Mom on the Edge

Forward!

2012-02-20T09:06:00.005-06:00

The guys finished the basement on Wednesday and Thursday, including the new wall in the garage. School was out in Ne City on Friday, so we took Matthew's new buddy home and he helped us scrub the mold off the studs in the bedrooms. No simple task there. Plus, it was so cold in there that we could hardly move! We snagged a couple small heaters from my dad and kept plugging away. My cousin told me about a mold killer, disinfectant and mold barrier all in one, so we found that, but it was supposed to be attached to the end of a garden hose. Since we don't have water hooked up, we got a chemical sprayer and mixed a little with water and saturated, scrubbed, then rinsed with the same stuff. It smelled like about half bleach, so I'm trusting it will do the job!! About the time I was exhausted and dizzy, I started getting phone calls and had to stop to organize all the different crews and plans. When I came back, the boys had it all done! Talk about timing!!

We also now have a door on the basement leading out, but no top door yet. Please pray for moisture to hold off so it won't fill the new basement! We are also on a standstill until the back yard dries up a bit. The basement stairway out isn't long enough for the staircase, so we need the back to dry up so they can get some trucks in there to extend it. This isn't the kind of thing that happens in the spring, so much prayer will be needed for that to proceed. Going back over there today to see about some holes getting filled that we found while cleaning. No wonder it was so cold in the bedrooms!!

It couldn't last forever!

2012-02-07T23:28:00.002-06:00

Well, the snow stopped the wonderful progress! Last week was so perfect for pouring concrete that the guys had to get one more project in Thursday. So, Matthew and I took the opportunity to get a little early burning in!

We certainly had a lot of overgrowth this summer. There also seems to be a ton of spiders. No love lost torching those!!

The Friday rains also brought a muddy back yard and the cement truck couldn't get to the basement to pour the new floors. The weekend snow didn't really help, either! They're planning on building a chute to take it in through the garage tomorrow. Sure hope that works. I'm really anxious to keep going. I never expected it to take this long and can't believe how far we still have to go.

The SBA called with progress on the loan. Which is little. We'll get a small chunk sometime next week, but lots more paperwork before it can really move. I am happy to say that the money does seem to come in as the bills do. It's just too bad that it's only a LOAN! But it's a better loan than our current mortgage, so we are just calling ourselves blessed and moving on with things. It's so hard to deal with everything and just be so unsettled at the same time. Michael had to come to me looking for light bulbs tonight. I couldn't even tell him where to find them! Our lives right now are just hither and yon and no one really knows where anything is!

One day...

Anyway, we continue to praise God through the storm and the rebuilding. I can't see His plan at the moment, but I will forever believe that He is in control, and that none of this is my home anyway! Thanks to those who continue to pray for us and send help our way. We all pray that we will be able to pay it forward in the future.

Unexpected floor...

2012-02-03T03:32:00.004-06:00

Well, I thought I was waiting for indoor floors, but instead I have a new garage floor! It wasn't in the plan at all, and actually added about $3000 to the project, which we did NOT need!!! However, we just had so many problems compounding on each other that there really didn't seem to be any choice in the matter.

I'm a little surprised I have this picture, but I know why I took it. It was one of those times where I wondered how they were going to do that. The new basement wall didn't line up with the old upper wall, so there was nowhere for the bedroom/garage wall to set. Originally, they were going to carve about 4ft into the garage concrete so the new basement wall would be under the original wall, but the footings were some 8ft thick, so they didn't go all the way. Not a clue what the plan was, but I see why they couldn't go there! So now there was going to have to be some kind of flat concrete pad laid to build a new wall where the old one had been.

We were also looking at some problems outside to the west. We raised the house 2ft, but you can't really bring the garage floor up. That leaves a lot of room for water to travel around and do the very same damage we're trying to repair and divert! By bringing the floor up with this concrete pad, then sloping the entire floor, we could solve both problems! Again, a rather pricey solution!

We were also quite pleased that it solved yet two more problems on the other side of the garage. There wasn't going to be enough space for steps into the mudroom without affecting a walkthrough garage door to the east. With this raised floor, we eliminated the need for the extra step that would have extended to the middle of the walkthrough door. It also met up with the new concrete that was going on outside and allowed our walkthrough door to swing freely over it. We were having severe problems with that door catching on the sidewalk anytime the weather changed.

Tell me, when was the last time you've heard of concrete being poured outside in January and February??? God has been so good to us to give us such great weather for rebuilding!! We thought we'd have a basement floor poured by now, but the guys were quick to divert attention to things that aren't normally done until April. God was super awesome to do this for us, because without at least the beginning of this floor, we wouldn't be able to build the bedroom/garage wall without somehow heating the garage. Just amazing.

I also need to point out that this would not be possible without the many gifts from many friends. The SBA is still goofing around with my paperwork, even requiring me to get signed statements from my contractors that they are equal opportunity employers!! Without our friends, we would still be waiting for funding to come through to begin this work. Our thanks to our friends and to our God, from whom all blessings flow!!

Next!

2012-01-20T02:53:00.000-06:00

Back down!
We have the house back on its foundation and hope to start working soon! We've been doing some cleaning and hauling off debris, but now we feel like things can really start to move. We're anxious to get the basement steps and the floor joists in. As soon as the holes are plugged from the lifting beams, we can get the new furnace in and keep things moving along that are contingent on heat! We'll see how things go the rest of the week!

...ooops!

New Basement

2012-01-02T12:48:00.000-06:00

This is what was going on Saturday!! They got 6 full courses up and were planning to finish today. Haven't been over there yet, but these guys are no slackers! I'm sure we'll see it done today!!

Pouring footings!

2011-12-30T04:16:00.001-06:00

These were actually taken on Tuesday, but in my normal running-all-the-time mode, I'm just now getting to the posting part! We might actually have some walls by now! They finished the footings that day and said they needed to cure for a day or two, then they would need to haul all the bricks down by hand. I was going to gather up some neighborhood boys and see if they needed help with that, but I ended up taking a trip to the Apple Store instead. That is always helpful! Computer seems to be okay, but might reinstall the operating system when I get done here. Anyway... think I might see how early the neighborhood boys get up and if we can be of any help. I know we need to be cutting off some nails so they can replace the seal plate, but have no idea how one would go about doing that. But I just might learn!

More changes...

2011-12-20T15:49:00.003-06:00

Things always change as we get into a project! It's now looking like poured walls won't work as well for us because it would be too tricky to get the forms under the garage or something. Anyway, we'll have more usable space if they build it with blocks. This also takes out a whole construction crew and just leaves the one we already have to do all the concrete work. I hate to cut anyone out of a job, but he says he has enough to do that he doesn't need to fight for the jobs that are easier by another method! It also doesn't sound to me like it will go any faster or slower this way, so it's just a different way through. I am excited that it won't cause delays. They can still get started on this by Thursday, which was probably the earliest they'd be pouring, anyway.

More blocks!

2011-12-15T09:53:00.005-06:00

The blocks are coming along!! They nearly have the three additional rows done and have started digging under the bedrooms. On the east, they found a wall that was caving in due to the water and dirt pressure. They already have that fixed, and I have the bill! The SBA is still trying to decide what they think needs done here and what they're willing to lend us money to do. Funny how that should be their concern, but when you have nowhere else to turn...

Anyway, we're still moving forward and just trying to deal with FEMA/SBA paperwork at the same time. It's been a way of life lately. They are now requesting their SIXTH copy of an 8821. Go figure. Good thing I just keep faxing everything. That way, I still have copies to fax them again after they can't find their last copy. Nobody ever tells me the same thing twice, either. If you don't want to file Economic Disaster on the business, you don't need to file the business papers. Unless you own 20% or more of a business. Then you need to file those forms, too.

Well, I suppose I should get back to it. They sure don't send themselves in!

Only the Government...

2011-12-12T12:49:00.002-06:00

Been getting some calls from the SBA today. This is the "loan branch" of FEMA. We've been denied for a rebuilding loan due to the debt to income ratio (we just built 4 years ago), but they will be able to offer us a business loan once we get the house fixed and get back in. So, if we can come up with the money to fix our house and get back in, and if we can get a new stream of income, we can have a loan to fix our house. Wow... you don't think ... sorry, forgot this was the government. Makes me want to get a paper route just to say, "Okay, we have a new income stream!!"

Anyway, very thankful that God's got our back. Friends from church and work have sent us quite a bit of help, as well as a church in Harlan adopting us! FEMA did send us about $16,000, and friends have sent about $10,000, so we have had enough to get out some deposits to get work started. God is good and will not let us down. I know he has something to teach us here, but it's not always easy to see. It's usually in the quiet that I can hear Him speak, and He is Good. All the time.

And waiting...

2011-12-06T20:46:00.003-06:00

We heard from Steve today. He's doing the digging and laying the block. Apparently, the rain made a less-than-desirable puddle under the house! Since the weather is going to be cold for a couple days, he's going to let that freeze and then scoop it up in chunks. By the time he gets the basement dug, it looks like things could be warm enough to lay block. Yes, indeed, Morgan didn't have it right about being able to lay block at 5°. Steve says you do have to have double digits to lay block! Now just praying that the delay is only a couple days!

Getting things moving!

2011-12-05T07:52:00.003-06:00

Well, I hope things are moving forward! Our house is now 4' off the ground. Our bedroom floors stayed on the concrete slab... I was NOT expecting that!! I don't know why, it seems everyone else knew that would happen. Not me. Shocked, I am!!

I'm really just hoping that things keep progressing through cold weather. I don't know what can or can't be done and what conditions stop processes, I only know that I really want my house back. After living out of boxes for 5 months, I'm ready to go home!! Our cats have dispersed in unknown directions and one of our dogs didn't make it. This has been a really hard summer and fall on all of us.

Anyway... The next things we're waiting for are the digging out under the bedrooms and laying the blocks for the higher foundation. We'll be adding 3 courses of blocks (that's 3 rows in common language!) under the kitchen/dining room and living room. The new basement under the bedrooms will be poured concrete. Morgan is saying that he heard them say that it only needs to be above 5° to lay block. The temp in the car says 37°, but I don't see anyone laying block!!! Yes, a little impatient, but you have to believe that you would be, too!

I also wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all those who are making this happen. We have had donations coming in from people and places you would never imagine. We have a really big God and He is GOOD!! ...ALL THE TIME!! From the friends and strangers who helped us evacuate, to those offering us housing for ourselves, our stuff and our pets, to those who helped tear out and clean up and to those who are helping us rebuild: We just don't have the words to properly thank you! Thank you for the time, the effort, the prayers and the words of encouragement... Thank you for keeping us going! We've also had builders helping as much as possible. Getting started with a deposit that barely even covers materials, knowing that we can only hope that the money will come in. They've all been great!

I've had a really hard time wanting to keep this blog going this summer. I've been so disappointed, so angry and so lost; all while trying to stay strong for my family. I just haven't usually been very optimistic and I don't like how most of my comments sound. I've been doing better just not saying anything at all!! I know that people are now anxious to hear how things are moving along and how they can help. It's all waiting right now and that's the hardest part for me! I know that's pretty normal, but that doesn't make it any easier!! Since digging, pouring concrete and laying blocks aren't my specialties, I just have to wait until it's my turn to help. I seriously can't believe the mess in the house! Sawing through the concrete floor created a blanket of dust unlike anything I can describe. It must not have anything to do with gravity, because it's everywhere!

Ok, want to get this posted for the day and then maybe I can start getting some of my thoughts together in an organized fashion to update it frequently. We only have a few more days to beg FEMA for more money, so I need to fill out more forms and appeals. They haven't been easy to work with and they don't understand that my copies of everything they want are in storage and may not be seen until we move back in! I don't know what's so hard about them coming up with government copies of what they want. It's all there and there doesn't seem to be any privacy where the government is concerned!!

Oh, well... onward...

A Christmas Wish

2011-11-08T08:17:00.003-06:00

Since I just don't do email forwards, I had to share this with you because it's such a smart idea.

Think about it!!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Oh.... Yes there is! It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint?

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre? Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community.

If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups.

-- throw up a post on Craig's List in the Rants and Raves section in your city.

-- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.

This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Trying to Cope

2011-10-14T20:26:00.003-05:00

I've pretty much been avoiding this all summer. My attitude seems to be less-than-perfect, and, whether I have a right to be snarky or not, I tend to tire of hearing myself in that constant state.

We have lost so much this summer, and sometimes it's hard enough just to face another day. What's really hard is to be feeling so helpless in all of it. Insurance doesn't want to pay, FEMA doesn't want to pay... the mortgage company doesn't want to have anything to do with helping us out. It's all just a mess.

What's been amazing is the outpouring from my friends and even strangers. The Presbyterian Church has been having suppers for us every Thursday night, all summer. They have also been gathering food pantry donations as well as cleaning supplies. They sent us with a cleaning bucket that had the most amazing note in it. I left it in the car, which is just as well. I just totally fall apart every time I read it.

Someone from the Methodist Disaster Service has also been over to talk shop. She said to keep pushing the insurance through and keep asking about programs for our mortgage. Then the insurance people seem to wonder what I mean by pushing it through again. Apparently, they are used to people taking that news better than I did. The mortgage company says there's nothing they can do because our home is uninhabitable. They could have helped us before. There are programs for that. For what? For the government redecorating my bedroom with their river? Or by being surprised that the "La Nina" system that brought a 100-year snowfall would also bring a 100-year spring rain?

Ok, this is why I don't blog. Snarky.

So, my day today:
7:22am: Leave for band in Sidney
8:44am: Arrive in Sidney, 11 min late
9:20am: Pick up Mallory and rush to house to meet drywallers
9:30am: Too late, drywallers about done. Discuss a few things. More bad news tomorrow.
10:30am: Take Morgan to Sidney for Saxophone lesson
10:45am: Grandma's taking Matthew to band, so Mallory and I go feed random abandoned kitties.
11:45am: Pick up boys from band and head HOME (Percival) for some lunch.
1:15pm: Meet with house-jacker. Ok, sounds strange... we're hoping to jack the house up about 2 feet not only to fix it, but also to be out of harm's way in the future. Also have to decide if we just jack it up 2 feet or if we dig a new basement and possibly add some much needed office space to our house. Many decisions. All very costly. Not looking forward to all of those quotes.
2:30pm: On the road back to the NE City house.
3:45pm: Back in NE City. Unload the car, re-pack for the boys' campout.
4:20pm: To the troop trailer to figure out what they might need from it since no one has a truck that can pull said trailer. Hope they got it all!
5:30pm: Off to check on my neighbor. Where time stands still. Until I remember that I left his bananas on my counter. Food Pride is closer. Off to buy bananas.
7:30pm: Finally home. Time didn't actually stand still after all.
Wow... actually only a 12 hour day for a change... why do I feel like I've been hit by a truck?

