Some of you have already figured this out over the weekend, but for those of you who haven't realized it, I have a new blog!

From now on, when you log onto my website www.marybethwhalen.com, you will arrive at the new blog with a new name-- Cheaper By The Half Dozen.

Dawn at Barefoot Blogs designed it for me after the new website just never gelled.  So, instead of having a separate website and blog, I combined the two and am very excited about how it looks-- and what I will be able to offer.  I can't say enough about Dawn and the service she provides-- she is just great to work with, and very affordable if you are looking to customize your blog to reflect your personality.   

So, go ahead and bookmark the new site and start checking back there.  If you have my blog on your blogroll, it would be great if you would change the title from "Marybeth's Musings" to "Cheaper By The Half Dozen," and also change the link address.  You know, in all your free time! 

This will take some transition time, but I hope that I won't lose any of you in the process.  I do not plan on posting here, except just periodic reminders that I have moved.  I am grateful to Homeschool Blogger for what they offered me two years ago when I first started blogging.  It was a great place to hang out and learn about the blogging world.  Can't wait to visit with you all in my new home!

We are getting ready to head into warp speed around here as tomorrow I go into She Speaks-- and will not emerge until Sunday late afternoon sometime! 

I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it.  I am especially looking forward to paying someone else (aka the babysitter) to hear the words "I'm bored," 452 times a day! 

Tomorrow the speaker team meets all day.  It is our once a year, the gangs all here, strategizing time. 

Thursday we go to a local department store for some image consulting thanks to my friend Shari!  The store is even serving us brunch!  Oooh la la!  Then it is on to the hotel for business stuff and some training with Compassion International.  (Anyone want to sponsor a child?)

Friday kicks off the conference with the morning being geared towards the women's ministry leaders and the afternoon being for everyone.  In the evening I will meet with my critique group, which I will "lead" for the weekend.  I hate to say lead, as we are all in it together! 

Saturday I teach two workshops-- one on the 12 essential elements of great writing for the Next Generation (teens) track and one on blogging. 

Friday and Saturday I will have meetings with publishers interspersed with the other stuff.  I am presenting a proposal, as well as meeting with an agent to discuss some ideas I have.  Fun!

Sunday marks the end of the conference with a great worship service followed by communion.  Last year I served communion with my daughter and I will never forget it.  The emotions I felt totally surprised me.  It was humbling to be serving communion to these ladies.  I am not sure if we will do that again this year--  but we shall see! 

One thing about She Speaks-- there are always some surprises thrown in for good measure! 

If you are reading this, and you think about it, please pray for this conference.  It is the biggest thing Proverbs 31 does all year.  It is life-changing for so many women.  One thing that is different about this conference versus other conferences is this conference is designed to equip women to share their stories to spread the gospel and bring hope to God's people.  And Satan really doesn't want to see that happen.  So, please pray for the ladies involved-- and for the families they represent.  I know all the ladies at Proverbs would agree with me when I say: we really need your prayers! 

I was thinking as I ran yesterday that I have been running consistently now for about six weeks.  And in all that time I have increased my stamina to the point that I think I could probably run a 2K-- but I would probably have to walk about half of it. 

What is wrong with me?

Please, don't answer that.

Yesterday was a day I used or thought the word "crazy" in my head.  As in:

We were crazy to list this house-- having showings is too hard!

Having six kids is crazy.

I am crazy to try to squeeze in a run in the midst of all that is going on at our house.

Teenagers are crazy.

Signing up to volunteer at Matthews Playhouse to work will call and concessions during High School Musical in the middle of a busy Saturday is a crazy thing to do.

I am crazy to try to cook dinner for company in the middle of all the house showings (praise God we had three requests and two actual showings in one day-- we went over a week with NONE) and Playhouse stuff.

But the day went off pretty much without a hitch-- the house got cleaned and showed, the company came over and enjoyed a yummy meal of grilled chicken, rice, green beans, sliced tomatoes and rolls with a dessert of homemade hot fudge over Breyers Vanilla.  I ate every bite! 

