A little belated fun...

I am the Christmas Dove.


What Christmas Ornament are you?
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Merry Christmas

Our family hopes that you will have love, peace, and joy in every day of the new year.

Happy Birthday Cake for Jesus

Merry Christmas From the Kids!

A treat for you from the girls...

Whew!

It's done for now. We are finished with classes at our co-op for Christmas break. Today was the Christmas party & program, which was very sweet. I cannot really claim any of the glory...except that I do take some pride in my own girls taking part and doing a beautiful job. All of the girls love singing, and they each performed a solo.

Hannah sang her very favorite song, "This is the Day," with such sweetness that it brought tears to my eyes. She took a graceful curtsy at the end & gave a big smile.

Sarah sang "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" and didn't even smile once...I don't think anyway, which was cute in itself. She can carry a good tune for a 3-year-old, though.

Erin sang "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer" and made me proud, too. She sings loud and clear, making it easy to listen to her sweet voice.

Lindsey wiggled, giggled, and clapped through most of it. However, when a very talented teen played his violin, my baby girl melted into sweet sleep in her Grandma's arms. Precious.

The other kids were pretty great, too. I just tend to favor my own. Who can blame me for that?

Who Knew?

I tried something today that I have never done before on my own: baked bread from scratch. I must say that it is quite delicious. The girls each had an entire little loaf. Lindsey had some and cried when it was gone. I couldn't get her more fast enough. Now, Marty may have a different opinion of the bread since he's pretty picky, but I thought it was very good.

Now I need to go exercise so I can justify eating as much as I did.

Brrrrrrrr!

An early winter has arrived in our part of Texas.

As I watched Marty scraping ice off of his windshield this morning, I was reminded of the hundreds of times I have done that in my life. From grade school until I moved to Texas in 1997, it was a regular part of my life every winter.

It used to be fun to be the first kid up in them morning so I could be the one to sweep the deep snow off the car. Not just the windshield, but the whole car...with the big push broom, mind you. Then, when I started driving, it was already in my head that it was normal to have to chip ice & snow away every morning since we didn't put our vehicles in the garage. As I became an adult, scraping the ice off the car was drudgery for me. It was quite nice to move to Texas where it is only necessary a few times a year. I don't miss it at all.

Today is certainly cold here. We are not expected to get above freezing today. School is out almost everywhere around here. The girls spent a little time outside touching the ice and snow. It didn't last long, though, because they have misplaced their mittens and gloves for the time being. Those items end up being dress-up clothes once in awhile because my girls have to pretend to have winter. Part of me is sad that my kids won't have the same kind of snow experiences that I grew up having. Another part if me is glad because they get to have something different that we can share together.

We are staying warm now, drinking hot cocoa and eating popcorn. Those are good memories for all of us.

First Self-Feeding

Lindsey loves mashed potatoes, as you can see.





Lindsey has fed herself finger foods before now. This was the first time she used an eating utensil. It was fun to watch and it was hard not to do it for her. She wouldn't have let me help anyway, though. She's pretty determined.

Toothless Times Three

Erin lost her 3rd tooth last night. It was, surprisingly, not the tooth we thought would be next. But as you can see from the photo, the one we thought it would be is not too far from coming out, too.

She was so giddy about it that I thought she was going to burst into hysterics. She had to call her Grandma even though it was already 10 pm. She has calmed down some today, but she still giggles when she tried to say certain words that cause her to spit uncontrollably due to the gap. It's a fun day for sure!

This just in...

I was sent this photo taken on Thanksgiving. It says alot about thankfulness. Don't you think? This adorable little boy is my nephew, Cade. He's very huggable, as you can see.

Happy Thanksgiving

My prayer for all of my family and friends is that today you will find many things to be thankful for. I am thankful for the love of God in my life. He has blessed me more than I can say in one short post.

Here is something that I am pleased with today. My girls & I made these fun cupcakes to share with the cousins at today's meal. The were great fun to do & not really too hard. I did the tricky parts, the girls just put them together.

The Caffeine Wean

I've been at it for over a week...trying to wean myself of my daily dose of caffeine. I admit that I'm doing it begrudgingly, yet it must be done. I know there are studies that say a little coffee is good for you...then there are the ones that say it can do you harm. I never know who is right. Since there is a chance I'll actually improve my health over it, I'm doing it...very slowly...in fact I'm taking 3-4 weeks to do it.

I'm on week 2. So far so good. The only headache I had was Saturday because I mistakenly bought coffee from a coffee shop instead of making it myself. I think the lady gave me decaf by mistake. I can't blame her, I had an unusual order. I had all 4 kids with me & she had several phone calls in the ordering process. That can be quite distracting when it's all at once.

I'm following a basic idea from this article. Last week I reduced my caffeine by 25%. This week I'm on 50%.

I'm curious to know if anyone can tell me how the Teeccino Caffeine-Free Herbal Coffee / Coffee Substitute Coffee Alternative tastes. I enjoy my morning coffee, as some of you already know. I don't mind tea once in awhile...and really, decaf doesn't taste good unless I get the very expensive kind. I'm open to advice & suggestions if you want to email or comment.

One More Soldier Home!

Woo Hoo!

I just got word that my cousin's husband is home from Iraq. There was a big homecoming and celebration as the soldiers arrived at the airport. I could see in the photos that emotions were running on overtime. They are already having a thanksgiving heart. Our prayers have been answered the way we wanted them to be!

For those who are not yet home, we pray and stand fast in the faith.

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV)

*fixed the photo problem

Slowly, but surely...

I suppose I ought to be thankful for sickness. It teaches me a lot about myself. It's hard to be thankful, though, when you are getting coughed on, sneezed on, and puked on at least 20 hours of the day. Sleep gives its precious comfort only a few hours at a time. It's hard to be thankful when you can barely get out of bed...and only do so to make sure your kids are still breathing.

But, I am thankful for many things after this illness that has crept inside our house for the last week or so.

* All the children are still breathing, playing, and fussing. Okay, so I'm not thankful for the actual bickering...just for the energy it takes to do so.

*My dear husband has not had to miss any work over this. He's been a bit sick, but not enough to miss work.

*We have health insurance in case we need it.

*We have had enough medicine & nourishment.

and best of all...

*I got to hug my girls often and say a few more prayers than usual.

God is good.

Adventures in Babyland

Croup.



*yawn*


The little one is on the mend. Last night brought 4 consecutive hours of sleep for the first night since Tuesday.

Need I say more?

Treats for you

Only 2 photos turned out for us tonight.

At least they were good ones!




PS-sorry I forgot to include this info before...

Sarah was a duck.
Hannah was a princess.

All very cute.

Too Pooped to Pop!

Lindsey had a great day. She was pretty much smiles all day long. Only a few times did she protest anything. She did not protest after her party when I put her in the playpen while I cleaned up. About 20 minutes later I found her fast asleep.