Happy Birthday, Mogi!!

2011-08-04T23:32:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm not happy about being separated from my little guy on his birthday, but I'm thrilled with the fun he's having with his grandparents. Sounds like they did some serious fishing today, then some serious fish-frying tonight! He called me a couple times today, and he didn't sound happy to be away from me, either, but he is having a really great time!

I was wrong... It could be worse.

2011-06-08T22:27:00.002-05:00

Just got word today that my baby didn't make the move. Bonnie and Clyde went to live with some friends during the big evacuation and we all thought they seemed to be doing very well. I'd been over to check on them a few times, but somehow today proved too much for Clyde. For no apparent reason, my friend returned home to find him no longer alive. It was a very long, hard, sad day for all of us, but I'm sure my friend is feeling it, too.

This was my first real dog. Not my brother's or my husband's or my childrens. He was mine. My baby. And he knew it. He had a certain affection for skunks, which I did not understand and I let him know that. But he was the most fun and most loving dog I could ever imagine. He loved being on my lap while I was doing any gardening and loved circling the property with me. He really loved doing anything with me. Morgan had planned to take him to the Fair this year, but we don't even know if Fair will be in our list of opportunities this summer. Our whole lives are just upside down right now. And sad. Very sad.

Good bye, Clyde. We will all miss you so much!!

Time for change

2011-06-07T19:24:00.003-05:00

Well, it's pretty hard to believe, but we're being told to expect a flood like no other. I'm hearing things from a 100 year flood to a 1000 year flood. Apparently, it took the Corps of Engineers to actually make it this devastating. Spring floods are a way of life around here; we're used to that. But they way things have been handled in this whole catastrophe is just plain wrong.

But I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

And so thankful I am. All of my family, pets and belongings are safely on higher ground. Friends have been helping in more ways than I ever could have imagined. Hundreds of people have been to our small towns helping to pack up entire lives and get us moved to safety. My church friends have offered homes for me and my family, along with other friends offering to house my pets. Small town neighbors are now scattered abroad.

It is depressing, but my God is Good. All the time. I'm working through a lot of emotions, but I have to remember. God is Good. All the time.

Cleaning up!!

2011-04-06T08:38:00.002-05:00

We've been working hard on the property these last few days. We're still feeling less than well, but life goes on!! Mallory really was hit the hardest and the last, so she's been in the house answering the phone, taking messages and making sandwiches. But the rest of us have been burning off ditches, hauling brush, clearing trails and cleaning up. This is stuff I've wanted to do since we moved in 4 years ago!!

It's been fun doing all this with Matthew. Grandpa came over, too. Coupla pyros!! Matthew actually found a propane torch in the middle of the road one day. Grandpa keeps him supplied with the propane tanks... they are a pair!!

Anyway, Matthew and I started with the area around the incinerator, then some of the dry grass on the hill, then in the back where I've seen some asparagus come up in the past. We've been picking little spots carefully, picking low-wind days and burning against the breeze. Then we get a little braver and go a little farther... It was the spot by the asparagus that we decided to call it good, so we burned a nice patch there to make sure the fire would stop there. Then we went to the other end and lit the big one!! The day was a little too still, though, and we had a hard time keeping it going! Matthew had his torch and kept starting more where it skipped.

Second verse, same as the first...

2011-03-20T22:20:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Mallory!!

We are so tired of being sick!! This is Mallory's 14th birthday, for crying out loud!! Well, at least she got her favorite thing... a day alone in her room with her iPad!! So it wasn't a total loss! She had a great time with friends last weekend and we will have family down next weekend, so hopefully she'll have a better time then.

Right now, we're just praying for healing for my grandpa. He was just taken to the hospital with problems walking. He's 86 and usually has his potatoes in by now, so his new limitations are making a big impact. I was hassling him about his potatoes yesterday and he responded with, "These days, I like projects you can start and finish in one day." Amen, but I never thought I'd hear him say that. I just want him home safe, garden or not. Please pray for his recovery. We need a little more time with him.

Not a total loss

2011-03-12T20:57:00.005-06:00

So we've been dealing with the sickies for quite some time now, and I've never felt terrific through all this, but today was our only chance for a party for Mallory and her friends. We baked her cake last night and had no serious plans toward it, but this morning as everyone was getting up, we all knew we were doomed. The only one who was really on her feet was Mallory, but we knew we couldn't send Morgan to his friend's house while he was feeling this way, and Michael really needed to stay home and get well quickly!! One of Mallory's friends came through in a big way!! She offered to have the party at her house!! Yay!! But that also meant we needed to figure out the cake... fast!! Mallory said we could do a "Sweet 16" and I said, "How about a Freaky 14?" She thought that sounded cute and went to pack while I started on it. I did a Cruella DeVil with the hair going all over and wrote, "Happy Freaky Fourteenth Mallory" on it. She thought it was somewhat cute, and Daddy thought it was great... but I was less than impressed. Just one of those things that looked better in my head.

So I put together the casserole that I was going to send... the “Upside-Down Pizza” that Reva taught me... and ran through the shower. When I got out, I didn't like it any better (yes, sometimes it changes things!), so I scraped off the top and gave her some 5 second flowers. Yes, she deserves better, but we had to move!!

Sure hope she had a good time. I sure missed having the girls here.

Last one

2011-02-22T22:16:00.004-06:00

So last week, after 7 hours and 5 stops, I finally got my iPhone!! I only had it home a few hours when Michael started telling me to go get him one. We'll skip the part about how unfair it was that I wanted one for years and he's only wanted one for a few hours... Anyhoo... today I was headed back to get one for him and I was starting out by making my plan at home. Somewhat out loud, I asked where that store was... 168th and Dodge? "No," says Morgan, "it was Center." Good grief. I'm never going to learn Omaha. I should really stay home!!

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

2011-02-18T14:24:00.008-06:00

As usual, the poor guy is sick on his birthday! But it's a great spring day, and he's out there searching the ditch for all his lost stuff that was buried with the first snow.

I didn't want to post a "birthday picture" of him, because he looks about as bad as he feels, so this is his school photo from the fall. He looks about the same, but a little scruffier today!

Happy Birthday, Matthew! Hope you're having a good time!!

Better days

2011-02-15T11:21:00.003-06:00

So, you know all the snow days the school takes off? Well, we tend to (I'd like to say, "We LIKE to," but we merely TEND to) double up on those days and take days like yesterday and today off. We've been cleaning out the garage, walking around the yard with all the pets, burning trash, finding bikes and basketballs... all those things that pile up in the winter and get difficult to find or do. We also had a nice get-together yesterday with our homeschool group for Valentine's Day. I really like our annual Valentine's Day party. It brings some actual fun to "Mandatory Nice Day."

Paul & Silas

2011-01-25T13:13:00.004-06:00

So those of you with kids in AWANA will recognize the Diorama Project... Morgan chose the Paul and Silas one and I guess we all kinda got in on it and had a little fun! Matthew thought they needed a big, comfy couch. We were also pretty sure that they wore yellow ballcaps and had a pink pet rat. Morgan said he supposed they probably shouldn't put the sword so close to the prisoners, but you can probably trust Paul & Silas!

Another bad day

2011-01-21T14:52:00.001-06:00

Why do the really, really bad days have to be capped off with a cake order and a tight deadline? About a year ago, my neighbor lady fell and was taken to the hospital, but still passed away. It was about 3am and I had to go home and get a couple hours of sleep before finishing and setting up a wedding cake. Not fun. Today I had to take her husband's dog to the vet, then come home and get a cake done before running the cake over to town and bringing the dog home. Only thing is, it was really bad and they had to put her down. Now I'm in no mood to do a cake, although I know it must be done. I have done it before. You just do it. Press on. No time to stop and cry like I'd really like to be doing. I guess we're not even bringing her back to the farm to bury her. I really don't know what to do about that. I really needed that grave. I don't even have a picture of her.

I'm really sorry if anyone is actually reading this. I know I'm usually rather chipper and wordy with my posts. This one just isn't. It's not how I feel and I had to do something with it. Just not my day. The kids are out hanging a bird feeder to try to cheer me up. I know it's really hard on them, too. This dog used to come over with the neighbor's son when we were building this house. (The super sad part about that is that today would have been his 57th birthday.) I had always wanted a St. Bernard, and his dad had one, so he brought her over a lot. Then I started checking in on his folks there at the farm and eventually started taking care of her, too. Matthew and I would take her on pickup rides when she was bored. Even got her a new pink collar.

Sometime last month, one of her hip joints went out and she started carrying a back leg. Then just a couple days ago, she must have fallen and broken her back leg that she was carrying. There's just very little that can be done for a dog that size with bad hips. I don't think the choice was wrong at all. I know she was in a lot of pain. I just wasn't done with her. All about me, ya know.

Anyway, good bye Polly. I really love you.

Pretty is as Pretty Does

2011-01-08T20:14:00.000-06:00

Daddy's little girl... or at least her cat!

Looks innocent, doesn't she? This might be the orneriest cat I know, and yet she remains on the throne around here. Why? Because Daddy likes her. She's supposed to be Mallory's cat, but Mallory knows that's a deal gone bad. He is such a sucker for a pretty girl! =) Talk about girls trying to get by on good looks...

She really is funny, though. She hardly has a voice at all, so she looks up at you and does this little chirp. She also has a fondness of hiding under things and grabbing your shoes (or socks) as you go by. Or hiding in wait under the dishwasher door when it's open. Thus the name Chirpy Twerpy.

She has so much hair that she looks like she's walking around in her baggie jammies. I think Michael sees more of a flowing bridal gown or something. She can just do no wrong in his eyes. Even though we constantly find her sleeping on the dining room table and knocking folded clothes off the laundry table. No one else gets away with that!

Oh, well. I guess until I lose my status with him, I'll just let sleeping cats lie...

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T07:45:00.003-06:00

I never make resolutions, mainly because I don't like to focus on what I seem to fail most miserably at doing in the first place. I would like, however, to focus on those things which make my life more meaningful. I don't know that I ever wrote anything meaningful in my blogs, but I do know that I found a lot of joy in the moments, thinking to myself that I would go home and blog about this. We shall see. If this one post is all that ever happens this year, well at least I didn't do any worse than last year!

Poor, cold Bonnie

2010-01-07T23:49:00.002-06:00

Well, the St Bernard just couldn't be happier about this weather, but our Golden Retriever is beginning to feel her age. I had seen her holding up a foot now and then, but couldn't decide if her feet were just cold or if one was hurting. After Clyde took her for a run out to the other side of the road, I started to think it didn't really matter either way!! He was running around busting through snow drifts and she was doing well just to keep herself going toward the house! She looked so pathetic that I let her in the mud room to warm up a bit. Well, we don't really have anywhere to relax there anymore, so I let her come in, but just inside the door. I got the door shut and she laid down in front of it. Her eyes kept saying, "I'm a good dog. I'll stay right here!!" We got the little snowballs off her eyelashes and dug a few out of her paws and she spent a couple hours there, napping in peace and a little bit of warmth. Every once in a while, she would raise her head and get up to stretch, but then start panting like crazy. The third time, she looked at us like she was ready to go back out. Michael opened the door and she headed right out. Most likely to see what rules Clyde had broken while she was gone!! He seems totally unaffected by the cold!!

Important Medical Statistics

2009-08-17T20:36:00.001-05:00

Not making any good guy vs bad guy judgements, but check this out:

Doctors
(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000.
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 17.1%.
Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services.

Now think about this: Guns:
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. (Yes, that's 80 million)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.00188%.
Statistics courtesy of FBI

So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.

Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'

FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.

Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!

[Out of concern for the public at large, I withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention!]

Worm Mucking with my boys

2009-06-17T23:25:00.002-05:00

Apparently there is a certain procedure involved in collecting night crawlers for fishing. I got the call this morning that the water would be turned on around 4pm. We told Michael when he got home, but he wasn't up for the challenge. The boys called my dad, but weren't having much luck with him, either. So I made the mistake of saying, "So it's up to Mom??" They scooped that one up!! They found me a pair of boots and a headlamp and were going to help me set my alarm. That was where I drew the line. I'm sorry, but a few worms at 9:30 is better than no worms at all. So we went out there and found that, sure enough, there would be a few early worms. (Yeah, that was bad.) So I learned that those little suckers are incredibly fast!! You don't just pick them up!! You come close and they scoot down their holes faster than you can get your finger curled around them!! You really have to do a palm grab, hold tight, and PULL!! Michael said that's really the midnight difference. If we had waited a bit longer, more of them would be completely out of their holes and not as easily able to flash down them.

Well, my boys are pretty proud of old Mom! I kept up pretty well and they think I got as many as they did. Better than nothing, anyway!

Lessons Learned

2009-06-01T23:38:00.002-05:00

Well, everyone learns at a different rate, but I believe my kids may have leapt ahead today. Chores have been slipping a bit in urgency and this morning we found a very messy kitchen and a dishwasher that hadn't been run. Remembering back to the lessons of his mother, Michael had them completely unload the dishwasher and wash everything by hand. Apparently, when he and his brother were little, they didn't clean their dishes very well and their mom unloaded all the cupboards and made them rewash everything. The kids were reminded several times throughout this recollection that they had no dishwasher to help! There was plenty of time for reminiscing during this procedure!

This was certainly a time of life lessons. We'll see the outcome in the future!

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T21:06:00.003-05:00

I've been telling the kids for weeks what I wanted for Mother's Day. Just a simple finch feeder and black thistle seed... NOT mix! I only wanted the simple finch feeder because the thistle seed is so expensive. Well, I was pretty sure they had it, but the only problem was that their dad didn't ask for their assistance!! He stopped by Walmart after work and picked up a couple movies. Now I really do love movies, but I was really looking forward to that finch feeder. So when the kids handed me the movies, I yelled, "Oh, cool!! A finch feeder!!" Well everyone was laughing at me and trying to get me to go outside and holler for Patrick, the cat. What I found was the biggest finch feeder I've ever seen! It's a bit more of a 5 star hotel with a casino! It's even pulling the pole over! He has a really good point, though. I usually go through 2 or 3 feeders a summer, and spend a lot of time repairing them. This one has metal stands, heavy duty walls and a wire hanger. I'm really excited that this one might last a couple windstorms! Patrick is just enjoying the birds it brings around. I think he's calling it the Bait Bar!

