The Coffee Stop

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

2009-09-15T12:51:00.006-06:00

Last night, as things were winding down and I was preparing for school the next day, I finished cleaning the kitchen and started the dishwasher. I set the boys' clothes out and sorted through the mountain of papers that somehow find their way home each day. I pulled out the lunch kits, which smelled of garlic sausage and cheese, and headed for the kitchen and some antibac cleaner.

And stepped in a puddle of water.

I glanced down to find a small pool forming under my dishwasher door. Huh? What did this mean? What would I do? Don't tell me my new-in-April dishwasher was failing! What was to become of me?!

I woke Chad, desperate for answers and reassurance. He looked at it, asked me why I hadn't mopped it up, told me he couldn't deal with it now, and went back to bed.

I got up this morning and hand washed two cereal bowls and spoons - Chad had fed Kolten already. My dishes have been piling up all day and I haven't had the time to deal with them. My plan was to cook the kids an early supper, rush them to piano lessons and from there to Awanas, and then, in the short hour-and-a-half of blissful, child-free time, come home and hand wash a day's worth of dirty dishes.

Welllll, Chad was home for lunch and took a quick look at the dishwasher. We decided to give it a go and see what happens. So far it's running fine and there is no water on the floor...yet. I'm continuing to check on it, but praise the Lord! It looks like it's hands-free dish washing for me!

The Day Stuff Happened

2009-08-28T13:51:00.002-06:00

Ten years ago today, at almost exactly this time, I was standing before a preacher, pledging my love and fidelity to the man of my dreams. Since that day, he has become more than a dream. He is my life, my love, my friend, my support, my encourager and my comfort. He is the soft place to land when life knocks me down. He has filled the last decade with love, laughter, fun, excitement and challenge. He is the father of my three sons and a wonderful partner in parenting.

Ten years ago I could never have imagined where this life would take me. It has been a journey on which I have learned much and hopefully grown - not counting the *few* extra pounds I've picked up along the way. I have been abundantly blessed for one so undeserving. God has given me more than my heart's desires.

Chad, I love you more with each passing day, month, year. Thank you for the last, and best, ten years. I can't wait to see where life and love take us from here. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT!

2009-08-18T12:15:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday, BFF

My good friend is turning 30 today. She's one of those very special, unique people that, if you're lucky, you meet once in a lifetime. We've been friends for just over five years and our friendship is one of God's greatest blessings in my life. I count it a privilege to know her and an honour to call her 'friend'.

So, Happy Birthday, T. You are truly "30 and Fabulous!"

The New Additions

2009-07-09T17:13:00.001-06:00

I realized I forgot to include our puppy's name in my previous post. His name is Oscar. We got him from a family and they had already named him, but I like it. He's used to living on an acreage, but is doing well adjusting to city life.

He's been with us for three days and has already been to see the vet for his shots. He goes on July 6 to have the snippity-snip, and then back two weeks after that for a booster and rabies shots. In his short time with us, he's also taken his first swim in a pool. He ran straight into our friends' yard and headed for the pool. The cover was on and I guess he thought he could walk on water. Craig managed to fish him out.

I took him yesterday to get him a bigger kennel and also got his face shaved and nails clipped. Here's his new look.

I also had to call a tow truck service to come and let me in my car. I had left it running (didn't want the dog to get too hot) with my purse and spare set of keys inside while I quickly ran into the church. Oscar hopped up to see where I was going...and stepped on the locking button. No amount of encouragement could get him to jump up a second time. He just sat there looking pathetic and innocent with this aren't-you-going-to-let-me-out? look on his face. The towing people had a nice laugh, but made me feel better when they said it's not the first time someone had called with the same predicament.

Since I wrote the above, Oscar has been fixed and is back home with us. They sent him home with a cone around his head to keep him from irritating the incision site. That lasted all of 24 hours. By then I was done with following him around to carry him up the stairs. The cone was too big and him too short. Every time he tried to run up, the cone would hit the back of the next stair and send him tumbling backwards. While comical, probably not the best thing after surgery.

Also, I discovered he didn't fit in his kennel when I tried shoving him in and got him stuck. I had to twist the cone - and his head - to get him back out. Connor was also sick that night and sleeping on the floor in our room. It made for a VERY long night, lying awake, worried that Oscar would sneak out of the room and puke on my new living room carpet - which he's done a few times already - or that Connor would end up kicking the dog, starting a chain reaction of events, or need a middle-of-the-night emergency trip to the hospital. THANKFULLY, neither happened and Connor is now feeling better and the cone is gone.

In other exciting news (a little sarcasm there) we have another family that decided to move in with us. There's six or seven of them altogether.

This family has their nest right under our deck on one of the beams. I was outside with Oscar after it rained, and peeked under to see if the eggs had hatched. I had seen the mom and dad coming back to the nest with worms a few days prior. This is what I saw. I sat on the grass and took a bunch of pictures. After about ten minutes I heard a familiar call and turned around to see the dad returning with supper.

The next day I went out to check on them and both parents had left the nest. I was able to capture these pictures.

The chicks have all since left the nest and we see them around every now and then. Today I saw one hop into the weed bed on the side of our house and shortly after, the mamma bird returned with more worms. We're really hoping they will continue to use the nest year after year.

Finally, Something to Blog

2009-06-23T23:43:00.013-06:00

Okay, that title is just a joke. These last few months have been busy with lots of happenings I would love to have shared at the time. BUT I'm just now getting around to it and to spare the two people who check this blog (Hi Ron and Grandma), I'll give the abbreviated versions.

- In February we celebrated three birthdays. Kolten, Connor and Chad. Those are just in my household. We also celebrated my brother's *now* wife's birthday as well. So happy VERY belated to you! March brought three more birthdays for us. Busy months and also a reason why...

- Chad and I took a weekend away at the end of March and headed to the city. We left the children with my parents and spent three days foot-loose and fancy-free. It was bliss. We ended our mini holiday with the annual dinner theatre we do with Chad's parents and brother and sister-in-law. It was FABULOUS! We're planning on making it a yearly tradition to give us a breather after the craziness of previous months.

- Sometime in April I realized that while I had thought my health was improving from the last year, I had in fact stalled and was slipping backwards. I saw my doctor and found out I'm anemic. We're working on finding the reason, but he's put me on extra iron and it has really boosted my energy. It's strange to have all these emotions after months of numbness, but it's good. I feel good.

- I turned 29 in May and that's all I'm going to say about that!

- My good friend got married the last weekend in May and I did the music for her wedding. It had long been planned that she would not force me to wear another bridesmaid dress, and in exchange I would take care of the music for her. She knows I love her and, had she asked, I would have put on a dress and smiled for the camera. She also knows me too well and didn't make me. ;-) (Love ya, Kristen!)

- My older brother got married the very next weekend. YEAH! He married a gem of a girl. Chad was a groomsman, Connor was the ring bearer and I played and sang during the ceremony, along with good friend and worship team member, Ira. That guy has mad skills on the guitar and I accompanied him while he played musical numbers of "The Hallelujah Chorus" by Leonard Cohen, and "This Year's Love" by David Grey. During the signing of the register, we did the Steven Curtis Chapman song "I Will Be Here".

My boys had SO MUCH fun at the wedding and dance. Benen went strong until 1:30 a.m. Connor took a short cat nap around midnight and then was back at it. Kolten lasted until about 11:00 and then crashed on some chairs and slept the rest of the night away. The music was a live band called "Five on the Side." My brother is the bass player of the band and they are AWESOME! We've also gotten to know the lead singer, Sarah, and her husband and drummer, Justin, quite well over the years.

Anyhooo, during rehearsal the night before, they played the song "Ballroom Blitz" and my kids went nuts! This happens to be one of their favorite songs from Rock Band. The were psyched to learn the band would be playing that song at the wedding reception. When it came time, Sarah called Connor and Benen up to the stage to dance. I think she wanted them to dance at the front, but Connor didn't miss a beat. He hopped RIGHT UP ON STAGE and began dancing. Benen wasn't long in joining his brother and the two tore it up! At one point, the lead guitarist got down on one knee and rocked out beside them. Connor also got to end the song singing alongside Sarah to "It's, it's a ballroom blitz. It's it's a ballroom blitz." They LOVED it and so did everyone else. One guy came up to shake Connor's hand at the end and handed him $10! The entire night was a blast!

- So, after the last crazy six months (and the previous year), I finally decided to take the summer off worship. I won't be leading or participating in any way. Chad really encouraged me, and with the support of the pastor, other worship leaders and my friends, I finally took the leap. Or, in this case, giant step back. I haven't had a break in at least seven years and I have never completely stepped away. BUT, I was feeling the need for a summer filled focusing on my kids with no other responsibilities. I can hardly wait. School is officially out at the end of this week and I can't wait to hit the pool, the beach and have lots of water fights. I'm gonna stock up on water balloons and try to enjoy each minute of the next couple of months.

Side note: This is the first week my team is playing without me and it's all I can do NOT to step in and help plan and organize it. I'm finding it harder than I expected. I love everyone on the team and I think that's why it's so hard to step back.

- And now, some pretty big, significant news. WE JUST ADOPTED A CUTE SIX MONTH OLD BOY! I always thought if we adopted, it would be a girl. You know, sorta balance out the testosterone that flows through this house. But what can I say? When it's right, it's right. I think he will be the perfect addition to our home. I mean, just look at that face.

The boys had absolutely NO idea that we were considering getting a puppy. With Chad's and my allergies,we've always told the boys that it just wasn't an option. BUT kids need pets and boys need puppies. This little guy is so sweet and mild tempered. My hubby never had any pets growing up and I had to do some fancy talking to get him to accept the idea of a dog. Notice the dog's collar and tag? Edmonton Oilers. Whose idea do you think that was?

I went early this morning to Camrose, about two hours from where I live, to pick him up. I took him to the school when I went to get the boys and they were SHOCKED. Benen's exact words were.

"No way! Tell me the truth. You're kidding! Have you told Connor yet?"

Anyways, he's not as playful as the boys would like, but I think that will come as he settles in.

And that, in a nutshell, has been my life the last few months.

The Ultimate Reality Show

2009-03-19T00:47:00.001-06:00

I have always been a person who sees in black and white, right and wrong. I love to see justice prevail - the good guys win; the bad guys get what's coming to them. My heart goes out to the underdog, the person or persons who are faced with extreme odds, the ones who are picked on and persecuted. Combine that with my love of MMA (mixed martial arts) and I believe you'll understand why I'm so excited about the premiere of this new reality show. My hubby showed it to me. He said it's as if someone custom-made a t.v. show just for me.

Well, I guess you know what I'll be doing this Sunday.

2009-03-04T10:45:00.001-07:00

Since there has been a lot of stuff I haven't had the chance to blog about, I figured I'd do a picture blog. It's all the stuff I've wanted to share, but haven't had the time or energy to pull together.

A random day in January...

Chad took the boys tobogganing. We live across the street from a big park with two sledding hills, bike paths and a lake. The biggest hill is directly across the street from my front window.

When you live in Canada...

A convenient way to dry skates.

My son, the artist...

Benen drew this wonderful portrait. Can you guess who it is? Yup, it's yours truly. If you missed the resemblance, check out my profile pic on the sidebar.

Let's rock...

Kolten and his BFF formed a band and put on a show.

The birthdays...

Kolten turned three and Connor turned seven. We held Connor's birthday at the bowling alley and had twelve kids; nine boys and three girls.

Valentine's Day...

Do I have the best BFF or what? Chocolate and coffee - she knows me well.

Wounded little soldier...

Kolten, two days after his accident.

The End

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to ER we go...

2009-03-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here's something I never want to experience again - taking my three-year-old boy to the hospital for stitches. I realize I'm not the first mom to go through this kind of ordeal, nor will I be the last, but it's certainly something I pray I will never have to repeat.

Now, being a mom of three boys, I've always understood that emergency room visits would be an unavoidable part of my life. I just didn't count on my baby being three the first time I had to hold him down while a doctor sutured his face. No one really knows what, exactly, happened, but we're guessing he fell off the foot stool in my parents' basement and smashed his chin on one of the chairs. It's actually to the left of his chin, along the jaw bone. It took five stitches in total to close the wound; one on the inside, and four on the outside. The fatty part of his cheek was actually hanging out a bit and the doctor tried to poke it back in as he stitched. One piece refused to stay in and I watched as the doctor took scissors and snipped it off. Yes, I was there through the whole procedure, helping the the nurse and...male nurse/doctor/paramedic (not sure exactly what he was) restrain my thrashing baby.

The one thing I can say is God is good. Actually, He's down-right amazing. I have bragged on this blog that I have THE most amazing, wonderful doctor EVER! And we've seen quite a bit of him in the last two months. As we drove to the hospital, I had the fleeting thought of how nice it would be if he was the doctor on call. I immediately dismissed the notion, not even bothering to put the thought to prayer. The first sound I heard as I entered the sliding glass doors was the sound of Wonder Doctor's voice. At least I thought it might, could possibly be. I stood in disbelief, straining to hear. Then I snuck closer so I could get a tiny peek in the curtained off room. I didn't want to totally violate some one's right to privacy, so I settled for checking out the shoes I could see below the curtain. The feet were the right size, the shoes the right style and...IT WAS HIM! Isn't God awesome? I was humbled as I was reminded again that he knows the deepest desires of our hearts. He knows our inner-most thoughts and even when we can not put words to prayer, He answers.

So, now we're home, my family is sleeping and I'm even contemplating calling it an early (for me) night. Kolten's left cheek and jaw are swollen up like a chipmunk and he's not able to open his mouth wide enough to fit a spoon in which is making it a little hard to feed him. BUT, he has all his teeth and although he's going to turn all shades of blue, black, purple and green over the next couple of weeks, the bruising will fade, the swelling will recede, and the gash will heal. The kids are off school for spring break next week, so I think we'll take it a bit easier. I have play dates lined up for them, but nothing important that can't be changed.

And now, I've got to go change over the laundry and then I'm heading to bed. I may even turn the light off before midnight. Maybe.

Update

2009-02-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to maintain this blog better in the new year, hoping to post more regularly, but obviously it hasn't happened. Which goes to show that good intentions will get you nowhere...or in my case, as far as the coffee pot.

My life has been a series of doctors' appointments and sleepless nights. I know, I know, it sounds like I'm whining, but it seriously has NOT stopped since the beginning of January. I'll come to a place where I think it's finally behind us, only to have some other strange symptom appear and then it's off to the doctor's office or emergency room we go.

Anyways, my ambition and creativity are at an all time low. BUT, I'm gonna add a quick update and hope you'll all forgive me for the scattered, unedited, sloppy, wordy sentences that is my mind lately...thought runs into thought, which runs into thought...you get the picture.

* First off, please, if you are a praying person, pray for my son, Connor. It sounds bad to say, but I am exhausted with all the weird things happening to him and just need it to stop! If I'm not losing sleep because he wakes me, I'm losing sleep worrying about the weirdness that's cropped up in him. Nothing serious or life-threatening...just weird and bizaare...and I need it to end and for him to be healthy.

Since I wrote the above, we saw our amazing doctor and I believe Connor is on the final stretch. One last thing to fix and I'm hoping, praying, we'll all remain healthy.

** A conversation a couple of weeks ago...

Connor - "Dad, do I have to go to school tomorrow?"
Chad - "Yes."
Connor - Big long sigh. "I don't want to go. I'd rather stay home."
Chad - "Why? What's wrong with school."
Connor - "There's this girl I sit by, and everday she loses her pencil and then she always says I took it and I don't! Why would I take her pencil? I have my own pencils!"
Chad - "Well, next time she does that, tell the teacher that she's blaming you and you don't like it. The teacher will deal with it."

A few days ago...

Me - "Hey, Honey, how was school?"
Connor - "Good."
Me - "Did you eat all your lunch?"
Connor - "Uh...I don't think so....no."
Me - "You didn't? Why?"
Connor - "Some of the girls took my nutrigrain bar and smashed it until it was all in little pieces."
Me - "They did?! "
Connor - "Uh-huh. And they also took some of my lunch and hid it. They took my napkin, I think."
Me - "Oh."
Connor - Sounding confused and frustrated, "Why would they do that?"
Me - "Um, they were probably just trying to be funny. They were just teasing you."
Connor - "Well I didn't like it and I told my teacher. She said that she would take care of it and that they wouldn't do it anymore.
Me - "Okay, that's good."

Later at supper that night...

Connor - "Dad, I told my teacher that the girls were taking my lunch and she said she would stop them. That was some good advice you gave me, Dad."
Chad - "Good. Your welcome."
Benen - "What's 'a-vice'?"
Me - "Ad-vice. It's when you suggest to someone a way to deal with a situation. You give them an example of what they could do."
Chad - "I told Connor to talk to his teacher if he was having any problems."
Me - "It's suggesting to someone how to fix a problem."
Benen - "Oh, like this! Connor I have some advice for you. Like maybe next time, whatever she does to you, you just do it back!"

THAT KID CRACKS ME UP!

*** My baby turned three on the ninth. I can't believe how quick the time has gone. He's still my baby, though. The problem is he knows it and he's beginning to work that angle. Such a mix of "adorable" and "mischief."

He has this one best friend and they are soooo cute together. It's my good friend's daughter, and the two of them are only 6 weeks apart in age. They've grown up together and they have the most unique friendship. I have never seen two kids connect, play and communicate like these two. They are hilarious together!

****At supper tonight...

Benen: (trying to get Connor in trouble) "Mom, Connor opened his eyes when we were praying."
Me: "He did?"
Benen: "Uh-huh."
Me: "Benen, you know what that tells me? It tells me you had your eyes open, too."
Benen: (pauses to think) "Well, you know, I just had my eyes open to check."

A little later during supper...

Benen: "Mom, you know, God can turn into a dinosaur."
Me: "Well, it's not really like that Benen. God doesn't turn into a dinosaur."
Benen: "But mom, he could turn into a dinosaur if he wants to."
Me: "Benen, God doesn't have to turn into a dinosaur. He's God. He created everything."
Benen: "But he can!"
Me: "Benen, no."
Benen: "But, Mom, he CAN! He's the Amazing God."

How do you argue with that? I agreed.

After supper...

Benen: "Hey, Mom, I'm your fan!"

I just laughed. It was completely random, out of nowhere.

*****This weekend we're celebrating Connor's seventh birthday. He turns seven on the twenty-third and I can NOT believe I have a son that old. He's growing up so quickly. He's such a smart kid and I love the conversations we have. He's a deep little thinker, which can be VERY frustrating when he's plying me for details a hundred times, but he thinks and reasons beyond his years.

The other day I had just finished filling his prescription at the pharmacy. As we're walking away from the counter, Connor turns to me and lets out a deep sigh. "I'm worried I'm costing you too much money."

"Connor, you are worth every penny!"

"But, I'm just thinking you won't have any money left."

"Connor you're not suppose to worry about money. You're six. When you have a family of your own to take care of and support, then you can worry about money."

"No, I'm not worrying about it, just thinking. I don't want you to run out of money."

"Are you concerned I won't have money and that you won't get all the toys you want for your birthday?"

"No, it's not that. It's just I really care about you a lot and I don't want to use all your money."

"Honey, don't you worry. We have money. And I would give anything for you. Okay?"

"Okaaay."

Now, when my kids have been begging for stuff in the toy aisle, I have used the phrase, "No, that costs too much money" for expensive toys, but I remember my mom saying things like that, or saying we didn't have the money for stuff and I never worried about it. Connor is such a sensitive soul and sometimes I'm still surprised at the things he takes to heart.

******Well, this post is getting long and I have to get ready to head to the church for worship practice. I have no idea what songs we're going to do this week, but I'm planning to work on this new Brian Doerksen song tonight and use it for Sunday. Enjoy!

UFC 94 - BJ Penn vs. Georges St-Pierre

2009-01-31T23:27:00.006-07:00

I am ON TOP OF THE WORLD right now! Georges "Rush" St-Pierre just finished BJ "The Prodigy" Penn in four rounds. GSP dominated inside the ring for twenty minutes before a decision by Penn's corner and an octagonside physician put a stop to the fight, thus declaring GSP still the undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World. It was incredibly thrilling to watch and I admit my throat is a tad sore from all the whooping, hollering and cheering I did from my parent's basement. With the exception of my wedding day and the births of my children, this would have to rate as one of the most anticipated days of my life!

Of course I was cheering for GSP, and not just because he's Canadian. I mean, how can you NOT cheer for him? He's one of those once-in-a-lifetime fighters whose skill and ability seem to sharpen and improve with every fight. He offers his opponents a great deal of respect inside the ring and always shows a level class that is above and beyond the average fighter.

I really don't know what else to say. I don't want to go on and on and bore you all with the details, and it's too soon to post any of the highlights. I just know it's going to take a long time for this adrenaline rush to wear off so I can get some sleep.

A New Year

2009-01-21T11:22:00.002-07:00

I started this blog post on Janaury 4 and am just now getting around to finishing it. There was so much I wanted to share over the last couple of months, but somehow none of it made it onto my computer. I kept meaning to get it all down, but then it started piling up, higher and higher till it just all seemed a little too overwhelming. So instead I've decided to give you the condensed version of the things I can remember, complete with pictures from my new Canon digital camera - Christmas present from Chad. This one has a stabilizing feature, so hopefully no more blurry pictures. Let's begin.

* All December we teased Connor, singing "All I want for Christmas..."

** Benen was given this shirt as an early Christmas present.

If you can't read the writing, it says, "Dear Santa, I can explain everything." It so completely defines our Benen and I laugh everytime I read it.

*** Here are some pictures from Christmas at my in-laws.

**** The boys got skates for Christmas and Chad built a rink in our backyard. This was their first day on skates.

***** Yesterday's interesting conversation:

Chad - "I found gum on the toilet seat."

A long pause.

Me - "How did you find it?"

****** December and January have been the months of sickness. Before Christmas, Kolten came down with a 'chest infection'. He started showing the same symptoms as last year when he got pneumonia, so I rushed him to emergency. The xray showed a white spot on his lungs, but the doctor said he was "hesitant to call it pneumonia." Basically it was a milder case and he's better now.

Although we had our first sickness-free Christmas in 10 years, January has more than made up for it.

- Connor developed a lump on his neck; we went for an ultrasound and they put him on antibiotics. Basically, there were multiple enlarged lymphnodes due to some viral infection - or so they think. It eventually went away...mostly. In February I'm taking him back for a follow-up exam and will have the doctor check the sore lump on his foot.

- The next week Chad got the flu.

- The next day Benen developed a fever and a cough. Fever lasted one day and he's still coughing ocassionally.

- Kolten followed Benen by a day, but his strange fever lasted five days and was hard to control. He's been feeling better for the past four days.

- Three days after Kolten started, Connor caught the fever and also had severe stomach pains. The fever lasted for three days, the stomach pain for two and now he's coughing. He's mostly better and because I think his cough is just due to postnasal drip, I sent him to school.

- I thought we were getting back to normal, but yesterday Chad came down with fever, chills and body-aches. It's some weird virus that seems to be running through our house, but *fingers crossed* I think we're at the tail end of it. Thankfully.

