Thankful for.....

The children have been making a "Thankful Tree" this year. We made a huge tree on the wall and each day, they are adding leaves with "I'm thankful for...." written on them. They are enjoying it and I am reminded of the things that I am thankful for. There are many who have done the "1000 things to be thankful for", and while I haven't done that, I am so thankful everyday for what has been given to me, to my family and to those that I love. We are so blessed to live somewhere where our faith is free, our bellies are not empty, and we can choose an education if we want. Those are only the top of the barrel of thankfulness. I am thankful for a sweet husband who has a wonderful job. I am thankful that his work ethic is such that I am able to be home with our sweet Littles. I am thankful for parents who are still living. I am thankful for those who have "gone before me". I am thankful that those who come behind me will find that they were loved and wanted. I am thankful that I have Someone who cares about my every breath. I am thankful for each day that is given. And I am especially thankful right this moment for the two little boys sitting in my floor playing UNO - they are such a blessing to me.

A Word to the Wise

Never ever, and I mean NEVER EVER let your children share hats, helmets, brushes, bows, or anything else that might mean that you get a case of head lice! YE GADS! We discovered our "friends" about a week ago. It has been a week of endless lice searching. We have washed the sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters and towels EVERYDAY! We have vacuumed the car, the house and the mattresses. We have shampooed with every thing that there is to shampoo with and we comb our hair every night with the tiny little comb that gets out lice eggs. There will be at least 9 more days of this. I am not sure I EVER realized the complexity of head lice. I truly live in fear of seeing crawling little creatures in my own or my children's hair. Himself shaved the heads of the boys and I cut off about 5 inches of MG's hair.
Traumatizing is a good word for the last week.

a new post

I haven't actually written anything in a while. We are busy, but Himself would say that is what I always use as an excuse. I am just not feeling very "writey". There are so many things out there to write about....politics....religion....I generally feel inadequate when I write about either. How about this? There was a mother at our class today. She was nursing her daughter (6 months old). I am thrilled whenever I see anyone nursing out in the open. Here is my question. The mother had on a shirt with an elasticized neckline. Instead of nursing the baby "under" her shirt...not hiding...just at her waist, she had the neckline pulled down and had her entire breast exposed to nurse the baby. Ok...the question....would you not be bothered by all the 12 yr. old big brothers that were standing around waiting for their little sisters to be finished with ballet? I don't want to sound hypocritical. I am SO pr0-breastfeeding. I want everyone to do it. I, myself, am certainly not a "hider" when it comes to nursing. HOWEVER, it seems awfully odd to just pull out an entire breast from your shirt to nurse a baby. This was not a small woman.....understand?

In Honour of Labour Day!

How long were your labours?

Baby #1 - 32 hours and then a c-section!
Baby # 2 - no labour at all
Baby#3 - well, I spent about 24 hours in preterm labour and then a month later, about 2 hours and then a c-section
Baby #4 - no labour at all

How did you know you were in labor?

Baby #1 - I knew because I had every birth induction known to man
Baby #2 - I didn't have any labour
Baby #3 - um, well, I started having contractions with the pre-term labour, and then the morning of his fast delivery...contractions started and he was born about 2 hours later.
Baby #4 - no labour

Where did you deliver?

Three in Tennessee, one in Washington - at hospitals, although I would have preferred home

Drugs?

Well, if you call Delaudid, morphine, duramorph, etc. drugs, then yes.

C-section?

All four were c-sections. I still would like to have an unmedicated home birth, but.........

Who delivered?

Well, my absolutely wonderful midwife took me all the way through the first pregnancy and stayed with us even as her partner did my c-section.


Baby #2 - we had a midwife until two weeks before the birth when I decided I didn't like her, so we switched to a wonderful ob/gyn. She delivered and we were thrilled.


Babies 3 and 4 were delivered by our family practice guy here in town. We really liked him and I got a tummy tuck (smile) as a result of that last section!!!