Our camera is not working so I can't show you a photo...But there is a photo of her cake here.

No Contest

Yesterday was a long day for me. By the time I was getting the kids into the van after school, I was feeling quite tired. I explained to the girls that I had planned to go to Target after school, but now I changed my mind because I didn't have the energy.

Sarah, looking sympathetic with puppy-dog eyes, said to me, "That's okay, Mommy. It's not a contest."

Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies

Or so it's been said.

One of my favorite memories of my Nana, who passed away 2 years ago yesterday, is that we would giggle about how we mixed up our letters in phrases. It was not unusual for one of us to say Hizza Put or some crazy mixed-up word.

Well, Wednesday I received an email with the prize winning letter mix up. Unfortunately, it was a preacher who said it during a sermon. As I watched the video clip, I could hear Nana's laughter ringing through my heart.

See for yourself.

Here are two websites where you can see the video. The websites also give a little info about the preacher, Blake Bergstrom.

1. Pitching Tents


2. When sermons go awry
Scroll down a bit to the link in the text that says "release the video":

Have a good laugh!

A New Verse

The girls were just singing "Oh, be careful little hands what you do..." you know the song. Well, Erin began a new verse: "Oh, be careful little nose what you smell..." After she finished, Hannah asked, "What does that mean?"
Erin in her "teacher voice" said, "You know, like if there is a burning smell...well...if you smell something...hmmm...I don't know. It's just the way it goes, Hannah."

Christmas is Coming

Now that I have kids, Christmas just seems to be coming sooner & sooner every year. Wasn't it just a few months ago? Erin just asked how many days until it's here...66 days, and counting. This website gives a Countdown 'til Christmas right down to the last second.

Remember when it seemed like forever? Now I just hope I can get it all done in time!

Three Winners!!

Of course we already knew they were, didn't we??

Erin's entry won an overall award for "Most Comical."

Hannah's pumpkin won "Most Original."

Sarah's ladybug won FIRST PRIZE in her age group.

We have had so much fun doing this the last two years. Of course, as Hannah says, winning is fun, too.

Sneak Preview

Here are the girls' entries for the Pumpkin Palooza.
They did such a great job!

**Sarah did not want to take off the hat for ANY reason.

Back Home

Lindsey and I returned home yesterday afternoon. We had a short reunion with family and friends to celebrate the life of my Grandpa. Thank you all for your prayers and ((hugs))! At first, I hadn't planned on going. I didn't realize that the services were going to be on the weekend. Once that was set, my Montana family decided to make a way for me to go. Thanks to my husband and Rita & Mitzi, the bigger girls were taken care of while I was gone.

All 17 grandchildren were there. Even my cousin who lives in Germany arrived in time for the Saturday service. It was touching to see everyone. My grandfather touched people's lives in so many different ways.

Now it's back to my routine. There is always something to be done around here, so I'd better get to it!

1917-2005 Edwin Anderson

He was my grandfather, and I loved him dearly. He taught me how to play the guitar when I was 12. I have long since forgotten how. I'll never forget his patience, though, when I kept making the same mistake over & over.

He had a gift in his hands to make ordinary things beautiful. When I look at the few things I have, I know he made them just for me. I'm sad that my children won't know him like I did.

When I was little, he used to let me sit on his lap while he let his wheelchair roll down the ramp. Sometimes I thought he would tip us over, but he never did. He was good at it since he had been doing it for years. I never saw him walk, but that never mattered.

He loved my Grandma with every part of his heart. Pray for her.

When he sang 'Amazing Grace' he truly meant every word. Today he died while listening to it. He will be missed, but I know he is dancing now.




Click here for his obituary.

Happy Birthday, Rita

She's my mother-in-law.

She is the nicest mother-in-law anyone could ever hope to have. Not only did she give birth to & raise (with help from my father-in-law, of course) my very nice Marty, but she saw to it that he could read a recipe, clean up after himself (I said he can...not that he does), and iron well enough to teach me a little more than I knew about it.

In addition to that:

**She has never once complained about how I neglect housework
**She is generous with anything she has to those who need it and even to those who don't.
**The sweet potato casserole she makes is food perfection.
**When any normal woman would be sobbing under holiday pressure, she is graceful, patient, and in control.
**Whenever there is a bargain, she will find it.
**When she loves you, there is no doubt about it.

Happy Birthday, Dearest Rita!

We love you!

Kuppa Jo

September 29th is Coffee Day according to 123Greetings.com

In college, I worked where there was a coffee cart right outside the door. That was when I truly became a lover of coffee. I tried all kinds of flavors because it was cheaper to get the flavor of the day. Two of the best combinations were Snickerdoodle, and Raspberry Mocha. Yummmmm

The worst by far was Banana Split. I have enjoyed a cup of coffee (black) while eating a banana split. Maybe it would have been better on ice, but I'm not going to try that...ugh!


I know I go on & on about coffee, but a Mommy's gotta have something that's not related to diapers, laundry, and drool.

I Missed Chocolate Day-9/23

How could I?

Well, frankly, every day is chocolate day...isn't it?

I was reading this blog of another mommy & she gets all the credit for this great revision of Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love." She is giving up sugar for 2 weeks. Been there, done that. Not fun.

I'm gonna have to face it


Your (fridge) lights are on, but you're not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another (Hershey's) kiss is what it takes
You can't sleep, you can't eat sugar
There's no doubt, you're in deep
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe
Another (Hershey's) kiss is all you need
Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to sugar
You see the labels, but you can't read
You're runnin' at a different OVERspeed
Your heart beats in double time
Another (Hershey's) kiss and you'll be mine, a one track mind
You can't be saved
Sweet stuff is all you crave
If there's some cake left for you
You don't mind if you do
Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to sugar
Three days down, eleven to go.....

First Days of School

The girls are LOVING school. Even Lindsey seems to be adjusting well to napping elsewhere.

I had trouble getting pictures the first day, and I forgot by the second day...so yesterday I took one lone picture of Sarah in her class.


More photos to come as I remember to take them.

Sarah's Bible Time

Sarah: (singing) a b c d e f....e f....e f....e f...g ...(long pause)---Mommy, where is H?

Me: Right after G.

Sarah: No, in the BIble.

Me: It's on a lot of the pages, not just one.

Sarah: Oh....(turning pages and searching) h-h-h- OH! There it is.

WOW! (Runs to me)

Mommy, look! It's Texas! (A map of Israel)

Me: No, Sweetie. That's not Texas. It's Israel.

Sarah: Oh---Can I eat my Doritos now?

Marty

My life is forever changed by the birth of Marty Dale Scott.

I am so thankful.

Today is the day I celebrate his life.

Happy Birthday, Marty.

Happy Birthday, Daddio!