I'm not whining - honest - just giving you the low-down on the past month-and-a-half.

******* Benen comes up with the greatest words.

Toilet paper = wiper towel
Lost and found = Lost 'n fountain
Rice Krispies = Rice Kripsies
Grandma Sturge = The long Grandma (she lives a long ways away)
Normal = Nermal (he cannot say it right; makes me laugh everytime)
Root Beer = Root Beard
Mustache = Muss-beard

******** Boys - The Way They See It

Benen - "Mom, you hang with Tracie too much."

Me (chuckling) - "Hang? I hang?"

B - "Yeah, you know, like 'hang out'."

Me - "I know what you mean, and I like 'hangin'' with Tracie 'cause she's my friend."

Connor (in all his big brother wisdom) - "Benen, she does coffee with Tracie because that's what moms do."

Me - "That's right. It's how we keep our sanity."

Okay, I'm done. It feels good to be back and I hope to keep blogging a little more regularly.

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days

2008-11-26T00:05:00.003-07:00

My cousin forwarded this video to me and I thought I'd share it with you all. It made me laugh. Enjoy!

Christmas Traditions

2008-11-21T17:05:00.002-07:00

We're entering a season that is full of various traditions. Each family has their own special way of bringing in the season, different things they do to mark this blessed time of year. As the boys are growing up and getting older, Chad and I are beginning to find ourselves anxious to pass on traditions from our childhoods to our children, as well as discover and make new traditions all our own.

Today is just such a day. We feel the boys are of a certain age where we can now share with them a timeless classic of holiday fun - Home Alone. Chad has gone out to pick up supper and buy the movie and tonight we will be having an old-fashioned family movie night. I am SO excited. The boys are going to love this movie. They are, after all, boys. And what boy doesn't like watching people fall down, get hit in the face with a paint can and have their hand burned on a door knob? It's going to be a night full of laughter and fun. I can't wait!

For What It's Worth

2008-11-20T13:17:00.004-07:00

My son is obsessed with money. Seriously. I'm starting to get concerned and wondering if somehow I've failed in teaching him the really important things of life. Everywhere we go he wants to know how much everything costs, how much money I have and why he can't have more money. It's starting to drive me crazy! This is often how the day goes.

"Mom, how much money do you have?"

"Never mind, Benen."

"You have more than a hundred, don't you?"

"Benen, let it go."

"How much money is this?" (Holding up a quarter)

"It's twenty-five cents."

"Wow! That's a lot! What can I buy with this."

"Not much."

"But what?"

"I don't know, maybe a few candies."

"Can I go buy some candies?"

"No."

"Why not? I have the money."

"Benen, we are not going to buy candy right now!"

"Can we go after Kolten's in bed for his nap?"

"No! I can't leave Kolten alone by himself, and furthermore, I am NOT taking you to buy candy! You don't need candy, it's not good for you and you get plenty of treats a day! Be thankful for what you get. Don't ask me again."

"But mom, maybe we could just-"

"BENEN! ENOUGH! I said not another word!"

A little bit later...

"Mom, you know that money I gave you?"

"Yes."

"Can I have it back?"

"Yes."

"No, I mean that money I gave you for a Christmas present." (A few coins)

"Yes, Benen, I know what money you're talking about."

"Can I have it back?"

"I already said yes, you can have your piggy bank back."

"No, I don't want the piggy bank, just the money. Can I have it?"

"Benen! I have already said 'yes'! Just go and get the money!"

"Okay."

A little later again...

"Mom, is that your wallet."

"Yes."

"What are you doing with it?"

"I was ordering something online." (Christmas stuff)

"Can I look through your wallet?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it's mine and you don't need to look in it."

"But I just wanna see how much money you got."

"Benen, the answer is no."

"But mom-"

"Benen! When I say 'no' I mean NO! Do not ask again or I will send you to your room. No is NO!"

A little later still...

"Benen! What are you doing?!"

"I'm just lookin' in your wallet."

"I told you not to!"

"Well mom, how come you have this one dollar?"

"Because my Grandpa gave me that dollar bill a long time ago. Now shut my wallet."

"How come I don't have any money that someone gave me a long time ago?"

"Benen, just close my wallet and give it to me!"

"It's not fair."

********************

That's a typical day for me. There are times I just wanna scream and tear my hair out. Honestly, I'm so sick of talking about money. I've heard that a lot of marriages suffer because of "money issues" but I've never experienced anything like this!

The Handsome Ring Bearer

2008-10-23T15:21:00.007-06:00

As promised, here is a picture of Benen as a ring bearer. I still haven't found the chord for my camera, so I had my friend email me the one she had. Now, tell me, isn't he just the cutest thing?

Now, imagine having to look in those eyes and see pain and uncertainty. Next Wednesday, we are taking him to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. We did this with Connor when he was Benen's age, but I don't remember feeling as sick about it. I'm trying to keep in mind that I am doing what's best for him, though it certainly isn't easy. I laid in bed and cried last night, just wanting to wrap him in my arms and shield him from what I know will happen. I realize it's not that big of a deal, and certainly not anything life threatening, but I still hate for him to have to go through it.

With Connor I was unprepared and went in blind. This time I'm getting organized. I'm bringing a DVD player and movies and I'm putting together a special present for after the surgery. Connor got one when he had his done, but I sent Chad out after to find something for him and there wasn't much selection in the small town where we stayed. I'm also planning to stay the night in the hospital with him. Thankfully I'm not pregnant this time. A hospital stretcher isn't comfortable on a good day, let alone when you're nine months pregnant and bursting with baby!

A Little of This and a Little of That

2008-10-03T20:03:00.004-06:00

Boy, I feel like there's so much to say, yet I can't seem to come up with a clever way to say it. As a result, this post may seem mundane and boring, which, ironically, IS like my actual life. But here goes - a little bit of random.

********************

Some of you may have read that Benen was the ring bearer in a wedding on Saturday, September 20. I had promised to post some pictures and have yet to deliver. And it'll have to wait as I lost the chord that connects my camera to the computer. When I do find it, I'll get the pictures up.

But let me just brag for a minute. That kid was absolutely, hands down, THE handsome-est thing I've ever laid eyes on. 'Course he gets it all from his daddy. Now, I've had the opportunity to see Chad in a tux before and he takes my breath away, but this was the first time I've ever seen Benen all dressed up. It literally left me speechless. His suit was black with a chocolate brown vest and tie and a white dress shirt. He looked SHARP! I was on music duty and had to play for the processional. I tried to glance up and catch a glimpse of him walking up the aisle and nearly lost my concentration. He was just the cutest thing ever! I really hope I can get the pictures up for you to see.

And, of course, him being Benen and all, he charmed the socks off everyone he met that weekend. There wasn't a girl, young or old, who wasn't in love with him by the end of the day and there wasn't a guy he met that didn't end up thinking he was the coolest little man. He got to hang out with the wedding party for Friday and Saturday and he just loved being treated as one of the guys. It was a special time for him and he loved the attention. Naturally.

********************

About two years ago I took my oldest two boys to see a homeopathic doctor. We were having some "concentration" and "listening" issues along with some allergies that were undetected. The doctor tested the boys and ended up listing a whole whack of "food sensitivities" and telling me to put them on a grain-free, dairy-free, nut-free, sugar-free diet. It was a challenge, but we tried - to the best of our ability - to follow the strict eating guidelines. We found some amazing results in Benen's listening and concentration, but never really noticed a difference with Connor.

We did this for a year until my husband began researching what, exactly, a "food sensitivity" to gluten does to you. The boys didn't have "celiac disease", a condition that's becoming more common and well known. They simply had a "sensitivity" which has a varied range of effects. After realizing the gluten wasn't the cause of the boys' hyperactivity and skin problems (but rather the corn and corn products) we began giving them gluten again. About 6 months ago they returned to a regular diet with regular bread and foods. The only exception was their lactose-free milk.

Now, six months later, Connor is complaining of frequent stomach aches and having some issues. I figured it was the gluten and took him off it again. It seems to have helped some. And this past week I took all the boys to see the doctor. We all had appointments to deal with our problems.

Connor - He had some blood work taken to check for food allergies and any other problems that could be causing his stomach pains. I'm wanting to rule out any serious digestive track problems and double check that his "food sensitivity" hasn't developed into anything more serious such as celiac disease. He HATES-WITH-A-PASSION getting needles, so the doctor put on that special topical cream that completely freezes the area. It's the same stuff they give kids when they have to stitch a wound. He was still a nervous wreck, but he didn't flail, scream and puke like the last time.

Benen - He has VERY LARGE tonsils (I'm talking almost NO room at the back of his throat) and I've been concerned for a couple of years about them. His nasal passages are also small and he has some allergies. This all adds up to problems with his breathing. He snores, breathes heavy and often complains of a stuffy nose. After a talk with my fabulous doctor (just LOVE him) he decided to refer me to the specialist in a small town hospital and Benen will be getting his tonsils and adenoids removed on October 29. The timing is perfect. Before Christmas, but after his birthday party on October 18. The consult will be the morning of the surgery and the surgeon can change his mind if he doesn't see the need, but I'm really hoping and praying they'll take care of the issue so he doesn't have problems later on in life. This is the same doctor and hospital that Connor went to when he had his removed 2 1/2 years ago. I was NINE MONTHS PREGNANT (1 week to my due date) when I stayed overnight in the hospital on a gurney. Can you say OWWW!

Kolten - He went for his two year exam and to check the soft spot in his head which has never closed over. He was born with a HUGE soft spot (took up most of the top of his head) and it's still a pretty good size (bigger than a quarter). The doctor measured the circumference of his head and says it's bigger than normal. But what's normal for a two year old? Don't lots of toddlers have heads a bit bigger? He looks completely proportioned to me and I think I'm being objective. I didn't have any opportunity to ask what it could mean and what the concerns are because we were rushing out the door to get Benen to gymnastics on time and Connor for his blood work. Still, I'm not TOO concerned because he's a very bright kid and seems to be developing at a normal (or slightly above) pace. He goes back in two months for a follow-up exam.

Me - All good and finally back to feeling normal - or what's normal for me.

********************

Benen started gymnastics this fall. He's gone to two lessons and he LOVES it! And the kid is really amazing. He started showing interest last year when he caught a couple of minutes of it on t.v.

"Whoa! Dad, what is that?"

"That's gymnastics."

"I wanna do that!"

Now a year later, he's doing it. He's been practicing at home this last year and I've been showing him some stuff. I used to be in it when I was young and I still love it. Getting to watch my kid, and seeing his natural ability at it, makes me soooo proud. I know this sounds like bragging, but Benen really is the best in his class. He has GREAT posture and balance and I have never seen the kid so focused. This is BENEN! My kid that drives me crazy with his goofiness. He is 100% focused, does NOT take his eyes off the teacher, obeys EVERY WORD, and is quick to catch on. He's also the only one that can do everything so far. In fact - and I know this is bragging - I was watching the older boys who are in the more serious training class which runs at the same time as Benen's, and Benen can do 80% of what they're learning and as good as some of them. It thrills me to see him so involved in something he loves.

********************

While his brother got into gymnastics, Connor has become more and more interested in music and he started private piano lessons this fall with an AMAZING teacher. I do NOT have the patience to teach him myself and this lady is an absolute blessing. First off, I've known her and her husband for years, and secondly, she is so skilled and qualified. She teaches from her home AND on a grand piano. Yeah, there's a little jealousy coming out there. Also, she has two young kids of her own and she relates well to Connor. Connor is a very intense, focused individual and she is constantly encouraging him, yet gently correcting him at the same time. He is thriving under her tutelage and doing SOOO well.

********************

Have I bored you enough yet? Have you managed to make it this far without dozing off? Are you still with me or did you abandon this post somewhere near the top? One last thing and then I'm done.

Shauna's Dictionary

Ripple Effect - when running up the stairs you realize the jiggling in your behind is not contained to your posterior, but rather ripples down the back of each leg in continuous waves.

(Not the most pleasant of discoveries.)

Over His Head

2008-09-21T20:14:00.002-06:00

So, I'm standing at the kitchen counter making muffins when Chad walks up and says, "Nice buns."

Benen, who was watching me spoon the batter into the tins, looks at his dad and in his oh-so-grown-up voice replies, "Da-ad, they're not buns. They're muffins." Then he turns to me. "Sometimes Dad just gets it wrong."

Uh, yeah. Some things go right over his head. Good thing, too.

Seriously, that kid is a HOOT! He did so great this weekend being the ring bearer. He was completely in his element and he swept everyone off their feet. The women all adored him and the guys treated him like a little buddy. He was positively glowing under all the special attention. I'll have some pictures up soon and will give you the highlighted moments of the weekend.

Here Comes the Ring Bearer

2008-09-19T11:17:00.003-06:00

A friend and co-worker of Chad's is getting married this Saturday and they asked Benen to be the ring bearer. This will be his first - and probably only - time being involved in a wedding. When they asked us a year ago, we gave them fair warning. If you follow my little blog at all, you know what I'm talking about. Benen and his exploits are the frequent subjects of my posts. I was a bit surprised when they told us HE was exactly what they wanted - someone to keep things light and funny. It will be that.

Chad is also standing up as a groomsman and I am doing the music for the wedding. I'm playing some background music while guests are being seated and then I'm playing the processional. I'm using the song, "Feels Like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk, and while the attendants walk up, I'm playing an instrumental of the song. Then, when Benen and the flower girl make their way down the aisle, I'm going to continue the instrumental, but move it to a higher octave and make it light and "little" sounding. When the bride makes her entrance, I'm going to start singing the song and do just one verse and chorus, which should get her down the aisle. Also, during the lighting of the unity candle, I'll be playing and singing "Burning Embers" by Kendall Payne.

Tonight is the rehearsal and I'm a little nervous. I like having all my i's dotted and t's crossed and I won't know exactly what I'm doing until I meet the guy whose performing the ceremony and find out the order in which he's doing things. Also, for anyone who knows me, I get EXTREMELY nervous when I have to do solos. Ask me to lead worship and chances are I'll have no problem. Ask me to sing a special and I shake like a leaf. Still, there's a part of me that's excited - I get to play a grand piano and that's not an opportunity I have very often. My fingers feel itchy with anticipation and I just hope the sound person is good. They can really make or break you. I'd be much more comfortable if my husband could set my sound levels, but it's not at our church and you know how it is.

Anyway, here are the two songs if you want to check them out.

For the Kendall Payne song, click here and then select the song "Burning Embers."

I'll try to post some pictures of the wedding and my handsome little man some time next week.

If I Could...

2008-09-08T14:20:00.002-06:00

If I could, I'd stop the season where it's at and enjoy warm days mixed with crisp, cool winds. I'd revel in the beauty of autumn, its sky made grey-blue by the misting of clouds. I'd sit and watch the sun's valiant effort to break through and the calmness of its muted light. I'd open all my windows and let the breeze blow through, bringing the refreshing scents of green grass, trees and changing leaves. I'd take deep breaths and let the coolness seep into the deepest parts of me, and I'd bask in the feelings of renewed hope and new beginnings.

If I could, I'd freeze the hands of time where the sounds of my children playing fill my days. I'd listen to their make-believe world and watch as they transformed into superheroes, determined to rid the backyard and their small world of its evil villians. Where everyday is an adventure to be met and its challenges to be conquered.

If I could, I'd pause this moment in time where the beginning of school holds all the blossoming dreams of their some-days, all the promises of who they could be. Where all the possibilites are open to them and their imaginations know no limits. Where innocence and confidence blend and everything seems reachable. Where the stars are not too high and they are fearless to reach for them.

If I could, I would bottle up the smell of fresh air, sunshine and little boy, to be taken out when time has passed. When I'm watching them learn to drive, standing at their graduation or crying at their wedding, I would pull it out and remember sweet days gone by. I would breathe deep its fragrance and be overcome by memories of cuddles on the living room floor, wrestling matches that ended in kisses and a million "I love you"s. I would remember warming cold little hands, kissing cool little cheeks and hugging warm little bodies. I would remember breathing deep, soaking in their special smell and wishing I could bottle it up.

If only I could.

Random, of course

2008-08-31T23:38:00.002-06:00

**Sweet Words**

Connor - "Mom, I figured out how to change the toilet paper roll. Now you'll never have to change it again."

**50/50**

I went to pick up Benen after his second day at kindergarten. "Mom, I need to talk to you."

"Alright. What's up?"

"No, uh, not right here. Let's....um....go a long way away from people."

"Oh. Okay."

He grabbed my hand and led me half-way down the hall of the school. "Uh, here's good." I knelt down so I was eye level with him and repeated my question.

"So, what's up?"

"Um, I got sent to the Table today."

The "Table" is where the kids who aren't listening and behaving are sent for time out away from the class. "Oh, really. What were you sent to the Table for?"

"Um...for goofing around."

"Huh. You weren't listening to the teacher?"

"No."

"Oh." Honestly, at this moment I had no idea how to respond. It was then I noticed the little smirk he was desperately fighting to hide. Huh. Imagine.

"How about you try better the next day to listen? Okay?"

"Okay."

Honestly! Two days in and already he's causing mischief. Though, if I'm being honest, I'm not entirely surprised. I'm giving the teacher two weeks. If I don't hear from her by then, I'm making an appointment to see how she's holding up. (Truly, Benen is a good kid - just a little clownish and fidgety - and I don't want him to be misunderstood.)

**One Sad Boy**

"What's wrong, Benen?"

"Dad won't give me a bigger spoon."

"Why do you need the bigger spoon?"

"I did the littler spoon and I need the bigger spoon to hang on my nose to prove I'm talented."

**Why?**

"Come on, Kolten, you need a nap."

"Uh, no."

"Um, yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you're two, you're little and you're tired."

"Uh...uh-kay."

A New Day

2008-08-27T01:14:00.001-06:00

I haven't been around much the past few months and I'm sorry about that. I've missed hangin' out in Blog Land. There's been a lot going on and I took a little, much-needed break. I'm trying to get back to blogging and will hopefully be more faithful in the months to come. To all my blog pals - I'VE MISSED YOU! I can't believe you still check my little old spot on the blog map.

Anyways, tomorrow - well, today, seeing as it's 1:00 a.m. - marks a new chapter for me. TWO of my little men will be heading off to school in the morning. Connor is entering grade one and I can't believe he'll be gone five days of the week. It's a little sad, yet strangely exciting, too. I'm thrilled that he will be in the same class as his little friend from last year. God is good. I prayed for that and shouted a "hallelujah" when I read the class list. Connor doesn't adjust well to change (wonder where he gets that from... :-P) and having his friend with him will help ease his way into grade one. Now we're hoping they get desks next to each other.

Benen, on the other hand, can't wait to go to school. He's so excited he can hardly contain it. It's funny that I find myself worrying more for Connor - who's done this already - than I am for Benen. Or maybe it's that my concerns are different. With Benen I'm concerned about how well he'll listen, how many phone calls I'll get and if he'll remember to walk home after school and not get distracted on the playground. I worry that he'll forget to look before crossing the street and won't see the car coming until it's too late. Or that he'll decide to walk to a friend's house - just to make sure his friend got home safely - and I'll be frantically driving through the neighborhood screaming his name while calling the police. Which reminds me I need to put their number on my speed dial. *Sigh* He's such a good kid, but so easily distracted. And WAAAAY to independent and confident. I'm gonna start counting how many grey hairs I acquire over this next year.

Well, I really should get some sleep as the morning is sure to be full of chaos and noise. Thankfully Chad is home on holidays and will be going with me to get them settled in school. Then he's off to the golf course and I'm gonna hit Starbucks before going to my BFF's for coffee and a *quieter* visit. 'Night!

*I am way out of practice with my writing skills (what little I had) as you can tell by this post. Please forgive me. I hope to be better in the future.*

A Quick Funny

2008-07-27T22:02:00.003-06:00

I was walking Benen to bed late tonight and he says, "Know why I like you?"

"Why?"

"'Cause you're tough!"

"Am I?"

"Uh-huh. Show me your toughness."

I dramatically lifted my arm and put some umph behind it as I flexed my bicep for him.

IT DIDN'T MOVE! Not. One. Bit.

"Woooooah. You're super tough."

Gotta love that kid.

What I learned

2008-07-13T22:02:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, I learned it is NOT a good idea to accept the challenge of a foot race from my four-year-old son. I came to this conclusion after a series of mistakes on my part. The first mistake, I'm sad to say, was the result of my foolish pride.

We were at the church Saturday night and I was pulling song sheets for Sunday morning when, on the way to the photocopier, my son, Benen, asked, "You wanna race?" A strange feeling overtook me and I was struck with the desire to show my child just how fast his mother REALLY was. None of that let-them-win-you're-so-fast crap. I wanted to FLY; I wanted to see the unbridled awe and adoration in his little face. I was gonna win his admiration with my lightning fast speed and agility.

Mistake number two. I conveniently forgot that the last time I had sprinted was in junior high, when they force you to participate in Track and Field. I found out my four (and a half) year-old son is *almost* faster than me. I was REALLY having to work. What I thought would be simple, quickly turned into a fierce competition. I hate to lose.

Mistake number three. In our final race for the front doors I yelled out, "Quick Benen! Run down the stairs!" And then it hit me - that's not the kind of thing a *good* mother would say. So I quickly amended it with a follow up, "Be careful!" By this time he was half-way down and winning.

Mistake number four. Finding myself behind, I decided to show off a little and leaped down the remaining four steps, with a little side twist thrown in for flair. I landed with a solid thump.

Mistake number five. I planted my feet, completely forgetting that the upper half of my body was still being carried by my forward momentum. I was left in a mad scramble, trying to get my feet to catch up with the rest of me, which by then was headed for impact. I did a nice little slide-and-dive on the carpet in our church foyer. I have the rug burns on both knees to prove it.

Benen won the race.

Book Review & Giveaway and Guest Blogger - Amber Miller

2008-07-11T00:26:00.000-06:00

It is my privilege today to be a stop on author Amber Miller's blog tour to help celebrate the publication of her first novel, Promises, Promises. If you haven't already "met" Amber/Tiff, let me introduce you.

Amber Miller is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband in beautiful Colorado Springs. Amber has sold four books to the Heartsong Presents line of Barbour Publishing with the promise of two more before the end of the year. She is currently pursuing an expansion into trade-length historical fiction as well. Other writing credits include several writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and nine contributions to the book, 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage. A born-again Christian since the age of seven, her faith in Christ has often sustained her through difficult experiences. She seeks to share that with others through her writing.

Read more about her at her web site: http://www.ambermiller.com/.

This amazing lady has agreed to share her own personal love story with us. It's quite the tale, but I'll let her tell you. Also, stick around (or scroll down) for my review of this book and leave a comment for the chance to win a FREE copy of Amber's book.

