Yo Ho Ho, a sailor's life for me.

Our church bought this boat so we could go out and have some fun. We work hard all week long, every week so we also want to play hard when we get to play. We also thought it would be great since we have a lot of single moms, to give them and their kids a chance to do something that they may not be able to do otherwise. Primarily though, we bought it for us all to have some fun...There will be other posts of how much fun it was while tubing...complete with pictures.The captain and his first mate.

Jellybean and Yoshi took a ride with BigB and Pastor Rob.

I think he may be too cute for words...

Canada Day 2008

This year Canada Day found us sticking around home. We had a quick visit with P.B. & J, met their new addition (Cash) and visited with Riss and Baby. The evening found me and some of my girls sitting around the table planning a pre-wedding service to happen at our church since the wedding is in Ontario. We got the kids in the pj's and headed down to the river to watch the fireworks where we ran into our friends the Capay's. I think a good time was had by all.

Goofish and her friend/sistah, Goofda

All I wanted was a smile, just a smile!

The family shot.

P.B. & J with Cash and Jellybean & Bug.

I couldn't believe I pulled off that shot!

Wow!!!

Well, I had the video up here but I can't get it to work so here is something that we saw from Kansas that is absolutely fantastic!

What a great day!

I don't know if this day could have been more fun while being so productive; I really don't. Today BigB & I went with the kids and got them 3 new fish. It has taken us this long to get over the last fish dying fiasco but we, today, have 3 new white mollies. One of which looks really neat with black spots all over; he kinda looks like a dalmation.

After all the fish shopping was taken care of we stopped by the church; BigB went with Wayne and Shar came with us. BigB and Wayne went and bought a boat for the church and Shar & I went to the store and got water skis for the church. Camp time next week is going to be so much fun!!! We can't wait.

BigB & I took the kids out for a nice lunch to celebrate their fantastic (Jellybean's outstanding) report cards. (I say outstanding for Jellybean's report card because she got all Acheivings and Excellings this term. All this on the little girl who was told she wouldn't pass Kindergarten due to her disability and each year has been the same thing...we're told this is the year she will be held back and each year she astonishes her teachers because she excels at all her classes. Yay Jellybean and Yay God!!!)

After lunch we went to the playground to play and to get some "fun shots" of us. (It wasn't until later this evening I realized that I burned my back quite badly). We dropped the kids off and headed back to the church to sketch out plans for the renovations and additions to the church, had supper there with Wayne and Shar and came back in time to get kids tucked into bed, "mommy made up stories" told and hamburger frying to make and share nachos with our "family" from across the alley for a movie night.

It has been full and fun. I'm looking forward to tomorrow as we get to spend the afternoon with Pam & Eugene & their two kids for supper after church. It will be a fun filled, laughter filled time!

Looking at fish at Petland. He sure did take a fancy to this big guy but our tank is too small just for him.

Watch out!

We all enjoyed the swings but this was, by far, the best shot.

It is way easier to attempt this with 3 children than with 7.

This is called the art of point and shoot. Why else would she be able to shoot with her eyes closed.

Aw...how cute!

Me and my huney!

Health Records Laughs...

This is a copy of an email I got from my cousin and since I work in Health Records I found it particularily funny...thought I would share it with you.


"Actual sentences found in hospital patient charts"

She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.

The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.

Healthy appearing decrepit 69 year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.


The patient refused autopsy.

The patient has no previous history of suicide.

Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40lb weight gain in the past 3 days.

Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.

Since she can't get pregnant with her husband, I thought you might like to work her up.

She is numb from her toes down.

While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent home.

The skin was moist and dry.

Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

Patient was alert and unresponsive.

Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.

I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.

Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.

Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.

Skin: somewhat pale but present.

The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.

Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Blank, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.

Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

It's all so new...to us

On Thursday, bigB & I were over at a friend of ours who are moving to a different town; they had a few household things for sale and while BigB was doing some last minute, pre-move things on their computer they were discussing what all they had for sale. By the end of the night we had bought their fridge, stove and a bedroom set (triple dresser, armoir, 2 end tables, mirror, head board and double bed with frame) for $200 plus the bit of work BigB did for them.

Yesterday, we got home from church around 3:30 with a different couple friend of ours, ordered pizza and waited for one more friend to come. Once he came over, he and BigB went to get the fridge and stove but had no time to get the bedroom set as we all needed to be back at the church for a leadership meeting at 6:00.

Our friend, Y will be delivering the rest of the furniture to us anytime now. The girls will be getting the new dressers. We moved Rush's up into Bug's room and Bug's & Jellybean's are being taken back to the church to give to whichever of the new families needs it. The bed is going there too.

It has been a busy evening of getting clothes out and creating spaces for these dressers especially after working and all. bigB can't help as he had to be at a City Council meeting tonight so it was me and the kids and Y, whenever he gets here.

