We can not serve two masters....

I have been thinking about what to write as 2008 comes to a close. I have nothing deep or profound or life changing for you today. All I have really is for me.

I am getting the message that 2009 needs to be about simplification for me and my family. We have things we need to weed thru and see if this really fits into what we want for our family. What we feel like God is calling us to be. 

I am calling on Monday and getting the TV canceled. I would never invite a living breathing person into my house that acted, talked or chose to encourage those negative things that I/we let come from the TV. And since we are in the "stone ages" we have a tv that will not work once the digital thing goes into effect, and I refuse to purchase anything that will make it work..we will just be without it. I will reconsider our Netflix subscription.

I think about how we spend our time. We say we wish we had more time to do this or time to get that done. But in reality..We just need to use our time better. If the boys do not get things done around here, we tend to ask them what they did instead of picking up their room or instead of finishing their school work. 

TIME....

Time for games. Time for playing together. Time for family activities. Time for snuggling together on the couch. Time for each other..not the things and/or activities we have gotten lost in.

I have things here that distract me from the important stuff. I have things that get in the way. Facebook is the first thing that comes to mind. As fun as it is to "visit" with friends...there is so much stuff on there that I get caught up in and then wonder where that hour went?!? So I am debating on chuncking that thing.

I am also re-evaluating this whole blog thing. Again..I get lost in the clicking and following and then look up and notice I have been sitting here for a good while and wonder why I am so caught up in reading about people I do not know (but oh, how I do love to read your blogs!!)

I think  our 2009 is about simplification. I think it about evaluating who we are as a family and whose we are. It is about weeding out the bad to make room for the good. It is about God and his place in our life..it is about who we serve...we can not serve two masters....

So blog friends, I hope that you had a great 2008 and I hope that God will shine in your life so clearly in 2009. 

Paci! Paci! Wherefore art thou Paci?!?

We are making it.

 Some of us better than others!

Skeeter is still a whiny mess! He told me again today and I think 3 times yesterday, that I could go to the store and buy him a new paci. 

AHHH! 

The pressure. I have never been good under pressure! I buckle like an old coal mine!!

We have kept his old paci around for those moments when he seems to think that he needs it again. It is a good reminder of why he can not have it. However, he did try it out again on Sunday. Much to his chagrin...it does not work. We have yet to find the part the dog chewed off!

Exhibit A:

He did get to go and pick out a new soft lovie thing. He chose a horse, named Tornado. I hope that the horse's name is not any kind of indication as to what we are in for!

Exhibit B:

I think we are going to make it. It really is harder on  me-I think. I would gladly go and get him another paci...but he is getting to be a big boy-against by better wishes, and it is time to get rid of it. Who knew growing up was so hard on mommies??

Skeeter also "did his hair" yesterday...This has nothing to do with anything. I just thought is was funny!!

Exhibit C:

Up to speed..

Wow. What a busy past few days it has been around here! We had a blessed Christmas and I hope that you did too! Christmas Eve we made a gingerbread house, played games, ate pizza and watched movies. We do that every year! Everyone get new jammies too. See the peeps in their new jammies...flashing we are so cool signs!! They are weird-comes from their dad's side I am sure.

Christmas morning Skipper got up at 5:15 AM. We made him wait till everyone else was up...which was about 5:30-5:45! Have you figured out yet that I am not really a morning person?? In case you haven't..I'm not...at all. Which is why there are no pictures of me here!!

We opened gifts and then Mr. Dad (who is the BEST cook in the whole world) made a big breakfast for us! Uncle J, Auntie S, little C, momma and daddy then came over and the boys opened more gifts! We played around most of the day and then headed over to Aunt R's house for dinner and more presents. 

We had a lot of fun there! We always do. We tried to take a picture of all of us girls..but someone crashed the picture....we are all about maturity in my family!! 

I got a new dryer! I guess I have completely embraced the domestic side!! I was thrilled..seeing where the old dryer didn't seem to understand that its job was to actually dry the clothes..hence the name dryer!! I also got a scanner/copier/clothes folder for Christmas. Ok, just kidding about the clothes folder part..but wouldn't that be nice?? Thank you Mom and Dad and Denvard and Ellen!!

I also was lucky enough to get together with some "old" friends. We met for dinner at 7 and ended up getting home about 12:30. Lots of laughter and catching up and also news of friends that have passed away in the past 18 years. We had a great time and it was great to see that really no one has changed that much!! 

Skeeter is now +48 hours with out his paci. He needs a paci fix-bad. He is doing alright..a little more whiny than usual..but I guess that is to be expected!! The dog plucked that baby's paci right out of his mouth and RAN! By the time they were found he had chewed it down to a nub. So instead of waiting till his birthday next month...it appears now is the time. 

By the way...did you catch that part about his birthday? He will be 3 next month. I am in denial!! I can not believe that he will be 3. My baby. My 'B'. Impossible! That day is also my birthday...but I am in even more denial about that!! I think it is time to renounce birthdays!! Who's with me?? I mean when you share a birthday with one of your children..you kind of get over looked anyway..so this would just make it official!!

I am working on some New Year's Resolutions! Isn't that a mandatory thing you have to do so you can feel bad about not doing what it was you said that you were going to do thing??

Happy Monday to you...hope it is a great one!

Merry Christmas

I hope that today was all that you had hoped it would be!

We have been up since 5:15 AM and I am truly exhausted!

We had a wonderful day today. Lots of fun and laughter, family and good food.

I have pictures to post..but I am on my way to bed. I will post more soon.

But I did want to say this...

Thank you God for caring so much about your children to send a precious baby to rock the world! Thank you for seeing the eternal beauty and worth in all of us. Thank you for those tiny little  hands that years later open so big to bring us home to you!!

Merry Christmas....

Someone is a genius-but it ain't me!

Ok..the other day I was looking for ways to be more organized. I found what may be the most important discovery in my life!! 

It is called the Socks Box. At our house it is a small dishpan-decorated (because that's how I roll) with socks and fun letters.  After socks are taken off, they-both socks are safety pinned together and dropped in the socks box where they wait until their appointed wash time. The safety pins are on a magnetic strip attached to the front of the dryer.

Do you see the significance here. 

They are pinned together. 

2 socks. 

No searching for the buddy. 

No trying to match. 

No more praying over the LARGE pile of socks and asking  the Lord to show mercy upon the socks and grant that their buddies be found.

Pinned together. 

LOVE IT!

The boys also love it! They absolutely hate trying to match up a gynormus laundry basket full of white socks. They are more than happy to run  to the sock box and either pin the socks themselves or ask for help with it!

