I'm really leaving! I really do get to be by myself for seven hours of traveling--oh the reading, people watching, journaling, silence-enjoying I get to do! I really do get to visit with my friend Becca and meet her daughter! I really do get to spend an entire day scrapbooking with her! I really do get to FINALLY have some Korean food and go to HOBBY LOBBY!!!! I get to have Chick-fil-A! I get to go to their house church and meet all of her friends!
And I really do get a full four days of mommy-vacation!!!
THANK YOU, JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Start of our Garden
We have decided that our vegetable garden is going to be a family affair. Last night we got most of our plants into the ground. (We haven't figured out where to plant the miniature pumpkins and it is still too cold to put out the pepers.) The kids played in the dirt (and the baby pool!) and Hannah helped to plant seeds. We were out there for almost two full hours after Jeremy got home from work. I'm really hoping that I can actually GROW things. If I am able to, I can easily see gardening as being theroputic for me in Montana. The short season of warm (and shorter season of hot!) is something that is very hard for me to cope with. I need something to connect me to the outside world as intensely as possible before I have to hybernate again! I've even thought about a greenhouse just to give me a place that is humid and growing in the winter time! We'll see how it goes :) For now, gardening seems to be giving me and Jeremy something fun that we can enjoy together during the week, an element of our relationship that we both identified as lacking.
Grow, grow zucchini, grow, grow squash, grow, grow beans!
As a side note, if anyone in the Great Falls area knows of someone getting rid of a pressure cooker and/or a canner, please let me know! The optomistic side of me needs to develop a plan for what to do with my delicious veggies when I harvest them!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Because there's nothing else to do...
Because there is nothing going on in my life, Jeremy & I decided to try our hands at gardening this year. So, we've bought some starter plants, potting soil, seeds, etc and tonight Jeremy dug up part of the yard where we plan to plant. Why is it that the best place for the garden is where the grass is growing well?? I'm excited to have something to do outside while the kids are playing apart from digging holes in the sandbox. But I sit at the computer tonight and think "if we hadn't started this vegetable garden plan of ours, maybe the bathroom would have FINALLY gotten painted...after 10 months of construction..." Hopefully before September I'll be able to announce that the bathroom is finally finished. Maybe. But if not, we'll have fresh zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries to blame!
Friday, May 16, 2008
My life
I was thinking this morning that since I'm not very regular in my blogging, as some of my fabulous friends are, I don't know that I have a picture of my life painted in the world of blog. And as I continued thinking I don't know that I have a regular life yet! I feel like I'm getting there. It's been almost 11 months since we moved to 3805 5th Ave South. I can't believe it. It has been a very physically and emotionally exhausting year. But, things are starting to finally settle. I know, just in time for Levi to arrive! But, here is kind of what life looks like for me right now :)
5:45am--try to force myself out of bed and take a shower, have a quiet time, drink coffee by myself sitting at my lovely island and looking out the window at GREEN GRASS (that deserves another blog all by itself!)
7:00ish--kids wake up; or, if kids have woken up against my will before 7am I finally allow them out of bed. I have a "no kids before 7am" rule unless they are sick or nursing!
Morning time--there is breakfast making and cleaning up (of course) but now there isn't 45 minutes of dishes to do! YEAY! Since it is warmer outside, we go for a morning walk 2-3 times a week and then start piddling either outside or in. Sometimes I do some cleaning, depending on what is driving me crazy on that particular day. I learned a long time ago that I could never have a cleaning schedule...I'm wanting to add some fun weekly activities to the mix. Bible study is over (and there are no Bible studies in the summer, much to my chagrin). I'm planning to start a weekly playgroup the first Wed of June. I still haven't really connected in my church yet (this deserves another blog!)
Lunch time--more food prep, mess making, and clean up. We've been eating in the kitchen, though, which requires less prepping and clean-up!
Naptime--I either work my job or sleep during naptime, depending on how much I think I can handle when the kids wake up.
Post nap--all depends on how much "work" for GVF I need to do. This past week I was in the basement working from 6pm til' bedtime while Jer feed/played with/bathed/put the kids to bed. Usually by dinnertime I'm all done mommying. I feel so depleated that I don't think there would be anything else to give other than a body to sit in the rocking chair in their room while Jeremy reads stories!
Recently I have been trying to do a little reading right before bed. I have found that it helps to shut off my brain. There are three Grisham books that I haven't read yet, and I'm hoping to make some dents in that list this week and on my PLANE RIDES TO ATLANTA!!! Yeay!! I'm going to Becca's house next week!!!!
I know. There are a ton of details out of the mix. And in many ways it probably sounds very similar to the lives of most other stay-at-home-moms. But I hope it helps!
Today is a playdate with a friend named Heather. I made some yummy cucumber sandwhiches for the mommies that I'm VERY excited about! (Thank you, Scott, for the Chapel Cookbook!)
5:45am--try to force myself out of bed and take a shower, have a quiet time, drink coffee by myself sitting at my lovely island and looking out the window at GREEN GRASS (that deserves another blog all by itself!)
7:00ish--kids wake up; or, if kids have woken up against my will before 7am I finally allow them out of bed. I have a "no kids before 7am" rule unless they are sick or nursing!
Morning time--there is breakfast making and cleaning up (of course) but now there isn't 45 minutes of dishes to do! YEAY! Since it is warmer outside, we go for a morning walk 2-3 times a week and then start piddling either outside or in. Sometimes I do some cleaning, depending on what is driving me crazy on that particular day. I learned a long time ago that I could never have a cleaning schedule...I'm wanting to add some fun weekly activities to the mix. Bible study is over (and there are no Bible studies in the summer, much to my chagrin). I'm planning to start a weekly playgroup the first Wed of June. I still haven't really connected in my church yet (this deserves another blog!)
Lunch time--more food prep, mess making, and clean up. We've been eating in the kitchen, though, which requires less prepping and clean-up!
Naptime--I either work my job or sleep during naptime, depending on how much I think I can handle when the kids wake up.
Post nap--all depends on how much "work" for GVF I need to do. This past week I was in the basement working from 6pm til' bedtime while Jer feed/played with/bathed/put the kids to bed. Usually by dinnertime I'm all done mommying. I feel so depleated that I don't think there would be anything else to give other than a body to sit in the rocking chair in their room while Jeremy reads stories!
Recently I have been trying to do a little reading right before bed. I have found that it helps to shut off my brain. There are three Grisham books that I haven't read yet, and I'm hoping to make some dents in that list this week and on my PLANE RIDES TO ATLANTA!!! Yeay!! I'm going to Becca's house next week!!!!
I know. There are a ton of details out of the mix. And in many ways it probably sounds very similar to the lives of most other stay-at-home-moms. But I hope it helps!
Today is a playdate with a friend named Heather. I made some yummy cucumber sandwhiches for the mommies that I'm VERY excited about! (Thank you, Scott, for the Chapel Cookbook!)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Mortgage
I hate having a mortgage. I love having a house, but I hate having a mortgage. I've never experienced the feelings of financial bondage talked about in Proverbs in regard to debt like I've felt since I've been back in Montana and have had my eyes open to the fact that a mortgage is in fact being in debt. (What American brainwashing I had had before!) I owe Washington Mutual six figures of money.
Now when I think of having extra money, I think of getting rid of a chunk of debt. When I see the "win $10,000" contest at Burger King I think of how much closer I'll be to getting rid of that stupid mortgage. But, alas, money doesn't come into my life that way. Instead, we cut back, spend less, apply more money each month to the principle in hopes that one sweet day we will be free from the chains of this enormous monster.
Now when I think of having extra money, I think of getting rid of a chunk of debt. When I see the "win $10,000" contest at Burger King I think of how much closer I'll be to getting rid of that stupid mortgage. But, alas, money doesn't come into my life that way. Instead, we cut back, spend less, apply more money each month to the principle in hopes that one sweet day we will be free from the chains of this enormous monster.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The kitchen!!
For those who haven't seen the pictures, here are the updated before-and-after pics of the kitchen. Almost everything that we have planned to do is done. (Well, the tiling of the countertops and the new fridge will wait for 2011...). I LOVE it! What a Mother's Day present! I never want to leave the kitchen now. Not that I get to do much outside of the kitchen anyway :) It was, by far, the biggest project that we "had" to get done before Levi comes, and now that it is finished, both Jeremy & I feel so liberated!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
My Cute Kids
I do it, too. I check the blogs of my friends so that I can see pictures of them and their kids. And then I never end up posting pictures. Shame on me! So, here are a few pictures of the kiddos at quick glance--without having to look at a web album!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Caring for the Poor
My friend Becca and her family went to India to work with Pastor Daniel, a native of India who cares for poor children in rural India. Pastor Daniel runs the Mercy Home ministry (a link is below). I'm on Pastor Daniel's email listing, and I wanted to pass along an easy way (and small) way to care for the poor. God has really been impressing on my heart just how easily I can spend money on myself (for things I want not things I need) while believers and unbelievers all over the world don't have the money to feed their families or send their kids to school. Caring for the poor is not a choice in how we spend our money. We are commanded to take care of the poor. Here's a way to fulfill that command!
_____________________________
Dear Friends and partners
Greetings from the Mercy home ministry in India. God has blessed us with 800 children in our Mercy Homes and 300 children in our Kids club who come every week to worship the Lord and study the word. The schools in India are opening on June 1st after the summer vacation. Every child has to be sent to school with new uniforms, schoolbags, lunch box, umbrella, shoes and school stationary. Each child needs about $20 towards his school expense. Please visit our web site www.mercyhomes.org to know more about Mercy Homes . If you can sponsor any number of Kids it will be a great blessing. Please let us know as soon as possible. Thanking you so much for standing with us always for His Kingdom and the needs of the poor.
With love Pastor Daniel
_____________________________
Dear Friends and partners
Greetings from the Mercy home ministry in India. God has blessed us with 800 children in our Mercy Homes and 300 children in our Kids club who come every week to worship the Lord and study the word. The schools in India are opening on June 1st after the summer vacation. Every child has to be sent to school with new uniforms, schoolbags, lunch box, umbrella, shoes and school stationary. Each child needs about $20 towards his school expense. Please visit our web site www.mercyhomes.org to know more about Mercy Homes . If you can sponsor any number of Kids it will be a great blessing. Please let us know as soon as possible. Thanking you so much for standing with us always for His Kingdom and the needs of the poor.
With love Pastor Daniel
Monday, May 05, 2008
Congratulations, Sissie!
My sister is the beautiful graduate on the far left. On Saturday she not only graduated from Indiana University with her Master's degree in Arts Administration, she gave the commencement speech! Way to go, sissie--wish I could have seen it!