Hi, my name is Tiffany Stockton, but I publish under Amber Miller. The name is derived from my middle and maiden names. I was published before I married last year, and my wonderful husband doesn’t mind me having this “alter ego.” I’m thrilled to be here with Shauna on her blog. She’s been an avid supporter of my writing and my web site for over two years now. Of course, it’s been some time since I’ve seen a comment left by her, but hopefully with my appearance on *her* blog, she’ll again return. (hint, hint)

Anyway, this blog is one of the over 25 blogs and web sites I’m visiting during my 3-week blog tour. I’m promoting the arrival of my first book on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, Parable sites, Barnes & Noble and other retailers, where available. As of right now, the links haven’t been activated, but stick with me on this tour, and you’ll be notified the moment they are live.

My first book actually released in February to the Heartsong Presents book club, but they wait a few months before releasing the titles to the general public. In fact, book 2 is now available. It released on July 1st. So, if you love what you see on this tour, you can actually order *both* books, not just one. There are also a variety of blogs and sites that are including a book giveaway. Visit all of the stops on this tour and you can enter more than once. Increase your chances.

Oh, and yes, these books are romances. It’s what I write. I don’t apologize for it, as our relationship with God is just like a true romance. The romances we experience on earth are supposed to be mirror reflections of the love God has for each one of us. It’s a pleasure to craft stories which demonstrate that truth. And today, I’m here to share a bit about my own personal love story.

As I mentioned above, I married the love of my life last year and moved to the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Shauna was hanging around my blog when the engagement announcement and wedding planning period was taking place. So, she asked me to drop by her blog and talk a little more about it. One of these days, I’ll write a book featuring it, but for now, here is a sneak preview.

Once upon a time, a red-haired princess sat alone at home, gazing at her computer screen and wishing she had some companionship from the outside world. She lived her life day in and day out, wondering when her turn would come. Her only relief came through the attendance of an annual writer’s conference each year in the Fall. This is where she met the dashing and compelling dragon in 2004.

That year, the dragon made quite an impression, and although they didn’t exchange many words, six months later on Valentine’s Day, they began an online conversation via email and instant message. This communication helped ease the loneliness and emptiness in the princess’ life. It entertained the dragon as well, but he didn’t want to admit it.

The distance between the princess and dragon proved beneficial, for they shared many things with each other that never would have passed their lips had they been meeting face to face. Through their chats, they learned a lot about each other. And at the next conference six months later in 2005, their friendship was sealed. A little shameless flirting took place, but at this conference, many of the married ladies spent all of their time attempting to find a girlfriend for the dragon and dropping hints that the princess might be the perfect match. Because neither the princess nor the dragon were ready for anything other than friendship, they parted ways and returned once again to their electronic communication.

However, once back home, something was different. A spark had begun to flicker in the hearts of both the princess and the dragon. Though they denied the attraction, they both secretly admitted it existed. At the conference in 2006, their friendship had become much more. But the dragon remained in denial. He had allowed the princess to persuade him into asking her out for dinner, and he later admitted that had he gotten out of his car to say goodbye, he wasn’t sure he would have been able to do so without a kiss.

The princess didn’t know this at the time, though. So, she went into the hotel and almost cried. Had it not been for the counsel and encouragement of a special friend both she and the dragon shared, as well as a handful of others, she might have given up. Armed with their reassurance and the belief in her heart that the dragon was the one for her, the princess continued to wear down the dragon. For three long months, the dragon continued to resist the pull of the princess. Finally, in December of 2006, the princess sold her first book, and the dragon was the only one online to be the recipient of her good news. It was late, and everyone else was in bed.

A few days later, the dragon admitted it was time to make a move. So, he told the princess to start planning for his visit. In March of 2007, the dragon flew to the princess and spent 4 fun-filled and entertaining days with her. With a single kiss, the dragon was transformed into a handsome, blue-eyed prince. By the end of their time together, they had admitted their feelings and agreed to take their relationship to the next step. Neither one expected that step to be engagement just 6 days later. But that’s what happened. And the dragon and princess accepted it.

Ten weeks later, the dragon swept her off her feet by surprising her with the engagement ring she knew he had, only he had chosen a beautiful way to give it to her. He’d planned a romantic moment with white Christmas lights strung on his screened-in porch, soft music, a flickering lighted fountain, and him down on one knee. It was there that he pledged his undying love and asked the princess to marry him. He told her she’d brought so much joy and laughter into his life, he couldn’t imagine life without her.

Ten weeks after that, they were married, and the princess joined the prince in Colorado, where they now live. They have yet to start a family, but as they approach the joyous celebration of their upcoming first anniversary at the end of July, a family is next on the agenda.

So, as you can see, I finally have my own real-life fairytale. Although my dreams and imaginations helped me write the stories I wrote before I met Stuart, having him in my life has added a much richer dimension to my books. I now know first hand what true love is all about. And yes, it’s just like what you read in those romance novels and fairytales. Of course, you have to work at it to keep the fairytale alive, but it’s more than worth it in the end.

I hope you’ve loved reading this little tale, and if you’d like to see evidence of the love we share, pick up one of my books, where I put a little of my real-life experiences into the stories of my characters.

Shauna will no doubt provide the rest of the content for this blog, so I’ll leave it in her capable hands. In the meantime, thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you at the other stops on this tour.

Take care.

Tiff, thanks for sharing with us. Catching the original engagement announcement was so awesome and getting to follow the progress as the wedding was planned was a special front row seat to this romance.

And now, take a look at her book, Promises, Promises, the first in her historical romance series, Brides of Delaware.

Has God forsaken Raelene?

What kind of God would take a girl's family and leave her alone in a wild land where women have no voice? When Gustaf Hanssen promises Raelene's dying father that he will take care of her, he finds himself bound to her happiness, her success, and her well-being in ways he never imagined. To keep his word, must Gustaf really oversee all of Raelene's affairs, find her a husband, and maintain her farm, while she does nothing but scorn him? Can God reach through Raelene's pain and self-centeredness and give her the love that awaits, if only she will accept His will?

ISBN: 9781597899390
Ordering link: www.ambermiller.com/books.html

The second book of this series, Quills & Promises, was released July 2008.

ISBN: 9781602600492
Ordering link: www.ambermiller.com/books.html

Promises, Promises is an intense, emotional tale of struggle, heartache and pain, and the hope that can be found in faith and love. Raelene and Gustaf are both bound by promises made. Raelene is determined to keep her father's dream alive; Gustaf has promised to assist and watch over the woman who rejected him.

I loved watching Raelene and Gustaf wrestle with their untimely attraction. There is a delicious and tangible chemistry between these characters that keeps you reading, hoping and aching for them. There are laugh-out-loud moments and moments where you will catch your breath. It’s simply wonderful.

I found this story full of unexpected surprises that completely delighted me. It left me wanting more and excited for book two. I also have a review of this book up on LASR. Hop over to read the slightly longer version.

It has been a pleasure being a part of this blog tour. The rest of the stops are listed below, so be sure to follow for more chances to win a copy of this book. Also, don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win one here. You can also leave a comment without entering the draw - just specify that in the comments - but why would you want to?? I'll leave the contest open until Friday, June 18 - one week - and then I'll put all the names in a hat, swirl it around, reach in and pick a winner. I'll announce it here as well as send the winner a note, so be sure to leave a working email address where you can be reached. Good luck everyone!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Shirley Connolly (July month-long feature) - http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/

July 7 - Margaret Daley (bio) http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/
July 7 - Dawn Kinzer at From Dawn til Dusk, Musings of a Night Owl http://dawnkinzer.blogspot.com/
July 8 - Donna Moore at Write by Faith http://writebyfaith.blogspot.com/
July 8 - Kim Woodhouse at God's Grace, Love & Forgiveness http://www.kimberleywoodhouse.com/
July 9 - Margaret Daley (interview) http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/
July 9 - Amy Riley at The Friendly Book Nook http://thefriendlybooknook.com/
July 10 - Jenny Blake at Come Meet AusJenny http://ausjenny.blogspot.com/
July 11 - Rose McCauley http://rosemccauley.blogspot.com/
July 11 - Shauna Sturge at The Coffee Stop http://shaunasturge.blogspot.com/; Long and Short Reviews http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/
July 12 - Carolyn Strawder at Quiet Time with Carolyn http://www.quiettimewithcarolyn.com/Serenity
July 14-19 - CAN! blog spotlight http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing
July 14 - Martha Rogers at Martha Writes http://marthasbooks.blogspot.com/
July 15 - Leslie Sowell at A Little Bit of Sunlight http://www.footprintsinthesand.us/blog
July 16 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs) http:///
July 16 - Novel Journey / Novel Reviews http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/ / http://novelreviews.blogspot.com/
July 17 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs) http:///
July 17 - Eileen Astels at A Christian Romance Writer's Journey http://eileenastels.blogspot.com/
July 17 - Cheryl Wyatt at Squirrel's Treehouse http://scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/
July 18 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs) http:///
July 18 - Cara Putman at Cara's Musings http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/
July 18 - Tyora Moody at CB Reviews http://www.faithwebbin.net/cbreviews
July 19 - Stacy Johnson at Vader's Mom http://jeffstacyandvader.blogspot.com
July 21 - Camy Tang at Camy's Loft http://camytang.blogspot.com/
July 21 - Jennifer AlLee at Musings on This, That & The Other Thing - http://jenniferallee.blogspot.com/
July 21 - Trish Perry (interview) at Reading, Writing and the Stuff In-Between http://www.trishperry.com/
July 22 - Cindy Woodsmall at the Plain Talk Blog http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/category/plain-talk/
July 23 - Delia Latham at The Melody Within (review/interview) http://themelodywithin.blogspot.com/
July 24 - Margaret Chind at Creative Madness http://cherryblossommj.blogspot.com/
July 25 - Delia Latham at The Melody Within (guest blogger) http://themelodywithin.blogspot.com/
July 25 - Christa Allan at Fictionary http://cballan.wordpress.com/
July 26 - Paula Moldenhauer at Grace Reign http://gracereign.blogspot.com/

2008-07-01T16:03:00.000-06:00

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

I Told You

2008-06-28T01:21:00.002-06:00

Games played: 704

Games won: 367

Win percentage: 52%

I told you I was addicted to Spider Solitaire. I have worked really hard to get my win percentage up from 47%. Do you know how many games in a row you have to win to up your percentage by one point!? Well, neither do I, but let's put it this way - between two and three days worth.

Now, it's 1:25 a.m. and I really need to stop playing and just GO TO BED!

'Night.

Disaster Control

2008-06-25T22:45:00.005-06:00

Today was Connor's last day of kindergarten. We did it. We survived the whole year with only a few minor disasters.

I have never proclaimed to be the most organized person. My idea of "filing and sorting" is taking the papers out of his backpack (the morning of his next school day) and placing them on the growing stack by the microwave. Every so often I would sift through the mess hoping to unearth monthly calendars and that pesky list of field trips I was sure I had seen a couple months ago.

Which could be why I received this phone call last week on Thursday morning. I had just crawled back into bed after seeing Connor out the door and was enjoying a nice morning chat with my BFF when my other line beeped. "Can you hang on a sec? My line's beeping and it's probably Chad."

"Sure."

I switched lines.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Shauna, it's Mrs. T from Connor's school phoning." I started to panic. My biggest fear was that some person would snatch Connor on his way to school during the fifteen seconds he's out of my sight. My overactive imagination went out of control and I barely managed to contain the urge to scream, sure she was about to tell me Connor had never arrived that morning. "Today is our day to take the kids to the park. I'm sure you saw the note. Connor needs a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, hat, lunch and snack. You probably just forgot."

"Uh....note? I didn't get a note."

"We sent it home some time ago."

Ahhhhh, that would be the missing paper I couldn't find. In true Shauna style I replied, "Oh, that note. Yeah, I lost it."

"Oh." Big awkward silence. "Would you be able to come down right now and bring Connor's things. He's quite concerned that he's the only one who doesn't have his stuff."

Ouch. "Absolutely," I said oh-so-calmly while jumping out of bed and reaching for a pair of pants. "What time are you leaving?"

"Nine o'clock."

A quick glance at the clock showed it was 8:48. I threw on a shirt, brushed my teeth, ran my fingers through my hair and yelled at Benen to "get in the van NOW!"

I ran to Connor's room and yanked open the dresser drawer to find...nothing. No swimsuit and no shorts. I rushed to the laundry sorter and began doing the pull-and-sniff looking for his swimsuit which I assumed was at the bottom. No luck. In the dryer I found a pair of board shorts and decided they would do.

Towel. No clean towels. I ran upstairs and downstairs looking through laundry baskets and in every room of our house. Finally, I found an old, but clean, towel sitting on the stacking stools and I grabbed it and stuffed it in a bag. I threw in sunscreen and a hat and again yelled, "GET IN THE VAN! NOW!"

I slipped on my sandals, grabbed Kolten, who was wearing a pajama shirt and diaper and rushed out the door.

At the van, I yanked open the door and stopped. There was no car seat for Kolten. I had forgotten that I had taken it out and given it to my aunt who is due to have her baby soon. It was my spare and I had not yet put Kolten's seat in the car. Well, there was no time, so I ran around the other side and strapped him into Connor's booster seat. He was completely delighted. I believe his exact words were, "Whoa-ho-ho-ho." I put the van in gear and ignored the school zone limit during my mad dash. After all, the kids were all in school, right? And this was an emergency.

I made it. The kids were lined up at the classroom door, ready to head for the bus. I jammed the plastic bag in Connor's backpack, gave him a hug and a kiss, and apologized profusely for forgetting.

Mission accomplished. Phew.

I'm not sure how I'm gonna do this everyday next year.

Evolution, and why it's a load of crap

2008-06-22T15:11:00.000-06:00

If evolution was true and actually possible, if an organism could adapt and change to become stronger and survive, then mothers would have THREE ARMS!!

Making the Band

2008-06-11T02:02:00.000-06:00

Last night my boys went into their bedroom to play some music. I helped get Kolten set up with a guitar and left them to their NOISY play. About twenty minutes later they emerged with satisfied grins.

"Did you hear us playin' music?" asked Connor.

"Yup."

"Did you like it?"

"I loved it."

"Did it sound good?" chimed Benen.

"It sounded awesome! You boys are soooo good." (A bit of motherly embellishment.)

"We started a band," said Connor.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

"Do you have a name for your band?"

"Yup. It's called Fire Heart."

"That's a cool name. How did you come up with it?"

"Well, well, actually...Connor came up with it," confessed Benen. (My little truth teller.)

"Oh. How did you think that up, Connor?"

"Well, I was just thinkin'...and I thought of it."

I sent Chad for the camera. Here are some pictures of the newly formed, one-day-famous band, FIRE HEART.

(I don't know what is UP with our camera, but please forgive the poor quality.)

Here are their rock 'n roll poses:

And their poster pics:

Random Thoughts

2008-06-04T22:19:00.000-06:00

I'm back. I wish I had something entertaining, profound or deeply insightful to share with you, but I don't. I'm short on insight, somewhat shallow and often boring. *g*

There is a reason I haven't been blogging as frequently, and hopefully I'll feel confident enough to share it here soon. Quick question: how do you get personal on your own blog, knowing you will come face to face with some of the lurkers?

For now, I will leave you with a few random things.

:: :: ::

Words I never expected to hear from my husband's mouth:

"My period is almost over, so if you'd rather wait..."

Granted I've used that phrase a time or two, but hearing it come from him was a shocker! It caused a slight misunderstanding until I realized he was talking about hockey...and me waiting until the period was over for him to bath the kids.

:: :: ::

I have found there are two things you can't do after having a baby - sleep in the nude and jump on a trampoline with a half-full bladder.

:: :: ::

The most difficult question in the world is "How are you?" Because everyone asks it, but you can never be sure if they really want to know the answer.

Another Year Gone

2008-05-21T00:10:00.004-06:00

Today marks the day twenty-eight years ago that I entered the world a squalling, red faced baby. Not much has changed. KIDDING! Well, kind of.

Last year I was less than thrilled with the idea of turning twenty-seven. I'm thinking my aversion to odd numbers had something to do with it. I refuse to believe it was because the big 3-0 was looming closer. I'm a step closer to the top of the hill and the view ain't all bad. I am determined to age - somewhat - gracefully ... or at least do my kicking and screaming in private.

I was pondering today the changes the past year had brought. You know, what things had I accomplished, what goals had I met, how many diapers had I changed. That type of thing. Here's the list I compiled.

1. I've been married one year longer.

2. I've grown in stature. Okay, not "stature," just ... grown.

3. My oldest went off to kindergarten, which resulted in...

4. ...me developing a deep suspicion of the neighbor man, who walks his dog in weird disguises.

5. My husband and I enjoyed a ten day trip to Costa Rica where we lived it up. NO KIDS!!

6. I changed roughly four diapers a day, which over a year adds up to ... 1,460 diapers. (Minus the ones Chad changed on the weekends.)

7. I have wiped hands and faces twice a day ... 730 swipes. Multiply that by two for the sticky ketchup in hard to reach places. (Ears, hair, between fingers, belly buttons)

8. I have given about 30 hugs a day, 40 kisses, 10 tickles. That adds up to 10950, 14600 and 3650 respectively.

9. I've continued to lead worship at our church which has been both a wonderful blessing and, at times, a difficult challenge. It has been amazing to watch God work in spite of me. *g*

10. I have new, wonderful bedroom furniture. LOVE, LOVE IT!! Deep rich espresso color (yummy) with a leather headboard and foot board. Gorgeous.

11. Deepened friendships both online and off.

12. Sporadically maintained a blog.

13. Bought a 30+ Skin Care line. My way of giving 'Ole Father Time a swift kick in the teeth.

That's about it. Not a very impressive list I'll admit. But that's my life - wife, mother, worship leader, friend, occasional blogger. And I wouldn't change a thing about it.

An Average Day With Benen

2008-05-20T08:54:00.000-06:00

"Mom, if you had three Benens there would be three to make three beds."

"Oh. That's true."

"Mom, what if you had three Connors, three Benens and three Koltens? Wouldn't that be awesome!"

"Well, that would mean I had nine kids. That would be a LOT. I think I'll just stick with three."

"Yeah."

:: :: ::

"Mom, how would you like .... THIS!" He wraps his arms around my waist in a bear hug.

"I'd LOVE that."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, Benen."

"I know."

:: :: ::

"Mom, when it's my birthday, you don't have to buy me a card if you don't have time."

"What?"

"If you don't have time, that's okay. You don't have to buy me a card."

"Benen, I love you and I will make time to buy you a card. And I'll make time to buy you a present and make you a cake and give you a great birthday party."

"Oh. Mom, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna invite you to my birthday."

"Thanks, Benen."

:: :: ::

"Mom, you know, we never see you shower."

"Nope, that's right."

"Why?"

"Well, 'cause I'm a girl and you're a boy."

"Oh. Are you gonna have a shower or a tub with some toys to play with?"

"A shower."

"Oh. When you're done can you come downstairs and show us your beautiful looks?"

:: :: ::

"Mom, when I go to kindergarten, I'll think about you instead of my friends."

"That'll be nice, Benen."

"Yeah. And I'll kiss you before I go to school."

"I'd like that."

"Yeah. Mom, you know Barney Rubble? Sometimes, he doesn't kiss his wife on his way to work. He's in a hurry and he just whooshes by."

"Hmmm."

"Mom, don't worry. I'll make time to kiss you goodbye."

:: :: ::

"'Night Benen. I love you."

"'Night, Mom. I love you a hundred to a hundred."

Friday Funny

2008-05-16T12:36:00.004-06:00

Can you read that? I know it's fuzzy and this time it wasn't the camera. I'm just the worst picture-taker in history. Here's what it says:

POWER

VITAMINS FOR MEN

This makes me laugh. Every. Single. Time. As if that's not funny enough, here's the caption, the "selling factor."

ENRICHED WITH

MALE FACTOR NUTRIENTS

BWAHAHAHAHA! Just what, exactly, are "male factor nutrients"? I mean, REALLY. That's just too much.

Chad came home with these vitamins a couple of weeks ago. I have done nothing but laugh every time I see the silly bottle. The amazing thing is THEY WORK. Chad has been on medication for his high blood pressure for two years and keeping it under control has been a daily challenge. If he missed his pill one day, he started to feel the effects.

He began taking these vitamins and after about five days, he noticed he was feeling weird. He sat down to check his blood pressure (yes, we have our own machine) and it showed he was quite low. Like 110/67. So he checked again. And again. And again. We were both baffled. Even with his medication he always leaned toward the high side. His numbers had never, in his entire life, been that low.

He went online that night to research just what was in these Power vitamins. Turns out there are four different herbs that lower your blood pressure. He has been off his medication now for a week and a half, and its staying down.

So, even though I still laugh at the ridiculous label, I have to give Jamieson props, as Randy Jackson would say.

:: :: ::

This Week's Worship

Opening Song:

Lord Reign In Me

Worship Set:

I Am Free

Everyday

Everlasting God

Let the Church Rise

Closing Song:

My Redeemer Lives

A Mother's Dream Day

2008-05-12T15:28:00.002-06:00

My Mother's Day was incredibly special this year. It started out with breakfast in bed.

I cringed when I heard the door creak open at too-early in the morning. Any hour of the morning is too early for me and it wasn't helped by the fact I had had trouble falling asleep the night before. I finally drifted off somewhere between 3:30 and 4:00. My oldest son crawled in around 5:00 and I spent the next hour fighting elbows and knees for space and trying not to sweat myself into dehydration while being thoroughly cooked from both sides.

So when the door opened I groaned on the inside, but managed to paste a smile on my face. It got better from there. I opened my eyes to see my oldest son carrying the wooden tray he had made on a school field trip to Home Depot. On that tray was a plate with toast and a nicely folded napkin. (I'm not much of a breakfast eater.) Chad was carrying a hot cup of coffee. Have I said he's my Knight in shining armor?

The boys were adorable with lots of hugs and kisses and phrases like, "You're beautiful, Mom," and "You're the best mom in the whole wide world," and "I love you a hundred to a hundred." (That's Benen's newest one. Makes me smile every time.)

Then came the presents.

Benen was literally bouncing with excitement and when Chad handed him the bag his enthusiasm took over. He reached in the bag and whipped out ... a new pair of slippers. They are fuzzy, fluffy thong style slippers that are bright pink and baby-blue with puppies and stars all over the straps. Totally Benen's personality. He also bought me a card and a book bracelet. It's a bookmark that fits around the spine of your book and has little decorations on it. He picked it out because there's a heart in the middle. (Chad was able to talk him out of the Hannah Montana bookmark that first caught his eye.)

Connor handed me his gift bag and I reached inside and pulled out ... another pair of slippers. What one does, the other must do. Connor had picked out simple slip-on slippers in a soft shade of pink. Once again, totally Connor's personality. At school he had also made for me a card with a tulip on the outside. The inside of the card read,

Dear Mom
I love you!
Happy Mother's Day!
Love Connor

And he had written it all by himself. He also made one of those plaster hand prints in gold. It was incredibly special. And the whole time I was opening presents Kolten sat beside me on the bed and ate my toast.

Chad decided this year to join Mother's Day with my birthday - which comes nine days too soon - and bought me the iPod Touch. I'm thoroughly enjoying my new toy.