Great idea..and saves a ton of time in the long run!!

You know you are a homeschool family when.....

you go to a  book-fair....and your 6 year old chooses and Encyclopedia......and then sleeps with it!!!

It's Everywhere!!

Do you ever feel like you are being followed......

by a verse??

I want you to know that for like 3 months now...I have constantly run into 2 different verses!! They are literally everywhere!

The first is from Matthew, from the Sermon on the Mount....Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

And the other is from Hebrews...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I think God is speaking. 

Stinky Dogs and Little Brothers

First things first...

Snoopy has gas!!! He is laying on the floor by my feet and oh sweet Jesus...come quickly!! This cute, fuzzy mop of a dog stinks to high heavens!! I think I might pass out due to the high concentration of toxic fumes!!

Ok, no that I have gotten that off my chest...on to more "important" things.

I spent the better part of an hour on Facebook tonight...instant messaging with my "little" brother. Do you want know what we discussed? 

80's sit-coms. Yea. That's it...about 45 minutes of seeing how many we could list. We do this every night-just about. We get on Facebook and spend 1-2 hours typing back and forth. We have discussed which fruit we think we are. He thinks I am a kiwi and I think that he is a coconut. Sarah, my sister-in-law is a persimmon and Dwight is a pineapple. And we have good reason for each persons designated fruit label!

Yeah...deep stuff like that! Tomorrow, he has already informed me, is 80's hair bands. So if  you have nothing to do...pop in before tomorrow night and give me some 80's bands to throw at him...he was born in '78, so I have a hard time thinking that he is going to know very many...but that is the assigned topic and I want to be prepared. I can be a little bit competitive with him.

Just so you don't  think all of our conversations are rather stupid...we have also discussed cartoons and he throws quotes from various movies at me and I have to try to name them...ok wait..maybe all our conversations are weird! But ya know what? He is one of the few people that I can spend an obscene amount of time talking about nothing with and laughing hysterically while doing it!!

Love ya little brother....

I don't usually get political..but I am today. Below is a copy of a letter for the Parental Rights group we support. Please take a moment and visit the link provided. This goes WAY beyond whether or not you chose to homeschool. This Amendment to the Constitution being proposed seeks to ratify the Convention on the Rights of a Child as enforced by the United Nations..it seeks to give your child rights that you may not be aware of. You will no longer have the right to chose when or how YOU decide to inform your child about birth control, you can not "force" your child to go to church with you...the list does go on. Please take a few moments to check it out and make  your voice heard. MANY American families do not even know that this amendment is being proposed. 

*********

Dear Friend of Parental Rights,

I was in the United States Senate this past week meeting with lawyers for a Senate office.  They told me directly what I have been hearing indirectly on a regular basis ever since the election.

Those who want to change family policy in America to comply with international law are preparing a full-scale effort to seek ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child during this next Congress.  Barbara Boxer recently told a planning group that they intend to use children’s health care as leverage to seek ratification of this UN children’s rights treaty.

Please link to our website to see a succinct summary of the problems with this UN treaty. 

The strength of their forces has been greatly increased with the addition of Hillary Clinton as the nominee for Secretary of State.  She will have direct control over the submission of this treaty to the Senate and will acquire the authority under international law to sign any other treaty on any subject. 

Hillary Clinton was the person who made the announcement for the Convention on the Rights of the Child when her husband’s administration signed the treaty.  Seeking its ratification is a lifelong dream for her.

Our situation is grim if we were to look only at the position of the elected officials.

However, recent post-election polling demonstrates that almost 70% of Americans do not believe that the use of international law in American courts on such matters is appropriate.  Less than 20% favor the use of international law. (The rest are undecided).   Virtually every sub-group in America opposes this kind of use of international law. 

America is on our side. However, we have to be able to get the word out to help people hear the truth about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Our proposed Parental Rights Amendment will permanently stop this treaty.  So we have a one-two punch planned for the internationalists.

First, we must build a huge grassroots movement of patriotic Americans who believe that good families should be able to raise their children without worrying about compliance with international law.  

Second, these same grassroots forces need to convince our elected officials that we are not content with defeating this treaty for today alone.  We insist on a permanent solution.  We need the Parental Rights Amendment.  

I need you to do two things to help this become a reality.  First, please send a copy of this letter to everyone you know who believes in parental rights and American patriotism.  

Second, we need to raise a war chest to get prepared to launch a massive grassroots campaign.  The other side has millions of dollars left in their campaign coffers, and they have the President of the United States, the Secretary of State and all the media waiting to carry their message.  

We can win the debate because we have the truth on our side.  And we have public opinion.  But we won’t win if we can’t reach people. 

Will you please make as big a gift as you can to support Parentalrights.org? 

Here is what they are saying about us.  At the hearing which featured Barbara Boxer, one of the speakers said that the people who will oppose this treaty are the “narcissistic sovereignty crowd.”  In other words, those who love America first are so guilty of excessive self-love that he describes us as having the mental illness of narcissism. 

This is their real heart.  Not only do they want international law to control our families.  They think that we are mentally ill for loving America. 

It is time for those of us who believe in loving our families and loving America to rise up!  We will not surrender this country or our children to such people.

Get involved today!  The battle is about to begin.

Funny funny stuff

Check out this great video of a fun take on a homeschool family!

What a great way to start my day!!

Maybe more later....

Funny Kids and Grumpy Old Men

I love listening to kids....they are just plain funny!!

Skeeter's newest addition is..."famorrow". I will  use it in a sentence for you.   

        Can we go to McDonald's famorrow?

Scrappy's likes to tell us when something is "filarious".

Scar informed us tonight that we needed boobie pins.

Skipper thinks forever is more than like a bazillion years.

Scrappy has been praying for a therapy buddy of his and the other night he decided that we should pray and then ask Santa to help him get better too. Gotta love a kids who tries to cover all the bases!!

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

We went to Silver Dollar City this past weekend. We also took my sweet nephew with us. It was 'filarious' to watch people try not to react to a family with 5 boys ages 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8. We even had one old toot take time out of his fun filled day and come up and tell us that even though God told us to populate the earth, he didn't leave it up to one couple. Then I tripped him and spit on him!

NO, no, no!!! I did think about it though...but I graciously smiled and then gathered my little men up and went on our merry way. 

Really though...one more boy  is not a big deal...we are already outnumbered! I joked that Little C needs  a shirt that says "I'm just a cousin." But seriously...if you look at that cute little guy...there is no possible way on this Earth that he could be mine..he weighs as much as Scrappy!!  Besides the fact that he is the spitting image of my brother!

Happy Holidays to you!!

