First off, let me say that I love Thanksgiving. I love getting together with family to eat. I love taking some time to just think about how much God blesses us each and every day. Some days it is hard to see the blessings when we focus on the trials, but when we look back, we see that God never leaves us.
In honor of our big move to our new house, we invited David's family to come visit. So, on Wednesday, David's parents and his brother's family arrived for a 3 day whirlwind of food, laughing, long walks, Wii challenges, Black Friday shopping, and just plain old being together.
Before this week I had never hosted Thanksgiving. I love to cook, and I really do like to have people over to eat, it just hasn't ever worked out, so I was pretty excited. And now that everyone is gone and my kids are so tired that they are melting down at the drop of a hat, I can say that we had a successful Thanksgiving.
Here are some things I learned:
1. Real family still come even though you are having a flea "issue" at your house. I won't go into details, but when Tee Dog died, she left us a little present. Thankfully, our family is willing to put up with this madness.
2. Every kid loves bunk beds. David's parents brought down his old bed for Noel to have, and he and Elise are in heaven playing with it and sleeping in it.
3. Black Friday sales are not as mean and intimidating as I dreamed they would be. But I didn't find any super-crazy good deals either, so it was more of a fun experience than anything else.
4. I am learning to be more comfortable with who I am around my in-laws. They are wonderful people, and sometimes that can be intimidating to me. I want them to be pleased with me, but I have also learned that their acceptance isn't what I live for.
5. Buying a smoked turkey from the local meat market was a great decision! They cook it for you, and you just have to heat it up!! The only problem was no drippings to make gravy. But we ended up stealing gravy from the church, so it all worked out. (Don't ask, I don't want to get arrested).
6. There truly are tons of giving, loving, caring people out there. When I went to deliver meals to the needy Wednesday night, I met a whole group of people who had worked all day to help make Thanksgiving meals for hundreds of people in Kokomo who would have probably been home alone or without food. I can get on a roll talking all negative about my town, but there really are some amazing people here.
7. The best gifts in life are memories made with those you love. And we made plenty of those.
I hope you spent some time being thankful this season, but that it doesn't end here. Be thankful every day. Every. Day.
May His blessings be evident to us always.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
All of my political thoughts in one blog post. And then I'm done.
Okay, for the record, I have been terrible about blogging because ever since we have moved our internet is really sketchy. It works about 20% of the time, so I have very limited availability. I hate complaining about silly things like my internet access, but I did want to give a little excuse for my lack of words on this blog (not in real life. I'm never at a lack of words in real life).
My vote didn't count.
Really.
Because I didn't vote for Obama or Romney.
I wrote Ron Paul's name in.
Not because I thought it would make a difference or because it was a joke, but because I could not, in good conscience, vote for either presidential candidate. I pretty much just voted so I could vote on local/state officials.
And it made me sad.
Sad that those two men are the best our entire country could come up with to lead our government.
And then I listened to a program on the radio today (because I'm 75 and listen to talk radio when I'm alone in the car) that talked about how hardly anybody wants to get into politics anymore these days because of the smear campaigns and the fundraising and the red tape.
And that made me even sadder.
I wish things could be different with the way elections are run and who wants to be in politics, but I also know that if each of us took the same energy we have been using during these last few weeks to make the world a better place by loving more, serving more, and complaining less, this world would be a much better place, regardless of who the president is.
My vote didn't count.
Really.
Because I didn't vote for Obama or Romney.
I wrote Ron Paul's name in.
Not because I thought it would make a difference or because it was a joke, but because I could not, in good conscience, vote for either presidential candidate. I pretty much just voted so I could vote on local/state officials.
And it made me sad.
Sad that those two men are the best our entire country could come up with to lead our government.
And then I listened to a program on the radio today (because I'm 75 and listen to talk radio when I'm alone in the car) that talked about how hardly anybody wants to get into politics anymore these days because of the smear campaigns and the fundraising and the red tape.
And that made me even sadder.
I wish things could be different with the way elections are run and who wants to be in politics, but I also know that if each of us took the same energy we have been using during these last few weeks to make the world a better place by loving more, serving more, and complaining less, this world would be a much better place, regardless of who the president is.
Friday, November 02, 2012
When I'm feeling selfish
Yesterday was a bad day.
Bad because I practically ruined it by being selfish.
I had been busy doing things for other people the whole day. And instead of feeling the joy of being able to give, I resented the fact that nobody had "done anything for me" in a long time.
I know, I know, I'm just bursting with juvenile behavior.
And then, Elise got sick.
She spiked a pretty high fever, and I ended up staying with her most of the night as she fought through some illness we now know is some sort of virus.
I'm just going to be honest: it sucked.
But it also brought my attitude back in perspective.
I realized that my life is not my life. It is about giving of myself, especially as a mother. And while I would have rather been doing a lot of other things than cleaning up barf, I count it a privilege that I am a mother. That I have these beautiful children God has given to David and me. And although I am still bummed about missing our date night (2nd attempt thwarted!), I am reminded that life is so fragile and fleeting. I can spend my time wishing for something different, or I can embrace every moment given me.
How will you spend the moments given to you?
Bad because I practically ruined it by being selfish.
I had been busy doing things for other people the whole day. And instead of feeling the joy of being able to give, I resented the fact that nobody had "done anything for me" in a long time.
I know, I know, I'm just bursting with juvenile behavior.
And then, Elise got sick.
She spiked a pretty high fever, and I ended up staying with her most of the night as she fought through some illness we now know is some sort of virus.
I'm just going to be honest: it sucked.
But it also brought my attitude back in perspective.
I realized that my life is not my life. It is about giving of myself, especially as a mother. And while I would have rather been doing a lot of other things than cleaning up barf, I count it a privilege that I am a mother. That I have these beautiful children God has given to David and me. And although I am still bummed about missing our date night (2nd attempt thwarted!), I am reminded that life is so fragile and fleeting. I can spend my time wishing for something different, or I can embrace every moment given me.
How will you spend the moments given to you?
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Goodbye, Old Friend
On Monday, we had to put down our dear dog, Tee Off. Tee was 14 years old, and we loved her. But she was getting so bad she could hardly move. It was a really hard decision, but we know she was not thriving anymore.
Noel and Elise were a little sad, but they really didn't do much with Tee, since she was so old. To be honest, none of us has done much with her in the last couple of years because she just laid around.
After we got over the initial sadness of saying goodbye to her, we have been spending the week remembering the fun times we had with Tee.
*She used to bark like crazy at every sound, especially people knocking on the door.
*She would go nuts if you said the word "squirrel".
*She was always on the hunt for something out in the back yard. One year she caught a bunny, and she and a neighbor dog had a feast. David found out later it was someone's pet rabbit that had gotten loose!!
*She was a great sidekick to run with in her younger years. She would pull you along faster than you wanted to go, which was what I needed.
*She was definitely a city dog. Whenever she had a chance to go to the farm, she inevitably found something dead and/or rotten to roll in. Delicious!
*She didn't like me at first. David was hers, and she didn't want to share. But when the kids came along, all was forgiven, because she got every item of food that was dropped from the table.
Tee was a loyal, loving, friendly dog who will be missed. We are grateful that we got to be her owners. Love ya, Tee Dawg!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Joy is in the Journey
This past Friday and Monday were Noel's "fall break", so we decided to make a vacation of it. We had not gone anywhere as a family (except the farm) since the spring, so we were excited.
Our first stop (after lunch at Jason's Deli, which was delicious!) was Legoland in Schaumberg, Illinois. I had heard some mixed reviews, but our kids loved it.
They love anytime we see Sponge Bob stuff, because I won't let them watch it, so they think they are getting away with something naughty.
Legoland was perfect for kids Noel's age. There was a lot of interactive entertainment, and even a couple of rides. Dave and I were particularly entertained by the workers there. They all looked exactly the same--males, mid-20's, shaggy hair, and hipster glasses. Was this a prerequisite for working at Legoland? Hmmmm
My friend's sister lives in Schaumberg, so I got lots of restaurant suggestions from her. We heard that Lou Malnati's was the place to eat pizza. And it definitely was. We had to wait a long time (it was Friday night), and I was getting a little nervous about how the kids would hold up, but it was sooooo good!!
Saturday was our big adventure day. We took the train from Schaumberg to Union Station in Chicago.
(Sidenote: Elise and Noel made a little friend at the train station, who was staying at our hotel and we saw numerous times. She was about 2, and was with her mom at the station. Mom had her on one of those harnesses --aka a leash. And when the kids were playing with her, she got herself all wrapped around a lightpole. Did anyone out there see the Modern Family episode where the little girl was on a leash? Yeah, it was just like that.)
The kids loved the train. It was really fun, and we had a great time telling knock knock jokes and laughing on the way in. Once we got to Union Station, we met a nice man who helped us catch the bus to Navy Pier. Noel said the bus was his favorite mode of transportation that day.
We spent the next several hours taking in everything at Navy Pier. We rode some of the rides, including this big ferris wheel, and ate some hot dogs. We just tried to enjoy every moment and take it all in.
One thing we didn't get any pictures of were the street performers at Navy Pier. There were people all dressed up/painted as cats, lizards, puppets, etc. It was really weird. I think the "cat" woman really thought she was a cat. Who says all the crazies live in Kokomo? But we did see an act from a guy dressed as Frankenstein that was really impressive, and the kids loved it.
I would say that Elise's favorite part of the trip was getting her own Build-a-Bear. She loved the whole process, and of course found the only pair of high heeled bear shoes in the store for her new friend, Little Princess. Noel was a really good sport about it, and was generously rewarded with a pop gun.
At the end of the day, we took a water taxi home, which was perfect, because we got to see all of the buildings from a great perspective and just relax.
The last day of our trip was heading home, plus a stop at Fair Oaks Farms, which is a dairy farm with all kinds of exhibits. It was the most beautiful day, and we really had a good time. We got to see a cow being born, which was kind of neat, but also really gross.
All in all, we learned that our kids are much more flexible than they used to be, and that traveling can be fun if you can roll with the punches and have lots of snacks on hand.
Our first stop (after lunch at Jason's Deli, which was delicious!) was Legoland in Schaumberg, Illinois. I had heard some mixed reviews, but our kids loved it.
Legoland was perfect for kids Noel's age. There was a lot of interactive entertainment, and even a couple of rides. Dave and I were particularly entertained by the workers there. They all looked exactly the same--males, mid-20's, shaggy hair, and hipster glasses. Was this a prerequisite for working at Legoland? Hmmmm
My friend's sister lives in Schaumberg, so I got lots of restaurant suggestions from her. We heard that Lou Malnati's was the place to eat pizza. And it definitely was. We had to wait a long time (it was Friday night), and I was getting a little nervous about how the kids would hold up, but it was sooooo good!!
Saturday was our big adventure day. We took the train from Schaumberg to Union Station in Chicago.
(Sidenote: Elise and Noel made a little friend at the train station, who was staying at our hotel and we saw numerous times. She was about 2, and was with her mom at the station. Mom had her on one of those harnesses --aka a leash. And when the kids were playing with her, she got herself all wrapped around a lightpole. Did anyone out there see the Modern Family episode where the little girl was on a leash? Yeah, it was just like that.)
The kids loved the train. It was really fun, and we had a great time telling knock knock jokes and laughing on the way in. Once we got to Union Station, we met a nice man who helped us catch the bus to Navy Pier. Noel said the bus was his favorite mode of transportation that day.
We spent the next several hours taking in everything at Navy Pier. We rode some of the rides, including this big ferris wheel, and ate some hot dogs. We just tried to enjoy every moment and take it all in.
One thing we didn't get any pictures of were the street performers at Navy Pier. There were people all dressed up/painted as cats, lizards, puppets, etc. It was really weird. I think the "cat" woman really thought she was a cat. Who says all the crazies live in Kokomo? But we did see an act from a guy dressed as Frankenstein that was really impressive, and the kids loved it.
I would say that Elise's favorite part of the trip was getting her own Build-a-Bear. She loved the whole process, and of course found the only pair of high heeled bear shoes in the store for her new friend, Little Princess. Noel was a really good sport about it, and was generously rewarded with a pop gun.
At the end of the day, we took a water taxi home, which was perfect, because we got to see all of the buildings from a great perspective and just relax.
The last day of our trip was heading home, plus a stop at Fair Oaks Farms, which is a dairy farm with all kinds of exhibits. It was the most beautiful day, and we really had a good time. We got to see a cow being born, which was kind of neat, but also really gross.
All in all, we learned that our kids are much more flexible than they used to be, and that traveling can be fun if you can roll with the punches and have lots of snacks on hand.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
And the pics just keep coming!
August 15th was a monumental day for our family. Not only was it Noel's first day of kindergarten, it was our official "moving" day. We figured, why not cram all of the emotional stress into one great, memorable day!