The rest of the day included church, grocery shopping, shopping for an iPod case and hanging out with friends and family.

We barbecued supper over at my brother and sister-in-law's and when it was time for the kids' bedtime, Chad took them home while I stayed and watched 27 Dresses with my mom and sister-in-law. The perfect end to the perfect day.

I hope you all had wonderful days, too!

A Mother's Day Shopping Trip

2008-05-10T21:30:00.003-06:00

A conversation while shopping for Mother's Day presents at Walmart, as relayed by Chad:

Connor: "Whoah, Dad! We should get Rock Band!"

Chad: "Connor, who are we buying for again?"

Connor: "Mom."

Chad: "And do you really think Mom is going to play Rock Band?"

Connor: "Ummm, no."

Chad: "We need to think about what Mom would like. What does Mom like?"

Connor: "Well....she likes me. How do I give her me?"

Benen: "I know Connor. I know what you can do. You can wrap yourself in wrapping paper."

Connor: "I can't do that. I'll die. I won't be able to breathe."

Benen: "Welllll, I know. You can poke some holes in it."

A little while later....

Connor: "Mom likes stuff that's soft. I'm gonna look for something soft to get her so she has something soft to sleep with."

Chad: "Think about it Connor. Does Mom really like soft stuff, like stuffed animals? Does she sleep with anything soft right now?"

Connor: "Well she sleeps with you."

I'm interested to see what the boys picked out. I'll be back tomorrow to give the details.

Friday Book Recommendations

2008-05-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago Travis tagged me with the new challenge of picking a Friday book recommendation. The idea is to look back and remember some of the great books of the past few years. I was supposed to have posted it last Friday and completely dropped the ball on that one. Sorry, Travis. I wish I had a good reason, but the truth is I don't even remember what I was doing. The last few weeks are basically a big blur. But, although I'm a week late, I want to go ahead and do it anyway.

Patti Abbot launched this great idea. Here's her original explanation:

This is the first of what I optimistically hope will become Friday recommendations of books we love but might have forgotten over the years. I have asked several people to help me by also remembering a favorite book. Their blog sites are listed below. I also asked each of them to tag someone to recommend a book for next Friday. I'm worried great books of the recent past are sliding out of print and out of our consciousness. Not the first-tier classics we all can name, but the books that come next. Here's my choice.

So that's the idea. And now, here's my choice.

A MISSING HELICOPTER AND TONS OF HIJACKED COCAINE ARE JUST PART OF THE MAELSTROM AWAITING SARA IN HER NEW LIFE.

Following a whirlwind romance and impromptu wedding, she is whisked off to her husband’s palatial family estate in Bolivia. Cultural differences and family adjustments are no match for her fierce love for Nicolas. But Sara soon opens a Pandora’s box of questions surrounding the Cortez family’s billion-dollar business, becoming ensnared in a deadly clash between her new family, a drug cartel, and the DEA.

Driven by heart-pounding drama and supported by compelling realism and precise detail, Jeanette Windle catapults you into an all-to-real world of intrigue and danger . . . captivating and mesmerizing you from first page to last. Experience first-hand the inexorable forces and critical choices that draw Sara relentlessly into the Crossfire.

The only word for this book is awesome. I loved every word, sentence and page of this book. It starts out with a bang and keeps rapidly moving, taking you on a heart-pounding adventure. There are twist throughout this book that are completely unexpected. Jeanette Windle writes in such detail, you will feel as if you get an up close look at the dangers and truth of the fight against the drug trade. Powerful. Emotional. AWESOME!

And now, to tag someone for next Friday, I pick Katybug. This gal is a dear blog friend and uber reader like myself. She has steered me towards some great books and I'm excited to see what she picks.

Untitled

2008-05-04T23:15:00.003-06:00

It's been a while since I last blogged. I have a reason. I'm addicted to Spider solitaire. I tend to go through phases with it and right now, every time I sit down at the computer with the intent to blog, I find my mouse gravitating towards that little button on the side of the monitor. Instead of checking e-mail and blogs and attempting to peck out something here, I find myself sitting in a trance, determined to beat the game at least once before going to bed. Or feeding the kids, taking a shower, doing the laundry, washing the dishes. You get the idea.

Anyways, I won tonight and since I'm currently riding the high that victory brings, I figured I'd put the extra energy to some use. 'Course I could be making my son's lunch for school tomorrow, but where's the fun in that?

So here's the deal with last weekend - and yes, I can share most of it. Chad and I managed to get away to the city and it was fabulous in its way. The time spent with Chad was wonderful. BUT a major hair disaster put a decided damper on the holiday. Let me explain.

I needed some touch-ups done on my hair, a few extra layers put in to take some of the bulkiness out of the middle. I had been (notice the past tense) attempting to grow out my painfully-slow-growing hair for the summer and just wanted to thin out a couple of places.

Here's the thing. I have a good friend who cuts my hair and it's hard for me to trust someone else to understand what it is I want done. I allowed myself to be convinced to give a salon in the city a try.

I made the ultimate mistake of choosing the first place we came to in the mall. I figured big city, they must know what they were doing. I was WRONG! I took one look at the woman and almost walked out. I should have. There was something not quite right with her eyes and I was picking up some weird vibes from the place. The fact the receptionist looked like a cross from Ripley's Believe It or Not and some weird creature from a wax museum should have tipped me off. BUT I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. A mistake I won't duplicate.

I tried to explain to the butcher - pardon me, hairstylist - what it is I wanted and I thought I had made it clear despite her halting, broken English. With great trepidation I planted my backside in her chair and allowed myself to be draped with the black cloak. My stomach was churning and my nails firmly embedded in the arms of the chair as I fought to remain seated despite the nausea and light-headedness.

"I want to keep the length," I emphasized. "I just want it blended a little through here and maybe a few more layers. Don't take off any length."

"O-kee."

Ten excruciating minutes later and I looked like the worst version of an eighty's mullet EVER! I kid you not, she took off most of the length on the sides and LEFT THE BACK LONG! I stared for two shocked minutes, unable to reconcile the hideous creature in the mirror as being me. I gulped.

"What did you do? I asked you not to take off any length."

"Oh no, I didn't take off length. See?" And she pulled on the back of my hair.

"But you cut off the sides! The sides are short!"

"Uhhh, yes and now it blends so much betta."

"But the sides are SHORT! And the back is LONG!" She just stared at me through her evil Mirror-Mirror-on-the-Wall. "Just cut off the back, please. You might as well just cut it all off."

"O-kee."

So she did. She didn't even attempt to style it after. I had to ask for some product to try and put some curl back in it after she had ruthlessly combed it straight. As I went to pay, the receptionist looked at me with her soulless eyes and wax face. "How much you tip?"

I was taken aback. How much did one tip the person responsible for her worst nightmare? I was clueless, "Uh, I'll tip ten...I guess." And then I grew a back bone. "Uh, well, se-seven."

I received the nastiest look ever. "Seven?"

"Uh-huh."

I swear she hissed at me. Then she handed me the slip to sign. Imagine my shock when I realized she had gone ahead and charged the ten dollar tip to my card!

Although I struggled through the weekend trying NOT to think about what hair remained on my head, it was a lot of fun meeting up with some family. The weekend was full of wonderful company, conversation, good food and lots of fun and laughter.

And now that I'm home and have my trusty straightener, I've been able to resign myself to this new look. It isn't as bad as it first appeared and I'm accepting it, 'cause, let's face it, what else am I gonna do?

:: :: ::

On a completely different note, I watched P.S. I Love You tonight. I sobbed my eyes out! What an amazingly wonderful, funny, romantic, yet sad show. I am a complete mess. But, I think it may be one of my favorite contemporary chick flicks. Anyone seen it yet? I also watched 27 Dresses for the second time. What a cute, feel-good story.

Okay, it's getting late and I really should make Connor's lunch tonight since I don't function in the mornings and may possibly forget to include a spoon again. Not a good thing when half his lunch requires one.

2008-04-30T19:05:00.001-06:00

WIN FREE BOOKS!!

For the month of April, there will be daily book giveaways here. There are also additional opportunities to win books of your choice. Just click and follow the contest rules! I'll see you there!

**New blog posts will appear below**

The Weekend

2008-04-25T14:50:00.003-06:00

I'm heading to the city with my hubby for the weekend. Just him and I.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Quick! The bucket...blarf

2008-04-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

There have been countless times in the last five days I have sat down with the intent to blog, but I've been unable to force my fingers over the keys to craft coherent sentences. See? That last sentence is rather messy and wordy. But I'm moving on, 'cause if I delete it, it may be another five days before I get to it again. So many things have happened and I've thought, "I need to get this down," but Procrastination has become my middle name. Hey, it sounds better than lazy. Now, since sentence structure and paragraph flow is sketchy at best right now, I'm gonna do a random post and just get it all down in messy chaotic fashion. Oy! That paragraph is atrocious.

This is my version of blarf, or blog puke, if you will.

:: :: ::

Benen crawled onto my bed with me to watch American Idol. During David Cooke's performance he looks at me in all seriousness and says, "He sings more better than you."

Hey, I can't argue with the truth now, can I?

:: :: ::

I was squatting down, sifting through the piles in my sons' bookshelves looking for stories to read him before bed, when Benen spoke.

"Mom, you're too fat to fit in my bed."

My jaw dropped. "What did you say?"

"You're too fat to fit on my bed." I was shaking with silent laughter. "But that's okay, 'cause I'll just move over like this, and then there'll be room."

:: :: ::

My husband and I were laying in bed watching a late re-run of Rosanne (Hey, it's what was on at the time) when Connor crawled into bed with us. He has frequent dreams so this wasn't out of the ordinary. I forgot he was lying there.

"Honey, I look like that."

"Like what?"

"Like her. Like Roseanne." I was having a "fat day".

My husband rolled his eyes.

"You don't look like that, Mom."

I turned to Connor, curious what he would say. "Really?"

"Yeah. You don't look like her. You got curly hair and glasses."

I love the innocence of kids. They are so pure of heart.

:: :: ::

Oh, YAH BABY! My guys won!! I'd give three cheers right now, 'cept they don't do that kind of thing in the UFC. That's right. Georges St-Pierre WON THE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday night. He didn't just beat Matt Serra, he DESTROYED him! I'm talking a complete annihilation, he DOMINATED Serra! It was beautiful! A truly memorable moment.

St-Pierre beat Serra in the second round by TKO. The referee stepped in to stop the fight when Serra became unable to defend himself. If you're interested, here's a video of round two. (St-Pierre is in the tight, black shorts. Um, I'm not a fan of the spandex, but the guy is a unbelievable, his athleticism almost unrivaled. You'll hear the announcers say he may be the best wrestler in the UFC.)

And of course, Rich Franklin beat Travis Lutter in the second round by TKO. Lutter nearly got a submission in the first round, but Rich "Ace" Franklin was able to pull a Houdini and spun out of an arm bar. Amazing! You can see it here, and if you don't want to watch the whole thing, skip to the 6:00 mark. That's some beautiful, technical work.

And of course, here are the winning moments.

:: :: ::

And last, but certainly not least, a Farewell to Forty-Nine and Hello Fifty!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!

A Night At the Theatre

2008-04-17T11:38:00.000-06:00

Sunday night we went to the theatre and saw the musical production A Buddy Holly Birthday Bash. It was awesome! Besides being a hilariously funny musical featuring the songs of Buddy Holly and some amazing dance moves, I didn't have to cut any one's food into bite-sized pieces, get anyone a drink of water, wipe any sticky fingers or clean up any spills. A pretty top-rate night in my book.

I'm still not feeling a hundred percent, but I'm going to peck away at the keyboard and try to share some of the highlights from the evening. Beginning with this picture.

On the drive to the city, I tried to get a better picture of my hubby to make up for last time. Obviously it didn't work. I figured the bouncing in the car made the picture blurry. Sorry 'bout that.

We arrived in the city and went to see the themed hotel room my brother-in-law and his wife had booked for the night. It was done in a Polynesian theme, with a waterfall that cascaded down into the jacuzzi tub and a bed that looked like a boat. The room was decorated with bamboo and leaf print. Very unique. Here are some pictures.

Chad and his dad couldn't resist climbing into the jacuzzi for a "Rub-a-dub-dub" picture. We laughed ourselves silly when my father-in-law realized he had sat in something wet. We're pretty sure it was soap. Are these pictures looking blurry to you? Hmm....

Anyways, here's a picture of the bed that's made to look like a boat.

And here's an interesting one....

Can you figure out what it is? Yup. It's a picture of the ceiling above the bed. That's right, there are mirrors up there. *snicker, snicker* Since I try to keep this a mostly G-rated blog, I won't say more except that you can imagine the jokes and ribbing that went along with that one. And may I just say that I believe mirrors are a completely male idea.

Pictures still blurry? Yeah, this is about the time I lost it, frustrated I couldn't take a nice picture and yelling that our camera was wrecked and we needed a new one. Chad asked if I needed to clean the lens. Oh. Oops. So I gave it a swipe and voila! Here's a non-blurry picture of the jacuzzi tub.

From there we made our way to the theatre. Here is my handsome brother-in-law (I can say that 'cause he looks a little like my hubby) and his beautiful wife, who happens to be one of my dear friends.

These are a couple of the servers. Everyone is in character, even those who aren't a part of the actual play. It is wildly hilarious to watch them act out their own dramas during the intermissions and the serving of the food.

Our server was Larry King. There's nothing like being in the presence of a legend.

Chad's first comment was, "Wow, your shoulders look a lot smaller in person." I managed to take the next picture moments before they made the announcement that no cameras were allowed during the production.

The play itself was a fictional story based around Buddy Holly's 18th birthday. It was also a spin off of American Idol and had Buddy auditioning to be "The Next Big Thing." This show was a total thrill for me, with music from the '50s - which I totally love - and spectacular dancing. The cast was fantastic. The vocals are done live and it is amazing to watch the energy and spirit the actors/actresses put into the performance.

The food was incredible and of course I forgot to take pictures. I'll just say it was heaven on a plate. Chicken stuffed with brie cheese, cranberries and something sweet. Yummy!

During the dessert time, the cast went around giving special birthday wishes to everyone there celebrating a birthday. This guy jumped up on the chair right beside us and sang very loudly to the woman at the table.

This gal was one of the main characters in the story. She played Buddy Holly's love-at-first-sight and niece of Col. Simon Cowbell, recording company owner and talent show scout.

Peggy Sue came over and brought us our special birthday wish. She mixed up all our names. It was hilarious.

And now, for the final picture. I remembered to take a picture of the gorgeous dessert I had. It was called Chocolate Mousse Cake.

It was a fabulous night. The food, the conversation, the play, the music - wonderful! I would pay to see it again, I loved it that much. This is the third dinner theatre we have been to and I would say it was my favorite so far.

:: :: ::

Now, since it is my Sunday to do music, here is the line up.

Opening Song:

Doxology

Worship Set:

Arise

You're Worthy of My Praise

Holy Is The Lord

Special Music (during communion):

There Is A Fountain

Excuse for Not Blogging

2008-04-16T23:20:00.002-06:00

Sick.

Trying to find the words.

Will post about the theatre later.

On the Road Again

2008-04-11T10:34:00.002-06:00

Well, we're off for the weekend to visit the in-laws. Just wanted to drop a quick note and wish you all a great weekend. We're doing our annual group birthday celebration and we'll be taking in another dinner theatre on Sunday. I can hardly wait. Adults with no kids...*sigh* I look forward to the peace and quiet and a break from the never ending questions that are such a part of this age.

Oooh, just remembered I need to pack my camera. After last year, you just never know.

The Big, The Bad and The Bloody

2008-04-10T11:27:00.013-06:00

I don't know how it happened. One minute I was strong, solid, determined to hold out. Little did I know I could be so easily seduced. That's right. I have been lured by the raw appeal of the UFC. I am hopelessly, completely, happily addicted to the sport. What did you think I was talking about?

Last fall my husband convinced me to sit down and watch one of the PPV fight nights. He began explaining the history of each fighter and I found myself drawn into the drama, unable to look away even as the blood began to spray forth - literally. Apparently it was one of the bloodiest fights ever, but even though I shuddered and gagged at the disgusting, sticky mess (how can they stand to have someone else's blood covering them?) I have been hooked ever since. I L-O-V-E it!

Saturday, April 19, is the next UFC. I have been almost giddy with anticipation over this title fight. Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre (whom I saw fight last fall). The history between these fighters is going to make for a dramatic, adrenaline filled night.

Matt "The Terror" Serra vs. Georges "Rush" St-Pierre

Matt "The Terror" Serra shocked people when he defeated Georges "Rush" St-Pierre, taking the UFC Welterweight Championship in April, 2007. Set to defend his title against fighter Matt Hughes, he was forced to pull out of UFC 79 due to a herniated disc in his lower back suffered during one of his training sessions.

With the loss of the Serra-Hughes fight threatening UFC 79, the decision was made to match former champion St-Pierre against Hughes for the newly created interim welterweight championship. On December 29, 2007, St-Pierre defeated Hughes with an armbar in the second round and won the interim welterweight title. In a show of pure class, St-Pierre handed off the belt to a cornerman, stating that the real champion was Matt Serra, who defeated him the past April, and that he would wait until he had faced Serra again before claiming the belt.

That's what is happening on April 19. Matt Serra is returning after healing from his injury and will fight Georges St-Pierre to unify the belts and defend his title. Personally, I'm giving the fight to St-Pierre. He is considered one of the top pound-per-pound fighters in the UFC. I was blown away with the lithe grace and athleticism he showed in his fight last fall. He doesn't just win a match, he dominates inside the ring. The man moves with the agility of a panther and strikes with the speed and precision of a cobra. He can stand and exchange hits with the best of them and his ground game is nearly unbeatable. It's like poetry in motion.

Also fighting that night is Travis "The Serial Killer" Lutter vs. Rich "Ace" Franklin.

I've never seen Lutter fight before, but I'm hoping for Franklin to take the victory. Franklin is one of my favorite fighters. Besides being a top competitor in his weight division, he is a guy who demands respect both inside the ring and out. He won my respect during his fight against Anderson "The Spider" Silva last October. Though he was defeated by knock-out in the second round, he was pure class during the post-fight interview, giving Silva the credit he deserved and showing a deep respect between the two fighters.

Silva also won my respect that night as he fought with a skill level almost unseen in the UFC. The respect he showed Franklin was overwhelming to a newbie-to-the-sport like me. He was humble in his victory and I couldn't help but like the guy.

So next Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. you know where I'll be. Happily planted in front of my t.v. as I cheer on both St-Pierre and Franklin.

One other quick confession. I have now fallen victim to the reality t.v. show The Ultimate Fighter. It's no surprise really. Basically it takes sixteen wannabe UFC fighters and splits them into two teams. This season the teams are being led by Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin.

Team Rampage vs. Team Griffin

In a new twist, the contestants had to fight their way to win a spot in the house. Thirty-two hopefuls were picked and then pitted against each other in sixteen exciting fights. The sixteen winners are moving on and teams will be selected next week.

It appears I now have to download Criminal Minds and watch it on Thursdays so I don't miss my new favorite reality series.

Blah, blah, blah...

2008-04-08T12:26:00.003-06:00

"Mom, does my juice box have vitamin seed?"

:: :: ::

"Mom, I want a credit card."
"You're too young for a credit card."
"But I want one so I can go on the Wii and buy games."
"Connor, you can't have a credit card because they're dangerous."
"How?"
"They just are."
"But, HOW?"
*sigh* "Because you can get yourself into major financial ruin."
A pause.
"What's that?"
"What's what?"
"What you just said?"
"Nothing. I can't explain it. You'll understand when you're older and when you grow up and move out of our house, you can get a credit card if you want."
"But I want one now."
"NO!"

:: :: ::

"Mom, I a little bit bugged Kolten."
"Benen, why?"
A shrug.

:: :: ::

"Mom, can I have some more bubble gum?"
"No."
Two minutes later. "Mom, can I have bubble gum?"
"Benen, I already gave you a piece today and I already said I'm not giving you anymore."
"But I swallowed my other piece."
"That's too bad. You're not getting more."
An hour later. "Mom, can I have some bubble gum?"

:: :: ::

When I began this blog a little over a year ago, I had great aspirations. I planned to blog every day of the week, Monday through Friday. I figured it would force those creative juices to flow and I could get down all the crazy wonderings in my head.

It wasn't long into it that I realized I lead a very boring life. It's busy, but rather boring to read about. I also realized that most of those crazy thoughts should stay in my head so my family and friends wouldn't start filling out an application for me at the loony farm.

So, that's where it's at. I'm not blogging five days a week. In fact, when I blog I carefully check each post to be sure I won't shock some people, what with their delicate sensibilities and all. Oops, did that sound a little snarky? Must be the computer. It's been giving me attitude all day.

:: :: ::

How sad is it that my four year old is motivating me to do laundry? He's a helper and he loves to fold clothes. I decided to let him go at it. He helped me fold a load of laundry and I was impressed at the great job he did. I managed to resist the urge to smooth some of the wrinkles and re-fold the ones that weren't "perfect."

He's been asking for the last five minutes if we can take the clothes downstairs and put them away. What? The couch isn't good enough? Apparently not. I suppose I really should go put those clothes away. You know, lead by example and all that.

Just Because

2008-03-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, they say when brilliance stalls, to sit your butt in a chair and WRITE! So, I may not be brilliant, far from it actually, but I'm taking the advice of experts. Since I can't seem to come up with a blog post that's remotely interesting, I figure I'll sit and write, even if I bore you all to sleep at your computers. At least you'll get a good nap. But don't drool on the keyboard.

Ummmm, yeah, got nothing. Let's see.....I need to wash my socks. Seriously. I'm so behind in laundry I've worn the same socks for three days. Ewwww. Yeah. Or maybe I should just buy more pairs. You know what I really hate about buying socks? I can never find any that fit. Honest. I finally broke down and went shopping in the little girls' section of the clothing store - for socks only 'cause I couldn't fit anything else in there even if I gave up chocolate for life. You know what I found out? Even though the socks fit me in length, little girl feet are much skinnier. So now I have socks with the width of pantyhose and none of the stretch-ability. I never thought I'd have to wiggle into a pair of socks, but it's true. However, I've yet to ask Chad, "do my feet look fat in these?"

Chad thinks I should blog about hockey, but I know nothing about that so....nope. Okay, I do know that Sam Gagner, who plays for the Oilers, is doing quite well. I also know that the Oilers have almost no chance of making it into the play-offs. And I also discovered that this is not a subject to poke fun at because it's very serious and you shouldn't say mean things, even in jest, about your husband's favorite team.

My son, Kolten, is two. He actually turned two in February, but just this last week he REALLY turned two. He's opening doors, getting into the piano and computer, throwing regular temper tantrums and bursting into tears a moment's notice. Ah, yes, the two's. The fits, the fights for independence. Could someone please remind him he's TWO and not able to do everything his six year old brother does? But he's adorable. Absolutely adorable. I do so love this age, even with its challenges.