"Ya just have to save the whales, don't ya??"

2009-04-30T19:45:00.010-05:00

Well, it's not like I mean to, but I just can't walk away from someone or some animal in trouble. This time it was a dog stuck in a culvert and Matthew was just as upset as I was. We actually had a field trip that we needed to get to, but we just couldn't walk away. We tried to coax the dog out, but we could tell which way he was facing and that he wasn't going to get out that way. We went to the gas station to see what kind of help we could find. We got a shovel and a hoe to try to clear out some of the mud that was making the tube smaller, but some farmers showed up and could tell he was way too far back for that to work. They tried several different things, but finally decided to go get their bobcat and dig it out. They suggested that I call a good welder who might be able to cut the culvert open. I was trying to avoid that call. We went back to the gas station for some coffee while I tried to work up the courage to call my dad. By the time I found my courage, he was already there and calling me. That's when he started in on the whales... which, I'd like to say, I have never embarked on a project to save whales. Never. I asked if we could get a cougar once, but never a whale.

Anyhoo... these three poor farmers, who were already rained out and bored, showed up with the bobcat. I was feeling pretty bad at this point. This was looking more like a stray that we were pouring so much time and energy into saving, but it was hard to think about what else to do. You can walk away and let it die and stink up the place for a month or two, along with plugging up a culvert that is supposed to drain water. You can shoot the animal so it doesn't suffer, but that doesn't change the stink and plugged culvert. Or you can go along with the farmers who are well into the project that I never asked them to do and was very careful NOT to guilt them into it. They were the ones who called my dad, too, so why he said he's sending ME the bill is beyond me.

They got the dirt moved and the culvert exposed, then recalculated where they thought the dog was. Dad started cutting about 2-3 feet behind him, but it was noisy, smoky and scary and the dog managed to move a couple more feet away. They got it open and got in to see him and decided that no one could reach him, so they took Daddy home to fetch one of his leghold snares, a lot like an animal handler's pole. Patrick got it on the dog's back feet enough to pull him within reach, then pulled him out. The poor guy was exhausted and took a little water and just enjoyed the fresh air. They moved him over to solid ground where the kids and I tried to encourage him a bit while Dad welded the culvert back together and Patrick buried it again. The dog was up and walking around a bit when we were getting ready to leave, but he just couldn't get up and over the railroad tracks. Dad and Sam carried him over the tracks and he headed home, so we're hoping this story is over. Now I have an awful lot of cookies to bake to thank everyone!!

Happy Birthday Mallory!!

2009-03-21T00:01:00.003-05:00

Ok, I missed it by a couple minutes! It was her birthday today (yesterday) and she is as close as I'm comfortable with being to the teen years! Since there's nothing I can do about that, I may as well become one with it. We're pretty far behind, so her birthday picture may not be up very soon!

She didn't really get much ON her birthday because her daddy took her to the Toby Mac concert the other night, but she really had a great time!

This weekend she's enjoying the ladies' retreat at the church. I have a wedding cake and that would normally involve her, but these aren't stacked, so I'm going to try to get along without her. Maybe Grandma Rose is available.

Onward...

Happy Birthday Matthew!

2009-02-18T22:35:00.003-06:00

Only slightly better than last year's birthday. Matthew was so sick last year that even his new drum set showing up only slightly perked him up. This year's birthday found him dragging his feet all day through his homework, groaning that one shouldn't have to do school on his birthday. As much as all kids might agree, I'm quite sure it just can't work that way!

Anyhoo... Happy Birthday Matman!!

Anita knows...

2009-02-16T11:01:00.003-06:00

So when it comes to everything about me, Anita understands. She says most problems don't start until somewhere around age 40, so I should be good for another several years since I'm a perpetual 29. But ... she knows...

It's kinda funny, too, that her show was on Valentine's Day. Michael got tickets and tried to make all this a really nice surprise for me. The only problem with that is that "nice" and "surprise" hardly ever go together for me. Especially when it involves huge crowds of people. Well, this was at a church that was very familiar to me, so the anxieties were somewhat under control. But anyway, he really wanted to surprise me with this little date night, but I just wasn't going along with it. I made him tell me and he did. He said he got tickets for US to go. I said, "Well... good for ME..." Never thought men would go see Anita by choice! I didn't want to say much because it was a plan that he put together all by himself, so there are points to be had there. Through the course of time, he decided that my mom and I just might have a better time at this show than he and I would have. I politely agreed. So anyhoo... there we were and it was a really great time. But I was really surprised by the number of men who braved all the estrogen and escorted their wives there! You go guys!! I still stand by her famous phrase, "It's a girl thing!!"

Primary Focus

2009-02-09T20:08:00.002-06:00

The Primary Focus kids came by our church Sunday night. They are favorites of my kids, so we came to see them, but they only did the grown-up program, not the kids' one. We got to talk to them afterwards and found that they were going to be at a nearby school the next day, so we thought that was a great day for a field trip!! We took Grandma with us and went to see them. We were a little early, so we got to spend quite a bit of time getting to know all of them. Two of the girls were homeschooled, too, so we had fun talking with them. They were doing two performances, so we stayed for both!

I was wrong...

2009-02-03T09:05:00.003-06:00

I guess Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo saw the problem with the gopher and the shadow and devised a new plan, however it didn't involve making a groundhog braver or a shadow less frightening:

Khuntami, a 16-year-old male that has been with the Henry Doorly Zoo since he was a cub, exited his living quarters and went into an exhibit holding two boxes of identical meat -- one box labeled spring and one labeled winter.

Zoo officials said that whichever box he chose would determine the forecast for Nebraska.

Khuntami paced between the two choices before pawing at the snow-colored box, an unpopular choice. A crowd moaned as he licked his lips and prepared to devour Winter.

"We'll see if this translates to the rest of the country," said zoo director Dr. Lee Simmons. "Or, we'll see if he's wrong."

We'll have to come up with something else for next winter. Until then I guess we just keep freezing our b-b-b-b-beaks off.

Darn Gopher

2009-02-02T23:32:00.002-06:00

Why is it we leave such a crucial decision to such a funny creature? If someone is so skittish that he's terrified of his own shadow, why don't we pick an animal with a little more gusto? Now I'm not offering any of my beloved critters, no, no, neither are they the epitome of strength or courage. Well now, that's not completely true... Patrick might just take a chunk out of his shadow, but seriously, we should be more prepared for this. February 2, no matter what the forecast, always seems to be the most beautiful day of the year. We could be watching that horrific mountain snowstorm come in from the Rockies barreling on toward Chicago, but guaranteed at midnight it will break up. Of course he's going to see his shadow. Let's get a rhino or an elk or something more accustomed to a frightening shadow. Give us all a fighting chance.

I guess I didn't actually see or find out how the whole shadow revealing went. I usually just wake up to a gorgeous day and get discouraged from the git go.

Oh, well. I guess it's pretty cool if your birthday is February 2. You're pretty much guaranteed a nice day! Happy Birthday Uncle Denny!!

A slow beginning...

2009-01-14T13:03:00.002-06:00

And yet, I'm already behind!! Business came to a screeching halt, which freed me up to do some other things. I've jumped back into some school with the kids and discovered Mallory was up to Earthquakes and Volcanoes in her Science book. I had some lapbooking supplies purchased from In The Hands of a Child and briefly showed them to Michael and he was good with it, so I started printing them off. He's now in there cutting things out for her! I think they're going to have a lot of fun! I know I love the stuff! By the way, this new Safety Law coming up may drastically injure a lot of small businesses, so this is one company trying to sell off some extra inventory at some super great discounts. Be sure to check out their site, In the Hands of a Child, and get started! If you've never done a lapbook, this is really the place to go. They have a freebie on the site that you can download as an ebook and get started. Your only necessary supplies are a file folder, colored paper, and some scissors, glue stick, maybe some brads.... stuff you'll have on hand!!

Anyway, I've also been catching up on our website, practically pampered. It's been fun updating that and really being able to wrap my head around it. We're also adding a couple new webstores and such, so it truly is keeping me busy. It's just that our outgoing packages have gone from 15-20 a day before Christmas to now about 3-5 a day. Can make ya nervous!! Ok, back to work. Everyone else has gone back to school.

Inspirational

2008-12-30T09:41:00.002-06:00

I've been struggling with a low-key cold for a long time and have, particularly the last couple days, become quite lazy. As I was blog-perusing this morning, I found that one of my friends has a name for this!! I am decompressing!! I may not be doing it as well as she, but that must be what I'm doing!! My cold isn't really bad enough to keep me in bed, but it does keep me stuffed up and very slow moving. Our shipping has gone down from about 15 or more packages to just 3 or 4, so there may be a bit of depression and anxiety there, too! I normally attribute my late nights to the fun stuff on the computer: writing ads and newsletters or designing my store or website, but lately, it's just been really bad reruns of Seinfeld. I can't even tell you why I watch that! Those people are just wrong!! Talk about the darker side of humanity... But anyway, school will start on Monday, so it's time to start thinking about getting lives and schedules back in order. That will be good for the soul. One can only take so much time off. Mine's been a little over the limit. My brother is coming this week, so Christmas isn't quite over in our neck of the woods. It took a while for them to decide when they were coming, but Michael and I could have told you the minute Michael got a catering job. Troy only comes when we have catering going on!! But I don't get to see much of him anymore, so I'll take what I can get.
Ok, I'm going to get back to my decompressing. I better take it a little more seriously since I only have a day or two more of it!

Back to School

2008-11-19T12:45:00.002-06:00

Michael sent me to school today. They are offering some tax classes at our local community college and he thought it would be good for me to go. I guess he said this shortly after we set up our new business, but I said that I didn't need any stupid tax classes. A short time ago, I got a post card in the mail advertising some tax classes for small businesses that I thought looked helpful. This is when I found out that he had already told me about this and I about took his head off. Nothing new there, I guess. So anyway, here I am in a little class room studying business tax. I really think we should find someone else to do this. It sure looks way over my head, but Mom has been doing it for several years now so she should be able to help me through it. I hope. Wow. Well, possibly it would work better if I paid attention. Better go.

wow wow wow wow wow!!!

2008-11-17T11:46:00.002-06:00

Shipping took less than half the time it usually does! I love my new shipping room!! I'm going to miss it as my cake room, but like I said, I do way more shipping than cakes now so...

Jeremy's coming over to build our lockers and tote shelves tonight. This is just so incredible. I guess that which you wait for becomes all the more sweet when you get it! The boys are actually disappointed that they lose the totes out of their room, but oh well!! They need to be building forts outside anyway.

Ok, I have some returns to take care of so I'd best get busy. I just couldn't believe how fun shipping was this morning with everything in one place and a great countertop to boot!

shocked

2008-11-16T20:40:00.002-06:00

Yes, shocked I say! My blog is still here! Are you? Highly doubtful, but that's never stopped me before.

My mom and I actually went to a movie together. We've done this once before. The last time was the Nate Saint movie. Today we went to Fireproof. Michael told us to take a box of kleenexes each, but we forgot. Wow, was he right. Anyway, EVERYONE needs to see this one! Oh, be careful little eyes what you see!

Anyway, a lot has been happening around here. Boxes in, boxes out, every day. We're having a lot of fun, and business seems to be working. We'd like to see it work a little better, but we're quite impressed with it so far! Michael has been enjoying being the main teacher and I pretty much do the shipping and receiving. He'll source and order the products we sell, then I write the ads for them. Then it starts all over! We've finally got some shelves going up. I planned on those a long time ago, but it wasn't to be. We also bought a ton of shelving to store things downstairs. Think I'm getting my "lockers" in the mud room tomorrow. All of our storage totes are in the boys' room right now. That was so we could clear out the basement to put up all the shelves to clear out the living room of all the toys we're selling on ebay. Then tomorrow I'll get the shelves to clear out the totes from the boys' room! I thought they would get more upset about this, but nooooo... they just build forts with them! Actually, it's no harder than usual to get around in there.

We're eagerly anticipating a visit from Nana and Papa next week. This will be the first time they have stayed with us. They usually get a hotel room, but we found out that was just so they didn't have to go outside to smoke... but... (DOUBLE BLESSING AHEAD>>>) THEY QUIT SMOKING!!! Yayy Nana and Papa!!! No easy thing, let me tell you... and I didn't smoke that long. We are so proud of them. The kids have prayed for them so much over this! It's so nice to see their prayers answered. But anyway, we haven't seen them for more than a year, so we are really anxious for them to get here. This will be their first time to see our new house. We're really excited about that, too.

Ok, Morgan's off my computer so I can print labels for tomorrow's boxes. I'd best get busy. We also pretty much cleared out my cake room for a shipping room. I do more shipping than cakes at the moment, so it's worth it... for now!

More on Mallory...

2008-07-30T12:40:00.008-05:00

Mallory entered the Cherry Pie Contest again this year and did SO WELL!!! Her pie just looked absolutely perfect going into and coming out of the oven!! They only announce Champion and Reserve Champion, which both happened to be boys. They each received a score of 86, and Mallory's score was 85, so we know she was really close! She had a really good time, too, so that's what really matters. Last year something went wrong and she had to start over, but this year it all went very smoothly and she got done in a little more than an hour. Last year took 3 hours, so we've given her a pretty hard time about that!
They auctioned them off that evening and Mallory's pie went for $375!! All the money goes for the seniors' trip to Washington, D.C, so you really can't go wrong. Grandpa was planning on bidding on it, but it started above his allowance. Mallory said she could probably make him one for less.

On another subject, the tall boy beside Mallory in the auction photo was seriously injured in a car accident that killed a man. The boy is still in the hospital, so we would all very much appreciate your prayers for him. Both girls behind Mallory making her pie were in the accident, too, but they are home and doing well, although one was saved by the car's side impact air bags and still had to be extracted by jaws of life. She has a pin in her femur. There were five kids in the car and the other vehicle was a motorcycle. The man on the motorcycle was killed instantly. You can imagine how this accident has impacted our small town, so please remember all of the families in your prayers.

Where's my picture??

