A naughty dog strikes again...

this time...an un-opened just bought package of Twinkies for lunch snacks...look carefully and you will see the little teeth marks on the box AND three missing treats. Chevy just earned his place in his cage any time we are downstairs now...in addition to when we go outside in the front yard (he can be in the back since it is fenced in). And I earned an hour in front of the cupboard shelf to re-organize what goes low and what goes high!

"The Digger Boy" checking how deep his hole is.
Daddy bounced Mommy right off and went on to the next victim...Ashlynn.
EEWWW...a dead fish...

Does he look a little sad?

He is...Memorial Day weekend is coming soon...and there is lots of water and more to come...boating and fishing may be several weeks away still.

The water is on, in, over, above, under, beyond, and any other preposition you can think of!

YIPPEE!!! The gate is open and spring clean-up is in process at the lake. We took a drive Sunday afternoon, ate McDonalds in the van, and ended up at the lake. It was a last minute decision as we left church to grab clothes and head up north for a little while. It was a nice day for a drive and a wise decision...
there has been ALOT of rain and we found that the water has invaded many parts of the campground! There is no beach right now! The kids are standing on the road that goes back to our dock...um, well, usually...so they are sad that our tour ended here. We drove around on the golf cart to check it all out...WOW!! We are very thankful the lakehouse sits where it does...many people have a big messes to clean up...and possibly can't even get back to their lots for awhile.
We had a big enough job at our place...sucking water up out of the carpet, emptying the over-flowing buckets, and removing damp bedding. There is a great need for fixing the roof this year...a rubber roof to keep the rain out...and maybe muffle the sound too!
I just had to take a picture of what it looked like...it made me laugh after the kids and I hauled it all out...Ted worked on the carpets and got a little hot...we have an agreement about picture- taking at those moments...
So...after the work...and after Ted and his helper got the golf-cart going...we took a long ride. It was refreshing to be outside...and together for the day. It only took 45 minutes to get back to church and we all collapsed into our beds shortly after 8pm. It is a good thing we enjoyed it yesterday...because today...winter tried to come back!

Saturday Night Date

Ted heard about a quartet that was going to be in town...so we went and heard the Tribute Quartet. We enjoyed our time together. One of their songs..."Be Still And Know"...what a wonderful message!

Gladness walks merrily across our yard...

and leaves behind a hue of green. I am enjoying the gifts that spring has brought with it! How refreshing to see God's handiwork spring to life...grow and bloom in the spotlight of the sunshine to the symphony of the birds!

Happy Saturday

Look what is blooming out our back door! Today I could say...be still my bleeding heart...haha...it is so windy and cool...I think spring may have taken a break from all the hard work these last few days...hence the weeds in among the flowering plants will remain for another day's to do list!

This Cinderella's Doggy Story for Kim

This is what I found under our bed...after the kids had gone into the freezer to get popsicles...and didn't close the freezer...which I didn't go in to check on because "if you open it, close it" has always been a practice in our house! Well...it is a good thing, I guess, that said kids kept going in and out...which also is not to happen...because Alisa came out and said "Chevy has something under your bed and I don't know what it is". Let me just say I was not glad about anything at that point!
So...I crawled under the bed...and yes, Cinderella occasionally has to go after stuff under there!
I found the bag of sausage and kleenexes and wrappers...I have no idea how many sausage patties were in the bag that is stored in the door of the freezer...here is one partially eaten and Chevy came out with another in his mouth...and then I found another half patty.
He has a bad habit of getting into purses...hence the kleenex and gum from the girl's purses...which will not be replaced anytime soon! He also is horrible about snatching food and/or wrappers from the kids...he will even stand on the bench and scarf things off the table if no one is paying attention...which happens regularly with three snacking children who are too busy to take time...and think Cinderella lives here!

I did not take any pictures of the five piles of "leftovers" that we are finding in various places around the house last night and today...once again, I am not glad about this and didn't think visitors would appreciate the look of a pile on Alisa's bed at bedtime which needed to be stripped down and now various spots on carpet to be dealt with soon. It is amazing this dog is still living...he must have a cast-iron stomach! To be clear...this Cinderella does not...and recycled sausage is just nasty!

