I didn't feel like it).

I FINALLY get checked out, haul everything to the car, I have both girls buckled in their seats (wiped out and near tears), I have almost all the groceries packed in the van . . . . . and I realize I never paid for the 2 gallons of milk on the bottom of the cart!

What to do? In past instances, when something like this has happened, I've done the right thing, gone back inside, and paid for the items. However, all three of us were at our wits end, the girls were already buckled in their seats . . .

What would you do? What is the right thing to do? What would Jesus do? Comments welcome! Later, I'll post what I did . . .

Let Me Clarify . . .

Let me clarify . . . when I said I loved fall . . . THIS is NOT what I meant!



The first thing out of the gate this morning Faith was running around the house yelling, "It snowed, it snowed, it snowed! Can we go out and play? Can we build a snowman? Can I teach Bella to make snow angels?"

Well, I told her she could go out after breakfast for a while . . . I've never seen her eat so fast in all my life!

So, I'm searching high and low for the snow pants, winter coats, mittens . . . I don't have boots that fit either girl, so I put my big wool socks on them and stuffed their feet into their oversized rain boots.



As you can see, Bella wasn't as excited as her older sister. "It code, it code" she kept saying (translation: it's cold). I grabbed the camera to take a few pictures, but it was snowing so hard, I could hardly get a picture.



Here's a picture of my beautiful hearty mums! I truly hope they live up to their name!

This is NOT what Fall is about. Fall is about lots of colors . . . NOT WHITE! It's about crisp, cool air . . . NOT FREEZING air. It's about jeans and sweatshirts . . . NOT WINTER COATS! It's about apple cider . . . NOT HOT CHOCOLATE!

I love Fall! I hate Winter! But I love the excitement I see in my kids!

I Love Fall!

I love this time of year so much! And here are the reasons why:

1. My Birthday (and Mike's) is in October. My very first breath was taken of that clean, crisp, fall air . . . I guess that's why I still love it so much.
2. The colors! Wow! God is so amazing in how He created things, isn't He?
3. The crisp, cool air! No more summer humidity! Yuck!
4. Jeans! I love wearing jeans!
5. Sweatshirts! I love wearing sweatshirts!
6. Hayrides
7. Apple Cider
8. Bonfires! Fires are way more enjoyable in the crisp, cool air and S'mores are so much yummier when you're in jeans and a sweatshirt!
9. Playing outside in the leaves - going on a hunt for the prettiest ones!
10. Back-to-school. Call me a nerd, but I always loved going shopping for my new Trapper Keeper, folders, pens, pencils and school clothes! I had a blast doing all of that with Faith too (sans the Trapper Keeper).

The only downside about fall is that it is much too short! Did I hear the weather report right? Are we really supposed to get snow this weekend? Yikes!

What's your favorite season?

The Simple Things

A laundry pile is a great place to read books!


Yesterday was a day for me to appreciate the simple things. The last two months have been so busy, frantic and hectic that I haven't been able to enjoy the everyday things.

Yesterday was spent baking cookies, folding about 10 loads of laundry, reading books, coloring, making beds and playing soccer and tag. Faith, Bella and I stayed home ALL DAY! We just enjoyed each other's company with the added benefit of getting lots of things accomplished.

Who knew just being a normal mom could be so much fun! I've missed it!

Thank you, Lord, for the simple things - for the things that make life full and rich!

Thank you for a beautiful home that I have the privilege of cleaning,

beautiful kids I have the privilege to raise to love You,

an amazing man I have the privilege to be married to,

and the time to enjoy all of them! I love you, Lord!

Why make the bed when you can play peek-a-boo!

A Sigh of Relief!

(deep breath) aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

That's more like it! I feel like I can breath again! Such a great burden is off my shoulders!

The last two months have entailed endless meetings, studying new curricula, more meetings, scheduling, more meetings, structuring ministries, meetings, writing job descriptions, more meetings, training, typing, changing the schedule, meeting, changing the schedule again, planning, more meetings . . . you get the picture.

Life has been out of control! I kept telling myself, "Just make it to September 10, girl, than everything will be in place, and you can chill out a little."

Well, due to the flu, September 10 turned into September 17, but I've made it! Yesterday was the big kick off for our "Family Times" ministry. This is a family-style Sunday school, that is taking the place of our regular Sunday school while we wait for the construction to be complete on our new rooms. It went really well! It really did! The Power Point worked, the drama team had all of their lines memorized, the crowd participants were funny, the DVD worked, the singing was good . . . we actually pulled it off! All of our hard work was actually producing fruit! Yee Haw!

