Ponderings...

Kicking Satan in the butt

2012-01-31T17:21:00.000-06:00

Monday wasn't a terrific day. I'd give it a oh, C-. I was looking forward to a better day today. Read on to find out about how I woke up...

As usual, DJ3 came in to wake me up. Nothing was bad about that. Even the time. 6:21 these days is fine.

It all started when I checked my email. Usually, first thing in the morning, this is a boring task. But not today. No, my friend Art wasn't mugged in Spain needing me to wire him money. This is great. Because if that happened to him AGAIN, I would have been even more annoyed.

Instead, I found out that at some point when I was asleep, ok, 12:12 a.m. to be exact, someone was pretending to be me. iTunes told me all about it in my receipt. I decided it was a phishing email after I woke up a little bit. I did the absolute worst thing. I clicked on a link. Then, I had no idea what to do about that stupidity. So I shut down my browser. And yelled for my husband. Since he is so smart, he was able to figure out I was NOT actually stupid. It wasn't a phishing email as far as he could tell, but a real, legitimate receipt from iTunes. He said if it was a phish, it was the best he'd ever seen.

After much browsing, I found out how to contact iTunes about this and let them know that "I," the real "me," did not order a $40 giftcard for kg. Now, the weird part was that whoever did order it did not use my credit card information. Just my name and email address. I have no idea how the person knew my password. Or not? A customer service representative helped me out on his end.

So we had a major school delay. Late start, they call it here. Not because of snow. But because of greed. I'm glad I don't have to report that to anyone official!

Anyway, this made me come up with a new password for at the very least, iTunes. I hate coming up with passwords. It makes me feel like I am married to it or disloyal to my up until then, perfectly good one. I don't like doing this. Never have, never will.

I wanted it to be ihatescammers or youstinkformakingmemakeupanewpassword or password or dontstealmythings or youareintrouble or onedayyouwillbepunished. And I can't tell you what it is, because then I'd have to, well, at this point, kill you.

I then decided that whoever knew (or now I think didn't have to know) my previous password might be smart and try it elsewhere. Why limit the fun to giftcards for kg at iTunes? So I changed it most places I visit online related to that email address...including that email address! I'm still thinking about chucking that email address for good and starting all over.

Finally, at 9:45, we had our morning meeting. As I was telling my children about what happened, the Holy Spirit told me to forgive this person or people and get on with my day. I didn't want to. I wanted to just be mad and rant and rave about it for a few hours. When I told my children that I was commanded to forgive, they were hesitant. "MOM, they stole from you!"

At our prayer time, I not only had already in my heart forgiven this person or people, but I also asked the Lord to forgive them and save them from their sins. After I said, "Amen," I laughed and said, "I just kicked Satan in the butt." That got their attention, all right!

I obeyed the Lord. I made Satan mad.

And the day improved.

Fighting, racing and keeping the faith...

2012-01-29T19:25:00.000-06:00

39 years. My mom said that is a long time to be alive. I agree.

I'm learning in my old age to appreciate each birthday, rather than avoid the reality that I'm older. I think I am finally understanding that it is a blessing to grow older. I find myself talking about my future grandchildren a lot. I'm not ready to be a Grandma right now, but each day, I am closer to it.

I have some grey hair. I have more pounds than I did before having children. I don't have as much energy. I have aches and pains. I might need reading glasses soon.

But I also have many blessings. I have an amazing family who loves me. I have friends who would do anything for me. I'm figuring out what is truly important in my life. And to embrace it.

While I love my new iPhone 4S, a LOT, I can live without it. What's important to me are the people who share my life. That is how I know I am blessed. The Lord has brought such dear people into my life...all 39 years of it. He must love me. This I know.

There are also a group of mostly ladies of whom I have met "in real life" and others who I have only conversed with online through the Sonlight Forums. I've been friends with many of them for upwards of 9 years. One of them, who called herself "Progressing Pilgrim"--a very true name for her--has earned her "Well, done, gracious servant" from Jesus today. Sandy spent her short life loving the Lord and because she couldn't help it--loving people around the world. She was a true progressing pilgrim.

So it is with bittersweet feelings that I think about my birthday inline with Sandy's death day. I can only hope that when my turn comes, I know I've lived my life without any regrets. That I will have lived like Paul writes in 2 Tim. 4: " ⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

I hope I fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. Sandy has her crown of righteousness. I am looking forward to seeing hers as I get mine one day as well.

The Lord has been teaching me much in the last few weeks about humility and submission. Sandy was a wonderful example of those qualities. Her life was short, but absolutely filled with the love of the Lord. I will miss her. And I am a better woman for having known her and been blessed with her own humility and submission. She fought the good fight, finished her race and kept her faith.

I don't know how many days I have left. But the Lord does. And I want each and every day I have left to bring glory to His name. Just like Sandy.

Forgetting and remembering

2012-01-26T15:53:00.000-06:00

I must be getting old. I mean I'm 3 days shy of 39.

I innocently decided to do our taxes. And that led to two shameful discoveries.

I signed my husband and myself up for a church event last night. And we didn't go. I totally forgot. That was it. Plain forgetfulness.
I might have thrown away my drivers license. Or I might have never gotten it. No one knows.

You see, I was up to the part about paying for motor vehicles or whatnot. When I went to look up our fees, I suddenly remembered that I didn't get a new drivers license sent to me.

I remembered opening the notice. I remembered filling out the online form. I remembered being shocked at the price. I remember talking about being shocked at the price.

But I didn't remember getting anything else in the mail. No license. No sticker. Nothing.

I searched every pile I could find for an envelope. In the process, I found the invitation to the church event. After appropriate time spent on feeling bad, I moved on to calling my husband and asking him if he knew anything. And that was silly. Because he didn't.

And then I read the fine print on the email receipt that I was finally able to locate on my computer: "You can expect to receive your license within 15 business days in an unmarked envelope for your protection."

Oh. Yeah.

Today was way past 15 days. And -3 days until my license expired.

I had one choice.

You know it.

I took MK4 and DJ3 with me to the DMV. All I could think of to keep them entertained was their math books. So with sharpened pencils, we left.

The only other time I've ever not waited was when I was very pregnant. (That was because I was pregnant.) Our math books never got opened. A nice lady gave them some coloring books and crayons. And they were happy. (They were actually a bit annoyed that I kept making them move around the room.)

I got a ticket with A55 on it. I usually memorize that number. And place bets. Well, today, I didn't even get to sit down. Now serving "A55" blinked about twice before I could even get there from Line 2.

The lovely Tina helped me out. She was absolutely efficient. Kind. Helpful. And she personally went to verify that I didn't have to pay again before sending me to the cashier. The cashier didn't make me pay because it said, "No pay. Tom." on it. And then all we had to do was wait for the machine to print my new license.

This took about 13 minutes. If that.

I'm shocked. And today, pleased that my tax dollars didn't stab me in the back.

The icing on the cake was getting a Rules of the Road book for AC13. We had a great discussion last night about driving. You know, when I was supposed to be at the church event.

Trouble!

2012-01-24T18:19:00.001-06:00

We are in TROUBLE! Last week, DJ3 discovered the Wii. I have to admit he is better at Mario Kart than I am. I know that isn't saying much for me, but it is true.

Today, it was the XBox 360. He insists on playing Monopoly, even though he calls it, "the game that starts with the letter M." This morning, he discovered Pac Man. Now he wants to play "the ghost game." I'm longing for the simpler preschool games that used to keep his attention. I hope he hasn't moved on from them.

This boy is absolutely creative in his communication. When he doesn't know a word, he can make himself known in a variety of ways. He doesn't have a dull moment in him!

He figured out how to change his profile picture on Windows. He can now Skype people. (I'm sorry if he Skypes you and doesn't know you!) He puts things in my Amazon shopping cart. He also puts things in other shopping carts. He would call China if he knew anyone there.

This boy loves to clean the toilet. I actually said earlier today, "You're lucky I'm letting you clean the toilet at all!" I've never said that to a child. Or anyone, for that matter.

He is obsessed with numbers. "What number are we on?" he asks often. This can be in the car, or about the temperature, street number. Anything he knows has a number, he wants to discuss it. Last week at Great Clips, the lady asked me my phone number. He started telling her our address. She almost fell over. He is plowing through his Kindergarten math book. Why does he even have a math book? Because he insisted on having one for himself. Yesterday in the car, he wanted to count to 100 with me. For fun. He can almost tell time.

He loves letters. All day, we spell. Today he said, "How do you spell 'Dora the Explorer?' This was right after he already drew Dora and wrote all by himself, 'Dora the.'

He loves to take pictures. He would do that for hours on end if the batteries didn't run out. He also has decided that he likes to be in pictures. He also loves to draw now. And write. Write. Write.

He loves puzzles of all kinds. He says he needs help. But he really doesn't.

He can read every show on the TiVo. He can use it without any help. He can add movies to my Netflix queue and put them at #1 to watch instantly on the TV.

And tonight, he discovered our Leap Frog talking globe. He seems to be enamored with Australia and the compass rose. And now he is sharing his knowledge with MK4. She's going to learn all these things whether she likes it or not.

And whether I like it or not, there may be more Mario Kart in my future.

NIMBY, or my family room, please!

2012-01-23T07:34:00.002-06:00

AC13 and NR11 really liked the idea of having a huge Thrive (junior high youth group) Super Bowl party at OUR house. They begged. They pleaded.

And I gave them my honest answer. Maybe you are like me?

I said, "If the Giants are in the Super Bowl, then NO!" I know full well, that if I had 30+ junior highers and wonderful leaders in my house during the game, I'd not get to watch any of it. Unless I snuck out and locked myself in my bedroom!

I love Super Bowl parties. I just don't want to be a hostess to one when my FAVORITE team is playing in the game.

I mean, all my hours of watching and cheering and the ups and downs throughout the season lead to this one game. I felt I had already made a sacrifice a few weeks ago and KNEW I might have to miss the playoff game AND missed it with a smile on my face. And I was hostessing a very big, important party, although not in my house.

But I feel I did my time. And now my boys are going to abandon me and go somewhere else to watch the Super Bowl with their friends.

And I get to watch it in my quiet house. Probably too quiet. But DJ3 and MK4 are super "Go Giants" yellers.

My next task is to get us all in appropriate fan gear. They had the nerve to outgrow their 2008 Super Bowl attire!

We're coming up with ideas for a wager with my sister-in-law, the ONLY Patriots fan in the family. Please share your ideas!

"Stop fighting!"

2012-01-20T00:44:00.001-06:00

"Stop fighting!" I have said many times lately to my children.

Well, tonight, God clearly told ME to "Stop fighting!" While I don't think my admonishments help my children to stop fighting, His spoke loud and clear to me this evening.

Here are some excerpts from my journal since January 8 (our church is going through a 40-day "spiritual bootcamp"):

Please preach to me and make me clean where I am sinful...
His timing is His.
Bring ____ to Jesus on a mat?!?
Follow Jesus wherever He goes before me.
What would Jesus do?
Maybe this is about ME and not _______.
Lord, I feel like I am drowning. Please rescue me and help me not to sin in the process!
Lord, You amaze me with your word. It is alive with you. Help me!
Our sin affects those around us.
Jesus wants us to obey Him and participate in His miracles!
God's word is so rich that I continue to learn new tings even after reading a passage 100+ times.
Do I still not understand?
Lord, thank you for Your mercy and grace. Please help me understand where I do not. Please help me to live for You and praise Your name!
Jesus requires us to follow Him with all we have.
Lord, I am low on patience. I pray You will only give me things I ask for that will benefit me or others.
Do the right thing, although it will be difficult at times.
Lord, You are so faithful to me. I am encouraged.
Obey the Lord when He asks us to do hard things.
Jesus knows our hypocrisy.
Do not be badly mistaken--Know the Scriptures!
Jesus hates pride.
Lord, help me to obey You no matter how hard. Help me to hide Your Word in my heart. I can't do it without You!

Part of our bootcamp is to be accountable to other believers. The ladies in my small group are those people. Tonight, I just laid out all my struggles with a big issue I have in my life. I was gently told to ask God to come alongside me and help me love someone I struggle with loving. My friends prayed for me. And even when they were praying for others of us, I heard the Holy Spirit clearly say, "Stop fighting!"

Our bootcamp is called "On the Edge." After the first day, I had to email my small group ladies and my pastor to tell them that God was clearly doing something in my life. What? I didn't know. But now, I have direction. It begins with "stop fighting."

Up until now, I thought I was fighting with people. Arguing. Trying to be right. Trying to love God more than man. Trying to obey. But I was really fighting with God. And now I am to fight my sin.

And now, I know that I can only love God more than man by loving those I struggle with loving. That is how I am to stop fighting. That is how I am to obey.

This is eye-opening to me. This is real. This is God working in my sinful heart. This is God answering my prayers. This is God's faithfulness to me. This is God using His Word for His Glory. This is Jesus making me clean. This is Jesus who began a good work in me carrying it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This is Jesus telling me to do something I cannot do without Him. This is the Holy Spirit alive in me. This is not living out my faith alone. This is AMAZING!

After I got home, I opened my Bible once more. I was able to see the bigger picture, which is unusual for me. I was able to read between the lines. While I was doing that, a worship song came into my head. Here it is:

At first, I wondered why the Lord would make me think of this song. And then it became clear:

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner's cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

Chorus
You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written 'Christ is risen,'
Jesus you are Lord of all

No beginning and no end
You're my hope and my defense
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross

So let your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher

And then, the Lord led me to Luke. In 6:27, It says, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." It goes on to say in verse 35, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." I wanted to stop there, because that was what I was thinking about. But it doesn't stop there!

Verse 41: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Ouch. I love those verses when I'm the one with the speck. This time, I was the one with the plank. I hope I the plank is now gone.

What am I to do about all this? I don't really know yet. But I know it involves love. I also know it involves the Lord. I also know Jesus loved me first. He will love me through my sin and has forgiven me, because I have asked Him to. What's next? I don't know. I just know I am not alone, and I cannot do this alone. Jesus is holding my hand.

Apple sauce? You want ME to make apple sauce?

2012-01-18T08:50:00.002-06:00

"But I had different plans for my day!" I tried to explain to MK4 and DJ3 after hearing their persistent begging to make apple sauce.

"But we have to make apple sauce!" MK4 insisted. She's been asking since Saturday to make it. She was horrified that I didn't buy apples at the store. And then AG9 reminded my husband on Monday to buy some apples. And he did.

MK4 insisted she knew how to make apple sauce. I figured she got the idea from a show, so after some questioning, we have Sid the Science Kid to thank for this idea.

I have never made apple sauce. But it seemed harder than her instructions. "First you cut the apples, then you put them in a pot. Then you mash them. Then you cook them more and mash them more." So I decided not to trust that plan exactly and went to my new favorite website, Pinterest. I searched for apple sauce and found what seemed NOT a hard recipe to make in the crockpot.

We had a blast. It was way more fun than I anticipated. The only problem now is how to convince them that it will take 6 hours for the apples to cook. But then we get to mash them!

So preschool today was making apple sauce. And, later, eating it.

They're now trying to keep busy for 6 hours. There is already persistent begging to "get to page 100" in their math books.

I think we should get dressed first.

I love how the Lord's plans are superior to my own. All I was going to do was get started on my chores before AC13 woke up for his turn in school.

And I felt hugged by the Lord. Yesterday was a downer of a homeschool day, which left me feeling unconfident and defeated. But I think the Lord used apple sauce to get me where I need to be for today. It is a new day filled with new chances.

Three cheers for DJ3...and an unexpected end to our celebration

2012-01-11T17:32:00.002-06:00

11:27 a.m.: DJ3 pooped in the potty. This meant we dropped everything and headed out to Chuck E Cheese, for his promised reward. We cheered him, high-fived him, sang to him.

Since it was lunchtime, I sprang for the yucky pizza, too. The restaurant was pretty empty. Just a couple of other customers.

And then a big bus came. And on it were some bigger kids. Some of them liked being there more than others. They all had adults who were extremely interactive and caring of them. I actually had warm fuzzies.

Until.

I was trying to get DJ3 his "prizes" for turning in his tickets. AG9 and NR11 were trying to get my attention. They were obviously unhappy. Something bad happened.

"Mom, the girl in the tubes and slide pulled my hair really hard," AG9 said. "She slapped me in the face," NR11 reported. They wanted justice. Or at least me to talk to someone. I simply asked them what she was wearing, so I could figure out what to do. They kept pointing at her, and loudly said, "That's her. Right there." Right there as well was the girl's chaperone/teacher. She initiated with me to find out what "that girl" did. She was not surprised. She was very sorry, overly apologetic.

And I felt horribly torn. I have no idea what the girl's challenges in life are all about. It didn't appear that the girl thought she had been mean. It didn't appear that by "telling on her" that it would help anything. But my kids felt better after talking to the woman.

While the woman was explaining more about the girl, AC13 finally found me. He had been looking for me to tell me that the same girl had pushed him and scratched him. It was an awkward moment, because the rest of us officially knew the girl was "overly excited" and probably didn't mean harm. Her chaperone/teacher felt horrible that my kids had been hurt by her student. I tried to make her feel better, but she was in a rough place like me.

I want to be there for my kids and defend them and protect them and get justice for them. But this didn't seem like the time or the place for that. The girl wasn't some mean bully who needed to be put in her place. She just didn't know better. And, maybe my kids were overreacting to what she did.

It turned out, the bus was leaving. They were on their way out. But after I took a better look at AC13's face, I decided to show it to the woman. He had a horrible scratch on the verge of bleeding that went from the right of his nose all the way past his eye on his forehead in a circle. It looks quite painful. He says he is fine. He just wanted to be heard.

I was happy to hear their reports regarding what they did after she attacked each of them. They did right even when wrong was done to them. I'm proud of them. I'm happy to see that they're learning more about their world. And how to make it better.

Thank you, Lord!

2012-01-09T14:21:00.000-06:00

Icky.

Today NR11 had a history chapter about women's rights. I couldn't just read it to him. I had to stop at every sentence to explain it further. It isn't "that" simple.

Especially the part about Roe v. Wade. I know the 39th anniversary of it is on the horizon. I was born the following Monday in 1973. I've heard about it my whole life.

I thought about skipping it. He's 11. He can live his 11-year-old life fine without knowing about Roe v. Wade. But I couldn't avoid it. I clearly heard the Holy Spirit tell me to talk about it with him. It was uncomfortable for me. But I obeyed.

And when I thought we were done, NR11 volunteered in a quavery voice, "Thank you for not doing that to me, Mom."

I wouldn't have traded that moment for more "comfortable" school.

12 for 2012!

2012-01-02T11:06:00.001-06:00

"So much to do, not enough time." I don't like making priorities. To me, that means that not everything can be important. And, well, I want most of what I do to be important!

I have some goals for 2012. You will not find normal goals on this list...because a) I'm not normal and b) that's not fun.

Top 12 goals for 2012 (not in priority order, of course!)

Ok, I can stop right now. "Do you know what I have a hankering for?" my husband JUST asked. "Blueberry muffins?" I asked, with a smile. "Ding, ding, ding! Is that what is in the oven right now?"

Well, since I thought of the goals, I am going to share them. You don't have to read them, of course.

1. Kiss my husband 12 times a day!
2. Actually do the job that I pull out of the job jar! I'd like to do 12 jobs per day.
3. Read at least 12 books that I actually want to read.
4. Go to 12 new restaurants.
5. Make 12 decorating improvements in my house. This is vague. On purpose.
6. Read the Bible for 12 minutes a day. Longer is better.
7. Not become a size 12. This is my version of a diet. I'm still an 8. I'd like to go down to a 6 again, but that would be a normal goal!
8. Grow 12 different plants in my garden.
9. End the year with 12 emails in my inbox.
10. Do 12 random acts of kindness.
11. Visit 12 friends, one at a time.
12. Make 12 new recipes. From scratch.

