Aauugghhhh!!!!

I was just reading Comforting Words on Fish's blog and now I am anything but comforted! He tells how he went up to the kids camp and there was a girl crying that he tried to cheer up. I have two girls up there! If you're a mom you know how I'm feeling right about now.

It may not even be my kid but I still want to whip out my superhero cape (every mom is issued one when that first child arrives) and race up there to the rescue! I want to protect! I want to defend! Would someone just give me a sword?!

Deep breath.

I am amazed at the fierceness that I feel when someone messes with a person I care about. I don't think it's limited to parents either because there is another situation in my life that's causing me to feel protective and fierce. I want to act but all I can do is pray. Really, that's the best weapon or defense there is but I still feel helpless. I still want to do something to make it better!

I guess this is where trust comes in. I have to trust that my Heavenly Father knows both situations and they are fully under His control. I need to remember that He loves both sets of people far more than I ever could and He has their best interests at heart.

In truth I don't want to spare my kids every heartache because they will never grow if I do. How can they mature and build character if life is always perfection? And more importantly, how would they ever learn to call out to God for help if there was never a problem?

I've seen this played out in my own life over and over again and God has always been faithful. I look back at some of the hard things I've been through and I can see that He used them to grow and mature me.

He has never failed me.

So I will trust Him with my kids and with the other thing (and no I'm not telling you what it is!) I will pray and I will be there for both parties if they need me. And I will trust.

Thank you for indulging my thinking out loud and sloppy writing! Now go find something better to read because I have to get ready to get my girls from that camp. Hmmm, I don't have a sword but I could make a whip out of some things around the house......

A tip (or two!)

My two oldest are at camp this week so I'm a little short on time. When they are gone I am reminded of (and quit impressed at) how much they do to help around here. For example, I have to do the dishes, laundry, sweep, vacuum and entertain the two little ones (among other things.) All stuff I used to do regularly when they were younger, but as they have grown Jessica and Arielle have taken over some of these responsiblities. They are especially helpful with the baby (as in, I haven't yet had a shower today because they aren't here to watch her! I just put her down for a nap though so I'll get one soon!) They also cook simple dinners and Jessica bakes the cookies for her dad's lunches.

I know some might say that I ask to much of them but I think it's important for all of my kids to learn 1). that they are an important part of this family and their contributions are valued, 2). the world doesn't actually revolve around them and they are expected to contribute and 3). they need to learn to take care of themselves and others. Being a servant is an essential part of not only family life, but a life pleasing to God. (There are more than three things that I think are important but that's all I could come up with on short notice!) :)

I need to go take a quick shower while I can. I didn't really intend to blog about this but since I did let me just say don't neglect the training of your kids. They will not die if you tell them no or give them responsiblity and expect them to fullfill it. It takes a whole lot of work (and we're very far from the finish line!) but it's worth it. Even though we have struggles my kids are a blessing to me. One of my aims in parenting them is that they would be a blessing to others as well.

Okay, enough lecturing. It's hot and the fruitflies are abundant (and irritating!) Here's a little tip from the Dollar Stretcher e-zine on how to get rid of those pesky little critters (without whipping out the vaccuum!) I'm going to go shower now!

Fruit Fly Trap
Regarding getting rid of "fruit flies," I learned this tip from the local agriculture extension office website. It worked great for me. Put some kitchen garbage that attracts fruitflies (wet compost materials like melon rinds, egg shells,spoiled food, etc.) in a plastic bag close to the problem area. Leave it open for up to half an hour. When you come back, simply tie the bag closed and throw it away. Repeat if necessary. This really gets rid of them in a hurry. Sara M.

Dropping by for a moment...

What a beautiful morning it is here! Do you know that I am actually cold? It's breezy and raining and there is the possibility of a thundershower! Yes, I am excited by that! I am not a hot weather type of person. To me the best thing about summer is that fall (my favorite season) is next.

The weather guys say that later it should be close to 80 again so I will enjoy this morning while I have it. The melodious tinkling of my wind chimes coupled with the sound and smell of the rain drifting through my window is like a balm to my soul. It speaks of coziness and peace to me. I had planned to stay home and catch up on some chores today anyway but with the rain it's all the better! Who wants to go out in the rain? I need to scale Mt. Laundry, do some baking and I have some blueberries and raspberries that I need to make into jam and get processed.

Am I a dork for looking forward to doing these things today? Maybe, but I'm a happy dork! :) There is just something about taking care of my family that blesses me as much as it does them. There is a satisfaction in working hard to provide and care for them that is unmatched by some of the mindless pursuits out there.

Well, I hear my little Gracie crying in her room so I better get going. (I love snuggling them when they are warm and sleepy!) I just thought I'd check in since I hadn't posted in awhile. I will be posting again soon I hope!

Before
(Jon built the table and chairs as a wedding present to me almost 14 years ago. Of course this was before we had four kids so we covered them with fabric. Ick!)

After
(Vinyl that looks like leather! Looks just a little bit better huh? )

Grounded!

I haven't posted for days but it's not because I have nothing to say. It's not because I've been "scooped" and others have posted what I was going to post (although I hate it when that happens!) It's because I've put myself on restriction.

Yep, I'm grounded.

I've noticed lately that I have been spending far to much time on here. With all the blogs to read, the time it takes to write one myself and then e-mail on top of that my time slips away like water down the drain. Pretty soon the day is gone and I have to frantically catch up on all I've been putting off. And, to be honest I think I've been using blogs as a little bit of an escape. Life can get overwhelming at times and my tendancy is to run away. (Of course this only makes things worse in the long run because all that stuff I'm ignoring gets lonely and makes friends with more stuff that I need to do!)

So, while I do intend to continue blogging I'm going to not let it take over my life. Besides, how will I have anything to write about if I'm hiding in my bedroom hunkered over the computer all the time!?