One word meme

1. Where is your cell phone? bathroom
2. Your significant other? working
3. Your hair? tired
4. Your mother? busy
5. Your father? questionable
6. Your favorite thing? knowing
7. Your dream last night? weird
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? one
10. The room you’re in? bedroom
11. Your church? none
12. Your fear? alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
14. Where were you last night? party
15. What you’re not? patient
16. Muffins? cranberry orange
17. One of your wish list items? books
18. Where you grew up? here
19. The last thing you did? wash
20. What are you wearing? red
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? jumping
23. Your computer? old
24. Your life? full
25. Your mood? sad
26. Missing someone? much
27. Your car? dirty
28. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
29. Favorite store? archivers
30. Your summer? hot
31. Like(love) someone? forever
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. Last time you laughed? Melissa
34. Last time you cried? hormones
35. Who will re post this? me

A Rainy Tuesday

I like rain. Granted, enough of it and I start to get stir-crazy, but I like rain. Living in Seattle for two years was SO different from the South. But the GREEN was amazing. Everywhere that you would look, it was GREEN. And when you didn't see GREEN, you saw BLUE..as in water. There were lakes all around and also, the Puget Sound. Today, it is gray and cloudy and wet. The lights in the house are bright and a cup of tea sounds good. This ultimately is part of my Scots/Irish ancestry (I think)....this love of rain and tea and galoshes. I should go make a pan of shortbread and then I'll be happy! Well, until the shortbread burns and the children start fussing. :)
I am thankful for the rain. I am thankful for that smell in the air when the rain is coming or going. Ahhhh, rain.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I wish that it was quieter. Sometimes I wish that I had all the answers. Sometimes I wish that I knew. Sometimes I wish that my eyes saw differently. Sometimes I wish that it was changed. God knows. He knows that I like it quiet. He does have all the answers. He KNOWS. He sees. He will change everything in His time.
I offer Him my thanks.

A List for Tuesday

Two names I go by:

1. Teresa

2. Mama

Two things I’m wearing right now:

1. My 3 yr. old black croc flip-flops

2. a white t-shirt (what's new?)

Two of my favorite things today:

1. sleepy daughter

2. cold drinks/air conditioning

Two things I want at the moment:

1. a Starbucks coffee frapacino

2. a new pattern to sew

Two favorite pets I have had:

1. Chiquito, an orange and white tabby cat with a pink nose

2. Nina, a black, long haired cat with green eyes

Two things I did last night:

1. Went to sewing class and helped Laurabeth

2. Went to bed with Muireann

Two things I ate last night:

1. Chicken Tostados

2. Cake

Two people I last talked to:

1. Mark

2. Elisabeth

Two things I will do tomorrow:

1. go to the grocery

2. take care of children

Farthest trips I have taken in the last 5 years:

1. Michigan

2. Dallas

Two favorite holidays:

1. My birthday.

2. Christmas.

Two favorite beverages:

1. Anything fizzy

2. Back Street Burgers Frozen Lemonade

On God's Goodness.....

I am so amazed everyday that God is good to me. It shouldn't amaze me. He has been being good to me for 38 years. I am amazed that God is good to others, as well. I read a book on infertility today...specifically about endometriosis.... God has blessed at least two close friends with babies after LONG infertility. I have web friend who has lost two babes. She has just found out that she is pregnant. How amazing. How wonderful. Her heart is scared. She is worried that she might not carry this new one to term. Would you, dear friend, pray for her? Her name is Beka. God is good. He is good even when the little one that we are carrying is taken to be with Him. He is good when the child we (I) expected to be so wonderful has issues that can't be explained. I doubt and I worry. Yet, through it all, God is good to me.
God has promised to take care of me. He knows the suffering and pain. He knows that I carry scars and wounds. Some of the wounds are a long time healing. They have to be cleaned and washed and bandaged. That is painful. But He is Jehovah-Rapha - the GREAT HEALER. He will heal the wounds. He will touch the scars.
God is good to me.

List for today!

