When it rains, it pours.

I thought of you again today, Dear Reader.
This time I wasn't in the shower.
I was standing in a parking lot
(the same parking lot where many years ago
my friend Tara gave me a driving lesson)
waiting for a nice policeman to arrive and write up an
accident report.
You see, it was such a beautiful day out
today that I thought I would just plow into the side of
a large concrete barrel-shaped thing.
And that's what I did.
It was just sort of an impromptu thing....


I am just sitting here shaking my head.
Ever feel like that cartoon character
that had a gray rain cloud over his head?
The rest of the world was shining and sunny
but that cloud stayed right over that little guy's head
and it rained on him continually.

I am beginning to feel like that guy.

Lloyd Dobbler and I were just saying to each other
that we wouldn't dare say or even think that it couldn't get
much worse---because it could.
And we don't want it to.
We're quite content with the level of stink we have.
We don't care to have more stinkiness.

But you know what?
It's just so nice,
when you are up to your armpits in unpleasantness,
to have lovely, beautiful children
dancing in circles around you.
Right now Sweet T is hopping around my chair
making up a song about the silent E and ninjas.
Can't help but smile about that.

I have more things for which to give thanks
than I do reasons to grumble.

But man...I'm tired of the big stink.
I'm just sayin'.....

It's spring fever.

That is what the name of it is.

And when you've got it,

you want -

oh, you don't quite know

what it is you do want,

but it just fairly makes

your heart ache,

you want it so! ~

Mark Twain

Sobering

It is a beautiful rainy spring day here.
I don't mean that sarcastically.
I do find beauty in rainy days---I love them.
Not 43 in a row.
But usually rainy spurts are over
before I truly get tired of them.
I just love the cozy atmosphere a rainy day produces for me,
inside my dry, safe house.
I might not be so enchanted with it were I stuck out in the elements.

Today seems very quiet and still.
I was fixing our lunch this morning to slide it into the oven
(so that it would be cooked and magically delicious
by the time we got home from church)
when my mother called with the news.
The little girl we have been praying for since she was
diagnosed with leukemia this past fall....she died this morning.
I can hardly stand to think of her parents and her
brother and her grandmother. Losing one of my children
would be the most devastating thing I can think of.
But when I think of her, Samantha,
I just kind of feel a great sense of relief.
There was so much pain and suffering for that child.
Although it has been only half a year,
her fight with this disease, she has been through so much.
And now it is over.
I just feel glad that she is not hurting any more.
I'm glad for her.
But oh the pain for her family.
At least they know that she is "safe in the arms of Jesus."
She was well aware of who her Savior was.
Now she is with Him.

It kind of makes it hard for anything else in life to seem
of much importance when you are faced with
something like that.
I think of this child's mother---do you think
she cares one iota about the health care bill
or the college basketball tournaments?

Live from Bell's house---it's Saturday Night!!!

Hi Dear Reader.
It's late Saturday night. I just gave Baby J
a very quiet bath and fed him and put him to bed.
I asked him to sleep until 8am.
He didn't say anything, just looked at me.
We'll see how that goes.

I was just sitting here trying to decide if I got much done today or not. It seemed like I was always busy, doing this and that. We got some stuff done, but it's not like I can point to specific things. "I moved that mountain. I built that statue." I kind of feel like I don't have much to show for my efforts. And you can just look around this house and see 147 other things that need to be done. But the shoe thing in the garage is cleaned out. The high chair is almost ready to come to the kitchen. As is the saucer/play thing (what do you call those round things that you put babies in?). Lots of laundry got done. People got fed. Several times. And the kitchen is clean.

I haven't laid out clothes for anyone for tomorrow.
I did lay out most of the ingredients for the French Country Casserole I'll be making for our lunch tomorrow. I'm kind of going back and forth between what I did do and what I didn't get done.

Do you ever do that? Look back on a day as it is closing and find that you aren't quite able to make sense of it?

Oh well. It's late and I need sleep as much as anything.
I better get a jump on it in case Baby J decides not to do
as I asked him. He might just wake up at 2am and want
to party just to spite me. I sure hope not.
He is a rascal though. Just look at him.


Oh, that precious baby.
I could just eat him up.

My Whoopee Cushion Jeans

One day last week I had to go to College Town
and run some errands. I found myself at Kohl's doing
a little looking around (I really need to do some
shopping! You know how it is after you have a baby
--it seems like the only things that fit and look good
are things that you can't possibly nurse in
without completely undressing---sigh).

So picture this....it's me and Baby J in the stroller
and we are strolling through the store. We were
in the ladies clothes looking around. I had my purse
on my shoulder and when it would start to fall off
I would kind of shrug my shoulder in that way
that made the straps of my bag slide back up on my shoulder.
Well, I was wearing this pair of blue jeans that has
these metal buttons on each of the back pockets.

When I was stooped over looking at clothes on the
lower level and I had to do the shrug thing
to keep my bag from fall off my shoulder
(I hope you are following this),
the bottom of my purse would encounter
one of those buttons.
It would kind of drag across the button.

And there would be this noise.

Like a whoopee cushion.


I didn't notice it at first.
I was just looking at clothes.
I did notice this woman give me this strange look one time
and I wondered what her problem was.
And then the next time the bag and the button made contact
and I heard that like noise, I thought of what it sounded like.

And then I thought of what that woman must have thought.
And it was so funny to me.
I laughed out loud in the store.
I was a walking whoopee cushion.

Never be surprised if you see me laughing
at a time or place that makes absolutely no sense at all.
It doesn't take much to get me started,
especially if I'm in that laughy mood.
I saw this button one time that said
"I'm the type of girl who will burst into laughter
about something that happened yesterday."
That is SO me.
And it might be about something that happened last year.
Or ten years ago.

