The Garden Plan

Whew! Its chilly outside!

I've just come in from taking some pictures of our front and back yard. Spring is amazing here in NC.

Last spring as a school project the kids and I tended a small garden.

We didn't yield much fruit, we lost sweet peas to the snails and raccoons, and the deer ate 80% of our cucumber.

I had planted a little too early, and a very hard and cold rain came in and took my lettuce and bell pepper seedlings as a tornado takes a mobile home park.

We did get a half a dozen cucumbers (which were delicious) and about a dozen tomatoes (also amazing), but the bottom line is this: I learned a lot. Which has a flavor all its own.

This year we've expanded.

Well, I should say The Mister is using his mad wood-working skills and is in the process of building me a mack-daddy garden, complete with a gate. (not yet installed)

I think this garden is a personal battle against woodland creatures that I have named Man vs. Wildlife.

He says he just wants me to have a nice place to grow my vegetables.

I believe him. That man has a 17-year history of taking excellent care of me.

 I do believe this space is going to be my favorite place this summer.

This year I am trying my hand at straw-bale gardening. Right now I am in the middle of a 10-day preparation process, which includes A LOT of watering. But it will be worth it!

To the right of the hay bales are the planters from last year. The Mister will also build three more to the left.

Right now my seedlings are Roma and Beefsteak Toms, zuchini, cucumber, H2Omelon, sweet pea, broccoli, yellow onion, and several different lettuces.

We are also growing some "bunny food" and sunflowers.

(last year we tried to just put the sunflower seeds in the ground and a squirrel dug them up, ate the seeds, and left the shells all over the place)

This time of year, with Easter on the horizon and spring in the air, always makes me a bit contemplative.

 The wonder of time when all things that have been asleep suddenly come alive.

Every day there is a new reminder, within the reaches of my back door, that there is a good and gracious God who tends the garden of my heart...

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you...

~Matthew 6:28-30

How about you? Planting anything this season? 

And The Winner is...

Thanks to all of you for making the 1000 Post Celebration so fun!

I used the random generator to pick my winners and they are:

The Spring Chick Hand Towel: Melissa@Breath of Life with #16

The Red Apron was won by Gretchen of New Every Morning with #33.

In an amazing turn of random-numbered events, Gretchen also won the green apron with #24, so I had another random number generated and Teresa of Inside Out had the lucky number 10.

Again, I am so thankful for those of you who came and subscribed and commented and played right along. Blogging is such a fun hobby, but it is YOU that makes it worthwhile.

I'm still fighting with Clinton the Embroidery machine. Apparently we have some tension (or a lack thereof) that we are trying to work through...

I will win.

When we have our tension issues solved I will be making a few spring chick hand towels (and other things) for my etsy shop.

Happy Monday!

Did You Think I Forgot?

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I know I'm a day late, but yesterday I had a little Shamrock party with my favorite triplets and their mom.

Other than eating some of Mr CPQ's brisket, drinking Cherry Limeade's and getting a good (and amazingly ((mostly)) un-interrupted) time to chat about everything and nothing with the CarpoolQueen, my favorite part was this:

Trav and Penny sniffled and bonded together and it was, quite frankly, the sweetest thing I'd seen all week.

Eventually Travis had had enough and promptly went to my computer and fixed it of the slugging/slow problem we have been having as of late. I'm not going to tell CPQ about this lest she figures out she is housing a computer genius and begins to charge technologically challenged people like myself large fees. So let's just keep this our secret.

Next time I promise to get pics of the other kids too. Truth be known, its not because we don't think they are cute too, its just that they kind of disappeared upstairs and we didn't see much of them.

And honestly, when they are happy why stop things for a photo-op?

So we had a good day and time got away and I never blogged....

Yesterday I had planned on giving away a small knitted hand towel I am working on, but it isn't finished. And just between you and me, in a strange turn of events I think I actually want to keep this one.

Since it seems that aprons are a big hit, I am going to give another one away....

In the spirit of the American wear green on St. Patty's Day tradition...How about this one?

For this comment entry tell me if you lean towards cooking or baking? Neither? Both? From a box? Scratch?

You know the drill: you don't have to be a blogger, but you do have to have a valid email address.....yadda, yadda, yadda.

I hope you are having a awesome day!

Post 1001

Good morning!

What a beautiful day it is here in NC. It's a little cool, but the weatherman promised a bit of sunshine by this afternoon.

It's a busy time here at the La Vida house.

The Mister has been adding on to my garden (can't wait to show you pictures of the finished work...its amazing y'all!)

I have a feeling that it will be my most happy hang-out place this summer.

I planted vegetable seedlings this weekend: Tomato, bell pepper, yellow onion, zuchini, cucumber, sweet pea,  watermelon and several varieties of lettuce. I'm excited because I am going to try my hand at hay bale planters this year.

This afternoon I will be planting Peony, Lily, and Ranunculus bulbs for a little summer time color in the front yard.

How I love to play in the dirt...