2008-07-24T11:04:00.003-05:00

Yes, I knew that would cause a ruckus. I'm so unfair. The boys were at camp, too, and feel slighted that I didn't post a picture of them. I really wasn't around them much because they were always in a water fight. I'm not much of an outdoors gal, and less of a get-wet gal, and much less of a defend yourself gal. Now paintball might be fun, but since I'm not very war-oriented, I don't imagine that's for me, either. Target practice is good. Indoor target practice is really good. Anyway, I spent most of my free time in the geek infested lobby, which was the only place we could get internet. Actually, internet came in well from about 2 am until 8 am, so if you know much about me, you know that the world isn't really grateful about my presence at that particular time. Michael took me into town a couple afternoons for good coffee and good internet. No, it wasn't the highlight of my week, but it was close!

The first night we were there, a gal was trying to herd three little kids all by herself. I thought that was a bit much to ask, so I told her that there were plenty of moms in our little group, plus a couple-three pretty good baby-sitters, so she should feel free to ask for help. She pretty much fell apart and said that she was planning on going home! Wow... just in time!! So a couple of us convinced her that we could do this together, and she agreed to stay. Another seasoned Maranatha mom led her to the Play Park where you can just leave your littlest ones for what looked like all day Bible school. They even had a stroller to lend her. That was really great! Anyway, it was pretty obvious throughout the week that her little ones knew her buttons and in what order to push them!! So she got her Play Park escapes, and Mallory really took to her little Bailee and she actually got some fun time on her own, too. It's fun to run into people like that. We did have a really great time. The boys did, too, it's just that I hardly ever saw them. Matthew joined me at the craft hut for a little while, but didn't take on any overtime.

Well, I better get this posted and get moving on. Name tag girl gets really flustered when she gets there late! You should try that sometime... hand out alphabetized nametags to everyone you see, gather the names of those you don't know, try to answer questions of your friends and while sorting the important questions from the bickering of your kids, and try to remember everything you were going to ask someone at church today! It can really scramble your brain!! Although most of my answers go something like: "L, M, N, O, P... who was I looking for?"

better days...

2008-07-23T19:18:00.003-05:00

although I have to say, my back hasn't been too bad, my feet have been fine and my contacts don't burn at all. This is primarily due to the fact that I had dental work done today. That really seems to make everything else feel like nothing. So I've been moping around all day, dizzy and numb and mostly sick from the Novocaine, and sleeping a LOT! I told Michael I would be pretty worthless today. Good thing he's nice about it.

The really bad part is that he bought me a Rainbow yesterday, and I've hardly played with it at all! Morgan vacuumed the living room and his room and we've all done a little, but not all I'd like to do. I had a few minutes to blow before the dentist this morning, so I pulled the fridge out to see what I could find back there. Not too bad, but I've always kept up on that pretty well. The Rainbow guys wanted to take Kirby as trade for the shampooing unit, but I wasn't having any of that!! Kirby stays, period!! I gave them a Bissell that Michael gave me for Christmas a couple years back, but that was only because this little bugger will do everything that did and then some. We were pretty nervous to be spending that kind of money this early in the game, but we were pretty convinced that this could improve our air quality. Matthew and I have been struggling pretty hard with allergies, so now we're working on some names of folks who would watch a Rainbow demonstration. For every two couples willing to watch a demo, we get another room purifier, so if you're at all willing to watch, let me know!! You even get two nights in a Holiday Inn for free, just for watching! It really is fun and the guys showing them are really decent guys. Great to the kids, and not pushy at all. I knew I had wanted one since we got married, but had put it out of mind when we got Kirby. We only saw a demo so my mom could get her purifiers, but it was fun for Michael to see why I wanted one so badly. Matthew said he didn't practice saying "NO" enough!

Ok, well I was going to try to catch up with life in order here, but this Novocaine has me pretty scrambled. My other Maranatha pictures are on the PC, so I guess I can't even end with that. Oh, well... maybe I can add to this in the morning. No proofreading, Mom, today's been pretty rough!

We're back!!

2008-07-22T17:23:00.003-05:00

Well, we've been back for a while, but I'm just now starting to catch up!! We went to Family Camp at Maranatha again this year, and it was wonderful as usual! We took some newbies with us, as usual! It really is fun to introduce others to this place. It's truly amazing!! Come with us next year!! Or come crop with Jaymi and me in October!!
We made some new friends along the way and got to see friends we made last year. Another couple is working on the internet, too, but we actually learned that this spring at the Couples' Retreat. It was fun to catch up with how they are doing their business and talk about activities! They pretty much inspired us to step out into the unknown!! I also met some guys who loved to talk Mac, so I learned a lot on that, too! Ok, this doesn't sound much like camping, but how do you think they get me to go??
Poor Mallory got sick on the last night. We got to see a magic show and hear some fantastic kids from Lincoln sing, but then she got sick right before fireworks. Bummer. She was looking forward to that all week, then missed it! I was trying to find links for the people who did the magic and the kids that sang, but I'm not finding either one right now. I'll post more if I find it!!
Anyway, have to move back to my website now. I'll try to catch up soon!! Thanks so much for your patience!!

Fireworks and more...

2008-06-30T05:15:00.002-05:00

We went to a nice little gathering in the park for a fundraiser/firework show Saturday night. One of our nearby towns just fixed their gazebo and they had a military appreciation dinner and lots of other skits and fun stuff. Later, they started setting up for fireworks. We were already freezing, but who knew to bring jackets in late June?? Anyway, we were just sitting around talking when a gal came around for donations for the fireworks. Morgan asked what donations were. I guess he's familiar with an offering plate, but not a donation bucket. Michael told him it was money to help pay for the fireworks. Well, after sitting there freezing our toes off for a good half hour, he got a bit concerned. "You mean they still have to go get them?" I was glad they didn't!! It was really cold. And about the time the grand finale hit we were all standing and folding up chairs as the first raindrops hit! Talk about timing!! Most everyone got to their cars fairly dry!

On the way home, we were talking about a bear that a local game warden shot near his house. Yes, a black bear in Iowa. Rather amazing. It really did seem strange that this bear's first reported sighting was outside the game warden's house, but it was Mom that actually said it out loud. "Why did he go to the game warden's house?" I gave the only answer I knew. "All bears are supposed to check in with the game warden."

They both remind me a lot of my brother. In a good way, of course!

Surviving...

2008-06-17T06:53:00.003-05:00

My poor Mallory left for 4-H Camp on Sunday. Yeah, I know I was going to camp in 4th grade, but that's ONLY because Teacher Brenda went with me. She's going into 6th grade and couldn't have cared less who else was going. She's always been way more adventurous than I was. As everyone else was getting their hugs goodbye in the parking lot, she was building her nest in the back seat, "Who else is riding back here?" No tears there. Then there's no Mallory to tuck in at night, no Mallory to help with shipping and receiving all our packages, no Mallory helping me get set for VBS Crafts next week... But at least I can be pretty sure she's having fun. I'd worry about the boys. They've never been quite like that. But this is still her first time! Of course, she's been packed since March. She got that from my mom. I don't pack. She'll pack me for Maranatha, and that's good. heehee. Ok, I'll stop crying to you and get busy. She comes home tomorrow. I think I can make it.

Here's something you don't see every day...

2008-06-11T08:45:00.002-05:00

Of course, you don't see the end of a war every day, either, but here's what one newspaper ran on the day of Peace, Aug 15, 1945:

Let Us Thank God
To Almighty God, for this blessed peace restored to a war-torn world, a grateful people offer devout thanksgivings.
Thank God, we say, the war is over at last. The guns are stilled. The bombs plunge no longer on their missions of death. Mothers and wives and sweethearts can breathe with unfettered hearts. Our loved ones will be coming home. An evil enemy has been crushed.
But there are many who are not here to rejoice with us this great day--because they gave their lives so we could have this day. Give them our prayers, our undying gratitude, our promise to cherish forever the ideals they freely died for. And for peace with victory, let us thank the All-Merciful God.

Wow, a time when the First Amendment included, and was not ashamed of God.

Anyway, this was a paper we sold on ebay and I just noticed that as I was packing it up to ship. Had to get that down before I forgot it. If ya think school's out for the summer... you're wrong!

Moving right along

2008-06-07T09:12:00.002-05:00

Mallory made her first auction purchase this last weekend. We went to another one, and I actually felt dumber than the first time! But this was an estate auction, so it wasn't just antiques, it was also all the precious treasures of the old lady that might not be so precious to anyone else! It was hard to decide which was which! Last time we went to an antique dealer's auction. He just wanted to downsize and start over. No sorting there. Most everything had some value. We again went over the night before and again took Mallory. This time she had her own little list that she was looking to buy! When we got home and started doing our homework, she pulled up a chair and started listing off the things she was interested in. Sure enough, she had some finds! So Saturday, she went with us and found all her items on the various tables and flatbeds and made sure we were on top of her things, too. It's hard to get everything listed and her patience has been pretty amazing! So here's her first... a galvanized watering can. She was really persistent on this one, so we'll see what happens for her. It's at $0.99 right now. You can find it if you go to ebay.com and type in "galvanized watering can."

Well, for now, I have to get to a wedding cake. Funny how life goes on whether you're ready or not. I'm thinking of taking next Saturday off to go cropping. Haven't had a day off since the beginning of April and my head is really full. Not sure if I'd really take the day off, though. Probably take the Mac with me and watch the site. But anyway... onward!

Finding "stuff"

2008-05-27T07:42:00.003-05:00

So the hardest part about selling "stuff" on ebay is that you have to find the "stuff" you want to sell! I purchased a couple lots of clothing (even got one off of ebay!!), but you can't just list it all at once or you become your own worst competition. So we list the items slowly and make sure there's lots of different stuff at the same time. We started off with things we already had... I had a sheer ton of Creative Memories inventory that I've slowly been depleting, mostly at some seriously reduced prices, but they sure weren't bringing in anything downstairs in the closet! Once you start looking, you find plenty of things you'd be willing to part with if you could possibly get a little money for. Mom is really hoping we start in on everything we left there in her basement!

Anyway, the clothing I purchased is maternity, so Rachel modeled it all for me for pictures for the ads! She is so cute and she really seemed to enjoy herself. I hope so anyway! I don't remember enjoying anything when I was pregnant!!

So we have been listing the clothing, the scrapbooking, and several odds and ends we find. Most of the antiques we have are more valuable to us than anyone else, but it seems like antiques do the best on ebay. So last weekend we went to an auction! Talk about fun!! This was bigger than I ever could have imagined, but since it was my first, I have no idea if that's just how they are. They had three 6-8 table rings of stuff that they mostly sold a box at a time. Then there were four more farm flatbeds full, plus furniture and steel/iron antiques surrounding this guy's garage. We spent less than $150 and had the car absolutely PACKED!! It was mostly little $1-5 boxes of assorted stuff. We had gone to this guy's garage the night before to see what he was going to have. It was all packed in so tight that we hardly saw anything! But we took some notes and went home and did some research on what we saw. Saturday morning we kept hearing, "Oh, you're the folks that came up last night?" Ok, so that's not so common, but we're still glad we did! Things we liked were in boxes with lots of other stuff, so we really had to know what we were doing. Everyone else would bid on things that caught their fancy, but we're off of our salary now so every dime counts for us!! We are pretty sure we did well. We got things photographed yesterday and started listing some of them last night. The boys are having the hardest time. A lot of these things are antique/vintage toys. They can't believe we want to sell Hot Wheels track and old cap guns. They are pretty sure those would be better off in their hands. I told them they could pray however they wanted, but this is our bread and butter now! It's still hard. The hardest part is putting a shopaholic on ebay daily. Michael keeps looking at his email and wondering what I'm bidding on now. I'm trying. It's just really hard! I really feel for the boys too! It's rough!! We all have to have a little self control, but that's pretty much life!

One day at a time...

2008-05-25T06:29:00.006-05:00

My weeks are just getting crazier and shorter! Last weekend, I tried to do my mom a favor and had a friend get my old Gateway computer up and running for her. Then, I got it sneaked into her house and all hooked up so she'd be ready to go. I even bookmarked all her IE favorites so that would be the same when she opened it. Well, I don't know how much can really be the same when one is used to Windows 98 and I put in an XP. But I also transferred her flowering crab onto her screen like she was used to, so there wasn't any immediate shell-shock. It took her a while to figure out why everything was so different, but she was happy! But, within the first 12 hours, she lost power. It was the power supply we switched out, so I have no idea what happened there, but it just wouldn't start back up. So, first thing Monday morning, I ran up to Mom's to hook up the old Compaq. I think it has about 3MB of memory or so. Really fast, too. But anyway, I found the poor girl cleaning her house, so I knew I had to do something. I got her fixed up, then headed home to my computer. As soon as I got there, my chiropractor called to say that I missed my appointment and Grandma Rose was pulling up on her lawn mower with some flowers that needed transplanted. Everything always happens at once. Anyhoo... Clyde was very helpful with the flowers! The chiropractor rescheduled us for the afternoon, which all worked out well. Matthew went with me because of his allergies and afterwards I got so hungry I was getting a bit shaky, so I headed up to the DQ. Matthew was completely shocked that there was a DQ in Plattsmouth. There are some things that I don't tell a car full of kids that I just might share with one!
Well anyway, that was last week and I have so much to tell about yesterday but have to get going. I do the name tags at church and have to get there pretty early, so I must move! I'll finish later! Always later!

World of Opportunity

2008-05-13T20:44:00.002-05:00

It's pretty incredible what all is going on for us right now. The sad side is that the grocery store where I was working in the bakery is closing in a week or two. I really did hope to go back there someday when my family doesn't need me so much. Nothing ever stays the same, I know. It's also possible that I'll get a lot more cakes because of this, but I'm still sad to lose that store.

The other thing going on is a new adventure for us. Michael only has one more day at the Ambassador, and then we're on our own! We'll be selling "stuff" on ebay. We're not limiting ourselves to anything in particular, although I've purchased an awful lot of clothing already!! I've been having a lot of fun writing up commentaries on our "stuff" and watching what happens! We've also been working on a website. That may not be up for a while, but I'll keep you posted when it is! We don't have a lot of our own direction right now because we don't know if what we want to sell is really what will sell, although my fashion degree may finally be paying off. Even the Merchandising they FORCED me to take is turning out to be an advantage!! Anyway, Michael has been researching this for a lot longer than even I realized, and we've been taking it on together for a couple months now. I've mostly been learning to post the ads and figure out the shipping processes, but he's been doing most of the sourcing, researching and studying others' successes and failures. My part is much more fun!!

