October 6, 2008
I think if I was alone, I would move to coastal North Carolina and live in a small town. I can thank Nicholas Sparks for that thought - he’s my favorite author. I just love all of his romance novels. They’re good, but not trashy, which is why I like them. I just finished ‘The Choice’ this weekend. Anyway, he sets his stories in N.C. and just makes that place sound so desireable. Maybe Dwight & I will move there once the kids are grown.
Another CRAZY thought in my brain is that I feel like I want to have another baby. This is totally bizarre because my kids are 9 & 7 and I do NOT want to start all over again. I don’t know where this feeling is coming from. Maybe it has something to do with turning 34 last week. Maybe my body knows that it only has a few more good childbearing years left & it’s sending me signals. Maybe it’s just really hard to make a permanent decision about NOT having more kids. I know I need to be praying hard about this one - maybe this is leading me to the adoption issue too. THAT has been on my heart for awhile & is definately better than being pregnant again. (I did NOT have good pregnancies.) I guess I just wish that I had a bigger family. I would have really loved for my kids to have lots of siblings to play with & for their children to have lots of cousins.
My ear is killing me. I have an ear infection, which is probably just messing up my head. I am feeling a little overwhelmed as we’ve been doing soccer & the retaining wall project, work & trying to keep up with everyday chores. I need a break and I need a vacation. Dwight & I will be celebrating 12 years of marriage on the 26th & I really hope we can get out-of-town for the weekend AT LEAST! I can’t believe it will be 12 years already! Man, we struggled through some of those middle years, and now it seems like the last few have just flown by! I’m really proud of the man he has become since I first met him in college.
I can’t wait to get my ZOE CD. This is the first time in 6 or 7 years (at least) that no one from our church has gone to the Nashville Conference! I’ve lost track of the first one that Dwight attended many years ago. I just wish that they hadn’t raised the prices SO high! Remember when you could go for about half the price it costs now? We would definately go again if it didn’t cost so much.
My brother is flying into Chicago this weekend, so the kids & I are gonna head up to my parents’ house for the weekend. We’re gonna try to go to Brookfield Zoo while we’re there. It used to be an annual tradition when the kids were younger & Dwight would be travelling to Washington, D.C. for work, but it’s been a few years since we’ve been there. Since BOTH of my kids want to be Zookeepers when they grow up, I think we’ll all enjoy it. What’s your favorite animal to see at the zoo? I like the gorillas - esp. when there are babies around!
Enjoy this gorgeous Fall weather!!! I LOVE Fall!!!!
October 2, 2008
…..to get more Blog Hits today with that title!!!! Ha! Ha!
I wanted to write this post about money. My Small Group is doing a Crown Financial Ministries Video Series & it just reminded me of how bad off Dwight & I were 3 years ago and how we diligently worked to pay of several thousand dollars worth of debt in the past few years. It feels SO good to be out from under that weight! God was right - being in debt is like being in slavery!!! I encourage everyone reading this to live WITHIN your means & get out of debt ASAP by working hard & setting goals. You can do it!!! Dwight & I still have a little ways to go, but I feel like I can breathe again (and brreathing is good!)
In other news, I was saddened to read this morning that a guy I went to college with was killed in Afghanistan earlier this week by an IED. He was in my Freshman class and we were both Theatre Majors & had several classes together. For the first time, the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan have touched me personally. Please pray for the family of Gary Vasquez and all the families who have lost loved ones in these wars. May God bring the rest back home safely!!! (And SOON!)
September 29, 2008
I had an awesome weekend!!! Saturday was my Birthday, and I spent most of it hauling wheelbarrows full of dirt from my drive-way to our front retaining wall area. I told Dwight that I’ve never had to work so hard on my Birthday before! He rewarded me by getting a babysitter & taking me out to do my Birthday shopping! We grabbed a quick bite at ‘Noodles’ and then headed over to the Mall. THAT is love!!! If there are 2 things that Dwight hates (besides meatloaf) then it’s house projects & shoppping at the mall - and he did them both for me!
