Gravity of Motion

Thursday Thanks Tank #172

2012-01-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted a Thursday Thanks Tank. The only reason for that is that I haven't slowed down enough to do it during the day and by nighttime my energy (and brainpower) is zapped.

I am thankful for:

1. Basketball: My boys are having fun. They had their first games this week. It was exciting to watch. I love that they are trying something new.

2. Wisdom from a friend: I love when I share my thoughts and feelings with a friend and I get solid advice -wisdom- in response. I especially love it when that friend is my husband.

3. New recipes that delight the family. We tried 3 new recipes last week. My husband and I loved all 3. The kids liked 2 out of the 3. That's a win!

4. Winning: Speaking of winning, I won a $30 Radio Shack gift card from the Frugal Fairy just for commenting on a blog contest. Now, that's fun!

5. Organization in the Kitchen: I'm going on my third week of mega meal planning (I just made up that term) and it feels fantastic. I'm planing, I'm becoming more aware of what I already have, we waste very little food, there is no stress about what we are going to eat, and there are no unplanned trips to the grocery store.

6. Regular Exercise: I've been going to the gym 5 days a week and it feels amazing. As a result, I'm ready for bed (or falling asleep on the couch) about 9:30 or 10, which is a huge switch for me. I think my husband and I are both benefiting from going to bed at an earlier hour.

7. My new gym bag: Don't you love it? It was a gift from my husband. He's not a Bama fan. Oh how I love that man. I love him more than I love Alabama football, which is quite a lot. (Roll Tide to that!)

Well, that's my list for today. Tonight's grocery shopping night and I am trying to finish up my list before the boys get home from school.

Take some time to be thankful today. It will improve your attitude and allow you to appreciate the good in life.

What-in-the-World Wednesday

2012-01-25T08:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I decided to dust the table that my son's rock collection was sitting on.

One of these rocks is not like the other.

Yes, that's right- the pink rock is a piece of gum.

Comforting Pasta Fazool

2012-01-24T13:50:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we tried a pasta fazool (pasta and bean soup) recipe that turned out quite tasty. It was delightful comfort food. I had gotten the recipe years ago from my good friend Sharon (at least I think that is where I got it) but I had never tried it.

As soon as I gathered the ingredients, I felt certain it'd be tasty- so I took a picture and continued to take pictures while the house filled with the amazing aroma of the soup.

Pasta Fazool

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 pd prosciutoo di Parma, cut into medium dice (double-smoke bacon or italian sausage can be substituted)
1 small carrot, peeled and diced small
1 small spanish onion, peeled diced small
1 stalk celery, diced small
2 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
Coarse salt
freshly ground pepper
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste
1 quart store bought, reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 quart water
2 medium baking potatoes, peeled
One 1 pound 13 ouce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup dried ditalini pasta, cooked and drained (I didn't cook and drain it. I just cooked it in the soup.)

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the prosciutto and cook, stirring, until the prosciutto begins to render it's fat (about 5 minutes).

2. Add the carrot, onion, celery, and garlic. Season with salt and peper and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes.

3. Add the tomato paste, stir to coat the other ingredients, and cook for 2 minutes.

4. Add the broth, water, and potatoes. Raise the heat to high and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the potatoes are very soft (a sharp knife should easily pierce their center, about 20 minutes.

5. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the potatoes to a bowl. Mash the potatoes with a masher or large fork.

6. Return the mashed potatoes to the pot and stir them into the soup. (If making this for another day, let the soup cool, cover and store in the refrigerator or freeze up to one month. Then reheat before continuing with the rest of the recipe.)
7. Add beans and pasta. Cool over medium heat until the beans are warmed through, about five minuets. Stir in the rosemary, crushed red pepper, and cheese.
8. To serve, ladle some soup in bowls. *Top with some more cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. *We forgot to top it with cheese and olive oil and I really don't think it needed it.

My husband and I devoured our bowls of soup. Remarkably, all four of my kids enjoyed the soup, too. I did heat up extra broth, which I added to two of the kids bowls (One doesn't like potatoes and the other is picky about textures.)

Stop by Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday to check out more tasty recipes.

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One day she may marry

2012-01-22T22:19:00.000-08:00

My mother's wedding dress was beautiful.
As a girl, I admired her wedding pictures. I imagined the day that I would marry. I imagined I would feel like a princess.

When I was ready to marry, I chose to find my own dress.

I love my dress...
and so does my daughter.

This is one of my favorite traditions. (You can click the collage to see it bigger.)

Now, if she get married and wants to pick out her own dress, I have already had the joy of seeing her in my dress.

These are moments I treasure.

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Crumbs: Little Pieces of my Mind

2012-01-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

I went to my first spinning class this morning. It was so much fun. Hard work- yes- but rewarding. I'm already looking forward to going again.

I was thinking about forward progress as I loaded my dishwasher. Can you imagine when the dishwasher came out? (Google says that modern dishwashers are derived from an invention of Josephine Cochrane in 1887, while the versions with permanent plumbing didn't arrive until the 1920's.) I wonder if there were women who thought, "A machine that washes the dishes? Nah, it can't possibly clean as well as I can." It's hard to imagine someone not being excited about getting a dishwasher. It wasn't that long ago that I was skeptical about moving to MP3s over CDs. I know that's not as life changing but I was resistant to change. Resistant to change. That's my challenge with forward progress, I have to be willing to try new an different things.

Did I mention I tried a spinning class this morning? Ok, really, that has nothing to do with my thoughts on forward progress. But, I did try something new.

My 3 boys are now all playing basket ball. This is a first for our family. My oldest is most excited, except that he's also the most nervous because he's trying a new sport at age 10 when plenty of the kids his age have been playing for years. My youngest son isn't too thrilled. He decided the day of signups- when we got there to sign up- that he didn't want to play. I made a split decision to sign him up anyway. He cried during the first practice. He playing like a champ during last night's practice and then said, "I just tried to make everyone think that I was having a good time." That kid kills me sometimes. My second son is the tallest on his team and seems to play with ease. And he is neither dreading it or all that impressed. His comment last night was, "That was more fun than I thought it would be." I hope it will be a good season. Games start next week.

Just realized that my random thoughts seem to have a major theme- trying new things.

On that note, we tried a new Paula Deen recipe this week. It was too salty. Tasty, but too salty for us. It was called Cheeseburger Meatloaf. It wasn't bad but I am not sure I will rush to make it again. I got the recipe out of the Paula Deen Southern Cooking Bible cookbook that I got for Christmas. I'm looking forward to trying out more southern goodness from that cookbook.

I am working hard on grocery list making and couponing. I am a couponer wanna be. My grocery shopping had gotten out of hand- consistently running to the store during a week for this or that. So now, I go every Thursday night and if we run out of things, we wait. Week 1 of this felt good. If also felt good to tell the kids, "I can get that on Thursday" when they asked for something. At this point, coupons aside, just being more organized will make a big difference.

What else is new? I finally got a salad spinner. Seems I've wanted one for years. And, as expected, I love it.

What I want to be new- more chores for the kids.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis

I love...

2012-01-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

I love laughter.
Having fun.
I love being an adult.
Free to do silly things.
I love dating my best friend.
and being married to him.

Game Day

2012-01-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

So excited about tonight's championship game!

Head Meets Wall

2012-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

I can't stop thinking about how painful this was.

Everyone is okay...
All I can say is, Ouch!

An Ordinary Saturday

2012-01-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

We began the day in our PJs. The kids were playing their DS's and watching a cartoon on the TV. When I came downstairs to grab a cup of coffee to drink, my husband had fallen asleep on the couch, next to the warmth of the fire in the fireplace. I took my coffee back to my room, sat on my favorite chair and continued reading my book.

Now two of the boys are practicing basketball with Dad. The third is excited about perfecting his bike riding without training wheels. Little girl is running circles around everyone, intermittently drawing with chalk on the driveway.

The day is full of the ordinary. It's the best kind of ordinary.

Industrial Strength Super Glue Love

2012-01-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, sipping my coffee. My parents just left to return home. We had a nice long visit.

It's hard to put into words how I feel.

Thankful. Concerned. Relieved. Loved. I have so many feelings that are tied to them.

I love them, dearly. I love their enthusiasm. I love their desire to embrace family. I love them despite their imperfections.

Sometimes I wonder what will happen to them. My dad is a stroke survivor. He struggles physically and emotionally. My mom is a caregiver- a position that doesn't come naturally to her. She struggles emotionally. They feel exhaustion and frustration, often.

They have never given up.

It's a love story. It is a difficult tale of struggle and triumph. They struggle together. Sometimes they exchange words. They gripe. They are desperate to help each other and to attain their own happiness. Always, no matter what, they remain together. Dedicated. They love each other, not because they are required to but because their roots go deep. They express their love, daily, through dependence on each other. They are present. Intertwined.

It's difficult to explain and difficult sometimes for them to express.

It can appear nondescript but their love is vast.

So as I think about them leaving, I am certain of one feeling- gratitude.
I am thankful for their love- the love they have for their family and the love that holds them together. It's super glue: a powerful, industrial strength love that will keep them together until the day that they are not both in this world. In this age, that's remarkable.
Their love propels me to love deeply.

I will love deeply, despite circumstances, despite critical eyes, in spite of selfish longings, despite myself- I will love even when I don't know what I want or why I love.

I am thankful for my parent's visit and the love that I see in them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."
Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Guess What I Got For Christmas

2012-01-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

So excited about the workout my back and arms are getting!

25 Days of Christmas

2011-12-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

This December, for the first time, I decided to do a Christmas activity each day from Dec 1-25. Our 25 Days of Christmas was wonderful. It helped me focus on the important things during the Christmas season. I didn't get caught up in the busyness. Our Christmas season was intentional. The kids loved the activities - and so did my husband and I.

Here are the final days of our Christmas countdown.

Day 19: Ice Sugar cookies and take some to our neighbors. We made snowman faces and Christmas trees.

These cookies are amazing. I got the recipe from a friend when my husband was stationed in Virginia, almost 10 years ago. Here's the recipe: Festive Iced Cookies

Day 20: Make teacher gifts. The kids loved making their teacher gifts this year.

Day 21: Eat snowman ice cream.

Day 22: Go to a Christmas movie (Arthur Christmas).

Day 23: Read the Christmas story and memorize a Bible verse (Luke 2:11).

Day 24: Attend a Christmas Eve service at church.

Day 25: Family time... Open Christmas presents, Eat a Christmas cake for dessert after dinner, and make our Gingerbread house.

25 Days of Christmas
If you want to read through all of the activities for our 25 Days of Christmas, just click the 25 Days of Christmas link on the right side of the page, or click here: 25 Days of Christmas. If you get to the end of the page, but you haven't seen all of the days, just click the Older Posts link to see the rest.

Christmas Heart

2011-12-26T00:11:00.000-08:00

We had a fantastic Christmas celebration. Family. Laughter. Gifts. Thankfulness for God's blessings. It was sweet.

These are my kids on Christmas Eve. Their hearts were full of Christmas anticipation and excitement.

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
~ Charles Dickens

Lights

2011-12-24T08:12:00.000-08:00

Day 18: Drive and look at Christmas lights.

The kids got on their PJs. We drove around town looking at Christmas lights.

This house had their light choreographed to music on an FM station. (Super cool)

This house had a light decoration that had an animal theme. It was called a "Whale of a Nativity" and they were taking donations for the local animal shelter. (It was awesome.)

Christmas Campout

2011-12-22T22:24:00.000-08:00

Day 17: Watch a holiday movie and camp out as a family by the Christmas tree.

We got in our jammies, got a yummy snack, and watched a fun holiday movie. (I love the boys faces in this picture.)