Friday, May 02, 2008
More Randomness
1) Busy season is over. I'm two weeks into "normal" life. I love it. Still sleep deprived, but happy!
2) We had a fabulous "family vacation" to Missoula the weekend before the 15th:
3) We bought our first brand-new vaccum cleaner EVER last month. In addition to saving over $50 on the purchase (a great sale!), it works beautifully :)
4) A small group Bible study started meeting at our house on Sunday nights. We aren't sure how long it will last (Montanans typically don't meet for Bible study in the summer time) but we have enjoyed it so far.
5) The kitchen got painted!
6) We found out that we are having a boy! 'Twill be named Levi Andrew Rhodes and he is currently measuring on time. That makes this mama happy :)
7) Alisha got married and I almost cried. It was the closest I've ever come to crying at a wedding--including my own! And, of course, Hannah was beautiful!
8) Jeremy got the dishwasher installed in the middle of the kitchen. Next step is to build the island around the dishwasher. For now, it is literally in the middle of the kitchen floor and when it is not is use we keep the box over it so that the kids don't play with the insilation!
9) We are driving to Kellogg, Idaho, tomorrow (a five hour drive one way) to trade in the Impala for a mini-van. The functionality of the vehicle has taken over and I'm getting a mommy car. We were able to not only trade-in the car but we are ultimately getting a little money back into our pockets. Always a great thing! We only have three payments until the Impala is paid off, so we are making them all tomorrow and we will only be left we a mortgage as debt. Thank you, Jesus! "Before and After" pictures will follow. The best part of all of this is that we found a babysitter and we are going BY OURSELVES! This is the first time since July 2006 that Jeremy & I have spent an entire day together without the kids. We are THRILLED!!
10) On a similar note, in less than three weeks I get to fly to Atlanta to visit my dear friend Becca Mooney. I get to fly BY MYSELF to visit Becca. I haven't seen Becca in almost two years (and we've both had a baby since then!). And I haven't flown by myself somewhere since November 2004. It's time. It's really time. The anticipation of this trip helped me fight depression in January and February, and now it's almost here!! Chick-Fil-A, Hobby Lobby, and Korean food in addition to alone time, little-to-no responsibility and, of course, time with my sister-in-Christ. Does it get any better??
11) My dear friend (and college roommate) Mary had Thorson baby #3 this week. Welcome to the world, Jesse!
2) We had a fabulous "family vacation" to Missoula the weekend before the 15th:
3) We bought our first brand-new vaccum cleaner EVER last month. In addition to saving over $50 on the purchase (a great sale!), it works beautifully :)
4) A small group Bible study started meeting at our house on Sunday nights. We aren't sure how long it will last (Montanans typically don't meet for Bible study in the summer time) but we have enjoyed it so far.
5) The kitchen got painted!
6) We found out that we are having a boy! 'Twill be named Levi Andrew Rhodes and he is currently measuring on time. That makes this mama happy :)
7) Alisha got married and I almost cried. It was the closest I've ever come to crying at a wedding--including my own! And, of course, Hannah was beautiful!
8) Jeremy got the dishwasher installed in the middle of the kitchen. Next step is to build the island around the dishwasher. For now, it is literally in the middle of the kitchen floor and when it is not is use we keep the box over it so that the kids don't play with the insilation!
9) We are driving to Kellogg, Idaho, tomorrow (a five hour drive one way) to trade in the Impala for a mini-van. The functionality of the vehicle has taken over and I'm getting a mommy car. We were able to not only trade-in the car but we are ultimately getting a little money back into our pockets. Always a great thing! We only have three payments until the Impala is paid off, so we are making them all tomorrow and we will only be left we a mortgage as debt. Thank you, Jesus! "Before and After" pictures will follow. The best part of all of this is that we found a babysitter and we are going BY OURSELVES! This is the first time since July 2006 that Jeremy & I have spent an entire day together without the kids. We are THRILLED!!
10) On a similar note, in less than three weeks I get to fly to Atlanta to visit my dear friend Becca Mooney. I get to fly BY MYSELF to visit Becca. I haven't seen Becca in almost two years (and we've both had a baby since then!). And I haven't flown by myself somewhere since November 2004. It's time. It's really time. The anticipation of this trip helped me fight depression in January and February, and now it's almost here!! Chick-Fil-A, Hobby Lobby, and Korean food in addition to alone time, little-to-no responsibility and, of course, time with my sister-in-Christ. Does it get any better??
11) My dear friend (and college roommate) Mary had Thorson baby #3 this week. Welcome to the world, Jesse!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Correction
I reported falsely on yesterday's post. As of yesterday I had 19 hours left in this week, not left in busy season! Bummer, I know :(
Still pluggin' away at tax returns. I enjoy doing tax returns. I really do. But I feel like I've been gorging on them. It's much the same feeling (I'm sure you won't believe me) that I get after I've scrapbooked for hours and hours on end. It's enjoyable, but there is a limit!
I'm ready for spring. My North Carolina self knows that the weather is suppose to be 60 degrees with flowers planted by now. Not 30 degrees with snow on the ground. But somehow in His amazing ways, God is giving me a good attitude through the ice.
My newest project to add to Jeremy's list--we are going to paint our refrigerator. It's too small for what we will (eventually) need and it is a terrible almond color that does not match the kitchen, but it does work. Might as well continue using the thing until it either dies or we truly outgrow it. Just for the record, it is smaller than a 18 cu ft. That's pretty tiny for a girl who likes to cook! Need I tell you that Jeremy has 16 projects on his list before September? :)
Off to more work!
Still pluggin' away at tax returns. I enjoy doing tax returns. I really do. But I feel like I've been gorging on them. It's much the same feeling (I'm sure you won't believe me) that I get after I've scrapbooked for hours and hours on end. It's enjoyable, but there is a limit!
I'm ready for spring. My North Carolina self knows that the weather is suppose to be 60 degrees with flowers planted by now. Not 30 degrees with snow on the ground. But somehow in His amazing ways, God is giving me a good attitude through the ice.
My newest project to add to Jeremy's list--we are going to paint our refrigerator. It's too small for what we will (eventually) need and it is a terrible almond color that does not match the kitchen, but it does work. Might as well continue using the thing until it either dies or we truly outgrow it. Just for the record, it is smaller than a 18 cu ft. That's pretty tiny for a girl who likes to cook! Need I tell you that Jeremy has 16 projects on his list before September? :)
Off to more work!
Monday, March 31, 2008
19 to go
In 19 chargeable hours I'll be on my way to a vacation with my family!! (Well, apart from the 8 hour test that Jeremy has to take.) And when I get home from my vacation, I'll be back to a 10 houra week schedule and, hopefully, a more normal life where I can have people over for dinner, go to a small group (or start one!) and see my husband for more than the 20 minutes that we are trying to get food into the kids' mouths at dinner and the 10 minutes we are getting ready for bed. I'm ELATED! I think it is propelling me through the fatigue :)
No work has happened on the cabinets in the last few days, but I promise to have pictures up when I do!
No work has happened on the cabinets in the last few days, but I promise to have pictures up when I do!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Easter Pictures
Just a few shots of the family on Easter morning. Somehow this past week Hannah turned into a turn little girl. Amy & Scott came to visit and spent a lot of time playing with the kids while Jeremy & I painted the kitchen cabinets. The work isn't quite finished, but when it is I'll have some pictures up.
Only 29 hours of busy season left!!
Monday, March 10, 2008
There's a reason it feels so early...
Easter this year is: Sunday March 23, 2008
As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday afterthe 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).
This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendarthat Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Found out a couple of things you might be interesting!
Based on the above, Easter can actually be one dayearlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.
This year is the earliest Easter any of us will eversee the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:
The next time Easter will be this early (March 23)will be the year 2228 (220 years from now).
The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that werearound for that!).
The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, willbe in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.
So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!
As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday afterthe 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).
This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendarthat Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Found out a couple of things you might be interesting!
Based on the above, Easter can actually be one dayearlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.
This year is the earliest Easter any of us will eversee the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:
The next time Easter will be this early (March 23)will be the year 2228 (220 years from now).
The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that werearound for that!).
The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, willbe in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.
So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
My little man
We have finally convinced the boy to start walking. He isn't there yet, but he actually WANTS to learn now. He likes toys too much for his own good and gets so occupied by them (and crawling very quickly to and from them) to bother himself with learning how to walk. I have a feeling that our visit by Amy and Scott in two weeks will push him over the edge. They had the same effect on Hannah when they came to Korea to visit.
The Facts of Life
Come on...sing it with me...
"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have, the Facts of Life, the Facts of Life!"
Here is the good and the bad of February at our house. Both pictures are equally priceless, as is the daughter captured in them. Never a boring day at the Rhodes house!
Monday, March 03, 2008
More "normal" every day
I must just shout out to the world that I'm feeling more like "myself" everyday. It is such a GREAT feeling! I've missed me :) he he he :)
Fun news--the administrator of the Christian school in Korea (the Petersons) are moving to Great Falls to be the administrator of the Christian school here! It was quite a big surprise to get an email from Dianne saying they would be here in June. And it is so exciting to be "the person" who gets to help them in their move! I've been able to email her with a lot of information about Great Falls, churches, housing, etc. And since we lived here for almost four years prior to our time in Korea, we know someone in just about every area they need help (realators, loan officers, etc). The REALLY cool thing for me is that they (family of parents and two college-aged kids) will be staying with us until they move into their house! It may be a week, it may be a month, but I'm SO EXCITED to have them staying here! Our basement is pretty much perfect for what they need for their temporary stay (well, just a note--if you are in the GF area and know of a futon or twin bed or bunk beds that need a home, let me know so that Amy isn't sleeping on an air mattress the entire time), and it is so awesome to be able to bless people in such a tangible way that takes very little effort on my part. (I mean, really, I just need to clean the basement before they get here!)
So, Alisha moves out the last week of April, my sister comes to visit in June, and then the Petersons will be here this summer. Version #3 comes in September along with a two week visit from my mom. (Amy, would you like to come in October????) We get to fly home for Christmas. 2008 is full of people in my house!! YEAY!! I suppose that August and November are wide open, so if you know of transcients in need, let me know! I'd love a live-in nanny during busy season 2009, too....oh the dreams I have!