While we were at ‘Noodles’ I was talking about how I wanted a new purse. I was describing some things I liked & needed in a purse. The best part is that he didn’t go into a coma like I sometimes do when he starts talking about Disc Golf shots or the 18th hole of some course somewhere. Then I saw a cute purse that some girl had at the booth across from us & Dwight remarked “The purse is always greener on the other side.” He’s too funny! But did I get a purse at the mall??? No. I did get some new jeans, new black work pants & a brown turtleneck sweater.
Oh yeah - earlier in the day the kids had given me their presents - Jess gave me some cool silver & pink bracelets & Nick bought me a Nicholas Sparks book. He’s one of my favorite authors! They also got me a gift certificate to Target, so I took them out there to help me pick out a new outfit for going on my morning walks. We decided on some green sweatpants & a grey hoodie pullover.
On Sunday, I pretty much rested. After church, Dwight’s mom came over to visit for a little bit, Dwight went out & played some Disc Golf, and I got through a few loads of laundry while watching the Bears game.
This morning, I resumed my morning walks. It is getting SO dark in the morning!!!! When I start my walk, it is still pitch black! I walked a little over a mile today & I feel pretty good, but I’m still pretty sore from all the work on Saturday. Overall, I’m feeling pretty good - about life & about getting older & about my family & my relationship with God. And it feels good to feel good, so I’m gonna relish it while the good feelings are here, because I know how quickly bad news can come, so I’ve got to just live in this moment & enjoy. (I ttend to ramble in the morning!!!) Now the question of the day: Should I make coffee? I’m pretty awake, so I don’t need it to help me wake up, but I enjoy the taste. I think I’ll try to limit myself to ONE cup today! You know, to be healthy & all!!!
September 24, 2008
“I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing, and I know that grace rarely makes sense for those looking in from the outside.” - ‘The Shack’ I’m a few chapters into my 2nd reading of this new favorite book.
“Bach gave us God’s word. Mozart gave us God’s laughter. Beethoven gave us God’s fire. God gave us music that we might pray without words.” - This was some text found on a wall of a German opera house. I just wish that I could pray without words in my own church sometimes.
“The universe yet incomplete on the sixth day God created her WOMAN and God said to her I shall give to you a heart full of compassion, a spirit free to fly with the birds, a vessel to carry life into the world, wisdom to know great truths, courage to rise out of oppression, strength to move mountains, gentleness to kiss the earth, passion to set the world on fire, vision to respect the earth that bore you, a playful nature to dance with the children, laughter to fill the valleys, tears to wash the pain away, hands for laboring and loving, intuition to know the unknown, desire to be that which you were created to be, and God said to her WOMAN I have created you in my image and likeness and YOU ARE GOOD.” - Susanmarie Doyle I found this in a catalogue. It was written like a picture, so I have added a few, crude punctuations to help this read a little bit easier. I think it would make a great gift for any woman, but especially good for teen girls to build up their sense of self-worth, IMHO!!!
September 21, 2008
My Sara Groves ‘Conversations’ CD is gone. I have the case, but the actual CD is gone. I’ve searched through just about every other CD case I own just hoping that I shoved it in with another CD when I was in a hurry or something. I can’t find it anywhere & it’s driving me crazy!!! Then someone else (Amy) mentioned Sara Groves on her Blog tonight. As Dwight says - there’s a glitch in the Matrix. In other words, when something repeats itself in a short span of time, then it’s something you really need to pay attention to - like someone is trying to send a message to you. I could believe that. But I just wish the next message will include where to actually find the Sara Groves CD.
September 18, 2008
1. Catch up on laundry.
2. Food shopping. Take-out is getting expensive & sucking a hole out of our budget!
3. Make sure Nick & Jess have all their soccer equipment ready for the weekend.
4. Mow the backyard - it’s a jungle after all that rain!
5. Dishes. Didn’t I just do them???
6. Help with the kids’ homework. Sign random endless forms.
7. Go shopping soon for retaining wall supplies.
8. Start work on retaining wall.
9. Go over paperwork for medical/dental insurance and other various paperwork for Dwight’s new job.
10. Wash the kitchen floor. (It’s been months people. Seriously.)
11. Flop on couch, exhausted & take a nap.
I think I might just skip #’s 1-10 & go straight to 11!!!!
