Fights.
I'm sure that they don't happen in your household between your kids, but lately, there have been many fights in ours. Perhaps "fights" isn't the correct term. I'm not exactly sure what to call them, other than they amuse me to a certain extent and then DRIVE ME CRAZY! I'll give you a couple of examples.
Garrison is eating Cheerios this morning and thinks he has found one that looks like a triangle. He announces: Look Simon, it's a triangle. "No, it's a circle." proclaims Simon from across the table. "Simon (with a whine!), it's a triangle." "It's a circle." "Triangle" "Circle" "Yes it is Simon." "No, it isn't" "Yes" "No" "Yes" "No: and on and on.
We are driving down the road and Noel sees a digger. She announces, "I see a digger. Simon, I see a digger." "Noel, it is a big digger." "It's a digger." "It's a big digger." You see how this is going to go?
This happens all the time, every single day. I've stopped five of these today and it is 2:10.
Our social worker says that it is great that they fight together. It means they are family. Yes we are, no argument about that. :)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Infomercials
I'll admit it. I like infomercials. I think I've always been drawn to them, but I especially learned to like them after studying them in college. I took a class called "Persuasion and Propaganda". It was one of my favorite classes because it was so very interesting! We took at look at infomercials and had to analyze one and write a paper about it. I chose the one with Frank and Kathy Lee Gifford where they talked about their marriage and promoted Gary Smaley's marriage blah blah. Do you remember that one? If you do, you might be old like me. :) Ron Popiel? The Magic Bullet? The Shark? and a personal favorite: The Miracle Blades!
I love the whole formula. Introduction, Can you believe?, Demonstration, Cost, But Wait!, Special Offer, More Demonstration, Testimonials, and Final Offer with a cost cutting/additional free item/plus shipping and handling all hosted by a very perky and loud host. I always thought that I would be great on an infomercial. :)
I've been searching recently for a particular infomercial. I saw it last week-end while I was kinda napping. I remember thinking that I loved the haircut of the host. I want to find it again so that I can describe it to my friend Tina who cuts my hair. I don't remember the name of the product--it was some kind of skin lotion promising to get rid of my wrinkles and age spots. Just think: if I found it again, I could get a great haircut and a brand new face. I won't even have to pay $89.95, just two easy payments of $19.95. Of course, I need to hurry. . . I only have twelve minutes left.
I love the whole formula. Introduction, Can you believe?, Demonstration, Cost, But Wait!, Special Offer, More Demonstration, Testimonials, and Final Offer with a cost cutting/additional free item/plus shipping and handling all hosted by a very perky and loud host. I always thought that I would be great on an infomercial. :)
I've been searching recently for a particular infomercial. I saw it last week-end while I was kinda napping. I remember thinking that I loved the haircut of the host. I want to find it again so that I can describe it to my friend Tina who cuts my hair. I don't remember the name of the product--it was some kind of skin lotion promising to get rid of my wrinkles and age spots. Just think: if I found it again, I could get a great haircut and a brand new face. I won't even have to pay $89.95, just two easy payments of $19.95. Of course, I need to hurry. . . I only have twelve minutes left.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
A visit to the farm
Tonight we had the opportunity to visit a dairy farm. Our friends, the Pyle's, run a farm and due to my thinking there was a church softball game tonight (it is really Thursday night!), we were out and about and decided to stop in. Glad we did. The Pyles gave us a great tour. Of course, I wasn't planning so I didn't have my camera on me. Let me share with you the reactions of my kids.
Garrison: fascinated, but cautious. He didn't run into each new barn, but when he felt confident, then he was in charge telling the other kids what to do and where to go. He was amazed by how much cows pee. He loved playing in the cotton seeds. Those poor kittens that were chased. So very sorry! I loved hearing him talk about it before bed. I'm amazed at what he picks up. He still doesn't get where the milk comes from. That's o.k. :)
Simon: He couldn't wait to go on to each new thing, although he really wasn't into the cows. He preferred to look at the tractors, the sand piles, the tractors, the cotton seed, and the sand piles. He smiled and smiled, ran and jumped, and just enjoyed being outside. He would discover the small things: a corn kernel, a dip in the road. . . this is my Simon. He notices all kinds of things. He was finally able to get up close to a big tractor. Such a highlight!
Noel: Wish I could have videotaped this girl. If you want a good time, tour a dairy farm with Noel. Her eyes were WIDE open. She moo-ooo-ood loudly at the cows and was so surprised and excited every time they responded. She wanted to touch them, she wanted to pick up every rock and throw it, she would grab sand, spin around, and let it fly. She protested leaving each barn, and ran to each new one. She refused to get out of the tractor. She fell apart at the end. . .we stayed a bit too long. She plays hard. She falls hard. She is sound asleep.
What a great unplanned night. Thanks Paul and Nancy. Thanks Shanda for messing up the schedule. Sometimes wonderful things happen when I make mistakes.