But let's get to what you came here for....

The Give-Away:

Today you can comment-to-win this:

A full-size handmade apron in spring-like colors!

And if my high-priced, special-weight bobbin thread (apparently Clinton only likes 90wt thread?) arrives on time, I will monogram the winner's name on it too).

Here's what you need to do:

1. Yesterday I mentioned the Three Degrees of Meredith Bacon. I would love to know how you know her, or if she has made a "connection" for you on the web. For instance, I "met" Mer when I lived in Arizona. When I moved to NC, she emailed me and said to check out the Carpoolqueen , who also lives in NC. As I have gotten to know other bloggers, it turns out there is often a Mer Connection. So, tell me if you have one.

2. If you don't (or if you told me yesterday), then tell me why you would like a new monogrammed apron?

Again, I will use the Random Generator on Sunday and post results on Monday; you don't have to be a blogger, but you do have to have a valid email address. Spammers will not be included.

Let's Get This Party Started!

There has been laughter, tears, and frustrations.

There was two cross-country moves.

There have been highs and lows.

Not to mention all the laundry and lunch dates and silly things I do.

And, oh!, the typos. The many, many typos.

It all started mid-summer with a Big Bloggy Blueberry Day, and 1000 posts later. Here I am....

The 1000th post!

I thought we would start with a post entitled 1000 Things About Me.

Here we go:

1. Just Kidding! I can hear the "out" clicks of 1000 20 mice (as in the computer kind).

Anyway, we can't have a party with out fun party favors! I'm giving away fun things this week! All you have to do is BYOC. Bring Your Own Comment (s).


Comment each day. (Not that I am fishing around for comments. Uh, no, I'm totally fishing. All. Week. Long). I will randomly draw winning numbers using the Random Generator on Sunday March 21, and post the winners on Monday March 22. You don't have to be a blogger to win but you must have a valid email. 


If you are one of those people who keep emailing me comments-spam, (as always) your comments will not be posted to the drawing because you annoy me.

Today's party favor?

This sweet little Spring Chick hand towel:

Now, I am not the only one celebrating this week. One of my favorite bloggers is also celebrating this week. Meredith and I met a couple years ago via our blogs when she one a ballet skirt I was giving away. She has become a dear friend.  A friend that I hope I get to meet face-to-face within the span of the next 1000 posts. Hopefully WAY sooner!

I keep trying to talk her into coming to see me in NC. So do me a favor and go on over to her place later and tell her why North Carolina would make a fine place to visit.

One of the really neat things about Meredith is how she connected me to the CarpoolQueen and several other great bloggers in the South. I was thinking about it the other day and realized that she sort of has this Kevin Bacon - Three Degrees of Separation thing going on the net, and I want to know how you know her? Think about it and be prepared to tell in tomorrows comments.

It may be a party on the net, but its work as usual at home...laundry calls...oh, the life of a blogger.

Happy 1000th!!!

Lenten Thought

As I have complained before, I am not a fan of the pithy church sign.

Last week I found another one that has made me think good thoughts (not the ranting blogger kind):

Lent is not about what we give up,

but what we make room for.

Which is so true.

Knowing Christ isn't about a big DO NOT list that we look at with pride (or shame) as we check off the boxes.

Dr. Ted Kitchen's of Christ Chapel Bible Church once said something like this: When I think of the Christian faith I don't look at the cross and see all the things I give up, I see it as a big plus sign. It's not what I give up but how much I gain.

So too is this beautiful, sorrowful, purposeful season of Lent.

It's not what we give up, but what we make room for...

Kellie vs. Clinton

I have spent much of last night and all of today fighting with my embroidery machine.

Which is a shame because I really want to make some things to giveaway on Monday.

Why would I be giving things away on Monday? Because Meredith and I are celebrating our 1000th post together!

I know for certain that I will be giving something away each day:

Monday: A Spring Chick hand towel that looks a lot like this one.

Tuesday: This Apron (with your name on it--if Clinton will behave)

Wednesday: A knitted hand towel that isn't yet finished. Picture to come!

Thursday and Friday are still open...if you are a crafter or maker of something wonderful that you would like to donate to one of my sweet readers, let me know...if not, I've got more than enough already hand made aprons, or crocheted flowers, or hand towels....you'll have to come back to find out what I will give!

All right. I'm going to go back to the office and see if i can't sweet-talk Clinton into sewing like a Brother (or a woman on a deadline.)

In the meantime, tell your friends and bloggers to stop by....the more the merrier!

Happy Saturday!

( Details on give-away coming on Monday!)

Pretty as a Penny

The La Vida Dulce Family Proudly Presents:

The Girl's Newest Pet:

~ Penny ~

She's the sweetest Holland Lop bunny this side of the Mason Dixon Line.

We all love her already.

The Boy actually thought of the name based on her coloring, and The Girl thought it was perfect.

So do I.

Have I mentioned how sweet she is?

Cuz really, she is so sweet.

