Jute

Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, family Tiliaceae.
Jute is one of the cheapest natural fibres and is second only to cotton in amount produced and variety of uses.

One of the uses is that JUTE is A PAINT COLOR by Olympic. And that is what we used yesterday to paint Andrew's very white room.

Thankfully we had some help from a man who has some very steady hands! We didn't need to tape the room out around the windows, ceiling, closet, etc since he could do that "trim" stuff while Dan and I had the easy job of using the roller.

I have never in my life painted a room before - so this was a first! I am fairly satisfied with how it turned out. NOW we're waiting on Andrew's new bedding, which is back ordered until February - probably because the price was such a steal!! (at JcPenney)

The hope is a rustic, cabin-y feeling, boy's room. I didn't get any of the accessories shown (nope, not even the cute dog on the doggy bed), so I'm hopeful I can pull this together on my own. I don't have the charmed touch as some do of finding bargain-priced items that are "just what I was looking for" (my tastes are usually, unfortunately, and unadvertently too expensive), but I'm holding on to hope that I can adjust my "wants" to my very, very low budget. Here's hoping it all comes together - cheap. um.....I mean, inexpensive.

16 Years Remembered

Sunday, December 27, 1992 ~ Wedding Day in New Tazewell, TN. "Honeymoon" spent traveling across America: Cumberland Gap, Chattanooga, New Orleans, San Antonio, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Disney Land, and to our new home in Ft. Ord, CA.

1993 ~ spent January thru March exploring California: San Fransisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Carmel, Monterey, etc etc. Moved to Ft. Lewis, WA in March. I flew back to TN to be in 2 weddings in June.

1994 ~ Mt. Rainier was practically in our backyard! Took many, many trips to the Olympics, Cascades, Oregon, and all parts of WA State. Dan's parents visited and we went down to see the Redwoods in Northern CA & explored the Oregon Coast. I got my first full-time job at Olympia Photocopy Company as a receptionist/dispatcher & accounts payable/receivable clerk. Took a trip to Miami (FL) to visit w/ my aunt & uncle ~ drove thru the Everglades ~ and then up to Tennessee. My mom & David came to visit at Christmas.

1995 ~ finished out our time in WA. Dan got promoted to CPT in June - and then we left the Pacific Northwest. We drove thru Idaho, Montana (Glacier National Park), Wyoming (Yellowstone & Grand Tetons), South Dakota (Badlands & Mount Rushmore) to Iowa for a family reunion of sorts. Dan's dad retired, & they were dissolving their household to move to South Texas. Drove on down thru Kansas, etc to new duty assignment (OAC) in San Antonio, TX. Dan was in school from July - December. I didn't have a job so we enjoyed exploring the Texas Hill Country & catching up with my (step) brother Mike and his family who were stationed in S/A with the Air Force. We also first started going to the doctor for the infertility issues we were facing.
GOOD NEWS at the end of the year: new duty asignment - Wuerzburg, Germany!

1996 ~ Christmas in Tennessee then off to Germany!! Had a wonderful upstairs apartment - brand new!! with neighbors who became wonderful friends. We explored Paris immediately and then went on to visit every city and town we could around us. We also went to Greece in October to visit my aunt & uncle who had an apt there. Spent a lot of time the next 3 years visiting relatives around the Frankfurt area and re-visiting places I saw as a child.

1997 ~ I got a part-time job at the library on post. Continued traveling a lot & having people visit: my mom, Dan's parents (took them to Denmark & Holland). Went to Italy in August. Started aggressively pursing our infertility treatments (surgery in July). Celebrated 5th anniversary by staying in a castle on the Rhein River and touring the Rhein River Road.

1998 ~ POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST on January 15!! Quit my job to enjoy my pregnancy & my last year in Germany. More traveling - my friend Tami came to visit, also went to France (Normandy area) and England before the baby came. September 18: Andrew was born!! My parents were here for 6 weeks. Last Christmas in Germany :(

1999 ~ left Germany in January. Flew in to San Antonio where Dan's parents picked us up & we "bought" Dan's dad's Ford Bronco. Drove up to Iowa to visit family - also drove thru Nebraska & Kansas. Back to Texas where Conny & Andrew would live with Dan's parents while he attended an Army schooling in San Antonio for 6 weeks. Dan came down to "the Valley" every weekend. Went into Mexico & re-visited some Texas sites.
Moved to new duty station: Ft. Eustis, VA in March/April via a visit in Tennessee. Started more infertility treatments with a reproductive endocrinologist. Visited DC and other areas near by; my 2nd cousin Stefanie visited from Germany. I spent a few days in Pipe Stem, West Virginia with my friend Tanya's family.

2000 ~ enjoyed the "Historic Triangle" area of Virginia: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST #2 on March 17!! It's a girl ~ Anna born on November 4th.

2001 ~ finished out our time in VA. Siegrid, Alf, Christina & Stefanie from Germany all visited us here! We traveled to David & Jennifer's wedding in Tennessee in May. Left VA in July. Conny, Andrew, and Anna lived with her parents in TN thru mid-September while Dan went to CAS3 school at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Was in Knoxville on September 11th. Dan was done with school a week or so after & came to get us ~ drove to Missouri "the long way" around via a week at a time share in Crossville TN and thru Memphis to Branson to visit his parents. Moved into housing on Ft. Leonard Wood on October 16th. Christmas in Texas w/ Dan's parents, grandparents, and sister Kathy's family.

2002 ~ enjoying life in Missouri! Dan had a great job at the hospital with a terrific staff; the kids and I enjoyed life at home, going to MOPS, Musikgarten, and Curves (to exercise). Surprise POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST on October 14 (blood test confirmed I was 8 weeks pregnant already!), but sadly, I miscarried on October 17th. Andrew started K-4 at Maranatha. In December, we celebrated 10 years of marriage by going to a time share in Branson for a week.

