My chipped jam jar can actually hold some GREAT stuff!!

MOTHER!!! YOU'RE COMMENTING!!! YAY!!! I told her that the day she started blogging, I would eat my hat and post it to my blog!

You know you MIGHT not be the most miserable person in the world if any of the following occasionally happen to you:
1. Your husband puts a new coat of paint on the orange "fire walls," paint that you picked, while you are at work, and since you love it, he loves it.
2. Your 3-year-old's ABSOLUTE DELIGHT in the unique riding area on some of the Home Depot shopping carts proves to lift your spirits unexpectedly.
3. The pharmacy's worth of Mannatech products you are taking all of a sudden kick in, and when yesterday (and the 5 days before that, and the 30 days before that, etc.), you felt depressed, old, and tired, today you feel young, vibrant, alive, energetic, and HAPPY.
4. Your husband is very patient and loving in your pre-Mannatech-effected state.
5. Your son's rabbit who was kept in the laundry room and constantly soiled it, took a walk out the cat door.... and didn't come back. And your son is not heartbroken. Nor are you!! Mu ha ha ha!
6. You sacrifice day in and day out to home school, and yet, you learn SO MUCH and are blessed to have the amazing quality time with your child, who is learning great VALUES and BIBLE, as well as cool middle ages stuff (at this juncture).
7. You ask God to help you make your money S T R E T C H, and He does.
8. You don't live in a "GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD," and you're not "RICH ENOUGH TO GIVE YOUR CHILDREN EVERYTHING THEY COULD WANT," but your daughters have a great friend next door(with a hot tub and fun-loving parental units), and your son has a great Christian friend across the street. On the other side of you, they have a trampoline, and they share! In the back of you, they have go-carts and an undeveloped area where your kids can roam around looking for "treasures."
9. Your son has a friend at church whose dad likes to bring him along to do things like fish and clam. (This weekend, Zach went clamming for razor clams for the first time. He had the best time ever. I learned how to clean these clams for the first time and make fresh clam chowder. And yes, there IS a difference when you use fresh clams!!! It tastes like the ocean instead of the can. :) )
10. Whereas not too long ago, you constantly were thinking how small and crowded and UNFINISHED your house was, you started realizing what a prize a craftsman bungalow is, and now you are into researching authentic decor and feeling PROUD of your great house.
11. You are not impressed that your midsection is growing and prospering(rather than your savings account), but you are still mobile, pain free, limber, flexible, strong, enduring, and youngish.
12. Your 9 new red primroses cheering up the front yard were only .60 each!

Does your cup runneth under?

You know you might be a pessimist if any of the following are true:
1. The proverbial "glass half full" sounds like a lot more than your cup ever holds.
2. Everybody else's glass is prettier than yours.
3. Your glass is a chipped jam jar.
4. Your glass is 1/3 full of 2 day old water.
5. You caught the cat drinking out of it.
6. It was only tap water, not even purified. It probably has lead in it.
7. Somebody should care enough to bring you something decent.
8. You could get up and get it yourself, but you're too tired because you've been pouring water for everyone else ALL day.

Well, it sure does feel springy all of a sudden, thank God!! The blossoms are out, the air is balmier, springier, pollen-filled, and my hayfever started a few days ago. Argh.

We had another very nice weekend, which went too fast. I promised the kids quite a long time ago that I would take them to see Narnia at the theater. I think it's just about done showing there, so I took the 3 olders on Saturday. It was awesome, of course!! We got back and had grilled cheese sandwiches and apples and then headed to Chris' work! This was our 3rd Saturday we went there to....lift weights!!! Wow!! Chris' boss recently bought a weight bench and punching bags and such, so we are doing some couples' lifting while the kids skate or scooter around the shop. Chris used to lift weights in high school for football and early in our marriage. I've always been interested, but only sporadic in my activity. He pushes himself and me--he's motivated and motivating!! It's fun to have this new family activity/couple activity. We don't go to all that many places as a couple or as a large, unrich family. This is free and fun and healthy! Yay!