What was even more gratifying than just "pulling it off" was the fact that I received two affirmations (so far) from parents who loved it and said they couldn't wait to come back next week! Woo Hoo!

I think all of the time away from my family, all of the tears, all of the blood and sweat, might actually be paying off!

I've Been Tagged!

Somehow I became involved in a game of tag I never even knew I was playing . . . I didn't even have the chance to yell out "Not It!"

Anyway, my sister-in-law Michelle tagged me and now I have to name 5 things about myself that are wierd or crazy. Here goes (in no particular order):

1. I'm a picker. I pick at my own face AND I can't stand it when my kids have eye or nose boogies, or wax in their ears . . . I am always drawn to pick at them until they are clean - kind of like an ape - yikes!
2. I can't leave the house without make up on. Even after my water broke with Faith's pregnancy, I took a shower, but wouldn't get into the car until my make up was on. I'm too afraid for people to know what my face really looks like (especially after all that picking!)
3. I hate wearing shoes - I go barefoot whenever I can. My feet actually hurt when I have to wear shoes - especially tennis shoes - ugh.
4. Ice Cream is my friend - that and homemade chocolate chip cookies. I need them to survive any stress or crisis. They make me happy.
5. I don't dust. Really - maybe once - perhaps twice a year I'll haul out the Pledge and go to town - but that's it. When you come to my house, take off those white gloves, and don't look too close.

OK, now it's my turn to tag someone . . . OK Kent and Shelly . . . your turn to reveal your quirks.

Missing big sister!

Now that Faith is big stuff and is going to Preschool, we have participated in the world-wide ritual of carpooling! Faith is so excited to get the chance to ride in Jake and Austin's cars! What fun! She doesn't even need a carseat - which makes her feel oh so grown up! Here's a great picture of Faith in her huge backpack waiting for Jake's mom to pick her up!



Then there's Bella . . . she just doesn't know what to do with herself when Faith leaves. Here's a picture of her crying and pointing out the window, "Thay (her version of Faith), Thay, Thay go bu by."



Poor baby!

Ode to the Babysitters

Our babysitters can't be beat
to have them over is a treat

Katie, Macy, Sue and Grandma
Deserve a long day at the day-spa

For all the times they come to play
With Faith and Bella for the day

I know little girls can be a hand-full
But these sitters don't put up with their bull

Instead they love and play and care
And teach my girls to be nice and share

Thank you to the faithful few
Who love my girls through and through

Your kindness won't soon be forgotten
Thanks for spoiling my girls rotten

This beautiful picture was taken by one of the best babysitters ever - Katie! She used her babysitting money to buy a new digital camera, and now when she babysits, she has photo shoots with the girls. She just sent me this beautiful picture of Faith! Thank you Katie!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I'm basking in it . . . the light, that is - you know, the light at the end of the tunnel?

I wasn't sure I'd ever even see it much less be basking in it.

I've been so overwhelmed with work lately, spending hours upon hours and days upon days preparing for the kick off of our Children's Ministries on September 10. I kept saying to friends and family, "If only I can make it to September 10 alive and not in Pine Rest, everything will be fine. I can do it! I can make it to September 10." Well as of this post, it is September 13, and I am alive and well . . . well, sort of well anyway . . .

Sunday morning at about 4:00a I awoke to that little feeling in your stomach that tells you something isn't quite right. At about 6:00a that feeling was confirmed with a hasty trip to the restroom . . . I'll leave it at that. ANYWAY, at about 7:15a I had to call my pastor to let him know I wouldn't be coming in, and we decided to go ahead with the Nursery and Preschool kick offs, but postpone Sunday school for another week. After that, I made three brief phone calls to the coordinators of Nursery, Preschool and Sunday school to let them know what was going on, and then I went peacefully back to sleep.

That may not sound like that big of a deal, but for those of you who know me well, you know it is! You see, I'm the kind of person who always takes on more that I should, I have issues with delegating jobs out, and I just put too much on my own shoulders . . . well . . . no longer! This is the first year that I have committed, passionate, invested teams for each area of Children's Ministries.

It was so wonderful to make three phone calls, and know that everything would be taken care of. No rushing around, no anxiety, no making my husband do a bunch of stuff that I wasn't there to do . . . the teams took care of everything. It's like The Three Amigos! The great thing about amigos is that you can lean on them . . . and that is just what I did!

I want to give a big "shot ot" (shout out) to my awesome amigas who put many hours (volunteer hours, by the way) to make this year's kick off a breeze: Natalie, Laura, Lisa, Val, Heather, Angie, Julie and Kim! I love you girls! Good work! I couldn't be basking in the light at the end of the tunnel with out you!

