Ed's Girl 4 Life

LOVE

2008-09-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

"No one falls in love by choice, IT is by CHANCE.
No one stays in love by chance, IT is by WORK.
And no one falls out of love by chance, IT is by CHOICE."
~anonymous

hmmm, one to think on.....loved it.

Godless || Liberalism

2008-09-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching B.Hussein Obama's profile on Fox News---it scares me to think what our country is blindly entering. So, while i was doing some of my own research, I stumbled here, my next must-read....this book Godless by Ann Coulter has struck my interest....i might have to run over to BAM and get it....interesting b/c liberalism is a religion....hmmmm...what do you think? While studying the Truth Project, I have realized, as a Christian, how big the need is for us to be proactive---to know WHY we believe WHAT we believe. It's scary what will happen in a Godless culture.....and it will happen when God-fearing people do nothing.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
"If a martian landed in America and set out to determine the nation's official state religion, he would have to conclude it is liberalism, while Christianity and Judaism are prohibited by law.Many Americans are outraged by liberal hostility to traditional religion. But as Ann Coulter reveals in this, her most explosive book yet, to focus solely on the Left's attacks on our Judeo-Christian tradition is to miss a larger point: liberalism is a religion—a godless one.And it is now entrenched as the state religion of this country.Though liberalism rejects the idea of God and reviles people of faith, it bears all the attributes of a religion. In Godless, Coulter throws open the doors of the Church of Liberalism, showing us its sacraments (abortion), its holy writ (Roe v. Wade), its martyrs (from Soviet spy Alger Hiss to cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal), its clergy (public school teachers), its churches (government schools, where prayer is prohibited but condoms are free), its doctrine of infallibility (as manifest in the "absolute moral authority" of spokesmen from Cindy Sheehan to Max Cleland), and its cosmology (in which mankind is an inconsequential accident).Then, of course, there's the liberal creation myth: Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.For liberals, evolution is the touchstone that separates the enlightened from the benighted. But Coulter neatly reverses the pretense that liberals are rationalists guided by the ideals of free inquiry and the scientific method. She exposes the essential truth about Darwinian evolution that liberals refuse to confront: it is bogus science.Writing with a keen appreciation for genuine science, Coulter reveals that the so-called gaps in the theory of evolution are all there is—Darwinism is nothing but a gap. After 150 years of dedicated searching into the fossil record, evolution's proponents have failed utterly to substantiate its claims. And a long line of supposed evidence, from the infamous Piltdown Man to the "evolving" peppered moths of England, has been exposed as hoaxes. Still, liberals treat those who question evolution as religious heretics and prohibit students from hearing about real science when it contradicts Darwinism. And these are the people who say they want to keep faith out of the classroom?Liberals' absolute devotion to Darwinism, Coulter shows, has nothing to do with evolution's scientific validity and everything to do with its refusal to admit the possibility of God as a guiding force. They will brook no challenges to the official religion.Fearlessly confronting the high priests of the Church of Liberalism and ringing with Coulter's razor-sharp wit, Godless is the most important and riveting book yet from one of today's most lively and impassioned conservative voices."Liberals love to boast that they are not 'religious,' which is what one would expect to hear from the state-sanctioned religion. Of course liberalism is a religion. It has its own cosmology, its own miracles, its own beliefs in the supernatural, its own churches, its own high priests, its own saints, its own total worldview, and its own explanation of the existence of the universe. In other words, liberalism contains all the attributes of what is generally known as 'religion.'" —From Godless

Worry Be Gone

2008-08-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

It's a new year with all the unknowns that lie ahead.
One of my biggest faults is worry---i hate that i am a worrier,
and i am actually always reading self helps on this mental disposition
of mine to make it end, but lately I have been praying through some
worries and awaiting His peace....it does come...He promises. So as I am waiting, I have a recent change of perspective which helped me grasp
my smallness. A few of my close friends have some serious worries that
have trumped mine completely, biopsies, children with undiagnosed chronic pains, leukemia, husbands who have lost jobs---get it---I do God....I am now
counting my blessings that I am fortunate to say are many....how often we
take them for granted. So worry be gone....not this year...i choose not.
My sister just reminded me of a song my late bro-in-law wrote before his early death "the day we believe the things we believe in our lives will take a turn" (~Wes Uhler)....how true. I believe God, He gives us no reason to worry.

My Grandmother is 95!!!!

2008-08-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

We are headed to a big reunion party for my Grandmother today...there are no words for how great she is in my eyes! She is the coolest cat you'll ever meet....i mean not many would want to hang out with a 95 year old lady and I would choose it any day over some of my closest friends....she's funny, smart, insightful, wise, so wise, but my favorite part is how she always lifts you up and lets you walk away feeling better about who you are and your true purpose in life....that's the kind of person i long to be someday and I will be blessed if I am half of her. She hums all the time..old hymns...in a low alto soul voice...and it just makes me happy...I will always treasure this, i can hear her if i think about this and that is a memory i will always hold close. She has a way about her that lets her interact with people on any level, in any age group, and charisma that makes you just want to BE with her longer....my time with her is never long enough. I always leave wanting more. She has been through the fires of life, including the witnessed loss of her brother at a young age; the loss of her first baby, her only girl, at delivery; a long struggle with an alcoholic husband who died at age 40 leaving her with 3 boys to raise alone, and she did it as a school teacher and she never "smells like smoke" (Beth Moore). I once asked her what her best piece of advice would be for me to one day tell my children and she said,"if you miss Jesus, you've missed it all"

I love you "G" (Grandmother Georgie)! Wishing you a very very happy 95th birthday today and every day--you deserve it!

just in case you miss me...

2008-07-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

I'm here....:0) July 7-10

http://www.marcoislandmarriott.com/webcam.html

Me and My summer SUIT

2008-06-27T11:12:00.001-07:00

well, i wish it was me in my summer suit :) I have to post about this b/c my search is finally over....I am soooo happy---I ordered this bikini at jcrew.com months ago for my summer (first summer in 2 yrs not pregnant or nursing--thank the Lord!) and right before I pushed the "place order" button, yup, the top got sold out---can you believe it---so I bought about 4 different white tops which never fit right and since i have searched everywhere (ebay, etc) for this top and 5days ago it suddenly shows up on the j.crew final sale--i bought it instantly and just got it in the mail and the best part is---IT FITS! I have this hat too, so this will be me tomorrow (Ed and I are going to http://www.jupiterbeachresort.com/ for our 8th anniversary ALONE) where I will be sippin' pina coladas poolside hiding out under my hat--HA! and sleeping in, i hope. (those are my two requests anyway--i'm sure ed has a different idea) Can't wait....i'll tell you all about it later.

VBS Power Lab video...

2008-06-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

This was vacation Bible school we did last week....cute video.....my kids had a great time....i tried to find me in the video but I'm not there, but my nephew is about half way through leading a bubble game in a pool and then my little MinMan is sitting around a purple rug w/ little people in a brown t-shirt--HA! :)
Good times....
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9b5338004f0a0598f980

What's your Visual DNA ???

2008-06-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

When you click on the link, a series of about 15 pictures will > come up. > Click on a photo in that category that appeals to you. > > Again 15 pictures will come up, click the one for you and move > on. Just continue to keep picking. > > At the end it will give you a profile of yourself.... It's called > a visual DNA.... > >
http://youniverse.com/statement/module/PersonalityModule/New_Personality_module/retake

When no one else sees...

2008-06-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

So busy with soccer camp every morning and VBS preschool crafts every night and I'm running on empty (tired)....and a friend just sent me this link...I've seen it before but it always helps me adjust my focus...Enjoy....great msg...it's not about me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Missing Mom...

2008-05-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad are in Israel for two weeks. I can't get in touch with them...having w/drawals

Stretch Your Mind

2008-05-28T07:14:00.001-07:00

We started doing the Truth Project last night and I feel like I am back in college Philosophy 101. DEEP thinking skills needed...I am out of shape mentally with my apologetics. Del Tackett is amazing--really like this guy's delivery. I don't know if I have the mental energy to do this right now but I am gonna try to absorb what I can out of it. Check it out...
http://www.thetruthproject.org/whatistruthproject/

Fireworks from a Boat...

2008-05-26T07:07:00.001-07:00

so this is the Salt Life...a whole subculture...i wish this were my boat but we are not the proud owners of a boat...but these are my neighbors --heh he--and i don't make friends based on benefits--i really like these people and lucky me they have a boat and they like me :) I have always said "if you live here, you need a boat (or friends w/ a boat)".....and what's even better is i love Dan's (boat owner) taste in music......so this night on the boat was a particular dream come true of mine....we always go check the fireworks from the sidelines (land) and i've always thought those people on the boats had it made...how nice...this time it was me on the boat and the fireworks were just as amazing as i knew they'd be....two minutes off land and it doesn't matter how close your home is you feel far away from everything....it's amazing!

Brooks is ONE!

2008-05-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

Little Brooks and his Blues Clues party!

"Roo" and me...

2008-04-28T11:47:00.001-07:00

"Roo,Roo,Roo,Roo,sing Roo, sing Ho-Ki-dink-um..." that's our song....it's just a little ditty and it fits and we all sing it to our Baby Roo!

Needed a Laugh!

2008-03-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

this card is too funny---so me--:0)

http://www.hallmark.com/ECardWeb/ECV.jsp?a=EG0948192775606M251842095Y&product_id=

You're Gonna Miss This...

2008-03-03T07:27:00.001-08:00

sorry, these were the "good ol' days"......love this song...ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j22cmJwkbM

Brooks' dedicated...

2008-02-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

on Sunday......he hugged the pastor.......so sweet.......2 pics for you...

parenting...

2008-02-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

My friend Beth posted on being "quick to judge" recently and it made me think of s/thing i just read recently re: parenting.......my mom sent me this link.....love his delivery and perspective....... Steve Brown on parenting...
http://www.keylife.org/steves-letter/steves-letter-the-ultimate-parent.html
if you get a chance listen to his voice....he has such a great voice.

So, parenting is a theme in my life right now....I went to a parenting seminar this weekend w/ my husband---that's a date when they have childcare :) It was good........speaker Catherine Hickem on "Raising Your Children with no Regrets" (which i don't believe is truly possible but we try anyway).....I picked up a few great pointers, maybe i will post them later if i ever get some time...... www.intentionalmotherhood.com

I think this is sad...

2008-02-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

I have really no time to keep up with anything anymore and have been "out of the loop" for awhile BUT I wanted to see if Britney was OK (not b/c I like her or anything) b/c I think it's sad that I bet now her mom probably wishes she would have done something different than leading her into the life she now leads and that's sad.....I wonder if she longs for a "peanut butter and jelly in the backyard day"?....not that as moms we are responsible for good eggs gone bad BUT I hate to think that one day I will have some regrets.....we all will.......I was sad to read this article....for many reasons.......it's sad that our culture with all we have been blessed has put doctors and teachers in a place that is valued less than all this media/celebrity garbage......do you agree?.......and now all these deeply disturbed people are dying or being closely watched......that's sick....says a lot about our value system.....had a minute---just wanted to vent......
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7177345.stm
I am afraid that if Britney does kill herself it will teach us all a big lesson.....but at what a cost? huh, just a thought.

"She is a victim of an exploitative industry, a sensationalist media, and a public who seem to enjoy voyeuristically the troubles of superstars and celebrities."

Shame on us.

Holiday Pics 2007

2008-01-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

I WISH you ENOUGH...

2007-09-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

> > Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the > airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they > hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough". > > The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your > love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom". > > > They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I > was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not > to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say > good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?". > > "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever > good-bye?". > > "I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is > - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said. > > "When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask > what that means? ". > > She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other > generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and > looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled! even more. "When > we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life > filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, > she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory. > > I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day > may appear. > > I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more. > > I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting. > > I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear > bigger. > > I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. > > I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess . > > I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye. > > She then began to cry and walked away. > > They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, > a day to love them but then an entire life to forget them. > > > TAKE TIME TO LIVE..... > > To all my friends and loved ones , > I WISH YOU ENOUGH

An Old Fashioned Reminder...

2007-09-10T19:14:00.001-07:00

I needed this...

...my friend took this picture of my little girl getting a Bible at church on Sunday morning...it was a special presentation for all the first graders who were just learning how to read...when I saw this picture (after my weeks of mental run-a-round panicking about "red-shirting", tutoring, and how to cram in reading into my little girl's life)...this picture was a still shot that made me stop and notice her for a second, just where she's at......sincere, peaceful, kind, innocent, loving....she's perfect just the way she is, and most of all, she is His, not mine and nothing I do is gonna change what He has for her---I don't know, that just comforted me and thought I'd share...do you remember being this age? Sometimes I need a big reminder that I don't control it all....so simple. Thank God.

Smart Kid Left Behind...

2007-09-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

The biggest trend in education today is holding "smart" kids back. It's called "red-shirting", after the practice of keeping college athletes out a year while they grow bigger. A 2005 government report suggested that nearly 10% of American students in kindergarten were eligible to have enrolled the year before. The typical red-shirt is a boy with white, well-educated parents who know how good it feels to be at the top of the class. It's particularly a problem in private schools; an analysis showed that wealthy districts in Connecticut red-shirt at rates of up to 20%, while low-income district rates are 2 to 3%. Ironically, of course, the more families who do it, the less advantage there is. Perhaps more ironically, it doesn't seem to work. Most studies conclude that red shirts do no better than younger kids in the long term.

So, this is an article that I read last night in U.S.News and World Report. I know more and more people doing this. What do you all think about this? Does anyone have any advice here? My little girl has just turned 6 years old in late July and now I am push, push, pushing her in school with her reading and writing when many times she doesn't seem to really be eager to do it. I am always wondering is it her age and developmental stage? Should I hold her back as most of the kids in her class seem to be possibly a year plus older than her, which at this age makes a big difference. I am frustrated. She is reading just not at first grade level. I have heard many angles of this debate....there are the schools of thought suggesting that children shouldn't start school til they are 8 b/c their senses are not developmentally ready and then there are majority of people who start kids in preschool as babies b/c they are "sponges" and think they are getting them "ahead" of the curve. Is it wise? Do they all really even out eventually? Would she be bored if she were retained this year? I am constantly thinking,"should school be stress for a new 6 yr. old?" and thinking how she could be smartest kid in the class if i held her now and then reminding myself to constantly praise her and keep her home as a "soft place to fall". This whole subject has me consumed. I gotta get past this. aaaaagghhh! It's hard though - if everyone is doing it will my kid be at a disadvantage if I don't. .. that is my question?

