Monday Moments...a day late

I thought of this moment the other day when, in a hurry, I drove down the street with one of J-boy’s baby t-shirts on my windshield (I had put it there so that I could remember to stick it in a bag of give-away clothes that were in the van).

I didn’t see the t-shirt until it flew off past my window and fell down into the street.

This isn’t the first time that items belonging to me have flown into the road….

I was a teenager getting ready for a trip with my youth group to Six Flags in Texas.
Now I know that this may be hard to believe, :) but when I was a teenager, I was a bit, um…scatterbrained. I had packed for the trip, but had forgotten to pack some last essentials.

Being in a hurry, I threw several toiletries, an alarm clock, and my Bible (can’t forget that!) into my pillowcase – which also contained my pillow.

I was one of the last youth to arrive and my youth minister threw my stuff into the back of his pickup truck. He stuck my pillow, full of my stuff, underneath a bungee cord that was holding down some luggage.

We headed off. I was riding in the pick-up with my youth minister, and the guy that I currently had a crush on. Looking back…it’s a possibility that I might have been, oh-I-don’t-know…. a little bit distracted with trying to impress the guy rather than noticing that my pillow was starting to wave like a flag in the wind.

We got onto the interstate and picked up speed. It was at this point that ALL of the passengers in the truck noticed that my pillow was waving wildly out of the back of the truck, barely hanging on to the bungee cord.

“I’ll pull over” my youth minister said. But no sooner were the word out of his mouth than the entire pillow and its contents launched onto the interstate.

My youth minister did pull over and almost like slow motion in a movie, we watched as a large semi-truck thundered past. Unable to stop, swerve, or slow down, it hit my pillow with full force, exploding the contents onto the road.
My deodorant, a bottle of hairspray, a completely demolished alarm clock, and my Bible bounced, rolled, and flapped wildly about.

Many of the items had bounced to the side of the road, and my friends quickly gathered up the items while I tried not to die of embarrassment. My youth minister made a quick dash out and picked up my pillow, pillowcase, and Bible.

Most of the items were destroyed beyond use, but I used that Bible, smashed and covered in tire tracks, for many, many years following.

God often used that Bible to remind me that His word is timeless and (even when run over) can never really be destroyed.

Happily, I recovered from the embarrassment and went on to have a wonderful time on trip. And, while I didn’t get the guy (maybe he didn’t like girls that put deodorant in their pillowcases), I did eventually get an amazing hubby who loves me in my scatterbrained moments and laughs at my stories.

I hope I gave you a laugh today too.

A Promise Is A Promise..

I promised my friend Tracy that I would blog tonight. I have a funny Monday Moment to share, and an even deeper (gasp!) post of what's been on my heart lately. But tonight...tonight I am going to bed.
I DID post though, just as I promised. :)
More to come tomorrow....

I promise...

"It's Toilet Paper!"

 

This morning we were reading our Bible Stories for devotion time, and we came to the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
I was reading along when Lorelin stopped me and said, "Wow, Mom, he's wearing a lot of toilet paper!"
I tried to tell her that it was like long blankets, but she said, "No, Mom, it's toilet paper!" :) Oh, so funny!!

BTW, the picture above is just one I found on Google Images. The actual picure in our book was quite nice. I use "The Bible In Pictures For Little Eyes" for my Bible stories - I really like it!

WARNING: Kute Kiddo Overload!

Just kidding! I've been a little behind in my posting, so I'm catching up today with multiple posts about all three of my kiddos. Make sure you check out the little guy in his Bumbo toward the bottom of the page.
Oh, and there is also an oh-so-lovely picture of tofu....you have to see that! Ha!
And I STILL have to blog about Father's Day, and books, and the story about the Blue Flash...and now I'm talking to myself...
Anyway, enjoy!

My Terrific Three Year Old

My sweet Lorelin turned three years old last week! Here is a note I wrote to her on her birthday.