We camped out around the Christmas tree. The kids thought it was the coolest thing in the world that we all slept by the tree.

Red and Green Night

2011-12-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

Day 16: Red and Green Night: We enjoyed a red and green dinner.

We had spaghetti with green noodles. Bread with green butter brushed on top. Salad with tomatoes, red and green peppers, and a choice of red or green salad dressing. As a side, I threw in some red and green grapes. It was festive fun.

Dessert was one scoop of red peppermint ice cream and one scoop of green chocolate chip mint ice cream.

Kids in the Kitchen

2011-12-20T21:47:00.000-08:00

Day 14: Make Pretzel Hugs.

The kids and I made Pretzel Hugs. They were easy to make and fast to bake. They were also easy to eat.

I got the recipe from Family Fun: Holiday Pretzel Treats. We made two kinds: 1) pretzels, Hershey kisses and Hershey-ets and 2) pretzels, Rolos, and Hershey-ets. I was super excited to find the Hershey-ets. These are seasonal hershey candies that resemble M&Ms. But, unlike M&Ms, these candies are safe for someone with a peanut allergy. Great news for us!

Day 15: Make Sugar Cookies.

The kids cut out cookies and decorated them with sugar. They used a lot of sugar! It was sweet fun.

Snow Play

2011-12-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Day 13: Eat snowman treats and play with "snow" indoors.

Our afternoon treat was snowmen faces made out of powdered doughnuts, cut up carrots, chopped chocolate chips and icing:

The kids loved them.

The kids thought that our Christmas fun thing, as they like to call it, was done. Boy were they surprised! They went into the other room to find stations set up for them to play in the "snow."

I was sure that my younger two kids would love this activity but I was unsure if it would be enjoyed by all. It was loved by each of them (age 4, 6, 8 and 10). My 10 year old led the way in building a snow mountain.

The shaving cream can was easy enough for my 4 year old to work.

The kids could use paintbrushes or their hands.

Army men got to play in the snow, too.

Sounds effects were animated.

The snow was prettied up with glitter.

A great time was had by all.

Cleanup was minimal. I carried the containers to the bathroom and washed them out in the shower.

Did I say cleanup was minimal? Well, it would have been...

It's just that I'm just the kind of mom that says "yes" when my I-love-to-get-messy son asks,
"Can I paint my belly?"

Ho Ho Ho!

No Shopping and Snow Flakes

2011-12-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

Day 11: We took the kids on a no-shopping trip to Toys R Us.
This was fun for us all. We let the kids walk around and get excited about toys. We made lists of ideas. And then, we left. We were relaxed and we stayed for a long time. When we left, all of the kids left with good attitudes. It was a win-win. We got ideas and they had fun.

Day 12: Make paper snowflakes and hang them. Make edible snowflakes and eat them.
We cut out snowflakes and hung then on our banister.

We made Sweet Tortilla Snowflakes. Edible snowflakes- a simple, sweet treat! Cut out snowflakes from folded tortillas, bake them, and sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

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Wordless Wednesday: Brothers

2011-12-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Snow Dinner

2011-12-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

Day 10: Pancake snowman, cotton candy snowballs, and snow topped chocolate milk for dinner.

The kids were super excited when we brought dinner to the table.
Here's a posed recreation of the excitement.

It was tasty.

We almost had a snowball fight.

My little chef let his pancake get cold (he still loved every cold bite) while he perfected his snowman.
The perfect snowman pancake (picture per my son's request):

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Day of Service

2011-12-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

Day 9: Bring food to the Food Bank and Christmas shop for Angel Tree gifts.

We gathered a few bags (one bag each for the kids to carry) and brought food to a food drive that was being done for the local food bank.

We went to Target and shopped for our angel tree gifts. The boys' school has an angel tree and each boy had an ornament with requested items. Two of the ornaments listed toys and one listed clothes. There is also an angel tree at the gym I've been going to, which is where my daughter's angel ornament came from.

My thoughts on this service day with the kids: Overall this was a great experience. We talked about those that don't have toys, clothes or even food. I was disappointed that candy canes were handed out at the food drive because it shifted my kids focus from giving to what they got in return. Shopping with four kids in the toy aisle was challenging - but wonderful because they knew it wasn't about them.

Balloon Volleyball

2011-12-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

Day Eight: Play Red and Green Balloon Volleyball.

When the kids came home from school, I had the court ready. We ran around in circles, hitting balloons back and forth, giggling the whole time.

Although the volleyball game quickly turned into dodge ball and the kids quickly got quite hyper, it was a blast for all of us.

Christmas Lights

2011-12-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

Day Seven: Make Thumbprint Christmas lights and Christmas light necklaces.

We made Christmas light pictures using our thumbprints. I had each child do a larger version and a smaller version, which I am going to frame so I can enjoy it for years to come. The Christmas light candy necklaces were just a fun find at Micheals. The kids enjoyed stringing them and eating them.

Christmas Cards

2011-12-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

Day Six: Make Christmas cards for friends and for soldiers.

On December 6, we put on our creative hats and made Christmas cards. The kids made cards for friends. Then they each made a card for a solider.

We are mailing the soldier cards to "Holiday Mail for Heroes." This is a program run by the Red Cross, which sends cards to American service members, veterans and their families both in the United States and stationed around the world.

You can read about the program here: Holiday Mail for Heroes

Note: If you are interested sending a card to a solider as a part of Holiday Mail for Heroes, the cards have to be postmarked by December 9th.

Ornaments, Edible Trees, and a Christmas Movie

2011-12-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

25 Days of Christmas: Days 3-5

Day 3: On the third day of December, we got our PJs on early, filled a Christmas tree plate with snacks, circled up around the TV and watched a Christmas movie.

Day 4: On the fourth day of December, we made ornaments. These were easy ornament kits that we found at Target.

Day 5: On the fifth day of December, we made edible Christmas trees. These were delightful to make and tasty sweet to eat.

The pallet:

Making the trees:
Now that's one fancy chef hat

Hard at work

"Momma, I need a star." Nope, no idea where that first star went...

The finished trees:

Fun to make and fun to eat

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Tree Night

2011-12-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

Day Two of our 25 Days of Christmas: Decorate the Christmas Tree

Tonight, we enjoyed a dessert of cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate.

We were silly. We laughed a lot.

The kids danced to the sound of Christmas music. Ornaments were hung on the tree with care. Even one sweet bear named Softy hung an ornament or two.

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An Intentional Christmas

2011-12-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

In an effort to have more holiday fun as a family and keep from getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the season, this year I am celebrating by doing Christmas activities each day until Christmas. We will do our usual traditions and possibly create some meaningful new ones.

I surprised the kids with this idea today when they came home from school. They love it. Each day they will be surprised with an activity. Some days the activity will be simple and other days it will be more involved. Some days it will just be me and the kids (because my husband is working long hours during the holiday season) and other days it will be something that the whole family will enjoy together.

I will post about the activities, as I can. I am sure that I won't take pictures every day but I will post a list of what we do each day.

Day One: Enjoy a holiday treat and read the Christmas story.
We had a Christmas tree rice krispie treat, homemade hot chocolate, and candy canes. We had the Christmas story in Luke and from a Bible story book. Today we read the story from the story book and talked about some of details from the Bible.

I love the how excited the kids were, the laughter we shared, and the great conversation we had about Jesus's birth.

Wednesday Words: Read

2011-11-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

I smile when I read this Dr. Seuss quote. I'm thinking of printing it and putting it where the kids can see it.

Thursday Thanks Tank #172

2011-11-25T00:38:00.000-08:00

Each Thursday I make a list of my thankful thoughts. It is my Thursday Thanks Tank.
Naturally, this morning I woke up with thanksgiving on my mind... Thanksgiving on my mind. I started by reading a friend's thankful thoughts. I looked forward to the thankful list I would make later in the day.

As soon as I was up, my day filled up with activities - great activities- a fun breakfast, baking with the kids, getting excited with the kids about balloons and floats on the Macy's Day parade, meal preparations, turkey crafts, more meal preparations, a delightful dinner, laughter and games and great conversation.

Before I knew it, the day was done. As I sat down late in the evening to make a thankful list, I realized with sorrow, that my thankful heart was vain. Somehow, despite the day of thanksgiving, in spite of the sweet thanks-filled prayer before dinner, I did not stop to say thanks to God for all he has given me.
Oh the sad irony.

It's a bit like realizing that I played Martha. I loved every minute of our Thanksgiving celebration. It is just that at the end of the day of Thanksgiving, I knew I had much to be thankful for and that I needed to take time to be thankful. One thing - the most important thing- was still needed.

And so, with my house finally quiet, I poured out my thankfulness in choppy tired sentences in prayer. I thanked God for my family, friends, his provisions, my possessions, and for forgiveness. I thanked God for the words shared, the laughter, and the company. I thanked God for love.

I thanked God for it all - all that I have.

Thanksgiving was busy. It was wonderful.
Maybe you, like me, could benefit from some time away from the busyness.
Take time to pray today. Tell God that you are thankful. It will be time well-spent.

These are my thankful thoughts.

Thursday Thanks Tank #171

2011-11-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Kitty. Pink and purple in a sea of legos and green and blue.
She is my soft hug in the middle of a wrestling match.
Giggles, skirts that twirl, fingernail polish, and pony tails.
I am thankful for her hand in mine, hearing her say she loves me, her tears and her laughter.
Full of sweetness and attitude- she is my girl. I am thankful for her. Today is her birthday and she's excited to be four.

I visited one crowded cafeteria this afternoon. It was all noise and mess. Today was bring your parent to lunch day. I am thankful that my 5th grader decided to let me come to lunch with him. He initially told me about it with enthusiasm, then told me he didn't want me to come and finally reneged and said I could come for lunch- but not recess! He had a lot to say during lunch. It was valuable time.
My talkative son, my 2nd grader, was quiet and reserved. What a switch! He said he was just eating. It was good to sit with him at the peanut free table. I am thankful for the peanut-free table and the lunchroom staff that keeps the table safe for my son.
My 1st grader was clingy and very loving. He held my hand, leaned on me, and couldn't stop smiling. I walked him back to class. I am thankful for those special moments.

Laughter, smiles, hugs and kisses. My kids are being spoiled. It can only mean one thing. My parents are in town. I am so very thankful that they traveled to see us. I am thankful for the way they love us and for the fun we have when we are together. I am thankful for my parents.

Long hours, exhaustion and dedication. It's crunch time at my husband's work- otherwise know as, "Peak" season. I am thankful for how hard he works to provide for us. I am also thankful for how he arrives home with a smile on his face and open arms for hugs. Today he left the house at 6 a.m. and returned home at 7:30 p.m. He had just enough energy to make the birthday girl laugh before she went to bed.

These are a few of the things that are filling up my Thanks Tank today.
Now, I am off to get some sleep. We are celebrating my 4 year old's birthday tomorrow and I need to get some rest. She definitely has more energy than me.

I'm exercisin'

2011-11-14T22:41:00.000-08:00

It cracks me up when my sweet daughter says she has to exercise and then gets on the scale and proceeds to jump up an down.

Have I ever said, "Oh boy, I need to exercise" as I was standing on the scale?

Have I ever gotten on and then gotten off and then gotten on again (the equivalent of jumping up and down, I guess), hoping for different results.

That girl has my number... and she is so stinkin' cute!

Active Duty (TTT170)

2011-11-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Tears hung in the corners of my eyes as my husband's grandfather swore him in as an officer in the US Army. His grandfather was an retired Army officer. He had spent a lifetime dealing with what he saw and experienced during war. There he stood, full of emotion, proudly reciting the Army oath with my husband. He would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He would serve the way his father served in the Air Force and his grandfather served in the Army.