Bug has been in the way trying to help and not wanting to help when he could actually do something. The darn cat has been trying to hitch rides in empty drawers, empty dressers and just milling around our feet as we are walking backwards up the stairs. It's a good job she has 9 lives because I think she has used them all up tonight. Thankfully I had supper on first thing this morning (thank God for slow cookers) and we just used paper plates so there was not much clean up. I think Rush & I will be "done" after this shifting of furniture is over.

But I'll tell you what, it is nice to have a new stove, a fridge that seals and doesn't freeze what shouldn't be and freezes what should be and I am sure tomorrow it will be nice to have the new dressers as well. It will also be Rush's last day of school so there is comfort in that for her. Time to make some money off of dear old mom & dad & look after her brother & sister. It will be handy having someone here to start supper this week...the tent meeting starts on Wednesday.

Update.

This has been a busy month since I last wrote on here; plus I was having account issues that prevented me from even signing in but all seems to be resolved. There hasn't been a lot in the way of noteworthy items other than I now seem to be playing the congas at the church. It has been a stretching, growing, nerve wracking but incredibly fun experience. I bought a DVD to try to get a few pointers so I am learning from two guys named Jorge and Raul and they are worth every penny in amusement! I laugh at them throughout the majority of the video. Pastor K got me to do a solo and I have to say I did exceptionally well...at my face blending in with the deep red congas!!! Grin!

Time to go to the A.C.E. awards and Jaydas play so tata for now!

I am his enemy.

BigB & I were out with Bug today and Bug kept wrapping his arms around my legs and telling me that I was his enemy (or rather his emeny but I caught what he meant). The second time he told me I was his enemy I asked him why he thought that. Well, bless the little turkey's heart but here is his reasoning, "Mama, the Bible tells us to love our emenies so you have to be my emeny."

My kids are too cute for my own good...

One of the many reasons she is loved...

It seems so weird

I took my first breath of life here (not that I remember that particular day) but I remember lying in a bed in one of these rooms at 5 years old after getting my tonsils out and ringing my bell just to watch my auntie come in to see me and take care of me (she was a nurse). I also remember coming to the emergency ward here to see the friendly face of my family doctor after I was assaulted by a boyfriend and brought in by a friend. There are a lot of emotions for a lot of people that have lived on in this building over the years and watching it being torn down is like watching them finally escape. Its kind of weird.

Just got back from church

...and had a little laugh to share with you. We left the warmth of our sanctuary to see a nice layer of snow on the vehicles in the parking lot (is this almost May or almost December?). BigB usually gets Rush to tell him if the way is clear and Jellybean has decided to take an active role in this duty as well. Tonight, with the friendly snow (I am trying to stay positive about it because it doesn't appear to want to leave) sticking to our window and the lack of snow brush in the van (where did it go?) Jellybean's side window was impossible to see out of. Here is how the story played out...

Jellybean confidently pipes up from the back, "It's clear! (pause) I think...I don't know...I can't see...".

I know as you read this you'll be thinking 'so?' but it was a cute moment-possibly a "had to be there" moment but you are getting to hear it all the same.

I Still Do

...miss her that is.

I have sentenced myself to spend the day in the basement. It is my day off and I thought it would be a perfect time to get my office organized and some stuff done on my computer that I have been meaning to do for a LONG time...

May the force be with me that I may accomplish all I have set out to do on such a day as this. (Ha ha ha) Let's see how much gets done. It is now 9 AM so Ready. Set. Go!

Edited at 11:20 AM to add:

Why do you have to make a bigger mess to get things done when setting up an office/craft room? Don't get me wrong; I am making progress however, it doesn't completely look like it at this precise moment.

Edited again at 2:00 PM to say that I probably shouldn't have stopped at lunch time, finished watching "August Rush" with Rush or sat down at my computer when I got down here again. I seem to have lost my motivation. Must...get...back...to...work...much more...to do....

News from yesterday's blast

Here is an article I found regarding the explosion yesterday.

And something a bit interesting...whoever said that fake baking was harmful for you...take a look here to see how it saved this lady's life...

We've had a scare and a huge eye opener

An explosion in the hometown of two of our children today has claimed the life of at least one person and has 2 of the energy workers in very critical shape; other injuries, including the owner of the building, are unknown as to the extent. The news was sketchy to say the least and left imaginations to run wild.

The blast was heard and felt through the majority of the town and originated very close to where BigB's ex-wife worked. In that brief moment we forgot that she had been transferred and our thoughts went immediately to her safety.

It made me realize that I wasn't just concerned because she is the mother of 4 of my children and that her loss would greatly affect all 7 of my kids but that I really was concerned for her just because I like her and I would be affected on a personal level myself.

Funny how things like this can be used to tear off blinders, break down walls and make you realize just who is really important and how much they are valued.

Because sometimes you need to be reminded that your kids actually like each other.

Perhaps you will know...

Just how wet is "wet wet"? Jellybean & Bug were playing in puddles on a walk at their grandparents and according to Jellybean, M & Bug got "wet wet" but she only got a little wet.