 

To my sweet, sweet Lorelin…you are three years old today. You were born with only ONE hour of labor, and you hurled yourself at the world in less then three pushes. You’ve been embracing the world head-on ever since! Let me tell you a little bit about yourself at three years old.
You have bright, sparkling eyes that pop open with the early morning light. Your little blonde head is usually the first thing I see as you state, “I’m awake now. The sun’s up!!”
Your little spirit is like sunshine as well. You speak the love language of hugs, kisses, and snuggles. Several times a day, you find the ones you love and tell them so – “I love you so much Daddy!”
You have a very strong will, and sometimes when Mommy asks you do something you tell me very directly - “I don’t fink I want to do that”. After some direct discussion (and sometimes immediate discipline) you will often obey with a cheerful spirit.
You have an amazing sense of humor, and you make all of us laugh with your silly antics and sayings….like when you handed Mommy her panties one day and said, “Here is your pull-up Mommy!” You LOVE to talk to your baby brother, and he loves to smile and laugh at you too.
Your favorite thing to do is to imagine with your older sister. She is your best friend. You are always being a cat, or a cow, or a baby…anything the two of you can dream up.
You are sometimes shy in public, and easily frightened of new circumstances or new places. However, you are already learning at this early age that Jesus helps us to be brave and will always be with you, wherever you go. Don’t ever forget that, precious one.
It is your Daddy’s and my prayer that you will come to know Jesus as not only Savior, but also Lord early in your life. May your heart ever be yielded to His will for you, and you may you always be overcome with His abundant love.
God has a great plan for your adventuresome spirit, and we can’t wait to see what that is! Happy Birthday, sweetie!

Here are some pictures of Miss Lorelin loving life!

 

 

 

My Fabulous Four Year Old

I'm a little-bit behind, because my K-Bug turned 4 years old waay back in April, but I wrote a letter to her on that day, which I am just posting now. A very belated Happy Birthday K-Bug!

 

To my beautiful K-Bug. Mommy is writing you a note today, and even though you can’t read yet, I hope that one day you’ll look back at this and see how much joy you brought your Mommy and Daddy as you turned from three to four years old. You are such an articulate and precious little girl. You wake up in the morning with a smile on your face (“Good morning Mommy! I had a good sleep!”) and greet the day with words abounding. You love to express yourself through your words while you sing, while you imagine, and while you play. You have a soft and sensitive spirit, and are often easily corrected and immediately sorry when disciplined with just a stern glance or gentle warning (not ALL the time, but most of the time). You glow when people give you words of praise and affirmation, and you in turn love to encourage others with your words (“Good job Daddy! You play the guitar SO well!”) Your sister is your constant companion and best friend, as I pray she will be your entire life. You also love to tickle your new little brother’s belly and kiss his soft baby head. You tend to lean toward the dramatic side (sorry kiddo, you come from a long line of dramatic women), and are easily brought to tears over broken toys or “hurt feelings” when you don’t get your way. Even at this age, though, you are learning that “Jesus helps me find my happy heart”. You love to read your Bible stories and do devotions, and singing Bible songs is absolutely your favorite past-time right now. I love to see you love the Lord, and it your Daddy and my prayer that you will know and love Jesus your whole life long. God has a plan for your soft heart, my beautiful little lady, and we are so excited to see what it is! Happy Birthday!

Here a few pictures of K-Bug doing what she likes best!

 

 

 

My BIG Boy And His Bumbo

My son is one strong kid (the pediatrician comments on this every-time we go in), and he loves to be in a sitting position. Although he isn't quite old enough to sit up on his own, he does enjoy using his Bumbo (a soft seat made to support babies in learning to sit up), so he can see what's going on.. a big THANK YOU to J-Boy's friend Dane in letting him use the Bumbo....Dane doesn't need it anymore becuase he has better things to do - like walking!!! :)
Here is a few pictures of Mr J-Boy enjoying his seat. Here is J-Boy's "Thoughtful" look. If you look closely, you can see the dimples that he gets right above his eyebrows.

 

And here is his "Sunshine Smile" look. It still melts my heart!

 

Adventures In Tofu...

I really do love adventure. Before I was married, I spent my teenage years doing things like white-water rafting in Colorado, back-packing in Wyoming, rock-climbing in Arizona, and spending time on missions in Russia.