1. Any nicknames? Reese, Tees

2. Mother's name? Carolyn
3. Favorite Drink?- Melissa's Lemonade Iced Tea and sparkling grape juice (could we work that into communion somehow?)
4. Body Piercing?-Yes, ears
5. How much do you love your job?- Sometimes it is overwhelming!
6. Birthplace: -- Memphis, TN

7. Favorite vacation spot? Florida Panhandle
8. Ever been to Africa ?-- No
9. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? - Yes
10. Ever been on TV? Nope
11. Ever steal any traffic sign? - Is it stealing if it was laying on the ground?
12. Ever been in a car accident? -- Yes
13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? - 4
14. Favorite salad dressing? - Blue Cheese and the Hot Bacon from Houston's
15. Favorite meat? Steak
16. Children?-- 6

17. Flown in hot air balloon?-- No
18. Pay bills online? -- Yes
19. Been divorced? - no
20. Ever steal something out of a store?- No
21. Slept longer than 15 hours? -- No
22. Favorite toothpaste?- Arm and Hammer Original
23. Favorite smell? - anything chocolate, Mark's cologne, Reed - fresh from the sun
24. Work on the computer -yes
25. Scuba dive?-- no, but not opposed
26. Kiss on a first date?- No
27. Furthest place you will send this message?-Germany
28. Who will respond to this post the fastest?- who knows!
29. Ever jump out of an airplane? Not really that interested in dying!!!!!

Favorite Heirloom Sewing Things

What is your favorite sewing pattern? Anything by Wendy Schoen

What is your favorite fabric? Pima cottons and cotton knits ( I love organdy and organza as well)

Buttons or zippers? BUTTONS!!

What kind of sewing machine do you have? An Elna Funstyler

What is your favorite item that you have ever sewn? One of these : Libby's Dedication Dress, Pippa's Dedication Dress or Ruth's Wedding Quilt

Where do you sew? Well, my sewing machine is in the living room, but I will sew anywhere that I am sitting still...ballet, baseball practice, long sermons, etc.

When do you sew? I used to sew lots at night, but now, I sew mostly in the daytime. After 10 pm, I can't sew anything or I get REALLY frustrated.

Do you use the iron? I NEVER used to. Now, I get it out everytime I am putting something together.

What is your relationship with the seam ripper? I HATE IT!

What is your favorite sewing store? Probably Lace Cottage, but there is a place in Pensacola that I like as well.

What sewing books to you recommend? The A-Z series by Country Bumpkin.

What is your favorite sewing magazine? Creative Needle

Post Partum Depression

I have a friend whose blog talked today about PPD. I think it is so sad that so many women still struggle with PPD and don't even realize it. I have had it 4 times and that is just about the thing I dread most about having babies. I LOVE being pregnant. I love looking forward to holding that new wee one in my arms. I love that smell of clean diapers and baby skin. I DO NOT LOVE feeling so sad that I just want to disappear. When my last baby was born, I sat and read Psalms over and over and over. I just claimed a single chapter and begged God to take away the sadness. I felt so paralyzed and unable to DO anything.
I am thankful that My FATHER is able to see past the depression to my heart. He met the needs that I had. He provided my sweet husband to help me and hold me. He provided my doctor who prescribed medication that helped me get back on my feet. He provided friends and family who helped with the Littles and brought food.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

A List for Today

1. Where is your cell phone? in my purse

2. Where is your significant other? at work

3. Your hair? medium

4. Your mother? fixing to be 60!

5. Your father? has an infection in his leg

6. Your favorite thing? learning

7. Your dream last night? don't remember

8. Your dream/goal? owning an heirloom sewing shop

9. The room you're in? my bedroom

10. Your fear? that my children will not make wise choices

11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? somewhere cold

12. Where were you last night? at Bible study

13. What you're not? a good housekeeper

14. Muffins? cranberry orange

15. One of your wish list items? a Nordic cruise

16. Where you grew up? Memphis, TN

17. The last thing you did? ate lunch

18. What are you wearing? white t-shirt (what else?) and red linen pants

19. Your TV? never on

20. Your pet? 14 yr. old Nina...a black, VERY tempermental, long-haired cat

21. Your computer? always on

22 Your life? busy by choice

23. Your mood? quiet and simple

24. Missing someone? yes

25. Your car? Mazda MPV in need of a good cleaning

26. Something you're not wearing? a hat

27. Your summer? art camp, Camp Good News, the swimming pool

28. Your favorite color? hot pink

29. When is the last time you laughed? with my sister this morning

30. Last time you cried? yesterday

COMPUTERS!!!