Patrick Charles Nicholes is OLD today!
Love ya, Dad.
Hope you enjoy yourself somehow. Here's a picture to make you smile.


That was such a great bathtub! The blue water made it the best ever.

Growing Up

Erin lost her first tooth today. It was very exciting and unexpected. We just discovered that it was loose last night. This afternoon she was eating a popsicle and something happened...2 minutes later, the tooth was out!

Wooo Hooo!!


You can see how excited she is. It is such a special day for my oldest "baby."

Brave Hannah!

Hannah was hesitant, but she did it! She jumped off the diving board all by herself. I am so proud of her. She even did it TWICE!





I can't forget to show how brave Aubrie is, too. She's not even 2 yet and she jumps off the diving board, too!

Kimmy!

My best friend of over 20 years is celebrating her birthday today!!

We forst met when i was in 3rd grade. We didn't actually become friends for a few years after that, but when we did, it really stuck. She's' seen me at my worst & loves me anyway. Sometimes I wonder why we are friends because we are opposite ina lot of areas (such as housekeeping skills).

So, Kimmy, enjoy your day & have a piece of cake for me, too!

Love ya!

Countdown

My girls could not be happier about going to school.
I found this fun website where you can count down or up to anything. So, I made this ticker for the girls to watch:

Waaaaaa...

I'm such a baby. My sister left this morning and I'm still weepy. The girls just got up and asked about her. I had to say that she was gone already. They almost cried, too, and probably would have if they hadn't been distracted by Honeycomb (a sweet=treat breakfast that I usually don't buy).

So now I sit drinking my coffee alone. I haven't had solo coffee for almost a month.

Pictures of our trip will be coming soon enough. We don't have our scanner hooked up anymore so I am having Jenni scan them & email them to me. We had such a great time. It was one of the best trips I've ever had with the kids. I'm sad it's over, but I knew it was coming.



Thanks, Jennifer. It was very sweet of you to be with us for so long.

We're Back!

Whew!

That was quite a trip. It was well worth the stress, though.

I got to hug my grandfather for what is likely to be the last time I see him. It was very sad.

There was a short earthquake while I was staying at my friend Kim's house. So strange to be sitting and feel the whole house move around us. Her house is over 100 years old, so it was scary to think of the old wood falling around us. I think the Richter scale rated it as a 5.6. That night I slept with all 4 of my children in the same bed. Thankfully it was a king-size bed!

I learned that my children are soooo much like my sisters, Jennifer and Jessica, and I as we were growing up. It was fun to look at them and watch the different personalities and say, "She is just like you!" to each other.

I met my newest nephew and he is adorable. Christian is only about 3 months old and I would have loved to hug him some more.

There was so much more to our trip than that, but it will have to wait to be told.

Now it's time to clean and get some groceries back in the fridge. I did get to come home to fresh bread and milk, thanks to the sweetest Mother-in-Law ever. The kids loved the bananas and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, too. Thanks, Rita!

Vacation Funny

I was visiting with my best friend, and her 4 year-old son said, "You need to come to our house because we have...CHEESE!"

He's a keeper.

Happy Trails!

We are leaving for our road trip tomorrow. I don't know the exact date of our return.

We will be in Wyoming and Montana for about 3 weeks.

I'll write when I return.

My Sister, Jenni

She's here! I can have coffee this morning with her. It will be a glorious morning. Well, when she wakes up, that is...she's all tuckered out from traveling yesterday and waking with my baby a few times in the night. She insisted...really. I love her.

The girls keep wondering how she can be my little sister if she's taller than me. They are just loving "the girl that Mommy brought home" as Hannah says.

Birthday Photos

The birthday party went very well and the girls even got a swimming party. We didn't get home until after 9pm. It was a great day for Sarah and the rest of us, too.


Lindsey is crawling

Sarah's Cousins-Aubrie and Cade

Yummy Candy Necklace

July 9th is Sarah's Day

Sarah is our lover of birthdays...it doesn't matter whose it is, she just wants to be a part of it.
Sarah shows so much promise to be a warrior for God's Kingdom. She is determined, smart, and has a great sense of humor. I love to see her sweet smile. Oftentimes lately she is pushing someone's buttons to see how loud they can yell, but I can see that she is just trying to make a place for herself in the group. It must be hard being the third one in the bunch. I wouldn't know, since I'm the oldest. She's pretty tough and outspoken; Being cute is just natural for her.

Cake and Ice cream at noon--our house!

The Cake

Here is an advance view of the cake. I made it ahead of time so that I wouldn't be stressed out about it tomorrow. Turns out that it was a good thing since the party is at noon.

Old Faithful

You can enjoy the wonder of Old Faithful from the comfort of your own computer chair!

Old Faithful Geyser WebCam - Yellowstone National Park

If you are reading this post after dark, you won't see anything since there are no lights on the geyser.

As I was watching this webcam, I remembered going here as a kid and being so in awe of this...for about 5 minutes...then you have to wait a LONG time for it to erupt again. It's fun now to keep watching the screen refresh and watch how many people gather around the predicted eruption.

ESP Mommy

I was trying to communicate to the girls that asking for food an hour after dinner is frustrating for me. I said to Hannah, "You girls have got to stop asking for food right after dinner."

Hannah replied, "Okay, Mommy. Maybe you should just know that we want food after dinner."

No Greater Joy

3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

This is my heart today. Erin asked about salvation and I was able to tell her the truth. Then, she said her own prayer to ask for salvation. What a joy it is to know she is walking in truth, as much a 6-year-old can.

Just an idea

There are too many blogs to read. I get sucked into reading them all too often...argh!

This page should pop up whenever a person spends more than an hour reading blogs!

One of our songs...

If you have never heard this song, you should try to find a copy of it.
If you have iTunes you can listen to the first few bars there for free and/or buy it for 99 cents.
It's the first in a Trilogy on "I'll Lead You Home" by Michael W. Smith.


THE OTHER SIDE OF ME

If they were to write about
The story of my life
They would have to mention you
With every page they’d write
There’s another side to every story told
If I were the ocean
You would be the shore
And one without the other one
Would be needing something more
We are the shadow and the light

Chorus:
Always love me
(and) never leave me now
(and) now you are the other side of me
Always love me
(and) never leave me now
(and) now you are the other side of me

I have known the emptiness
Of feeling out of touch
And living life without you here
Would be living half as much
Cause I’ve a need that only you can fill

If love was mathematical
You’d understand the sum
To the heart’s equation
Where one and one makes one
And lonely equals me minus you

Chorus





Words & music: michael w. smith and wayne kirkpatrick

Happy Anniversary to Us...

Today is 7 years since I married the man formerly known as Calvin. When we met in 1997, I was living in the middle of nowhere, really. It was my first year out on my own and teaching in a very small town. I was limited in my budget, so I opted for internet service rather than cable TV. On my trusty old Performa 5200 I had found Disciple Chat, a Christian chat room which is no longer in existence as I knew it.