And so, this is why Noel's first day of school picture is him standing on a trailer.
Thinking back, I was more overwhelmed with getting everything packed and everyone ready to actually be sad. Now that I look at this picture, I'm a little teary thinking about all of the memories we made in that driveway and on that porch. So many firsts. So many greats. And so much more to come.
Not to be outdone, Elise had to do a little posing of her own. Her official first day was the next day. I think she's been ready for preschool for about 2 years!
They really do like each other. I kid you not. Yes, they have some nasty moments, but when it comes down to it, they are crazy about each other.
And this is the new house that we now live in!!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I used to be pretty good at blogging
and then this whole moving into a house-selling our old house-craziness began. But I've finally gotten my pictures all downloaded from, oh, summer until now. So bear with me as I try and backtrack through the fun I have not posted about.
In other news. . .
Who stole my babies and replaced them with much bigger kids? Wasn't it just yesterday they could stand inside the wheels of the big combine at the fair? Wow.
One of the highlights of our summer was getting to celebrate my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary in July. Almost every family member came, including my wonderful nieces and nephews. They are such a fun group of people. As soon as they see my kids, they grab them and love on them, take them on four-wheeler rides, play games with them, teach them new things, and just have fun.
Everyone worked long and hard to pull off a great open house for Ed and Linda, and at the end, we had a bonfire to relax. Definitely one of my favorite memories of the whole summer.
Above are Josh and Lauren
Jacob, his girlfriend Breanna, Abby (beautiful!), and Steve
Tye
Liz, Becca, and Elise
In other news. . .
Who needs toys when you can just raid your dad's closet?
I had to post this picture, because I love that a)he worked so hard to put David's hat, jeans, AND shoes on and b)he is working that camera pretty hard, too. Do you think he's had his picture taken a time or two?
More pictures to come!
Monday, October 08, 2012
Dying All Over Again
Okay, so the truth is, I have watched You've Got Mail about a million times. I can quote most of the lines. I know it's corny, but I just love it. Most of the movie is really funny, but there is this scene near the end when Meg Ryan's character has to close her book shop. She has this line where she says that closing the store feels like losing her mother all over again. And. . .cue the tears.
So, what does this have to do with me?
I just finished a biography about David Foster Wallace:
If you don't know anything about DFW, he was the author of several books, many of which had critical acclaim. But to me he was one of my English professors at Illinois State University. I took a class on prose from him, and it was one of the hardest classes I ever took. When I took the class I had no idea that he was a quasi-famous author who was trying to stay away from the spotlight by living in the midwest. Now, as I have just learned through his biography, he was a recovering drug addict who had several major bouts of depression, a couple of which caused him to be put in an institution. I had no idea that while I was trying to get an A in his class, he was trying to climb out of a pit of depression and addiction.
In September of 2008, after trying to get off of some medication because it was taking a toll on his body, he hit rock bottom and hung himself.
When I first found out he had died, I was incredibly sad. Not because I loved his writings (many of them are intensely graphic, and I wouldn't recommend them--although his nonfiction is AMAZING), but because I felt that he was a lost soul who had struggled with so many things his whole life. It made me think about how many other people out there are struggling with depression, or addiction, or something else, and they look like they have it all together on the outside.
And now, four years later, as I read the final pages of his biography, it's like he's died all over again.
Life is short.
Time is a gift.
People are hurting. Everywhere. Hurting.
And if you are hurting, you are not the only one. I promise.
So, what does this have to do with me?
I just finished a biography about David Foster Wallace:
If you don't know anything about DFW, he was the author of several books, many of which had critical acclaim. But to me he was one of my English professors at Illinois State University. I took a class on prose from him, and it was one of the hardest classes I ever took. When I took the class I had no idea that he was a quasi-famous author who was trying to stay away from the spotlight by living in the midwest. Now, as I have just learned through his biography, he was a recovering drug addict who had several major bouts of depression, a couple of which caused him to be put in an institution. I had no idea that while I was trying to get an A in his class, he was trying to climb out of a pit of depression and addiction.
In September of 2008, after trying to get off of some medication because it was taking a toll on his body, he hit rock bottom and hung himself.
When I first found out he had died, I was incredibly sad. Not because I loved his writings (many of them are intensely graphic, and I wouldn't recommend them--although his nonfiction is AMAZING), but because I felt that he was a lost soul who had struggled with so many things his whole life. It made me think about how many other people out there are struggling with depression, or addiction, or something else, and they look like they have it all together on the outside.
And now, four years later, as I read the final pages of his biography, it's like he's died all over again.
Life is short.
Time is a gift.
People are hurting. Everywhere. Hurting.
And if you are hurting, you are not the only one. I promise.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Turning 6
Dear Noel,
It takes you two hands to show people how old you are now. That makes me take a big gulp. Those nights when you wouldn't sleep seemed like an eternity. But now, I feel like I blinked and you're all grown up.
You are quirky and funny. Sometimes this makes us crazy, but usually it makes us laugh.
You love to figure out how things work. You study something and look at details most people wouldn't even notice. It never ceases to amaze me.
You are becoming more and more independent, but still want a hug and kiss from me when I drop you off at kindergarten. Let's keep it that way for a while.
You love your little sister, and she adores you. When you two go somewhere alone, it practically melts my heart when I see you take her hand or make sure she's right next to you. I am not naive enough to believe you won't have some knock-down drag-outs as you grow, but I hope you will always find comfort and solace in each other.
You are constant energy. Filled with questions. Concerned about fairness. Learning about the world.
I am so privileged to be your mom. It's overwhelming at times to know that I have such an influence on you. I pray that God will use me to show You the right way.
I hear a lot of people say they want their kids to be happy, and I do want you to be happy. But more than happy, I want you to be holy. I want you to be a follower of God and know the plans He has for you. To understand that what we do here on earth makes a difference, and that loving others, although not always easy, is what we have been called to do.
Thank you for being my son.
Love,
Mom
It takes you two hands to show people how old you are now. That makes me take a big gulp. Those nights when you wouldn't sleep seemed like an eternity. But now, I feel like I blinked and you're all grown up.
You are quirky and funny. Sometimes this makes us crazy, but usually it makes us laugh.
You love to figure out how things work. You study something and look at details most people wouldn't even notice. It never ceases to amaze me.
You are becoming more and more independent, but still want a hug and kiss from me when I drop you off at kindergarten. Let's keep it that way for a while.
You love your little sister, and she adores you. When you two go somewhere alone, it practically melts my heart when I see you take her hand or make sure she's right next to you. I am not naive enough to believe you won't have some knock-down drag-outs as you grow, but I hope you will always find comfort and solace in each other.
You are constant energy. Filled with questions. Concerned about fairness. Learning about the world.
I am so privileged to be your mom. It's overwhelming at times to know that I have such an influence on you. I pray that God will use me to show You the right way.
I hear a lot of people say they want their kids to be happy, and I do want you to be happy. But more than happy, I want you to be holy. I want you to be a follower of God and know the plans He has for you. To understand that what we do here on earth makes a difference, and that loving others, although not always easy, is what we have been called to do.
Thank you for being my son.
Love,
Mom
Thursday, September 27, 2012
An open apology to my students
On Thursday mornings, I tutor high school students who are trying to graduate after being kicked out/having dropped out of conventional high school. On Thursday afternoons, I work with an after school program for middle school students who are struggling in and out of school.
Some days I leave with the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I leave thinking about how unfair some things are for these students.
About how I wish I could take them home.
About how glad I am that I know them.
But when I leave them, I go home to my cushy house in the country with my 2 healthy kids, my husband who loves us and provides for us, physically and spiritually. I am not afraid at night. I have not lost my childhood because of someone else's decisions.
Dear Students,
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that adults could not get their crap together. I'm sorry that you have to deal with situations that nobody should have to deal with, let alone a young child. I'm sorry that choices others made have tainted your view of what it means to be a father, or mother, or a family.
I'm sorry that the church has not been there more for you. To walk alongside you and your family in hard times. To care for you when nobody else was caring for you.
I'm sorry that, for the most part, we believers are so caught up in our own lives, our conveniences, our schedules, and our "problems" that we don't look for ways to help you.
God says that true religion is looking after widows and orphans. Many of you have been "orphaned" in one way or another. May we, the church, rise up and look after you.
Some days I leave with the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I leave thinking about how unfair some things are for these students.
About how I wish I could take them home.
About how glad I am that I know them.
But when I leave them, I go home to my cushy house in the country with my 2 healthy kids, my husband who loves us and provides for us, physically and spiritually. I am not afraid at night. I have not lost my childhood because of someone else's decisions.
Dear Students,
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that adults could not get their crap together. I'm sorry that you have to deal with situations that nobody should have to deal with, let alone a young child. I'm sorry that choices others made have tainted your view of what it means to be a father, or mother, or a family.
I'm sorry that the church has not been there more for you. To walk alongside you and your family in hard times. To care for you when nobody else was caring for you.
I'm sorry that, for the most part, we believers are so caught up in our own lives, our conveniences, our schedules, and our "problems" that we don't look for ways to help you.
God says that true religion is looking after widows and orphans. Many of you have been "orphaned" in one way or another. May we, the church, rise up and look after you.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Some Randomness to Celebrate Friday
I really did have all kinds of intentions to blog this week, and SERIOUSLY it was not my fault this time! Our internet has been down all week And while I have learned how much time I waste on the world wide web, I am grateful it is back and I can find the recipes I need, email the people I need, and of course listen to Pandora Disney Princess station (okay, that last one was for Elise. She could do that for hours.)
So, in honor of this beautiful fall Friday, I now present some random thoughts that are bouncing around in my head:
*I was talking to our neighbors last night, and was curious about the house next door to them. They have a shed in the back yard, but also a smaller shed really close to the house. I asked if it was a playhouse for a child or something, and my neighbors said some words I would never forget. "Oh, no. It's a cat house." You read that right: a cat house. These people built a playhouse for their cat. Cats, actually. And now they let raccoons in there and feed them, too. And here I was, starting to miss my old, crazy neighborhood. . .
*I'm so glad the new seasons of some of my favorite shows are starting up again. I'm loving Parenthood, although I'm not sure I'll be able to watch it if it gets any sadder than it already is. A girl can only take so much. Parks and Recreation was on last night, and it was great. I can't decide which character I love more, and I love that. It's one show that both David and I enjoy watching, so that's a double bonus. Now, I'm just waiting on The Mentalist and Castle, and tv enjoyment will be complete.
*I've been experimenting with green smoothies this week. I've tried spinach, kale, and now radish greens. So far they haven't been too bad, and they give me so much energy (and vitamins). I've been trying to make them ahead and have them ready to drink for breakfast. My kids have tried each one, and nobody has complained about it, but I'm a little nervous to give them a whole glass. Last time I did that their little bodies weren't used to all of those veggies, and they were running a little "loose", if you know what I mean. Baby steps to good nutrition, right?
*Do kids ever get tired of riding on lawn mowers? This question has yet to be answered "yes" at our house. It the best entertainment at our new house by far.
*Speaking of my kids, my daughter is going through a whiny spell that is about to drive me to the brink of insanity. It is exhausting! Seriously, this morning the whining started because she wanted a treat AT 8:45 IN THE MORNING!! When I said no she started crying. Seriously? Seriously?!! Advice? Help? Babysitters? I'll take all three
*I can't seem to keep our new house clean. Ever.
*I've been reading way too many sad books about death, divorce, murder, and whatnot. I need some sort of lighthearted reading--any suggestions?
And there is your randomness for the day. Happy Friday!!
So, in honor of this beautiful fall Friday, I now present some random thoughts that are bouncing around in my head:
*I was talking to our neighbors last night, and was curious about the house next door to them. They have a shed in the back yard, but also a smaller shed really close to the house. I asked if it was a playhouse for a child or something, and my neighbors said some words I would never forget. "Oh, no. It's a cat house." You read that right: a cat house. These people built a playhouse for their cat. Cats, actually. And now they let raccoons in there and feed them, too. And here I was, starting to miss my old, crazy neighborhood. . .
*I'm so glad the new seasons of some of my favorite shows are starting up again. I'm loving Parenthood, although I'm not sure I'll be able to watch it if it gets any sadder than it already is. A girl can only take so much. Parks and Recreation was on last night, and it was great. I can't decide which character I love more, and I love that. It's one show that both David and I enjoy watching, so that's a double bonus. Now, I'm just waiting on The Mentalist and Castle, and tv enjoyment will be complete.
*I've been experimenting with green smoothies this week. I've tried spinach, kale, and now radish greens. So far they haven't been too bad, and they give me so much energy (and vitamins). I've been trying to make them ahead and have them ready to drink for breakfast. My kids have tried each one, and nobody has complained about it, but I'm a little nervous to give them a whole glass. Last time I did that their little bodies weren't used to all of those veggies, and they were running a little "loose", if you know what I mean. Baby steps to good nutrition, right?