And then there were 4

We recently got 4 new fishy additions to our one pathetic little neon fish we had in our aquarium. Today tragedy struck in our fishy world and it had to strike the fish of the softest heart in the bunch.

The fish's body was discovered at 1600 hours this afternoon by Rush passing by. The body was stuck to the filtration system and rigamortis had all ready set in. Officials are presuming time of death was approximately in the early hours of the morning. Foul play is not suspected at this time. All other fish in the neighborhood have been questioned and nothing of a suspicious nature was noted.

The body has since been removed, the aquarium task force has come in and cleaned the area and peace has returned to the aquarium once again.

The name of the fish can be released since all known next of kin have been notified. Suzy Q. Goldfish was laid to rest in the presence of her loving and attentive owner; our very own Jellybean. The eulogy was moving but not as much so as the burial itself.

"Suzy, you were a good fish. I will miss you." Flush!!!!

The tears of Jellybean, once having echoed through the hallways of this residence, have since subsided only to return briefly after a beautiful memorial portrait of Suzy was completed.

Suzy, your loss to the community of Goldfish Lane will be noticed for many years to come...well, seconds maybe. We are talking about goldfish after all.

Plans are in the works for a new member to move into Suzy's spot but this should go without saying, Suzy can never and will never be replaced.

The gentle art of persuasion

Bug came to me this morning asking if he could watch his "Spiderman" movie. I told him I didn't know just yet and "Could I think about it?"

He told me, "Yes." (waited for 30 seconds) "What do you think your answer is?"

"I don't know; I haven't even had a chance to think yet."

"Oh, okay." (waited about 5 seconds) "How about now?"

"Buddy, I can't think if you keep asking me questions."

"Oh, well could you just say Y. E. S.?"

"Buddy, just go and I will let you know when I am done thinking."

"Okay but it will be 'yes' right?"

It was eventually yes (about 15 minutes after the end of this conversation) as I had planned on putting a movie on for him while I went and had a shower but I had to let him play that one out a bit so it didn't seem like his persuasion was what had worked...

Why I Love Being a Mom (Reason 859)

Moments just like this...

Reading this story; having Bug tell me that he wants me to do this for him even when he is a big boy and that when I am old he will come and rock me back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and when I am only 2 pages from the end of the story having him fall fast asleep in my arms to look just like this...

Because that's what puppies do.

Two of my nephews are here for a visit tonight. DeeDee is the same age as Bug; they'll be 5 this year. He was telling Bug all about his dogs and telling him that he had puppies but they are all up in Heaven.

Bug asked him why the puppies were in Heaven and DeeDee quietly and soberly answered "Because that's what puppies do."

Jellybean's prayer

Father God,

Please help me to find the time to pray to you when I am at school today and please help me to not be shy to talk about you to the new boy, Justin.

Amen

She also plans on fasting at supper tomorrow night...

He fought a swing and...not too sure who won.

Yesterday when picking the kids up from Grandma's she told BigB that Bug had gotten into a fight with a swing at school. BigB led Bug out to the van where I waited with his toque pulled down way over his forehead.

"Check out your son's face", he said calmly lifting the toque up and out of the way.

He explained to me what had happened as much as he knew. Bug explained it a bit more by telling me he was swinging on his tummy. He was swinging "really high up in the sky and falled off and landed on mine face". His teacher kept asking him if he wanted to go home, from what we have heard, but he insisted on staying.

This is what he looked like after the fight and why I am not entirely sure who exactly won...

Time certainly is a slippery little sucker

I came home from work tonight with every intention of making cookies with the kids. Rush kindly had supper ready on the table for us by the time we all got home from work/Pa & Grandma's house so we didn't have to worry about that. After supper I read a bit and when I was done I sat with Jellybean as she read the book she brought home from school to read, "You Can't Eat Chicken Pox, Amber Brown". She is just now reading some of the "harder" chapter books from the class's library so it took us a lot longer than anticipated. By the time we were done and had wandered into the kitchen to bake it was 10 minutes to bedtime. Drat!!! I have since made a date with Jellybean and Bug to meet me in the kitchen Saturday afternoon right after lunch and we will make our cookies!!

We'll keep a tighter grip on time that day!

A couple things I really love.

Do you know what I love? I mean besides getting a good deal...?

I love the feeling my heart gets when my kids, in their sleepingness, tell me they love me too when I whisper I love them as I tuck them back in before I go to bed...

I love being a mom!

I also love the way God works in allowing me to spend more time with my family. I have no shifts at BPs this week which means I get to spend more time with them and I get to see more of our friend, J.D. King as he will be up here for the week...Preaching at our church Wednesday and Friday...and teaching at the school Tues through Fri. Jellybean is quite excited to see her friend's daddy...