This morning on the way to our home school co-op I thought of a little joke and I just burst into laughter. The kids kept saying, "What, Mama? What's so funny?" And I don't know why it cracked me up SO MUCH, but it did. It wasn't a joke I wanted to tell my small kids--and it's such a dumb joke, but it made me laugh more than once today.

I will leave you with this joke.

You can roll your eyes as you move on to your next blog.


Question: What did the midget say at the AA meeting?

Answer: I think I'm a little drunk.

Please tell me you at least smiled.

Into Each Life A Little Rain Must Fall

The kids and I met my mom
after our home school co-op today
and we all went to eat lunch at the Mexican restaurant
(the one where everybody knows our names).
Now I smell like Mexican food.
Ever notice how that clings to you?
I don't think any other type of restaurant does that.
You don't come out of The Olive Garden
smelling like a big bowl of salad.
Or marinara sauce.
You don't smell like a well roasted cow
after eating at your favorite steak house.
Why is it that the Mexican restaurants
just infuse you with their smell?

My heart is just heavy for a couple of people right now.
I know we all have problems. We all do. That's life, isn't it?
Everybody and their brother seems to have
the flu or strep right now.
We have the big stink.
You have your stuff.
We all have it.
But I am thinking of two specifically bad cases right now.
One is a distant relative of mine, a little seven year old girl
who was diagnosed in the fall with leukemia.
She's not doing well.
In fact, it is looking like the end is drawing near.
She's has been a trooper and such a witness of God's grace.
But it's not looking good. And her parents are having
a very hard time right now---which is totally
understandable. Every time I think of her, I realize
that she's the same age as Big E. My heart just goes
out to her. Her name is Samantha; pray for her if you will.
Pray that she won't be scared.
Pray for her parents.

The other situation is one I just learned of today.
A friend of mine at our home school co-op
just found out yesterday that her husband has
colon cancer. They are still waiting to find out how
extensive it is, how far it has spread already.
I talked with her and briefly with the husband. They are
kind of in that dazed state--like they've just been hit
in the face with a 2x4 and they're stumbling around,
trying to find their bearings. But they are strong
Christians and already trusting God with their future
(as they were before this news).
But I was just thinking of how things can change
with one phone call, one piece of news.
Your priorities can completely realign.
You see suddenly what really is important.

There are just people with broken hearts
and burdens all around.
And those who do not have A Savior,
a hope for their future,
man, I don't know how they
make it through the day.
I really don't know.




"No storm can shake my inmost calm"
is a line from Robert Lowry's How Can I Keep From Singing?
Someone posted a verse from that on Facebook yesterday.
I hadn't thought of that old song in a long time.
But that one line always jumps out at me,
every time I hear that song.
"No storm can shake my inmost calm."
Isn't that a lovely way to speak of that
peace which passes all understanding?

Christians are supposed not merely to endure change, nor even to profit by it, but to cause it.

Harry Emerson Fosdick

You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile

On Sunday mornings, I usually lay out the kids' clothes
for church on their beds for them. I did this this past
Sunday, laying out for Sweet T a pair of pants, a shirt,
and a sweater vest for him to put on.
He seemed to have some confusion
about which order to put on this ensemble:

He came into the room with the shirt fully buttoned,
but looking a bit more muscular in the chest area than he
usually does. He had put the sweater vest on
first, under the shirt.

And then he wanted to wear something to show off
his tattoo on his muscular arms (ahem)
but we didn't think that was exactly appropriate
for Sunday School.

Eventually he was fully and properly dressed
---and ready to face the day with a smile as he always is.
He's such a happy child, an endless source of joy.

I am so blessed to have him.

Seven Up

First of all, I have to say that I hope the little guys on the juke box yelling about their need for coffee are not driving you crazy. I know that can be annoying. We had them before (remember?), and when they got on my nerves, I got rid of them. Well, they are back and they aren't on my nerves yet. They kind of make me laugh. They just sound so desperate. The way that one just pleads "Just pour me a little bit, would you?" ---it makes me smile.

I've told you before, I have a great appreciation for silliness.

Second---OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! IT'S SPRING!!!
It's here. I'm so excited. I mean, we've got sunshine and warmth and things growing and sprouting and longer days. It's all here. I just want to wrap my arms around spring's lovely neck and give it a great big hug. "Welcome back, Spring! I've been waiting for you---couldn't wait for you to get here!"

Third---The government of the United States of America: Big sigh.
It's just beyond words. And I'm so sick of words. I'm so sick of people always talking and doing nothing about it. So I don't want to add to that. I'm not going to rant if I'm not out making something happen. I'd like to get out and get in the way of those who are making things happen.....but at this season of my life, I can't. Not right now anyway.

Fourth---I failed to tell you on Sunday (perhaps those of you who are keeping score at home knew it anyway), but our lovely and wonderful Baby J turned 3 months old on Sunday, the 21st. And he is just growing and changing and getting to be so cuddly and sweet. He has found his voice and I love it when we get into these "deep conversations"---where he will answer back everything I say with coos and gurgles and various noises. Just precious. I am aware that with my first three, I was not always "in the moment." I didn't always stop and enjoy the tiny daily things that are, in themselves, the magical scenes that dreams are made of. Am I enjoying it more this time because I am older? Or because this appears to be the last baby for us? Whatever the reason, I am making a much more conscious effort to carpe the diem with this sweet baby boy.

Fifth---I am totally out of things to read with that little series I was obsessed with. I even went on-line and read that incomplete draft of Midnight Sun. And here's something I was thinking about this morning---it interests me that there are so many people eager to criticize this woman, this author, for things that I think are ....well, basically neither here nor there.