Beginning of the school year Blues...

2007-09-04T05:35:00.000-07:00

I have a desperate need lately for prioritize and perspective......Hang with me here....my thoughts are kinda random and confused as I juggle through another new school year trying to "fit in" everything that comes along and I keep finding myself crawling into bed at the end of the day and thinking (after all I've done) "I didn't do enough"....Do you all do that? I didn't hold Brooks enough, didn't play with Benjamin enough, and didn't read with Kayden enough, or clean my house enough, or make a good enough dinner.... and the list goes on...so, I just got this essay from a friend and teared up at the "GREATNESS" of what we do everyday---it's big...every tiny unseen detail. This email nailed it for me and I tied it all together with yet another great quote that always sticks with me from Andy Stanley's book Visioneering "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down" (Neh.6:3)......please read...

I'm invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walkinto the room while I'm on the phone and ask to betaken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't yousee I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one cansee if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping thefloor, or even standing on my head in the corner,because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more:Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you openthis? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm noteven a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What timeis it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "Whatnumber is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order,"Right around 5:30 , please."
I was certain that these were the hands that onceheld books and the eyes that studied history andthe mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now theyha d disappeared into the peanut butter, never to beseen again. She's going .. she's going... she'sgone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner,celebrating the return of a friend from England .Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,and she was going on and on about the hotel shestayed in. I was sitting there, looking around atthe others all put together so well. It was hardnot to compare and feel sorry for myself as I lookeddown at my out-of-style dress; it was the onlything I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair waspulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I couldactually smell peanut butter in it.
I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turnedtome with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "Ibrought you this." It was a book on the greatcathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure whyshe'd given it to me until I read her inscription:"To Charlotte , with admiration f or the greatnessof what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - thebook. And I would discover what would become forme, four life-changing truths, after which I couldpattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals - wehave no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a workthey would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by theirfaith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich manwho came to visit the cathedral while it was beingbuilt, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird onthe inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked theman, "Why are you spending so much time carvingthat bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?No one will ever see it."And the workman replied, "Because God sees ."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fallinto place. It was almost as if I heard Godwhispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see thesacrifices you make every day, even when no onearound you does. No act of kindness you've done, nosequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, istoo small for me to notice and smile over. You arebuilding a great cathedral, but you can't see rightnow what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. Itis the cure for the disease of my ownself-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong,stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when Isee myself as a great builder. As one of the peoplewho show up at a job that they will never seefinished, to work on something that their name willnever be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say thatno cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetimebecause there are so few people willing tosacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my sonto tell the friend he's bringing home from college forThanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morningand bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes aturkey for three hours and presses all the linensfor the table." That would mean I'd built a shrineor a monument to myself. I just want him to want tocome home. And then, if there is anything more tosay to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love itthere."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. Wecannot be seen if we're doing it right. And oneday, it is very possible that the world will marvel, notonly at what we have built, but at the beauty thathas been added to the world by the sacrifices ofinvisible women.

an excerpt........

... talking about vision using both the book of Nehemiah and Andy Stanley's excellent book on vision, Visioneering.
Stanley writes his book based on his own reflections from Nehemiah. In the introduction he says, "Visioneering is the engineering of vision. If I were to boil it down to a formula, it would look something like this:
VISIONEERING = INSPIRATION + CONVICTION + ACTION + DETERMINATION + COMPLETION"
As I read through the book and considered the places where vision in my own life fell apart, I realized it was the place of "determined action." I start off with clear vision, but don't stick with it as the every-day-ness of life sinks in. Bill Hybles says that "vision sinks."
So it really hit me how Stanley highlights how Nehemiah deals with one particular opportunity for distraction. There are a couple of evil dudes in the book of Nehemiah who are trying to stop Nehemiah's effort to re-build the wall of Jerusalem. They send word to Nehemiah as he is working on the wall, asking for a meeting where they intend to kill him.
Nehemiah's response: "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down."
Here's how Stanley applies this to family vision:
"Don't allow 'good' opportunities to rob you of your family vision. When you tuck your children in at night, just whisper to yourself, 'I am doing a great work and cannot come down.' Men, when you are tempted to pick up the phone and to tell your wife that you will be home late from work (again), just look over at her picture on your credenza and whisper, "I am doing a great work, I cannot come down." Then stand up, grab your keys, and head for the car."
I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.
Family. School. Work. Ministry. Vision sinks apart from determined action to see it through to the end. And so I need this little phrase from Nehemiah: I am doing a great work and cannot come down.

I BLEW my Husband!

2007-08-25T05:16:00.001-07:00

OK, so I thought i'd share a funny little story with you all....this will be much funnier for those of you who know me. Here goes, Ed and I went in yesterday for our "new found freedom", the only freedom you can buy when you have 3 little kids under 6, you guessed it---a VASECTOMY---ahh, what sweet relief. So my poor husband, who thank God he's a willing man, got all ready ~~shaved his balls~~, did all his heavy work ahead of the weekend, and took his Valium pill, and off we went. Now, for me, this is a change and I always romanticize change, I had already thought long and hard about this permanent end in my life but in the final moments I did feel a bit like i did on my wedding day, when you sign off on that paper that says FOREVER and you know you better be right.....so,I got a little nervous.....no more sweet little newborn baby faces and toes etc, then self preservation threw me into more practical thought....like no more hours of pushing your kids through school, the neverending homework, the potty training, the sick drama, the worry.....and I quickly signed my paper. The real clencher for me is how much of yourself it takes to give them what they need, I personally am full and a little scared of what's still left on my plate--get it---I was ready.

So, I knew my husband was nervous about his "goods" being on display and cut :) (but I didn't really feel bad for long as we all know what I have been through w/ my "contributions" to this world).....the nurse calls him back and I get to go too (just to watch) :).....this doctor says, "did he get to see you have all your babies?" I reply,"yep, all 3" and he says,"then come on down!"....love my doc :)
So, Poor Ed, there he lay, staring at the ceiling trying to escape his reality---I knew how he felt, really I did, but again it was a nice flip-flop for me (therapeutically speaking, i think every couple should do this).....then the clamping and cutting and poking begins and he goes gray in the face....the procedure finishes and my "funny guy doctor" (AKA "the Pecker Wrecker") puts some gel antiseptic on the last of his sutures and smoothly says to me "just blow on this for a second cuz it kinda stings..." and me....here's where I wish I could have said s/thing clever here girls, like, "no, i'm off duty, that's your nurses job" or s/thing.......anything..........but you know where I'm going girls, mommy brain had kicked in and if you know me, you really know what happened next........

Yep, I blew on my husbands balls in front of the nurse and the doctor and my sedated husband!!!
and not once but like 3 times b/c stupid me thought his balls were stinging!!! Did you picture that b/c I get more embarrassed as time goes by........ARe you laughing or crying by now......this will go down in my LONG list of most embarrassing moments........my doctor was laughing his butt off......and I suddenly oddly felt what it must feel like when you've done a cheap porn movie or something or like you feel in that dream where you are naked in front of a room full of people....I was dying!
Well, hope that made you laugh.......i gotta go help him ice his big ol' balls! :) (I'm bad, i know)
later~

Summer Portraits

2007-08-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

My MIL made them all matching outfits--(nothing like pressure to get a picture done :)
The bright colors came out really nice!

I DID IT!!!!! So glad that's over! and I thought one child was hard! :) Enjoy!

3 Generations of Friends...

2007-08-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

My mom and her mom were best friends
JeanneAnn and I were best friends
(literally meeting at birth--cradle to grave) She is the kind of friend, like a sister, that moves hell or high water at a moment's notice to just "be there" in the midst of a crisis, or you don't talk for awhile (just b/c that's life getting busy) but then there are times when you talk every day (just b/c life slows down a bit), the kind of friends that "know" your whole story so you aren't constantly trying to explain all the background information....just "salt of the earth" good friends. I love my old friends and I hang on to them b/c you can't duplicate history, either you have it or you don't.

Thanks for coming,JeanneAnn, it was so much fun, saved in my heart forever! :)

and now, her little girl and mine, Kayden and Kynzi are keeping the generation of friendships alive...

PRICELESS...@12wks!

2007-08-06T19:19:00.001-07:00

Now, seriously, nothing else matters...just when you think you can't take another minute of all the insanity in your home and he gives you one of these...and "I melt, every time you look at me that way......." :) Hope he gave you a smile!

GirlFriends...How True!

2007-07-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Sisters > > > > > > > > A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, > > > > drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As > > > > they talked about life, about marriage, about the > > > > responsibilities of life and the obligations of > > > > adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her > > > > glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance > > > > upon her daughter. > > > > > > > > > > > > 'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling > > > > the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll > > > > be more important as you get older. No matter how > > > > much you love your husband, no matter how much you > > > > love the children you may have, you are still going > > > > to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now> > > > > > and then; do things with them.' > > > > > > > > > > 'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... > > > > your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other> > > > > > women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women> > > > > > always do.' > > > > > > > > > > What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman > > > > thought. Haven't I just gotten married? > > > > Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a > > > > married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely > > .> > my husband and the family we may start will be all I> > > > > > need to make my life worthwhile!' > > > > > > > > > > > > > > But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact > > > > with her Sisters and made more women friends each > > > > year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, > > > > she gradually came to understand that her Mom really> > > > > > knew what she was talking about. As time and nature > > > > work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,> > > > > > Sisters are the mainstays of her life. > > > > > > > > > > > > After more than 50 years of living in this world, > > > > here is what I've learned: > > > > > > > > > > > > THIS SAYS IT ALL: > > > > > > Time passes. > > > > > > Life happens. > > > > > > Distance separates. > > > > > > Children grow up. > > > > Jobs come and go. > > > > > > Love waxes and wanes. > > > > > > Men don't do what they're supposed to do. > > > > Hearts break. > > > > > > Parents die. > > > > > > Colleagues forget favors. > > > > Careers end. > > > > > > > > > > > > BUT......... > > > > > > Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how > > > > many miles are between you. A girl friend is never> > farther away > > > > than needing her can reach. > > > > > > > > > > When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you > > > > have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life > > > > will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, > > > > praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on > > > > your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the > > > > valley's end. > > > > > > > > > > Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk > > > > beside you...Or come in and carry you out. > > > > > > > > > > > > Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, > > > > daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, > > > > Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended> > > > > > family, all bless our life! > > > > > > > > > > > > The world wouldn't be the same without women, and > > > > neither would I.> > > > > > When we began this adventure called > > > > womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or > > > > > > sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we > > > > > > would need each other. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on > > > > to all the women who help make your life meaningful.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > I just did. Short and very sweet: > > > >

10% OFF at my ONLINE PARTY...

2007-07-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

You all are invited! I am hostessing a online party for http://www.atouchofwhimsy.com/ . I have told you all before how much i love this website...now i need to support my habit. Email me at kimedkayden@juno.com if you want my code to get 10% off your entire order. It's that easy!

(or comment here w/ your email and I will send you the 10% off code)

Hurry Up b/c it only runs for 2 weeks July 9- July 23 (til 9pm) Go see, you'll love her stuff and contact me to get your 10% off code!

Gotta Get This...Tiny Tea Party

2007-07-09T06:44:00.000-07:00

My Aunt got this little book for my daughter as a "big sister" present and I just have to tell everyone about this website http://www.klutz.com/ b/c my kids have been playing w/ this tiny tea set ever since (giving me lots of alone time). At first, I admit, i thought "so what's so great about a tiny tea set?" but then when you look inside--WoW! Who really has the time to make cute little stuff to eat at a tea party--not me--but w/ this they turn all your cereals into little donuts and mini-pastry platter, then a tiny cheese round into a cheese platter, and four blueberries, a few strawberry slices, and 3 mandarin orange slices into a fruit platter---my kids both think this is so much fun! If you go to the website there is so much cute stuff for birthday gifts for boys and girls! Go check it out! The book is by ChickenSocks as you see in the pic......

My Crying Baby Brx...

2007-07-07T21:36:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of Brooks crying posted in response to Jennifer at Playgroups are no Place for Children... http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.blogspot.com/2007/07/better.html...here's to all us mom's listening to this...you can almost hear it, can't you? He just started smiling and an occasional "coo" over the past two weeks...which is soooooo fun! So I will post a smile pic if i can catch him--he's not very giving yet w/ the smiles...and they are priceless! :)
What is it about trying to get a baby to smile that becomes an obsession? I spend tons of time trying to bribe a smile out of him, and so does my whole family, and we all sound like crazies talking hi-pitch and cooing at him, but then when he gives it up--well, we melt! Nothin' like those first smiles!

TAG: I am tagging anyone who reads this to post your best SMILING baby pics (even if you don't have a baby now--post an older pic)--you'll get a warm fuzzy feeling, promise!

Brx meets the family...

2007-07-07T10:34:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

They had so much fun waving Sparklers and burning those black snakes--you know all the old-school boring stuff. Then we drove 5 minutes and parked outside the baseball stadium and watched the fireworks show--I should have taken their pic watching w/their heads popped out the top of the minivan's sunroof--they thought that was the best part---so "wonder years",huh? Hope your's was nice!

love, Benjamin,Kayden, and Brooks!

"EVENING" at the Movies!

2007-07-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Went to see EVENING w/ Meryl STreep,Claire Danes,and Vanessa Redgrave.
It was so good.....I rate good movies as to whether or not i feel them...
this one lingered w/ me...i found myself continuing to wonder about certain
aspects of this film later...lots of hmmm? and what if and why's kept going
through my head. Go see it! Definitely a chick flick and you could even go see
it by yourself. Tell me what you thought?

plot: A drama exploring the romantic past and emotional present of Ann Grant and her daughters, Constance and Nina. As Ann lays dying, she remembers, and is moved to convey to her daughters, the defining moments in her life 50 years prior, when she was a young woman. Harris is the man Ann loves in the 1950s and never forgets.

Brooks, "You're Everything"...

2007-05-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Well, you all will be happy to hear that I've made it through "the Blues"--i get 'em w/ each baby for about 5 days and then i miraculously come out of it---those hormones scare me....BUT,

you all will be really happy to hear this...I have more love to give...I am totally taken w/ my newest little man! :)

So, while i was crying away the first week of little Brooks life, I sobbed through this song by Michael Buble "Everything" (playing now)---no reason why, just those hormones and my overwhelming "crazy life", anyway this song has become our song to little Brooks---we sing it to him all the time. You should hear us (all 4) singing this to Brooks as we cruise along---it will capture a memory of this time in our lives forever.