Bonus: Become a mom to a 12-year-old again! :) That will be on March 9.

Angry new year

2012-01-01T07:45:00.001-06:00

There I was. It was 9:13 p.m. on NYE. I had declared I was going to bed. I was simply exhausted. And I'm old enough that staying up to midnight isn't terribly exciting.

But I had a problem. I couldn't sleep. With all the chirping and snorting. Right there in my room. In my bed, even. And then I felt guilty for not actually sleeping, and went to the basement to join in the pasta puzzle. But once it was done, I could try to sleep again. But it really is hard to sleep with all that noise.

Earlier in the evening I decided to ask a simple question. "Honey, can I play Angry Birds on your phone?" Up until that moment, I was the last person--on some scale--to ever play that game. At first, I thought not playing it was a good thing. It made me stand out. And then I realized all the fun I must be missing out on. I'm not one to want to miss out on fun! I asked him how to play, and he gave me some tips. "But why are the birds angry at the pigs?" I innocently asked. I really do prefer pigs to birds, and if I'm going to go the bird side, I need a good reason. "Because they stole their eggs!" he said, as if there was not a worse crime.

So, I took the slingshot in my hands and after just ONE game, I was hooked. Time after time, I got the high score. And that, my friends, was how I stayed up until 12:40 a.m. Only because my husband asked if he had to take the phone away from me.

After every game, I watched the clock to see how many more games I could get in before I felt the need to join the big kids for the countdown to 2012. At 11:54, I went downstairs and subjected myself to yet another horrible non-Dick Clark New Year's Eve local show. Six perfectly good minutes of Angry Birds time down the drain.

I'd already declared 2012 The Year of Buying 0 Diapers. That is a great thing, because I won't have any time for that. Those Angry Birds need my help!

GO CATS!

2011-12-31T10:38:00.000-06:00

My latest addition to my Northwestern Wildcats wardrobe! This is from my dear friend Terra, who made a special trip to deliver it to me this morning. "If we win, I am going to give the Snuggie much credit!" I said. Here's hoping the Snuggie and the 2011 Wildcats can put an end to the Bowl Game Losing Streak.

GO CATS!

Surprise!

2011-12-28T13:42:00.001-06:00

Ding-dong.

"Mom, It's Mrs. Cain!" AG9 announced. "What? Why is Mrs. Cain here?" NR11 asked.

"Well, open the door then," I shouted from the kitchen.

Hidden behind this beautiful yellow-pitcher vase with daisies was an elderly Chinese woman. "Happy New Year!" she said as she handed me the flowers.

"Ok, that wasn't Mrs. Cain. But she had the same van!" AG9 admitted.

All I can say is Mrs. Cain would love the flowers sent by my in-laws!

Creative Christmas!

2011-12-26T08:27:00.000-06:00

We had a splendid Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa were here...that made it most splendid of all. Rob's grandma made AMAZING gift tags for the kids that I am saving. I hope to put them in a shadow box, they are that incredible. Inside, was cash rolled up beautifully. I don't have enough adjectives for this in my vocabulary.

AG9's napkins adorned our table. Grandma made a new yummy egg dish.

And then.

Grandma and Grandpa gave the older kids their own cameras. And they spent hours taking pictures and making videos.

Rob introduced MK4 and DJ3 to the slinky. DJ3 calls it the "yellow thing with circles." They had non-stop fun making it go down the stairs scoring touchdowns.

MK4 got an art kit from Aunt Christine and Maya and Uncle Tim. She insisted on going to bed at 6 p.m. after I said she could do one project per day. She went to bed at 6:45, when I gave in to this. She went to sleep immediately. She made a bird. Today she is making a cow...or a dog.

The people who work at LeapFrog astounded me with their creativity in the Tag reading system. I am flabbergasted by their ingenuity.

After at least five years, I now have a new fireplace screen. It is not terribly creative, and really quite simple, but I love its possibilities for embellishment.

AG9 made me a lovely card and gift and NR11 came up with a creative gift for me as well.

Auntie Becky gave each kid a bird that makes the appropriate sound and a nice book to help us learn more about birds in our area.

And, most creatively, I got some terrific new Bible tools to learn more about the most creative Creator, Father to Jesus, whose birth was the reason for the day in the first place!

We are blessed.

Art!

2011-12-22T14:12:00.000-06:00

DJ3's latest art project...before.

Thanks to Magic Eraser...after.

2011-12-22T09:23:00.000-06:00

I've discovered Pinterest. People I know and people I don't know share way too many fabulous ideas. ~~And now my life is over.~~

The only way I can even begin to reap the benefits of Pinterest is to broaden my life. I'm almost 39, after all. So for 2012--and maybe beyond--I'm going to attempt to try one new thing per day. It might be a recipe, craft or new way to do an old thing. I'll let you know how it goes.

And, if you want an invite, just let me know!

The explosion

2011-12-19T20:17:00.000-06:00

Dear Dow Chemical Company Scientists/Engineers/Thinkers,

I read that YOUR company invented Styrofoam peanuts in 1965. By my calculations, that is 46 years ago. Men have been to the moon, yet you can't improve these nasty little things that make all mothers get 29 gray hairs just thinking about?

I am certain whoever came up with these didn't have small children. Maybe the person was never even a small child. Because, EVERYONE knows, these have some magical attractive force that compels ALL people to want to tear them up and "make it snow" inside. The difference between adults and small children is only this: Adults have most likely had fond memories of ripping them apart to make snow. And they probably also have not fond memories of being forced to clean up the mess. And they know the struggle within a small child's mind. Actually, there is no struggle in a small child's mind who has never done this. It is simply, "Wow!" Many children love the packing peanuts more than whatever it was they were supposedly protecting during shipping.

Here's what happened to us THIS year. I say THIS year, because every year, I have a story. This is the 2011 version. It is nothing like the 2010 version. Read on.

I was searching for a Christmas gift I believe someone bought me. I looked through all the boxes that have arrived since Thanksgiving. I couldn't find it. The last box I opened was absolutely huge. Not terribly heavy, but huge. It says, "24 X 10 X 36 (X26)." I'd say it was 70% full of packing peanuts. Yesterday. I even asked my husband to "dive in" and make sure there were no more gifts in it. After he got some white stuff in his hair and all over his arms, he said he was fairly sure there was not another gift inside. He told me I knew the only way to make sure. I didn't think it was worth it.

AG9 felt the magical attractive force. "Can I put some of these in a bin and take them to the basement?" she asked. "WHY?" I demanded. "Because I like them," she replied. "And you will clean them all up?" I questioned. "Yeah," she said, and thought, "Uh, why do you expect a mess, Mom?"

Late this afternoon, I was a little cold. So I turned on my electric blanket and snuggled under it for a little. I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up to, "Merry Christmas! It's snowwwwwwing!" chants from MK4 and DJ3. I had no idea what that really meant until I went down the stairs. The entire foyer was covered in white. And the white spread into the kitchen, dining room, library and office. The office was the key. I found some peanuts sticking to the side of the brand new computer with large air holes. I imagined my husband's reaction to this after a horrible day at work. So I went into full-blown Mommy Mode.

Just as I was assessing the situation, MK4 asked to take a bath. I would have made her wait. BUT DJ3 was also asking to take a bath. And if that boy asks to take a bath, you give him a bath! After much teamwork, we had two people over the age of 9 in the bathroom at all times helping with the bath, and myself and one helper cleaning up. We rotated around. It worked. And then, when I went to get MK4 and DJ3 out of the bath and into pajamas, I explained that they would not get to eat dinner until we cleaned up. Well. It was 6:45 p.m. Nothing motivated the older boys more than saying, "If some of it gets in the new computer, I don't know what will happen to it. BUT I will not buy another one!"

Each one of us in the house (6) spent at least 45 minutes cleaning up. We learned quickly that nothing worked as well as just scooping them up with our hands. The broom was a joke. The sweeper only liked to eat the ripped up ones. We had various levels of static electricity working against us. I was so desperate, I asked my Facebook friends what to do. Here are their answers:

Sarah Vogel McCully Sprinkle with water. Or attach a fabric softener sheet to a swiffer?
about an hour ago · · 1
Elizabeth Kuhlken have a contest with your kids. Whoever picks up the most wins a prize!
about an hour ago · · 1
Sean Goldmann If you roll around in a wool sweater, does your static charge attract the peanuts, or does it just look funny?
about an hour ago ·
Andrea Cain The armed forces use Silly String to locate mines, maybe it can be used to sweep up packing peanuts.
47 minutes ago ·
Leslie Petroff Buehrer Dust mop?
- Michelle Roark Johnson One at a time by hand, after first stopping up the vacuum cleaner.
  13 hours ago ·
- Robyn Whitlock shop vac.
  13 hours ago ·
- Heather Brown Alderden More humidity in the air?
  13 hours ago ·
- Rapus Bunupuradah Blow dryer... Into a corner? Then sweep into dust pan... Or lots of duct tape....
  12 hours ago ·
- Sherry Casella Vacuum cleaner hose.
  12 hours ago ·
- Benjamin Atkinson Put a humidifier in the room, put it on as high as you can and bring the humidity up in the room. Then they will be easy to pickup without sticking to everything.
  11 hours ago · · 2
I really appreciate their answers. And humor. And I know that each of them, were they visiting at that exact moment, would have tried their answer and even more.
After it was 95% cleaned up--because let's face it, NO ONE can clean up 100% of these things--I asked for ideas on what to do with the box with most of its contents refilled. AG9 had the correct answer: Tape it up!

She said this, because the 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 versions of this story include throwing out these boxes the night before garbage day and uh, frantically running around the cul de sac trying to pick them off the neighbors' lawns. She doesn't like this, and remembers.

I taped up the box. Well. And it is in the garage. Thursday night, out she goes. Buh-bye.

Thank you for listening to this tale of woe. If you would invent a packing peanut destroyer/picker-upper soon, I will buy it.

But please don't ship it with packing peanuts.

Sincerely,
Sarah
Mom of 5
Realistic Human Being

Apples to Windows

2011-12-18T07:51:00.002-06:00

I've had many comments this year about how much wrapping I must have to do. In reality, I have wrapped four gifts. No, I didn't leave one of my children out!

I've wrapped three White Elephant gifts and one ornament. And "wrapped" is really not true. I put them in gift bags with tissue paper.

If you don't live in my house, and I want to give you a gift, then I send you a gift that someone else wraps. (Better than I wrap, too!)

You see, in our family, we have moved on to the "family gift" idea. Instead of multiple smaller gifts, we have one big gift for everyone. We have to appeal to ages 3-almost 39. Males and females.

This year, we decided to add a new computer to our collection. But here's the kicker: It is a WINDOWS machine. Not a beloved Apple. Why? My computer-geek husband had a few reasons. And when it comes to computers, I do not win the battles. In fact, I don't even engage enough to make it a battle anymore. I simply put my hands up in surrender and nod my head. It works for us.

And for Christmas, this is great for me, since I didn't even have to go online to order one thing for him!

So Friday night began the "make the computer" class that he was teaching his three oldest children. He's made many before. And he's exceptionally great at it.

That was one reason to have a huge, honking PC desktop. Another was this little thing that just came out: Star Wars, the Old Republic. In our house, it is called SWTOR. It can only be played on Windows. Another reason was something I can't fully divulge, but it would be great to have a Windows machine to test some things my husband and I are cooking up. And then there is still the argument that our children will have to know how to use Windows most likely to get a job. One day.

Although we love our Apples, we can't put all our computers in one basket, it seemed.

Another computer also goes a long way in this house of now seven people who are competent or better at using them.

Interestingly, AC13 and NR11 know what to do without a lick of help. AG9 hasn't used it yet because she had a better offer of a sleepover. And, well, DJ3 wanted to use the behemoth this morning while my husband was sleeping. And, I, uh, had some trouble. So, um, I'm totally getting the whole "kids have to set the VCR clock" phenomenon of 30 years ago. Back then, I did have to set the VCR clock. I didn't understand the difficulty involved. And now, well, if it is Windows or even the XBox 360, if they had blinking clocks, I wouldn't be able to fix them.

I'm going to stick to my Apple. It doesn't make me yell. It makes sense to me. And, well, I have five children who can make the Windows work. DJ3 will know how by tomorrow. If his brothers let him use it after they wake up.

What I got for Christmas

2011-12-16T21:34:00.000-06:00

Our pastor asked what we wanted for Christmas last Sunday. I couldn't think of much. Until Tuesday. You see, I had tried my LAST attempt at cleaning our carpets. It didn't work. I almost cried. But instead I went online to have Sears come and do it professionally. I signed up for this afternoon. And I was going to have clean carpets for Christmas. I know, I should get out more...

"Mom, why are you taking pictures? Are you posting about this on your blog or something?" AC13 asked.

"Oh, yes, Son," I replied. "I'm thinking of my blog post as I clean this up!"

Clean what up?

Well, yesterday, I got a call that they were coming between 11-2. I could work with that! As much as I could yesterday, I tried to get ready. I had no idea what "getting ready" for the carpet cleaners really entailed. I had some good guesses, though. I didn't get as much done yesterday as I had wanted. My overall goal was to get everything off the carpets except the furniture...and Christmas tree.

So I began this morning at 7:30. My bedroom was not as hard as I expected. As my children woke up, we did normal morning things, including our "meeting." I laid down the 11th Commandment. THOU SHALT NOT EAT UNLESS YOU AND THE FOOD ARE IN THE KITCHEN!

And then, they saw why. It was a super learning opportunity. And I hope it spoke louder to them than any words I could say.

We had people picking up salvageable items. I was picking up big garbage items. You name it, it was under or in the couch. Try me: pens, pencils, Skittles, M&Ms, bagels, crackers, staples, markers, crayons, paper, toys, barrettes, blocks, Cheetos, crumbs, Twizzlers, cars, Barbie clothes, wipes, rubber bands, sunglasses, books, Scrabble tiles, flashcards, Boots, wrappers, pen tops, batteries, dice, hairbands, nail clippers, Chuck E Cheese coins, raisins AND the dreaded mouse poop I feared from round 2 of Mouse vs. Sarah.

I was at first secretly afraid I would find a dead mouse somewhere near the couch. Under, in, behind... Each time I escaped not finding one, I \0/ the Lord. Right then. There. And then it wasn't a secret that I was afraid. MK4 spent a lot of the morning saying to anyone who would listen, "You don't have to be afraid. God is always with you."

I have no idea when was the last time a person slept on the sofa bed mattress. But I do know that I will not allow anyone to sleep on it ever again. And the sheet that was on it is in a garbage dump. I didn't find any holes or stuffing missing or anything like that. But it was still unpleasant. And it could have been worse.

As I was cleaning up pretty much anything that could fit in or under a couch, I got a chance to say, "At least I'm not carrying around a bag 'o rats!" AC13 thought it was a good opportunity to say it, even though I've been overdoing it lately.

AC13 bargained with me that he could get school minutes for helping. Heck, if he had asked for $100, I might have done that! He was an incredibly helpful helper. And I know he won't eat away from the kitchen soon. I'm happy he wasn't stabbed by the spiky floor mat that we carried out to the garbage and lay on top of our black rugs at the curb.

That picture is my poor arm. :(

After we finished the family room job, which turned into jobs, I was pleased that it was 10:30. And then, of course, I realized we hadn't gotten to the office yet! That was when I went into panic mode. I knew, knew, knew that they would now show up at 11 since I wasn't going to be ready. And I knew if I was ready at 11, they'd show up at 2. I was hoping for 2!

At 11:16, after declaring the carpets cleared enough AND vacuumed multiple times, I announced I was going to take a shower. My quick-thinking mind helped me come up with a plan in case the carpet cleaning men came while I was in the shower. Because it dawned on me that that might happen. The plan was that AC13 would answer the door. AG9 would run as fast as she could up to my bathroom to tell me they were here and would keep announcing it until she got a response from me. And then I'd get out immediately and deal with the bad timing somehow.

I was putting my pants on, when I heard the distinctive, "beep, beep, beep" of a van backing up. And I almost couldn't put my pants on because I was laughing so hard at the timing. I flew down the stairs and opened the door just as they stepped on the porch.

I won.

So Dan and Bob cleaned 6 rooms, the stairs AND our dining room chairs. They were humorous, entertaining, interesting and between them had 45 years of carpet cleaning experience. Dan thought it was funny that I was so embarrassed about the family room carpet's mess. To him, it was really under-par. Nothing. Not the worst he had ever seen. Phew.

I'm glad that is done. I am thinking we should do it before another four years pass, huh?

15!

2011-12-14T14:53:00.002-06:00

One and a half decades. 15 years. 180 months. 780 weeks. 5,478 days.

That's how long I've been a Mrs. now.

Most of those days have been great. Some have not. You know, "For better or worse." We've had more better than worse, praise the Lord.

I am amazed that this man who asked me to marry him has been able to put up with me for this long. I don't think he fully knew what he was getting himself into back in 1995 when he popped the question. The man is a saint. I know that now. I had no idea how difficult I was to live with until we got married.

But here we are. "We" is the key. We are celebrating 15 years of marriage today. Not the 15th December 14 since our wedding. But the 15th year of marriage. Living daily, hourly, minutely life together. Thanks, honey, for your patience, perseverance, protection and passion for me.

My daughter wants to walk your dog

2011-12-12T15:46:00.000-06:00

If the advertising gets off the ground, AG9 will eventually start a business. And I think she will make a profit. This girl is an entrepreneur-in-the-making.

Her ideas are quite creative. Sure, she has had a lemonade stand. But beyond that, she and NR11 were going to wash bikes and scooters. They wanted to open a restaurant in our kitchen with a limited menu. She's still figuring out how to sell her napkins.

And now...she wants to walk dogs. She's right now rifling through my desk in search of rubber bands. She wants to put flyers on front doors, apparently. I just suggested putting them in mailboxes, and she actually thought that was a great idea.

That is the thing with her. Can't give her much advice. She's a girl on a mission. Her own. I've asked her some "business plan" questions. How much will you charge? How long will the walk take? Are you taking plastic bags? She is still thinking about this. But last I heard, $2.50 for a walk. If the dog poops, she will charge an extra $.50. How long? Depends how big the dog is. Apparently, the bigger it is, the longer it might take to poop. She will only take two plastic bags because some owners have plastic bag holders on their leashes already.

She is determined to make money one way or another. She's come up with a convoluted plan for buying Christmas gifts. And after that, she wants to pay for her own dog.

In case you didn't know me when I was 9 and up...well, I, too came up with plan after plan to earn money...and get a dog. I didn't get one until I was 13.

The kids have recently ramped up the "I want a dog!" statements. So I asked them if they would rather go to Disney World or get a dog. The vote was uneven. AG9 insists her way of thinking is right: "A dog will last a LOT longer than Disney World!"

I'm not opposed to a dog anymore. I'm almost on board the doggy express. The question is, would my husband rather have a dog or go to Disney World? I honestly don't know the answer to that. I'm not happy about that. In two days, we will celebrate our 15th anniversary. You'd think I might know him well enough by now to answer that for him.

He is great!

2011-12-11T13:50:00.000-06:00

My baby went down the drain in my shower six years ago. I have one of those photo memories in my brain of it.

For the first time since this happened, it was a Sunday again. Funny how that happens every six years...

Like today, six years ago, I went to church. I wanted to just cry about it to God. And I did.

It was hard to sing about the birth of a special baby to come. It was hard to look at the baby in Red Robin after church. We had to leave.

It was hard to do everything those dark days, except worship the Lord. I did that at all hours of the day and night. I couldn't escape His loving hold on me.

So far, that was the darkest time of my life. It consumed me.

