Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Three Boys who killed a Giant... Wasp!

Looking at these smug faces, you'd never know how much high-pitched screaming actually took place during, and moments leading up to, the kill. Well, you'd never know if their mama wasn't a big-mouthed-blogger! Poor fellas. 
The pleased one in the middle was quite quick on his feet... in retreat. The hunter on the left did the actual deed. Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky on the right was mostly tagging along for the fun of it all.

The trophy is in the bottom of the pink water bottle.

I asked the conqueror how he killed the wasp. The response I got was a highly entertaining reenactment with facial expressions that made me wish I'd had the camcorder instead of the digital camera.  I had to add the wasps, of course, since he'd already killed the real one. 


My youngest son was perfectly content with his living ladybug.


Ah, my champions.... Killers of bees and catcher of ladybugs.



Monday, April 27, 2009

W.O.W. Update

So this wasn't the bookshelf I committed to, but I did work on it a little as I was taking books from my work table.  This little angelic-looking thing has been absolutely no help. This is a rare smile for today. Usually she's been throwing little fits. Ugh!


This doesn't look like much but the clear bin in the middle was overflowing with papers that are now organized into the file basket to the right of it. The blue trash can (far right) is now overflowing. :) The books to the upper left are still not good, but so much better. I still have 1 1/2 more days!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Within One Week (or 3 days)

This is a fun little git r done game I'm playing on Becky's blog. It actually started last Wednesday and I'm only starting it today. Boy, do I have my work cut out for me! Here are a few before pictures so you can be praying for me. :)


This is my table in the front room. My plan is for it to be cleared off at all times to be available for homework, bill-paying, letter writing, and even scrapbooking.

These are the shelves to the left of my table. It will contain... oops, I knew I should have written down my hubby and I's ideas. Oh well, I'm sure it will come to me. 

Well I'd better get to work! I'm looking forward to posting my accomplishments and I can't wait to see everyone else's after pictures. Aren't before and after pictures fun????

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Doom and Gloom with a Silver Lining

Things that make me so sad... (and mad!)

Senate passed the Give Act.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/18/house-readies-passage-volunteerism-critics-pricey-forced-service/


Abortion


Things that frighten me...

"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:19)
"On the other hand, the Republican operatives, led by former Senate Majority Leader Dick Armey’s Freedomworks organization, have been able to tap into a permanent anti-tax minority that, along with religious conservatives, libertarians, and other fringe groups, anchors the right wing of the GOP. These “drown government in a bathtub” zealots don’t need a logical reason to protest taxes, they are against them on principle. Though constantly praising their good fortune for living in “freedom,” they believe they have little obligation to support — through taxes — the nation that makes their life possible."           From a columnist in our local paper. 
I'm not ready to be called a zealot or an anarchist. But it's coming...

Things I am thankful for...

My hope is in Jesus!

Isaiah 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
John 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless
Hebrews 13:5   Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Sent to me from a dear friend via FaceBook.

I am thankful that I am not facing these things alone. God goes before me and He gave me a faithful husband and dear friends to share the burden.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Just Do It!

I will save you all the drama/trauma of what led up to this little realization. Let's just say that I've been very selfish and am realizing, yet again, that it isn't about me! It's about Him. I've strayed.... again. Earlier this evening I was in tears. I was feeling quite defeated. I began praying and opened the Bible. 1 Chronicles 28:9,10.

9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.


This passage was so encouraging to me. It was a bit disappointing at first, "David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem:..." I thought, Oh great, I ask for a Word and He gives me Chronicles? But God is Faithful. He loves me. The wretched, selfish, lazy worm that I am. He is so GOOD!!!!
I keep looking at me. At what I can or cannot do. What I have done or haven't done. I take pride in those little Make-Me-Proud Mommy Moments. I beat myself up over those not-so-proud Mommy Moments. I look around and wonder what people think of my parenting skills. I worry that grandparents think I'm being too hard on my kiddos. Or that my hubby thinks I'm too lax. Do you see all those I's? Wow! So then I start berating myself for being selfish... Oh, I forgot. I was going to spare you the drama details. How about some more of Him, instead?

More from St Celia at Myxer

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Mom - one... Kid - zero!

I just had an incredibly empowering Mommy Moment! My 8 year old was not at the parent pick up area at school. My 7 year old was there along with my 6 year old, but no 8 year old. 7 year old informed me that 8 year old had forgotten his water bottle in the classroom and had gone back to retrieve it.
So we waited. And waited. I started wondering if I should call the school office and have him paged on the overhead when he came around the corner. He was moseying at a "not a care in the world" pace and once stopped to watch a kid on the playground. So I did what any Love and Logic Parent would do. I drove off. I got a little bit of a look from one of the teachers, but after I drove around the block and came back to get him, he was "a humble 8 year old, a sad and small 8 year old, an 'oh, momma, am I glad to see you, 8 year old.'"
And the wonderful teacher waiting beside him gave me the nod. The nod that says, "Good job, mom!" The one us often-insecure mommies don't see nearly often enough.
myspace layouts

myspace layouts

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Happy Easter!