I have heard people say (and I think I have even said it myself) that her books are not literature. Okay. I know what we mean by that. They are simplistically written. Bubble gum, perhaps. Even while being totally absorbed in the books, there would be things about them, about the writing, that would kind of get on my nerves.
But you can't really say that they are not literature.
Well, you can say it, but that doesn't make it so.
They are literature.
And people want to make such a point of distancing themselves from this series. I can see if you say just across the board "no vampires for me," then fine, it's not for you. (Don't let me catch you reading Bram Stoker.) And for the record, I have always been a "no vampire" type of person myself. Just because it doesn't interest me. I'm not into science fiction or fantasy or thrillers. Even now, I'd say that. It doesn't interest me.
But this series did.

I just wrote and then deleted a whole tirade about
my thoughts on the Twilight series of books and what people
have to say about it.
I'm just not even going to get into it.
Here's what I will say: I enjoyed the books immensely.
If you want to read them, read them.
If you don't, don't.
It won't enhance your life if you do read them.
It won't kill you either.
And not reading them is not a practice
in the spiritual disciplines.
They are just stories....fiction....like any other book.
They are not The Book.
(The only one that really matters.)

Sixth---there is no sixth. I'm done. I'm off to feed that lovely baby and then whip out the history books for my little scholars. We need to get a bit more of our noses to the educational grindstone. I've been so lax this semester (especially since the big stink showed up). We need to do better, do more. We'll be doing stuff all summer if we don't get our act together.

Seventh---Looks like there might have been a sixth after all.

Sunday Afternoon Nap

It's a rainy, rainy Sunday, race fans.
Some of you may hate that. I guess if you were getting married in a garden today or having 142 people over for a cookout, then you REALLY hate that it's a rainy day. But I love it. I love a rainy day. I love a rainy night. How many times have I compared myself to Eddie Rabbit? Don't make me put that song on the juke box again.

I got a late start yesterday on making things for our meal today so I was up late last night. I was taking a pie out of the oven and assembling a seven layer salad at about 11pm. I think it was midnight when I climbed into bed. I knew I would be tired today, but I also knew that we would appreciate a good meal. Right now, with the baby and all, there's no way I can get up and make the food on Sunday morning AND get everyone ready AND get myself ready AND get to church on time. So it has to get done the night before. It's not like I was up late playing poker.

Our lunch did turn out very nicely. We had roast and carrots (in the crock pot overnight) and mashed potatoes and green beans (those two I did have to do this morning, but how hard is that?) and the seven layer salad (which actually turned out to be a six layer salad because I forgot to buy the frozen peas...but personally, I liked it as well if not better without those peas). We haven't eaten the pie yet. I made a pumpkin pie because it's one that we all like (of course now that I have said that out loud, all my children will go into convulsions at the sight of it and say they never liked it and please don't make them eat it....). We'll eat it after church tonight.

Baby J began screaming during lunch and has kept that up intermittently throughout this rainy afternoon. Maybe he's one of the people who hates the rain. No Eddie Rabbit is he. Actually I don't know what his problem is. It's kind of like he's mad. We can't figure out what the problem is.
And he's not telling.

I tried to take a nap.
And I did take one with him (the screamer) in a handful of minutes when he stopped the screaming. Then after I fed him, he wanted to party and I wanted to continue the nap....so I took him out to his playpen. The rest of the nap time was spent with the other members of the family trying to appease/quiet him while they took turns coming in to me every three and a half minutes to ask me extremely important questions like "How do you spell WAS?" and "Can I go to PBSkids.com on the computer?" and "Can I have a snack since it's been twenty seconds since we got up from eating our lunch?" and "What two colors can I use to make the color blue if I don't want to use a blue crayon?"
Here's the thing that annoys me:
Some of the time when they asked me these questions (and there were many more questions of equal importance), they would have just left the room they were in where their father, the other adult in this family, was with them.
Why would you go into another room
and wake the napping adult
when you were just within arm's reach
of an adult who could have answered your question?!?!
But I know they do that because they know that they won't like their father's answer or what comes along with it. I was so annoyed that I would tell them they had to ask him anyway. If I could only get three and a half minutes of peace and quiet at a time, I was not going to answer any questions during those interruptions. I was off duty. Or trying to be.
Until Lloyd Dobbler had had all he could take
with the three jitterbugs and the screaming infant.
And then "Sporadically Interrupted Nap Time" was over.

So that's been my afternoon.
Is it any wonder that reading fiction
is becoming more and more appealing to me?

Sleepy Mama and Nice Big Boys

Have you ever had one of those days where at any given moment you could fall asleep if you just had something to rest your head against? That's what this day has been like for me. Every time I have sat down to nurse the baby (that's the only time, it seems, that I have sat down and been still) it's all I could do to keep my eyes open. And I got to bed on time last night. And Baby J slept until 4:30 this morning, so it wasn't like I was up all night with him or something. I've had caffeine. The sun is shining. It's a beautiful day. All things that should put some pep in my step.
But there is no pep.
Not in my step anyway.


Hasn't it been a lovely day though?
Just gorgeous! I love it.
After our home school co-op we picked up some lunch
and went to the park in the next Tiny Town over.
Several other families from our co-op did the same,
so it was nice to just soak in the sun and chat with friends
and watch the kids play.

Big E was so entertaining to me while we were at the park. Some of the other families have much older kids, like high school guys. There were several of them. At first they were playing volleyball. Big E started out sitting on the sidelines watching them. Then he began to fetch the occasional run-away ball. The next thing I know, he's on the court "playing" with these guys. And they were so great. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing "big boys" who are kind and encouraging to "little boys." That says so much about the "big boy." It's so easy and typical for the big ones to shoo the little one away, to have no patience or tolerance for them. But these guys were so nice. They let him be there, let him try to join in though it was WAY beyond his seven year old skill level. And when the playing moved from volleyball to ultimate football, Big E moved with them and they continued to be gracious. I appreciated it so much as the mother of the little guy who wasn't being kicked around or totally ignored. And it did so much to make Big E feel like he was "one of the guys." He came over to get a drink at one point and said with a big grin on his face, "The teenagers and me are really getting along for some reason." I just wanted to give a hug to each of those "big boys."