I picked this just for you!!(not a booger story)

Because I love you my blog family...here is my christmas present to you!!

I searched high and low for the "perfect" gift for you! 

I promise it won't shrink or sag and it will not class with your kitchen!! 

Okay, maybe it isn't anywhere near  perfect, but I PROMISE you will get a very good belly laugh out of it...either that or I am way warped!!

Happy Early Christmas to you....go ahead...click here!!

Secret Santa

Santa made a little visit to our mailbox today.

I  am not sure if he is a blog reader-but just in case.....

Thank you for your generosity.  It is deeply appreciated. 

God bless you!

And that is all I can say right now without crying a river of joy!! *sniff, sniff*

I am going to brag....

I am going to brag on my boys for a minute!!

They are such a great little group of mighty warriors for God and I am proud to be their momma!!

We have been talking the past few weeks about Christmas and what it means and what it doesn't mean. We have talked about things that are important in life and things that are nice to have.

Yesterday they made a "group" decision..

 A few moths ago we got a catalog from World Vision. If you are not familiar with them, they are a great group dedicated to giving aid to the deeply impoverished people throughout the world.

We talked about the different choices offered in the catalog. But we never did anything with it...until yesterday. 

The boys decided that they would each give up one Christmas present to do something really meaningful for someone else. They talked and talked and debated on what to do. They finally narrowed it down between donating for soccer balls or donating for blankets.

They  finally decided on the blankets. A blanket...can you really imagine NOT having a blanket? Warm wool blankets-given to a child who doesn't have the luxury of a blanket. Blankets given to someone who may have had only a few minutes to gather up what they could carry as they were forced to flee from their homes. A warm blanket...maybe for a grandpa who has never known that kind of warmth. 

They also decided that for 2009 they want to save up enough money to give a family 1 goat and 2 chickens. And the year after they want to raise enough to help give a village clean water!! 

I love my boys. They aren't perfect. They are messy. They are loud. They can be weirder than weird...but make no doubt about it...my boys are great!! 

Our Friend Logen

A wonderful family that we have had the privilege to get to know through therapy is in some serious need for some serious prayer!

Their little boy Logen who is 5, is having some major problems.

He was originally diagnosed with CP. But over the recent year, things have taken a turn and he began having lots of seizures. He was admitted to the hospital and they have run lots of tests. Now they are pretty sure it is not CP that has caused his problems, but a genetic disease.

The family is not giving the name of the disease, yet. But doctors have told them that the outcomes are - nonverbal(forever), shortened life span, seizures, the list just goes on. They are running more tests, but it looks like it will be 3-4 weeks before they have any firm answers.

Please pray for this family and their precious little boy!! They have already been through so such and dedicated their very lives to seeing that Logen get all that he needs to be a successful little boy. I can not begin to imagine how scared they must be right now!

PLEASE PLEASE pray for our friend Logen. I can not tell you how great this little guy is! He makes my heart sing...EVERYTIME I see him.  And if I thought his mom wouldn't know where to look...I would snag that kiddo and have him here at my house, his little brother  just might end up missing too!!

You can check out their blog here...splendidmayhem

Scrappy, A Magic Apple, Paci's and Babies!!

The  other day I had told Scrappy that we were going to do some school, would he get the other boys. He is so kind to help out. He walks to the end or beginning of the hall depending on your perspective :O) and yells..."It's arts and craps time!!"  I just shook my head and decided that we would chalk that up to a speech issue!!

Wednesday night we went to a corny little "holiday magic" show. Being a grown up, I thought the show was  a bit silly...but being a mom of many children, acted all excited and thrilled at each trick. I am no respecter of magic tricks...whether by clown or dog or guy in a really bad tux with a sparklie dickie!!

I will let you think on that for a minute....(cue the thinking music)

Done yet? 

Was it as scary a sight in your mind as it was in person?? 

Anyway..While the show is going on the guy in the bad tux asks for a helper from the audience. And my boys being the shy introverts that they are...almost fell over each other to get the guys attention. Also sitting smack in the middle of the walk way didn't hurt their chances of being picked either!

Scar was chosen and went to assume the magic assistant position- along with a cute little girl. The guy cores and apple...makes the girl draw a picture...wraps up the cored apple gives it to Scar to hold...says a few magic words and then the picture the little girl drew jumped from her hands to the wrapped apple that Cooper was holding. Freaked Scar out to open that apple and pull out that little girls drawing!! It was priceless. He talked all the way home. He and Riley spent quite a while trying to figure that one out. Scar kept saying.."I held that apple real tight, mom!!"

Skeeter, who will be 3 in January still uses a paci. Yes, I know he is too big but he is my last one...cut me so me slack!! He decided on Tuesday to see what happens when you use scissors on a paci. Now, all you 'been there done that with the paci' parents might say, well great...let him use the "broken" paci and he will not want it anymore...end of the paci story.

Not so fast there buckeroo! He seems just fine with the broken paci. See, he knows that it is the last one. He knows that I am not buying any others...so broken or not..he's using it...even as we speak, that sweet baby with incredible tiny dimples on his cheeks...is sound asleep with  a broken paci in his mouth!!( okay, I will probably go get him another one cause I can't stand the thought of him using a broken paci!!) I like to talk big..I am really a big baby!! Don't judge me!!

Skipper was having a deep discussion with me today. He wanted to know how people get babies.

Did you hear what I just said...he wanted to know about babies!! 

Ok...I really needed a lead up question to that. No one is allowed to just walk in and ask that!! I need warining!!

So after a brief panic attack and the kids getting the smelling salts down and me regaining consciousness( not really..but I should have done it just to buy me some thinking time) I told him the truth. We order them off the internet. They are delivered a few days leter in a box from the baby store.

HA HA HA...no I didn't tell him that!! 

However had I been thinking clearly...maybe I would have. Here is my real problem with that question. I have other kids. Younger kids and Riley CAN NOT keep things to himself. I do not want to give more information than is completely necessary...cause the 4 year old will, at a large family gathering, announce to the whole family that he is fact the foremost living expert on where babies come from!! And then great grandma kills over I am am charged with intent to commit murder and conspiracy!

So I told him that mommies and daddies sleep together and they they pray for God to give them a baby. ( Thank you Christie for allowing me to steal your answer...but it was all I could think of...next time, I will have him call you directly!!)

Then I ran out of the room and got a glass of tea and avoided him.

Happy Weekend!!

Beyond measure

The current economic situations is weighing heavy this year. 

We have a very limited budget. The boys are so close in age that it makes it hard to do gifts...anytime of the year..because really we probably already have at least one of what is still out on the market. 