This morning we are celebrating Father's Day with a gift for daddy (an alarm clock that he can dock his Ipod on) and a special breakfast of Monkey Bread (his favorite), scrambled eggs and bacon.  Then church.  Then probably the pool for him and some of the kids while I slip away to spend the $20 certificate I got from Kohl's when I bought his alarm clock.  A treat for me-- and maybe something fun to wear at She Speaks!  My daughter is begging to go with me so she can buy some matching necklaces to wear with her outfits she has all picked out for She Speaks.  That girl is so cute she just makes my heart smile! 

And speaking of my daughter, she has volunteered at Proverbs all day Friday and Saturday and will be back for another full day on Monday.  Talk about devoted-- she puts me to shame!  Truth be told, she is having a blast up there-- and I don't blame her!  There is excitement in the air over there as the finishing touches are put on She Speaks-- we are now at (drum roll please) 401 women coming to She Speaks!! 

Have a great Lord's Day, y'all!

 Thirteen Things I Am Happy About:

1.  New books from the library that I actually want to make the time to read: Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson and Get Out Of That Pit by Beth Moore

2.  I don't have to cook dinner tonight.

3.  She Speaks is one week away.

4.  My talks for She Speaks are written!

5.  The proposal I am submitting is mostly done.

6.  I am going to be speaking tonight at a women's event.

7.  I have the greatest husband, kids and friends in the world.

8.  My baby's newest thing she says is "Hi Mommy!" whenever she sees me.  She says it in the cutest way-- I know one day I am going to long to hear her say it again. 

9.  I bought some tomatoes at the produce stand yesterday and am going to have a tomato sandwich for lunch-- and probably dinner, too. 

10.  I have two things to look forward to in July-- ICRS and our annual summer vacation.  This time I get to stay for two weeks at the beach! 

11.  Noggin has Little Bear-- possibly my favorite children's show ever.  We used to watch it when it came on PBS years ago, but they took it off and now it is back on Noggin.  I even find myself drawn into the sweet stories and gentle music.  I will confess that I have been known to make my kids watch it.  (It is on while I am typing this, in case you are wondering where that came from?)

12.  It is sunny for now, so I am hoping to get my run in today-- something I never did get to do yesterday with all the rain we had.  I have gotten to where I love running now.  Go figure.  (Just don't ask me how much weight I have lost thanks to all the running-- or it will suck the happiness right out of me.)

13.  And this to meditate on today from my Bible reading this morning: "So, if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.  Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.  Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ-- that's where the action is.  See things from His perspective."  (Colossians 3:1-2, MSG) 

Seeing things from His perspective makes me happy indeed! 

*For more info about the Thursday Thirteen, go to www.thursdaythirteen.com. 

For another look at 37-- not a mere 13-- things that make someone happy, go to http://thewelldrainedmind.blogspot.com/2007/05/37-things-that-make-me-happy.html.  Great post and a great new blog-- love the title! 

Instead of posting here, I have spent the last several days researching my talks for She Speaks.  One week from now, I will be with all my buddies on the P31 Speaker Team laughing and catching up.  This time of year is our reunion-- the one time of year we are all together-- and we all look forward to it!  We truly have a unique team of ladies who love and support one another even though technically I guess you could say we are in competition for speaking engagements.  We all have a peace that God calls the right lady to the right event-- and that is what it is all about.  This lends itself nicely to us just being able to love each other, pray for each other-- and laugh... a lot!  Can you tell I am looking forward to being around these ladies very soon?  I feel so blessed to know each of them and to be able to learn from them. 

This year's She Speaks is going to be the largest we have ever had.  We have nearly 400 women coming!!  It has been a bit of trick figuring out where to put them all!  I commend the staff at P31 for throwing themselves into the task of doing this conference with excellence.  They think of everything!  I got an email last night from the sister of a friend asking about coming to She Speaks and I busted out laughing.  They are still coming!  And we will find somewhere to squeeze them in!

As I have done research for my talk on blogging, I am more convinced than ever that blogging is important.  I am committed to sticking with blogging, though I might be moving this blog over to another site.  I will post more about that later-- I hope that when I go, you all will follow.  I don't want to lose a single one of you faithful readers who have been with me for awhile!  You guys have become my friends, and that is the biggest reason I have found to keep blogging-- for the community it creates. 