2003 ~ Dan found out he was going to have to deploy to Iraq. Training in Texas (Ft. Hood) first, left on Feb 20th. The kids & I drove down (600 miles) to surprise him before he left the country. We went to Tennessee for Spring Break - and Dan landed in Kuwait on the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 16th. The long deployment had begun. Spent the summer in Tennessee. Andrew started kindergarten at Maranatha. Dan was home for R&R in September! Also spent Christmas in Tennessee.

2004 ~ Dan finally came home on February 10th, 10 days short of a year to the day he left Ft. Leonard Wood. Spring Break in Hot Springs. I started volunteering at the Maranatha office as the secretary was moving. Seeds planted for Dan to consider working at the school. In the fall, I was hired to work part-time to help Mrs. Byers, the new secretary. Anna started K4 and Andrew was in 1st grade.

2005 ~ I went to Germany & Greece in the summer. Dan left active duty in August & started teaching at the school. I started working full-time in the office as soon as I got back from Europe because Mrs. Byers moved to be closer to family.

2006 ~ reality sets in. With both of us working but mutually making way less then Dan did in the Army, we don't travel much any more. Weekend trips to Branson to see his parents or short excursions to local sites. Not much time off any more either. We work all summer too due to summer school. Entertainment consists of our kids' activities like soccer games or piano recitals.

2007 ~ reality continues. We did get to go to Tennessee to see my parents while taking 2 Seniors on a "Senior Trip" to Crown College & Bob Jones U. I don't even think we had a full week off the whole year. We are learning to enjoy "local" sites and calling seeing family "a vacation".

2008 ~ Dan consents to let me work part-time as of the summer. We did get a few days off here & there, and are surprisingly thankful. We went to Iowa for Dan's grandma's 90th birthday. We went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. Christmas in Missouri.....

It's been an interesting 16 years. Thru all the ups & downs, changes and adjustments, joys and disappointments, I am THANKFUL for my husband who has loved me unconditionally through it all. He is my best friend and the stabilizing force in my life. I look forward to many more years with him.

Silent Night, Holy Night

Tonight, after a Christmas Eve service at church, after spending some time with my family, and now sitting in my living room surrounded by Christmas lights and candles, it is easy to be THANKFUL.

There are presents under the tree, nothing fancy, nothing expensive - but I know they will be appreciated and have already been the source of much anticipation. There is so much FOOD in the house right now, I will need to diet for months to ever justify eating all this - we've been given cookies, snack foods, popcorn tins, homemade goodies, and even a lovely HAM! We are healthy and ALIVE; just tonight, we heard about people who have had terrible tragedies (a mother of 4 died of a brain tumor & a young teenager who just found out today that he has cancer).
And mostly, there is LOVE in this house - our love for each other and God's love toward us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...

Food & Fellowship

Well, a little episode of the stomach flu may have ruined broccoli cheese soup for me forever....but thankfully after being sick last night, I woke up this morning feeling much better! It was a short illness - and I'm hopeful the stomach bug has run its course thru our home.

Dan went in to work for me this morning until I was sure I was keeping food down again. I went in later to work on the bulletins & on so many other things I need to / want to get done at the office while it is QUIET. I still had several phone calls & 3 people stop by for various things, but I was able to get out of there by 3:15 :)

Tonight we had a "game night" with some friends - and thankfully after a day of eating only crackers & apple sauce, I was able to enjoy the yummy appetizers that were there! I brought my "famous" veggie pizza (famous only because it's one of the few good things I make well, & that's what I usually bring to parties, etc) & ambrosia (fruit salad w/ mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, coconut, mini marshmellows, and yogurt).

And may I conclude with the fact that I *won* the monopoly game we played....we quit early n the game before someone decimated me or I made any huge mistakes, but I won!! I have to gloat now because I rarely win!! ;)

I'm thankful today for FRIENDS. It is a blessing to have people with whom you can share life and laugh with....and beat them at Monopoly...

ALMOST as good as Panera....

...but not quite.
Panera's broccoli cheese soup is one of those things I crave.
Someone offered to babysit for us on Saturday since it is our anniversary; however, we'll be with Dan's parents - and the only other night we actually have nothing to do this week is tonight; but the babysitting thing didn't work out for tonight. I desperately wanted to go to Panera with Dan on a "date" (see previous posts about setting your heart & frivilous things!! same situation!!); but alas, it just wasn't meant to be.
So, I'm making our family broccoli cheese soup!! It isn't as good - or as convenient - as going to Panera - but it will temporarily satisfy the craving. Plus soup sounds good on a cold, cold night!

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP
8 cups chicken broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
salt & pepper
2 cups milk
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
3 cups cooked broccoli
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese

In large pan, combine broth, soup, onion, celery, and s&p. Bring to a boil, reduce heat - cover & simmer for 20 minutes
Add milk & bring to boil again.
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch & water until cornstarch is dissolved. Gradually add mixture to soup, stirring constantly. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add broccoli and cheeses, mixing until melted.
You can also then puree the soup in a blender - but based on MY experience, make sure the soup is COOLED! If the soup is too hot, it will form some kind of combustible air pressure in the blender, blowing the lid off - and splattering soup all over your kitchen.....trust me on that one! ;)

Crafty Christmas

I am NOT really crafty...I'd like to be...I try....but I'm too impatient to be truly crafty!