Yesterday was very, very restful. I enjoyed my 2 hour rest/nap upstairs while Chris did the first round of dishes--yay!! We read the paper, watched TV, had chicken breasts baked with olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, sage, salt and pepper, and spaghetti with spaghettic sauce. I was dying for dessert, as usual, but I had a handful of granola instead. We managed to do family devotions after dinner, which doesn't always happen.

Well, Zach is doing a grammar worksheet, and he'll be done soon. I will then read a chapter from the medieval fiction book we are reading, A Door in the Wall.

Dull moments few and far between

We had the strangest scene at dinner tonight. One minute there was relative normalcy as the kids got into their chairs, talking, joking, teasing. The next minute, wild laughter and crying at the same time! It all started innocently enough: I brought in a bib to put on William, but I must have really been taking a hike mentally. As I was chatting with the kids and not paying attention, I calmly proceeded to put the bib on Zoe! (She is 8). I was thinking, "Boy this is tight when you snap it over her hair. Hmm....Oh well!" (Like totally!!) But then I immediately stopped thinking about it and went to sit down. Then it dawned on Zoe. She HOLLERED, "I'M NOT A BABY!!!!!!!!!" and immediately started crying and storming off to her room, of all things! If anything, I would have thought she'd have said, "MOM!!!!!" and laughed and looked at me funny! She was SO UPSET!! (Is she sleep deprived right now?) Meanwhile, the rest of of us were rolling on the floor, laughing till we cried at the absurd airheadedness of my space-out mistake and her indignant, surprising response. This only made Zoe madder in the other room, and she continued to cry and yelled out, "IT'S NOT FUNNY!!!! I CAN HEAR YOU!!!" (Yeah, and she's not even a teenager yet. ) After I got control of myself, I went in there to tell her AGAIN that it was an accident, REALLY, and not meant to humiliate her to death. She tried to be stern when she came out, but failed miserably!!! Tee hee! Thankfully, she got some good laughs in, after all!

I am back from my mini-vacation in New Hampshire. I spent Friday through Monday with Jill's family. It was very restful and peaceful and beautiful to spend that many kidless, non-working days in their large home in the country! I saw Grandma Sweet on Saturday, and Jill and I got coffee and lunch and went to a cute gift shop. I really loved driving the country roads and seeing the New England countryside and houses. The blizzard was a new one for me! It delayed my flight a day. Jetblue airlines was a pain to deal with--they couldn't be reached over the phone, and wrongly charged me 90.00 to change my flight. (They reimbursed me). Then we had a long, boring, 2 hour delay at the airport because they COULDN'T FIND A FLIGHT CREW!!!!! Geez Louise!!!!!! But it was wonderful visiting Evan, Jill, and their precious kiddos. And it was so gratifying to wake up from one of my many naps--grin, grin--and Jed was genuinely thrilled that Aunt Loe-ee was up! I loved their 2 cats, too. I was able to take a long walk on Monday while Jill got groceries. We watched a few movies and some winter Olympics on the weekend. Also, I got to see Lindsay and her cute apartment. I left winter behind and came back to my daffodils blooming!!

Wow, we lost the Superbowl!! I didn't watch one minute of it, happily. Chris did, at someone else's house. He came home hoarse and morose, plus he slightly bumped someone's car who had wedged him in!! But he doesn't have to work today, cuz that was the deal if the Seahawks made it to the Superbowl. Good thing, cuz my car decided to not start again for the third time in half a week! Friday, I had to walk to and from school to get the girls cuz of the car. Thankfully, it wasn't raining cats and dogs! It's a 25 minute walk to the school. And we have a newer school we can SEE from our house! It's days like that I kinda wish they were at the new one.

This weekend I get to fly to New Hampshire!!! Yay! I will be visiting Grandma Sweet and staying with Jill and Evan!! Grandma wants me to clean out and organize her closet--isn't that funny? The interesting thing is that Jill and Jed will be flying out here shortly after that! Wow!

