7 Things

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Share 7 things that people may not know about you.
3. Tag 7 people to share 7 things and link to them.
4. Let them know they have been tagged.

Meredith tagged me for this, and it sounds like fun. So here goes...

1. I was born in Missouri...but got to Texas as fast as I could. ;) Actually because I was 13 my parents had to drag me here kicking and screaming. I had a life there!

2. My biggest fear as a teenager (you're gonna laugh) was being an "Old Maid" (I got married at the ripe old age of 18--but not b/c of that fear...I just happened to find the right person then) Can you tell I read old fashioned books?

3. I am an avid reader! I love to read! Mostly fluff stuff though. I can get lost in a book for hours on end...well, I could before I was a mom.

4. I like old music (think 70s and 80s). Country, love songs, etc...just needs to be old. Our limewire/computer is full of it! (Air Supply, Reba, The Pina Coloda song, etc)

5. Most of the friends I have I've had for at least 10-12 years. I like long term, comfortable friendships. People who know me. And I know back!

6. I have moved A LOT. (I went to like 12-13 schools-and that doesn't include the times we moved back to a district I'd already been to!)I think it helped make me less uncomfortable in new situations.

7. I can honestly say I'm happily married. And I'm very sad for people who aren't. I cannot imagine being in a miserable marriage/relationship.

1.Chrissy
2.Jennifer
3.Kathi
4.Jules
5.Colleen
6.Gina
7.Wendy

7 Things

Gotcha Meredith...just gotta think of 7 things that anyone would want to know about me! :)
I am honored! And I promise it will be my next blog post, k?

Thankful for my Husband!

I was lurking around in the blosgosphere and I found a post about being thankful for your spouse. What a refreshing way to think of marriage. So many emails, jokes, and cards focus on putting down the opposite gender (making fun of how stupid or inept they are) when often we, in the next breath, claim to love someone of this gender. I agree that men sometimes are a little clueless---in the ways of women! That's why they're men! In the same way I certainly do not understand everything about my husband and how his mind works, that's why I'm a woman! Pretty cool how that works out, huh? I'm pretty sure that you will still see occasional posts about my husband and his, hmmm how should I say it?, clueless-ness! But overall I have been blessed with such an awesome husband that I do thank God for him regularly!

*He loves me. (and that's not always easy)
*He gives me "mommy time" to go and do things without the kids-time to unwind.
*He gave me 3 of the most beautiful, smartest, funniest kids ever!
*He loves God.
*He's a good dad!
*He is not afraid to tell me when I'm wrong. And yes, that is a good thing.
*He supports me-how else could I home school?
*He eats my new recipes, even when they're duds. ;)
*He does not expect perfection in housekeeping--which is funny, makes me want to be a better housekeeper!? :)

I'm sure there are so many more, but I must now go and home school said children lest they grow up to be uneducated! :)

Things I'm looking forward to this Year!

I have so much to be thankful for in my life, both material and opportunities. So often I focus (even if it's just silently) on the negative...I want to change that.
This year the plans include:
1. My kids' birthdays! Yep, stressful but fun! And it means that April is one of the best months of the whole year, I was twice blessed in April. :)



2. My grandparents visiting! We have not seen my grandparents since Haley was 10 months old. I just realized that the other day...that is TERRIBLE. I have always been close to them and am missing them terribly. They're planning a visit in April! Woohoo!


3. A trip to South Padre Island with my family! We've reserved a campsite (b/c camping is a cheap hotel) so that we can do touristy things in South Padre! I was told about this by a friend and it sounds so fun. I can't wait.

4. A trip to NY. My friend Wendy has invited me and Haley to come again and visit! Only this time they live in NY and have their own house on some acreage! I think it's going to be so much fun!

5. Renewing my wedding vows. We've talked about this off and on for 5 years now! We wanted to do it on our 10th anniversary but were moving from North Texas to MO...this year we're doing it "for better or worse"--and yep, the bad pun was intended.

6. Camping trip to the river. We love to go to the Frio River and camp each year. We're hoping for a 4 day trip this year (since we are going to South Padre we'll have to make it 4 instead of 5 or 6)



7. Fireproof marriage retreat in October! Our church is doing a retreat for married couples in early October that I am hoping to go to (have to nail down some child care!).


