My sick baby girl

First, I have to start off by saying that I am a strange duck ;).  As I made the title for this blog post, I was actually visualizing diagramming the sentence.  So strange, huh!  Anyone else ever do that?

So, today was co-op at New Life, I had all my stuff together, even got up early and got my work-out taken care of!!!  We had some oatmeal with cut up banana slices and milk here at home, I loaded up all my plants and things for my class, and we went to Chick-Fil-A for their free breakfast.  Yes, I fed them before we went...it's only 3 chicken minis each and sure enough, Krypto and Gwangi both said they were still hungry after we ate...how will I ever feed them when they are teenagers, ahhh!

We got the boys settled in their 9 o'clock PE classes and Sissi and I take that hour to color pictures, talk to each other, talk to friends that pass by, play games on Connilee's or Sarah's phone (lol) and whatever else happens along.  I put her in Teacher's Tots at 9:45 and go up to get set up for my Plant Kingdom class.  We start class: Prayer Requests and Prayer time, Show and Tell of things they found over the course of the week, and sharing about George Washington Carver (our notable person of the week).  We're just getting ready to start our experiment and transplant project, and then to discuss stems and show them the celery that I had cut up and put in colored water to display the xylem and phloem, and in walks Valerie...oh, no!  "Sissi is sick, she has a headache and a fever"...really, I just saw her 30 minutes ago and she seemed fine...argh!  I set my TA, Rosalene, up with teaching the rest of the class and I go to get her.  Sure enough, she's lethargic, barely talking (NOT normal for her, the girl that doesn't know any strangers ;)) and is hot.  I sit and rock her while we wait for the 10 o'clock classes to finish up and then I figure we'll just go home.  Gwangi comes up to my class at 11 and of course, as expected, he's upset about having to leave early...Krypto comes out and is on his way to his "Where in the World" geography class and I see the disappointment in his face.  Along comes Hosanna to the rescue!!!!  She offers to let the boys go to their 11 o'clock classes, feed them lunch and bring them home...really, she that already has 4 kids...hmm, maybe she isn't done yet (I'm ducking now so I don't get hit when she throws something at me ;))  But, really, Hosanna my dear friend, I so appreciate you and thank you for all that you do for me, you're awesome!

We get out to the car...ouch, my arms were hurting, two bags, my rolling carts with papers, books and plants, two jackets and a 30+ lb sleepy girl in my arms....b-a-r-e-l-y made it.  We weren't out of the parking lot and she was asleep (now, New Life has a huge parking...but still!)  I unloaded the car when we got home and tried to put her in bed; but, she woke up and asked to watch 'Aladdin'....so, I figured it would be a special treat for my sickie.

Please pray this is short lived and no one else gets sick...we already did that this year!

Here she is, in all her cute, dear, adorable, sickiness (yes, a made up word we use)...

And...here she is just two days ago, thrilled and ecstatic that she had finished her first Kumon book "My First Book of Tracing"...good job baby girl, I'm so proud of you!!!

Faith or Foolishness

I've been cogitating on this all morning and I think we could use some prayer!

You all know, we have our house on the market...well, this week we've gotten several calls from Realtors that would like to help us sell our house.  We've also gotten several emails from people asking if we would do an "owner finance" to sell the house and we've said "at this point, we're not interested."  It makes me wonder, where are the people with bank approved financing...they have to be out there, right?

This morning, before we left to go to church, we got a phone call from the author of one of the emails.  He is a retiring E7 and I guess his first wife and teenage son have done some damage to his credit.  His new wife and young children would like to move on from this and buy a home, they are tired of renting.  I guess they were looking on-line, saw our house and the wife said "I want that house"...this really resonated with Indy because he remembers me being the same way when I saw the house, I just knew it was the one for us.  Well, they would like to sign a 3 year lease and do a rent to own scenario.  He is retiring, will be getting another job, his wife just got hired at Memorial and he says they should be able to improve their credit in the next year or so and then buy the house.  Sounds good????  I'm not sure...