Ok, I stand corrected.  A long-time reader, Tina, sent this addendum to what I posted about tick removal.  I was grateful to Tina for taking the time to warn us all of the dangers of doing what my post recommended!  Here is what she forwarded to me:

Got this in an email from a friend and thought it was worth passing along-- especially as we are in the season for ticks.  I haven't personally tried it, so let me know if it really works!

A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it
really works!!
   
I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a
tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times
difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head
full of dark hair, etc.
   
Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the
soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will
come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently),
and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging
in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had
one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this
method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!" 
   

OK, I can't even remember how I found this blog (Notes in The Key of Life), but I have added her to my favorite links and will continue to check back with her.  But what I wanted you to see is here.  I can't find the trackback for where she has it posted, so I had to post the original You Tube link.  I have watched it several times already and surprisingly (for reasons unknown) my toddler especially loves to watch it!  Enjoy and I hope it brings a smile to your face as it did mine. 

Since school got out on Friday, today is the first official day of summer for the kids around here.  I will admit that my kids have been on a relaxed schedule for weeks, though, as I let them start slacking off as they finished things in May.  Once they were done with a book then I just let them be done and not have to start something new.  So, they were having easy days all through May as a result. 

But something changed today-- for one thing, my son was home today for the first time.  Having him here changes the tone of the house for reasons I can't explain.  What has been the most prevalent attitude today-- I am sad to say-- is this feeling that we have boarded a cruise ship and I am suddenly the cruise director.  I have been peppered with questions that begin with "Can I?"  Or, more likely, "Can you?"  As in,

Can you take me to the movies?

Can I have a friend spend the night?

Can I go to so and so's to spend the night?

Can you drive me to practice?

Can you take us to get a movie?

And so, the summer begins... and so does the craziness!  I am looking forward to a fun summer-- but I am also dreading the summer doldrums and boredom that inevitably kick in if I don't have a project and activity planned every second.  My friend has planned to do something creative and fun with her kids once a week this summer-- something besides the normal activities like "go to the movies."  She wants to think outside the box and actually put stuff on her calendar to make sure that it gets done. 

This inspired me to make some plans of my own.  When I was at the library, I picked up two books of homemade concoctions.  One is called "Mudworks" and one is called "Goops, Brews and Glues."  I had my 12 yo dd go through the books and pick out things she thought would be fun to make-- and write down a list of any special ingredients we might need.  Today they made "Goop" out of water and cornstarch.  They had a blast playing with the goop-- though it was a pretty messy project.  Let's just say I am glad no one called to ask to see the house while they were doing it! 

And so, dear readers, I am asking for fun projects and ideas for myself and for my friend.  What do you do to escape summer boredom that is 1)not too involved, 2) not too expensive and 3) hopefully not too messy.  I would love to hear from you!  If I get some really good ideas, I will compile them all and do an entry entitled "Boredom Busters."  Let's hear it! 

Last week my son graduated from middle school.  He was selected to give a speech at the graduation, which was quite an honor considering he just went there this year.   He was pretty nervous about it as I drove him to school on Thursday before the ceremony.  We talked about it and I gave him tips.  In typical teenage fashion, he wanted to tell me why I was wrong (I never knew I was so dumb until I had a teenager living in my house) and how he wanted to do it.  I rolled my eyes heavenward and prayed for patience.  Then I said, "Yeah, you're right.  What do I know?  I just go around and speak to groups all over the country.  I don't know anything about speaking."  He laughed in spite of himself.  It was a good moment. 

I was so proud of him for having the courage to do it.  I don't know that I could have done that at his age.  He can drive me crazy, but he can also amaze me.  At any given moment I am caught between the two.  I see such amazing potential in this young man who is growing up so fast.  It seems that just yesterday I was lamenting how fast we had entered the middle school years-- and now those years (for him at least) are already behind us.  He will enter high school in just a few months-- and another milestone will be upon us.  Only four years left-- I know it will be as fleeting as the middle school years have been. 

