Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Let go and let God!

Lately ds has been fighting me for computer time. He loves sesamestreet.com . While I really appreciate the fact that I can trust the site to not have games with guns and fast cars (he's been watching grand theft auto a bit too closely with dh; I totally freaked when I saw dad letting him run the controller one day- let's just say that was the end of that) it is hard to give up some of my precious blogging time. The only thing that will pry him off the computer is PBS's Caillou. Which is only on once a morning, I need to remember to dvr that:) Anyway, I have been able to catch up on some reading while he is clicking away - can you believe he teaches his older ds how to play some of the games? He is so good at maneuvering that mouse and the website, I am amazed. My dd can't even do that yet. I think I am probably the only one who reads her Ending Your Day Right devotions by Joyce Meyer in the morning. I just am not good at night. I am beat and can't concentrate on anything after 8 pm. I also love Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment. This past $100 day I picked up another book called Daily Strengths for Daily Needs by Mary W. Tileston - an inspiring collection of spiritual passages in prose and verse- one for every day of the year. These good fast reads and a quick check to my 365 reasons to eat chocolate calendar make up most of my exposure to print everyday;besides the Internet:). This morning I let ds have the computer while I put my 'borrowed' dvd, Walk Away the Pounds, in to exercise. Now, don't go thinking I am getting all skinny and fit. I am not. I make a mental effort to try at least a couple of times a week to do something other than eat and blog. Not much, I know, but it's more than I was doing six months ago before major surgery. I tagged along to volleyball on Sunday to watch and they were short a player so I joined in. IT WAS AWESOME! I love that game. I love the social atmosphere, I love the simple workout and I love feeling powerful when I finally get the ball up and over the net, even if it does hit the ceiling tile hard enough to chip it:). I felt great when I go home and into the next day. Today, I was sore. But, I decided to listen to the good angel on my shoulder and keep on moving even when it hurts so maybe those muscles can dust off and get working again. Even my kids love walking with Leslie...After the short workout I read my devotionals. I am one of those people who can find something that relates to me in every thing I read. I love to apply what I read to my situation and try and learn something from it. I am a nerd I guess, and pretty gullible. Today's message from Joyce Meyer was written just for me. Guess I am vain, too.

Let Go and Let God

Abstain from evil...whatever kind it may be. And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through... and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete...Faithful is He Who is calling you...and utterly trustworthy. 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24
These are God's instructions to you for finding peace and joy: Stay away from wrong behavior and allow the Lord of peace to sanctify you, preserve you, complete you, hallow you and keep you.These verses are your call from God to a certain kind of holy living. They are also your assurance that it is not you who brings about this holy life but God Himself, who can be trusted utterly to do the work in you and for you.What then is your part? What is the work that you are to do? What does God require of you?

Your part is to believe and to trust the Lord. So let go and let God!

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Superglue for the Superboy


It finally happened. We have passed the point of no return. We have graduated into the world of emergency rooms and acute care clinic fixer uppers. I'm just surprised it didn't happen earlier.

Ds turned 3 in October and he has been a wild man since the day he breathed a breath in this world. Lately, we have been witnessing a lot of superhero stunts here at our house. He 'saved' the cat, who somehow got stuck under the bed. He 'saves' his sister from invisible foes all day long.

Last night, he wasn't able to save himself as his footing slipped and he hit his head on the corner of his dresser and split it open. Dd went bananas and thanks to her complete and utter lack of control, I stayed relatively calm. I laid him down and cleaned his forehead and washed the drips of blood from other places on his body. It was a pretty deep gouge, so I put a little pressure on it and tried to call dh who was en route from work.

One hour later we were leaving the acute care clinic and ds's forehead was glued shut. It took us twice as long to get to the clinic than it did for the doc to close up the cut. We made it to the clinic doors only a few minutes before closing.

This morning after a good rest, we were going over the rules at the kitchen table. Dh asked ds what kind of things he shouldn't be doing while his head was healing... ds thought for just a moment and then replied, "no jumping off the fridge, no jumping off the bench, no jumping off the counter tops, no jumping..."

I should add that before we left, dh was pretty sure he could use an unopened bottle of superglue to close the wound. I tried to call a couple of friends to see if this might be an acceptable form of care...thank goodness everyone was busy so we were able to see a professional do it. Only now, dh says since he has seen it done, he says we can surely do it ourselves next time. God be with us.