Each of my children have a song and now they both keep asking me to sing their songs that i sang to them since birth. Kayden's is "I Hope YOu Dance" by LeeAnn Womack and Benjamin's is "Close to You" by Karen Carpenter (which he still calms every time i sing it to him)....

So anyway, turn it up for little Brooks!!! Here's to you, Baby! MaMom loves you! :)

Wise Words...

2007-05-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

I just got this fwd email and thought some of these were very true...

Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two
1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you..
2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.
3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.
6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful...so true!
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.
12. Make yourself a better person and k now who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.
13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.
REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

Brooks Passed!!!!

2007-05-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

BROOKS PASSED HIS HEARING TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was holding my breath as my little guy got hooked up to the hearing machine
for his third time--he failed in his right ear twice---so today we were anxious to
see him pass and he did--Thank you, Jesus! He is completely hearing us in both
ears---Ohhhh the drama continues... :0)

A Woman Should Have......by Maya Angelou

2007-05-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

MAYA ANGELOU'S" BEST POEM EVER A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...enough money within her control to move outand rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..a youth she's content to leave behind....A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...a feeling of control over her destiny...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to fall in love without losing herself..EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to quit a job,break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that she can't change the length of her calves,the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .whom she can trust,whom she can't,and why she shouldn't take it personally...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

BROOKS EDWARD

2007-05-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

HE'S HERE!!!!
Brooks Edward was born at 2:31pm on Wednesday,May 9,2007
He has blond hair and olive skin (yeah!!)---He is just perfect!! Thank the Lord--we had a few scares w/ Downs soft markers...but he is fine and his heart sounds perfect!! My husband was sobbing b/c he was anxious to see all was allright.
The delivery went well but harder than my second---had a great epidural but felt lots more at the pushing part--it was still amazing though!
Brooks didn't pass his hearing test twice (which had me an emotional mess) and then he passed w/ his left ear, but not the right (we go back on 5/21 for another check on the right) They say very often vernix or fluids will clear and all will be fine w/i a week or so--pray for it please! I think it's just another "let's scare the crap out of a new mom" tactic, right?
My little girl broke her arm (same arm, second break in 6 mo.) she had to have a closed reduction surgery on Tuesday!! she was very upset about this and it happened the day i was coming home from hospital--fun! She is so sweet though and picked a blue cast in honor of her new baby brother (she always picks pink, of course) (that seemed to make her happy) and had me write "i'm the big sister" on the front of the cast---all her idea! :)
Then the MinMan started a stomach bug and has had diarrhea/rash and all for 4 days now!!! He is pooping as much as the newborn!!! AHHHHH!!! No more drama for the mama, please! I hope i survive all this ??
I am quickly posting, as i have no time--seriously--anymore!....you know, up all night, two other kids--i am barely treading water---but it gets better every day! Keep checking back w/ me--I will post pics of the new family ASAP---i haven't even downloaded any yet!
Thank you all so much for all your prayers and pick me up notes---i need 'em and it's fun to touch base here.

"I can't want that,MaMom"

2007-05-08T03:10:00.000-07:00

I love him so much some times, it overcomes me.
My MinMan started saying,"i can't want that,MaMom" for everything BUT icecream...how can you refuse that?
That statement just makes so much sense to me...i think that we should all start saying it as for me there are daily "i can't want that" things that pop up....like yet another OB/Gyn visit--"I can't want that, doctor"

...and if the MinMan follows it w/,"Snuggle me up, MaMom"--then we are really in a puddle of love....oh, who would have thought he would "have had me at HELLO"
I keep wondering what kind of mixed up emotions i will feel about this third little person that i get to meet tomorrow---how he will grow and weave himself into my life til there will be a day that I actually can't remember my life w/o him. Right now, today, we are still a family of 4--for us, that was never meant to be all--we are soon to be a family of 5! It's weird to think that I will never again be this person I know today and somehow I will be another mother to another life--WOW!

My MinMan has been a little clingy lately as we await his new baby brother and bring more and more baby stuff into his room that he will share--i know it's hard for him as he wonders why he can't sit in the baby swing and keeps getting yelled at...so we brought out a baby doll and put it in the swing and have been practicing being gentle etc....today he has sat on the doll, piled all his blocks on her head, and put his blanket over her head--(all his way of saying "I can't want this baby brother, MaMom")--this should be a fun adjustment,huh?

(and maybe i have been a little clingy too)and it makes me feel really bad--b/c i know he doesn't get it--so he has been getting a little more icecream from "MaMom" lately (makes sense,right?) (and MaMom gets a little more ice cream too!--no harm, it just adds more to my voluptuous ~~boobs~~ fluid-filled-feet) I think somehow i am comforting both of us...i admit i am nervous about adding another little person to give more of "what" to? (this was my biggest adjustment from one to two kids--dividing myself)--how do you find more to give? i don't know--we find that along the way--i feel spent (as the rest of us do) but somehow i know i will manage to find a way to give yet "another little piece of my heart" away, and I know this new person on his way will steal me just like his brother and sister already have...that's the fun part...the wonder...wondering what they will look like, how they will be,and what personality they will bring to our table of 5. They are a gift. I am still wondering about them all-- their futures, where will the ride takes us as one big happy family. I have learned so much already and i know there is so much more to learn on this new kind of love...a love for my child...wow, who would have thought, I would have s/thing to do with bringing 3 of my favorite people into this world.
Anyway......
I can't believe I am having my last baby tomorrow--it is truly amazing! i don't even know what to do w/ myself although i have already started the nervous tears flowing on a whim.

Think of me on Wed. 5/9/07, girls, and be thankful it's not you, right? :0)

I will post pictures, of course, and let you all know as soon as i can! YIPPEE!

10 Things Tag

2007-05-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

10 Random Things about me
tagged by Jennifer at Playgroups are no place for children (click my sidebar)

1--My biggest pet-peeve is people who have an agenda or ulterior motives (like they call you up w/ a secret favor to ask or s/thing and lay it on you after they ask if you have any plans and you say no--kind of agenda) I don't play that game--what you see is what you get

2--I graduated Salutatorian from Nursing school (which shocked even me, but i am proud of it b/c it was much harder than 4 yrs.of college and I worked really hard b/c I am passionate about nursing)

3--I have been on a Spring Break vacation to Saudi-Arabia (before 9/11)--it was an amazing trip!

4--I keep my shoes on at the OB/Gyn office during the "check-up" (and i always wonder if i should take them off or not?)--will they think bare feet in their face is rude---what is the etiquette here, anyone,anyone? and i always pretend i am not really there...seriously...i'm too cool for all that...as far as i'm concerned it just isn't happening

5--I had major jaw surgery at 20 yrs. old b/c my left condile bone never grew? They surgically broke my jaw in 6 places and wired me shut for two months--i got skinny--and actually sucked a brownie thru a straw (out of sheer desperation) (FYI: this was a medical necessity not cosmetic, the surgery not the brownie)

6--My pinky finger is dwarfed for some reason (very short and chubby but the others aren't?)--i think s/thing went wrong in my fetal development the week of fingers and jaw? (come to think of it so is my little toe)

7--My husband's wedding band is engraved inside w/ "Grow old along with me..." and mine is engraved with "...the best is yet to be" (my friend Beth sang this at our wedding) (got the rings in Saudi Arabia)

8--I met my husband at Winn-Dixie---he was the produce boy, I was a cashier---(fyi: i must clarify here that we are not losers--LOL--he has his masters now and i am a college grad :0) I am blessed to love him more today than I did when I fell in love with him!

9--I have to sleep w/ one foot out of the covers to keep my temp stable, no matter how cold it is

10--If I could change only one thing about my physical appearance it would be to have naturally tan skin--i think this would hide lots of flaws somehow

bonus: I am having my third baby tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (i hope he weighs 60#) :)

******I tag all my "go to" girls on my sidebar---let me know when you post!******

Autism speaks...5 for Fighting

2007-05-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

What kind of world do you want?
My great friend Katie's little boy,Will,has autism and she is one of many who would love your help! Please see this video done by Five for Fighting (click post title to link)
We all need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves...

This may be the easiest fund raiser you are ever asked to participate in.
All you have to do is watch a music video. You do not have to send money.
If you are inspired to act, please forward this e-mail along to anyone you
know who might be interested - it will help raise some much needed funds.

Five for Fighting & Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks created a music video of the Five for Fighting song, "World,"
which features images of children with autism and their families. It is a
truly moving video and was the work of Bill Shea. The band is generously
donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks for *each time* the video is viewed. The
funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. When you have a
moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to
your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can
help them to surpass this goal.

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/213154

i'd like to thank...anonymity

2007-05-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

First you have to go read my friend's post on this at (click on title post) and then (copy/paste this link> http://beethovenavenue.blogspot.com/2007/05/anonymity.html
then continue w/mine below...

ANONYMITY...
...this is why i hand select who i will tell that i am a secret blogger. sometimes i think, it would be fun if a bunch of my friends and other family members could connect w/me here, but then i quickly pull back into my shell. I like the fact that so few know me here b/c I can really put it all out there (so far)
--i was irritated at my sister one night b/c she told a mutual friend to go check out my blog--(i didn't tell her my link)--i don't know why,but it must be this reason that i'd rather keep it small...i don't like giving people the upper hand to form opinions about me when they are hiding their hand, so to speak...same as in weird friendships i have run into in life--like when you feel you put alot out and the other person is always soaking it up but not opening up on the other end...have you ever had a one-sided friendship that eventually dissolved or never became anything more? --blogger would be an easy place to start that-lurking, but never actually coming out of hiding.
I did think, you could set up two accounts... and s/times i do wonder what image i am putting out there,but most of you know me well enough to "read b/tw the lines"..."keep what is worth keeping and w/ a breath of understanding blow the rest away"--right?--we all have other circumstances happening in our lives that can "color" our days or our reaction at any given moment. If s/o "knows" you then they know what state of mind you are in at most junctures of your life. All in all, it is nice to be able to vent....somewhere...and if you can't here I sure hope you can someplace. Last night i heard a quote by Andy STanley re: choosing people you connect w/ in life wisely especially when you are seeking counsel in some area of your life...
"choose s/o who has nothing to lose by telling you the truth and if it be a friend, make sure they are more interested in YOU than your FRIENDSHIP"
---wow, are we ready for that? We all know who our "yes man" is, but is that what you really want in a friend? Can you handle the kick-in-the-butt or do you always want a pat-on-the-back reply? I would like to think I embrace constructive criticism and I have a handful of friends that I consider my "truth tellers" and i value that. So, I would like to think that I could get honest responses off a blog entry...from even those that don't know me--hey,why not,you have nothing to lose?

p.s.thanks for the "thinking blogger" nomination--lately i don't think my thoughts make sense d/t all my hormones, so we'll see what i can come up with :) in fact, i may just post this as my "thinking blogger" post? :) why not?
I have no one to tag w/ this meme since I am a lone blogger--haha LOL! you have all been tagged already.
oh, and on your last note about returning to paper journal blogging--my Grandpap always said,"you can think it, you can say it, but don't ever write it"---you know i've been busted here before...i am sure i will be busted again, but it is a good life lesson...b/c there is nothing worse than s/o stumbling onto a word you didn't want them to read. Am i right?

What is your Birth Order?

2007-04-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Is there any truth to the school of thought re:birth order as it colors how you relate in life? i just read yet another article on this as i am getting ready to parent a "eldest,middle,baby" (Sarah's peeps)and they offered a quiz to take (click on post title to see for yourself) to test your parenting style in r/t your birth order. I must say I have always wanted a youngest as I am the baby of 3 and now i will soon have my relative--the baby--we'll see how fun that is, right?
I, being the baby (last of 3)/with a first-born lean (coming 6 and 7 yrs after both my sisters) have always felt like everything i did big in life was "been there done that" like my graduations/wedding etc. and I have always resented that pics of me are few and far between although my sister's have lovely professional cutie pics as little girls---i am lucky to find a blurry snapshot---i have sworn inwardly to myself that this will not happen to my 3rd child (to which my mom says "we'll see..")
So, where do you all fall in your birth order and how has it shaped you?

Be where they're always glad you came...

2007-04-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

(click on post title to connect)

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

Gosh, i love this song---it takes me back to the rerun days when i'd come home from hi-school and catch these old CHEERS episodes. It's the same feeling i still get when I take a nap on Sundays and there is a golf tournament on in the background--a familiar home sound--my dad has always had golf on Sundays--i don't watch it at all, it's just a nice comfort noise to me. Anyway...
My sister stopped by the other day and sighed,plopping down on the couch, and said "i don't want anymore friends"--which i totally understand...don't you ever feel like the more people you meet, the more effort they expect from you---the old faithful friends are just easier--they know your stuff and you don't have to explain or drag out old stories and remember whens, they just know and get you---it's so nice. I call these few friends "pajama friends" b/c you could hang out in your PJ's and just BE. That's what's nice about blogging, we all can connect w/o any expectations on each other---you can relax---and do it all w/o having to get your makeup on,huh? :)
Where is your favorite place to relax? Your Cheers?

HELP! Mother's Day's coming...

2007-04-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

just venting...I have to confess, I think I would like to do away w/ Mother's Day.Why? you ask? I got"reprimanded" two yrs. ago for sending my husband to his mom's w/ the kids for Mother's Day while i went and hung out all day w/ my sisters and my mom---i thought i was doing MIL a favor (hello--her son, he's there w/her)(and i sent a very nice gift)?? and then got the "disappointed you weren't there" line??? Which was followed w/ a polite discussion about how I feel Mother's Day is about ME and my mom? is that weird? Every year I deal w/ a mother-in-law and my mom (locally)and the fact that I, in fact am a mother also to (soon to be 3) small children. (+plus my two grandmoms that are still alive)---ugh! it is such a headache day. So, this year,I have already been approached for a "tea" at 1pm reserved at a tea room 25 minutes away for me,my daughter,SisnLaw x 2 w/niece,and my MIL....you all, this is 4days after my new baby arrives...do you see what i mean (and why would the guys not be involved in their mother's day?) AHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGG! i told my SIL that I could not commit just yet (she who is graduating college and never had a baby)...I will probably be not wanting to even get up, much less dress up and take a newborn anywhere when he's 4 days old...this could start my postpartum early, i swear---could somebody tell me i'm not crazy?
Everyone seems to have a different idea about how MD should be spent?
I am one who believes that once you become a mother, then it should be whatever you really want to do that day,like spa/movie/shopping w/o your kids honoring your mom at some point in the day---is this a crazy thought? Notice, i said "your" mom, not necessarily your husbands mom---not that she's not great, but I have major conflict every mother's day and i end up not enjoying it myself--which just doesn't seem fair?Others seem to think you should spend the day w/ your kids?
I wanna know what your expectations of Mother's Day are? Please do tell?

also, HELP!!!
Does anyone have any ideas for Mother's Day presents
and a sister-n-law graduating college gift?
I have been looking everywhere for the perfect gifts and need to "check these things off my mental list" before i deliver this baby.