Captain Ornery Shorts

"Real pirates eat plain butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch" at our house and watch Leave It To Beaver re-runs! This pirate is sailing on the U.S.S. Fifth's Disease this week. All three kids have dealt with it in many of the same ways...but this pirate seems to be a little more ornery...and itchy! He may just end up walking the plank today!

News tidbit today...Hold on to your hats...

"Choices we make every day can "literally drain us". We have more choices today than ever...the decisions that we make can "tax us and rob us of energy". This study is out today per the info from a morning show...someone actually got paid to do this study! I could have told them all of this...by learning the hard way in some instances! "We must be constantly defining our values, prioritize, eliminate don't accumulate, plan...commit...don't dwell on the decision and then rehash "what you should have done"...this is fatiguing. Keep things simple."
I am listening to this as I type and I am blown away that there was actually money designated for this study. This is basic common sense to me...not to mention I have God's Handbook for Living which talks about contentment, being a good steward, and etc. It struck me as I listened to this "report", I have what I need to help me deal with all areas of life...and most of the world is searching for reasons, excuses, answers...and this is the "advice" they get each day from the morning news shows. I would have been happy to get paid to give them this advice...but I'm not a "life coach or psychiatrist"...so I will just blog about it for free!

"To whom much is given...much is required..."

Much to meditate on these days!
I am glad for the faithfulness of the Lord in my life...glad that He is loving and patient with His children!

"Mom...mom...watch this....MOM! WATCH!"

A little boy on a battery-powered four wheeler...
using his God-given (father's genes) ingenuity to pull a wagon around and around the backyard. Every new turn or trick brought the need of my attention...
and it is a good thing I "set up shop" where I did! I am working on a mother/daughter banquet devotion that I have been asked to give...and it is taking me awhile to organize my thoughts into something sensible...it will come...I just have to be a mom right now! Happy days...

Taking time...

This "big boy" is in to doing everything "by myself"! I sat across from him and realized...he has grown up so quickly...soon to be five and headed off to school in the fall. I asked him "who am I going to have coffee breaks with next year?" He just grinned at me...and then we talked about what he would learn...he wrote his name for me on a napkin...pretty good! He knows his numbers, colors, shapes, and can say the alphabet. Not sure how the readiness test will go when it comes to drawing a stick man...he said he didn't know how to do that. We shall see! He will be a student who relates everything to tools, trucks, motorcycles, cars, and all things manly! He told me, "if you color a circle black...it looks like a wheel"!
"When I get big...I am going to have a red motorcycle, a big, red truck so I can take things to the junkyard, and a bull-dog named Teddy...And when I am a Daddy and have kids, I will live with you and Dad..." UHHH...no, son, that will not be an option for you!
He is also a photographer...he took three pics of me...two with my eyes shut...we finally got the setting right...I look very tired in this pic...yikes, and I was on my second large cup of the day!

First of the season...

SHHHH, don't tell the kids...just had to let you know...saw the first snake of the season slither across our driveway in front of me as I carried out the garbage (now I know why that is a "man's job"!) and there was nothing that I could do to take care of it...stepping on it was not an option with slip-on shoes...it was a foot long and as thick as a crayola marker...it would have wrapped around my ankle...yes, I had a good bit of time to contemplate my next move as I watched it go by...I am still shuddering...I just wasn't ready for that yet!
Glad things...cleaned out flower beds, warm weather for kids to play outside...all day...on bikes and with friends...iced tea, Bible study at the picnic table, a little buddy to enjoy (another post)...

Time Well Spent

We worked out in the yard yesterday...now it looks as if civilized human beings live at this address! And can I say...my children are great stick-picker-uppers! And that is important...cause we want to be able to see clearly the difference between a regular old gartner snake and a common stick! I think our children have the phobia now...they keep asking if the snakes are out yet...and believe you me...I was keeping an eye out for them yesterday and will today again as I clean up the flower beds! Today's glad thing is being said over and over in my head...I am thankful for ALL (this would include snakes) of God's creation...maybe it will reach my heart.

Glad Things

Slow, quiet days that allow for naps! Warm, sunny days of spring! Dinner with grandparents! Music that ministers to your soul...and deeper! God's grace and mercy! Slippers! Hugs from cuddly kids! Husband's voice on the phone! Mother-in-law that is out and about to do a school run! Smell of clean clothes! Hamburgers on the grill! Phone call from my sister! U.S. postal system!

