What would you do for caffine?

Hey, Mari, how fast can you eat a bag of Robin's Eggs?

Mine lasted a day...see what happens when you have to share! I will admit...half of them were gone before the kids got home! The first signs of spring...stocked on Walmart's shelves!

This and That

It is that time of year again...ladies banquet! Can you guess our theme?

This is for my friend, Sarah. She will appreciate this! When Daddies have a gathering they get the good food...we clean out the fridge! Let's count how many carbs we can ingest! Tortillas-1, toast-1, chips-1, noodles-1, and dessert x4!

They are born with it, I tell you! My little buddy is rolling and scooting around and is finding all sorts of things to play with! Here is handle...you pull on it...look at it...pull again...hmmmm, what does it do?

He has now moved on to "big boy toys"! He was pushing it back and forth...no one taught him...I just set it on the floor by him. It is a "gene" they are born with as little boys...wanting to make things go fast and try to find out how they work! He is only 6 months!

On Wednesday, Teddy told me he had "a list of things to do". He put on his sailor hat (like Uncle James...when he swabs the deck!?) and got busy. He asked to vaccum and then mop the floor! I looked at him with a shocked expression and agreed! Don't pinch me...yet...I know this desire probably won't last...but I will take him up on it when he offers!

Yesterday, I should have offered him a life vest. He wanted to push the water out of the low spot in the driveway..."we've got to keep the water out of the basement!" In mid push, he went down in the 6 inches of cold, rain water. He tried to be brave when he came to the door to tell me he was wet...but lost it after telling me he fell and he had water in his boots. He took a bath to warm up...while I emptied his boots (but found no socks! He was barefoot in his puddlejumpers!) and washed the muddy jacket, pants, and shirt.

Today, he got to chop the broom out of the middle of the pooled water...it was frozen! Then he stomped his way to the van...ice sounds like breaking glass! Maybe it was his way of getting even with the puddle!?

I learned something today...

if you have two short genes or two long genes...it determines whether you are an optimist or not. I should not have been chuckling through the report, because now I can't remember all the details...like which genes, how long this study took, who got paid to do this study, and why is it an important news item! It is ridiculous to me...I am sure there is a gene for that too!
As a Christian, I am to be controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by circumstances. Having a negative or critical view on life is not indicative of being Spirit led. As a child of God, all that does happen in my life is for His best and for His glory. How I respond to God's working in my life should not be excused or explained away by some scientific (or psychologic) terminology. There are so many verses in the Bible that talk about "God working all things for my good...to them that love God" Romans 8, "His ways are not my ways" Psalms and Isaiah, "He has specific plans for me" Jeremiah, "trusting in the Lord" Proverbs, and "thinking on things" the way God wants me to think, Philippians! If I choose not to respond the way God wants me to...it is a sin problem. Whether one gene is short or not! I wonder how we would operate and think if it were not for all the mamby-pamby, wishy-washy thoughts that intellectuals of our day have concocted to explain away human behavior!? God created me. He gave me His Word. God did not have "alternate terminology" for what He calls sin! It is a choice I make. No matter what my personality is...or what my mood is...or what gender I am...or how old I am...or...
The dictionary definition states: Optimism: n. the cheerful "doctrine" that everything happens for the best.
I could not find "optimism" in the Bible...anywhere!
Here is something that I think I forget somedays:
Bible Doctrine 101
Sovereignty: God knows and allows everything that happens in my life for my good and His glory..which brings peaceful assurance!
That my friends brings great joy and peace...and if that doesn't make me cheerful...then I have some soul-searching to do! It is not in the genes! It is in the heart!

Progress!

"Son, you did a good job reading that story!" I praised Teddy. "Now I can read to my kids when I'm a Dad!" he boasted. I surpressed a giggle...he still has quite a ways to go to perfect his technique! But I continued to encourage him, "You sure can! And look...you can take the last three reading sheets back because you got the 'sight words' right without Mom's help!" "SWEET! At least I don't have those sheets to worry about! They are stupid and I don't like them!" Teddy admitted quite strongly. Sigh...I am not sure he is making the connection..."practice makes perfect"! We are just glad to be making good progress!

