And she finally talks.

Today is the day that I get to let it all out.

I have been hired as the new Children's Director at First United Methodist Church. YAY!!!!!!!!
I am very excited about this new direction God is taking us. I have always felt that working with children is a gift. It is wonderful to think that I will have the opportunity to shape so many little hearts and minds toward the things of God.

Chris is totally 100% on board with it. I guess he needed something a little closer to the church he grew up in to be comfortable... Although I couldn't see it happening, my prayers have been answered.
The top prayer concern on my list for the last 6 1/2 years was to have my husband by my side at church each Sunday. There is more to that request than mere presence at a specific location, but God is working. I have learned that when God works, it's best to just step aside.


I will complete my term as Music Teacher at my kids' school on Friday, March 13.
As you teachers know, Friday March 13 is a special day. It is the release day for Spring Break.

I will officially begin working at FUMC on Monday, March 16. *Please refer to my teacher's mindset for hidden meaning.* :)

There are so many thoughts rolling around in my head right now.
How will this work?
Does anyone want to volunteer? :)
Will my kids adjust well?
What curriculum will I use?
Where's the coffee pot?
Will I be expected to be the item of choice in the dunking booth for the Fall Festival?
Will Part B of the plan come to fruition? (Chris's Job)
WHEN will part B of the plan come to fruition?


The questions are plentiful. There are so many more than this.

The only answer I have...
I fully believe that God has orchestrated this entire thing. And as He always does when putting together a symphony, God knows what it will sound like when it's finished.
Ahhhh......

Thank you God for answering our prayers in Your time, in Your way, on Your terms, for Your glory.

Honoring Wendy and her new little one.

I have been wanting to have something special for Wendy because she's expecting her third cutie pie.

So since having something at my house is NOT an option due to the ongoing craziness that is my life, I have decided to invite all of you to a

• GIFTCARD party at our *local coffee shop* on
• Saturday March 7th beginning at 8pm.

We can get a yummy coffee, bring a card and/or a giftcard, have that one last get-together before Mr. mister gets here and celebrate his new life. I included only a start time for the shower (around kiddos' bedtimes so daddies don't complain too much) so we could stay and chat if we want or make a quick visit if need be...
Also the intent behind the giftcard party is that she is having her third boy so she more than likely has most of the basics, but giftcards can buy whatever else she needs. If you have a personal issue with giftcards - you can bring a gift or just yourself. The important thing is that Wendy feels honored and has a great time!

It seems like a few short weeks ago that my thoughts and prayers were consumed with this little one because of what the sonogram said about his heartbeat. We didn't even know he was a he yet - but we knew this baby was very special. I simply cannot wait to hold his tiny form and praise God for the miracle of life. Thank you Wendy, for letting us be a part of your life and a part of your kids lives. You are beautiful people and we are blessed to know you.

Leave a comment if you intend to attend. I will try to remind everyone as the date approaches.

what do you do?

what do you do when someday starts to become a reality?
when all your far off plans aren't so far off anymore?

I have tediously made all kinds of foolproof plans that have since failed. Crashed and burned.

and now the most unlikely of all unplanned things has seemingly fallen into my lap.
and here it is that I find myself doubting - thinking 'what's the catch?' - rather than immediately giving God his due praise and thanks for being the God He has promised me He is.

so yes, praise be to God, Who takes care of us in ways I never could have dreamt.

p.s. I think God thinks it's fun to keep me on my toes.

seph
Do you think we could use a pickup you have access to this week for the kitchen?
I can't seem to get it to you.
It fits in the Jeep - but my kids won't fit in the Jeep with it and there is rarely a time that I could get away without my kids...

I think if you could come get the kitchen it would work better!!
I am sorry it took me this long to think of that - baby steps. :)

Sigh.

This mom stuff is amazing!

I love the days where my kids are consistently adorable all day long.
Their voices are so sweet.
I love ages 4 & 5.
What could be cuter than listening to them sing sweet songs between grunts from the potty while they wait for "something" to happen?
Golly. I'm having a moment here. So cute.

2 minutes later...

reality check: Avery just walked out of the bathroom crying because she wanted to see what would happen if she dropped her toy kitty in the potty and flushed it. It disappeared. Now she wants it back... Go figure.
Still, I am swooning with the darlingness of her pouty lip as she remembers 'kitty.'

Jenny (a.k.a. life-saver)

You didn't know it yet - but you have single-handedly saved my Mom-of-the-year award winning booty.
I forgot that Jaron was star of the week beginning tomorrow.
We are supposed to make a big poster of our family, favorite things, you catch the drift...

Had it not been for you and your insane ability to catch "the moment"- I, in all my picture-taking prowess, would have had to get clip-art from a magazine.

So thank you. Thank you. Thank you for making my son feel like a star during his very special moment to shine.

Solution?

Go to each party for a little while.

Have a very fun day.

Be glad you decided to honor the people you care about by taking time to celebrate them.

(See previous post if you're wondering what I'm talking about.)

Let's do the math.

There are times that I feel like everyone else around me is so much more efficient with their time.
How does everybody else stay on the go all the time? Moreover, how do they get there on time and prepared for the endless schedule of events?

We were invited to 6 kid parties and one grown-up party this weekend.
If you tally them all up, that's roughly 15 hours of partying in one weekend.