Then there is the fact that if we are going to buy...what do we get them? They  do not need anything. Isn't it silly to buy stuff just because that is what we have been told we are suppose to do during this time??

So I look at this and think...what does this mean?? 

I have spend days  trying to figure this out and I think I have finally found an answer.

It means that we are really really truly blessed. 

We are blessed to have a roof over our heads...even if it is old and drafty and has no insulation...others have no homes.

We are blessed that we have food. Even though we complain and fuss and want to eat out...at least we have food to whine about.

We are blessed that we have clothes to wear. Yes, they are hand-me-downs and yes, they may be out of 'style' but we are warm...some have only what they wear.

We have each other....the boys fuss, the house is a mess, they do not always obey the first time..or the second time we have asked them to...but there are others who are alone or are grieving the loss of those they love.

We really are blessed.

So as I go about trying to decide how to spend our "Christmas money"...I am going to try to keep that it mind. 

I am blessed...

beyond measure

beyond reason. 

A Little of This and a Little of That

I have found a wonderful little E-book. 

It is called Homestead Simplicity: Natural Clean 

It is a great little E-book for $9.95. It is full of homemade cleaners for the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, as well as beauty recipes, foot soaks, outdoor helps..lots of great ideas!. It gives easy recipes using easy to find ingredients.

This is a favorite of mine...

All Around Spray Cleaner

Grab a spray bottle; fill 3/4 full with water. Add one dropper full of grapefruit seed extract. Add a dropper(or 10 drops) of lavender essential oil and shake well. 

You can clean appliances, countertops, floors. It really is an all purpose cleaner. And free of harsh chemicals.

This is probably my new favorite book.  I printed it out, bound it and it is in the kitchen and has been used a ton already. Well worth the $9.95!!

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Another book I have found and love is Passionate Housewives Desperate for God.

Have you struggled to reconcile God’s vision of virtuous womanhood with worldly myths that marginalize and mock the role of the homemaker? 

Do you wrestle with cultural messages that demean the homemaker’s calling and exalt instead the emotionally androgynous power-woman — the wife whose worth is measured only by the degree of her ambition, the shape of her body, or her money-making skills? Such is the image of the “desperate housewife” that the modern media, culture, and feminism are promoting with great energy.

In a delightfully fresh and honest way, this book addresses these issues head-on and provides fresh vision for the hopeful homemaker. Hear a former “Christian” feminist share how she went from a die-hard homemaker-in-training to a dedicated career woman and then back again — after God gripped her heart. See the hollow counterfeit of whitewashed feminism and “me-ology” destroyed. And consider the beautiful picture painted in Scripture of the truly fulfilled homemaker who glories in the hopeful calling God created for her.

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 Do you lapbook? We just recently found out about lapbooks. Here are a few links to check out. This one is my favorite-it is totally free. They have a ton of great stuff there! This one is also a good place to start. And then this one is also a good place to get info. 

We may be the only family in the homeschool world that wasn't doing them. :O) They are a great way to use thematic units for all levels with your kids. They are a manilla folder comprised of mini-books about what the kids are learning on a certain topic. Check it out...see what you think. 

By the way, I think that these are great even if you don't homeshool, but have little ones around! A fun together activity. I will try to post a few pictures of some of our lapbooks a little later. 

Hope today is a great one!!

4 Generations

My brother has been holding out on me!! Tonight I found out that he has some old family photos..So I did the only thing I could do in this situation..I took them!! 

So..grab a coat! It is chilly outside..we are going down memory lane...

This is my Papa. Isn't he terribly handsome?? I love him so very much! He and my daddy walked me down the aisle when I got married! Oh how he makes my heart melt.

This is my Great Grandfather...Jess Anderson Burch. This is one of the rare pictures that we have of him NOT wearing a white stetson hat. He was from Texas. I did not get to know him. He passed before I was born..but oh my Great Granny Vesta..she was a true doll. Together they had 17 children! That's a lot!!

This is my great great grandfather...Allen Demetris Burch. He looks like one mighty rough fella! Looks like a true cowboy. Sorry Allen..no disrespect meant sir.

Then there is my great great great grandfather....Needham Anderson Burch. He looks tough too. We are blessed that all three generations are burried in one cemetary in the Denton, Texas area. Papa wants to be burried there too.  So does daddy.

These men walked that bridge in my title photo that my boys are on. They walked those same steps. They played and farmed and loved their families the same place Uncle Curtis and Aunt Pauline live. They hunted Easter eggs every year just as we do now. They gathered to give thanks for family, friends and faith.

I am sure that none of those men gave much thought to the legacy that they left behind. But I am sure they would be proud to know that we are still a family and that we still gather together where they did and have a great time together!!

I'm a little late, but...

Wow! What a weekend! I love the holidays...but the travel can really get to a person!

I am late in posting my "I'm thankful for..." but I did want to get it done, even late.

I am thankful for:

• Our time in Springfield, MO.  I love going home. It seems to fit so well, even 5 years later.
  
• Old friends.
  
• Friends who are doctors and will call in a script when you have come down with strep because the baby kept giving you boogers that were contaminated with the strep virus.
  
• In Laws who were understanding of why I didn't make much of a show at the BIG family dinner and pictures.
• Cousins that the boys had a wonderful time playing with.
• Children who did a great job being kind and trying their best to make good choices.
• A husband who loves me a ton.
• A safe trip back home.
• That my momma and daddy are some really great people!
• My 'little' brother and his family.
• That God allows me to be a homeschooling stay at home mom to 4 great little warriors for Him.
  
• Mostly though, I am thankful for Jesus and how He loves me and has made me His.
  

I hope this holiday season found you with those you love. I hope you made some great memories and had some really good food! 

Love to you all...

Thanksgiving

Today we head off to Springfield for a weekend full of craziness! 

Mr. Dad's parent's have hosted the family thanksgiving for the last bazillion years. It is their last year. It is a huge event. There are usually 40-80 people there..depending on who is in town and who has come into town. 

Actually, I am glad it is their last year. I am ready to start something new. I am ready for thankgiving to be about our family and our needs. I like things small. I am overwhelmed by that many people and usually end up hiding off in a corner trying to avoid the craziest of the relatives!! Come on admit it..you have done that too!!

I am so very thankful this year. We have avoided another round of layoffs at Mr. Dad's office. We have a roof over our head..for a while longer anyway. We have food to eat...although sometimes that seems stretched thin. Things are tight around here these days.  Nothing seems to come easy. And actually it never has. Everyone is being hit by the economic downturn. We will make it through. Maybe not the way that we had expected, but we will make it. We have a place to go.  I am dreading the upcoming holiday season really. How to convince small people that even Santa has had to cut way back. He won't be doing much this year and that is ok. At least to a 35 year old...maybe alitttle harder for a 6 year old to swallow. 