So, my mom helped me along this year. While I was visiting her over Thanksgiving, she gave me this picture shown above (it's a piece of material); and we together went out and bought the dowels, end caps, and fabric glue to hopefully make a "tapestry". Now this whole crazy thing took me 3 days to complete. I had to use fabric glue to "hem" the edges (I don't sew!!) and then paint the dowels gold & glue on little caps to the ends of them...then attach the rope. So, here it is on my wall! I am actually fairly pleased with it & with myself! Mostly I love that the picture focuses on what Christmas is all about! A good reminder right there in the middle of my living room wall.

The only other crafty thing I did this Christmas was a little gift for my dad. I got this idea off the internet or someone else's blog. I don't have a picture, which I regret since I actually LIKED it too!!

PHOTO POST-IT NOTE HOLDER:

get an acrylic photo frame (at Walmart - less than $2) about 4x6 in size

a pack of post-it notes in whatever color you want to coordinate with

card stock or scrapbook paper

pictures!

*I took out the "fake" picture in the frame & used it as a guide to cut out a piece of scrapbook paper (I'll call that the template) - my paper was a burnt burgandy-ish color.

*Remove the back of the post-it note pad & stick the pad onto the outside of the frame (to the right or to the left, leaving room for pictures or decoration to show thru).

*I had 3 tiny pictures of my kids & my nephew so I made them little scrapbook paper blocks to mount them onto - on coordinating paper, of course! Glued those on to my "template" - and put the whole thing into my frame.

Does that make sense?? The pictures were on the left side in the frame - the post-it notes were on the outside of the frame on the right.

Ok, I actually looked on google & found something w/ the same concept - this one is using stamps or cut-outs or something - but it's the same idea!

And may I say: it is COLD outside.....and it is COLD inside. We have a drafty house with drafty doors & windows - and even if the sun shines, our windows face north & south so the sun NEVER shines in to warm the rooms.....brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! Thankfully my parents bought us an Edenpure heater last Christmas! and we have a space heater that helps warm up the area we happen to be in at the time too.

There are days when chopping wood & cleaning ashes sounds pretty good to be able to have some EXTRA heat from a woodstove or fireplace!!

DAILY THANKS: for my husband's obsession with blankets. We probably have 10 throw blankets or whatever you call them: fleece, eider-down, mink, and other materials. I do appreciate cuddling up with them - and him - on a cold, winter night!! :)

The Gambler

Today was a half day of school which meant CLASS PARTIES for the kids. Andrew is in 5th grade. He brought one of those Nerf indoor basketball hoops you hang over your door as his gift. In exchange, he got a POKER SET...........I kid you NOT!! Texas Hold'em. In 5th grade!!!!!!!?
I don't know, maybe I'm a narrow-minded mom - but is this AGE APPROPRIATE?! Or is this even APPROPRIATE period. I think if anything, it caused for some good laughs as I shared with people that my son got a POKER SET (in a very nice suitcase thing w/ poker chips, decks of cards, etc) for Christmas at his CHRISTIAN school. And I'm not trying to make fun of the child who with good intentions brought in a poker game set for the gift exchange ~ he even told Andrew this was a "good kind" of Poker so I know his intent was not to lead Andrew down a road of gambling... but to each their own!

THANKFULLY, we live in a small town, so one assumes that EVERYONE was buying their class gifts at Wal-mart, THE local place to shop. I took the poker set back. Thankfully, they accepted it with no receipt - and we got the money. Andrew scored $10.98 for the Poker set (his class' gift limit had been $8)! I think "all's well that ends well" - and we had a talk that I really didn't think we'd be having this early in my kids' lives: "What IS poker?? What IS gambling?"
While at Walmart, I think I finished my Christmas shopping! I am hopeful that I don't think of anything else because I really, really just want to quarantine myself in my home.

The dreaded stomach flu did hit our family :( Andrew woke up this morning saying he wasn't feeling good. He ate no breakfast, barely ate at his class party - and by noon school dismissal was in his dad's office throwing up... I got him home in time to throw up again - and now he is resting. I'm hopeful it won't be as vicious as some families have had it - and that the rest of us are spared. I have heard the horror stories of how bad it is and how quickly it takes out one family member after the other. YIKES!

So today I'm thankful to be HOME --- and that it's Christmas Break!! 2 weeks of no school! Hopefully everyone will get some good rest, enjoy good times with their families, and have time to focus on God's Son whose birth we celebrate. What an amazing plan God had to give us the gift of salvation!! From a manger to a cross....

Frivilous Things

ok, so here's the rest of the story: my frivilous thing that I was SURE I'd have to give up today was going shopping w/ my friends. We'd planned this for a long time now, and I had my list ready and was so excited.
Then we get a phone call: a teacher at school is sick w/ the stomach flu --- and a few minutes, literally, later, I get an email that the lady who was supposed to work in the office was also sick! So, I was sure that I'd either be sub'bing in 4th grade OR working in the office today. And that was going to be ok: it is more important to do my job and help at the school than to go shopping. I mean, it doesn't get any more logical than choosing between shopping or ministry!!?? Right?

BUT the other secretary was able to work today after all......and Dan graciously maneuvered the substitute teaching around so I wouldn't have to do that either. And I had a WONDERFUL shopping day with my friends - totally oblivious of the wicked stomach flu that was rampaging thru our school. Seriously, folks, I am SCARED TO DEATH of the stomach flu. I have serious emetophia (look it up!).

So today I am most thankful that Friday is a half-day of school - and then we can all go home and hide out from germs for a while!!

My menu today was pretty awesome: lunch at Olive Garden (shrimp caprese - stuffed mushrooms - salad & bread sticks). a double scoop ice cream cone from Brahms. and staff dinner at Sirloin Stockade (and I didn't even eat much there at all - aside from yummy yeast rolls, a salad, and soft serve ice cream)! :)

I'd like to thank the Academy....

