Happy New Year

I forgot to mention a couple things about reading the newspaper on Christmas morning. First, above the paper's title banner, it said Merry Christmas. No worries about PCness there. Next, the day's editorial was the story of Jesus' birth directly from the gospel of Luke. No commentary, just the story, straight from God's Word. And finally, a full page ad depicting a manger with a shadow of a cross over it ~ in large, beautiful letters it read The WAY in the Manger. Beneath that a Scripture verse was included, and beneath that, information on who to call if you'd like to know Christ as your Savior or receive a Bible. Finally, in teeny tiny print at the bottom of the page, it said who paid for the ad: Hobby Lobby, a local Michael's-like craft store that I've noticed plays Christian music over the speakers. Cool, huh?

~~~~~
Hard to believe 2007 is over. What a life-changing year it has been. We've been stretched and blessed. I'm excited to start 2008. I'm excited to get out my new calendars and to revisit my list of goals ~ rejoicing in what's been accomplished and renewing a commitment to those things that didn't make the "done" column, as well as adding a few more goals for the year along the way. I have some ideas and things floating around in this head of mine. I'm excited. I need to get some new pens first, though. :)

~~~~~
We've had a few sickie days here lately. Chris got it first, up all night Friday night sick, and then Deb was sick all Saturday night and Sunday. Hopefully it'll stop there. I'm fighting yet another cold, but these guys have had some kind of stomach bug. Pop is doing well here. He isn't too thrilled with the cold but I think he's doing all right. After all, it's not cold in the house, and he's been wearing his new lined pants.

Grace is learning new tricks. She closes her eyes, waves her arms in front of her, and yells, "I'm blind! I'm blind!" And she has a zebra she rides, but riding it hasn't been enough for her. She stands on the saddle now, and stretches one leg out behind her while holding on to the handlebar... or, if in the mood, she'll stand up on the seat and try to let go with both hands. She's only fallen once, and after a kiss and a hug, she got right back on. :: sigh :: She wears me out. :)

~~~~~
Prayer Needs:

• W's job situation
• Safe travel - Mom, Deb, and Pop are planning to leave Wednesday
• No one else to get sick

Snow Day

Well, I sat down to blog but I hear Gracie waking up on the other side of the wall. We'll see how far she lets me get this morning.

It's snowing. From the looks of it, it snowed all night, too, and it's supposed to snow all day today. We were going to gather everyone up for Grace's well-baby visit so that we could have lunch with Ro afterward, but I don't know; we may re-schedule it.

We did get snow on Christmas ~ our first Christmas in Colorado and a white one at that. :) It snowed most of the day, tiny powdery-like flakes.
Hard to tell what kind of flakes they are this morning. It's still dark outside. ;)

And I'm tired. I stayed up late finishing a novel, a pretty good Christian mystery book by Lorena McCourtney, Whirlpool. I'm eager to start reading a Christmas detective anthology Ro got me today.

Yesterday was one of those days where everything just feels right. Pop scooting around, and getting me to update his checkbook and help him pay a few bills. Mom, Deb, and I hitting a couple of (surprisingly uncrowded) stores with Chris. Enjoying our gifts from Christmas, playing games, eating leftovers, relaxing, enjoying being together with family. The only downer is that Ro had to work.

~~~~~
Christmas was everything we'd hoped it to be. The kids were spoiled of course and it is such a delight to watch them open their gifts and see all their joy and surprise as they unwrapped each gift. As predicted, Grace had a fit coming down the stairs to see her new baby waiting in her stroller for her: "Baby! Baby! Baby!" Mom surprised Deb and I with some afghans that had been crocheted by our great grandma ~ that was an emotional moment. I think even Pop was surprised to receive two pairs of flannel-lined pants and a doormat!

But what made it great, of course, was just having everyone together. It was wonderful.