Garrison: fascinated, but cautious. He didn't run into each new barn, but when he felt confident, then he was in charge telling the other kids what to do and where to go. He was amazed by how much cows pee. He loved playing in the cotton seeds. Those poor kittens that were chased. So very sorry! I loved hearing him talk about it before bed. I'm amazed at what he picks up. He still doesn't get where the milk comes from. That's o.k. :)
Simon: He couldn't wait to go on to each new thing, although he really wasn't into the cows. He preferred to look at the tractors, the sand piles, the tractors, the cotton seed, and the sand piles. He smiled and smiled, ran and jumped, and just enjoyed being outside. He would discover the small things: a corn kernel, a dip in the road. . . this is my Simon. He notices all kinds of things. He was finally able to get up close to a big tractor. Such a highlight!
Noel: Wish I could have videotaped this girl. If you want a good time, tour a dairy farm with Noel. Her eyes were WIDE open. She moo-ooo-ood loudly at the cows and was so surprised and excited every time they responded. She wanted to touch them, she wanted to pick up every rock and throw it, she would grab sand, spin around, and let it fly. She protested leaving each barn, and ran to each new one. She refused to get out of the tractor. She fell apart at the end. . .we stayed a bit too long. She plays hard. She falls hard. She is sound asleep.
What a great unplanned night. Thanks Paul and Nancy. Thanks Shanda for messing up the schedule. Sometimes wonderful things happen when I make mistakes.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Good Stuff
I had a good devotional time this morning. The Lord and I, we had some moments.
"The Lord binds up the brokenhearted." Isaiah 61:1
Yes, I've been brokenhearted. I've wailed. I've cried. I've sat in disbelief. I've laid on my bed in the fetal position. I can remember those moments, those moments when my heart was shattered. Through it all, God was there, binding. My favorite Psalm is chapter 34. In Psalm 34, is says that the Lord is "close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34: 18) I've meditated on that so many times, there are so many dates next to that passage in my Bible. This morning though, there was a new word: bind. God not only comforts me, stands by me, carries me. . . be He assists with the healing. He binds it up to stop the bleeding. Binding doesn't always feel good, but it is necessary for broken and shattered things (like my heart sometimes) to be fixed. So glad that He binds and doesn't toss away!
I love my God. I can't believe that He still loves me and cares enough for me to take care of my heart. Thank you Yahweh.
"The Lord binds up the brokenhearted." Isaiah 61:1
Yes, I've been brokenhearted. I've wailed. I've cried. I've sat in disbelief. I've laid on my bed in the fetal position. I can remember those moments, those moments when my heart was shattered. Through it all, God was there, binding. My favorite Psalm is chapter 34. In Psalm 34, is says that the Lord is "close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34: 18) I've meditated on that so many times, there are so many dates next to that passage in my Bible. This morning though, there was a new word: bind. God not only comforts me, stands by me, carries me. . . be He assists with the healing. He binds it up to stop the bleeding. Binding doesn't always feel good, but it is necessary for broken and shattered things (like my heart sometimes) to be fixed. So glad that He binds and doesn't toss away!
I love my God. I can't believe that He still loves me and cares enough for me to take care of my heart. Thank you Yahweh.
Monday, May 25, 2009
grocery bill
Hi all!
O.k., so I am just so excited about this that I needed to post it right away. As I shared before, I'm trying to coupon and look for good deals, deals that I can use. I don't use a ton of razors, so I don't go and purchase them. I do use pasta, so I'm up for getting it. Does that make sense?
Anyway, I went to two grocery stores last week.
At Family Fare, I spent $6. 29 and saved $29.33! Yup, you read it right. Now, I don't do my regular shopping there, so I did go just for the sale. I got hot dogs for $.33 each (good ones!), pasta, and marinade stuff. Not your-run-of-the-mill-need-it-for-the-week-groceries.
Then, I went to Meijer. This is where I get my nuts and bolts of groceries. I spent $94.56 and saved. . . . drum roll please. . . $93.94! I've never gotten this close to saving as much as I spend before. Many of my friends actually save more than they spend. It was funny too, because a small crowd gathered around to see what the final total would be. The woman behind me led the charge and began commenting about how this was so great. . . could I see your receipt? . . . I'm being nosey. . . hey look what she is doing. It was quite humorous. :) The cashier even checked and made the announcement. Woo-Hoo!
O.k., so I am just so excited about this that I needed to post it right away. As I shared before, I'm trying to coupon and look for good deals, deals that I can use. I don't use a ton of razors, so I don't go and purchase them. I do use pasta, so I'm up for getting it. Does that make sense?
Anyway, I went to two grocery stores last week.