...and if you could come clean my house that would be great too! ;0)
Oh, i can't believe i am doing this AGAIN---i swear my face is swelling now too along w/ my Flintstone Feet! and i am not glowing--what's the deal?

Yankee or Dixie Quiz?

2007-04-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

click on blog title to take test

I am 70% (Dixie). A definitive Southern score! My friend 'shell in the city' just did this quiz link on her blog and it was fun. I've always wondered about this kind of thing as my dad is a true Southerner (SC born/raised)--he says "light bub" (not bulb) and many other coloquialisms, but my mom is a true Northerner (Pittsburgh grown)....and living in FL there seems to be lots of North effect here.
Check it out...
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/yankee_dixie_quiz.html

Do you ever wish Days like These?

2007-04-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

(click on post title to connect to youtube link)

a song can transform me into s/o else...even if just for a moment. I think that's why people love music so much--it has the power to take you away.
I was drivin' down the road the other day (in my minivan--picture me--so cool) and put this song on LOUD to drown out my kids whining,crying and for a 3minute time span--I was ME again--i lose her every once in awhile and it's nice to reconnect,you know.
I miss my girlfriends! Those days are a dream,huh?
So, "girl,put your records on, tell me your favorite song, you go ahead let your hair down...you're gonna find yourself somewhere"

Today We are all HOKIES

2007-04-20T04:43:00.000-07:00

We just got this email from VT Alumni...

PRAY FOR ALL RELATED TO CAMPUS MASSACRE.......Virginia Tech.

>Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007
>
>Words can't express our sorrow and grief for our Virginia Tech family and
>community.
>Friday April 20 has been declared a national "Orange & Maroon Effect" day,
>a day to demonstrate support for the families of those who were lost, the
>community and the university.
>
>I invite you to wear these colors on Friday, even if you're not a Hokie.
>
>Please remember the families and friends of these precious people in your
>prayers. They will need the peace and strength of God in the difficult days
>ahead.
>
>Paige Jones - VT Class of '83 - College of Education
>Steve Jones - VT Class of '84 - College of Engineering

No Stinkin' Thinkin'...

2007-04-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

My sister always quotes a friend of her's who says "No Stinkin'Thinkin'" and "Check up from the neck up?"---good thoughts!
I got this email from a friend and thought it was good...especially seeing how i posted earlier this week about 'what you put in;is what comes out' (Phil.4:8,9)

> Subject: What you say!
>
>
> THE TONGUE CAN BE OUR WORST ENEMY
>
> Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions
> in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about.
> If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job.
> If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick.
> If you keep saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen or
> just stop operating.
> If you keep saying you're broke, guess what? You'll always be broke.
> If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always
> find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
> If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed.
> If you keep saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you,
> your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
> If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you
> might end up with it.
> Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power
> packed with faith, hope, love and action.
> Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
> Watch your Thoughts, they become words.
> Watch your words, they become actions.
> Watch your actions, they become habits.
> Watch your Habits, they become character.
> Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.
> The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you
> settle for.
> Thought I would share this with you.
> "In the search for me, I discovered truth.
> In the search for truth, I discovered love.
> In the search for love, I discovered GOD.
> And in God, I have found Everything."
>
> Be Blessed
>
> Watch how your circumstances and situations begin to change when you change
> the way you speak. Pass this on to as many people as you can so they can
> change their lives, too.
>
>
> "Life is like melted butter. . .once things cool down, it can be reshaped!"

www.atouchofwhimsy.com

2007-04-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

OK, I must share my favorite gift shop...i have used this girl for the past couple of years and she is my best kept secret...i just went to her old ebay site where i originally stumbled on her and found that she has a shopping blog (see my "go to" girls list on sidebar)...she does great quality stuff! I get her notecards, teacher gifts, friends presents, baby shower, you name it---i love how easy she is to work with and she isn't very pricey. I also use her "bag tags" for my diaper bags and get tons of "where'd you get that?"
So go check her store out and get on her blogsite as she gives away lots of freebies too!
I loved my round address labels from her that i used on my Christmas cards too--they were just like the ones in my sidebar pic but w/ lights strung in the palm trees! Too cute!
You'll love her, promise!

Our "McGramma"

2007-04-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

I feel the need for s/thing lighter than VT drama...so I thought I'd share about my favorite McDonald's employee (yes,i am proud to have one)--our "McGramma"--(yes,inspired by Grey's Anatomy)... I crave egg mcmuffins at least once a week and everytime i go over early in the morning w/ my kids in the car, this same little old lady is working the register...i love her. She has the cutest little voice--i wish i could play it for you--somehow she makes my day. So, the other Saturday morning my husband was with me and her voice comes over the speaker "hello,may i take your order" and my kids say "it's, McGramma!" as I have called her in the past. Ed,once again completely confused,doesn't understand what our smiles are all about and second that we have a "person" at McDonald's--he just doesn't get it---until, that is, we pull around and he sees her and she says "two,two,two" not "$2.22" (and she sounds like a little morning bird) and my kids both are chiming in "222" over and over, and then He gets it and we all can't stop smiling! I really need to write the management and tell them how sweet she is. I seriously think if she died I would go to her funeral.
Anyways, hope that little story made you smile.

The Question Mark Kid?

2007-04-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

AKA,VT Killer,what a freak!

I had just heard about the 8-pg "invective-filled note" he left behind and wondered if anyone else had to look up some of those words? :) I did---wow,Cho,was a smarty! What a sad waste of intelligence. I bet the Lit.teacher that had referred him to counseling and police is glad she did, much to no avail, but at least she feels she did react to her own intuitions.

So, back to my new words, learned from "the Question Mark Kid" :
an "invective-filled note"--noun;
abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
"debauchery"--noun;
a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity [syn: orgy]
"deceitful charlatans"--noun;
A person who makes elaborate, fraudulent, and often voluble claims to skill or knowledge; a quack or fraud.

I know you were all wondering as well, right?

People are wondering why these school shootings are happening and I just want to say, in a society where so much violence is accepted mainstream in these kids games and movies, on TV etc. coupled w/ parents who are blissfully unaware of what their kids are doing--what do they expect? What you put in; is what comes out.
It's a scary world that our kids are growing up in. I haven't caught any interviews w/ this kids parents and i am interested in that background (i am not saying it is always a parents fault, by any means, but i just wonder how they couldn't have a clue he was so messed up or maybe they did?) gotta go, later.

oo, another new word...
brandishing--
To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly

VT Massacre

2007-04-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

My heart and prayers go out to all of these families w/casualties involved in this school shooting. I can't imagine all the heartbreak ahead for so many today. What sick kind of evil would posess s/o to do s/thing like this? My husband is a graduate of Virginia Tech and is in complete shock. Something like this could happen anywhere and it makes me hold my kids a little closer once again. God bless the people who are closest to this tragedy...so sad.

Once a Boston Marathon runner!

2007-04-16T04:34:00.000-07:00

BOSTON MARATHON is today! I posted on this recently...so i thought i'd tag a pic of my Edward running the Boston Marathon yrs. ago, but of course he is obsessed w/ it today. He said he was so glad he didn't qualify this year as a Noreaster blew in? Sarah? are you havin' fun up there? :)
His best time in the two Boston Marathons he ran were 2h36min!!
I am still proud of you,babe! You are still a runner to me :)

p.s.i didn't realize he was trying to qualify last yr by running the PBMarathon--now i know--he knows better--we have rules, like when i am hugely pregnant; he's not allowed to train--hehee! (and you all know why)

My Bluebird Baby Shower

2007-04-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

We had my baby shower for #3 and I must say--"three times is a charm"--they did this one right---by that, i mean, no phoof, I have never liked any of the cheezy games and honored guest pressure etc. just the basic essentials--cool place,small group w/best of friends (plus the very ladylike big sister,Kayden--who was so happy to be there),great food, and just what you need, and the cake finally, was a great one (a mocha chocolate creme cake--yum)! I have to laugh at this b/c I have been cursed in the baby shower cake dpt--if i could find pics i'd post b/c you'd never believe how goofy they have been, but all in all they have made for great funny memories...and this shower happened to be no different as the private cake maker cancelled as of Friday night for a Sunday shower (flu in the house)---it was a miracle that the cake got replaced but it did and was awesome! The leftovers in my fridge will be my next 5# I'm sure :)
In keeping w/ the Spring Bluebird invite etc., my sister did adorable little blue bird nests w/ chocolate blue speckled eggs inside as favors--they were so cute! It was a wonderful day! Wish you all could have come.
ThankYOu so much for all the effort and great gifts!

One Fine Day...

2007-04-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

So, everyone (up North,i guess) is jealous that i just got back from the beach...(right below this lighthouse) and we were the only ones there--so nice--i must say there are 6 reasons we Floridians love it here; they are December,January,February,March,April,and May. The rest of the year I would prefer to be where some of you are now--trust me--but at least i live on the East coast so we have a nice breeze all year.
Anyway, this has been one fine day b/c to start, I have had two relatively good nights sleep (the two nights prior I had a bed-wetter and a nightmare scare) so, I love when everyone goes to bed and stays there. So, I started this day awake and happy to snuggle w/ my 5yr.old at 630am this morning. We got to all see a big opossum walking our fence in the backyard this morning. Then a smooth out-the-door to school w/ no kinks. Then I got ready for a playdate at the beach w/ my good friend and her two yr old little guy, loaded up my new minivan (so cool),caught all the green light wave to the beach (love when that happens) and let the little men play themselves out! They fed the pelicans,watched the fish jump,picked shells,made sandcastles and I (as big as i am now) caught a crab for them to stand in awe over! We were right by the lighthouse and the drawbridge so the boys had so much fun watching the cars cross the bridge and the bridge go up and count the boats as they came through--they really had so much fun! (and all this just 5 minutes away). Then I stopped at the Burger King and got my favorite beach treat---the Cherry Limeade Slurpee---they are my favorite summer treat especially when it's hot out and the best part is it's drivethru convenience factor---if they would let me do everything thru a drivethru i think i would--wouldn't that be great! Now my little guy is wiped out and he is sound asleep and I have given myself a pat on the back b/c I have been a good mom for today anyway :0)
disclaimer: in retrospect,this all seemed to have no reflection on how my afternoon turned out :|

Are you a GOOD wife?

2007-04-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is a Good Housekeeping magazine clip from 1955....could you even imagine seeing this in a magazine today?
My mom sent this to me and my sisters this morning--LOL! Did they really do this,"seriously"?(as they say in Grey's Anatomy)..The scary thing is my mom is pretty good at this list. Just wondering what happened through the years to my sisters and I? I must be a modern women.
*note-you may have to click the picture to read it all if it's too small>

OK, when you girls stop laughing long enough to pick yourself off the floor, forward this to all the women you know so they can have a good laugh too.
Well,I am off to the beach (or maybe i should start vacuuming awaiting my husbands return from his long day--HA! :0) I think s/o should try this list out---and let me know how it goes---i wonder if Ed would want me back or trade me for a STepford wife? Hmmm?
p.s.did anyone watch Notes from the Underbelly last night? I thought it was cute--I don't really know if it can last,but it was fun to watch especially since i am pregnant? Oh,how naive we are before that first baby,huh?

Sipahhs--heard of em?

2007-04-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

This is my newest,greatest find!!!! at my favorite store WalGreens!
My daughter gave up on white milk at around age 3 since all her big cousins were only drinking chocolate milk by that point, so we started using Ovaltine and now these straws seem to have done the trick w/ her and they only have 0.5 t.sugar per each 8 oz.

The straws are unique in its use of tiny flavoured beads entrapped within the straw. A special filter at each end of the straw keeps the beads in but allows milk to be sucked through. The beads, which are made of tapioca starch, gradually dissolve and flavour each mouthful of milk.

Of course we had to test them out!

The straws can be used from either end and although they are designed for use with 300ml of dairy milk, one suspects you could easily use rice or soy milk with little problem.

The flavouring worked surprisingly well. There was a bit of refining of sucking action (suck too fast and you don't get much flavour) and then the whole thing descended into concentration of flavour via backwash (that wasn't me!).

There's no doubt it brings out the kid in everyone. As much as it is being pitched at encouraging kids to drink more milk (and each straw only has about 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar), I suspect a few more straws will disappear from the kitchen cupboard when the kids aren't looking.

go to www.sipahh.com

Puff Mommy

2007-04-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

I debated calling this one Puff Mommy as done or "Cafankles" (i'll explain). My cyber-friend over at Playgroups are no Place for Children (see sidebar) posted once about a bad case of blog topics haunting her at night and now this is me. Maybe it's b/c we are both pregnant? but it is now 330ish am and i am writing to you all---is that weird? or maybe it's b/c I can't sleep b/c I can't breathe anymore and woke up to pee (again) w/ another knifelike CharlieHorse (maybe that's a sign to name the baby?) or the sciatica down my leg...but all in all, what really is bugging me AGAIN is my weight gain (which this time i have no idea how much i weigh, seriously, i have not looked at the scale for my last 3 visits b/c it upsets me so). I named this blog "puff mommy" b/c "theyr'e back" ("they" being the "cafankles" as my OB calls them--LOL!) My friends and I call him "DR.FatFingers" b/c my favorite part about him is that first, he's bigger than me :), and second his personality/smarts--i really love this man. Anyway, to define the cafankles--they are when you're calf and ankle has no more definition. That is so sad...Yep, that's me, again. They came two days ago, at the car dealership when i pressed my finger on my ankle and made a dent--hmmph! I am now no longer a real person, I am "puff mommy". My friends seem to love laughing at how big I get when i am pregnant--i have been referred to as "Shallow Hal"--isn't that nice? I can't wait til i get to the part after baby where i am the "Incredible Shrinking Woman"! My whole body has really no defining bone structure anymore, just all kinda blends into the big bump in the middle. Girls, I don't know how much longer I can take of this. They scheduled my induction on May 10, unless i go sooner.
On a inspirational note, has anyone seen that reality series they are doing on the Gosselin family that had fertility twins and desperately wanted a third baby then ended up w/ SEXTUPLETS! Very inspiring family--you watch thinking--"if she can do it, I can!" (not have 6 but one--EZ!) I have so much respect for that lady! It was so scary watching a day in her life--OMGosh--how could you sanely survive that? and they had the nerve to take all 8 of those kids out to dinner one night--I'm embarrassed--i don't even enjoy taking my two out to dinner. It was such a great reality show though---i like the way her husband and her react to each other--very realistic for reality TV. You gotta check it out...
oh, and the saddest part was when she gave us a peek of her belly after having the 6 baby litter!!!! Somebody needs to give her a tummy tuck---i have never seen anything like that---Ed almost died and appreciated my body that much more--Thanks, Mrs.Gosselin for takin' one for the team!:)
Alright,now that i got this off my chest, I gotta waddle back to bed...and "blame it on the balls" (as Jennifer would say---HA!)
I just googled that family and they have a web where you can see pics (not of her belly--bummer--but of the family)...www.sixgosselins.com and it tells you when their series is on the Discovery Channel called Jon and Kate Plus 8! and this was said about her belly issue:

Never a dull moment for this family of 10, now that the twins are in kindergarten and the sextuplets are terribly two, life just keeps getting more exciting. Kate's stretched out post-pregnancy belly is going to get a tummy tuck, courtesy of a viewer.