As he got out of the car and I pulled away from the curb, the song "Lifesong" came on the radio. Until that moment, I had not cried or even been sad about him graduating.  As I drove home alone, the tears came one after the other.  As I listened to the words to that song as if for the first time, I realized that those words were my prayer for my son that day.  He has a lot ahead of him-- a lot of temptations and decisions about who is going to be and what he is going to believe.  I want him to embrace his own faith-- and not his parents' faith.  I pray that his Lifesong sings for Jesus, and that it will be Jesus people see whenever they look at him. 

I haven't had a Saturday at home in several weeks.  It is a good feeling.  I woke up this morning and drank my coffee in bed while I did my Bible reading for today.  The kids had swim practice this morning, so the baby and I stayed home while Curt took them up to the pool and then to Lowe's to get some supplies he needed for more home improvement projects.  We are continuing to work on the house while it is on the market.  Today he is replacing one of the doors on our screened in porch. 

While they were gone I made a grocery list and a menu for next week at the same time. I used "Fix It And Forget It: Recipes for Entertaining" to make my menu.  The reason this cookbook works well for us is that it is written for making large quantities-- which I do anyway!  I am not entertaining, just cooking for my crowd.  One time my mom had a dinner party and she was pretty whooped by the time we all sat down.  As I looked around at the people gathered I noted that it was the same number of people I cook for every day!  And so, that is why a cookbook for entertaining is actually very practical for me.  I like using this cookbook in particular when I can and I love using the crockpot to assemble meals.  This is hands down my biggest time saver. 

Here is our menu for this week in case anyone cares:

Tonight: chicken nuggets, chips and salsa, grapes (We are going out to Morton's for a company thing for Curt's company-- ooh la la!  My mother in law is babysitting for the kids so this is what they are having while we eat steak.)

Sunday night: hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, french fries

Monday: Salsa beef over yellow rice, salad

Tuesday: Garlic Lime Chicken, corn, cooked carrots

Wednesday: Meatball Subs, tater tots, sliced apples

Thursday: Chicken and Biscuit Casserole

Friday: Chick fil a?

This afternoon I plan to *try* to work on my proposal that I plan to present at She Speaks.  And I also need to work on the talk on writing that I am doing for the Next Generation track.  Not to mention going to the grocery store and various housework.  Right now we have all the kids working on chores-- one is washing the car, one is mowing the grass, one is scrubbing the bathroom floor, and one is occupying her baby sister by coloring with her.  All while I type this post.  Ah, the benefits of having a lot of kids! 

I just visited a new friend of mine from church-- Kelly's blog (see sidebar) and in it she mentioned her little girl singing this song.  It reminded me of how much I love to sing this song at our "rock and roll church" as my friend Amy calls it.  And so, I found the video on You Tube to post it here.  I dare you not to be moved by this song. 

First of all, I have a post up at Faith Lifts today.  This was one I liked so much that I also submitted it to Proverbs.  Usually I try not to do that, but this time I did.  It will appear next week with Proverbs.  So for those of you who read both, you will get a double dose! 

This morning I went in to get my toddler up from her crib and she was gesturing to let me know she had something in her hand.  Because I am always concerned about her finding something that will choke her, I asked her to put whatever it was in my hand.  Just as she dropped it into my hand, I realized what she was saying: "Nose, Nose."  As I looked down into my hand at the booger that she had just handed me, she wrinkled up her little nose and pointed at it. 

All I could say in reply was, "Thanks." 

Ah, the glamorous life of a mom.

Just to let you know I have a devotion up today at Proverbs 31.  If you have a minute you can check it out.  I wrote about whether stuff can make me happy-- and how I am learning to approach my desire for things.  Ah, this was a good reminder to read as we are looking at houses online and talking about what we will look at once we sell this house.  Good to keep things in perspective! 

While you are there, be sure to check out the one just below mine by Micca Campbell on the first desperate housewife-- Potiphar's wife.  I just loved her thoughts on this... she made this story so relevant and I love that! 