Friday, January 26, 2007

a brand new me

The feeling in my fingertips is finally returning.
My hands are extremely dry and chapped and it makes it difficult to tell if the dry skin is preventing me from feeling them or they are still numb from all the meds.
My hair has started to come in, finally. It is very soft and fuzzy and has a mind of it's own. Dh's cousin was kind enough to trim it into a sort of trendy style that uses the short spiky stuff to add a little texture. She insisted upon coloring it as well, which I adamantly denied would help until I saw it. It's nice to have a shade of color instead of the grayish mousy fluff that was up there. I was actually pretty shocked at the difference it made.
My skin is suffering the most and no matter how much lotion I pour on, it remains dry and scaly. I have tried 3 or 4 brands of cremes and lotions and nothing seems to keep the moisture in. I have come to the conclusion that the tiny bumples are the last of the meds working their way out of my skin. It makes sense to me anyway.
I have an appointment to flush my port on Thursday and I am dreading the visit to the infusion center. Just thinking of the smell of that place makes me nauseous. Hopefully I will only have to flush a couple of times before the PET clears me and I can get this thing removed.
I think the thing I am most shocked about is my lack of strength. For example, I was reaching with my left arm under my bed to get something and I didn't have the force to move my arm deep enough to reach it. I had to turn around and use the other arm. I am not sure if it is from the surgery or if it is just atrophy from sitting on my bum for 6 months. All the walking in the world will not put muscles back in my arms. It's scary and sad that I will probably never be as strong as I was. I remember hauling five gallon buckets of water into the kennel for the dogs on the farm. I remember winning the girls arm wresting contest at the after prom party as a sophomore. I don't think I will ever have that kind of strength again. I can only hope. Most of my strength now lies in between my ears.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Internet Detoxification

According to Golden West, my internet carrier, there was an 'unscheduled outage' that led to my being unable to log on to the internet or send or receive any email messages today. Therefore all my communication with the outside world (until just a few moments ago when they fixed the 'outage') had to be done the old fashioned way. Using my mouth. Which, ironically, wasn't too difficult for me. I did find my self wandering a bit when I was unable to get online. Did a load or two of laundry. Drank a pot or two of coffee. Ate a box or two of chocolates....your regular kind of detox.

Anyway, I got this message after I was finally able to get email again. It is extremely fitting.

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the
road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh! would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out! and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Help Wanted


This Sunday we have planned a kickoff event to present Horizons to the community. My biggest fear is that we will not do a good job of 'splaining things and people will not understand what an positive impact they can make, hence the FREE FOOD.

Here is what the community guide says;

'The Horizons program is about the changes a community can make to move from waiting to leading, from talking to action, from control by a few to the participation of many, and from indifference to pride. Ultimately, it is about community leadership that can act to reverse your town's economic and population decline, and thrive. You can read about the experiences and achievements of previous Horizons communities by going to www.nwaf.org,(click on Programs and then click on Horizons).'

you had me at community...

I think everyone knows my commitment to my little village. It is not a burden to me, I WANT to be involved. This community is my life. My children will, God willing, attend grade and high school here and grow up here. They will be shaped and formed into who they will be by the example and leadership they see in the teachers, the store clerks, the postman, the coaches, the business owners, the city employees, the church members and the other children here. Isn't that reason enough for me to want to be involved?

It begins with awareness.I think we tend to overlook the impact of poverty on the life and vitality of our town. What is poverty anyway? Is it people who can't pay their bills? Is it children who don't have clothing that fits? Is it people who cannot afford high speed Internet? Is it a town that does not provide an alternative to drinking to teenagers on Friday and Saturday nights? Is it a town that instead of working together to achieve goals, consistently tries to break each other down? Is it not identifying the assets we already have? Is it a village that has lost dialogue with each other? How do YOU define poverty?

If you think you have an answer to that question then you need to be at the meeting on Sunday. We are looking for people of all ages and backgrounds to help us identify what poverty is to our community. Your committment to involvement would include attendance at 5 study sessions over the next month or so. It will take a little time and bit of effort. Your commitment to do something about it will help the community to make a plan of action and reduce poverty as we collectively define it.

Can't make it Sunday? Let one of us on the committee know (or comment to this post with your name and I won't add it to the blog so the world will never know)
and we can get your name on the list to be one of the 30 study group participants we need for this program to be a success.

Thank you for your vested interest in our little village.

one act review...