A new yoga or pilates move...

by my little buddy...we'll call it...hmmm...the Object Stop...hold it, hold it, hold it...and release!

Breathe...feel your body relax...now moving slowly to the other side...and...

Hold it, hold it, hold it...and roll it out!

My husband is a wonderful man! And so smart!

I dropped this basket filled to over-flowing on the familyroom floor and prepared to fold while we talked. Ted employed the kids, then began folding and sending the kids to put clothes away. I am not kidding...three loads of laundry were folded and put away in record time! Five busy pairs of hands, chattering mouths, and running feet made an overwhelming task...fun! The kids always put their own clothes away, but it was different tonight...it was because Daddy did it with us! He just adds more fun!!! The job was completed in about 15 minutes! I was thankful for the extra help tonight...because it took the "stress" out of not having that job done and have it hanging over my head for today! Thank you, honey, for being the "fun Daddy"! You do more around here (in addition to your job!) than you give yourself credit for! You keep your wife grounded when she wants to "fly the coop"! I love you!

Happy Birthday, Cousins!

Guess what!?! Your gift is going to be belated! We didn't forget...we just weren't on the ball this go around! We love you! Thanks for sharing the pictures! Hugs and Kisses to you all!

More helpful wisdom from Teddy!

"If you don't wear diapers, pull-ups, undies, or panties...it just doesn't feel right!"

They were sneaky and tried to scare us again!

Meditating on Psalm 23 this Monday

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mines enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

What a way to start off our week!
Usually...Mondays bring up bad feelings and bad moods...it is the way the world thinks! You hear a lot of jokes about Mondays. Mondays can be hard! If you have small children, it can be the hardest day of the week due to the schedules of the weekend. If you are a wife, your husband goes back to work and you go back to your work, and on it goes. But why focus on the "bad" or the "what ifs" of the week? That is wrong thinking! God wants our eyes on what is "true, honest, just, pure, lovely, things of good report..." Monday is the beginning of a new school week, a new work week, a new opportunity to serve the Lord..."with no mistakes in it"! The one person who can give me the strength and ability to do right is the Lord...the Good Shepherd! He knows His sheep...and He has made provision for my weaknesses!
We started our day off by reading Psalm 23...what?! Not Proverbs this morning? But as Ted talked about what Psalm 23 meant and what we can learn from following the Shepherd...I knew I needed to hear exactly that! The Good Shepherd knew I needed to refocus this morning! I am thankful that I am a sheep...and I have a wonderful Shepherd to follow!
Oh...if our children can learn to submit to and follow the Good Shepherd while they are young...what a blessing it will be!

Happy Snowy Saturday!

I don't even want to know!

"Mom, hey Mom," exclaimed Teddy. "What, son?" "Oh, man, I just had a germ on my finger and it fell off!" "Oooo, gross, son!" I don't even want to know any more details. It just might send me over the edge!

What's in your heart?