Can I share a secret?

I didn't tell anybody, but I had every intention of coming home with two bunnies last night. But there was a man, that I will refer to as The Sheriff, cuz he was six feet tall and packin' on his right hip. 

He swooped in behind us and picked the other female out. I sat back for awhile in hopes that he would find one of the boy bunnies to take home.

After a few minutes I tried to win the bunny back by looking him in the eye and saying in a mirthful, yet purposeful, voice, "Are you gonna take that bunny?"

Then I smiled real big for emphasis. 

He looked down at that little ball of fuzz with love in his eyes and said, "Yes I am" in a slow North Carolinian drawl.

So I paid for Penny and left.

Who am I to get between a man and his bunny?

So I came home without a friend for Penny.

That's OK. I have a feeling she isn't going to be wanting for love....

Happy Friday!

The Bunny Proposal

I will admit that I tend to have a soft spot for animals.

It's not a crazy-I'll-go-out-and-lay-my-body-in-the-middle-of-a-busy-street-for-four-legged-furry-people type of love. It's more like a I-can't-say-no-when-I-really-should kind of love.

Even my father pulled The Mister aside before we were to be married and warned him to "Watch out. She is a keeper of all strays."

I'll admit, that's true.

Growing up I brought home several dogs, a couple of cats, a mouse (which ended in an unfortunate event when he escaped his cage and was found one very early morning as he ran across my Dad's sleeping head. For the record, the mouse lived, but it was touch-n-go for me for awhile...).

Oh, and OK, I'll admit that it didn't always work out, like that time in the late fall of my senior year of high school when I brought home a Japanese Exchange student, who had been kicked-out by her host family...but that's another story.

If I like animals, my daughter is passionate about them (my mother would call this passion: pay-back.)

This is the same child who at the age of 6 came with me one morning to teach a pre-school music class. She pulled me aside to inform me that "Bringing Home the Baby Bumblebee" was not an appropriate song to be teaching children. After all, the bee does not fair well in the end. In fact, he gets squashed and wiped on ones pant legs--which is the REAL tragedy: more laundry for mom.

Those of you have been reading for awhile know that The Girl had a puppy (Sophie) for nearly nine months that didn't work out (at no fault of The Girl's). She has grieved over that puppy.

A couple months ago, she said she was ready to try another pet, she thought she might like a rabbit.

Since I tend to look at every opportunity as a "teachable moment" I told her to research rabbits... while I  approached The Mister about adding to our family allowing The Girl to get a new pet.

Thus The Bunny Proposal was born:

As you can see, we The Girl was given approval. So we she moved forward in the bunny process.

Yesterday we purchased what I originally thought was a bunny condo, but found upon construction that its actually an Italian villa; as the instructions came in Italian only. (I got it for over 60% off because it had a crack in one of the non-essential pieces. There is nothing like ocean front property at suburban prices.)

(The stuffed bunny was placed for full effect.)


This week has been a tough one for me personally. So the excitement of this new adventure in pet-keeping is a welcome reprieve.

My new furry bundle, (ahem), The Girl's bunny comes home tonight...

Happy Thursday!

Countdown to a 1000: Peace

Originally written (and sent to the draft box) on 8/8/07. Not sure why I didn't post it, except that it didn't feel right at the time. 


Today, however, it feels like a bit of my own medicine. 