Fun news--the administrator of the Christian school in Korea (the Petersons) are moving to Great Falls to be the administrator of the Christian school here! It was quite a big surprise to get an email from Dianne saying they would be here in June. And it is so exciting to be "the person" who gets to help them in their move! I've been able to email her with a lot of information about Great Falls, churches, housing, etc. And since we lived here for almost four years prior to our time in Korea, we know someone in just about every area they need help (realators, loan officers, etc). The REALLY cool thing for me is that they (family of parents and two college-aged kids) will be staying with us until they move into their house! It may be a week, it may be a month, but I'm SO EXCITED to have them staying here! Our basement is pretty much perfect for what they need for their temporary stay (well, just a note--if you are in the GF area and know of a futon or twin bed or bunk beds that need a home, let me know so that Amy isn't sleeping on an air mattress the entire time), and it is so awesome to be able to bless people in such a tangible way that takes very little effort on my part. (I mean, really, I just need to clean the basement before they get here!)
So, Alisha moves out the last week of April, my sister comes to visit in June, and then the Petersons will be here this summer. Version #3 comes in September along with a two week visit from my mom. (Amy, would you like to come in October????) We get to fly home for Christmas. 2008 is full of people in my house!! YEAY!! I suppose that August and November are wide open, so if you know of transcients in need, let me know! I'd love a live-in nanny during busy season 2009, too....oh the dreams I have!
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Although I should have been downloading my pictures off my camera, I was looking at old pictures of Hannah instead. Can you believe that she was three weeks old here? Look at that hair? It still amazes me that she sleeps the same way now, at 2.5 years old as she did then with her mouth open. It was a lot of fun to look at the pictures, to see how similar (but not identical) that she and Benjamin look in their earlier baby pictures, and to see all of the girl clothes that I've forgotten that I have....and now it's time for sleep. I've spent much too much time being awake today!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
I just can't help it
I can't stay in the house anymore. Today was suppose to be partly cloudy and 51 degrees, which is like Tropical weather in MT in February. Hannah and I were both very excited. Less than five minutes after she woke up she asked if we were going for a walk in the stroller today. Weather.com said that it was 41 and felt like 36. It is very overcast and slightly windy. But after the forth time of Hannah asking to go for a walk, I bundled up the kids, prayed that a true MT wind would not kick up and head out for a walk. I ended up doing our standard 30 minute loop, and we played with sidewalk chalk with our gloves on when we got home :) I think the 1.5 hours outside helped ALL of us to have a good attitude! It is amazing the change in my kids when they get to play outside! It's almost as big as the change in me.
In quasi-related news, Jeremy's parents are flying to MT in three weeks. It has been such a blessing to get to see our families so much. Grandkids are such a good motivator :) And while they are here, Jeremy & Scott will be building an 8' x 8' sandbox for the kids! Well, as long as it doesn't snow the week after Easter...We got the idea from friends in Korea who said that every base they've moved to (except Korea, of course) they had built a 10' x 10' sandbox for their four kids. The mom said they would play for HOURS at a time. I need that kind of outdoor toy! (And yes, Jeremy is building a cover for it, too.) If I really have my act together, I may start painting my kitchen cabinets while they are here. We'll see what happens! Pictures, of course, will be forthcoming when above mention projects are finished.
Off to convince (discipline) Hannah to stay in bed for naptime. Oh the joys!
In quasi-related news, Jeremy's parents are flying to MT in three weeks. It has been such a blessing to get to see our families so much. Grandkids are such a good motivator :) And while they are here, Jeremy & Scott will be building an 8' x 8' sandbox for the kids! Well, as long as it doesn't snow the week after Easter...We got the idea from friends in Korea who said that every base they've moved to (except Korea, of course) they had built a 10' x 10' sandbox for their four kids. The mom said they would play for HOURS at a time. I need that kind of outdoor toy! (And yes, Jeremy is building a cover for it, too.) If I really have my act together, I may start painting my kitchen cabinets while they are here. We'll see what happens! Pictures, of course, will be forthcoming when above mention projects are finished.
Off to convince (discipline) Hannah to stay in bed for naptime. Oh the joys!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Maybe
Maybe it's because I'm not sick anymore. Maybe because I can have a cup of coffee (or two!) in a day without rolling over in pain. Maybe because I got to play outside last week and go for walks and get exercise and sunshine. Maybe it's because I am shedding mommy-guilt over my hours worked in the office. Maybe because busy season if half-way over. Maybe it's because of the prayers of my friends. Maybe it's because of the emails that told me that I'm fighting with things that all women fight with. Most likely it's the grace of God because He knows how much I can handle. Whatever the reason, I'm doing MUCH better this week! I'm not longing to retreat to my bed (except to relieve the fatigue). I don't want to bury myself in the covers while praying and asking God to let me wake up in Heaven rather than waking up in Montana(!). I'm actually getting some things done (and you all know that accomplishing tasks is almost a hobby of mine!). Well, SOME things. My tax return has been half done for a month now...
Anyway, I just want to post a little sunshine on the blog rather than listing all of my blahs. I still have so much to figure out, so many questions that are left unanswered. But as I figure them out, I'm sure I'll be spewing forth what I"ve learned so that the poor souls who follow me in the steps of motherhood don't lose their mind quite as much as I am :)
Anyway, I just want to post a little sunshine on the blog rather than listing all of my blahs. I still have so much to figure out, so many questions that are left unanswered. But as I figure them out, I'm sure I'll be spewing forth what I"ve learned so that the poor souls who follow me in the steps of motherhood don't lose their mind quite as much as I am :)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Stuff
My fellow bloggers will understand what I mean when I say that there are many nights that I lie in bed thinking about my life and writing about it in my mind like a blog entry. And my emotions have been so crazy (my moods swinging like a pendulum) that I haven't been able to really write anything for fear of how it will sound. In all honesty, I've been going through one of the hardest times of change in my life. Not that my life has been absent of change in the last decade. I think that would be the word that could best describe my life. But most of the changes that have happened in the last year have not been ones I have chosen and have not been ones I WOULD have chosen if given the choice in the first place. Add to this lack of control in the decision making process is the fact that the changes have been hard ones to live with. Then add seasonal depression (something I've never had before) and some pregnancy hormones along with busy season hours and a husband studying for his professional licensing test. Do you know what you have?? The recipe for a nervous breakdown. And with any period of great stress there are good days and really, really bad days. And because most of the days have been really, really bad days, I've been staying away from my computer. Just like mom says...If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all!
I don't know where I am in all of this. I really do think that seeing my friend counsel (can you believe that I can get my insurance to cover a CHRISTIAN counselor??) would be beneficial. I know what my problems are (for the most part) and I've been a christian long enough to know what the bible says about all of them. But just because I know what the truth is doesn't mean I can just say "Ok, I'm going to stop hurting now that I know that God works this out for His purposes." The road to maturity in the Lord is hard. And sometimes it means walking a path that we don't want to walk on for a very, very long time. Look at Moses. Do you really think he wanted to walk around the desert for 40 years? And maybe I"m at point. Maybe I'll be walking around the desert for 40 years. Maybe when I'm 69 the Lord will say "Ok! You've been faithful to walk where I've called you to walk, in this desert--enter your promise land!" I suppose I just have to be careful not to smite any rocks in the next few decades...
It's so easy for people say that if we read the promises of God and apply the truth of the Word that the joy of the Lord will just overcome all of our circumstances, as though life will be beautiful in an instant. But is it really like that? Was Moses so filled with the joy of the Lord that walking around in circles in the desert with one million whining Jews was a wonderful experience to him? And this is where I am. I've never been in this place before, and I'm not quite sure what to do with all of these new pieces. I always thought life would be that way. If I loved the Lord with all of my heart that it didn't matter where I was, who I was with, or how long I would be there, that life would be filled with that feeling you get when you are at mama's house. But I'm finding myself a stranger in this life, never able to really feel that peace of home. Yes, I know that as citizens of Heaven we are strangers on Earth. But I've never really felt like a stranger in a foreign land until now. And here is where I might be staying until I reach my ultimate promised land of Heaven. I never realized that when I left home in 1997 that I left even the feelings of home, never to have it again, even in my own house. I know I'll be able to create home for my kids, but can I create it for me?
I don't know where I am in all of this. I really do think that seeing my friend counsel (can you believe that I can get my insurance to cover a CHRISTIAN counselor??) would be beneficial. I know what my problems are (for the most part) and I've been a christian long enough to know what the bible says about all of them. But just because I know what the truth is doesn't mean I can just say "Ok, I'm going to stop hurting now that I know that God works this out for His purposes." The road to maturity in the Lord is hard. And sometimes it means walking a path that we don't want to walk on for a very, very long time. Look at Moses. Do you really think he wanted to walk around the desert for 40 years? And maybe I"m at point. Maybe I'll be walking around the desert for 40 years. Maybe when I'm 69 the Lord will say "Ok! You've been faithful to walk where I've called you to walk, in this desert--enter your promise land!" I suppose I just have to be careful not to smite any rocks in the next few decades...
It's so easy for people say that if we read the promises of God and apply the truth of the Word that the joy of the Lord will just overcome all of our circumstances, as though life will be beautiful in an instant. But is it really like that? Was Moses so filled with the joy of the Lord that walking around in circles in the desert with one million whining Jews was a wonderful experience to him? And this is where I am. I've never been in this place before, and I'm not quite sure what to do with all of these new pieces. I always thought life would be that way. If I loved the Lord with all of my heart that it didn't matter where I was, who I was with, or how long I would be there, that life would be filled with that feeling you get when you are at mama's house. But I'm finding myself a stranger in this life, never able to really feel that peace of home. Yes, I know that as citizens of Heaven we are strangers on Earth. But I've never really felt like a stranger in a foreign land until now. And here is where I might be staying until I reach my ultimate promised land of Heaven. I never realized that when I left home in 1997 that I left even the feelings of home, never to have it again, even in my own house. I know I'll be able to create home for my kids, but can I create it for me?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Plain Language on Parental Rights
I mentioned just two blogs ago about the UNCRC and the affect that it will have on us as parents. Let me specificially state things that WILL happen if this gets passed:
-spanking will be illegal
-homeschooling will only be permitted if the government determines it is in the best interest of the child; the parent no longer determines this
-the government will determine if the child should go to a private christian school
-the parent may no longer teach that Jesus is the only way to Heaven; the government would have not only the right but the responsibility for taking the child out of the home
-children have the right to determine if they go to church, where they go to church, what activities they are involved in, how many activities they are involved in
-whereas right now the government views parents as acting in the best interest of the child unless proven otherwise, parents will always be suspect and will have to prove why what they are doing is best, in the eyes of the government, for their children
-in short, the ratification of this legislation means that, in America, parents will no longer have any authority in the lives of their children. The only way to stop this from happening is through a Parental Rights' Amendment
I hope that the lack of comments on my blog at the last posting about this terribly important subject was due to digestion on the parts of the readers. If we sit back and do nothing, everything that we value and see as our God-given responsibility in the raising of our children will be taken from us. And it could happen within the term of the next President.