Sometimes I just want to scream when I use computers. They have a mind of their own. I know, I know, it is the "user" not the computer. NOPE! This computer is completely stubborn and tempermental. I should be able to sit down and tell the computer what I want. The computer in turn should do as I ask. It is very simple. MY computer however, has a different agenda than me. It does as it pleases, whenever it pleases. ARGH! It reduces me to absolute rage when I sit down, ready to give commands to the computer only to have it......ARGUE!?!?!?!? with me. This is without a doubt my greatest irritation! Well, my greatest irritation at the moment.
On the weather front, it is very hot here in the South. How did the folks who lived 100 years ago do it? I am sure that my northern European ancestors would have quaked in their boots if they had lived in this heat. I think that fair-skinned folks like myself (obviously of Nordic descent, ummm....) were meant to live where the snow is deep and the summers are virtually non-existent.
One other observation for today. Girls DEFINITELY are born wanting to tell boys what to do. I know this because I watch Muireann everyday.

A snapshot

I am thinking...
about meeting my sister and her children in just a bit for a time of sharing with one another. the children will play and we will plan a birthday tea for our Mama.


Somewhere near me....there is a patch of green....Himself has to take the weed-eater to it because the space is too small for the lawnmower. the sky is marvelously blue with scattered clouds

I am thankful...
for my sweet husband who looks at me with loving eyes....he sees in me the beauty that I can't see myself. also, i am thankful for my sweet wee ones who are growing so quickly. and I am most of all thankful for my Father who forgives me for running from Him and waits and listens when I share with Him.

In the sewing room...
I have a reversible baby bubble....it is royal blue with red, yellow, green and white dots. It is lined with white pique. I need to add a button and crotch snaps. Also, there is an "Ashley" bubble (from Children's Corner)made of tan and white gingham. It needs buttons and crotch snaps. I have plans for another outfit forming in my head. And, I am working on a "Mary De" - navy and white gingham with smocking of the Wizard of Oz.

From the kitchen...
just thinking about dinner....cornbread salad sounds good...but what to have with it? tomorrow, I am making Shrimp Mediterranean for Bible study.....I need to get everything ready for that

I am wearing...
pajamas....apricot plaid capris with a blue cotton t-shirt...nothing special...need to go shower

I am reading...
Careless in Red by Elizabeth George. It is the latest book in her "Inspector Lynley" series. I am also always reading whatever I can get my hands on. I got a new "No Greater Joy" magazine. That was interesting. Also, I am reading lots to figure out what I am using to homeschool this fall.

I am hoping...
that I make really good use of this week....spending time with the children and with Himself...enjoying the small break

I am hearing...
my three littlest children talking about Pokemon cards. Muireann has just woken up and she has her sleepy voice on....Reed and Aiden have been up since 6...they have LOUD voices and talk over one another so that they can be heard...they are very melodramatic

One of my favorite things...
falling into bed too tired to think about things around me....feeling safe and loved and quiet.


Some plans for the week....
Bible study potluck, Ballet moms night out, date with Himself, swimming with the children, picking up Ren from camp

Fourth of July Aprons

I am making Fourth of July/Independence Day aprons for two dear people. One is our friend, Mrs. Parish. She always invites us over for an Independence Day celebration. She and Mr. Parish provide all the food and they have a in-ground pool. She doesn't ever want us to bring anything, so I thought that I would make her an apron to wear each year at the party. The other person is my sister-in-law, Julie. She has a birthday on July 5th. I thought she would enjoy a little apron as well.
I picked red quilting fabric for one side and navy with stars for the other side. I will do the topstitiching in gold thread. I will try to get Himself to post a picture of one when I am finished.
Himself and I have a date tonight. We are meeting friends for dinner. Our babysitter is in town for two days and so we are going out. It feels weird to go out on a weeknight. I always think that the following day is a Saturday or Sunday.

