A Torrent of Thoughts

It's been so long since I've stopped here, that I don't even know where exactly to start again. I'm brewing. Or rather I have much brewing within me. We'll see where it leads this next week and if I have it in me to put any of it into words, but for now, let's put our hair down and get a little random shall we. Don't be bashful, I know you've missed my wild side. * grin*

• I am fully resolved to do the "Easter season" big next year. And I mean big. It seems to me that Easter should be bigger than Christmas. I know that we wouldn't have Easter without Jesus' birth, but the balance (or lack thereof) in celebration just doesn't seem right. So next year I have grand plans, I can't wait to share.
• For those sports minded individuals, Richie's team is 10-0 right now. They have to work hard for their wins, but the boys are getting it done. He thinks he has some of the best attitudes that he's ever had, which is a huge blessing!
  
• Do you ever stop when you're in a large group of people (church, grocery store, etc.) and look at people? I mean really look at them. God really is a most wonderful Creator. I love to see His handiwork. I always feel so honored to be in a group of believers and see His tapestry of love. On the flip side, I have to be prepared to see and feel the sadness over the lost, the wounded. I look for the days when He tells me to reach out then and there in a major way, not just a smile or small token of encouragement. But to see the lame walk and the blind see, right in the middle of...anywhere. How glorious it is to see His redeeming work!
  
• I...I...I have love handles. There I said it. I came to accept this fact last week. I handled it with more grace and strength than I thought I possessed. For that I am thankful. *smile*
  
• I have really withdrawn myself from cyberland. Some of it voluntary, some of it not. Gone days without checking e-mail. It's felt good. If you haven't heard from me, I'm sorry and I'm back. I think.
  
• Sometimes I wonder if my sense of humor is too dry. I love me some laughs, but sometimes I forget to make sure people around me know that I was joking. Just in case you didn't know, I have a habit of not taking myself too seriously.
  
• Do you think making friends is harder as a kid or an adult?
  
• The other day someone cut me off in a parking lot and I made a mad face at them. I was sincerely embarrassed at that moment that I was a representative of Christ.
  
• I have a hard time believing anyone chooses to read my ramblings and nonsense, but your sweet thoughts and words encourage me. I am thankful you're in my life.

Where I Done Been

Or maybe I should just ask, where haven't I been? It feels like I have been going non-stop these past weeks. For someone who has started becoming somewhat of a homebody, not a good feeling.

Or maybe it's not that I'm really becoming a homebody, maybe it's just easier to keep my three young'uns at home. Contained. *wink*

Abigail turned 9 months and is doing so well. She's fighting a cold right now, but continues to be a doll. She has truly spoiled me. I love this little daughter of mine so much. She has such a great personality.

Samuel has been sick the past few days. These past few, very long days. The little guy has been miserable. I've felt so bad for him. Now we're treating a double ear infection from the junk he had. We've also been having some speech evaluations done. He has cooperated really well and everyone just loves him. He is such a sweet little man.

Caleb has been doing really well with his schoolwork and I keep seeing glimpses of maturity that make me so proud. We're working on an allowance system right now and I think I've just about got it ready. Just a few charts to make. Not sure how it came up, but he wants to design a wheelchair swing that we could put down at the park where we live. Touching this mama's heart, I tell ya! *grin*

Richie...wait, Richie who? Ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, hee, ha, hee, ho. Ah, if I didn't laugh about it, I'm not sure what I'd do. Baseball season is in full swing and my man is MIA. The kids are doing pretty well adjusting this year (so far), I think I'm the one with the biggest problem. I'm tired and lonely. Ha, hee, hee, ha, ho, ho...

And as for me, I've been reacquainting myself with the costly world of dentistry. I've got to get some work done and my pockets are becoming as jittery as I am about getting it completed. I mean, don't get me wrong, there would be a cost for me to stick my hands in a bunch of people's mouths all day long, but ouch!