I needed some computer help and to my surprise someone in the chat room actually had the same kind of computer! It was this guy named Calvin who had a good sense of humor. He offered to help me with my computer problem, but it would have to be on the phone instead of the chat room. I called (or maybe he did...I can't remember) and the problem was solved in no time at all. We talked for hours, though, about anything we could. The phone calls continued and the phone bills were HUGE! So much for budgeting. I spent more on those phone calls than I would have on cable and the internet AND a plane ticket.

I bought the plane ticket anyway. He was in Houston and his family was a few hours from there. So, I jumped in and met the whole clan and loved them immediately. Long story short...I moved to Houston and got an apartment in the same complex as Marty. After a few ups and downs, we got married in 1998.

Now, four children and about a million unique moments later, we celebrate our anniversary with the Polka Dot Girls. Three of our four daughters have chicken pox...so we won't be going out to a nice dinner anytime soon. Tonight will probably be just like any other for us...and we like it that way.

***
Happy Anniversary, Calvinator!
***

Still Smiling

Still Smiling
Originally uploaded by Jody Scott.

This sweet girl is still smiling with at least a hundred spots on her head and shoulders.

Precious Lindsey

Lindsey
Originally uploaded by Jody Scott.

A moment of non-itchiness due to being doused with calamine.

Swimming fun!

Click here to see how cute the girls are as of today!

Swimming fun on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Not that I have time to read or anything...

I found these blogs for mommy-types that might prove to be entertaining or educational.
It is one link that has multiple links to other mommy-friendly blogs. I went on a few clicks and some are not for the conservative-sheltered folks. There were some TMI entries to say the least, but some were enjoyable.

dot-moms.com

There is a section on the left if you scroll down a bit. It has the other blog links.
I didn't have time to check them all out, but I enjoyed:

A Gaggle of Girls

A Proverbs 31 Woman

and this not-so-desperate housewife had this to say:
Thoughts to ponder

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

So true in many ways.



Just a note-
I did have some free time on my hands today because my sweet MIL took the 3 big girls swimming this morning. When I don't have the kids around I know I should be cleaning or something...but it was so quiet after the baby went back to sleep that I felt like reading blogs.
Thanks, Rita...you should know that you are one-of-a-kind wonderful!

Still Poxing

Just as Hannah is getting better, I find that the baby is now getting the dreaded pox. I really wouldn't have been stressed out if the other 2 bigger girls came down with chicken pox...but the poor baby. I feel so sad for her. She only has about 20 or so. The first ones showed up Monday. Since it's already Wednesday, I'm going to assume she won't get as many as Hannah got. I hope I'm not wrong.

Linsday hates the Benadryl with a passion. It is a struggle to get her to swallow it. I think that is the only medicine that made Hannah survive without getting too out of conrol with the scratching. The Cortaid� lotion was great, too. I used it sparingly, and it still was helpful. She was able to tell me which spots were troublesome. Lindsey can't do that & she will cry a shrill cry until it passes. It breaks my heart. She's sleeping right now, but when she wakes I think I will have to hold her until it's time for another nap. So much for folding any laundry...unless I hurry up here, right?

During her first nap I managed to clean and shine up a 4x6 section fo our wood floors with the Orange Glo Hardwood Floor Care System. It did a pretty good job for what shape our floors are in. When we (meaning my Dear Marty) tore up the old carpet in 2001 we should have had them redone. I kept thinking I wanted more carpet...but now that I think about it, I guess the hard wood is a nice feature in the house. Getting it shiny clean is a battle since there really isn't any shine left on it.

I suppose I ought to get up and clean...joyfully, of course, knowing that I am glorifying God with every effort. I confess that I forget my joy sometimes. I am working on finding it more often.

Psalm 113:9, “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.”

For an uplifting message on this subject, see THE REFORMED WITNESS HOUR: Joyful Mothers (Ps. 113:9)

PS-I am not familiar with the theology behind this pastor's denomination (PRCA). This article was just one that I ran across and found encouragement in reading.

Dad was right

Happy Father's Day!
I have 2 Dads and 1 father-in-law to honor today
I can't forget my Grandfathers, either.

Top 15 Things They Were Right About

1) Pray & Believe
2) Honesty is the best policy
3) Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey
4) Family is important
5) Work hard
6) This too shall pass
7) Ask questions
8) Really listen to people
9) Nobody is perfect
10) I do not need more shoes
11) Spend wisely, which is not always cheaply
12) If you think you can't you won't
13) Music is theraputic
14) Bugs are even more scared of me than I am of them
15) Mom is beautiful

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today is my Dear Mother's birthday.

When I think of my mom I think of...
singing
black licorice
pretty dresses
coffee and conversation
unending devotion


I love you, Mom.

Here is one of my favorite photos:

Erin and Gramma Mary

Take it or leave it

This looked like something I'd enjoy, so I clicked on it.



It's not from a big corporation that sells your email. It's from someone who offers personal book reviews and articles. Tim, the owner of the website, just thinks it's fun to give stuff away.

Tough Week

Well, I haven't written for several days because I didn't want to whine about how hard of a week it's been. So, I won't. ;-)

The highlights:

SCHOOL
We are getting excited about this fall & school. We are a homeschooling family and Erin just finished up her first year. I actually need to confess that I haven't done much of anything. She was already reading by age 4. We did a little math and other miscellaneous projects, but for the most part it was more like "live and learn" school.
We really need to get more into school mode for this coming year, so we are going to be a part of a co-op. There are 11 families (so far) who meet twice a week. Each mom teaches a couple of small classes and the kids are learning with friends. There is a class for each of them, even the baby. I think this will benefit all of us. It might be tough to break our old habits and routines, but it will be for the best. I'll get to visit with other moms and get my "grown-up fix" that I need once in awhile. The kids will make some new friends who are not in school 5 days a week. They won't have to wait for the weekend to play with someone else. It will be the adventure Hannah is always asking to have.

HOME
We are now the proud owners of a piano. It is pretty old and warped in spots, but it plays a fair tune. The girls can't leave it alone. It's a lot of fun. I grew up with a piano. My mom plays by ear very well. I can play some things by ear...but only in the key of C. Not very great, but the kids love it when I play for them. I think we really needed some live music in the house. It has been good for Hannah to have a new distraction this past week.


VACATION
The time is nearing for my sister to come and visit. She is going to fly in from Montana on July 12. We are then going to go on a road trip to Wyoming and Montana for a family reunion. It should be fun. Well, not the driving part, but mostly it should be fun. The girls want to go see snow, so we might have to take a trip up one of the mountains. Yes, in Montana, there is still snow in the mountains in July. I think Marty saw some when we went there for our wedding reception in July of '98. Marty will not be getting a vacation anytime soon. He's busy with work, theatre, and work again. One of these days we will have another family vacation. Maybe Christmas in Wyoming again...???