10 Questions for Today, Monday, June 30, 2008

1. What is your favorite word? scheherazade or chiaroscuro
2. What is your least favorite word? gangsta
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? seeing something made well
4. What turns you off? conflict, people who disrespect others
5. What is your favorite curse word? RATS!
6. What sound or noise do you love? The deep silence of snow
7. What sound or noise do you hate? My children fighting with one another
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Ballet or midwifery
9. What profession would you not like to do? Mechanic or landscaper
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Heaven CERTAINLY does exist and I want Him to say to me, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"

A Concern

God tells me that His grace is sufficient for me. This is what I must remember above all else. I get mired down sometimes by my circumstances and feel that there is no end. It is difficult when one that you love, one that you have birthed, one that you "feel" should be maturing, seems as crazy as a toddler. I was feeling sorry for myself as I read an article about a couple going on a cruise, leaving their children with the grandmother. I sometimes think that that will never happen. The only time I will ever get away is when the child is grown and living with someone else. Please don't misunderstand. I love this child. I asked for this child. God is teaching me. I am not sure what, but He is teaching me. I am growing through the difficulties with this child.
I feel guilty for feeling lighthearted when this child is not with me. I LOVE when he goes to camp. I have a whole week of calm. Yet, I am nervous. I am worried that any minute I will get a call from the camp. "Mama, I am in trouble. You will have to come pick me up."
The fact is that I needn't borrow trouble. God knows. He watches this child. He watches me. He knows my thoughts and my concerns. I must just lean on Him. I must pray for this child. I must give him to God and let God calm my fears and my worries.
His grace is sufficient for me.

Aiden's Words

"I want to take gymNapstics, Mama."

"I want to marry Kenzie, but only when I am a DAD." (Dad and Mom is what my children call Husband and Wife)

List of Things I Secretly Wish Were True

1. I secretly wish I was from Scotland! Yes, the land of mists and rain. Scotland.
2. I secretly wish I was named Claire Elisabeth.
3. I secretly wish I had blue eyes.
4. I secretly wish I could really love opera - you know, crying like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman".
5. I secretly wish I could have been a member of "Truth".
6. I secretly wish I could have breastfed all my children for at least two years.
7. I secretly wish I could have homebirthed all of my children.
8. I secretly wish I could time travel back to the 1700's, BUT only as a very wealthy woman.
9. I secretly am amazed that people really do think that ABORTION is ok for any reason.
10. I secretly wish that I could heirloom sew whenever I wanted and that money was no issue.
11. I secretly wish that Diana Gabaldon could keep writing the Outlander series forever.
12. I very unsecretly love HIMSELF - he is SOOOO dreamy.

Summer is here!

Last week was Art Camp at church. We were SO busy. This week we have....nothing! The rest of the summer is filled with, well, summer. We are meeting friends at the sprinkler park this morning. I need to go to the grocery this afternoon. I am having the children do one school book a day. Ren will probably do more. He really needs the challenge of working on more stuff each day.
I am starting the weight watchers core plan today. I am accepting the challenge myself of taking a risk and doing something that is good for me. I am worried about diabetes and high blood pressure. I am worried that I am going to fail and not go forward. I am worried that I will give up. I SO want to do this and do it right.
We tried a new church yesterday. Unfortunately, we got there at 10 'til 11 and the service had started at 10! So, I guess we will try again next Sunday.
On a sewing note, I HAVE to get the babies birthday outfits done. I thought I had the right pattern, but I have to get it from Pattie instead. I will see her tonight at sewing class.

Summer is Here!

Well, not technically, but according to the thermometer it is! We finished baseball season. The team party is tonight at one of the player's homes. The MHEA Eagles won the World Series they played in last weekend. It was so exciting. They won the first game. They won the second game. They won the third game. All that was left was the final game...they did it! They beat the other team. They are the champions! WAAAAHOOOO!!