And as it turns out, when God tells you that it will be a year of beginnings, there are also endings. I know, what are the odds. *wry grin* It's kind of like when you are moving physical locations and you start cleaning out your old place...did you know that was behind the fridge?!

Richie and I went canoeing with a group several years ago. They ended up running out of canoes, so we volunteered to go in the inner tubes they offered. I moved at a snail's pace compared to those canoes, but Richie, poor guy was a sloth. They tied an extra inner tube to his in case one of ours popped and I remember watching him get further and further behind. The Lord used that to minister to me about the baggage and junk we carry in our lives and how it effects our pursuit of the Lord.

I was unprepared for the circumstances in which (more of) my junk is being revealed, but it is my heart's cry to come before God with a pure heart. With that in mind, I say, "Okay, Lord. It may not be pretty, it may not feel good, but if it makes me look more like you, then let's do this thang." I hold tightly onto His promise of beginnings and His hand. Even when I want to scream about things being unfair and too painful. When I want to just be mad. When I want to throw the world's biggest pity party. Even when, I just want to give up.

His promises and His hand are still there. 'Cause He's faithful like that.

Man, I love God.

And that, my friends, is a taste of where I done been lately.

Boys Will Be Boys

I don't like using phrases like this too often. Many times it's just a lousy excuse to dismiss misappropriate behavior. But there are other times, when I don't know how else to explain things.

Take our old cell phones for example. We had to recently replace them and the boys asked if they could have them.



Caleb thought he was hot stuff with his. He keeps playing ring tones, but his favorite is taking pictures with it.



Samuel loves talking on the phone and has since he was about 9 months old. So, he was super excited too.

I was having so much fun watching them and their antics.

And then this happened. Which made me roll my eyes. Okay, and laugh. A little bit.



Caleb was recording burps into the phone.

Nice.

And honestly, I was the type of child that would have probably done the same, but I'm not going to admit that. I'm just going to shake my head as a refined mother and say, "Boys will be boys."

Dear Pooch

Dear Pooch,

I regret to inform you that you are no longer needed. I appreciate the warm and soft environment you provided for my precious babies. The times I fell when I was pregnant with Samuel, you went above and beyond duty in protecting him. I will always be grateful for that.

I'm just going to have to let you go. I've tried to get my point across as I've subtly stared at you, complained at you, and poked you. Unfortunately, you are too much like my first wrinkle and you haven't gotten the hint.

Due to the nature of our relationship and the quality of your work in the past, I wanted to give you advance notice that I will be implementing new measures to replace you. It turns out that once you no longer house a baby, well, your cuteness factor declines. Majorily.

I hope you don't take this personally. It's not you. Life is just unfair. And people change. So, I'm left with no other option. I hope you understand.

Thanks for all the good times.

Sincerely,
Me

Welcome To My Home...

Where all woodland creatures are accepted. Even a little yella fella.


We believe in equal opportunity for all home invaders. Well, those who have no legs or more than two legs. I'm all about boundaries, you know.

Please excuse me while I go gag.

Ten Reasons I Don't Facebook

I have a few friends who, in good fun, like to give me hard time about not being on Facebook. I have to admit that it is slightly tempting, but overall my reaction is a resounding no. Please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying no one should be on Facebook. This is a personal choice, based on some specific principles for me. So, in an effort to explain why you won't find me there and to remind myself of why I don't have 500 friends *grin*, here are a few of my thoughts...

1. I would want to check it all the time. I'm not going to sit here and try to tell you that I'm just too busy, but it is my heart's desire for my focus to be on my family and I know I would be pulled in by it. I'm working hard on self discipline and I don't need another challenge.

2. Relationships. I think our culture has lost so much as each new social networking technology is launched. I think we are on dangerous ground as a society in regards to our ability to interact with one another and how we define friendship and love. Call me old fashioned, but I don't think my first community is online.

3. I have rejection issues. When I maxed out at 10 friends, I would be devastated...

4. I had someone come up to me recently at a funeral, of all places, and told me that she had no idea we had a third child in our family. She thinks she saw a picture of Abigail and I on Facebook. Um, seriously. That's just plain scary.