The Second Part of Our Day

I helped with leading the singing of choruses about JOY, did a reading about a cake, and sang.
The girls and our pastor's wife sang the song "Chocolate Fever"...the girls were a little "stunned" by "how sick" she was...acting...and were a little distracted. We achieved the "cute factor"! I am happy to say she recovered nicely!
Her pockets were loaded with chocolate...forget about the vitamins and juice!
Our ladies group president did a reading composed of all sorts of tips about chocolate...while eating a piece of chocolate..."because if you have chocolate on your breath, more people are inclined to listen to you!"
Our speaker, Missionary Sharon Clark, shared her ministry and wonderful devotion/challenge based on the word "pleasures" from Psalm 16:11 and how God lights our path...Psalm 119:105. What a privilege to meet one of Gram's close friends! Mom was able to "catch up" a little with her too. Sharon sends greetings to the all the Carlson clan! She heads back to the field May 8. What a blessing she was to me personally!

The day was chilly and gray outside...but warm, smooth, and dark inside!

Question...How does one get a chocolate-covered marshmallow in one's mouth and NOT get chocolate all over? Answer...you don't!
Our pastor's wife came down with a dreadful case of "Chocolate Fever" and the girls helped get over it!
The Lord gave me the idea for a chocolate themed day, the words from a shower gel/lotion gift set I received labeled Simple Pleasures, a song by the Marshall family entitled The Glory of Your Presence, and the verse found in Psalm 16:11. We truly enjoyed the simple pleasures God gives us...of course, chocolate...but also, family, friends, food, laughter, music, and God's Word. We had 107 ladies and girls that attended. The men of our church did a fantastic job serving and cleaning up for us. A couple in our church planned and prepared the meal with help from my father and mother-in-law...and they did a fabulous job!

Stopping by to smell the chocolaty goodness? Breathe deeply...

Welcome to our ladies spring banquet...let your nose guide you...to the chocolate fountain...!
Could I invite you to try one of the many delectable things to dip...in the fountain...?
My girls would be happy to show you where the plates and picks are! Alisa was partial to the platter of strawberries, while Ashlynn just wanted anything to eat!
Everything was dressed in pinks and browns. One friend told me that you could smell chocolate when you walked into the room....hooray!!!

When you think of chocolate...

does it make you want to roll up your sleeves and play in it? A big thank you to my friend for sharing her time and love for chocolate and helping me roll and dip the truffles for today! Ang, we had a taste test yesterday and passed with flying colors!!! My only fear today...walking off and leaving them in the fridge...so I have a BIG NOTE to remind me! Thanks to my sis for tipping me off to the brownielocks site...there are some neat trivia questions about chocolate!
My glad things for today...it is snowing just a little! Sound silly? If it were raining, we would have water in the church basement...that is a problem. Thank you, Lord, for the snow! A cup of strong, hot, Tim Horton's coffee! Green grass and yellow daffodils...a reminder that the snow can't stay long! The cardinal singing outside my window this morning..."purty, purty, purty"' A blister on my foot...a reminder of the enjoyable, hard work yesterday! Friends who love to do things with me! My mom who is giving me help and support today with my children and music. A mother-in-law, who told me last night that she has prayed for me all week! (cough, sob, sniff) Culver's chocolate custard with carmel sauce...and a visit with Papa and Grandma just returned fromFL! My husband's love and support...his help with the little things for the banquet, his hugs, his attempt to rescue me from the chocolate custard...and then the money to buy one!

It Was A Good Day And All The Things Are Checked Off The List...

I should be taking a nap...the kids are before we go over to church again in preparation for tomorrow. The last thing to do...sound check! Oh, and pick up the corsage tomorrow!
We were there all day till it was time to pick up Ash from school. Thanks to a friend for shuttling Alisa after K5! Teddy had fun playing with his buddy...and leaving his plastic bugs and mouse in interesting places to "scare us"!
Can I say I am tired? That would be a slight understatement...mixed with relief and excitement that it all came together and it looks so nice! Even the board I painted last night...and layed my good, pink, Gaitlinburg sweatshirt sleeve across the wet, dark brown words...was fixable and doesn't look like it had to be fixed!
I will take pictures and post them for your enjoyment and idea lists! Tata for now...I need to replenish the dose of caffine!