More information:
If this treaty becomes binding on the United States, the government would have the power to intervene in a child's life “for the best interest of the child.” Currently, the government can intervene in this fashion only by going to court and proving that parents have been abusive or have neglected their children. (This standard also applies in divorce cases on the presumption that the family unit has been broken.) This means that whenever the UN-dominated social services system thought that your parental choices were not the best, the government would have the power to override your choices and protect your child from you.
If this treaty becomes binding, all parents would have the same legal status as abusive parents, because the government would have the right to override every parental decision if it deemed the parent's choice contrary to the child's best interest. Specifically, spanking would be banned under the express terms of the UNCRC. Moreover, children would be required to be taught in a religiously “tolerant manner”. (The American Bar Association, which supports the treaty, has already opined that teaching children that Jesus is the only way to God violates the spirit and meaning of the UNCRC.)
The ability to homeschool one's children would become not a right, but a UN-supervised activity that could be overturned if social services personnel believed that it would be “best” for your child to receive another form of education.
These are not idle speculations, but the proven result of the UN's own interpretation of the treaty as they have reviewed other nations' compliance with the treaty's provisions. Here's the difference: No other major nation in the world has a constitutional provision that makes a provision of a treaty automatically part of the “highest law of the land.” This is the Constitution's Achilles heel. In every other nation, the UNCRC is a political liability—if ratified in America, it would be an enforceable and binding law.
Under existing Supreme Court precedent, a treaty cannot override an express provision of the U.S. Constitution. But a treaty can override a reserved right (Missouri v. Holland). And a treaty certainly can override either a state constitution or state statute. Parental rights are reserved (or implied) rights; they are not an express provision within the Constitution. A ratified treaty would clearly threaten our longstanding constitutional recognition of the liberty to raise our children. Moreover, it would instantly override every legislative victory ever won for homeschooling.
-spanking will be illegal
-homeschooling will only be permitted if the government determines it is in the best interest of the child; the parent no longer determines this
-the government will determine if the child should go to a private christian school
-the parent may no longer teach that Jesus is the only way to Heaven; the government would have not only the right but the responsibility for taking the child out of the home
-children have the right to determine if they go to church, where they go to church, what activities they are involved in, how many activities they are involved in
-whereas right now the government views parents as acting in the best interest of the child unless proven otherwise, parents will always be suspect and will have to prove why what they are doing is best, in the eyes of the government, for their children
-in short, the ratification of this legislation means that, in America, parents will no longer have any authority in the lives of their children. The only way to stop this from happening is through a Parental Rights' Amendment
I hope that the lack of comments on my blog at the last posting about this terribly important subject was due to digestion on the parts of the readers. If we sit back and do nothing, everything that we value and see as our God-given responsibility in the raising of our children will be taken from us. And it could happen within the term of the next President.
More information:
If this treaty becomes binding on the United States, the government would have the power to intervene in a child's life “for the best interest of the child.” Currently, the government can intervene in this fashion only by going to court and proving that parents have been abusive or have neglected their children. (This standard also applies in divorce cases on the presumption that the family unit has been broken.) This means that whenever the UN-dominated social services system thought that your parental choices were not the best, the government would have the power to override your choices and protect your child from you.
If this treaty becomes binding, all parents would have the same legal status as abusive parents, because the government would have the right to override every parental decision if it deemed the parent's choice contrary to the child's best interest. Specifically, spanking would be banned under the express terms of the UNCRC. Moreover, children would be required to be taught in a religiously “tolerant manner”. (The American Bar Association, which supports the treaty, has already opined that teaching children that Jesus is the only way to God violates the spirit and meaning of the UNCRC.)
The ability to homeschool one's children would become not a right, but a UN-supervised activity that could be overturned if social services personnel believed that it would be “best” for your child to receive another form of education.
These are not idle speculations, but the proven result of the UN's own interpretation of the treaty as they have reviewed other nations' compliance with the treaty's provisions. Here's the difference: No other major nation in the world has a constitutional provision that makes a provision of a treaty automatically part of the “highest law of the land.” This is the Constitution's Achilles heel. In every other nation, the UNCRC is a political liability—if ratified in America, it would be an enforceable and binding law.
Under existing Supreme Court precedent, a treaty cannot override an express provision of the U.S. Constitution. But a treaty can override a reserved right (Missouri v. Holland). And a treaty certainly can override either a state constitution or state statute. Parental rights are reserved (or implied) rights; they are not an express provision within the Constitution. A ratified treaty would clearly threaten our longstanding constitutional recognition of the liberty to raise our children. Moreover, it would instantly override every legislative victory ever won for homeschooling.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Version #3
For those who don't already know, we are indeed pregnant with Rhodes baby #3. Jeremy has never been so excited in his life. (Wait a minute...the flight from Korea to the US when he was separating for the military might be a small challenge to that statement...) I'm excited about the little person but apprehensive that my energy and sanity will make it through the first year of their little life. That's when I just repeat "I trust you, Lord. I trust you." There are multiple reasons why God made pregnancy 9 months for humans, and I think mental preparation is one of them :)
So raise your glasses and let's toast! To another wonderful little life! To being one step closer to completing the composition of our family! To the last round of maternity clothes and stretch marks! To only one more labor!
So raise your glasses and let's toast! To another wonderful little life! To being one step closer to completing the composition of our family! To the last round of maternity clothes and stretch marks! To only one more labor!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Parental Rights Amendment
I know this is a lot of information, but I ask that you take a minute and read it all. It was brought to my attention by a dear friend who is homeschooling her three kiddos, but it applicable to parent (or future parent or lover of the family unit). The consequences of our inaction in this area will be detrimental. It amazes me that the government says it has no right to interfer with what happens in the bedroom of people, but they have the duty to be involve in the conversations around the dinner table. Unfortunately, the ones who will suffer from this government "involvement" will be the people who actually TALK with their kids over the dinner table! Enough of my babbling...
__________________________________________
From the Desk of Michael P. Farris ...
February 7, 2008
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
I am writing to you today about obtaining permanent protection for our rights as parents. For nearly 25 years, HSLDA has focused on defending the right of parents to home educate their children. We have met with great success in this effort, and we have seen God’s hand of blessing on thousands of families as the homeschooling movement has progressed.
After all, this movement was built upon the firm belief that parents possess a God-given right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. And I know that you’ll agree with me in saying when that right is under fire, we must do whatever we can to protect it.
Parental Rights are in Jeopardy
A “perfect storm” that could literally demolish the rights we value so deeply is approaching on the horizon. If these threats persist, we could soon be looking at the demolition of the parental role, and an upsurge of government intrusion in family life. Even though parental rights are recognized as a fundamental right under current Supreme Court doctrine, there are two threats to the recognition of this principle.
The Threat from the Federal Courts
Today an increasing number of Supreme Court justices refuse to recognize that parental rights are a fundamental right. In the 2000 case of Troxel v. Granville, only four of the nine Supreme Court justices expressly agreed that the Constitution “protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.” Two of these justices—then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor—have since left the Court.
Even Justice Antonin Scalia, a noted conservative, holds that parental rights are not judicially enforceable at all until there is a specific parental rights provision in the Constitution.
The Threat of International Law
Even as the recognition of parental rights is fading within the federal courts, international law which diminishes parental authority is approaching possible ratification. The growing use of international law in American courts offers a frightening glimpse into the future. If the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) becomes binding on this country, then parental rights as we know them will be erased. This international treaty provides for the government to define what is in the “best interests of the child,” supplanting the parent as the ultimate decision maker.
Moreover, if the UNCRC is ratified, all state laws which recognize the right to homeschool will be superseded by international law if international tribunals or American courts think that such education is not in the “best interest of the child.” We would do well to remember the example of Germany on this point.
There is Only One Solution
I am convinced that there is only one solution to this attack on the child-parent relationship: We must amend the Constitution to permanently secure the rights of parents. The Parental Rights Amendment is the only way to protect and preserve the rights of parents to make key decisions for their children, as well as to direct their upbringing and education.
The only way that we can accomplish this goal is to gain the nationwide support of millions of parents like you. We need to raise our voices to safeguard the child-parent relationship. And we need to be organized and vocal so that Congress will listen.
It’s the Battle of Our Lifetime
The battle for parental rights will be the fight of our lifetime. That’s why I am turning to you for support as we launch this vital campaign.
The process of amending the Constitution is both long and challenging. Our goal is to have a substantial number of Congressional co-sponsors before the Parental Rights Amendment is even introduced. Ultimately the amendment requires final approval of two-thirds of both the House and the Senate. Once passed by Congress, the amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
We Need a Groundswell of Support
As you can see, passing the Parental Rights Amendment is not going to be easy. But it is completely possible. If we can find 10,000 people within each congressional district who are willing to contact their congressmen and senators on this issue, then we can gain a favorable response from most members of Congress. We are referring to these individuals as Citizen Co-sponsors. Our goal is to find 10,000 Citizen Co-sponsors in at least 80% of the congressional districts in the country. While this number may seem daunting, it is clearly attainable. In fact, if each HSLDA member recruits 40 people to become Citizen Co-sponsors by signing the petition, we will reach this goal.
The bottom line is this: we need a groundswell of support and activism from our HSLDA members. That’s why I am asking you to do two things right away.
1. Join ParentalRights.org
You can become a Citizen Co-Sponsor simply by signing the petition for parental rights on ParentalRights.org. But I am asking you to take this one step further.
I am challenging you to join the campaign. With a gift of $25 or more, you can become a member of ParentalRights.org. There are two reasons why we urgently need your financial support. The first and most obvious reason is that building the infrastructure to secure a Constitutional amendment requires a substantial amount of money. Second, under existing federal law we can only send detailed information about the political implications of this effort to dues-paying members. Therefore certain communications will only be given to our dues-paying members rather than those who have only signed the petition.
2. Get your friends and neighbors involved
I’m asking you to enlist your friends and family to visit ParentalRights.org, and encourage them to join the campaign. Our user-friendly Tell a Friend application enables you to upload email addresses from your address book, and easily inform friends of the importance of the campaign. Growth is essential during the early stages of this effort, and that support needs to start now.
We need grassroots support from dedicated parents in all 50 states to ensure the smooth passage of the amendment. I firmly believe that the homeschooling movement is the key to victory in this massive effort. We’ve come a long way in the last 25 years… but there is so much more ahead. I’m challenging you to join the fight today.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Farris
Chairman, Home School Legal Defense Association
President, ParentalRights.org
The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of:Home School Legal Defense Association • P.O. Box 3000 • Purcellville, Virginia 20134-9000Phone: (540) 338-5600 • Fax: (540) 338-2733 • Email: info@hslda.orgWeb: http://www.hslda.org
__________________________________________
From the Desk of Michael P. Farris ...