We don't know these people personally at all, could it be a con?  We've been praying for the right family to come along and for them to just "know" that this is the house for them...is this an answer to prayer?  In so many ways the Lord asks us to take steps of faith and trust him with everything...to walk out on the limb when it doesn't make sense to other people.  Is this one of those situations?  Is this the Lord saying "trust me with everything, even with the only 'thing' perse that you own and have money invested in..."  I really don't know, I can't say one way or the other.

Part of me is terrified, what if we are 9 time zones away and they stop paying the rent...what if they trash the house (believe me, we've heard horror stories about renters)...what can we really do from Africa?  I don't want to have to deal with legal situations and again, the money that is invested in this house is supposed to be our future down payment on a property in NC.  Part of me also wants to be a 'helper' and bless someone that is having a tough time, that just needs a 'break'.  I am really at a loss as to what to do.

Is this a matter of having faith and doing the right thing, the hard thing that the Lord is asking us to do, OR, is this foolishness, are we acting too quickly and 'giving' our house away and the Lord is up there shaking His head saying "I tried to bless you, but you didn't wait for me..." (I'm remembering the irreverent old joke of the lady that kept wondering why she wasn't winning the lottery and the Lord saying 'I tried to help you; but you wouldn't buy the lottery ticket' ;))

Have any of you ever had this dilemma?  What did you learn from it, any verses or pieces of wisdom would be appreciated.

We did tell them we would pray about it; but, out of kindness I don't want it to go on too long and give them false hope.  They first emailed us on Thursday and then followed up with the phone call today....what to do, what to do!

A new take on Love Languages

This might be a rambling post ;)...no really, the journey and process of writing it has been going on for awhile.

I think it all began a few weeks ago when one of my Tapestry of Grace FB friends made a blog entry about our love languages changing over time.  Sorry, Renita, I read your blog entry and thought, "yeah, right!  I'm Act of Service and have always been and always will be...end of discussion!"
http://crazyhomedaze.blogspot.com/2011/02/love-language.html

Then a local friend of mine, April, posted an article from Parents magazine about our tendency as parents to 'over-praise' our children.  I thought, I can see that point; but, if your child's love language is Word of Affirmation (WOA), then it isn't over-praise, it is an essential part of you telling your child that you love them.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Five_Reasons_Stop/

Enter the practical application...my life!

I have two boys and the competition between the two of them can at times be intense.  I was asked by my friend Connilee today if I would have Gwangi start playing the violin this next year.  I said no, I was actually talking up the piano to him because I just didn't want to deal with the competition between the boys.  What if by chance, Gwangi starts creeping up on Kyrpto and becomes a better player, how would they handle that at 8 and 6?  Character Training, yes, I know...we get lots of that around here; but, should I set up a situation that I know is going to be difficult for them to handle?!

I went on to tell her how for Krypto's "Where in the World" geography class that he has to learn 50 countries and the 50 U.S. states by the end of the semester.  We chose to learn all of the countries in Africa and so have the top 10 done and are working on the bulge countries...not an easy task for anyone, much less a 7 year old.  I was quizzing him with a blank map and he got stuck and out of nowhere Gwangi pipes in with "Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia..."  Krypto was in tears.  I then told Gwangi "good job" and it made Krypto even more upset.  I had to explain to him that just because I compliment someone else, doesn't mean that he did a bad job...I CAN give my other children compliments.  The problem is that Krypto wants them, needs them and has come to expect them (he's my WOA kid).  If I don't give them, he starts fishing for them... "Mommy, did I do a good job on such and such" and I say "yes, honey, just because I don't say something doesn't mean that I'm not happy with your work!"  Ahhh, the essence of motherhood/parenting...trying to juggle what they need with what they want!

So, I was talking about this more with Hosanna and Rachel at lunch today and then, on my drive to my Dr.'s appointment, I had a light bulb moment...about myself!

Lately, I've become a fisher too!

"Honey, did you like this meal?"
"Honey, do you think I'm a good teacher to our children?"
"Honey, do you think I did a good job staging this room for the house pictures?"
"Honey, am I a good friend?"
etc., etc., etc...

WOW, has my love language changed?  I still love a helping hand with the trash and changing light bulbs and doing dishes...but has getting Words of Affirmation started climbing up the ranks?