Anyway, we're really looking forward to Michael being here full time so we can really work this together. The kids are getting excited about what they can do, too. The future looks really bright!!

Close call

2008-04-17T23:50:00.003-05:00

The boys were pretty upset yesterday. Some guys are digging out the ditch, clearing it so water flows like it should. This does tend to temporarily destroy the ditchbanks and, yes, make the water flow like it should. The problem? They don't like the water to flow because it carries their stuff away. Don't bother mentioning that they could put their stuff away. I tried.

Anyway, I thought I was keeping an eye on everyone and really even thought they were all in the house when Morgan came in screaming. He was really mad that they were dragging his bike and shoes down the ditch into the water. I headed out to try to get the bike and Jeff was on his way over from across the road. He and Matthew got everything back and I went back in to tell Morgan. Mallory was patching him up and he started telling us what happened. He was riding his bike up and down the driveway and was really quite sure I knew it. Anyway, he saw some trees start to move, so he stopped his bike. The trees kept moving and then swept him and his bike down the ditch. He said he grabbed a tree on the way down, but his bike and shoes kept going. From that point on, he seemed really scared and didn't really even want to talk about it. I seem to get more and more scared the more I think about it, too!

Happy Birthday Mallory!!

2008-03-20T08:35:00.005-05:00

It's all about the girl! She wanted to start her day with a family Bible study, so that's what we did. Daddy starts the lesson: "What is the fear of the Lord?" Morgan's answer: "I don't think He has any." How true.

Anyway, compared to her brother, Mallory had a great birthday. They neither one really got parties this year, so we'll hopefully have some friends over this summer. I really want to make their cakes. They have huge plans for what they want and they had no time for a party! All the weekends were filled both months. We were exhausted, but now they want their "cakes by MOM."

The photo is of Mallory and the birthday cookie Teacher Brenda got her. She surprised her with a little birthday party at our favorite coffee shop. Brenda is working on some spelling/reading help for Mallory on Tuesdays while the boys are at PE. Why isn't Mallory at PE? Well, she's a lot like her mother and grandmother. Sports aren't her thing, but if she's interested enough to try, I'll certainly be there to cheer her on. And if her knees do what mine do, also to pick her up afterwards!

How I spent my birthday

2008-02-18T23:17:00.003-06:00

Poor guy. Double it up with his awful mom thinking he was faking to get out of homework. It doesn't take long with Matthew on the couch to know that he's not faking. He can't stay there forever when he's well. Especially when his coveted drums showed up. He sat and watched from the couch. He opened one of the dozen or so boxes, but watched the rest. He called Vic, his drum coach, and Vic ran over like it was his best friend with a new toy! Didn't even tell his wife where he went! (Sorry, Jeri!) It took a while to put everything together, but Vic had a ball, just wishing Matthew felt well enough to have his hands in there. He smiled and was very thankful, but you could just see how terrible he felt. Vic was disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm, but understood! He said he'd be back in a couple weeks to tighten up the heads again as they stretch over time. We're all excited for him, especially that they showed up on his birthday!! Vic left him with some lessons that he's eager to practice. If he could hold his head up. Poor Matthew.

Banquet

2008-01-27T05:52:00.001-06:00

I realize I wasn't going to put cakes here anymore, but what's the point of being in charge if you can't break the rules now and then?

It wasn't my most amazing cake, but it was enough. There was a lot of interest in it and I did get my name to several people who do flowers and other things for weddings. I had to go take it down last night at 11pm, so I did meet some people as they were leaving. I just couldn't believe how amazed some people were. Makes me wonder what their wedding cakes looked like.

The GM for the hotel where this was held thought it almost looked like a fall cake with all the orange and the sunflowers. She's a quickie. Not getting one past her. I was almost worried about that. I was just thinking it was too far past fall to do a fall arrangement, but as the other tables were going up, I was seeing everything. There was another fall table, as well as a couple Christmas ones, so I have no idea why she thought I wasn't shooting for a fall theme, but there it was. It's hard not to look at people funny when they say something like that. Then again, I couldn't be snippy because I really want to get my cakes back in there. I used to do a lot of business in that hotel, but when Michael left his job there I just wasn't given any more work. Probably should learn not to be snippy altogether, but I tell ya, some people just bring it out. I suppose God puts those people there to see if I've learned anything yet. I'm trying.

Hanging up the hair net

2008-01-25T12:22:00.000-06:00

Yep, it's all over. Have to change my profile. Things were getting tense enough at the bakery, and business has been picking up enough at home that Michael and I decided that I just didn't need to be there anymore. However, I will be picking up my Southern Living at HOME business, which I really can't figure out why I ever dropped at all. I love that. Anyway, since quitting I have received business and offers that I never imagined. I also have a friend that wants to set me up with a real website. That would be cool. But one of the offers I received was to make a cake for the Chamber Banquet tomorrow night. Wowsers. Big time. So what am I doing here? Good question. For one thing, I'm supposed to be making business cards. Have to get on that. I'm just so excited I can't see straight, let alone focus. The bow for the top is drying right now and I thought I needed some lunch before I start the detail on the cake. So just filling you in! Have to get back to it!! Pray for me!!

Bummer

2008-01-06T06:30:00.000-06:00

I had a major accident getting out of the shower yesterday. Really stupid, but whacked my toe on the metal track for the sliding doors. Pretty sure it's broken, but Michael has said enough about his broken toe that I had no desire to go to the doctor. Besides, I had a 4-H meeting and had to work. So, the 4-H meeting wasn't too bad. No pressure or anything and I could move slowly. Work was a different story. I had taken a couple of orders that no one in their right mind would have taken in the first place, and didn't put very specific instructions because I knew what they wanted. That kinda locks me out of calling in sick. So I called over to explain the situation and that I was sure I could manage those two, but that I was leaving after that. And I certainly was NOT parking in the back lot. Well, Bonnie was sick with coughing type stuff, which you just can't mix with cake, so I was pretty much locked in to a whole day. Not the first time a mom's had to press on. But I still didn't park in the back lot. Bonnie's husband was there and fully willing to fetch the cakes to and from the cooler as I finished them and as people came to pick them up. That was a huge help.
It didn't take long before something else came up. We have really heavy sliding doors on our cabinets, and I kind of missed and slammed my fingers in that metal track. I'm not sure if this knocked me off balance or if there's some other reflex involved, but at the same time I kicked the milk crate stand I use to perch my bucket of frosting. I went down so fast. I could hear people on the other side of the counter but I just didn't care. I just laid there crying for so long. So much for security cameras. If I had tried to swipe some sprinkles they would have seen it, but could they see how badly I needed help?? NOOOOOOO...
Anyhoo... press on. It was only about two and a half hours later when two gals (employees) that I dearly love crossed paths right in front of the counter and simultaneously asked how I was doing. Well, I just fell apart. Diane could really do nothing for me, but Kimmy put on an apron and got to it, sending me out the door. I'm so glad for good friends. Especially when they know how to decorate cakes!
When I got home, my family was really great to me and took really good care of me. Grandpa stopped by with some painkillers, some of which he didn't really understand. Whatever... at least I got some sleep. On the couch with my foot way up on top. Now it's Sunday and I'm actually thinking of going to church without a shower. Just too scared right now and Michael's already gone.
Well, I have some tracks to make and I better figure out how I'm going to make them.
Bye for now and hope you all have a great time in God's House this morning!

Another adventure

2008-01-02T18:51:00.000-06:00

Picture, if you will, a young restaurant critic seated at her computer...

It has been over a year now since our last adventure to a restaurant, not because our kids get us thrown out, but because if someone isn't trying to kill me with pepper, Michael is so disappointed with the food he gets a little unbearable. Fortunately, tonight was his turn. On our last visit, we chose a Red Lobster. I decided on a perky Captain Morgan's Pineapple Shrimp. My favorite rum, my favorite seafood and a lovely fruit to blend them together in sweetness. Now who would ever dream of adding pepper to that? Well, Red Lobster. And as I was gasping for air and trying not to soil their carpet, three different people came to tell me that I was not actually having a reaction because they had all read the ingredients and there was no pepper involved. This was a completely miserable experience only to be topped off by someone actually confessing that they had no idea what was in it because there was a dry batter involved that had no label. Did I mention that our appetizer had a hair in it? Twice?

So: on to our new adventure. I've grown a lot since then. Second guessing recipes just doesn't work because you never know if they're using the grill that they just used for blackened catfish or the tongs that they are also using to saute the habaneros. Waffles. Waffles and French Toast are usually pretty safe. So I order the waffles. A little later our petite waitress tells me they are out of waffles, and would I like pancakes instead? Well, ok, but at our house we pretty much just put the pancake batter in the waffle iron, but whatever. Pancakes are good. (You don't even have Eggos in the freezer for break time??)
Now Michael has ordered something that only a chef could pronounce and includes ingredients that, had they not been on a menu, I'm not sure I'd guess they were food. What he got was rock hard bread, grisly chicken (he mentioned something about knuckles in it), and cold onion rings. He later realized that some of those ingredients I couldn't remember weren't there, either. Anyway, their chef sent the waitress back to tell him he was wrong. She was very flustered. I filled our friends in on the wonderful relationship between waitress and chef. Michael and I lasted three months, if that. Anyhoo... after she heard what she was saying, she offered to get the chef to come talk about the sandwich. Big mistake. Michael was astounded that someone would actually treat a customer like this guy did. He just reiterated how wrong Michael was and how this was exactly how this sandwich should be made. I had to remind Michael about Red Lobster.
So, no stars for the Avenue Grill. Sorry.

Birthday Bash

2007-12-30T06:38:00.000-06:00

Well, we did a little catering for our friends in Shen last night. It's been interesting juggling this into our week. You can only prepare food so far ahead! We were having a Christmas dinner here on Thursday for my brother who was up from Missouri, but with some pending Friday weather, Michael had to do his shopping that night. He was here for a few minutes between work and grocery shopping, so it is a little strange that the family pictures will show his presence even though it was momentary. Since he prepared for this pending storm, it decided not to show, but he was still pleased that he had all the food so he could be busy on it Friday while I was at work. It was pretty late when I got home and found out Matthew hadn't fed the outside cat, so I sent him out to do so immediately (yes, with stories of old where my barn was several yards away, with coyotes howling and my dad never gave me a flashlight...). He spent quite a while in the mud room arguing his point that he could be eaten alive and we had various arguments involving yardsticks and door locks. The next day, we found that one of his arguments involved smashing down several of Michael's tiny twice-baked potatoes with his finger. We could only smile. He tried to look like he didn't know what we were talking about, but he was too proud of himself. Michael rebagged his potatoes and gave them some more topper dots. At the party, Michael figured out that he had not grabbed his Gorgonzola potatoes (not sure... some kind of bleu cheese stuff that invokes the gag reflex), but rather Grandma Rose's really fantastic buttery mashed potatoes that she brought for Troy's party on Thursday. He figured it out because the first bite was really surprisingly good, before you got to the really nasty bleu cheese stuff. Oh, well. Kudos to Grandma Rose who makes the best mashed potatoes in the world. I suppose, unless you like bleu cheese...

Happy Birthday Jesus

2007-12-25T23:20:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd come back long enough to say Merry Christmas to my friends and hope you all have had extra special family time. These last few days have been really great for our family, spending so much time together. Have lots to say, but just never enough time to say it! Will try to get back here tomorrow, but if not, have a very merry Christmas and remember that we can have Christmas every day if we just remember what it really is!

Scary events...

2007-12-06T21:39:00.000-06:00

I guess everyone always said they never thought something like this would happen in our town, but it did. Our families around the country have been calling to check on us and as far as I know, we and all of our family are safe. Our friends who are expecting in late February were corralled into a store without knowing what was going on and got out safely, but by the time they got to the car they decided to get to a hospital. It was decided that she wasn't actually in real labor, but they wanted to get it to stop, whatever it was! We also found out this morning that a friend lost her cousin, so our prayers go out to Pam and her family. Wow, one more day and he could have been snowed in. It's impossible to understand this stuff, but easier to cope when you trust that God is in control. He sure didn't want this to happen, but He's there for those who turn to Him.

Matthew had a pretty bad crash on his snowboard this morning. We didn't realize how bad it was until he settled down this evening and the pain set in! It's swollen really bad and it sounds like he's in quite a bit of pain! Looks a lot like my knee when I hurt it in college. Not quite as bad and hopefully he's young enough to recover better than I did!! Knowing him, he'll be back on that same hill tomorrow. Lessons aren't the same to all.

First Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T06:14:00.001-06:00

Well, yes, it was Thursday here too, but I haven't really stopped since then. We ended up with only eight people coming to dinner, which was perfect because that's all the china I have! I got out all the fun stuff and Mallory and I set a really nice table. Matthew was overly concerned about the B & B plates. I guess he thought that if the music stopped and that's what he was holding... anyhoo. Michael's boss and her husband came over, though her daughter and her husband didn't make it down from South Dakota. Another reason I'm glad Michael invited them. They are here temporarily and should be going back in January. Michael didn't even think of them until we found out we couldn't go to Grandpa's. Then he decided we'd better figure out something. Only a day or two later, Aunt Betty found herself in a pickle of her own. I guess when you keep going south for Thanksgiving, it can be hard to get your name in any of the pots up here when you stay! Well, we had plenty of room and hadn't done the shopping yet, so we could always add more food.

Michael's boss, Marlys, brought a game with her that the kids absolutely loved. A lot like Aggravation and Sorry put together. After they left, Aunt Betty helped me clean up and then we played around with a Christmas swag. She needed me to "tie a bow." I love that because I think she knows that if she brings all the stuff, I won't stop at the bow! We had so much fun.

After everyone left, I had to start my groom's cake. The groom's step-mom is the one I've been working with on this and she has come over a couple times to discuss it... I don't know why, maybe the coffee's good, but we have a good time. I'm pretty sad it's over! I've enjoyed her so much! Anyway, I'll post the rocket to my cake blog soon, but it was a chocolate rocket with chocolate frosting and a payload! I cut a hole in the front and added a pilot, then put a little acrylic cover over him. So fun.

I've spent the last couple days at work and now I need to spend some time here! My friends were warning me about my laundry chute backing all the way up and I'm afraid that might happen! The kids and I needed one more day in the basement, though, so this will keep us there. We have a drum corner cleared for Matthew, now we need to make my cropping center. You might not think the kids would want to help with that, but right now they have about five boxes marked "toys" where I want my cropping center, so they are pretty anxious to get that cleared out!