My blogging friend Kathy wrote this to me and it was too good not to share with all of you-- I LOVE her image of life being overflowing instead of busy-- A mere turn of phrase but SUCH a difference in attitude... she has so captured how I have been feeling... Perhaps this is what Jesus was talking about when he said that He came so that we could have life and have it to the FULL! 

Here is what she wrote:

I tried to comment on your blog, but I guess when you had to filter out the odd balls I got filtered too!  Anyway I could so feel the pace of your days and the craziness that consumes so many moms.  I wouldn’t apologize for not blogging, it only makes everyone feel like they are not alone in their desire for peace.  I loved the image of your peaceful moment in the sand.  We’re hoping to get in a beach trip this summer too. 

Anyway…back to your busy comment.  Below is the first paragraph of my Christmas letter two years ago.  I got so tired of saying how busy I was I decided to come up with something different.  Here it is:

  And the joy of the LORD will fill you to overflowing. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.  Isaiah 41:16

 

This year I’ve tried to stop saying the word busy.  “How are you?” I’m asked. “Busy” I reply.  DUH.  Life is something besides busy.  In an attempt to do away with the negativity of my reply I began to say “I’m living BIG” and “Life is overflowing”.  Some days life at our house overflows like the potty Graham has dumped twelve sheets of TP into – messy and frustrating.  But other days it overflows like the hot fudge sundaes the kids make.  The fudge slips right off the ice cream and down the sides of the bowl.  If they’re fast enough they can grab that clump of sweetness with their tongues before it hits the table.  (and before I scold them for letting it hit the table)  The sweet overflow is a bonus. 

To those of you who are still hanging in there with me as I have been so bad about posting lately... and for those of you who have just started checking in with me, I so appreciate your patience.  And if you just happen by, I usually am much better than this about blogging regularly! 

As you know, the month of May was crazy.  Can I say that again?  Crazy!  And here it is June 6th and I have not gotten back in the swing of things yet.  Possibly because I have had a lot of loose ends to tie up-- stuff that didn't get done while I was inundated in May.  Stuff that needs to be done before She Speaks and ICRS.  And so, I have made myself multiple to-do lists.  There are two of them hanging by my computer right now as a matter of fact!  I keep telling myself that things will settle down when... and "when" just doesn't seem to arrive.  And so, I am setting my sights on our beach vacation in late July when I really will slow down, dig my toes in the sand, and veg.  Until then, though, it just looks like it's going to be busy. 

In the meantime, I am trying not to let you guys down.  I do feel like starting next week, things will get easier.  This week has held my son's eighth grade graduation, an annual physical for my youngest son, a meeting for Proverbs 31, several things that were due, and also that pesky little "house on the market" thing.  And so, I have intended to write something long before this-- but just didn't. 

I am speaking on blogging twice this summer-- once at She Speaks and once at the AWSA conference.  It would go to show that right as I am trying to pull this blogging talk together, I get the blogging blues.  It always seems to go that way.  I have been doing lots of research on blogging and have found out that 1) my numbers are NOT very impressive and 2) a blog like mine (not specialized, more chatty) is not the direction blogging is going.  Humph!  Admittedly, that did suck the wind out of my sails a bit.  But I will press on, I promise.

In the meantime, check out some of my favorite blogs in the sidebar.  My hubby says he sure does like getting hits from you guys-- and he has been much more faithful to check all that stuff lately than I have.  I sure would appreciate your prayers for this proposal I am working away on.  I will tell you all about it very soon-- I am excited about braving the publishing waters again-- much as I said I would never again!  I can't help it, like a moth to a flame... that's me! 

Well, today I leave for the last of my trips in the whirlwind month of May.  This month has involved me speaking like nine times total or some such craziness.  This retreat marks the last of it-- and I am ready to S-L-O-W down!  I do speak once in June, and then also at the She Speaks conference at the end of the month--but that is better than speaking nearly every weekend.  I am not wired for that kind of pace, I have discovered.  I enjoyed it while it lasted-- but my family and I are ready to be more normal.  (Whatever that is!) 