I got home tonight from my 'date' with Sissi, gave her a bath and put her to bed, then I got on the computer.  I decided to go to the website for the 5 love languages and take the quiz again...

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/

I was surprised...not only did Words of Affirmation move up the list, it was #1 (I had 11 points on WOA) and my #2 was Acts of Service at 9 points...still close...but not #1.  I was in shock...really, are you serious???  I've changed my love language?  More reflection will be needed and I really want Indy to take the test again.  He's always been a toss up between WOA and Physical Touch, I don't think he's changed; but, it would be neat to see how he scores.

Let me know if any of you have had a similar experience or what you might find to be true (or false) about what I've said.  I'm all ears ;)!

Menu Planning - March 2011

I know that I still haven't updated my "Recipes" section on the blog and have been asked about it by several people.  Well, rather than do that, I'll be honest with you, about 25% of my recipes are from a half dozen books laying around the house, about 25% is from allrecipes.com and the other half...well, they're in my head ;)!

Yes, it's true, it's true, I'm a dab of this and a 'shake, shake' of that kind of cook (or 'cooker' as my kids affectionately call me!)  I rarely follow a recipe as printed and quite often make stuff up as I go based on ingredients around the house.

Don't despair though, I do have a technique that helps me so that I don't get stuck in a rut when it comes to menu planning.  I tend to make a menu for a month at a time and I save them.  That way, other than some tried and true favorites, I try to not repeat things for months on end.  I'll start posting my menus each month so that you can get some ideas.  Oh, and most items aren't necessarily stuck to a day...though again, I do have a "plan"...we TEND to have fish/seafood on Monday, pasta on Tuesday or Wednesday, soup night is Thursday, pizza night is Friday, and I save more complex or bigger recipes for weekends when we might have company or I have more time to cook.

Read on and take what you want and leave the rest, I won't ever know or be offended.

You can do searches and find most of these recipes on allrecipes.com or maybe take an idea and fly home to your own cookbook collection with a new perspective!

Blessings on you all...

March 2011 Menu

W, 2 Mar - Sushi and Shrimp night after Groc Shop

R – French Onion soup in a bread bowl (make bowls that afternoon, freeze extras for chili next wk.)

F – Pizza night –white w/ chicken, bacon and garlic

S – Date night out at the Y!!!  Elephant Bar for us!

Sun – Monte Cristo Sandwiches and fries

M, 7th– Seafood Enchiladas w/ guac and chips

T – Schnitzel with noodles

W – Chicken Pesto Pasta

R – Colorado Buffalo Chili in a bread bowl

F – Pizza night – 3 cheese and pepperoni

S – Denver for St. Patty’s Day Parade, eat out w/ Bernadette

Sun – Fondue w/ Rice Balls Ala Tim

M, 14th– Lemon and Garlic Swordfish steaks with cheese quinoa and steamed veggie

T – Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry sauce and veggie

W – Tomato Soup and grilled cheese

R – St. Patty’s Day - Cheesy Corned Beef Hash and Irish Soda Bread

F – Pizza night

S – Blue Cheese Buffalo Burgers and fries

Sun – Steaks with rosemary potatoes and a fruit

M, 21st – Crab legs and steamed brocc cheese pasta or rice

T – BBQ chicken w/ homemade mac and cheese

W – Spaghetti and Meatballs

R – Black beans, rice and chicken soup

F – Pizza night – leftover BBQ chicken with red onions, etc.

S – Baked Ham with stuffing and pineapple rings

Sun – Lasagna

M, 28th – Tuna steaks w/ rice and a veggie

T – Turkey and Blue Cheese Meatballs over pasta

W – Antelope Goulash

R – Split pea and ham soup

F – Pizza night –Hawaiian (w/ leftover ham)

S – Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

Sun – Meatloaf, potatoes and green beans

M, 4th – Tequila Shrimp w/ Mexican rice and guac

Tues – Groc Shopping

Numbers Chapter 7

I am committed...

I am committed to reading through the Bible this year!

I've started and stopped SO many times.  I've picked up where I left off, I've taken off days, weeks, months, restarted, just done the Old Testament, just done the New Testament, read all the Gospels, read all the letters, done Bible Studies on topics and books; BUT, I've never, in one year, read through the whole Bible.