Six years later, this morning on the way to church, I could only think of God's blessings upon me. I turned on the radio to hear an older worship song--"How Great is Our God." AG9 and I were singing along to it. DJ3 wanted it OFF. He was quite demanding about it. I briefly turned it off to really turn DJ3 off from his yelling. And then AG9 said to DJ3, "Don't you love Jesus?"

And then I said to DJ3, "If we don't praise the Lord, the rocks will cry out!"

Back on went the song. I can't turn off my love for the Lord. I can't turn off His greatness.

Today, and even six years ago, all I want for Christmas is more Jesus. He is part of me. It can't be turned off, even if I get yelled at about it.

One of the verses to that song is,

"Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands"

I couldn't help but feel a hug from God, right there where I was. He hugged me then. He hugs me now. Time is in His hands. He has used it to heal my broken heart.

On Friday as I was finally shopping for a gift for a friend who had a baby many weeks ago, I was struck with God's timing. This friend was born after her mother lost a baby on December 11 many years before I did. He brought her mother to me on that very day six years ago in His wisdom. And I enjoyed watching my friend's next daughter worshiping the Lord with her husband this morning, while her baby in utero was certainly doing her own praising.

And all I could think about was that He is great. His ways are great. His love for me is great. His love for you is great.

I miss my baby. I wonder about Robin. I hope to meet Robin when I get to Heaven. But for now, I rest in the Lord, that He is great.

Dos and Don'ts with Sarah

2011-12-03T20:37:00.001-06:00

"Are you really building that lamp in the dark?" my husband asked me this evening. "Yes, I said," wearing AC13's headlamp. "That's the way I roll." "Did you read the directions?" he responded. "Yes...12 times," I said, mostly serious. "Well, you should read them a thirteenth," he cautioned. Why? Because we've been married almost 15 years. Because of this, my husband knows a few things about me. One is, when I want to do a task that seems illogical, just let me do it. Another is, when it comes to following directions, I'm not as "follow the rules" as he is. And, history has shown that for every time I read the directions, it is one less time than I really should have.

EXCEPT for the one time I put the daybed together all by myself SANS directions. But that was in 2001. I still bring that up, because it is good evidence. And I have nothing more current to go on.

You see, whenever it is dark, I think, "I should set up that lamp I bought right after that lamp fell over and nearly killed MK4." Why would I put it together when it wasn't dark? I don't need light in the dark! I think I should also admit that this lamp has been in a box under the train table for about three months. And I should also admit today I thought about where the train table would go tomorrow when it gets evicted for the Christmas tree's visit. And how the lamp box can't go under the Christmas tree.

I realize I am not going to get my own HGTV show anytime soon. But maybe there is room out there for people like me to share their DOs and DO NOTs. All those professional people make it look e.a.s.y, when the rest of us know, it really isn't.

Here's how I put the lamp together:

1. I read the directions 12 times. Not to memorize them, but purely to get the gist of what they were saying. And not saying. I looked at the somewhat helpful diagrams. I was impressed that the English was acceptable. I was thrilled there was only one sheet of paper to peruse. (Ok, there were two, but I didn't think the Spanish directions would have helped.)

2. I was pleased that off the bat, I was able to figure out which round thing was for the top of the table and which one was for the bottom of the table. :)

3. I adjusted the headlamp about 340 times because no matter what, it would not shine where I was looking.

4. A lightbulb went on in my head as I was tempted to shout, "Eureka!" when I figured out through no help of the diagram that the "screws" were not real screws, but had holes for the wrench dohickey. That was a bonus, because it meant I didn't have to find a real screwdriver. I then felt like I could have gone to engineering school after all, because I understood the special angle the screws had to be lined up with to make the poles on the outside rather than the inside of the lamp.

5. After screwing in the fake screws as best as I could, I stretched my legs better because they were falling asleep.

6. I then placed the bottom round thing under the poles and screwed in the bottom parts of the legs. That was EASY.

7. Next was easier than I first thought. I had to get the wire stretched out a bit and screw something into something.

8. I then had to comprehend how in the world to get the washers and butterfly thing and wire in the hole provided. It seemed once you forced them through, eventually at some fun angle, they'd slide right through the hole. I thought the designers were ingenious.

9. I put the glass tops on the round things. The top one was a little off, but I found some sticky things to help keep it level.

10. I asked for a lightbulb. I got one. I then groaned. The lampshade had its own set of directions. After reading something about these two easy steps, I was then happy. I like easy steps. Especially two. And, let me tell you, the directions weren't lying. I was in business!

11. Everything was working. So I shouted, "Let there be light! Everyone come see my beautiful lamp!" No one came. I thought they didn't hear me. But really, it was God saving me from embarrassment. AG9 was the only one who knew at the time, that yes, history does repeat itself. I messed up.

12. The great news was, this time, I didn't permanently do something wrong. It was easily fixable. All I had to do was unscrew the bottoms of the poles, turn the round thing around, and I'd be good to go.

13. And that was when I said my first bad mumble. "Stupid piece of garbage!" or something like that. I say this at least once per "assembly required" activity. The reality was, the lamp wasn't stupid, but I was. I could NOT figure out why the screwy things on the bottoms suddenly wouldn't screw in. After a few minutes, I realized I was turning them to left, not the right. Once I figured that out, I was probably bright red, but it was still pretty dark in the room. I will also divulge that I got three hours of sleep last night and was up at 0 dark 00 to go to the Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast at 6 a.m. AND did not get a nap this afternoon.

14. After replacing the bottom glass thing, and realizing I should have known it was upside down after all in the first place, I knew it was right.

15. I called everyone back in, and this time, some of them came. "Is this lamp take two?" my husband asked.

If only we had videod this. I'd send it in to HGTV to get my own show. "Dos and Don'ts with Sarah." I think I will tackle folding fitted sheets in my next episode. Only if I can find some Dos. Oh, wait. I have one. DO wash and dry them first.

Not so fast...

2011-12-01T16:03:00.001-06:00

Now that we're back to healthy...

I'm mostly done with Christmas shopping. :)

And when I was done with as much as I can do at this moment, I bought myself the next book for my book club. I was just looking at the receipt from Amazon.com. I was so ticked off! How could I have been so dumb to send it to myself?!?!? I mean, I painstakingly checked that things were gifts and should be gift-wrapped and wrote to:s and from:s and made sure and made sure they were being sent to a different house.

Oh, but it was for me. Yippeeeeee! I did something right!

I think most people should be happy with their gifts. Those I had to "guess" on, will have to simply understand that I took valuable time (not so much energy, though) to find something great. Or at least something I thought the giftee would think was great. And that is the point of giving gifts!

Because if it were what I thought was great, everyone would have gotten a Northwestern Wildcats Snuggie.

The person who is really winning in this is my one-and-only niece. Not only did I pick out something fantastic...but, she doesn't have it already! Whoot!

Our family gift is in my husband's hands.

I've addressed the Christmas cards for the people I have what I think are correct addresses. I have one friend who moves almost every year, but she just bought a house that I think she will stay in for a while. If so, and if she reads this, she knows who she is and she should send me her new address, pronto...

I even have hundreds of beautiful Christmas-dyed napkins a la AG9 and MK4. AG9 hopes to sell some of them.

Now to stuff the envelopes and put the final touches on our special Christmas website...

And I will be done. And it is December 1.

Oh, wait. Where's the tree? Mangers? Stockings? Candles? Lights?

I knew I forgot something. A lot of somethings.

The sound of the dreaded puke

2011-11-29T02:08:00.001-06:00

I was sound asleep. It took me a little while to figure out what that awful noise was. Ah, the sound of the dreaded puke. As soon as I was able to comprehend the what, I knew the who. Yes, I know the sound of their footsteps--and their puke.

I need to say my husband is my knight in shining armor right now. His quick-thinking, analytical brain told him how to clean it up. I got the better job of Lysoling the house.

Why am I up typing this right now? I'm afraid I might be next. That's the only thing worse to me than watching my child puke.

I've made a mental note of what I ate for dinner and what that might be like the second time around. I'm happy to report I think it could be worse. At least it wasn't creamed corn. Well, it wouldn't have been that, because I will never eat that again after the dreaded Thanksgiving Puke-A-Thon of '02. In fact, it was nothing too chunky. And I am grateful. And sitting in an upright position. Denying my future. Praying this doesn't turn into the After-Thanksgiving-Puke-A-Thon of '11. I'm even going to say that I would prefer a Poop-A-Thon. But now that I said that, we'll get the Puke-AND-Poop-A-Thon.

Don't worry. This virus isn't spread by computers.

Good news...and not as good news...might be bad news...

2011-11-28T16:08:00.001-06:00

Here's the good news first: NR11's ear infection without the $130 drops cleared up on its own. NICE! Bonus: He has no new wax build-up!

Now for more complicated news...He had a hearing test today. He didn't do very well in either ear. Not only that, but he has 75% fluid in his Eustachian tubes. Not only that, but his ear drums don't "wiggle" according to another test.

We just got back from getting him some generic Flonase to reduce the inflammation in his tubes. We have three weeks to show improvement. If there is some, then we get to continue the relatively inexpensive nasal spray. If there is no improvement, then we move on to the more "extreme" plan. Yes, ear tubes. Yes, I know he is quite old for this. He didn't have these issues when he was younger.

In fact, the ENT PA told me our last visit to them was in February 2008. At that time, they took out a bunch of wax and he could hear much better immediately. Not so, this time. "Mom, I remember last time when they took out the wax it sounded like everyone was speaking in microphones." He says now he can't remember when he last thought people talked loud enough for him to hear them very well. He said that when people do really use microphones, he hears them very well. And likes it.

I feel like a terrible parent. I had no idea the severity of his "what"?s that he says often. And to tell the truth, unless he complained more about it, I probably still wouldn't. I'm known as the "expert" hearer in our house and thus am out of "normal" hearing range and not a good judge of normal hearing. NR11 didn't complain much because after hearing like that for so long, it was his "normal."

The blessing in disguise is the concussion. I know that is weird to say, but that is how God operates! Yes, the concussion brought to the forefront NR11's head and thus his hearing with the ear-ringing. After the ear-ringing and not being able to actually see inside his ear, the family doctor sent us to the ENT to get his wax cleared out. Now that the wax is out, he still can't hear well. And we found out why today after more tests. I realize this is all a process. Part of me is wondering if we would have figured out his bad hearing issues anytime soon.

I'm extremely grateful that there is a relatively simple plan in process and he doesn't have any permanent hearing loss. At the same time, I'm sad that he's gone for so long missing out on so many sounds. He can only become less frustrated when he can hear better.

If you are the praying kind, please pray for the nasal spray to work in the time we have. Please pray that one day soon my NR11 will be able to hear well. And pray that the Lord would bring to light any other medical issues that we are not aware of that need to be evaluated.

I found this interesting: http://www.kids-ent.com/website/pediatric_ent/ear_infections/index.html

A true story that I couldn't even begin to make up

2011-11-23T08:03:00.001-06:00

It all started at the bank. Up until then, the day was going quite well. And then it went downhill. Slowly at first. And then like an avalanche.

I had four checks to deposit. I thought going to the bank on the way to the museum would be helpful. The driver in front of me at the ATM was taking more than its share of time. And then, so did I. The scanner couldn't read the first check. It asked me the amount. I had an inkling, so I made it up. I figured I had the receipts at home and I could deal with that later. I typed in a number. And then the same thing happened to the second check. And so I started to make up another number. And then I just couldn't do it. I asked the machine for my checks back. After fumbling for a pen and paper, I wrote down the amounts so I could be an accurate ATM customer.

I started over. And the machine accepted all of my checks.

Twenty minutes after arriving, our caravan was ready to roll 35 miles. Or creep for some. And then we arrived at the museum. And there were still plenty of parking spots. It was 11 a.m.

The museum was crowded. It was hard to hear anyone unless they were yelling. Louder than anyone else. We didn't have a good plan, so the 10 of us broke up into small groups and scattered into the crowd at the storm exhibit. It was too late to think of everyone wearing the same bright color T-shirt. Or anything else.

After finally locating everyone--this involved many of us standing in one spot while others went to find people who came back and then the finders were gone--I came up with a few ideas. You see, my phone doesn't work in this museum. And I knew that. So I came up with some archaic plans. One was this: When we were done in an exhibit, we would simply move our bodies to the entrance to wait for the rest of us. And, if we wanted to split up, that was fine. We should agree on a designated landmark/exhibit at a designated time. And be there.

No one said they wanted to split up. So that plan didn't go into place. And I think people didn't hear my other plan. And that is understandable. It was LOUD in there.

After this frustrating experience in the first exhibit, people were hungry. So I thought we'd have a better time if we had a short eating break. But trying to eat at 11:45 at this museum in the Brain Cafe is a little bit like eating at the Cheesecake Factory on Mother's Day. Since I have experienced both of those before, I have learned a thing or two. I should have learned three. But now I have learned that. So we're good for the next time we go, which will not be until 2015, because I declared that yesterday. Anyway, what I knew, was there is "overflow" seating for the cafe. So my plan was to park us there, and send runners out to get food. The overflow seating was absolutely empty. The kind of empty where people joke they hope there is enough room to eat together.

Just 20 seconds after we arrived and I called the eating play (should have called Statue of Liberty, but just called a quarterback sneak). I didn't know the defense was even playing! So the defense runs onto the field with more tables and chairs. And they let us know we weren't too welcome on this field. They were nice about it. But my play was defeated. Badly. So badly, we had to turn the ball over right there on the 10-yard line.

We were so close to eating!

Some of our scouts found some tables in the "lounging around" area. One had no chairs. But the chairs started to appear. And then we found two big tables right there in the bakery with chairs. Empty. We got them!

This food was so fancy, I just got us all some chocolate chip muffins. Some of us thought they were delicious. some not. I spilled some of the chocolate topping in my lap and it looked like you-know-what. I forgot about it until hours later... Others ate fancy sandwiches that were edible and we all had a good rest. This was when I came up for my plan for 2015. I'm going to stop and get donuts on the way. Lots of donuts and drinks. And then we're going to leave them in the car. And then we're going to return to the car when we are hungry and eat donuts and drink juice or water. And we're all going to have a seat in our car. And we're all going to be happy. And then we will leave the car and go back to fun in the museum.

Lunch was declared over after multiple trips to the bathrooms. Our plan was to go to the airplane. But the museum has a new exhibit that caused us some confusion in how to actually get to the airplane. We couldn't agree. So I just gave up. One child insisted on one way. I followed that child. In the process, we LOST one of my children. Yes. LOST. But we didn't know this. No one knew this child was LOST for a good 30 minutes.

We were in the body exhibit, where no one really wanted to be, but couldn't get out. We did the same dance as the storm exhibit. And then we realized one of us was missing. Not only missing. But no one had seen AC13 for a very long time. In fact, no one had seen him in that exhibit. Just as we were realizing this, DJ3 became quite clingy, and only I would do. My dad handed his phone to me and said my husband was calling him. That seemed terribly strange. No, it was not a convenient time to talk to him when DJ3 is on the verge of a temper tantrum and AC13 is lost and I can't hear people next to me let alone on the phone. So I told my dad that he should talk to my husband. It did NOT occur to me that my husband was calling because AC13 called him at work to tell him that he was separated from us in the museum. He was trying to help us all find each other.

Eventually, after what seemed like days to me, we found out AC13 was indeed at the airplane. Where all of us were supposed to be. If we had just turned a nearby corner, we would have seen the airplane a long time ago and gone there. UGH!

I declared I was ready to take my car home. I had had enough by 1:30. AC13 was in the other car group, so I said first I wanted to see him. Everyone went to the airplane. I found my son and hugged him for a long time. I was so distraught. I was thrilled to see him but still sad about what happened. I wasn't mad at him at all. I was absolutely frustrated with the noise in the museum and the scattering and the crowds.

We then went to the gift shop on the way out. I wanted nothing to do with it, so I sat with DJ3 outside. They wanted to spend their money on what I thought was a waste. But I let them do it. I bought myself some Swedish Fish to eat on the way home.

Our car group was as noisy as possible in the garage. And I was fine with that. I didn't care. We were leaving, and I was thinking of how to salvage the day once we got home. HOME!

After we got out of the garage, I asked NR11 where the Swedish Fish were. "Oh, they're in the other car," he said. Nice. It was 1:45ish. I could wait an hour until we got home. It was small in the grand picture of bad things of the day.

We got on the highway. It was a parking lot. Usually I just stay on the highway. But I decided to find another way home. Nothing could be as bad as that traffic. I got off at the next exit. Had I been able to foresee what was coming our way, I'd have been thrilled to have sat in that traffic on the highway.

You see, the local streets were just as bad. Or maybe even worse. I am really not exaggerating when I say that for 33 miles on local roads, we hit about 90% of the red lights. Just as we approached the light, it would turn red. Sometimes we never got through a cycle. After driving around for one hour, we thought going back on the highway would be a good idea. When I realized the GPS was sending us to the exit one mile south of the one we got off on, that was comical. One hour to end up one mile ahead of where we got off. HA!

I kept to the course. I was going to turn left onto the highway. I was obeying the GPS. I was ready. I even commented that I hoped there was a traffic light to do this. And then. You will not believe this, but it is true.

There were two thru lanes and one right turn lane. I was in which lane? Well...I just said I was obeying. I was in the left lane! Right where I needed to be. And then an ambulance was right on my tail. I had no choice. I had to go in the right lane and pull over. By the time that was done, I was too far forward to get into the long left turn line onto the highway. Knowing at that point that getting on the highway at that entrance was full of traffic, I decided to give up that idea.

We soon met up with a fire truck, police car and more traffic. No matter what lane I was in, there was trouble in it up ahead. We couldn't win.

"Mom, I have to go to the bathroom," NR11 announced. I already had to go for a long time, and I was on the prowl for one. But there was no place to park. I didn't know where I was. It was raining. DJ3 and MK4 were asleep. Honestly, pee in the pants was an option at that point. At least for me.

Ten minutes later, we found a McDonalds. It was hard to get into the parking lot. And then, I was about to scream, "UNCLE!" when we got the last parking spot in the tiny parking lot. All was going to be well. We beat the parking lot game.

Just as we got inside the door, my stepmother said, "Oh, look at all those parking spots." The ones right outside the door that had emptied as soon as we were past them. And quite wet. Because we all listened to me to keep our coats in the trunk for the museum. I had sad that morning, "I'm really only bringing them to be prepared in case of an emergency." Anyway, when she said that, I started laughing. Too much. My bladder couldn't handle it.

So the six of us in our car made it into McDonalds. I announced everyone could have whatever they wanted. After I went to the bathroom.

When I emerged from the bathroom, NR11 said, "What is that?" and pointed at the chocolate stuck on my pants. "Well, I know what it looks like, but it's chocolate from lunch," I calmly said. A little too loud. I even tried to show him. WHY? So I could show him AND the teenage girl at a nearby table that yes, it was chocolate. But my pants were also a little bit wet. And the wetness was what everyone looking thought it was. I couldn't avoid that. I must have turned bright red. It would have been a great commercial for Southwest Airlines. I can't imagine how many people heard the story from that girl this morning at school.

So I went to stand in the very long line for cookies and ice cream. The school next door had just gotten out. What timing! Then a big bully man cut in the line. NR11 was absolutely disgusted. I thought he was going to yell at him. And I prayed he wouldn't. Because my son getting beat up in McDonalds, and even me in defense, was not something I wanted to add to the awful day. So we let mean bully man get his food first.

We got our food to go. Because it was now 4:00. Yes, 2+ hours after leaving the museum, we had 25 miles to go. And now that it was officially rush hour, the idea of the highway was even worse. Local roads it was!

This involved another car accident to get past and 23030 red lights. And lots of rain.