February 7, 2008
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
I am writing to you today about obtaining permanent protection for our rights as parents. For nearly 25 years, HSLDA has focused on defending the right of parents to home educate their children. We have met with great success in this effort, and we have seen God’s hand of blessing on thousands of families as the homeschooling movement has progressed.
After all, this movement was built upon the firm belief that parents possess a God-given right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. And I know that you’ll agree with me in saying when that right is under fire, we must do whatever we can to protect it.
Parental Rights are in Jeopardy
A “perfect storm” that could literally demolish the rights we value so deeply is approaching on the horizon. If these threats persist, we could soon be looking at the demolition of the parental role, and an upsurge of government intrusion in family life. Even though parental rights are recognized as a fundamental right under current Supreme Court doctrine, there are two threats to the recognition of this principle.
The Threat from the Federal Courts
Today an increasing number of Supreme Court justices refuse to recognize that parental rights are a fundamental right. In the 2000 case of Troxel v. Granville, only four of the nine Supreme Court justices expressly agreed that the Constitution “protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.” Two of these justices—then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor—have since left the Court.
Even Justice Antonin Scalia, a noted conservative, holds that parental rights are not judicially enforceable at all until there is a specific parental rights provision in the Constitution.
The Threat of International Law
Even as the recognition of parental rights is fading within the federal courts, international law which diminishes parental authority is approaching possible ratification. The growing use of international law in American courts offers a frightening glimpse into the future. If the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) becomes binding on this country, then parental rights as we know them will be erased. This international treaty provides for the government to define what is in the “best interests of the child,” supplanting the parent as the ultimate decision maker.
Moreover, if the UNCRC is ratified, all state laws which recognize the right to homeschool will be superseded by international law if international tribunals or American courts think that such education is not in the “best interest of the child.” We would do well to remember the example of Germany on this point.
There is Only One Solution
I am convinced that there is only one solution to this attack on the child-parent relationship: We must amend the Constitution to permanently secure the rights of parents. The Parental Rights Amendment is the only way to protect and preserve the rights of parents to make key decisions for their children, as well as to direct their upbringing and education.
The only way that we can accomplish this goal is to gain the nationwide support of millions of parents like you. We need to raise our voices to safeguard the child-parent relationship. And we need to be organized and vocal so that Congress will listen.
It’s the Battle of Our Lifetime
The battle for parental rights will be the fight of our lifetime. That’s why I am turning to you for support as we launch this vital campaign.
The process of amending the Constitution is both long and challenging. Our goal is to have a substantial number of Congressional co-sponsors before the Parental Rights Amendment is even introduced. Ultimately the amendment requires final approval of two-thirds of both the House and the Senate. Once passed by Congress, the amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
We Need a Groundswell of Support
As you can see, passing the Parental Rights Amendment is not going to be easy. But it is completely possible. If we can find 10,000 people within each congressional district who are willing to contact their congressmen and senators on this issue, then we can gain a favorable response from most members of Congress. We are referring to these individuals as Citizen Co-sponsors. Our goal is to find 10,000 Citizen Co-sponsors in at least 80% of the congressional districts in the country. While this number may seem daunting, it is clearly attainable. In fact, if each HSLDA member recruits 40 people to become Citizen Co-sponsors by signing the petition, we will reach this goal.
The bottom line is this: we need a groundswell of support and activism from our HSLDA members. That’s why I am asking you to do two things right away.
1. Join ParentalRights.org
You can become a Citizen Co-Sponsor simply by signing the petition for parental rights on ParentalRights.org. But I am asking you to take this one step further.
I am challenging you to join the campaign. With a gift of $25 or more, you can become a member of ParentalRights.org. There are two reasons why we urgently need your financial support. The first and most obvious reason is that building the infrastructure to secure a Constitutional amendment requires a substantial amount of money. Second, under existing federal law we can only send detailed information about the political implications of this effort to dues-paying members. Therefore certain communications will only be given to our dues-paying members rather than those who have only signed the petition.
2. Get your friends and neighbors involved
I’m asking you to enlist your friends and family to visit ParentalRights.org, and encourage them to join the campaign. Our user-friendly Tell a Friend application enables you to upload email addresses from your address book, and easily inform friends of the importance of the campaign. Growth is essential during the early stages of this effort, and that support needs to start now.
We need grassroots support from dedicated parents in all 50 states to ensure the smooth passage of the amendment. I firmly believe that the homeschooling movement is the key to victory in this massive effort. We’ve come a long way in the last 25 years… but there is so much more ahead. I’m challenging you to join the fight today.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Farris
Chairman, Home School Legal Defense Association
President, ParentalRights.org
The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of:Home School Legal Defense Association • P.O. Box 3000 • Purcellville, Virginia 20134-9000Phone: (540) 338-5600 • Fax: (540) 338-2733 • Email: info@hslda.orgWeb: http://www.hslda.org
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
A Life of Grey
Tangent before I get started--why is it so much fun to spell "gray" as "grey"? I'm sure my mother-in-law can tell me if I can use them interchangably...
My life, right at this very minute, seems void of any kind of color whatsoever. Not only is it STILL too cold to take the kids for a walk in the stroller (not to mention the ice on the roads), but we are further in isolation due to the flu. I had it, Benjamin had a little bit of it, and we seemed to be on the mend until today when Hannah threw up twice. The very weird thing is that we never go anywhere. We hardly ever see anyone on a consistant basis anyway. So, how are we sick? We were out and about all the time in Korea--downtown, around bases, at church & meetings, at the playground in February 40 degree weather--and we never got sick like this. So why, now that I no longer have all of those fun places to actually caught germs, am I having to go through the cycles of sickness? It seems that if we had gone through it in Korea, it would have at least been the price we paid for having some fun and being with friends. We can't even say that much now!
And so here I am...feeling sick, taking care of sick ones, trying to work, trapped in the house, and no end in sight (well, at least for the last two of the list--I know the kids will get better eventually!). Many times this morning I pondered the wonders of depression medication. But because of my compulsive/obsessive personality, I know not to open that Pandora's Box! I can see myself slipping into the "need a drug for everything" mentality as the chaos of my life only seems to escalate and never level off. The one drug I don't need right now is sleeping medication! He he he :) I guess exhaustion will do that for a body! Speaking of which....zzzzzzz.....
My life, right at this very minute, seems void of any kind of color whatsoever. Not only is it STILL too cold to take the kids for a walk in the stroller (not to mention the ice on the roads), but we are further in isolation due to the flu. I had it, Benjamin had a little bit of it, and we seemed to be on the mend until today when Hannah threw up twice. The very weird thing is that we never go anywhere. We hardly ever see anyone on a consistant basis anyway. So, how are we sick? We were out and about all the time in Korea--downtown, around bases, at church & meetings, at the playground in February 40 degree weather--and we never got sick like this. So why, now that I no longer have all of those fun places to actually caught germs, am I having to go through the cycles of sickness? It seems that if we had gone through it in Korea, it would have at least been the price we paid for having some fun and being with friends. We can't even say that much now!
And so here I am...feeling sick, taking care of sick ones, trying to work, trapped in the house, and no end in sight (well, at least for the last two of the list--I know the kids will get better eventually!). Many times this morning I pondered the wonders of depression medication. But because of my compulsive/obsessive personality, I know not to open that Pandora's Box! I can see myself slipping into the "need a drug for everything" mentality as the chaos of my life only seems to escalate and never level off. The one drug I don't need right now is sleeping medication! He he he :) I guess exhaustion will do that for a body! Speaking of which....zzzzzzz.....
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Praise God!
I can't stand having a rental house. I really can't stand it. Not the work involved (which varies) but the uncertainty of having renters/not having renters and then possibly paying two mortgages a month! YUCK! And this month, in less than 24 hours, the current renters went from wanting to renew their lease for 6 months to moving out in less than 30 days! But, I am happy to report, that the Lord has once again proven Himself faithful in providing. THANK YOU, GOD!! It is really convicting to be worrying about having renters while watching the Veggie Tales' "Gideon" which is all about trusting the Lord, or to be reading David and Goliath to your two year old. Kids are good for a lot of reasons :)
As a side note, if you want something beautiful to look at, check out this:
http://www.uppercaseliving.com/OurProducts/InspirationalIdeas/
This stuff is awesome! I have no idea the cost...I'm in process of getting a catalog...but it still makes your home look like something out of Pottery Barn, which should truly be the goal of all of our lives (read ladened with sarcasm). But, in honesty, doesn't it just look like fun??
As a side note, if you want something beautiful to look at, check out this:
http://www.uppercaseliving.com/OurProducts/InspirationalIdeas/
This stuff is awesome! I have no idea the cost...I'm in process of getting a catalog...but it still makes your home look like something out of Pottery Barn, which should truly be the goal of all of our lives (read ladened with sarcasm). But, in honesty, doesn't it just look like fun??
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Montana Caucus
For those living in Montana, the Republican Caucus is next Tuesday, February 5th. The Democratic Primary is June 3rd. That's right--if you are a Republican, you get to be a part of "Super Tuesday"! I'm not nearly as involved in politics as I feel that I SHOULD be, as is my responsbility as an American to participate in my government, but I have been trying to stay on top of the world of politics in regard to the presidential elections (Isn't there already a lot that we are all doing in our lives?!?) I have a feeling that many of my "readers" feel the same, so I wanted to pass along a link that is a "quick reference" of sorts on hot topics you might be interested in:
http://www.afa.net/pdfs/08vg.pdf
I encourage you to participate. We can't complain about the way our government is functioning when we refuse to be involved in that Government. Not that I feel the Gospel (or even morals) can be forced through legislation but our democracy was designed as a participatory government. Are you participating?
http://www.afa.net/pdfs/08vg.pdf
I encourage you to participate. We can't complain about the way our government is functioning when we refuse to be involved in that Government. Not that I feel the Gospel (or even morals) can be forced through legislation but our democracy was designed as a participatory government. Are you participating?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Southern Living Magazine
Somehow I've managed to get a full year subscription to Southern Living Magazine for just $2 for the year. Not even $2 an issue, which would still be a phenomenal deal, but $2 for the year. While curled up in my bed with less than a full brain cell functioning last night, I turned through the beautiful pages of my favorite magazine in the entire world. And as I forced myself to close it's pages and go to sleep, I thought about how I should blog to the world how much I love this magazine. (Yes, Christi, these are the riduculously random postings that make you NOT want to blog!)