And the house is quiet...too quiet

It's just me and Bug; it's been that way ever since we woke up. Rush had a sleepover at Tasha's house and Jellybean had an impromptu sleepover with Rebekah. BigB is out with Wayne doing church things...well, mechanic things really on the church bus. So here I sit with a cute Bug on my knee (who I just lost because his two buddies from across the street came over. Their mom is going to help a friend of ours from the church move and I am the babysitting mom).

The house is no longer quiet. I have 3 boys, all the same age, plotting and planning their time together, talks of Spiderman, race cars and police cars have now filled the once quiet air.

I guess it's back to washing walls for me...

I found out Bug's Calling...Advertising...

Overheard this morning at breakfast, as Bug sat at the kitchen table all by his lonesome...

"These honey nut cheerios are sweet AND crunchy!"

And then we lost one...

We had a full house of kids at our house on Saturday; we decorated some eggs, ate some pizza, watched a movie, visited, played, the moms went out for dessert and then...we lost one. As we were getting the kids that don't "belong" here ready to go home we sat Tristan up on a kitchen chair while we wrestled the youngest sleeping one into his jacket and boots. It only took a minute; we turned around and...Tristan had disappeared... This is where we eventually found him...

...sound asleep, curled up with my Bug and the Pink Panther. We made an executive decision and concluded to leave him there and his mama would bring his church clothes with her so he could change. Bug was quite surprised when he awoke the next morning to somebody's feet in his face (as Tristan had flipped around during the night). He (Bug) sat up in the morning, took one look at Tristan's feet and said, rather perturbed, "Who is that?".

Crazy? I was crazy once...

Yes, these are my children and yes, I did send them to school looking like this and it was on purpose. Was I crazy? Had I lost my mind? Was reasoning and ration thrown out the window? Nope. It was crazy day.
Now, I realize that Bug doesn't look all that crazy here but if you were able to look at the entire picture and see all the little details...he was nuts. He had on green soccer pants, a blue hockey shirt, a brown plaid "cowboy" shirt, a baseball helmet, took a football and had "football eyes". He was about as crazy as a 4 year old boy can get...

Jellybean doesn't really need to be explained...does she? She really does look crazy in this picture: burgandy striped socks, star long underwear, blue plaid skirt with a pink ballet tutu, pink striped shirt, lime green sweater, raggedy anne doll eyelashes and "spider" hair, topped with the piece de resistance...her Watoto doll. I don't even think I am going out on a limb when I say that she just looked darn right crazy.

It was a lot of fun getting the kids crazied up...a lot of fun. Jellybean laughed harder and harder with each piece of clothing we put on her and Bug was just tickled that he is finally old enough to get to do all these "fun" school things.

Chaos erupts in our living room during Women's Conference

Last weekend was the Women Who Want God conference at our church; it was a very busy weekend for BigB and myself as we were there first thing in the morning until the late hours of the night. Rush and a friend (another teen from the church) watched the kids from the two families at our house. The following gives you a good idea of the chaos we walked into Friday and Saturday night. Please, look away if you have a sensitive...funny bone...

Here's my poor Bug looking like he was clothesline by the two girls. We came home to him lying on our living room floor like this and he was mad the next morning when he found out we had moved him to his comfy bed.

Saturday night the scene was a bit funnier as the living room was wall to wall children on our floor. This picture is missing one of the teenagers; I just couldn't get them all in the picture. If you will look to the farthest right hand side of the picture you will see a poor pitiful sight...Little Neena with her head stuck under our fish tank moaning for her sister to "moooooove"!

It was a tangled mess of blankets, pillows and kids...ah but they really do love each other.

Finally, the sushi pictures

Here are the pictures from our sushi making fun. I know, I know...finally.

The first is our dear friend and teacher, Yoshi.




Yoshi helping Jellybean roll and form her sushi. She put rice, cucumber, fried egg, hot dog and shrimp crackers in her sushi. (shudder)

First anticipated bite of sushi and the verdict was...she really doesn't like the seaweed wrapper...


...however, she LOVED the inside!

The 'Circle of Life' has circled

My dad has always chewed Copenhagen snuff for as long as I can remember and growing up I always wanted to try it. Finally, he let me; told me not to swallow it and...I swallowed it which then resulted in my puking my guts out.

Yesterday Bug tried some of Grandpa's "candy" (Grandpa's terminology) which resulted in his puking as well. It brought back all sorts of fun and "fun" memories from when I was a kid and so that it was kind of nice.

Jellybean & Bug also lost boots in the muck and the melting snow at Pa's which once again brought floods of memories of getting stuck at the farm and needing Grandpa's assistance to get out. The great fun of growing up...ah the circle keeps on circling...

What a kerfuffle...

I just finished reading one of my past blogs from 2005; Bug was nearing his 2nd birthday and I was wondering who I was outside of being a mom. Here we are in 2008, somewhat close to his 5th birthday and I am weighing and measuring myself in the mom dept and I have found myself lacking.

I don't have the opportunity to do any of the things I used to do for & with my kids. I can't remember the last time I baked them cookies or walked them to school. I may be working 2 jobs again and missing out on some things but it is time for me to make my spare time meaningful in the eyes of my children and in my eyes.