So, I REALLY do like new and and exciting things…..

But cell-phones and tofu are not among them.

My dear hubby has a dream of one day spending some extended time doing missions work in Japan. To try in my own small way to adapt to this possibility, and given the many, many health factors of tofu, I decided to buy some during my last shopping trip and give it the ol’ college try.

I really enjoy the Annie’s Chinese noodle bowls and thought I would chop up some tofu to go in the soup.

I mean, how bad could it be?

I also decided to get a tofu that had a little bit of flavor added to it. I think this one had some garlic and pepper spices. I took it out, chopped it up, and warmed it up in a frying pan on the stove.

I was instantly put-off by the texture and look of the tofu – it looked like giant blocks of wet cat food.

Don't you think???

 

However, I proceeded to chop it up and dutifully ate a few bites. It was…….interesting.
While the taste wasn’t completely off-putting, for some reason I couldn’t get past the way it felt in my mouth.

Very rubbery….

Tofu is BIG in Japan – so big, in fact, that Japanese TV commercials regularly market it to children in the shapes of their favorite cartoon characters.

Maybe I’d like my tofu better in the shape of a Pok-e-mon too……for now, I think I’ll go back to just my plain, old noodle bowls.

If trying tofu is a new taste adventure, shopping for a new cell phone is an adventure in patience and choices.

That’s why I’ve decided that, when it comes to cell phones, old is better than new.

I lost my cell-phone almost two months ago, and although we dutifully searched the lost and found at several grocery stores, it never turned up.

I really haven’t missed having a cell phone (except for those moments when I’m traveling alone somewhere in the car with all of my kiddos), and actually tried to talk my dear hubby into getting one of those pay-as-you-go phones from Wal-Mart.

We would have just gotten a new phone from our provider, but in order to get a cheap or free phone we would have to sign a two-year service agreement, something we don’t really want to do.

So, while digging through his desk one day, my hubby found an old…

And I do repeat OLD…

cell-phone. He took it down to the provider’s store, and now my number is effectively switched over to this beauty…

 

The numbers have completely rubbed off of the key pad, and the sides are being held together by several pieces of Scotch tape. It doesn’t really do anything other than make phone calls (no internet, no music, etc)

Aren’t we impossibly cheap?? I love it!!!!!!!!!

I can’t wait for all of the adventures in my future - the ones that I try to plan, and the ones that I never plan but God dreams up for me.

Even if those new adventures include tofu…..

I Have A Good Reason....

For not blogging lately. And here it is:

My hubby.

Really. It’s true. He has been a TOTAL computer hog these past few weeks.:) \Of course he HAS had a good reason, which I can now reveal to all of you.

A few weeks ago, my husband started audtioning to be the new lead singer of a band in San Diego. For most of you who know us, you also know that my hubby has been in bands for all of our married life (and many, many years before). Music has always been his passion and his ministry.

This past year my hubby felt that God asked him to step down from his current band, and he has been “band-less” for a little over twelve months.

It has been a difficult time for him as he has wondered if he would ever be in an active band again. Then, as he was perusing a website one night, he happened upon a post on the page of one of his all-time favorite drummers. It seemed that this particular drummer’s band was searching for a new singer and were holding open auditions.

My husband sent him some MP3 samples via e-mail, and so-started the wild ride that has been our past few weeks. The band sent my hubby some samples of their music that they have recorded for their new album. My hubby recorded his lyrics/vocal lines through a elaborate pedal and computer set-up that he rigged, then sent back his vocals recorded over their music (hence the reason that I haven’t had any long moments at the computer for blogging).

It has been so positive these past few weeks. My hubby has poured his heart and soul into this work, and the feedback from the band members was all good. They told him he was one of the top few guys they were still considering.

Then, last night, around 8:00 p.m. they called to tell him that they have found other people that they are “more interested” in working with. It was disappointing news, to say the least.

We prayed together when this opportunity presented itself, and we both believed that God gave us the “go ahead” to enter into this audition process whole-heartedly.