We haven't amended our orange walls yet. But I moved the treadmill into the living room. I'm filling out my clothes a little too well, and I'm just not spending the time in the boring laundry room. (That's where the treadmill was). So Friday and Saturday, I spent an hour on it, running half the time, whilst watching TV. It was so much easier with the TV on. I've really tried being stoic and listening to music or reading or listening to books on tape in the laundry room, but I get bored to tears after 15 minutes. Chris got on it, too, and put me to shame, running at a pretty fast pace. Then he went in to work to work out where they have some weights recently purchased. Zach went in to try it too, cuz he was interested. Zach especially liked this punching bag thing that is attached at floor and ceiling.

We had Zoe's birthday at Grandma's house Saturday night, and that was fun. She will actually be 8 tomorrow!

The photo below shows the scary Halloween orange, and some examples of how we might rectify it. Chris tried some pale yellow glazing, which actually looks too white (it was some old half white glaze I already had which he mixed with pale yellow). I tried some bright yellow with glaze blotted on, and then some berry/brick mixed with glaze blotted on. I think I like best the spot that has both bright yellow and red blotted over the orange. This is kind of a conondrum.

Oh, and Peter Rabbit escaped last week. :(

I'll do a quick post. Last weekend Chris and I went to see "Walk the Line," the Johnny Cash movie. We got there 45 minutes late and had to sit in the front, but it was a great movie, and we had fun.

This weekend, we needed to put a second coat of ceiling paint on in living room, and that led to a spur of the moment decision to repaint the walls. They did need repainting, and "since we were going through all the effort...." Chris was tired of the cheerful light yellow, so we agreed on a tasteful lightish medium ochre. Well, he came home with a VIBRANT, RICH, IN YOUR FACE pumpkin. He told me not to be scared, but I was. We put a coat on the walls, but I can't live with it, so we are going to have to do something different--like some faux glazing to tone it down.

Got toddlers? My sunday school kiddies got a kick out of putting little foam heart stickers on a sheet, then grabbing corners and shaking them up and down. They were very diligent about picking them up again so they could do it again, and again! Great activity for indoors in winter!

I got as far as taking my midterm exam for medical transcription this week. I got an 86%. Now there is a bunch of editing training, which I love. After this, I'll get to the real transcription practice! Yay!

The world is full of cactus, but we don't have to sit on it.
--William Foley

The Animal Planet channel was on the other day, and it was an animal rescue show. It looked like maybe Arizona. This woman called in about her neighbor's cat who had apparently somehow gotten COMPLETELY embroiled in some cactus! The poor cat was COVERED in stickers, not moving, and meowing piteously! They got it to the vet, tranquilized it, and spent the next 2 hours removing prickers! It then looked normal and had to be on pain relievers and antibiotics for 10 days. It had looked so absolutely horrible--like a cat shaped cactus plant. I guess kitty hadn't talked to William Foley.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CABIN FEVER, HERE! MUST GET OUT AND DO
SOMETHING BESIDES RAT RACE DUTIES! The sky has been either light grey, medium grey, whitish grey, mottled grey, watery grey, or kill-me-now-I-can't-take-it-anymore-grey. A little help, here, oh great WEATHERMAN IN THE SKY? Here's my typical scenario: Thursday is a mental health day and I have to daydream all day about good things and fun stuff to do Saturday so I don't climb the walls and start crawling around on the ceiling with foam coming out of my mouth. Saturday comes along: I was up late the night before cuz work lets out no earlier than 12:30 usually. Then I have to unwind and/or visit with Chris if he's still up. 12:00 noon Saturday and I'm still not dressed and quite groggy, and there are mountains of laundry and not exactly bouncing out the door on great adventures. Chris actually has to work today, too. It's not raining, though. The least I could do is go to Point Defiance Park with the kiddos. I'm pretty broke and that's free.