So, a group of ladies from Vanguard Church, where I attended MOPS for several years, started an accountability group to read through the Bible in a year.  You can do it anyway you want.  I chose Chronologically because I think and process things that way, in a linear line.  Probably one of the reasons I love Tapestry of Grace so much; but, I digress!

I knew about, and was honestly slightly dreading reading through the rest of Moses' books...he was such a great writer in Genesis and most of Exodus, what happened in Leviticus, Numbers and parts of Deuteronomy????  My husband says I need to be careful not to be offensive; but, if you're honest with me, I think most of us feel the same way.  We all KNOW that if it's in the Bible it's there for a reason, that all scripture is God breathed (2 Tim 3:16-17); but, for those of us that aren't Bible scholars or into hermeneutics or the original Latin or Greek meaning of a word, we're looking for insight from the Lord and the story of HIStory!  We're looking for how we can use what we're reading for teaching or training, so we can be equipped to do His work...what do I do with this chapter?  At times, getting bogged down in the 'poetry' of repetition of what each tribe did and brought for the tabernacle is a bit overwhelming and in Numbers 7...well, by the end I was convinced it was the longest chapter in the Bible (I know that is actually Psalm 119...but again, I digress.)

You can read it for yourself, I prefer NASB or NIV, you can update/change the version at the top...

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%207&version=NASB

So, at the end, I had been distracted a few times by my children, the phone rang, something else happened (can't even remember)...but I was left thinking, and actually said out loud to my husband, "Why, why did I just read about how each of the twelve tribes had a different son of the family bring the exact same offering?  Couldn't he have just said, these are all the sons of each tribe and they each brought 'blank' as an offering, and list the items?  Did he have to list the same items 12 times???"

Again, don't get mad at me... I KNOW it's there for a reason; but, what is it?  If you have thoughts, I'm open, I would love to hear them, really!  I left the chapter at that time; but, came back a day later...what was I missing?  I noticed a few things.  The tribes are out of order, or are they in an order I'm not recognizing...it certainly isn't by birth order or seniority.  They all bring the same thing...is this reminding me that we are all responsible for the same things (ie. the Mosaic Law or the 10 Commandments) to the Lord?  It doesn't matter if we are of the Tribe of Judah or the Tribe of Dan, we are all to bring the same things to the Lord as an offering, whether it is a sin offering, a peace offering, a fellowship offering, a burnt offering...  Is the tribes being in no particular order to show me that it doesn't matter if you are from the first, the last or the lesser known tribe, the Lord looks on you and feels for you the same way???  It doesn't have to be some amazing revelation; but, there are lots of times I will read some of these chapters by Moses and sit and wonder, what AM I missing...  Do any of you feel the same way?

House for Sale!

Is it possible, has it really been 4 years since we first found this house on MilitarybyOwner.com and we called and talked to Jerry and Kim and just knew that this was the house for us?  NOTHING else looked good compared to it, they all needed work (and being pregnant, I wasn't up for that ;)) and so we would always come back to and compare everything to the "Flintridge house".  We've had our last baby here, this is the first house that our whole family has lived in together, we've never lived anywhere this long as a married couple...lots of memories and thoughts run through my mind.  At times I get scared, I'm moving out of my comfort zone.  This house works for us, it has everything we need right now...WHY are we moving????  Then that voice comes back and reminds me why, and I feel the peace again.  Thank you Lord for the peace that passes all understanding.  When we are in Your will, I know we'll be alright!


Here's the listing for our house.  If you are interested or know someone that is...please pass it along.  Thanks!


http://www.militarybyowner.com/homes/CO/Colorado_Springs/Flintridge_Drive/MBO178790.aspx


Centrally located 2101 sq ft. cul-de-sac home, close to all the bases in town! Large and well-landscaped backyard with play structure, trampoline, and garden. Has formal LR and 2 other large Family/Rec Rooms, one with fireplace. Updated kitchen and bathrooms. Exterior painted less than 4 yrs ago.