We don’t fully understand God’s purpose in all of this, although we are confident He has one. Being in this band would have been a dream-come-true for my hubby.

We do know this: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." - Romans 8:28(NLT)

My hubby has handled all of this with a lot of maturity, but he is still dealing with feelings of dissapointment. Please pray for that...

Back To My Roots

When I was young, I was a platinum blonde. Especially in the summer, when the sun would turn my hair almost white. :) As I've gotten older, my hair has naturally turned into a what I call a "dirty-dishwater" blonde. After three children, it has turned a progressivley darker brown. I've dyed it a few different shades over the years, but decided a few weeks ago to go for a tight light-blonde weave in my otherwise brown hair.My friend Elena is a salon rep (she sells products to salons),and about a month ago she offered to do my color for a discounted cost. I gratefully accepted.
Here is what my hair looked like before:

 

And here is what it looks like now:

 

What do you think? :)

Birthday Blessings

Sunday, May 25th, I turned 29 years old, “teetering” as my mom-in-law so gracefully said, on the edge of 30.

I have many friends who are turning 30 this year, and appropriately so, they are having bigger-than-normal birthday celebrations. Also, Dane, the cutest-one-year old in the world, was having his first birthday party.

Due to celebrating birthdays for these special people….and also due to the fact that having any type of party where I am the focus is uncomfortable for me…..except for a surprise party…maybe because that way I have no expectations…hmm, do you think I have party issues? …. anyway, I just decided that I would keep my birthday totally low-key, not really bring any attention or mention to it, and just enjoy quietly turning 29.

God, however, had plans to bless my birthday socks off!

It started with a lovely vase of flowers that my mom-in-law sent to my house. Nothing like getting flowers delivered to your door. Here they are, over a week later, and still looking beautiful! Thank you Susan!!

 

The actual day of my birthday I spent at birthday parties for two other people. At Dane’s one-year old birthday party, my friend Nickle-Pickle made two different cakes, and after everyone sang and cheered for Dane, she turned around and made me blow out candles in the other cake while everyone sang for me. There were several people there that didn’t know me from anyone, and it was very sweet, and also funny, to hear them sing to me as well. “Happy Birthday dear Sherry…I mean Stacy…..” hee,hee

My friends at the party also showered me with presents – a book, cards, scrap-booking supplies, and a date for a pedicure!

Later that night, my friend Jess and I surprised our friend Christy with a special ladies night out for her 30th birthday. Most of the ladies in attendance are our mutual friends, and again, I was blessed with surprise gifts – pajamas, books, candles, and a CD. Even though it wasn’t my party at all.

My friend Christy and I did blow out the candle together and shared a dessert of chocolate mousse! Yum!

My own parents gave me a new pair of rollerblades (so I can get my almost 30 year old body back in shape), and I received some more lovely flowers and a pair of movie coupons from my dear hubby and sweet children.

It really was a very special birthday!

Still Here..

Hello All,

I'm still here. I plan to put my fingers to the keyboard very soon so that I can:
1. Post new pictures of the kiddos
2. Talk about my birthday
3. Post some summer salad recipes

And more!!

Remembering Maria...

My husband often teases me that for someone with a music degree from college, I sure listen to a lot of talk radio...

It's true. There are a lot of Christian and conservative political talk shows that I like.

However, music plays a deep part in my life - both in creating it myself and in listening to it played.

And perhaps no other singer/songwriter has affected me the way Steven Curtis Chapman has. Everything from his lyrics, to his music, and even the way he has lived an amazing family life in a very public eye, has impacted my Christian walk in some way.

This morning I learned the very tragic news that the youngest of the Chapman's adopted daugthers was killed yesterday as she was accidentally run over in the family's driveway. The death of Maria Chapman came just ten days after her fifth birthday, and just hours after the annoucement of the Chapman's oldest daugther's engagement.

This is an amazing family, and I am shedding tears even as I write. I can't imagine their current pain. You can visit Steven's website, see a blog set up in Maria's memory, and send your own condolances by visiting Steven's website.

 

a hundred and WHAT???