We grilled burgers for supper tonight. The kids were surprised that we weren't having "pizza and a movie night" since it's Friday. How quickly something becomes set in stone to them. But we did have the movie. We watched the old Disney movie "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes." (I slept through most of it.) The funniest part was explaining to them that computers used to be these huge things that really didn't do much compared to what we can do on our personal computers today. All that is ancient history to them.
Remember when a single computer was so large
that your team of horses
could hardly pull it in your wagon?

My Goal

If I had heard or read this prayer before this week,
it is lost somewhere in the
vast canyons
of my mind...where many things have been lost.
This is a portion of the prayer of St. Patrick.
I thought it was beautifully written,
but also very meaningful,
something to reflect on.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart
of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth
of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen

Splish-splash---I was takin' a shower....

I wish you could have heard
everything I had to say to you while I was
in the shower this morning. I don't know why my
thoughts were running like I was talking to you,
my lovely Dear Reader, but that's what was happening.
It was, for a change, such interesting stuff I had to say.
And funny. Oh, you would have been LOL-ing.
But I knew I wouldn't remember it later when I had time
to come in here and sit down with you.
I have the worst memory.
I wonder if somebody like Donald Trump
thinks brilliant thoughts in the shower....and if so,
what does he do to remember them?
Does he keep a secretary handy
to take down his brilliant ideas?
He's probably watching the news while he takes
a three minute shower.
Anyway, I don't have a secretary to take short hand
while I scrub and talk....so all that material
from this morning is lost.
And this is not the first time.
I often find myself mentally talking to you while I am
in the shower. Maybe I need like a waterproof laptop so that
I can capture these golden moments so that
you will actually have a reason (and a burning desire)
to come here and read about my ordinary days.
Or maybe I just need to keep singing.

Speaking of singing,
this morning was the first time in a long time
that I did something I used to do ALL THE TIME
with my kids. It was such a nice morning. The sun was
shining and we were trying to get our day started and
I put on some wonderful music. I got out a CD that I used
to play LOUD in the mornings at the old house. Lovely K
remembered it; Big E did not. But I put it in and
cranked it up and we sang and danced and had ourselves
a big time. Of course I had to dance with Baby J and
babies love that. Did you know that?
Babies love to dance.
Of course, you the adult have to do the dancing.
They are just along for the ride.
But if you have a baby near you, pick it up
and put on some music and waltz around the floor.
See if that babe doesn't love it.
They will. I promise.

It's just so nice to physically feel like dancing again
---and to have the sun shining and know that it's
not going to be twenty-something degrees outside.
Is there anyone who doesn't greet spring with open arms?
I love Spring.

The other day I said that Spring is my favorite time
of the year----and one of the 1.5 of you
(one who evidently IS keeping score at home)
pointed out to me that I had previously claimed
that autumn is my favorite time of year.
I am sure I have said that.
But here's the deal---I think it's the time of transition
that I love. Spring and Fall are basically the same thing,
just with different outcomes. Winter is too long and too
cold and too bleak and everyone is ready to see it go.
And by the end of summer, everyone is hot and tired
and run ragged.....ready for the slowing down and
cooling off time that comes with fall.
I love them both.
But right now, Spring is coming through the door,
so Spring will be getting all of my affection.
Fall can wait its turn.

Well, Lovely Reader, I have finished the Twilight books.
Last Friday I got book #3 and #4 from a girl at our
home school co-op
(another adult---so I am not alone!
Did I tell you how amazed I am that so many people
my age have read these books and been absolutely
sucked in by them as I was?).
I finished #4 last night.
And now I kind of feel sad that I finished.
It was so good that I didn't want it to be over,
but it is over.
The story is told.
It's all wrapped up.
Happily ever after and all that.
Sigh.
I just really enjoyed reading those.
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a story
as much as I did those. And it's been so good for me
to have something to interest and entertain me
right now. I have really needed that. So thanks,
Edward and Bella, for keeping me from falling into the pit
on these cold, gray, depressing days we've had recently.

Now I need something else.




I've got to go finish getting supper together.
I've baked some chicken and I'm going to make the
Stove Top Stuffing I found in the back of the cabinet
(I wonder what recipe I bought that for and never used it? hmmm)
and some veggies. I have laid out a package of spinach
from the freezer. Tomorrow I am
going to make spinach dip. If you think
I love Spring....and dancing
with my kids.....you should see me
with a bowl of spinach dip....

Bookmark

I've been sucked into those books again....in case
you were wondering where I am. People keep saying
they don't know how I can read them so fast with,
you know, four kids and homeschooling and whatever
else I've got going on
(which--hello? Have you seen my life?
Not exactly a flurry of social activity....).
What they don't know is that I'm not getting much else done.
But I'm on the last book.
And I'm on the last third of that.
So it's almost over.
And I'm kind of over the thrill now because something
you are in suspense of for all those hundreds of pages
in the four books....well, it has happened and
I feel like we are just wrapping things up now.
So I'm not glued to the pages as much as I was
yesterday and today.

Lloyd Dobbler is thrilled that I'm almost done.

So...I'm off to read a bit more
before I turn in for the night.

After this, I promise to read something
a bit more profitable.