Seriously, I - me - Conny - WON a blog award. I'm so tickled - and yet, I am undeserving because though fathoming myself a blogger, I have no idea how to fulfill the instructions of the award - but here is my best, feeble attempt:

I received this award from JULIE [ http://mom2ways.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-first-blog-award.html ] whom I have known since about 1996 or 97. She created the group Ladies in Waiting that saved my sanity & spiritual life as we began the journey into infertility as Christian, married women together with many, many other wonderful ladies hoping to have a child some day. I am still friends with several of those women, most - in fact I think ALL I know - who have been blessed with a child or children!!

The qualifications to receive this award are:

A. Display a cheerful attitude.

B. Love one another.

C. Make mistakes.

D. Learn from others.

E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world.

F. Love life.

G. Love kids.

The Rules:

1. Please link back! (see feeble attempt above - I can't get it to just say Mom2Ways which is the name of Julie's blog - she is a mom by adoption & by giving birth!)

2. Post the rules (see above!)

3. Choose 5 people to give it to

4. Recipients must fill the characteristics above

5. Create a post to share this (yep, did that!)

6. Thank the winners (did that too)

And now I pass the Smile award on to the following five:

Ok, see, here's where it gets weird.......I am a blog lurker!! I don't necessarily KNOW the people in half of the blogs I read regularly!!! I do have a few blogging friends, so I will extend this award on to them because ALL the blogs I follow are by women who fulfill the qualifications! :) Here are 2 of my PERSONAL friends who blog on a regular basis:

1. Joy http://the-shorter-family.blogspot.com/

2. Bobbie Jo http://justmebobbiejo.blogspot.com/

I enjoy reading about both of your families on your blogs!!

Setting Your Heart

A scene from Wonderworks' ANNE OF AVONLEA ~

Marilla: You set your heart too much on frivolous things and then crash down into despair when you don't get them.

Anne Shirley: I know. I can't help flying up on the wings of anticipation. It's as glorious as soaring through a sunset... almost pays for the thud.

Marilla: Well, maybe it does. But I'd rather walk calmly along and do without flying AND thud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Normally I am a realistic, practical Marilla. I don't expect much, and when something good does happen, I am pleasantly surprised.
Today, however, I am Anne Shirley. I had plans and was looking forward to them. And then within a phone call & an email, THUD.
As a Christian, I can call it "God's Will". That doesn't always make it easier though. I hate disappointments and feel like a little child who didn't get her way. I want to throw a fit & stomp my foot! I'm sure this is yet another test of my character: will I give up my own plans to help someone else? Will I have a good attitude about it? Can I adjust my own plans and do the right thing?? I am going to try! :)

SO, today was a snow day - an unexpected blessing........and as I tell my kids when they are so focused on things that aren't going right, DWELL on the blessings!! :)

Since it was just me, Dan, and Anna today - and we had to go in to work to get ready for the service tonight & run some errands - we didn't really have a nice family meal today at all.

DAILY THANKS - well, to focus my mind on BLESSINGS, I must say that I have had an unusual amount of time off from work lately - and am looking forward to a very slow pace the next 2 weeks of the holidays! I am thankful for the rest, for being able to catch up on the housework, and getting in little fun things like decorating, making Christmas treats, and shopping for presents :) See, I feel better already :)
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

Christmas Cheer & Christmas Cookies

Sunday our church had its cantata & Christmas program. Only Dan was involved in the choir, so I got to sit back and enjoy the program without stressing out over being at practices and wondering if my kids knew their lines, had costumes, etc.....I enjoyed hearing Dan's voice in the choir. I wish I could sing or play the piano better, and we could be the musical family like he grew up in - but alas, all I have to offer is making a "joyful noise".

Monday was "iffy" on whether the bad weather would cancel school and its Christmas Program - but nothing much came of the cold rain/sleet that fell Sunday night.

So, my German class made cookies - well, I made the cookies; they made the icing and decorated them.

The Christmas Program was nice too....except that I had no idea that my son wore his oldest, rattiest, dirtiest tennis shoes for the band concert. Oh well, hopefully I was the only one who noticed??! Both my kids remembered the lines they had to memorize and both did well. I almost didn't recognize Andrew's voice in the play - he was so in character as one of the 3 wisemen!

DAILY THANKS: that my children can attend a Christian school, and we can have CHRISTMAS programs there without someone insisting to call it a "holiday" program. We can freely tell everyone MERRY CHRISTMAS - and not just Happy Holidays. In our community at least, it seems that carols about Jesus' birth are still played on the radio or in the stores, and our cashiers at Walmart mostly say "Merry Christmas" too - but one hears the stories of school or organizations who no longer have the freedom to say those words! Mostly, I'm thankful for the school where my kids are not just getting an excellent academic education - but also learning more about the Bible and Christian values.

I'll be honest - I occasionally still think back on what we "gave up" (though Dan sees it more as to what we GAINED) by leaving the military. I am thankful for his perspective that reminds me that only our kids are ETERNAL as far as that goes. Money, security, more vacation time is nice, but it is insignificant compared to not only our children being in this school but the privilege of serving other families who choose to have their children here also. I tell parents sometimes as they grudgingly give me their tuition checks, "Chrisitan education does not COST, it pays!" and today I'm reminded that it is not just MONETARY but applies to far more than earthly benefits.

I know there are so many perspectives on education - and after hearing a speaker at an Educator Conference we attend yearly speak about it - there are advantages to ALL forms of education: Christian school, home school, and public school. I'm not saying our option is THE BEST; but it is the best for us at this time. I'm thankful my parents and Dan's parents put us in Christian school. That didn't guarantee that we'd turn out well (exhibitd by our classmates who made choices to no longer even go to church or to live a "Christian life") - but I'm sure it contributed to anything good that we might be or are trying to be. I know it doesn't guarantee that my own children will "turn out well" as defined by own definition of "success" - but they have resources that can impact them for the Lord: Christian teachers who love them, good chapel services, Bible based cirrirculum, and parents who want more than anything for them to just serve God with their whole hearts! It is worth it!