The kids are healthy...except for that impetigo we are dealing with!! But seriously...we are all healthy. Scrappy has been released from speech. My grandparents are still with us. My mom and dad are still happily married. My brother is  he best in the whole world. I have a sister-in-law who is a doll and loves my brother dearly. I have a husband who loves me. My kids think I rock.

The funny thing about Tourette's

We recently dropped one of Skipper's medications. He still has to be on one because of the insomnia that goes along with TS. 

Since we have taken him off the med, his tics have come back pretty strongly. However, this being holiday season, I would expect that they would be worse.

He is still jumping..... 

and so are the little brothers. 

They have been playing together most of the morning and as they follow Skipper around...if he jumps, they jump! It is really sweet and funny! They have no idea why they are jumping other than big brother is doing it!

I guess if there is an up side to TS, this would be it!!

Happy Tuesday!! May God's grace shine upon you today!!

No more germs!

7:12 pm -Skipper, Scar and Scrappy are all running fevers!! I am afraid it is going to be a very long night!!

***********

Late last week, Skeeter broke out with small bumps on his face that we thought might be Chicken Pox. Turns out it is just another viral infection. So he is now just a very snot filled spotted kid. Was that too graphic? Sorry!

Scar wakes up Sunday and starts running about 103.7 degree fever. This is continuing as we speak. We can keep it down with ibuprofen. He is also very congested, achy and has a head ache.

Skeeter wakes up today and is complaining of his body hurting and his head hurting! He is also signed up for the congestion. Scar has announced that he doesn't think it is "fair" that Skipper isn't running a fever...I told him to hang in there, I was betting on tonight for that to show up!

YEAH!!! I was so hoping to be sick for the holidays!! 

Hear my sarcasm??

 

I am laying it on pretty thick!!

Really we have been blessed with a healthy year. This is only the 2nd time Scar has been sick since he was diagnosed with Celiac in 2005. So we can't complain that much. It really is more of the timing thing ya know?? And just pure boy stuff that get us trips to the doctor and ER doesn't count in this category! That is a WHOLE other post entirely!

Ok..well that is about it for now-with 3 not so well kids, there hasn't been much go on today!!

Unless you count the fact that Skeeter has eaten about 7 mandarin oranges and is running around the house naked yelling "Bathtub! Bathtub!" -then is has been an uneventful day!

Blessing to you on this Monday!

Mixing it up around here!

I changed things up a little here on the ol' blog.

I am forcing myself--and you into the Christmas spirit.

I am getting ready to decorate this week for the holidays. I love it once it is done...but honestly, I hate the whole doing it process.

Maybe it is because we have 4 little people that help, and sometimes I get caught up on the chaos and forget to have fun. 

Is that terrible? I am working on that. Maybe if we do it a little each day it will go better than trying to get it all done in one day. Maybe to if I pray a little bit before we get going that will make things go smoother.

Anyway, I hope that this holiday season finds you spending good times with the people that you love the most in this world!!

I am behind

Sorry for not posting my Useless Facts yesterday...I plead kids! 4 to be exact. They seem to think that it is all about them and it pretty much is!

Yesterday we were watching Skeeter and trying to decide if he has the chicken pox. As of now..we think it is just a viral rash..not chicken pox. I guess that is a good thing.

Scrappy was being tested for PT. That is a whole long crazy story and I will spare you the details...but we really need him to fail the test!! Never thought I would say that about my own child!

Things that are going on today:

The dryer seems to not understand that it's job is to actually dry the clothes...hence the name dryer!!

Skeeter took an open can of Dr. Pepper and tossed it around the living room.

Hurricane "Three Little Brothers" TRASHED their bed room.

The school room was affected by  the "Three Little  Brothers " storm too.

Working on a Thanksgiving Lapbook with the boys for school this week.

Had muffin tin Monday...on Friday! (told you we were behind)

Finally breaking down and sending the boys outside to play...violating my 40 degree rule!

So in honor of the chaos here in the house today...I give you some useless facts that hopefully will make you smile a bit:

*Barbie's parents are named George and Margaret.

*Buckingham Palace has over 600 rooms. (God bless the people in charge of cleaning that monster!!)

*Shaggy from Scooby Doo's real name is Norville Rogers. His home address is 224 Maple Street, Coolsville. ( in honor of what is blaring from the TV right now)

*The best selling box of Crayola crayons in the set of 24 crayons..

And now a quote:

"I think that the film Clueless was very deep. I think it was deep in the way that it was very light. I think lightness has to come from a very deep place if it's true lightness." 
- Alicia Silverstone, Actress

Happy Friday!! Now go do something that is considered really productive!!

Graduation Day

Well..it is official...no more speech!

Just wanted to post a few pictures of the two best speech pathologists on the planet!!

This one is Scrappy and Mrs. J

This one is Ms. G and Scrappy.

Thank you ladies for making to day and extra special day for him!!

We love you both!

A BIG milestone!!

On November 14, 2006, Scrappy started speech therapy. 

Tomorrow November 19, 2008, Scrappy will be discharged from speech. It will be his last visit.

1 year ago he still couldn't say his name.

1 year ago he was learning to use a talker.

1 year ago he would cry or hit if we couldn't understand him.

1 year ago he still couldn't make the 'guh' sound or the 'kuh' sound -sorry Jenn, I know that is probably not phonetically correct :O).

He has come so very far and we are all so proud of the progress he has made. We have joked that the kid we never thought would get discharged from speech is getting out of that first and still in OT and PT!!

Really though, I am not sure how I feel about this. Speech Therapy has been such a huge part of our lives on a daily basis that I am a little worried about losing it.

I know that things will be ok. It is part of the life. Tomorrow is the day we have been praying for...it is just a little scary to be facing the end, knowing the time and love that G and J have put in with him. Pushed him and pushed him. Stretched and stabilized.

Thank you doesn't seem to be nearly enough. I just haven't the words to say to thank you for helping Scrappy find his voice. But since it is all I have...thank you J and G. You will forever be a part of our family!! 

Speechless

My heart is so very sad.

We got word about 45 minutes a go that a good friend of ours, from Springfield, collapsed at work today and died. He was 35. 

He leaves behind an adorable wife and 2 precious little girls. 

Could you please say a little prayer for the Lewis family? I know that they would be deeply grateful!

God bless you Barrett...heaven is a much happier place with you there!!