Last Saturday I did a mommy and me date with Zoe. We went to Krispy Kreme donuts, which I religiously avoid normally. We had wanted to go to Red Robin and get dessert, but of course they were packed. My donut was so amazing and only 1/3 satisfying. I could have gobbled 2 more, but I resisted. The coffee packed a wallop! Now I know who has high octane java! We then walked over to Toys R Us and bought Trivial Pursuit for kids and Yahtzee. The kids and I played Trivial Pursuit for the next few hours, and it was SO FUN!!! I had to drag Zach kicking and screaming to play, but after 1 minute, he was totally into it! He had to have a long pep talk though when he exhibited extremely poor sportsmanship cuz his YOUNGER sister beat him! The indignity!!

I want to go on a road trip and a boat trip and have some tiramisu. I need these things.

Okay, okay, Kristi, a new post is forthcoming! :)

Our computer was out of commission for a few days being de-virused. We now have more protection and a different browser. Hopefully things will go more smoothly now.

What is like unto a Saturday where the sun actually pokes its head out already and you're still in your jammies at 12:45!? Chris is leaving for a friend's house to watch the important football game. Zach spent the night at a friend's house last night, and friend's sister slept here. We're pretty much forcing Zach to shower and nap, and he's not happy about it. He had stayed up really late, of course. Wednesday, Grampa took him and a few other boys on a tour of an aircraft carrier. Zach came back in a great mood. It was great for him to have the monotony of studying broken by a GUY EXCURSION.

What am I supposed to do about this rabbit? No really--any suggestions? (I'm calling it Fluffer Nutter, and yes, the coloring actually does look like marshmallow fluff and peanut butter!) I'm kindhearted and martyrish enough to let it run around the house to exercise, but Chris can't stand it and says its unhygienic and "How many times do I have to put my foot down about this?!" Of course I clean up after the rabbit really well, but if it messes an area and Chris gets to it first, that's not cool. It's cold and wet outside, and we only have a small cage. This shouldn't be my problem it should be Zach's. But all animal issues become my issues because I am responsible and caring, and kids can't really be trusted. Supposedly you can get rabbit leashes at Petco!

Yesterday we had an injured starling stay for a few hours. I think the cat had tackled it. Zach rescued it and cleaned off a bite mark with hydrogen peroxide. We calmed it down, let it rest, gave it some seeds. The neat part was when the rabbit and the starling were sharing an apple! He perked up and was hopping around the room, so I let him go. He flew with a crooked tail to a nearby tree and watched us for a bit as if to say, "Thanks, mates!"

True story: the mother of the boy Zach was with was trying to explain about Communion to her 3-year-old, telling him it represented the Body of Christ. He looked at his little piece of cracker and said, "I think I got the skin!"

"...And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again...." This song seems to be in my head a lot lately. I wonder why that is....

I'm about ready to put my computer in the dishwasher--I keep getting these INFURIATING popups!!! And that is Chris' domain to fix.

We've been letting Peter Rabbit roam around the house during the day. Can you believe it? His cage is so small, and he looked so bored in there. It's just a matter of cleaning up his small, dry "backfires" from time to time. He hasn't eaten all the electrical cords or torn into the couch, Garfield style. He's surprised us with what he's been interested in devouring, though. I was just finishing up an apple, when somebody brought him over to me . Well, he smelled that apple and went crazy! So I gave him the rest of the core, which he loved. He also nibbled on some dry bagel on the ground and some raw oats. When I brought home the groceries last night, he was in the kitchen checking things out and got very excited over an open bag of tortilla chips in one of the bags. So I gave him one of those! He's also nibbled on the cat's food and enjoys radishes, carrots, and lettuce. Oranges--no.