The days were long and full of laborious tasks. My husband was on staff in a Transportation company. The job required long hours. It required weeks in the field. He gave it his all. Every task, from paper work to physical exercise, mattered. They were determined to be the best.

I was able to visit my husband for 2 weeks when he had a year-long remote assignment in Korea. The Koreans were protesting the US Army. It is engraved in my memory because during a sight-seeing trip to Seoul we accidentally walked right in the middle of an area where there was a protest. Two Korean children had been in harms way- in the road way when tanks were rolling through- and were killed. The protesters were angry. There were pictures of the accident scene. And my husband, who happens to be 6'3", and I stood out in the Korean crowd. We hightailed it to a side street and out of that area as quickly as possible. The military accident was tragic. Nothing could fix the situation. The soldiers serving kept serving, doing their best daily to protect South Korea.

He participated in the service with reverence. The mood was somber. A life was lost. He was in his dress uniform and if it weren't for the circumstances, I would have been looking at him with admiration. Tears were shed. Words were spoken. A man was given a good tribute. At the end of the day, I greeted my officer husband with a gentle hug. I held him tightly. His heart was heavy because a soldier took his life.

It was departure day- night really. They were leaving in the middle of the night. My husband was the commander of a Transportation Unit in the Army and they were deploying to Iraq. As he walked to the bus, our eyes locked. Would this be it? Oh God, please protect him. For his part, he carried the burden of a couple hundred soldiers. Would he bring them all back alive. What would they face? The weight of responsibility weighed heavy on him.

It was my birthday and I didn't hear from my husband. I knew he was on a remote mission but I thought, just perhaps, I'd get a quick email. I didn't hear from him for several days. I was fraught with worry and fear. I prayed and waited for communication. I didn't know it for quite some time after but on my birthday, he was being shot at. As the bullets filled the air when his helicopter lifted up, he worried that he would be shot on my birthday.

A training exercise would require my husband to be in the field for a month here or a week there. Often he wouldn't get very much notice. He'd have to come home from a long day at work to let us know he was leaving. He was dedicated to his service and devoted to his family. It was hard to come home and leave time and time again. He loved his job and he loved his family.

This week, I am thankful for:

1. My husband and his 10 years of service in the Army.
2. My father-in-law and his service in the Air Force, which included Vietnam.
3. My husband's grandfather and his career in the Army, which included WWII and the Korean War.
4. My brother-in-law and his service in the Air Force. He is currently serving. Please keep him in your prayers as he is constantly flying missions.
5. My sister and her service in the Air Force.
6. The numerous men and women in the Army that I know (or know of) from my husband's time in the Army.
7. All of the military families who support their service men and women.

This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

Even if you do not know anyone who is serving in the military, honor them this week by saying a prayer of thanks for them and a prayer for their safety.

Thursday Thanks Tank #169

2011-11-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

Each Thursday I make a list of my thankful thoughts. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

This has been an eventful week.

I am thankful for:

A long awaited trip to San Francisco: I've always wanted to visit San Francisco. This past weekend my family and I took a quick trip to the city. I was giddy with excitement.

Time at the Beach: Sunday afternoon it was 75 and sunny in California. We hadn't planned to spend the afternoon at Ocean Beach but we couldn't pass it up. It was just perfect.

Family Pictures: I love pictures of my family. And, I appreciate it when my husband is willing to let me ask other people to take our picture.

A Safe Halloween: When you have a kid with food allergies, finishing Halloween safely is a wonderful feeling. My peanut allergic ninja had fun and didn't mind trading in over half of his candy for safe treats. (Now, whatever do I do with all of those Reeces?)

Festive Family Fun: We made caramel apples, painted pumpkins, carved a pumpkin and enjoyed pumpkin cookies. I love celebrations and Halloween is silly fun.

A Successful Surgery: My son had surgery yesterday. I am thankful that it went well. I am thankful for our modern medical system. My son is recovering at home and soaking up lots of this Momma's love.

Red Cup Lattes: It is Red Cup Latte season at Starbucks. I love my Gingerbread latte. I had my first one of the season yesterday and I may just have to get another one today.

My husband: I am very thankful for my husband this week. He went on a quick trip to San Francisco with me and our (calm and always very quiet) children. He made us all laugh (spill our pumpkin guts) when he was carving our pumpkin. He took days off from work to be available during the surgery and recovery. He's being a pretty good sport about how well Alabama is doing this year (Roll Tide Roll). He may not even verbally root for LSU this weekend. He loves our kids and loves me. I am very grateful.

My heart is full of thankfulness today.
Take time to be thankful today. It's time well-spent.

Thursday Thanks Tank #168

2011-10-27T23:34:00.000-07:00

It's late on Thursday and I should be in bed already but I'm not. I am unwinding from a fairly busy day. What better way to do that than to make a list of thankful thoughts?

I am thankful for:

1. Teachers: Teachers amaze me. They really do. I am thankful for all of the teachers out there (that goes for the homeschool teachers, too).
2. Flowers: My family gave me flowers on Saturday. They (both the flowers and the thought that went in to them) have been brining me joy all week.
3. My husband: Too many reasons to list. The man treats me well and loves me, dearly.
4. Clearance Sales: I love finding good deals. It's wonderful when you get items 50% or 75% off.
5. A Successful Halloween Party: My Peanut Allergic 2nd Grader had a Halloween party today at school. It was fun. The food was wonderful (and safe for my son). The kids loved it. I am thankful... I was the mom-in-charge, along with the amazing teacher.
6. Exercise: I am becoming a bit addicted - or is it dedicated? - to regular exercise. I haven't felt this good in... longer than I'm willing to admit. I am thankful for exercise and how it makes me feel.
7. Impromptu Family Fun: Last night we blasted 80's music and danced like we were rock stars. It was hilarious and wonderful.
8. Hairbows, fingernail polish, and Hello Kitty makeup ... and everything else that makes my little 3 year old girl girly. She is at such a fun age.
9. Magic mom powers: I have no idea how my kisses sooth a sore arm, how my groggy words comfort a scared child after a bad dream, or how my words give confidence to a child in a moment of insecurity. I have no idea how it's possible but I am thankful for those special mothering moments.

That's my list for today. Remember, time spent being thankful is time well-spent.

Give Me Something Good To Eat

2011-10-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet, Give me Something ~~Good~~ Safe to Eat

Halloween.
This is the time of the year when I walk along the aisle at the grocery store, checking labels, fruitlessly hoping for more safe items for my food allergic child. I tend to overbuy candy so my son can have a variety of candy to trade with his unsafe candy from trick or treating.

Tonight there is a Pumpkin Festival at the school and I have to admit, there's a part of me that dreads it. The kids will participate in games and be rewarded with candy. Each child that is attending was asked to turn in a bag of candy. I turned in my some of my son's favorites. I know there are bags and bags of candy that my son cannot enjoy. My son handles it pretty well. We have a candy stash at home where he can trade in any unsafe candy that he gets. But, I still dread the process because even if you know you can trade in unsafe candy, it's isn't that fun being rewarded with candy you can't eat.

With candy on my mind, let me tell you what you can do to help children with food allergies this Halloween:

* Let the trick or treater chose the candy. * When handing out candy, hold out the bowl of candy for children to choose the candy they get. A child with a food allergy will appreciate being able to pick a candy that is safe.

My son loves to pick his own candy out. At 8, he's aware of unsafe candy. Last year, it was always a let down when someone handed him something he couldn't eat. He knows it's going to happen. He knows he can trade it in at home. But, it just isn't fun to be given something you can't eat.

Other ways to help, include:
Provide non-chocolate candy options. The majority of chocolate candies are processed on equipment that is shared with nuts (plus, they are unsafe for those with a milk allergy). Candies such as Dum Dum Lollipops and Smarties are fantastic. Both varieties have an allergy note on the packaging that state they contain none of the 8 major allergens.

Provide non-candy options. This is a highly suggested option by food allergy parents. However, I have to admit that my son doesn't get excited about pencils and stickers. If you do go this route (which is great), have some items boys would love - spider rings, glow sticks, stretchy critters, or bouncy balls.

If you know a child in your neighborhood that has a food allergy, a really kind thing to do would be to find out the child's favorite candy and have it on-hand. One year, a neighbor bought my son his own regular size version of his favorite candy. The look on his face was priceless. He felt special and it was a huge treat on a night that contains a lot of forbidden treats.

Game Day

2011-10-22T20:03:00.001-07:00

I love the way they love each other

2011-10-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Defrightful Friday Fun

2011-10-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

My kids think painting is delightful. Today, I surprised them with Halloween puppet painting.

The youngest two are still painting. They've moved on to creative panting on paper. I better get back to them before something really frightful happens.
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Thursday Thanks Tank #167

2011-10-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

Today was my favorite kind of Thursday because I spent the day thinking off and on about all of the things that I appreciate. Some weeks I simply sit down and make a list. But at other times, like today, I consider thankfulness all day long.

Here is a sampling of what I am thankful for:

1. Being able to be home with my kids. I'll admit that being a stay-at-home mom doesn't come easy to me. That said, I both struggle with the occupation and love it. I appreciate that my husband supports me being at home. I am thankful for his job and his constant encouragement and appreciation. I am thankful that I am home with my kids.

2. Sweet treats. I made chocolate covered pretzels for an afternoon snack today. I love the salty-sweet combo. I made a cranberry apple crisp for dessert the other night. I'm still thinking about that one. So tasty!

3. My hands-free ear piece for my phone. I am happy to say that I finally found an ear piece that is comfortable for me.

4. Sidewalk chalk drawings on my sidewalks and patio.

5. Catching up with friends.

6. My dad. His birthday was Tuesday. His is a great man. He perseveres. He loves. He encourages. I am a better person because of him.

7. My mother-in-law. Her birthday was today. She is a fun mom. She loves. She is easy to talk to. She enjoys life. I hope I will be like her when I am her age.

8. Accomplishments. Last weekend was ultra-productive at our house. We are still trying to get settled in our new place. (You'd think I'd be a pro at unpacking and setting up home after 8 moves but I'm not.)

9. My niece, Sarah. I am thankful for her because she is a sweet girl. But, also (wow, I regret not updating many of you that have prayed so fervently), I am incredibly thankful that after the last surgery she has not been experiencing pain. She has even been released from some of her specialized doctors and really doing amazingly well. Sarah's birthday was Monday. I am thankful for her healing.

10. Soccer. Our soccer season is coming to a close. My oldest had his last game on Wednesday night. The other 2 boys have their last game on Saturday. The season has been fun. I am thankful for the exercise (read that as- a way for them to burn-off energy), the team building, and the friendships the soccer season brought.

11. Fall. Here's a few of my favorite Fall things this week: Pumpkin spice lattes, leaves, pumpkins, costumes, cool breezes and warm dinners. I am enjoying the change of the season.

It's been a great week. I am happy and thankful for many things- big and small.

I encourage you to take time to be thankful. You will be better of for it. It's especially beneficial to write your thankful thoughts down. Check out this research - three studies that show a consistent theme: take the time to write down the things you are thankful for on a regular basis and you can improve your level of happiness: "What's an easy way to be much happier?"

Missive: Dear Body

2011-10-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Body,

I have not been a good friend. I have used you without giving sufficiently to you in return.

I have been active. But, I am exhausted. I jumped in too quickly. I did too much when I was weak. I thought doing more and more would strengthen me.

I feel inadequate.

I want more from you. I am unhappy with different parts and how they perform. I have looked at you in disgust. I have complained.

I tended to your needs. I jumped at opportunities. I always left feeling that the experience could be better.

Please forgive me for being covetous.

I will invest in you.

I will not throw in the towel. Don’t give out on me.