Weekend

No profound or deep thoughts today - no moral allegories or stories with poignant lessons. My weekend went by entirely too fast for me to think too deeply!!
Saturday I was hardly at home - I had a coffee date with one friend - and then worked about 6 hours helping another friend set up spreadsheets for her client that she is doing tax work for. I earned a little extra Christmas money - and got to spend some time with a friend who ended up encouraging me more than she probably realized. I didn't get home til after 9:30!
Today was our usual church services - plus the choir put on their cantata during the 2 p.m. service. They did a good job - and I enjoyed hearing Dan's voice in the group :)
My kids are supposed to be in the school program on Monday night - but right now we are waiting to see if we'll have a SNOW DAY instead. I'm torn. I really would like to just STAY HOME all day - but then again, my kids are excited about the program, so I want them to have that opportunity since they have all practiced so much for it!

MENUS: well, Saturday my family was on their own with meals. Dan does a good job of taking care of the kids so I never worry about them when I have to be gone.
Today, I had an "Iowa Farmer's Supper" ready for us after the cantata! We had some of Dan's precious "ham loaf" (seriously, you can only find ham loaf in Iowa so we buy a bunch every time we go & freeze it!!) with fried potatoes and corn. Definitely one of Dan's favorite meals.

DAILY THANKS: this year, I've finally become very aware of how good of a husband I really have. I've always known Dan was a "good guy" - and his kindness is one of the things that attracted me to him. However, I was so focused on my own happiness for the first years of our marriage, and Dan is so low maintenance, that I think I've neglected him and taken him for granted for too long. Without gushing about it much more, I have to say I'm thankful for Dan. I am finally realizing what a blessing it is to have a husband who has loved me unconditionally for almost 16 years - and for those of you who know me well, you know it's been through some very deep valleys as well as the many good times. Our anniversary is later this month so I'll gush more then...but today I'm again aware of what I have in Dan. He is truly one of the least selfish people I know, and the more I take time to focus on him and truly communicate with him, the more I realize that he is someone I can not just love but who is deserving of much respect as well.

Accountability

And now down to business:

I have done well the last 2 days w/ cooking. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal - but it is TO ME!! I have done so awful with meal planning since I started working (yea, 4 years ago, I know, I know, I still haven't gotten the hang of it yet) that I really get excited when I make a nice dinner for my family.

Wednesday we got our SNOW DAY!! I take those days off as a personal gift from God to me. I love love love being home with my family like that. Right now I feel like I've been on vacation - I was off on Tuesday, had a snow day on Wednesday, and was off today too. I still could use about 10 more days off to get everything done that I want to do at home! I still haven't done any Christmas shopping nor started even thinking about Christmas cards. I do have a clean house, laundry caught up, and have a plan for starting my next Transcription course, Medical Keyboarding. :)

Anyway, MENUS: Wednesday was spaghetti with all the fixin's (salad & garlic bread) - simple & yummy!!
Tonight, I baked chicken breasts, sprinkled with poultry seasoning. After I got home from picking up the kids from school, I browned 2 cloves of garlic in a skillet, added a can of cream of chicken soup, & 1/2 cup of water. Let that simmer. Put the chicken in there to warm it up again......Cooked some minute rice, added a little parsley to it when it was done. Warmed up some green beans - and that was it. Everyone really liked it - and it was SO easy!!
I'm always up for easy, yummy, nutritious (sp? nutricious?) recipes if anyone would like to share their favorites!!

DAILY THANKS - well, after 3 days at home, I am full of thankfulness for God's graciousness to allow me to be HOME like that. After this weekend, I wasn't sure how I was going to settle my heart to go back to work. I had so much weighing me down about what all I had not accomplished with the Christmas season coming up, and I just longed to be HOME. I am still not ready for the holidays, but with a cleaner, more organized house, I now can concentrate on Christmas and all that comes with it. I hope I have a better perspective of the season and its true Reason now that I've had some rest and some time to get organized again. 2 weeks from today is CHRISTMAS DAY!!

Memories of Christmas Past

I am sure everyone has ornaments on their Christmas trees that bring back memories! It is really fun to get out the ornaments, year after year, and think back to the time when the ornaments were new. I already mentioned our tree topper angel which I've now had for 15 years - but there are so many other ornaments on our tree that are special to me. Aside from the ones my children have hand-made each year, here are a few ornaments that mean a lot to me.

This ornament is a pair of love birds by Lenox that says, "First Christmas Together 1992". Actually, technically, our first Christmas as "MARRIED" together was 1993 - but since we got married on December 27, 1992, and we WERE together on Christmas Day that year, this ornament can still apply:

Of course, there are the "Baby's First" ornaments. Andrew actually has the whole train set of this Hallmark collectable line of ornaments - unfortunately, we have somehow lost car #2! :( He has 1, 3, 4, and 5:

Here is one of Anna's "First Christmas" ornaments (each child has SEVERAL!!):

This little mouse ornament is attached to a special memory! I bought it in November 2000 in Williamsburg, VA - it must have been about the 2nd! Why do I remember that day?? Because my friend Tami was visiting us from NY - and she and I did some shopping after visiting Williamsburg and having lunch at Olive Garden. I bought this ornament for ANDREW (his name is on the mouse's book) and was kind of bummed because I couldn't buy an ornament with Baby #2's name on it since we didn't know if the new baby was a boy or girl.......WELL, 2 days later, we found out IT'S A GIRL since Anna was born - 3 weeks before her due date! Thankfully Tami was still with us; since I had not lined anyone up to watch Andrew while I had the baby, she was able to take care of him while we were at the hospital. Another "First" ornament - our First Christmas in our New House - 2004:

From a set of ornaments I bought at the Kaethe Wohlfahrt Christmas store in Rothenburg, Germany (1996 or 97):Some ornaments remind me of special people. This one is from a sweet friend from a group of women I met on the internet, who were all having babies in November 2000. We have done several ornament exchanges with this group:

This ornament is from a set of 5 that I have from Christmas Tea with Mrs. Claus/Shady Gables, which is something special I do with Kim and Kim and their daughters - every year since 2004! And some ornaments I just LIKE!! This pretty tea pot was given to me by a school/church family last Christmas.