8. Our annual camping trip for Thanksgiving weekend! Love it! (I just hope my back stays in tact this year!)

9. Christmas. What else can I say? That one speaks for itself.

I'm also looking forward to getting my battle with my weight/eating under control. I've really been struggling with it and I'm sick of the struggle. Even if I'm not losing weight I'd like to find peace and some kind of healthy-ish routine that works for ME.

The New Bambino

Ok, so I know nothing about baseball...or any other sport other than the basic rules of play. But my son is pretty good. I do know that. :) Sure, he's only 6 (for less than a month, but that's a whole other post-prob'ly with a few sniffles added in for good measure).

So, the other day we had a scrimmage for Jared's second season of baseball. The thing about baseball is you spend a lot of time watching your kid waiting for his (or her) turn to "do something". You wonder why your kid is not getting to do something-anything. Then, the moment comes. He's up to bat. Oh, the butterflies in your stomach have to rival his. You just have this ache...it's one thing for you to mess up. But your kid? It hurts. It makes you sick. The pitcher throws the ball...and "CRACK"! The ball has been hit! You are surprised but don't want to be. You should've known that your son would hit the ball--on the FIRST pitch! Now, the nerves hit for the next part. Can he make it to first base safely? OH! He's there! But wait, he didn't stop! He's still going...Second base..."STOP! STOP! STOP!" You scream...but he keeps going! Next thing you know he's HOME! With the most triumphant look ever--and a little bit of shock too. And you just want to run out on the field and hug him and jump up and down with him in your arms. But that would be un-cool. So you just burst in your heart a little!!!!!

**note** they made him go back to second base. We still don't know why because he never stopped (no matter how much we screamed for him to) and the play never stopped...the ball kept going from player to player as they tried to catch the greatest ball player of all time and get him "out"...but he did get hit in (again) when his friend Ryan batted next...so did he get two home runs???

Un-Clean

Nope, I'm not pregnant (Kendra, thanks for that comment!) But let me tell you, as bad as I felt...I was getting nervous!
There is no way I could finish the cleanse. I didn't even drink one whole "smoothie" (physically could not swallow any more of it) and I spent 2 days paying for it. Last night we ate out and I couldn't even face the carrots (which I normally like) or beets (barf-even though I normally love beets from the salad bar).
Thanks for the supportive comments though! I appreciate it. Let's me know I'm being "read" and makes me feel loved...

By the way, funny little side story, Haley drank 2 sips of the stuff and said "No moi momma" LOL (No more momma). It was not just me! :)

What do you do...

when you try to do a detox diet (veggies only-w/ a little brown rice at dinner) and you realize the only thing holding you together was your toxins??? I have fallen apart after what should've been the beginning of something extremely healthy. :( :( :(

Spent yesterday feeling "pregnant" (ie sicker than a dog) and today it's different, but still sick.

Haley's 2 Year Check Up

So, we went to the doctor yesterday for Haley's 2 year check up! First of all, the most exciting news is that she is all done with immunizations until she's 4! Woohoo! I went in expecting the horrors of vaccinations. Nope!
We got there and the nurse starts asking her questions: Can she run/jump/climb? Check, check, check. (As Haley is running, jumping and climbing all over the exam table) Is she social? Definitely. Does she fight with her brother and sister? Oh my goodness, you mean this is a developmental milestone and it's good that she does this? Yay! Check that one off...Can she say 30-50 words? Yes! Only here in the past couple of weeks has her speech taken off, so I was glad to be able to report positively on that. Does she eat? Well, some days she eats everything and some days she eats nothing and some days she eats ONLY Goldfish. You mean she eats like a 2 year old? :) Yes, she knows her body parts; yes, she knows her name (Hayeee but sometimes it's "baby").
At this point in the game Lindsay tells the nurse, "Did my mom tell you our big news?" My face goes WHITE. What news? What in the world is she talking about? Does she know something I don't? (Sometimes it's perilous having such verbal, outspoken children with you all of the time). The nurse is looking at me with that look. Finally I get it. She wants me to tell about our DOG. Phew! The nurse and I both laugh because "big news" to me would be a new baby...and the nurse thought the SAME thing! That was good for a few laughs...No babies in our plans.
Ok, comic relief out of the way now...woah. And just plain relief.
I had noticed that for the first time since we took Haley in for her first doctor appointment I had not been asked to undress her!? (I thought maybe the nurse was just waiting). Apparently she has graduated to "big girl" status. Bittersweet moment. As the nurse has her walk down the hall to the BIG KID scales I had to sniff a little. She climbed up on the scales and stood there like a big girl-to the tune of 26 1/2 lbs. Then she stood there while they measured her-this is the first time that she was not measured by laying her on the table while they marked the paper and measured it. Sniff sniff. It's such a weird thing...you feel happy and "graduated" yet you realize it's such a big milestone. They no longer consider her a baby. She was 34 inches tall. Wow, almost 3 feet tall!!!!!
The doctor was good with all of her information although she did comment on her bumps, scrapes and bruises. Yep. That's Haley. (She actually looked better yesterday than she had for a week!)
So, we're officially in the [terrific] twos and officially a BIG GIRL. Here is how stinkin' cute she looked yesterday:

As a footnote, we also discussed homeschooling and that while she is fine with our progress (her exact words: "I've never worried about your kids") she has some concerns with another family she saw once. The patients of one of her partners. She is concerned that the children are not really being taught. But when she looked up Texas State guidelines...there is nothing legally that this family is doing wrong. It makes me a little sad (and I think her too) that this family and others like them are possibly doing a disservice to their children, but also giving home schoolers a bad name! I don't need her approval or pat on the back, but I'll tell you, it sure is nice to have it! Does anyone know what I mean? :)

Coming tomorrow (with pictures): Jared's homerun!!!!!!!!

I Am a Promise-In Pursuit of the Well

Life's storms will come sometimes when we least expect them, how do we give our children a "safe feeling" in the midst of a life storm?

Sometimes chaos is created by our own efforts of trying to do too much, how can we maintain a peaceful home where chaos is prevented?

How can we as wives and mothers actually calm the storm?

I don't know that I'm qualified, in any sense of the word, to even think about posting on this subject, but maybe there are a few lessons I have learned that can help someone else. Oftentimes our house can be described as nothing less than total mayhem. Complete disarray. Utter chaos. Apparently this is "normal" if not desired. I would love to say that I handle all of this with prayer and Bible verses that calm me and therefore my children. But, lying is wrong. But I learned a song when I was a child I Am a Promise that holds true whether you're 3, 33 or 103.

[disclaimer: as I type this we're having a slight amount of chaos in our home right now-over some school work that was not done when it was supposed to be done.]

1) A schedule is necessary, rigidity is not. If your family is having a fun and peaceful time (whether you're at someone's house or playing a game or anything else you enjoy as a family) is it going to hurt anything to let the [happy] children stay up a little late? Prob'ly not. (I'm not suggesting that children stay up until midnight playing games or out visiting, just that you not rush them off to bed in a hurry when something fun is happening). I am learning to ask myself "Is this going to matter in 5 minutes? 5 hours? 5 days? 5 months? 5 years?" If it's only going to matter in the next 5 minutes...it's prob'ly not worth a battle. (Of course if you start the battle you'd better finish it and be victorious)

2)On that front:battles that is. Let your children know with certainty that you are the "boss". I think that children derive a sense of peace knowing that someone else, someone with their best interests at heart, is large and in charge. I know when I waffle on a parenting issue or a situation my children become less secure. If mom's not in charge, who is? As much as children fight us to be in charge...they know they can't handle it and it creates anxiety. I've seen it.

3)Keep yourself calm. This is one I must work on daily. Hourly. By the minute in fact. I am not a quiet person-happy or mad...sad or glad. I'm just not that quiet. I wish I were, but the fact is I am who God made me. That doesn't mean He's well pleased with me when I'm yelling or making a bunch of noise, it's something that is a work in progress. But if I get all worked up and loud, do you think my house is full of peace? Nope.

4)Kids don't need to be worried with constant adult problems. If you can't afford to buy them something, tell them. This will teach them that money does not grow on trees. However, if you are having trouble coming up with the house payment or rent, keep it between yourself and another adult (your spouse if you have one). Yes, there are sometimes when children will overhear these adult conversations (mine are notoriously "nosy"--we're working on that one)but they don't need to be burdened with worrying whether or not they will have a home tomorrow. In our life, God has always provided. Even when the numbers did not add up on paper, when income was less than outgo, it all worked out, and believe me, we have never gone hungry.

5)Hugs. Hugs and more hugs. And add in a few kisses for good measure. This is another one I need to work on constantly, for some reason it does not come naturally to me to shower my (older) children with physical affection.

I have to say, this has been a challenging post to do. I don't want to come off like I have it all together (there are too many people that read my blog that know better than that-and remember, lying is wrong ;) ) and I don't want to come off holier than thou. I'm not. I'm just a mom, trying to be the best I can with what I have. If God brings me to it He'll bring me through it, right?