What is that smell?!?

Oh..that smell?

Huh?

That's  just the smell of a whole jug of baby powder being dumped in your room...that's all!

Thank you Skeeter.

Running Shoes

In an earlier entry, I said that I felt like God was working on something. And indeed he was.

For a couple of weeks now, I have felt a nagging feeling about a couple different things. 

One of the things is our television. I have a love/hate relationship with that thing. I have said numerous times that we should just get rid of it...and there it  still sits..hooked up to the digital world. 

It really brings  trash into my home. My kids are way more materialistic than they were before they saw all kinds of things they never knew they needed. Their language is worse...mind you they do not talk like sailors (sorry daddy and papa) but it is worse also. 

They see kids disrespecting their parents..which is direct contrast to Ephesians 6:1 that calls children to obey their parent because it is what God wants.  I have felt God bringing this to my attention so often. I let them watch to much tv. 

Can I get by with just cutting the time drastically that they get to watch? Is it better that I just get it out of here and stop inviting that kind of ungodliness into our home? I do not watch it that much...but it would still be a huge  sacrifice on my part.

I also feel like I have missed the boat on being a truly Godly wife and homemaker. I feel like there is such chaos in our home. Yes, there is chaos with 4 kids...but it feels like more than that. If feels like I have bucked what I know God wants for me. He has a beautiful plan for me..I am his child-but I have turned on my heels and huffed away saying "No thank-you..I can do it myself!"(To quote a 2 year old who will not be named.)  

And I haven't a clue really. But I do know that what I feel in our home isn't His best.

It is mine. 

It is my selfishness. 

My pride. 

My laziness. 

My disorder.

I love how God reveals himself to his children. He has shown up in a bunch of ways lately. I read an article in a homeschooling magazine that made me  bristle when I read it. Matter of fact, I threw it across the room and walked off. But, deep down..I knew the author was right. I didn't like being called out...especially by someone who doesn't know me. I received a catalog in the mail and there was a book in there that spoke to me also. It was like all the puzzle piece fell right into place and God said.."Here it is. I can fix this if you will move over and let me take this."

I am not the women spoken of in Proverbs 31. Don't get me wrong..I think there are some things I do well. But I really think that I have set my mind and therefore my heart on things of this world. I want what society tells me I need. I want to look a certain way or dress a certain way or be like this person or that one. When what I need to to turn my heart toward God and ask him what he wants for me. How can he refine my spirit. How can he shape me and make me.

I am confessing that I don't really know what it means to give it all to God. I have been keeping a small part back. Just in case He can't hack it..I have a place to start over. So I am giving it all over. I will fall and dust myself off a few times I am sure. I have grace  and mercy to accompany me. I have forgiveness to wash me clean when I get dirty. 

I will sing with joy to my Lord. 

I will shout aloud to the Rock of my salvation!

I will come bofore him with thankgiving and extoll him with music and song. 

So here I go on a new journey. And once again..the verse in Hebrews speaks so loudly  to me..

..let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...

I need my  shoes....I have a race to run!

Useless Fact Thursday

The French have a donut called "Nun's Fart." (How perfect for my boys!!)

In NYC, approximately 1,600 people are bitten by other humans annually. -seriously!?!

In North America, there are approximately 618 roller coasters.

96% of people put the peanut butter on first when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

And now, a  quote...

"I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were ever supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever." 
- Miss Alabama, in the 1994 Miss Universe contest, when asked if   she would want to live forever.

Happy Useless Fact Thursday!

What was I thinking? Was I thinking? I think I was thinking!

I am a goof.

Today while the little boys were at therapy, I took the older two to Wal-mart to get a few things. They each had a little bit of money with them and I agreed to let them see if they could find something they thought they had to have. Well, duh..they are 6 and 8 of course they are going to find something that they "need"!!

Skipper chose a small Lego set. Which is exactly what I thought he would get. He is great at Legos. I on the other hand can make a brick wall out of Legos. He tells me to just follow the pictures..um no, it just ain't happening!! I guess I am Lego challenged. 

Then there is Scar. He is such a fun kid. He just makes me shake my head and laugh!! He spent $ .88 on a whoopee cushion. A WHOOPEE CUSHION!!  Man, what was I thinking when I thought that would be a good idea?

I would like to tell you that I was still on pain meds from my horrific root canal(sorry Dr. Ty but you know it is true!!)..but I  wasn't. I wish I could tell you that I drank a big glass of something fruity...but I didn't. I was so pleased with the fact that he was only going to spend 88 cents, that the whole whoopee cushion thing just passed me right by. I stood there and waved good-bye to my better judgement as it walked right down the toy isle there in Wal-mart.

Do you have any idea how much fun 4 boys can have with a whoopee cushion?? Really, I never thought one could derive so much pleasure from one. So..as Mr. Dad leaves for the next 7 days...I am here with the Fart Brothers and their little antics that they continue with- ALL DAY LONG.

Maybe I can find a pin and "accidently" puncture said whoopee cushion. Maybe the Whoopee Cushion Fairy can come in the middle of the night and wisk the cushion away to the great whoopee cushion land in the sky.

I think I need a business trip...someplace that doesn't have whoopee cushions...or boys.

Hum...

Blog Scavenger Hunt-And the winners are.....

Alright...I know that you are just dying to know who won...so I will tell you! 

Sherry & Melody...you pulled it off! 

I will bring your prizes to church on Sunday...and you might want to get a life..ha ha ha ha

Since  I was asked, I will give you the answers. Please circle the ones you got correct in red and then turn you paper over and pass it to the front of your row. Please make sure your name is on it....

1. Snoopy is our darling puppy ,who is presently laying beside me.

2. Kansas City 

3. Old Alton Bridge..it's in Denton, Texas

4. Vanilla Coke baby!!

5. Sweet Baby Skeeter

6. $1,000

7. Heavens to betsy..it was Scrappy! I still have problems with it!!

8. I was a teacher

9. That was Scar

10. Springfield, Missouri

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

I am not above "buying" your responses!!

I was thinking that it would be fun to do a blog scavenger hunt!!

I sense your enthuasium!!

I am going to give a way 2 little prizes to the 2 people who can answer the most questions correctly. Now..mind you, I am a stay at home mom...I am not sending you on a trip to the spa or a lifetime supply of chocolate...but it will be something  fun! So play along if you like!!

Ok here's the deal I am giving you 10 questions..ALL of the answers are here on my blog.  I will take your answers until Wednesday at 7 pm  central time. I will stick your names in a basket or something like that and let Dwight draw the names out!! Sound ok?? Here we go...