I love to see/hear about other people's Christmas tree themes and the stories of their ornaments!! I hope you all enjoyed hearing a little about mine.

Christmas Lesson from a Child

Isn't it funny how our children are some times our teachers instead of the other way around? Or how an observation from a child can be so simple and innocent?

If my children turn out to be anything good, it will be due to God's grace and my husband's example. What a sobering thought to have the responsibility of knowing we parents are probably the biggest influence in our childrens' lives!! Working at a school, as I get to know parents, I often see them and their attitudes and habits reflected in their children, for good & bad! And how often have I been stopped dead in my tracks after hearing MY nagging tone or ugly attitude coming out of my own child's mouth.

Today I was given a sweet lesson in giving from my son. Andrew, unlike his sister, is a miser with his money. He is saving up for something BIG - at first it was a Wii, but realizing those things cost way more than he'll probably ever be able to save, he's kind of resigned himself to something else, though right now, he's still not quite sure what.

So, we went by the Dollar General Store on the way home so I could pick up a few items. My kids perused the toy section, as they usually do. Andrew has decided he wants to buy Christmas gifts not just for his one friend with whom he usually exchanges gifts, but for ALL his friends from church. I was ok with that since he was going to spend his own money. So, he found these machine gun things for $2 each and asked if he could get them for 4 of his friends, which I thought was a pretty reasonable thing to do. After I had finished getting what I needed, I was ready to go and found Andrew still standing in the toy aisle. He excitedly showed me a Lego-knock-off-brand kit "with 80 pieces, Mom! And only $5! That's way less than real Lego's plus with more pieces!" And then he asked me what I thought if he'd buy this for his friends. So, of course, it's his money and to encourage his enthusiasm for giving, I say "ok".....and then he says, "You know what, Mom? I have over $100 saved up from my birthday money, I would like to get my friends BOTH toys. I may as well get something for them instead of saving it all for myself."

I will conclude this story by saying that NO, this child has not always been this selfless, nor did he inherit any of this generosity from ME - I take no credit. I am actually baffled and awed that he was so willing to do this for his friends. I am also thankful that my son can still delight in cheap (ahem, INEXPENSIVE) Dollar Store toys and appreciate that everything doesn't have to be a brand name top-of-the-line item. This will serve him well in the next years as we are all learning to live with the less expensive things in life. As for me, I am humbled by how excitedly he gave - not worrying about the item being from a dollar store - but delighting purely in the spirit of giving. That's what Christmas gift-giving should be all about - not that we don't put thought into the gifts we give - but maybe we need to put more thought into the PERSON we are giving to??!

I hope Andrew's friends will receive these gifts in the spirit they are given, directly from Andrew's heart. I know he only spent about $7 on each friend's gift - but to me this lesson in giving was, like the Mastercard commercial says, "Priceless."

Christmas was not canceled after all....

...even though my children were beginning to worry! I mean, according them, "EVERYBODY" had their Christmas tree up and house decorated ~ everybody except US, of course!!

Today I finally got the gumption up to get all the rubbermaid boxes out of the garage attic (risking my very life climbing up & down that ladder while balancing awkward shaped containers). Yes, I could have waited til Dan - or even Andrew - was home to help me; but no, I wanted my stuff down NOW.

So, I pre-decorated; the kids came home from school and decorated the tree; and Dan and the kids went to basketball practice and I re-decorated the tree! Actually, our tree looks the same every year - except for a few new ornaments that are added every year....I still like it though! The angel on top is now about 15 years old (as is the tree, which I am NOT so sentimental about; I want a PRE LIT tree!!). We got the topper in Washington State, where we lived as newlyweds, for our very first Christmas as a married couple. I still remember dragging Dan through various stores at the mall, looking for "just the right one" - and when I saw this one, I knew she was IT!
I've kind of given up on the menu thing again - it has just been TOO crazy. Tonight's menu was $1.50 McDonald's Happy Meals!! Tomorrow?! Well, I'm hoping for a SNOW DAY so I'm thinking I'll have plenty of time to figure that out..........wishful thinking, I know.

DAILY THANKS (I've been slacking on this one too): snow. sleet. ice. and maybe NO SCHOOL tomorrow (can you tell, I really really don't wanna go)...

Home Sweet Home

The cats found a new place to sleep:

What a weekend!

Sunday's outfits courtesy of the CLEARANCE SALES at the Children's Place Outlet!! :)

I hardly feel like I was at home much at all this weekend! Friday night we were all home since there were no ballgames - and no obligations to fulfill aside from Dan and Andrew ringing bells for the Salvation Army from 5-6 p.m. I stopped by to see them and brought them hot chocolate :)

Saturday, Anna and I went to our annual Tea with Mrs. Claus with Kim, Kim and their daughters. Being at Shady Gables is just such a girly-girl experience! To sip tea and enjoy sweets and savories with friends is wonderful! We all - girls and moms - had a terrific time, even though Kim C probably has bronchitis!! She was a good sport to come along even though she probably should have been in bed. We stopped by The Lake for some shopping - and got home around 11:30 p.m.