I think I'll take it.

~~~~~~~

I've been thinking a lot this week about simplicity.

When it come right down to it I'm a simple girl.

But I can complicate my life with busy-ness.

As a matter of fact, I'm very good at it.

I realized this many years ago as a young mom.

Back in the day I was a in a Mom's Group at church. We were going through a very practical bible study called MotherWise that helped prioirtize and make goals in the raising of our familes.

While I didn't agree with all everything that study had to offer, I still value what I learned, because I go back to one fundamental truth while homemaking and parenting today by asking myself two questions.

1. What is your main goal in the keeping of your home and the raising of your family?

Ultimately, my main goal was peace. I wanted my home to be a peaceful and restful place. I wanted The Mister to come home from work and and have a soft place to land. I wanted my kids to always feel like home was where to run in times of trouble, and a place to stay in times of rest. I wanted my friends and extended family to feel comfortable in my home; a take-your-shoes-off-and-stay-awhile comfortable.

This led me to ask myself question number two when trying to reach my goal of peace in the home.

2. Does this activity (or thing) build up my family or does it tear it down?


Anytime a ministry opportunity, or play group, or any other thing that might take me out of the home, I would approach it through this question.

This was sometimes hard for this do-it-all gal.

It still is today.

Especially since now, I don't have toddlers who just follow along like a string full of ducks, and who are at the mercy of "my way".  My children now have valid opinions, desires and likes of their own.

These days I have the full time job of homeschooling, which builds up my family but takes an incredible amount of my personal time. Homeschooling is often looked upon as a job that isn't all that hard, or is all about having fun and doing what you want, but couldn't be farther than the truth.

I can make that statement with confidence because, ashamedly, I have looked down my nose at homeschooling mom's, before I knew I'd be one....

It reminds me of those early years of motherhood when the jabs between working mothers and stay-at-home mom's hurt the most.

I find myself scrambling. Running from place to place just within my home. I'm texting, tweeting, blogging, teaching, cooking, gardening, crafting, friending, studying, organizing, rushing, washing, selling, mentoring, driving, mending, and sometimes it feels as if I am failing.

As if I am not doing even one thing well.

I'm not feeling the peace.

If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

The truth of it all...there is no one to blame but myself.

It time to go back to simplicity.

Good Monday Morning! (Random)

The birds are singing songs of spring...its what I've waited for all year.

I feel a bit like a bird this morning...

The weather is sunny and it promises to get warm today (in the upper 60's). The kids and I will go to the Garden Center shortly and pick up some lyme and grass seed and some supplies for our vegetable garden.

This weekend was full and included a date night on Friday with The Mister. He bought me new cross-training/hiking shoes (which means I could do some trail-running should that bug ever bite). 

I had to break the shoes in, so we went hiking on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the lovely spring-time weather. Beautiful!

Speaking of date night....The Mister and I went out for a hamburger and they were delicious. I was curious to see the Earth-Friendly straws that were left upon the table. At first I thought they were cool, but the papery feel was disconcerting and reminded me of something I couldn't quite put my finger on that night. So, in the interest of research, I stole a few from the restaraunt (you can pray for me) and I tried one in my tea yesterday.

In the comfort of my own home I realized what they reminded me of...a certain feminine-needs product of the cardboard kind.

With that said, I am pretty sure I won't be very "earth friendly" when it comes to straws.

Let's change the subject...

I've been sitting on a secret for a couple of weeks now....if you need a bit of good news, go on over and celebrate with them!

Next week I will be doing a little celebrating myself....it may or may not be the very week I finally reach 1000 posts! I have some fun surprises (the best of which is that I won't celebrate alone...y'all KNOW i like a good party!) So be sure to come back!

Happy Monday!

BeaUtiful: Playing With Yarn

Did you know I'm a quitter?

Either did I.

Actually, I'm not a quitter.

It just that there are things that come easy to me, and there are things that don't.

Its the things that are hard that make me want to quit.

No, I'm not a quitter. My problem is that I give up too easily.

I give-in to frustration. I begin to believe the lie that if I cannot figure it out it must not be meant for me.

Or (more often than I care to admit) I allow insecurity or pride dictate what I will learn.

Case in point: Crochet.

Several years ago a lady at our church offered to teach me how to crochet. She made it look so easy that I readily took her up on her offer.

After several starts and stops I made a wonky looking pot-holder and then gave it up. It was too difficult, to hard to figure out, and my end product wasn't what I had envisioned it to be.

You know, maybe the time wasn't right (for all things there is a season) but honestly, it was just too complicated.

Actually it wasn't. But my desire to have what she had made it more difficult.

 I wanted the yarn to slip easily through my fingers; I wanted my stitches to be even and straight; I wanted to make beautiful things from a ball of yarn.

And I wanted them immediately.

What I needed was repetition. I needed to do the stitches many more times than the average bear. I needed to make pot-holders over and over again, and appreciate the work of practice, even if it wasn't always pretty.

That has been true of so many things in my life.

Repetition and grace. Practice, practice, practice. Learning that the finished project isn't going to come out the way I planned. Often times, its better.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, I've been making flowers. Flowers from yarn. Rachel taught me how to do this on Wednesday and I have made many, many flowers in the last 48 hours. With each one, they become more and more flower-like.

With every stitch I have been reminded to persevere. To remember that more often than not true beauty (success) is not measured in how quickly something is achieved, or in what the finished product may look like, but in the process of learning.

As I have moved that hook between strands of yarn, I was reminded that the imperfection of learning can reap a garden of joy.

Most of all I need to remember this in all things.

Not just when playing with yarn.

Hand Bag Secrets

I know I promised a Pan Dulce recipe yesterday, but I had a crazy day and could not post...

Let's just say I had a full day planned, and having a car with a dead battery was a GINOURMOUS hitch in my get-along...

Things worked out, so I won't tell you the part when one of the La Vida Dulce house members threw a fit when she thought she wasn't going to get "her way" on the Wednesday schedule.

I will tell you one thing that hindered that anonymous house member from a full on tantrum: Her knowledge that it is not beautiful when a 37 year old has a hissy-fit.

Lets move on...

Since I won't be posting a bread recipe until later this week, I will tell you that my Australian blogger friend Caz recently tagged me in a What's in Your Hand Bag meme...

I thought this was a bit ironic since The Mister has been complaining a lot recently that my hand bag is not big enough. I admit she is a bit smallish....

This winter I switched to the little sweetie in hopes that I might be more organized than when I carry a big, fashionable suitcase on my shoulder.

You'd've thunk I made a decision to switch homes with the grumbling about the size of my bag.

Apparently I was not the only person in my family using my big honkin' bag to store very-important-things.

I, hadn't switched bags because I really haven't had the time to think about it...and this, ladies, is when the old proverb " Good things come to those who wait." is appropriate.

The Mister announced that he is going to take me shopping for what I can only guess is a handbag with sufficient storage area.  I, however, am thinking something a bit more roomy and in a spring/summer color....any ideas?

(I am going to press my luck and see if I can get a pair of Trail running/hiking shoes out of the evening as well. You know what they say....if you give a mouse a hand bag...)

But back to the What's in Your Hand Bag meme...

Here is what this little bag looks like when you open it:

Here is all that stuff emptied and organized:

As you can see, I don't have nearly enough lip product, or Starbucks gift cards...

-I would never be caught with out my AC Moore or Hancock Fabric (not pictured) discount cards...

-I'm a big time gum chewer and lover of the sugar-free Crystal Ligh candies...

-those Tootsie Roll packages were from a recent trip to the nail salon, where there was a big bowl of mini Tootsie's. I had more than is polite a few...

-that Fender guitar pick is there for emergencies when I play for the kids/people who ask, although I never use a pick...

-receipts, receipts receipts (the one on the top is from the restaurant where the Carolina Blogger Gals met in November)...

-the fortune is from a date-night with The Mister: He took me to PeiWei, during a time when I was feeling very thinky and thoughtful on the topic of "beauty"...( for those who can't see it says: Everything has beauty, but not everybody sees it.)

-the hand cream is a gift from Whidbey Gretchen , and its almost gone ;( ... I always have hand cream of some-sort-or-the-other, I love hand cream about as much as I love the next item on the list....

-and last but not least, the Hand Sanitizer. I NEVER leave home without it. I went to dinner last weekend with the K-Sisters and I used it more than is polite a few times right at the dinner table.

That is what is in my hand bag...can't wait to show you the upgrade!

If you read this, and would like to show the contents of your handbag, or need some blog fodder consider yourself tagged!

CountDown to 1000: T.M.I

Once again I'm pulling from the draft pile to reach 1000 posts....


You are about to know more about me that you really ever cared to know.