Well, I better hit the shower. I've missed church twice in a row now and I'm not missing today. Nobody threw up in the night, so if anyone has to stay home I hope Michael can handle it!

First Snow

2007-11-22T00:02:00.000-06:00

This is probably going to show up as a Thursday post instead of Wednesday, because it is a bit after midnight, but I had to post our first snow. It didn't really snow all that much, maybe an inch, but it snowed nearly all day, and we had that excitement around the house that makes winter just almost tolerable. Morgan wanted to go out about every half hour, just coming in long enough to warm up. You notice his problem might be in the number of layers, but you try to tell him that. Trust me, this is easier. Besides, he hates it when his clothes get wet, so this makes for fewer wet clothes. Kinda scary when I understand his thinking. Anyway, tomorrow's Thanksgiving and I'm sure there will be something for me to do, so I'd best get to bed now.

We also got a corner cleared out in the basement for Matthew's drum set. I still have time to prepare myself for this. I really want it for him, but I know how quickly I go from excited to over the edge. Pray for me. Please.

Home again

2007-11-18T09:54:00.000-06:00

Morgan and I spent last Sunday home together, and it's happening again today. This time, it's me, too! Started feeling pretty lousy at work last night when Michael and the kids stopped by. Matthew stayed with me to help clean up, then we went home to Michael having supper ready. He's way too good for me. I got up this morning thinking I'd just press on, but heard Morgan with a croupy cough again. No problem, I'm really not fit for the public anyway. So here we are. Thought maybe we could watch the Heroes series Michael got me for our anniversary (I got him new batteries for his drill, so I win both prizes!!), but since they rented Batman and Scooby-Doo last night, that seems to have won out. I tried my best to talk him out of it, but as Batman says, "A caped crusader always gives top priority to a boy and his dog." Guess I should just be thankful that the dogs stay outside. Guess I also forgot what fun adjectives Batman and Robin use. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out if Robin's voice is Casey Kasem or Shaggy. Weird. Oh, well. I guess this is interesting enough. If not, maybe I'll fall asleep. Probably better than tying you up with my ramblings.

Talk about busy...

2007-11-04T06:39:00.000-06:00

Well, if you've never seen it before, you have to check out my cake blog this morning. (There is a link on the side over to the right.) I had nine cakes for the weekend, and Michael had a 4-H event he was leading up for Saturday night. I was very nervous as to how this would all play out, but never dreamed that Monday Juli would call and say that they couldn't do their prep work at the church. It all moved to our house where I already had kitchen plans!! We were both a ball of nerves over the mess, but the whole thing turned out to be one well-oiled machine! All of my cakes turned out great and the 4-H Dinner was amazing. We're such a team!!

Is it over?

2007-10-31T06:56:00.000-05:00

By the looks of this blog, you'd think that October was the most boring month! So not true! We have been so busy that I just haven't had time! Finally, Monday looked like it was going to be a true "day off." One that I really didn't HAVE to do anything. Well, then that changed to a trip to the zoo! I'd been promising the kids and I heard that it was supposed to be sunny and nice, so we just decided to go. So much for enjoying the day off! Oh, well, at least we enjoyed the day! We took Grandma with us. Grandma and I were pretty shocked at the end of the day when we were trudging up the long hill to the car and the boys are still running back and forth, in circles, for no reason. Energy is so wasted on the young.

Scrapbooking

2007-10-29T08:01:00.000-05:00

Pictures just got posted of our Maranatha retreat. This is Mallory and Jaymi's daughter, Kendall. We really had the greatest time! But anyway, that's on another post! Just thought I'd pin the photo here!

Thought I'd post a shot of my Cubbies, too. These are the leaders I had this week: Raven (so totally amazing!!!), Kristi (quite gifted and picking up all the tricks!), Dad (the REAL expert!), and my newest addition, Mallory! She's filling in while Elizabeth is at play practice. She only gets to help when she passes two sections of her own, so that has certainly spread enthusiasm in working on her AWANA verses!!

My poor dad...

2007-10-17T08:22:00.000-05:00

I got a call from my dad this morning. Mom had already gone to work and she forgot to shut down the computer before she left and storms are on the way. No problem; I'll walk you through it. Press the start button. Nope, no good. Okay, try using the mouse to press the start button. Oh, that whirlygig thing?... So lesson one begins with the mouse, the cursor and the mouse buttons. It has to be on the desk to work, no, don't point with it, move it around on the desk... on the mouse pad. See how the arrow moves? Oh, wow. Mom learned so much while I was there and is now moving right along without me. Dad? No way. Would it have killed you to watch a couple things? He wants his own email account for his super secret deacon messages, but what good is it if Mom has to print it out? Would it be so tough to learn how to retrieve your own email??

Anyhoo... since it's been so long, I should probably tell any readers I have left what we've been up to. It really hasn't been much but life in general, but with AWANA back on Wednesday nights, life in general gets a little hairy. My cake business has also picked up since we got in the house, which is good, but it forces school to be a bit more flexible yet! Fortunately, I have a reporting teacher who is very encouraging about school working in and around life. She's really fun. She has a son just like my Matthew, so she knows how challenging it can be. She came to our crop at the church on Saturday, too. Good grief!! Now I know why she understands Matthew's attention span!! I thought she'd focus more when her granddaughter went to sleep... nope! Of course, our church van blew up so the youth group descended upon us, which gave her something else to do. I lost Mallory to them, too. Oh, well. Jaymi and I were moving right along. We just returned from Maranatha Bible Camp and a weekend of cropping, so we were motivated and excited!! I finished 2004!!! Then, this weekend, I got up to Easter of 2005!! Mallory had a lot of fun at Camp. She received prizes for being the youngest cropper there, and also did her darling act and also received several "Here, dear, I'm never going to use this" items. She can't help it. She is darling! She entered two pages in the page contests, but actually figured out on her own that it really depends on how many friends you brought with you to vote for you! She really amazed me, though. I did a couple dramas out there, and it takes everything I can muster to get behind the microphone. She was working on a page which really needed a pink button, so I told her to go look around for one. There were 99 people there, for crying out loud, surely one has a pink button. Next thing I know, she's on the microphone asking if anyone has a small pink button. Wow. Not me. Not unless I have to. But we've already found that none of these kids are me. Too funny.

Okay, I still have a cake to do for this afternoon, along with school and Cubbies! Have a great one and hope to be back again in October!!

All for coming to my wedding...

2007-09-23T07:04:00.001-05:00

Aunt Jenny got all married yesterday. She gave out some really neat prize packages to the kids. Play-doh, colors, a bendy guy... neat stuff. She also had personalized coozies and home made carmel apples at the reception. She just always thinks of the best details.

Her dress was stunning and so Jenny. She said her dad had the final say on which one. It was perfect. Her hubby is the oldest of five: the two boys and three girls. The girls were all bridesmaids and his brother was the best man. When it came time for the rings, we all wondered if the ring bearer might not have done better. He didn't actually lose them, but they were chucked far enough down in his inside coat pocket that he started getting a bit nervous, as did we!! The service really made us appreciate Pastor Norm all over again!! I do know we have the best preacher in the whole world, but sometimes you take that for granted and need reminding. We were actually wondering if this was this guy's first wedding. He didn't seem to know any of the lines and forgot who the Third Person is in a marriage. Actually had to look at his notes for that one. I'm shocked at how few notes and how few times Pastor Norm looks at any notes he does use. You can tell when it's from the Spirit. Thanks again, PN!!

And CONGRATULATIONS to my lovely Jenny!!!

Character

2007-09-18T23:02:00.000-05:00

...and don't we all need more of that? I told Matthew no one ever sees this, but I'm not sure he was convinced. Sorry the pictures are so poor, but I was having to sneak them in. There was a time he was hanging upside down from the ledge, but not even this shutterbug was fast enough to get that one. I called Mom for the video camera, but she was busy. I was just sure this was a $10,000 or even a $100,000 moment. I made Hot Bean Casserole, and it wasn't quite as bad as I remember as a kid. Actually, it kinda grows on you. Anyway, I couldn't find any Butter Beans, which are the ones that really invoked the gag reflex in me, but I was only checking WalMart. I can look at Norman's on Thursday. They have everything, you know! Anyway, Mallory was quite the trooper and I could tell she kinda liked it, too. Morgan choked it down, but not in the allotted time to receive the cake and ice cream reward, but hey... it got down! I think Matthew's is in the fridge for breakfast. Hmmm... even I didn't think it was good enough to save for breakfast.

It was a happy birthday

2007-09-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

One might ask if I got my birthday off work, and I might be inclined to say "YES!" I went to the bakery, which is time I really enjoy. It also makes me enjoy coming home to my family a little more!!

Another neat little early birthday gift was a win for my Cyclones! Pretty exciting to see a Cyclone win on the front page of the Omaha World Herald instead of the Huskers. I hear the Huskers didn't do so well Saturday, but more of them did show up for the last quarter. That was nice for them. The Cyclones won the big Iowa/Iowa State game, which is a big deal for us. We've never had an outstanding year that I can recall, but we always do tend to pull off a surprise or two!

I was also hoping to have a picture of Mallory's cake by now, but the one on my camera didn't turn out. Mom took hers to WalMart yesterday, so I might have something to post tomorrow.
All for now! Time for another 29th birthday to come to a close. I was informed by a friend that I may be off a few years, because she's only 29 and I'm surely ten years younger than her! I love people who understand me! There are so few...

Surprise!! Happy Birthday!!

2007-09-16T19:38:00.000-05:00

Surprise!! Party's at your house!!
Oh, my!!
It all started simply enough. We were going to have a small party at Grandma Rose's with a cake made by Mallory. I didn't know that, but I was supposed to remember that they were taking me out for dinner. That took some plan rearranging, but nothing we couldn't handle. Then Pa Rose didn't come home from the hospital as planned, so we went there to say hi to him. We pulled up just as Aunt Mary and the kids were pulling up, and then met up with Uncle Paul and Aunt Judy in the room. Hmmmm...
Well, Michael and I went home afterwards, but Mallory had to go fetch the cake and we decided to bring it here to eat it. So she went with Grandma to get the cake, and slowly everyone started showing up here. Now normally, Grandma cleans my house before something like this, but she hadn't so this really took me by surprise. It was really all supposed to happen at Grandma Rose's, but she hadn't even been home long enough to do anything but take a shower and feed her kitties, so it landed here. Oh, well. I'm not the worst housekeeper in the world, but I'm sure in the running. At least one dining room table was available for eating. The boys were happy with the PlayStation and Elena was happy tormenting the kitties, so we had a good time!!

Aunt Jenny

2007-09-12T07:44:00.001-05:00

We had the shower for Jenny Sunday, and it was so sweet. Just 11 of us, but very special friends. We had hoped for some plans to fall through to have a couple more attend, but we did enjoy so much getting together with those who made it. Michael had even helped me with one of the games the night before. We put the first names of several famous couples and had the guests come up with the last names. It went over fairly well, but the fun part was watching Michael dive right in to help with the list. You never know what's going to interest him. Most of the time he thinks the stuff I do is either silly or downright unnecessary, but he overheard Mom and me talking about some names and he started Googling things and pretty much finished the list! Well anyway... We also guessed some kitchen utensils in hidden in socks, which he was just sure were his socks... well, in a way they were. We've been in this house nearly a year, and this whole time there has been a package of mens socks floating from room to room. Not the kind he wears, though, so they just keep searching for someone to love. Great, I'll use those for my game. Well now I don't seem to hear the end of it. I completely ruined his brand new socks (I wrote numbers on the bottoms... devastating) that he couldn't find anywhere. Been scouring the house for them. hmmmm. Yeah, anyway... Then he decided he didn't like that kind of socks, so Matthew took them. He doesn't stop long enough to notice the numbers on the bottom.
Jenny's gifts were very fun. She got some candlesticks for the wedding and many, many candles. The first gift she opened contained a pair of slippers, and she was so excited because she'd never owned slippers. It just so happened that Mallory's and my package contained slippers, too, so Mallory had to go grab ours because she just couldn't stand the anticipation. While we were in Wisconsin, we had stopped at a Walgreen's for something we needed and I saw this little Junior Mints camisol and panty set on a small display. I started laughing so hard that Michael was really afraid of what may have come over me. I told him all about Jenny's little "thing" with Junior Mints. I don't think it's strong enough to call it an addiction, but when she was little, it was always her candy of choice. There was one time that we had to have them before a movie or something, and had to stop at three different places before we finally found some. I wish I could remember more about that, because I know it couldn't have been a movie. That girl doesn't sit still that long. That was also the age when she had to sit under one of those slow blow huge dryers to dry her curly hair. But in order to get her to sit, you had to feed her AND turn up a movie really loud AND have something else to do. So anyway, I don't know where we were going that she needed those mints, but I just have a feeling I wouldn't have survived a movie with her. But that has caused me to smile and think of my Jenny every time I see a box of Junior Mints. So back to the undies... I told Michael that I just HAD to get these for her for the shower, and while we were paying for them, the clerk (who had witnessed my small hysterical outburst) thought she should mention that slippers were also available for most of these outfits. Poor Michael. All he really wanted was a birthday card for his dad, and now all this. So, now, back to the shower... she was so excited to have TWO pairs of slippers and got a real kick out of the undies. Couldn't believe I had found that! I really couldn't either, but how perfect. The whole afternoon was perfect. Couldn't have had a prettier day, and the guys even took Bonnie and Clyde to Mom's house so we didn't have to deal with them!!

Nodaway Valley Christian Academy

2007-08-21T20:46:00.001-05:00

... is now in session! I was surprised how hard the kids worked today! I think they've really missed school. Well, maybe it was just better than raking the grass their dad told them to, but anyway...

We started the day pretty lacksidazical... I was coloring my hair when Mallory decided she wanted some red streaks in her hair. Well, I didn't see a problem with that, so we girls messed around for a while and the boys were pretty mesmerized by the whole process (sorry, girls, they now know a couple of our beauty secrets). But we were working by 9:30 and they were so focused! We really had a nice start up. Then this afternoon we went to Eythan and Elisa's house for a workshop and really didn't want to leave! Just a really great time.

Well, when you go to town you have to do a bit of shopping. We made a stop at Walmart and the boys just HAD to do a bit of their own shopping. They got a little playhouse for the kitties. For all the spending they think they have to do, this was one I couldn't help. I let them and they've been downstairs all night with them. Here's hoping the kitties are impressed too!!