Yesterday afternoon I attended the High School One Act Play. Mostly because my niece was involved, but also because they usually do a very good job at entertaining. This year the title alone is enticing. "The Pro-Life Handbook" written and directed by Cory Allen Heidelberger asks the defining question of it's viewers; Is South Dakota a pro-life state? In the writer/director's own words, The show thus addresses how South Dakota's approach to all sorts of issues -- e.g. jobs, health insurance, education, agriculture, drinking -- would change if our politicians and voters sincerely and consistently treated "life" as their primary value.
It takes real life events that people have read about in the news in the last 6 months or so and forces the audience to think about both sides of the issue. It was intriguing and I found myself encompassing many emotions as I watched. At times I became defensive, other times I found myself giggling at the hypocrisy. I was saddened and moved by a couple of realizations that I had never made before. In the end it was entertaining as usual and this year I felt like I learned a thing or two. If you can give up 40 minutes or so of your precious time, check them out at the Brandon Valley Performing Arts Center, Region I-B One-Act Contest on Thursday, January 25, 9:35 a.m. You won't be disappointed.
Oh and if you do go and you want to review it, you can leave your two cents here.

Monday, January 22, 2007

another dose of logic from the kids

this was the talk at the table today while I was preparing lunch;

ds "daddy forgot to sleep, so he is sleeping for a long time now"

dd "no, he works at night so that is why he is tired from helping the sick people"

ds "where does he sleep at work?"

dd "he doesn't sleep at work, he is busy, that is why he gets so tired and crabby at home"

ds "but where does daddy sleep when it is dark out?"

dd "daddy doesn't sleep when it's dark, he sleeps when it's light out."

ds "silly daddy forgot to sleep so he is tired now"

dd rolls her eyes and says..."whatever"

If there was fine print we would have read it...


Recently my dh has been picking up a lot of extra shifts at the hospital. We communicate so well that I didn't even know about the extra shift incentive program that was going on hospital wide. So, when his boss called the other day and asked me to be at the department because something "BIG" was happening,I have to admit, I was a little excited. I guess he threw his name in a hat a couple of times in December. So,in a room packed with co-workers, VP's and Bigwigs they presented my dh with a $6000 trip from AAA (no cash value)and a very tangible gift basket with a beach towel, sunglasses and candy.

It was quite a shock. In the 10 years my dh has been at the hospital he has brought home a mug or two, a t-shirt or three a free ham at Christmas and a gold star. It seemed too good to be true that all his hard work finally earned him a reward...Days went by and it started to settle in. Should we go on one big trip or two smaller ones? Wonder what the weather in Europe is like in the spring? Are the kids tall enough to ride the rides at Disney Land?

After working three 12 hour nights in a row, dh came home this morning with the news that as soon as we schedule our trip the taxes will be automatically deducted from his paycheck in one lump sum. YIKES? What are the tax implications? ONLY 28%!!!!!!!

My antimath mind started it's squeaky rusty wheels moving....so if we spend all $6000 of that money on one trip we have to pay nearly $2000 which is WAY more than a single paycheck after everything is taken out. Okay well, that is just stupid.

The only way it makes sense is if we were planning a large trip anyway and then this would be like a 60% off sale. Who in their right mind has that kind of cash lying around? Let's see kids, either we go to Disney land for a week or we eat.

I know I may sound a little harsh and some of you are probably thinking, "hey lady take the discount and go somewhere". But that is not my point. My point is... if this is truly a reward then why doesn't the hospital just say after taxes it's more like a $4000 trip and just give that to us. It doesn't make sense. We are going to have to scrimp and save to come up with the taxes so that we can 'enjoy' our trip.

I know I am cheap and there are probably hundreds of you that would pay the $2000 to get the big trip. But the way I see it the extra shift pay that dh earned for those shifts he picked up in December won't even cover the taxes for our trip.

My kids did get candy of the deal. I got a cheap pair of sunglasses and a thin blue towel. Dh got some aloe vera gel for baseball season and the extremely difficult job of trying to convince me that it's worth it. Oh and I can't forget that huge check, maybe I can cut it up and use it as coasters...maybe I can sell them to raise the money for our trip?

Way to go Sioux Valley! Thanks for rewarding your employees with such amazing incentives. Maybe you should stick to gold stars and free hams, you're better at it.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

A hundred dollar day...

Some of my bloggirlfriends recently blogged about the $100 store. I, too, spend almost that much every time I go there. It's like a curse or something, go in for Robitussin come out with $93 more of stuff. Remember in the 80's and early 90's when there was all that talk about brainwashing through music, maybe they caught on and it's a subliminal message pumped through their speakers. "Spend a hundred dollars today, spend a hundred dollars today..." (note to self, no more posting after 11 pm I am just too weird)It is hands down the fastest way to burn $100, but not my favoritist(yes, I have a minor in English, but sometimes it's just plain fun to make up words).

