You Don't See That Every Day

In my corner of the world this past week: The Mr. found a new car. I don't know if it will fit all 7 of us   Little K has been a big helper around here. She is nearing 5 yrs old and growing in leaps lately - here is what she wrote (with help!) to her daddy (I will miss you daddy)  She helped make jam this week And she demonstrated her awesome coaching strategies on the whiteboard I've been reading a new author - David Rosenfeldt ; good mysteries and not so scary that I can't sleep at night. Basketball season is winding down. The Boy has one game left (sob) and the girls have about 3 each to go; so I get my fix a little longer.

Over here we've been busy living this life. So here is a little randomness from our days: Lots to do, sometimes so little energy to do it. We are finally all over the colds that plagued us for the month of February. The sun is out and even when it rains it still feels like spring! instead of winter dreariness. I went running for the first time yesterday since it snowed at the beginning of Feb. Which means I had 3 weeks off. Which means I was only able to go a little ways. My niece, with whom I am running the marathon in May, is up to 18 miles. She is going to smoke me! I am going to do this, and I am going to finish, but I am not so confident now about how well I'm going to do. The Mr's new job means he needs new clothes. Most of his shirts have the old company's logo on them. Can't really wear those to the new place! So we went shopping last Saturday, just he and I. And that was actually pretty fun. It sure is nice to finally be at the place in life where we c...

In my corner of the world, life goes on despite the illness in the house: --the basketball team from my high school is playing against our son's high school basketball team this weekend. I really wanted to go watch, but due to health-money-travel-time-commitments, we won't be going this year. It's not like our son is playing .. if he was we would definitely be there! Maybe next year. --My husband started a new job! For years we were praying for a change, and we thought we had a chance at a job last summer, only to lose it at the last minute. Looking back, we see what a good thing that was, because this job the Mr. has now is exactly what he needs and what he wanted. It's pretty exciting when he comes home at night in a good mood, looking forward to actually going to work the next day. --Our girl Dot was in Awana Bible Quiz this past weekend. She didn't place this year, but she actually stood up and answered a question - which itself I find hard, because you ...

In my corner of the world last week ... we had a doozy of a week. So this is going to appear kind of random (that's for you Amy!) : ) The kids had VBS every morning - which was pretty nice as Little K and I got a lot done and spent some great time one on one. She loves to do puzzles now, so we spent a lot time doing that, besides cleaning shopping baking and organizing. My aunt had a huge garage sale last week, so we got a few things out to that, and of course, we found a few items there that we brought home too! We also dealt with a lot of grief last week. A friend of ours died in a tragic accident. My husband and I had some good conversations about sorrow and prayer from all of this. But it still hurts. I bought a waffle maker again. Finally. I went to Costco this time, because if this one breaks at least they will take it back and replace it! This week we are prepping for camping. That involves a lot of lists for me. And some shopping. Which I actually don't like anymo...

In my corner of the world this week.... I made pillows. I had two leftover fleece, king sized pillow cases. Instead of spending mucho bucks for pillows, I bought some forms at the fabric store, made a casing with leftover fabric I have had for years, and now the kids have some big pillows to use for reading or watching TV. Feeling crafty and frugal. The girls held a lemonade stand fundraiser for two days this week. They are raising funds to help our friends get to Uganda on a missionary trip. They spent the past couple of days or weeks (?) making little crafty things - jewelry, cards, knitting items; then they set up a lemonade and cookie stand, along with their crafts, to sell to anyone who came by. They even put signs up around the neighborhood to advertise. I love their ingenuity and the fact that they didn't just ask me for money. They thought of this all on their own. I ran for the first time in over a week. Mornings have been just too busy! What!? This is summer, crazy ...

In my corner of the world this week ... I have been running. Many different ways. I've found some new routes, and that has helped any monotony I had been feeling. I made it up to a six mile run this past week. I am hoping to get a 7 or 8 miler in the next couple of days. The sunshine has been out, and I've been itching to get back out on the road. Other commitments have zapped my time though. The family helped set up for a basketball celebration yesterday. And then we celebrated. And the Boy and I helped set up, work at, and tear down, at the school's carnival. I am tired. The weekend isn't over, and we've got more to do. But it's fun! I made a chocolate cake roll tonight for my father-in-law's birthday. Lots of fun! I watched my son dance to 80s music. Even more fun. Lately he has been listening to radio that plays the songs I heard in high school, or earlier. I guess I am officially old now. I helped the Girl apply for school, go through an inte...