*Do kids ever get tired of riding on lawn mowers? This question has yet to be answered "yes" at our house. It the best entertainment at our new house by far.
*Speaking of my kids, my daughter is going through a whiny spell that is about to drive me to the brink of insanity. It is exhausting! Seriously, this morning the whining started because she wanted a treat AT 8:45 IN THE MORNING!! When I said no she started crying. Seriously? Seriously?!! Advice? Help? Babysitters? I'll take all three
*I can't seem to keep our new house clean. Ever.
*I've been reading way too many sad books about death, divorce, murder, and whatnot. I need some sort of lighthearted reading--any suggestions?
And there is your randomness for the day. Happy Friday!!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
I want to blog. . .
Here's the thing:
This whole moving/two houses/kids in school/working on Thursday/trying to exercise some more/my family wants to eat EVERY DAY thing has really thrown me for a loop.
Almost every day, I have sat down to blog about something interesting (or at least mildly entertaining), and it never gets done.
I have things I want to share
about meeting the neighbors
and moving to at tiny town
and learning about my new students
and going to the farm for Labor Day
and running a 5K
and all kinds of stuff
but they just haven't gotten done.
I'm not quitting the blog. Really, I'm not. I just need to get it back into my routine, so I can share more.
And while I'm on the subject of sharing, let me tell you how amazing jalapeno poppers are. Seriously amazing. And so easy. You just slice jalapenos lengthwise, take out the seeds, and put a little cream cheese on them. Sprinkle them with a little shredded cheese, and pop them into a really hot oven (425 or 450). Cook for about 12 minutes. Wonderful. And if you want to kick it up even more, go ahead and wrap those puppies up in some bacon before you put them in the oven.
Seriously, I'm drooling right now.
So, if you're reading this blog, thank you for not giving up on me and my words. I will return with more mundane-ness very soon!
This whole moving/two houses/kids in school/working on Thursday/trying to exercise some more/my family wants to eat EVERY DAY thing has really thrown me for a loop.
Almost every day, I have sat down to blog about something interesting (or at least mildly entertaining), and it never gets done.
I have things I want to share
about meeting the neighbors
and moving to at tiny town
and learning about my new students
and going to the farm for Labor Day
and running a 5K
and all kinds of stuff
but they just haven't gotten done.
I'm not quitting the blog. Really, I'm not. I just need to get it back into my routine, so I can share more.
And while I'm on the subject of sharing, let me tell you how amazing jalapeno poppers are. Seriously amazing. And so easy. You just slice jalapenos lengthwise, take out the seeds, and put a little cream cheese on them. Sprinkle them with a little shredded cheese, and pop them into a really hot oven (425 or 450). Cook for about 12 minutes. Wonderful. And if you want to kick it up even more, go ahead and wrap those puppies up in some bacon before you put them in the oven.
Seriously, I'm drooling right now.
So, if you're reading this blog, thank you for not giving up on me and my words. I will return with more mundane-ness very soon!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Settling in
Well, after a whirlwind of packing and sorting, unpacking and resorting, cleaning, cleaning, and um. . . . cleaning(!) we are settling in to our new house.
*Sidenote: If this were a really good blog, there would be pictures right now of our new house, but since I can't find the cord to hook the camera's memory card in, that is not happening. However, I HAVE taken pictures, so it's a small step in the right direction.
So far, we are really liking our new place and the area. I am kind of going through Meijer withdrawels, since it's now a 20 minute drive there instead of a 90 second drive. But we are all adjusting. Being out in the country is so nice and peaceful. I went for my first run on Saturday, and it was beautiful (the scenery, not the run--THAT was ugly). Our neighbors are really nice, and the kids have even made some friends.
I was curious how Noel and Elise would feel about leaving the only house they knew, but surprisingly, they didn't really care. They were so excited about having new rooms right across from each other and getting to ride on lawn tractor that nothing else mattered. The third or fourth night we were here, Noel shuffles over to me and says, "I like our new house. I really do." And that pretty much sealed the deal for me.
I am trying to make every moment count with my children, and through this move one of my goals was to teach that stuff is just stuff. We have some of it (too much, honestly), but we can't hang on to it too tightly. It doesn't matter in the end.
I'm also settling in to my new "work" opportunities. On Thursday I tutor in the mornings at The Crossing, which is an alternative school for high school students looking to get their diploma. It has been such a great experience so far. Most of it involves one-on-one work with students who are taking classes through a computer-based program. There are lots of different reasons a student is at The Crossing, but almost all of them have realized in some way that education is essential, and so getting through their classes takes on a whole new meaning. I especially enjoy the "family time" they have in the middle of classes, where we sit and have some great discussions about life, God, goals, struggles, and triumphs. I feel blessed to be a part of it.
I've been reading through Genesis these past few weeks, and every time I do I take something different away. This morning I read about how God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his son, and because he was willing to do it, God blessed him. To be honest, I still can't really explain this passage, but it does convict me to make sure that everything---everything is second in comparison to God. I think about how 6 years ago I left the only career I knew, teaching, to stay home with my kids. It was really hard for me, but I knew that for us it was the right decision. And now I see so many blessings that have come from me giving up my comfort for the unknown. If I hadn't done that, I would not be a part of The Crossing or Bridges. I wouldn't have had these amazing times with my children. Has it all been good? Of course not. But has it been worth it? Yes.
I don't know what God has asked you to give up or give over, and I can't begin to say I understand, because each of us is unique, but I do know that the times I do surrender are the times God uses me the most.
May God find ways to use each of us today.
*Sidenote: If this were a really good blog, there would be pictures right now of our new house, but since I can't find the cord to hook the camera's memory card in, that is not happening. However, I HAVE taken pictures, so it's a small step in the right direction.
So far, we are really liking our new place and the area. I am kind of going through Meijer withdrawels, since it's now a 20 minute drive there instead of a 90 second drive. But we are all adjusting. Being out in the country is so nice and peaceful. I went for my first run on Saturday, and it was beautiful (the scenery, not the run--THAT was ugly). Our neighbors are really nice, and the kids have even made some friends.
I was curious how Noel and Elise would feel about leaving the only house they knew, but surprisingly, they didn't really care. They were so excited about having new rooms right across from each other and getting to ride on lawn tractor that nothing else mattered. The third or fourth night we were here, Noel shuffles over to me and says, "I like our new house. I really do." And that pretty much sealed the deal for me.
I am trying to make every moment count with my children, and through this move one of my goals was to teach that stuff is just stuff. We have some of it (too much, honestly), but we can't hang on to it too tightly. It doesn't matter in the end.
I'm also settling in to my new "work" opportunities. On Thursday I tutor in the mornings at The Crossing, which is an alternative school for high school students looking to get their diploma. It has been such a great experience so far. Most of it involves one-on-one work with students who are taking classes through a computer-based program. There are lots of different reasons a student is at The Crossing, but almost all of them have realized in some way that education is essential, and so getting through their classes takes on a whole new meaning. I especially enjoy the "family time" they have in the middle of classes, where we sit and have some great discussions about life, God, goals, struggles, and triumphs. I feel blessed to be a part of it.
I've been reading through Genesis these past few weeks, and every time I do I take something different away. This morning I read about how God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his son, and because he was willing to do it, God blessed him. To be honest, I still can't really explain this passage, but it does convict me to make sure that everything---everything is second in comparison to God. I think about how 6 years ago I left the only career I knew, teaching, to stay home with my kids. It was really hard for me, but I knew that for us it was the right decision. And now I see so many blessings that have come from me giving up my comfort for the unknown. If I hadn't done that, I would not be a part of The Crossing or Bridges. I wouldn't have had these amazing times with my children. Has it all been good? Of course not. But has it been worth it? Yes.
I don't know what God has asked you to give up or give over, and I can't begin to say I understand, because each of us is unique, but I do know that the times I do surrender are the times God uses me the most.
May God find ways to use each of us today.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Change is good. . .right?
I feel like I haven't written a blog post in forever, which is almost true. And this will be my only post for at least a week, as we won't have internet after tomorrow for a while. We are in the process of moving to another house. We're about 60% moved in there, but there is no hot water, so we've still been living at our old house until the gas gets turned on. So life is a little crazy. When I am at our old house I can't find the stuff I need, and when I'm at the new house I have no idea where to put the stuff I have.
First world problems, right? Too much stuff!!
Oh, and there's that whole thing of Noel starting kindergarten tomorrow and Elise starting preschool on Thursday.
I"m in a little bit of an overwhelmed state.
But I know it's good. I know God is good, and I trust in Him. If Noah can live on an ark for a year, I can live out of boxes for a few weeks.
And so if you don't hear from me, I'm not dead. I may be lost trying to find my way out of the construction by my new house, though, so give me a call. . .
First world problems, right? Too much stuff!!
Oh, and there's that whole thing of Noel starting kindergarten tomorrow and Elise starting preschool on Thursday.
I"m in a little bit of an overwhelmed state.
But I know it's good. I know God is good, and I trust in Him. If Noah can live on an ark for a year, I can live out of boxes for a few weeks.
And so if you don't hear from me, I'm not dead. I may be lost trying to find my way out of the construction by my new house, though, so give me a call. . .
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Heroes and Villians
Forgive me if I have written this before. I am getting old and forgetful. Plus, I'm just too lazy to read all of my old posts and see if I've ever written this before.
So, stick with me.
Something has happened in the last, oh, 10 years or so. I believe it is partially due to our media overkill of every topic/event/person, etc. But it seems to be in every area of life now.
Heroes and Villians.
We tend to move people into one of those categories. It starts with movies. Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? (of course, Jacob for me. But I digress). And then it moves to celebrities. When a celebrity couple gets divorced, we immediately pick a side of who is amazingly wonderful (Katie Holmes) and who caused so much trouble that we can't stand them (Tom Cruise). Although he hadn't been a villian before, even though he had left 2 previous wives (and children) for younger women. But TomKat was sooooo in love! And don't get me started on the Olympics! I even caught myself cheering for the Russian gymnasts to fall off the balance beam last night, for crying out loud!
And all of this is kind of fun and silly (kind of).
And then we turn to the elections. All of a sudden, if you vote for Obama, you are a socialist. If you are a Republican you hate gay people. Mitch Daniels is the devil. No, wait, he's the best governor ever. No, wait.
See what I mean?
I don't want to get into political arguments on my blog. But I want to remind everyone that people are just that: people. They are not perfect, but they also aren't evil either (for the most part). Do I agree with everything our President has done these past 4 years? No. Do I think he is out to destroy our country? Absolutely not!
And then this gets really personal when it is our friends and family.
We have somehow taken this hero/villian mentality and moved it to our personal relationships. We find out that someone said something a little unkind about our family or one of our friends. Immediately they are a villian. "Oh, I always knew they were like that!" "I never trusted them for a minute!" Or we take someone's word and follow them, even though what they are doing is completely wrong and hurtful. We fail to address problems because we don't want to turn into the villian.
But I want to remind all 3 of you who read this that the only villian is the devil, and the only hero is Jesus. None of us is perfect. None of us has never hurt a person or said something mean or done something out of selfish motivation. But none of us is completely evil and hoping for the worst.
And this has given me some perspective in the past few days, as I am struggling with some disappointments in some people. The easier thing would be to write them off and say, "I'm done with them." But is that what God wants me to do? To make them a villian? God wants me to forgive. To make things peaceful. To build bridges, not burn them.
To pray for those who are hard to love.
Will you join me?
So, stick with me.
Something has happened in the last, oh, 10 years or so. I believe it is partially due to our media overkill of every topic/event/person, etc. But it seems to be in every area of life now.
Heroes and Villians.
We tend to move people into one of those categories. It starts with movies. Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? (of course, Jacob for me. But I digress). And then it moves to celebrities. When a celebrity couple gets divorced, we immediately pick a side of who is amazingly wonderful (Katie Holmes) and who caused so much trouble that we can't stand them (Tom Cruise). Although he hadn't been a villian before, even though he had left 2 previous wives (and children) for younger women. But TomKat was sooooo in love! And don't get me started on the Olympics! I even caught myself cheering for the Russian gymnasts to fall off the balance beam last night, for crying out loud!
And all of this is kind of fun and silly (kind of).
And then we turn to the elections. All of a sudden, if you vote for Obama, you are a socialist. If you are a Republican you hate gay people. Mitch Daniels is the devil. No, wait, he's the best governor ever. No, wait.
See what I mean?
I don't want to get into political arguments on my blog. But I want to remind everyone that people are just that: people. They are not perfect, but they also aren't evil either (for the most part). Do I agree with everything our President has done these past 4 years? No. Do I think he is out to destroy our country? Absolutely not!
And then this gets really personal when it is our friends and family.