Hmmm, let's see, what else can I bore you with....oh, I slipped and fell on the ice a few days ago. I have some massive, colorful bruises in some very private places and more sore muscles than I knew existed. I laid in bed for the entire afternoon, on my side 'cause I couldn't lay on my back due to the bruising, and watched five glorious hours of Wives and Daughters. I followed that with an even more wonderful four hours of North and South. *sigh* The perfect prescription.

Okay, I'm done. I hate to say it, but I've exhausted even the boring in my life. So there. Now, WAKE UP!! Wipe the drool off your chin, and get back to work. I hope you had a good nap with sweet dreams.

And the Winner Is ...

2008-03-25T08:25:00.002-06:00

So this morning (yes, I'm a little late), I wrote all the names on paper, threw them into a hat and asked Benen to pull out "just one piece of paper." He reached his hand into the hat...

"Mom, I don't have time for this." He hands me the paper. "Why do you need me to do this?"

"You're helping me pick a winner."

"So, I won?"

"No."

And now, the winner of Cheryl Wyatt's A Soldier's Family, is.......

Barefoot Sarah

Congratulations!!! I'll e-mail you for your mailing address.

Thanks everyone for playing!

Music

2008-03-20T15:04:00.005-06:00

My head is aching and my eyes aren't focusing together, so I'm just gonna post a list of the music we are doing this Sunday. Maybe I'll have something to post about after I've caught up on the fourteen days of lost sleep.

Opening Song:

Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)

Worship Set:

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

Above All

In Christ Alone

How Deep the Father's Love For Us

Closing Song:

Mighty To Save

Our pastor is speaking on God's love this week, hence the focus of the worship. Although not a very upbeat set, the songs are very dynamic musically and lyrically. (I wasn't sure if "lyrically" was a word, but I just spell checked and it didn't pop up as a misspelled word.)

I'm excited about the music....well, as excited as I can get with a headache, blurry eyes and mushy brain. Also, Chad is supposed to be playing acoustic guitar this week, but he sliced open the tip of his pointer finger on his left hand. Those of you who play guitar, know someone who plays guitar, or have seen someone play guitar, you know this is a pretty important finger. I guess the cut is deep and, since my only other option is to have our lead player play rhythm, I am really hoping and praying for healing. Well, and because I love the guy and don't want him hurting. Naturally.

Okay, that's it. I'm gonna go indulge in a good cry. Or a good book. Probably the book 'cause I don't wanna have red eyes and streaky makeup for practice tonight.

::::::::::::::::::::

UPDATE: It appears I was wrong. It wasn't his left hand, but rather his right, that had the injured finger. Since open wounds turn my stomach, I didn't take a good look. However, he managed to grip his guitar pick with some discomfort and we made it through Sunday alright.

Also, I decided to go for the book instead of the cry and chose a good suspense/mystery. Nothing like murder, mayhem and deception mixed with a few good fights and a dash of romance to shake the melancholy away.

Author Cheryl Wyatt & A Soldier's Family

2008-03-17T07:34:00.001-06:00

On A Crash Course With Love

She was the woman of pararescue jumper Manny Péna's dreams. But he'd stuck his foot in his mouth the last time he met Celia Munez. Now, grounded after a parachuting accident, he was desperate to make amends with the beautiful widow.

But Celia wasn't having it. The last thing she needed was another man with a dangerous job—even if he had given his life to God. Yet Manny's growing commitment to her and her troubled son began to convince her that perhaps she should take her own leap of faith.

ISBN: 037387474X
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Ordering Link: Order now!

Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home, and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. Both of her debut novels (Books 1 and 2 in her Wings of Refuge Series from Steeple Hill) have received Romantic Times Top Picks.

Visit Cheryl Wyatt on the Web
Or her blog http://www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/

A Soldier's Family is book two in Cheryl's Wings of Refuge series. It is one fabulous read! I had the privilege of reviewing this book here.

Like last time, I am doing a FREE BOOK giveaway. I'm also going to plead with Cheryl to autograph it personally to the winner. To enter the contest, just leave a comment in the comments section saying you want to enter. PLEASE remember to leave a working e-mail address where I can contact you should you win. I'm going to leave the contest open for one week. Next Monday I will write all the names on pieces of paper, throw them in a hat and let my son, Connor, pick a name. (He had a blast doing this last time!) I'll contact the winner personally for their mailing address.

So, if you're a lurker, now is the perfect time to come out of hiding!

Benen

2008-03-13T12:45:00.000-06:00

We're in church. It's quiet, the music has stopped and the pastor has stepped up to the communion table. He looks out over the congregation. "We've been doing a series on trust and as I look at this table with the bread and cup, I can't help thinking how much Jesus had to trust God."

He pauses to reflect. Benen is quietly coloring on his paper, looking for all appearances to be completely absorbed in his work. "How much to do think Jesus had to trust in God?"

A pause.

And then the voice beside me. "Ummm, A LOT!"

********************

"Mom, when you were a little boy, did you do this?"

"Well, Benen, first of all, I was never a little boy."

********************

Me - "Benen, why are you so funny?"

Benen - "Ummm......it's comp-ili-cated."

********************

"Benen, why are you so handsome?"

"Ummmmmm....because I'm really loved."

********************

Me - "Boys, close your eyes. We're gonna pray."

Chad - "Dear God, bless this food, our family and our evening together. Amen."

Benen - "Mom, I'm really sorry, but I opened my eyes two times."

********************

"Mom, sometimes does God make us sick?"

"No, Benen. Sometimes we just get sick."

"Mom, does God sometimes get sick?"

"No."

"Oh." A pause. "Mom, I wanna be God."

Author Marianne Arkins & One Love For Liv

2008-03-10T07:00:00.001-06:00

Liv is out to prove her high society fiancé is cheating on her. Can she do it without breaking a nail—or falling in love with Mike the mechanic?

Olivia “Liv” Leigh, wealthy socialite and spa owner, suspects her fiancé of cheating on her. Drastic steps are required to discover whether appearances are deceiving. And if those steps require a bit of stalking, a change of appearance, a hippo-sized dog named Spike, and sacrificing her manicure to clean house for a sexy-but-sloppy man whose neighbor is determined to break several of the strangest Guinness world records, why should that be a problem?

Mike, a happily single auto mechanic, is more than content sharing his bachelor pad with piles of laundry, dirty dishes, and a sneaky ferret. But when a half-crazed woman in a bad wig shows up on his doorstep, what’s a nice guy to do?

Why, invite her in, unknowingly help her in her search for the truth and, in the process, fall head over heels for a woman who’s never been less his type.

To purchase click here.

I am thrilled to be able to celebrate with Marianne on the release of her newest story. She has graciously agreed to answer this nosy reader's questions.

As a reader, there’s nothing I like better than a good romance. Can you tell us a little about your own true life romance? How and where you met? How he swept you off your feet?

LOL… don’t get me wrong, I love my husband but he’s the least romantic person EVER. For my birthday (after we’d been dating about two months) he bought me seat covers for my truck. And his proposal? We went ring shopping and he handed me a ring and said, “Here.” OTOH, he was more than ready to fix my car, and catsit for me, and help me learn a new city. Even now, his best way to say “I love you” is to make sure my truck has tires with tread and that the lawn is mowed. And he works at a job he hates so that I can stay home with our daughter. I’ll take that over romance any day.

However… if you’re curious, our “cute meet” is told in a short story I wrote here (with a few slight changes): http://longandshortarchives.blogspot.com/2007/11/short-story-no-place-like-home.html

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? When did you begin writing seriously?

I think I always wanted to write, with a short detour in junior high when I wanted to be a veterinarian. I’ve always written. The first time I pursued publication was at seventeen (unless you count a poem I had published in my junior high school newsletter) when I entered a novel writing competition. I didn’t win, but it made me realize how much I enjoyed writing.

This last time, though? I joined a place called Writers Village University (www.wvu.org) five or six years ago…I don’t remember exactly when, and really started learning the craft of writing. I had no idea how bad I really was!! I had good ideas, but my writing ability? Awful. I owe any success I have, however large or small, to those ladies (and a gent or two) who patiently put up with my stumbling about blindly. You know who you are.

What was the first story you ever wrote, published or unpublished?

“A Horse Called Mystery” when I was in fourth grade. It was a novel of eighteen chapters—and for a while I thought everything I wrote had to have eighteen chapters, like it was mystical number or something. Of course, all my heroines were nineteen, because that was such a grown up age, too. What did I know? LOL…

Do you have a favorite place you like to write? Do you like silence when you’re writing or do you listen to music? What type of music?

I can write just about anywhere if it’s quiet. I don’t like noise or music or distractions. I’m very easily distracted. The worst thing that happened to me was getting my laptop and working in the dining room instead of the basement. There’s too much around me that I look at and think, “I should be doing that thing over there instead of writing.” I find it terrifically difficult to focus. Someday, I’ll have a new desk in my new office upstairs, and that won’t be such an issue.

What does “A Day in the Life of Marianne Arkins” typically look like?

Up around 4 a.m. Lately, the dog wakes up at about 1 or 2 a.m. and needs to go out, and if I put her back in her crate, she cries and cries, so we go downstairs and sleep on the couch for a couple hours. For the first time in as long as I can recall, I have to set an alarm (I actually use my cell phone). I think the middle of the night interruption really messes up my internal clock and I don’t wake up on my own. It’s frustrating.

The moment I get up (after pouring coffee with chocolate soy milk…yum), I upload all the website pages for The Long and the Short of It, as well as the reviews posted that day. I also clear out the messages in the inbox that belong to me (as opposed to my business partner) and make sure things are running as smoothly as possible. This takes an hour or more.

Then, I do my personal blog post and clear out my personal inbox… this takes quite a while as well, as I typically have many irons in the fire and thus have many emails. I also have four personal email addresses I use for different purposes.

Then, if I still have time (I wake the house at 6:30 a.m.) I work on my writing. Oh, and I squeeze in breakfast now and then.

Bored yet?

The rest of the day? School with my daughter (I homeschool her) for about 2 hours and then we run any errands we need to run or do chores. After lunch, she goes upstairs to her desk to do her seatwork, and I work on the LASR site and also, try to squeeze in some more writing. I do that until it’s time to make dinner. My DH works LATE, so DD and I eat and hang out. Then showers and bed for her… and bed for me. I do try to stay up until DH gets home, but I can’t always manage. Then at 1 a.m., the puppy wakes me up and I start all over.

With few exceptions (like waking DH up and no school on the weekends) this is my schedule seven days a week.

Tell us a bit about this story. Where did the inspiration come from? How did you come up with the characters’ names? Is there a message behind the story you want readers to understand?

“One Love For Liv” was my 2005 NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) story. I’d been working on another novel previously and had originally intended for Liv to show up as my hero’s ex-fiancée. After a great deal of thought, I decided she didn’t work in that story, but despite the fact that she was a snob and terribly unkind, I really loved (LOVED) the character, so had to use her.

Names? I wanted a clever title and spent a good couple of hours during storytime at the library while my DD was busy trying to think of one. I did: “Isn’t She Liv Leigh” (which was the working title of the story, but my publisher didn’t like it… so it was changed). I also wanted her fiancé to call her something silly that sounded like a bad sorority name (like Fifi or Bambi) so her full name is Olivia Leslie Leigh and Geoff calls her Lee Lee, thereby making it Lee Lee Leigh.

**snort**

For the hero, I wanted something as simple as hers was complex. Short. Quick. Basic. Mike Peck fit the bill exactly. He’s not Michael, ever. His given name is Mike (I got this idea from my oldest brother, Rick, whose name is NOT Richard).

A message? Not so much. Maybe “find yourself”? That sounds silly and simplistic, but the fact is that Liv never knew who she was at all. She always let others make decisions, from what to wear to what to eat and even who to marry. I liked watching her learn who she was.

Thank you, Marianne, for the interview. If y'all are looking for a nice, funny, romantic read, then click on the link above to purchase One Love For Liv, or check out Marianne's website to find out how to get her other stories.

The Man Cold

2008-03-07T13:13:00.002-07:00

Speechless

2008-03-06T15:45:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had a moment that so overwhelmed you, you were shocked to silence and brought to tears? I had a moment like that the other day.

My husband and I had just returned to town after spending the weekend at his parents. We drove by his work so I could drop him off to pick up his truck. He went to renew his driver's license and pick up groceries while I brought the boys home.

As I opened the screen door I found a parcel tucked between the doors. I glanced at the writing on the side and saw that it was from ChristianBooks.com. I was expecting a shipment from Amazon and Steeple Hill, but had never ordered anything from ChristianBooks before.

That was when I realized my dear friend Katybug must have sent the books she said I could borrow from her. I was expecting the shipment to take three or four weeks and it had only been days since we last emailed. I was feeling rather impressed with the efficiency of the courier system.

I hauled the package up the stairs and promptly slit open the tape. I pulled back the flaps.

And stared.

And looked at the box.

And stared some more.

And burst into tears.

Inside the box were three brand new books packaged all nicely. Included on the mailing slip was this note:

"SHAUNA - WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT COSTS LESS TO GET THE SET FOR YOU THAN IT WOULD FOR YOU & ME TO SHIP MY SET BACK AND FORTH?! NUTS - ISN'T IT? CONSIDER THIS A LATE VALENTINE'S GIFT OR AN EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT. I KNOW YOU WILL LOVE THEM. THIS AUTHOR HAS THE SAME QUALITY AS DEE. I HAVE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW YOU VIA CYBERSPACE AND HOPE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON ONE OF THESE DAYS. MANY BLESSINGS - KATY."

I stood in my kitchen, absolutely speechless, feeling completely overwhelmed, while my snowy shoes puddled water and dirt all over the floor. Thank you, Katy. You have no idea how God used you to bless me that day.

********************

Some of you have expressed an interest in my weekly music selection. I thought I would post it here to make it easier for you to find. Completed at 3:30 this afternoon, here is the lineup:

-Lord Reign In Me (Opening Song)

-Better Is One Day
-Just A Glimpse
-Enough
-In Your Presence

-Somewhere In The Middle (Special Music)

-Lifesong (Closing Song)

So, providing practice goes well tonight, those will be our songs. Let me know if you've heard these songs before and what you'll be singing this Sunday.

Questions

2008-03-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

What happened? How did this happen? Why did this happen? Was it something I did? Something I didn't do? Did I do enough? Not enough?

Was there something I should have said? Could I have said anything? Did I say enough, or not enough? Did I speak when I should have been silent? Did I allow fear to keep me silent when I should have spoken? Was there something more I could have said? Something I forgot that would have made a difference? Would you have even heard me? Did you try to hear me?

Did I stand bold enough? Strong enough? Tall enough? Was I too weak to stand? Could you see the line in the sand? Did you know which side I stood on? Did I reach far enough? Hold on hard enough? Could I have grasped your hand if I had dared to stretch outside myself?

Would you have seen my hand? Would you have known I was reaching for you? Would you have grabbed hold if only I had tried harder? Could I have tried harder? Would it have made a difference? Does it make a difference now? Is it even up to me?

Do you see how much I care? Do you know I'll stand beside you? Do you know I'll fight for you?

This is just the beginning. You're not alone. I'll be here.

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT!!

2008-02-29T13:06:00.002-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU

HAPPY BIIIIRTH - DAAAY HUNK 'O BURNIN' LOVE

HAPPY BIIIRTH DAAAAY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!

It's Chad's birthday today. He turns.....well, I'm not going to say. I will say we're not celebrating birthday number seven or nine. But I'm not sayin' anymore.

Happy Birthday, Honey! I LOVE YOU!!

Tag!

2008-02-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Katybug tagged me with this fun little game a few days ago and I'm finally getting it up. Here are the rules:

1. Grab the book you are currently reading and turn to p. 123

2. Go to the 5th sentence

3. Post the next 3 sentences

4. Tell the name of the book and author

5. Tag 5 others

Since a few days have passed, and I generally read a book a day, here is what I was reading at the time of the TAG.

Taken from The Briton by Catherine Palmer.

"At her last word, the man released his grip. The knights surrounding them stared agape at the woman who dared curse their lord. The Norman warrior reached up and lifted his helm from his head."

Since then I read Reconstructing Natalie by Laura Jensen Walker for the third or fourth time.

"'He does make it a little more palatable,' I agreed. 'Emphasis on little.'

In the mood for some male eye candy after that taste
of my Nurse Gorgeous look-alike, Merrit stuck on Ocean's 11."

And now I'm sitting down to re-read Miss Invisible, another Laura Jensen Walker book. Here's the bit from that book.

"He snorted. 'Heck no. With my mom's cooking, it's a matter of survival!'"

So, now to tag some others. I choose Travis, Jen, and anyone else who feels like joining in the game. Just let me know in the comments section if you're posting a snippet from your current read.

7 AM Theology

2008-02-26T07:00:00.001-07:00

I was standing at the kitchen counter pouring cereal into my kids' bowls and congratulating myself on my excellent display of coordination at Too:Early o'clock. Coffee was a wish yet to be granted and I was caught in that hateful place between sleep and awake. My body was vertical and propped against the counter, but my mind kept insisting I go curl up in my nice warm bed. It began.

Connor - "Mom, did you know that God gives us the strength to love our enemies?"

I blinked at him. "Uh-huh."

Benen - "Mom, why would God want us to love our enemies? They're bad."

Me - "Uh, 'cause the Bible tells us to."

Benen - "Hm. Mom, what will happen if we don't do what God tells us in the Bible?"

Me - "You will make God very sad."

Benen thinks for a minute. - "Yeah, but what will God DO to us?"

Me (hedging)- "Uhhh...... he'll be very disappointed and sad."

Benen - "Mom, will he damn us?"

Me (eyes pop open) - "What? What did you say?"

Benen - "I saaaa-iiid, will he damn us?"

Oh. My. You try explaining heaven and eternity to your son before 8:00 a.m. Without the help of caffeine.

I managed to get it out of him where he had heard the phrase. I explained that we don't use that word in our house and then went on to tell him about salvation. Kind of. It was a very simplified version because, well, he's four. And I hadn't had my first cup of coffee and not all my synapses were firing yet.

Oh, What a Night.

2008-02-21T17:31:00.001-07:00

So. Last night I didn't get any sleep. Not. One. Wink. There is nothing more frustrating to me than laying in bed, desperate for sleep, watching the minutes tick away without being able to relax into blissful slumber.

I don't understand. Was it because I had just finished a book and couldn't get the characters off my mind? Or was it because of the full moon and lunar eclipse, as was suggested to me? Who's to say.

But here's what I learned. Misery really does love company. I woke my husband at 5:45 a.m. Why? Because I WAS AWAKE! And had been all night! Here's how it went.

"...And that's what it was like kissing Adrien."

The end. *Sigh.* What a great book.

Looks at the clock. 2:15 a.m.

Ooh, I'd better get to bed.

Climbs into bed at 2:30.

Okay, it's 2:30 and the boys will probably be up by around 7:00. No problem. That still leaves .... about 4 1/2 hours of sleep. I can do this. Okay, just relax....deep breaths....don't think about the book. Must not think about the book......

Paris is so lovely and so romantic ..... hmmmm, he takes her in his arms, the love pouring out of his eyes and ...

Wait! Stop thinking about the book. Relax. Focus on relaxing. First your toes ..... that's right, deep breath, relax each toe .... sheesh, it is HOT in this bed. Why is the room so hot? Maybe I should check the thermostat. No. Wait. Stop. You're relaxing. Where was I? Oh right, relax toes....okay...... relax your right foot....now your left foot....breathe deep.... yes, that's it, now relax your calves..... hmm, my legs feel prickly. Ouch. The hairs on my legs are hurting. How is that even possible? Wow. They hurt just brushing the sheet. Oooh, they're itchy. Okay, don't think about it. Just forget it. You're supposed to be relaxing. Man it is HOT IN HERE! Okay, relax ....

My legs hurt. Maybe I should just get up and shave them. I'll feel better. Is it weird to shave your legs at ....

Sits up and checks the clock.

...3:02 in the morning? Okay, yes that is just too weird. You are NOT going to shave your legs at this time of night. The running water could wake the kids. And, it's just not right. Okay, stop thinking about this and just relax ....

Scratches legs.

I need to change position. My shoulder's numb and tingly.

Rolls over.

Okay, now just keep your mind blank. No more thinking about anything ......hmmmm.... that's better......yes ......... wait, relax your eye muscles ...... there you go ...... hmmmm.... deep breath ...... deep breath ..... deep breath ..... Why is he giving off so much heat?! Argh. Okay, no biggie .....

Kicks off blankets.

There that's better ..... relax...... deep breaths.......DARN IT! I'm COLD now!

Pulls blankets up and rolls away from the furnace.

I gotta pee.

Goes to the bathroom then climbs back in bed.

Dear God, please let me sleep! I need to sleep!! I got so much I gotta get done tomorrow. Bathrooms, laundry, planning music. You know I have three boys that are gonna wake up early in the morning.

Okay, pray for the boys. Yes, that'll help you relax. Put you right to sleep ....Hmmm....bless Connor ....and, um, what's his name? Right, Benen .... and...Oh it's no use. Might as well get up. Read the Bible.

Gets up, goes and sits in a chair and picks up the Bible, letting it fall open where ever it may.

Alright. Joshua ..... hmmm, good stuff ...... yup ......... I'm on verse 18? How did I get there? What did I just read? Boy, my eyes feel like they have sand in them.

Blinks twice.

Wow. There is, like, absolutely NO moisture in my eyes. Maybe if I blink really hard....nope. Didn't work. I'll try rubbing them.

Rubs viciously.

Huh. That's weird. They actually feel like two sandboxes in the middle of my head. Should I get the eye drops?

Looks at clock.

Nope. It's 3:58. No one puts eye drops in at this time of night. Wait! It's almost 4:00? In the morning?! That only leaves about ..... 3 hours of sleep left. Less, 'cause Chad's alarm is going to go off at 6:00. Oh, this is not good.

Okay, be positive, be positive. I should really clean the bathroom. I'm up anyway and that would be one less thing for tomorrow 'cause I'm gonna be waaaay too tired.

Nope. Crazy. You don't clean bathrooms at 4:00 a.m. Buuuut.... well.... okay, yeah I'm gonna do it.

Gets the cleaning supplies and scrubs the bathroom.

Phew! Done. Good. Now I can stop thinking about it. But I worked up a sweat and am too HOT! Gotta cool down. I'll read more of the Bible.

Sits in chair and reads more, though none of it sinks in. Finally crawls back into bed at 4:30 feeling exhausted.

Ahh.....relaxing.....

Hears movement over the monitor.

Grrrrr.

Shuts off monitor.

Relax..... relax...... ahhhhh..... I wonder what it would be like to vacation in Paris. History, arcitecture, paintings, sculptures.... hmmm.... pastries, cheese, open markets....Wait. Stop. No more thinking. Relax.....oh man, I gotta pee again.

Goes to bathroom.

Okay.... not going to worry..... not going to look at clock..... hmmmm.....