I don't work Monday nights; we have church Wednesday & Friday nights and I sometimes work Thursdays and then there is Sunday morning service. But who is to say that I cannot make better use of the time that I do have? Why can't I make them cookies on a Monday night or play a game of hide and seek or something? This path stops right here and now.

I have been getting really frustrated with my day job and am ready to not be working there full time. Not like I want to wish the y ear away but, July can't come soon enough for me. I want to be able to say yes or no to working some shifts so I can be a "mom" more.

I miss that job...Imiss being able to just be that. I miss being able to focus completely on the welfare of my children and of their daily needs and of the needs of my house. My heart breaks for what I feel I am missing out on...my children.

When they think back on their lives, will I have been a good mom? In their future opinion of me is it worth me not being here as much as I feel I should be? What kind of example am I setting for them to follow?

Perhaps I am needing to re-evaluate somethings...

Jeff Healey dies at 41!!

After a lifelong battle with cancer, Jeff Healey has passed on. I found inspiration in a man who did not let a rare form of cancer rob him of living life and who became quite successful inspite of his illness...

What can you expect?

Jellybean has been fascinated by sushi for the past year and a half or so; it seems like it has been even longer than that. We walked past a sushi food court type "restaurtant" while we were in a mall down in The States in October and she went just about nuts. We had just eaten though so we didn't try any.

On Saturday we are getting a friend of ours over; BigB and he will go shopping for the ingredients and we will be trying sushi.

Jellybean is completly pumped and can't wait for Saturday. Not only is her friend from Japan coming to her house but she gets to eat sushi! I really hope it lives up to her expectations.

Boys are funny

Tonight as I was bathing Jellybean and Bug, Bug asked if he could use his dad's body wash (Red Zone or something like that) because he wanted to smell like a boy. I figured that would be ok so, he smells like a boy. He and Jellybean were just cleaning up the "splash" mess all over the bathroom floor when Jellybean says to him, "you smell like a boy."

"No I don't! I smell like a MA_AN!"

As he said that he must have slipped on the wet floor because I heard a slight thud followed by a deep (for a 4 year old) boy's voice say, "Ah, that might have hurt."

Sometimes I laugh at the things I over hear my children saying and I just have to write them down so I don't forget...you never know when you get an opportunity to tell a funny story.

He thinks he's gonna knock us down huh?

Well, that old Prince of Darkness really tried to get to us this morning but I've got news for him; it never worked. BigB and I got up and got ourselves ready for work this morning. He called down to get Rush, who hasn't been feeling well the past couple of days, as she needed to be upstairs; Bug and Jellybean were up and she was babysitting today.

She climbed up the stairs looking like death warmed over but that isn't uncommon for her first thing in the morning especially when she is sick. BigB & I started our vehicles and Rush looked at the note that I had written of things I wanted her and the kids to do today. In a small voice she said, "I feel like I'm going to pass out." And no sooner was it said than it was done and she was on the floor and rigid. When she came to, we slowly sat her up and asked all those 'who are you' questions; Bill helped her to her feet and bam, it happened again but this time she started to convulse, her face was whiter than I have ever seen anyone look, her eyes rolled back into her head and after the 5-10 seconds of convulsing her body went completely rigid.

Between faints, I was on the phone with my boss to let her know I wouldn't be at work so she caught all the comotion of the second including my hanging up in her ear to call 911. I managed to stay on the phone with 911, keep Jellybean and Bug in his room, wrangle the cat into our room so that she wouldn't get in the paramedics' way and managed not to get tied up in the cord as I was using the wall phone.

BigB did a lot of stuff that I didn't realize he had time to do in the time frame it was done; he prayed for Rush, called my dad, called the church, called Wayne, called Charmayne to come get the younger 2 kids. I went with Rush in the ambulance and BigB followed behind and somehow he called another heap load of family members.

We were at the Emergency Room for 2 or 3 hours. They figure that she has a weird flu strain and that she got really dehydrated and that is what caused her fainting and convulsions. An IV and some blood work later, she is at home with me for the next couple of days and I am pumping the fluids into her like you wouldn't believe.

I have got the kids back with me now; we are all fed and watered, dishes are pretty much done. I have helped Bug heal a finger he bit terribly hard whilst eating and healed Jellybean's hurt feelings when Bug measured her head and told her that her head was 70, 89.

This all before 1 P.M. I am curious to see what the rest of the day holds for us. I am just glad to say that we have managed to lean on God during our difficulties this morning and our "trivial" injuries after that.

It all reminds me of that song I used to hear in the bar all the time..."I get knocked down but I get up again. You're never gonna keep me down..."
Maybe he is able to knock us down once in a while but but we bounce back ready, willing and able to hit back, twice as hard!