Saturday was thrifting day. We planned it for weeks, maybe even a month. My sister came down from way up yonder to spend the whole day in Sioux Falls. Her mission; worthy toys for her in home daycare, my friends' mission; vintage flatware for her most recent project, my mission; fun bargain hunting (I never really need anything, but I ALWAYS find something I can't live without:)) I hope you are laughing,I do not have a problem. Stop reading this mom, I learned my techniques for bargain hunting from the best...how many shirts do you have in your closet?

First stop; a tiny little place with more stuff in it than Benson's Flea Market called Slightly Used. My friend found some monogrammed silver for 10 cents apiece. My sister found some toys and I bought, among other got to have finds, a vintage golden book called, "How God Gives us chocolate".

Pocketbooks a little lighter and van a little more weighed down with 80 pieces of silverware; we head to the Goodwill. JACKPOT! Toys galore for my sister, a velvet blazer and a tweed blazer along with a camo (wish I would have went last week, see my earlier post) jacket and a pair of ruby red shoes. My friend got the best deal, though, 4 pieces of silverware that she thought were a dollar a piece for a little over a dollar total!

We met my brother and his wife for lunch at my all time favorite Mexican restaurant, Puerto Vallarta! The rest of the afternoon we spent digging through bins looking for the best deal. By 4 most of the stores were closed - I swear they used to be open til 5 girls, sorry! But my money was gone and my feet were tired. We headed to Kaladis to use a gift certificate and watch my baby niece play peekaboo with the employee behind the counter. It was a grand day of shopping and a much more fulfilling way to spend a hundred bucks. I hope my dh isn't reading this.
A little bit of time and patience mixed with cash and a large vehicle and I can be a very happy woman. OH!I cannot forget the most important part of thrift store shopping...the hand sanitizer.

my dh does it and unfortunately so do I

He does it when I am typing. He does it when I am cooking. He does it when I put the dishes away. He even does it when I am getting the children dressed. It drives me bananas. It aggravates me so bad that I want to scream. I would never do it.

Just the other day in a computer classroom one of the students said, "Mrs. Rani, you are hovering. Please stop, it makes me nervous." WHAT? I don't hover, my DH does. I hate that feeling that someone is always watching me. I can't know what they are thinking but I always imagine the worst. I misspelled a word. I put 4 tablespoons of yeast in the bread instead of teaspoons, I put the Tupperware in the pantry and which foot goes in this shoe anyway?

I can't believe I hover. I apologize. It was an accident. I didn't mean to do it. What? I do it all the time? Really? Are you sure? Note to self. Stop hovering.

Um, did someone say FREE food?



If you take pride in the place we call home, you’re invited to put that pride to good use during a positive community-wide action program! The program is kicking off with a Montrose Irish Pride Party on January 28 from noon until
2:30 pm in the Montrose gym and cafeteria. Bring your family to enjoy:

*FREE Roast Beef Dinner
*Irish Music by Dakota District Pipes and Drums
*Motivational Speaker Charlotte Henry
*Supervised Kids’ Activities
*Door Prizes
*Opportunity to learn how you can make a difference

The Montrose Irish Pride Party is designed to celebrate Montrose’s participation in this innovative community enrichment program, and motivate a large number of people to get involved.
It’s all part of the Horizon’s Community Leadership Program, which Montrose qualified for last fall. This program uses dialogue-based Study Circles to help identify and solve tough issues facing small towns across South Dakota. We need a diverse cross-section of people to make this a success. Please bring your Irish Pride and get ready to enjoy a great afternoon.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

What's up Doc?


When my ds is sick his voice sounds all nasally and funny, sort of like Elmer Fudd. My dh and I have spent most of the day laughing at him. I feel awful about it, but it's extremely difficult to keep a straight face when after every sentence he wheezes and makes this little eh eh eh sound. He is really not feeling well, he has been sleeping every couple of hours and then getting up with a burst of energy that dies out quickly so he has to rest again. A few minutes ago he had his play guitar out and was singing, "Old MacDonald had a butt... eh eh eh" now he is passed out in the easy chair. I suppose if he is sick again in the morning we will have to take him in to the doctor before the weekend gets started. Maybe Doc can get rid of them wascly wabbits...

See you there...