A friend brought me three little filled hearts this week "to help me get through the sickness" I was dealing with with the kids. I showed great restraint and only ate one a day...today I will eat the last one! I ate the carmel filled one first...yummo! Yesterday, I ate the coconut one...mmmm! And today will be...the marshmallow one. Yep...I ate the best one first! How did I decide? What was inside!!! And I had a little hint...the outside package told me what was on the inside!Can you see where this is going? (Think about it...the chocolates you got for Valentine's Day, or on clearance after Valentine's Day(they taste just as good!!)...Do you squeeze them to see what is on the inside first? Or do you just blindly bite into one? (Yuck...I got an orange cream one...but it was covered in dark chocolate! That is why I chose it!) What an object lesson for my week!
Our pastor has been preaching on choosing influence over image...Matthew 23:25-28, John 9, James 2. I am still in the middle of Refresh Your Heart (it is so convicting that I have to take it in small doses!) Ted and I are still going through Shepherding A Child's Heart...now with the study guide. We have been convicted, and God keeps using different avenues to keep us acutely aware of this very topic! Last night while we read together, I was struck with the truth of Proverbs 4 :23 again..."Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Our heart is the "totality of you...your emotional, mental, and spiritual self. It needs to be guarded (by more than just your rib cage) because it is extremely important! It can also be dangerous, for it is the source of sin."
No where in Scripture does it talk about "keeping the ways of the world with all diligence", "keeping up with the 'Jones' with all diligence", "keeping what those around me think with all diligence", "keeping what the news reporters say with all diligence"...
God tells us to "keep (guard) thy heart with all diligence." The Scriptures give us many things to guard our heart from...vengence, fear of man, pride, desire for silver and gold on the graven images of their gods, lack of trust in God, envying thy neighbor, hatred, bitter envying and strife, speaking proudly, indignation(jealousy), adultry, cursing and bitterness, divisions...
This was the Bible study part of our time together last night. We looked up and read the verses that gave each heart issue that leads to sin. It was not uplifting...it was convicting! The attitudes of our heart motivate our behavior. I thought it was interesting that the writer of the study guide emphasized using the biblical terms that describe our heart attitudes! Did you know that the word frustration is not found in Scripture? The word frustrate, yes, but not frustration! "Until we identify those feelings with biblical terminology, we cannot use the Bible to understand them." I had to admit...out loud...to my husband that my frustration is pride (what I want when I want it), indignation (jealousy), lack of trust in God...to name a few! When you take what you are struggling with and put it in God's terms...it sounds so much worse...because it is! So...what is in my heart?
The outside might look all smooth and shiny, but when I am squeezed and poked...the goo oozes out...and it is not always sweet and creamy in God's eyes!
The last thought we ended with last night... "You can never teach what you have not learned." We are trying to teach our children! What are we teaching them? Is it more important what is on the outside...what we have, say, and do? How people perceive us? Or is what is on the inside more important...what pleases God? We are not perfected yet...we just want to do right...and it is not easy!

IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY!

I just love our "short bus" rides to school! Some of the conversations can really make me laugh! Like today's topic...brought up by Teddy...who else, but a boy, would think of this?!
We had to pull over for an ambulance. There was discussion if they were on their way to pick someone up or if someone was inside on the way to the hospital.
"Mom, you wouldn't call 911 if you have to go potty! First of all, that is not the kind of emergency they do. Second, they can't help you go potty. Three of all, you shouldn't just call 911 for that!" Between bursts of laughter from his sisters, I agreed with him. Having to go potty can be an emergency...but not one that we call 911 for! The conversation went downhill from there..."What if you fell in the toilet?" "You'd get toilet oil on you." I tried to be mature and change the subject with "No more potty talk!" More insane laughter. As for me, I was still stuck on what is "toilet oil"? Maybe I don't want to know! I just know I don't want to get "stuck in" the toilet and have to call 911! My children would not be helpful...the would only laugh!

"Mom, it is not a bad word..."

What would your first reaction be? I was washing dishes and just looked at him...and braced myself...what was coming?!
"You shouldn't get mad at me for this. It is not a bad word and I shouldn't get in trouble for it. (this was all said in hushed tones) Soda jerk. (very soft...matter of fact tone...while his eyes never left my face) Mrs. P told us what it was. It is a man who makes banana splits and sundaes and...You can say that and it is ok. It's not bad. Just plain jerk is bad!"

Do you know what 2:27a.m. looks like?

I do...it is dark and quiet! Except when you have to turn the bathroom light on so you can rinse out the "green bowl for the tenth time"...no, really, I am not exaggerating! Every half hour and hour that ticked by was marked with the sounds of the the flu season...poor Ash...oh, and poor Momma! The washing machine worked overtime...took two cycles to clean the bedding! Yikes! And I noticed how loud the water heater is when it is hard at work! You can hear all sorts of noises in the girl's room when you are "trying hard" to quickly go back to sleep before the next round...on a bed that is not your own!
I am taking a break from blog-hopping today to catch up on some missed sleep...because Ash has finally stopped "sounding off" and is trying to sleep herself. Happy Healthy Wednesday.