Sincerely,

Reread the letter. I wrote it to the church- the "Body of Christ."

This morning during my workout, I drew a parallel between my body and the church. I've been thinking about the way I view church- both my positive and negative reactions. I've been thinking about how my giving. I give but not always in the right ways and not always adequately. It's a matter of the heart. I'm working on it.

Rest

2011-10-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Oh Lord, I have been away for far too long.

You are not far from my thoughts;

I have been far from dependence.

I want to honor you with my heart and mind.

I long for my actions to represent my faith.

I have failed to recognize, represent, and remember you.

You have not left.

My life is not over.

Today, my God, I rest in you.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Pslam 62:1-2

Simple Family Fun

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the circus came to town. I love the circus.

I mean, I love the circus. I have a clown collection. I love clowns. I even wanted to be one for a time. The last time I went to the Ringling Barnum and Bailey circus I went early- to see the clowns.

I really wanted to take the kids to the circus. I could just imagine the fun time we'd have. But the weekend was going to be busy. Tickets for a family of six would be costly. Plus we would be tempted to buy souvenirs or snacks. I wanted to go to the circus. I wasn't sure I wanted to spend money on the circus.

The weekend came and went and I never mentioned going to the circus.

On Sunday, we flew kites.

We took turns launching the kites. We took off our shoes and chased each other in the wide open field. We laughed a lot.

We spent hours playing together.

It was the kind of experience that led to the kids saying over and over without prompting, "That was so much fun."

It was one of the best afternoons we have had in a long time.

In the evening, during prayers, my son thanked God for kites, for his brother wanting to go to the field, for the idea to fly kites, for the fun we had, and for kites (again). It was a precious prayer.

Perhaps, the best family activities are ones where the family is active together.

There's no doubt in my mind, the circus wouldn't have meant as much as a simple day flying kites.

The best things in life are the simple things.

A Latte Pain

2011-10-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

I've decided that ordering a tall, skinny latte won't transform me into a tall, skinny beauty.

This is my third week going to a local gym. My workouts have left me feeling great. I've had a more energy. I've felt more confident. I've gone to bed earlier. It's been a wonderful change.

And then yesterday I went to my first class.

It was called Total Body Fitness. It feels like Total Body Failure.

Every muscle in my body hurts. I've discovered muscles I didn't know I existed. There are over 630 muscles by the way. I had to look it up because all I can think about is my aching muscles.

And, I've decided that I will never make fun of someone for being sore again. All of those years of teasing my husband after his tough Army PT... I feel bad. I feel really bad. It hurts. Oh, it hurts.

I am in a lot of pain. It's a good pain (I think). But, oh, how it hurts!

I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte this afternoon. I am still in pain but this latte is delightful.

Ta Ta for Now, Hello Real World

2011-10-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

The problem with the internet is that is allows you to interface with others in an impersonal way.

I'm over it. It's exhausting me.

I am tired of interacting without really interacting.

I've been a bit frustrated by Facebook lately. The changes haven't irritate me. Instead it's been my own tendency to keep up with others through the medium. I am always lamenting that I am terrible at keeping up with friends. Maybe if I didn't spend time keeping up with them through a social network, I would reach out to them personally.

I've been wondering about that for a while.

Then, today I received a heart-felt email from a friend. While the friend gave the email considerable thought and probably prayer, it pushed me over the edge. The email was meant to start a conversation - I think. It was sent to multiple people. While I'd love to have a conversation, I'm not sure quite how to respond. Reply to all?

I'd love to share my heart... but how can expound on my thoughts? I can work to express my feelings. But something will be lost within the strokes of my keyboard. Any emotion- pain, concern, frustration, elation and expressions of love- will be lost. They might even end up hidden. It's the same if I write a letter, I think.

For effective communication, the person receiving a message has to understand the intent of the sender. Is it possible to fully understand another person through Facebook or email? Possibly not.

I not am sure how to end this except to say that I am stepping away from Facebook and it seems I have a phone call to make.

Beyond that, I'd like to encourage you to reach out to others without using an internet connection.

Thursday Thanks Tank #166

2011-09-29T21:43:00.001-07:00

I am sitting on my back patio listening to the crickets chirp. I am in a reclining chair, wrapped up in a quilt my mother-in-law made. The night is peaceful. I can hear the clattering of dishes. My husband volunteered to do the dishes tonight. I surprised him with a new recipe for dinner. We had BBQ shredded chicken sandwiches. They were pretty tasty, if I do say so myself. I found the recipe while surfing on Pinterest. The chicken is cooked in the crockpot. I simply love crockpot dishes that turn out well. The recipe didn't suggest to shred the chicken for sandwiches. A commenter made that recommendation so I went with it. Anyway, maybe I'll pass that recipe on. It was simple and tasty.

I had the best kind of day. It wasn't the kind that will be remembered for years to come. It was an ordinary day full of beautiful moments.

Coffee brought to my bedside.
Laughter when I was so tired I fumbled around trying to make the kids lunches.
A good run.
A great swim.
Sweet conversations with my 3 year old.
Giving away packing paper to someone who is moving.
Time to complete a surprise dessert.
Playing at the park.
Tickling with giggles in return.
A beautiful afternoon for watching soccer practice.
My husband getting an errand done for me on his way home.
Dinner with the family.
A very messy chocolate kiss from a 6 year old.
Hugs from my boys.
Putting neosporin on a bad scrape and wiping away the tears.
Reading the latest issue of Southern Living in a relaxing spot on a peaceful night.

It has been a nice day. I am thankful for every bit of my ordinary life.

Monday Funny

2011-09-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

I tried imagine that boy as one of my sons... and then my husband...

Oh my stars!

On second thought, maybe I won't learn to knit.

Thursday Thanks Tank #165

2011-09-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

1. The Gym: I joined a gym this week. I'm thrilled. They have a kids room. My daughter loves going. I mean, it's hard to get her to leave. I am thankful for my new gym membership.

2. Halloween individual sized candies: Ironic that I said that after I mentioned the gym? Probably a little bit telling. But, I love the little sized candies. They are perfect for lunch box treats and momma treats.

3. Quick homemade meals: We had Mr. Food's Sloppy Joes tonight. It's one of my kids' favorite recipes. It's quick and tasty.

4. Craig's List: I mentioned a few weeks ago that we scored our patio furniture off of Craig's List. This week, we sold our nursery furniture on Craig's List. I wasn't the least bit sad, either.

5. The Library: I love the library system where I live. There are so many branches and they are all connected. I've been to two of the branches more than once and I like them both for different reasons.

6. A Good Book: If you want a short based on a true story read, I'd recommend, "In the Sea There are Crocodiles" by Fabio Geda. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished it. It's a story about an Afghanistan boy, beginning when he's 10. The boy went through so much... it's made me think about how many people in the world are struggling to survive. Not to mention, it's made me imagine a boy the age of my son going through what he went through. It's a short but powerful book.

7. Soccer: It's challenging to get everyone where they need to be at the right time... but we are having a lot of fun this season.

I imagine I could share more thankful thoughts if I weren't so tired at the moment.

Take time to be thankful- you will be better off for it!

The Economic Crisis Hits Home

2011-09-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

I have some neighbors that I haven't met yet. Well, I have lots of them. But, there are these neighbors that live near me that I'd sort of like to meet. They intrigue me.

Their yard is in shambles. It's a mess. It looks awful. The grass is not mowed. There is a trailer in the front yard. The kids draw all over the utility box. The place is trashed. Their latest addition is a ceramic owl that has been placed on top of the utility box.

The rest of the yards in the neighborhood look nice.

I've been wondering- How do you let your yard go like that?

Another neighbor told me this week that the neighbors in that house are "good people." It's a sad situation. They are trying to make their house look bad. They are not paying their house payment any more and they figure that if the house looks awful, it will take longer for the bank to want to take it over.

I cannot imagine deciding to go that route. I wonder if it will work and I wonder how bad the place will get.

And then I think, these people are hurting. I hope I can be a friend to them.
I hope I can let go of my disdain. I hope when I meet them I can see them for who they are and not what they are struggling with. Their baggage does not define them.

Forget the statistics, the for sale signs, the posted foreclosure notices on empty houses, this is where the economy crisis is real. This is evidence of pain.

I hope I can be a good neighbor.

Independence and Grace that Never Fails

2011-09-19T23:04:00.000-07:00

Every day my 6 year old reads to me. It's part of his homework. We usually do this after dinner and often right before bed. Tonight, he read to me in his room. My 8 year old and my 3 year old were playing. My 10 year old was reading. We were settling in for the night.

At some point, my 8 year old decided to do something else. My 3 year old grabbed an opportunity to try something without asking.

She decided to to shave like Daddy.

That razor that was by the sink this morning- the one that I thought my husband was taking with him on his trip- was right there for her to use.

Suddenly in the middle of helping my son sound out words, I heard the cry that makes a mom jump up and run.

"Moooommaaa! Momma!"

She was walking down the hall. Fear was dripping from her eyes. Blood covered her chin and was all over her hands.

I grabbed her, wet some tissue and began to clean her up. She had "shaved" her bottom lip. She bled and bled. The cut wasn't too deep. It was just deep enough to bleed a lot. It was also in a sensitive spot.

I comforted her. I talked to her about what she did. I gave her my love.

I was thinking over the incident when I remembered - grace.

She tried something without asking. She knew she wasn't allowed to touch the razor. She saw an opportunity and she took it.

She asserted her independence.
And then she felt pain.

She didn't hide. She didn't hesitate. She did not wonder what I would do.
She came to me.
She knew I would be there for her.

I wonder what keeps me from acting like my child? I go my way- this way and that- until I hurt. I entertain myself endlessly with the computer, books, chores and what-not, and then I wonder how long I will stay on the island.

I need child-like dependence, in spite of immaturity.

I need to remember that grace is not a one time gift.
God's love is unconditional- thousands of years ago, yesterday- and right now.

I can come to him, messy with the effects of wasted time, a lack of discipline, or limited faith. I can always come to him.

God's love never fails.

Lamentations 3:22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Cinderella (TTT164)

2011-09-15T10:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, my oldest son walked home from school, only to quickly realize that he forgot a notebook. He walked back to school but came home empty handed. On the way to his classroom he passed by the library where all of the teachers were meeting. He remembered that the last time he returned to school to retrieve something, he was told he was not supposed to come into the classroom without an adult. So, bless him, he followed the rules and did not go to his classroom. Being the sweet, kind-hearted mom that I am, I did not grumble out-loud when I loaded up all of the kids to drive over to the school (walking with all four would have quadrupled the time it took).

My son got his homework notebook and we returned home.

The oldest boy sat at a desk upstairs (because the other kids are too loud for him to concentrate).
The middle boy sat at a kid size table.
The youngest boy sat at the kitchen table.

"Momma?"
"Momma, I need your help."
"Momma, can you come here?"
"Momma?"
"Um, Momma..."
"Momma. Momma. Momma"

I was running back and forth and darting into the kitchen, as well, because we had to eat dinner early. Soccer game at 6 p.m.

Can you picture it?

Don't get me wrong- I like helping my kids.
It can just be tiring sometimes.

I cannot stop thinking about Cinderella.

A few months ago, I found this fairy-tale blog (cinderella11pm.com) with pictures and reviews of luxury dining and vacation spots. I immediately got lost daydreaming.

I found the blog because I stumbled across a link to one of the giveaways. Boy, does Cinderella do giveaways! Unbelievably huge giveaways. I began to enter the giveaways. Giveaway after giveaway.

"Even miracles take a little time." The Fairy Godmother

On Saturday, I won.

I won a $300 giftcard to the spa of my choice.

