Category Archives: life

Happenings

Saturday we had a great visit with mom and dad.  I fixed lunch so we didn’t have to go out, and we just hung out and talked.  Matthew was a little pistol at first, but then he came around.  Mom sat and held puppy Linus while he slept, and got a bad case of puppy fever.  I promise I’ll get you one when you retire Mom!!  :) Love you Dad!!  :) 

Brian left when they did.  There was an emergency racing meeting.  Boy was he in a good mood when he came home.  (detect sarcasm here)  Zach wanted a friend to come over, but by the time I had the kitchen cleaned up I didn’t want to go anywhere to pick up or take home.  That’s awful huh?  I tried to appease him by playing Monopoly.  We sat down to play the electronic version, all of the kids and me.   The property and prices have really changed.  Now you start out with $15 Million dollars on your credit card, and receive $2 Million for passing go.  I have 2 more things to say.  After 4 + hours of playing we decided to quit at bedtime and declare Zach the champion with over $41 Million dollars.  Matthew (yes, my 4 year old) was in second place, me in third with less than a Million, and Brooke quit when she landed on one of Zach’s properties with a Hotel and had to pay $10 Million.  What did I teach my kids?  Where have I gone wrong? 

Brooke and I left early yesterday morning for the dance competition.  It was another good one.  High Golds for all of her dances, and the Hip Hop group placed in the top 5 overall.  We had a nice lunch with our friends Deb and Madison, and came home to relax.  The relaxing didn’t last long, and then Brooke wanted me to sew a blanket for her.  Now, I am not Susie Homemaker.  I worked on pinning the top and bottom together, winding the bobbin, threading the needle, and totally stressed out to get it done before she went to bed.  Which I succeeded in doing.  I wouldn’t call the blanket a success though.  It looks really cute from the doorway of her room, but don’t step closer and examine the stitching!  Just look from a distance…

Crazy

I can’t believe it’s been over a week since my last post!  I’ll try to catch you up.  Saturday was the second dance competition of the season.  It was a good one.  Some of them have dances that look like they’re choreographed for strip clubs, but I only saw one that was offensive.  I see that and wonder what their parents are thinking when they see these young girls dancing like that.  Anyway, our group of God fearing and loving girls, and one boy scored high!  Two Golds and one Elite Gold.  They also placed in the top 5 overalls, winning $350!  That money will go to Invisible Children because we have such wonderful directors! 
Sunday was church, and not much else.  Brooke and I were tired from the 14 hours on Saturday, so we laid around and watched the snow melt.  We also worked on a scrapbook for her language project, while the boys made snowmen. 

On Monday, Brian had a small surgical procedure.  He was off work until Wednesday, so we tended to him.  Mostly he slept and I kept Matthew quiet.  It’s been great weather, finally!  The sun has been shining, and the temperatures have been in the 60’s.  Today it’s raining and dreary.  I’ll take anything over 40 right now though, because it feels like a heat wave. 

I think Mom and Dad are coming up tomorrow.  Brooke has another competition, but this one is on Sunday.  Thankfully we won’t be there all day, but we will have to miss church. 

In my 90 day bible reading, I was so glad to arrive in the New Testament.  I’m reading Mark today.  We’re right on track to finishing up on April 1st.  It’s been a great way to stay in the Word daily.  I’m also reading a book called Fasting, by Jentezen Franklin.  I feel an urgency to commit more of myself to the Lord right now with fasting and prayer, and so do the other members of my 1 Peter 3 group.  I suggested last night a 40 day fast, and the response has been good.  Pray for us as we embark on this walk. 

Prayer brings up another subject that has been on my heart.  I feel so blessed to have your prayer requests, and take them to the throne room for you.  I’m being called to pray more, in an intercessory way, and I’m learning how to do this.  I want to set up a separate page, or link, for you to go to and leave me your prayer requests.  I would love to pray for you!  I also plan on setting up a separate email account, so you can feel free to email your more personal requests to me.  Please know that I will not share your needs with anyone but the Lord.  It is my honor to pray for you.  I’m just putting this out there, because I don’t even have anything set up yet.  You’ll be the first to know when I do! 
I think you’re all caught up now, somewhat boring as my life is, but crazy too! 

The greatest compliment

My husband hates spaghetti.  The kids and I love it.  It’s quick, easy and tasty.  We usually only have it when Brian’s out of town for business.  As most of you know, I’ve been couponing and trying to save money on the grocery bill lately.  Spaghetti is also a cheap meal when you have a coupon for the pasta and sauce, and score a great deal on the ground beef.  And do you know what?  (This is where the compliment comes in)  Brian said “this is the best spaghetti you’ve ever fixed!”.  Brooke started talking to me at the same time, and I had to hold up my hands to stop her.  I needed to revel in the moment.  So I asked him to say it again!  AND HE DID!  What makes this so spectacular, you ask?  We have been together for almost 16 1/2 years, and married for 14 this coming July.  That’s a lot of spaghetti.  (I used to fix it monthly until I decided it was not fair of me to ask him to eat it so often.) 

The only thing I did differently is jazz up the plain old sauce with sauteed onions and garlic, and chopped up a can of Red Gold diced tomatoes with roasted onion and garlic.  I’ll have to do that again.  He actually started off with a small portion, and got a second helping.  I also made homemade breadsticks, garlic of course!  Anyway, I just had to share this wonderful compliment I received from my loving husband. 