Editted to add:

Do you know where the poor girl had to hit her face when she fainted the initial time? Do you seriously think this is fair? The one bruise is finally completely gone and ...she hit her face on my water bottle causing a much smaller bruise right on this same spot

You never know who you will love

This morning found me with my 7 year old daughter heartbroken in my arms. She was crying for a man she has never met but has always loved with all her heart, a man she has a connection to through her name. Before Jellybean was born her Uncle Perry was killed in a car accident and she was named after him as we wanted her to have a connection to him.

Today there were lots of questions about who Perry was, how he died, what he was like and if he believed in God. She cried in my arms for about a half an hour for the man that she loves with all her heart but hasn't met.

Kind of ironic since it is Family Day today.

How romantic is that?

Do you know what would be the perfect gift for my husband to get me right now, and since it is almost Valentine's Day...?

A maid.

Is that the most romantic thing you've heard or what? Seriously though nothing says romance like "let me find someone else to clean the house for you" or how about "you and I just sit here and watch them clean?"

We have been busy the last while and I know everyone says they are busy but I was trying to get our calendars all straightened out the other day and I thought, "Wow! We truly are a very active family."

BigB and I both work full time Mon through Fri. I work at BPs Tues and Thurs nights; he goes to school Tues through Fri nights. Rush delivers papers every day except Sun and has dance Wed evenings. We have Church services Wed. and Fri. nights and Sun. days. Worship practice is in there too as well as some of the ladies like to get together Mondays for coffee. Jellybean & Bug have Reading with the Raiders one Tues a month after school (I think that is done now though). Whew, I should have been a juggler...grin!

I haven't even gotten to the point where I even know where to fit laundry in or floor scrubbing so therefore, I think a maid would be the perfect gift especially for Valentine's Day. Roses wither and die and are just one more thing to throw out (keep in mind they are nice once in a while). Get me a maid, a massage gift certificate or a frozen homemade casserole to throw in my freezer for days we just can't muster the time to make anything from scratch. Now that is romantic!

Before I actually post this, I must clarify one thing, I am by no means complaining about our schedules. We are all very happy doing what we do. I am just wondering if, perhaps, God would reconsider this 7 days in a week thing and maybe make it 8 or if He could give us a 30 hour clock instead of a 24 hour clock. That would be cool.

Just so her teacher knows...

She has been practicing even though both of our lives have been a bit too chaotic for a lesson to be planned...hopefully soon.

Excitement overtook him

The day seemed to drag today for Bug as he anxiously awaited game time but finally it was time to go. He has been very excited about this hockey game and has all ready enjoyed the other part of his prize as I read him "Brady, Brady and the Super Skater" just last night.

He only made it half way through the 2nd period and got kind of bored but on the way out he saw one of his Raider "friends" from Reading with the Raiders who was sitting out of the game as he is hurt. Bug was thrilled when the Raider recognized him (this is the one Bug told he wasn't afraid of nothin'). Bug and Dad stopped by to see me at BPs but it was so very busy there tonight there wasn't a place to sit but it sure was nice to see Bug's eyes light up when he saw me and how he gave me that sweet little wave.

BigB said Bug fell asleep before they even got home but he sure was happy as he fell asleep.

Bug's big adventure

It hasn't happened yet and I'm not even sure if he knows about it yet or not but, Bug won two tickets to the Raider game on Saturday. It will be his first time getting to see a hockey game other than on tv. He will be going with his daddy and they will have a really good time. I don't know who they're playing (Joanne, I know you will know.) but I know there will be anticipation, excitement and astonishment. I just hope that the boys play a good game so he can see up close and personal what it's like. Are you allowed to take cameras to the games?

For our American Friends and Family

Today was minus 43 Farenheit! Yup! It was bitter cold and this morning the fog lay on the ground like a goose down blanket (thick and lumpy? YES!). Oh, I don't think they took the windchill into account for that temperature. Schools were closed; buses weren't running and the diehard smokers were even second guessing their desire to have a smoke. :)

That smokey haze that makes it look like a bad picture is the fog(taken at 7:30 this morning) but here is a much better and lovlier picture that Marc took of the fog at some point. While we were going to work you couldn't see the on-coming cars until they were right beside you, the on-coming pedestrians either. It was so foggy that we heard a small voice come from Jellybean in the back seat of the van, "Daddy, I think we are very, very lost. I don't know where I am."

Now to do a little preaching to myself and my fellow weather complainers...

This cold snap has brought tragedies along with it...several deadly accidents and this...to name a few. So, I set my inconveniences aside from this annual occurance of harsh prairie weather; who cares that I have to plug my van in all the time or go start it several times during the course of the work day just so it will start at home time? Who cares that we need to dig out our long johns and undershirts and can't go outside for more than 5 minutes at a time? My kids are safe in their beds and for that I am so very thankful.

Ah..."The grapevine"...

What would we do without that precious grapevine? How would we survive without our daily dose of "harmless" gossip? I can tell you that I am completely sick of it! It utterly disgusts me!!! I listen to people talking about this person or that person and how she is doing this or that and it is revolting. I took a bit of a stand on it today and I don't regret it at all.