"Our greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important!" C.E.Humel

It took a little incident yesterday to once again shake me...and challenge me to never be so occupied with "my time" and "my schedule" that I overlook the importance of people!
I guess the Lord knew I would be facing the "time crunch" this week...as all the plans for our ladies banquet come together and now need to be "knit together"! Then again today, as I picked up Alisa from school, her request was to "eat lunch out together". It was important to her...it was just the two of us (how often does the middle child get that attention all to herself?) ...and so, we sat and shared a lunch and talked. It made me just STOP! and enjoy the little, bubbly bundle of a girl that is quickly on her way to growing up to be a big girl. I am thankful that I took the time...simple as it was...to make that moment important!

And I still have time to do what I needed to do and all will be just fine...and if it isn't...at least I didn't "crowd out" my daughter! I need to remember that when the rest of the family comes home too!

Not for the faint of heart!

First, the Little bunnies Foo-Foo met Little Chevy in our yard this afternoon during a rainstorm...Chevy won and brought his prizes to the door...HE ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WOULD LET HIM BRING HIS CATCH IN!!! Well, Chevy and I had a little go-around and he decided to "DROP THEM"! I can be quite persuasive if need be! Can I tell you...I WAS NOT GLAD WE HAD A DOG AT THAT MOMENT!!! I was cold, he was muddy, the girls were bombarding me with questions as to the welfare of "all the bunnies and their mom", and it was still raining...hard...AND WHERE IS MY HUSBAND when I need him most...he is the strong one, the brave one, oh, yeah, the working one!
I took care of the little bunnies and found their other two siblings and the remains of their cozy nest... (Side note...mother rabbits pull their hair out to get ready for their children...it just hit me as interesting!) ...so said dog could not do any more damage.
Now, for the drowned rat that came in after the whole ordeal...feeling a little cold, a lot wet(whole backside of me...soaked to the skin), a mite aggravated, and very queasy...
Finally, the naughty dog...who got to get out of the cage for awhile...the treats were only to get the "taste for bunny-foo-foo" out of his mouth...He had to sleep in his cage last night...no soft, cozy spot for him on our bed...mommy was still holding a grudge and didn't want "anything to come up" on our nice comforter!

Looking at life with a "Pollyanna Attitude"!

