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There are going to be THREE MORE True Woman conferences in 2010! Samantha and I are so excited and wanted to tell everyone. This was the best christian conference I have ever been to and even beats any of the smaller retreats I have been to hands down for spiritual renewal. It's hard to even explain what a great environment that was. You had to be there, but there was such a sweetness about it. We met Jenn4him and Mama Karen in person there, too. They are lots of fun and were so sweet to drive us around since we were car-less.  Okay, here's an example--there were 6000 women there and when they handed out the box lunches, I didn't spot one frown in the crowd or hear a single grumpy comment from anyone around me. Not that anyone had reason to be upset. I think it took them less than 15 minutes to get a lunch in everyone's hands. It was very well done. I'm just sayin', though. You know how these things can be! But even better was the time we spent in prayer. There is just something about joining in prayer with that many other women, and knowing you all have the same struggles and frustrations. |
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This morning as we were all waking up Parker ran inside to tell us that a tree had fallen across the driveway. We were astonished, since yesterday was hot and sunny. So we questioned him, disbelieving, as to whether or not he actually meant a TREE. He was so certain, that we went outside with him.  There actually was a very large tree across the driveway. It was dead and rotten, eaten from the inside by some colony of insects.  The amazing thing was that it fell right where Jim has parked his truck for several nights now, only last night he pulled farther forward.  The tree fell diagonally between our two vehicles. Had it fallen an inch further to the right OR the left it would have hit one of our vehicles and done substantial damage.  Had the tree been even a foot longer it would have come in contact with the house and probably done some minor cosmetic damage.  To add to the strangeness of the day...on returning from picking Kyle up from Boy Scout camp, DH found a BOA CONSTRICTOR stretched out across the bottom of the driveway! I wonder where that came from??? |
 Last night we went out to visit our 13 yo son at Boy Scout Camp. He seemed tired, a tad bit homesick and extremely dirty, but also just a little bit more grown up.  This is one of those growing experiences that you know is good for your children, but is awfully hard for their mothers. He is on track to earn three merit badges by the end of the week, which I understand will give him a good start. We are new to Boy Scouts and still learning.  I'm very thankful to have the troop we have here with committed leaders. DH is looking forward to getting involved as soon as he settles in. |
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I know I fell off the blogging wagon, but we are just so excited to have DH home and trying to squeeze too many things into our days. I think every member of the family had a running list of things "to do when Dad comes home" including Dad. There have been lots of projects started, some finished, many board games played, a few discipline issues addressed and tons of maintenance problems around the house taken care of. It feels soooooo good to feel semi caught up. And best of all--Micah is sleeping in his own bed and Caroline is potty trained. All of this in one week! God sure knew what He was doing when He designed the family. It works so well and is so sweet when things are as they should be.  Yesterday we felt caught up enough to go blueberry picking.  We went early while it was still cool and picked 2 gallons.  I froze three gallon size ziploc bags full.  And washed a colander full for immediate baking and consumption.  The end results were greatly enjoyed.  The kids promptly went out to investigate the progress of our blackberries. I guess I need to look up some more recipes. |
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Today I need a do over. I was very busy and accomplished practically nothing. I had a very bad attitude left over from the night before. I prayed that God would change my heart and decided to start the day in Bible reading, but got continuously interrupted as soon as I tried to sit down. Then I gave up and decided to go to the store for birthday food (Shelby is 10 tomorrow), but when I went outside one of my rear tires was completely flat. The boys and I spent nearly an hour locating the jack and removing the spare from underneath our 12 passenger van in 90 degree temp and about 100 % humidity only to discover that we weren't able to get the lug nuts off the flat tire and had to call the wrecking service anyway. I finally got on the road to the store with Micah screaming the whole way, when a friend called to see if I could stop by her house on my way to talk about the thing that caused my bad attitude. So I did. Not sure we fixed anything. I probably just revealed way too much of said bad attitude, which we both recognize as sinful pride on my part that needs to be weeded out. She is such a good friend. I'm very thankful for her. Anyway, off to the store AGAIN. I finally arrived at 5:30 and found they had closed at 5:00. Jumped in the car and returned to our small town to try the dollar store, but they don't have the right kind of cake mix OR frosting (chocolate cake with strawberry frosting). The end. It really doesn't matter, though because my favorite person in the whole wide world is at this very moment in his truck and on the way HOME!!!!! He should be here in a couple more days. I can't wait! He always makes everything better and WAY more fun. Thanks for listening. |
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So Jenn wanted to know what a Moby is and it came in the mail today and I decided to post a picture here. I think I can safely say that I have tried every baby carrier known to man. I always thought these were most unflattering and so have avoided them. Micah doesn't like the sling or Ergo (yet) so I needed some way of carrying him hands free. He REALLY likes this, and fell asleep as soon as I put him in it. Who cares about flattering as long as baby is quiet, right???