We have somehow taken this hero/villian mentality and moved it to our personal relationships. We find out that someone said something a little unkind about our family or one of our friends. Immediately they are a villian. "Oh, I always knew they were like that!" "I never trusted them for a minute!" Or we take someone's word and follow them, even though what they are doing is completely wrong and hurtful. We fail to address problems because we don't want to turn into the villian.
But I want to remind all 3 of you who read this that the only villian is the devil, and the only hero is Jesus. None of us is perfect. None of us has never hurt a person or said something mean or done something out of selfish motivation. But none of us is completely evil and hoping for the worst.
And this has given me some perspective in the past few days, as I am struggling with some disappointments in some people. The easier thing would be to write them off and say, "I'm done with them." But is that what God wants me to do? To make them a villian? God wants me to forgive. To make things peaceful. To build bridges, not burn them.
To pray for those who are hard to love.
Will you join me?
Monday, July 30, 2012
Life with Noel
I love having a 5 year-old.
Honestly, I feel like I deal much better with a child at this age than with a newborn. I was not a good newborn mom. But one thing I was not prepared for in having a 5 year-old is all of the questions.
From the minute Noel wakes up until we leave his room at night, his words are filled with questions.
Why do we have earwax?
What makes warts?
Why do we whisper before we go to bed when nobody's asleep yet?
Why do they use the 5 rings for the Olympics? What do they mean?
Why do you and Daddy keep getting older, but not any taller?
This goes on. For hours. Every day.
I love it and it drives me crazy all at once.
Noel is such a curious little boy, and he knows it. He wants to know how everything works and why everything happens. I love that about him. But sometimes it makes my brain cramp up from working on answers.
Noel definitely keeps me on my toes, and that is good for this old brain. I hope that he keeps this curious spirit his whole life, never stops wondering and asking.
What traits do your children have that you hope they keep forever?
Honestly, I feel like I deal much better with a child at this age than with a newborn. I was not a good newborn mom. But one thing I was not prepared for in having a 5 year-old is all of the questions.
From the minute Noel wakes up until we leave his room at night, his words are filled with questions.
Why do we have earwax?
What makes warts?
Why do we whisper before we go to bed when nobody's asleep yet?
Why do they use the 5 rings for the Olympics? What do they mean?
Why do you and Daddy keep getting older, but not any taller?
This goes on. For hours. Every day.
I love it and it drives me crazy all at once.
Noel is such a curious little boy, and he knows it. He wants to know how everything works and why everything happens. I love that about him. But sometimes it makes my brain cramp up from working on answers.
Noel definitely keeps me on my toes, and that is good for this old brain. I hope that he keeps this curious spirit his whole life, never stops wondering and asking.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thankful Thursdays
I am sitting here in the house we are about to sell (#591), getting things ready for closing on our new house (#592) while my children play Where's My Perry on the Kindle (#593 & 594). It's been a crazy busy week, thanks to VBS (#595--but not sure if we'll ever do it again!) and fun afternoons filled with library time (#596), adventures in the park (#597), and swimming with friends (#598). Also, I started my new work at The Crossing, (#599), which is an alternative high school for students who have previously struggled in school for various reasons. I'm excited about working there and what God has planned through that. We are still recovering from the party on the farm (#600) to celebrate my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary, where my kids and all of their cousins answered the question: Does riding a four-wheeler ever get old? (The answer is no, if you're wondering).
What are you thankful for???
What are you thankful for???
Monday, July 23, 2012
Without a hitch
David turned 40 on Thursday. If you know my husband at all, you know that he does not like lots of attention. He likes being with a few friends or family members and doing fun stuff like golfing or playing basketball. But I wanted to do something special for him.
Well, hello, Pinterest idea. I think I will finally use you!
I took an idea from Pinterest to celebrate this special day. Instead of a party, I asked people to send letters to me to give to David. I was a little nervous how it would all turn out, because people don't really write letters very much anymore (one of our nephews ended his letter with ". . .and I think this is the first letter I've written in like 5 years. . .)
But the letters came in.
From family
from friends
from co-workers
from former youth group students.
It was perfect.
We got up Thursday morning (David's birthday) and packed to go to the farm for his parents' 50th anniversary party. I drove so he could read the letters. I wish I could have taken pictures of his face as he read letter after letter (43 in all). He was so shocked, touched, and excited that so many people took the time to write him.
Some were hilarious, and some were tear jerkers. David's brother, Mike, wrote down a bunch of stories from their childhood that involved manure spreaders, swamps, dangerous 3-wheelers, etc. Dave's high school friends also shared stories of their adventures back in the day. Our friend Phil included pictures from over the years to really take us down memory lane.
The common theme throughout the letters was that David is so special to all of them. He may not be the most outspoken guy or have an over-the-top personality, but that is what makes him so special. He has a quiet strength, a quick wit, a wise mind, and people have been changed because of it. When the group returned from Haiti, several of the people on the trip said to me how much his words meant at different points during the trip, and I was so glad that I got to share him with others.
If there is someone in your life who has made a difference for you, let them know! Write a letter, call, whatever you need to do, but tell them.
Well, hello, Pinterest idea. I think I will finally use you!
I took an idea from Pinterest to celebrate this special day. Instead of a party, I asked people to send letters to me to give to David. I was a little nervous how it would all turn out, because people don't really write letters very much anymore (one of our nephews ended his letter with ". . .and I think this is the first letter I've written in like 5 years. . .)
But the letters came in.
From family
from friends
from co-workers
from former youth group students.
It was perfect.
We got up Thursday morning (David's birthday) and packed to go to the farm for his parents' 50th anniversary party. I drove so he could read the letters. I wish I could have taken pictures of his face as he read letter after letter (43 in all). He was so shocked, touched, and excited that so many people took the time to write him.
Some were hilarious, and some were tear jerkers. David's brother, Mike, wrote down a bunch of stories from their childhood that involved manure spreaders, swamps, dangerous 3-wheelers, etc. Dave's high school friends also shared stories of their adventures back in the day. Our friend Phil included pictures from over the years to really take us down memory lane.
The common theme throughout the letters was that David is so special to all of them. He may not be the most outspoken guy or have an over-the-top personality, but that is what makes him so special. He has a quiet strength, a quick wit, a wise mind, and people have been changed because of it. When the group returned from Haiti, several of the people on the trip said to me how much his words meant at different points during the trip, and I was so glad that I got to share him with others.
If there is someone in your life who has made a difference for you, let them know! Write a letter, call, whatever you need to do, but tell them.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Oh, yeah, I have a blog
Oops!
We are in moving limbo right now. The scheduled closing on both houses (which was supposed to be last Friday--the 13th) got postponed. There was some oversight from the lender of the person buying our house, and it all fell thru.
So, while we are not quite back to square one, it is a huge step in the other direction.
Not selling our house means some changes with the loan on the house we are trying to buy ourselves. Pluse we are going to be out of town for a few days (please don't rob us!), so closing is just some mirage out in the distance that I can see but can never quite touch.
Meanwhile, half of our things are already in boxes. I went to pour my coffee this morning, and realized I didn't have any coffee mugs because I had packed all but 2, and they were in the dishwasher! My only hope is that we get into our new house before we need warm clothes, cause they are boxed, taped, and stacked right now.
So, while we anxiously wait for our new "home", we just enjoy every day we have in the place we have called home all these years. Noel says he will miss eating popsicles on the front porch. Elise will miss the sidewalk that she can dance on. I will miss the people watching :)
And maybe we'll end up with a summer home after all. . .it just may be this one! Ha!
We are in moving limbo right now. The scheduled closing on both houses (which was supposed to be last Friday--the 13th) got postponed. There was some oversight from the lender of the person buying our house, and it all fell thru.
So, while we are not quite back to square one, it is a huge step in the other direction.
Not selling our house means some changes with the loan on the house we are trying to buy ourselves. Pluse we are going to be out of town for a few days (please don't rob us!), so closing is just some mirage out in the distance that I can see but can never quite touch.
Meanwhile, half of our things are already in boxes. I went to pour my coffee this morning, and realized I didn't have any coffee mugs because I had packed all but 2, and they were in the dishwasher! My only hope is that we get into our new house before we need warm clothes, cause they are boxed, taped, and stacked right now.
So, while we anxiously wait for our new "home", we just enjoy every day we have in the place we have called home all these years. Noel says he will miss eating popsicles on the front porch. Elise will miss the sidewalk that she can dance on. I will miss the people watching :)
And maybe we'll end up with a summer home after all. . .it just may be this one! Ha!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Nadine Update
Several months ago, maybe even a year, I started writing about Nadine. Nadine is a young lady I met on my trip to Peredo, Haiti. She had a huge growth, which made her look nine months pregnant. Because of this, she was basically an outcast in her village. Her mother didn't want her to go to school. She had minimal contact with the other children.
But over the course of this past year, my friend Ginny, along with countless others, have worked to get her the medical help she needs. Now she is living in Columbus, Ohio with an amazing family, the Tatas. Her medical procedures have been long and tedious (lots of draining and dealing with blood pressure issues), but Sheree (her host mother) says Nadine has been incredibly brave and positive. Sheree says she is a member of their family.
Last week, David went with a group of students and adults from our church to Nadine's village. As I was sticking pictures of the kids in his backpack, I had the quick thought to throw in some pictures of Nadine here in the states, happy and healthy.
I'm so thankful I did.
The top picture of the post is David with Nadine's mom and brother. David was able to share with them the pictures and explain that she is doing very well. He said Nadine's mom kept putting her hand on her heart and saying "Mesi, mesi" (thank you). She even blew him a kiss when he left.
A trip to Haiti can be overwhelming. There is so much chaos and heartache. It's hard to even wrap your mind around where to begin.
But God is bigger.
And we do what we can. One soul at a time.
There are sometimes questions about why people go on short term missions trips. And I do believe that some trips are not always handled correctly (ie. they are more work than help for the long-term missionaries). But as I look at Nadine and know that if we had not gone to Haiti, we would probably not be a part of this plan God had for her, I cannot help but be overwhelmed again, but this time with thankfulness and joy.
What can I do today that will make a difference in someone' life for God? That should be our question every day. Everywhere. Every. Time.
Friday, July 06, 2012
Thursday Thank Yous. . .on Friday
This week I am thankful for. . .
581. air conditioning.
582. the city pool.
583. friends and family who check in on us while David is away.
584. closing the house we are buying and our own house ON THE SAME DAY NEXT WEEK! And to think I had fretted!
585. hearts that are broken by the things that break God's heart
586. the first zucchini out of the garden.
587. WiFi, even in Haiti, so I can get an email or 2 from him while he's gone.
588. Redbox.
589. slushies.
590. old friends whom you can completely be yourself around.
What are you thankful for?
581. air conditioning.
582. the city pool.
583. friends and family who check in on us while David is away.
584. closing the house we are buying and our own house ON THE SAME DAY NEXT WEEK! And to think I had fretted!
585. hearts that are broken by the things that break God's heart
586. the first zucchini out of the garden.
587. WiFi, even in Haiti, so I can get an email or 2 from him while he's gone.
588. Redbox.
589. slushies.
590. old friends whom you can completely be yourself around.
What are you thankful for?
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Slowing Down/Speeding Up
It's Thursday.
(Sigh)
David's been gone since last Friday night.
We've had a lot of fun, but we are ready for him to come home.
Every time I've ever gone on a missions trip, the first few days seem to go really slowly, and then the last 2 days fly by.
Every time I've stayed home while my husband has been gone, the first part seems to fly by, and the last few days before he gets home come to a screeching halt.
So that's where we are.
We have some fun things planned, and hope that the weather will cooperate. And we had a really good time celebrating Independence Day with friends last night. I even broke down and let the kids stay up to watch fireworks, which is something I haven't done ever with my kids. I kept trying to convince them, "See? Sometimes Mom can be fun!!" (After 2 days of yelling at them and being completely grumpy and impatient. I'm sure it worked beautifully.)
I used to make comments when David was gone about how I was being a "single" parent, or that now I know what it feels like to be a single parent. But I read an article once from a real single parent, and I realize that my husband being away for a week is so far removed from being a single parent that I will never say that again. There is such a huge difference between missing my husband because he's out of the country for a short time and missing my husband because a)he left for good b)he was never around to begin with c) he is gone for months at a time. Perspective is a hard pill to swallow sometimes.
So, while these last 3 days creep along, we will try to enjoy every moment of the days we are given (even if they are face-melting hot), and try to focus on the good stuff.
(Sigh)
David's been gone since last Friday night.
We've had a lot of fun, but we are ready for him to come home.
Every time I've ever gone on a missions trip, the first few days seem to go really slowly, and then the last 2 days fly by.
Every time I've stayed home while my husband has been gone, the first part seems to fly by, and the last few days before he gets home come to a screeching halt.
So that's where we are.