Friday Notes

When I was in Junior High
I had this wild and crazy friend
named Mary
who would make Friday Notes.
Friday Notes were like a party on a page.
You might get confetti in yours.
Or pieces of candy.
Or nothing.
They were covered in jokes and crazy things,
funny pictures, just random thoughts.
I hadn't thought about those in years
.....until I typed in the name of this post.
But guess what?
There's no confetti for you here today.
Nor have I posted you a Jolly Rancher.
(Haven't figured out how to do that...hmmm...)
And I don't think I have any jokes for you....
but I am certifiably crazy......
so there's something.

But it is Friday and it is a good day.

Today I finally returned to our homeschooling co-op.
My dear mother has been taking the kids all this
semester so far until now. Well, today I took three
of the babes and my mom kept Sweet T,
who you may recall, is still sick.
(But he's getting better--he looked so much
better this morning after a couple of doses
of antibiotic and a good night's sleep.)
So I went back to co-op and it was good to see people.
I think they thought I'd have this tiny newborn baby
and they'd look and say, "He's so big!"
Yeah....well....he is almost three months old.
I mean to be back sooner....


Part of what made the return to co-op great was that
one of my favorite people in the world was there.
My friend T-fanny who had moved away was
back visiting today. T-fanny and I met in the nursery
at co-op a couple of years ago and today we were back
in there together for about two hours. It was so
great to see her and to be there was just like a flash
back in time. I love T-fanny and wish she wasn't so far
away. But she's here now! For a little while.
And I'm so glad to get to see her.

I may actually have two outings in one day---and if
you're keeping score at home, you may need to wake
yourself up to take note of this (anyone keeping track
of my social schedule lately is sure to be
fast asleep...for months...)
because even one outing seems like a rare thing for
me anymore, so two in one day is just like
social chaos at the moment.
How different life is when you have a baby.
But Outing #2 (if I go) will be meeting T-fanny and
miscellaneous other friends of ours at a coffee shop
in the next Tiny Town over.
What's funny about it is that I checked with my little
redneck-brother and he and his song writer's group will
be there tonight. So I can go see my pals and hear my
brother (and his group). I need to make an effort to go.
I have a tendency to just want to stay home all the time
and not do things because it might take a bit of effort
on my part. I need to get more involved in
life outside my four walls.

In other much more important news
--which continues to emphasize the fact that
I need to get a life----Dear Reader, I am now in
possession of the last two books in the Twilight series.
(and there was much rejoicing)
I have started on book #3. I picked up these two
books from a friend of mine after co-op today.

We were having this big conversation about them
and it just made me want to get on with the story,
you know, and find out what happens to these characters.
We were discussing the fact that these books have
won awards under the category of "children's books" and
that surprised me. I am sure they are aimed more at
a "juvenile adult" audience, but for them to even fall
under the "children's" category surprised me.
I have Lovely K wanting to know if she can read them
and I am thinking, No way.
Not because they are bad or anything.
They aren't bad.
But they aren't for children.
Or at least not my children,
not my nine year old child.
She's reading Magic Tree House books
(though they are way young for her, but I'm not
discouraging any reading) and Hardy Boys mysteries.
I'm not letting her jump from those to
"vegetarian vampires."
And that's kind of what I was talking to this other
mom about. With homeschooling and being with our
kids ALL the time, we know exactly what they are
doing and reading. I know what's going on in my kids' lives.
There's no mystery. There's really no room for secrets.
When I was in school (once I started public school in
4th grade, before that I went to private Christian schools),
my parents didn't know what I was reading.
And if Lovely K was in school, I wonder if I would know
what she was reading in the library or books she could
get from her friends.
I want to be able to protect my kids and I am glad
they are leading a more sheltered life. I think kids
are exposed to so much at such a young age nowadays.
I don't like that. But then sometimes too I wonder
if I shelter my kids too much. My kids are very
naive about things and very innocent.
I mean, even about things like calling names or bad words.
I don't know if they would even recognize a cuss word
(as being something "bad") if they heard one.
This one girl in the conversation today was saying
she didn't want her kids to be so sheltered and so naive
that when they did have to go out into the world
they wouldn't know how to deal with things
or that they would just be overwhelmed.
I know we are supposed to be "in" the world
but not "of" the world.
Sometimes I don't know exactly how that plays out
in day to day life. I grew up in some churches
that wanted to draw the lines for you,
play the role of the Holy Spirit for you,
and they went way over board.
I don't ever want to teach my kids a list of rules
that makes them feel comfortable and satisfied
with themselves when the process of sanctification
is a never-ending thing.
Do you know what I am saying?
I don't know how I got off on this tangent.....


But it's Friday.
Here comes the weekend.
We are springing forward this weekend, Dear Reader.
Are you ready to spring forward?
What if I just slowly walk forward?
I'll get there.
I just think I'm way too tired
to do any springing.
And how excited am I about losing an hour of sleep?
I've been doing that a couple of times a night for weeks....

I can't help but be excited about Spring, though.
This is my favorite time of year.
And it's coming, Dear Reader, it really is.
I think that's what I am so happy about today.
Even though I can barely stay awake and my head is
killing me, I can just tell that the change is in the air.
We had a rainy, stormy morning,
(which I love anyway---I love spring rains!)
but the sun is shining behind the clouds
and I can see the trees looking at each other,
wondering if it's too early to start whipping out
their little leaf buds.

Come on, trees!
Whip 'em out! Let's get it started!

I am so ready!
Aren't you?

Meanwhile....

You know how I have told you before
that I am a spoiled rotten child of God?
Well, that is so true.
And it just occurred to me tonight while I was
fixing supper that even in the midst of
a smelly situation, that is still so true.

Isn't life funny like that?
You can be knee deep in a stink and at the same time,
know without a doubt that you are
blessed beyond measure.
I was doing laundry all day today
(where do all those dirty clothes come from?
are we taking in laundry that I don't know about?)
and then tonight, making supper and it was
still sunny outside and my kids were bustling around,
doing their thing, and Lloyd Dobbler was in
and out.....and I just had a moment of perspective
there where I started counting my blessings.