~~~~

And that was it. Apparently, with the title of "T.M.I.", and a hook like that, I was going to divulge something really personal. 


Could it have been the first time I waxed my own eyebrows? Nope, told ya that. 


Could it be the time I accidently made moonshine in my minivan?...nope-- totally confessed.  


Could it be the day I ate two Snickers Bars for lunch? That's no secret.

I'm not sure what I was going to tell you....but I'm sure it was good.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, when I share my tutorial on how to make Pan Dulce: Mexican Sweet Bread!

Conversation with The Mister

I'll admit that I tend to have a playful spirit when it comes to those I know well.

That is never more true than when I am interacting with The Mister.

I always enjoy teasing him, especially when he is unable to reciprocate.

For example, last night as he was washing dishes--with his soapy hands washing bits of scrambled egg from the pan, I walked passed him and gave his rump a little smack, a bit harder than I had intended.

"You think you can spank me and get away with it?" he asks.

"Uh... yup." I say (from across the room) with an impish grin.

Then I boldly add, "I can spank who I want, when I want."

"Oh yeah?" he says, calmly.

"Yup."

"Can you spank Brad Pitt?" he asks like he knows he's stumped me.

I start to giggle thinking about spanking Brad Pitt.

He starts to laugh like its the funniest thing he's said all week.

Still makes me laugh.

It reminds me of this post when the kids revealed something about The Mister and I that was a bit revealing....No wonder they think the things they do!

Let's change the subject...how about a recipe?

This is a recipe my dear friend Jen with One N made for our Mom's Group retreat back in the Texas Days...love this recipe, but those girls? Love them WAY more!

Creme Brulee French Toast
1 stick unsalted butter (if using salted butter omit salt below)
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbls corn syrup
8-9 inch loaf of french bread --sliced into 1"-1.5" slices
5 large eggs
1 1/2 cups Half-in-Half cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp Grand Marnier (optional)

IN a small sauce pan melt butter , brown sugar and corn syrup over med. heat, stirring until smooth. Pour into a greased (BE SURE TO GREASE THE PAN!) 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Place six- eight slices of bread in one layer, squeezing to fit, into the pan (on top of caramel mixture).

Whisk together eggs, creamer, vanilla salt and GM in a bowl. Pour over bread, cover and place in the fridge for at least 8 hours up to one day. I usually make this the afternoon or evening before I want to serve it.

Place in the oven uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Serve with strawberries and whip cream for extra fanciness.

Enjoy!

CountDown to 1000: Marital Changes

I'm counting down to my 1000 posts by pulling things out of the draft folder...


This post was written on 2/12/08.


As a means of informing you on the details of this big change in our marriage I must make a confession:


I am a middle of the tube squeezer. The Mister is a bottom-to-top squeezer.