Mark Your Calendar For The Montrose Irish Pride Party

Got Irish Pride? Celebrate that pride and learn how you can put it to great use at the Montrose Irish Pride Party! A free meal, entertainment, supervised kid’s activities, door prizes and a motivational speaker will kick-off Montrose’s participation in the statewide Horizons Community Leadership Program, January 28 from noon until 2 pm in the Montrose School.
All Montrose area residents are invited and encouraged to attend the free event, which will introduce the Horizons program to our community in a fun, exciting format. The program’s goal is to help small communities overcome poverty barriers and work toward a positive future through the insights, ideas and talents of community members. You’ll learn how you can get involved—and how your thoughts and opinions can turn up to $10,000 in grant money into positive community action.
Community members already committed to the Horizons program are hosting the Montrose Irish Pride Party in an effort to get more people involved and excited. Bring your Irish Pride on January 28 and watch for more details to come.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Lead your community by example.

Take the Pledge

"I pledge to do my part to save energy and help reduce the risks of global climate change by replacing at least one light in my home with an ENERGY STAR qualified one."

sign up here

Here is a coupon for any GE Energy Smart CFL product. Coupon

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

a day in the life...

So you think I am at home eating bon bon's?

11:43 pm last night - finally hit the sheets
7:04 am this morning - woke up and checked email (it's an addiction)
7:15 am ds wanted "pizza" for breakfast
7:23 am remembered store was out of 1/2 n 1/2 so coffee will be black this am
7:25 remembered don't like black coffee, store not open until after 8 LOL
7:33 helped ds open sausage and 'help cook with mom'
7:35 surfed web for Jimmy Dean breakfast pizza recipe I swore I had in recipe box
7:36 ran upstairs to sound of chair being pushed up to counter with microwave by ds
7:55 put breakfast pizza in the oven
8:20 fed family breakfast - yeah dad is home today so he can help with cleanup
8:45 remembered need to wear camo to school to sub this afternoon, checked school website announcements; realized potluck also today
8:55 inventoried whole pantry and fridge to find something to make for potluck
9:15 threw together taco dip and bacon dip for potluck
9:30 jumped in shower
9:45 found something camo to wear in honor of teacher being called to Iraq
10:10 went to store for chips for taco dip, forgot 1/2 and 1/2 for coffee
10:25 arrived at school with potluck items
10:45-3:30 subbed at school
3:35 dropped off borrowed book at daycare
3:40 checked mail
3:45 came home, hugged kids, checked email
4:30 phone call friend
5:00 tried to watch news with dh
5:30 made quick supper for family, contemplated going to home ballgame
6:15 dh left for work
6:30 phone call for volunteer committee
6:45 phone call for volunteer committee
7:00 helped kids fold laundry
7:30 computer work for volunteer committee
8:00 started getting kids ready for bed
8:30 continued getting kids ready for bed
9:00 finally got kids in their beds
9:15 rubbed backs... going potty again...
9:30 read blogs of friends and did a quick post of my own
9:50 ready to brush teeth and hit the sheets

I think I am a SAHM

I have said several times to many people that I was going to post these abbreviations. I use some of them as I am blogging, but I come across more and more as I read online...

SAHM ~ Stay at home mommy

DH ~ darling husband

MIL ~ Mother in Law
FIL ~ Father in Law
SIL ~ sister in law
BIL ~ brother in law

SO ~ significant other
BF ~ boyfriend or best friend

DS ~ darling son
DD ~ darling daughter
DSS~ darling step son
DSD~ darling step daughter

HTH ~ Hope that helps
TTFN ~ tah tah for now

TIA ~ thanks in advance

LOL ~ laugh out Loud
LMAO ~ laughing my a** off
ROFL ~ Rolling on floor laughing

JMO ~ Just my Opinion
JMHO ~ Just my honest opinion
FWIW ~ For what it's worth

WTH ~ What the Heck

KWIM ~ Know what I mean

ITA ~ I totally agree
IMO ~ in my opinion

Monday, January 15, 2007

Baby, it's cold outside...

I awoke to the sound of snowplows before 5am this morning. The weatherman predicted the snow, so it wasn't necessarily unexpected. Still it was sort of shocking to see the earth covered in a beautiful, white, fluffy, soft blanket. The kids screamed, "IT SNOWED!", and begged to go out. It was, however, nine below and too cold for little faces so we tried to fend them off with cartoons and pancakes. It became too much for dh and he reluctantly got dressed to go shovel (sorry girls at our house outside chores are for him, inside for me :). I spent a grueling 20 minutes bundling up the children with snow pants, boots, hats, gloves under mittens, scarves, and huge coats. They lasted two minutes in the now zero degree weather. They came in all pink and frosty and begging for hot cocoa. Not sure how the rest of the world makes hot cocoa, but here we boil some water in the green teakettle and each child dumps some powder into their mug. When the water starts to make the boil sound we pour the steamy liquid into the mugs and stir. Then we add one or two ice cubes to cool it off:);marshmallows optional. I know what you are thinking...we might as well skip all the hoopla and fill it with tap water. But where's the fun and learning in that? So now I am blogging and sipping from my dark hot chocolate from Godiva, ice cubes and marshmallows not included. There is a reason the three letters G-O-D are in Godiva. It's heavenly. Stay warm, where ever you are...