And then I started thinking of other people.
Like right now tonight....a little girl,
the same age as my Big E,
is having a bone marrow transplant.
Oh, how my heart aches
for that child and for her mother.

Lloyd Dobbler came in today after running an
errand and, knowing where he'd been, I asked
him about a person that should have been there.
He said that person wasn't there, he was home with
his wife....who, they just learned, has stage 4 cancer.
They have started chemotherapy to buy her
a possible month or two.

And then a friend of mine from high school was going
to see if she could drop off the third book in a series
that I am reading (let's not even mention what
that is right now), and I was thinking of her
.....how she is unable to have children of her own
and she and her husband are faithfully pursuing
every avenue of adoption. I thought of her walking
into my house, noisy with children and baby things
scattered here and there. I thought of how that
would point out to her the ache of her own
unfulfilled desire. I remember being there,
wanting what I didn't have and hearing other
tired mothers complain....but at least I had the hope
of having my own children....and obviously did later on.

But tonight I just thought of people around me
who are dealing with major stuff.
It kind of made my stink not smell so bad.

I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow...."

Zzzzzzzzz

What a beautiful day
we have today!

You can tell a difference in the sunshine
and I don't care what that Ground Hog said:
Winter is over.
We may have cold snaps again, but this is the kind of day
that lets you know the page is turning.
The seasons are changing.
It's really happening.

I'm so glad.


I was just on facebook looking at every one's statuses.
People are out rolling in the grass,
doing the Charleston in the sunshine,
climbing trees in business suits,
they are thrilled with this day.

Here's what I did:
fell asleep with Baby J in the guest room
for two hours.
That's how I chose to spend this lovely afternoon.
But I'm telling you what, that was better than anything
I could have done outside. He slept and I slept
and the sunshine came through the windows.
It was great.
Of course, this was only a possibility because of
the sunny day. I was able to send the other children
and their father out into the day. The kids played or
rode bikes or something, I don't really know.
Lloyd Dobbler is doing something in the landscaping
(Mr. Popsicle was over--Lloyd Dobbler won't pull a weed in
the landscaping without talking to Mr. Popsicle about it first).
So while Baby J and I had some peace and quiet, we slept.

How nice to be able to take a nap
when you have been sick
and you have a small baby
who is sick
and you've had several months
that have made you think that maybe
you are turning into Job from the Bible.....
how nice a nap can be....

Oh sickness that will not let me go.....

Well, it's Sunday morning
and I am missing church for like the
one millionth time
in the last four months.
I wonder if I will have to start filling out
that little card for visitors.

Last night Sweet T decided to check out
what he'd been missing in the full blown version
of whatever this illness is that his parents and
siblings have been battling (should I point out
that HE was the one who showed the first sign of
anything other than perfect health when he came home
with just a runny nose and has been fine ever
since, running circles around the rest of us?).

He had glassy eyes and a fever yesterday afternoon.
I knew he wasn't 100% when we went to my parents
for a little bit and instead of playing the wii with his
sister, he was sitting in my father's lap
quietly watching. He fell asleep on the couch
before bedtime last night.
But here's the thing about Sweet T--
he is as healthy as a horse.
We were trying to remember if he's ever really
been sick before. I can't really recall a time.
Maybe a runny nose or a yucky belly after
eating 17 popsicles poolside, but that's it.
When he was on that kick of stuffing things
up his nose and we were making frequent trips to
the doctor's office and the E.R.
(and even the surgical center)
to get it removed, we would often do his check ups then
since we were already at the doctor.
I don't even know if he's ever had a prescription
for anything. For some reason I have this
vague memory of him having to take an antibiotic
one time when he was in his first year,
but I can't remember what it was for.
So what I am saying is, the child is in good shape.
He's Mr. Health and Happiness.
And I am so thankful for that.

I have to say that overall
all my kids have been very healthy
and I am very thankful for that.

But whatever this illness is that we are generously
passing around to each other, it's getting old.
I think this is our third week of sickness
in one person or another (or several at a time).
It's such an annoying thing. You feel like death one day
and then you start feeling better,
you think it's over---but no!
It's just faking you out, hiding around the corner
so that as soon as you get up and dust yourself off,
it can pounce on you AGAIN.
I got pounced on somewhere in the night.

And I was up several times in the night
checking on my poor little baby.
He's been pounced on too.
He's not like deep in the throws of sickness,
but I can tell he's not feeling well.
He's even had a little baby cough this morning.
So pitiful.
I am hoping he'll just get a mild version of it.
But how do you know with a baby so small?
They can't communicate what is wrong with them
or how they are feeling. All they can do is cry
if they feel bad. So I'm just keeping a close eye
on him....and feeling bad for having to be all over him
when I am sick myself. He probably got it from me.
But how could that possibly be avoided?

So...it's going to be a quiet day
here for me.
I had dreams of
this warm, sunny day
and flipping burgers on the grill.
Right now I don't care
what we eat.
I wish we had the ability
to go get Mexican
(Mexican always
sounds good to
me when I have
cold/flu symptoms).
I think I'll make
a chicken casserole
and cook some carrots
and throw a salad on the table.
And I may be in my pajamas all day.
And I may read 47 chapters of my vampire book.
And I may choke my husband if he continues to tell me
that I am not taking care of myself.
And if these older kids who are feeling better
and suddenly full of energy
don't find something to do with their noisy, rowdy selves,
they are going to get....
oh, I don't know...dropped off in the country
where there's plenty of room to
run and bark and play with other dogs.....