I also got a personal reminder of what it is like to be the one being gossiped about. Rush came home from school today telling us that she had been called to Student Services. The lady there then proceeded to tell Rush that she had "heard it through the grapevine that you been hit by your boyfriend."

Let's disect this for a minute:

1. Rush doesn't have a boyfriend therefore he could not have hit her.

2. Where are the witnesses to this so called beating? I can tell you where they are; one of them is downstairs doing her homework and the other is in her house with her family feeling quite badly about what she accidentally did to Rush. I can also tell you that neither of them saw my daughter being beaten by her non-existant boyfriend.

3. It says in The Bible, "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death" (Deut 17:6) but these teachers and staff have tried and convicted some poor boy that doesn't even exist because of the "word on the grapevine".

4. If my daughter can look you in the eye and tell you with an unwaivering voice that that is not what happened and proceeds to tell you what did happen, do not call her a liar.

I understand and appreciate the motives behind their concern. I also think that it is great to know that something would be done if my daughter were to have a boyfriend right now and that boyfriend should happen to be silly enough to lay his hands on her, that the teachers will promptly act. I find no fault in them arranging a meeting with her to talk with her about it; I do find fault with whomever did the talking without doing any listening.

Why are people constantly on a witch hunt? Why must there always be a scandal? Perhaps we live in a society with too much CSI, Law & Order (both of these shows I like to watch occasionally too) or too much Desperate Housewives or Grey's Anatomy or something. Why, oh, why do we have to always have someone to hang even if there is no reason to hang them? If my son can darn near poke his eye out doing up his binder my daughter can become severely bruised by a suddenly opened locker.

People seem to constantly have to be talking about someone else or putting their nose in someone else's business or something. It seems it is more probable for them to believe the scandal. Sometimes the truth is just the truth.

Just look at that face!!!

I came home from BPs last night to see this on my beautiful baby's face...

She was accidentally hit by a locker at school when the child next to her opened their locker in quite a haste. It took a lot for this mama to not find out who this child was and beat their butt. That wouldn't have been the greatest thing for me to do as a Christian but that was my carnal instinct. I couldn't look at her last night without wanting to cry for her and I am really hoping that when they saw her today that they realized the consequences of their behavior...

From the mouths of babes

Last Saturday while the kids were eating breakfast I was folding some clothes in my room. Bug came into the room to ask me a question that was weighing heavy on his precious heart.

So, no beating around the bush, no nothing...here it is and how the heck would you have answered this spur of the moment?

"Mom, if God doesn't talk to you for a real long time does that mean He doesn't live in your heart anymore?"

Jeepers.

HUH???

Bug is "afraid" of the dark; when I tuck him in I need to make sure that the bathroom light is left on or he has a panic attack and can not go to sleep.

He is not feeling well tonight; his nose is so stuffed up he can't breathe through his nose at all so I got him some of that Watkins stinky oil stuff to put on a kleenex to destuff him. As I was leaving the room, he asked if I could get him a cold cloth, which I usually use when I have a headache or am just not feeling 100%. I asked him if he wanted it to cover his eyes and he said yes.

Uh, okay?

I got the cloth, put it on his eyes for him and went to leave.

"Mom?", he says to me as I am leaving.

"Yes, Son?"

"Don't forget; you have to leave the bathroom light on."

I am not too sure how that is going to keep it from being dark in his room with that cold cloth draped across his eyes...

So, there is light in my son's room; he just can't see it.

Do you know what this means?

It means that she is growing up more and more everyday. It means that she getting closer and closer to adulthood:(... It means...it means that she can start buying some of her own clothes, some of her own eyebrow waxes, some of her own streaks, some of her own shoes and some of her own fries at the caf!!! Wahoo!!!!!!

Good times at the library

As much as I have gotten annoyed with our boys in green while serving them at BPs (not these ones in particular), I must confess that Jellybean and Bug have both really enjoyed their monthly meetings at the library for story time and a rousing game of Scattegories with these guys.

At one meeting, while being encouraged to play the game, Bug was asked what was something that he was afraid of. He looked that player straight in the eye and told him, "nuttin'!". The guy was so thrilled with Bugs answer and is really taken by our little man. Each time he sees Bug he asks him what he's afraid of.

The kids were pretty star struck, awed and quiet for the first little while but now they are old pros at dealing with these "celebrities" (local anyway). I don't think I would even give it a second thought as to if it would be worth it next year...if they want to and time permits...we'll be readin'.

"IT" has hit our house

Oh yes, it really, really has. The flu is here and with a vengence. BigB & I both got our Flu shots this year and so I was hoping to be spared of this gross, degrading virus.

Rush and Jellybean got it bad but seemed ok as they went off to bed tonight. Bug never really got too bad; in fact, instead of sleeping as he should be, he is currently in bed singing "The ABC's" at the top of his lungs. BigB seems ok just under the weather. I have slept 90% of today and still feel as though I have gotten no sleep at all.