KIDS

Hannah is the only one (as of today) who has chicken pox. She is pretty much done getting new ones, but now the scabs are itching her. She's been quite a trooper. I'm so proud of her for not whining in spite of having over 200 spots. 40 of which are on her head, face and neck! We found some cute chicken pox songs on iTunes. It has brought a lot of giggles to hear about someone else's adventures in scratching.

Erin is in her final days of Children's Summer Theatre Experience. We've been waiting to see if she would have the pox before it ends. She has 4 performances from this afternoon until Sunday. Keep saying prayers that she won't get them until it's over.

Sarah is anticipating her birthday on a daily basis. She insists on keeping the calendar set on July already so she can "check on" her birthday. She tells complete strangers that she is going to be "fwee" on her birthday, which is in "Januly".

Lindsey is so big! I had to put her in a different car seat because she is over 20 lbs. already. She sits up on her own. Her crawling skills are getting better every day. Whew! Time flies by so quickly. I was hoping she would be able to say "Dada" by Father's Day, but so far it has been one big dadadadadadadadada even when Daddy's not home. Of course, in our experience, once we get the girls talking there's no getting them to be quiet. This one will fit right in, I'm sure of it.

Hannah on Chicken Pox

Hannah is sitting in her oatmeal bath and says solemnly, "Mommy, why did God make chicken pox?"

Of course I don't have a simple answer, so I say, "Sometimes only God knows just what He is doing, Hannah, Dear. They will go away soon...hopefully."

She pauses and then, "Well, I'm glad you can still hug me. If Daddy had chicken pox you could still hug him, too, and not get chicken pox. Grown ups can touch anything, well, except dangerous fish."

And that was that.

The waiting is over

Well, it has finally arrived. I've been waiting for about 2 weeks.

The chicken pox is officially in our house.
Hannah woke up this morning with the telltale spots and has sprouted more throughout the day. She isn't miserable...yet. I am dreading the moment when she realizes how itchy they are. I'm guessing that she has at least 30 spots so far. Some are really close together so that one might actually be three. Most of the day has been spent playing Polly Pockets® which has distracted her enough to forget that she is sick.

So I guess I can expect the others to be getting spots soon enough.

Pray for us...just so that this might pass quickly without infecting anyone else.

14 to go!

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C. /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Coffee Talk & Poll

As most of you know, I'm a coffee drinker. I like to drink it in the morning while I read or sit at the computer. My favorite time to drink it is when a good friend or family member is with me, but that rarely happens.
Occasionally I will have some in the afternoon.
I like to have cream and sugar. If I don't have sugar, I can live without it, but the cream is really a must for me.

Our town has only in the last year established a decent coffee shop for espresso drinks and other gourmet coffees. Not too far back we actually got a Starbucks! I have yet to go there, though. My dear Marty (who is currently in pain-TMI warning) brought home some Starbucks Organic Coffee and it is without a doubt the best coffee I've ever had. I might even be able to drink it black because it is so smooth.

So here is a question/poll for my faithful and/or occasional readers:








Happy Cuppa!

Sand in the Gears

Just when I get on a roll for keeping up with the laundry, dishes, or other tasks, something happens and I get stuck back where I started. Today I was going to wake up knowing that there was only one load of laundry left in the whole house. I was going to get busy packing some more boxes of stuff to put into storage. I had some plans.

Well, at 5:30 this morning I heard an awful noise coming from one of the bedrooms. Sure enough, Sarah is sick. She got sick every 10-15 minutes for about an hour and a half. So much for an only-one-load-of-laundry day. make that 3 so far.

She's been fine for a few hours now, but I can't leave her side for more than a few minutes at a time because if she happens to get sick while I'm out of the room, it ends up all over the place.

So, once in awhile I get up to do a small chore and then I come back here to the computer and catch some reading time. I've been reading this blog called Sand in the Gears and I am laughing and getting sentimental at the same time. This guy is a great blogger. I'm really enjoying his take on life. It is a perfect day to read about another 'normal' family and know that I'm not alone.

I'm going to get another cup of coffee and read some more while Sarah is snoozing.


P.S.
**Okay--I kept reading and now I'm crying.
This is why. This is so awful. I'm feeling awfully blessed today, even when Sarah has "the pukes." I'm thankful to get to watch her sleep on the couch and get some rest.
Caroline's Page

Singing Sisters

I'm listening to the girls play and I hear:


Hannah singing:

Take me out to the ball game
Buy me some CRACKERS and JACKERNATS
I don't 'ceah' if I 'evah' get back

[pause] "What's next?"

Erin jumps in and finishes:

So it's FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT for the ball game
If they don't win it's a shame.
And it's 1--2--3 strikes and yer out of the ole ball game!

Cheesy Grin!!

This is Lindsey. She has started this new 'old man" grin.
It is so funny in person. I wish you could all see her do it.

Click here to see this funny girl!

It's even funnier when she does that and sticks out her chin...but I have yet to capture that one.

Lindsey really is a beautiful baby, which is why this goofy picture is so amusing.

Question

In honor of Wendy's Free Frosty Weekend,
I ask you all:

What do you dip your fries in?

Marty and I dipped fries in a Frosty just a few days after meeting in person. It was a sure sign that we would get along just fine!
;-)

Need I say more?

I've been on a constant diet for the
last two decades. I've lost a total of 789 pounds.
By all accounts, I should be hanging
from a charm bracelet.

~ Erma Bombeck

Retraction

I was asking for suggestions for a new title to this blog...but I changed my mind.

I will just clarify that the title is from a song I enjoyed singing when I was a kid.

"One day at a time sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of You
Teach me today to do all the things that I have to do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine
Lord for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time"
(recorded by Cristy Lane)

I think about those lyrics often because I know Who gives me my strength especially when I want/need to sleep or rest...or NOT clean up spilled milk and cereal AGAIN... and I can't because duty calls. Jesus is sweet and wonderful and merciful and ...well there are so many things that He is to me. Each day He shows me something new throught the eyes of my children or something else.
One day at a time is all I need...really.

At the Park

The girls and I went to the park today. After playing on the jungle gym and trying out the roller skates we brought, we decided to go look at the ducks. We saw them and we also saw a Great Blue Heron! The girls were so intrigued with the long neck and legs. It really was exciting to see it 'live' instead of on tv or in a book.
One day I'll get up the energy to take the girls to a zoo...but only with some help from Marty.

Just what I've been looking for in a book

I just finished reading "Out of Time" byAlton Gansky. I thought that it was well-written and I hope to find his other books just as interesting.