Last night, on the Christian channel, I actually caught something really good. Often, if it's opulently dressed pastors shouting about prosperity or something, I quickly change the channel....but this was about the reality of Heaven and Hell. There were testimonies by some men who had taken a "break" from their body when they were in the hospital and where they were when they were in limbo. These were not Christian men at the time--they were mostly atheists, actually. One guy, who had been run over by a vehicle driven by the KGB and was pronounced dead and in the morgue's freezer, with collapsed lungs, actually was not quite dead and came to as they were about to do an autopsy on him. His experiences of pressing darkness and terror caused him to turn to the Lord and be saved! One of the weirder ones was of a man who was in the hospital, very sick, and when he went outside his body for quite awhile, he went to stand beside his wife and talk to her. He felt very much alive and actually got mad at her for "ignoring" him! But then he was called away down a long, gray, blurry tunnel by some blurry people, who seemed syrupy nice at first, but then got ruder. Eventually, after walking forever with these people, he got severely abused and injured by large numbers of them for a long time. He said they really derived satisfaction from it, and although it was horrible, he kinda knew that was where he deserved to be. He was finally left alone on the ground, scratched, emotionally and physically battered. He was there for quite a long time, when something told him to "pray to God." He didn't even know how to pray, and struggled to remember the simplest things to say even from being a tot in Sunday School. But whenever he could manage to say anything prayer-like or about God, it was like boiling water on all those horrible people--they couldn't stand it! He drove them all away calling out to God. And Jesus came down and gently lifted him up. All the filth and shame and injuries, inside and outside, evaporated. Jesus hugged him like a Father, patted him on the back, comfortingly. They had a wonderful conversation! They reviewed the man's life, and he learned that whenver he had been kind and good, it made the angels, God, and Jesus happy. But whenever he had been selfish and bad, the opposite. I'm getting a little fuzzy on some of the rest of the details, but the man had to go back to earth. He didn't want to leave at all and wanted to know Jesus and the angels would be with him. Jesus said they always had been and something about the value of repenting, casting our cares on him, and all the good things that matter that are supposed to be coming out of our hearts and mouths towards God and man. The man hosting the show said that there is a dangerous trend afoot, where people who nearly died and experienced a bright light and comfort, will come back and preach comfort and "everyone goes to Heaven, it's all good after this". They try to discourage people from believing in the sin, the Hell, the salvation aspects!! Another atheistic physician, who was dying of some acute illness, barely held on through the night waiting for his Christian friend to show up and show him how to be saved. This man had been witnessing to him about the love of God for 5 years and had endured some arguments and ridicule from this Doctor. But who did he desperately want when he was dying? It was an endless night of hanging on. He kept slipping into horror and coldness and deep darkness, but in the morning,He did pray the sinner's prayer, and experienced God's salvation and peace!! I really love these stories! There are really good to remind us about the realities of Heaven and Hell, sin and salvation, and to pray for those around us!

If you want to check out an amusing website, try iusedtobelieve.com--stuff adults believed as children, like words to songs, what they saw on TV, all sorts of silly things.

An inspirational story from Guideposts: Joel Osteen, a Texas pastor, wrote the story. Among other things, he told about his mother who got very sick with liver cancer in 1981. She was very yellow and lost a lot of weight. The doctors didn't have any hope for her. "But my mother never gave up. She didn't complain about how sick or weak she felt or how hopeless the situation looked. She spoke only positively of her situation. And she filled her mouth with God's words. We'd hear her going through the house speaking aloud, 'I will live and not die. I will declare the works of the Lord.' She was like a walking Bible. Something powerful happened. Her appetite came back, she started gaining weight. Her natural color returned. It has been nearly 25 years since my mother received that death sentence, and today she is completely free of cancer."

Another story from a travel TV show about Germany, I believe: Hundreds of years ago, when the the plagues were raging, one town prayed to God to spare them. They promised Him they'd act out the crucifixion/Passion every ten years if He did. God spared the town, and they have been doing what they promised every ten years, even to the present time! I saw a blurp of it--there was a man up on a cross, and it looked realistic! I guess the men even grow their hair and beards out for months and months beforehand to make it look more authentic!

Things that go bump into the piano!! (RC car) 

Our very own exercise wheel! 

Two dolls! 

Two more dolls! 

We've been very good this year, Santa!! 

Zach's new rabbit, Peter