At 5:50, we pulled into the garage. I was done. UNCLE.

I really wanted those Swedish Fish. And I just remembered I never ate them. All I had had to eat was 1/2 of that messy chocolate chip muffin and some peach pie for breakfast. I was too hungry to even eat.

But before I could muster up the energy to scavange for a snack, I smelled poop. Yes, DJ3 had pooped sometime after McDonalds. And it was up to his shoulder blades. So he had to have a bath immediately. He's been on a bath strike. And so it was a bit ugly.

After the bath episode, I simply sat down and didn't get up for a good long time. My dad said I did a great job. He was impressed with me.

My husband made his way home and we went to Culvers. After a little venting in the car, I just sat there. And ate.

Goodbye November 22, 2011. Don't let the door kick you on the way out. I have no pictures to share. This is probably great. Especially for me and DJ3 and our pants.

A big week for DJ3!

2011-11-18T18:03:00.001-06:00

DJ3 insisted that he was going to type. "Larry the cucumber! How do you spell that?" he asked over and over.

I decided to give him a book so he could just copy the words to type. Then he forgot all about typing and wanted to read the book himself. He picked up on the repeating words very quickly. He also knew some words without help.

Once that book was done, we moved on to "Goodnight Moon."

He read probably 75% of that book all by himself. He quickly figured out "balloon" because he already knew "ball." I was floored.

At the dinner table, I announced to the big kids, "DJ3 was actually reading 'Goodnight Moon' by himself to me. Seriously." I also need to tell you that he told me there was an X in the room made by the light. Nothing gets by this boy!

"Mom, usually people are p[I was just interrupted to read some more]eople are potty-trained before they can read," exclaimed AG9. And she is right.

But in DJ3's defense, on Tuesday, he decided it was time to go to the potty. He's pretty good at pee pee now. He just needs to poop and get it over with. And then he will be a potty-trained reader! This is great. It is always good to read on the potty, huh?

In other news, he doesn't need very much help on the computer to get to his favorite .coms. "There's almost nothing cuter than a 3-year-old saying 'dot com,'" my husband said earlier this week. He still insists it is New Too and will not concede to it being You Tube. He loves veggietales.com, pbskids.org, starfall.com and nickjr.com. He's figured out that most anything he likes has a dot com.

I wonder when he will ask to go to goodnightmoon.com?

A thump in the night

2011-11-17T21:55:00.001-06:00

"Can I help you carry anything?" my friend asked as I was poking around in my minivan in the driveway.

"No, all I have is my Bible," I replied.

I then felt the need to explain why I was investigating something in the car. I told him how on my way to small group tonight, I convinced myself a critter was in the car.

It was pitch black outside. And I kept hearing random "scratchings." I was not going to pull over. No way. I simply drove far from other cars in case I had to brake and freak out. And my left foot was not resting on the floor gently. Of course, I thought it was a mouse. The van door had been open yesterday for a while in the garage.

It was plausible.

And then I smelled it. S.k.u.n.k. And I was sure it wasn't a mouse, but a skunk in my car while I was driving. Alone. All I could do was pray. I turned on some praise music very loud to drown out the "scratchings."

I stopped at a red light. "THUMP!" something went right behind my seat. I will let you imagine my reaction.

Now that you are probably laughing at me, I will tell you that I didn't think much about it during small group after I told the story a few times.

Until my friend told a yucky mouse story. That was after the yucky chipmunk story.

When it came time to get back in the dark car alone, I wasn't too happy. My friend and his wife offered to pray for me. So I took them up on that!

As soon as my other friend was done praying, a goose honked. All I could do was laugh, and wish it was a goose.

And then I got brave and hunkered down. I told myself it was all in my mind.

I wondered what it might be. Obviously, something was making a strange noise. Dead or alive. Or just aluminum.

As I rounded the corner on the way to my house, I couldn't contain it anymore. I SCREAMED! And then I think I shocked it out of my brain. I peered into the passenger door once I was in the garage.

And my verdict is: it was a Sprite can rolling around in the door.

And that is what I hope to tell myself as I try to sleep and get in the car again tomorrow.

Great balls of wax!

2011-11-16T17:40:00.001-06:00

The text from Walmart said NR11's prescription was ready and it was $130.49. Prescription for what? Well, he has an ear infection. How do we know? Because the lovely ENT PA was able to actually see inside his ear...

...after she removed what she called last week as "ear wax marbles." She was NOT exaggerating. They were in fact marble-sized balls of wax. Gross. Stinky. Colorful. Old.

But the wax is now out of NR11's ears and in the red garbage bag at the ENT's office. It was NOT an easy process by any means. My sensitive NR11 showed his football toughness this afternoon and endured the poking and pulling of the wax and many metal instruments. I was extremely proud of him.

He should be able to hear better now. And he had good cause to feel pain in his ears. And we go back in two weeks for a hearing test. After this infection clears up. But it will be another medication attacking it. One that is cheaper.

"I thought you might not have known the cost on that," the lovely Shannon pharmacist said as I sheepishly said I didn't want to buy it then and there.

I don't know when I will learn to ask about costs for prescriptions. Maybe this was the last time I will forget to inquire.

Look alikes!

2011-11-15T16:45:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, one of the Grandpas sent me a bunch of photos that he had recently scanned. Here's one:

Here's another one of someone else at the same age:

The bottom child thought the top child was him. FUN!

Woe is they

2011-11-10T16:13:00.001-06:00

AC13 has moved on in his braces treatment. He has permission to stop wearing his head gear!

On top of that, he now has 203,984 extremely small rubber bands in four zippered baggies to help move his teeth. After hearing for the 934th time this morning, "It's not a triangle!" I finally understood. Ah, a triangle. Preferable isoceles, with the smallest angle on the top. If he had just said that, all would have been well the first time!

We will live through this. If we could live through head gear, we can live through tiny rubber bands. I hope he figures out how to do it himself ASAP!

Poor NR11 had to succumb to the ENT today. After his bronchitis, concussion and round-the-clock earwax issues, it was time. I heard "WHAT?" 98,237 too many times in the last week. He's been complaining that his ear "hurt." Our only hope was the ENT. Our regular doctor couldn't get past the earwax to see inside.

I was honestly surprised they could fit us in today. Our doctor's assistant, the lovely Carrie Ann, was really lovely from my perspective. NR11 thought she was not lovely. At all. She was perfectly nice and friendly and extremely patient. NR11 was not. After four times of trying hydrogen peroxide to loosen the wax and suctioning it and scraping it and kneading it like dough, the lovely woman put an end to the torture. "And that wasn't even the bad ear!" she exclaimed. She said we have to make him bubbly for 15 min. at a time in EACH EAR per day until we see her again next Wednesday to get his wax much softer.

Do I hear a Calgon bath being drawn for me?

In other medical news, AG9 does not have mononucleosis. However, at some point in her short life, she did have it. She's feeling mostly better and back in school now. This is great!

Understanding obligations

2011-11-08T14:04:00.001-06:00

I like the man AC13 is turning into. I don't particularly like that he is growing up, but I have to face it. Just now, I saw a wonderful glimpse of who he is. As a man somewhere inside that handsome guy.

"What do you know about Penn State?" I vaguely asked him. I thought if he knew nothing, he'd ask what I was talking about, and if he knew something, I could find out his thoughts.

It turned out on Saturday, he heard something "that sounded inappropriate" so he muted it. And that was that. Apparently he and his father were talking about it at some point, which I didn't know about. "I'm getting mixed signals from you two," he said. "Dad said he hoped I could learn something about it and you are happy I didn't learn about it."

So I continued my bottom line. We had our semi-regular reminder discussion about private parts remaining private and all that. For him and for anyone else.

And I feel good about both of my young men right now after talking to them about it. I hope to keep this dialogue open and honest. And I am pleased that my young men understand that all of us have obligations to stand up for what is right, no matter what.

God loves you to outer space!

2011-11-08T07:33:00.000-06:00

Only God can do these things!

Last night, DJ3 fell asleep in the car and he was sound asleep when MK4 was getting ready for bed. We had story time in my room. I picked up the one book I could find quickly.

"God's Great Big Love for Me" by Max Lucado. We haven't read it in a while.

We could hardly finish the book because MK4 had so many comments and questions about Heaven. She wanted to know how to get there, will we sleep there, what will we eat, how long is forever, who will be there with her, etc.

I've never seen her this excited about God. So I let her stay up late and talk to me about it. What a treasure!

I asked her why she loves God so much and she said, "Because he protects you, Mommy."

We talked about the fact that so far, everyone in our house loves Jesus...except DJ3. He clearly admits he does not love God. There is no question in my mind that he doesn't love Jesus. MK4, on the other hand, loves Jesus and tells me that daily.

She wants DJ3 to go to Heaven, too. So I told her that since DJ3 loves MK4 so much, he could change his mind if she tells him all about God's love for him. She thought that was a good plan.

The very first thing that she said this morning at 6:10 after they had their morning hug was, "DJ3, God loves you up to outer space! Do you love him now?"

"No. I still don't," he said.

She's not giving up. I can tell. And neither will I.

Happy Birthday to my husband!

2011-11-07T21:30:00.000-06:00

I'm so proud of my husband. He fixed our dryer problem. And then he turned 37.

He's often right, even when I don't want to admit it. He is wise beyond his 37 years. He is hilarious. He is giving and kind. He is in a word: wonderful.

Daylight Savings Time truths

2011-11-06T07:04:00.000-06:00

So, for the last 12 ends to daylight savings time, I have fallen for the "Oh, goodie! I get an extra hour! I will waste it by doing something unnecessary."

But last night, I finally wised up.

You see, if you have a young child or remember having a young child, you know where I am going with this.

Last night, I tried to go to bed early. I lay in front of the television, tired. I fully expected to fall asleep during the end of the LSU-Bama game. It was a snoozer, but I just couldn't fall asleep. So I got to cheer quietly when LSU won. I looked at the clock. It said "10:41." And then, I did it. I forced it to say "9:41." And I smiled. And I knew I was going to win.

Besides winning the lottery with this clock I have had since 1991 that I bought for $9.99 at Osco in Evanston, I was going to win that hour of sleep. I was going to not actually lose two hours of sleep, which is what has happened to me every year since 1998.

Before I wised up, what would happen is I would stay awake an extra hour, fully intending to trick the hour into thinking it would all even out with sleep. In the end, I would be tricked. Because if I stayed up an extra hour, my child would, well, according to the clock, wake up an extra hour earlier. And that, my readers adds up to one hour of lost sleep. But it really in my mind is a loss of two hours. Because I can't wrap my mind around the "it is really ____ o'clock." The time is what the time is on the clock in my brain.

And if I really think about it, I will lose more than two hours of sleep. Because now the sun rises earlier. And now my "but it is still night" argument I have with DJ3 every morning at 6 is now in his favor. It is clearly not night when the sun is up. And don't go thinking that he can now go to bed when it gets dark. That is impractical around here.

So last night, in the interests of preserving the sleep I already get, I turned off the light at 9:41 p.m. And instead of waking me at 6, DJ3 woke me at 4:50 to tell me he had a dream where MK4 didn't have a nose and it scared him. He begged me to smush into his bed with him. So I did. Hey, I had to get sleep at any cost!

All I can say is in 2020 or so, don't call me early in the morning when Daylight Savings Time ends. I will be asleep.

"That's not something good to Google!"

2011-11-03T16:15:00.002-05:00

AC13 wanted me to read his Proverbs assignment to him today. "Ok, son, I'm always happy to read the Bible and discuss it with you," I thought.

Proverbs 7: "My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you." So far, so good.

"Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; wirite them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress...."

AC13 and I have discussed adultery before, so I simply said, "What is an adulteress?" He knew. Onward. A bit further down,

"Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute with crafty intent."

Sometimes I can rephrase words on the fly and still get the point across. Actually, more than sometimes. Often. Most often. It is a motherly gift.

But here I was stuck.

So I said, "Do you know what a prostitute is?" He didn't.

Right after he said he didn't, I was called into the other room to fix the computer. I told AC13 I'd be right back. He usually entertains himself for a minute while I am gone just fine.

When I returned, he was using his phone. "Whatcha doin'?" I innocently asked. "Oh, just Googling 'prostitute,'" he replied.

My bottom jaw hit the floor. It was one of those parenting moments. Kind of like when the toddler gets hold of a knife and you don't want to scare them but you really need them to give you the knife. So I said as calmly as I could, "That's not something good to Google."

I was extremely thankful that Google on his phone was slow enough that his eyes were spared whatever might have come up. I was even more thankful that he trusted me on that.

And then we had a conversation about prostitutes without visuals. I just love this kid. Then he said, "Why would anyone do THAT?" I thought he meant the prostitute, so I said that sometimes they don't want to, but are forced to, or think they have no other way to live. And then he said, "NO! Why would someone pay for sex? That is stupid."

Ok, son. Thanks for making me still happy to read the Bible and discuss it with you.

A bloody and sweet Halloween

2011-10-31T17:57:00.001-05:00

We had a bloody Halloween. Not by choice!

AG9 had to go in for a blood test today to see if she has mononucleosis. All went very well our first time. The little ones even behaved well. And then, I got a frantic phone call that the test tube (plastic) shattered in the centrifuge and we had to return for another round. :( AG9 did not like that, but she was great about it.

I took DJ3 and MK4 out trick-or-treating. At one point, DJ3 said, "Get the bunny out of my bag!" "Bunny?" I thought. I couldn't find any bunnies. Bud, this is Halloween. Wrong pagan holiday! He then said, "That one!" And he pointed at the Kit Kat. Oy vey. He insists he doesn't like them. I don't know whose child he is, if that is true. Oh, well, more for me!

At the next house, he was offered a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. He said, "I don't like that." Our neighbor left for a second and said, "You've got to like this!" and handed him two Kit Kats. "I don't like ANYTHING at this house!" he yelled. Oh, well, more for me!

I'm now going to collect the candy taxes.

NR11, our Clone Trooper

AG9, Gabriella Montez, from High School Musical

AC13, Dan Persa, Northwestern Wildcat

MK4, Larry the Cucumber

DJ3, Bob the Tomato (No one even called him Elmo.)

AC13 just asked, "What's for dinner?" as usual. "I have no idea," I said. "Candy?" he asked. "Maybe," I said. And that will be the case if he keeps offering me York peppermint patties. Oh, yeah.

By the way, that is AG9's fabulous cat pumpkin...too bad I took the picture a week late.

Sidelined

2011-10-29T09:50:00.000-05:00

Not only do we have a concussion in the house...

We may also have the dreaded mononucleosis. Yup.

AG9 has been sick since Sunday night. I finally took her to the doctor on Thursday when we took NR11 in for an update on his head. I really didn't want to take her in to be told, "She has a virus. Give her lots of fluids and rest."

I wasn't told that, though. He said, "She may have mononucleosis. We'll do a blood test on Monday if she isn't better by then."

Oh. My.

This was after a friend visited in the morning and said, "Do you think she has mono?" after I listed her symptoms. I certainly didn't think she had that. But my friend is really quite wise in the health area...wiser than I am.

I remember when I was a kid, I knew people who had that and the idea of staying home from school for months and sleeping a lot sounded VERY GOOD to me at the time. Not so much now, of course.

I told our small group about it. They were supportive, sympathetic and super full of prayers for her.

I thought she was better last night, so I let her go to her soccer party. Maybe she had a virus and was now over it? She's punky again, coughed throughout the night and is generally blechy.

So I had to do the right thing, and I felt absolutely mean and horrible. But I did it. I had to cancel a sleepover tonight. It ripped my heart out. AG9 was so excited about it. I was excited for her. Ugh.

Today is the last day of sports for the fall. NR11 will go to his Bowl Game and have a special sideline assignment. AG9 thinks she wants to watch her game, but certainly not play in it. What a sad day!

George isn't swimming anymore...he is dead.

2011-10-25T17:04:00.000-05:00

"Mom, something is wrong with George!" MK4 announced on Saturday evening as she was in the bathroom getting ready to brush her teeth.

At that particular moment, he was simply not swimming. He looked stuck between some rocks in his bowl. And there was no hope for him to ever swim again. MK4 took it better than I thought. We called up the other kids who were home to the bathroom to see poor George. And then we left him in the bowl.

I personally thought this was a Daddy job. Never mind the fact that I was the one who brought George into the family on July 3. Never mind the fact that Daddy had slightly less interest in George than NR11. And never mind that I was the general bowl cleaning supervisor/instructor. AND, never mind that that afternoon, I cleaned the bowl myself with a good attitude.

I never let my husband know that I thought it was his job. I didn't realize that until the next morning, when George was floating at the top of the bowl and not as gold. "Mom, George lost a fin!" AG9 announced. He was definitely not improving. I still didn't ask my husband to remove the dead fish. I just talked about what was happening to the fish.

Monday morning, I went into the bathroom-turned-crypt and smelled the unmistakable "dead fish smell." It wasn't too bad. George was still floating, but now he wasn't as straight. He was more floppy. And gross. I avoided the bathroom for the rest of the day.

This morning, the smell was worse. It turned from "Hello, there is a dead fish here, please remove it" to "HELLO! YOU ARE INSANE! STOP PROCRASTINATING! IT WILL NOT GET BETTER!" and so I listened to that. As I try to be a doer of the word, and not just a hearer, I prepared myself for this. I've honestly never had to be the fish flusher. I didn't know how to do it. Don't look at me like that!

So I did the next best thing. I thought about putting him in my vegetable garden. The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims to do that to grow their corn, you know! And then I thought, "Saturday night would have been a better time to do that." I put my shoes on. I opened the back door. I made a clear path. I went upstairs to the crypt. I held my breath and picked up the bowl. All the way down the stairs, I prayed I would not drop it nor would a single drop splash out on me. Unexpectedly, I then yelled to AC13 to "open the door!" because it had closed. He had to think fast, because this was not a normal occurrence.

I ran with the bowl to a tree in our yard. I poured out the water. I turned my head as George descended to the dirt. And then I had no idea what to do next. MK4 wanted to say "goodbye" to George, so she was observing me.

I told her to gather some leaves and we'd put them on top of George. And then she got upset when they started blowing away. And then we put some sticks on the leaves. And then it was done. It was quite a silent funeral. Tissues weren't needed by anyone. MK4 insisted we say "George is dead" instead of "George isn't swimming anymore."

Next time, we might have to go with the Heathcliff Huxtable flushing funeral method.

Oh, what a night!

2011-10-25T08:20:00.000-05:00

My last 8 hours:

11:17--Turn out light and try to sleep. Can't sleep because I am too cold. Too tired to put on different pajamas.
12:34--AG9 crying in pain on my floor. She has been sick since yesterday morning.
1:55--MK4 wants to sleep on my floor and doesn't like that AG9 is next to me, so we get her situated next to Daddy.
3:30ish--MK4 insists she is going to throw up. Spend some time in the bathroom, and \0/ for no vomit.
4:55--Can't sleep because MK4 is humming in her sleep. Think about my crazy dreams that involved:

My father setting up a home office in the passenger seat of my minivan. He was crushed when I told him I couldn't see out the side mirror while driving.
We went on a road trip with other people and stayed at a local hotel. It was horrible. Apparently, I was in the wrong room because other people came in to it. They were horrified that I was in there. And the door on the bathroom was too short. And the toilet paper was furry. But I had some Kleenex in my coat pocket.
And then we went to our friend Justin's house in Virginia. He served us strange pizza. And they had a really high-tech buzzer system, that showed who was outside the building. Rob recognized Richard Fong. I don't know who that is, but Rob remembered him from college. This is odd, because Rob doesn't remember names well.