For years I cold not find anything in the Christian Fiction section that held my attention as much as Patricia Cornwell or Stephen King. The last two authors have so much foul language that I felt unsure about reading them...but I love mystery/supense and I kept reading them because they kept me interested in the actual plot. Ignoring the words is getting more difficult, though, not easier.

If any of you locals want to borrow it, let me know. I plan to keep these for my children to read when they get older because I won't have to worry about offensive content. If my kids are anything like Marty and me, they will be wanting to read some kind of mystery and suspense fiction as they grow older. This is really a good, clean alternative to Stephen King or Patricia Cornwell. I didn't have any nightmares while reading it either...which usually happens when I read the others.

This Morning...already an adventure in the making!

Hannah was up part of the night with a bad cough, so I expected her to sleep in. Well, she didn't. She was the first one up of the 3 big girls. I expected her to be crabby on top of tired. So, it took me by surprise when she came into the kitchen and said, "Mommy, I'm playing with my imagination." I said something like Okay, Sweetie. That's fun. Then a few moments later she said..."Uh-oh! I lost my imagination....hmmmm...(long pause).....OH! There it is. Mommy, everything's okay. I found it."


I"m sure there will be more to come later this day.

I do have better things to do, but....

I was thinking about how I sometimes go through the list of names when I'm trying to get one of my girls to do something quickly. Such as, Sarah will be pounding a good one on Hannah and I will shout ALL of their names before I get to the right one. Needless to say the girls stop fighting. But not entirely because I said to. They think it's hilarious when I mess up the names while I'm shouting, so they start a laughing fest instead.

So I got to thinking maybe it is easier to name the kids all the same name so that you don't mess up...hmmmm...well, there are actually people who have done that.


1. George Forman named all five of his sons George. He also has five daughters.


2. Jermaine Jackson named two of his sons 'Jermajesty.'


3. Michael Jackson named two of his children Prince Michael (or it is strange that he has kids at all)?


There are even more odd celebrity names here!

After reading that article I wonder if these other parents crack themselves up when they hear the names out loud! Really now, what kind of name is Apple when you are trying to get her to take you seriously?

Personality Typing

I was thinking about how much my kids are like me and then sometimes they are just like Marty. The girls are so much like me that there is a lot on conflict some day. Other days we are so in sync with each other it makes a beautiful memory.

I just took a personality quiz and here are the results. I'm not surprised. Just about every time I take a quiz like this I'm riding the fence on one of the characteristics. This time I am split between the ISFJand the ISFP

I can agree with most of what it says about me. It does say that I am likely to have a well-kept home. Now most of you know that I don't, but given that our house is 1075 square feet and we have 6 people and a lot of junk...well, let's say I don't have a place for everything...hence a cluttered house. Maybe this is why it bothers me so much that I do have a messy house...hmmm?

I took more than one to see if I could get a different result with different tests. I didn't. Here are a few links to try out-

Temperament and Personality Typing

BLOGinality - the personality test

A Virtual Plethora of Tests - This one has a variety of personality, emotional, intelligence and other tests. Some of the links didn't work for me, though.

Our Second Born

Today, Hannah is 4 years old. She has turned out quite lovely so far, I must say. In the beginning, when I first found out she was on the way, I was really stressed out. Marty and I had a bit of money trouble. In fact, we were very broke. We never went hungry, we always had utilities, but I felt we were nearing the end of the rope.

Because of that, some might say we were foolish not to prevent a pregnancy, but I beg to differ. God used that pregnancy to teach me many things. I cried in my mother-in-law's arms when I couldn't see the doctor because we didn't have insurance. I had to swallow my pride and just cry and trust God. He made a way. I had heard about Jehovah-Jireh -- The Lord our Provider. But it didn't have a critical meaning to me until December of 2000, when God allowed Marty to win some money on a game show. The Lord allowed enough to meet our needs and then some, but not so much that we didn't have to work. He was El-Shaddai -- The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People.

After Hannah was born I rarely slept. She was a fussy baby and I really had to rely on God for my strength. That child continued to push me into further growth by her determined outlook and curiosity. She was a very different kind of baby than our firstborn was. Not easy...but she outgrew the colic and baby trouble after awhile. Then she was all smiles. I have often called her Hannah Joy. She loved to laugh with her big sister--she didn't even need a reason. She would scoot and pull her walker with her sister hitching a ride and they both giggled like crazy! She still loves to laugh.

The second year was tough since Hannah decided to make her own rules and get into everything!

This last year was much better. She has certainly shown signs of growing up and understanding things. She does wear her heart on her sleeve every day. My sweet daughter is getting to be a good helper, too.

I'm looking forward to this year with my smiley girl. She teaches me a lot about myself every day.

Hmmmm...

#3 had gotten in the tub with #2 as #1 was getting out. The water was dirty, so I was letting the old water drain out while #3 was sitting there. All of a sudden, the youngest frantically put her bath toys in the toy basket and was hurrying to get out. I told her to just stay in the tub and I'd put warm, clean water in it for her. She looked at me with her big hazel eyes and was about to cry and said, "But Mommy, I will melt!"

Thankfulness

I know it's not Thanksgiving, but I'm still thankful. Today I read the Hearts at Home Newsletter. It reminded me of how much we need to be thankful for all that our spouses (or spice, as Marty likes to say) do.

Here is what it said **Sometimes it becomes easy to notice all that our spouse doesn’t do.  However, if pressed, each of us could make a list of all the things we don’t do, too.  Those are the things we need to appreciate and express our gratitude for.  If you haven’t said thank you to your husband for the things he handles on a regular basis, join me in giving a hats off to the man in your life.  A little bit of appreciation goes a long way for all of us.**

I have never had to mow the lawn or crawl up in the attic for anything in all the time I've been Mrs. Scott. There are many other things, too, but those are probably the ones I REALLY wouldn't want to do.

Marty, when you read this, know that I appreciate your hard work to keep me at home with our girls.

Becoming a Mother

I became a mother in 1999. I was not the first of my sisters, nor was I the first of my friends. Yesterday my friend, Linda, from high school became a mother. On March 28 Rikki, the youngest of my 4 sisters, had her first baby. Now my circle of sisters and closest friends are all in the same category of mothers. Although we are all at different stages of it, it will be one more thing to draw us closer. I am still waiting for one more cousin and one more friend to join us...hopefully soon!!

There is so much more than sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and potty training to talk about. There is emotional support for those days when you think you just can't do it right. There is someone to call when your little one wants to sing a song. Someone else understands why you let your 3 year old wear whatever she wants, even if it doesn't match.

Gone are the days of deciding which club to go to--replaced by deciding whether to go to McDonald's Playland or Chic-Fil-A.
No more staying out until 3 am with "the girls"--Now I am up until 1 am with my newest baby girl...then up again at 7 for the bigger kids. All spare time is no longer spent shopping at the mall or reading a novel. It is spent doing laundry, shopping at Wal-mart, and reading parenting magazines 10 minutes at a time...oh and cleaning when I can fit it in...which some might say is not often enough.