5. There probably are some people that I really just don't want to hear from or be "friends" with. And I would not have it in me to say no. I realize how I sound, but what can I say, it's the truth. I've never been real good with fakeness.

6. I do not need to know that Sally in Wallakazoo updated that her son picked his nose and now she's taking her daughter to ballet. Oh and by the way, after that, she's going to have her eyebrows waxed.

7. I have had people tell me that if I want to keep up with them and communicate, then I would have to get on Facebook. What?! This does nothing to assuade the inner rebel lurking within me. Also, see number 2 above.

8. Back to the inner rebel I just mentioned, I've got this thing with technology. It can be a very, very good thing. But I think it has contributed to our society's plague of instant gratification and it will only get worse. Job performance, marriages...we're losing the art of living and the satisfaction that comes with it.

9. My sister, Jaclyn, and Richie would kill me. Richie doesn't get the enticement of it. He's around high schoolers all day who eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff, so to him it's silly. (Richie, if I've misrepresented this, feel free to comment or just tell me I'm a goon and I'll update this.) Jaclyn, on the other hand, made me go through a series of rituals, including giving her my 34th child if I caved in, committing to never joining Facebook. *chesire grin*

10. I'm a slacker. I don't want to have to learn a bunch of new lingo and stuff. I'm just beginning to feel like I'm getting the hang of this blogging thing. Bumper stickers belong on cars, not my profile. And since when did it become acceptable to write on walls? *grin*

There are times when I feel like I'm missing out, but for the most part not. Unless God specifically tells me to join, and I mean burning bush specific, I won't be there. And if He does, let's hope I never have a 34th child...

Wake Me When It's Over

We are officially into baseball season. While Richie is gearing up and excited to begin playing, the rest of us are adjusting to not having him around. And I gain my annual role of the baseball widow. A role I do not covet. Hence, the slowing down of blog posts. And the glazed over look in my eyes. Here's little peek into what it's like.

He's gone throughout much of the year, but spring is basically when our home becomes his hotel. On practice nights he checks in about 7:30-8:00 pm and on game nights it fluctuates but on average around midnight. He checks out before most of the house is moving in the mornings. There are many weeks that the kids do not see him except on the weekends. (His Saturdays are usually free after March.)

Can I admit that I am already exhausted? And with three months to go, that is not a good sign. Soon I will begin my yearly correspondence with him through e-mail. Seeking his opinion on various matters, ranging from insignificant to serious. Keeping life moving while his focus is on building a winning team.

I always think of military families during this time. What my family goes through is nothing compared to what they endure. So, if any military wife ever reads this, thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for helping protect my family. I do not take your hardships lightly. And the same could be said for those families spreading the Gospel. Thank you.

In the meantime, I fight my bad attitude, chasing away thoughts of a life not dictated by sports, and trying not to whine (not scoring real well, am I?). Trying to drum up support for my husband in my heart while dreaming about a nap... A nap and an hour of quiet. An hour...or two...or five. *grin* How about you just wake me when it's over, would you?

Just In Case You've Been Wondering

What Samuel has been up to lately. He's been busy leaving his mark on this world.

Okay, just in my kitchen. Again.

But I consider it training for leaving his mark on this world for Jesus. It's all about perspective...otherwise, I might cry. *wink*



This is not the first nor the most recent incident of this nature.

Perhaps you're wondering why I took pictures. It's my coping mechanism. That and one day when he has a child who is just like him, I will have proof. And a good source of bribery. I can't forget that. *grin*

He thoroughly enjoyed this escapade. Living it up to the fullest, 'cause that's how Samuel approaches life. It's the only way he approaches life. He lives big. And knows how to make the most of it. I love that about him.



I do not love the mess. Now you know why I cannot get to my other household chores. There are many unscheduled adventures to tend to...



Oh, sweet Samuel. I love you.