I was hoping some rich person helped her out--poor girl--Good for Her!

She's My Little Runner Girl!

2007-04-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

My husband is so proud!!! Our little girl was one of four chosen to run a relay for her Kindergarten class and she was the anchor (fastest)! She must get this from her dad--my husband has run the Boston Marathon twice (which you have to have a qualifying time in previous marathons to even enter--i think that's a big deal as I have never been able to run more than a 10k w/o dying), so if you run, you know a speed marathon must be a killer. He ran it best at 2h 36minutes!!! That's pretty fast! I know i am bragging on him but we were so excited watching our little girl run that race and i saw him reflecting glory off his face. I'm sure one of my kids will take after me and be much less motivated and driven than my Ed! and i will love 'em just the same :)

NEW CAR!!!!!

2007-04-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!!!!! My first brand new car---i got it last night after 6 months of shopping--i am now officially the proud mommy of a minivan! and i never thought i would be so happy about that, but i am! This car is so great--the Honda Odyssey. I picked the color dark cherry pearl (think maroon)w/ tan leather interior (which i am still a bit nervous about it getting dirty w/ kids but I liked it best) Ed still can't believe he actually bought a minivan--he was still trying to talk me into the Pilot at the dealer (which would be great in 5 yrs) but w/ 3 babies under 5yrs old--that sliding door feature (just push a button at parent pickup and in/out they hop--yippee!) and second row w/ captain seats and seating 8 people was just too much fun for me to pass up...amazing how kids can change everything,right? Now all we need to do is take a trip! Still happy Spring Breaking--we have been outside gettin our tans on for the year all week (so we look cool in our new minivan--LOL!)and so glad we have had perfect weather!!!

Happy Easter!!

2007-04-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! This picture makes me laugh b/c my little girl, who is 5 half yrs old, says to me after sitting w/ a weird smile on the bunny's lap--"Mama,I don't think that bunny is real" I say "what?why?" she replies "because,i looked at him and he had little tiny holes in his eyes and i could see something inside him"---i fought hard not to laugh b/c she was so sincere and i told her she would have to ask her dad about that! :0) You want their childhood imaginations to last forever. So sweet!
Well, have a wonderful Spring Break!

April Fool's Birthday!!!

2007-04-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER KERYN!!!!!!!!!!!
She is our "family fool"--i say that b/c she was born on April 1st and she spends lots of time thinking up great jokes to play on all of us on her birthday every yr!! You'd think we would learn but somehow she is that good at it--she gets us where it counts too!! She must have been born w/ this gift. I remember her best prank on me was 4 yrs ago when i had just moved down to Florida from N.C. and ,while in transit driving behind my husband, I was hit by a "hit and run"! on the interstate w/ my 8mo. old baby in the backseat! I lost control of my car and literally saw my life flash before me. (that's another story but..) keeping that in mind--when we made it to Florida, we had just had all our furniture moved into a rental home on my sister's street; we were sleeping at my mom and dad's until all the rooms,flooring etc was redone and my mom and i had just put a load of laundry in at the rental and left the machine running all night when we left (this was April Fool's Eve, you follow)..my sister called me at my mom's in the morning (April 1st) and was hysterical saying "the fire dpt and cops are on her street and the new house is up in flames!!!"---i swear, I almost beat my heart through my chest and started sobbing---it had just been too much happening in my life at the time and this was believable since we had left the washing machine running...then she says "April Fools!!!"---it didn't even matter at that point--i was so shaken up that i kept crying---we laugh hard about it today, but that day--she got me good! i think my nerve's were shot! Can you imagine!?
ANyway, this ONE's for you, Keryn, you fool you! :0)
She is the most generous person i know--she would give anyone the shirt off her back, she has been through so much in her life (loss of a husband in a car accident and left w/ a broken back and several surgeries and months in the hospital w/ chronic pain and she never complains--it really amazes me!) She is an optimistic person who can always seem to find the silver lining in any situation--that's a true gift! She is such a blessing to me and always seems to be thinking of others. It makes me tear up to think we almost lost her in that accident and we are soooo thankful to God that she is still here with us laughing on April Fools Day and I have learned to never take that for granted again.
I love you,"Kerynyn"! Happy Birthday!
p.s. Keryn, hope you're having fun on Spring Break in Pennsylvania! We miss you! I almost posted on "the red bucket" memory at Corrie's for Grandpap's funeral--LOL!! Good times,huh? "Cradle to Grave"~love you! :)

How Smart are You?

2007-03-30T12:46:00.001-07:00

Picture This...

2007-03-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday went like this...
Started w/ dull backache (you know the usual pregnant stuff) so I ask/beg husband to rub back--i end up getting a whah,whah,whah rub (you know--short and sweet--still wanting more kind) so, i start my day (a lil grumpy, but i'll get over it)
Then i start peeing straight blood! (ok.something is wrong),Call the doctor--they say some women pee blood through their entire pregnancy! (what?i'm a nurse and never knew this?and i still don't think i buy it) so, they say if it gets worse or comes w/ pain while flooding yourself w/ fluids then call back...so i flood my small preggo bladder all morning. Then my husband decides since today is the only day we can both go see Honda Odyssey's that we better go (such a man,right?)(p.s.we have been looking at these mini-vans for the past 6 months i swear--this is my husband)
So, i figure i have pain meds if i need them (history of kidney stones)so I go. Half-hour into our car trip, the pain starts up and up, so i take my percocet and look at cars while a little high--that's fun right? Then, the pain starts getting worse, so i take another pain pill and tell my husband to get me home. (he still stopped at one more dealership where the guy who had been helping us was busy, so his colleague says he can't open two cars for me to see b/c they will have to split the commission!) I almost punched him (remember pregnant,kidneystone,on 2 pain meds, dragging two kids around car shopping,peeing non-stop---get the picture). I had to deliberately control myself, so we left w/o seeing the car interiors!
We get home and i was feeling alright, then all of a sudden doubled-over pain that had me curled up crying on the floor kind-of pain hit me! It lasted 20minutes, and my husband who just doesn't understand pain, just shuts the door on me to our bedroom while i'm dying?!@#%
When this episode passed i knew we had to go straight to the hospital which we did after Granny showed up to watch the kids (p.s. w/ two kids, this is considered a date-night)...we get to the hospital and they stick me 4 times digging for my veins to start the IV drip (i'm about to throw-up at this point) and Ed has his head buried in my pillow i brought saying HE thinks HE might pass-out!!! From watching! Can you believe this? Him who has never even had an IV stick!!! Whatever! Once i get to my room (jail-cell) they give me phenergan for the nausea (like a 10-beer buzz--whoa--pregnant remember) then hook me up to fetal monitors and flood me w/ IV fluids (p.s.no catheter),Ed says his little bed is actually pretty comfortable so he crashes for the night---me,i spend the rest of my night (drunk remember) unplugging my IV pole (conveniently behind a huge monitor) and unhooking all my fetal bands to go pee through a strainer while aiming for a measuring hat in the toilet (remember my big belly in the way)---Picture IT!!! I swear every 30 minutes all night! It's exhausting me just remembering it---and the worst part,i didn't even get to enjoy my buzz!---i have never been so happy to get home!! Where is my medal? Don't i get something? (he-hum,ED?)

Help Baby Names?

2007-03-29T06:17:00.001-07:00

I still haven't completely decided on my baby boy name so I thought I would ask you all what you think? Our top 3 running names now are: Carter,Charles,and Brooks...as in:

Carter Vann
Charles Vann (after both our grandfathers that passed away in this pregnancy)
Brooks Edward
Brooks Vann (or possibly Brooks Edward Vann)--this would make a 4-name moniker? How do we feel about that?hmmm

Vann is not our last name. My whole family has different votes in every direction...i think Brooks appeals to me b/c his brother is Benjamin ("the MinMan") and i just think two little boys named Brooks and Benjamin sounds cute? (but husband doesn't care for this)(but i still think i could sway him :0>)
I don't know why naming boys seems so much more difficult to me?@# but it does!
My little girl (Kayden) was set in stone and i never waivered on it once or even looked in a name book. Even when Ben(named after my dad)was born it was down to the final minutes w/ the Name Natzi at our door in the hospital before we finally picked off our narrowed list of 17 names! I swear it took me a while to recognize him as his name--isn't that sad?
Please Help or make other suggestions (if you wish) I know everyone tries to keep their names sacredly tucked away (but some of you readers I may never know)(or if you have some local great names that you can't use to offer?)
Thanks!

Funny for the Day!

2007-03-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

DISCONTINUED (low of my week)...

2007-03-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite things have been discontinued--ugh! :| Why does it always seem like if i LOVE s/thing they do away w/ it? My very favorite baby scent is the Burt's BEES BABY BEE SOLID PERFUME that now i have searched store after store and all over online only to find it is just gone! This really bugs me--have you ever smelled this stuff? You just put it on the top of their heads and behind their ears--I love it! Unless you like the "fresh from the womb" smell (as my husbands boss referred to my last baby) to which i responded "GROSS!"
He seriously, leaned in on my one week old's head, took a deep inhale and says "i love that fresh from the womb smell" (he was sincere) I didn't even know what to say? I was totally stumped--Isn't that a weird comment!? I felt oddly violated and kept smelling my baby's head to see what he was referring to??#@$* anyway...

**IF SOMEONE FINDS THIS I WILL PAY YOU TO SEND ME IT AND GIVE YOU BIG BLOG KISSES!**

My next favorite item is STILA LIP Contour Pencil no.4!!! I have two of these pencils left at one inch long--i am desperate! why would they even think of d/c this color? I can't even muster up the energy to find a substitute color. Whyyyyyyyyyy?
I have been (w/2kids mind you) to Sephora in our mall 3x in the past two months waiting for it to turn up only to find out today that they apparently have d/c it!!! Now i am possibly gonna buy it on a back alley ebay site.
Am i the only person that has this happen?

p.s. i will post later about my trip to the Easter Bunny w/ my two sick kids today! so fun!

Grape Salad--mmmm!

2007-03-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

In response to BEth's (see go to girls sidebar "mommy first..") Monday recipe post...

You will love this, i promise, and the best part is,you know me,it's EZ!

EZ Grape Salad:

2# red/green grapes (more red than green)
8 oz.cream cheese (softened)
8 oz.sour cream
1/2 c.white sugar
1 tsp.vanilla
Chopped Pecans toasted

~Mix all the above together and sprinkle w/ brown sugar!

The Min Man Strikes again...

2007-03-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

True Confessions of a Real Mom....i woke up at 930am (yes,that would be sleeping in if I hadn't been awake til 340am) this morning and husband had left at 730am...the Min Man was a free for all for 2 hours! Thankfully my friend called or I would have kept sleeping. I can't even begin to tell you all how tired i am. He has a fresh cold, and he must get hyped up on the new cold med i gave him b/c he was running around my house til 340am this morning--he NEVER went to bed--i was about to cry.
...(here is where i vaguely remember falling to sleep and trying to remember my last GOOD sleep and what it felt like--i jogged my memory back to my 20's passing out after the SteepleChase in Charlotte---oh, what i wouldn't give to sleep like that again--you truly don't know what you got til it's gone)...So at 340am i handed my duty off to Ed who had to get up w/the minman.
So this morning Ed left at 730am and didn't wake me, sooooooooo when i did wake up and frantically run my house looking for my little house arrest guest...i found him in his sister's room (of course) w/ all her makeup all over her carpet and blue nail polish all over his toes and sparkles on his whole self and a room that reaked of nail polish/poop b/c of course he also had a soaking wet poop diaper on from the night! (oh yeah, and a line of snot from his nose to mouth--you know the continual drain w/ the face smear--lovely!)
Sooooo, i call Ed and ask why he didn't wake me up from my sleep-deprived coma i was in, and he says "i did" (well if i don't remember then you didn't) and why didn't you put a safety knob on sister's door so at least the minman was contained as to what damage he could do---another example of how they always miss the chaos (see LO of the WEEK).
Moral of my story: Angels watching over us (2 hours of serious time w/ the minman)

I'm a Real Mom...(tagged)

2007-03-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

REAL MOMS. MAKING 60 LBS OF WT GAIN OK AND ACTUALLY LOSING IT!

This is my tag assignment from the Trench Master (er Mother)...In The Trenches of Mommyhood--(see "go to girl" sidebar)

~Real Moms gain 60#+ w/ each pregnancy (sorry--just trying to make myself feel better)(did you see Kate Hudson?)
~Real Moms can pop blood vessels in their eyes (and see blurry for days) after pushing out a 9#4oz baby (i didn't know this til it happened to me)(they are apparently supposed to come out your whoo-ha not your face!!LOL!!)

~Real Moms can change a nasty diaper w/ only one wipe (they didn't know they were out)
~Real Moms can nurse a baby while sitting on the toilet and throwing up in a trash can w/ a stomach bug (I know b/c I have done this)
~Real Moms will let the whole house be destroyed and picked up by 430p every day
~Real Moms will defend their child even if it is embarrassing for mom (did you see Little Miss Sunshine?) (my example:when a child-not mine-poops in some rude,rich persons pool--not that it ever happened to me :|)
~Real Moms will wear pajamas til 430p if they choose (not that I would--LOL!)
~Real Moms can deep clean her car on the side of the road if needed (see my Lo for wk)
~Real Moms wonder why they would do all this again but secretly know that it is their greatest accomplishment and the end result far outweighs all the inbetween stuff
~Real Moms can't imagine the thought of life w/o their children
~Real Moms know that looking back and merely laughing at all these memories was somehow worth living it! :)

why do i have a pic of Kate Hudson pregnant you may ask? b/c she is my role model...