Sits up and looks at the clock.

5:45!!

And that's when I woke Chad. Mostly to complain and get sympathy, but also to beg and plead with him to stay home from work. It is NOT my fault I couldn't sleep. I tried, really I did.

He couldn't stay home. Today was the most important day of the job he's running and he HAD to go. People to meet, things to plan, work to do.

He's working late.

I've got band practice.

I'm gonna go make another cappuccino.

If It Doesn't Work...

2008-02-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

We have this old dishwasher that buzzes when it runs. It's not that quiet to begin with, but when you add the annoying humming/buzzing to the racket, it escalates to headache inducing proportions.

I'm sure the problem is a simple lose screw or nut or thingamabob and the fix would be equally as simple. But it would require me laying on the floor and straining to peer under the machine for the source of the noise.

I find it far simpler to kick the darn thing. Kick it wrong and you will get a few seconds of reprieve followed by an escalation of noise. BUT, if you kick it just right, the buzzing will stop.

Until you have to run another load.

2008-02-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what to say. I couldn't even title this blog for the lack of words. Two wonderful blog friends have given me the greatest gift this week - Blog Awards. Okay, you may be saying, "That's your idea of a greatest gift? What about a plasma t.v.? Trip to Hawaii? A million dollars?"

Yeah, I'd take those, too, but bear with me and I'll explain why this meant so much. To begin, Becky left me a comment saying she had something for me on her blog. I popped over to see what it was and found this ...

I began reading the post directly below and was overwhelmed by the sweet things she was saying. I thought to myself, "I wanna meet this person." And then realized she was talking about me. Wow. I was totally amazed.

But Becky is like that. Sweet, kind, caring, funny, encouraging. She is always ready to laugh with you, find the best in you and encourage you when you need it. She has truly become a friend and I consider myself blessed to have met her. Thanks Becky for this award.

Now, it is my privilege to pass this award along to two other blogging buddies.

*Deb at The Daily "B" is a fun, loving woman of God who inspires me. She loves big, laughs loud and does it all for the Lord. She has a great sense of humor and has made me laugh to the point of tears.

*Sing4Joy has a wonderful blog where she shares about parenting, faith, love and life. Her posts can range from humorous, silly, poignant, artistic, inspiring, uplifting. She covers it all. She's also an amazing photographer and her pictures are absolutely beautiful. Seriously. She turned bathroom fixtures into a work of art.

And then, after being overwhelmed by the first award, I was given this by Deb.

Huh. Wow. I had to read this one twice for it to sink in. Thank you, Deb! My door is always open and when that vacation comes, I'll show you all the fun things you can do with the cold and snow. Like curl up with a nice hot coffee/chocolate and a good book. We can watch the huge snowflakes fall to the ground from the comfort of my living room couch. If we get adventurous, we can take a quick slide down the hill on a crazy carpet. And yes, you pretty much have to be crazy in my book to attempt such daring feats. But we could try.

And now, once again, my pleasure to pass this on to two deserving ladies.

*Katybug is a treasured friend I met through an author's chat forum we both belong to. She has great taste in books and is one of the most generous people I know. She's actually sending me some books to borrow. Putting them in the mail and sending them all the way to Canada. Her courage astounds me! I wanna be sweet like her someday.

*His Girl writes a fabulous blog about family, faith, friends and so much more. She's a creative genius sometimes, an inventive cleaner (wink, wink), and a great blogger. I'm a little in awe of all she does. Her posts are filled with humour and for some reason, there's a lightness, a gentleness to her writing.

So, there you have it. The awards, the recipients. And now here's the other part of this post.

Why did these awards seem like the greatest gifts ever? Because they came a few days after I had been at my most petty, not very kind or gracious. I had grumbled, I had moaned, I had basically been a pain in my own...butt.

I had begun having thoughts about how sucky it was always having to be the good girl. I had been fantasizing about what it would be like if the giant WWJD zipper was removed from my lips, and my thoughts and words could fly unchecked. I wouldn't have to turn the other cheek when the girl at the check-out counter gave me a condescending look down her very looooooong and snooty nose. Pun intended. I wouldn't have to wave patiently at the little white haired lady in the driver's seat of a boat-on-wheels while grinding my molars and trying desperately to keep all fingers firmly attached to the steering wheel while she sloooooowly pulled out in front of me.

Yup, I was at my most un-Christian. In thought at least.

Then, I turned on my computer and found these awards. I double checked to make sure they got the right person and it wasn't some big mistake. And I was overwhelmed by the sweet words of these two ladies. I felt completely undeserving. Someone actually thought these nice things about little old petty me?

I got all choked up, shed a tear or two, and felt some of the week's bitterness slip away. So, thank you!

Mind of a 4 Year Old

2008-02-13T07:00:00.001-07:00

"Look! I can pop out my tummy like Grandpa Sturge!"

These were the words that poured out of our four-year-old's mouth one evening. I had to get my camera and take a picture. It's a pretty good likeness.

**Benen: "Know who keeps me safe in jail? God." People, what am I supposed to say to that?

**Benen: "I still love ya mom. Even when you give me trouble." Yes, well.

**Benen (speaking to his auntie): "You know, October 16 is a long ways away." Someone's a little jealous of his brothers' February birthdays.

**Benen: "You ever have snow fall on you?"

This kid is truly, down-to-the-core hysterical. I'm talking FUN-NY. In a single day he can bring me tears of frustration, tears of joy and tears of laughter. Several times over. Seriously, the things that pop out of his mouth are just too much.

He's also too charming by half. This causes serious problems. He flashes those big eyes at me, says he loves me and suddenly I go from nearly tearing my hair out to wanting to lay the world at his feet. One Sunday school worker put it nicely. "You know he's gonna get through life by using those eyes."

Huh. You don't say.

Here's a prime example. We were at music lessons Monday morning and Benen was having a hard time sitting still. More specifically, he was climbing on my back. Over and over. He had exhausted his "three warnings" many times over. I had warned that there would be no candy from Grandpa's work (which happens to be across the parking lot) after lessons if he didn't sit still. He would look at me in all sincerity and say, "Okay, mom. I'll sit still. I promise."

And that would last for about one minute.

By the end of the hour, after trying to help my two kids while keeping up with all the other mother's with only one child, I was understandably frustrated and tired. I piled the boys in the van and drove the fifteen feet to a closer parking space. Yes, I really did.

We went into my dad's shop and the boys did their usual run down of their lesson, telling Grandpa what they had learned. Okay, Connor told Grandpa what he learned while Benen repeatedly chirped, "can I have candy now?"

Still tightly wound after an hour of slow torture ... er, music lessons, and after the third time he begged for candy, I ground out, "I'm still not sure you're getting any candy. I haven't decided if you deserve it."

My dad looked at me, puzzled. "He wasn't listening during music lessons," I explained.

He looked at Benen. "Were you doing some bad things?"

Benen thought for a minute. "Um, yes."

"Oh. That's not good. Maybe you shouldn't get any candy if you weren't listening."

Benen got all serious, thought for another minute, then turned to look up at me with the most adorably confused and questioning pair of eyes. And I was helpless. "You can only have one piece of candy." As opposed to the two he usually has.

Yeah, I know, not my most stellar parenting moment. But really, if you had been there, you wouldn't have been able to say "no" either.

Happy Birthday!

2008-02-09T16:33:00.001-07:00

The Big 2 Year Old

Happy Birthday, Kolten!

Who's There?

2008-02-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

The doorbell rang at 9:28 yesterday morning. WHAT?!

This does not happen. Should, in fact, never happen. I do NOT do surprise house calls. People dropping in without phoning will not receive the most sincere of welcomes. Oh, I might put on a smiley face, chat and seem all pleasant, but deep down I'm squirming.

Why, you ask? Because these kind of surprises inevitably happen when I'm unprepared. Morning, noon and night, they will always find me in my pajamas and housecoat, hair like Medusa, face blotchy from lack of make-up and breathing potent coffee breath. My house will be a disaster, every available surface covered with discarded clothes and pajamas.

NOTE: Boys do not just take off their clothes. They rip them off, swing them around by a sleeve or leg and, once they have acquired enough speed, release them into "infinity and beyond." I know. I'm still looking for the matches to seven pairs of socks.

So now you understand the panic that hit when I heard the doorbell ring - without warning - while I was in a less-than-desireable state. Should I answer it? Ignore it? Sneak a peek out the window? Hide under the bed?

In a rare show of courage, I decided to brave the mockery and humiliation to self and extend some hospitality. I came down the stairs to discover my front door was open and I was looking through the glass of the screen door.

Imagine my shock at seeing my four-year-old standing on the other side of the glass, peering up at me.

In his winter boots, in the snow.

With no coat.

In -20 degrees.

And the Winner Is ...

2008-02-02T15:51:00.001-07:00

So, I did this the old fashioned way. I wrote the names of everyone who commented on a piece of paper, threw them into a basket and asked my completely unbiased, almost-six-year-old son to draw a name. And the winner is ........

windycindy

Congratulations on winning a copy of Cheryl Wyatt's A Soldier's Promise. I'll contact you for your mailing information. Thank you to everyone who participated in the blog tour and contest.

Randomness

2008-01-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Quotable Quotes by Connor

"Dad, you gotta start livin' it and stop sweatin' it." No idea where this came from.

"Mom, this will freak your brains out." Talking about a plastic toy bug.

"Mom, you feel like stuffing." Ouch! Weight Watchers - where do I sign up?

********************

Guy Stuff

This video had my husband doubled over in laughter. He watched it five times in a row before he made me sit down and view it. Still he laughed.

********************

Just Give it To Me

I'm sure some of you have already seen this music video by Jason Mraz. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song. It totally sucks that he doesn't have it recorded on any of his albums! Come ON! What's he trying to do? It feels a little like musical foreplay. Like he's just toying with us. Just give it to me already! I want this song on my iTunes, on my iPod! He's already made it a hit on YouTube. Check it out, if you haven't already. Oh, and somebody pointed out that he's playing with some kind of sling or cast on one arm. Amazing!

********************

The Way to His Heart

I have found the way to my son's heart. Not so surprisingly, it isn't in the pizza I slave over or the owies I kiss better. Nope. It's much simpler, more basic than that. Here's how the conversation went.

"Hey, bud. How was your day at school?"

"Pretty good. Well, this one thing happened."

"Oh? What?"

"Well, two of my friends started fighting with the older kids on the hill. I decided to just go find other friends to play with because I knew it was wrong."

Insert proud mommy moment here.

"That's good. You can still be their friend, but I'm glad you walked away."

"Yeah. Hey, you know my friend, Josh, can make fake farting sounds. Like, it sounds like he farts, but it's not real."

Switching tracks. "Oh, how does he do that?"

"I'm not really sure. Just kinda like ..." and he tries to make a fart sound with his mouth and throat.

"Hmmm. Like this?" And I show him my special abilities.

"Wow!" His eyes go saucer round and fill with hero worship. Suddenly I'm cool and I'm Super Mom "How'd you DO that?"

So, I showed him. And became #1 Mom in his eyes. To think it was so simple all along.

Author Cheryl Wyatt & A Soldier's Promise

2008-01-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

"My name's Bradley. I'm eight and have cancer. I want to meet a Special Forces soldier more than anything. Well, almost anything. Having a family would be nice."

U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery promised to make a sick child's wish come true. Well, not the family part—not with Joel's past. And so despite vowing never to set foot back in Refuge, Illinois, Joel parachuted onto the boy's school lawn to a huge smile. But another smile unexpectedly stole Joel's heart: that of Bradley's beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who was trying to adopt the boy. And trying to show Joel it was time for new vows.

AUTHOR BIO: Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance.

Prior to publication, Cheryl took courses through Christian Writers Guild. An active member of RWA, FHL and ACFW, she won numerous awards with multiple manuscripts. Visit her on the Web at www.CherylWyatt.com. Sign up for her newsletter for news and chances to enter contests with great prizes. Hang with her on the web at www.Scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com. You can also find her skittering around Steeple Hill's message boards as "Squirl" at http://www.steeplehill.com/.

LINK TO PURCHASE MY BOOK: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373874669

It is my privilege today to be a stop along the way in Cheryl Wyatt's blog tour. Her debut novel "A Soldier's Promise" hit the shelves the beginning of January 2008. It is the first book in her Wings of Refuge series. To see my review of the book, click here.

As a special treat, Cheryl agreed to answer a few questions regarding her book, her life and being a writer. Anyone who comments on today's post will be entered into a draw to win a FREE copy of A Soldier's Promise. The contest will run for one week and I'll email the winner to get their mailing address, so please leave a working email address.

How do you take your coffee?

Um, I actually take a little bit of coffee with my cream. LOL! I like it creamy to the point it is light tan in color and two tsp of sugar.

If you could choose one dessert to enjoy with your coffee, what would it be?

PECAN SPINWHEELS bay-bee! Of course, if there's still coffee to dip after that...break out the Krispy Kremes with chocolate icing. LOL!

Now that that’s out of the way, on the topic of writing, when did you know you wanted to be a writer? Was there a specific moment or event where you realized this was what God had called you to do?

I've wanted to write since I could hold a crayon. But it wasn't until I ended up on bedrest with preterm labor and a high-risk pregnancy that I started to write romance fiction. I'd scribbled stuff in notebooks prior but not until I was grounded did it launch fully. At the time, I just thought maybe God was granting me the stories in order to combat fear of losing the baby. That or to keep me from suffering death-by-boredom. LOL!

Tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the story, A Soldier’s Promise. What are the themes within the story you would like readers to grasp? Are there any themes which developed as the story went along that were a surprise to you?

The theme in A Soldier's Promise was sparked by an understanding of how, when we make self-imposed vows, that can sometimes cause us to go in an opposite direction than God intends, and, if we don't let Him break those vows, we could miss out on blessings He has for us.

What I didn't realize until the book was in line edit stage was that I'd somehow, not even consciously, embedded profound remembrance of times God has made promises to me. I want others to realize God keeps His promises. Whatever I'm facing in life, a hard season, or a joyous one, I always ask God for a promise. I was thrilled when I learned that marketing picked up on the promise theme and retitled my book A Soldier's Promise. Much better title than what I'd come up with. LOL!

I would like readers to grasp that in any given situation, God will often give us promises. Promises that we can cling to and trust, even when they look completely opposite of our circumstances. I would also love if they knew that God doesn't mind reminding us of things He's told us...promises He's made.

The promise theme really surprised me because I really couldn't pinpoint what it was until they gave me that title idea. I didn't set out to make that be a central theme, but that's probably the main takeaway value of the book.

How do you come up with your characters and their names?

I get names in different ways. I have lists of first and last names that I'm always adding to. Then I switch up the names, meaning I always try to make sure I don't use the name of someone I know or that I've met before. I like at least one character to have a unique, meaningful name. I've gotten name ideas from the obits, from waitresses' name tags, baby name books, even from my spam folder. LOL! Where ever I see an unusual name, I jot it down.

How much planning and mapping out of a story do you do? Do you prefer to write and see where the story and its characters take you, or do you plan out each chapter and write with a strict guideline?

I plan out my characters in great depth. I know everything about them inside and out. Everything about their pasts even. I know things that my readers will never need to know. Things that help me keep them consistent through the book. I like to have an idea of my major disasters and a loose scene index before I begin. I'm not strict as I'm sort of in between a plotter and a panster. I've tried to be strict but my characters never obey the plots I set out before them anyway, so it's useless for me to try. I really love to retaliate by ramping their conflict and constantly upping tension. LOL!

How much time do you spend on research for each book?

I spend way more time on research than I ever use for the book. Suffice it to say, I usually research a series for years before I write it. And I go to extreme measures to research. I wanted to sign up for a tandem skydiving jump in fact, so I could write from personal experience since these PJs are basically Special Forces skydiving paramedics and rescuers. But I found out I was pregnant and couldn't. LOL! I did travel to a different continent to research my SEAL series, which I hope to start contracting after we run through the PJ series.

What does “A Day in the Life of Cheryl Wyatt” typically look like?

Carry out Assault and Battery of the alarm clock first thing in the morning because I am NOT a morning person. Having worked midnights for nearly 20 years, I have the hardest time waking up before eight. I hate it. But I have a brigade of human alarm clocks in the house. My body wakes up at six am. I stagger in the kitchen at six thirty after exercising and praying. Then my brain wakes up at seven while I fix breakfast. Get alarm clocks off to school, then start writing by nine. Write until two then get ready for the after-school invasion. "Write" entails checking e-mails, doing research, answering reader letters, etc. When I'm pouring out the rough draft though, I write at night when everyone is asleep because I really am more productive at night. If my husband is gracious enough to take the troop to school, as he often is...then I stay up late, until about midnight to two, and wake up an hour or two around eight, get up at nine. That is my most productive schedule. I'm toast if I don't enough sleep and very strange things come out of my keyboard when I'm sleep deprived. LOL!

What is the one promise or scripture that keeps you going when faced with discouragement or challenges?

It is hard to think of just one scripture, because often when He gives me a promise about a circumstance, part of it involves a passage from His written word.

The one main promise that keeps me going is that I know He promised that my entire family would be saved. I know most of the time when God makes me a promise, it doesn't come to pass for about 2-15 years. It's been twenty years since God has made me the promise but I believe no matter how long it takes. If he has to spare their lives until they live to be 120 years old, they won't die without knowing Him. That is the most precious and profound thing in my life, and in light of that, nothing else matters. Who couldn't run hard after a God like that? He is the kindest person I know.

Thank you, Cheryl, for the interview. Remember, the contest to win a FREE copy of Cheryl Wyatt's book will run until next Saturday.

For King Julian

2008-01-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

“Is it time?” the little angel asked.

“Not yet,” soothed the voice, “patience.”

The angel sat, chin in his chubby hands, and waited and watched. He saw day turn to night and night turn to day. Still he waited.

Days, weeks and months passed by while the little angel watched from above. And then it happened. Dawn began to brighten the sky and the angel could feel the excitement, a stirring on the golden streets. Could this be the day?

“Alright little one, it’s time. We’re ready. Bring him home.”

The angel sped to earth, the gift firmly in his grasp. He descended to the side of a warrior, a prince, a king. “Who’re you?” asked the boy.

“I’m an angel,” he replied. “I’ve come to bring you home.”

The boy stared in wonder. “You have wings. Real ones.”

“Yup. Father wants us home. Ready?”

The little boy looked to the bed where his mother laid, tears on her cheeks, holding his hand. “What about my mom? I can’t leave her. She’ll be sad and she’ll miss me.”

The little angel pondered this a moment. “But He’ll turn their mourning into joy. He will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.”

The boy thought for a minute. “I don’t know. She loves me an awful lot. All the way to China.”

“I love you, Munchkin. It’s gonna be okay. I’m so proud of you,” she whispered.

They stopped to listen, her words carrying in the still of the room.

“We’ll be okay. Cody and Jacob are waiting for you. Say ‘hi’ to Jesus for me. You won’t hurt anymore, so be sure to run and play. Goodnight, baby. I love you.”

The boy watched as his mother reached out and laid a hand on his chest. He felt the warmth spread inside and the heat of love settle in his heart. The pain melted away.

“These are for you.” The angel handed the boy his gift and waited as he unwrapped the bow.

“My own set of wings?” he asked in awe.

“Uh-huh. Bright yellow ones, ‘cause that’s your favorite color. Now you can chase the sunshine.”

The boy slipped the wings on and waited. “How do they work?”

“You gotta listen and let go.” The boy stood still and waited.

“Come home, son. I’m waiting.”

He felt the wings begin to flutter, the anticipation of returning home. He looked one last time towards his mother.

“Fly high, ‘lil man.”

And he did.

For King Julian, 4, who won his battle with cancer and earned his wings Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. And for his parents who talked him straight into the arms of Jesus.

Thank you for sharing your precious boy with the world. He touched many hearts and changed many lives.

I Hate This

2008-01-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

They said it would get easier.

They said I would get used to it.

They said I would love it.

They said it's great.

They are SO wrong!

I hate school. Every day Connor walks out the door I feel like a huge hand reaches into my chest and squeezes until all the breath has left my body. I watch from my living room window, feeling like the worst mom for making him walk all the way to school. A block and a half. Through all the snow. Up hill both ways.

My stomach does sommersaults and crunches until 3:15 when I again glue myself to the window and count every step until he is safely inside the house. Yes, I can see him from my window. Yes, I stand there and watch him walk the whole way home. And yes, I have gotten out my hubby's binoculars and watched him like the crazy person I am. Holding my breath while I scan the streets for any suspicious looking vehicles.

So far I haven't been reported and no police have shown up on my doorstep questioning me about my behavior and my whereabouts the day before.

I was told it would get easier, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Instead I am having horrible nightmares of next fall when I will have to endure this EVERY DAY! With Benen tagging along every second day. Oy!

Hang on. There's a suspicious looking man walking by outside. Yes, he's walking a dog, but that could be his cover. He's stopping to stare at the house two doors down. Hmmm. His face is covered and I can't get a good look. Disguise? Or the fact it's below zero with a wind chill that would freeze your eyes in their sockets?

He's moving on .... passing my window .... don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact .... he's gone. For now.

Hey, I read a lot of suspense/mystery. I know what can happen.

Oooh, I think I need some Tums. And I'm gonna put the local PD on my speed dial. You can never be too prepared.

BTW, be on the lookout for a man walking a tiny tan-and-white pomeranian. Tallish, thin, wearing jeans and a winter coat, face mostly covered and wearing brown leather work gloves. I'm just saying, is all.

The Strangest Thing

2008-01-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

I saw the weirdest thing today at the doctor's office. No, not some freaky person with three eyes or a nasty, flaky disease. Nope. This was a little girl going out of control.

This, in itself, isn't that unusual. I'm pretty much used to seeing kids be out of control, whining, screaming, yelling and hitting their parents. Sadly, I see more parents who don't parent, than ones who do. Respect is something young kids aren't being taught and it shows in the way they act out with complete disregard to those around them. Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine?

Anyways, this little girl couldn't have been more than two-and-a-half. The mother had zero control over her child and the little girl proceeded to wander all over the waiting room. Again, not something particularly surprising. What did surprise me was when the girl - we'll call her Susie - disappeared through the doorway into the area that housed the nurses station, offices and patient rooms. Gone. I mean, you could not see her at all. And the mother just sat there. Did. Nothing.

I kept thinking, the nurses don't get paid to babysit, and wondered how long until the mother decided to fetch sweet Susie. Catch the sarcasm?

Finally, she got up and went in search of her daughter. Moments later she comes out the doorway ushering a loudly complaining and whining little girl. You could tell she didn't dare pick her up. Well, Susie would not stand for this obstacle in her way. She let out a shrieking whine. "Don puss me!" And the mother backed off.

At one point, the little girl dug through her mother's purse, lifted a twenty dollar bill and took off. The mother tried coaxing and begging the little girl to come back and bring the money, but darling daughter would not behave. Secretly, I was hoping she'd bestow that twenty on me.