"Why, it's like a dream. A wonderful dream come true." Cinderella

My husband is going out of town soon. Given the homework 3 ring circus, the soccer practice and games, the meals, the refereeing (at home, not at the games), the housework, the menial stuff that exhausts me, using part of the gift card when he returns sounds heavenly.

I am going to feel like a princess.

Thank you, Cinderella. Your generosity is unbelievable.

Friends, I'm going to go schedule myself an appointment.

Do yourself a favor, follow Cinderella: Cinderella11pm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for.

I am still ~~in shock~~ so overwhelmed with gratitude over winning this spa gift card, this is my Thursday Thanks Tank this week.

Crumbs

2011-09-13T10:05:00.001-07:00

Crumbs - fragments from a slice of my life

If you leave a helmet in the sun, it will melt. This is not something my kids experienced when we lived in the great rainy NW. The upside, the kids are really good about putting up their helmets now.

We went to a hot air balloon festival on Sunday. I could claim that I wanted to take the family because I thought the kids would love it. I love hot air balloons. I took around 150 pictures and I cannot stop looking at them.

My kids have a lot more homework at their new school. It's great. I think it will help the oldest develop discipline. My second is excited about having extra work. My third son is already benefiting from the daily individual attention with reading and writing. What I cannot figure out is how to help 3 kids with homework and make dinner at the same time!

My Craig's List surfing hobby netted me a patio table and six chairs this week. I got them for 1/5 of the cost they were new at Pottery Barn. I love eating outside with my family. I really love that I got a great deal. It only adds fuel to my desire to be more thrifty.

I've been thinking about going to the Nevada Art Museum. I'm looking forward to going. But, I also know that nothing can compare to creative exhibits in my own home. I ate breakfast with a 3 headed monster this morning. He was created before school by my six year old. Luckily, he didn't eat me.

If you follow a four mile bike ride with an omelet and a latte, is it okay to still feel good about the health benefits of the ride? Just wondering. The combo is a nice way to start the day.

Time is Passing

2011-09-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. “
- President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

Nourishment for this mother's heart (TTT163)

2011-09-08T10:02:00.001-07:00

As we start our walk, I reach my hand out. Her hand grabs mine. It feels small inside my hand. But the touch, the hands holding on to each other, grabs my heart and makes it swell. She's three. She won't be small long. I marvel at the simple, beautiful feeling of her hand in mind. I eagerly pick her up when she requests it. I treasure the connection we have. I adore the way she looks at me when we are going somewhere together.

He runs to me. He a six year old full of energy and excitement. He seizes my hand and swings my arm. His enthusiasm makes me smile. He squeezes my hand. One squeeze, Two Squeezes, Three Squeezes, and then Four. He says, "Do you know what I said?" I smile knowingly and say, "No, what?" He says, "I said, 'I love you most.'" So, I squeeze his hands back, four squeezes. Sometimes I'm saying "I love you, too" but other times, I kid, "I love you more." We are addicted to this game.

He grabs my hand and pulls just me just a bit. "Hey, Momma, can I show you something?" He takes me and shares a discovery or shows off an accomplishment. Other times, he quietly takes my hand and then begins to talk, "Momma,..." It's as if when he has my hand, he knows he touches me deeply. He knows he has harnessed my attention. I listen. I savor the moment. I know that at 8, he won't want to hold my hand in public much longer.

I walk up to him and touch him gently as he is reading. Depending on how he is sitting or laying, I rub my hand over his hand or gently on his back. He looks up, smiles slightly and says, "What?" I say, "Oh, I just want to tell you I love you." At 10, he will hug enthusiastically when I ask for a hug. He enjoys my affection but I usually instigate most of it. That's okay. His expressions tell me everything. I don't stop reaching out to him.

~ ~ ~ ~

Moments like these, fill my mothering heart with joy.
I am thankful.

This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

Wordless Wednesday: A little whipped cream on top?

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Has it really been 8 years?

2011-09-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

Where does time go?

On Friday we celebrated my second son's birthday. He turned 8.

Each year on his birthday I am amazed by his growth and strength.

He was born 5 weeks premature. He was taken straight to the NICU. That is where I held him for the first time after my surprise c-section. He endured a year of physical therapy, twice a week for 6 months and then once a week for six months. I used to worry that he'd be weak.

He's an active kid
- that loves soccer

- who rides his bike every chance he gets

- and loves to play

He requested chili for his birthday dinner so that's what we had, even though the temperature reached into the mid nineties. He does not like to get messy. To that end, he prefers not to touch his food. He will eat chicken, if is it cut off the bone and corn if it is cut off the cob. He hates hot dogs. His new favorite candy is Sprees. His favorite veggies right now are snap peas. His favorite fruits are blueberries and strawberries. He eats all of the time. The boy must be growing because he requests seconds and thirds at most meals.

He doesn't get angry much.

He is a tenderhearted boy that puts others above himself. He is the first of my kids to yield when there is an argument. He likes to make others happy. I have to tell him that sometimes, "you can't please everyone so you have to please yourself." On his birthday, he got a gift bag of goodies from his teacher. His younger brother and sister were jealous. I had to stop him from giving everything to them. Every time he opened a birthday gift, he shared the excitement by saying to his siblings, "we will have so much fun with this" and "You and I can..." He is so unselfish; I love giving him gifts.

His biggest challenges right now are his sensitive nature and his health. He is sensitive. He cries easily, especially if you are stern or strict with him. He is also worrier. He faces daily challenges with his peanut allergy (though he has a wonderful attitude about it) and his asthma. He also has a surgery scheduled for Nov. 2. I'd love your prayers for him leading up to Nov. 2. He knows about the surgery but I know when it gets close, his worry could consume him (and maybe me, if I am not careful). I'd love you to pray for that day and his healing, too.

My son is a joy to me. I am extremely thankful for him - and for his love of all things Alabama.

If you are wondering from the pictures- yes, he really does where his Alabama jersey all the time.

Sunday Snapshot: A Milestone

2011-09-04T16:43:00.001-07:00

My 10 year old cut the grass for the first time today.

I am a little excited about this.

Tasty Tuesday: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2011-08-30T16:28:00.001-07:00

This is the best banana chocolate chip muffin recipe ever. Really. I've misplaced my recipe more times that I want to admit and I've googled similar recipes but not one has been the same.

Try them. They are so good.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 extra ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Puree bananas in a blender. (I just using a mixer on high speed.) In a medium bowl, beat pureed bananas, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla until well blended. In a large bowl, combine flower, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients. Pour in banana mixture. Mix until just blended. Spoon into well greased muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove from pan. Makes 12 muffins.

Seriously Tasty~ My kids love these, especially when warm out of the oven. Just a few minutes ago, my eldest (and most picky eater) saw the recipe and said, "Banana and chocolate? I'm glad I didn't know that. That doesn't sound good together." Never mind that he has been eating these for years and gobbled them up just yesterday morning before school.

So... even if you don't like bananas or chocolate (as if you could not like chocolate), try these. They are that good.

I'm linking up with Tasty Tuesday.

First Day

2011-08-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

We took pictures before and after school today.
This morning I did my traditional photos. While the kids were at school, I found wonderful signs (as free printables) at Chickabug.com. It was tricky but I convinced them to let me take more photos after they got home.

Of course, before I convinced them to do the photos, we had a tasty snack.

Our 504 Plan Allergy Meeting

2011-08-28T09:06:00.001-07:00

I've written this post twice. My debate~ Should I share some details of our plan or just let the curious know how the meeting went? Sharing the details might help others but it also was going to be a really long post. If there's interest, I'll post more about the plans we put in place for my son.

Our 504 Plan Meeting:
Having a 504 Plan is new to us. Our last school didn't require it and we didn't think we needed it. This school asked for it as soon as they saw my son's medical forms from his allergist.

Initially, I was nervous. You can read about that here: The Big Reveal

The meeting went well. We were very pleased with the response from the school staff: principal, school nurse, school counselor, and teacher. We discussed my son's allergy history and talked about our desires for his plan. Ideas were bounced around and the results were that they are implementing what we wanted.

About 3/4 of the way through the meeting, the principal went to get my son's teacher. Our impression was that she had no idea that she was getting a peanut allergy kid in her classroom until the principal got her. That impression was based on the questions my husband heard her asking the principal on the way in the room. She also seemed the least at ease. That said, she was very amenable when we shared our classroom ideas.

The meeting was on Monday. On Friday, I went to the school to check in some of my son's meds. There was a notice about the school having a peanut allergy kid posted to the office window. Also, when we were meeting my 5th grader's teacher, she said something to the effect of, 'Oh, are you the one that has a peanut allergy kid?'. The staff had a meeting about my son's peanut allergy and the impact it would have on the school. She said it was a great meeting. I saw the school counselor that day and she told me they had their epipen training and a lot of great questions were asked. I also talked to my son's teacher again. I'm optimistic about how we will work together.

Tomorrow is the first day of school.

I have a mix of emotions:
I am sad summer is over.
I am excited for the kids to make friends.
I am nervous about my son feeling comfortable with the allergy provisions put in place.

I am not worried. I think, being nervous about school starting for an allergy kid is as normal as kids being excited about Christmas.

Soccer Saturday

2011-08-27T14:02:00.001-07:00

Angry Birds

2011-08-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, I was reading about planning school lunches and I found something that made me jump up and run into the kitchen. I had all of the ingredients to make a lunch that would make my kids smile.

I decided we'd have lunch for breakfast and that I'd keep it a secret until I finished the sandwiches.

Angry Bird Sandwiches
Circle sandwiches with sunbutter (or peanut butter) in the middle and jelly on top. Add marshmallows, raisins, and oranges to make a mean angry bird face.

I added fruit, cheese, and pepperoni as sides. I called the kids to the table and told said,

"I am angry summer break is almost over."

Their expressions were priceless.

The kids gobbled them up with vigor.
All except for one, he was intent on making his bird crazy angry.

His masterpiece was grand.

He was just a little proud of his wild bird.

I'm linking up with Ann Kroeker's Food on Fridays.

The Big Reveal

2011-08-24T07:53:00.001-07:00

Today's the big reveal.

It seems absurd to suggest that idea but, I am anticipating an unveiling of a disposition. Today, I will meet the school principal, nurse, and counselor at our new school. We will discuss my son's food allergy and his asthma. I will discover their attitudes and desired approach.

I am hoping for the best. I am praying for the best.

The school nurse called me last week to request a 504 Plan meeting.

What is a 504 Plan?

The 504 Plan takes its name from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. It applies to all institutions, including public schools, which receive financial assistance from the federal government. The purpose of Section 504 as it relates to students with food allergies is to ensure that a child's education is not negatively affected by your child's food allergy.

Did you know that a severe food allergy, one that can lead to anaphylaxis, is considered a disability? Students are protected by a law so that they cannot be discriminated against on the basis of a severe food allergy or asthma (included under the "other health impairment" section). Interesting, isn't it?

My husband and I are well-informed about food allergies. And yet, we sat up last night researching 504 Plans, Emergency Care Plans, Individual Health Plans and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The bottom line is: My son will be kept safe. Beyond that, we have to determine the reasonable provisions that need to be made for him.

Parents of food allergic kids take many approaches to protecting their kids. I've been amazed by the lack of provisions for some and surprised by the extremely strict rules for others. So many factors come into play: the severity of the food allergy (or the perceived severity), the allergist's approach to managing food allergies, and past allergic reactions and experiences.

When you consider the dissonance between adults managing food allergies (parents and doctors, alike) and the way food allergies are covered in the news, it is no wonder that the general public doesn't know what to think about food allergies.

So, the big reveal... What will the attitudes be? How will the medication be handled? What provisions will be put in place?