Just a note for anyone who tries to leave a comment-- some whacky person has decided that my blog is a nice place to post the weirdest, longest comments known to man.  So, just to get them to move on, I have disabled posting abilities to unregistered commenters for awhile.  I will try to hook it back up in a few days.  In the meantime, I am sorry that this makes it hard on the rest of you.  One bad apple and all that.  Please feel free to email me if you need to contact me in the meantime.

We had our first house showing last night and I will admit I sort of hoped that we would get a call to make an offer.  I know that is SO not the norm, but I couldn't help but hope that it would happen.  So far, no call-- but I am still hoping!  My poor husband is going to be holding down the fort here while I am gone to the retreat-- and he says he is mentally preparing himself for lots of showings.  Not to wish that on him, but let's hope! 

Finally, today is my Faith Lifts posting day.  Head on over there to check out my post for today.  I talked about my kids' end of the year testing-- and how we all face tests from time to time.   

And one more thing-- I am leaving today, as I said, and my son has woken up throwing up this morning.  If you feel led to pray, please pray that he would get better quickly and that this thing would not sweep through the house.  My poor husband can only take so much...  Thanks. 

The realtor came by this morning and stuck the sign in the yard.  It was sort of surreal to see it there-- proclaiming to all our neighbors that we are moving.  I am a bit sad-- but also excited to see where we will end up.  Please join with me (if you feel led to do so) in praying that this process will be quick!  I am not excited about keeping the house "show ready" with six kids running behind me undoing whatever I do.  This will be a huge challenge-- but a necessary one.  We have put this off for as long as we could. 

As for my bday, well, it was not the greatest day-- in fact, it was pretty terrible, as bdays go.  I overslept and was awakened by my son saying he had to leave for school-- now.  So I jumped up and rushed into my day, feeling very tired and behind from the get-go.  I got turned down by a magazine for not one, but two, articles I submitted to them.  The dog peed on the floor (thankfully on the hardwood).  And to top it all off, my car died in my driveway.  The good news is, my father in law is letting us borrow one of his cars until mine is fixed.  And he and his wife came and sat with the kids so Curt and we could go out for a quick dinner to *try* to salvage the day. 

Even though today has so far involved nothing but cleaning the house and running kids back and forth to their annual testing, it has been a better day today than yesterday-- if that tells you anything at all. 

This morning of our holiday was spent cleaning and cleaning and cleaning some more.  We are diligently trying to get the house in pristine condition so that the "for sale" sign can go in the yard in the next few days.  We have made much progress over the course of the weekend, but there are still a few more checkmarks for our to do list before we can sit back and pronounce our work as "done."  What a great feeling that will be! 

After church yesterday, we drove around to look at a few houses/neighborhoods we are interested in.  We found one we really like-- and are hoping it will be one of the contenders when it comes time to seriously decide.  Every day that we find houses we like while ours isn't even listed feels like a waste-- as houses in our price range seem to be snatched up on a daily basis round here!  But we are still trusting that THE house is going to be protected from another buyer and trying not to stress about it-- as there is nothing else we can do about it anyway! 

Curt and the older kids just left to go to the pool as a reward for their hard work today.  I went on an extra long run/walk today-- so that was my reward.  The baby is down for her nap and I am hoping to spend the valuable quiet time just getting some stuff done.  I am trying to organize our school area (this house isn't big enough for a whole room, so we have a corner of the laundry room devoted to school stuff).  I am organizing papers, throwing stuff away, and putting the things we are through with away as well.  I am still deciding when I will get out the things we will be using next year.  It probably won't be for awhile.  Maybe not even until we are in the new house-- so who knows when that will be!! 

Tonight we have photos scheduled with a guy who goes to our church.  These will hopefully appear on the cover or the P31 Woman magazine in October!  Fun!  Although, I must admit I am NOT looking forward to the photography session.  Getting us all smiling and looking in the same direction is harder than it might seem! 

And that is the riveting update on our exciting Memorial Day!  Tomorrow is my birthday-- but so far I don't have any exciting plans...  Having a birthday right after Memorial Day is sort of anti-climactic, I am finding.