 

It is supposed to be a record-breaking 110 degrees today. I haven’t been brave enough to venture outside to find out….I rather like my air conditioning.

Unlike my friend Jules, who’s been trying to wear her tank tops and flip-flops since January, I am NOT a friend of scorching HOT weather....I actually really love the cold...sweaters, jeans, jackets, hot chocolate...:)

And to my friend Jess moving to Oregon, my friend Tracy moving to Chicago, and my dear friends the Heine’s living in Virginia…..you are NOT allowed to rub it in…

Oh well...I will choose to focus on the good things that searing heat can bring. Like my Bird of Paradise in my front yard – they bloom a beautiful orange and yellow at the first hint of triple digit weather ( Wow…amazing that God made a plant that blooms because of such heat)

And, a BIG plus is that the oven-like conditions will kill all of the germs that have made my kids sick these past few weeks.

Fry, germs, fry……

Sick Of Being Sick

On Friday night, Lorlein started running a fever. Thinking it was most likely an ear infection, I took her to the Urgent Care near our house. Nope….no ear infection. Then Saturday night she sounded off like a big croupy seal. She had J-boy’s croup. And what a case she has. Saturday night found us with about 3-4 hours asleep for both her and I.
Her breathing was pretty ragged all day yesterday, so in the evening I took her to the pediatric urgent care. They gave her a prescription for some oral steroids to help her airways stay open.
She had a better night last night, but woke up at 5:30 a.m this morning with her yucky cough and a low-grade fever (which she has run off and on the last few days)
Croup is a virus – it has to run its course. Which means, for now, that I also have no choice except to deal with it and to pray.
Lorelin is a high-need kind of girl when she is sick. She doesn’t sleep and she follows me around the house EVERYWHERE (even into the bathroom). She’s never been a big TV kid (thankfully, except for when she’s sick) and while she easily gets bored lying on the couch, she doesn’t want to play with her toys either.
I canceled plans with my friend Jess on Friday night, and canceled a group date on Saturday night too. I reached a breaking point last night as I looked around at all that still needed to be done in the house. My hubby found me on the couch, crying my eyes out. He wisely and very sweetly sent me immediately to bed while he stayed up to clean the kitchen, do the dishes, finish washing/drying the laundry, and deal with Joshua’s late-night feed.
That, my bloggity friends, is true love in action.
After almost two weeks of sprained ankles and sick kiddos, I am feeling emotionally and physically exhausted.
I am ready to have a healthy family again.

Puddle Ducks

Last week the girlies watched an episode of Curious George (only the coolest cartoon out there!)where he filled a swimming pool to entice some ducks swimming in a large puddle to stay and play.

Immediately after the episode, Lorelin asked for her own bowl of water so that she could play "puddle ducks" I set her up in the kitchen with a tupperware container and a towel. We also found about 6 rubber duckies that we had as bath toys. Soon enough, though, her sissy wanted in on the fun, and the duckies invited all of thier other friends to come and take a dip.

 

Swim, everyone, swim!

 

BIG Croupy Boy....

 

Hello All....

I have so many blog posts that I'd like to do...I'm definitely feeling a little behind...just a quick update on J-boy - we'll move from today and go backwards

TODAY - J-Boy is recovering from his first illness - a lovely bout of croup. He had had a VERY mild runny nose the past few days - almost completely clear stuff too, no yellow yuckies. So I was surprised to hear him wake up Sunday night with the very distinctive croupy cough. I surprised myself, as well, by not completley freaking out. This is my fifth (maybe even sixth?) time to deal with croup though...I guess my children must be prone to it. I knew what to listen and look for, all of the danger signs (he didn't have any) and how best to give him some relief. It was still a long night though, and I have slept the past two nights on the floor in his room, just to be close in case he needs me.
My dear hubby took him to the pediatrician yesterday, where they gave him a steroid shot in his chubby little leg. He had a good night last night, breathing well overall, and sleeping soundly.