In my corner of the world this past week I did ... our taxes. Just the preliminary figuring. I wrote down the numbers, researched the numbers, added the numbers. It was kind of, sort of, fun. Almost like solving a puzzle. I ran ... and ran! I made it up to 5 miles today! My first mile was alone, kind of a warm up. Then I snagged our dog and ran with her 2 miles. She is such a good pace-setter. And getting better at not chasing the squirrels. Or else they are hiding when we go by. The last 2 miles I exchanged the canine pacer for a minion-pacer.  My daughter and her bicycle helped me finish up. Oh, it feels good to go this distance one again! I baked ... heart sugar cookies last week. Most of them went to my son's basketball team for snacks, but the girls and G got some too. We didn't do a big Valentines Day celebration, because, really every day is a Love-ly day with my family. (But we did watch the Charlie Brown special!) I watched ... plenty of basketball. I love the game...

In my corner of the world this week ... * there has been a lot of weather here. We had snow, lots of slushy snow. And now we have lots and lots of rain, and more on the way. We had a little scare of water reaching the garage, and the insulation sitting there waiting to be installed. Thankfully it did not reach that far. There are roads closed and many creeks and rivers flooding. * School was cancelled for all students in our area. My son spent the day today filling sandbags with other friends downtown. He really surprised us, wanting to go, and wanting to stay as long as he could, even while cold wet and hungry. Made me proud to see the glimmer of growing up shining through. * There hasn't been much progress made on schoolwork around this house. Since the Boy had Monday, and today, off from school, the girls did not get anything done either. And for some reason we spent more time learning in the kitchen, or playing in the front room this week than we did in the actual books. Bu...

In my corner of the world this week: I felt ... overwhelmed. Feeling like i was just marking the checkmarks on the To-Do list, and not Living. I made .. the blue walls pink and then red. I painted. And Painted. And painted. I sat ... through orthodontist appointments. Fixing some kids' teeth has been an eye-opening experience. In many ways. I slept in. Twice. It felt wonderful! I spent ... 2 days with my son - he didn't have school on Thursday or Friday, so it was pretty nice to have him around again. Of course, old habits die hard, and the friction between him and the oldest sister was back in a flash. I missed .. my friend. I watched .. my latest Netflix craze - "Foyle's War" I love it! Such a good BBC series. I also watched my husband work on the stairway - well, the landings really. The stairs themselves are yet to come. It was a busy week. It was a learning week. It was a week I don't think I will repeat.

In my corner of the world this week I painted - on any dry day I could. I am about 3/4 of the way around the (original) house. The cousins came to play again. Fun times all around. Little Princess lost her first tooth! She was quite excited about it! I think she is the earliest of all the kids - losing one at age 6; the others all waited until they were at least 7 yrs old to lose teeth. Perhaps that explains why we need to take the Boy in this week to have some teeth pulled. And the roofing materials were delivered. G spent half the week putting on all the shingles on the new part of the house. He got another window installed; and our freezer is no longer sitting on our back deck, with the extension cord running through the laundry room window. The freezer is back in its home in the garage, neatly plugged in. I took the girls shopping for clothes this week - time to get some pants and long sleeve shirts. We started out wood stove this week. A sure sign that fall is here. I wa...

Just because there isn't much progress on the remodeling project doesn't mean I shouldn't be posting here; just because all the pictures these days are of the little cutie doesn't mean I shouldn't be writing about the other children in the household. I've been remiss about that - sorry. In our corner of the world this week: I've been able to spend a lot more time smooching on my littlest one. I read the book "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman, in one night. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. And since then I have been hugging my kids a little more and trying to listen to them a little better. I highly recommend it for everyone. G-man has been busy with The Project. Lately that involves cutting concrete and chiseling it out of where we don't want it. We are hoping to get some walls up this week. (We, once again, being a loosely-used term.) The vehicle I drive, a pickup, is beginning to give us problems. Stressful for me. I hate it when thing...

In my corner of the world this past week I washed (what seemed like) dozens of load of laundry - from camping, and farming, and daily life; I went to my kids' first swim meet, and cheered loudly even though I wasn't always sure what was going on; I finished reading a classic book - Little Women; I signed up for a 5k, for next weekend, and a 5k in September; I ran with my husband one morning; I watched my 2nd to last disc of The Gilmore Girls. I don't know what I'll do when it's all over with my next, last, disc. I'm sure Netflix has something new to offer me. I weeded the corn on the farm and got to a visit with a cousin I haven't seen in a while. I started reading the book "Lies Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free"; I made jam; and smoothies; I watched my husband and kids destroy the ceiling in our garage. One step closer to a new addition. I ate a DQ Blizzard. Haven't had one in so long, and it was SO good. I...