The last couple of days I've spent catching up on some of the things I've been putting off. I've done some sewing (which I love! How did I forget that?) I done some cleaning (which I don't love so much. It's amazing though how a clean house can make me feel peaceful but a dirty one makes me agitated!) I've even done some weeding in my wanna be garden! (Of course now there's nothing in it because I only seem to be able to grow weeds and mold but that's beside the point!)

After checking some things off my to do list I feel a little freedom. And amazingly enough I feel refreshed! (And it probably helps that I haven't been sitting like a zombie in front of this monitor.)

I've got to run, I'm working on re-upolstering my chairs and I've got bread to bake before it gets to warm! Now go outside and play before I have to ground you too!

Happy Birthday Arielle! She's nine today! I wrote a post out last night but I haven't had time to revise it. Maybe I will get it on here tomorrow (but then again maybe I won't!)

A Good Day...

The sweltering summer heat pounded relentlessly on our listless sweaty bodies. It had been like this for what seemed an eternity. We would wake to a cool clear morning but as the day aged everything seemed to blur and melt together in the increasing heat.

All day the kids had been begging me to take them to the river. Now that Jon was home they had redoubled their efforts. We were hot and tired; sprawled atop each other on the garden swing in the front yard. The thought of getting up and walking to the river was not appealing in the least but they were as pesky as mosquitoes and won out over our fatigue. We made some peanut butter sandwiches, got the baby in her stroller and set off down the hill.

As we passed through the dirt field that serves as a parking lot and crested the hill that overlooks the river we could see how shallow it had become. In the winter it would fill the entire bed but in the summer heat it had dwindled to little more than a large stream. Its usual crash and fury had mellowed to a murmur that tumbled idly over rocks in places and in others was a wide smooth expanse.

It was in such an area that I waded out first to test the waters. Shallow and smooth as it was, there was a swift current riding just below the surface that could have been dangerous if it were more than ankle deep. Bitingly cold water caused my heart to skip like the stone Jon had just thrown past me. I turned to see my offspring eagerly bouncing on the shore waiting for my signal to come in.

“It’s freezing!” I warned them.

But they didn’t care. Once I gave them the nod they crashed into the water like the running of the bulls in Spain! I braced myself for the icy spray I was about to receive. Breathless and giggling they splashed and jumped like the rainbow trout that were surely cowering nearby. They were having such a good time I was irresistibly drawn to join them.

We spent the rest of the afternoon down there. Exploring the river we slid over rocks and bounced along with the current. We floated languidly in the deep still pools and overturned rocks to find crawdads and periwinkles. We stretched out on the hot boulders that line the river and sunned ourselves like a family of lizards. We watched the eagles circle overhead in lazy patterns while we ate our peanut butter sandwiches.

By the time we left we were covered in sand and completely exhausted. After trudging up the hill to our house we got everyone cleaned up and ready for bed. Jon and I were once again gently swinging in the front yard when they all tumbled out of the house to say goodnight. They piled onto the swing with us and settled their little warm bodies against us.

The gentle evening breeze ruffled our hair and tickled our noses with the smell of warm cedar trees. As the sky turned orange and pink I felt suspended between heaven and earth. I looked up at my handsome husband then at my beautiful children in awe of the blessings God has given me. Sleepily my son murmured, “It was a good day, huh Mom?”

Yes son, it was a very good day.

This looks like a good spot!
(His sisters were hogging up the couches and Grace was in his room so he made a bed out of the kitchen chairs.)

I need a nap!

I had planned to blog today, I really did! But the neighbor kid spent the night (think noisy giggling nine year olds!) I lost count of how many times they woke me up! It's kind of ironic too because I was recently convicted for my lack of love toward my neighbors. I had been irritated by them (read self righteous) instead of loving them where they are at. So now I am trying to love them as the Lord does (and praying fervently that He would work that in me because I know I can't do it on my own!) Maybe I was supposed to learn something here? ;)

Anyway, I have a bad cold and I doubt I could write anything good if my life depended on it. So I will spare you! I'm going to go take some cold medicine and drink some tea. Maybe I'll get something posted tomorrow.

Happy 4th of July! This is all you get until at least Tuesday! (Can you guess which feet are mine?)

Silliness

Well, the neighbor kids are out in force with their bottle rockets and other explosive devices so I'm here cowering by my computer! For lack of anything better to write (and knowing you're probably all out blowing things up or eating 4th of July fare) I'm just posting random tidbits.

Joke from Jessica when she was six:

Knock Knock

Whose there?

Panther

Panther who?

Panth or no panths I'm going thwimmin!

~

When Arielle was 3 we were exposed to lice. Of course I was terribly paranoid so we sat around like a family of apes looking for bugs on each other. I had just finished looking through her hair when she asked if she could search mine. I said yes (because I love to have my hair played with!) A few seconds after starting she said, "Mommy! There's a teeny tiny pido (spider) in you hair!"

Of course I freaked! "Where!?" I screamed while frantically contorting in front the mirror. Meanwhile, there was my *ahem* darling daughter rolling around on the floor laughing! She had been joking with me! She must get her twisted sense of humor from Jon! ;)

~

When Jess was three we were going through her dresser and cleaning out the stuff that was to small for her. At one point she held up a bathing suit and asked, "Mom? Is this a one piece or a zucchini?"

I'm certain she'll be thrilled to know that I've shared this with you so here's another!

Also when she was three I asked her what she would like for breakfast. She said "A cheese wallet please!"

So I happily made her a cheese omelet.

~

Okay, I'll stop torturing you now! (I'd post some about Josh but being a boy his funny things all have to do with body functions and I don't know that you'd appreciate his humor! )

Have a great 4th!