Home School Stuff

There seems to be some twittering (no, not the website) going on in the blogosphere home school world about funding and government involvement. A year or so ago I decided to save all of my receipts for my home school materials and deduct them from my (itemized) taxes for the year. Lo and behold, we do not have the right to do that! I was livid. Here I was up to my elbows in receipts from the year (copies, books, school supplies, etc) totaling at least $500.00. At least. And Turbo Tax, very succinctly informs me that home schoolers can have no exemptions. What? The way I understand it (and anyone can correct me if I'm wrong here) teachers in public or private schools can deduct any expense they incur for classroom use (such as say, candy, if it is used for math purposes...) but I cannot deduct my actual curriculum? I was LIVID. I don't just mean a little perturbed. I was mad.

But then...

But then I realized that if the government helps me to buy my supplies I am not actually totally home schooling. The government (the powers that be) would have their nose and hand and any other parts of them they chose in my business. The business of my children's education. And, although I forget this focus sometimes, the main reason I home school is so that I might "train up a child in the way he should go..." (Proverbs 22:6). Academics are important. Definitely. Are they the be all, end all? No.
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

and
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

And I could post more verses on wisdom than anyone has time to read right now...most out of Proverbs-the book of wisdom. But the point is, my whole reasoning for home schooling my children is that, in these early, formative years,they not be steeped in the world. I cannot, and will not, "protect" them forever-I well know that. But I can protect them during the years that they are supposed to be innocent.

See, I got off track again! If I let the government reimuburse me for my teaching expenses...do they not have the right to know what they're paying me for?

We'll eek by and pay for our own curriculum. That which I have decided with God's help and my husband's help is best for the hearts and minds of our children.

Haley's Coming Around...

So, Haley is finally coming around on the "fuff fuff"...(that's Haley-speak for "dog") She tells us all the time that the "fuff fuff mice". No, our dog does not eat mice or look like a mouse...she is NICE! :)
This morning she looks at me with her first morning grin and holds up 2 fingers and says: "fuff fuff teeee" (means "two dogs") and shakes her head "no". She's telling me we don't have two dogs....smart girl. Then she tells me (with one adorable little finger held up) "nun" (one) and nods her head yes--smiling all the time.

In case I lost you there with all the quotes and parentheses the "conversation" Haley and I had was about us having one dog not two. :)

I have to hold onto and document these adorable moments to get me through the other ones...the ones that remind us she is in fact OFICIALLY "teeeee" (remember, "teeeee" is two)

15 Years...and We're Doing it All Again

Ok, so this summer Harold and I are planning to renew our vows. The thing is we never had a "real" wedding. We went to the justice of the peace and made it legal. And we meant every word that we said...but let's get real. When you're 18 (as I was) do you really understand what your vows mean? I don't really think I did. At least not in a real sense of the word "understand". I was 18 and I was in love. Yep. Now, I'm 33 and I love. I know that it's not something that happens to you but something you choose to do. Love is a verb. Sometimes minute by minute and sometimes one day at a time. Sometimes it's an easy task-a joy. And sometimes it takes effort. But just the same I'm not sorry I choose to love my husband.
In the coming years I hope to work on this (not only in relation to my husband, but in all of my relationships):
I Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love...rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
I would love to be able to say my name could honestly replace the "love" in each of these sentences...

Dog Days

So, I have to admit I was pretty terrified of getting this dog. And yet I wanted her so badly. I just couldn't imagine more chaos and mess in my house. So far it's very enjoyable. I'm aware that it's still prob'ly the honeymoon phase, but she's loving it here...and we're loving having her.
The only problem...she smells like a dog!? What do you do about a dog that smells like a dog? LOL I heard about some shampoo that smells of lavendar and mint! The person that commented on it said it made them smell so yummy! I might just be trying that for her next bath.
For those who asked, her name is Daphne. She is a 3 year old yellow labrador retriever. She is exactly what I wanted and some friends needed to get out of the dog business...perfect! She is spayed, and up to date on everything. How cool is that? (Thank you Leah!)
So that's my update! Life with our dog is going pretty great so far.

Oh, one question for those who have inside dogs: How do you minimize the water all over the kitchen? LOL Every time she takes a (big sloppy drink) which is often, we have a trail of water allllllll over the kitchen! Any tips for that issue??