We spent yesterday at the pool. It is obvious based on the tomato redness of our skins! Reed, Ren and I got burned. We used sunscreen..except for Reed. We burned anyway. Nothing like that Scotch/Irish heritage coming out. Fortunately for Reed, his Indian heritage will turn his burn into a beautiful tan. Ren and I are just not so lucky. We will have more freckles.

The weekend with Himself's brothers went well. A few hitches here and there, but overall a good time for all. Everyone even survived a walk around Shelby Farms during a horrid thunderstorm.

Another Weekend

I was so sad to hear of the death of Maria Sue Chapman. I went to the website to find out information and was so moved by her story. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. I know that my children are not my own...they belong to the Father; being without one of them would just be devastating.
Another friend of mine who lives in Kentucky is suffering right now as well. Her son was hit last night by a drunk driver. He is alive but has a fractured spine. Life is so precious and so short. I need to remember that as I deal with my littles each day. It is so easy to get upset and feel irritable with everyone. I need to use more kindness and gentleness with them. I need to pray that for myself.
Himself is happy today...his brothers and their families are arriving this evening to spend the long weekend with us. I am so excited that he is excited. We should have a great time. Ren is in a baseball tournament at Bellevue. We will be spending some of our time there watching him. I hope that this season turns out to be beneficial to him. It is hard to know sometimes whether or not it is.

The Weekend

This morning we made it to one place on my list of four! But, I got the things I needed and found the fabric to recover my kitchen chairs. Best of all, the upholstery fabric was half off! I am excited about recovering the chairs. The hardest part so far has been removing the old fabric. The company really stapled the fabric on well.
Tonight, Aiden has his final soccer game and then we are off to Mississippi for Ren's tournament. He is excited. I hope the game doesn't go too late. The little boys are both very tired today from last night's softball game. We didn't get home until almost 10.
I did a computer recipe exchange today. I hope I get some recipes. I always send recipes out; I am not sure that I have ever received any. I sent my Key Lime Torte recipe. It is always a great summer recipe because you serve it cold.
Some friends from our old church are moving to St. Louis today. He is a dr. and she is a pharmacist. They have one son. They are pretty excited about being closer to family. They sold their house very quickly considering the housing market right now. We are going to miss them. Reed really enjoyed Mr. Caleb and I know that he will miss him.

Trying to Keep My Head Together

Nobody every said that every day has to be great, right? The last few days have really been a trial of my patience. Ren has really been having a hard time and I just feel at such a loss. These are days when I feel like I should retire my place as Mother and go hire someone to do a better job. I know that everyday is not going to be a picnic. It seems I am preaching that to the children all the time. I think that my hormones get out of whack and I don't get enough sleep and then I am just a bear. I am even a bear to Himself. I would really like to climb in a closet and shut the door and stay there for awhile.
Whew. Okay, you know........I am not so bad off. I was reading about the Chinese families that have lost their children. The children that are 1 per family. The children who are to look after them when they are old. The children who they have hung all their hopes on and now they have nothing. I should be praying for these mothers and fathers and praying that God's light will shine even through this horrible disaster. I will be praying. I get so selfish sometimes (often) and I need to be focusing on others instead of me.
Our softball game is still on for this evening as far as I can tell. We usually eat at the field and the children run and play and have a great time. Tomorrow starts Ren's baseball tournament for the weekend. We will be in Mississippi. We will need to find things to do while we are waiting for the different game times.
Next weekend, Himself's brothers come to visit. Ren has another tournament. I am hoping that Deda and Bubba can help with a couple of the games. Otherwise, we will be spending lots of time with all of us at the games. The good news is that the games are very close to where we live.
I saw an interesting billboard...it said, "Perseverance - if you are going through HELL, Don't STOP!"
That is what I need to remember!