If this doesn't work go to www.klove.com. It's the video on the home page.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pampered Piggies



My favorite store had a sale a few weeks ago. I told my hubby that I was going to purchase a $40 shirt for $25, but ended up spending over $70. I came home with a really cute pair of capris and 2 blouses. Plus, they had a drawing for a local hair & nails salon and I won a gift certificate! Woo-Hoo! I knew exactly what I would use it for... Tuesday I received my first ever pedicure. My feet are quite ticklish and I get nervous when I cut my own toenails, so I was a bit apprehensive. For no reason! It was so incredibly relaxing. What a treat!
If you haven't gotten one yet, you should! Ask for one for your anniversary, birthday, Easter gift. :) Whatever! But go get one.... NOW! Your little tootsies will thank you. Be careful though, I hear they can be addictive. I have a friend who gets one once a month. What I think I will do is use them as a major reward for certain goals I have. I'll keep you posted.
Have you treated your toes lately? I'd love to hear about it! What's your favorite nail polish color? My toes are currently showing off Opi's The Big Break . I was tempted to go with Didgeridoo Your Nails... Nail polish names are so much fun!

Monday, April 6, 2009

I just logged on to play a quick little game...

I love Facebook! I used to play Bejewelled Blitz, Pathwords, and chat... a lot. Now I take a quiz from time to time but it has been forever since I chatted.
Tonight as I was cooking dinner, I put the garlic bread in the oven on broil. Rather than set a timer, I figured by the time it took to play a quick little game of Bananagrams (Thanks to my Texas friend!) the bread would be done to perfection. But as I was getting ready to play, the little chat window popped up in the lower right corner of my screen. (Thanks to my musical friend!).
We had a nice little chat until...




.......




..........





I am not addicted to Facebook... I am not addicted to Facebook...


... I am not addicted to facebook!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Candle on the Water

Daniel has started doing something that I'm not too fond of. We watch musicals together and I sing along just like always, but now he puts his hand over my mouth and sternly says, "Don't do that momma!" Not so sure what THAT'S all about! He used to like me singing in his ear with Helen Reddy or Mulan. Oh well. My baby boy is growing up... and apparently developing some taste in music...
I rented Pete's Dragon for the boys the other day. Brendan loved it. Especially when I told him that "Candle on the Water" was our song. Daniel liked parts of it. He did not care much for the Gogans, the storm at the end, or my singing. Go figure. I absolutely love that movie!
Sharon Jaynes wrote a book called, "Being a Great Mom Raising Great Kids." I started reading it around the same time I watched Pete's Dragon with my kiddos. God has some amazing timing! I am a visual learner and often think in pictures. So I already had the picture of a lighthouse and being a "candle on the water" as a positive image for a mom. Then I read the following quote from Jaynes' book:
"A mother whose children rise up and call her blessed is much like a stately lighthouse. She has a solid foundation in Jesus Christ. Her walls of faith are constructed to withstand the storms of life, and her primary function is to house the light of Christ. This mother is an immovable constant in her child's life, a landmark along life's journey, ,and a guiding light that points her child to the safe harbor of home and eventually out to sea."

Within days of reading this I received an e-mail devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Lysa TerKeurst was having mommy doubts just prior to speaking at a parenting convention because one of her kids had been called into the principal's office. Lysa recognized the importance of seeking God's definition of who she is rather than letting "moments define her." What wisdom! And what Godly timing!
Lately, as in for the past four to six months, I feel like I have been chasing my tail. I have been reacting to how the kids act rather than setting the tone for my family and modeling sane behavior. It's been like a ping-pong game. I let the kids bring worms to school. I'm a good mom. I lost my cool with my 8 year old. I'm a bad mom! Back and forth, day by day, minute by minute. I've whined to my hubby. I've whined to my mom. I've whined on FaceBook. I've whined to my poor little darlings! I've whined to God... and I am finally starting to listen... to Him. I just love how God can speak through books and blogs, moms and music, husbands and Helen Reddy... :)

I receive e-mail reminders from FlyLady. Yesterday this was in one of her e-mails:
"...forget your perfect offering,
there's a crack in everything.
That's where the light gets in."
A quote by Leonard Cohen that someone had sent in to her.

This mommy, cracks and all, will work on being a lighthouse for her children. With a "solid foundation in Jesus Christ," "walls of faith...to withstand the storms of life," not to mention a lovely singing voice... I will seek to be an "immovable constant" in my childrens' lives. Mommies don't have to be perfect to reflect the Sonlight.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Is my glass half empty?

This is what I was pondering before drifting off to sleep last night...

Our house filled with five children goes through milk rather quickly. Each of the boys has two bowls of cereal for breakfast, baby has a bottle at night and one mid morning, not to mention the macaroni and cheese! When that gallon jug is empty, we're out of milk. It's time to go to the store for more or it's a whiny baby and pb&j for breakfast for the boys. And only water to wash those sandwiches down! Yuck! We don't have a cow and we don't have a milkman. We just run out.

Smiles are a little different. Seems the more you smile the more you feel like smiling. It doesn't matter how many smiles you give away during a day, you always have more to give. That goes with hugs and kisses, too.

They have Wii games for grownups designed to exercise your brain. Experts tell us that the more you use that organ, the stronger, smarter, that organ becomes. But ask your trainer at the gym and they will tell you to rest your pecs for a day before you work them out again. Muscles grow better after a brief resting period.

Well, what about creativity? Can you run out of it like milk? Or is it more like a smile, the more you use, the more you seem to have? Here is my fear. If I spend all my creative juices on cleaning the house and beautifying our bedroom, will I have any left for scrapbooking or writing? Will someone please tell me that I am better off not to spend all my creative energy on rearranging furniture or placing pictures on my walls? Shouldn't I save it for something much more, um, fun? Does creativity, like my brain, improve with continual exercise? Or should I rest by taking naps between creating scrapbook pages and writing blog posts?

Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated! I will delete all comments that suggest that I do housework. Just kidding.