Saturday, January 13, 2007

My friends teached me

My three year old has been coming up with some doozers lately. When I ask where he learns something from, he always says, "my friends at daycare". Considering he spends an average of less than 5 hours a week at the daycare, he must be a fast learner. Anyway, here are a few of the latest...

the whole family is singing songs at the kitchen table, we finish the abc song, if you're happy and you know it, and 5 little ducks when he says, "I know one...let's find a bird and shoot it..."

speaking of songs...he loves to add 'butt' to everything he says, so his version of this song goes, "Old MacDonald had a butt..."

one day this week we walked my daughter to preschool and it was cold, upon arriving at the gym he asks, "mom, can we walk with the van tomorrow?"

every night after prayers he asks..."mom are you little or big?" when I answer "big" and he says "no mom you are little and I am big"...he says the same to dad, perhaps this is the reason he fears nothing and dives head first into everything without rhyme or reason...

5 milliseconds after he wakes up..."mom can I have candy?" No "mom can I have ice cream?" No "mom why can't I have anything good to eat?"

"Is tomorrow in the morning?"

"It's morning time now, look mom, the light is outside"

mine or Don's?



My dh spent all afternoon trying to perfect this yesterday. I had to reward him by posting it...

Friday, January 12, 2007

Stressed? Try this...

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice"
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too
many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18 Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30 Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

BBB


Baby Brothers Birthday. He turned 25. His wife made homemade pizza with a wholewheat and honey rustic dough that was to die for. Can't believe my baby brother is 25. Can't believe he is married and has a baby boy. He has grown into a good, kind, faithful adult who has more patience than me. His faith is so much a part of his life that it oozes out of him in everything he does. He made a kneeling prayer bench for his wife on their wedding day. Tonight after my kids raced through "Come Lord Jesus..." he prayed a short thank you prayer to the Lord for creating him. You know what they say about being older and wiser? Yeah, I don't think so.I have learned a thing or two from my baby brother, and I have a feeling he has more wisdom to pass on to the first born child.He and his wife have given me super suggestions on how to be a Christian parent and how to pray more and go to the Lord when I am lost and confused. All this AND she makes a better pizza than me...a lesson in humility.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you. 1 Pet. v. 6
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PJ!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

He's got it pretty rough



I've never had a cat before.Well,we had them at the farm, but not like this.Sampson spends ALL day sleeping.Mostly in this chair and in this position.The first time I saw him lying there I thought he had had a seizure or something.I ran over to him and shook him awake. But, no, this is how he relaxes.I think he has it pretty good.I don't feel so awful about de-clawing him anymore.I think I am green with envy.Except I think my hands would fall asleep...

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

This guy is SHINING!


Have you heard about this? Wow, I am not sure I would have done the same.

'Subway superman' saves stranger who fell on tracks

This tale of heroism is emerging from the bowels of New York City:


A 50-year-old construction worker (and Vietnam vet) saved a man who had fallen onto subway tracks by sheltering him in a trough between the rails as a train passed over them about 1 p.m. ET. Wesley Autrey rescued Cameron Hollopeter, a film student, who apparently suffered a seizure and fell from the platform, according to Newsday, which called Autrey a "subway superman."

"I saw the two white lights and said 'Whoa, you ain't got no time.' I just grabbed him," Autrey told reporters. "I just dove on top of him and held him down because I knew there would be enough clearance for us."

Transit officials estimate the pair had two inches to spare.

Neither man was hit by the train. Emergency workers took Hollopeter to the hospital.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/01/subway_superman.html

SHINE

As I was driving home from an errand this morning, the sun was hitting the ice capped snow in the corn fields. It was SO bright and shiny. It made me think of this song.
Artist Name- Salvador
Song lyrics- Shine

I woke up to another day
Another day to celebrate
Your beauty and your mystery,
it’s more than any eye can see
I’m not the man I was before
With You, my life is so much more
Break the chains
and open doors to a world I can't ignore

Chorus
Lord let me shine, shine like the moon
A reflection of you in all that I do
Lord let me be a light for your truth
Light of the world,
I wanna be used to shine for you

As simple as a passing smile
Or listening a little while
To someone that's convinced
that they are in this all alone
Here's my chance to share the news
To introduce the good that's you
Here you go again,
you never cease to blow my mind

Chorus

You're the love that we all need
You lift us up to our feet
You hold the key to eternity
The King of Kings alive in me


And just like that, my kids yelling in the backseat didn't bother me as much. I prayed a quick prayer for my sister who was having a bad day. I thanked God again for all the blessings I have. I felt refreshed, renewed and ready to face yet another day. Hopefully someone sees me shine.

wanna listen? Go here http://www.lifefmstore.com/e/product.asp?catalog%5fname=igcproducts&category%5fname=&product%5fid=555818602X

Friday, January 05, 2007

I am a regular party animal.