It is difficult to get nutrients in us. I did not want to break my fruit & veggie fast; today is the last day! I did wind up breaking it for a piece of toast this afternoon to try to settle my stomach. I was certain I would be going to work tomorrow but now I really don't know. I guess only morning will tell.

So, off I go to bed with hopes and dreams of a virus free morning.

A little test

Here's a little video of Tuff taken last Jan while the kids were sliding near our house. (This is pretty much just an experiment to see how this video thing works with Blogger.)

New Beginnings in 2008!

What a week this has been!! What a year actually. Things have changed for us so much in the past 11 days and it has all been in a good way! I feel excited for 2008!

Here are some of the updates:

BigB is officially going to Bible College. He still has his job but will be at school during the evenings.

Rush got permission to finally begin the Bible Study she has been seeking at her school. She was met with great opposition at first and was told flat out no. She stuck with it and things are just falling into place.

She also has a part time job...a paper route. It's not a large paper route but a good enough size to get a decent pay cheque for a 14 year old.

I got my application for school sent in and the deadline for that is Jan 15. I was very stressed out about it, even called my husband a jerk for no reason, but I prayed as I dropped that envelope in the mailbox. It is no longer in my hands; it is in God's and, if it is not for this year,
there is always next.

Our T.V. has gotten quite a rest the last 11 days. In fact, it has barely been turned on. We have been spending our time playing board games as a family or downstairs singing.

The changes I have seen in our family in the last 11 days has astonished me! It also excites me!

He shoots, He...falls down again

The last day that Tuff and Baby K were here with us we all went skating. I say we all but I really mean everyone but me. I have been more of an observer these days when it comes to activities that could hurt my shoulder now that it is starting to heal. I am the official photographer.

Jellybean spent more time on her butt and belly than anything but she kept getting up and trying again. She's quite a trooper that one. Bug did pretty good. He actually went out on his own with no help from anyone this time around. Unfortunately he slipped, caught a fair bit of air and landed right on the back of his head; luckily, he did have his helmet on. It took him for enough of a loop though that it took him quite a while to decide to get back on the ice again.

We had a good time on the ice even with all the bumps and bruises and bruised egos and went to go home for hot chocolate. We decided to see if Grandma and Pa had hot chocolate so we could visit with them and ended up ordering a couple pizzas for supper before we left. All in all, it was a fantastic afternoon. Which proved to be a bit much for Miss Rush as the last picture will prove.

Is there a doctor at the hill?

Or more appropriately Bowling for Dummies.

Yesterday I took Jellybean and Bug sliding at Little Red where we were joined by my brother, his 2 boys and 3 of their friends. To say we were the hill bullies is an understatement. To say we were causing havoc and carnage is also an understatement. It wasn't our fault though! They were ALWAYS accidents.


When the kids & I first got there and were waiting for the others Bug and his co-pilot went flying down the hill and got turned around zooming backwards without being able to see where they were going. A last minute warning was yelled out but, alas, it was in vain, and they were bowling for families. The dad got out of the way, barely, but the mom and daughter wound up on top of the slide and its riders. Mom & child were mad; Dad thought it was funny.

Arrive the rest of our crew. S went down the hill with Jellybean and another girl and they, again, caught great speed. At the bottom of the hill, they hit a kid; I heard the pop from the top where I stood holding slides for kids to get on. I was on the phone with BigB, screaming "Oh no! Oh no!". I watched this kid as he flew up in the air and watched as my brother caught him. He just reached up and caught him and in the panic of the moment and the worry if he was ok, that looked funny-S catching him.


Dr Ramji, our local pediatrician was there sliding with his family and I looked around for him but the kid seemed to be ok. He had just been recovering from a nosebleed and S and the kids gave him a really good one. No one from our crew got hurt...S got covered in the kids blood.


Bug went down the hill on a little one person slide. I watched him as he zoomed downt he hill and I heard another pop followed by howls like I have never imagined. I ran down the hill as fast as I could until it felt like I would lose my footing and I didn't feel like tumbling down the hill with a buggered shoulder so I scooted the rest of the way on my butt to find Bug standing looking at a 9 year old boy as he howled at the top of his lungs. He thought his leg was broken; for a minute I thought his leg was broken. His leg is NOT broken.


Bug wanted to make sure he was ok so he followed him and his mom to see. He also thought they were going to call the police on him. No police were called.


Throughout the rest of our time at the hill we hit a total of 8 people, one incident involving 2 of our own kids...The only real injuries though were of those 2 kids.

All the injuries yesterday could have been prevented had people been using their noodles and watching for people at the hill sliding instead of just standing at the bottom of the hill in a daze foolishly thinking they were safe.


Who is with my brother and I in going together and getting a Cast Clinic and X-ray booth at the bottom of the hill? It could prove a worthy investment especially when the "cousins" get together!