Scrapbook Saturday

This past Saturday I had so much fun with my friend Deb.  For over 12 hours we scrapbooked, shopped and talked.  It was my first time to go, and the place was amazing.  So much stuff to shop for….hhmmm, sorry, I was just envisioning it all!  I’m one of those scrappers that loves the beautiful and elaborate pages but doesn’t want to take the time to make them.  Every now and then I will, but mostly it’s all about the pictures and the journaling.  Well, you can’t go to one of these places without being so totally intimidated into taking the time to make some of those pages.  I think we’d been there for around 7 hours when one lady calls out that she had 2 pages done.  What!?  I had 2 pages done before lunch!  At the end of the day, I had finished 23 pages, and am ready for Christmas of 2004.  Yes, I said 2004!  All in all, it was a good time and I have some “amazing” pages for my daughter.  (her word). 

I’m also excited to say that Creative Memories is coming out with true 12 x 12 pages!  No more trimming the scrapbook store paper to make it fit. 

Instant Gratification









We complain about the cross we bear but don’ t realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road ahead that God can see and we can’t.
Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain.
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God’s always ready, to answer your call.
He knows every heartache, He sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear.
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn’s early light.
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
 I’ve been reminded so much lately that God never promised my cross wouldn’t be heavy, but He has promised me the victory and that I would not walk alone. I hope this makes you stop and think, and cause your lips to praise Him even if you are in the valley or in the midst of a raging storm. You are not alone.

It’s snowing

It started about two hours ago, right as we had to go pick up Brooke from school.  Snow and freezing rain!  I was going through the intersection and someone, a dark haired lady in a maroon altima with license plate #575* to be exact, ran through her red light and came right at me into my lane of traffic.  Did I mention the snow and freezing rain?  Yeah, not a good mix.  Tires screeching, me swerving into the other lane to avoid her, and only the hand of God was in between us.  Then she sped off, leaving me in shock that we actually didn’t hit.  Thank You Lord for saving us!

Grieving

Have you ever lost something that you didn’t even know you had?  Yet you are sad and grieve for that loss like it was your greatest treasure?  That’s what I’m feeling right now, sad for not knowing it was there, and then for losing it before I even knew I wanted it.  But I didn’t really want it, and that makes me even sadder.  Because had I known, then I would have wanted and loved it, but I didn’t even have the chance.  This is just the moment that I’m in and I know it doesn’t make sense.  I can’t even make sense of it really. 

Sunday Scripture 12

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 Proverbs 16:1  To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.  2 All of a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.  3  Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. 

As Brooke and I head out to the first dance competition of the season, we always pray that she uses her talents to glorify God and witness to others the love of Jesus Christ.  I think that’s something we should all strive to do.  Have a blessed Sunday.

Random thoughts

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning we were pelted with freezing rain and ice, so we had hoped for a 2 hour delay in school, but no such luck.  I just have a problem with scraping the ice off of my car, while little pellets of ice hit me in the head, to drive my kids to school.  Apparently the school board isn’t as concerned as I am.  It wasn’t better at the end of the day picking them up either because it had continued to sleet most of the day.  I took a few pictures to share with you, and obviously that didn’t happen. 

Yesterday was Valentine’s day.  I hope everyone had a great one, and felt totally loved.  I fixed a great meal for everyone, and even dessert that was red to match the theme.  It was the best meal I’ve made since Thanksgiving, and it was a whole lot less work.  That made it even better!  It was pork tenderloin and roasted veggies, angel food cake with strawberries, glaze and whipped topping.  Again, I took pictures to post, and it hasn’t happened. 

Today Brian and Brooke are together on a ski trip (a school field trip).  This was one event that I passed on to Dad to do, as I really didn’t want to be in traction for the next 6 weeks!  Field trips sure have changed since I was a kid! 

I talked to Brian earlier and they both still had all bones intact.  He was on the lift watching Brooke go down.  I’m sad sitting here knowing that I’m missing such a big event with her!  I took a picture this morning, and sent the camera with instructions for them to take lots, LOTS of pictures.  (Do you see a theme here with pictures?  I’m starting to think I should change the title of this post to something like, ” I took pictures but didn’t post them!)  Well, I can just imagine her and all her friends laughing ang having  a blast together.  She deserves it too.  I’ve been a little worried about her.  She’s been complaining of a headache and stomachache a lot lately, and I’ve been trying to get out of her what’s bothering her.  The typical pre-teen, she likes to keep things to herself.  She told me that she’s being bullied by someone at school, someone who we’ve had problems with in the past.  It hurts me to think about the pain she’s felt, and kept it to herself because she knew I would call the school to try and fix it, but then she would be a tattletale.  Brian and I both talked to her, and yesterday she nicely asked the girl to stop.  We’ll see what happens next.  I’m praying about it. 

That’s about all the random thoughts I have for now.  Maybe I’ll post some pictures soon…. 

Prayer and fasting

This morning has been awesome.  I’ve only missed my frosted mini wheats and Cranberries once, and then God filled me up with love and adoration!  I’ve had 7 people request prayers, with 27 specific prayer requests so far, and I’ve spent the morning covering these friends in prayer.  I know God has heard and will respond to those in need, and I feel so blessed already.  I’ve discovered a new Psalm that is so beautiful I want to share it, but now have my little one who needs mommy’s attention.  I’m off to snuggle and pray some more for my 1 Peter 3 group.  If I can pray for you, please leave me a comment and I will be happy to include you.  God is so amazing!