Salsa does sound really good
now that I have thought of it.
Maybe I'm just wanting to eat
a whole plate full of cooked onions.
Something with some real taste
and the ability to open up my head
because this Halls I am sucking on right now
is not really doing the trick.

Get out and enjoy the sunshine, Dear Reader.
I really hope you are not ill.
Stay away from anyone who is sick right nowbecause if they have what we have and you get it,
you can just cancel whatever you had planned
for the month of March.

Up, Up, and Away

My sweet babies
were given the movie Up!
for Christmas (by my in-laws).
I think my MIL actually gave it to them
a bit before Christmas---because, if you recall,
she was here and they needed things to do during
those days of bedrest and 1,000 doctor appointments.
So the children have seen that movie
several times. Lloyd Dobbler and I had not
watched it until last night.
Fridays, you know, have become our
Pizza and a Movie night
and we all look forward to it.
So last night we parked ourselves
on the couch
in a pile
and all watched this movie together.

That is THE CUTEST movie.
Oh, it was so sweet.
I mean, how many cartoons will bring a
tear to your eye and make you laugh out loud?
If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.
I loved it.

You know what else I love?
Sunshine.
We have had it for two days in a row now
and I think it might be addictive. I don't know if
you know this about me or not, but sunshine
on my shoulders makes me happy. If it's in my
eyes, it can make me cry. It has this same effect
on John Denver. Or it did.
(He is no longer among the living.)

Today was a beautiful day.
I don't think it got as warm as they told us it would.
There was a very chilly breeze blowing around,
but the beautiful sunshine was the star of the show.
I took the snuggy thing off of Baby J's
car seat/carrier and I think he enjoyed getting
a better view of the world around him. He went
with me to the barber this morning.
I got my hair cut.
Not a big change, but it will be easier for me to
fix and it was in need of something. I hadn't
had anything done to it since November.
It's still long enough to go up in a ponytail
which is an important thing for me.

My lovely husband returned the Twilight book today
to the young teeny-bopper who loaned the book
to me---and he borrowed the second book in that
vampire series for me. I started reading it while
fixing supper tonight. I am so glad I have started
reading fiction again. I went for years where I didn't
read fiction. It was always something on
Education or "raising children"
(believe it or not---and you would think I'd be
doing a better job at both of those things
for all the reading I did)
or books by people like
Elisabeth Elliott and Ruth Bell Graham.
And don't get me wrong.
I'm not patting myself on the back
for reading this particular book.
But I am enjoying it.
I forgot how pleasant it can be to get sucked into a book.
It's a nice escape from reality.

And I feel like my own creative juices
have begun to flow again
in a way they have not done in a very long time.
I have always longed to write.
I believe I have the necessary skill
to write....it's just developing and cultivating that.
It's work, you know, and it takes time.
Time is a precious commodity at this point in my life.
I keep a quote (by Robert Hass) on my desk that says:

Take the time to write.
You can do your life's work
in half and hour a day.

That quote gives me a sense of hope.
I find myself wishing I had pursued
certain classes and experiences and various opportunities
when I was younger and freer. I regret some of the things
I didn't do when I was younger.
I wish I'd been wiser.
I wish I'd looked ahead and thought about
the way things would be in the future.
I don't know that I ever did that.
Maybe I did but I just didn't see
the reality of how things can be.
I have a tendency to romanticize things.
I wish I'd not wasted time and chances in my youth.
But maybe that's something we can all say.
How do you know, when you are
young and blissfully ignorant,
that some things you let slip by
will never pass your way again?

In other news:
We are mostly on the mend,
all us sickies here at the homestead.
Lovely K seems to be back at 100%.
Big E's horrible cough has subsided.
Sweet T seemed to be dragging today.
I hope he's not going to go through it.
I'd like for us to be done with this sickness mess.
Baby J coughed once tonight
when I was putting him to bed
and I just thought "Oh no! Not him."
And I hope he doesn't get sick.
I feel like he won't, but who knows?
I am praying that he doesn't.
There's nothing more pitiful than a sick baby.
And he's still such a little bitty sweetie.
It's been a long, hard week
and I have felt really bad a lot of the time.
I have wished that I could take something
that would really help.
Like Nyquil.
You know how you can't take anything
that might actually help when you're nursing.
But it's getting better and I am making it without medication.
I am overdosing on grace and mercy
(as I suspect I have been for some time now).

I am going to get up from this computer now
and go get in a nice hot bath.
And read from my vampire book.
And relax.
I've had a terrible kink in my neck today.
I could really use an adjustment,
wish my chiropractor wasn't so far away.
Maybe the hot bath will help.

Have a lovely weekend, Dear Reader.
I hope the sun is shining on you
and that you are soaking in the rays.

Weather or Not

So Tuesday we had snow all the first half of the day.
The world around my house was totally white. And then
today we have sunshine --and I was outside talking to someone in the driveway with no jacket on and it was only a tiny bit chilly.
This weekend they are saying we will hit sixty degrees.
Is it any wonder we are all sick?
You're not supposed to run the gammet of weather ranges in a week's time. But we are headed toward warm weather, Dear Reader, and that's fine by me, whatever we must do to get there. We had sunshine pouring in the windows today and that was
a beautiful thing.
I need some sunshine in my life.

I keep hearing in my head that little dialogue exchange
from When Harry Met Sally where Harry says,
"That's the good thing about depression.
You get your sleep."
And Sally says, "Oh, I am not depressed."
I don't know why I'm telling you that.
I don't know why I keep hearing it in my head.

We had a little break from the big stink today
in the form of a visit from my favorite aunt
(no offense to the other aunts)
and a little outing with the family. We loaded up with my parents and brother and the aforementioned aunt and went to breakfast at Shoney's. I believe I have told you how much my kids love breakfast at Shoney's. They think it's the greatest thing ever. So combine the Shoney's breakfast bar with my favorite aunt (who they all also adore) and you can see what a pleasant morning it was here on the homestead.