Even with all of the sacrifices, Motherhood is still better than anything I've ever done before. I have a wonderful support system. Life is good and full. All 5 of us had naps today, which is unusual. Right now I'm watching Hannah and Sarah try to eat apples with the skin still on them. Erin is watching Postcards from Buster on PBS. Lindsey has just learned to scoot herself forward in the walker and is practicing it some more. All four of them are getting along for the moment allowing me this time to blog. We might just have to dance in a while to celebrate something.

It's all good...even the tough stuff!

Happy Easter!

I wish you all a blessed Easter.

I told my girls last night that Easter is fun, but it's also a day to remember what Christ did for us. His birth was certainly a miracle. But...His death AND resurrection were necessary for our redemption.

As you go about your day, remember to glorify the Risen Savior.

All is Well

For those of you who knew, thank you for your prayers. My surgery went well today.

I was home after lunch much to my girls' delight. (well, not MY lunch since I was nauseated) My mother was here to watch the girls and she had a good time with them. I actually feel pretty good since I've been prescribed Vicodin. I'll let you know how I feel when that runs out...;-( My main pain is in my back, which had problems before any of this other stuff happened.

Overall, I actually had a good day in spite of the surgery. I got to come home the same day. The girls behaved for my mom. Marty was nothing but sweet during my emotional display on the way to the hospital. I received many calls and messages from loved ones. I was also surprised with some very gorgeous tulips from my in-laws. Their color is so pretty that it might be my new favorite color of tulips. It was red...but now that coral is very appealing.

Anyway, I'm off to bed and will hopefully get some rest. I hope my mom gets some rest, too. She was kept very busy today! She is such a blessing to me.

Time

Time has gone by so quickly... DD #1 turned 6 today.
She has continued to amaze me over the years.
Her first words were somewhere around 7 months when she said "Bye Bye" to her Grandma.
At age 1, she knew all of her colors and shapes.
She knew how to write her name at age 2 and could write the alphabet at 3.
She began reading before her 4th birthday and now reads everything she can get her eyes on.
This past year she and her Daddy took part in 'Annie' on the theatre stage and she definitely has a gift for performing. (There are still 2 more weekends of production if you want to see it.)

I am proud of all of my girls. DD #1 was the first one of them to capture my heart. Being a mother is so much more than I ever could have imagined in every aspect. It's hard some days, but it's a job that I wouldn't trade for any other. When I see how they love me in return, I know why my own mother put up with so much from her girls. (sorry, Mom)

There really aren't any perfect words to describe motherhood.
Ruth Bell Graham put it well, though, when she said, "As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible."

Things I learned this past week

I learned that:

--2-year-old girls cannot sit through an entire theatre production without causing disruption (via dancing,singing, or flopping the seat down very loudly) even when offered 3 lollypops, peanuts, raisins, and Reese's Pieces.

--My oldest daughter is a natural talent on stage. Singing and dancing on cue as if she was born to do that.

--My 2 middle children MUST rise when they see the sun peeking through the window, regardless of what time they went to sleep the night before.

--My baby is growing up fast!. She's learning to hold her own bottle at 4 and a half months. She rolls over to play with her toys. Babbling sounds are more like singing as she watches all of her big sisters play.

--Going to the grocery store for diapers and coming home with 3 bags of groceries (BUT NO DIAPERS) leaves me with the feeling that I'm getting old in the brain. Maybe it 's just a sign that I need more sleep.

--My husband is a kind man who loves me and is not surprised at all when I come home from the grocery store and forgot to get what I went to buy. (I've obviously done this before.)

--My sister-in-law is one of the sweetest people I have the honor of being related to. Actually both of my SIL's are sweet. I couldn't be more blessed!

--Making a pinata is not easy. It might be worth the $20 just to buy one. Of course it would not be as much fun...for the kids, I mean. ;-)

--Children are treasures. I actually learned this long before I has children of my own, and I am reminded of it everyday in some small or big way.

3 Bears

I know Hannah gets a lot of blog time, but she is a hoot!

She is finishing up her dinner and says, "I'm pretending to be the girl who lived in the three bears' house. My spaghetti is my porridge. (pause) Oh, I forgot to taste your porridge, Mommy. (pause) Oh it is too hot. Daddy's is too cold. Like opposites. "

Hannah is a gem

This is a typical joke from my Dear Hannah--

Hannah: Knock-knock, Mommy

Me: Who's there?

Hannah: Mee-mo cake donkey

Me: Mee-mo cake donkey who?

Hannah: (whispering--Mommy, what rhymes with Mee-mo cake donkey)

AND THEN...

I told Hannah that I was going to go to the bathroom for a few minutes. I said, "If you hear someone knocking at the door, do NOT let them in."

Hannah replied, "Right! If it was a duck and a bear I could NOT let them in."

Annie is a Hit!

I got to see my daughter's stage debut last night. It was so wonderful! She's a natural, like her daddy.
DD #1 plays Molly & is so cute. I could hear others around me in the audience making comments about how cute she was and how sweet she played the part. I was beaming with pride, of course.

Then, Marty came out as Mr. Bundles and caught me off-guard. I actually got tears in my eyes from laughing at him.

It was a great night for theater-goers...especially for this mom of little girls.

Comment Changes

I just changed the rules so that anyone can comment.
I didn't realize that you had to register to post.

New Look

I'm adding a bit of color to my blog.
Any opinions on my choice?

Little Orphan Annie

My sweet little DD #1, who is almost 6 now, is going to be making her big theatrical debut this weekend. She is playing Molly, the littlest orphan, in the KCCT stage production of 'Annie.'

She is doing really well from what I see. She is so cute. I know I'm gonna cry when I watch her.
I cried when she was at Children's Theatre camp this past summer. Her performance was good...but, she's quiet like her mom. She is growing up so fast. Hannah and Sarah can't wait to grow up and go to the theatre, too. They are all 3 great at putting on the drama at home.

Oscar Watch

I don't usually get too excited about the Oscars.
But tonight one of our hometown boys is a favorite to win at least one award. Jamie Foxx grew up here in Terrell, TX. My husband graduated with him from Terrell High School in 1986. Our little town is having a huge party to watch the show.

I have seen 'Collateral' & really thought he was great in that.

I have not yet watched 'Ray' because our local Blockbuster didn't get enough copies to go around.

Sisterly Love

Erin was happy to report that she had caressed Lindsey to sleep. I was very pleased and said, "Great! Now maybe Sarah will fall asleep if you do that to her."
Erin paused and looked distraught. "But Mom...she smells like ketchup!"