Thursday Thanks Tank #162

2011-08-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank...

I spent the day thinking about what makes me smile. And then, the day got away from me.

I am thankful for:

- Being a complete family. I've done separation a few times due to military assignments. This last separation was job related. It feels so good to be a family day in and day out. I love how complete it feels.

- Coaches. It's interesting how a good coach can have a great impact on a kid. All three of my boys have good soccer coaches. It's great to see them work hard and try their best because they want to please their coach. I'm thankful for coaches and the volunteer hours they put in.

- Air conditioning. The A/C in the van is still out. My husband is sweet to drive it. In the meantime, I'm still loving driving his truck. I also love the air conditioning in our home.

- Cool nights. The nights are just perfect. They are cool enough to leave the windows open overnight. Sleeping to the sounds of the outdoors (crickets instead of frogs!) is something I missed. (We couldn't really manage that much in the NW because my son's allergies were so bad. He is doing wonderful here.

- Changed Attitude. I'm excited about school starting. This is a big switch. Last week I had a really bad attitude. Not sure why I was so surprised, but I have some work to do at the new school to keep my food allergic kid safe. I had a wonderful talk with a nurse that's in the district and now I am looking forward to doing all I can to make the school a safe place for kids with food allergies.

- This: "I love you even when I am grumpy." My daughter has said that twice to me this week. I melted both times. (She's three. She can do grumpy quite well.)

- Outside lights. The lady that we are renting the house from left some decorative outside lights for us to enjoy. They hang in the trees in our backyard. They are set on a timer. It's a simple pleasure but I love them.

- The patio. We have a covered patio. Every morning I get my coffee and sit on the patio. It's cool in the morning. The sun is just coming over the hills. The wind blows and leaves rustle. I watch the birds eat plumbs off the plumb tree or play in the bird bath. I admire the flowers. This is my peaceful place. It is brings me joy... so much so that I wake myself up early (who am I kidding? I get my husband to wake me up) so that I can enjoy it before the kids wake up. I am thankful -oh so thankful- for this peaceful spot.

Those are my thankful thoughts tonight.
Life is good. We are still in the middle of transition- lots of boxes yet to unpack- but we are happy.

Our New House

2011-08-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Moving Day (again!). We got the keys to our house tonight. The movers will bring our stuff in the morning. We looking forward to getting settled. Let the unpacking begin!

Thursday Thanks Tank #161

2011-08-11T22:43:00.001-07:00

Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

I am thankful for:

Last Saturday and all of the things that made my birthday special...

Expressions of birthday wishes through facebook messages, texts, phone calls, cards in the mail

a baby fix: (I cannot believe my 10 year old asked to hold this sweetie. It just proves that no one can resist this little boy.)

lattes by the pool:

an amazing friend (incredibly thankful that her and her mom were willing to drive extra to visit us on their way to see family):

red velvet cake (made from scratch -without a mixer because this furnished apartment doesn't have one- by my husband):

family love:

silly moments:

the kids that helped me celebrate: (picture taken the day after- aren't they great?)

my husband's love:

Did I mention the cake? I called it my "BAMA cake" (but my husband didn't really appreciate the nickname). So good.

I had a fabulous birthday.
I'm thankful for so much more but this was what was on my mind tonight.

Take time to be thankful. It's time well-spent.

Wading Through the Week

2011-08-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

This week we are headed to the pool as much as possible.

We move into our house and have our belongings delivered next week. I know we are going to miss the the apartment pool. I just don't know if the kids will miss it more than me.

Crumbs

2011-08-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Crumbs - my fragmented thoughts

Some people just don't get safety. I saw a man this week, riding his bike next to a major street. He had a helmet. It was hanging on his handle bars.

I also saw a girl with a full (knee down) hard cast on her leg. She was riding down a hill on a scooter. I imagined what her parents' reaction would be to that.

I don't understand how people can be so knowledgeable about food allergies and still not have a clue.

This week I went to the deli, by myself, to grab a tuna sandwich. I asked the man behind the counter if they used peanut products. He said, "Nope." I explained that my son has a severe peanut allergy and we don't eat out much. His response was, "Oh, that is so common now. It isn't a big deal these days." I was a bit taken aback. So, I asked him if he made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. His answer, "Oh sure we do. It's a great option for kids."

I went to register my kids' for school this week. I had emailed the district back in May and had received an email response that the district takes food allergies seriously, that they don't serve peanut products in the lunch line and that the schools have a peanut free table. When I went to register, I found that the school we are zoned for has - nada- not one thing in place for a food allergy kid. When I mentioned that I'd like a peanut free table, a response I got was, "Well, he'd be the only kid sitting there." Oh boy.

This morning, my 3 year old daughter asked me to buy her (play) kitchen back. It made me recognize that she really doesn't understand what's happened. I think she thinks I sold it in the garage sale I had before we moved. Hold on, baby, just one more week and we will get our stuff back.

Apartment living is interesting. There are so many different kinds of people in an apartment building. I may be wrong but I don't think neighborhoods are as diverse. I've been people watching -just a bit. Of course, I am sure that people are watching us, too. Lord knows they can hear us.

I am finishing up a short book called "White Rabbit." I am reading it because my daughter (my 3 year old) picked up the book because it had a rabbit on it. Isn't that funny? I walked the aisle back and forth, back and forth (because with all 4 of the kids sitting on chairs at the end of the aisle, I couldn't go far) trying to figure out which books to chose. She likes a book based on the cover and I'm reading it. It isn't half bad, either. It's about a quirky 88 year old lady and it makes me miss my grandmother. The bunny on the cover is cute.

Last year I kept my birthday off of Facebook. My thought was, the people that really know me, know my birthday. I was lovingly chided for not listing it. I think my husband may have even posted it was my birthday in his status. This year, I posted it. And, people have been wishing me Happy Birthday off and on today. It's confusing. My birthday isn't until tomorrow. It says so at the top. I keep checking to make sure I got it right. And that's how I know I'm old. I keep checking to see if I listed my birthday correctly. Oy vey.

Thursday Thanks Tank #160

2011-08-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

I had a thankful post all planned out in my mind yesterday. And then today happened and I am not feeling all that thankful. I suppose that's just the way it goes sometimes.

I am thankful:

1. Tomorrow is Friday.
2. My friend, Kim, is passing through town and visiting me this weekend.
3. I found a sweet dress on sale at gymboree. My daughter so needed that dress.
4. My husband took the kids out to shop and gave me a night to myself. (That was last night. It was wonderful.)
5. I get looks of admiration (is that what it is?) from guys when I am driving my husband's GMC Sierra truck. (And then they see all of the kids pile out of the truck... oh well.)
6. My friend, Kim, is passing through town and visiting me this weekend. Did I mention she will get here tomorrow?
7. My husband is making a grocery list (yep, right now - company tomorrow). He's taking care of the food this weekend.
8. Air conditioning in the truck. (Yep, van a/c is still not working.)
9. New books to read. I am going to enjoy belonging to a library system with 12 libraries within it.
10. Starbucks. Oh why not be thankful for it? I know it isn't the first time. Today was a good Starbucks day. Two words: Treat receipt.
11. My kids. They are super cute. And they were well-behaved at the library. Usually library trips with my 4 kids are stressful (they are not good at quiet) but this time it was wonderful.
12. Cake. My husband's making a cake tomorrow night. He's planning it out now. It might be a birthday cake... and it sounds so good right now.

Turns out this was the perfect thing to do tonight. It helped me refocus.
Take time to be thankful. It's time well-spent!

Wordless Wednesday: 32

2011-08-03T13:35:00.001-07:00

Destination Unknown

2011-08-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

I was in the international terminal of the airport. Going through customs was proving to be a pain. Why were they searching every single item I owned? That's what it felt like. I was excited to be going on a trip and I was getting impatient to get the trip started.

Then, I woke up.

I sipped on the coffee that was tenderly left on the bedside table by my adoring husband.
I made my way into the living room and cuddled with a reading 7 year old. We discussed big screen TV's and why people can't live forever.
My 10 year old woke up. I inspected his arm, which is hurting from a fall he took on the soccer field (incidentally in the same place he broke it a few years ago).
I searched for missing legos for my 6 year old.
I discovered that my 3 year old calls a specific cereal "dry cereal" because when daddy gave it to her he let her have it dry and called it dry cereal. So, in her mind, only one kind of cereal is "dry" and she wanted milk with it.

Some days I feel like I am in a foreign world. How did I get here being doted on, discussing philosophy, doctoring kids, and deciphering language barriers.

My destination today is unknown.
I am trying to convince the kids it would be fun to visit the library and get signed up for library cards. One wants to go to the pool. One wants to play legos. One wants to play video games (Oh, who am I kidding? They all want to do that.) One wants to follow her older brother around and copy his actions.

I am not at all sure where we will end up. I do know it will be an eventful journey.

Arrogant Disrespect and Apathy

2011-08-02T10:15:00.001-07:00

When the group arrived, four kids and two adults were in the pool. A boy wearing glasses, sat relaxing in a lawn chair next to the hot tub reading a book. There were 4 kids in the arriving group and a man trailed after them. The kids put their stuff down and began running and jumping into the pool, splashing a lady and her 12 year old daughter. They were laughing, running and splashing. The lady and her daughter were not amused when they kept moving to a different area only to find the kids still splashing them.

The oldest in the group of kids was clearly the leader, as the other kids followed him and copied his actions. He seemed to be about 11.

He ran and jumped into the hot tub. His jump didn't produce the splash he wanted. He took off his mask scooped up water and threw it at the 10 year old that was reading a book. Startled, the boy shrugged it off, and began reading again.

I gave the 11 year old a mean glare. In defiance, he splashed the boy again.

A minute later I decided to lay on a lawn chair near the hot tub.

The 10 year old decided to get in the pool.

Within a few minutes, the 11 year old was in the pool, with 3 other boys in tow. He began taunting the 10 year old.

11 year old, "You're gay."

10 year old, "No"

11 year old, "That boy (pointing to one in his group) said you are gay."

10 year old, "No."

11 year old, "Yes you are."

10 year old, "No, I'm not. NO."

The 11 year old looked up and saw my stare. Smugly he said, "He (pointing the 10 year old's brother) said my brother is gay.

I answered: "No. He did not."

The rest of the pool visit by the 2nd group of kids consisted of a medley of disrespectful actions. The boys went into the work out room (you have to go through there to go to the bathrooms) and I witnessed them hanging on weight machines until they were kicked out of the gym area. They also were messing with a pool light (the kind that is under water on the side of the wall). The light came out of the pool wall. I did not witness when it came out of the wall so I could not claim with absolute certainty (when the apartment manager came to inspect it) that it was their fault. I have my suspicions, though.

The other adults (which included 3 additional adults and two more kids) were astounded that the dad did nothing but layout in the sun. He did not care that the kids were being disrespectful to others and messing with the pool property. When the kids were restless (and not allowed to ride their scooters into the pool), the dad said, "Oh, are you ready to go?" About that time, an apartment manager yelled out to the man, by name, that his kids were being disrespectful and they needed to stop or they wouldn't be allowed back. They left.

The light was reported and the pool had to be closed for the maintenance worker to fix the light.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The 10 year old is my son. The 11 year old was out of control. He was a bully. The dad was either oblivious or apathetic.

I wanted to yell at the man. I wanted to pull the 11 year old out of the pool and lecture him. I knew that would be fruitless. I wanted to yell at that man.

More than anything, I wanted to support my son - not embarrass him but support him. Parenting a child that is easily picked on is difficult.

We talked about the incident later. Aside from not embarrassing my son at the pool, the best thing I could do was to make sure we discussed what happened. My son recognizes the problem was the other kid and not him. But, he admits that he didn't like what he was saying to him and how he was treating him.