My New Label...The Frumpy Chick

My cherry friend and I have been drooling over the wide assortment of home goods offered by Simply Shabby Chic. I think it is because it reminds me of spring and all that is light and airy. I would love to decorate the girl's room from top to bottom with the pretty linens but...my frugality prevents me from such over-indulgence! So we will add a touch here and there. Anyway...I got to thinking all creative-like and came up with a new label for my friend and I to launch...The Frumpy Chick! We can have our own line of crafts, home goods, and home-making tips! I dress the part. Many days...I act the part. And we wouldn't charge near as much, since we would be recycling and re-inventing home goods that we already have!
Ohhhh, I need to go to bed...but why?! My number one daughter just came down half asleep and asked me what was all over her shirt...excuse me!
Um...sickness just hit the third person...and all her bedding...and her hair...and body. Am I the only one who reacts with pure disgust at such a mess at this hour? How selfish I am! My first thought...not "oh you poor dear, Momma is sorry you don't feel good!" it was "I was supposed to meet a friend for lunch tomorrow and we have never done that before"! Yep, reality hit this Frumpy Chick right between the eyes...no lunch out, laundry that must be cared for...now, lack of sleep, and a green bowl to empty. At least I can dream...and laugh about all those creative plans!

Get A Grip On Reality, Kari...It Is Still Winter!

Ahhh...a taste of spring...

covered up again by snow...with more to come tonight and tomorrow! I don't want to complain...I have to be strong for my son who said "I hate snow" in reaction to the last dusting. "Why do we have to have snow anyway?" I tried to be the spiritually uplifting Mom that I am "supposed" to be...but it didn't come from my heart...it was strictly head knowledge! "Because the Lord sends it...He changes the seasons...He knows what the ground needs and what we need...remember when we were looking forward to the snow coming?!"

That seems so long ago now...a whole three months! We will be thankful for what the Lord gives(the snow and cold)...and what He takes(the snow and cold) because it is part of His Almighty plan and design! If we were in control...what a mess it would be...because we complain when it is hot and when it is cold, when it rains and when it doesn't...

Just think what would happen to the growing season if we "called the shots" according to our comfort levels! YIKES! I will be thankful that God is in control! He knows what is best and what we need...even when the snow falls!

He doesn't know that I know...yet...

but I came across something today that made my heart burst with love and pride for the man that I call my husband! There are many things that he protects me from each and every day...which in turn adds to the load that he carries. He takes his role of leader of our home very seriously. And I, as the "weaker vessel", rest comfortably in his care for us! We share our hurts and frustrations as well as our desires and joys. In the busy times of life, some parts of our days aren't always shared...till later. This was one of those times. When I learned about this special thing, my eyes filled with tears. (Don't worry...I didn't ruin a surprise or go sneaking around where I shouldn't. We don't have those "off limit" places in our home...well, except for our kids!) I believe the Lord allowed me to see what I did for a purpose...to know that He is in control...and doing right (even when it doesn't feel that way) is always right! God knows what His children are doing, thinking, speaking, and etc...and He takes care of His own...and sends blessings along the way to encourage us! So...on this Valentine's Day...my heart is full of love for my husband...other's lives are touched by his love that he demonstrates...on a daily basis...whether he feels like it or not! I am thankful that my husband shares his heart with me...with our family! And God is allowing him to share his heart with others.

Happy Heart Day...hope yours is sweet!

"Happy Vallintinz's Daye"... (we're spellin' it like we're hearin' it!)

from a "medium"-sized, energetic boy who is building and taking apart whatever he can!

from a crazy, silly Grammy with lots of fun up her sleeve!

from a fever-fighting, little pale sickie who roused for a moment thanks to Motrin!

from a loud, healthy, creative girl who is doing a great job entertaining her brother!

Hearts, Hugs& Kisses, and Flu

We are handling our hearts with lots of care...and sprinkles!

A little something to show our teachers that we love them!

And the treat (rice krispie treats) for Alisa's class...that was delivered (by her sis and grandma) for her today...since she has been holding the "green bowl"! What a bummer to miss party day and not have an appetite for sweets! She has her Momma's hugs and kisses and she seems ok with that...for now!

Tired...Can't sleep?

Could it be the cup of leftover coffee poured over vanilla ice cream at 8:30 p.m.?! Guess I will fold the basket of clean clothes and blog hop for a short while! Can I say...getting older is doing strange things to me...at the most inopportune times!?