Blogged down

2007-08-21T04:43:00.000-05:00

I am so far behind I don't think there's any catching up for me!! Well, that's not completely true. I got pretty well caught up with the laundry yesterday, but you know how long that will last!! Exciting life, my friend. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Wait, I have the world!! ...mine anyway...

Well, we just got back from Wisconsin, and it seems just in the nick of time. We drove through a lot of storms in WI and Minnesota, and then I hear that several people, homes and cars were simply washed away! Last time we went, they were in such a drought. The crops were all burned up and it just looked so sad. The rains were nice while we were there, but they must have gotten a lot worse on our way out.

But anyway, Nana took the kids swimming at the pool, Papa took Daddy and Matthew fishing a couple times, and then they sent us away! We've been talking about sending the kids up there for a week sometime, so Michael suggested we leave for a night and see how they all do. Nana said she wanted two days!! So we went to Oshkosh and did a little shopping and a lot of relaxing, and it sounds like everyone at home had a really wonderful time.

Saturday, Papa took us to the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture Museum. We really enjoyed seeing flight come to life from Orville and Wilbur Wright's first plane to some of the experimental space crafts and other makings of history! They also had several displays explaining flight using air pressure and wing shape, displays of flight clothing including the patches and wings of pilots and a lot on WWII, where many of the innovations came from necessity. This may have been the kids' first museum of any kind, and it was a great place to start. It was geared toward kids' love of touching, making noise, and just being able to explore. We all had a really great time.

We really couldn't believe how fast our week went by, but we also couldn't wait to get home to the pets. Bonnie and Clyde wouldn't let the boys in the house, so Mallory and I went to check on Pete and Peachy. They were very well, but much bigger than when we left! It's nice to be home, but we already miss Nana and Papa.

Morgan's Birthday

2007-08-11T13:13:00.001-05:00

Well, if anyone's looking back this far, I just discovered that I forgot to post poor Morgan's birthday photo. This is my new castle cake set up that looks really fun. Unfortunately, I got it just a day before Morgan's party so I didn't really have time to do up a really neat castle. Poor Morgan. He was going to have me try to do Percy instead of Thomas this year, but I came home with that and he changed his mind. I knew there was no way to do what we saw on the package, so I got some m & m's and just let him go with them!! It was lots of fun for all of us!! Happy Birthday Morgan!!

That darn cat

2007-08-11T13:11:00.001-05:00

This is Pete & Peachy. After much debate, this is what we're calling them. The Siamese is Pete or Petey or Sweetie Petey or Stinky Pete... depends on the timing! The little black marble tabby is Matthew's Peachy, and this cat is all Matthew's. She even picked him! She sleeps up in his top bunk with him, watches TV with him, and even stays around his feet when he's eating or doing homework. They are truly two of a kind, too. Running, jumping, climbing, fussing, tearing up my furniture... at least I can declaw one of them. She's in for a big surprise then! She actually climbs his bunk bed. It's a wood one, so she digs right in. He did actually clear off his dresser so she could jump up there, but she prefers to climb. Just like him!!
I really like my fat, lazy Petey!

This is the life

2007-08-11T13:09:00.001-05:00

This is why I wanted a bay window. Michael has it filled with plants, and that's fine; that's why I had it covered with formica. But this is what makes me smile. Happy cats. This is also right by my computer, so it makes for a happy blogging spot!!

Fair Week, July 20-24

2007-07-29T06:33:00.000-05:00

Aunt Betty said I needed to post some fair results, but I don't have pictures of everything. Maybe when the kids get up. The 4-H conference judging was Wednesday the 18th. Since it was Mallory's first year, I was allowed to sit in on that. She had taken a write up on what she had done to room and the judge was very impressed by what she had planned and coordinated. She received a blue and a "Considered for State" ribbon, even though it's only honorary for first year 4-Hers. Next year, she'll be old enough to take something to State Fair. Next she had her monkey bread. This judge was very fun. Mallory interacted with her a lot. I'm guessing a lot of it was the fact that it was so fresh in her mind. Everything else was done a while back that it was hard to remember what she had done! She received a blue ribbon on that, too. Next was her garden paver. We did that fairly recently, but it started out as a kit and judges don't like kits. It was to be a mosaic from little bits of glass, but Mallory had instead used the flat marbles she had collected from weddings. They were all very special weddings to her, but she never really made it clear that the design was hers, and not part of the kit. She did tell how she had planned to make two little hearts, but there wasn't room when she transferred the design, so she just made some lines to balance out the crosses. That did impress the judge. She got a blue ribbon on that, too. Finally, there was the kitty cat wall hanging she made me for Mother's Day. The judge was very impressed with that. The only problem was that Mother's Day was so very long ago and Mallory just couldn't remember when the tabs went in. I told her when we were writing up the commentary when the tabs would have had to have gone in, but she just didn't remember it that way. Then the judge could sense her confusion and told her when they would have had to have gone in, but she couldn't convince her either. She received a blue and a "Considered for State." It was a really amazing time.

Friday was open class. Mallory entered two plaster items she had painted and got blues on both. Morgan got a blue and a red on his, and Matthew got a blue and two reds. Matthew entered a monkey bread and Morgan a banana bread, and those both got blue. Doug and Abby were here and decided to do some baking, too. Doug made a coffee cake and Abby some cookies, and they both got blues. The boys entered their garden pavers they made at Maranatha and both of those got blue. Matthew entered the pillow he made me for Mother's Day and got purple!! My wedding cake got a purple, too, but you can find out more about that on my cake blog.

We also sneaked through Pa Rose's garden to enter some things for him because he never does, but we found out why! Nothing was quite ready. We entered some dill that got blue, carrots that got red, and green beans that got a participation. Later, Michael raided his fridge and came home with some good looking stuff. Grrr.... the fridge!! That's where the good stuff is!! Oh, well. Next year!!

On Saturday, Mallory made her cherry pie for the contest. It did not go well at first, and the helpers came over to see if they could help her figure it out. They kept looking at me even though I wasn't supposed to say anything, so I didn't. Then they tried to tell her to just add some water, which I thought was a huge mistake because we had tried something of the sort that week and it didn't work well. They were still looking at me so I just told her to start over. I thought it would be much easier and less stressful in the long run, even though it can take her three hours to bake a pie. She decided to do that, and I could just see the relief. She was much more focused and less nervous and it all went incredibly smoothly. And it only took an hour and a half!

Out of the 49 pies, I thought hers looked the best! They only tell you the first and second place winners, so we won't know how she did. We only know it was beautiful. Some of our friends bought it at the auction and said it was really good, too!

Morgan at Maranatha

2007-07-24T05:32:00.001-05:00

We really did have a wonderful week at Maranatha... even though it was camping. I tried not to do too much fussing. I had taken my pictures to crop, thinking there would be plenty of times when everyone else was outside and I could be in the air conditioning being productive. Not so much. I did get a lot done, but one whole days' free time was spent getting a tire fixed 50 miles away, and the other one I really did pretty much spend outside. Yes, you should be proud of me. The first night there was checking in and getting acquainted with the place. Dad repeatedly tried to get me on a bike, but I thought my rear on a bike seat was something I didn't care to share with the world. Besides, after fours years at Iowa State, the Maranatha campus wasn't really THAT big!! Anyway, the second day was the Fourth of July, which is the day they open the camp up to the public. That was the day I got the most cropping done. I don't like huge crowds OR being outside, so the two together didn't sound like my kind of day. There was a concert in the evening, followed by some really spectacular fireworks.

The next day was filled with their normal programming: some chapel services, praise and worship, and activities on the waterfront and on the rock wall. This was the day I went to get the tire fixed, so I missed a lot of that, but the services were wonderful. After the last service some people gathered for a baptism, and Morgan told his daddy that he'd like to be baptized, too. Michael talked to the director and he said that everything there was very informal, so if he'd like to baptize Morgan it was a great time! It was all so amazing. It was an incredibly peaceful evening and something we'll remember forever!!

A couple monkeys

2007-07-24T05:14:00.000-05:00

Mallory and Matthew practiced a couple monkey breads before leaving for a week at Maranatha Family Camp. Mallory will enter hers in the 4-H division, and Matthew will put his in open class. Mallory had to have her 4-H entries decided before we left on vacation, so that allowed us to keep it simple!! At least I thought I did! We entered her in the cherry pie baking contest, which is where she would have to take everything to the fair and make her pie there. She also had a cat wall hanging done that she made for me for Mother's Day, and she had a garden paver kit that she got for her birthday. We knew we could make some at Maranatha, so we wanted that one to wait until we got back and had practiced! We also planned to write up what she had done to her room. That would make four entries plus her contest and I thought that would be enough for her first year. If not, she could still enter anything she wanted in open class, as we have done for the past few years. We also had some entries planned for the boys, but that didn't need to be decided beforehand; just the 4-H division. We left for vacation thinking things were as "under control" as they could be!

Meanwhile, the kittens were trying to prove they were house worthy, so we blocked off the crawl through and let them stay in the basement. We had Sarah come over and check on them, so we were hoping they could be good for six days! It's a lot to ask of a kitty, but they said they'd do their best!

June 25, 2007, Gearing up for fair

2007-07-24T05:02:00.000-05:00

We needed to get some cherry pie practice in before leaving on vacation, so we tried a quick one! It was very hard, and we only wound up with a single crust, but that makes for a good single crust pie! She tried again, and got a two crust pie done, but it was really hard. She enjoyed herself, though, so we knew more practice was going to be fine with her!

June 24, 2007

2007-07-09T10:09:00.000-05:00

I don't usually start my ramblings with dates, but due to lack of internet, I'm pretty far behind!! I'm on dial up right now, so I have to keep this short. If a call comes in, I can't retrieve it from this computer and the other one isn't hooked up to a phone line.

Anyway, June 24, Mallory was baptized. Pastor Norm baptized seven people at the Ambassador Wellness Center, but he invited her dad and grandpa to be part of baptizing her. Baptism was something Mallory had been pursuing for quite some time and I wanted to leave that up to her. Since it represents the personal decision she has made, I wanted her public announcement, the baptism itself, to also be of her design. It's just so awesome to see your children choose Christ! We had a little reception here afterwards that was really quite memorable. She asked several people to come and had me call a few that afternoon to make sure they were coming! It's nice to have a decision stick out in their minds. Mom counted about 25 people here. It was a very warm and intimate time, and just exactly what we hoped would happen. Pastor Norm opened the invitation at the baptism to anyone else who wanted to be baptized at that time. The boys have both made decisions for Christ, but they have their own plans for their baptisms. More to come on that subject...

Hard times...

2007-06-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a rough week for Michael and me. We put Bugger Man down on Tuesday. He was almost 15. These have been the first few nights in about 15 years without a cat in my face or on my back, and I'm afraid I must be sleeping better because I hurt everywhere. It was sad to see how many messes he was making on new carpet, but really hard to put down a cat that otherwise seemed so healthy.

One of Dad's friends dropped off some farm cats to help control the mouse population, and we sort of latched on to a couple of the kittens... but not before Bonnie and Clyde had their fun. We found one that night, very drenched and mauled and let him sleep in the mud room. The next morning, we found a very dirty, crusty one that we cleaned up and put with his sister. Matthew has really latched on to a grey marble one that he's calling Peachy (???) and the rest of us took to the Siamese. We're still working on names, but their litter training is going extremely well and we hope to have basement cats soon. We don't plan on bringing them upstairs until after vacation, just with the expected antics of kittens!! But we really hope they have names by then!
Well my house is quiet right now. The kids spent the night at the River with Grandpa and Michael has gone to work. I have a cake to decorate before work, but not much else. All the whirlwind housecleaning I was going to get done without the kids here sort of got deleted when I slept in until 8:00. I heard Michael's alarm go off at 6:30 and really only thought I was in bed a few more minutes. So anyway, now I must move on if this cake is to be done before work.

Nothing to say...

2007-06-10T06:47:00.000-05:00

Yeah, right, but Mom really wanted that snake to go away so I'm supposed to post something! And since I have something of an internet connection, I probably should.

I'm so glad to have yesterday over!! I did a couple dramas for a church on the other side of Omaha, and it's been nervewracking building up to it. They went smoother than any before and nearly everyone told me how much they were blessed by them. It's so wonderful to know that, but oh, the fits I can get myself in beforehand... I'm just glad they're over. I'm also so glad I can look my kids in the eye and tell them that God really is bigger than our fears. I know it's easy to see our parents as fearless... at least at their age... but they know very well that I'm not!!

A few months back, I started talking about our new curriculum that we switched to using. We are all so excited about it. The boys are just now figuring out that they can't tell who's ahead and in what... and I won't tell!! Morgan's trying to catch up to Matthew in math, which is reasonably possible, and Matthew's trying to stay ahead without doing too much homework. We really like how it puts everyone at his own pace and we can adjust the homework to the kind of day we have planned. It's also very easy to grab and work on in the car. Our assignment cards show us exactly where we left off and it tells Daddy exactly what we accomplished. It's all very exciting... you know, for homework!!

Nature in the Country

2007-05-25T08:45:00.001-05:00

I have been battling mice out here on the farm, but I didn't really know about my helper. I was checking on any water in the basement since the sump pump was going off so frequently when I saw this guy out of the corner of my eye. Had to check him from the other side. Yep, that's him.
I have a feeling Mom won't be coming over to watch the kids until I get him out. It seems as though he may have been in here for a while, gotten fat on my mice, and is now unable to get back out. I know someone else who has gotten in here and gotten fatter, but I can still fit through the doors.

I am glad I found him first thing in the morning, although I have some cakes I must focus on first. They are just about done and then I can see what I can do for this poor creature. In the couple hours I've been watching him, he hasn't made much progress. I'm just really so glad he wasn't found by any of the kids... or Mom. Although it may have been a good fire drill. You never know. For now, my plan is to finish my cakes and remove all evidence before Mom or the kids know what's up!!

****UPDATE****
Our friend is now out on his own. I dug out all the big gap foam I could and by then, Dad had shown up. He may have put a little more force behind his pull, but whatever--he was successful. We let him go in a nearby tree only to find some robin's eggs around on the ground. OOOPS! He may start off with a bit of a snack. Not my intended target, but anyhoo...

Daddy also brought us a tractor tire for a sandbox and is now on his way for some sand. I really have to think about getting to work! I know there are a lot of cakes for tomorrow and I'm not going to be in tomorrow!!