6:00--DJ3 thinks it is time to wake up. I show him it is still dark, and we go to get some apple juice. In the kitchen, I drop the apple juice jug and make a huge mess. I'm too tired to clean it up properly. DJ3 acts as foreman. My shirt is soaked. My socks are wet. And I am t.i.r.e.d. I change my shirt, forget about my socks, go to the bathroom and climb back in bed and wonder if I will sleep some more.
6:09--Why did I spend so long in the bathroom? Those were precious minutes!
6:15--DJ3 says he made poop. I think if I change him, he will surely go back to sleep. He's rubbing his eyes. Turns out he made about four drops of pee.
6:23--DJ3 brings the quite dry diaper to me and reprimands me for leaving it on his floor. I put it in the hallway and he says, "No, not there! In the garbage!"
6:30--DJ3 returns to say his sheet is now wet.
6:31--I give up. Take DJ3 downstairs to begin our tired day.
6:48--While making coffee, I spy a yellow spider on the counter. I surprise myself by only gasping loudly enough for him to hear me. I can't kill it, so I try to ignore it.
7:09--I step on some staples, still wearing my apple juice socks. OUCH!

As I think about my so-far, not-good day, I try to be joyful. I look at the positives. No vomit, I had Kleenex, I didn't spill ALL of the apple juice, I had a clean shirt to put on, we had coffee. I can't find anything positive about the spider or the staples, but the no-vomit still trumps that.

It is now 8:14, and only DJ3, AC13 and I are awake in the house. I am declaring it a do-over morning right now. I'm going to start the day over by doing my Small Group homework and praying. Take that, October 25!

Already, the day is brighter just by opening my Bible. I didn't read any yet, but AC13 just asked, "Mom, do you want some biscuits?" He's making them. Ahhhhhh.

Just different

2011-10-24T16:35:00.000-05:00

"Mom, can I cut my doll's hair?" MK4 asked. I followed her to see what doll she meant before I answered. As soon as I saw the doll, my decision was, "No." But it was too late to say that. She already cut some off. I have no idea why she bothered to ask me after she decided to do it anyway.

"Mom, can I cut some more off? Her bangs aren't straight now," she said. "Do you know that doll hair doesn't grow back?" I asked. "Of course it doesn't Mommy, they're not real."

So the doll has a haircut. And in all honesty, while I am disappointed, it is not the end of the world. Does the doll care? No. Does MK4 like it better like this? Yes. Did MK4 even voluntarily clean it up? Yes.

I'm learning...s.l.o.w.l.y... that my kids have different likes, opinions, desires, interests and wants than I do. And while it would be easier to raise five clones of me, it is impossible. I'm not even succeeding in one.

But this is normal. While we may share DNA, a house, a last name and favorite college football team, the similarities may end right there. It sure will be interesting to continue to watch them grow up into their own selves. If they wear mismatched clothes because they think they match, wear flip flops in January, wear snow boots in July, that is fine with me. I am learning that they will choose things I never would for themselves. And most of the time, the decisions aren't wrong. Just different. The only thing I really want from them is that they love the Lord and walk with Him.

Yesterday, AG9 cut her own pumpkin. She worked hard at it and really, really did a super job. When I was 9, I would have wanted a cool pumpkin that someone else took the time to make for me. I wouldn't have persevered for a pumpkin. (I also wouldn't have carved a pumpkin in a green velvet dress and a pink baseball cap!)

AC13 went on a campout this weekend. I reminded him it would be cold. He hasn't been on a cold campout since April. His response? "I know it will be cold. I've done this many times. I know what to take to keep warm." I had to let go. And when he came home, one of my first questions was, "Were you cold?" "No, Mom," he said.

NR11 wanted to buy a Cars 2 Wii game yesterday. I didn't think it was a great idea. "But I've been wanting it for months!" he said. That is what his money is for, so I let him get it. "How is the game?" I just asked him. "Pretty good," he said.

DJ3 likes doing the same puzzle three times in a row. Egads! I can't stand that!

And MK4 thinks it is fine to cut doll hair. I still have visions of my own poor Barbie. You see, I cut her hair to the very shortest a Barbie's hair can be cut with scissors. And I colored it orange with a magic marker. Someone said she looked like Annie Lenox. I didn't like Annie Lenox. And then I didn't like that Barbie anymore. And now, 30 years later, I remember this well. This is why I don't think dolls should have their hair cut. I'm pretty sure in 30 years, MK4 won't even remember cutting this doll's hair. Or maybe even that she had that doll. But she might remember that her mom let her do some unusual things.

I am pretty sure there will be harder decisions ahead for me than whether or not someone can cut a doll's hair. I'm sure I face lots of interesting hair choices. And, if I can come through this parenting gig with all of my hair intact, that will be terrific.

Proud of my offensive son!

2011-10-20T17:46:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday evening, NR11 was listed as "having symptoms of a concussion" by the trainer at football practice. He and another boy had a helmet-to-helmet collision. NR11 still has the headache, but all the other symptoms are gone.

There is a new law that says he cannot return to football without a doctor's note of approval. Our doctor wants him to wait a minimum of a week from when he was injured and then re-evaluate him before writing this note. He'll miss this Saturday's game for sure, but can possibly participate in the championship game on October 29.

I was quite touched by an email one the offensive coach sent to my husband me, and the head coach regarding NR11.

"Sarah/Rob/Bob,

It would be great to keep NR11 involved for the rest of the year. We need help with tracking play results/tackles for the last games as they are shaping up to be the roughest of the year.

NR11 has demonstrated a mental toughness this year that has been amazing. Small in stature but HUGE in heart, he continued to pick himself up after injuries that would have kept most people (including me) down. As much as I have tried to 'encourage' him to get low...when you are outweighed by 100 lbs. or more there is no only so low you can get.

In this era of concussion awareness a head injury is something that needs extra care. With only a few days left in the year NR11 has nothing more to prove to himself or the rest of the team. He is a true competitor and has everyone's full respect.

It would be an honor to serve on the sideline with him!

Jeff"

I guess that sums up NR11's experience on the Bills this year. He's had a blast, learned a lot AND earned everyone's full respect. Not bad for an 11-year-old offensive lineman, huh?

Mouse man, car dent and smushed bread...welcome to my day!

2011-10-18T16:28:00.001-05:00

The mouse man (Bill) came to our house today. He kept calling the Terminix people "rookies." He was greatly disappointed in their "work." He undid it all and did his own work. He found one dead mouse in the crawl space and no evidence that there are more right now. Maybe the one we heard yesterday was the dead one?!?!?

Bill will be back when I call to tell him to return. I feel very good about the switch in mouse control!

I took the littles to the grocery store and noticed that at some point recently, someone dented my car and didn't admit it. :( As we sped through the store, I remembered that I am on for snacks for small group this week. This is a miracle. I am all ready two days in advance!

MK4 sat on the bread in the cart. I was all prepared to pay for it anyway since it was our fault. But Sue the checkout lady wouldn't allow it. She insisted that the checkout guy had to get us new bread. That was so nice, that I am already only 10% grumpy about the dent in the car.

Say it isn't so...

2011-10-17T13:42:00.001-05:00

"I have some bad news," I told my husband last night. "I think there is a mouse in the wall in the dining room." "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes," I replied.

In my heart of hearts, I think it is a mouse. My brain wanted to think it was a bush outside blowing in the wind. I forgot about it until this morning, when it was light enough out to investigate.

NR11 and I were dutifully learning about many things this morning in our dining room. We learned about cells, energy, the end of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, atomic bombs. Scratch. "Was that you?" I asked. "No, it wasn't you?" he asked. "No," I replied.

I put my shoes on and went outside to investigate. Sadly, it isn't possible for it to be a bush hitting the house in the wind. And the mouse is in an interior wall. And it is a mouse. Or mice.

I went into the basement to investigate. I hoped the sound would be in the crawl space where the ceiling isn't finished. Nope. I couldn't even hear it in the basement, with NR11 knocking on the floor upstairs to guide me to the right place.

DJ3 asked me what I was doing. "I'm looking for a mouse," I said as bravely as possible. I have no idea really why I was doing all of this investigating. I'm no match for a mouse. I'd jump on the table and scream for hours. And then call my husband, if I lived.

DJ3 informed me that, "There's a mouse in the office and a mouse in the library, Mom." He said it so matter-of-factly. As if I were dumb and couldn't find one. I think all my hair stood up on end in response. My heart raced. I considered how to jump on the dining room table. And then I burst into laughter. Well, sure, there IS a mouse in the office and in the library. And right next to me as I type. The electronic kind. Not the living kind. Phew.

I suspended school to call a new pest control company, and left NR11 on guard duty.

So a new pest control company will pay us a visit tomorrow. Or rather, I will pay him for his visit. And I truly hope their commitment to "total elimination" and "guaranteed service" will be worth every cent I pay him.

So for today, Mouse-in-the-wall, you have this to contend with:

Tomorrow, just watch out for the total eliminator and my credit card. Consider yourself and your friends and relations warned. Big time.

Like mother, like daughter

2011-10-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

"Mom, I'm sick of my hair. Can I just get it cut off?" AG9 moaned. "It really annoys me when I play soccer."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "Let me measure it!"

"Well, you can get 11 inches cut off and still look nice," I said. "Sure." (Oh, my, did I really say that?) She needed 10 inches and then some in order to donate her hair through Locks of Love. I thought she might change her mind. I asked her many times if she really wanted to do it. And she did.

Today was haircut day. And four haircuts were had. DJ3 insisted he didn't want one after all. AG9's was the most dramatic, of course. Someone will be very blessed to have her hair made into a wig for them as they battle cancer. And I am blessed to have this girl with a loving heart.

The Wonderful Wizard of the Garage

2011-10-09T18:38:00.004-05:00

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Oh, wait. Wrong movie. This was "The Wonderful Wizard of the Garage." Yes. I confess, it was me. There weren't lions and tigers and bears, or even a little black dog. But there were, oh, at least 20 living spiders. I will confess that I only screeched once. And then I went to battle with the yellow spider that was in the sports equipment holder. And, well, I won. The Wizard always wins. The greatest thing I did not see was a mouse...dead or alive!

It all began when my husband said this afternoon, "I'm taking AG9 and NR11 on a 7-mile bike ride." That meant his car AND three bikes were out of the garage. I didn't mean to "go crazy." But I am happy I did. Really. The garage hasn't been this clean for seven years.

Sadly, it was time to say goodbye to the 13-year-old wagon. When I hosed it down, the paint came off. And we don't use it for kids anymore. Just junk. So the wagon and most of the junk in it are now not living in the garage anymore. One thing that I found that was certainly NOT junk was AC13's lost blue card for a merit badge he had almost completed. The absolutely kind merit badge counselor had just met with AC13 last week to go over all of the work done for a new blue card. AC13 has learned his lesson. I am sure.

We really do have the space we need for our things, now that they are organized. :) And, the floor is absolutely more clean. Leaves, dirt, packing peanuts, mouse poop, cobwebs and dust are greatly diminished.

You know what? There really is no place like home!

MK4's future

2011-10-08T17:02:00.000-05:00

As MK4 and I snapped beans together, here was our conversation:

MK4: When I'm a Mom, I'm going to help you cook dinner every night.
Me: Well, when you're a Mom, you might need me to cook you dinner every night.
MK4: Ok. I will bring my kids over and you can feed them and I will go home to eat my own dinner.
Me: Sure. How many kids are you going to have?
MK4: 10.
Me: Oh, well, then you will need to have dinner by yourself.
MK4: Yes. And I will turn my candle on.
Me: Sounds nice.
MK4: And you will need 10 high chairs.
Me: What? Ten kids at once?
MK4: Yes.
Me: Oh. Who will be the Daddy?
MK4: I don't know. I'll have to find one. And I will have the biggest car and biggest garage.
Me: I would think so.
MK4: You will also need 10 couches. I will bring them over for every meal.
Me: I don't think they will each need their own couch. I hope you live next door to me.
MK4: No, I will live far away. Where will you put the couches?
Me: It sounds like you might just want to live in my house.
MK4: No.

He never lets go of me (or you)!

2011-10-03T16:32:00.002-05:00

This song by Matt Redman is an answer to my recent prayers for myself and friends and family near and far lately. It seems to summarize what my God has told me, and I needed to share it. I hope it brings someone out there as much encouragement as it has to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

The wrong way

2011-10-03T08:10:00.001-05:00

"MOM! What are you doing? You're going the WRONG WAY!" NR11 admonished me on Thursday.

I was simply driving him to football practice. I've done this dozens of times. I know where it is. On a good day, we could even walk there. I KNOW to turn right at the traffic light...the ONLY traffic light between our house and the field. But I turned left.

Why? I dunno. I was on autopilot. That's what I keep telling the kids.

But, my autopilot is having some issues lately being programmed to the RIGHT place. If only I could remember to program it before I leave the house.

On Friday, um, well, that wasn't really my fault. I was taking the kids to meet Daddy at Culvers. And, well, the entrance to the parking lot was blocked off. So that wasn't an autopilot problem.

Saturday took the cake. I was driving NR11 and AG9 home from their soccer and football games on adjacent fields, one right after the other. And, uh, well, I missed a turn to get to my own house. And the only thing to do to fix it was, uh, to um, pull into a driveway to um, turn around. And, well, NO, I did NOT hit their mailbox...

I chose a house um, where, um, the owner of the house couldn't pull into her driveway, um, because I was backing out of it. The kids were so embarrassed. All I could do was laugh!

And then last night, um, on the way to pick up AC13 and NR11 from youth group, I um, went the wrong way. I went left again instead of right. AG9 was embarrassed yet again.

I think I have too much on my mind when driving of late. Every time I go the wrong way, I realize I was praying for someone or something that is really on my heart. I am distracted. Not in a dangerous way. But in a supernatural way.

So, maybe I am really NOT going the wrong way after all. Just going where the Lord leads. And sometimes He takes us on indirect paths. And sometimes we do need to turn around in our embarrassment. And other times He wants us to turn left, when we know the logical path is to turn right. The important thing is to know when we make mistakes, and to fix them as we can...with His help!

For now, I'm going to keep praying. And if I go the wrong way, I know He will turn me around. I am incredibly thankful for that!

Shelter in the storm

2011-09-30T10:52:00.002-05:00

God's math is astronomical. There are 9 kids in my house right now. And yet it sounds like three. One of our guests is working hard on her vocabulary while eating my homegrown watermelon. Her sister is discussing video games with NR11. The oldest boy is playing outside with some of our kids. And the wee one is literally spinning the world.

We took the day off school...and our guests have been working hard on their own schoolwork! I find that ironic.

Yesterday the oldest girl told me that she didn't know until now how nice our church was. "Sadly," I said, "People find that out in difficult times." On the flipside, I am continued to be touched by our church family and how we take care of each other in good times and bad. It is a huge blessing to not have to face the storms of this life alone. These saints of God walk through it with us and hold your hand while Jesus carries us.

I'm enjoying my time with these four extra kiddos. Our friends are pulled in many directions this week, and I am just happy to be available and able to use the eye in the back of my head for four more.

You see, I often offer help when I know I can come through. And most of the time, the help is noted and then I don't get to do anything. This time, I can, and I am blessed by it.

I'm sad for my friends and the storms they are in right now. But I hope that the Lord is showing them how He shows up in the storms and offers shelter and peace when His time is right.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you know?

2011-09-29T07:51:00.001-05:00

"Mom! That is IT! I am putting my foot down!" AC13 announced yesterday morning. You see, he is against eating "non-breakfasty" things for breakfast.

I was glad this morning that after DJ3's request for a hot dog for breakfast--that didn't work out because it was old--was not witnessed by AC13. DJ3 then asked for peas. So now he is secretly eating peas while AC13's chocolate chip waffles heat up in the toaster.

Lots of people eat breakfasty foods for dinner. But you rarely hear of eating dinnery foods for breakfast...unless it is cold pizza.

Recently some people in our house have eaten these inappropriate for AC13 things for breakfast: Bagel Bites, Totinos Pizza Rolls (hey, if we didn't cook them, that would be cold pizza!), salami, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Fig Newtons, chicken strips, rice, apple sauce.

Ok, ok. I will go to the store today. That might be a reason for this. But it also very well may not be. :)

I'm not dead

2011-09-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

"Mom, you haven't posted on your blog in a week!" AC13 exclaimed. "People might think you are dead!"

"Well, I'm not dead," I said. "I will let the readers know."

I guess I've just been quiet. I have lots of stuff rumbling around in my head that isn't coming out of my fingertips lately.

Do you LOVE pancakes?

2011-09-20T13:14:00.001-05:00

For the first September in six years, we are NOT selling popcorn for Cub Scouts! Keep us in mind in three years, though!

Instead, we have not one, but two sons selling pancake breakfast tickets! They are working hard on raising money for their Boy Scout troop's annual fundraiser. So far, AC13 has earned "top seller" of the week, and NR11 wasn't terribly far behind.

In case you would like to help my sons out...tickets are $5/individual and $15/family for an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast on December 3 at a nearby church. We had some friends come last year, and would love to see even more this year!

They are also selling ad space on the placemats for $25 or $50. It is a really great deal. More than 700 breakfasters were served last year! In addition to pancakes, there will be sausage and coffee/milk/juice. You don't want to miss it!

And, if you don't like pancakes or fun times, or simply live too far away to come to the breakfast, donations of ANY amount are greatly appreciated. The boys also get a percentage of their earnings to their own Scout Accounts, which helps them go on campouts and buy Scouting-related things.

Feel free to email me or track down one of my sons to buy your tickets now!

His plans are not mine, and that is great!

2011-09-18T09:15:00.005-05:00

"Beep!" (muffled noise). Yesterday morning at 6:35, I heard this. It made me jump. I didn't have any idea what it was. Ten minutes later, it happened again. Ah, the muffled noise was saying more clearly in my mind now, "low battery."

How annoying! Why can't the smoke detectors get low battery warnings at more decent hours? I know why now. This is worth reading to the end, even though it is very long.

I had plans for yesterday. The fun ones included watching Northwestern beat Army and attending my 20th high school reunion via Skype.

Before either of those didn't occur, I was edgy. Tense. Nervous. Downright snarky and snappy. Impatient. The time wasn't going fast enough. For me. I spent part of the morning reminiscing about being in high school. I Googled things. I wrote a blog post. I got in a "high school" state of mind. I was living in a fantasy world. I was going down the "what if" road. I knew it was wrong. I even remember asking the Lord to save me from myself. When I asked Him that, I clearly understood that He was doing that, but I didn't know how. I heard the Holy Spirit tell me that I was being disobedient and not in a position to praise the Lord to these people. I was going to revert to being worldly and who I was in high school. I wasn't in a place that would bring Him glory.

I was pressed for time. I wanted a blowout football game so I could confidently stop watching it when my husband came home and go to my backyard with my laptop. Alone. Well, alone from the people I live with.

I got out a nice sweater to throw on over my purple Northwestern shirt on my way out the back door. At halftime I did my hair. I was prepared. I wanted to present myself as best as I could, you know!

The football game didn't go as I had planned. Nor as many people had planned. I did an uncharacteristic thing in giving up with three minutes left to the game. The reunion clock was ticking.

DJ3 followed me outside. He really didn't want to go inside without me. So I snapped at him and made him cry. "Why can't I just be alone for 10 stinking minutes?" I complained.

Finally, I was alone with my computer. I tried to call in. The reunion green light was on. All technology was working fine. No one answered. This was not going as I had planned. I did what any normal person would do. I called. I called. I called. I called.

After 40 minutes, I came to the conclusion that this was not meant to be. It surely sounded too good to be true...going to a reunion on Skype. What was I thinking? Why had I thought it was going to work? I was terribly disappointed. I went back inside and we went to get some dinner at a restaurant.

What a lousy afternoon. Reality was stinking. On top of that, I realized my beautiful new sweater wasn't going to work for me. I am allergic to it. I don't always make great choices.