We have some fun things planned, and hope that the weather will cooperate. And we had a really good time celebrating Independence Day with friends last night. I even broke down and let the kids stay up to watch fireworks, which is something I haven't done ever with my kids. I kept trying to convince them, "See? Sometimes Mom can be fun!!" (After 2 days of yelling at them and being completely grumpy and impatient. I'm sure it worked beautifully.)
I used to make comments when David was gone about how I was being a "single" parent, or that now I know what it feels like to be a single parent. But I read an article once from a real single parent, and I realize that my husband being away for a week is so far removed from being a single parent that I will never say that again. There is such a huge difference between missing my husband because he's out of the country for a short time and missing my husband because a)he left for good b)he was never around to begin with c) he is gone for months at a time. Perspective is a hard pill to swallow sometimes.
So, while these last 3 days creep along, we will try to enjoy every moment of the days we are given (even if they are face-melting hot), and try to focus on the good stuff.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Halfway there
Tonight (Tuesday) is the halfway point of David's trip to Haiti. Sunday after church we loaded up the old Honda Van and headed to my old alma mater: Lincoln Christian College University (I'm not sure I'll ever be able to call it that.). My dear friend Jenni was there with her kids, and we hung out with them until Tuesday morning.
Some highlights:
*Watching the four kids play together. They ran, rode bikes, walked trails, played with Legos, and became masters at hide and seek.
*Catching up with Matt and Jenni. I miss them terribly, and it was so nice to have 2 full days to spend together.
*Not having to be alone with the kids for a few days.
But I'm not gonna sugar coat it: some of it was been bad. It is incredibly tiring to travel with two little ones alone. There were some tears (mostly mine) and some screaming (mostly the kids). But we headed home today, and are getting ready to go to bed (I'm hoping I won't fall asleep while reading bedtime stories, I'm so tired. Could it be the combo of staying up past 1AM with Matt and Jenni and waking up at 6:45 AM to 2 children right in my face? Probably.).
I am praying that tomorrow is a better day. A day where I see my kids as the true blessings they are.
Some highlights:
*Watching the four kids play together. They ran, rode bikes, walked trails, played with Legos, and became masters at hide and seek.
*Catching up with Matt and Jenni. I miss them terribly, and it was so nice to have 2 full days to spend together.
*Not having to be alone with the kids for a few days.
But I'm not gonna sugar coat it: some of it was been bad. It is incredibly tiring to travel with two little ones alone. There were some tears (mostly mine) and some screaming (mostly the kids). But we headed home today, and are getting ready to go to bed (I'm hoping I won't fall asleep while reading bedtime stories, I'm so tired. Could it be the combo of staying up past 1AM with Matt and Jenni and waking up at 6:45 AM to 2 children right in my face? Probably.).
I am praying that tomorrow is a better day. A day where I see my kids as the true blessings they are.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Here we go
Today is the first of 8 days with just me and the kids. We (I) decided early on that the best way to keep everyone (me) from missing David, we would try and stay busy.
Today's adventures included a trip to the Haynes Apperson Parade, in downtown Kokomo. I was a little concerned how I was going to manuever 3 chairs, 2 kids, and a cooler of drinks to a shady spot. I was also a little concerned about a)where the parade actually was and b)where I was allowed to park.
Luckily, we got there in plenty of time. After we parked and figured out a good place to sit, we walked to the downtown library to kill some time. (Too bad I was carrying all of that through the library. I may or may not have gotten a few looks. Whatever.)
The kids had a great time at the parade. It was kicked off by the veterans, who were led by my nephew Jonathan, on drums. We got to see several people we know in the parade, so now Noel thinks I know everyone in Kokomo. The kids had more than their fill of candy, and even got some free ice cream tokens from Culvers. About 5 or 6 floats from the end, it started raining, so we packed it up and headed home. The kids were sweaty and sticky, but happy.
And before you read this and think I am a mom who has it all together, right now they are chasing each other in and out of the house, screaming.
Oh, and Elise has no pants on.
You pick your battles.
Here's to a good day, and hopefully 7 more before we all are together again!
Today's adventures included a trip to the Haynes Apperson Parade, in downtown Kokomo. I was a little concerned how I was going to manuever 3 chairs, 2 kids, and a cooler of drinks to a shady spot. I was also a little concerned about a)where the parade actually was and b)where I was allowed to park.
Luckily, we got there in plenty of time. After we parked and figured out a good place to sit, we walked to the downtown library to kill some time. (Too bad I was carrying all of that through the library. I may or may not have gotten a few looks. Whatever.)
The kids had a great time at the parade. It was kicked off by the veterans, who were led by my nephew Jonathan, on drums. We got to see several people we know in the parade, so now Noel thinks I know everyone in Kokomo. The kids had more than their fill of candy, and even got some free ice cream tokens from Culvers. About 5 or 6 floats from the end, it started raining, so we packed it up and headed home. The kids were sweaty and sticky, but happy.
And before you read this and think I am a mom who has it all together, right now they are chasing each other in and out of the house, screaming.
Oh, and Elise has no pants on.
You pick your battles.
Here's to a good day, and hopefully 7 more before we all are together again!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday Thank You's, one day late
Today I am thankful for. . .
571. air conditioning!!
572. funny moments between David and me (like last night when he was talking in his sleep, telling me about how I needed to be careful because there were grapes everywhere. When I tried to wake him up, he said, "I am WIDE awake." Really, grape man? Really?)
573. strong, healthy bodies for my kids and me
574. Nadine's continued improvement, for her courage and patience
575. getting to see old friends last night and catch up
576. one hand-me-down Dora bike that has made my daughter's week!
577. reminders of what our true blessings are.
578. our upcoming trip to Lincoln to see dear, dear friends
579. the first zucchini from the garden. . .picked this morning!
580. getting to drive the mission trip crew down to Indy tonight. It makes me think of Tanya Davis, who passed away a little over a year ago. She wanted so badly to go on the trip in 2010, but couldn't. She said driving us there was as close as she could come to going on the trip. I can't wait to be there when they get off the plane on the trip home, either!
What are you thankful for?
571. air conditioning!!
572. funny moments between David and me (like last night when he was talking in his sleep, telling me about how I needed to be careful because there were grapes everywhere. When I tried to wake him up, he said, "I am WIDE awake." Really, grape man? Really?)
573. strong, healthy bodies for my kids and me
574. Nadine's continued improvement, for her courage and patience
575. getting to see old friends last night and catch up
576. one hand-me-down Dora bike that has made my daughter's week!
577. reminders of what our true blessings are.
578. our upcoming trip to Lincoln to see dear, dear friends
579. the first zucchini from the garden. . .picked this morning!
580. getting to drive the mission trip crew down to Indy tonight. It makes me think of Tanya Davis, who passed away a little over a year ago. She wanted so badly to go on the trip in 2010, but couldn't. She said driving us there was as close as she could come to going on the trip. I can't wait to be there when they get off the plane on the trip home, either!
What are you thankful for?
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Summer Adventures
In two days, I will be sending David off, with about 25 other people, to work in Haiti for a little over a week. They are going to Peredo, where I went two years ago.
To say that I am jealous is an understatement.
I feel a connection to the people of Peredo. My heart aches for them in their pains and rejoices with them in their successes. Choosing not to go so that David can go is really hard.
BUT
I am so excited for David, and that helps.
Sometimes we are asked to serve in a tangible way that is very rewarding. Those are the fun times, the times you write blog posts about and take pictures of.
But sometimes God asks you to do something else so it frees others up to serve. I am a very hands-on person. I like to get in there and do stuff. So it has been a struggle at times, having 2 small children, to turn down opportunities that I used to love to do, like going to church camp or CIY. But God has really changed my heart to understand a couple of things. One is that my service is staying here and being with my children so David can go to Haiti. Another is to serve by praying, which I'm not so good at.
I have learned that service isn't always what you think it's going to be, but that's just the point about life: it's not about ME. In fact, it's not about the group going to Haiti. It's about sharing God's love everywhere we go, every day, in big ways, yes, but also in small ways.
And so, my summer adventure may look different than it did a few years ago, but it is still that. As any mom can tell you, taking kids to a city pool, a parade, or even down the street can be an adventure!
To say that I am jealous is an understatement.
I feel a connection to the people of Peredo. My heart aches for them in their pains and rejoices with them in their successes. Choosing not to go so that David can go is really hard.
BUT
I am so excited for David, and that helps.
Sometimes we are asked to serve in a tangible way that is very rewarding. Those are the fun times, the times you write blog posts about and take pictures of.
But sometimes God asks you to do something else so it frees others up to serve. I am a very hands-on person. I like to get in there and do stuff. So it has been a struggle at times, having 2 small children, to turn down opportunities that I used to love to do, like going to church camp or CIY. But God has really changed my heart to understand a couple of things. One is that my service is staying here and being with my children so David can go to Haiti. Another is to serve by praying, which I'm not so good at.
I have learned that service isn't always what you think it's going to be, but that's just the point about life: it's not about ME. In fact, it's not about the group going to Haiti. It's about sharing God's love everywhere we go, every day, in big ways, yes, but also in small ways.
And so, my summer adventure may look different than it did a few years ago, but it is still that. As any mom can tell you, taking kids to a city pool, a parade, or even down the street can be an adventure!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thank you for the rain
Because of the craziness of this summer (I need a routine!) I have forgotten to post my "Thankful Thursday" thank yous. It's been kind of an disappointing week. Last week, we thought we had found the house of our dreams. This week we found out that the house has some septic issues that may or may not be a deal breaker.
I was really disappointed about it last night.
I had already pictured our family in the house, I was already planning out where the kids would play, and how we would have dinners on the deck out back, and all of that is now in limbo.
As I started to unpack my feelings this morning, I realized that what I am more upset sad about is that we have been in a state of uncertainty for months, and I am not comfortable with uncertainty. I like to have a plan. I like to know what we are doing, where we are going, etc. I had just breathed that big sigh of relief, thinking, "NOW we can relax." And realizing that we are back on roller coaster was discouraging.
In reality, life is never certain. We never know what each day, hour, or minute will hold. I know there is a reason for everything. I also know that what our house looks like is small potatoes compared with so many more things in life. This is a chance for me to have faith and trust that God is working for the good of those who believe.
Last night, we had planned to take the kids to the park for a running program they go to every Thursday. About 30 minutes before we were going to leave, the sky got dark. The wind started blowing. It started sprinkling. And then we had ourselves a nice little rainstorm. The kids could have chosen to be upset about missing the races and going to the park. But instead, we all sat on the front porch swing and watched the storm. We laughed as the wind blew the rain onto our legs. And we REALLY laughed when David went out to unclog a gutter and got drenched.
Why can't I be more like my kids? Why can't I see every day as an adventure to be had instead of a plan that needs to be followed through?
We may end up in that house. We may not. But until then, it is my goal to be thankful in all circumstances. To see the blessings of the rain.
Today I am thankful for. . .
561. family bike rides.
562. Pandora.
563. the summer reading program at the library.
564. friends with a pool who are generous enough to let us come over and swim.
565. David's upcoming trip to Haiti.
566. a washing machine.
567. fun moments with the kids.
568. good books.
569. reminders that I need to forgive and let things go.
570. rain for our thirsty plants, and rain for our thirsty souls.
What are you thankful for?
I was really disappointed about it last night.
I had already pictured our family in the house, I was already planning out where the kids would play, and how we would have dinners on the deck out back, and all of that is now in limbo.
As I started to unpack my feelings this morning, I realized that what I am more upset sad about is that we have been in a state of uncertainty for months, and I am not comfortable with uncertainty. I like to have a plan. I like to know what we are doing, where we are going, etc. I had just breathed that big sigh of relief, thinking, "NOW we can relax." And realizing that we are back on roller coaster was discouraging.
In reality, life is never certain. We never know what each day, hour, or minute will hold. I know there is a reason for everything. I also know that what our house looks like is small potatoes compared with so many more things in life. This is a chance for me to have faith and trust that God is working for the good of those who believe.
Last night, we had planned to take the kids to the park for a running program they go to every Thursday. About 30 minutes before we were going to leave, the sky got dark. The wind started blowing. It started sprinkling. And then we had ourselves a nice little rainstorm. The kids could have chosen to be upset about missing the races and going to the park. But instead, we all sat on the front porch swing and watched the storm. We laughed as the wind blew the rain onto our legs. And we REALLY laughed when David went out to unclog a gutter and got drenched.
Why can't I be more like my kids? Why can't I see every day as an adventure to be had instead of a plan that needs to be followed through?
We may end up in that house. We may not. But until then, it is my goal to be thankful in all circumstances. To see the blessings of the rain.
Today I am thankful for. . .
561. family bike rides.
562. Pandora.
563. the summer reading program at the library.
564. friends with a pool who are generous enough to let us come over and swim.
565. David's upcoming trip to Haiti.
566. a washing machine.