This is a GREAT family home! There are lots of windows and excellent lighting. Warranty is still in place on the exterior paint. Central air/AC was installed with a whole house humidifier (essential in Colorado's dry climate). Automatic sprinkler system makes yard and garden maintenance a breeze. Large walk-in shed in the backyard for all your tools and extra storage. Extensive woodpile will be left and 2 compost piles for the 40x40 vegetable garden plot. Numerous flower beds with both annuals, perennials, and strawberries. Spacious deck off the Dining Room, with views of Pikes Peak, is amazing for entertaining. Basement has large storage room/pantry, finished bedroom/guest room, and large Rec room that could be a game room, library, large office, etc., very flexible! It is within walking distance of the elementary school, less than .25 miles to Pikes Peak Christian School, and just over .5 mile to the East Branch Library. Please call with any questions or to set up a viewing!

We're moving on...

It is really hard to believe it's the end of February...

I know lots of us say that; "where did the time go", "how did that come to happen so quickly", etc...but really, Indy and I feel like we lost the entire month between the middle of January to the middle of February.  Literally, a flash in the pan!

My sister visited us over MLK weekend and we had such a wonderful time, so relaxing and peaceful.  Two days after she left the reign of the flu, strep throat, pneumonia, ear infections and sinus infections began.  There was only enough energy and wellness to maintain the house, the kids, fix some meals, do some laundry and pretend to at times do some school work ;)!  We were so thankful for our friends that brought us meals and groceries, THANK YOU again!

So, the past two weeks have been catch-up and I do mean it...catch up on the house and school work and catch up on research and work to get our house on the market because can you believe it...we're moving out in 2 MONTHS!

People ask, "Why are you moving out of your house so early?"  Well, the month of May is pretty crazy at the AF Academy, there are finals to be given, grading to do, wrapping up paperwork and course commentaries at the end of the semester, and then about 1,000 cadets will graduate, be commissioned in the AF and they ALL need to move, at the same time.  Getting movers during the week or so around graduation is just about impossible.  We want to be done with the move and have our stuff on the way to NC before Indy has to start dealing with finals and graduation and retirement stuff.  We have to be in Springfield on the 11th of June, so we can't dilly-dally too much.

Enter the "house for sale" phase of existence.  Not my best or favorite time, I'll be honest.  The clean freak in me has tried so hard to relax with three kids in the house and since we homeschool, I ALWAYS have 3 kids in the house!  But, as many of you know, when your house is on the market, you get testy about things that normally wouldn't bother you....ie.  You put that coaster in the center of something and it's just where you want it to be...don't move it, or else.  You just cleaned all the sliding glass doors in the house and your kids, with wet hands, decide they need to put their hands all over the glass (normally, I would say, here's a paper towel, clean  it up, or ahhh, we'll get it next week, whether it needs it or not.  Not now, I get upset and they look at me like they don't recognize me, which honestly, they probably don't.)  You've just vacuumed and they decide at lunch to shred their bread into tiny little pieces or crumble their chips all over the floor making me growl like the animal that I know I'm not : (.

Oh Lord, I'm just not pretty right now!  I'm being brutally honest.  Again, not my best time or example of good "mommy" behavior!

We've been praying about putting the house on the market for months...so this seems like a culmination of so much work.  We've been praying for the family that will buy the house, that the Lord will be directing them to this house, that He will bless them financially and that we will get along and that the whole process will go quickly and smoothly.  We know that the Lord has a plan and a family already in mind.  Please, Lord, help us to wait on You for that family.  Help us to know them when we see them!  I also pray that we won't have to live in this 'phase' too long...I know I need to grow in my level of patience; but, I pray that I'm not stretched too thin. I'm claiming the promises of  1 Cor 10:13, that the Lord will not give me 'more than the Lord will help me to handle'....  Often times the Lord does give us more than we can bear, so that we'll lean on Him more, and I know that is what this time is all about.  Help me Lord to remember that I CAN'T do it all on my own, I HAVE to lean on you.  Please also help me to remember that my children are children, and that they still have to play, to make messes, to learn...if a family is interested in our home, they will realize that a family lives here...big surprise, we don't live in a museum!!!  Amen!