Ironically--ok, not ironically--purposefully? this morning I thought the smoke detectors should have been blaring. Yesterday a Bagel Bite had fallen off the cookie sheet. I forgot about it. Until I smelled it while cooking more this morning. Yuck! Nasty! Thankfully, I was nearby and could turn the oven off safely. I couldn't find a spatula anywhere to get the charcoal brick out of the oven. I opened windows, turned on fans. Left this morning's Bagel Bites in the cooling off oven.

Bear with me.

That is when it hit me. Yesterday's warning was an absolute real warning for me. I was on a hot path. I could have been the burnt up Bagel Bite. But instead, I was this morning's Bagel Bites. Beautifully warm, crisp and perfect. Safely on the cookie sheet with other Bagel Bites. Not burnt up alone on the bottom of the oven.

In high school, I was headed toward eternal burnt up Bagel Bitedom. Now, I am safely on the cookie sheet. I will heat up toward the potential of a delectable Bagel Bite. And when I am done cooking, I will go to Bagel Bite Heaven. Much better than burnt on the bottom of the oven forever.

This morning, I am grateful that the Lord has once again saved me from myself. I confess my ideas aren't always the best. My plans aren't always fruitful and helpful. My desires can lead me astray. But I belong to Him. And He loves me more than I love myself and His plans for me are not what my plans were for me in high school. They are ever-better.

I am so looking forward to church this morning. I KNOW the Lord is going to teach me something else absolutely just for me. It is going to be one of those mornings where everything is orchestrated perfectly for me to grow. I love those times. And I love the Lord more than I loved being in high school. I am happy to be reminded that I love my real life with Jesus leading it more than any fantasy I could imagine. And DJ3 who obviously didn't read this nor doesn't have the ability to read my mind, just said, "Church is in a high school." Hmmmmmmm.

20 years is a long time!

2011-09-17T08:23:00.001-05:00

We had a clash of worlds this morning. It's only going to get worse, folks!

"I think you're taking this 20th high school reunion thing a bit far, honey," my husband just said to me as he saw me dancing along to the beginning of "Beat It" by Michael Jackson on Pandora on my iPhone.

I was simply doing my housework. You know, picking jobs out of the job jar. The job was "8 items to recycling." And I was scanning the island for Christmas catalogs that arrived a few days ago that will never be opened.

And I have learned over the past week that I like to clean better when I have rockin' tunes coming out of my pocket. Don't you?

I kindly told him that "Beat It" is not from my high school days. It is from 4th grade! I even went to Google to verify that, and was thrilled that I was right.

Here is some news on 1991's music: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_in_music While I am at it, I'll find some more stuff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991 was a bit about our world at the age of 18; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_in_film has movies we watched; general things from 1991 are at http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1991.html; and our alma mater, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx_High_School_of_Science. Strangely or not, back in 1991, our lives didn't revolve around the Internet, or even computers and cell phones. We all had coins in our pockets to use pay phones or memorized horribly long calling card numbers to make calls.

Later today after my Wildcats crush Army in football, I will attend my 20th high school reunion via Skype. Who-hoo! I think this is phenomenal on many levels. First, of course, well, I don't have to travel 850 miles. I also can go for free. AND on top of all of that, IF I decide I don't like it, I can just click the hang up button.

I don't think that will happen, of course. But it is a great "out." And if I am dressed wrong, I can always run into my closet and change. Especially if I spill something on my shirt!

In the last few days, I have gone through my yearbook. I have remembered people fondly. I have questioned, "Who in the world was that signing my yearbook? Well, they apparently thought I had a nice smile and was one of the nicest people in the school. They thought I would do well at Northwestern, and they wanted to keep in touch. I wonder if they will remember me 20 years later? LOL."

Some of the notes brought tears to my eyes. Some were quite frankly, lame, and 20 years later don't live up to what I would have thought would have been meaningful.

People referenced things I simply cannot remember at all. Others made me crack up and have my children ask what was so funny. But I couldn't tell them.

If you asked me what I would have thought about high school 20+ years later back then, I would have not imagined I'd have mostly fond memories while I was in the midst of them. While I don't really resemble that Sarah of long ago now, I wonder how much all of my friends have changed as well. I wonder if their lives turned out as they had planned. I wonder if they have more fond memories of high school than sad.

It's been a fun trip down memory lane. Thanks, friends, for the ride.

Sibling love

2011-09-14T16:37:00.001-05:00

I love when I overhear cute and loving comments in my house! This afternoon, after a successful bike ride around the soccer field path, AG9 and NR11 came home sweaty, yet cold. I heard AG9 call themselves "the Bike Twins." She said, "Well, we're not twins, you know...but I would love it if we were." "Me too!" NR11 said.

I love that they are bonding over their newfound skill of bike riding. They make plans to go on routes together and have a lot of fun--while getting exercise!

NR11 often talks about being in a good place...but not good at the same time in birth order. He has the best of both worlds...AG9 on one side and AC13 on the other. This often forces him to choose between them when their interests are incompatible. Overall, he does a good job being a bridge.

Great games!

2011-09-11T07:47:00.000-05:00

"You just jinxed the Cats," my husband said as we got in the car after our second sports victory yesterday. "We can't pull out three wins in one day."

"Well, as hard as it is for me to say, I am glad that my children won their games at the Cats expense," I replied.

Earlier that morning as the fog disappeared, NR11 made his debut on the offense of the Bills. The team reminded me of the Wildcats, of course. They got an early lead of 14-0. The other team made a miraculous play to tie it at 14. And then...with hardly any time left...we ran all the way down the field to make a TD. We won, 22-14. NR11 is number 57.

We then went home for an hour before AG9's soccer game. "We're going to cream them," she had been saying for days. Since I know what happens when people have that attitude, I gently told her they might just win.

As it turned out, she was right. 5-0! AG9 played goalie the second half and has a perfect 0 goals allowed to start the season!

It turns out I didn't jinx the Wildcats one bit. 42-21. And then, later in the evening, I was watching the Michigan/ND game. I was falling asleep. NR11 asked me how I could fall asleep watching football. I didn't know.

I missed the end! I hear it was amazing. Michigan beat ND!

So, dear husband...no, we can't pull out three wins in one day. Only four.

9/11 revisited

2011-09-09T22:31:00.001-05:00

My 20th (gasp!) high school reunion is in 8 days, only 850 miles away. Originally I thought to myself, "I can't go." I haven't been able to attend any of them so far, what's the difference? And then about a week ago, I thought about how it could work. I even priced airline tickets and tried to figure out how to get everyone where they want to be that day with minimal trouble.

I posted a poll on a favorite forum hangout for me, "Yes or no." "Yes" won. I posted "Yes or no?" on Facebook. "Yes" won again.

Yet "no" ended up winning when it came to reality. It turns out that now I might be able to Skype them at the reunion. (This is funny, considering that when we graduated from high school no one even had email!)

My last visit home was a year ago. I took NR11 there for a whirlwind trip for his 10th birthday traditional gift. I showed him where I grew up. We went to the Giants game. We met up with some of my old friends and friends who are like family. We went to John's Pizza. The real one on Bleecker Street. I had a great time showing him important parts to my childhood.

But he couldn't see the Twin Towers. My parents took me there to the Windows on the World restaurant for a fancy-schmancy lunch right after I graduated from high school. I remember feeling important. Somebody. An 18-year-old with a future. Successful. Happy.

When NR11 was 18 months old, the Twin Towers fell. We watched it live on TV in our basement, 850 miles away. He and AC13 were too young to understand what happened. Or why Mommy was crying and why she wanted to call Grandma Jane and wanted Daddy to come home immediately from work at the Sears Tower. I spent most of the day on the phone with my friend Pam, whose husband worked with mine. That was a good thing for me as I look back on it now. A blessing in disguise.

Every now and then they ask about it. Today, in fact, AC13 asked me about it. Ten years ago, I said to him, "Mean people hate America. They might have good reasons to not like our country, but that is never a good reason to kill innocent people." He's older now. He's going to develop his own opinions. And I pray he never has something so tragic in his life to remember even better.

I'm going to admit something I may not have shared with anyone before. 9/11 was an attack on the people of the city where I grew up for 16 years. I lived 1.7 miles away from the Twin Towers. I saw them EVERY day. I had been in and near them countless times. They always amazed me and brought me comfort. They felt like home.

I had a much different reaction to the Twin Towers than I did the Pentagon. The Pentagon is certainly important to the country I love. But I've never been there. It just sounds like a big, important place. I have no personal history with it. And so my heart told me that part of me had died with the people in New York.

A part of me did die that day. I have an empty hole in my heart about it. No one can do anything about it, except God. It just goes with me daily. Sometimes it crops up, usually every beginning of September. I avoid the news about it. I don't go to local events. I just clam up. That is so unlike me. I am generally an open person. But when it comes to 9/11, I still think of it so privately. I don't want to share it. I don't know if this makes any sense at all, but that is where I am.

I went to New York in October, 2001. I went to Ground Zero. I saw it with my own eyes. I didn't take a single picture, like many tourists did. I thought that was absolutely awful. I stood on the West Side Highway and cheered for the heroic men and women who gave their time, effort, health and money to clean it up. I read countless pieces of paper near St. Vincent's hospital and in the financial district on the walls. People looking for loved ones. People offering help.

Part of me wondered why it happened to my city when I wasn't there. I wanted so much to be part of the help. I couldn't donate blood or anything like that because AG9 was baking inside me.

And I was not only sad for New York. I was sad for my children who have to grow up in this "post 9/11 world." I wondered if it was wise to bring children into such a world full of hate and evil. But I came to the conclusion that no matter how awful that day was, there was much good in it at the same time. I am convinced good will always win over evil.

Someone else can't be at our 20th high school reunion in 8 days either. He also missed our 10th and 15th. He was a rookie fire fighter on 9/11. He made our class proud of his efforts. His life truly made a difference. RIP, Christian Regenhard. (It really is worth your time to visit that website!)

I've been thinking about how much I have changed in the last 20 years. I barely recognize myself. And this is good. But I have a suspicion that most of us have changed dramatically in the last 10 years, simply because of 9/11. We've all gotten older, hopefully wiser. And we're all missing the Twin Towers on 9/11 and every day. It's just in our history.

Can't fake it

2011-09-09T16:24:00.003-05:00

I'm amused. AC13 is going camping tonight with his youth group in the leaders' backyard. He has no idea how to "fake camp." He's trying to bring all sorts of things he takes when he goes camping with Boy Scouts. I can't help but laugh. He's the only Boy Scout who will be there, and now he is one of the oldest boys in junior high.

He certainly has an opportunity to share his knowledge and skills in a new setting. I hope he rises to the occasion.

By the way, if it rains, they will camp in the basement. Definitely NOT like Boy Scouts. And I am sure the kybo will be free of bugs, rodents and icky smells.

I can't wait to hear all about it!

Happy Birthday, DJ3

2011-09-08T08:20:00.000-05:00

Has it really only been three years? I simply cannot imagine our lives without our smallest child, DJ3.

He's captured all of our hearts around here. He's cute beyond belief. He's even smarter than he is cute. He's funny. He's caring. He's simply a blessing to us.

I'm so thankful the Lord is the One who builds families. He knew DJ3 would be a perfect caboose for us. He knew we had room in our hearts for this absolutely terrific little boy way before we knew he was on the way.

When I look at him, I just know God loves me. Without a doubt.

Happy birthday, DJ3!

Watch out, world!

2011-09-06T16:30:00.001-05:00

Walking is so "old-school" around here now. AG9 and NR11 have mastered riding a bike! This is thrilling news around here. Hopefully the bike-riding craze will spread to more of us.

In the meantime, AG9 and NR11 have started a business. They are washing bikes and scooters. Apparently they haven't had any customers yet. Yesterday's excitement turned to disappointment when the girl realized she had to pay for their service. :(

Anyway, today they went on a bike ride around the neighborhood. AG9's pedal fell off! "It sure was hard to stop without a pedal, Mom," she reported. "How did you get home?" I asked. "I walked."

"I know where you can take my bike to get it fixed, Mom!" she reported. "Can you take me now?"

I thought this was a fix my husband could surely handle. After a while, she got impatient and said, "Do we have any pliers?" "Are you expanding your business?" I asked. "No, Mom, I'm fixing my own bike." A couple of minutes after I gave her the pliers, she was back. "That was easy!"

Now she is back on track. She's thinking of all sorts of places she needs to go on her bike.

Don't tell me what is next. I know...

Letters!

2011-09-05T10:02:00.002-05:00

Dear Watermelons,

We have a perfectly nice, enclosed garden for you to grow IN. Please remember that next year.

Love,
Sarah

P.S. We're looking forward to eating you.

Dear Walmart,

On September 4, you should NOT sell Minute Maid Lemonade with a SELL BY date of August 3. Shame on you! Shame on ME as well for not checking the dates. I will not seek my $3 back this time. But if I catch you with old dates on shelves in the future, rest assured I will let you know.

Cordially,
Sarah

Dear Batman Slip N Slide,

I'm sorry it has come to this.

You deserved better.

Please don't take revenge on us.

Love,
Sarah

Dear Perry Miller,

If you wanted people to read your "The Seventeenth Century" book, you should have a) reduced it from 491 pages, b) consulted a thesaurus, c) had an honest editor tell you it stinks, d) put in pictures or something to break up the absolute monotony of what you think you had to say, e) paid Susan Wise Bauer more money to include it in her "Well Educated Mind," f) paid ME to read it.

Sincerely,
Sarah

Dear Coca-Cola,

Please make it easier for idiots like me to put in our secret codes to win free college T-shirts! How about "The correct code is INSIDE this big box. You will have to dismantle it all to get the code. It would be a good idea to wait the box is naturally empty. Do NOT consult mycokerewards.com for help, because that will be a waste of your time. Enjoy your free T-shirt in 10-12 weeks IF there is still a supply at that time."

Thank you,
Sarah

Dear Weather,

Thank you for lowering your temperatures. I really, really appreciate it!

Love,
Sarah

Dear MK4,

No, you may not use DJ2's birthday present that AG9 bought him. Oh, AG9 already used it? Go ahead!

Love,
Mommy

Cheering for my Wildcats again!

2011-09-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

"MOM! You are too loud!" NR11 told me a few times during the Northwestern game. He is quite embarrassed at my cheering method, obviously.

I tried to explain that it is nine months' worth of cheering that was pent up inside me. I just had to get it out! (In reality, every week is like that for me. I can't help it!)

My husband came to my defense and said I should be allowed to yell when we score touchdowns. "But a 3-yard play in the middle of the field? Notsomuch."

MK4 cheered loudly when she was watching. DJ2 enjoyed making snow angels on the rug with me during plays.

AC13 is my best hope. He cheers until the end. Like me. We know it isn't over until it's over.

GO CATS!

2011-09-03T10:29:00.003-05:00

Look out, Leonardo!

2011-09-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

It isn't all bad news around here.

We have a budding artist. Who's not even 3...

(The bottom one is me.)

"I don't love you."

2011-09-02T14:03:00.000-05:00

I certainly love all of my children. And some days it is easier to love some than others. But no matter what, I choose to love them. All.

MK4 is testing me on this. Daily. She used to tell me she loved me all the time. But that was at the expense of not loving someone else. Every day, someone in our house feels hurt that MK4 has declared either "I don't love you" or "I hate you."

I thought it would pass. I decided to simply respond, "Well, I love you, no matter what." I didn't want her to know how hurt I was inside. Especially since she was the first child and at such a young age to say this to me. Ouch. I didn't want to blow it out of proportion.

Today she has let me know that when she is a mom, she will love me. While I think there is a lot of truth in that, I also don't want to wait 20 years for her to choose to love me. Or at least stop announcing her hatred for me.

I could understand if I said "No" to something, or made her do something she didn't want to do to get this response. But she simply announces it anytime. Anywhere.

I was sick this week. She came in all lovey-dovey to my room and said, "Mommy, I love you." I almost cried. I said I loved her. And then she said, "Actually, I don't." And walked out of the room.

I don't know what's going on here. But I know I am not enjoying it. No matter what.

Honored!

2011-08-29T07:29:00.000-05:00

AC13 was officially honored as a Star Scout and got 3 Merit Badges AND NR11 got his first Merit Badge yesterday. An added bonus was that Aunt Jocelyn is here and was able to celebrate with us!

I'm so proud of both of my boys. They are working hard, learning new things and making friends.

Good and bad news

2011-08-27T10:10:00.002-05:00

The good news:

We don't get hurricanes.
I backed into MK4's bike, but it is still usable.
I paid off our furnace.
My left-out child took initiative and worked out the issue with good results.
I attacked the garbage can and won.
I'm liking my hair cut.
My sister-in-law is coming for a visit today!
I get to go to a birthday party for an adorable 1-year-old today!
School is going well.
Medication I am taking is going well.
One week and 50 minutes left until Northwestern football!

The bad news:

I reported a while ago that when the lamp fell in the library, everything escaped injury. Not so. That laptop now doesn't do wireless.
Our bay window is unhappy and rotting.
Our washer will not spin dry things and smells burning. Our dryer will be very unhappy with us because of this. We're not allowed to line dry things here.
My husband has a terrible bug. He's miserable.
I have to read an uber-boring book for three months for my wonderful book club.
My allergies are not responding to a variety of medications. I.cannot.stop.sneezing.
Weeds have taken over my garden, and today I do not care.
I miss my Co-op.
I have to search for a new small group on top of everything else, since ours is now not meeting this fall.
I've missed Bible study now for three weeks, and there is only one week left. Chances are not high I will be able to go. AGAIN. :(
I got stressed out having two blogs, so I deleted my other one. I'm not as upset about it today, though.
I ruined a frying pan.
I broke our shredder.
I can't afford to escape to Australia.
One of our toilets is unhappy.
I don't understand Firefox 6.0.
How could I forget? The Sonlight Forums are STILL down.

Band-Aids to the rescue?

2011-08-25T07:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday DJ2 put three Cars Band-Aids on my leg. Why? Because he thought I was hurt. And he wanted to help. I wasn't hurt, nor was I sad. But maybe, just maybe he put them on in advance. Sadly, I took them off while getting ready for the evening.

You see, last night after a lovely evening with my lady friends, I came home to a sad child. A child who is feeling left out in a group the child is involved in. A child who wants to be picked. A child whose heart is hurt.

Now my heart is hurt. And I want so much to help my child. But my child doesn't want me to do anything about it. At least, not now. But I hope my child knows that the pain in my child's heart pains my own heart.

I just wish Cars Band-Aids could fix all pain. I'd buy boxes and boxes of them. And like DJ2, I'd put them on in advance. Even cover my family in them.

I am confident, however, that since that isn't a practical or helpful plan--although colorful--the Lord will hear our prayers and heal our hearts. His way. And I am sure His way will astound us and trump my way. He is much bigger and better than Cars Band-Aids.

My star!

2011-08-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

AC13 had his Star Scout Board of Review tonight. I was told they grilled him hard, and he did a great job. We're so proud of him! He'll be officially honored on August 28!

2 out of 6 noticed...

2011-08-13T15:10:00.000-05:00

NR11 said, "What? You got a haircut? I didn't even notice!" My husband said, "Well, it's short!" AG9 said, "Why did you do that?" MK4 just said I look pretty. DJ2 and AC13 are apparently speechless...

I got a free haircut because I donated my hair to Locks of Love!

Keeping busy

2011-08-12T16:55:00.000-05:00

MK4 likes to play Mom and Dad with DJ2 because she likes to boss him around and tell him what to do. She often comes to me to complain that he won't "play right." This afternoon the complaint was that it was 8:45 and that meant bedtime, and DJ2 wasn't lying down. This is usually how the game goes. DJ2 ends up quitting the game and MK4 ends up sad.