"Look, guys, she is typing without looking at her fingers!"

"Look at how fast she can go!" "You just know what you are going to type in your brain?"
It made me giggle...and I had to backspace several letters...but...
I just wanted to "show off" that I can "wow" my children with "some of my many skills" that don't involve dishrags, toilet scrubbers, hairbrushes, and laundry baskets!
Have you ever thought about what your children think of you? What you do? What you are able to do? What you haven't done in a long time? I think sometimes they forget that mothers are people who can do and did other things...once upon a long, lost time! Yes, we can have fun...I didn't always wear a ponytail, stained shirt, baggy sweats, holey socks, and slippers! I used to never leave the house without make-up...or at least lipstick!
Awww, it is nice to have some little someones in awe of me...or at least in awe of a few of my skills! My husband is in awe of how I have changed over the years...he knew me when I never was without lipstick, never mind the jewelry and nails! Just to show them all...my nails are done, I have on jewelry, make-up is still intact...but I am in my sweatshirt and slippers! Yep, it was a good day!

Disclaimer seems a little strong...Alert may be a better warning!

Our children are now at the age where they are trying to comprehend many things. In no way am I trying to be cruel or be insensitive to the issues life and death in this post. We are just trying to remember and cherish the honest, simple thoughts and inquiries of our children...some of which are humorous...and some which leave us shaking our heads as we look at these life situations from a child's perspective!
When Great-Grandpa from IL and Great-Gram from ID passed away, our children were too young to understand all that happened. To this date, they vaguely remember going to Great-Grandpa's funeral and I doubt they remember my leaving for Gram's funeral. We talk about our need of salvation. We talk about God's love and how we show love for Him. We talk about Heaven and who will be there. We answer questions when they ask. This last week we have had two men that we have been praying for, go home to Heaven. They didn't know our Great-Uncle, but Teddy was at the funeral with us and we will take them to the other funeral on Monday. We want them to know about life and death. We need to teach them how to handle these delicate times of life! I was reminded that these situations need to be taught with love and patience.
These conversations took place in private settings...for which I am grateful...not everyone would appreciate the fact that Teddy took the opportunity to gloat to his sisters that "he got to go to the funeral and you didn't!" I think he was more into the fact that his Daddy picked him up early from school and he saw Papa, Grandma, Aunt, and Uncle and got to sit with them "all by himself"!
On the way home from school, he "rubbed it in". Teddy-I got to go to the funeral and you didn't. I saw him...he was there! But I just saw his head...was it cut off, Mom? Mom-No son, you could only see part of him because of how the coffin is made...did you notice it looks like a bed and was soft. Teddy-Well, he was in a wood box...and it had wheels on it. Girls-What did he look like? Mom-Like he was sleeping. Girls-But was he? Mom-No, he is in Heaven with Jesus. What we saw was just his body...his outside, like a shell...remember? Only his body will be buried in the coffin in the ground. His soul/spirit is in Heaven. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." That is what the Bible tells us! Think of all the people he is seeing! Teddy-We didn't go to the cemetery. We couldn't 'cuz we didn't get an orange flag for our car...and you had to be in line. Girls-Why do you need a flag? Mom-To let other people who are driving know you are on your way to the cemetery and to "please let us go first". You remember, we have seen this before...we had to wait a little longer at a stop light...remember the time we had to pull over for all the police cars and motorcycles. We did that to show respect for those who had lost their loved one.
Girls-How old was he? Mom-I believe he was 71 years old. Teddy-He lived allot of days. How old is Papa and Grandma? Mom-I think 61 or 62. Teddy-So that means they are gonna die soon.
By this time I was quite exhausted by the barrage of questions and explanations...death affects your emotions. And I also realized that Teddy is learning "counting to ten" quite quickly...it made me realize...our days are numbered according to God's sovereign plan! Deep breath...It takes allot of thought to answer carefully and sensitively! I tried to change our topic of conversation for the rest of the ride home...only to revisit the topic at bedtime again.
Girls talking-Can we see in Heaven? I don't know, I'll ask Mom. Mom-Well, the Bible talks about the streets of gold and the gates of pearl...we will see and know things that we can't now! Girls-I guess I can ask Mrs. B. (teacher...who happens to be our pastor's wife) she should know! And we could also ask Mr. B. because he definitely should know!
There are many teachable moments in life...we are in the middle of a very important one right now!