1. What is our puppy's name?

2. What city was the Tourette's Syndrome conference in?

3. What is the name of the bridge in my title photo?

4. What is my favorite Sonic drink?

5. Which boy was tongue-tied?

6. How much money did our church family send to us while Scar was in the hospital?

7. Which boy broke my tailbone during delivery?

8. What job did I have before I became a mom?

9. Who taught Skeeter how to climb out of his crib?

10. Where did we spend the 4th of July?

E mail me with your answers.. dallasheasley@mac.com

Good Luck!!

What a time we had...

Got back from the ladies retreat this evening! 

Thank you Melody and Kristy for all your hard work! It was wonderful!

I have turned on my mattress pad heater and am going to go crawl in and get warm--finally.

I know this will come a such a shock to some of you...but I lack in the body fat category:O).  I am usually cold...but I was really cold today!!

I have some things to write...but I need some time to mull  over things and wait for God to show himself- I think He's working on something.

I do want to give a shout out to my adorable hubby and little men. They worked VERY hard while I was gone. I came home to a clean house and grilled steak!! I love my hubby! He is a keeper!!

Happy Saturday...I am going to go warm up now...

Useless Facts Thursday

I am been thinking that my blog has taken a slightly serious turn lately. I think it is time to liven things up a little!!

In light of that...I will now provide you with random bits of information on Thursdays. Please feel free to memorize these and work them into your conversations through out the week!!

1. Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

2. A dime had 118 ridges around the edge.

3. Maine is the toothpick capital of the world!

4. It requires  63 feet of wire to make a Slinky.

5. A slug has 4 noses.

 

6. A person uses, approximately, 57 sheets of toilet paper a day.( I'd like for someone to check on this..I haven't the time!!)

Now you have 6 new facts to astound and amaze your friends!! Check back next week..I found some doozies!!

Happy Useless Facts Thursday...Dallas

Secret Letters

I have been doing something for a while and I thought that I would share it with you.

Seeing where as I am the only pink in my blue house..I have been doing something for my boys. In the unfortunate event that something happens and I am not here to see my boys grow up and marry, I have started writing them letters. Hopefully they will never need them, but if they do, then they will be here for them.

There are simple "happy birthday" letters telling them how I have seen them grow each year. There are 'mom advise' letters- like bring her flowers, open doors, leave her little notes, don't forget those special days, that kind of stuff. Then there are about me letters- my favorite movies, books, flowers, how Dwight and I met, how he proposed..etc.

There are letters for all kinds of holidays and letters just for fun. Some are photocopied for all the boys and some are just for a specific child.

All of this is because I have a dear friend who lost his mother to cancer when he was a young child. There is so much he wishes he knew about his mom. Eventually, people stopped talking and there were things he still wanted to know. 

I do not want my boys to have those feelings. I want them to know me even if I am unable to be here. Hopefully, I will be here for all their wonderful moments, and if so them I will give each boy his 'special box' as a  wedding gift.

Just a little food for thought!!

Blessings...Dallas

In light of the elections...

My friend Jayma sent this to me last week. I know lots of people have different feelings or mixed feelings about the outcome of the elections..but I think this speaks volumes....

*****

"...The ascension means that the world already has a human king sitting on his throne and reigning from heaven. Not all of creation has acknowledged his reign at present, but Scripture promises that someday every knee will bow before him and every tongue will confess that he is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

Rome had her emperors. Other countries have kings and dictators. Some have prime ministers. The United States has a president. They all rule their given territories with whatever authority has been vested in their position. But the world already has a King. We’re not waiting for him to take the throne or be inaugurated. He's already reigning from his throne in heaven. All the powers, presidents, prime ministers, and potentates will ultimately answer to him, whether they currently recognize his authority or not.

This is why we have to be careful as followers of Jesus that we don't put too much faith and energy into national politics and hyper-patriotism. Otherwise we’ll find ourselves trading our Christlikeness for political expediency and bowing down before the idol of nationalism. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be involved in politics, but rather we should let the reality of Jesus’ ascension influence how deeply we choose to participate in the process and what we hope to gain from our engagement. 

The world will not be healed and restored because we elect the right president. We live in a great country, with the best political process I know of, but our country is not the light of the world. Our president may be the most powerful person in the world, but he's not sitting at the right hand of God. Our military is full of brave men and women willing to die for their country, but they are not able to eradicate the world of evil. 

Christians should understand these things better than anyone else. Yet the anxious, fearful, and sometimes mean-spirited qualities demonstrated by many Christians at election time betrays just how little faith we have in King Jesus.

The ascension is more than a cool special effect at the end of a Passion play. It is a dramatic political statement made by God himself about how the long-awaited King of the world has been enthroned in heaven. Slowly but surely news of his reign will spread through the world until someday the curtain separating heaven and earth will lift and the two realms will become one. Until then, our challenge as followers of Jesus is to live in such a way that demonstrates who the real King of the world is. This will be seen in our acts of service, stands for justice, and exhibitions of grace done in the name of Jesus, rather than in the name of partisan politics. In fact, every time we gather to worship and celebrate the risen, ascended King Jesus we’re participating in a political party of a different kind.

It may just be that the most important political statement Christians can make this election season is to publicly declare that we’re putting our hope, confidence, and trust, not in any one particular candidate or party, but in our ascended King who will someday return and transform our world into a place where the streets have no name."

 

Calling all moms! Calling all moms!

Ok moms..I am in need of your assistance. I address this to moms, cause really, I can't imagine that there are any men out there that read my blog...let alone admit to it and leave a comment...No wait..Cass, your sweet hubby was kind enough to leave some advice with a situation with Skipper...so I stand corrected!! If you dad's got any thing here...I'd love to hear it too!!

Here is my dilemma and I really would like you r opinion on the situation. And I gotta get this done pretty quick, cause after my 2nd day of 'root canal fun'...I am on hydrocodone and my time is limited until  this stuff kicks in and then I am a big pile of mushy goo!! So please overlook and misspellings or the like!

Tonight at bedtime, Scrappy starts crying saying that the little boy next door called him a name. He tells me what it is and I can not understand him. I ask him to repeat it and he 'says' a$$hole.

Even with a speech problem...he got pretty close(reminder to tell therapists to watch for this new word!!)

Since all the boys share a room, we took a minute to talk about how that is not appropriate for people to use and that it is not a word that we will use in our house. I did not go on or make a big deal about it just that we wouldn't talk like that here.

Here is the kicker...I have heard their mom talk to her kids and she talks like that to them all the time. So I mean, they only use what they hear being said to them. The little boy is I'd guess 4 and sister is about 6. She is a single mom and I am sure has a ton on her plate.