Kids

Hannah just brought me a flower...actually a dandelion, but to her it's a beautiful yellow flower.
She handed it to me and said, "Here's a flower for you, Mommy, but the stem doesn't taste very good."

Hug Therapy

When my Grandmother Nicholes, Nana, passed away in Oct 2003, no one had to write her obituary. She had done that herself many years before. While some facts had changed, the most important things remained true. She said that she wanted to be remembered for her hugs. She had a beautiful way of making everyone she saw feel important just by hugging them. No one came into her house without getting a hug. She may have even hugged the annoying neighbor a time or two. I wouldn't doubt it. I know she hugged the Schwann's man quite often. I saw it happen. Once, when I lived with her for a time, she even hugged the Pizza Hut delivery kid.

I knew that her hugs were great. There was nothing like hug from Nana. She was so fragile it was like hugging a flower...but it was so powerful at the same time. Now she gone and I'm really missing her hugs. She meant love in every one of them.

I have found though, that a hug from my children does wonders for me. The other day Sarah was just being a terror to her sisters and I knew she needed some discipline. I couldn't bear to be harsh any more that day. So, I went to her and gathered her up in my arms and just hugged her without a word. I hugged her for a long time. I set her down, kissed her forehead and said, "now be a sweet girl to your sisters." She was sweet for the rest of that night. (For those of you who don't know, Sarah is 2 and a half and very strong-willed.)

Right now my girls are sleeping. As soon as they wake up, they will be getting a big hug to greet them. Maybe today will be a hug therapy day. That's sounds all right to me.

The Impossible

Okay. I'm extremely tired after 3 nights of being up with sick kids.
The only reason I am out of bed is because I love my children.
My mom taught me all about that!
Thanks, Mom.

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~ Marion C. Garretty

Spatial Intelligence

I thought I had spaced-out intelligence...hee hee!
Now I know that it's SPATIAL, with a T.
I found this website following a link from Marty's website.
It seems to be accurate with my info. There are some other fun quizzes on there, too.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Spatial Intelligence

You've got a good sense of space and how the world around you looks. You can close your eyes and "see" images. You have innate artistic talent. An eye for color and shapes, you're also a natural designer. Since you think in pictures, visual aids and demonstartions help you learn best. You would make a good navigator, sculptor, visual artist, inventor, architect, interior designer, or engineer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

I'm taking suggestions

I have to begin packing up the things in our home so that we can move.

Where do I start?? Since we don't have a move-out date yet, I don't want to pack up things I might need.
I am pretty sure I won't need books except for my Bible and cookbooks. I have packed a few trinket items...but now what?
If you have any suggestions for packing up an entire house while taking care of the rest of the daily duties for the family, PLEASE PLEASE!!! send them to me ASAP.

I haven't mentioned this idea to Marty, but maybe someone out there can give an opinion-
Should we rent a storage unit in Mesquite (which is where we will be moving) and take stuff over there a little at a time?
(Marty works over in Mesquite several times a month, so it wouln't be much extra gas to do that.)
Or should we just pack the garage full even though potential buyers might be put off by the stacks of boxes??

hmmm....as I sit here I realize that there is much to be done, so I'd better sign off.

New Lindsey Photo

Here is Lindsey Charlotte as of Jan. 31, 2005
Already 3 months old!

The Messy Trough

Marty and I (and 3 of our girls) went out this weekend looking at houses and neighborhoods In Mesquite. We are planning to move closer to Dallas in order for Marty's commute to be shorter for each of his jobs. What a huge decision we are going to be making! There are so many things to be considered and so much to be done in order to make these plans happen.

I was thinking today about how much work I need to do and still take care of the usual, duties. Our house is usually cluttered with toys and shoes, etc... I stress out about how I can be a good mom and allow such mess! Marty and I both will have to do MUCH work to get our house in presentable selling order.

God sure knows how to use others to reassure me. I read an email today written by some other mommies with little ones around. Here is how they encouraged me:

1. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11---so I need to just trust that the Lord will lead us to the right house. I hope we are listening when it comes time.

2. Here is a verse I had never taken personally until today. I am pretty sure I have read it as one those Proverbs that is for someone else...Now I can hide it in my heart. It is Prov. 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox".

~~ My children are worth the extra work and mess. I can glorify God by teaching them to help out with a willing heart.
Some day these hard times will be replaced with endless days of rejoicing because I was faithful to endure 'the messy trough.'

A Good Lickin'

Our new little Lindsey has the same 'taste' as her biggest sister Erin. Licking her blankets, burp cloths, clothes, my shirt (when I'm holding her) and anything else that has a special feel...strange, but true.

When Erin was about 15 months old, we were shopping with her Grandma Rita. As we stopped to check out a rack of clothing, Erin leaned in and licked one of the dresses! It was so funny. We joked about how, in the future, Erin won't care what color a new shirt is, as long as it's lickable!

Now it seems that Lindsey will follow in the same footsteps. She is presently 'eating her blanket' as Sarah says.

Mommy Needs Coffee

Back in college I drank coffee every day, mostly for pleasure. My family has been in the coffee drinking business for years. We start them young on my maternal side of the family.

Now that I have little ones who sleep in shifts, I really drink it so I can get moving. My sweet daughters know that I drink my coffee as soon as I can. They barely whine anymore when I say, "Just let me get my coffee first." Erin and Sarah even like to have a drink of it now and then. Hannah is like her Daddy, though, and doesn't even like to smell it.

Well, it's already time for lunch and I'm still waiting to get my second cup...but the baby is crying so I may have to wait awhile.

Priceless Friendship

What would I do without the love of friends and family? I hope I never have to know the answer to that question. Today, I spent a wonderful afternoon at my in-laws and came home to find a sweet card in the mail from a childhood friend who knows me very well. Through the years I have made many close friends and I love each one of them. My sisters are no longer my rivals, but my dear friends. I would not be who I am today without the love of family and friends. They have seen me at my best and at my worst. I am blessed beyond measure with their loyalty and love.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,
"A friend might well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."

I'll second that.

Being Little

The days get long sometimes with 4 little girls.
I heard this song on GAC that reminds me of what is important.

"Let Them Be Little"
sung by Billy Dean and also by Lonestar

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

Catching up...

I had a previous blog which I abandoned for this one.
Here are some older posts about my dear children:

10/25/2004
What they hear...  
Erin was asking where we had to go for the day. I said we had to "run some errands." She acted a little disturbed and said, "why are they called 'Erins' and not 'Hannahs' ??"

4/19/2004
Erin, very seriously, said to me, "I have a computer.
It has a website called "whenkidsgetsick.com" and I'm
going to find out why Sarah is sick today."

3/12/2004
Hannah weighed herself on the bathroom scale.
She came running excitedly to me, yelling,
"Mommy! Mommy! I weigh 46 CENTS!"

Hannah  
"I want to clean it up myself cuz I'm a good-jobber!"