No luck. I think the mother was nearing her limit. She got up, retrieved Susie, replaced the bill and proceeded to try and hold a thrashing, whining, arching Susie on her lap. Got to teach her a lesson, you know?

Up to this point I was annoyed, but not shocked. Just your basic kids-run-the-home-and-parents situation. But here's what made my jaw drop.

There was a young, pleasantly quiet boy of about nine years who, I thought, had the misfortune of being sweet Susie's big brother. Turns out he stirs the pot. While his mother was trying to hold the thrashing Susie her son jumps into the argument.

"Mom, just let her down."

"No. I need her to learn that she can't always get her way."

"Oh, just put her down. I'll watch her."

Yeah, my jaw hit the floor. An older brother volunteering to watch and trail after his spoiled sister as she wreaks havoc on the waiting room and its innocent masses?!

AND THE MOTHER LISTENED! She obeyed the command of her young son to stop disciplining Susie and let her have her way. Wow! I don't think I have ever come across a situation where the older sibling, particularly a brother, spoils his younger siblings in quite this manner. Shocking, is what it was.

And he followed through. He got up to fetch Susie when she wandered from the room to the elevators. Huh. I thought I had seen it all, but this was something entirely new to me.

Makes me shudder to think what she'll be like when she's a teenager.

And yes, I know this isn't a very nice post. But that's what you get when I don't get my sleep. Sarcasm and snarkiness.

Big Moments

2008-01-16T09:47:00.001-07:00

So there you have it. A big day in the life of a kid. He lost his first tooth yesterday. His Grandpa yanked it out for him after mom and dad's many failed attempts.

I realized something last night. I make a lousy Tooth Fairy. I forgot to put the money under his pillow and he woke up sobbing at 2:30 a.m. I sat up in bed, looked at the clock and went, "Oh NO! Chad wake up!"

Like the bad fairy I am, I made him get up and settle Connor down. Once he was back to sleep, I gave Chad the money to slip under his pillow.

The good thing was he didn't realize I had forgotten. He woke up because his eye was sore (no idea why) and he never thought to peek. So this morning when he finally did look, there was a nice, shiny coin lying in wait. He came bounding into my bedroom, excited and thanking me and saying how wonderful I was.

Being the honest, good person that I am, I looked at him and said, "Thank you." Hey, I'll take what I can get.

Pictures

2008-01-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know that's a very uninspired title, but it's the best I can come up with after a week of little sleep and sick kids. I've been wanting to post some pictures of what it looks like where I live, but when I tried to take a few, they didn't turn out. Thankfully, my Grandma's husband is a fabulous photographer (at least I think so) and he gave me permission to use some of his work on my blog. This is for you, Deb.

Photography by Ron Mack

This is the street my parents live on. The white on the trees is hoar frost.

These are the trees in front of my mom and dad's house

You can see how thick the hoar frost is. Although I find this one of the most beautiful things about winter, the frost on the power lines is responsible for the many power outages and surges that wrecked our computer.

I think this pictures is awesome

Benen, Me and Connor

My mom and my niece, Senaye

Grandma and her girls, Senaye and Kadeja

Jeff Foxworthy

2008-01-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

I was just forwarded this and had to share. It is SO TRUE!

Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canucks:

~ If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Canada.

~ If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Canada.

~ If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada.

~ If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Canada.

~ If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Muncie for the weekend, you may live in Canada.

~ If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada.

~ If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada.

~ If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you may live in Canada.

~ If you can drive 90 kms/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada.

~ If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Canada.

~ If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Canada.

~ If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada.

~ If the speed limit on the highway is 80km -- you're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada.

~ If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Canada.

~ If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in Canada.

~ If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Canada.

~ If you find 2 degrees "a little chilly", you may live in Canada.

~ If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Canadian friends & others, you definitely live in Canada.

I only have two things to say. First off, Dairy Queen is open year round where I live and you will find people ordering Blizzards during...well, a blizzard. We also drink Slurpees in -30 degrees.

Secondly, the four seasons are exactly right. In my opinion, the worst time to drive is during the spring ("still winter") when the roads are covered in water and slush. You can't see the potholes which, if I'm being honest, are more like craters. I've damaged a car that way.

Crazy Conversations

2008-01-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

** A conversation with Benen during supper.

Benen: Mom, you and I are kinda the same.
Me: How's that?
Benen: Well, your skin is kinda peach and look, my skin is peach.
Me: You're right. We are the same.
Chad: Benen, what color is my skin?
Benen: Well .... it's .... it's mostly just hairy.
Chad (trying not to laugh): Oh. I guess it is.

Benen: See this? (Holds up his arm and squints with one eye) I've got some little hairs, too.

Chad (looking closely): Yup.
Benen: Dad, when I grow up, I'm gonna be big and hairy like you.

** A conversation with Chad while watching a movie.

Me: Oh, you have the subtitles on. Good idea.
Chad: That's me. Smartest guy in the world.
Me: You are. You married me.
Chad (slight hesitation): Really not that smart.

Chad claims he wasn't referring to my last comment when he said that, but I'm not letting him live it down.

2008-01-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

Kids are mischievous. They somehow manage to hone in on the stuff that's "off-limits." They look for those golden opportunities when your back is turned, you use the bathroom or you blink both eyes. In a nanosecond, they will have the cupboard doors open, the toilet paper pulled off the roll, the toothpaste squeezed out of the tube and all the DVDs scattered across the basement floor. Or they'll do this.

Yeah, those are mine. Heaven forbid I take a shower and get dressed. Kolten decided to climb on the bathroom stool and play with mommy's glasses. Thank God for warranties and the nice people at The Eyewear Place.

P.S. I still have three children.

Another Random Post

2008-01-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

I was gently reminded that it's been a week since I sat down to blog. I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. Over the holidays I had all these things I wanted to share, but no time to visit my computer. My e-mail sat neglected for days at a time, something almost unheard of for me. And since I can't remember all the funny things that happened over Christmas and New Year's, I'm just gonna post what comes to mind. In other words, random.

* I unwrapped a present to find my ticket to Paradise. A cappuccino/espresso maker. And I also got a Bodum, which makes French Press coffee. Now, I have one whole length of my countertop filled with coffee paraphernalia. And those people who love me lots and know me well, also gave me books and pajamas! This is my kind of heaven!

* Our household seems to have an ongoing battle with an army of little viral invaders. We've been battling the flu off and on for about three weeks. I felt we had paid our dues and could remove the quarantine flag from our front yard when my oldest son crawled into bed with us at 4:15 a.m. I had climbed in around 2:30 and was just getting into a good REM cycle when his hot little feet scorched the hair off my legs. Yowsah, I thought, he must have been buried under mountains of blankets. He's a regular furnace most of the time, but a touch of my lips to his forehead confirmed that he was burning with fever.

I felt alarm course through me and I sat up to check him over. Hot face, hot head, hot arms and hands, hot tummy, and burning little feet. I don't worry much when he gets a fever because he's always been prone to them. In fact - and I do not lie or exaggerate - he has run fevers as high as 106.3 without convulsions. He does, however, sometimes hallucinate. This was not the case last night but I figured he was ranging around 103 - 104. I got up to give him some Tylenol and ushered him back to bed with strict instructions to come get me if he thought he was going to be sick.

Two minutes later he's in our room complaining of a stomach ache and feeling like he's gonna puke. I sat him by the toilet while I made up a bed on the floor. I got him nicely settled and spent the next hour tense and on edge, listening for that tell-tale gagging, whimpery sound that precedes the vomiting.

And I prayed. Well, 'prayed' sounds a little mild. I ranted and argued and pleaded with God to heal my son. I wasn't very eloquent. It went something like this:

"God, heal my son. This is so not fair! He's already had the flu. He shouldn't have to get sick again! Take all those yucky germs and blast them out of his body and out of this house! Heal him. Don't let him puke. I really, really don't want to have to do a mountain of laundry. And he's hurting. And it's not fair. So, please heal him....of course, Your will and all that. *sigh* Amen."

I managed to nod off sometime after 5:00.

I was ripped from my blissful slumber by an earth shattering scream. My heart jumped and I managed to pry open my eyes. There was a little body standing beside my bed.

"Mom, Connor's hurt. Can I have cereal?"

Well, duh, I thought, of course someone's hurt. At least that's what I had assumed the screaming was all about. The pounding of little feet rushing up the stairs and down the hall pulled me into a half sitting position. Connor ran into my room with tears coursing down his cheeks and muffled screams coming from behind his hands.

"What happened?"

"mshlybymyounne," he sobbed.

Huh. "What?"

"My young."

Okay. "Move your hands and let me see." I gently pulled his hands from his face. That's when I realized blood was running down his chin, hands and arms and was dripping off his elbows.

I flew out of bed, rushed him to the bathroom and made him rinse, swish, spit, rinse, swish, spit until most of the bleeding stopped. I am thankful I'm not a breakfast eater. Those Wheaties - oh who am I kidding? - that chocolate cake would have made a swift reappearance. As it was, my stomach twisted, turned and flopped, but I managed to soothe and clean him.

He had bitten right through his tongue in the same place he had bitten through it last week. He slipped while running up the stairs and hit his chin on the way down. Only now, both sides of his tongue have teeth marks.

Sidenote: All through high school I wanted to be a nurse. I had planned on going to university and becoming an RN. Then, I job shadowed for a day and learned I don't have the stomach for it. I can't handle the blood, spit, sweat, smells, sights and 'other' that go with the profession. So instead I became a mother. HA! Now I get all that and more...without the paycheck.

* Things that have made me smile:
Benen during supper - "Mom, this is deeeee-licious. Much better than yesterday."
Connor - "Mom, you're a princess."

* Yesterday I watched Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason. I LOVE the Bridget Jones movies. They're great. A little raunchy in some places, but still so hilarious. How can you not love the part where Mark Darcy (played by the incredible Colin Firth) says, "I like you, just the way you are." *sigh* Or the part in Edge of Reason where Bridget is getting dressed and she has the sheet draped over her for modesty.

Mark Darcy: What on Earth are you doing?
Bridget Jones: Getting dressed.
Mark Darcy: Why're you dancing around in that tent business?
Bridget Jones: Because I don't want you to see any of my wobbly bits.
Mark Darcy: Well now that's a bit pointless isn't it. As I happen to have a very high regard for your wobbly bits. In all circumstances.

I love that part. Makes me laugh every time. So. Funny!

Post-Christmas

2007-12-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families. I'll tell you right now, nothing sucks more than getting the flu on Christmas day. All that built up anticipation for turkey, stuffing and pie, and then phfft. Can't stomach a forkful. What a disappointment.

But we have Take Two (a.k.a. Christmas with my family) tomorrow and so far not a stomach pain to be felt. Please, oh please let me enjoy a turkey dinner.

Right now, it's 1:55 a.m. and I just finished planning music for Sunday. This is the first moment this week I have had the time to sit and plan out service. I am running on a serious sleep deficit. I was able to finally fall asleep around 3:30 a.m. this morning, thanks to a cranky baby. The night, or should I say morning, before was 4:00 a.m. I'm TIRED! And we have Christmas with my family tomorrow which means I have to be up early to get ready, load the gifts and kids in the car and get to my parent's by 9:00 a.m. I'm just glad they only live across town.

I don't think I'm making much sense right now and I've dosed off twice at the computer. I'm shutting down and am going to try and catch some rest before the mayhem of tomorrow.

I want to take a minute right now to thank God for coffee. Seriously, I don't want to know where I would be without it. How crazy do you have to get before they put you in a padded room? And would it really be so bad? Your meals brought to you, unlimited time to SLEEP, coffee all day. There's pills to wake you up, put you to sleep, pick you up, or calm you down. Actually, that sounds like a real nice vacation. Where do I sign up?

2007-12-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

********** IMPORTANT NEWS **********

LASR is holding a contest for Best Romance Book of 2007!

Read any great romance books this year? Have your say!

Head over to LASR's contest page and nominate your favorites.

Contest nominations end December 26.

Voting will run from January 1-31, 2008.

(New blog posts below)

2007-12-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

May you all have a wonderful holiday season, filled with family, friends and laughter as you celebrate the birth of the Savior. I pray you discover anew the love, peace, joy and hope that He came to bring. May your home be blessed and may you feel the miracle of Christmas filling your heart.

2007-12-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this video. It's one of the best renditions of "Winter Wonderland" that I've ever heard. And it's LIVE! Absolutely amazing! This might be my favorite Christmas song this year. Unfortunately it's not on any of his albums. Yet.

The Things We Do

2007-12-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

I just poked my husband's shoulder. "Do you think I'm crazy?" Dangerous question.

His response was a less than intelligent, "hrmphs."

"Do you think I'm crazy?"

"Hmm? Um-um."

"Would you think I'm crazy if I told you I just put a pizza in the oven?"

"Whah? Yes."

That's right. It's midnight and I just popped a pizza in the oven.

I was busy making my son's lunch when I had, what I like to call, a Good Mom Moment.

My boys have a food sensitivity to gluten which means my kindergartner can't take sandwiches like other kids his age. Usually I fill his lunch with some type of meat (tuna, chicken) and cheese and crackers along with other goodies.

For some reason I was struck with that sense of motherly awe. You know, the one that makes you well up with emotion and think, I would do anything for this child of mine. I would give my life for him. And since there's no impending doom to rescue him from, I did the next best thing. I made him pizza. At midnight.

No, I did not make my own crust. You can buy these gluten-free ones from the local health food store for an exorbitant price. I had one sitting in my freezer. I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy.

So now I'm feeling warm and fuzzy and like a pretty darned good mother, if I do say so myself.

Hang on - Whew! Got busy typing and nearly burnt the pizza.

So now I'll be up until 1:00 a.m. waiting for it to cool. But that's okay. His smile will be worth the lost hours of sleep.

Trees

2007-12-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Reasons to get a real Christmas tree:

1. You won't have to crawl under the stairs to dig out the tree that somehow got buried under a tarp, a stroller, a cooler and a bag of old clothes.

2. You won't have to clean up shards of glass from an old, burnt out light that fell and shattered during the digging.

3. You won't spend precious time "fluffing" the tree branches till they look just right.

4. You won't stab your hand on the hidden wire poking out of the branches.

5. You won't have to light a pine-scented candle to get that woodsy, Christmas tree smell.

6. When the Christmas season is over, you won't have to flatten all the branches, disassemble the tree, package it, and crawl under the stairs to store it for another year.

Regret

2007-12-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

The tears are just under the surface. I'm regretting yesterday's purge and fighting the urge to rush downstairs, dive into the piles and clutch the books to my breast. I'm trying to assure myself it was a good decision, a necessary evil. I'm not convinced. There's this tightness around my chest and it feels like a vice has squeezed all the breath from my body.

I can't think about this.

Moving on. Some of the sweetest words I hear all day are, "Mom, I love you a million, billion, billion, million, trillion, willion, gazillion, tillion, billion, million, billion, a lot."

Also, my son used this one. "Mom, I'll make all your wishes come true." Little does he know that he and his brothers surpassed all my dreams long ago.

My husband rented the Spiderman Wii game on Tuesday. The kids have been in Little Boy Heaven for the past two days. He also brought home a movie about the Justice League. It goes without saying that my house has been filled with the sounds of battle, good vs. evil, for the past couple of days. Not that that's any different from a regular day. I just get it in stereo now, blasting through the floor and filling the whole house. Yipee!

And now I have to go set up the Wii. After all, little boys' patience is only so big.

Oh What a Glorious Feeling!

2007-12-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling with an overflow of books. Normally this isn't a bad thing, but I have struggled with getting rid of books, any book, whether good or bad, interesting or boring. I have found myself physically incapable of purging my collection. The thought alone was enough to give me hives and set off a full-blown panic attack. Get rid of books? You must be CRAZY!

But like the crazy spinster with 100 cats, things had to change. It seemed that overnight piles of books had spawned more piles and things were getting out of control. Now I'll admit that, like the cat woman, I could be quite content in my insanity if left alone. But my family keeps shining the light on my 'problem', bringing clarity where I'd prefer a little darkness.

So for the past month I have been psyching myself up, trying to prepare myself for the inevitable day when I would weed out my collection. That day has come!

I cleaned my shelves. I actually took books off with the intention of giving them away, either to family, friends or the church. Yup, I'm thinning out my collection. Some of my favorite authors are releasing books in January and I decided I'd rather have some space to display the GREATS than clutter up my shelves with the OKAYS. And you know what? It actually feels kinda good. 'Course it could be I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that I have a book order on its way from Amazon, but we won't go there.

And you know what else? I got to spend three glorious hours surrounded by towering stacks of books as I sorted, cleaned, organized and alphabetized. The smell of paper and ink; the feel of holding great literature in my hands. Now I ask, is there anything better than that? It's an adrenaline rush for the bookish and let me tell you, I'm flying high!

Random

2007-11-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the thing. I've been trying to find time to blog, but this week has been a write off. I finally decided to sit my butt down in a chair with my laptop and type until something came to mind. I really should be cleaning my house (we have company coming tonight) but I've been putting it off. No surprise there. So, instead of a well, or semi-well, thought out post, you're getting the crazy thoughts that pop into my head. Let's see.....

*Yesterday, my husband came home from work at 8:00 a.m. just to start my van for me. Isn't that sweet? He knew I was busy trying to get all three kids out the door, so he drove all the way across town to warm up my vehicle. And he stopped by Tim Hortons on the way and brought me a coffee and breakfast sandwich. I have never felt so loved.

*I'm leading some carol singing at our church banquet tonight. I haven't sung in a month and I'm woefully out of practice. Simon Cowell would laugh me off the stage. Oh, wait. He doesn't laugh.

*Connor's important questions:
Mom, what's Santa's other name?
Mom, do you feel like you're losing your mind?
Mom, how do you know everything?

*My son is special. I know every parent says that, but I can say it with a certain assurance that he is one-of-a-kind. I'm sure the teacher has never before seen anyone like him. He's intense. When he focuses on something, it's 100%. And he's obsessed with superheroes. Obsessed. He actually brought home an empty Kleenex box from school the other day because it had a picture of Venom on it. I can only imagine the conversation that took place:

"Teacher, that Kleenex box has venom on it!"
"Yes, Connor, I know."
"Wow." A pause. "I wish I had a box like that."
"It's just a Kleenex box."
"What are you going to do with it?"
"We're going to use the Kleenexes."
"Yeah, but what about when all the Kleenexes are gone?"
"I'm going to put it in the recycle bin."
"What's 'recycle' mean."

"It's where you put all your cardboard and plastic containers into a box so they can be taken to a place where they're made into new things. It helps save the environment."

"Oh. Well, I could use that box."
"But I need the Kleenexes."
"I mean after they're gone. I could take that box home and use it."
"Connor, I don't think you need-"
"But it's cool. It has Venom on it."
"I know, but I don't think your mom-"
"She won't mind. She knows I like superheroes."
A puzzled expression. A sigh. "Oh, alright."

*The thing that makes me feel most child-like is my love of candy rockets. Those yummy, circular candies that come packaged in rows and wrapped in plastic. They come out in mass quantities around Halloween. I'm hopelessly addicted.

*My hair is at that stage. Too short to do much with, too long to style properly. Ugh. I'm feeling shaggy and, to use Becky's word, frumpy.

Well, that's it. The house cleaning is calling my name. Or rather, Chad is calling my name and asking me what needs to be done. So I better go clear a path to the spare bed so my company has a place to sleep.

A or B

2007-11-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

I am convinced that parenting is the biggest game of Multiple Choice you will ever play.

Experts tell you to give your children choices as they grow so they can begin to experience some independence and learn to make their own decisions. They say limit their choices to within your parameters so you can remain in control while giving them a sense of freedom.

That's all fine and dandy, but sometimes I feel like my days are completely made up of A+B=C equations. For example:

Me: Benen you can either sleep in your pajamas or your underwear and shirt. It's your choice. Either pick out some pajamas or sleep in your shirt and underwear.

Benen: Ummm.....I wanna sleep naked.

Chad: Benen, these are your choices. You can have an apple, a banana or nothing. What do you want?

Benen: Alright. I'll have a pear.

You see the problem? I give them choices. I set the boundaries. They keep thinking outside the box.

I keep getting suckered.

But they make me smile. Benen, while standing at the bathroom sink - "Get ready for the awesome power of Benen!"

The Holiday, Part 3

2007-11-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping to wrap up the retelling of our adventures with this final post. Since "a picture is worth a thousand words," I'm going to pack in as many photos as I can. There was just so much that we saw and did and it was all so exciting. Also, you can make the pictures bigger by clicking on them, if you so desire.

We spent part of a day driving down the Caribbean coast checking out the beaches and little towns along the way. This picture is of Punta Uva which is considered one of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica.

During one of our afternoons, we took a boat ride out to an island that's just off the coast of Limon. It's a National Park reserve and, with the exception of the Park Ranger, is un-inhabited. The island is made almost entirely of coral.

However, we did not pick the nicest, calmest day for the trip, nor do I believe we picked the most reputable captain. Don't get me wrong, the guy seemed nice enough, but there were no life jackets. Not even a life preserver or round, white flotation ring. Nothing. Nada. Zip. It was during this boat ride that the meaning of the phrase "hysterical female" became crystal clear.

My cousin and I, who had chosen to ride in the very front because 'it's just more adventurous', could not stop laughing. We giggled the entire boat ride from the minute we hit open ocean. The waves were HUGE, but our terror was bigger. Anyone who has seen the movies The Guardian and Perfect Storm, will understand the massive swells our tiny boat was tossing on. There were moments my rear end - MY rear end - actually left the seat while we took a free fall to the bottom of the wave. It was a laugh-or-cry moment. The hysterics took over. I was never so glad to reach terra firma.

However, the island was beautiful, the waves crashing on the rocks, majestic. It's something I'll never forget. 'Course, I had to endure the trip back which included a slow, torturous, tour-by-boat around the island before heading for safer, calmer waters. Here are some of the pictures from the island.

The day we were leaving Sara and Chris's, it poured. I'm talking monsoon-type rains. This is a picture of the area directly below their house. (The houses are built on stilts because of the amount of rain they get.) About thirty minutes before I took this picture, the entire ground was under rushing water. There was a river running through the yard, right up to the saw mill.

I was greatly concerned about getting me and my luggage safely to the truck. One of the workers thoughtfully constructed a path of wood from the house to relatively dry land. I made it halfway, at which point the blonde in me took over.

I didn't notice the rest of the path. Uncertain of where to go next, I took in my limited options (not seeing the curve in the path) and stepped off onto what I thought was soggy, but solid, ground. I was wrong. I sunk TO MY KNEES in mucky, gritty, sludge...and started to fall. I put the other foot down and staggered a step forward before coming to a quick stop and, with it, the shocking realization that I had left my sandal behind. A foot-and-a-half deep in sludge.

Cinderella I am not. I did not handle my single shoe-ness with the same fleeing grace. I let out a frustrated yell that, not only shocked the workers, but gave them a great amount of amusement and entertainment.