I hate to slam the door and say no more playing together...but there are many things that are not quite right over there. Yes, Christie...this is the level 2 sex offenders house. Which is a whole other can of worms. And just for the record...we did not know there was a sex offender living next door when we bought the house, I found out from the police one day when they showed up to check in on him.

The kids just walk into our house with out knocking. We have asked them to knock many times, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other!  The little boys is very rough. Which is saying something coming from a mom of 4 boys. I know that everyone has to do what is right for their family, but how do I handle this with out shutting these people out completely??

What would you do? I am open here. I really want to know what you think.

Number 4

My sweet college friend Julie tagged me...thanks Julie. I am supposed to go to my 4th picture file and find number four and blog about it...well, I didn't want to do it with out you here..so here we go...

Oh...it's Skipper! This was taken on a super fun trip to Dallas with Jayma and Ryker to visit Tracy at Kakies house!!

It was February  2003. Skipper was almost 3 and Scar was 4 months. It was wet and cold on our trip and we needed a fun place to take all the kids. Tracy found this wonderful little play place to go. The boys played and played and we mommies just sat and watched and talked. It was a wonderful trip and this makes me miss my sweet Missouri friends!  After we put the boys to bed...we stayed up late, took personality tests on the computer and had biscuits drenched with Pride of Dixie syrup!! YUM!! What fun memories!! 

Thanks Julie...that wasn't so bad...I tag...Dallas, Lane, Cassandra and Kerri!! Your turn girls!!

Public Service Announcement

Ahem...tap-tap...is this thing on??

So far we have been to 2 different Fall/Halloween carnivals and I am deeply perplexed by what I am afraid is becoming a trend in this world........where did all the chocolate go?

Somewhere in the confectionary world...there is a battle raging between the gooey gummie candies and the long standing, ever-faithful chocolates.

Why dear friends must we succumb to the pressures of  society and pass this pseudo-candy on to our children and loved ones? Why do we eat things that look like worms or eyeballs or lobed off digits?? 

I do not want pretzels or lollipops. I do not need gum or sweet tarts. 

I just want chocolate. 

I NEED chocolate.

I think after birthing 4 humans, I am entitled to a little chocolate. 

I think that as an air breathing member of the planet, YOU are entitled to a little bit of chocolate.

I am considering throwing my support to the candidate that has a "Chocolate Policy."

I admit to rummaging around in my boys candy buckets and removing the good stuff, placing it in a ziploc bag and stashing it in the fridge for later consumption. I admit to hiding it waaaaay in the back , on the top shelf behind the baking soda, so they will not try to eat my stash.  I am okay with that. Really, I am. 

So please dear friends...as the holidays are fast approaching, please consider adding a little chocolate to your candy give aways. Because behind that precious princess or rugged cowboy at  your door, is a mommy who will need to steal that chocolate  for later!!

Thank you for your time...and chocolate! :O)

Welcome to Holland....

I ran across this the other day and it spoke to me. Chances are that it may mean nothing to you and that is okay. I blog for me-really. It's a place to vent and cry and wonder and record memories and feelings. I hope that if it does speak to you that you realize that you are not alone on your trip and maybe we can compare wooden shoes sometime!!  I tend to think though, that everyone has their Holland. Yours doesn't look like mine and mine doesn't look like any of the families that I know. But we are all here together, so we might as well make it the best trip through Holland that we can!! I hope you enjoy! --Dallas

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

It's late and I think I rambled here a bit....

Do you see what time it is?? I do..and it's late...or early depending on how you like to look at the world!!

Yeah..I am starting this post at about 1:50 AM!! 

Tomorrow( well actually  today) my sweet sister in law and I are having a garage sale. I am purging my house-or at least I was and I decided I needed to pee, and then I felt the need to blog. Sorry, but it's true. I had to make a Sonic run a little while ago...don't tell Mr. Dad, I am suppose to have fewer and fewer Sonic runs...but he was asleep and I will eat the cup when finished so he doesn't find out!!

I have a great friend, who I am convinced is THE BEST garage sale-er I have ever known. That girl can flat make money at a garage sale. I am talking hundreds and hundreds...and hundreds of dollars. I am also convinced that this is one of her gifts. I bet when God calls her home (not anytime soon T) that He will put her in charge of Heavenly garage sales!!

Anyway..enough about T..back to me! 

I think garage sales are addictive. I get started and I can not stop. I will scour my house looking for things to sell. If it isn't nailed down...slap a little sticker on it with a price and get it out of here! 

As I was dropping things off at 11:30 at Sarah's house...I told her I was glad that we were doing this at here house...because of my little "sell it" problem.

The last garage sale I had..I found out I was preggers the next day. Rest assured that is not going to be a problem this time. You'll just have to trust me on that one!! 

Well, I am going to go dig around and see what else I can get rid of..hopefully we will make some good Christmas money.

 

Please check in with me and make sure I don't sell a boy or two or 4!! Well, come to think of it...we are still paying on Skeeter, so he can't go...We paid a ton  for Scar and I'm sure I couldn't recoup (ha ha no pun intended there!!) our losses on him. And the other 2 really are kinda fun to have around!

Have a great Saturday...enjoy your time with the one's you love the most!!

Later Gaters....

Throw it off...

Today is one of THOSE days.

 I am so tired. I am tired of trying to keep the house clean. I am tired of laundry. I am tired of the scheduling. I am tired of the demands of the world. I am tired of kids with bad attitudes. I am tired of having a bad attitude! I know that the vast majority of this stems from not taking time to visit with my Father.

 I have tried to do all of this lately on my own. When will I learn that this never works?!

Evidently this is just an ongoing struggle for me. I  read a verse today that was very uplifting. It was in Hebrews:

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us.

I have things that I need to throw off. My kids have things they need to throw off. Our family has things we need to throw off. I need to focus more on the eternal picture and less on the now of everything. There are important things going on here, but that doesn't need to be my focus.

I need to purge things from our home, from our lifestyle, from our everyday living. I need to sacrifice things at the alter of my Father. However, some things, I really don't want to sacrifice. I don't want to deal with the attitudes of  kids when they find out how that involves them. I know God is calling me..I am just acting like I do not hear him...and honestly I am paying for it- in different ways everyday.

I am trying to make small changes...maybe that is my problem. Maybe God is calling me to bigger changes. Changes that I am not ready to make. I guess I need to take a deep breath and just jump in. Both feet-in the deep end so I have no choice but so swim. 

Do you ever have those days? Please tell me you do...I am totally ok with you lying to me! Misery loves company-right??