We dove in head first...and they are gone already!

Thank you to a sweet secret pal! I just hate the whole sharing thing that we have to teach our children...it is that whole "do as I do, not do as I say" thought process again! The bag was mine...it was for me...I wanted it...but I shared...and now it is gone! I will be glad I have people in my life to share with...a perk of being a Mommy and Wife...but I may not be happy. ha ha ha

"Just think of stepping on shore...and finding it Heaven..."

We received word this afternoon that another of God's saints has gone home to Heaven...no more sickness, no more pain. We attended a service today for Dad Tackeberry's uncle. What a joy to know that he is in Heaven...there to meet a sweet man from our church! What a comfort to know that some day we will see our loved ones! I know the families will miss these men and the tears will come when they least expect it...pray for them to know God's sustaining grace and His unfailing love!

Starting to Understand...

"Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century." M Twain
Ted and I read through I Corinthians 13 a few days ago during one of our "evening chats" at the supper table. We both have been made aware of how selfish our love can be in our daily life. Ted had been thinking through a certain situation and shared with me "I can do this or that...but if it is not done with love...it is nothing." Once again I was reminded that God is love and I am to apply God's Word-His Love Letter to all areas of my life...every day...all the time...in every way! So often...I don't even stop to consider how I should think, act, speak, etc. in the midst of every day occurences...and was it done in a loving way!? Did I please God by how I handled that? One step farther...do I even care? And does it matter? When I really look at the faces of those I am dealing with...I know in a heartbeat! It does matter! And it matters to God!
I am starting to learn that God has given me a wonderful gift...my husband! I thought I loved him when we got married. But as we sit and talk each day, I am learning that I loved him with a selfish love...how he made me feel, what he did for me, what we would get to do, etc. As I re-read I Corinthians 13, it makes sense why people told us "you don't know what love is yet!" We are finally learning...after ten, going on eleven years...and are beginning to understand "true love"!
I Corinthians 13 Paraphrased
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

Art from the past

Teddy made this in junior church yesterday and it took me back to the elementary days of crafting! I love it! A good reminder to me to be filled with love for my family, friends, and Heavenly Father! Have a happy heart this week...and let others know that you love them! It sure can brighten a day...it worked for me!

Cryin' over a cup of coffee!

That is what I did this morning! It has been a week of tears...and I added some more this morning as I stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel...and noticed a cup of coffee sitting on the bathroom counter. Who...but the love of my life would think to do that for me! Every morning, Ted makes coffee and pours a cup for me with just the right amount of cream. The little bit of time he took to do that for me today overwhelmed me to tears...again. It is the simple things in life that mean the most...especially when they come wrapped in love! I love you, sweetheart! Thank you!

At least someone around here is getting a workout!

Flexible little guy...had to put a sleeper on to keep his socks on! Little M pulls off his socks and chews on them...now he chews on his toes...and his feet are always so cold!

How many stomach crunches can you do? I should get down on the floor and do them with him! Ha Ha Ha Ha...no really, I should!

A Work In Progress...

girls growing up! It was time to lose the unnecessary clutter and broken toys from a room shared by two brown-eyed girls. I started by priming all the dots, stripes, and border. Then I dug out the can of paint that we already had...you may recognize it from the kitchen...but it matched a color in their bedspreads! Thank you, Lord, for making it spread to two walls and the shelf background!!! I am still deciding if I want this one wall another color...pink...or...I don't know! The trim needs attention too.
Re-decorating a lamp I had...with ribbon and flowers and such.

Found a Simply Shabby Chic fabric shower curtain with a pink ruffle on the bottom...on clearance at Target with the perfect colors!

Back to the attic goes the play kitchen set...to wait for grandkids (oh my head!) or a garage sale?!

And another bag to give to our friends at Salvation Army or Goodwill...de-cluttering feels so nice...or maybe it is the warmer weather and the fact that the birds are singing! What a welcomed sound!

"Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them." h.ford

Have you ever known there was going to be a problem...and you tried hard to not to be part of the problem or create a bigger problem...only to find yourself in the midst of the problem that you feared, but it is a bigger problem? Then in trying to explain your thought of the problem and why you did what you did...it creates more of a problem? Now I am in the problem that I didn't want in the first place...smack dab in the middle...I didn't want it and I didn't ask for it! "I thought" I was handling the potential problem wisely...by staying out of the whole problem possibility...no good was or will come from it...and it didn't work! Proverbs 16:20 tells me "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." But in verse 2, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." My first thought is to defend myself and explain my thoughts of the problem I could see coming...which is a selfish thought. My second thought is to just stay put in our little white house with blue shutters...also a self-serving thought. Now I sit here wondering...what was the wise way to handle this potential problem? The only way to handle problems...is to give them to the Lord...excuse me, while I listen to this song Return To Me...and get the right focus back...I am trying to "trust in the Lord"...but I don't feel very "happy" right now!
**My heart's conclusion to this whole situation at this moment is that I take care of my heart and the thoughts that flow out of it...God's Word is cleansing and sufficient to meet my needs today. Colossians 3:14-15...I will "put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness (daily maturing in godliness). And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." It is a choice that I make. I didn't choose the problem...but I have to choose how I deal with it!

I tried it...

but I don't really "enjoy it(...facebook...that is)"... like I thought I would (I know, everyone else does!). So I will continue to stay over in my little corner of blogspot...because I do that for our family. I like to see everyone's pictures, but I just don't have time to spend there...and my computer is down in the basement...and if you remember my saying so in the past...strange things happen when I am on the computer! Even though the kids are older! I have to remember that I am a mommy with responsibilities...and I truly don't have "eyes in the back of my head"...duty calls...and that duty is upstairs, well, except when I have to flip laundry! I guess I am taking my mommy job a little more serious these days...the time is going by so quickly and there is so much that I am responsible for...I am wondering if too much of my time with the techno things falls under the category of "not being idle" in the Bible? Hmmm.

"The...wall's...the limit...when you are five months!"

We are on the move now...I am in trouble when Little M starts crawling!

Do you know how hard it is to be productive when everyone around you is sleeping peacefully?!

It is my all-consuming thought today...how can I crawl back in bed to warm up and just stay there all day?! Instead, the car is warming up again for the trek to school...and back...for the second time today. I wonder if Mommies ever get "to call in sick", "take a personal day", or "go on vacation" for the day...I would spend the day in my bedroom...cuddled up with the electric blanket on and read a good book. I should check with "my boss"...right after I take a nap!

I now know how I would answer the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" A hibernating bear...sleep away the cold months, extra pounds are good, you would always be warm, no bad hair days, you are oblivious when childbirth takes place, you would just move to a new den when the other got too messy, nails would always be long, hairy legs would be the rage, fruit and nuts would be a great supper and the cubs could "make it themselves", and growling wouldn't be unattractive!

Just thankful for our teachers!

The K5, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers at our school do a great job! Our children are learning (whether they admit it or not!) and have fun doing it. Alisa's class just finished a special month of Curious George. I loved all the stories about George when I was young...they are easy reads for first graders!
They had a red and yellow day...that is enough to cheer up a dull January day!

They brought in a special jungle friend that George might have seen in the jungle.

And what parent doesn't call their child "a little monkey" now and then?!

Thank you, dear teachers, for making the school days academically profitable and sprinkling in some fun too!

Why she didn't care to wear brown...

for Groundhog's Day. "Mom, my hair is brown and my eyes are brown. That is enough brown, don't you think?!"

Happy Groundhog's Day!

All I know is...that I wouldn't have been very happy being held up before thousands of people that early in the morning...in the cold...just to have crazy men in top hats tell everyone I saw my shadow...when we all know there are many weeks left in this season we call winter!
Our children asked after watching this "exciting news event" how the groundhog could tell the men he saw his shadow...they don't talk! How do you explain that this is what they do and it makes no sense...oh, never mind...it was too deep of a thought process for this Mommy on a Monday. Ted is probably still laughing at me. I am just going to drink another cup of coffee!