Kate Hudson: I gained sixty pounds and I'm proud of it (eating ice cream sundaes and banana splits). I would eat a pint of ice cream a day literally and I think it's because I don't drink milk and it was this calcium thing. I loved them so much. It was fun. Why do I need to watch my weight when I'm pregnant? I could eat whatever I want to eat. He (Ryder) weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces and he was two weeks early. The whole family has big babies and it runs in the family. I'm OK being big. Everybody else was more worried about it than I was when I was losing the weight. All the magazines I did I weighed about 145 pounds and I'm proud of it. I had a baby. There's nothing to be ashamed of when you blow up.

p.s.have you seen her NOW? i love her! :0) signed by~a REAL mom

Are You Coming?

2007-03-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

I wish you could all come to my shower :0)
I wish you didn't live soooo far away
I wish my life could capture all my special people at the same time for once (since you were little)...wouldn't that be great...i think that's called a funeral :(
How sad that most people wait that long to see old friends.
Alrighty then, just wanted you to see how cute these were....this is actually just the favor tag (obviously can't post the invite here)...so come on down to the sunny
South!!!

Carseat closeup

2007-03-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

This pic is a closeup of my new carseat--it's blue w/ little yellow whales on it (Britax Marathon Jonah print--see sidebar)--i love it!

I WON!!!!!!!!!!

2007-03-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so I am up at 1030pm writing this (really 930p d/t spring forward time change--which i soooo love--not) anyway, I am waiting for my favorite shopping spree to come to a close at exactly 30min50sec--EBAY!--i go through little obsessions w/ EBAY--i love the thrill of jabbing my bid in last minute--i know it's so the Stay-at-home mom power-kick, and i love it! (except when i lose b/c you really feel like s/o sucker-punched you)...oh, i am bidding on a brand NWT (new w/tag,for those of you non-ebayers ;) Fleurville sling-tote diaper bag (i will post a pic and let you all know if/when I win--fingers crossed)

lalalalalalaadooododoodleEEEEdooooo!
that's me singing b/c i took ms "minibuns" down in the last bidding minute--
she didn't even see it coming--sorry , i know that's mean, but i did win!!!
isn't it a great boy diaper bag, now i gotta get a cute "bag tag" or name
him first (i guess that would help, huh)

LOW of the WEEK!

2007-03-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

Here's my story....my LOW of the WEEK was so not fun....we just went today to my nephew Parker's 2nd birthday party at the park all day and my kids played,ate,and drank too much...then when we got in the car to leave,5 minutes down the road(why not at the park w/ all the grass!?grrr),the MinMan (my 2yr old) no warning suddenly(always how it happens) starts projectile vomiting BLUE frosted Thomas the Tank Engine cupcakes (apparently he ate lots of BLUE frosting)...I quickly emptied a full wipes box and tried to "catch" what i could (remember i'm pregnant w/heightened sense of smell and leaning over the front seat w/ my big belly--got the visual pic) yelling for Ed to "PULL OVER!!!" (poor ED had just detailed my car yesterday--yah)...we peel the screaming MinMan out of the car and I must say I was as prepared as one could be...thanks to my older sister's best piece of advice ever--you ready-- "always keep a gallon of water in the back of your car and a towel when you have little kids and Baby soap"-- (i would add a trash bag to that-living and learning)Now I truly know why...i do use all of this whenever we hit the beach to give a quick shower so the little people can crash on the way home, but anyway, I have never been so happy to have those 3 items in my car--believe me--i don't know what we would have done--it was soooo gross! Meanwhile as I am scrubbing carseat down on the roadside, my sweet little girl keeps asking me "Mama,how do you spell Benjamin?"--5seconds b/tween each letter--"how do you spell sick" as she journals in her notebook---then holds up a "Benjamin is sick" note through the window at me--"thanks,sweetpea!"--i was about to laugh/cry--aaahhhh! We had to take the whole carseat apart and lucky we had a clean liner underneath to put MinMan (all clean and happy now!)in a fresh diaper wrapped in a towel in his carseat and finish the trip home. After Ed and I scrubbed what we could down w/ wipes (100+ to be exact), we both crawled into the car and I had to laugh--why--you ask? well, b/c husbands conveniently always seem to miss these such "occasions" and wonder why we call them yelling while they sit at work and say "babe,what do you want me to do?"....by the way,Ed said he couldn't wait to get back to work tomorrow (i knew my job was harder--LOL! so glad he got to see for himself). I'll catch you all up on my HI later--it's been one of those weeks...the HI just isn't here yet?!
EBAY update--7min40seconds--what a rush--this can't be good for my pregnancy!...waiting for my last minute ebay bid dig!

Happy Birthday,Beth

2007-03-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite quote in respect to friendship...

"Oh the comfort the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person.Having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words but pouring all right out just as they are chaff and grain together certain that a faithful friendly hand will take and sift them keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of understanding blow the rest away."~George Eliot

I wrote this to my friend Beth (mommy first-designer born) last year in a card on her birthday! It is rare to find someone who understands you and truly accepts you through all your ups and downs just where you are and lets you just be you...a friend who doesn't let a bad day define you, or keep score w/you, or always compete w/ you (we all know those people) But,Beth is this quoted person to me...a kindred spirit...a true blessing in my life. We have now been friends for almost 15 years and have seen each other through when to now and who would have thought since we now laugh about not even liking one another at first--isn't life funny like that!
Last year today her husband surprised her w/me coming to Idaho from Florida (thanks again,Jake!:)some of my best times are with her and I always miss her(it was like a present for me) What fun memories--we could do absolutely nothing and have fun! love, Kim
Wishing you all the best today,Beth!

my TRUE COMPANION--our first dance

2007-03-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Stephanie I found www.bestaudiocodes.com to pimp out my page w/ music and found my wedding song (hear it? turn up your volume)
Here's the story behind this song....7 yrs. ago on a Wednesday night, while I was in nursing school and Edward was getting his master's--he drove 2hours and rang my doorbell...when I answered (very surprised to see him on a "school nite") he had this song playing (on a boom-box,of course then) and simply asked me to dance w/him...right there on the front porch w/a bunch of candles he had lit...so we did and then he got down on one knee and popped the question...and that was the beginning of the rest of my life...what a great story,huh? I can take myself right back to that moment and it always makes me smile. Now,this story gets better and better as my little girl is grinning sitting here on my lap making me play this song again and again as she listens to how her daddy made me his bride and she dreams of being a bride one day herself...you gotta have a love story.
p.s.and the best part is i still love him to death (even more than i did that day)

We had his wedding band engraved w/ "Grow old along w/me..." and
mine is engraved "...the best is yet to be" (which Beth sang at our wedding)
We always said that we would be at our best when we were 90yrs.old sitting on our front porch sipping sweet tea and looking back on all our lives had become together.
So this is the song we did our wedding first dance to pictured above.
Everyone's got a story,so what's your story,please share and spread the love. =0)
Here's to us,Edward,I love you!

Summer Wear

2007-03-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

.....OR.....
Since it might as well be summer already here in S.FLA.,(i swear we never even had a week of jeans weather--seriously)I am already doing summer shopping for my kids. Kayden will be 6 and she has hit that stage where there isn't much cute stuff for little girls anymore? (can't do all the trashy slutty girl stuff that seems to be everywhere now).Anyway, I got my Garnet Hill catalog and they have so much (too much to list)I want to get for her,including the Hadley Pollet little girl's headband that i pictured in my sidebar--these headbands have saved me soooooo much time getting her ready and she loves them b/c she can do her hair herself (less work for me)! The hard bands tend to hurt her head, but these kind she looks so cute in. Since i am having a new baby in May,we are going the EZ clothes route (i.e.any item that needs no help from me and matches) which will include tank dresses (pictured) and our uniform summer REEF flip flops.
I am debating b/t the tennishoes--I love the pink converse but just came across the classic Tretorns (that i wore as a kid)? What do you think? (plus to the converse is i wouldn't even have to help tie them--big plus) :)
You gotta go see for yourself at www.garnethill.com --tons of cute stuff (for boys too)! Their slippers are so cute but we just don't have much use for them here in the heat.

Sara Evans--You'll Always Be My Baby

2007-03-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

I was listening to this in my car sitting in parent pick-up (again)
What a great song! I hope I can be this kind of parent.
I don't know if any of you watch Friday Night Lights on Wednesday
but, I think they have some great dialogue as the parent of their
15yr. old daughter on the show. I never know what life will bring, but
I hope no matter what my little girl always feels loved by me.

In the sunlight or the rain
Brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way
Whatever road you may be on
Know you're never too far-gone
My love is there wherever you may be
Just remember that you'll always be my baby

What's w/me and Tiny Balls?

2007-03-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

OK,"tiny ball candy,that is" (not my Edward, girls-LOL!)--here i go again--just got back from another dangerous trip to the grocery store and apparently I am craving tiny, circle candies. I just got Skittles Bubble Gum (like 5 boxes--plus my kids love these too), then Sweet Tart chewy tiny balls (had to have 'em) and my new favorite is the York Mints in a tin (OMG--they are so yummy xcept they are gone really fast--but they look cute too--you gotta try em).
Allright, that's me for today--i had so much fun b/c Ed stayed home sick (aka--babysitter for the day, poor Ed, i know)

The HIs and LOWs of ME

2007-02-26T07:59:00.000-08:00

Did you catch my "low for the week" sidebar? yeah--7#up again in one month!!!! This is my third time through this and I still am amazed at How does my body do this--i already did a 10#up/1mo. this pregnancy? Do you know how depressing this is? (or my other low--walking down a mirrored hallway at the mall--whew--could my butt really be THAT big!) This stage can really start to get me down...I sighed to my sister the other day whilst talking on my cell-phone in the never-ending pick-up line at school,"I just wish I were ME again"...what i mean is pregnancy is another one of those "out of body" experiences for me, like when i go to the GYN doc and pretend I am somewhere else---this is how i cope! I am really tired of this pregnancy weight-gain and I swear I can't stop eating to save my life--i think the more i think about it, the more i eat---aaaaaaaahhh! I wish I could just disappear until it's all over--I still have two more months of this! She laughingly suggested I need to just blow it off and should hostess a raffle for whoever can guess what my final wt. will be? Anyone in? Wait, I am remembering how my friends "raffled" me on my wedding day--haha--really no hard feelings :0)
My loving sister topped this conversation off with "i think your voice has changed"--you know, the fat voice/laugh--GREAT! i swear if there is one thing our men need to thank us for it's this whole baby-makin' thing.
On a happy note,(my "HIGH" for the week) we (mom and sisters)did go the the PGA Spa (you must go here if you ever visit) yesterday and got there at 930am and stayed til 330pm just doing treatments and lounging at the pool and eating (well I was--they were detoxing--whatever)My sister Keryn and I were pigging out on roast beef pinwheels w/ herb cheese and strawberry relish--mmm--they were so yummy! while Kris and my mom were eating only fruit and water for the day and remembering when "they used to eat"...i say again,whatever!(I swear,combined they weigh less than me right now) I did the pregnancy neck/shoulder/low back massage--it was sooooo great to lay on my stomach on that pregnancy horseshoe pillow--ahhhhhhh! that alone was worth it all. My sisters were crazily doing like 3 treatments each and having a great time til we left and the bill was WAHOO! Girls just wanna have fun, right! and we did! Then we went to CityPlace (DT west PalmBeach) and watched "Because I said So" with my mom (about a mom and her 3 girls,how appropo)---very cute movie! I love Diane Keaton.

A Little bit of Hangin'

2007-02-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

A Little Bit of Hangin'
by Max Lucado
from God Came Near

"Lord…let me know how fleeting my life is!" Ps.39:4

Abraham Lincoln once listened to the pleas of the mother of a soldier who'd been sentenced to hang for treason. She begged the president to grant a pardon. Lincoln agreed. Yet, he's reported to have left the lady with the following words: "Still, I wish we could teach him a lesson. I wish we could give him just a little bit of hangin'"

I think I know what the old rail-splitter had in mind. Yesterday, I got a little bit of hangin'.

We were having Sunday lunch at home of a fellow missionary family. It was after the meal, and I was in the kitchen while Denalyn and our friends, Paul and Debbie, were talking in the living room. Their three-year-old daughter Beth Ann was playing with our two-year-old Jenna in the front yard. All of a sudden Beth Ann rushed in with a look of panic on her face. "Jenna is in the pool!"

Paul was the first to arrive at the poolside. He went straight into the water. Denalyn was next to arrive. By the time I arrived, Paul had lifted her up out of the water to the extended hands of her mother. Jenna was simultaneously choking, crying and coughing. She vomited a bellyful of water. I held her as she cried. Denalyn began to weep. I began to sweat.

For the rest of the day I couldn't hold her enough, nor could we thank little Beth Ann enough (we took her out for ice cream). I still can't thank God enough.

It was only a matter of minutes, maybe seconds. We almost lost her. The thought was numbing and convicting.

It was a little bit of hangin'.

The stool was kicked out from under my feet and the rope jerked around my neck just long enough to remind me of what really matters. It was a divine slap, a gracious knock on the head, a severe mercy. Because of it I came face to face with one of the underground's slyest agents - the agent of familiarity.
His commission from the black throne room is clear, and fatal: "Take nothing from your victim; cause him only to take everything for granted."

He'd been on my trail for years and I never knew it. But I know it now. I've come to recognize his tactics and detect his presence. And I'm doing my best to keep him out. His aim is deadly. His goal is nothing less than to take what is most precious to us and make it appear most common.

To say that this agent of familiarity breeds contempt is to let him off easy. Contempt is just one of his offspring. He also sires broken hearts, wasted hours, and an insatiable desire for more. He's an expert in robbing the sparkle and replacing it with the drab. He invented the yawn and put the hum in humdrum. And his strategy is deceptive.

He won't steal your salvation; he'll just make you forget what it was like to be lost. You'll grow accustomed to prayer and thereby not pray. Worship will become commonplace and study optional. With the passing of time he'll infiltrate your heart with boredom and cover the cross with dust so you'll be "safely" out of reach of change. Score one for the agent of familiarity.

Nor will he steal your home from you; he'll do something far worse. He'll paint it with a familiar coat of drabness.