SUNDAY - We dedicated J-Boy in the very first baby dedication held by our tiny little church. It was a geat way to celebrate Mother's Day with our new little guy! {It also made me think of when we dedicated our girls at Compass...miss you Scott! Hope your Mother's Day service in your new church was awesome too!} My brother and sis-in-law were also visiting from South Carolina, so having them there for the dedication and to visit was extra special!

THURSDAY - This past Thursday J-Boy went for his two month checkup. At ten weeks old, he is such a BIG BOY! :) Our pediatrician kept saying, "He's just sooo big! " He weighed in at 13 lbs, 10.5 oz. - at the 90% for his weight for his age group. He was at the 70% for his height and the 60% for his head size (he has such a cute little noggin..)

Speaking of J-Boy, I hear him fussing, although he should be napping...guess I'll sign off for now...

Oh, just a side-note about my dear hubby's ankle. Although it is very badly bruised, it is not broken, and he is up and moving, albeit very slowly.

A Glass Of Iced Tea & A Hot Shower...

That’s all I want, and it doesn’t even matter what order. I am exhausted!

Yesterday afternoon my dear hubby called me on his way home from his kung-fu workout (as he normally does) with the greeting, “I um….kind-of hurt myself.”

“What did you do?” I asked. He often comes home with rug burns on his arms, or an occasional black eye (they do some heavy-duty sparring and ground maneuvering in class),so I thought it was probably something along those lines.

“I sprained my ankle and I can’t walk very well….well…hardly at all…and it’s swelling a lot. Do we have any ibuprofen?”

So, I grabbed the ice pack, a couple of ibuprofen, and some pillows to ready myself for his arrival.

Sure enough, he hobbled in, barely able to walk. Poor guy! He was extra super bummed, since last night also happened to be our girlies preschool birthday party. We held it at a facility with lots of those big inflatable bouncie and alas,Daddy was unable to hop or bounce at all.

He looked on last night with his ankle propped (and iced) as the rest of us played. This morning the ankle seemed better – less swollen, not as much pain (he said). He played it safe by staying home from his morning shift at work, but went to work a short afternoon shift.

Unfortunately, the ankle is super swollen tonight. We are still watching it, icing it, propping it, and praying that is indeed just a sprain.

But, in the meantime, as you can imagine, I am the primary hands and feet for everyone in the household. I am truly not complaining, instead, this has made me VERY thankful for how much my dear hubby normally helps me with the kiddos and the house.

Dear Lord, please quickly heal my hubby’s ankle, and give me the strength to be the hands and feet for our family in the meantime.

Now…for that glass of iced tea…

Pretty, Pretty Princesses....

 

AND A HANDSOME PRINCE!!

 

I Hate....

PMS. My hormones are such fussy things, and once-a-month they kick into overdrive. I become moody, weepy, and grumpy. I get cramps and backaches and headaches.

I did NOT miss my PMS while I was pregnant. Of course, I had that nausea thing going on and the gestational diabetes, but still……

My PMS has always been a struggle for me. I’ve tried many different courses of action over the years. I have even gone as far to visit a homeopathic nurse practioner, who gave me some kind of natural hormone balancer that looked like thick molasses. You were supposed to place it under your tongue and keep it there for at least ten minutes while it slowly absorbed.

It was very goopy and glucky and it tasted yucky.

I’ve read books, tried exercise, rubbed yam (yup, like the sweet potato) cream on my arm, and taken large amounts of primrose oil.

Finally, a little over a year ago, I stumbled onto a natural supplement called Premcal
It is a blend of vitamins found to be effective in reducing PMS symptoms. I was definitely wary, but the price was right, and there did seem to be some genuine testimonials on the website.

So, I ordered a bottle and started taking it. It took about a month of the vitamins being in my system for me to see a difference, but then – Wow! – the difference was amazing! (I feel like such a cheesy infomercial saying it like that, but it’s true)

I was estatic to find something that truly helped me to manage my PMS, instead of feeling like it was managing me. However, nine months of pregnancy and a forgetful brain…. my first two bouts of PMS after the birth of Joshua have been real bears.

So, it’s back to the Premcal. I am hoping that next month will find me in a happier state of mind, even if it is “that time of month”.