We managed to get on our way and headed to Arenal, the volcano. We arrived later that afternoon and decided to hit the hot springs. In protest of their outrageously high prices, we decided to climb down the slope to the bridge where the river and springs run. The rivers are considered public property and are open for use to any who wish to venture there. You cannot, however trespass on the grounds and pools that are nearby. A high-priced hotel bought the small operation and shut it down in hopes of forcing tourists to pay their steeper prices.

Sara and I changed into our swimsuits in the truck - no easy feat for me - while the guys took off down the path to the hot springs. We followed, but with dark pressing in, we couldn't see them. We did, however, spot the guard and, in fear, we retreated. Unsure of where to go, we tried squeezing through the small opening between the chained gate and the barbwire fence.

Sara made it no problem, but it was soon apparent that not even half of me would fit. I called for her to come back and she began to wiggle her way through the narrow opening. The sound of footsteps and radio static drew nearer and we could see the approaching beam of a flashlight. We started to panic, me hissing "hurry" and Sara wiggling faster. She got stuck. Her swim suit caught on the rebar.

Hyperventilation set in. A few more wiggles and she sprung loose. We raced for the bushes where we hid out until the guard had passed and our breathing returned to normal. Then we burst into giggles. It was those nerves again. After we managed to get ourselves into some semblance of order, we decided to try the path one more time. And lo and behold the guys appeared and led us down the slope to the hot springs where we were able to relax and wash away the remaining adrenaline in the soothing, rushing warmth of the water.

We scaled the slope in pitch blackness, got back to the truck and found a hotel for the night where we cleaned up before going out for supper to celebrate Sara's birthday.

The next morning we drove to see the volcano and Lake Arenal. Beneath Lake Arenal is an entire city. The government wanted to create a dam and decided to build it there and flood the town. The people were paid to relocate and below the calm surface is an entire city. I find it a little creepy to think there's a ghost town down there.

This little guy scurried out of the bushes at the sound of the truck and confidently crossed the road and approached the vehicle. Obviously he's well fed by tourists.

Here are some pictures as we drove through the mountains to the pacific coast.

And here are some pictures of the resort where we stayed. I took these while sitting in a lounger by the pool. Oh. So. Nice.

Our room was in a building a short walk from the pool. We passed this fountain and pond on the way.

And here's the local wildlife that lives near that pond.

A herd (?) of monkeys, about thirty of them, were crossing through the trees and palm leaves right outside our room.

The resort also had a bird enclosure, butterfly farm and snake...thingy, that we visited. The snake picture was for my husband. It gives me the heebie-jeebies, but he thinks it's cool. The big white lump on its head is a tick. How gross is that?!

This is one of my favorite pictures. This little guy was hanging out above the bird enclosure. He was just chillin' while he watched all the tourists below.

And last, but not least, these were our furry friends that liked to join us, either in the restaurant for lunch or at night around the pool for a snack.

And that pretty much sums up our trip. We had a very interesting flight back and two days after arriving home I was out shoveling the snow off my van.

The Holiday, Part 2

2007-11-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to get some pictures to upload. What a process. Anyways, we stopped in Limon at this hotel restaurant for lunch. Here is the view from our table. It was wonderful to sit out under the leaf/grass roof on the balcony and see the ocean below you. And about ten steps away was a beautiful white sand beach.

We arrived at Sara and Chris's place in the afternoon and decided to go for a swim in the river on their farm. The water was cool/warm and refreshing. It started to pour rain while we were swimming, but it was a warm rain.

We visited this little bar that's right on the ocean. These people run the bar from their home and just casually open for anyone who shows up. It was an awesome way to spend a relaxing evening. Here are some pictures of the place.

This little guy lived in the ceiling. The crab was caught by the guy fishing.

Ahhh, this is the life. Bliss. Peace. Heaven.

The following day we took a hike through the rain forest that is Chris and Sara's land. They are in the lumber business and own lots of jungle. Here is some of what we saw.

Oops, that was a tiny lie. When I say 'hike' I mean Sara and I rode the horses while the guys hoofed it on foot.

This is the Lookout and the view from up there.

These are pictures of a frog mid-jump and finally, after many attempts, holding still.

This red frog is poisonous.

Yup, that's right. Spiders. The one on top is called something like 'Golden Web Spider' because its web has a gold shine instead of silver. The one on the bottom is just another spider. And that's Chris's arm that it's on. It actually crawled all the way up to his neck. *shudder*

Sara and I are standing on a vine that wraps around a massive tree. We climbed up on the vine because, well, it's just awesome. The thing is HUGE! Okay, honestly? I wanted to feel like Tarzan from the Disney movie...without the loin cloth of course.

This is a hollow tree. From the front it looks completely normal, but from behind you can see it's completely hollowed out, right up to the top and right down into the ground. And those black dots you see on the inside are bats. Bats! I'd like to say I took the picture myself, but the truth is I wouldn't get close enough. I had no desire to fall down that hole and have my own "Batman Begins" experience, thank you very much.

And finally, we came to a stream where we tied up the horses. We followed its winding path which led us to this oasis. It's a tiny waterfall and swimming hole. The day had been HOT and it was so refreshing to jump in. Okay, ease in is more accurate. The water was cool at first, but perfect once the heat of the day was washed away.

I have so much more to share - swimming in the ocean, beautiful beaches, monkeys, volcanoes, the resort - but I think this is enough for one post. Blogger is still being difficult and it has taken me hours to get these photos up. And I'm beginning to feel like one of those people who pulls out all their pictures and then proceeds to bore you with the details. So I'm gonna take this in steps; a little today, a little tomorrow.

One other thing. We ate at some of the coolest little restaurants and I got to try some great new food. But I have no pictures of that. When I asked the others if they would care if I took pictures of my food, I was met with strange looks all around. My husband stared at me like he couldn't believe what he just heard and I began to feel like some of the native wildlife being gawked at.

But enough for now. Until next time!

The Holiday, Part 1

2007-11-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

As promised, I'm finally getting around to sharing about my holiday. A few things I learnt:

1. My husband is a suspicious looking character. He was pulled aside twice for a random search. The first time, I was startled, yet amused, and had to squelch the urge to call after the guard, "Let me know if you find anything!"

2. Apparently, being at sea level means you can drink twice as much and not feel any effects. I'm not a drinker, but if I go on to explain how I discovered this, I'll just end up talking myself into a hole.

3. I've begun to question the standards and requirements needed to fly a Boeing 757. I think our pilot was a boy scout.

4. When taking boat rides out on the open ocean, it might be in your best interest to check your guide's credentials. And you should always wear a life jacket, providing there is one available.

5. God cares that I get to the bottom of the mountain via the road! Some countries don't believe in guardrails.

And now, for some pictures.......

This is a cemetery I saw as we were leaving San Jose. I found it fascinating that they don't bury their dead in the ground; they put them in these tombs.

We drove through the mountains on our way to the Carribbean coast.

This is where the river from the volcano meets the river from the mountains. The dirty one is the volcano; the clear one from the mountains.

Chris (my cousin's husband) needed to make a business call to some guy's house. We saw this statue and I burst out laughing. I couldn't help myself, I had to take a picture. I call this one "Chad and the Eunich."

Here's a close up. Meet Mr. Bob-It, poor unfortunate soul.

Okay, I'm only on day three of our holiday and had planned to post more photos and stories in this post, but Blogger is being a pain in the you-know-what and won't let me upload any other pictures. I've been trying for three days to finish this first part of our holiday, but no success. I'll try to get the other stuff up in a couple of days.

I'm Back

2007-11-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

I am officially back. I'm home; I'm happy; I'm cold. I thought I was ready for cooler temperatures after all the heat, but I've changed my mind.

We made it back safe though there were times I wasn't sure I'd live to see my children again. I have all the pictures on my computer, but they're in serious need of some doctoring. I am no photographer as evidenced by my sad, pathetic attempts to capture our adventures. I'm not kidding. Three hundred and fifty-four pictures with just over half turning out. Oh well. At least I'll have some memories, albeit blurring ones.

So, tonight I plan to work on them and I should have some to share with you in a day or two. In the meantime, here are some precious moments since our return:

Chad: "Benen, what am I going to do with you?"
Benen: "Ohhh...just put me to bed."

Connor: "Mom, I'm glad you and dad are home. I forgot what you looked like."

Connor: "Mom, I think maybe next time you go to Costa Rrrica (he tries to roll his r's) you should take us with you."

Home Sweet Cold Home!

Fun in the Sun

2007-11-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Yes, I'm actually blogging from the resort in Costa Rica. Why you ask? Because my hubby is sick in bed. A little combination of too much sun and not enough sunscreen. He's taking a minute to enjoy the dark, air-conditioned room and I'm having fun trying to type on a Spanish computer keyboard. Did you know that things are moved around? Buttons are not where I'm expecting them to be and I can get all kinds of cool accent marks. Here are a few:

Ñ Ç ´ ` ¿ ¡

It's an experience for sure.

Anyways, I don't have much time but I've taken a ton of photos and will have some edited and ready to post shortly after I get back. So far we have drove through the mountains, been to the carribbean coast, swam in the ocean, walked/horseback rode through unsettled rainforest, experienced enormous ocean waves up close and personal, seen a volcano (mostly), eaten a variety of yummy new dishes, relaxed in the hotsprings and so much more. Now we are at the resort - Barcelo Playa Tambor, for those interested in Googling it - and are enjoying being catered to. All you can eat, drink and do. Tomorrow we are planning to try some of the activities which include water kayaking. We'll see how that goes.

Well, I've gotta head back to the room and wake up my hubby. We're planning to take in the live show tonight. Later!

'T' minus 1:28 minutes

2007-11-02T10:29:00.000-06:00

We're on the countdown and will be leaving in little over an hour and, naturally, I had to squeeze one last blog post in before we go. I will, after all, be forced to survive without my computer for twelve whole days. However, when you look at it this way - crystal blue water, warm sandy beaches, smokin' hot husband - I'm sure I'll find plenty to fill my time.

I can't wait to get away and enjoy some time relaxing with my hubby. But the nausea hit yesterday. It finally dawned on me, I mean really smacked me upside the head, that I will be leaving my children, my babies, for almost two weeks! I'm finding it hard to catch my breath at the mere thought of it. Anxiety attacks. They suck.

Moving on (since my breakfast is trying to make a reappearance) here are some things that have made me smile and laugh today.

*Benen was watching his daddy get ready for the day and inquired, "Daddy, what are those brown dots on your back?"

"They're moles."

"Ohhhh....like you were bitten by moles."

*Benen (talking about why Spiderman is better than Doc Oc and the Green Goblin), "He can be-feet them."

*Benen - "Dad, you're Superman 'cause you can lift the couch!"

*Benen - "Grandma, look at my arms. I'm gettin' hair."

Grandma - "Wow. Pretty soon you'll have as much hair as the dog."

Benen - "Yeah." Big pause, "And maybe even as much as daddy!"

Now I really have to go. Have a great couple of weeks and I'll 'see' you all when I get back!

Dirty, Rotten Monday

2007-10-29T12:31:00.000-06:00

Right now I'm wishing there was no such thing as Murphy's law. And that 'Murphy' had never existed to create such a law in the first place. Because it always, without fail, proves itself true, over and over again; the baby starts screaming, the other kids start fighting, the potatoes boil over, the oven timer goes off, you step on a toy left in the middle of the floor. Just when you feel like pulling your hair out, the phone rings.

Here's how old Murphy smacked me upside the head today. I was unable to sleep last night and finally dozed off sometime after 4:30 a.m. Hubby's alarm went off at 6:30, kids marched into my room at 7:00 and I finally dragged my butt out of bed at 7:33. The part that really sucked? My baby slept in - slept in - until 8:13 a.m. He hasn't slept in in MONTHS! The one day he sleeps in just happens to be the one day I have to get up. I had to get all of us ready, Connor to school, Kolten to the sitter's and Benen to music practice. And all by 9:30 a.m.

You know how when you don't get enough sleep you get that achy, fuzzy headache and it feels like there are ten pound weights attached to your eyelids? That's what happened to me. I was fantasizing about a big long nap and barely managing to control the tears of exhaustion. Actually, I thought I was doing considerably well on one extra-large cup of coffee. That is, until Murphy decided to strike.

My kids rediscovered their harmonicas today and played with great enthusiasm. 'Nuf said.

She Said, He Said

2007-10-25T10:04:00.000-06:00

She said, "Honey, I can't wait to go on vacation with you. We'll be like honeymooners again."

He said, "Not really."

***

She said, "I want to hold hands and walk down narrow streets filled with carts of goods and assorted treasures."

He said, "Sure, I'll hold your hand."

***

She said, "I want romantic nights under a star-filled sky."

He said, "Have fun. I'll be in bed."

***

She said, "What?!"

He said, "What? There's bugs and spiders and lizards."

*This was a real conversation between real people. No actors were used in the telling of this tale. No names were used to protect the not-so-innocent, but I'm sure you can guess the participants of this scene.*

Backhands & Scoops

2007-10-23T19:01:00.000-06:00

I received a backhanded compliment the other day. I was talking with a young lady from one of the high schools here and, during the course of our chit-chat, it came up that I had a husband and kids. She looked at me strangely and asked, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Oh. You don't seem that old."

Ouch. I didn't realize 27 was that old. On the other hand, I'm flattered that I seem....young? Younger? *shrug*

So, here's the latest scoop:

CHAD...
is upset about the picture I posted of him here. He says it makes him look like he's....not playing with a full deck? A few bricks short of a load? Not the sharpest tool in the shed? You pick one. To be honest, I agree; it's not his best photo.

CONNOR...
is trying to convince me to pack up all three of them and drive to the toy store so he can buy a present for his friend's birthday. Um, no.

BENEN...
made this brilliant observation: "When you poop, it looks like you have a tail."

KOLTEN...
picked a piece of cheese over a brownie! Who's kid is this anyways?! And where did I go wrong?!

ME...
I'm counting down the days 'til hubby and I leave for Costa Rica. No diapers, no demands, no sharing my food, NO COMMITMENTS! I'll fly away, oh glory.........

Help! My Testosterone is Showing!!

2007-10-17T09:54:00.000-06:00

Six years ago my husband walked in the door, announced "I'm getting old. I think we should have a baby," and being the obedient wife I am, I complied. And then couldn't get off the roller coaster. Nine months later we were blessed with our first boy; the other two followed in quick succession.

We were going to be great parents, I just knew it. We would raise them right, teach them manners and respect and about God.

I remember the shock I experienced when I walked into the living room to find my husband - yes, my husband and partner in parenting - teaching my two-and-a-half year old son to make farting sounds with his hand in his armpit. They were hooting and hollering, having the best time, while I was shocked and horrified! I had expected this from the uncles and had prepared my "don't teach my son that" speech, but this left me mouth-wide-open and speechless

Over the past few years I have come to expect a little barbarian behavior. I understand when they laugh after someone burps at the table, says the word underwear or butt (nothing funnier apparently), and the fact they see my furniture as giant launching pads.

What I'm finding scary is that I am starting to think it's funny, too. I get the jokes, I join the laughter, I encourage the running, jumping and wrestling. Can you get testosterone from osmosis or perhaps like some catchy disease? I swear its seeping in through my pores! Still, I have my limits.

I'm taking a little detour here to ask if anyone watches The Office with Steve Carell? My husband and I watch it on Thursday nights and although there are parts that make me cringe, it also makes me laugh.

Still, I was a little shocked to walk into the kitchen and hear this come out of my son's mouth.

"That's what she said."

And guess who taught him that?

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!

2007-10-16T13:11:00.000-06:00

As promised, here are the pictures of Benen's birthday. I'm no shutter-bug and some of these turned out blurry, but it's all I got.

You're how old?? I don't know what's up with the intense look on Chad's face. LOL!

Ahhh, presents. Superhero toys wrapped in superhero paper. It's a boy's paradise. If you look behind Benen's head you will see my dad's feet. They're the ones with the pants rolled half way up his legs. My dad, business owner and fashion guru. LOL!

The unveiling. The look on his face is pure rapture. He got a Venom toy from his brothers.

If you can see past the glare, it's Venom and Sandman.

Yes, my child is wearing underwear on his head. Boxer briefs, to be exact. Why? you ask. Because his father thought it would be funny. He (Kolten) was not too impressed.

This is the Power Ranger cake I made for Benen. He picked out the pan and told me he wanted it to be the blue one, whose name is Maddison; we know this kind of stuff. It was a gluten-free cake made up of mostly blue and black icing. You can imagine what we all looked like after. It took me 3 1/2 hours to ice it. I am clearly not a professional, but he was pleased. Just don't count the number of fingers on his hand. ;-)

And here he is. What a handsome birthday boy!

A Soldier's Promise

2007-10-15T15:53:00.000-06:00

I want to show off this novel because I think its author, Cheryl Wyatt is an amazing woman and a wonderful writer. I've been following her writing journey over at her blog and I shouted a "Hallelujah" when her first novel sold to Steeple Hill. A Soldier's Promise is being released January 1, 2008 and is the first book in her Wings of Refuge series. The book cover was recently posted at Barnes and Noble and I just had to show it here. It seems I've been waiting forever for this novel and the wait is almost over.

I love a good military story...who doesn't like a man in uniform?

Random, Part 3

2007-10-12T00:50:00.000-06:00

Okay, this week has gone way too fast. I'm not complaining - it means the weekend is almost here - but I'm looking back at the past few days and realizing how little I actually accomplished. I haven't posted pictures of Benen's birthday (they're still in my camera) and I'm sitting here at 12:15 a.m. blogging when I should be making lunches for school. Oh, well. So, because this is going to be quick, it's going to be random.

*My baby's progression of disgusting habits (in order):

1. Eating off the floor - because food tastes better when he has to race the Swiffer Vac.

2. Eating off the ground - because dirt has minerals.
3. Playing in the toilet - because it's just a tiny splash pool.

4. Discovering the garbage can - because it's a trove of hidden treasures.

*Since my son discovered the wonders of the garbage can, I have had to rescue my Chapstick (the lid was on), a pair of Connor's jeans, Benen's underwear and Kolten socks. And all in two days. I'm not sure yet what is missing. I've also found him happily munching on scraped-off-the-plate macaroni. Blech.

*The other day, Benen stood on the toilet lid and watched me take out my contact lenses. He had a look of complete awe on his face as he watched me slowly pry the sheer film off my eye. "Whoa," he said. I milked it.

"Yup. Dad may be able to flip his eyelids inside out, but I can take out my lenses!"

He looked at me with complete hero worship and adoration shining from his eyes. Yes!

*A girlfriend and I once ate an entire (small) cheesecake. Nothing says "friendship" like shared gluttony without judgement.

Alright, I really need to get to bed and there are still lunches to make. 'Night.

It was a dark and stormy night...

2007-10-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

...A murder was being committed.

She crept down the long dark hallway, her bare feet silent against the worn carpet. Fear pounded in her head, choking her breath. Would she be caught?

A sudden flash lit up the old house, blinding her. She froze.

CRASH!

Thunder rattled the shingles and a muffled scream escaped her trembling lips as she was again cast into darkness. Terror moistened her palms and weakened her knees as she leaned against the wall. Had the storm awakened him? She strained to hear over her pounding heart and the battering of the rain and wind against the windows.

Silent. Dark. The night seemed to suspend its breath in anticipation of the coming event. The lure of greed, evil and temptation pressed heavier, urging her on.

She slid forward, her fingertips pressed to the wall, steadying and guiding her. Almost there.

The door. It stood in front of her, illumined briefly by another flash of lightning. She reached out her trembling hand and grasped the handle. With a gentle pull, she inched the door wider. A lone light bulb flickered on, chasing away the thick darkness inside.

And then she saw him. He was laying there naked, legs apart, vulnerable and so close. She raised the knife. This is what she had been waiting for. Thoughts of this moment had consumed her days and tormented her nights. Now, it was finally here.

She reached out slowly.

"Honey, it's the middle of the night. What are you doing?"

The voice from behind startled her and she whipped around. The knife slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor, barely missing her exposed toes. She had been caught.

"Um, making a turkey sandwich. Want one?"

So, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. LOTS of family, food and fun. We ate till we were sick...and then ate some more. I enjoyed a feast of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, veggies (obligatory half-spoon), yams/sweet-potatoes, buns, and an assortment of salads.

Yes, salad. Believe it or not, I love this salad. Mostly because it has eggs, cheese, bacon and a thick cream sauce in it. It's a layered lettuce salad and does contain some actual green things, but when combined with the eggs cheese and bacon, and then covered in a thick creamy mayo dressing, well, it's just plain yummy. And it's got substance.

I also realized this weekend that it is, indeed, possible to have too much pumpkin pie. I never would have believed it, but my stomach is still protesting the assault I carried out on it. Do I regret it? Not really. Sure there was a penalty to pay, but the pain goes away after awhile. The memories, however, will live on. *sigh* ;-)

And last, but certainly not least, we celebrated my son Benen's fourth birthday. He's not actually four yet, but we took advantage of the whole family being together to celebrate his and my brother's B-days. I'm hoping to get some pictures up this week.

I don't have a great thought or witty comment to leave you with. I wish I did, but zilch. So tell me about your Thanksgiving weekend or Thanksgiving plans. Oh, and if you're wondering about the story above.....yeah, just a little turkey leftovers fantasy. I have mentioned that crazy things go on inside my head, right?

The Coffee Stop

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

The Day Stuff Happened

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT!

The New Additions

Finally, Something to Blog

The Ultimate Reality Show

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to ER we go...

Update

UFC 94 - BJ Penn vs. Georges St-Pierre

A New Year

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days

Christmas Traditions

For What It's Worth

The Handsome Ring Bearer

A Little of This and a Little of That

Over His Head

Here Comes the Ring Bearer

If I Could...

Random, of course

A New Day

A Quick Funny

What I learned

Book Review & Giveaway and Guest Blogger - Amber Miller

I Told You

Disaster Control

Evolution, and why it's a load of crap

Making the Band

Random Thoughts

Another Year Gone

An Average Day With Benen

Friday Funny

A Mother's Dream Day

A Mother's Day Shopping Trip

Friday Book Recommendations

Untitled

The Weekend

Quick! The bucket...*blarf*

A Night At the Theatre

Excuse for Not Blogging

On the Road Again

The Big, The Bad and The Bloody

Blah, blah, blah...

Just Because

And the Winner Is ...

Music

Author Cheryl Wyatt & A Soldier's Family

Benen

Author Marianne Arkins & One Love For Liv

The Man Cold

Speechless

Questions

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT!!

Tag!

7 AM Theology

Oh, What a Night.

If It Doesn't Work...

Mind of a 4 Year Old

Happy Birthday!

Who's There?

And the Winner Is ...

Randomness

Author Cheryl Wyatt & A Soldier's Promise

For King Julian

I Hate This

The Strangest Thing

Big Moments

Pictures

Jeff Foxworthy

Crazy Conversations

Another Random Post

Post-Christmas

The Things We Do

Trees

Regret

Oh What a Glorious Feeling!

Random

A or B

The Holiday, Part 3

The Holiday, Part 2

Quick! The bucket...blarf