567. fun moments with the kids.
568. good books.
569. reminders that I need to forgive and let things go.
570. rain for our thirsty plants, and rain for our thirsty souls.
What are you thankful for?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Garden Update
Last summer I was pretty diligent about sharing pictures and stories about our garden. Just in case you are wondering about this summer, I will give you a little rundown of what's shakin' on our tiny farm in the back yard.
Here's the deal: we are moving. We are not 100% sure WHERE we are moving, but we are sure that we have to get out of this house by the end of the summer, probably about the beginning of August. And so the garden is in limbo. We still planted it (frankly, anything in there looked better than just a big square of dirt for potential buyers to look at), but not near as much. We have corn, beans, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini.
Now, here comes the fun part: we have no idea if we will still be here when it's time to actually pick/eat the food! The corn should be ready during the same week that we are supposed to be out of here, but who really knows?
So, we have taken garden things a little less seriously this summer, which is a little sad, because I'm going to miss being able to have so much food on hand in the winter, but for right now that is about all we can do.
Instead, we are spending more of our gardening time working out on a community garden. In addition to Bridges, I am going to start volunteering at The Crossing, which is an alternative school for students who have been kicked out of school or dropped out. They can earn a real diploma, (not a GED), while also learning life skills and being surrounded by Christian influences. I'm really excited about getting started when the next quarter starts up.
One of the projects they have taken on at The Crossing is teaching students about gardening. All spring, students grew dozens of different plants--from seed--in the classroom, which they then planted in garden boxes by our local library. But now the students are on break, so David and I are helping out with watering and weeding to keep it going. There are 25 boxes (4 ' x 8 '), and they are planning on selling the harvest at our local farmers' market. What a great experience for these students to have!
So, in a nutshell, while there won't be any pictures of me weeding on my blog, if you drive past the Kokomo South Branch library anytime, you can probably catch me in action right there. (No autographs, please!)
What kinds of things are in your garden this summer? Has the rain (or lack thereof) affected it?
Here's the deal: we are moving. We are not 100% sure WHERE we are moving, but we are sure that we have to get out of this house by the end of the summer, probably about the beginning of August. And so the garden is in limbo. We still planted it (frankly, anything in there looked better than just a big square of dirt for potential buyers to look at), but not near as much. We have corn, beans, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini.
Now, here comes the fun part: we have no idea if we will still be here when it's time to actually pick/eat the food! The corn should be ready during the same week that we are supposed to be out of here, but who really knows?
So, we have taken garden things a little less seriously this summer, which is a little sad, because I'm going to miss being able to have so much food on hand in the winter, but for right now that is about all we can do.
Instead, we are spending more of our gardening time working out on a community garden. In addition to Bridges, I am going to start volunteering at The Crossing, which is an alternative school for students who have been kicked out of school or dropped out. They can earn a real diploma, (not a GED), while also learning life skills and being surrounded by Christian influences. I'm really excited about getting started when the next quarter starts up.
One of the projects they have taken on at The Crossing is teaching students about gardening. All spring, students grew dozens of different plants--from seed--in the classroom, which they then planted in garden boxes by our local library. But now the students are on break, so David and I are helping out with watering and weeding to keep it going. There are 25 boxes (4 ' x 8 '), and they are planning on selling the harvest at our local farmers' market. What a great experience for these students to have!
So, in a nutshell, while there won't be any pictures of me weeding on my blog, if you drive past the Kokomo South Branch library anytime, you can probably catch me in action right there. (No autographs, please!)
What kinds of things are in your garden this summer? Has the rain (or lack thereof) affected it?
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Cooking Update
Okay, so here's my confession:
Like most people, I have not completely fulfilled my New Year's Resolution, which was to cook a new food every week. I have been trying, but some weeks just get away from me. Oh, and there's that whole house-selling/house-buying thing we have going on.
But I did want to share that we made friend okra for the first time, and it was very good.
Now, a good cook (and a good blogger) would have pictures right here, but you can just Google images of fried okra, if you please.
All you do is slice the okra, let it soak in some egg, roll it in cornmeal, and pan fry it for a few minutes. I preferred mine with a little ranch dressing (doesn't almost everything go better with ranch?), but David opted for plain. It was delicious. I'm definitely getting it again.
What have you been cooking up this summer?
Like most people, I have not completely fulfilled my New Year's Resolution, which was to cook a new food every week. I have been trying, but some weeks just get away from me. Oh, and there's that whole house-selling/house-buying thing we have going on.
But I did want to share that we made friend okra for the first time, and it was very good.
Now, a good cook (and a good blogger) would have pictures right here, but you can just Google images of fried okra, if you please.
All you do is slice the okra, let it soak in some egg, roll it in cornmeal, and pan fry it for a few minutes. I preferred mine with a little ranch dressing (doesn't almost everything go better with ranch?), but David opted for plain. It was delicious. I'm definitely getting it again.
What have you been cooking up this summer?
Monday, June 18, 2012
just a tree
If you know me, you have probably heard me talk about Donald Miller. Waaaaaaay back in the day (maybe 1999?? 2000?) I was strolling around Barnes and Noble, and I found this book:
I had never heard of Donald Miller before, but I bought it.
It was amazing.
The book chronicled Miller's journey from Texas to the Northeast in search of who God is and what His direction for Don's life was. (fyi, he later re-published the book under a different title, if you're looking for it.)
The book spoke to me, probably because I was going through some of the same experiences Don was (not the Volkswagen, though). I ended up emailing him, and he was such a nobody at the time that we actually wrote back and forth several times. Thus began my Donald Miller following.
You may know Donald from this little ditty he wrote:
Anyway. . .
I have this money-saving policy that I will not buy books if I can borrow them from the library or someone I know. I have been trying to get Don's book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" ever since it came out (something like 2 years ago). When David won a Kindle Fire from work, I finally broke down and bought the book.
And I must say that it was worth all four dollars and ninety-nine cents that I spent on it.
The premise of the book, in a nutshell, is that each of us is living a story. What kind of story are you living? What is the purpose of your story? How are you fulfilling God's plan in your life?
Donald writes with such transparency and candidness that you can't help but love him. He shares his faults, but not in a self-depricating way, and his successes, but not in a braggy voice. As I read this, I am inspired to live every day more fully. Each day I have been given is a gift, not to be wasted.
Two of the biggest lessons in the book for me, personally were:
#1--When you read a story/watch a movie, the times where the character grows the most is through conflict. We seem to understand that, but we don't seem to apply that to our own lives
#2--I am a tree, and the story is about the forest, not one tree. How can I live so that the story isn't about me, but about my maker?
If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. And if you've read it, please let me know what you thought.
I had never heard of Donald Miller before, but I bought it.
It was amazing.
The book chronicled Miller's journey from Texas to the Northeast in search of who God is and what His direction for Don's life was. (fyi, he later re-published the book under a different title, if you're looking for it.)
The book spoke to me, probably because I was going through some of the same experiences Don was (not the Volkswagen, though). I ended up emailing him, and he was such a nobody at the time that we actually wrote back and forth several times. Thus began my Donald Miller following.
You may know Donald from this little ditty he wrote:
I have this money-saving policy that I will not buy books if I can borrow them from the library or someone I know. I have been trying to get Don's book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" ever since it came out (something like 2 years ago). When David won a Kindle Fire from work, I finally broke down and bought the book.
And I must say that it was worth all four dollars and ninety-nine cents that I spent on it.
The premise of the book, in a nutshell, is that each of us is living a story. What kind of story are you living? What is the purpose of your story? How are you fulfilling God's plan in your life?
Donald writes with such transparency and candidness that you can't help but love him. He shares his faults, but not in a self-depricating way, and his successes, but not in a braggy voice. As I read this, I am inspired to live every day more fully. Each day I have been given is a gift, not to be wasted.
Two of the biggest lessons in the book for me, personally were:
#1--When you read a story/watch a movie, the times where the character grows the most is through conflict. We seem to understand that, but we don't seem to apply that to our own lives
#2--I am a tree, and the story is about the forest, not one tree. How can I live so that the story isn't about me, but about my maker?
If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. And if you've read it, please let me know what you thought.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Just roll with it!
Well, it looks like we are unofficially buying a house. And it's the house I wanted. It has all worked out pretty well, and for that we are thankful. I think I've spend so much time trying to find houses and keep ours clean that I have missed thinking about just how much I will miss this house. It's been the only home I've ever had with David. David asked me out on our first date in this very living room. He proposed to me here, too. We brought both of our children to this home. So many memories. . .
It can almost be paralyzing.
But I believe in a God who is bigger than a building, and I know that God has a plan much greater than one house can hold. I believe that home is wherever you make it, and that the important parts of the house are coming with me :)
Change is frightening, yet exhilarating. When I think about the times I have grown closest to God, they are in times of extreme change. And if I rely on God and focus on His plan (not my own), every life change can be a growing closer to Him.
This afternoon, we went for a walk/bike ride to Hobby Lobby (It's about 2 blocks away). Now that Noel can ride a bike, he is light years faster than Elise, so I stayed back with Elise and told Noel to stop at each stop sign and wait for us. And as he headed off further and further away, part of me was so excited for his new found freedom, and part of me was sad that time is moving so quickly. I want my children to be present in every moment, not to wish their lives away, and to make memories. That doesn't happen if I'm just focusing on how fast my kids are growing up or how I wish they could stay little forever. It happens when I celebrate each milestone with them, as hard as that might be for a mom to see.
I read a book once that said our job as parents from day one is to help a child grow from being completely dependent upon you to being completely dependent upon God. In order for the latter to happen, I must release my children, in faith, knowing that the One who made the stars can watch over my children much better than I can.
And so. . .
we roll on. . .
It can almost be paralyzing.
But I believe in a God who is bigger than a building, and I know that God has a plan much greater than one house can hold. I believe that home is wherever you make it, and that the important parts of the house are coming with me :)
Change is frightening, yet exhilarating. When I think about the times I have grown closest to God, they are in times of extreme change. And if I rely on God and focus on His plan (not my own), every life change can be a growing closer to Him.
This afternoon, we went for a walk/bike ride to Hobby Lobby (It's about 2 blocks away). Now that Noel can ride a bike, he is light years faster than Elise, so I stayed back with Elise and told Noel to stop at each stop sign and wait for us. And as he headed off further and further away, part of me was so excited for his new found freedom, and part of me was sad that time is moving so quickly. I want my children to be present in every moment, not to wish their lives away, and to make memories. That doesn't happen if I'm just focusing on how fast my kids are growing up or how I wish they could stay little forever. It happens when I celebrate each milestone with them, as hard as that might be for a mom to see.
I read a book once that said our job as parents from day one is to help a child grow from being completely dependent upon you to being completely dependent upon God. In order for the latter to happen, I must release my children, in faith, knowing that the One who made the stars can watch over my children much better than I can.
And so. . .
we roll on. . .
Monday, June 11, 2012
So much going on!
This past week has been a "crazy train" of events, as Noel would call it. I would love to sit and write about all of it, but I'm not sure my brain has figured everything out.
Last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we showed the house, which meant keeping it as clean as possible and then getting the heck out of dodge--with the kids and the dog! One day we ate lunch at Wendy's while the showing was going on, and I felt bad for poor Tee Dog sitting in the back of the van, so I poured my bottle of water into our little kid toilet in the back in case she needed a drink. Then Noel proceeded to tell anyone who would listen at Wendy's about how we have a toilet in the van and our dog is drinking out of it. Classy is the name of the game, folks!
The chaos continued as we packed up everything we needed (and about 100 things we didn't) to go tent camping for 4 days. Yes, you read that right: tent camping. 4 days. A 5 year-old and a 3 year-old. I'm not sure what I was thinking.
Yes, I do.
I was thinking that camping is so much fun for kids, and that we need to make memories like I did growing up. But, let me tell you, I am exhausted. The kids had a great time, though, so it was all worth it. They rode their bikes, played in dirt, made friends, walked trails, and swam. They also proceeded to get yelled at a few (or 20) times by me for not getting along. (And yes, the irony was not lost on me that I was screaming, "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE KIND TO EACH OTHER?!!!) It was not my finest moment(s). I came home feeling pretty defeated in the mom area.
But the good news is that we have accepted an offer on our house. We still have some hoops to jump through, but it looks very promising!
And now, we just have to find a house to live in next! Ha!
We had picked out a house, but it wasn't meant to be, and so we are back at square one with about 6 weeks to get everything figured out.
Oh, and have I mentioned that David is going to Haiti in a few weeks? Yeah, go ahead and throw that in the mix as well, just to keep things interesting!
But God is good, and we are blessed beyond measure, just along for the ride!