When the mailman brings my monthly issue of Southern Living to my door, it's like he is delivering a little piece of home. In every single magazine there is at least one article about either a place I have lived or a place I have visited. I see pictures of beautiful, stately mansions of different cities, the Blue Ridge Mountains that I called home for so many years, or the leaves in many shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. I read 10 pages articles on how to have a great tailgate party (because who DOESN'T like football in the south??) and find mouth-watering recipes to add to my repetroire of Foods-That-Make-You-As-Round-As-A-Southern-Mama.
I used to read the magazine and ache. Now, with the Lord's help, I can read it and be filled with the warm peace that comes from being home. I can't wait for the next issue! (And don't worry Rachel, I love it so much that I never throw an issue away...)
As a completely tangent side note, one of my fabulous friends from church is in labor and will have her little girl tomorrow!! YEAY for not being pregnant anymore! YEAY for being able to sleep on your back again and tie your shoes and eat without having indigestion! And, of course, yeay for meeting the little person God has been forming for 40 weeks!! Congratulations, Tosha!
When the mailman brings my monthly issue of Southern Living to my door, it's like he is delivering a little piece of home. In every single magazine there is at least one article about either a place I have lived or a place I have visited. I see pictures of beautiful, stately mansions of different cities, the Blue Ridge Mountains that I called home for so many years, or the leaves in many shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. I read 10 pages articles on how to have a great tailgate party (because who DOESN'T like football in the south??) and find mouth-watering recipes to add to my repetroire of Foods-That-Make-You-As-Round-As-A-Southern-Mama.
I used to read the magazine and ache. Now, with the Lord's help, I can read it and be filled with the warm peace that comes from being home. I can't wait for the next issue! (And don't worry Rachel, I love it so much that I never throw an issue away...)
As a completely tangent side note, one of my fabulous friends from church is in labor and will have her little girl tomorrow!! YEAY for not being pregnant anymore! YEAY for being able to sleep on your back again and tie your shoes and eat without having indigestion! And, of course, yeay for meeting the little person God has been forming for 40 weeks!! Congratulations, Tosha!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
It's about time...
For those of you who faithfully check my blog to find out any little tidbits I may actually get around to writing once a month (or so it has been...) you have hit pay-dirt because I'm actually blogging. At least for the month :)
December, of course, was a whirlwind of family activity with my parents visiting for three weeks. It was a blast, it seemed like normal life, it was way too short. If only they would realize that they need to move here...
Jeremy had three weeks in a row with three days of work or less. And in that time he only used two days of vacation. You can see the look of pure joy on his face. Really. That's what this face says. In additional news, he may have found the much prayed-for "hunting buddy" last night. He is already counting down until next year's hunting season!
I did as any normal, loving daughter would do and put outside life on hold for those three weeks. Christy and Becca did not, thankfully, and this is my first chance to say via blogging-world
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Also, congratulations to non-blogging friends Heather and Christine on the arrivals of their bundles :) And to Mary, we are thrilled to hear of your SON to come in May!
The day my parents left I fought tears and fought tears. And then the Hokies lost yet another BSC bowl. The next day I started busy season hours and ended the day sick. I stayed sick for 10 days with a nasty cough and zero energy. It's been a fun week and a half.
On the upside, we got a "roommate" that weekend. Alisha Grubb recently came back to Great Falls after finishing school at Portland Bible College. She is getting married on April 26th and is staying at our house until then. Quite the social gal, she isn't home much, but when she is, we have a ball talking about weddings and marriage and, well, all of those things you worry about before you get married! (She is the gal on the far left.)
Hannah now has a "big girl bed" as I converted the crib to a daybed. She didn't fall out or get out without permission for the first week. It was great. A flip has gone off in her head, though, and she has decided that getting out of bed is worth the spanking. Everytime. Hopefully that won't last long. Much to my chagrin, she still has no interest in using the potty. One sweet day, one sweet day.
Benjamin took positive "steps" today toward walking. He'll actually walk behind the push toy! YEAY! The kid just loves to investigate and play with toys (and mommy's plant) and is too consumed in these activities to pursue walking. I really wish he would. I've been carrying kids to the car for 2.5 years now and would really like to walk to the vehicle without a child in arms! He has been wearing 18 month clothes since before Christmas and will celebrate his first birthday in less than two weeks!
The most important thing to celebrate, however, is that I gave up nursing the little man the day after Christmas. I was D-O-N-E!!! And it has been such a liberating feeling! I had a pretty good streak going--I was either pregnant or nursing a child for 38 straight months. Time for a break! Second runner up in the "best things to celebrate" catagory is the fact that I got a brand new DOUBLE OVEN! I actually have an oven that cooks the food! It cooks it so well that I can bake two pizzas at the same time--in just the top oven! For those who have been within earshot of me (whether in person on over the phone) you probably know just how much I loathed my last oven. I'm THRILLED with the new appliance that my husband so lovingly installed for me!!!
More to come...but probably not until February! :)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Christmas pictures
I know, I know--I'm partial (and suppose to be!) but they ARE pretty cute, huh?!? :)
My mom and dad finally arrived in Great Falls yesterday for a three week visit. We are so glad they are here! They got here just in time for the church children's Christmas program tonight, of which both Hannah AND Benjamin were in!
Friday, December 14, 2007
This will make your brain hurt!
Dilbert's "Salary Theorem" states:
"Scientists and Engineers can never earn as much as administrators and sales people."
This theorem can now be proved mathematically:
Given:
Power = Work / Time
Knowledge = Power
Therefore:
Knowledge = Work/ Time
It is commonly understood that time = money
Then: Knowledge = Work/Money
Solve for Money: Money = Work/Knowledge
Therefore, as knowledge -> 0, money -> ∞ infinity, and is independent of the amount of work accomplished.
Conclusion: the less you know, the more you make.
"Scientists and Engineers can never earn as much as administrators and sales people."
This theorem can now be proved mathematically:
Given:
Power = Work / Time
Knowledge = Power
Therefore:
Knowledge = Work/ Time
It is commonly understood that time = money
Then: Knowledge = Work/Money
Solve for Money: Money = Work/Knowledge
Therefore, as knowledge -> 0, money -> ∞ infinity, and is independent of the amount of work accomplished.
Conclusion: the less you know, the more you make.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
You have to be kidding me
I'm doing some research on financial planning for work. According to one website calculator, in order to pay for four years of public school for both kids, I need to save $1200/month for the next 18 years. That is more than my mortgage, mortgage insurace, RE taxes, property insurance, and the $175 in extra principle I pay per month. Seriously, do "people" really think that the average American family has a snowball's chance in hey-hey to save for something like that?? And if they can, they are definitely not a "middle class" family!
Ok, enough of that...
Ok, enough of that...
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sewing Projects!
Check out my recently completed sewing projects! It's amazing how much can get done when Jeremy goes away for a four day elk-hunting trip!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Yippy!! Rejoicing! Time to Party!
It's finally done--I not only completed my CPE (continuing professional eduation) for this year, but I'm up-to-date for the CPE I need to be "current" over the past three years. I've done a whopping 70 hours of education in the past three months. I'm SO GLAD that this is over! One of the major benefits of my job is that my firm will now pay for my CPE as well as pay me while I'm taking it! What a relief to have it done!
On a much more significant note, here is a belated CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend Christy for passing the California Bar exam! (You little smartie pants!) California needs more Christian lawyers!
In unrelated news...
-Jeremy filled both deer tags this season and even though he wasn't very pleased with the sizes of his "kills" we will still have over 40 lbs of meat in the freezer due to his "hobby."
-My parents will be here three weeks from today and are staying for three weeks. This will be the first time they have been able to visit my home since I've become a mom. I'm REALLY excited about their visit!!
-Jeremy & I stayed up Thursday night and put up all of the Christmas decorations. Poor man ended up spending over an hour working on the Christmas tree lights. It didn't help that we have five trees :) I'll post pictures soon (hopefully).
-We deep-fried a turkey on Thanksgiving. It was quite the adventure and let me warn all of my cold-weather friends that peanut oil will, in fact, freeze if left in the trunk of your car. We had to put the oil in a bathtub of hot water to thaw it out before we could cook the bird!
-It snowed last Sunday and the snow has stayed on the grass, at least, all week. We are suppose to get more snow on Tuesday and Wednesday of this upcoming week. Definitely helped me get into the Christmas spirit. Surprisingly, the humidity was at 60% (which is HIGH for here!) on Saturday and with the highs in the upper 20s, it felt like east coast winter weather :)
-last but not least.....
My dear Hokies beat the PANTS off of our rival team (UVA) and are headed to the ACC championship game against...Boston College. For those who don't know, we had a devastating forth quarter loss to BC earlier in the season (in the only game we were able to watch!). The good news is that it is hard to be beat the same team twice in a season, so odds are in the Hokies favor. The winner gets a BCS bowl appearance! GO HOKIES!!!
ps--Did anyone other than me catch the AMAZING (and sad) Uk and Tenn game today??? What great football! Hannah watched all four (yes four) OTs with me and when I would say "Go Kentucky" she would pipe up with "Go Football!" I think we are effectively brainwashing the child...
On a much more significant note, here is a belated CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend Christy for passing the California Bar exam! (You little smartie pants!) California needs more Christian lawyers!
In unrelated news...
-Jeremy filled both deer tags this season and even though he wasn't very pleased with the sizes of his "kills" we will still have over 40 lbs of meat in the freezer due to his "hobby."
-My parents will be here three weeks from today and are staying for three weeks. This will be the first time they have been able to visit my home since I've become a mom. I'm REALLY excited about their visit!!
-Jeremy & I stayed up Thursday night and put up all of the Christmas decorations. Poor man ended up spending over an hour working on the Christmas tree lights. It didn't help that we have five trees :) I'll post pictures soon (hopefully).
-We deep-fried a turkey on Thanksgiving. It was quite the adventure and let me warn all of my cold-weather friends that peanut oil will, in fact, freeze if left in the trunk of your car. We had to put the oil in a bathtub of hot water to thaw it out before we could cook the bird!
-It snowed last Sunday and the snow has stayed on the grass, at least, all week. We are suppose to get more snow on Tuesday and Wednesday of this upcoming week. Definitely helped me get into the Christmas spirit. Surprisingly, the humidity was at 60% (which is HIGH for here!) on Saturday and with the highs in the upper 20s, it felt like east coast winter weather :)
-last but not least.....
GO HOKIES!!!
My dear Hokies beat the PANTS off of our rival team (UVA) and are headed to the ACC championship game against...Boston College. For those who don't know, we had a devastating forth quarter loss to BC earlier in the season (in the only game we were able to watch!). The good news is that it is hard to be beat the same team twice in a season, so odds are in the Hokies favor. The winner gets a BCS bowl appearance! GO HOKIES!!!
ps--Did anyone other than me catch the AMAZING (and sad) Uk and Tenn game today??? What great football! Hannah watched all four (yes four) OTs with me and when I would say "Go Kentucky" she would pipe up with "Go Football!" I think we are effectively brainwashing the child...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Calorie Warning!