In my corner of the world this past week: I ran 2 miles with my husband! A first for us to do together. I took Monday off from school. No school for the kids, no school for the teacher. A very nice day! I took baby K in for her 9 month checkup. We've got another long and lean kid, with a large head. I took a tour of a school nearby with all 5 kids in tow. Our son will be going to school next fall, so we are in the process of finding the right school for him/us. I watched my girl's ballet practice, and the boy's basketball practice. I stayed up way too late 2 nights in a row while my husband was out of town. Thus I came down with a cold. Well, perhaps the two are not related, but maybe they are. Either way, I have felt sinus pressure for the past two days, and I've felt wiped out. Which makes it more challenging to parent solo, drive the kids to various activities if needed, and eat ice cream. Actually, that last part is never a problem. I could eat ice cream in...

In my corner of the world this past week, I ran 2 miles with my son, 3 different times; I 'saw' the eye doctor and got a new prescription. I can see again! I wiped baby's nose countless times; I bought DQ Blizzards for dessert one night (just for G and myself!) I watched my movie "Persuasion" - another Jane Austen classic. I made gingersnap molasses cookies; I went to the farm and soaked up some sun; I went to my son's 3rd basketball game and soaked up his accomplishments;

In my corner of the world this past week, I watched the movie Mr Bean's Holiday. It was cheesy, but I actually laughed out loud at some parts. I listened to old music - from when I was a kid. Mmmm, memories. I read a book by Jane Kirkpatrick, "An Absence so Great", and finally finished it. It took over a week, but it was a good read. I saw photos of my friends in Argentina. Oh, how I miss them! I went to the dentist for my two older kids. No cavities! Hurrah! My 5 year old was begging for her turn. (Yes, my kids beg to go to the dentist.) I made my brother and my husband play the game Cranium. Definitely not one of their favorites, but still fun. I bought new running shoes, and a jacket. Today I tried them out for 2 miles. Yeah! I sang the hymns to my baby K as she snuggled in my arms this morning in church. I learned that a 12 year old boy can be just as emotional as a 10 year old girl. Or maybe a 12 year old girl. I'll let you know about that in 2 years.

In my corner of the world this past week I watched my girl dance her ballet in front of a large crowd. It was beautiful. I stayed up way too late, too much. I celebrated my son's birthday. I made cookies and pie, and gave some away. I endured hearing baby cry as she got a chest x-ray. I visited my mom. I ate a great tasting baked blueberry french toast. I ran with my kids again. I learned I need to listen to that little voice inside.

In my corner of the world this past week I ate a lot of food. Not enough to feel sick. But a lot of good tasting food. I watched my husband work on and finish the fence for the wood stove. It keeps the baby out of the area, and it is a great place to dry clothes that don't quite get done in the dryer. I put together the first celebration for our son's 12th birthday. He and a bunch of his buddies played football up at the high school for a couple of hours. A great birthday "party" - minor clean up and I got to stay home in a quiet house. I measured   baby K - looks like at 7 months old, she is 27 inches. I pondered the many blessings God has put into our lives. I introduced my kids to the movie A Christmas Story, you know the one with the classic line "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" I ran a mile with my son. And it felt good! ** For those of you who have posted comments - thanks! I am trying to figure out a better way to reply, but I don...

In my corner of the world this past week ... I felt baby's 2 new teeth; I bought winter gloves and snow pants for the kids; I watched K pull herself up on the edge of the couch; I prayed for a very sick little boy in Texas; last we heard he was recovering; I studied the Proverbs 31 woman in Bible study - a goal to strive for not a yardstick to measure myself against; I finished the Gary Thomas book I was reading, finally. It's called "The Beautiful Fight" and it is a very good book! I highly recommend any of his books. I read our National Geographic magazine; and I learned not to underestimate my kids - today while I was out, my two M girls were in their room ... praying!

In my corner of the world this past week, I read my Runner's World magazine - wahoo, and then I ran ! Yes I did! I watched "Big Jake" a John Wayne classic; I bought donuts (thus the added need to run) I made soup, and it was gooood; I learned that the personalization of faith in the past century has led to a type of isolation of believers - our pastor's sermon was full of good stuff today; and I learned that even though you might think someone's marriage looks good on the outside, it isn't necessarily. I received some shocking, saddening news and am thanking God for my wonderful, talkative husband (and praying for those who are hurting).

In my corner of the world this past week, I read a travel magazine and dreamed of all those places to go; I watched my kids enjoy the church Fall carnival, and get too much candy; I battled a cold all week; ugh. I ate too much candy bars and candy corns; I went to dinner with my family - 5 kids and my husband. It was a near disaster with our 6 month old; sigh. I danced with my baby girl to the tune of Josh Turners' Why Don't We Just Dance; I made birthday cake, graham crackers; and carrot bread; I bought shoes for my son, my daughter, and I splurged and bought some for myself; I celebrated my girl's birthday; I learned not to stress when the baby cries in the restaurant, because that will make her cry even more and then you might want to join in too; And most people are understanding. Or at least appear that way.