The Thirteeth of May

Is that the same as the Twelfth of Never? We have had a busy few days. Our ballet recital was last Friday night. All the children were in Swan Lake. Ren was Prince Seigfried, Muireann was in a black swan and a white swan, Reed was a prince and so did Aiden. It was a delightful performance. Last night, Ren and Muireann had their piano recital. Ren played "Rockin' Robin" and Muireann played "Little Spring Song". It is so fun to see how all their hard work pays off.
Himself was so sweet to me on Mother's Day. We went to church and then out to lunch. We had a wonderful walk at Shelby Farms. It was fun to just relax and hang out together.
I am working on new curtains for the living room. So, far, things haven't gone so well. I bought the wrong size tension rods and the wrong color finials. Then I messed up the screws that were going into the wood. I am not through with the new curtains, and so last night I had to pin up sheets so that no one could see in. Hopefully I will be through with them before Ren's game tonight.
I want to post some pictures, but I am not sure how to do that. I will try to figure it out.

Did you ever wonder.........?

Did you ever wonder if people plan for church to be boring? Church is a place to worship and adore Christ. It is not necessarily a place of gloom and boredom. We visited a church this morning. It was recommended...not just a place we randomly picked. I had high hopes. Instead, it seemed to be "dumbed down". I want church to be where I can learn and sing and worship and serve. This place just wasn't for us. I am not sure where we will go next week.
Mark and I are busy doing spring cleaning. He spent some time last night working on his side of the closet. I have been working on throwing out 30 things a day. That can be time consuming or not - it just depends on what you are getting rid of. I told Mark the other day that we couldn't buy anything else at our favorite thrift store until we gave some things to our favorite thrift store. We really do have way too much "stuff" in our house.
Mark's family is coming for Memorial Day Weekend. I want to have new curtains in the living room to replace the ugly old burnt orange roman shades. I think the shades have been here as long as the house. I am also deep cleaning bathrooms and bedrooms. It would be great to have a new mattress in the little boys' room, but I can't justify that for a weekend. Maybe Mark and I will sleep in there and let his brothers have the other bedrooms. There will be at least ten of us here. It will be crazy, but fun.
This afternoon, we are going to softball practice. The children love to go and help and also play at the playground. I am going to run to Mom's and pick up a few things. I also have to run get a present for Laurabeth. We are going to dinner tonight for her birthday. That will be fun.
This week starts a crazy week...we are getting ready for Swan Lake on Friday night and we are preparing for piano recitals next week. After that, life is going to be dull! All that running around and when it is done, we will have nothing to do....well, not really, but it will seem that way.

Teresa

Sunshine!

Good morning! We had LOTS of rain yesterday. It stormed like crazy. As a result, all of the weekend tournament for R has been canceled. He is disappointed, but the good news is that we get to go to the canoe race down on Old Muddy!! M and his best friend, J are participating in the race for the second year in a row. It was great fun last year.
MG and I went last night to see Baby Isaac in the hospital. He and his parents are doing well. As I told MG, it is such a wonderful thing to hold something so brand new to the world. It really makes me want to have another baby. I just don't know if that will ever happen. Isaac was so precious and so tiny. It seems as though this is something that I just have to wait upon - this wanting a baby. We have tried and nothing has happened. I know that it can happen, but perhaps God is waiting for my heart to be right. Perhaps, the timing is just wrong. God does know why, of that I am sure. I just have to depend on Him and listen to His voice and then He will answer when He is ready.
We are in the search for a place to worship. We have left the place where we had been. It is an interesting thing....looking for a new place to worship. It is hard to be new....not my favorite thing. I like belonging to a place without having to feel like I am being interviewed all the time...you know....like always wearing my best clothes and saying the right things. I want a place to worship and know God better. I also want to belong. I want to be on the giving end and not on the receiving end. Does that make sense?
We are waiting to see the dr. again about R. I really want to find out what is truly wrong. There are days when I just feel like giving in. He is such a difficult child. Without the medicine, he is difficult. With the medicine, he is difficult, just in a different way. The family dynamic is so odd. Some of us seem to tiptoe around him - never knowing what will happen next. The hard part is that he just doesn't seem to get it.
I hope that today goes well and that the race turns out well.

Teresa