I stayed out till after 12:30 on New Year's Eve. That is pretty good for me. One of the main reasons was because of 6 women and this game called Imaginiff. The object of the game is simple - just imagine what the other players are most like. To start, each player writes their name on the erasable game board. Next, any empty spaces are filled in with the names of people you all know. Roll to decide who will be the "subject" of the question and read the card aloud. Each player then chooses one of six answers, and the player with the most popular answers advances to win! We ended the night with Catch Phrase. It was fun.
The crazy thing is I am gearing up for another party tonight. Dh's department part is at CJ Callaway's tonight. DNR is playing. The band consists of a bunch of doctors, surgeons, and nurses with a lawyer and tv news anchor thrown in for good measure. They are actually pretty good and they have a lot of fun while they're at it. The lead guitarist is a pulmonary doc among other things and my dh sees him a lot at the hospital. Last year the band got pretty crazy at this party since a lot of these people know each other and work together on a daily basis. I think I blogged about this last year, but at one point during the evening the percussionist starting stripped and even crowd surfed. There will be no telling what can happen tonight. Last time we showed up late just as the music was starting and all the food was gone and people were well into 'partytime' if you know what I mean. SO, this year the plan is to show up early and be home early, too. We'll see.

A lesson in patience, I think.


If I was still on my treatment schedule I would have had chemo this week. I have been trying to evaluate myself to see if I feel any different. The truth? Nope. Not yet. I have a feeling it might be awhile. I haven't been feeling that terribly bad anyway, but I think a lot of that is just knowing I don't have to go back. I do notice my hands and feet are still numb and sore and much dryer than usually. My hands feel swollen and it hurts to type or write. I think that that has a bit to do with the time of year, although I haven't really experienced it this bad before. I know my immune system is still a little weak. I can't seem to shake this stuffy nose and congestion. But I can deal with it. For about a week or maybe a little longer I stopped taking my vitamins and that was not the right thing to do, so now I am back on track with that and I am using the hot house and chi machine daily. Supposedly the chi also helps with appetite suppression I will put that to the test I am sure... One thing that has slowed down the last couple of weeks is the hair loss, or maybe I just don't notice it when my hair is this short. It almost feels like my scalp is shrinking. Before, my head was so sensitive and sore. It feel better now. That's a good thing, I think. Maybe I'll start growing back the hair I lost and look like a human chia pet. (Only I don't need water to grow, just chocolate...good luck chi machine.)I really do want to get my port removed. Yet, part of me doesn't want to jump the gun. My PET scan isn't until late March and wouldn't it be awful if...well I just don't want to have have another surgery to put it back in. Part of my frugal nature just thinks that would be a waste of money. I could use a lesson in patience. Maybe this is how God will teach me to wait. Good things come...right?

Thursday, January 04, 2007

New Year's Resolution - SAVE THE WORLD

I have always loved learning. Recently my dh and I enjoyed watching Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvienient Truth. We were astounded by the sheer magnitude of the effects that Global Warming is having on our little planet Earth. I kept asking my husband, "Can you believe that?". It was shocking to say the least.

I had heard about it, knew that it was something bad that was slowly happening to the atmosphere. I knew about hairspray and California's car emmssion laws. But I have never seen the facts and the figures like Gore has shown them. Makes me feel pretty ignorant.

It's overwhelming how much we have already lost. I am only one person, how can I make a difference, right? Recently a friend blogged about this and linked me to the movie's website. I clicked around and found some things that I am already doing and some very simple things I can add that will greatly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide my family generates. That makes me feel better and one step closer to being successful with my resolution. You can save the world, too.