He'll replace evening gowns with bathrobes, nights on the town with evenings in the recliner, and romance with routine. He'll scatter the dust of yesterday over the wedding pictures in the hallway until they become a memory of another couple in another time.

He won't take your children, he'll just make you too busy to notice them. His whispers to procrastinate are seductive. There is always next summer to coach the team, next month to go to the lake, and next week to teach Johnny how to pray. He'll make you forget that the faces around your table will soon be at tables of their own. Hence, books will go unread, games will go unplayed, hearts will go unnurtured, and opportunities will go ignored. All because the poison of the ordinary has deadened your senses to the magic of the moment.
Before you know it, the little face that brought tears to your eyes in the delivery room has become- perish the thought- common. A common kid sitting in the back seat of your van as you whiz down the fast lane of life. Unless something changes, unless someone wakes you up, that common will become a common stranger.

A little bit of hangin' might do us all some good.

On a shelf above my desk is a picture of two little girls. They're holding hands and standing in front of a swimming pool, the same pool from which the younger of the two had been pulled only minutes before. I put the picture where I can see it daily so I would remember what God doesn’t want my to forget.
And you can bet this time I'm going to remember. I don't want any more hangin'. Not even a little bit

The end. It's me again, I posted this b/c it has come to my mind often lately, it seems that we have all had "a lil'bit o hangin'" lately. I love Max Lucado's delivery...his website posted on my sidebar. My dad started reading this piece every year for Thanksgiving and we all still cry every time he does b/c we all know how easy it is to take those you love for granted. Hang in there!

Happy 40th Birthday, KRIS!!!!

2007-02-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

My Big Sister (although she is very little) is the BIG 4-0 today! I feel like I should burst out in song,"Through the years..." from babysitting me as a child to babysistering me as an adult. I can't believe it either, I guess we will all get there someday (if we aren't already). I am so lucky to have her--she is amazing--I actually have had people tell me they wish she was their big sister...mostly b/c she goes out of her way to think of things she can do to help me out all the time...like she'll just show up and take my kids for a drive so I can do grocery shopping or take a nap...she remembers being in the "little kids stage" and thank God for me. I know I am spoiled. She does the big sister job very well! :0) She has always been a role model for me and has had a very successful life to show for it--3 amazing boys and a wonderful husband--a true "life of love". She has laughed w/me, cried w/me, made so many dinners for me, and most of all spent numerous hours just being THERE for me. We have shared kidney stones,stomach flues,family vacations,an unforgettable trip to Saudi Arabia,haircuts (remember the infamous "Friends" cut--we thought we'd look like Jen Aniston--we didn't!),heartbreaks,and moments of laughter til it hurt. She actually took a 12hour road trip at 8 months pregnant to see me graduate from college!! That's huge (and she was too,then)I can only now appreciate the effort =0) She is a heartfelt listener,wise counselor, loyal friend,and I am so lucky to have her! I am sure she will have much more advice to give me when I turn 40 and frankly I can't wait to hear it. Some people don't like their sisters; I can't imagine my life w/o them.
We had a big (all the family) party for her yesterday. My mom made her cake and along w/ it came a very funny story...when Kris turned 1, my mom had made her a white birthday cake w/ white 7-minute frosting and wanted it to be perfect (we can relate,can't we?) anyway, it was too flat and my mom wanted it higher so she (in her words) being "21,young&dumb", and pregnant w/ my middle sister, and not the best cook, decided to just stuff the middle of the cake w/ jelly beans and thus "Kristine's jelly bean cake" which my Grandmother (mom's MIL) thought was a mess. But what a memory years later! I love stories like that. We never heard the story and in her one year pics you couldn't even tell--we cracked up over this, picturing my mom! So we had a "jelly bean cake" for Kris'40th which i am sure she will never forget--she even got 40 little blue candles on it, just like the one she had on her first birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTINE ADAIRE! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! p.s.for all this my little girl is named after her, Kayden Adaire =0)
*See her 5 Rules to a Happy Life posted on my sidebar*
(she really does try to live by these)
oh yeah p.s.s.this is your card...Hugs!Love, forever your little sister :) See you at the Spa!

2007-02-19T04:49:00.000-08:00

more pics of Kris
1st-4th of July,2nd-Saudi Sisters
3rd-the"jelly bean cake" :0),4th-trip to KSA

Intracardiac Echogenic Focus (ICEF)???what?

2007-02-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

This is a Ultrasound(US)Picture taken of our little boy due in a couple months. YOu can see his face and arm if you know what to look for? :0)
Anyway,we had opted to test out of all the xtra testings for Down Syndrome etc.b/c I have known too many people who have ended up carrying unnecessary worry through a completely healthy pregnancy and I have no intentions of abortion even w/ a DS child--I can think of 4 people in just my circle off hand who had scares that turned out to be nothing (xcept that they stressed throughout the rest of their pregnancies).
So now I guess it's my turn to walk down this dreadful road...I have had 3 Ultrasounds that were perfect xcept for the baby not turning on his side to allow better pics of his heart, so I then was referred to a perinatologist that specializes in problems (i guess) and they have the technology to take more detailed pics....so yesterday we drove an hour to them to try again for some good pics of this little "guyontheways" heart--i had been assured many times not to worry b/c it was just a matter of positioning--so i didn't worry at all.
After a detailed one hour (not kidding) US and the techs not saying a word--i started obviously worrying. Then they send me in to speak w/ the neonatologist who simply states,"there is a bright spot on your babies heart called and intracardiac echogenic focus (ICEF)..." WhaT?????? (suddenly he was Charlie Brown's teacher and i never understood anything else he had to say) so i asked,"what does this mean?" and he tells me (just what i had avoided all this time), "this is a Down's marker and doubles your age-factor risks of this baby being DS,so I will pass this on to your OB and they will speak w/you re:genetic counseling etc--blah-blah--have a nice day!"
OK, so what the heck just happened? Thank God my husband made it to the appt w/me or i wouldn't have made it home....i have been crying ever since...and I don't really care what they have to say now that the worry is there,I am stressed and will be until my little guy is here.
We spent last night researching this ICEF and I found an essay that a OB doc had written in an OB Journal after coming across a DS"marker" in an otherwise healthy pregnancy...this rang true with me....i will attach some of it here...

"Tomorrow when I return to work the odds are I will have to speak to a mother-to-be about an “abnormality” that I see on her sonogram and I won’t know what to tell her. I am talking about “abnormal” findings on her sonogram which loosely fit under the general heading of “Down syndrome markers” (some are actually better as markers of other trisomy syndromes). I am not referring to atrio-ventricular canal or duodenal atresia. These are strong indicators that the Down syndrome may be present. But Down syndrome or not, the fetus still has a serious anomaly and the detection of that anomaly is a benefit. What I am afraid to encounter tomorrow is an “abnormality” which is not really abnormal: choroid plexus cysts (3-31), echogenic intracardiac foci (32-36), mild pyelectasis (37-41), and echogenic bowel (42-45) . If her fetus has one of these “abnormalities” but doesn’t have the Down syndrome, then her fetus is normal. ...But then investigators (with the best of intentions, I am certain) appear to have taken a misstep. These findings when seen in a woman with a low risk of having a Down syndrome fetus were used to upgrade her risk (40, 77). The consumers of this information, the physicians in the trenches, read these scientific papers and then identify these “abnormalities” during a routine sonogram. What are they to tell the patient? This woman hasn’t already been counseled. She is having a sonogram for “reassurance” (forget that now). Her husband, children and parents are with her. There is a party atmosphere. The videotape is rolling. Soon the giggling and finger pointing at the screen will cease. The questions will change abruptly from “is that the heartbeat?” or “is that the penis there?” to “are you saying that my child is going to be mentally retarded?”

Without doubt you have now added cost to the management of that pregnancy. The patient may choose to undergo amniocentesis. She may be referred to a prenatal diagnostic center for a detailed fetal sonogram and genetic counseling. The innumerable hours of counseling by primary care givers and general sonologists to explain the “meaning” of this finding are not counted in these additional costs (78). Nor are the heartaches of the parents-to-be counted in this cost analysis. If they forego the amniocentesis (clearly the correct choice, in my opinion) then they must live with residual doubt for the remainder of the pregnancy. Does my fetus have the Down syndrome? Maybe I should have had the amniocentesis. The enjoyment of the anticipation of the birth of their son or daughter is now replaced with anxiety.

Well you say, look at all the good these findings have accomplished. Some bad must go along with all that good. Possibly I am the exception (I doubt it), but I don’t see “all the good”. I am a simple-minded physician. I like it when a sonographic finding passes the “Thank God Test”. The Thank God Test is passed when I say to myself “thank God” for that finding. If I hadn’t seen it I would have completely missed this devastating abnormality. I have no instance in my recollection where one or the other of these abnormalities was the sole reason I was able to recognize a fetus with the Down syndrome in a low risk patient. (This presumes, of course, that a reasonably careful sonogram following the AIUM guidelines has been performed.) Obviously someone has had such an experience: just not me. From my vantage point the identification of these “abnormalities” in low risk women has crossed the line of “more harm than good”.For the tiny residual number of Down syndrome fetuses that may potentially come to light by chasing down every last “marker” we intend to put at least 10% of all pregnant women with perfectly normal fetuses through a great deal of worry.

So then, what should I do tomorrow? Should I have the courage of my convictions and simply ignore these features? I wish I had that courage, but I don’t. Even with my considerable “clout” in the world of obstetrical sonography, I cannot unilaterally ignore the sonographic medical literature. That is not how American medicine works.

I am confident that I am not alone in my concerns regarding this issue. I further believe that the authors who did this excellent research in the “high risk” population are becoming aware that these features are not proving as beneficial in the “low risk” population as they had hoped. It is time for the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine or the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to convene a panel of experts to analyze the data on this issue and publish a position paper on the practicality of employing Down syndrome “markers” in low risk women at the soonest possible date."

So, here is where I ask you to first please keep us in your prayers as I am now the worried mother, and second that if anyone reading this has had a similar experience or word of encouragement I would love a comment. Thanks. Hangin'in there....Ps 139:16

AWANA campout

2007-02-10T06:15:00.000-08:00

So husband left with my little girl this morning on her first campout. It is a good man/father who will volunteer to go hang out with 80-100 kids at a park for a campout--yikes! (another on my list of thankfuls,Beth) He is a great man! I love to watch their father/daughter relationship grow b/c he tries so hard and does it so well. He loves his little girl. I advise his younger sister (not married yet) to marry for character (what one does when no one's watching) and s/o who adores you--the move mountains for you kind... Anyway, Kayden was so excited--I can't wait to hear how much fun she had.

They got back late and she was so dirty and wasted tired! (which means fun been had)
She was falling asleep telling me all about her scavenger hunt,campfire songs, smores,showing me her "marshmallow shooter" made out of PVC pipe (cool toy),and the speaker that told an Indian story while the bushes were rustling and how scared she was! It was so sweet to watch her face light up about how much fun they had. There is great reward I believe for people who invest in children. Thanks to all the adults that made this happen this weekend! The kids will never forget it! Ed had fun too as the weather was a PERFECT 73 high and sunny! He was in charge of some games and played double dutch with some little girls that he says "were amazing"--just picture Ed--LOL!
Me and MinMan had a fun little date day too just hangin' out here at the house! Truth is I missed them--one of those long days, you know :0)
Alright, Goodnight!

Easter Centerpiece

2007-02-09T18:02:00.000-08:00

Yes,Easter--can you believe it already?
Thought this was such a cute centerpiece for Easter/Spring or just seperate nests around the house--I love the blue glass eggs...I just might have to get these

Taco Lasagna

2007-02-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

I gotta share this with someone! I kinda made this up the other day since I have been craving mexican food...i know there are mexican lasagnas out there etc. but i like really EZ to make food so i did this on my own and it came out sooooo yummy!

*Brown just over 1# lean ground beef and mix in pkt.taco seasoning as per directions
*Layer the bottom of a 9x13 pan (sprayed) with small soft tacos (pie-sliced 6x with a pizza cutter-making triangle pieces--i did get this tip somewhere) Just cover the bottom of pan with the soft taco pieces.
*Layer next your meat then soft taco pieces
*Layer one can of refried beans--just spread all over
*Cover the bean layer with a bag of Mexican Cheese
*Then layer soft taco pieces and leftover cheese and some drizzled picante sauce
*Now cover tight with tin-foil and bake 350x20minutes
--Serve with salad and margaritas! (unless you're pregnant like me ;)

My husband and kids LOVED this! and it was just too easy
p.s. please send me any really Easy Recipes you may have (i will try anything if it's easy)...and if you happen to try this--let me know what you think?
Have a great weekend!

p.s. thankyou shelli for that smoothie recipe a while back--i am now a smoothie machine! and my kids love em too!

Here SHE is, the USS New York...

2007-02-08T04:52:00.000-08:00

Pretty neat!! I thought you guys would be encouraged by this event. Talk
about something good rising from the ashes of disaster.

Thought this was too fantastic to not share. pretty amazing...

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that
include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360
sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters
and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA
to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept.
9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,"
recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment
for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center
steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck
stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They
knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."

The ship's motto? "Never Forget"
Please keep this going so everyone can see what we are made of in this
country!

$100 Giveaway! Just Comment!

2007-02-07T06:26:00.001-08:00

A long-time friend, college roommate of mine over at Seersucker Stories, www.ichooseseersucker.blogspot.com is trying to get 100 comments in honor of her daughter's 100th day of school tomorrow! She is also going to randomly pull 2 names from those who comment for a $100 give away toward her new spring 2007 line at PreppyPotato.com (belts,totes,headbands,etc). Go comment!!! Good Luck 'NifFer! =0)

"Snuggle,Ma-mom"

2007-02-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

This is Benjamin waiting on me
to snuggle this morning...