Dan watched Kim R's boys for her -and I think Dan and Andrew have 2 new buddies: Keon & Kavan.

On Sunday, my family and Kim Reiter's definitely got a lot of preaching! Not only did we have our usual Sunday School with 2 church services at Maranatha, we also drove to Washington MO where friends of ours from our church in Germany were candidating for a pastorate! It was so neat to see them - after 10 years! When we left Germany, Amy was about 17 or 18 --- and now she is married with 3 children! She held MY Andrew right after he was born, just as I now held her 3rd baby who was born a few weeks ago!! I suddenly feel very old........

Why I don't wanna go to bed....

.....because when I wake up, I might have to go to work. If I don't have to go to work, then I don't wanna go to bed because I know I can sleep in. I don't wanna go to bed because I'm NOT TIRED ... right now ... I'll be tired at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

I love being a "night owl" - until it's time to get up. I have TRIED to be a morning person since I was in college. It is biologically impossible. Not even working full-time or waking up early EVERY DAY has made me tired at a decent time at night. Not even my husband, who is an early & cheerful riser, has motivated me to get up early & be happy about it. Praying in the early morning hours usually results in me falling asleep again while I'm thinking thru my brain fog of what to pray about next, which is usually just "Lord, HELP ME to get up and move my body!". Seriously. I am NOT a morning person.

I am from a long line of night owls. Growing up, when I spent my summers in Germany, my Oma and I would stay up until midnight or 1 a.m., doing crossword puzzles together or reading or talking. I always slept in every chance I could get!! My own parents, now retired, go to bed late and get up late. When my dad says, "We're leaving the house at 7 a.m.!!", he really means we're leaving around 9 or 9:30 a.m. if we're lucky. We like our coffee, reading, sitting around in our bathrobes each morning until we finally feel awake and ready for a new day, which has begun without us.

At night, suddenly my house is QUIET. No one needs me, I can watch any DVD I want, or no tv at all. I can read without interruption, I can blog and do facebook with no one looking over my shoulder. Best of all, I can talk to God about my day - and be coherent about it. I can do my Bible study for Sunday School or prepare my mind for the events of the next day. It is MY time........night time. It's 11:35 p.m. - and I don't wanna go to bed!

100 Things You Really Don't Need to Know about Me!

1. Started your own blog -obviously!
2. Slept under the stars -not really.....in a tent but not just under the stars.
3. Played in a band -no
4. Visited Hawaii - No - but I'd love to if someone would get me a plane ticket!!
5. Watched a meteor shower -no
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - not really
7. Been to Disneyland -YES, and Disney World too.
8. Climbed a mountain -yes, Dan's drug me up several mountains
9. Held a praying mantis -no. I don't "hold" bugs
10. Sang a solo -no, no one would want me to!
11. Bungee jumped -no,
12. Visited Paris -yes, twice! one in 1987 & again with Dan, maybe 1996
13. Watched a lightning storm -yes
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - ummm, I don't know what that means, so NO.
15. Adopted a child - no, we looked into it before we had Andrew - and I'd do it now if I had the money!!
16. Had food poisoning - yes, when I was 10 - I prayed to die. seriously.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty -yes!
18. Grown your own vegetables – a few tomatoes
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France -- yes!
20. Slept on an overnight train -- not a train but on a bus all night.....
21. Had a pillow fight – a few.
22. Hitch hiked - no.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill – I work for a CHURCH; God would know if I did that! so NO.
24. Built a snow fort -- yes
25. Held a lamb – no
26. Gone skinny dipping – no
27. Run a Marathon – no, and I never will!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice -- yes!
29. Seen a total eclipse -- no
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset – both. I prefer sunsets!
31. Hit a home run – no
32. Been on a cruise – a short one - Ft. Lauderdale ---> Bahamas
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person -- yes
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors -- sort of!
35. Seen an Amish community – Yes
36. Taught yourself a new language – sort of - I learned English by watching Mr Rogers and Sesme Street when I was 4.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. – hmmmmm, I guess I did when Dan was in the Army. I'm satisfied NOW but not because we have money.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person -- yes; same trip that we went to Venice
39. Gone rock climbing - not really
40. Seen Michelangelo's David – yep - same trip as Venice & Pisa - also went to Florence & many other Italian cities
41. Sung karaoke. – no
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt -- yes
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant -- no
44. Visited Africa -- no
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight –not really.
46. Been transported in an ambulance -- No.
47. Had your portrait painted -- no
48. Gone deep sea fishing -- No
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person -- yes!
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris -- yes!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling -- No,
53. Played in the mud – of course.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater -- No
55. Been in a movie -- No
56. Visited the Great Wall of China -- No
57. Started a business -- No
58. Taken a martial arts class. -- No
59. Visited Russia -- No
60. Served at a soup kitchen -- no
61. Sold Girl Guide Cookies -- yes, I was a brownie (if this means girl SCOUT cookies)
62. Gone whale watching -- yes! got sea sick :(
63. Got flowers for no reason – maybe a long time ago.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – no - can't: anemia & lived in Germany during the years of Mad Cow Disease (seriously, they won't take our blood!!).
65. Gone sky diving -- No,
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp – yes, Dachau
67. Bounced a check -- Not in the last 15 years
68. Flown in a helicopter -- no
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – yes
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial -- yes
71. Eaten caviar – no
72. Pieced a quilt -- no
73. Stood in Times Square -- no
74. Toured the Everglades -- yes - well, Dan & I were there in Feb of 1993 or 94
75. Been fired from a job. -- Not yet
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London – I saw the Guards but not the change.
77. Broken a bone. -- no
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle -- No
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person -- yes
80. Published a book -- No but I'd like to!
81. Visited the Vatican -- yes
82. Bought a brand new car -- yes: 1995 Saturn SL1 & 2003 Saturn Vue
83. Walked in Jerusalem -- No
84. Had your picture in the newspaper -- yes!
85. Read the entire Bible – yes
86. Visited the White House -- yes
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. -- no
88. Had chickenpox – yes.
89. Saved someone's life. – no
90. Sat on a jury – no, never got called for jury duty yet.
91. Met someone famous -- not really MET - we met Kurt Warner (ex-QB for StL Rams)
92. Joined a book club -- No
93. Lost a loved one -- Yes
94. Had a baby -- yes
95. Seen the Alamo in person – yes!
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake – no
97. Been involved in a law suit -- No, thankfully
98. Owned a mobile phone -- yes
99. Been stung by a bee -- NO!!!! and I'm now scared to death of bees!! :(
100. Read an entire book in one day -- Yes!