This morning, however, warmed my heart. MK4 and DJ2 were playing quietly in our library while I was getting ready for school. MK4 packed up her Bible and told DJ2, "Bye, honey. I'm leaving now for Bible Study. See you later!"

She also sang "God is Number One" while we were at the grocery store. She took 97 pictures today on my phone, too.

She's too smart for me...

2011-08-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

AG9's science book told us to outline a puddle with chalk and go back an hour later to see what happened. "We don't have any puddles," I murmured.

"Mom, we can just make one ourselves," AG9 said.

"Oh, right!" I responded vocally. Inwardly, I was wondering why that was such a great idea and why I couldn't think of it.

Oh, well. Good thing I'm all the way back in preK again, too. Maybe the fifth time around my brain will work.

"Are you happy?"

2011-08-07T19:51:00.000-05:00

"Are you happy?" DJ2 asks me many times per day with a huge smile.

Most of the time I am happy when he asks. I say, "Yes," and he is genuinely happy that I am happy. But sometimes I am not. And when I say, "No," he immediately gives me a hug and a kiss or stops doing whatever it was he thinks was making me mad. And then I am happy.

It is absolutely cute!

I'm going to try to remember to ask God this more often of me. "Are you happy with me, God?" I'm going to listen for His answer. And if the answer is "No," I will stop doing whatever it was that I think made him mad.

It sounds so simple. But with this real example daily from my son, I think we can both make those we love happy.

Falling apart

2011-08-02T13:50:00.002-05:00

Today's drama began at 12:05 a.m. I was innocently reading the last couple of dramatic pages of "Shadow of a Bull" for school. "Did you read NR11's football coach's email?" my husband innocently asked. "No, I didn't even know I had one," I replied. "Well, he's on a different team." So I asked where the practices were and before he could look it up, I was down the stairs reading my own email.

It turns out the team he is now on (the BiLLLLs--a nod to my husband's favorite football joke), practices a tad closer to our house. I think that is why he was "traded" from the Seahawks. But maybe we'll never know.

I certainly didn't pray about what team he'd be on this year like I did last year. I assumed he would be on the same team. Personally, my mixed feelings kept me up until way past 2 a.m. I knew NR11 would be upset. But to me, that is the only con. It is large, to be sure. But the pros might end up swaying the con. While new things make me a tad nervous, I'm looking forward to starting over with a new team. I just didn't think our last team was a terrific fit for us. It wasn't awful, but maybe this team will be better. Maybe the other moms will talk to me before the end of season banquet. Maybe we won't have to have a banquet!

The coach said he'd call us today. He sounds incredibly organized and friendly. Does he know a lot about football? Who knows. But he obviously likes what he is doing, and if he's new, then he's got enthusiasm going for him. If he has experience, he obviously knows what he is in for this fall. I'm looking forward to our chat.

I didn't recognize any of the emails on the email header. So while I couldn't sleep, I devised how I am going to transport NR11 to and from practices. Before public school starts, they are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays. After school starts, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Obviously, those are my two most difficult days! But I think my plan can work. I'm always optimistic before anything starts!

After getting about four hours of sleep, I prepared myself for breaking the news to NR11. He took it hard. He feels rejected at the very least. I don't honestly know if he was or not. But I do know he's hurting. I tried to encourage him, but all he really wanted was to sit on my lap and cuddle. HA! A big 11-year-old football player cuddling on his mommy's lap. (I LOVE IT!)

We then began our school day. About an hour into AC13's turn, DJ2 was struggling in the library with a scarf. Apparently, he tried to pull it off the coat tree. He didn't pull the scarf off, but he did manage to pull the coat tree over. And miraculously not get hurt. I didn't even hear it fall over on the carpet. And it was full of coats and scarves and snowpants and all sorts of things that sound great to have to wear today. I immediately praised the Lord for His protection and produced the scarf to DJ2's delight.

AC13 wanted to find out what a blind spider crab looks like. After much Googling, we found a picture of one that AC13 said "scarred me for life." It made me jumpy, to say the least.

I didn't think much more of that until, oh right after our contractor friend left. He is fixing our radon system, and not two minutes after he walked out the door, CRASHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The lamp in the same room as the coat tree plummeted to the floor. Somehow, the lightbulb was the only glass part not shattered to smithereens. I saw the lamp fall in slow motion. It was frightening! It narrowly missed DJ2 AND MK4, who were watching something on Netflix on the laptop on the floor.

MK4 ironically still had on her helmet, because she had been riding her bike outside.

As I started to clean up, the irony of that caught my humor and so I asked AG9 to take a picture.

You can't see, but the entire glass fixture was in 2945390580 pieces all over the floor, even behind the chairs and into the foyer. I was able to carry the two victims out of the room and it took a good 30 minutes to clean up.

I praised the Lord AGAIN for His protection. The lamp is totally dead, but my children are unharmed! I didn't realize until after my children were safely out of the room that the laptop was also unharmed, even though it broke the lamp's fall. As I thought about it some more, I think a fire could have started easily if it had fallen at a different angle.

We now have no light in that poor falling-over room. At least in the dark now, we won't be in danger of things falling on us. I hope the bookcases are NOT next.

Airport adventures, or "TSA sucks"

2011-07-29T23:33:00.001-05:00

I last left you with zero children and a prayer time. I prayed for many things, and one of them relates to the rest of this post. I prayed my children would come home safely this evening. I don't often pray things to the extent of "Please don't let any evil people on the airplane." But I did. And that was weird. Kids pray those things, not 38-year-old women.

And then I had no peace about this trip home from Texas for my oldest three children. I even brought it up at my Bible study last night. I said it was silly, but I had no peace and I wanted some. A wonderful lady prayed for me and them...and I still had no peace, but thought it would come later.

This morning, a terrific old friend came over with two of her children. It was great timing. It distracted me from being concerned all day. But I didn't feel at peace either. Just distracted.

I had lots of juggling to do as well. MK4 had her last night of Vacation Bible School, and for her to go, my lovely neighbor said she would babysit her and then take her to it. There was a split second where she changed her mind and wanted to go to the airport. But when I verified it, she was back in VBS land.

Just before my friend left, my lovely mother-in-law called to explain there was some terrible communication and confusion at her airport with United. MANY times they had asked what they had to do to get the kids back home. They flew to Texas with Grandma and Grandpa, so that was not an issue at all. It was simply one-way unaccompanied. They were told MANY times that no paperwork was involved, nor the fee they expected. The kids even got their boarding passes this afternoon without ANY indication from the ticket agent person that they had to have special paperwork to travel unaccompanied.

As they got ready to board the plane, the gate lady asked how old AC13 was and that started a bunch of confusing nonsense. First and foremost, Grandpa had to shell out $99 to even allow them on the plane. Also, paperwork was INDEED required. And this paperwork was not at the gate. No paperwork, no fly. It was looking bad. Grandpa did all he could as nicely as he could. But he was a.n.n.o.y.e.d. Here they were looking like ignorant fools when they had done everything they could to find out in advance how today would work. The several ignorant fools who told them the wrong information time after time probably had a better afternoon.

Eventually, they got on the plane last and headed toward home.

After hearing of the troubles on that end, my lack of peace seemed to be explained. I tried hard to just take some deep breaths and look forward to hugging them at the gate. I turned into a Momma Bear on a Mission. If you are a Momma, you know what is coming...

I left the neighbor's house at 3:51. The flight was arriving at 5:25. I about buying gas, because I wasn't sure I had enough to get to the airport and home IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. After getting stuck at my fourth red light in a row, I decided I had no time for gas. I then got stuck at 14 of the 15 red lights there were on the way to the highway. I only didn't get stuck at the one because I didn't slow down on yellow...

I then knew I had to make up time on the highway and prayed for the Lord to bestow grace on me and let me get to the gate before my children. I asked him to do whatever He had to to get this done. And, I am ashamed to say I was surprised when I pulled into the airport garage at 4:51. I knew I would get there. Things were definitely improving.

I parked the car VERY close to the elevator. DJ2 was asleep, so I got him in the stroller and off we speed walked. I was warned that the plane was coming to a different terminal than the one I had to go to to get the special pass through security. I almost just went to the terminal they were coming in on and took my chances, but I thought better of that and went to the correct one.

I came out of the elevator and saw "Premier Check-in." I'm not premier, but I thought maybe someone would be nice and help me. There weren't lots of people there or anything. I explained to the "guard" my situation and he said in his broken English, "Go to the first line." After I figured out what he meant, I maneuvered the stroller through the black lines and realized a lady had cut me. I was irritated, but I saw many other ticket agents, and I was obviously next. So I waited. And waited. Ten minutes. Each time an agent finished with that customer, they simply walked away from their computer. To do what? I don't know. But not help me.

I finally got the lady who was helping the cutting lady and she gave me a fake boarding pass to go through security. It had my name on it, she wrote "with infant"?!?! and it clearly said in computer type: ID VERIFIED.

I guess at this time I should say my children have never flown alone before AND I have never picked someone up at the airport this way.

She told me to go to gate F1. I figured out how to get to the other terminal. I tried not to mow down the slow people who had delayed flights bored out of their minds doing laps around the airport. But they were REALLY in my way.

I finally got to the security line. It was not moving fast. And there were, oh, 30 people ahead of me. I tried to get the courage to ask one of them near the front if I could cut the line. But I was too chicken. I thought I would ask a lovely TSA person that instead. I've seen it done before! My position in the line was not a good one to get one of the people's attention. Especially the woman sitting on her stool staring off into space. AC13 called just then, and it was 5:07. They had landed. 20 people were still in front of me. I finally got a man to answer my "Excuse me." I told him I was picking up my unaccompanied children and their plane had landed. I asked if I could move to the front of the line. He said "No. You're almost at the front anyway." And gave me an evil look. I asked him I was going to make it to the gate in a few minutes, and he said, "I don't think so." And that was that.

The lady behind me said, "They don't care about anyone here."

I had no idea what to do. So I stayed in the line. I handed the incredibly incompetent ID checker man my fake boarding pass paper and he wanted my ID. Well, uh, it said it was verified already. The ticket lady didn't say anything about showing it again. I wasn't GOING ON AN AIRPLANE. So I flipped open my wallet. Not good enough. "Take it out." I did. And then....

He took an extra long time to verify that it was me on my drivers license. The jerk-man (I want to call him worse names!) was standing right there doing nothing at all helpful for anyone and could tell I was growing more frustrated by the millisecond. (They train them for behavior analysis, you know...) So as I grabbed my license back from incompetent-man, jerk-man says, "It's called getting to the airport early." Oh, yes, bleep man, I couldn't tear myself away from my bon bons and soap operas this afternoon. I have no desire to see my kids after they've been gone a week. So what if I'm late? Isn't that what part of the $99 fee is for? Actually, jerk-man, I thought twice about coming in the first place. They could have taken a taxi home.

All I could come up with was, "It's called TRAFFIC and rude people and a 2-year-old." I immediately felt bad for adding that part, because 0% of this was DJ2's fault. The jerk-woman next to him started calling me names and yelling at me, too. And then I yelled very loudly something I will not write down. But it was unfriendly.

And frankly, at that second, I realized a few things. One was no wonder people hate the TSA. Another was I better shut up or I could be arrested. And sent to Gitmo. For being a very non-terrorist...but just a ticked off non-traveler.

THEN another lady told me DJ2 who was asleep had to get out of the stroller, yada yada yada, I was even more annoyed. I know those are the rules. But they are stinky. After taking off my non-terrorist toddler's Cars 2 sneakers that light up that had no explosives hidden in them, and my own brand new Crocs, throwing them in a bin with my purse and drivers license and fake boarding pass, I began to walk through the metal detector holding him and pushing the stroller one-handed.

Bad move.

I might have well have yelled, "I'm a terrorist!"

"You have to put the stroller on the belt, too."

I folded it slammed it down and yelled something incoherent. Yes, I was the mad, lunatic lady at the airport. (It happens to the best of us!)

I got our bin, put on our safe shoes and then had to wait many minutes for the stroller. I explained to my son that the terrorists have won. They have forced us to act like this in airports. I put him back in, and looked up to see jerk-man.

His nametag was still facing the wrong way, so I actually asked him his name. "Earl Mcp4039utoihgr." Or something. He asked why I wanted to know his name and I said I was going to report him for yelling at me. "I didn't yell at you," he said. "Well, then your twin brother did," I replied. I obviously can't report him, but he looked like a blond Mario Batalli.

I hurried to the gate. People were coming out of the door. I made it! I went under the black ropes to the gate agent and was mesmerized by her smile. The first person who worked at the airport to be kind. She told me they were coming. I made it to the gate FIRST! \0/!

But when I saw them, it was all worth it. The Momma Bear had her cubs back.

And then things went further downhill. Upon reaching the car, we found out that my husband was delayed for an unknown amount of time on his train. It looked like he would not be able to pick up MK4 from VBS. After dropping my phone on the ground in the garage, I had to quickly get plan B up and running. I REALLY want to thank my neighbors today for coming to our rescue.

Interestingly, earlier in the week, I was talking with one of them about what we teach our kids about strangers and things like that. I told them that through Scouts we learned to have a "secret codeword" to use if there was an emergency so that the kids would know it was safe to go in someone's car if that wasn't the original plan.

Today would have been the very first time we would have used it. Except, MK4 didn't know the secret codeword. Guess what we'll be doing tomorrow? We'll review it with everyone, and then we won't need to use it, ever, I hope.

And just in case you think it is, "TSA sucks!" that would be a good one, but we already have one.

Zero!

2011-07-28T15:12:00.001-05:00

I last wrote that I had ONE child with me.

Now I have ZERO. Yes, ZERO.

MK4 wanted to play with our neighbor--and--get this--her mom said DJ2 could stay, too!

I simply couldn't turn that down!

And now I am just sitting here wondering what I should do.

So far I have perused Facebook, called the big kids, checked the weather and had a few sips of Coke. I have no idea what to do with this unplanned blessing! Take a short nap? Read?

As I just typed that, the answer was clear. It is time to pray. God has given me this time, and I should spend it with Him. Alone.

Only one

2011-07-26T19:26:00.000-05:00

This is just weird. Two weeks ago, I had three children for the week. This week, I'm down to two. And each evening, I am down to one.

ONE.

One does not compare to the five I usually spend my days and evenings with. One.

AC13, NR11 and AG9 are in Texas for the week with most of their Dad's side of the family. They're doing fun things like visiting caves, playing laser tag, going to a baseball game and swimming. MK4 is at Vacation Bible School in the evenings. And, my husband is having a very important busy week at work, so he isn't really here much either.

Last night, DJ2 and I used the unsweltering evening to pull weeds and play in the backyard. Tonight we went to the grocery store. I haven't thought of an exciting event for tomorrow evening yet.

I was trying to remember what life was like the last time I had ONE nearly 3-year-old son. Oh, that's right...I never had that. :) That is why I cannot remember!

I feel the need to make a button for myself to wear during times like these...so that the strangers who usually stare at us will know that I really do have five children, not just one. And that yes, I am the same woman they usually stare at.

Am I enjoying the break? In all honesty, I feel like I should. But I am not. I just plain miss them. All. I want my normal life back. It's good to know that!

One day they will start leaving the nest, and right now I can't imagine I will like that either. I guess this is just a glimpse of 2025, when there will be just one.

Ice cream for dinner?

2011-07-19T15:09:00.001-05:00

When I was about 6, my mom and I and some friends were wandering around the streets of New York in search of some dinner. The only thing we could find that was open was an ice cream shop. So we ate ice cream for dinner. Truth be told, by then I had eaten lots of ice cream for breakfast. But dinner? That was just wrong.

But it was delicious. And cold. And wonderful.

Guess what we're having for dinner tonight? Not dessert...but dinner? The main course? First?

Strangely, it is now 3:07 and no one has asked me what we're having for dinner. This is the one time they really should ask! Oh, I hope someone asks me soon. I will take a picture to post when I tell them the answer...

-----------

That didn't go over so well...who'duthunk? This was the only VERY happy person about it:

Cleaning Up, Part 3

2011-07-18T09:32:00.000-05:00

Mice. Yes. There were some. I don't have a tally. I certainly didn't ask everyone how many they encountered. All I have to go on is my own count...a measly 2.

I saw the first one fall out of a box after I told me friend to "be careful" because it was obvious at some point a mouse had been in it. It dropped out of the bottom when she picked it up. We both let out our own noises in response. She put the box in the trash pile and I ran off a few feet away to "handle it." It was dead, for sure. Just lying there in the grass. In the pathway of the people carrying things outside. It could not stay there.

"I'm going to be brave," my friend said. She found a way to dump it in the garbage bag. "You are my hero," I encouraged her. I was very proud of her. And still am. :)

After a little while, two men carried out a nice storage bench. Sitting there right out in the open, was mouse number 2. One of them men picked it up by the tail as if it was only a piece of string and carried it to a garbage bag. Out of my own bravery, I didn't even discuss it.

Now, if you have read my blog before, you know I cannot stand mice. I am afraid of them...dead or alive.

You must understand that I KNEW I would encounter mice during this job. I KNEW it. And I went anyway. Why? Because the Lord told me there would be mice. He also told me that I was going not just to help this family, but to help myself. He told me I was going to grow. He had something for me.

I wasn't surprised to see mice. And I have a secret: with the Lord holding my hand, I was able to stick my gloved hands in boxes and drawers and cabinets and bags "blindly" and go through the contents ignorant of what I would touch. And I have to say, there was a LOT of mouse poop. My bravery came only from the Lord who promised to do it with me.

I know HE was there with us. He orchestrated the minutes, planning, time, people involved. He kept us strong and brave and determined to help. He stopped the rain. He got done there what He intended to get done.

I am sure each of us there has a different perspective on all of this. He taught each of us new things, reminded us of old things, gave us heroic characteristics, and spoke to each of us of what we needed to hear Him say.

He sent us to do His work in this mess. He sent us so He could do His work in our hearts.

I still have more to say, so stay tuned.

Cleaning Up, Part 2

2011-07-17T20:38:00.001-05:00

"There will be mice," I heard in my head as I was praying about the cleaning opportunity yesterday morning. I wondered if they would be dead or alive. I decided it didn't matter...either kind is horrible. As I prayed, the Lord also told me that although I signed up because I wanted to help out, He was also using this as an opportunity to help me. "But I don't need help!" I thought.

I arrived at the apartment at 8:55 and was a tad lost. A lovely woman showed me where to go and thanked me for coming.

Soon we were gathered outside and started out by praying for our day. The manager let us in. Well, "in" is a relative term. The manager unlocked the door. And then one person could fit in about 9 inches of space to start handing things out the door. After 1 1/2 hours and the help of 12 people, the living room was uncovered. We moved on to the kitchen and a little bit of the hallway and a teeny bit of the bathroom before we left at 2. The apartment was small. I have no idea how small, but it was a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment.

I was in another world yesterday. It was surreal. And amazing.

The Lord picked the right people for the job. All of us had different strengths or gifts to contribute. We all excelled in those and worked amazingly well together. The people all go to my church...and some of them I knew better than others. But it was truly a bonding experience. Not only did I make some new friends, but I felt like I was getting to know a stranger...the woman who lives there. She wasn't there, but most of her life was. I know a lot of things about her. Yet she has no idea I even exist. It was quite odd. I felt bad after throwing away EVERYTHING in her refrigerator and freezer. Her power had been off for some time and obviously it was unhealthy. But I felt awful for doing it. I'm thinking of getting her a giftcard for new food. Her daughter said I already gave a big enough gift of my time. But it is still weighing on me. And things like this weigh on me until I obey!