Doorknobs can hold a small child, right?

2007-05-22T07:08:00.000-05:00

Well, he's in tears right now. I'm just sitting here sipping my coffee and finishing my sudoku after finally catching that elusive, dastardly mouse in Mallory's room when I hear the famous, "Matthew Raymond Beard, don't you ever do that again!" As Michael rounded the corner, I asked if I wanted to know what that was about. A very quick, "No." But then he goes on anyway. Apparently, we were standing on the doorknobs while Morgan moves the door back and forth all while avoiding the ceiling fan. Now I had the ceiling fan installed where the boys wouldn't likely hang from it getting out of the bunk beds, but I guess door acrobatics just somehow escaped my imagination. I've found over and over again that girls and boys just don't have the same imaginations. Although Mallory also surprised me this morning. Morgan found a tick and normally flips out over ticks, but this time held his cool while Matthew got it wrapped up and flushed. Meanwhile, I was praising Morgan and under my breath made a comment about being glad it wasn't a spider. Out of the blue, Mallory said, "Do you know some spiders can get this big??" Mind you, I had no desire to see how big her informant had told her spiders could get, but I did thank her for changing my entire mood and perspective for the day. Normal response, "WHAT??" Then Daddy comes back holding his hands out to his sides and repeated it. My family just loves me. They could really save all this for the second cup of coffee. I wasn't even all that thrilled about taking care of this mouse before coffee, but I let Matthew do most of it while I watched, so at least I know he can handle it without me next time. Next time. Ugh.

Garden Wedding

2007-05-20T08:13:00.001-05:00

Boys at a wedding are just too much. I didn't actually have them at the wedding; my folks did. I had a cake to set up! But at the reception... I'm really hoping Shirley doesn't start wondering where her marbles are. I'm sure she thinks she's lost all her marbles after that ta-do, but it was spectacular!! She had birdbaths with marbles everywhere. Some colored, some clear, some round and some flat... birds and birdhouses... it was so beautiful. Anyway... to check my sons' pockets, I'm pretty sure we just may have ALL the marbles. That was actually Matthew's thing. Morgan was collecting all the little nets of candy! Their sister, however, was focused on a very important job. She was the punch fairy. Amber, the bride, had asked me to cut the cake since I made it, and she asked if Mallory wanted to help. She said she wanted punch! So as soon as the punch came out, Mallory was serving. She served all night. No one could pour his own punch, no, that was Mallory's job. The poor girl had missed lunch because of me working on this cake, then started serving punch and missed the sandwich supper there. When they ran out of punch, she finally grabbed a plate and sat down for a minute. But lo and behold, more punch arrived so the punch fairy flew back to her job.
Ok, many more funny stories at this wedding, but we have to get ready for church. More later, folks, more later!!

Back... I hope!

2007-05-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

Internet's been out way too long!! I did get my cakes updated, but I'm not sure I can catch up here. So much that I think about posting, then get here and still have no internet. Now I just want to get to bed!! It's been quite a three week haul for me and I'm looking forward to reclaiming my house this week!! The kids have also had a few cute ones and I need to get those caught up, too, but for now I just thought I'd say "HI!"
Oh, I'll need to post my Mother's Day presents soon, too. I don't have any pictures of what they made, but I do have Mallory's cake. She did this while I was in bed recovering from graduation. I'll tell more later. It's bedtime!! No cakes tonight... yippee!!

Coffee filter, THEN the coffee

2007-05-04T06:25:00.000-05:00

Tired just doesn't cover it today! The sad part is that it's only going to get worse. This is Peru College's graduation and we are fairly busy with that, plus it's seemingly everyone's birthday this weekend. Had someone come in and order two cakes for today and added, "24 hours, that's enough, right? I read that I can have them in 24 hours." Well, normally that's the case. But someone in the deli cut the top of her thumb off, so Cindy is covering over there, and Janice just has it so bad I can hardly talk about it. Her oldest daughter's husband was killed and she keeps calling to update us, then adding that she doesn't think she'll be in tomorrow. No, Janice, you're done for a while, stop worrying about things that shouldn't bother you right now. Her husband is a pastor, as was her son-in-law. I don't completely know their ages, but her youngest daughter graduates high school next week, and her middle daughter graduates college the week after that. I can only guess that her oldest daughter is still under 30. It was really hard to press on today. I did okay until I put it on the prayer chain. I guess to actually say everything out loud really makes you admit it. So anyway, I'm left with graduation this week and probably next week too, when both the Neb City schools graduate. I had already counted her out with a graduating daughter, so it's not much different to me, I just wish she'd stop worrying and be where she needs to be.
Grandma's been over with the kids a lot, and Matthew has already conformed to that. She took a big step with the laundry and did NOT turn everyone's stuff right side out. I told her she spoils them. I always tell them that I only do the laundry. I do not check pockets or rearrange socks. However it goes in is how you'll find it coming out. She's such a happy homemaker that she just loves to serve the family and that's great. But I'm more of a grouchy gus and I expect a little help. Anyway, Matthew pointed out that she didn't turn his socks right side out. She said, "Isn't this how your mommy does it?" And he returns, "Yeah, but this is the Fluff and Fold!!" Spoiled I say!!
Anyway, I have a lot of cake orders at home, too, so busy is just an understatement. Really don't have time to be sitting here. My typing teacher would probably be whacking my fingers with a ruler the way I'm slouched everywhere, elbows resting on desk and knee. I feel like Clyde plopped over his dog dish, taking a break while he eats. I should probably get in the shower. I have a new body wash called Exhale. It claims to have calming effects. Cleanse your body and inspire your mood. Sounded good to me. Lofty hopes for a body wash. I may have put too much faith in my body wash.

Poor Morgan

2007-04-24T07:52:00.000-05:00

Morgan had a really terrible day yesterday. It started by getting sick at about 2:30 am. He really didn't seem sick after that, just an upset tummy. Of course, then I had sheets to wash and carpet to scrub before my guests at 2pm! Later, as I was just picking up here and there, I noticed Thomas, Morgan's frog, was covered with a cloud. It seems his foot was stuck in the rocks and he drowned. The kids buried him in my flower bed and Mallory plans to make him a little memorial garden paver. She got a kit for her birthday and plans to include him on her stone.

My guests were actually coming to decorate cakes and we really had a ball. Eythan's mom and sister were among the cake decorators, so my boys quickly got him changed into boots and led him down the path of no return. Michael soon came home and went out to mow, but returned for a camera. Gay and I cringed at what that might mean, but our cakes were really looking nice without the help of so many boys! Michael returned with some photos, and I'll post one when I get Gay's. They had their inner tube out in the crick and were possibly having more fun than we were!! At least boys clean up quickly. Matthew even mopped the mudroom last night. We all really had a great time. I'm glad Morgan's day could improve slightly.

We had hoped to go to the zoo again today, but with the rain, I think we'll let Matthew enjoy his last tumbling lesson and Morgan and I will go get another frog while he's there. Plan on taking the kids out to Doc Joy's first to get some cat food. I really enjoy seeing him, but I think the kids just go for the pop!! He's always giving them a bottle of pop when they come. Keeps them happy to see him, I guess!!

Kristie's Pillow

2007-04-19T11:28:00.000-05:00

One of my co-workers lost her mother to breast cancer this week. As if that's not hard enough, her son is getting married on Saturday. Her mother was planning to make the ring bearer's pillow, so she asked me to. This is what I had time to do! I'm not sure I could have done much better with any more notice, so I do hope the bride likes it. I was just so glad Kristie asked for help. Too many people just can't seem to do that.

Thanks Steve and Kevin!

2007-04-19T07:27:00.000-05:00

Last week, Michael caught our friend and his excavator up at Pa Rose's house, so he grabbed his coat and ran! Before too long, Steve was at our house filling in the big pit, moving the burned tree stump and filling in that pit, fixing the driveway and tearing out an old stump that seems to be a tick breeding ground. He spent the majority of the morning here, although his plan was to go from Pa Rose's straight to the farm north of us. I've never been so glad to be in the way! I was really nervous when it started sprinkling right as Steve was finishing up at our place. He said it wouldn't affect what he planned to do at the next farm, but I don't see how!! I hope I didn't blow all his plans, but I am so pleased with everything he did!!
Then last night, Kevin came out with his disc (or something, not a true farm girl here, plus I was at Cubbies) and flattened everything out and got it nice and smooth. My plans for getting much school work done today may once again be foiled as we need to go pick up all the alternators and front end clips that just found their way to the surface of our yard! It's all good, though. All part of making a home and a nice life for the family. We have plenty of time for school!! We just don't always recognize what we are learning and where... but don't give away my secrets!
And thanks once again, Kevin and Steve, for your part in our home. It is so appreciated!!!

Zoo Trip

2007-04-19T06:54:00.000-05:00

We took a little trip on Tuesday. We planned on a short one between lunch and our lessons, but then we didn't want to leave and found ourselves calling about our lessons. Mallory lucked out and her flute teacher had already called the house with news of a sick kid and questions about rescheduling. That was what Mallory wanted! Matthew really loves his tumbling, but he said he'd miss this one if Mallory was free to stay. So we did. We had a really great time. The sun wasn't too bright, but enough to give us little white kids some color after a long, cold, teasing winter! Mallory still has some tan lines from last summer, but the rest of us really need the color!
There is quite a bit of construction going on at the moment, and they are only passing out last year's maps, so we're very anxious to see what they're doing. They've moved the budgies, which was one of our favorites. One of the zookeepers said there was a display about the construction plans on the way to the giraffes, but then we had to go check out the nursery and forgot to go back that way. The nursery was a bit disappointing. Only two tree kangaroos, and they didn't look much like babies! Oh, well, spring has just begun. Maybe more will arrive.
We're hoping to put school into overtime Monday and get up to the zoo again next Tuesday, this time with plenty of time to get back for lessons. The kids have track and field day tomorrow, so we're definitely going to have to focus!
Our new materials arrived while we were at the zoo. My dad called and wanted to talk to the boys about what they'd pay to make that box disappear! With only one day on the new materials, everyone is very excited. They have their goal cards all filled out and ready to go. We're hoping for a lot of fun!

He Is Risen!

2007-04-08T04:38:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's early. This is what happens when you're married to a chef. He gets thrown into every church event that involves food! He loves it though! We're supposed to be there at 5:30 and here I am instead of in the shower! We have an Easter breakfast at our church between the sunrise service and Sunday school. I also have nursery for the early service, so I really should reconsider that shower. We had our little morning Easter routine with the kids yesterday, and decided to make that our new tradition. Saturday is more fun for that kind of thing, anyway. And then it doesn't get thrown in with what Easter really means! Okay, really need to find the shower...

Testing... testing

2007-04-02T22:19:00.000-05:00

Well, we survived our first day of placement tests for the new curriculum, and I'm happy to announce that we all still love each other! I made it clear to the boys that the better they do, the less work they'll have to do, so Matthew really takes his time and gets it right. We did our spelling tests outside in sidewalk chalk... I have no idea how to send those in, but we had a really good time. I figure if you got a boy excited about spelling, you did something right!!! Everyone's anxious about the new system, but we're trying to take our time and do it right. I know there's no way to really shake the grade levels, but they won't show up on the covers of their workbooks. That's a plus to all of us. Especially if Matthew were ever to find out that Morgan is in a higher spelling level. Everything seems easy to Morgan, and this will be a good way for him to keep moving forward without Matthew knowing a thing, or needing to care. We learned so much about boys at this conference, and it has really calmed my nerves and given me new insight. Matthew is just one of those boys who learns at his own pace, and it's not time to worry about him. These tests are showing it, too. It's just so awesome to see what all he has learned when it really hasn't seemed like he's heard a word I've said!! He's testing pretty normal across the board. Mallory is, too. I thought she was a bit behind in the verbal, but it's all looking normal for her age so far. We haven't progressed far enough in the math test for any kind of final results, but that's the one Michael and I are most anxious to see. Looking at the test, it's going to be a while before she gets stumped. She's tested through all of first and second and half of third without one single mistake. They are allowed 2-3 mistakes per unit, or about an 80%, but she hasn't missed a beat. The great part is that she doesn't have to repeat anything she understands. If she gets fractions but misses too many on long division, she can get specialized material in the one and just some refreshers in the other. I guess this material has been around for 30 years, so they probably know what they're doing!! We are all looking forward to it, but we're now seeing it may still be a month off or more! Oh, well. Some things are worth the wait!!

New Days

2007-04-01T06:58:00.000-05:00

Well, there are some changes coming soon to the Nodaway Valley Christian Academy, but changes I think everyone will welcome. I've never been so exhausted and so refreshed at the same time. Our annual conference for homeschoolers was this weekend, and my head's in a spin. We had so many great workshops, including one for "Boys and other kids who would rather build forts all day." This didn't particularly deal with moms who'd rather do the same, but I got the point! Michael went to that one, too, and I am so glad. He wants a larger role in this school, and I think he got some fantastic ideas, too. I'm just so excited about new ideas we got for nearly every subject. I went by myself on Friday, and I like that. I get a chance to look at all the materials without pressure of buying because I don't do that until Saturday when I have Michael along. Then I can explain everything to him, and hearing it out loud doesn't hurt me any either! So anyway, after these last couple of years "not working" for most of us, I knew we needed something different, and I found a curriculum that I really fell in love with. It lets the kids work at their own pace without any labels of grades, it needs no lesson plans by Mom... however... the kids have to set some goals to pace themselves. It also includes a chance to earn a day off in certain subjects when we meet certain goals. The records that are kept are so easy for us to do, and so easy for Michael to see our progress. I just kept coming back to that booth time and time again. I just knew it was so right for the whole family. Then each workshop just seemed to solidify that feeling. I guess I couldn't explain it very well to Michael Friday night, but we went to a couple workshops on Saturday morning and then I showed it to him. We are both so thrilled with it. We'll have to do some testing this week to see where to start everyone, but the courses are so detailed and the units are so short that we can get everyone placed with as little or as much duplication of material as they need. And no one moves on until a skill is mastered. You can order another of the small units for less than $3.00 if you just want to take that skill again. Okay, I'm sure you weren't planning on hearing all this, but it's just so exciting to me! I just love learning new things and now have so many new ideas for my kids to love the same and for Dad to have some sort of proof that we did indeed learn something today!! Besides the nifty new fort in the backyard, but anyhoo...