I want to empower my son and encourage him to be strong and confident.

The arrogant disrespect from the other boy and the severe apathy of the man has left me impassioned and indignant.

My prayer: Oh Lord, please help my son have a good year in this new school he will be attending. Please let him make wonderful friends. Give him confidence and let him have fun. Give me wisdom to guide and encourage.

So Much To See

2011-08-01T12:05:00.001-07:00

I moved from a small rural town of around 14,000 to a town with over 90,000, which is next to (really connected to) a town of over 220,000.This past weekend - yesterday- I drove around by myself. I felt like a kid in a state of amazement. There is so much here. I am not accustomed to the endless shops and people. It both thrills me and startles me. I've been longing to enjoy life without a constant desire to acquire. I wonder if I will be able to continue to peruse simplicity with all of the glitz around me. I suppose simplicity in a suburb might look different from simplicity in a rural town. I also wonder how long it will take for me to belong here. It's August. At the end of the month, my kids will start school. The soccer season has begun. I will meet people through the kids' activities. I want to find activities and pursuits that I enjoy. We have found a house to rent. We should be able to move in two weeks. I am thrilled with the newness of it all.

I am enjoying a genesis.

I am enjoying the numerous coffee shops. It's comforting, this coffee habit of mine... but sometimes I feel a little lost... like this man in the coffee beans.

Crumbs

2011-07-29T11:14:00.001-07:00

Crumbs - my fragmented thoughts

Honeysuckle shrubs are delightful to kids. I forgot how wonderful they can be! I shared the ability to find the nectar with my kids and now we must stop each time we pass the honeysuckle shrub.

Sometimes I want to delete the Like button on Facebook. I want to post something bold or completely trivial and not give anyone the ability to like it. The more I think about that I realize that means I want to say something without a response... better just go back to talking to myself.

My kids keep pretending to be Smurfs. Their games make me feel both old and young again at the same time. I was 8 when the Smurf TV show aired for the first time. Saturday mornings consisted of getting up early to watch cartoons. Whoever got up first (I am one of 3 girls) got to choose the channel but it was always turned to the Smurfs when the time was right. I had a Smurfette pillow that I slept with every night. It was so long ago... I'm glad the Smurfs are back. I hope the new Smurf movie is cute.

My hair is finally long and I want to cut it. This morning I was thinking about dying my hair. Right after that I began to wonder if I am having a midlife crisis.

There's something endearing about the first three minutes of snuggling in (a double) bed with 4 kids. It gives way to "Ow!"s and "Stop!"s and yet I know one day I will miss moments like this:

Thursday Thanks Tank #159

2011-07-28T22:27:00.001-07:00

Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

I am thankful for this and that- my thankful thoughts are all over the place tonight- big things, small things - there are so many things to be thankful for!

My Thankful List:

Facebook: I know- everyone loves (or hates) Facebook. But, today I am thankful for it because I liked the community page of the town we just moved to weeks before we moved. By doing so, I found out about soccer sign ups and I was able to register my kids. Soccer practice started this week.

The pool: The apartment we've been staying at has a pool. This has been a life-saver for me. We love it.
Me at the pool this afternoon

Two of my boys at the pool this afternoon (Yes, it was crazy- 95 degrees and we were the only ones there!)

My Mom: She birthed me, she nurtured me, she taught me, and she loves me still. Today is her birthday. I am super thankful for her.

Friends: It's been a long week. I've been a bit... um, lonely. I've looked through pictures over and over and I have some amazing friends. I miss them all. I know I will make new ones in this new place. But, still, I am very thankful for all of my friends.

The week is almost over. As funny as it seems, this week was really long because my husband was out of town. Oh, I know he's been working away from the family for the last 9 months or more but this week seemed super long to me. Maybe it's being in a new town, not knowing anyone, being in an apartment with four kids... maybe it's that. I'm glad that tomorrow is Friday!

Sarah's Home! My niece came home from the hospital on Tuesday. I am very thankful that she is home and recuperating. I am also extremely thankful for the prayers from friends that were lifted up for her. She has a ways to go to recover from the surgery. And, we are all still waiting on the results from tests and her recovery. (Keep praying for her to be free of pain!)

Group pictures of my kids. My kids have willingly let me take lots of pictures of them lately. I love getting group kid and family pictures. Here's the one we took for my mom today while we were at the pool.

I had more- many more- thankful thoughts today but I am getting tired and I want to go read my new book.

Take time to be thankful. It's time well-spent!

"Can I do it again?"

2011-07-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

The Scorpion: A four-story half pipe that drops you right into a free fall and quickly up the other side and back down again.

Summer (Photo of the Day)

2011-07-23T22:30:00.001-07:00

We keep laughing

2011-07-22T08:10:00.001-07:00

16 years: 8 moves, 6 states, 4 kids
Good thing we keep each other laughing.

Surgery Update

2011-07-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

Update yesterday afternoon from my brother-in-law John:

Sarah made it out of the OR. The doc put in a few more stitches (on the inside) in the same area that he did in March.
The only real out of the ordinary thing he found was a lot of swollen/large lymph nodes on the mesentery (artery around the intestines for you pilot types)
They took some biopsies, and scratched their collective heads as to why the nodes were there and in that condition.
More to follow. We see this as an opportunity to show that God fixed her not the doc.
She has a feeding tube, IV tube, epideral, and catheter in her right now (and probably for a few days).

Update this morning from my sister, Carrie:

Don't know what to say...surgeon found more questions (stuff that didn't look right), biopsies were taken, other stuff ruled out. Sarah is in a lot of pain (unknown if it is just recovery related or if old pain is gone/still there). God is here. My Lord loves her more than I do.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Sweet Sarah

2011-07-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my 4 year old niece, Sarah, is having her 9th surgery at John Hopkins Hospital.

The surgery starts at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time.

This surgery will be her biggest yet—she will be cut all the way open (across her tummy), with major recovery time. She's expected to stay in the hospital 7 days.

The surgery is to find and fix stomach/intestinal issues. The problem so far has been that the doctors (and these are some of the best in the world) have not been able to determine what is causing her intense pain. During the last surgery, they discovered bile in her stomach. They know there is something wrong. They just have not been able to pinpoint the cause of her problems.

I won't go into medical details here but she has been in pain all of her young life; she has also had problems with reflux and aspiration (requiring to have all liquids thickened).

Please, please cover this surgery in prayer.

Pray the doctors will discover what causing Sarah's pain (and bile reflux) and they will be able to fix it.

Pray that once Sarah has recovered from the surgery, she will have no more pain.

Pray for Sarah, my sister, Carrie, my brother-in-law, John, and my nephew, Matt.

Please feel free to pass on this prayer request.
Thank you. My family appreciates the prayers.

I would be ever so grateful if you would leave a note of encouragement for them here on my blog. Or, if you are more comfortable doing so, feel free to email me or msg me on FB so I can pass on notes of encouragement.

Roadtrip

2011-07-19T10:57:00.001-07:00

My hair was blowing in the breeze. The music was blaring. I was singing with Bono. The scenery was a mix of breath taking beauty and barren expanses of land. I was driving by myself from Oregon to Nevada. It was a blessing. Time to myself. Loud music. The wind in my face. I didn't expect it to feel so good. It was rejuvenating.

Ahem.

The air conditioning on my van wasn't fixed when we had it serviced two days before we left. When we stopped for lunch, all of the kids deserted me. They all wanted to ride in the truck with dad.

I made the most of the empty van.

I was imagining myself in a convertible the whole time. I was in my merlot Miata... and it was beautiful. (Miata picture taken pre-kids, probably 12-13 years ago.)

Pictures from the roadtrip

I am home

2011-07-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am sitting at a table for 4 in a furnished apartment. We need to get 2 more chairs. I've had breakfast. I had toast with some jam that my neighbor from home sent with me. The jam was delicious. It couldn't help but feel nostalgic as I ate it. I am waiting for my daughter to wake up. I am not sure what we will do today. My husband had to go back to work. He had a wonderful week off from work to help us move. We are moved but we are not settled. We are at home in our little apartment. We have a relatively small amount of our stuff. In some ways, it is nice. I recognize we own way more than we truly need. At times, it is annoying. I need this or that and I don't have it. I am thankful for our provisions. I am thankful for the generic coffee cups and the toaster that burnt the first round of toast because I am not used to its settings. The kids are happy. Oh sure, they've been exhausted at times and expressed their fatigue in the most childish ways. We don't have a normal right now. But, they are amazingly content in our new place. The well-anticipated move has happened. We still have to find our house but we are together as a family of 6. That is satisfying to all of us. Cliches irritate me. I don't want to be cliche - ever. But this morning I find myself soaking up the reality of the old saying, "Home is where the heart is." I am home. It's a good place to be.

Wordless Wednesday: Moving Day

2011-07-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday Thanks Tank #158

2011-07-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

I spent time off and on today being thankful.

Here are my thankful thoughts:

1. Book Club: Tonight was bittersweet. I went to my last book club here in Oregon. What a fantastic group of women. I love this group! I am thankful for it because it provided me a fun night once a month, without responsibility or obligation. Also, because the women are from all sorts of walks of life and beliefs, it provided me with thought-provoking discussions. (I will really miss this group!)

2. A successful garage sale: I had a garage sale last weekend. It went wonderfully. I sold more stuff than I should have (yep, I've had to apologize to 2 kids for selling something that I didn't ask about selling) and sold some stuff that I can't believe I sold (wow, I am amazed at what people will buy and take... so thankful to get rid of that lawnmower that hasn't run for about 2 years!)

3. MOPS friends: I have been surrounded by a wonderful group of women these last 4 years. I haven't been as involved this past year and still, some of the ladies wanted to go to dinner before I left. It was thoughtful of them and very kind. I love my MOPS friends!

4. Donations: I have been giving stuff to a few people. It makes me want to do it more often. Quality items, given kindly, can really bless others. (It also makes me want to take inventory more often. If I am not using it, can someone else use it?)

5. Starbucks cards: I was cleaning out a junk drawer (oh-how-I-wish I didn't have junk drawers) and I found a Starbucks card with $10 on it. $10!!

6. Friends. Wait, what? Didn't I already say that? Well, yes. But, I am thankful for some friends that watched my kids for me a couple of weekends ago so I could have a weekend away with my husband. It was extra nice. We were in our new-home-to-be (or town-to-be) and it was nice to check things out sans kids.

7. The end of this single parenting chapter. Lord have mercy. I doubt I will sign up for single parenting again! My husband will be here this weekend and we will be headed to our new town this coming week. I am ready to be a family again. I am thankful for the unity we've had while we have been apart. I am even more thankful that we won't be apart any longer.

My 4 on the 4th

2011-07-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Craig's List and Things that make you go "Hmmm"

2011-07-01T14:53:00.001-07:00

I used Craig's List for the first time this week to sell items. In the past, I have used Craig's List as a tool to advertise sales.

I've decided - Craig's List is awesome.

Take pictures. Write a description. Wait for contact. Take Money and hand over goods.

Awesome.

Now for the Craig's List Things that Make You Go "Hmmm" -

Broken Futon - Sold for $45

Pile of Unused Toys - Sold for $30

Wordless Wednesday: Wet

2011-06-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

My Flight Instructor

2011-06-19T23:39:00.000-07:00

On Father's Day night, I spent time looking through old photos. I did not find a photo of myself and my dad that I wanted to post. I didn't find a picture of a special moment. I have oodles and oodles of pictures. I barely scraped the surface of our photos. But, I had fun reminiscing, which is something my dad likes to do. I was also struck by the sheer number of aerial photos I found. My dad used to be a pilot. We used to take flights just to enjoy the experience and view. Thus, I found photos of aerial views of my home, my church, my downtown, and various landscapes that I found striking.