I hope we helped. We did so much work in 5 hours. But it was really only a dent. Maybe 30% done. We wanted to return today. However, the Lord had different plans because the woman was released from the hospital yesterday shortly after we finished up. I am in awe of his timing. Really...there was a small window of time that the Lord used because he is beyond time. Amazing again.

I have many thoughts on stuff. And things. And I will put them into words soon...to be continued...and I will tell about the mice...

Summer camp success!

2011-07-16T20:51:00.000-05:00

AC13 and NR11 returned home safe and sound today after a wild week at Boy Scout camp. So far, I've heard many details through Tuesday night. I have no idea what happened the rest of the week yet...

They both passed their swim tests upon arrival. Dinner on Sunday took a while. There were hilarious skits. And then AC13 reported an eventful night. He was sleeping in a platform tent, which is unusual for him. At one point, he was sleeping on the floor outside his sleeping bag and couldn't find his headlamp. He finally found it in his shoe at 12:30 a.m. He went back to sleep and at 4 a.m. or so, he woke up IN ANOTHER TENT! He didn't have his headlamp and he said that made it incredibly difficult to find his correct tent in the dark. Oh, and there was a s.t.o.r.m.

The storm was the same one that left 900,000 people in my area without power on Monday. Yup, that storm. It was officially called a "derecho" or something like that, basically an inland hurricane. Very inland! AC13 thought July 10 would be his last day alive, he reported.

Later in the week, AC13 went to the courthouse and heard a trial about a woman who bit a police officer. He has no idea what happened to that. He left me hanging! He was able to complete three merit badges for sure, and he is not certain about the fourth. NR11 was thrilled to learn First Aid and was happy to learn many new skills this week. He has most of his Swimming Merit Badge done as well, including the hardest part of turning your clothes into a flotation device.

They had a blast and keep singing strange songs. NR11's glasses broke in half. AC13 bought a hat and lost it on the way home. And there was confusion about money and they don't want to give me my money back that they didn't spend. They got games and money and cards in the mail from family. They missed home.

I got random texts this morning about a mom's tent. There was some sort of battle of tents involving caution tape and tin foil. I can't wait to hear more about that.

There was a pretty counselor named Jo Ann. She was Scottish.

AG9 missed them so much she made them beautiful paintings and framed them and paid for all of that with her own money. She's thrilled to have them back. She doesn't love being the "oldest" for so long.

I'll post pictures when I find some somewhere online.

Cleaning Up, Part 1

2011-07-16T20:25:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, I watched "Clean Sweep" to encourage me to well, clean up! I watched it with my dear friend often after I Tivoed many episodes. We both felt spurred on and that we certainly didn't want to end up like those people with ALL of our STUFF.

I don't know why I liked that show so much. I think what I liked was that people admitted they needed help to clean up. And then people helped them clean up AND organize AND get rid of things. The before and after pictures were astounding. And encouraging to me.

Recently, I've been watching "Hoarders" on Netflix. I'm most way done with Season 2 now. This show is "Clean Sweep" on steroids. What I like about this show is that it seems that people's lives can be changed after years of living in unhealthy conditions. I like "getting to know" the people that are featured and learning about how they ended up in their situation and that they really aren't alone in their mess. Most of the time other family members and friends are willing and able to pitch in and help out. The main crux of this show is that hoarding is a psychological condition that needs attention. Just cleaning it up doesn't prevent it from happening again. But with "aftercare" and other help, the people can change.

I find it interesting that the people who want to change CAN do it. They may think they can't, but they learn they can...with help. Most people can't change things they dislike about themselves without help. Most people need support. Most people need encouragement. And let me tell you, the helpers on that show seem to me to provide support and encouragement. At any rate, they encourage me.

Why am I telling you all this? Because.....

A few days ago, I got an email inviting me to take part in being part of a work crew to help a woman stay in her apartment, provided it was cleaned up. As soon as I read the email, I KNEW the Lord had prepared me for this. I knew I wanted to do it. I hoped the Lord would provide a way for me to be His hands and feet to this family. And He did.

Stay tuned...

Have an IHOP day!

2011-07-13T20:34:00.000-05:00

DJ2 is obsessed with letters and numbers. He wants to tell me all of them and then asks, "What does that spell?" Tonight I took them to IHOP for dinner. He was enchanted with IHOP Restaurant. It was everywhere in the restaurant...on the menu, table tent, cups, carpet...and outside. Big.

Look what we are doing on Monday!

2011-07-09T12:55:00.000-05:00

Prime opportunity: Big boys go to Boy Scout camp...little boy goes to potty camp. :) This is of course, the plan...the potty is already in the bathroom and DJ2 really loves it. It is absolutely cute!

I've also promised treats to the big siblings who help out!

Singing

2011-07-08T14:15:00.001-05:00

Last night at my women's Bible study, I couldn't get a song out of my head. Psalm 62, by Aaron Keyes...

My soul finds rest in God alone, My Rock and my salvation,
A fortress strong against my foes, And I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse, And lies like arrows pierce me,
I’ll fix my heart on righteousness, I’ll look to Him who hears me.

O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward;
Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.

Find rest, my soul, in God alone
Amid the world’s temptations;
When evil seeks to take a hold
I’ll cling to my salvation.
Though riches come and riches go,
Don’t set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.

I’ll set my gaze on God alone,
And trust in Him completely;
With every day pour out my soul,
And He will prove His mercy.
Though life is but a fleeting breath,
A sigh too brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death
And I am His forever.

O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah,
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah,
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah! hallelujah!

This morning during our devotion, we talked about worshiping the Lord, and our book told us to sing Him a song. Right then.

And the song above is the song I wanted to sing. I wanted to sing it to Him last night on my way home, but I couldn't locate it on my iPod until I turned onto my street. (I knew that would happen!)

So I played it this morning for my kids. Some of them were too sleepy to sing loudly, but MK4 belted it out. I don't think she knew the song, but she tried her hardest to sing her best for the Lord. It was beautiful to my heart.

I've also caught DJ2 singing quite a bit today. Mostly the theme song to "Team Umizoomi" and the other songs on the show. Just now I caught him singing the Alphabet Song. I've never heard him sing that alone before.

I love to hear my children singing. It makes my heart happy.

Happy 9th Anniversary, Koinonia Academy!

2011-07-05T12:25:00.000-05:00

Nine years ago today, we began homeschooling! Tomorrow we enter our 10th year of this incredible journey. I cannot believe that! We are incredibly blessed to have the privilege of homeschooling and are grateful to the Lord for providing my husband with a great job that allows me to stay home full-time.

Today was our first day of 8th, 6th and 4th grades and preK. The older ones are working mostly on their own today. AG9 and I had a great time in 4th grade with lots of laughing and learning going on.

Then it was time for MK4 and DJ2 to start preK. I got to teach for about two seconds by myself until AG9 butted in and took over my job. DJ2 decided he had had enough, which was fine. MK4 finished 32 pages of Preschool Basics. We were going to do one page in MY version of school. She's now doing Connect the Dots. "This one will be a little harder," AG9 told her. "But you can do it."

I'm proud of AG9, of course. I'm proud that she's a girl who loves her siblings. She loves to help people. She loves being a leader. She also loves the adoration she gets from MK4 and DJ2. She's more than qualified to ~~help~~ teach them. I think this what I've heard about so often about the trickle-down effect of homeschooling. I hadn't seen it much with the boys, but if this is our future, I'm loving it...and not...all at once.

How to get free pizza from Papa John's!

2011-07-04T19:57:00.001-05:00

Follow these steps to get your free pizza from Papa John's!

Place your online order at 5:16 p.m. on July 4.
Check your email immediately for the order confirmation sent by the corporate office.
Read that it says your order will be delivered in 30-40 minutes. Wonder why it has now been 55 minutes and post about it on Facebook.
Call the local store at 6:32 p.m. and ask where your pizza is. Speak to the manager, who can only give you a 50% off coupon for your next order if you call or walk in the store. You cannot use it online.
Listen to the manager explain that your order has already left the store. When? He does not know. When should it arrive? Soon.
Listen to the manager explain that the email I received was not sent by his store, nor does his store have any control over that email. Hear him say it is a "corporate guess" as to when my order will arrive. Hear him say that the online ordering service has no idea what the actual wait time is.
Write "feedback" on papajohns.com.
Stand outside with three of your five hungry children.
Answer again, "I don't know where our food is, honey."
Call the local store again at 7:10 p.m. and explain that your order has still not arrived.
Tell the manager that the 50% off coupon for next time isn't good enough anymore. Tell him that if you had known it would be 2 hours, you would have made other dinner plans with no bad feelings toward Papa John's. Then tell him that this is leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Tell him that you have five hungry children, some of whom have to go to bed soon. Tell him that the email said the store would call me if they had a question about my order and tell him that there is a huge difference between 30-40 minutes and 2 hours. Ask him if you should go to a restaurant and send him the bill for the food. Tell him that this is 2011 and the store and corporate should have a better communications system. Ask him again where my pizza is, and hear him say, "I don't know who the driver even is." Hear yourself say, "hmmmm."
Wonder if the pizza will come at all. Wonder if you will get food poisoning if you eat it if it comes before your bedtime. You wonder this because you know that at 6:32 p.m. the pizza was not in the store.
Thank the manager who finally says tonight's pizza is free. No charge.
Be amused that your husband wrote his own feedback on papajohns.com, which included the fact that dominos.com allows you to keep track of what is going on with your pizza by the second.
Watch the delivery man drive past your street still holding your pizza hostage at 7:18 p.m. Wonder if he will call you.
Tell your child you don't think he ate your pizza.
Accept the pizza from the man who hardly says a word to you at the front door at 7:23 p.m. Sign your name on the credit card receipt with the magic word "CANCEL" because the manager said to do that.
Decide not to eat the pizza that your husband felt he should reheat, but your children gobbled down anyway. Eat a breadstick instead and thank your gut later.
Write all this down on your blog. Hope the Papa John's person at corporate who gets paid to Google Papa John's and read things about the company online will read this and offer you free pizza for life. Or not.
Send the link to this post to your previous feedback at papajohns.com.
Be glad you live in a free country where you can say what is on your mind. Happy July 4th!

July 4th family fun!

2011-07-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

Happy 235th Birthday, USA! We celebrated today by going to a state park. We had a lovely (although sweaty) time. Yet again, DJ2 and MK4 astounded me with their hiking skills. This time everyone was given the opportunity to wear appropriate shoes. AND we took our own water, which my husband so kindly carried around.

FUN volunteering brings us George

2011-07-03T22:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently we did such a great job yesterday, that we were immediately rehired today to work in our Child ID tent. Off we went.

The people that we replaced weren't as efficient as the people yesterday, so we had to get our tent in tip-top shape. It wasn't as hot today, so we were much more comfortable and able to provide the same top-notch service.

At about 7:30, a nice boy offered us his goldfish. His mother really didn't want to take it home. So I said, "I'll take it off your hands, but I won't guarantee that it will come to our house." She was happy with that.

And then we had to name him. We pondered some goofy names, and then decided he should have an American-theme name because it was July 3. So we agreed on George. Other runners up included North (second-place), America, Red, White, Blue and Rib.

After our shift ended, we took the shuttle bus back to our car and were absolutely delighted to be able to watch fireworks from the bus. We then stayed in the parking lot for 15 extra minutes watching them. It was the least stressful fireworks show I've ever seen. I loved it!

We then had to go to Walmart to buy George some things. He seems to be quite happy here, after AG9's interior decorating.

We'll see what the little two think about it in the morning. AG9 and AC13 were able to surprise NR11 with George. Clearly, AG9 and AC13 are more enamored with George. NR11 said, "Can we get a dog?" He'll warm up, I'm sure.

FUN volunteering!

2011-07-02T21:42:00.002-05:00

I'm a proud mom tonight! AC13 is working on his Citizenship in the Community merit badge. I asked him earlier in the week how his prerequisites were going for summer camp. It turned out that to get this merit badge, he has to find out about a charity in our community AND volunteer for 8 hours for it. He wanted to get that done before he leaves on July 10 for Boy Scout camp. Oh my!

So we Googled our town and volunteer AND were so thrilled that God provided the perfect opportunity for him (and me) to volunteer this weekend.

AC13, AG9 and I spent 5 hours manning the "Child ID" tent at our local fun July 4th activity, which is raising money this year to fight child abuse. Our job was to have parents fill out information cards on their children and give their children red wristbands to identify them if they got lost during the event. Let me tell you, it would be very easy to lose a child there!

It was hot. And sweaty. And loud. Most of our working hours were absolutely busy. It was just the three of us, and we could have used three more of us at times. But we held it together, worked well as a team AND had fun doing it.

When we were done, the kids went on the Ferris Wheel and then we all partook in some major bumping a la cars.

AC13 and I are signed up again for tomorrow, and AG9 has decided she'd like to join us again. We're glad to have her on our team, for sure!

We're now cooling off and washing our T-shirts for tomorrow. I wonder what adventure awaits!

First--and last--day of school!

2011-06-30T13:08:00.000-05:00

Last night MK4 asked me for a "school book." "I want to do school in the night!" she said. So I found her one of AC13's old school books. "Just circle things," I said. And she was happy.

This morning, the second she was awake, she insisted on having her own school time. She brought the book and a pen and was ready to work. At one point, I saw a comment I had written in October 2002 about AC4. "He asked if he could oval things instead of circle things." I'm so glad I wrote that! Of course, AC13 denies he ever said that.

So while today was MK4's first official day of school because she demanded it, it was AC13's, NR11's and AG9's last day of school for the 2010-2011 school year. They are now officially (by our family law) 8th, 6th and 4th graders. Our new school year officially begins the Monday after July 4, because of tradition. But AC13 and NR11 will be at Boy Scout camp that week, so we're starting July 5.

Guess who can't wait?

I guess I better um, order the youngest Sonlight Core now. My plan was to wait until DJ2 is DJ3, but after today, well.... HEY! That is how we got the tradition of the Monday after July 4. We couldn't wait until September in 2002, why should that be different in 2011?

Sleeper movies

2011-06-29T17:14:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, MK4 fell asleep 10 minutes into "Kung Fu Panda 2." Everyone thought that was funny. So today, when DJ2 fell asleep 10 minutes BEFORE "Cars 2" began, we really laughed about that.

I have to say that I heard not-so-good things about "Cars 2." And so I was ready to be disappointed. After watching the hilarious Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation Pixar shortfilm, I thought, "Well, if Cars 2 is horrible, that was at least worth my $5." And then I settled into my seat prepared for disappointment.

But it never came. I'm not a huge fan of James Bond, but this was one of those movies where I win the "Laughed the Most" award in that particular theater. I'm still chuckling about the wasabi fiasco, Brent Mustangberger...and my favorite line that I can remember...by my favorite car, Tow Mater, "I don't mean to brag, but I have a black fan belt!"

I really enjoyed it. Perhaps if I expected to enjoy it, I wouldn't have. Who knows? But I was certainly not disappointed. And, my hesitation about taking DJ2 in the first place didn't end up badly at all. He saw about 1/6 of the long movie and enjoyed the end.

And they lived happily ever after.

Daddy love

2011-06-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

It's no secret around here that AG9 absolutely adores her Daddy. Today in school, we read in 1 Timothy:

1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

"Hey, that sounds like my Daddy!" AG9 shouted out. Yes, dear, it certainly does.

Doggie!

2011-06-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

We finally did it. We got ourselves a dog...

for the weekend. She's great! Five of us really like her. One of us thinks she is fine. And one of us is slowly warming up to her, but does NOT like doggie kisses.

AG9 and NR11 have done most of the kid work. NR11 has even picked up her poop in the yard! MK4 enjoyed holding her leash outside in our backyard.

We had an interesting event this afternoon that left NR11 and me in stitches. Lily was in the backyard (her favorite place at our house), and some male robins were doing some sort of mating ceremony. A female was in our yard under the cherry tree, as still as could be. NR11 thought she was dead. She confused Lily, who went to check out the latest yard intruder. After a bit of excitement, the bird was able to fly out of our yard, but Lily gave her a good message that she was running the show within our fence. Rabbits escaped yesterday with no trouble.

Last night I didn't sleep well because I was convinced that I shouldn't have listened to AG9 who wanted her to "go to bed" right before 9. I kept thinking she'd be up at 5 or so, but she lasted just fine in her bed until 7, when the big kids woke her up!

She's been a joy to have around for six out of the seven of us. But tonight DJ2 said, "Lily, I like you now." And then she licked him. Again. And he didn't yell at her about it. Or demand "No, Lily! Stop eating me!"

"Mom"

2011-06-22T19:17:00.000-05:00

For about 12 years, I've been called "Mommy" by at least one short person in my house. I think I'm officially just "Mom" now to all of my wonderful children. Yup, DJ2 has shortened my hard-earned name to "Mom." More than once.

One person who hasn't graduated to "Mom" is my husband. "Mom" is his mother. I am still "Mommy" when he speaks about me to the kiddos.

I don't know what to do with myself now that I'm just "Mom." Next thing I know, they'll be in college, getting married and giving me a new name. Yesterday in school, AC13 and I read about "Madame La Grande." I told him that will be my Grandmotherly name. "MLG" for short.

Ok, who am I kidding? I know I will be "Grandma."

Since I am not ready for that new name, I'll stick with "Mom." Now that I think about it, "Mom" is a pleasant word, although pretty grown-up, if you ask me. I'd rather be called "Mom" than many other things that are unprintable. I consider myself blessed to be called any form of mother, in all honesty!

Surprise at the park

2011-06-21T08:53:00.001-05:00

After we said goodbye to our lovely houseguests this morning, I took MK4 and DJ2 to the park. I never go to the park at this time of day, since I'm supposed to be teaching. But the weather forecast is predicting lots of rain, so I said I'd take them to the park.

We played for a little bit and then.....

I found a substantial amount of cash lying there in the rubber bits. I thought about leaving it there after investigating if it was real. But then I put it in my pocket for safekeeping. I'm now on a mission to find its rightful owner to reunite them. Soon.

I've posted it on Facebook and put up signs at the park just now.

Big fun for Small Group!

2011-06-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

There I was, sweating. Just doing dishes. This was part of the 4-hour cleaning spree I engaged in yesterday to hostess our Small Group party. I think we had 16 kids, and it was supposed to rain most of the day, so we cleaned all three floors!

As it turned out, the weather was lovely. So lovely, the gnats and mosquitoes came out. The kids discovered an ant hill in the backyard and soon MK4's dress was covered in ants. I let them know that that is where the "ants in your pants" comes from. Most of the kids spent most of the time outside playing baseball, kickball and Capture the Flip-Flop.

We had an island and two counters full of food and drinks. I don't think anyone went home hungry! I heard lots of laughter, too.

I didn't get a picture of Emily and Bill and Judy. :( Anyway, I am grateful for this special group of people who love me for who I am and are along for the ride. We've laughed and cried together. We've seen the Lord answer our prayers and hold us close to Him as we study His Word together. What a blessing this group is for me!

Teethrific!

2011-06-15T13:24:00.000-05:00

We told her all about it. She was excited. She was ready. She rocked!

MK4 had her first official visit to the dentist today. Apparently, the poor child who was there before her was so horrendous that the dentist said she might need shock therapy. She was absolutely thrilled with MK4. Not only were her teeth in excellent shape, but she had the right number of them. And, on top of that, MK4 was a great listener. She obeyed very well and was a super sport. She even got her teeth x-rayed. Mr. Thirsty was a favorite with her, too!

As a bonus, she got a princess toothbrush, toothpaste AND 5 stickers.

Beyond MK4's greatness, DJ2 excelled without me in the waiting room. AG9 reported he didn't even notice I was gone for the first 20 minutes. She got an easy $3 for great babysitting.

This is really great, because we have six more dental appointments in the next two weeks. Now, if all of them could be so teethrific, we'll really be in business.