Pollyanna brought the "Glad Game" with her when she went to live with her rich aunt. Her aunt placed a great emphasis on what all the townspeople thought, the power of her wealth, her ability to control, and her contribution to the town. Pollyanna turned the whole town upside down with her attitude...that of a thankful spirit! (Wow, Disney sure has changed the philosophy of their movie content since that was filmed! And yet, that is where we go for our entertainment...ouch!)
A thankful spirit really does change a person's thought life...A thankful mommy is a happy mommy...who can make a happy home and she doesn't need anything else to make it happy than what she has already been given! (No matter what the world tells you.)
Lately, I have been challenged by God's Word through Bible study, Godly music, and preaching about some areas in my life that I thought "were under control". Through some different circumstances, husbandly challenges, and thought-provoking study, I found that "these areas" still need some work! It is very humbling to admit I was wrong and my thought process was/is wrong. I say that because it is a continuing process...daily battled! Yet, inspite of it all, God still uses me and still has a plan for my life! He has sent some particular blessings my way recently to show me that He is in control!
As a wife and mother, the daily battles of the mundane and thankless jobs can be abit overwhelming, none-the-less, it is my most important ministry at this time! My mother has encouraged me with that thought time and again and my husband has also pointed that out too...and it is sinking in! I have struggled with...what about this and that, and they need help for this and that, and I want to do this and that, and I am able to do this and that...ALL OF WHICH TAKE ME OUT OF OUR HOME AND AWAY FROM MY RESPONSIBILITY FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A WIFE AND MOTHER!
The days that I have with our children are so few...our son will soon be five and on his way to school! I think back to the endless nights of no sleep, sickness, potty-training that I thought could never end, sticky-crumby floors, and the list goes on...AND ALL THOSE DAYS HAVE PASSED AND I HAVE SURVIVED! Well, we still get sickness and sticky-crumby floors, but you understand the whole idea! Listen to the song Cherish the Moments and you will cry the rest of the day! (another Patch song)
There are lies that I have believed...things that I think I am entitled to...thoughts that I have allowed to take over...and it is easy for all those things to happen...and they happen gradually and subtly...and I wallow in them day in and day out because the focus is on me. Those struggles are real and they are wrong...because my focus has been on the wrong things...things that I want...for me! If you watch any daytime talk shows they just feed that whole thought process! And soon...what I have isn't good enough! As Christians, we have swallowed the cultural changes of today and have let them impact our thinking. How sad that we should have such a shallow view of home, family, and God's goodness to us as sinners saved by grace!
For the last few weeks, God has been working on me, with me, and for me and it has changed my focus...which changed my attitude and my desires. I am not naive to think that I will not continue to struggle with different areas of my life...that means that I am growing and God is at work...Praise the Lord! God is good and He knows what is best for me. When I am unthankful for His best, it affects me and everyone around me...and the closest people are... my husband and children! It also overwhelms me that God knew I would struggle with this and yet, He blessed me with a husband and family. My school class of 1998, sang the song Lord, Bless Our Home (by Ron Hamilton-Patch the Pirate) at our wedding and recently the Lord used the words to get my attention yet again...
"Lord, bless our home, protect our home, let it be a refuge in this world of sin. Lord, reign within,
Keep us strong and true and when we need You most, Lord, draw us close, committed to each other. Lord, bless our home, we give our home to you!"
I am glad for God's goodness, His patience, and His mercy! I am glad that He thought I could handle this most important ministry...being a wife and mother.
So today, I am playing the Glad (Thankful) Game...because we all know that gloomy, rainy days stuck in the house can try "any mother's soul" faster than any other day!
We are glad that the rain will bring green grass and "worms for the robins"! We are glad for Nice and Easy haircolor! We are glad for antibiotics and predinisone for Daddy's pneumonia! We are glad for fresh baked chocolate chip cookies! We are glad for umbrellas and rainboots! We are glad for a warm house on a chilly day!
What are you glad about?

It's the little things in life...

Laughter: Alisa made all of us laugh when she came up Saturday night with a pair of glasses she made with a string of beads, paper, staples, tape, and hair rubberbands. The bands wouldn't stay on her ears, so we put them on the end of the headband and...glamour girl could pose with Grampy!
Baked goods: The house has a divine odor of blueberry muffins this morning. Ash's class is learning about Maine (and Illinois and the differences for a special unit and party). When we think of Maine...we think of little, tart blueberries...among other things.
Children: Whoever designed for a couch to have pillows...did not have children!!! They(could be used for children or pillows...Haha) are forever on the floor and in the way of sitting/laying space on the couch...or in this case playing space. It is one of the never-ending jobs that a mother does and...usually...with a tinge of disgust. But, by george, the pillows came with the couch and we paid for them and thus, we will use them and continue to pick them up till the day we are unable to move! As for the children...we'll keep them too...because we paid for, are paying for, and will continue to pay for them...and maybe...someday...they will learn to pick up the pillows before mom...and if God in His providence sees fit...will give them children to throw their pillows on the floor!

Today's Past, Present, and Future

We are filling up on Patch th Pirate these days! As Ted and I listen along, we are amazed at how many of the songs we remember! The old adage "Garbage in, garbage out" has been at the forefront of our thinking lately. It is our job to protect our children...as best we can...so when they are confronted with ungodly things, they can choose the right! The kids finally are enjoying the adventures of Patch and the gang! (We tried before and "it is too scary" or "why did they stop singing again?" They get the whole idea now!!!) An added blessing...it is quiet in the van unless they are singing along! We pray that God's truthes will be cemented with these wonderful characters and message! If you don't have them in your home...you are missing a big treat!
This is for Angie...since she told "our neighbors that we are a bunch of rednecks"...not really, but dear friend, it looks as though we have a start! All I see is how much yardwork there is for me, uh, no, the kids to do! See the rocks and sticks and toys...all them...not me!!!
Soon...we will be able to use the bathroom! Drywall, mud, door....progress is being made with Teddy's help! Next big job...sanding the mud and mudding again. We shall have to have a ribbon cutting ceremony for the boy's bathroom!