September 5, 2008
Rainbow Connection Lyrics
Why are there so many songs about rainbows
and what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they’re wrong, wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
Who said that every wish would be heard
and answered when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
All of us under its spell. We know that it’s probably magic.
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
September 4, 2008
Here’s just a few reasons why I don’t like her - she’s full of oil & gas!
(from Wikipedia) In 2007, Palin supported the Alaska Department of Fish and Game policy allowing Alaska state biologists to hunt wolves from helicopters as part of a predator control program intended to increase moose populations. The program was criticized by Defenders of Wildlife and predator control opponents, and prompted California State Representative George Millerto introduce a federal bill (H.R. 3663) seeking to make the practice illegal. In March 2008, a federal judge in Alaska upheld the practice of hunting wolves from the air, though limited its extent. On August 26, 2008, Alaskans voted against ending the state’s predator control program.
On January 5, 2008, the New York Times published an op-ed by Palin, presenting her view that the polar bear should not be placed on the endangered species list. In May 2008, Palin objected to the decision of Dirk Kempthorne, the Republican United States Secretary of the Interior, to list polar bears federally as an endangered species, saying this move was premature and was not the appropriate management tool for their welfare; the State of Alaska filed a lawsuit to stop the listing amid fears that it would hurt oil and gas development in the bears’ habitat off Alaska’s northern and northwestern coasts.
Palin also opposes strengthening protections for beluga whales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, where oil and gas development has been proposed.
September 1, 2008
…makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.” Actually, the summer breeze put me to sleep in my chaise in the shade today. I can’t even remember the last time I allowed myself to just rest & enjoy the day! Of course, it helped that Jess was out on a play date & Nick had a friend over. I just took some time to rest and it was great!
Hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day! With the Summer unofficially over, it’s time to work on our 2 big Fall Projects this year - putting landscaping in front of our house (I think we’re going to do a retaining wall) and re-finishing the basement, perhaps even changing some of the walls to add more space & possibly adding a half-bath downstairs too. Now the real trick is actually finding the time to do them, especially when Soccer Season has started! I just hope we get a late Winter this year!!!
August 28, 2008
My front porch is a 12′ x 10′ slab of concrete with an overhang. It’s one of those places I go to be crazy, especially during a thunderstorm. Since I live at the end of a cul-du-sac, there is virtually no traffic on my street. I can sit on my porch at night in solitude. And be crazy. Tonight, my kids were in bed, my husband went to bed early & the dogs were even asleep on the couch. Then the storm blew through. Since I was only sitting on my couch, having a beer & watching MythBusters, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for “fun”. I grabbed my beer & headed out to the porch to converse with God in the middle of the storm. (Hence, my being ‘crazy’.) I like it when the storm gets particularly violent. I feel empowered & peaceful, sitting in the security of my porch in the middle of chaos, talking to my God. That, and I feel totally uninhibited to sing brooding love songs & songs to my Savior in the middle of the storm. I shed a few tears about my failures as a wife, mother, friend, and Christ-follower. God responds with blinding flashes of light & thunder so loud that I feel it in my heart & under my seat on the cement. It’s like our own duet.
I always feel at peace after a storm. Just like the yellowing grass, my soul has been watered, even if I did most of the watering out of my own eyes.
Send Your rain, Oh Lord
Send Your rain, Oh Lord,
Send Your rain, to Your people.
Send Your rain, Oh Lord,
Send Your rain, Oh Lord,
Send Your rain, bring Your kingdom.
CHORUS:
Soften our hearts, pour out Your Spirit.
Fill us anew, let Your rain come.
(Repeat)
VERSE 2:
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
May Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
On the earth, bring Your kingdom.