I survived "Hump Day"

I'm always glad when Wednesdays are over - it's all down hill from here usually!!
Today was actually easier than most since we didn't have our "Patch the Pirate" Club tonight (aside from the kids singing for the church service). The "revival" has come & gone - and it's been a good reminder to focus on what is most important in life: people, ministry, JESUS, eternity, God's will, others' needs, doing the right thing, praying more, worrying less.

I surprisingly don't have much to say today. That's probably a good thing! :) Work was busy as usual but it felt less "stressful" today than some days.

DAILY THANKS - that I have a day off tomorrow! :) I hope to get motivated to do a lot!! I really need to drag down Christmas decorations because I don't foresee us having time to do so this weekend. Saturday we are going to our annual Christmas Tea in Versailles - and Sunday we are possibly meeting up with a family we knew waaaaaaaaaaaay back in Germany (1996-99). They are candidating for a pastorate in Washington, MO!

TGIT!!

Yes, Thank God It's TUESDAY!! My day off.....my break from the crazy world & the crazy pace we seem to go at. I'm overwhelmed enough right now that I could be locked up at home for weeks & weeks and never get everything done that I want to - part of that is that I'm a "piddler" - you know - I love to piddle.......I can spend an hour doing nothing & everything. Like I sort through a few papers, get on-line, flip thru the TV channels, put on a Christmas CD, make a few notes about what I want to do next, write a note, call someone, wipe a table, pick up a few crumbs, give the cat a treat.... well, you get the idea!
So, I piddled my way through the morning. Penny had to get a rabies shot today at 1 p.m. THankfully we were the first & only customer after lunch - and we were done by 1:15!
Tonight was church - revival services have been sooo good!! Tonight the message was on PRIDE. The main thing that I thought of was that I dwell too much on myself in that I really think I am so totally inadequate at everything I do. It makes me mad at myself, and it makes me think too much of myself and wonder how much others are judging how lousy of a person I am! When in reality, I'm sure not too many people really give ME much thought at all - at least I hope they don't!! :) No doubt if I could truly FORGET MYSELF and dwell more on helping others, it would be better.
But anyway ---- enough about ME.
MENU tonight - our family's favorite: Baked Potato Soup
I only had 4 potatoes - so I scrubbed them, pierced them, wrapped them in a damp papertowel & microwaved them 2 at a time for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile - in a pot, put 2 cans of chicken broth. Add 2 cups of milk - and cook on medium/high til lightly boiling. ALso, fry up about 5 or 6 pieces of bacon separately.
Cube potatoes (leave skins on) - and add to the pot.
Mash the potatoes w/ masher. Add crumbled bacon - and then about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar. Stir & serve with sour cream, more cheese on top, and salt/pepper.

DAILY THANKS: I am so thankful that I got my day off today. That doesn't always happen. Even though I "have to" work, I am so glad that I can reduce my schedule somewhat. There are many, many women who are not that fortunate. I wasn't very thankful at all when I was working full-time - and I truly don't deserve to be a part-time employee - but God knows my limits and has allowed me to rest a little. I was all "stretched out" after 3 years of being full-time. It's not my personality to be a "career woman" - I never ever wanted to do this; I'm a homebody; I don't mind being a housewife - but I'm working on focusing on this being my mutual ministry with my husband. I am 100% convinced it IS God's will for me at this stage of my life - and I'm thankful He uses me in a very small way to help at the church & school.

Monday AGAIN?!

Welcome back to reality!! Back to school & work! It was a crazy day - 2 new students at school, the usual chaos, and it's the first of the month so tuition is due. I was alone in the office again, dealing with the normal flow of interruptions: copies, band-aids, medicine, call parent of student that just threw up, questions, phone calls, questions, someone needing discipline, someone needing a stapler, and more questions.
My kids and I laughed that this was our day: started out in Dixon (home), school in St. Robert, piano lessons in Dixon (city proper), revival services in St. Robert (church), Waynesville for basketball practice (Andrew caught the last 30 minutes of his practice) - and back full-circle home to Dixon!!
Yes, church is having revival services until Wednesday too - so meetings tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday night. The speaker is great though, so I don't mind!!

Forget menus this week - forget nice, neat schedules. It ain't happenin'!!

DAILY THANKS: that I'm (Lord willing) OFF on Tuesday!! I need to get my house back in shape after this Thanksgiving trip & unpack. I have so much STUFF to sort through again - accumulated mail, stuff my mom sent back with me, clothes - clean and dirty, bills, paperwork, etc. Oh, and someone said something about CHRISTMAS being 24 days away!!!!!!?????!!!!!