The rest is self explanatory.

~~~~

After almost 13 years of marriage, and much talk and consideration, The Mister and I have decided to make a change.

We have decided that we can no longer share.....one tube of toothpaste.

CountDown to 1000: Full Moon

Sometime next week I will be celebrating my 1000th post here at La Vida Dulce.


When I do finally get there, I will be giving away a few prizes...


I had thought it would be this week but I realized I have many posts in my Draft File that pad my queue.


As I was going through the file, I realized that I have a tendency to write things, send them to the draft file and forget about them.


So, in an attempt to get to the 1000th post I think I will pull what I've got and without editing (too much) just for fun.


This post was originally written on 2/22/08, when we lived in AZ. My sister-in-love and I were walking together a couple times a week. I miss those walks....

~~~~

Y'all, I got up this morning to walk with a friend. It was very early and should have been very dark, but light being cast by the moon made it very bright outside.

Then later, around 7:20ish, I looked outside our kitchen window and saw the moon hanging so close to our home that I thought I might be able to touch it. It was amazing. I had to try to take a picture.

Although, I have to confess, that since I have two amazing, real-life, photographers reading the blog, I am a little nervous with my amateur-auto-focus ways.

But that's OK. I kill plants too.

GladiTuesday!

1. I am grateful that I am remembering my Gladitudes on a Tuesday, instead of on a Friday.

2. So grateful for good books and the time to read them.

3. I'm grateful for music. Lately I've been playing JJ Heller's "Your Hand's" and "Invisible Love" on a loop on my iPod.


4. I'm grateful for good health and a strong body. I went running this morning for the first time in a month. The weather has been too cold for out door running. It was hard, but I am grateful for Strength in weakness.

5. I am grateful for good news I received this week.

6. I am thankful that we are on the cusp of spring. There may be a few cold snaps here and there, but spring will come....and in North Carolina its worth the cold slumber of winter for the breathtaking beauty of spring.

7. I am thankful for kids who enjoy reading...even though sometimes they read when they should be doing other things....like chores, or getting ready for basketball, or when its time to go to bed.

8. I am glad that I am finally finished reading Leviticus.

9. I am glad that ladies bible study is tonight and that I get to spend the evening with my friends.

10. I am thankful for you. I love the doors of friendship that this blog has opened up. I hope that this afternoon will lend itself some time to catch up on the blog reader (and maybe Facebook too?)! I feel a little out of touch!

What about you? What are you glad about/thankful for today?

Random..and maybe a bit off color

Mondays.

I needn't say more.

But I will.

The Monday after a weeks worth of vacation is bigger than the average bear. Much more difficult to fight.

So for today's post I give you five random points.

1. I am officially fasting from Girl Scouts cookies.  Actually, it will be easy. I think if I see another Thin Mint, I might hurl. And cookie season isn't quite half-way over. (As a side note: This aversion will pass. I have a long-time weakness for the Thin Mint, and my freezer is stocked.)

2. Tomorrow is Australia Day at Girl Scouts. I've been asked to bring my guitar and play Australian songs...So far I have Kookaburra and Waltzing Matilda (and can I just say I am so very glad for the internet? I've only known the chorus to that song, but as of this afternoon, I now know the verses (and tune!)) Caz, I would love your expertise here!

3. You may have noticed Gretchens beautiful raspberry hat in the pictures from Saturday.  The CarpoolQueen made one here, and then made another as a welcome-to-NC gift for Gretchen.

Not wanting to be left out of the Cool Hat Club I decided to make one too.

4. I made that hat while listening to Leviticus on The Bible Experience CD's. If you hear nothing else, please hear this....The Bible Experience is awesome. We received this as a gift from my sister-in-law several years ago and I have used it at least once a week, both for personal listening and for homeschooling.  If you are trying to read through the Bible in a Year and the book of Leviticus makes you want to stick a fork in your eye, the CD's a amazing....its worth the price just for Leviticus, but all the other books are so well done too!

So I got through Leviticus with a new hat to show for it...not a bad afternoon.

5. I mentioned that The Mister was in California last week for a work conference. Any time he goes away he will usually come home with a very large coffee cup for my collection. I look forward and anticipate this gift each time he comes home.

After he had been gone for five days, he walked in on Saturday night and handed me my present all wrapped with bubble wrap. He says, "It's not as big as I wanted it to be, but when I saw it I knew I had to get it... its given in all love and sincerity."

Still makes me giggle.

All I Have To Bring Today

Next week I hope to get back to regular and consistent blogging.

This week has been wonderfully full.

Gretchen and I had an amazing visit. The Mister was in San Diego all week, so it was doubly nice to have her company!

I also got to hang out with my favorite Carpoolqueen and my Carolina Gals-- some bloggers, some not. (And not all pictured!)

I would love to go into detail, but the brain and the heart aren't quite connected at the moment...and the lack of sleep this week doesn't help!