Faith's First Day of School

Here she is! My sweet little 4-year-old! I can hardly believe that she's old enough to go to school - but she assures me she is!

Wednesday was technically her first day of school, but that was just a visiting day - a day to meet her wonderful teacher, see her cool room and meet a couple of the kids from her class.

Today, however, was the real thing! She had her little backpack on (OK, huge backpack - on her anyway) and was all ready to go. She had her outfit all picked out ahead of time - a skirt, of course, and she had her mind made up that Rar, her bear, was coming with her. "He really wants to see my class, Mom. He'll be lonely without me."

Here she is with her wonderful new teacher, Mrs. Konyndyk. You can see from this picture that Rar is still with her at this point! I was so afraid that we were going to have a power struggle over the whole 'Rar can't go to preschool with you' thing . . . but all Mrs. Konyndyk had to say was, "Wow, Rar looks like a really special friend, and we sure wouldn't want him to get lost here at preschool. You better give him to your mom. I'll bet she'll take wonderful care of him." And then . . . . . . . . she just handed him to me, gave me a kiss and a hug, and was off doing things with her classmates. "Later Mom! I have things to do!"

Faith had a terrific first day of school, and left no detail behind when telling me about it! She's already learned "All about Africa and zebra's . . . did you know you can tell zebras apart by their stripe patterns?"

I am so excited that she's so excited! And I'm at peace knowing that her teachers are going to love her and be patient with her, and teach her all sorts of new things from a "God made that" perspective! What a gift!

Has the Fashion World Gone Mad?

Last week, a couple of my girlfriends and I met for lunch, and took a brief walk around Rivertown mall. To say the least, we were shocked and appauled by what we saw in store-front windows, and on the teeny-bopper store clerks. HAS THE FASHION WORLD GONE MAD?

What's up with the 80's stuff coming back? Isn't it better kept stored back - way back - in our Junior High memories. It's great to look back on those days and reminisce - but, please, I do not wish to re-live it! Especially now that I'm a mom.

Don't get me wrong - I don't want to get stuck in the rut where I don't do my hair, don't wear makeup, loose all touch with what is going on in the everyday world - HOWEVER, I don't want to be a 30-something mom trying to look like a teenager.

You've got to check out this blog post that Chelle recommended. I laughed my butt off! It talks about the fashion trends, and how we 30-something moms are struggling with it. I couldn't have written it better myself! Check it out, and chuckle with me!

I have decided that, despite the current fashion trends, I am going to embrace the things I am comfortable with. Low-rise, flared jeans are still cool. They wouldn't still be selling them if they weren't, right? Plus, I think being a 30-something mom is MUCH better than being a obsessed-with-myself, the-world-revolves-around-me, self-absorbed, skinny-butted, stretch-mark free teenager!

Dr.'s Orders

Last week was "one of those weeks". I realize that I've been having a lot of those lately, but I'm not using this blog post to whine.

Instead, I want to thank my dear husband who, on Saturday, told me I needed some alone time and sent me out of the house - without the kids.

It was wonderful - no work - no kids - NOBODY! Just me myself and I. I treated myself to a little "Retail Therpy" which turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. I went to my favorite shop, Maurice's, took my time browsing the cutie clothes, tried on like 25 things, was doted on by an extremely nice store clerk (who told me I looked fabulous), danced to the sweet musak and entered a sort of euphoria. To top things off, I found a pair of jeans that make my butt look good - what's better than that?

And you think you have stress!

I guess I don't have it so bad! Tee Hee!

Vacation or Stress-ation?

va.ca.tion
1. A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation.

stress.a.tion
6. A period of time devoted to a mentally or emotionally disruptive or disquieting influence.

Ok, I have just returned from a vacation - but in many ways it felt more like a stress-ation.

Mike, the kids and I headed off for his parent's cottage for a whole week . . . the weather was good most of the time and the kids had a blast but, unfortunately I didn't come home feeling full of pleasure, rest and relaxation - as the definition of vacation would suggest.

Being on vacation is just as much work as normal life when you bring the kids along (if not more). I still had to prepare meals, clean poopy diapers, and wash sand out of every crevas. Even my favorite past-time of laying in the sun was tainted a bit by always being on edge fearing that Bella might fall in the water or wander away somewhere, or by Faith "accidentally" flipping sand on me while she played on the beach.