This website was at the top of my gmail webpage today, so I gave it a go. When checking the boxes, I thought my answers were pretty conservative. They didn't even give me the chance to pick TWO dinner rolls! Here are my results. I thought it was quite comical :)
A cup of coffee with cream and sugar, Half a cup of mixed, raw veggies, One ounce of potato or tortilla chips, One teaspoon of chip dip, Six ounces of white and dark turkey, Half a cup of stuffing, Half a cup of cranberry sauce, Half a cup of mashed potatoes, Half a cup of gravy, Half a cup of green bean casserole, A dinner roll, A pat of butter, A slice of pumpkin pie, Half a cup of whipped cream, ...that comes to 1945 calories. You will need to walk 19.45 miles, 31.37 kilometers, or 38900 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.
A cup of coffee with cream and sugar, Half a cup of mixed, raw veggies, One ounce of potato or tortilla chips, One teaspoon of chip dip, Six ounces of white and dark turkey, Half a cup of stuffing, Half a cup of cranberry sauce, Half a cup of mashed potatoes, Half a cup of gravy, Half a cup of green bean casserole, A dinner roll, A pat of butter, A slice of pumpkin pie, Half a cup of whipped cream, ...that comes to 1945 calories. You will need to walk 19.45 miles, 31.37 kilometers, or 38900 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sometimes I forget
Sometimes I forget that I had a life before the one I'm currently living. When a person grows up in the same town all of their life, their personal reference point of all memories in that place are as far back as they can remember. They can drive down the road and have memories of being five years old.
My life has been so broken up in time and place that it is hard for me to get a sense of continuity in my life. It feels like my life has been lived in chunks. There is the Pennsylvania me, the North Carolina me, the SW Virginia me, the college me, the shortly-lived-Boston me, the newlywed Montana me, the Korea-new-mommy-me, and now there is the I-don't-know-what-to-call-myself me. I don't keep in touch with any people from Pennsylvania. There are very few people I keep in contact with from NC, and even less people from high school (the SW Virginia chapter). And so, apart from my immediate family, the people who KNOW me and have known me the longest are only friends that I have had for the past nine years. (Thank you, God, for Mary and Caryn!)
In all of this, it is wonderful to know that God has been there through it all. He understands, even more than I do, who I am, the memories I have, and have I have gotten to the point I am at right now.
And all of this babble started because I was listening to the "Passion: Live at One Day" CD. I was there. I was part of that live crowd. And that day was such an Ebenzer for me. It seems, looking back on it, that that day, that weekend, was a turning point in my relationship with Christ and, eventually, my relationship with Jeremy. In a way, my life changed forever when that CD was being recorded. And how awesome to be able to listen to it while sitting in my basement working.
Ok, I have no idea how much sense this blog makes. It's late, I'm tired, and I am going to bed! For all of my readers who have been a part, however small, of shaping who I was and who I am--thank you :)
My life has been so broken up in time and place that it is hard for me to get a sense of continuity in my life. It feels like my life has been lived in chunks. There is the Pennsylvania me, the North Carolina me, the SW Virginia me, the college me, the shortly-lived-Boston me, the newlywed Montana me, the Korea-new-mommy-me, and now there is the I-don't-know-what-to-call-myself me. I don't keep in touch with any people from Pennsylvania. There are very few people I keep in contact with from NC, and even less people from high school (the SW Virginia chapter). And so, apart from my immediate family, the people who KNOW me and have known me the longest are only friends that I have had for the past nine years. (Thank you, God, for Mary and Caryn!)
In all of this, it is wonderful to know that God has been there through it all. He understands, even more than I do, who I am, the memories I have, and have I have gotten to the point I am at right now.
And all of this babble started because I was listening to the "Passion: Live at One Day" CD. I was there. I was part of that live crowd. And that day was such an Ebenzer for me. It seems, looking back on it, that that day, that weekend, was a turning point in my relationship with Christ and, eventually, my relationship with Jeremy. In a way, my life changed forever when that CD was being recorded. And how awesome to be able to listen to it while sitting in my basement working.
Ok, I have no idea how much sense this blog makes. It's late, I'm tired, and I am going to bed! For all of my readers who have been a part, however small, of shaping who I was and who I am--thank you :)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
One of those "catch up" blogs
In the past three weeks I have...
-made the curtains for my kitchen and toy room as well as a runner for our dining room table
-managed to take care of the kids for four days while Jeremy went off to the Highwood Mountains to hunt. How is it the kids always know when daddy is away and they stop sleeping??
-went to two different classes at Harvest Springs Community Church and, afterward, decided that this is the home for us (Can I tell you how glad I am that this four month process is over???)
-had three chiropractic visits (nothing like a good crack in the back!)
-went to two full days of tax update CPE
-started cleaning out the storage room of all of the stuff that I shoved away when our household goods got here from Korea
-set up my home office! FINALLY!
-rake leaves (and raked leaves and raked leaves!)
-cleaned the garage for Jeremy
-I'm sure there is more, but my brain hurts from working tonight
Jeremy had to rip out the shower in the downstairs bathroom as well as a third of the drywall. My parents come into town in 4.5 weeks, so he doesn't have too much time left to get all of this craziness done. Right now there is a big hole in the floor where he had to jackhammer through the concrete, the insulation is showing in the walls, and the tile hasn't even been purchased. We have a long way to go...but in good news, I realized that I have enough VT fabric to attempt to make a matching shower curtain! And for those who don't know, our entire basement decor is Virginia Tech, so we have to have a Hokie bathroom!
It seems that I go in spurts with blogging....I'll get really good and then WHAM! life happens. Just want to let you know that we are alive!
-made the curtains for my kitchen and toy room as well as a runner for our dining room table
-managed to take care of the kids for four days while Jeremy went off to the Highwood Mountains to hunt. How is it the kids always know when daddy is away and they stop sleeping??
-went to two different classes at Harvest Springs Community Church and, afterward, decided that this is the home for us (Can I tell you how glad I am that this four month process is over???)
-had three chiropractic visits (nothing like a good crack in the back!)
-went to two full days of tax update CPE
-started cleaning out the storage room of all of the stuff that I shoved away when our household goods got here from Korea
-set up my home office! FINALLY!
-rake leaves (and raked leaves and raked leaves!)
-cleaned the garage for Jeremy
-I'm sure there is more, but my brain hurts from working tonight
Jeremy had to rip out the shower in the downstairs bathroom as well as a third of the drywall. My parents come into town in 4.5 weeks, so he doesn't have too much time left to get all of this craziness done. Right now there is a big hole in the floor where he had to jackhammer through the concrete, the insulation is showing in the walls, and the tile hasn't even been purchased. We have a long way to go...but in good news, I realized that I have enough VT fabric to attempt to make a matching shower curtain! And for those who don't know, our entire basement decor is Virginia Tech, so we have to have a Hokie bathroom!
It seems that I go in spurts with blogging....I'll get really good and then WHAM! life happens. Just want to let you know that we are alive!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A small sampling
I've been wanting to (and trying to) post pictures for a while, but I've run into a lot of complications. And because I couldn't decide which fall pictures, baking pictures, and Benjamin pictures to upload, I decided just to put my favorites in web albums--at least for the grandma's :) Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A little bit of humor :)
Why Parents Age Faster
A boss wondered why one of his most valued employees had not come to work or phoned in sick one day. Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper.
"Hello."
"Is your daddy home?" he asked.
"Yes," whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?"
The child whispered, "No."
Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?"
"Yes."
"May I talk with her?"
Again the small voice whispered, "No."
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, "Is anybody else there?"
"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman"
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss Asked, "May I speak with the policeman?"
"No, he's busy", whispered the child.
"Busy doing what?"
"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer.
Growing more worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?"
"A helicopter" answered the whispering voice.
"What is going on there?" demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.
Again, whispering, the child answered, "The search team just landed the helicopter."
Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, "What are they searching for?"
Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle: "ME."
Monday, October 15, 2007
Working
After the kids have gone to bed, I take my cup of coffee in my new favorite mug (which I bought in Korea and will have a heck of a time replacing if something ever happens to it) and come downstairs. I piddle around the internet for a few minutes, read a few emails (that I never end of responding to...I'm sorry if you haven't received responses from me!), maybe read a blog or two, just as a small transition to the other side of my brain. I either turn on a movie that I can quote by heart (which is a very small collection) or I start a Family Life Today broadcast for some background noise. Then I log on through remote access to my workstation in the office I share with my friend Cheryl and I begin to work. Two hours later Benjamin wakes up and I take a break to nurse. Sometimes Jeremy works in the basement and I have a wee bit of interaction with him for the evening while I'm trying to find the elusive number that has thrown my work out of balance.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Giving
My dear friend Becca and I were talking one day about money. *Gasp* yes, we were talking about money--how much we made and how we gave it away. And in that very liberating conversation we also talked about how great it would be if people (Christians) were honest with each other with how they spent their money. Can you imagine the accountability that would take place? Imagine what it would be like to talk about how great it was to give a big ol' check to the local Lifeway Pregnancy Center so that young, troubled, hurting moms could get counseling and encouragement. Think about how we would spur each other on by hearing stories of the missionaries that were provided for and how God was changing lives through our faithfulness to His call. And I'm not even saying talking about the amounts--just talking about DOING it!
I heard a statistic that if all Christians tithed that there wouldn't be a governement welfare system in America because the Church would be able to take care of the needs of the people in the country. Can you really imagine that? The CHURCH could take care of the needs--hunger, shelter, clothing, you name it. What kind of testimony would that be when people knew that if they were in need that the Church would take care of them? Don't you think that people would have more of an interest in Jesus if they knew that His followers loved them in such a way? Doesn't that break your heart?
Why is it we are so comfortable to talk about the great things we found on sale at the mall or the neat things we bought at Michael's but we are scared to death to talk about the exhileration of buying $40 bucks in Halloween candy for the outreach our church is doing for the kids of the community this month? What would happen if we all went on a fast from spending and everytime we wanted to buy something for ourselves (that we really didn't need!) that instead we gave that money away? What would change in our hearts? And why in the world are we so stinkin' scared to talk about it?
Be encouraged! Be spurred on toward love and good deeds! Go forth and find a way to bless other people! And expect to be changed!
I heard a statistic that if all Christians tithed that there wouldn't be a governement welfare system in America because the Church would be able to take care of the needs of the people in the country. Can you really imagine that? The CHURCH could take care of the needs--hunger, shelter, clothing, you name it. What kind of testimony would that be when people knew that if they were in need that the Church would take care of them? Don't you think that people would have more of an interest in Jesus if they knew that His followers loved them in such a way? Doesn't that break your heart?