So I leave you with this poem by Emily Dickinson, because the meadow-size blessing of friendship overwhelms me.

It's All I Have To Bring Today

It's all I have to bring to-day,

This and my heart beside.

This and my heart, and all the fields,

And all the meadows wide.

Be sure you count, should I forget,--

Someone the sum could tell,--

This, and my heart, and all the bees

Which in the clover dwell.

~Emily Dickinson

Weekend Recap

Happy belated Valentines Day, friends!

Whew! Between last Saturday and this weekend its been a whirlwind.

The Mister and The Girl had the Girl Scout Daddy/Daughter Dance. We had basketball games and birthday parties.

We had snow.

We had orthodontist appointments and research for our State Reports ....The Boy is studying Hawaii, The Girl is studying Kentucky. (If I have any readers from either state, or if you are originally from that state, tell me something you LOVE about your state!)...so we've been to the library several times.

I also had to shop for a good-bye gift for The Boys basketball coach who is being deployed.

This week was cookie pick-up.

So we helped the Cookie Mom (who is a SAINT!) pick up, transfer, sort, and distribute cookies.

We had more basketball games. And a goodbye pizza party for the coach.

We had snow (again).

We sorted our order of cookies and got them ready for delivery.

We watched the Olympics.

We finished reading Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief, just in time to take the kids to a matinee. In strange turn of event we all thought the movie was better than the book.

For Valentines day I woke the kids up, gave them the same thing I give them every year: A giant Hershey Kiss. And told them to hurry up and get ready for church.

Later that afternoon The Mister gave me my gift...we read in our bed together while sipping Mt.Dew (him) and Diet Dr. Pepper (me) and shared a bowl of CheezIts.

Back in the day, when we were first married, he used to really hate it when I would read in bed while eating a "crumby" snack. He said I would leave crumbs on his side of the bed. I plead the fifth.

But, yesterday afternoon, for the first time in nearly 15 years, he ate crackers in bed with me.

Friends, THAT is love.

Speaking of reading in bed....

I finally got The Help by K. Stockett. Six weeks ago I was number 253 on the Hold List at the library. You can imagine how surpised I was to get the call that my book was in! I'm only on Chapter 4, but ya'll, its good.

So my week has been full, but not as full as this week.

As I type Ms. Jewels in My Crown, Someday Gretchen is on her way to my house. Tonight, I will break enchiladas with her and the Carpoolqueen, and I am giddy with excitement.

So if you don't hear too much from me this week...that's the reason!

Happy Monday!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Last night we were talking about the concept of "time".

The Mister was discussing the history of time and he mentioned that long ago, before there were watches and clocks, people would make appointments by using different sun-based phrases.

He explained there wasn't a wrist watch to look at while you casually asked a friend to come over for lunch at 12:45p. Instead one might say, "come on over around mid-day."

"Oh!" The Girl says, with a look of sudden clarity.

"Is that what you and mom had to do when you were kids?"

No, sweetie, by then we had a sun dial.

The Flip

I have spent the last few afternoons weaving in and out of nostalgia.

Do you remember these?

Back in the day my brothers and I used to spend quite a bit of time with this machine, pretending to be news anchors reporting crazy news and making various childish noises.

I can vividly remember laying on the golden plush carpet of the formal living room, pushing the rewind button over and over, while listening and laughing with my brothers. Sometimes we laughed so hard I thought my head would split.

Oh, we thought we were the funniest things ever.

Apparently, its hereditary.

Last week The Girl received a Flip Video Camera for her birthday.

She has begged me for a video camera for over a year now.

You can imagine her excitement when her new pink colored camera arrived.

And I?

I am enjoying the laughter she and her brother make as they "make movies" using silly faces and crazy noises, then quickly huddle over the small screen to see what they've made. Laughing heart-fully.

They were making movies outside yesterday and running back into the house every 15 minutes or so to come show me how hysterical their cinematic masterpieces were unfolding...

Truth be told, they're about as funny as the audio tapes my brothers and I made... but the laughter... I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Humble Places

I've been thinking a lot about humble places.

Mostly because I'm living in them.

Like most of us, I dream of greatness. I desire to be known. To do something big!

Yet, the lines for me have fallen in humble places.

At first it was difficult.

Pride and ego are hard to set aside.

Yet, the burden is in the holding, not in the letting go.

What do I mean by humble places?

Well, in all I have ever done, from tap dancing to mothering to bible teaching (and all things in between), I've always wanted to be the star.

I've done all these things with joy and love and passion. Because I was certain I could do them, or at least fake my way through.

Until I was called to homeschool.

The Artsy One, called to do something that she never really liked: school.

Homeschool is a place where no one sees what you do. (Other than your biological students, and they don't really count.)

No one tells you how awesome you sound... or how cute you're dressed... or how the subjects chosen were thrilling. They don't let you know that the history book you assigned, or the words you spoke, really moved them. Some days you wonder if all your effort is making one iota difference in there young lives.