 And my dear husband who is more than 2000 miles away participating in military training exercises is concerned and asking me to explain the following picture (seen in an earlier post) which he referred to as a "baby torture chamber".  It's like this: I've been trying all week to sew up a "2 hour" skirt, but keep getting interrupted. I had everything out, when a friend called to ask if she could stop by for a visit, so I stacked it all up and set it on top of the bassinet, which is rarely in use, since Micah insists on being held WHILE HE SLEEPS. After she left, I needed to use the powder room, and looking around for a place to set Micah I noticed the bassinet and slipped him in under the fabric board. When I came back out, the kids were all laughing at him and he was mesmerized by the geometric pattern on the underside of the board, so we took some pictures of all the grins. Between you and me I think he actually likes the bassinet better with the stuff stacked on top! |
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I moved the playlist to the top so y'all can quickly pause it if you don't want to hear the music. I also rearranged the music to start with a different song....finally. Sorry it took so long. I couldn't get to my settings. Glad it's fixed now. I like the music, but know that not everyone does. |
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Samantha just realized that she may be asking Caroline to babysit her own children in 10 years or so, which means she might want to be extra careful of the example she sets while babysitting her future babysitter.  Micah's going to have to develop a more cheerful disposition before anyone's going to be asking HIM to babysit. Wouldn't want that grumpiness rubbing off on anybody...just sayin' |
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The days have been a little hectic since Micah was born. He is a most demanding little guy. We remind each other daily that he will not be little for long and have fallen into a semi routine that goes something like this:  ~nurse Micah ~change and dress a happy Micah ~put Micah in the bouncy seat and listen to him scream while showering and dressing as quickly as possible ~move bouncy seat with screaming Micah into the kitchen to make breakfast hold Micah while eating and trying not to get breakfast all over me and him ~lay a sleeping Micah down in the crib and start laundry ~finish morning chores while Micah screams loudly from his crib give up and hold Micah while he sleeps ~nurse and change a happy Micah ~leave Micah in the crib and listen to him scream as I run around making lunch, stretching my aching shoulders and stiff legs, rotating laundry and whatever else I can quickly knock out before we are all in danger of our heads exploding... ~give up and hold Micah while he sleeps  You get the idea. Generally, the only break I get is a nap he takes in the swing every afternoon when I try to knock out a few more boxes or a closet as part of our ongoing unpacking process.  He is always instantly cheerful when picked up, leading me to believe there is nothing wrong with him, except that he hates to be left alone. This is reinforced by the fact that he will actually sit happily in the bouncy seat or crib if one of his siblings is there to make faces and talk to him. He also lays contentedly on the bed during story time, listening to the stories and staring intently at the pictures.  I have to confess I have not really tried tummy time until today, because he reacts so strongly to being laid down. He seems not to mind it too much, though. Although, his older brothers were so taken with the sight of him lying on the floor, that they quickly joined him there and talked to him until he was finished.  And had to be placed back on Mommy's lap where he apparently feels he belongs.  At all times. |