Last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we showed the house, which meant keeping it as clean as possible and then getting the heck out of dodge--with the kids and the dog! One day we ate lunch at Wendy's while the showing was going on, and I felt bad for poor Tee Dog sitting in the back of the van, so I poured my bottle of water into our little kid toilet in the back in case she needed a drink. Then Noel proceeded to tell anyone who would listen at Wendy's about how we have a toilet in the van and our dog is drinking out of it. Classy is the name of the game, folks!
The chaos continued as we packed up everything we needed (and about 100 things we didn't) to go tent camping for 4 days. Yes, you read that right: tent camping. 4 days. A 5 year-old and a 3 year-old. I'm not sure what I was thinking.
Yes, I do.
I was thinking that camping is so much fun for kids, and that we need to make memories like I did growing up. But, let me tell you, I am exhausted. The kids had a great time, though, so it was all worth it. They rode their bikes, played in dirt, made friends, walked trails, and swam. They also proceeded to get yelled at a few (or 20) times by me for not getting along. (And yes, the irony was not lost on me that I was screaming, "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE KIND TO EACH OTHER?!!!) It was not my finest moment(s). I came home feeling pretty defeated in the mom area.
But the good news is that we have accepted an offer on our house. We still have some hoops to jump through, but it looks very promising!
And now, we just have to find a house to live in next! Ha!
We had picked out a house, but it wasn't meant to be, and so we are back at square one with about 6 weeks to get everything figured out.
Oh, and have I mentioned that David is going to Haiti in a few weeks? Yeah, go ahead and throw that in the mix as well, just to keep things interesting!
But God is good, and we are blessed beyond measure, just along for the ride!
Monday, June 04, 2012
The day I reconsidered all of my career choices
Why didn't I decide to turn my vehicle into one that shoots bubbles out and make a career out of it?
Seriously. Tonight, we met the Bubble Man. He has an old truck painted all kinds of crazy colors with all kinds of crazy stuff glued to the side of it. People hire him out to park his truck at parks and places (we were at the library reading program kick-off party). He brings buckets of bubble solution and sticks with rope that make huge bubbles. And all the while there are bubbles just shooting out of the top of his truck.
My son was fascinated.
So much so that at the end of the night, Noel just decided to sit on the ground and wait. "I want to stay right here until I see the Bubble Man drive his truck away," he says.
And so that's what we did. All four of us. We sat on the curb at the library and watched the Bubble Truck drive away.
Noel loved it. And I fell in love with him for that all over again.
Is there a better way to end a summer night?
Seriously. Tonight, we met the Bubble Man. He has an old truck painted all kinds of crazy colors with all kinds of crazy stuff glued to the side of it. People hire him out to park his truck at parks and places (we were at the library reading program kick-off party). He brings buckets of bubble solution and sticks with rope that make huge bubbles. And all the while there are bubbles just shooting out of the top of his truck.
My son was fascinated.
So much so that at the end of the night, Noel just decided to sit on the ground and wait. "I want to stay right here until I see the Bubble Man drive his truck away," he says.
And so that's what we did. All four of us. We sat on the curb at the library and watched the Bubble Truck drive away.
Noel loved it. And I fell in love with him for that all over again.
Is there a better way to end a summer night?
Friday, June 01, 2012
Let's be completely unique with this post (insert sarcasm font)
Fun things to do with kids in the summer!!
I feel like every blog I have read in the past 2 weeks has been all about what to do to keep your kids entertained during the summer. At first I thought this was overkill. I thought, "They are kids! Just let them play!" But now that it's been 2 weeks home with no schedule, I am starting to see that, left to their own devices, my kids will spend every day a)fighting or b)begging to play with something electronic.
There has to be a happy medium between planning out every day of the entire summer and letting them lie around every day.
And so, in the hopes of trying to keep a balance, I have made it a goal to do something "fun" or "interesting" with the kids every day. Now, some days that something might be very small (yesterday it was go through a car wash) and some days it might be big (last week we hit the Children's Museum), but the idea is to keep the fun in summer without making it a chore/burden for everyone involved.
So far, here are the "fun" and "interesting" things we have done:
*visited the Children's Museum
*went to visit our friend Rita's new horse
*went to Grandma and Grandpa's on the farm
*attended a fiesta (on the farm)
*had a bonfire
*planted the garden
*rode bikes (Noel is officially a 2-wheel rider now. . .SO PROUD!)
*play date at a friend's house
*rode through a car wash
*swam
*built a fort inside
*played with baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide
What is everyone out there doing to stay sane and have fun this summer?
I feel like every blog I have read in the past 2 weeks has been all about what to do to keep your kids entertained during the summer. At first I thought this was overkill. I thought, "They are kids! Just let them play!" But now that it's been 2 weeks home with no schedule, I am starting to see that, left to their own devices, my kids will spend every day a)fighting or b)begging to play with something electronic.
There has to be a happy medium between planning out every day of the entire summer and letting them lie around every day.
And so, in the hopes of trying to keep a balance, I have made it a goal to do something "fun" or "interesting" with the kids every day. Now, some days that something might be very small (yesterday it was go through a car wash) and some days it might be big (last week we hit the Children's Museum), but the idea is to keep the fun in summer without making it a chore/burden for everyone involved.
So far, here are the "fun" and "interesting" things we have done:
*visited the Children's Museum
*went to visit our friend Rita's new horse
*went to Grandma and Grandpa's on the farm
*attended a fiesta (on the farm)
*had a bonfire
*planted the garden
*rode bikes (Noel is officially a 2-wheel rider now. . .SO PROUD!)
*play date at a friend's house
*rode through a car wash
*swam
*built a fort inside
*played with baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide
What is everyone out there doing to stay sane and have fun this summer?
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Moments that changed my life, Part 5
2001.
It was one of the most life-changing years of my life. I don't have time to write about every event and how it affected me, but I will list just some of the things that occurred.
*I finished my first year of teaching
*My sister-in-law was diagnosed with MS
*I got my heart broken
* I was in a pretty serious car accident
*My sister had to have a major surgery
*My grandfather's health continued to falter
*I quit my first teaching job
*I got another job teaching, but this time in Indiana
*I moved back to Indiana
*I lived on my own for the very first time
*I began to help with the youth at Chapel Hill
*I met David
*9/11 occurred
Needless to say, it was a pretty traumatic year. Through all of the ups and downs, I learned that the only constant in my life is God. As soon as I start to rely on anything or anyone more than Him, I lose focus and direction. 2001 was a hard year for me. But as I look back on it now with some perspective, I am so thankful for the hard years, because those are the times when God really molded me and shaped me.
I am, by nature, a very social person. I love to be around people. I can't imagine having a job or career where I wouldn't get to interact with people on a daily basis. But sometimes my social tendencies made me uncomfortable being alone. 2001 was a year where I learned that my God is enough. And so many positive things have come out of those events, that I can't help but to be thankful for it all. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows.
If you are reading this, you might be having a year like the one I just listed. You might be feeling like you are getting slammed with one crazy thing after another. Let me encourage you that God is still in control and He has a plan, even if you have no idea what it is. Even if we never find out what it is, He has a plan.
It was one of the most life-changing years of my life. I don't have time to write about every event and how it affected me, but I will list just some of the things that occurred.
*I finished my first year of teaching
*My sister-in-law was diagnosed with MS
*I got my heart broken
* I was in a pretty serious car accident
*My sister had to have a major surgery
*My grandfather's health continued to falter
*I quit my first teaching job
*I got another job teaching, but this time in Indiana
*I moved back to Indiana
*I lived on my own for the very first time
*I began to help with the youth at Chapel Hill
*I met David
*9/11 occurred
Needless to say, it was a pretty traumatic year. Through all of the ups and downs, I learned that the only constant in my life is God. As soon as I start to rely on anything or anyone more than Him, I lose focus and direction. 2001 was a hard year for me. But as I look back on it now with some perspective, I am so thankful for the hard years, because those are the times when God really molded me and shaped me.
I am, by nature, a very social person. I love to be around people. I can't imagine having a job or career where I wouldn't get to interact with people on a daily basis. But sometimes my social tendencies made me uncomfortable being alone. 2001 was a year where I learned that my God is enough. And so many positive things have come out of those events, that I can't help but to be thankful for it all. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows.
If you are reading this, you might be having a year like the one I just listed. You might be feeling like you are getting slammed with one crazy thing after another. Let me encourage you that God is still in control and He has a plan, even if you have no idea what it is. Even if we never find out what it is, He has a plan.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Moments that changed my life, Part 4
Besides going to a Christian college, I also attended Illinois State University for 2 years. (Don't stop to do the math, because it will be very clear that it took me much longer than 4 years to finish school). And while I was so thankful for my time at a Christian college, I do not think I would have been as prepared to teach in the public school setting if it had not been for my time at ISU.
Going to ISU was my wake up call. I found out very quickly that what I believed was not what everyone else believed. While I was on my own at Lincoln, I was REALLY on my own at ISU. There was no curfew, no rules about where I lived, no RA's to look out for me. And while I did not always make the best decisions, I learned how to be a light in the darkness for God. Two events stand out in my mind vividly. The first was when I chose not to attend a play that my drama class was supposed to go to. I did not feel like the subject matter was appropriate, and I really felt like it was an opportunity for me to share with my professor about my faith. The second event was when I casually mentioned that I was a virgin to another classmate on the way to class. She was dumbfounded, saying she did not have any friends who were still virgins. Ha!
Beyond the actual university experience, going to ISU was the first place where I lived in an apartment. I cannot begin to recount the stories of the fun we had at 2412 Clearwater. In total, 9 girls rotated through there, and it was such a crazy time! I made lifelong friends, created memories, had some of the best conversations of my life, and learned a lot about heartache as well. I won't go into detail, but I did get my heart broken during this time. It was one of the hardest times of my life, but I will always remember the support of my friends as well as learning about leaning on God above all others.
Every experience is for a reason, and I am so thankful that I got to attend both a Christian college and a university! Go Redbirds!
Going to ISU was my wake up call. I found out very quickly that what I believed was not what everyone else believed. While I was on my own at Lincoln, I was REALLY on my own at ISU. There was no curfew, no rules about where I lived, no RA's to look out for me. And while I did not always make the best decisions, I learned how to be a light in the darkness for God. Two events stand out in my mind vividly. The first was when I chose not to attend a play that my drama class was supposed to go to. I did not feel like the subject matter was appropriate, and I really felt like it was an opportunity for me to share with my professor about my faith. The second event was when I casually mentioned that I was a virgin to another classmate on the way to class. She was dumbfounded, saying she did not have any friends who were still virgins. Ha!
Beyond the actual university experience, going to ISU was the first place where I lived in an apartment. I cannot begin to recount the stories of the fun we had at 2412 Clearwater. In total, 9 girls rotated through there, and it was such a crazy time! I made lifelong friends, created memories, had some of the best conversations of my life, and learned a lot about heartache as well. I won't go into detail, but I did get my heart broken during this time. It was one of the hardest times of my life, but I will always remember the support of my friends as well as learning about leaning on God above all others.
Every experience is for a reason, and I am so thankful that I got to attend both a Christian college and a university! Go Redbirds!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Full Circle
Noel on his very first day of preschool, September 2009
Noel on his very last day of preschool, May 2012
It has truly been a wonderful experience for Noel to go to Chapel Hill Preschool. Fortunately, we get to keep him there one more year, as he is headed to kindergarten there in the fall. I am very thankful for the guidance, love, lessons, fun, and example the teachers, aids, and director have given Noel. I'm not gonna lie that it is a little bittersweet, but I want to enjoy and embrace every season of Noel's life. Onward and upward! Ha!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Thursday Thank yous
This week I am thankful for. . .
551. the fact that my kids love hip-hop/dance music.
552. seeing my Bridges kids one last time at their awards program tonight. So proud of them.
553. my Mothers Day gift: JUST DANCE!! We have been getting our groove on around here. (And yes, I know Just Dance came out like 10 years ago, but I catch on slowly, okay?)
554. going to the zoo with the kiddos and some friends. Great time.
555. the impending arrival of my husband from a business trip. It's 8:33 pm as I write this, and he is supposed to be home at 9:00. It's the last few hours that go by the slowest.
556. leftovers.
557. a wonderful school year for Noel. He has had such wonderful teachers at Chapel Hill, and we are so thankful that he sees school in a positive light and that he has gotten to learn in a Christian environment.
558. God working out a new place for me to serve that I'm super excited about.
559. getting a sweet, romantic text from David on the anniversary of the day he proposed.
560. the knowledge that we have hope, even when we are in the midst of discouragement. A couple of my friends are really going through some trials, and yet they are relying on God to carry them through. What an inspiration to all of us!
What are you thankful for?
551. the fact that my kids love hip-hop/dance music.
552. seeing my Bridges kids one last time at their awards program tonight. So proud of them.
553. my Mothers Day gift: JUST DANCE!! We have been getting our groove on around here. (And yes, I know Just Dance came out like 10 years ago, but I catch on slowly, okay?)