No one tells you that your doing well, or what a great teacher you are, or how amazing it is that you are able to accomplish so much in a day.

As a matter of fact, many people will think you're weird, or too religious, or that you're actually harming your kids.

Others will say, "I could never do that!", and, "I could never be organized like that.", or "That's a lifestyle that isn't for me."---when what they really mean is: I'm scared I might become weird too.

How do I know these things?

Because once upon a time, before I was a homeschooler, I thought and said those things.


Out loud.


On more than one occasion.

To more than one homeschooling mom.

On the Daniel Safari this week we are focusing on:

  Exploring: Humility          Conquering: Vanity

We were asked to write about this question:

Talk about a humbling experience in your life. 

What did you learn from that time?

The truth is that I am still very much here, in my humbling experience. Where every-blessed-day, I lay down my own agenda...I choose to be content with what I have, and where I am. I close my ears to those who are opinionatedly verbal, who don't know, or don't want to know, why we are on this homeschooling road.

I'm learning that this center-stage girl is really OK with working behind-the-scenes.

In fact, I've grown to love the ways the Lord works through me when no one else is aware.

I'm learning that my desire for God to use me in a big way! to do big things! (read: in a very public way with myself at the center) takes my focus away from the truth: God's willingness to work in my life IS the big thing.

He's taken this Coffeegal, who never considered herself "smart", set her apart from her natural talents, and placed her in an arena where she HAS to depend on Him.

And the biggest gift of all? I get to learn these lessons of humility in the safest place of all: the center of my home.

That alone is proof that we serve a merciful God.

I'm not perfect. I still clamor for attention. I still (privately) pout when I don't get my way. Sometimes, when insecurity is running high and my ego begs for preening, I am far too quick to feed it. Every once in awhile I am prideful enough to compare myself with others, or worse, judge someone else who may have the position I once desired...

But I'm learning...that although humble, "the boundary lines for me have fallen in pleasant places." Psalm 16:6

*If you'd like to see what others are seeing on their Safari of the book of Daniel, click here!

Checkin' In

Hiya!

Although its currently snowing outside (again) I'm getting ready to have 12 preteen girls over for Summer Camp.

Tomorrow is The Girls birthday party.

We are doing this Camp Mystery Party from DramaticFanatic.

Seriously, these parties are fun. My niece had one last summer and it was a BLAST!

So my blogging and blog reading is kind of on the back burner while I make a tent cake and try to make this house look like summer camp and not an igloo.

To my Safari Girls and my Read With Me girls I'm still reading and studying. I am here, just not writing about it this week.

I hope you are staying warm where you are, and that your weekend is fantastic!

Double Digits (The Girl This Time)

Long before I had children, someone told me that as you get older you remember the years by your children.

I could never understand what that meant.

Today I think I do.

The moment a baby enters your life you're changed-- everything becomes measured by that momentous time.

That child (or those children) become the measuring stick by which all moments, days, seasons, and years are measured.

I cannot believe that 10 years ago today I gave birth to a tiny dark-haired baby girl.

In the blink of an eye, we went from a cold day in Texas with a pink swaddled baby, to celebrating her 10th birthday-breakfast eating one of her favorite foods: bacon.

Time goes so incredibly fast.

~~~

To my sweet Girl,


Of all the girls in this world, I wouldn't want anyone but you. You are smart, and funny, and compassionate. And you have made the last decade so bright.


I pray that the next decade finds you healthy and happy, and drawing nearer to God.


I have sung these words to you almost as long as you have been alive. I pray that these words will be alive and active in you as you live out the decades to come:

Hold on to Jesus,

Cling to His love,

Rest deep in his mercies, 

Whenever things get rough.

Don't lose sight of His goodness,

and don't ever doubt this truth.

That when you hold on to Jesus,

He's holding on to you.

-Erin O'Donnell

Cling to Jesus, sweet girl...today and everyday!
Happy Birthday!
Love you,
Mom

Wish Granted

Well, I got my wish, we have more snow outside than I have EVER seen at one time!

I'm celebrating Day Three of the Great Big Snow Storm of 2010 by putting make-up on and cleaning up a bit.

Seriously, 36 hours of lounging in PJ's and not wearing my contact lenses is about all I can take.

I'm not complaining, not really.

I'm happy that The Mister is at home today because our drive-way and street is still COMPLETELY covered in snow and ice. And I LOVE that because we homeschool, I have something for the kids to do today.

I do enjoy routine, and I like to have order.

And after two days of throwing caution to the wind and enjoying our snow days, I like "normal" too.

I did use our snowed in days to go out and take a few pictures....

We got nearly 8 inches in our 'hood....

Even the deer played reindeer games.

I had an ENORMOUS amount of fun sewing up a few little things:

I do need the snow to hurry up and melt though. Wednesday is The Girls birthday and I had planned to shop for her on Saturday...can we spell....i-n  t-r-o-u-b-l-e if the roads don't clear up so I can do some shopping???

Happy Monday!