It was very nice to just get out of the house and be with people. What with the sickness and the cold weather and the big stink, I haven't really gone anywhere or done anything lately. And I don't really see that changing anytime in the near future. So I enjoyed it.

And I am really going to enjoy the weather this weekend if it gets as warm and lovely as they are saying that it will. We will be throwing the cow on the grill and I am looking forward to that. Isn't it just so nice when winter starts making its exit? We know that it will, but sometimes when you are knee deep in it, it's just hard to believe that it's going to happen. You feel like you are stuck in the dull cold forever.
But it's March already.
The days are getting longer.
The sun is shining.
Hope springs eternal.

I hope the sun will be shining
on all 1.5 of you Dear Readers this weekend.
Soak it in!

Today in History....

Today is my mother's birthday.

(Happy birthday, Mama!!!)

And it's a big one.

I have a great mom. You should all be jealous.

I hope she is having a wonderful day.

In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb

Guess what?

Snow.

More snow.

I just can't believe it.

Is Tennessee trying to become Alaska or something?

Enough with the snow already.

At least it is a beautiful snow.
Unfortunately I have three little sweet potatoes
who cannot go out and play in this lovely snow today.
Lovely K had a cold over the weekend that is just trying
to be all that it can be (must be an army cold).
I thought she was better yesterday, but last night
she started being poorly again. Big E joined her
in unhealthiness yesterday or sometime last night.

Here's what is ironic:
Baby J slept wonderfully last night.
I fed him around 9:15 and put him down
and he slept until almost 5:00 am. Fabulous!
BUT the irony is that I was up anyway
around 2:30 with my eldest two.
Big E was coughing like a maniac and had a fever.
Lovely K was laying on the floor of the bathroom
crying because she felt so bad.
But you know what?
It's so much easier to deal with
a 9 year old and a 7 year old
than a 9 week old in the middle of the night.
Give me children who can talk any day
over one who communicates through
either coos or screams.

I am making a big pot of chicken noodle soup
(in my continued quest of feeding us
out of what we have on hand).
I used to make chicken noodle soup often
when we got noodles that Lloyd Dobbler's
grandmother made.
We used to get a few bags of those
for the freezer a couple of times a year.
I don't think she makes them anymore.
Or not for the whole family anyway.
But I don't think I have made
homemade chicken noodle soup
since then. And that's been
years....dating back to
our "former life" at the old house.
I hope I remember what to do.
But it's chicken noodle soup.
How hard can that be?


School was canceled here today
because of sickness AND snow.
(Too bad I finished my vampire book last night.
Too bad I don't have the second one to start on today.
Yes--you heard me--I'm going to read the second one.)


We really can't afford to miss out on
school days since we took the entire month
of January off....but what am I going to do?
Crack the whip on these ill children?
I think not.
Maybe I'll just read aloud to them.
We've got to finish the last book in the collection
of The Borrowers. The library called yesterday
about it. I forgot to renew it when I returned all
our others last Monday. Why do they wait a week
before calling you to tell you that it's overdue?
I always seem to be paying fines at the library.
They should name something
at the library after me.
Like maybe a special cart in which
you can return your seriously over due books.

Let's go check on that soup, Dear Reader.
Or I will.
You can stay here...move on to your
next blog....or continue listening to my strange
assortment of music on the juke box.
I just grabbed a play list from LAST year.
These were songs I selected a year ago.
Funny, last March seems like a lifetime ago.
That was before I was even pregnant.
As I am writing this, I am listening to
song #12 over there. Sting. "When We Dance."
I think that song is beautiful. Beautifully written.
Very poetic lyrics.
I just love a well-written song.

Gotta go....

Soup's on.

Viddles or Vittles?

First of all, I had to change the music.
It was making me sick, that first song. While I still
have a great desire for "hard times" to get away and
"come again no more" to me....I just couldn't take
that song another second.
I'm sorry for putting you
through that, Dear Reader.

And your response is supposed to be,
like Huey Lewis is saying if you are listening,
"It's alright."

Well thank you.
What a lovely Dear Reader you are.

Second, I thought I would tell you
that I am cooking chicken and it is not making me sick.
For most of my pregnancy with Baby J
I could not stand the smell of chicken cooking.
Oh, it was horrible.
You know how things can just make you crazy
when you are pregnant. So I kind of stopped making
anything with chicken in it. And then tonight I am roasting
some chicken quarters in the oven and I started to smell
them as they started to roast and it just occurred to
me that the smell was pleasant to me,
not making me want to throw the dish out in the yard
and leave the house until the smell is gone.
What a nice change.

Third, I have been reading a vampire book.
Just typing that sentence seems silly to me.
I am like the last person in the world who would want
to read a vampire book. Normally that would be the way
to get me to NOT read a particular book,
by telling me that it had vampires in it.
But for some unknown reason,
I am reading a vampire book.
That stupid Twilight book that all the Jr. High girls
in the USA were so into...oh, whenever it came out.
It's kind of old news now. I mean, I am reading
the first book and there are about three books in the
series now and a movie. So I am right on top of things
and totally up to date as I always have been in my life.
Actually, I don't know what got me interested in
reading this book. I really don't. And it's not like
it's great writing. But the story really draws you in.
I've read about half the book today since the kids have
been poorly and school has been scant.
I have a chapter or two left.

Fourth, well, there is no fourth.
I'm done.
I need to go rustle up some additional viddles
to go with our roasting chicken. I am trying to eat out of
our cabinets and freezer as much as possible
right now and it is amazing what you can do
when you put your mind to it. I am surprising myself.
And still making decent meals. Hooray for me.

Later, Dear Reader.