So it has been overcast and drizzly for the past 3days--sigh--cold, but not like you northerners, but cold for us here in Florida. I kinda like it b/c we don't get cool often enough. Anyway,this morning starts like any other...we race around getting Kayden off to school and Ed off to work and then my little Benjamin (aka "my Min Man")starts following me around carrying his *taggie (aka 'tag'as i don't do baby words ever),his pacifier (aka 'pass') upside down as always,his lion tag, and his big blue blanket---he waddles around with all of this wherever i go saying quietly,"snuggle,ma-mom" and he waits---until i do---he melts me every time. To be loved like this--what a gift. I remember (before he was born) anyone i knew who had little boys telling me "they love there moms" and they do! My little girl was always kind of a touch-me-not from birth...she seemed to say with every cry "put me in my crib and leave me alone" and nod off to sleep while Benjamin has been complete opposite. Every night he tries at least once or twice to pitter-patter fast as lightning down the hall from his room to his sister's to snuggle with her and she always yells out "Mooooom! Benjamin won't let me go to sleep" and we carry him off. I just love him to death. Have a great day! I'm gonna go snuggle before he gets too big and he doesn't want to anymore =0)

http://luchalee.wordpress.com

2007-02-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

...so I got Sarah's "go-to" email on this titled blog...and cried my eyes out of course w/ lots of upset over the cut-up baby. It has lingered with me for the past couple of days (especially being pregnant and all). I can't make sense of it same way many other lives I have known have left me asking the big "WHY?"
I read 'most every entry and was very sad and empty feeling at the end,
but mostly b/c I didn't see any reference to this family's faith? (not at all to take away from the obvious sadness there) This is when whether you have any faith or not should become very evident,right? It's sad that so many out there don't believe in anything. WhY? Do you really think this is it? You live, suffer, die and then what? All for what? That is really depressing.
I don't push my opinions and often would prefer to keep my deeper self off of blogger.com, but in my attempt to make sense of this sad story, here goes...

I desperately HAVE TO believe my God has so much for us and carries us through anything He allows to pass through his fingers over us. I believe He is always in control through good and bad in our lives. There must be a promise and truth to "a peace that passes all understanding" or you would never survive these circumstances. Have you ever felt that and know that there is a truth to "yea,tho i walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..." ? (Let that sink in a minute) This verse came to life for me when my bro-n-law was killed in a car accident 3 yrs. ago(even tho i had heard it many times before--i never really 'got it' until that day). I remember thinking for the first time that the verse made sense--can't explain it but it did. It was shocking--Our family had just spent the week at a cabin on vacation and he was killed on the drive home--we hadn't even developed all our pictures of him yet--that's hard to wrap your brain around...I clutched onto my husband that night like i never had before and mourned for my sister's loss. I believe life is precious and fragile.
We all have heartbreaking stories that have brushed by us or happened to us. God does give His grace specifically to those in need I have heard and I have felt...so your testimony should make others say "wow". Tell somebody about the mini miracles and blessings we tend to often overlook. I have heard testimonies of people who have suffered great tragedies and they have described it as their greatest gift. That it changed the way they live their life. They are often people who live, i mean really live in the present and make every minute count for something. Their perspective seems to completely change on to what really matters here.
I read these such stories and start wondering (as many do) "what/when is it gonna be for me?"..."when am i gonna suffer through cancer? when's my dad/mom gonna die? when's my child gonna get some freak disease?" You could go crazy with all the uncertainty here. Your mind can be your worst enemy. I believe you have the power to choose what you think about;even in the worst of circumstances.
When you are pressed, whatever you have chosen to base your life upon, will come out. When my sister Keryn lost her husband Wes in that car accident that i would never wish anyone to go through--we felt a peace--there were (come to find out)people in the trauma center praying through that night as we all sat wondering if she would live and we felt it--"peace that passes understanding". I believe in prayer.
Watching her tell little Wesley (only 5yrs.old) that his daddy was gone...you felt as if you were watching s/o else's life, like this couldn't be really happening to us. I am not trying to make light and easy of any of it, but it wasn't like you thought it would be. It is her story now to share and comfort others through similar situations (maybe that's why--i don't know?)
We can't prepare for what lies in store for any of us, but i pray that my foundation is one with HOPE where I know we will have answers some day--maybe not this side of heaven, but He promises that "we will know as we are fully known". I believe WEs is in heaven and he now knows why....
My cousin whose little girl is 4yrs. old (with Down's Syndrome) going through chemo w/ all it's horrible side effects sickens me--to think if it were my child is unbearable---I personally HAVE TO BELIEVE in Christ's undying love for me and the gift of being able to grieve with hope or I would worry my life away--seriously...I could get lost thinking,"what then is the point of all this here?" The older I get the more tragedy I see and the greater I must believe...He promises me "plans of good and not evil, to give me hope and a future" (Jer.29:11) If you believe that, then really believe it. I do.
Sorry I went on and on about this but this blog was very upsetting and I just wish all people knew that they would see each other again one day in heaven and that there is a home that He prepares for us. I wish this family could grieve with hope b/c it is a different kind of grief. I know not everyone believes this but it is what sustains me. He "knows my name and knit me together in my mother's womb and counted every hair on my head". I believe He loves ME.
Sorry for sounding preachy here and I have gone on too long obviously...if you read this (titled) blog you will see why it provokes deep thought...... What do you really believe? If your world came crashing down tomorrow (and it could to any of us), How do you cope? Who/What is your "go to" power? What do you think would sustain you?

the Pink Room

2007-02-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

OK--so I finally found exactly what I wanted for my little girl,Kayden's, room!!! The Worth Quilt by Lilly Pulitzer--Yeah! It only took me a year--seriously--nothing was really grabbing me. Since I found out we are having another boy,I knew there would be nothing needed as far as their room goes as I already did all the matching crib/twin accessories, and i am over blue so it was fun to pink out. I was a little bummed that my little girl wouldn't have a sister (and so was she) so we have had fun redoing her room! Now I am just waiting on the valance to arrive and we will be complete with bedskirt/valance/sham/twin and some throw pillows with lots of palm tree accents---I just love her room now---you really do relive your childhood especially with the girls! I love the story behind Lilly Pulitzer and remember as kids I just thought everyone wore bright colors and Jack Roger sandals until i went away to college and felt very out of place--yikes! But down here it is year round style in Palm Beach. I especially love the Worth Avenue prints as it has always been a fairytale dream world to walk over there.
I love this history behind Lilly Pulitzer...

Lilly, a young, sassy New York socialite had eloped with Peter Pulitzer, grandson of the Pulitzer Prize's Joseph Pulitzer and settled in Palm Beach. Peter owned several Florida citrus groves, but Lilly needed a project of her own. So in 1960, with Peter's produce, she opened a juice stand in Palm Beach. Lilly Pulitzer's business was a hit, but making juice made a mess of her clothes. Lilly needed a juice stand uniform, and asked her dressmaker to design a dress that would camouflage the stains. The result? A comfortable sleeveless shift made of bright, colorful printed cotton - pink, green, yellow and orange. It was perfect for the job and became Lilly's first Classic Shift. Today, Lilly Pulitzer has evolved into a clothing and luxury linen designer.

What I Crave...

2007-02-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about these doughnuts, they are so yum with a cold glass of milk, and i have a serious thing for them. They are timeless and i don't remember my life w/o them. Entenmanns--mm--I love them! I have to laugh at myself b/c i went to the mall with my sister last night and then had her drop me at the grocery store for a quick milk pick-up....5 minutes later (pregnant and always hungry me) I come out with a box of these donuts,oatmeal creme pies,kit-kats,2 boxes of the Little Debbie heart cakes--mmmm--,granola bars,Fat Boy Jr.ice-cream sandwich minis,and blueberry waffles, oh, and of course the milk =0)
My sister (who is a work-out,South-Beach diet queen)was bug-eyed! LOL! She says,"how did you get all that so fast?" and i simply reply,"I walked in the candy/chip aisle (grabbing all the way down) and out the ice-cream aisle"
I do hate feeding this little beast inside me b/c i have no food self-discipline when i am pregnant. In my defense, I have healthy fat babies and I do lose all my weight gain, besides this is the only fun I currently get to have =0)!
I have started watching food-network nonstop and i get a craving in my head and must make it and have it. Yesterday i saw him (Chiarelli?-ithink) make a watermelon icee with a full blender of cut-up watermelon (pulsed twice) and some lime juice then some sugar---and now i want it--i will tell you how good it was when i am done!
Moral of this story--don't shop hungry!

"Well, Hello my name is Simon..."

2007-01-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the cartoon, "Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings"?
As I lay in bed this morning, name gaming for #3, I mentioned the name Simon, and my husband ED, who must ruin every name he possibly can, immediately starts singing (in his best weird little British accent), "Well,Hello my name is Simon, and the things I draw come true..." We both started cracking up remembering how much we loved this cartoon as kids---it was definitely one of my favorites. Remembering how as a kid I used to believe that Mr.Rogers and Captain Kangaroo were actually talking to me through the TV--the power of imagination is such a gift to the little people.
For a short period of their little lives you really can create a happy, perfect world for them.

Click on the link below to see a Simon cartoon!

Source(s):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvj2j4gwwj8

My Highest Calling...

2007-01-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

I watched Oprah two days ago on the neverending debate The Working Mom vs The Stay at Home Mom and that always gets me thinking...and a friend of mine just sent me this essay, so i thought i would post it b/c i have to believe in what/why I do what I do everyday. Every mom must make this huge decision and whatever you choose you always find that you have made some sacrifice somewhere. I do know that I will have a fulfilling nursing career at some later point and yes, it was my passion and it was not easy to let it go for the time being, but it will wait and I will join the "paid" working world again one day. Now, what i do is my investment in their future and it is the hardest thing I have ever done. I liked how Oprah did clarify that "IF you are a creative and involved stay-at-home mom then it is the hardest job"...this is true. It is a very personal decision riding on finances, insanity, and the list goes on...whatever your reasons are...you should always do what truly makes YOU a better mother for your kids sake; and that is a heavy-weight question for all who come to that crossroad in life. Anyway~read on...
The High Calling of Motherhood
by Ginger Plowman
If I have to answer one more insignificant question, wipe one more runny nose, or bandage one more boo-boo today, I'm going to pull my hair out…and maybe the hair of whoever is standing close by also! "I've had it, kids! I'm going to soak in a hot bubble bath and I would strongly advise against any interruptions. Unless someone is dead or dying, do not knock on this door!"

As I ease down into my vanilla scented-bubbles, I pray, "God, is this really what I'm supposed to be doing? I mean, don't you have something really important for me that requires a little more skill that tying shoes and cutting the crust off sandwiches?"

Let me back up and tell you about myself before I reached this point in my life. I wasn't always bordering on the brink of insanity. It wasn't too awfully long ago that I really had it all together. I successfully managed a booming and well-respected business, counseled others in organizational skills, and drove a pretty cool automobile that would NOT seat an entire soccer team, and me, comfortably. I enjoyed television shows that were not hosted by singing vegetables or a purple dinosaur. I never found the milk in the pantry and I never experienced the sheer panic of trying to remember whom I was calling before the voice at the other end said, "Hello?" Yesterday, I placed an order by phone. When the sales lady asked me for my address, I had to put her on hold. I absolutely could not recall my own address. It did finally come to me as I was reaching for the phone book to look it up.

What happened? The stick turned blue. I have traded in Victoria's Secret for the stretchy comfort of Hanes Her Way. I have boxed up my contemporary Christian music and now you'll find me rockin' to "Silly Songs with Larry." Yep, it's good-bye "20/20" and hello Elmo.

Sometimes I think that just getting dressed and making it through the day is all I ever accomplish. "Isn't there something more that you wanted me to do today, Lord?" Finally, I hear that still, small voice. I may not have found a cure for cancer or conquered world hunger, but as I soak in my tub, God gently reminds me of what I did accomplish today. I had the privilege of listening to the hopes and dreams of a handsome young man who thinks I'm the greatest woman in the world. He stands just over three feet tall and only gets really excited over Legos and pizza, but he is funny, charming, and never boring.

I also got to see a bright and precious smile illuminate the sweet face of my five-year-old daughter as I took time out to invade Barbie's house with green aliens. As she squealed with delight, my heart melted.

I did have a few minutes of well-appreciated privacy, as I was able to sit on the potty without someone banging on the door. I actually jotted this rare event down in my journal under "miracles." I got to read a couple of great classics. Out loud. Move over Dickens, we have moved on to the works of Dr. Seuss. I was also able to dust, organize, clean, counsel, and cook. I kissed away the boo-boos and washed away the tears. I praised, rebuked, encouraged, hugged, and tested my patience, all before noon.

Yes, my greatest accomplishment today was nurturing the two precious children that God has entrusted to my care.

Now let's talk about my greatest challenge today… and every day. It is raising these two precious children in the ways of the Lord. God does have an important job for me and it does require much skill. It is my calling, my priority, my struggle, and my goal. I will rise to the occasion and accept the task at hand. I will love, nurture and train my children the way that God has called me to do.

Moms, we need to be reminded of the awesome responsibility that God has given us. When we respond to the high calling of motherhood with passion, the rewards are far greater than any we could ever gain outside of that calling. The joys of motherhood are rare and beautiful treasures that can be easily missed if we don't seize the opportunity to grab them.

Being a mom is more than being cook, chauffeur, maid, counselor, doctor, referee, and disciplinarian, (just to name a few). It's molding character, building confidence, nurturing, training, and guiding. There is no calling as consuming, challenging, and rewarding. And there is no calling as worthy of our efforts than the high calling of motherhood.

* This article is adapted from Ginger's book, Don't Make Me Count to Three! published with Shepherd Press. (Available fall 2003)

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more pics on Used to be Fun...

2007-01-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

The first pic is the old gang (Niffer,Beth,Nicki,and Kim)
The second pic is of Sarah and Scott (now Mr.and Mrs. with 3 kiddos)
p.s.Sarah~i tried to find one of us on your old pink couch-LOL! we'll see what i find later...

Used to be Fun...

2007-01-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

the inspiration for finding a glimpse of the old me started last Wed.nite when a new friend of mine calls me up and says "get ready" b/c she wanted me to go on a $91 r/t fun two day weekend to NYC to catch a show and shop (hotel paid for)--they just wanted me to go b/c "i am so much fun" (her words)...of course,I (who would LOVE to go) had to decline my pregnant butt with two kids and a husband b/c I have a new life,right? That responsible grown-up s/t comes and squats on you. So my husband is laughing at my sorry prego self, and quickly responds,"I'll go!"
So again I ask,"WHO's IN?" (dream with me)--5yrs. from now--we all go away--just the girls--ALONE!? somewhere FUN! This brought me to my old mug shots of you and me
...old pics of old friends--LOL! OK--this is fun--i crack up every time s/o busts out an old picture and it's like you've never seen it before and you feel young again...so since my 100's of albums that would have great pics(blackmail)of all you guys are in storage....these i came across whilst cleaning out my closet in a framed collage! WAH (what a howl--for those of you that don't remember that expression) Enjoy, old friends! In true girl scout spirit (since it's that time of year and those TDF cookies are out again) "...Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold..."
p.s.I will try to find some more pics to post =0)