My dad taught me to soar. He gave me wings to fly. It is cliche but true. He taught me that success is not given, it is earned. He taught me that to soar, you have to have the know-how to take-off. When effort is not enough and you stall, you simply try again.

I am thankful for my dad.

I will never stop trying my hardest and giving my best effort. My goals change often but I am always striving towards an achievement. My dad taught me. He helped me acquire the skills I needed to meet goals. Then, he let me go with an understanding that he'd always be there to listen and, when desired, guide.

My thankfulness is abundant.

Thursday Thanks Tank #157

2011-06-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Each Thursday I try to make a list of my thankful thoughts. Sometimes I jot it down on paper, sometimes I share that list here, and other times I just highlight one or two things that I am thankful for. This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

Today I am thankful for:

Time with a good friend: A friend of mine that moved out of state last year came in town this past weekend. We had fun catching up with each other. Our kids played wonderfully. We even let all 7 kids sleep in one room (in the end, my youngest couldn't handle it and wanted to be in her own room). It was crazy fun for the kids and really nice for us girls.

Getting Away: During their visit, they invited us to the beach with them. It was refreshing to get out of town. With everything that is weighing on my mind with the upcoming move, it was just what I needed.

Beach time: I loved every second of watching my kids play at the beach. They had a blast.

More time with my friend: I enjoyed long talks and lots of laughter. I am thankful for our friendship.

I super thankful I was able to spend time with my friend and her kids. It was wonderful to go to the coast with the kids.

Wordless Wednesday: I'll take care of you, little sis.

2011-06-15T21:04:00.001-07:00

School's Out Sundae

2011-06-09T10:07:00.001-07:00

I let my kids make their own sundaes yesterday to celebrate the end of the school year...

Surprisingly, he couldn't finish it.

Wordless Wednesday: School

2011-06-08T20:00:00.001-07:00

It's a Mushy Love (TTT#156)

2011-06-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

When we talk about moving, we talk about the exciting things to come. I sit at the table with the kids and talk about what our new location will be like.

There's a drive-in theater in the new town. It will be super cool to sit in the back of the truck to watch movies.

My second son is most excited that he won't have ride his bike in the rain as much as he does here.

We talk about going to the lake. I try to explain (without pictures, even though the computer is steps away) the massive size of Lake Tahoe.

There is AYSO soccer in Nevada. The season will be drier, no doubt.

The kids wonder about trips to the pool, going camping, and size and number of rooms that will be in our next house.

These conversations are fun. We focus on the fun.

Every single time that we talk about the move, we talk about our family. We are looking forward to being all together. Somethings will be easier. Everything will be more fun.

Not very long ago, a friend told me that most couples wouldn't be able to handle the situation that we've been in this last year. I am not sure if that's true. I am sure that most couples wouldn't chose it. What I do know is this, I am thankful for the strength of our family unit. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for the love between us all. While this seems sort of mushy (in an aw shucks sort of way), it is what I am most thankful for right now.

This is my Thursday Thanks Tank.

What's Up Doc?

2011-06-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

The allergist makes my son nervous. We had an appointment on Wednesday. The doctor he sees is an allergy and asthma specialist. My son was consumed by a fear of "the shots" (the allergy skin tests, which seem to hurt my son tremendously when he is tested for his peanut allergy). He must have asked me 15 time between Tuesday night and the appointment if he was going to have to have "shots".

The appointment went really well. No allergy skin tests ("shots").

My son does not need to use the nebulizer regularly anymore. Basically, because of his age he can now handle using pulmacourt in his inhaler instead of having the medicine in the nebulizer. My son is thrilled. He hates "the mask" (the nebulizer) because of the time it takes. At least for the next month or so while we live in this valley (the self proclaimed grass seed capital of the world), he needs to do the inhaler treatment morning and night. It will be nice. He does his inhaler much easier (more willingly) than the nebulizer.

That's the biggest change.

The doctor also thought my son will be better off in the new climate we will be in once we move. There will be less grass in Nevada- thus, less grass pollen to aggravate his asthma. That's one bright side to Nevada.

When asked about meds, I said that we had been using claritin for seasonal allergies and it doesn't seem to be working as well as the zyrtec. The doctor said zyrtec is a much better antihistamine.

The doctor asked about my son's peanut allergy reactions. When I told him about my son's most recent contact reaction, he shook his head slightly and said hadn't outgrown the allergy. There's no doubt. So we could have another skin test in a couple of years... but really, it seems unlikely he will outgrow the allergy.

No "shots". Again, my son was thrilled.

My son's prescriptions are renewed. We are armed with a note from the doctor to take to the new school district. The doctor is going to call with a doctor recommendation for our new area.

All in all, it was a great appointment.

Now I just need to get the prescriptions filled... new epipens, new inhaler medicines, and I need to pick up some zyrtec.

Home and Away

2011-05-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I painted my toenails red, white and blue. The kids think they are awesome. This morning, I put up the flag on the front of my house. The kids were excited. I read numerous expressions of gratitude on Facebook. I talked to my boys about the holiday. It felt good to celebrate. It felt good to mark the day as special.

Tonight, I took time to remember what it felt like to be an Army wife on Memorial Day. I remember the fear I felt- the fear that one day I would observe Memorial Day differently, as a widow.

Tonight, I thought of those that have lost everything in the name of service.

Tonight, I found this special by CNN: Home and Away

It's a powerful tool to see just how many lives have been lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you click on a specific month, the map shows the hometown locations of those that died. You can see how many people died each month from 2001-2010. You can search for a specific name. You don't have to know someone that's died to be powerfully touched by the sheer numbers. It shows 2,469 casualties for Afghanistan and 4,771 for Iraq. Each number has a name, a face, a hometown and loved ones.

So tonight, I honor those that have died in Iraq and Afghanistan by praying for their loved ones.

I am forever grateful.

This just in: Sunday Snapshot

2011-05-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

I took an after dinner photo of the kids for no other reason than the fact that two out of the three kids were standing next to each other laughing.

I love these kids.

Thursday Thanks Tank #155

2011-05-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today, I am thankful for:

my husband's job
my kid's laughter
a clean kitchen (and the sound of the dish washer washing my dishes)
music
an upcoming concert
flip flops (ya, I know- who am I?)
swim lessons for the kids
Google (because it allows me to find info for our move)
getting doctor appointments
friends that will watch kids
a great time visiting with a friend and letting the kids play
glow in the dark fingernail polish (I bought it for my daughter but, seriously, it's so funny when you get in bed and forget that you have it on- ya, my own fingers startled me)
fruit (especially cherries right now)
Pigtails on my little 3 year old
Pizza
Breakfast for dinner (which is what we had tonight)
A quiet house when the kids are in bed
My kids telling me stories about their school day
Encouraging my son as he writes a paper
An email from the school district where we are headed saying they are a nut-free district
the smile on my son's face when I told him that the school we are headed to will not serve peanut butter or peanut products in the lunch line and that they already have a peanut-free table set up ("nut-free" means they don't serve it, kids can still bring it to lunch)
the excitement of my peanut allergic son's brother's when they heard about the school not serving peanut products
the sadness I feel about leaving the school the kids are in now. I am thankful for the sadness... because of what it means... amazing teachers that care.
Chocolate (it's a love-hate relationship- but even with the calories there is more love than hate)
Lists
Cold Water
multiple kids wanting to say the blessing at dinner

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu

Food Allergy Thoughts This Week

2011-05-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

My son's food allergy is not something we just focus on during special occasions. It's something that we concentrate on daily. Here are my food allergy thoughts tonight.

Every so often, a food allergy is beneficial. Oh, not really. But, I always to try highlight the positive. Today my son's class got individual treat size M&M's as a reward. My son got a regular size Skittles. He didn't mind.

A few weeks ago, I called an ice cream manufacturer. Much to my dismay, the ice cream cartons do not contain a peanut warning but there is a peanut warning online. THAT is ridiculous. I called to voice my displeasure. They responded by appreciating my input and sending me a gift certificate for a free carton of the ice cream. What? Maybe their customer service representative wasn't really listening.

I am still eating peanut butter Reece's eggs when the kids are in bed. I might have stocked up on those a little too much when they were 50% off.

I continue to be touched by the kindness and forethought that people show with regards to my son's allergy. I have had school volunteers go out of their way to make sure my son gets a safe reward. I have had friends make sure to provide safe treats. Just the mere fact that my son's teacher keeps skittles on hand for my son because the coupon for free pizza is for a pizza place that isn't safe, makes me smile.

I had a unique opportunity to meet with another peanut allergy mom whose son will be starting kindergarten next year. It brought back memories. Starting school is such a trying time for parents of food allergy kids.

This past weekend, I couldn't attend an event because I didn't plan for it. It was an event with food. My options upon remembering late the night before were 1) pack my son his own lunch 2) buy something the day of the event and pay for it (meaning extra expense) or 3) just miss the event
I couldn't go. I didn't have the energy for it. Sometimes, it just sucks. That's the honest truth. And, I know everyone doesn't always understand.

I wish my local stores carried sunbutter. Soybutter is carried at Wal-mart. We don't like it that much.

I brought way too many cupcakes to the soccer party last week. But, it was my first time using thawed frozen cupcakes in addition to the fresh batch I made. It was helpful to have those frozen cupcakes on-hand. I will make cupcakes again soon so I can have frozen treats as back-up for events.

I went to pick up some raisins this past weekend for a family picnic we were having in our backyard. Instead of raisins, I grabbed some yogurt covered raisins as a treat. When I got home I read the label and it says, "May contain an occasional peanut." That's pretty specific and pretty darn scary, if you ask me. None of my boys would touch them.

A message (or 3 or 4)

2011-05-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

On the Move

2011-05-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Remember this post: "Moving!!"? That was funny. I caught a few people off-guard with that title.

This time, I am moving.

I am moving from Oregon to Nevada.

My moving thoughts:

-I will be married and live with my husband in Nevada. Oh, I know that's going to be good. (If you've lost track, we've been living apart since August of 2010.)

-I will try not to leave my husband with my kids every weekend. Try. Try. Try. I would never.

-Although I long to live in the South, near family, I realize that it is not the main goal for my family. My husband has been the sole provider for us for many years and I want to support him in his career. He is being promoted and is heading to a position that he is very excited about. (And, ya know, I am pretty darn proud of him.)

-Which will be worse, days and days of rain, or heat and wind? Someone apparently told my 6 year old that it is too hot to walk outside in Nevada. He does not want to go there. He says we won't even be able to walk to the car. Six year olds are very literal.

-How can I prepare for school for my peanut allergy kid when I am not sure where we will be yet? This is weighing on me heavily. We will move in July. I am searching and searching online for good schools. In the meantime, I am praying for peace.

-Nevada is not SEC. Is there a football team in Nevada? Geesh.

-Will my oldest son shed his dedication to the Oregon Ducks once we are in Nevada for a while? Oh, please God, please, please, please.

-What changes will I make? I am thinking about a major hair cut. (Interestingly, my husband loves the idea but my kids don't.) I keep dreaming about a part time job. I will shed the jeans. I will get outdoors more... probably wearing jeans! I will shed the stuff. Local friends: Don't be strangers, I am going to get rid of stuff in the next 2 months.

-It should be entertaining the first few times I fill my car with gas in Nevada. I'll pull up, pick up my phone and start surfing the internet. I wonder how long I will sit there before I realize you are expected to pump your own gas. (Yes, that's right, for those of you that don't know, we are not allowed to pump our own gas in Oregon. It used to annoy me. Now, I love it.)