Why is it we are so comfortable to talk about the great things we found on sale at the mall or the neat things we bought at Michael's but we are scared to death to talk about the exhileration of buying $40 bucks in Halloween candy for the outreach our church is doing for the kids of the community this month? What would happen if we all went on a fast from spending and everytime we wanted to buy something for ourselves (that we really didn't need!) that instead we gave that money away? What would change in our hearts? And why in the world are we so stinkin' scared to talk about it?
Be encouraged! Be spurred on toward love and good deeds! Go forth and find a way to bless other people! And expect to be changed!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I did it!
I FINALLY got an ID to get onto base last Friday. And today, I very ambitiously took both kiddos to the HAWC (Health and Wellness Center) where there is a little room where kids can play/watch videos. I actually got to run on a treadmill! YEAY!! As Jeremy would say, it was a banner day, folks! It's been almost a full year since I've been at the gym. And now that in the land of the car drivers (instead of the stroller pushers) I'm in need of that gym. Unfortunately, it will be next week before I'll be able to go back. I'll just tell myself that I'm easing myself into it.
I won't be able to walk tomorrow.
I won't be able to walk tomorrow.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
My name is...
Hannah looked at me last week, patted her hand on her chest and proudly said "Name is Hannah!" I thought that she would be ready to learn my name and Jeremy's name so that, heaven forbid, she gets separated from us and someone asks her parents' names she would have the information somewhere in her brain. The conversation went like this...
Me: Hannah, mommy's name is Laura. Can you say that?
Hannah: (says nothing and gives a blank stare.)
Me: Say Laur-a
Hannah: (says nothing and gives a blank stare.)
Me: Can you say Laur-a?
Hannah: Mommy name--Laura Carrot!
Have we been watching too many Veggie Tales? :)
Me: Hannah, mommy's name is Laura. Can you say that?
Hannah: (says nothing and gives a blank stare.)
Me: Say Laur-a
Hannah: (says nothing and gives a blank stare.)
Me: Can you say Laur-a?
Hannah: Mommy name--Laura Carrot!
Have we been watching too many Veggie Tales? :)
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Warning!
When you are in unision with your spouse on major life decisions (aka my last blog) and you are making what, to you, is a radical decision in obedience to what God is telling you to do--when these things happen in your life, you are warned that the next day may be a BAD DAY!
Well, this is my theory on why yesterday was so terrible. On multiple occasions I was on the verge of tears either due to behavior of children or issues within the marriage. Terrible day. Awful day. I was glad to see the day go away. It was a day that required conversations with two different girlfriends to gain perspective. Plus a nap. Plus two diet cokes and three cups of coffee.
It's hard to sing "This is the day the Lord has made" during a day like yesterday.
Thank you, Jesus, that today is not like yesterday and that days like yesterday don't happen very often!
Well, this is my theory on why yesterday was so terrible. On multiple occasions I was on the verge of tears either due to behavior of children or issues within the marriage. Terrible day. Awful day. I was glad to see the day go away. It was a day that required conversations with two different girlfriends to gain perspective. Plus a nap. Plus two diet cokes and three cups of coffee.
It's hard to sing "This is the day the Lord has made" during a day like yesterday.
Thank you, Jesus, that today is not like yesterday and that days like yesterday don't happen very often!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Delayed Gratification
Beware to those who aren't really financially minded...
My kitchen is functional, especially from an international perspective, but it lacks certain American convienences (namely a dishwasher) and the "look" is VERY dated. In our budgeting we thought we would be able to save enough over the next year to remodel it. The events of the last 24 hours are putting that on pause...
"Be not conformed to the world." Jeremy & I realized yesterday how "conformed to the world" our thinking was in regards to our mortgage. I'll give a little background. With Jeremy's job on base comes a biweekly (ever other week) paycheck rather than a semi-monthly (twice a month) paycheck. It's a budgeting NIGHTMARE! Not from a spending standpoint but from a cashflow standpoint. I called Washington Mutual yesterday to set up our house payment on an "accelerated" payment plan which basically means that we make 1/2 of our mortgage payment every two weeks, making a total of 13 payments every year. It means that with each paycheck we will pay half of our mortgage payment, which is SO helpful to my brain! Rather than making exactly 1/2 of the payment, I rounded up by $15 a payment, paying $30 per month on principle. These minor changes saves of $28,000 in interest and means our house will be paid off 19.5 years from right now.
All of this was such a good feeling. The thought that kept running through my mind was "I feel God's pleasure!" When really looking at this I realized that I considered a mortgage payment just another component of "life." Really, it isn't. It is debt, and God calls us to strive for a debt free life. How much have we been trying to achieve this in our budgeting?
Let's add in another component. Because we didn't have 20% as a down payment when we bought the house we pay $65 per month as "mortgage insurance." In order to get rid of this monthly payment we either have to pay down the mortgage or have a house appraisal that shows that the value of our home is 25% greater than the outstanding balance on the mortgage. We thought that within a year we would be able to get that number on an appraisal. The mortgage company said it would take up to six months for that to be reflected in the monthly payments and for us to stop paying the $65/month. That's eighteen months from now.
How does this have anything to do with the kitchen? We realized that if we take the amount we planned to save for the kitchen and put it to principal every month that in 18 months we would get rid of the mortgage insurance payment ourselves! Once we got rid of the monthly mortgage insurance payment, we could keep the same bi-weekly payment and be paying $100/month on the principle!
All of these changes mean that we will save over $50,000 and our loan will be paid off in less than 16 years. And so, the kitchen is on hold because, truly, it will cost us over $25,000 in mortgage interest to pay for the kitchen now rather than waiting two years! I want a kitchen but not that badly!
Our mortgage now feels like a cancer of debt eating away at our financial health...
My kitchen is functional, especially from an international perspective, but it lacks certain American convienences (namely a dishwasher) and the "look" is VERY dated. In our budgeting we thought we would be able to save enough over the next year to remodel it. The events of the last 24 hours are putting that on pause...
"Be not conformed to the world." Jeremy & I realized yesterday how "conformed to the world" our thinking was in regards to our mortgage. I'll give a little background. With Jeremy's job on base comes a biweekly (ever other week) paycheck rather than a semi-monthly (twice a month) paycheck. It's a budgeting NIGHTMARE! Not from a spending standpoint but from a cashflow standpoint. I called Washington Mutual yesterday to set up our house payment on an "accelerated" payment plan which basically means that we make 1/2 of our mortgage payment every two weeks, making a total of 13 payments every year. It means that with each paycheck we will pay half of our mortgage payment, which is SO helpful to my brain! Rather than making exactly 1/2 of the payment, I rounded up by $15 a payment, paying $30 per month on principle. These minor changes saves of $28,000 in interest and means our house will be paid off 19.5 years from right now.
All of this was such a good feeling. The thought that kept running through my mind was "I feel God's pleasure!" When really looking at this I realized that I considered a mortgage payment just another component of "life." Really, it isn't. It is debt, and God calls us to strive for a debt free life. How much have we been trying to achieve this in our budgeting?
Let's add in another component. Because we didn't have 20% as a down payment when we bought the house we pay $65 per month as "mortgage insurance." In order to get rid of this monthly payment we either have to pay down the mortgage or have a house appraisal that shows that the value of our home is 25% greater than the outstanding balance on the mortgage. We thought that within a year we would be able to get that number on an appraisal. The mortgage company said it would take up to six months for that to be reflected in the monthly payments and for us to stop paying the $65/month. That's eighteen months from now.
How does this have anything to do with the kitchen? We realized that if we take the amount we planned to save for the kitchen and put it to principal every month that in 18 months we would get rid of the mortgage insurance payment ourselves! Once we got rid of the monthly mortgage insurance payment, we could keep the same bi-weekly payment and be paying $100/month on the principle!
All of these changes mean that we will save over $50,000 and our loan will be paid off in less than 16 years. And so, the kitchen is on hold because, truly, it will cost us over $25,000 in mortgage interest to pay for the kitchen now rather than waiting two years! I want a kitchen but not that badly!
Our mortgage now feels like a cancer of debt eating away at our financial health...
Monday, October 01, 2007
Because of Kay
In my very last book club at Osan (shed a little tear here...) we read "Israel, My Beloved," a phenomenal fictional allegory of Israel and God. After reading the 450+ page book, my desire to read the prophets took off. The number of years I've been a Christian outnumber the years I've spent in school, and it is shameful how little I can recall and how little I truly understand about the Old Testament. Armed with a fabulous (suggested) visual about what life could have been like during the prophecies of Jeremiah and the subsequent Babylonian Captivity, I decided to dive in and start studying. I found a great set of commentary/Bible study guides by Warren Wiersbe on the Minor Prophets. I started with "Be Concerned" and went through Amos, Obadiah, Micah, and Zephaniah over the past two months. My Bible has never had so many markings in it! I finished that book yesterday and started "Be Amazed" this morning, which covers Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Malachi.
It has been amazing to see how my heart has yearned to read and learn more through these books. Wiersbe does such an excellent job expounding the verses by providing societal, historica, and additional Biblical context and support. And it feels like I'm really getting to know God in a way similar to when you start to realize that your parents are real people, too. I'm reading about the relationships He had with people that came long me and in seeing these relationships, I have a better context for how little ol' me fits into the big picture of Kingdom living. I'm learning about the Jews and how, really, the world's history and future revolves around God's relationship with them. It is truly a transforming time for me.
So, I encourage you--if you are tired of reading all of the same things in the scripture, STOP! There is so much more to the Word than all of the directives of Christian Living that Paul so eloquently dictates in the Epistles! And there is so much more we will glean and benefit from in the NT when we understand our "Jewish roots in Jesus"!
So much more to say, but my bed is calling :)
It has been amazing to see how my heart has yearned to read and learn more through these books. Wiersbe does such an excellent job expounding the verses by providing societal, historica, and additional Biblical context and support. And it feels like I'm really getting to know God in a way similar to when you start to realize that your parents are real people, too. I'm reading about the relationships He had with people that came long me and in seeing these relationships, I have a better context for how little ol' me fits into the big picture of Kingdom living. I'm learning about the Jews and how, really, the world's history and future revolves around God's relationship with them. It is truly a transforming time for me.
So, I encourage you--if you are tired of reading all of the same things in the scripture, STOP! There is so much more to the Word than all of the directives of Christian Living that Paul so eloquently dictates in the Epistles! And there is so much more we will glean and benefit from in the NT when we understand our "Jewish roots in Jesus"!
So much more to say, but my bed is calling :)
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