554. going to the zoo with the kiddos and some friends. Great time.
555. the impending arrival of my husband from a business trip. It's 8:33 pm as I write this, and he is supposed to be home at 9:00. It's the last few hours that go by the slowest.
556. leftovers.
557. a wonderful school year for Noel. He has had such wonderful teachers at Chapel Hill, and we are so thankful that he sees school in a positive light and that he has gotten to learn in a Christian environment.
558. God working out a new place for me to serve that I'm super excited about.
559. getting a sweet, romantic text from David on the anniversary of the day he proposed.
560. the knowledge that we have hope, even when we are in the midst of discouragement. A couple of my friends are really going through some trials, and yet they are relying on God to carry them through. What an inspiration to all of us!
What are you thankful for?
Friday, May 11, 2012
Moments that changed my life, part 3
Because Mothers' Day is coming up, I am incredibly tempted to write about how becoming a mom has changed my life. But I'm trying to write these "moments" in chronological order, so just bear with me until I get there.
Moments that changed my life, part 3: Going to a Christian College
As long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to go to college. I didn't know what I wanted to do (still don't, some days), but I knew that college would be in my future. Between my sophomore and junior years in high school, my youth minister's wife told me about Lincoln Christian College. At the time they held a summer music camp for high school students. On a whim, I went. All by myself.
I knew nobody.
I had no idea what I was doing.
And I had the time of my life.
We sang and learned a musical, but more importantly I got to know some of the students from Lincoln and see a little glimpse of what college life was like in at a small Christian school. By the end of summer camp, I knew that a Christian college was the right fit for me.
I went to Lincoln for 3 1/2 years. I was a business major for two years, and after spending a summer at church camps with junior and senior high school students, I knew that I had to change my major to education. I took a lot of flak for that, and I had to stay in school a lot longer than planned, but if was all worth it.
I ended up with a Bachelor's Degree in Bible from Lincoln (so if you need a licensed Sunday School teacher, I'm your man!), and I finished up my Bachelor's Degree in English from Illinois State University. (Don't worry, my next "moment" post will be about going to a state school as well. . .)
Here are just some of the ways going to a Christian school affected me:
*amazing opportunities to serve, locally and globally
*taught by some of the most amazing people I have ever me
*made some of the best friends I ever had
*saw how I fit into God's plan
More than anything, going to Lincoln gave me a foundation that I did not have before I left for school. Before that, I went to church because it was the right thing to do. I read the Bible because I knew I was supposed to. But I didn't really connect how God was working in my life to change others.
I am forever thankful that I went to Lincoln. It helped prepare me for my lifelong journey with God, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to go to a Christian college.
Moments that changed my life, part 3: Going to a Christian College
As long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to go to college. I didn't know what I wanted to do (still don't, some days), but I knew that college would be in my future. Between my sophomore and junior years in high school, my youth minister's wife told me about Lincoln Christian College. At the time they held a summer music camp for high school students. On a whim, I went. All by myself.
I knew nobody.
I had no idea what I was doing.
And I had the time of my life.
We sang and learned a musical, but more importantly I got to know some of the students from Lincoln and see a little glimpse of what college life was like in at a small Christian school. By the end of summer camp, I knew that a Christian college was the right fit for me.
I went to Lincoln for 3 1/2 years. I was a business major for two years, and after spending a summer at church camps with junior and senior high school students, I knew that I had to change my major to education. I took a lot of flak for that, and I had to stay in school a lot longer than planned, but if was all worth it.
I ended up with a Bachelor's Degree in Bible from Lincoln (so if you need a licensed Sunday School teacher, I'm your man!), and I finished up my Bachelor's Degree in English from Illinois State University. (Don't worry, my next "moment" post will be about going to a state school as well. . .)
Here are just some of the ways going to a Christian school affected me:
*amazing opportunities to serve, locally and globally
*taught by some of the most amazing people I have ever me
*made some of the best friends I ever had
*saw how I fit into God's plan
More than anything, going to Lincoln gave me a foundation that I did not have before I left for school. Before that, I went to church because it was the right thing to do. I read the Bible because I knew I was supposed to. But I didn't really connect how God was working in my life to change others.
I am forever thankful that I went to Lincoln. It helped prepare me for my lifelong journey with God, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to go to a Christian college.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Moments that changed my life, part 2
My parents have been married for 49 years. Not once have I ever questioned their love for each other or their love for me.
The older I get, the more I realize that this is a significant part to who I am as a person. I work with students who range from 6th grade to college age. I have seen so many kids who deal with stuff they shouldn't have to, and one of those is parents who either fight all of the time or who are divorced/separated and put the child in the middle. Instead of home being a place for fond memories, home is sometimes where a child least wants to be.
I understand that sometimes divorce is inevitable. I know from experience that you can't control what the other person in the marriage does. I understand that step-parents can be a blessing. I truly believe that God gives us second chances in every area of our lives.
But I also understand that there are a lot of hurting children because their parents choose to make selfish decisions. When a girl I know doesn't want to go home because mom is drunk and dad doesn't want to come get her, my heart breaks. I have had numerous conversations with students whose dads promised to be there for something special, only to bail at the last minute.
Being a parent is easy. Being a GOOD parent is not.
By no means am I an awesome parent every day. And I am the first one sometimes to point out my parents' flaws (too much, actually), but the more I spend time with students who don't have the home life they need, I am more and more thankful that I never had to experience that in my family. And the more and more determined I am to show students the love and encouragement they need that they might not be getting from home.
The older I get, the more I realize that this is a significant part to who I am as a person. I work with students who range from 6th grade to college age. I have seen so many kids who deal with stuff they shouldn't have to, and one of those is parents who either fight all of the time or who are divorced/separated and put the child in the middle. Instead of home being a place for fond memories, home is sometimes where a child least wants to be.
I understand that sometimes divorce is inevitable. I know from experience that you can't control what the other person in the marriage does. I understand that step-parents can be a blessing. I truly believe that God gives us second chances in every area of our lives.
But I also understand that there are a lot of hurting children because their parents choose to make selfish decisions. When a girl I know doesn't want to go home because mom is drunk and dad doesn't want to come get her, my heart breaks. I have had numerous conversations with students whose dads promised to be there for something special, only to bail at the last minute.
Being a parent is easy. Being a GOOD parent is not.
By no means am I an awesome parent every day. And I am the first one sometimes to point out my parents' flaws (too much, actually), but the more I spend time with students who don't have the home life they need, I am more and more thankful that I never had to experience that in my family. And the more and more determined I am to show students the love and encouragement they need that they might not be getting from home.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
new food hits and misses
I don't have a lot of time to write tonight, but I wanted to share two new developments in my "new food" adventure of 2012.
#1 Mustard Greens. I tried braising them with some bacon, sugar, chicken broth, and vinegar. They were okay, but not near as good as kale. Not sure mustard greens will ever make another appearance at our house.
#2 Okay, promise you won't laugh. . .
Well, you can go ahead and laugh, but I must say that it was rather tasty.
Here's the story:
My mom has decided that she is going gluten-free. I love that she is taking steps to make her life more healthy, and I really love that she deiced to get rid of everything in her entire pantry that has gluten in it. Thanks to her we have 5 or 6 boxes of pasta and this little gem called Shake 'n Bake.
For the record, I have never used Shake 'n Bake, but I figured it's worth a try. Instead of coating entire chicken breasts, I cut the chicken into small, nugget-esque pieces and coated them. Wouldn't you know it? My kids thought they were honest-to-goodness chicken nuggets. Ate the whole plate of them. Now, I know Shake 'n Bake is my no means an all natural product, but it has to be better than the pink slime they put in McDonald's Chicken Nuggets. Baby steps. Baby steps.
And if you have stuck with me for this entire post (which is much longer than I originally intended), you receive a handsome reward:
Does anyone out there love this as much as I do? How come the Brady Bunch isn't on TV anywhere? My kids need to see it!
So, what have you all been eating?
#1 Mustard Greens. I tried braising them with some bacon, sugar, chicken broth, and vinegar. They were okay, but not near as good as kale. Not sure mustard greens will ever make another appearance at our house.
#2 Okay, promise you won't laugh. . .
Well, you can go ahead and laugh, but I must say that it was rather tasty.
Here's the story:
My mom has decided that she is going gluten-free. I love that she is taking steps to make her life more healthy, and I really love that she deiced to get rid of everything in her entire pantry that has gluten in it. Thanks to her we have 5 or 6 boxes of pasta and this little gem called Shake 'n Bake.
For the record, I have never used Shake 'n Bake, but I figured it's worth a try. Instead of coating entire chicken breasts, I cut the chicken into small, nugget-esque pieces and coated them. Wouldn't you know it? My kids thought they were honest-to-goodness chicken nuggets. Ate the whole plate of them. Now, I know Shake 'n Bake is my no means an all natural product, but it has to be better than the pink slime they put in McDonald's Chicken Nuggets. Baby steps. Baby steps.
And if you have stuck with me for this entire post (which is much longer than I originally intended), you receive a handsome reward:
Does anyone out there love this as much as I do? How come the Brady Bunch isn't on TV anywhere? My kids need to see it!
So, what have you all been eating?
Monday, May 07, 2012
Moments that changed my life, part 1
I have been filled with nostalgia lately. I think it's a combo of putting the house up for sale, getting ready for Noel to go to kindergarten, and finishing up the school year with my students. I've been thinking a lot about the way my life has been shaped and changed. So, I have decided to start blogging about my past and see what happens. I have creatively and uniquely names this: "Moments that changed my life". I know, I know, how am I not a published author yet?
Anyway. . .part 1: Growing up in my neighborhood
Until I left for college I had the same address: 3200 Revere Street. (Don't worry, stalkers, my parents don't live there anymore!). I lived in a little neighborhood of about 60 houses or so called Holiday Park. When I was in grade school I could have told you who lived in every house. It was so much fun to grow up in that neighborhood. Riding bikes was a daily ritual from March until October. We knew which house had the good candy on Halloween. And you never did anything without Mrs. Bell finding out about it.
Here are some moments that will always stand out in my mind from living in that neighborhood:
*playing in my best friends' back yards (none of our parents would let us come in and wreck their house--although I do remember sneaking in to Chiandra's house while her mom was gone & of course we got busted.)
*daring each other to walk up to the abandoned house on the corner. So many great, scary stories passed down about that house that I'm sure were never true. ("I heard there's a ghost who haunts the upstairs. . .")
*making up dance/ballet routines and performing them for our moms.
*riding the school bus with my friends
*camp outs that always ended up with us all inside.
*adventures to the neighborhood across the street, because it had a creek, making it exponentially cooler.
*getting picked on my the older neighborhood kids.
*wrecking my bike the day before the start of middle school. Nothing makes a girl feel more confident than a big scab on her forehead!
*trying to drive my first car up the hill in the yard instead of the driveway. Not a smart choice. Not. At. All.
Mostly, I just remember that in the midst of the chaos my family was going through, I found shelter in the safety of my neighborhood. Having siblings who were much older than me, I would have been all by myself most of the time, but thanks to living where I did, I didn't have to be. It was simple, but so much fun.
What memories of growing up do you have that you cherish?
Anyway. . .part 1: Growing up in my neighborhood
Until I left for college I had the same address: 3200 Revere Street. (Don't worry, stalkers, my parents don't live there anymore!). I lived in a little neighborhood of about 60 houses or so called Holiday Park. When I was in grade school I could have told you who lived in every house. It was so much fun to grow up in that neighborhood. Riding bikes was a daily ritual from March until October. We knew which house had the good candy on Halloween. And you never did anything without Mrs. Bell finding out about it.
Here are some moments that will always stand out in my mind from living in that neighborhood:
*playing in my best friends' back yards (none of our parents would let us come in and wreck their house--although I do remember sneaking in to Chiandra's house while her mom was gone & of course we got busted.)
*daring each other to walk up to the abandoned house on the corner. So many great, scary stories passed down about that house that I'm sure were never true. ("I heard there's a ghost who haunts the upstairs. . .")
*making up dance/ballet routines and performing them for our moms.
*riding the school bus with my friends
*camp outs that always ended up with us all inside.
*adventures to the neighborhood across the street, because it had a creek, making it exponentially cooler.
*getting picked on my the older neighborhood kids.
*wrecking my bike the day before the start of middle school. Nothing makes a girl feel more confident than a big scab on her forehead!
*trying to drive my first car up the hill in the yard instead of the driveway. Not a smart choice. Not. At. All.
Mostly, I just remember that in the midst of the chaos my family was going through, I found shelter in the safety of my neighborhood. Having siblings who were much older than me, I would have been all by myself most of the time, but thanks to living where I did, I didn't have to be. It was simple, but so much fun.
What memories of growing up do you have that you cherish?
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