Think you don't matter? Click here to find out how much you impact global warming.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Ask the animals and they will teach you. Job 12:7


I have spent the last two days taking my pets to and from the vet clinic to have them spayed and neutered. I feel like Bob Barker. Anyway; Sampson had quite the night before his appointment with the knife. He has been wanted to go outside more often and sits by the patio door and sort of meows this growl until someone lets him out. He is usually back in moments waiting for someone to let him in. Monday night he shot out the door like a bullet and we didn't see him until morning a full hour and a half AFTER his scheduled appointment, thank goodness for small town vet clinics who will allow you to bring your promiscuous pets in late...dh and I believe he knew what was to come and just wanted one bachelor night on the town before the snip snip. If you find a litter of kittens in a few months, we are pleading the fifth. Sam didn't go without a fight, I actually had to put him in the pet porter to get him out of the house after he gouged my dd's cheek.

Shiloh's appointment was today and she was stupidly eager to go. Maybe that is the difference between the cat and the dog? One can anticipate what comes next and the other is, well, non anticipatory.

There is something to be said about not worrying about what comes next though isn't there? I know the moment I found out about my cancer I got online and started searching medical sites and blogs and reading all this stuff about how my body was going to change during chemotherapy and frankly, it was scary stuff. I think I would have been a whole lot better if I had never googled at all. In the hospital, when I was the most shut off from the Internet world as I had been in months. I spent time reading God's word with my dh and even though I was still scared, it brought peace to me, along with some powerful pain medicine:) I was just thinking it might be easier and less stressful to go through life like Shiloh, just taking every ball as it comes to you. Figuring out how to get through each pitch one at a time. I may strike out a couple of times, but I think I am having more fun playing life this way than trying to figure everything out before it happens...

My new favorite goto book is "Lessons from Lucy about Loving God" by Wendy Murray Zoba. Lucy is a Labrador retriever/Boy kin spaniel mix and she became a "life-giving" teacher to the author. Here is a little tidbit to spark your curiosity...

Be dressed for service and well prepared, as though you were waiting for your master to return...Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. Luke 12:35-36 She (Lucy) doesn't understand when you say, "I'll play ball with you tomorrow." There is only today. Are you going to play ball?

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Deepening my Faith


I was surfing today and I came across a blog by a guy I went to college with. He is a pastor now and it was really interesting reading his words and thinking about how he was when I knew him. Made me wonder what people might have thought of me in college. He makes no effort to hide the fact that he likes beer and even lists it among his favorite things on his profile page. I would like to think that I was a pretty good college student. I was usually in bed by 10:30 and even when I moved off campus was pretty good about following the rules. But, there were those few times when my judgment was clouded by $5 a pitcher margaritas at the bowling alley within walking distance from my apartment(wait a minute I think that was a weekly special, but I am pretty sure I only went a couple times.) Even at a Christian school there were parties. I never went, but I heard about them :) The really cool thing was everyone of us showed up to sing in choir on Sunday morning and went to chapel daily. We even made it to weekly Bible and study sessions. Some of my favorite memories are of deep theological discussions with fellow classmates and my professors. I was dating a catholic at the time(and eventually married him) and I remember questioning the differences between our two denominations. I learned a lot in those 4 short years, a lot of my knowledge didn't come from the classes either. It was from my relationships with the people around me. I feel blessed to have met some amazing Christian people that helped shape my faith and fuel my passion for learning more about God. I wish it would have been a little less costly, but then again you can't put a price on wisdom.

When I am old I shall...go hunting?

Have you ever read the book, "When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple"?

Great Grandmother, 80, bags first deer

My dh would love this story, but he's at work...so I am sharing it with you.

Out with the new, in with the old?

So we decided to clean out the drawer in the kitchen that consisted of mostly sipper cup lids, medicine droppers, and at one time bottle rings and nipples. My house was built in the late 70s and the cabinets are a reflection of that time. Small, plain and made of cheap materials they are nothing to brag about, but they get the job done. It always seems that there are a ton of cabinets at first glance, but somehow, over the years, they have all filled up and each time I try and organize them I can't bring my frugal self to part with anything. And what is it about those tiny side drawers? Have dish rags and towels gotten larger in the last 30 years or did people only have 3 long handled utensils to store? Is it some cruel joke that cabinet makers everywhere are in on? I can't fit anything larger than the kids things in that drawer, so in goes the medicine droppers and lids I cannot part with and the old drawer becomes my new rag and towel spot. Then, out of nowhere I decide to move the silverware over a drawer so that the towels and rags will be, viola, closer to the sink. Good idea, right? I thought so, too. Until I go looking for a spoon in the drawer that has housed them for almost 9 years now. And I find a drawer full of neatly folded dish towels.I can't stir my coffee with that! Arrgh. So after trying for two days to put up with the new location, I cave and move the towels away from the sink...so much for finding more patience in the new year.

Monday, January 01, 2007

New Year

equals new template, I love picking my own colors...

"If" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!