I also had the joy of having to take work with me - which I knew ahead of time - but truly sucked! Working entailed having to type documents and then having to track down wireless so I could send them via email. It sounds like a simple process - but ended up taking me over two hours due to some issues with my computer/the wireless server. If I wasn't cranky enough about having to work in the first place . . . taking 110 minutes longer than it should have really got me riled up . . . and THEN I had to face the rath of my husband who was ticked - which led into a lovely "discussion" about how my job is ruining our family. He hates my job many times as it is . . . but he really hates it when it disrupts our vacation. I certainly don't blame him - I hated that it disrupted our vacation too!

Let me tell you - it was really relaxing and enjoyable - NOT!

Ok, so it all didn't stink . . . I did get to drink some Pina Colada's and play a little Mexican Train (a domino game) with my husband until midnight every night (when we weren't fighting) . . . and I did get to sleep in a bit . . . and I did get some quality time with my family.

I suppose I need to see the glass half-full.

Oh well! Maybe next year's vacation will actually be a vacation! Here's hoping!

I Suck!

I have a confession to make:

I Suck!

I'm a sucky mom.
I'm a sucky wife.
I'm a sucky friend.
I'm a sucky daughter.
I'm a sucky blogger.

I Suck!

I've treated everyone who is important to me as a nuiscance this week.

• The children I prayed so long to have? . . . just annoyed me - just got in the way of getting things done.
• The husband God saw fit to bless me with? . . . just needed quality time . . . one more thing I had to 'give'.
• The friends I'm so fortunate to do life with? . . . I dissed in order to work - AGAIN!
• The mother-in-law? . . . didn't even call her on her birthday.
• The blog? . . . I haven't typed an entry in a week.

It's true! I suck!

It wasn't until tonight, when I was putting my 1 year old to bed (hastily) that I realized what a truly sucky person I have been. Instead of walking out of the room, listening to her cry herself to sleep, I turned around, picked her back up, and took time to rock her to sleep.

Not only are the people I love missing out on quality time with me, but I am missing out on quality time with them!

In the moments I spent rocking my precious "beautiful, undeserved gift" (that's what her name, Bella Grace, means) to sleep, I prayed a much needed prayer of confession: Forgive me Lord for pushing the amazing gifts you've given me away - all for the sake of WORK! Forgive me for treating them more like interruptions and nuisances instead of treasures! Help me to see the people I love and my work through your eyes - and to balance the two.

Two short weeks ago, my main goal was to "keep the main thing the main thing" - boy have I done a sucky job at that!

I sure am glad that God (and my loved ones) see fit to forgive me when I screw up, and love me despite my suckiness!

How my life changed after Kent linked to me . . .

To get this inside joke click here.

How my life has changed since Kent linked to me:

1. I jumped outside my comfort zone and commented on Kent's heady blog - not once, not twice, but thrice! (I'm not near smart enough to be commenting on his 'deep thoughts' - so I commented on his not-so-deep ones).
2. I made a point to learn how to link to someone else in order to post this entry (notice the highlighted "here" above - I'm so proud!). I certainly wouldn't have been driven to figure it out otherwise.

I'm sure there will be many more ways that being linked to Kent (look I did it again!) will continue to change my life, but we'll just have to wait and see!

The Birds and the Bees

This is how the conversation went:

Faith: Bella is a boy.

Mom: What makes you say that?

Faith: Well, she has short hair, so she's a boy.

Mom: Just because she has short hair doesn't mean she's a boy. She's just a girl with short hair. (pause) How can you tell the difference between boys and girls?

Faith: (whispering) By looking at their privacy area (while motioning toward her nether region).

Mom: That's right. Do you know what a girls private area is called?

Faith: A veegina.

Mom: Right, a vagina. What about a boys?

Faith: They have peanuts.

Mom: (trying her hardest to suppress a giggle) Peanuts!? You silly goose. It's called a penis!


Obviously I have some work to do!

I'm sick of being a referee!

Do you ever feel like that guy in the middle?

That's me today! My main job is not cleaning the house, it's not working - it's keeping the peace between my Faith and Bella. Ugh!

If I had a nickle for every time Faith was snatching something out of Bella's hands, pushing Bella away, or annoying her an any way, shape or form, I would be a millionaire by now (and would no longer need to be making the large dollar working in ministry)!

It's so sad, but I can't wait for Bella's naptime so there is some level of peace in my home!

This makes me think of my poor mother . . . If memory serves, she had it even worse with my brother and me. We were like oil and water growing up! I'm sure we gave my mom some good incentive to jump off a cliff from time to time! Sorry Mom!

I certainly appreciate all she did to raise my brother and I to be fairly normal, loving adults. I just hope my kids turn out alright!

In the meantime, I'll just keep blowing the whistle, so to speak, and try to do it lovingly!