At Family Fare, I spent $6. 29 and saved $29.33! Yup, you read it right. Now, I don't do my regular shopping there, so I did go just for the sale. I got hot dogs for $.33 each (good ones!), pasta, and marinade stuff. Not your-run-of-the-mill-need-it-for-the-week-groceries.
Then, I went to Meijer. This is where I get my nuts and bolts of groceries. I spent $94.56 and saved. . . . drum roll please. . . $93.94! I've never gotten this close to saving as much as I spend before. Many of my friends actually save more than they spend. It was funny too, because a small crowd gathered around to see what the final total would be. The woman behind me led the charge and began commenting about how this was so great. . . could I see your receipt? . . . I'm being nosey. . . hey look what she is doing. It was quite humorous. :) The cashier even checked and made the announcement. Woo-Hoo!
Where ya been?
Hi friends!
Wow, has it really been since May 11 that I posted? That just means that there is lots to say.
I've been thinking a lot lately. Sometimes this is a bad thing, but recently it has been a wonderful thing. My life has been so super crazy busy. It has kept me from blogging (that and a recent breakdown of our router) and has caused me to ponder about how blessed I am. Here is the skinny.
We celebrated Mother's Day with Simon's baptism, with Gary's folks in town, and with a lunch for over sixty people. It was so wonderful! God is so very amazing, and that He loves us and wants to be in relationship with us humbles me. We had such a wonderful time enjoying Mom and Dad Petty's (Gary's parents) visit. The lunch went so very well thanks to our small group at church and my family who helped with the food and such. After the whirlwind of Tulip Time and the baptism, I was a bit pooped.
The following week-end, I went away with six of my girlfriends to a condo on Lake Michigan. God just knew that I needed that time. I must admit I wasn't too excited about leaving. I knew that I would have so much fun, but I wasn't sure about leaving the kids, leaving Gary. . . I'm a homebody and really enjoy being with my family. I had such an amazing time! These girls made me laugh, cry, and had me thinking so much about the relationships that I'm in. I left feeling so very blessed and ready to be a better wife, mom, and daughter of the King.
I got home on Sunday night, we went on a picnic, and then Gary left early the next morning for Chicago. I was a single mom for the week. I'm so thankful that God has not asked me to do that all the time. Things went unbelievably well, but I sure do enjoy parenting with Gary. I also really enjoy Gary! We love each other and enjoy spending time together.
So now, we are home. . . our family is intact. Garrison was in the parade this morning and I couldn't have been prouder. All of the family is wearing red/white/and or blue. I tried telling Simon during the parade why we were clapping for the men and women who were walking and riding by. I began, but had to stop because I began to cry. I so often take for granted that I can go anywhere, say anything, and worship everywhere. Thanks to those who took a stand, who fought, and who died for me. May God spare us the horrors of having our freedoms stripped.
I'm back in action now and will blog more this week, after all. . . so much has happened. :)
Wow, has it really been since May 11 that I posted? That just means that there is lots to say.
I've been thinking a lot lately. Sometimes this is a bad thing, but recently it has been a wonderful thing. My life has been so super crazy busy. It has kept me from blogging (that and a recent breakdown of our router) and has caused me to ponder about how blessed I am. Here is the skinny.
We celebrated Mother's Day with Simon's baptism, with Gary's folks in town, and with a lunch for over sixty people. It was so wonderful! God is so very amazing, and that He loves us and wants to be in relationship with us humbles me. We had such a wonderful time enjoying Mom and Dad Petty's (Gary's parents) visit. The lunch went so very well thanks to our small group at church and my family who helped with the food and such. After the whirlwind of Tulip Time and the baptism, I was a bit pooped.
The following week-end, I went away with six of my girlfriends to a condo on Lake Michigan. God just knew that I needed that time. I must admit I wasn't too excited about leaving. I knew that I would have so much fun, but I wasn't sure about leaving the kids, leaving Gary. . . I'm a homebody and really enjoy being with my family. I had such an amazing time! These girls made me laugh, cry, and had me thinking so much about the relationships that I'm in. I left feeling so very blessed and ready to be a better wife, mom, and daughter of the King.
I got home on Sunday night, we went on a picnic, and then Gary left early the next morning for Chicago. I was a single mom for the week. I'm so thankful that God has not asked me to do that all the time. Things went unbelievably well, but I sure do enjoy parenting with Gary. I also really enjoy Gary! We love each other and enjoy spending time together.
So now, we are home. . . our family is intact. Garrison was in the parade this morning and I couldn't have been prouder. All of the family is wearing red/white/and or blue. I tried telling Simon during the parade why we were clapping for the men and women who were walking and riding by. I began, but had to stop because I began to cry. I so often take for granted that I can go anywhere, say anything, and worship everywhere. Thanks to those who took a stand, who fought, and who died for me. May God spare us the horrors of having our freedoms stripped.
I'm back in action now and will blog more this week, after all. . . so much has happened. :)
Monday, May 11, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)