If your weekend begins on Friday evening, and you have to account for sleeping and church activities - where's the time for 15 hours or more worth of partying?

Now, lest I be remiss, I must mention that it's also Valentine's Day... A weekend I tend to spend mostly alone due to the nature of my husband's job. He should probably take a sleeping bag to work this time of year. :)

Who on Earth could keep to this schedule?

Apparently, most people have weekends this crazy all the time. I am so glad I'm not most people.

That reminds me, I need to schedule an appointment to remove the "Party Animal" tattoo from my forehead...

I jest.

Boy oh boy.

J. is having the twin boys from his class over for a playdate right now.
The fact that I have time to type any blog at all during a playdate is amazing.
The fact that twin boys are easier to entertain than my ONE son?
Not sure how I feel about that but the word 'vindication' comes to mind.

"She hath done what she could... " Mark 14:8

I might need a plaque with that on it.

Daddy.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I know it's a day late - but it's never too late to honor the man who has been in your life longer than any other.
A man who has always accepted me and thought the world of me.
My dad is the man who shaped for me all thoughts of what a man is supposed to be.

Daddy, you have always believed in me, my children.
I really believed as a little girl that I could do anything. You always told me I could.
I remember as a little girl loving to iron your shirts because they had your smell. I remember loving to wake up on Saturday mornings because, if we were real lucky, you'd be making your special pancakes.
I remember curling up on your lap and just being me and that was ok.
I remember when you would teach me how to use your pastels for artwork - and you would tell me the story of how you met Mom buying those very pastels.
I remember going fishing with you.
I remember you putting little dabs of perfume on my neck each Sunday morning, and no matter which scent I chose, you always smelled it all up and told me how pretty I smelled.
I love our little talks together - though they seem to be fewer and further between lately - your words are filled with the wisdom that only a life lived right can speak.
Thank you for giving yourself to your family. Thank you for investing in us. Thank you for being the man you have been.
I have a better picture of who God is because of you.

Thank you for letting me dance on your feet. Some days I still do.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you!

mombutt

I hope you're not offended by the title of this post. If you are, you surely must know how it pained me to type it.
This is my acknowledgement of reality.
I have tried to squeeze my booty into every style of pants/jeans/slacks/trousers available hoping for that one fit - THE perfect fit - to no avail.
It appears as though I must face the bitter truth of it.
I have mombutt syndrome in every cut of lower-half-of-the-body covering attire.
Care to join me?

Grumpf.

I have had to fight the grumps all day long.
It's my house.
I detest having a house that is all out of order. Filth everywhere. My house oozes today.

Normally, I clean all evening Thursday and then most of Friday so I can enjoy a clean house all weekend long. Well, at least part of the weekend it stays clean. Normally.

But Thursday entailed a mega big school-friends playdate, so no cleaning happened Thursday. And Friday I was bushed. I had a fever and sore throat and generally felt like last week's nachos.
So again, no cleaning.

Today, I woke up, saw the awful truth, and got grumpy.
I thrive in a clean house. I get all kinds of moody when things aren't right. I have to fight hating Legos and stuffed animals. Who hates stuffed animals?

So the story goes, I am overwhelmed by mess. Mess is inevitable. The vicious cycle continues in year 6 of motherhood.

Someday I'll lick the grumpfs for good... and then, about a week later, I'll miss Legos and stuffed animals.

Little League Try-outs

I am taking a sick little boy to little league tryouts tomorrow morning. It goes against my better judgment to have him around other kids, but if he misses the tryouts, he misses the entire season. Probably we will show up, fill out the paperwork, and come back home. There is no way I could keep him from playing little league this year - he's too excited...

I could not be more proud of my little man. He's everything a mother could ever want and more.

drop me a line

when our last computer blew its gaskets, i lost the majority of your blog addresses.

if i have been reading your blog, it is because i found your link on someone else's.
so here's the big question - can i make a blog roll on my blog with a link to yours on my blog?

mostly it would be for me - because i enjoy reading them and i am more prone to that type of enjoyment when access is easy.

in addition to everyone's permission, i need these blog addresses: (I haven't found them yet.)
camezi
Dewey Hafta
Enter with Thanksgiving
These 12 Acres

thanks!

The totally amazing truth of it all.

We got a new laptop!

I am so superduper excited about this development!!!

I have missed the abyss and I am sure the abyss has missed me... :)

Really, truthfully- so much has been going on over here in the casa that I am not sure one blog can catch everyone up.

Chris took the initial exam to become a fireman and did very, very, extremely well. He is through to the second round. He will begin the process which will last for nearly a year and if all goes well, he will begin training with the department in January 2010.

I have made it through the second round of interviews for a job. There are still at least two more interviews for me to complete if they choose to keep inviting me... Now that it looks more and more likely that he'll be changing jobs (and with it the incomes) I am more and more urgent in the chase for a good job.

The kids are doing great!

Jaron has his first crush. It is so adorable! He is "in-love" by his own description. Very sweet. He asked me to take him shopping for a Valentine's Day gift for her. He tediously chose pretty beads one by one to make a bracelet for her. What's even cuter? Their names rhyme.

Avery is loving ballet, and school, and life, and being a girly girl.

I am going to have to spend a good bit of time catching up on blogs now that I have re-entered the blogosphere. Wish me luck!