We went to church on Christmas Eve together ~ even Deb. :) It was cold outside, but it was good and right and blessed me tremendously. The message was interesting ~ we always hear the traditional Christmas story with oohs and ahhs at the wonder of a newborn baby, which is good! But the pastor reminded us about the scandal and how intense of a time it really was. Intense, beautiful, necessary ~ Immanuel, God with Us, Jesus, our Savior. An unwed teen, miraculously pure. A genealogy marked with some questionable characters. Truly, as the song goes, what a strange way to save the world.

~~~~~
Well, the sun has come up. Not that I can see it, but it's light outside. :) It's snowing pretty hard. The kids are all up, and Mom. I guess I'd better get started on the day. I'm excited to have the better part of a week together with my peeps, still. Yes, I know I'm pretty old to be using a term like my peeps. :)

Time's Fun When You're Having Flies

Where does the time go?

The house has been full of people for over a week now. I love it. I love all the activity on all the different levels of the house.

M & N have already come and gone. We had such a good time with them. It's only a bummer their time here was so short, and that Ro had to work all week. Still we got to visit with them and hang out. I think they had a good time. They are really two amazing guys. I'm so thankful that we can count them as friends.

Now they've left but there's still a lot of us here ~ our 5, Mom, Pop, Deb, and Glenda. Pop has been cooking for us every day. I feel bad, having my 87yo granddad cook for a houseful of folk, but he really enjoys it. I guess it gives him some purpose, and man, he's so good at it. We've had potato soup, stew, meatloaf, coconut cake. I told him that, no offense, I think he cooks better up here in CO. I don't know if it's the altitude or (more likely) that I just haven't eaten his cooking in 4 1/2 months, but I'm loving every bite.

I would love for him to move this way. I know Mom wants to live closer to the kids. But it will take a LOT to convince Pop to move. He started talking about all it would involve, and I just looked at him and said, "Pop, the hardest part is getting you to change your mind and come." Sure it would be a big job, a lot of changes. He's lived in that particular house I believe since 1959. But it would so be worth it to have him near us.

I was thinking the other day about how much I love living here. Some people have questioned whether it was right to leave our family in doing so. I mean, there are pros and cons to moving, but family weighs in heavily. That was the hardest part, of course. But each day I drive around town I am thankful. It's not just about being in a beautiful place. It's about not seeing ANY graffiti. No gang-bangers. No fences around the schools. No empty garage when we mistakenly left our garage open the other night.

Sure bad things happen here. I'm sure you've all heard about the devastating shooting two weeks ago by a very disturbed young man. Bad things happen everywhere. Sin is universal. After all, the Columbine shooting occurred about an hour from where we live. However, on a general, day-to-day basis, there is so much less crime here.

Here's another amusing thing, to me... Ro's co-worker has commented on how crazy the stores have been with the Christmas shopping. Really? Because they don't look any busier than our regular stores used to be on a Saturday. I love being in a smaller town.

Anyway, I didn't mean to ramble. I'm just thankful that we're here, that God opened up the doors for us to be here, and led us to this place. I'm praying that mountains will be moved and those we love will come and join us out here, and I'm thankful that those who won't or can't we are able to visit with every other month or so.

~~~~~
We'd gotten a little bit done around here before our peeps all arrived. Ro installed a vanity in the basement bathroom and I spruced it up with a shower curtain, towels, goodies, etc., - and of course a good cleaning. Picked up a futon. It's cooler down there in the basement but with the space heaters I think it's all right for them. Yesterday we finally got a satellite receiver worked out so there's a 2nd TV now (Mom brought her ancient one from CA for us).

We've been busy around here shopping, cooking, playing games, and just enjoying being together. I'm finished shopping ~ we finished up Grace earlier in the week ~ except for an order I'm waiting on. I think we finished up Pop yesterday. I think we're ready for Christmas.

I have to admit I am really, really excited. The kids think they're only getting one inexpensive gift apiece ~ so their minds are going to blow when they see what's under the tree. And G... she's at the perfect age, you know... I can't wait. Just taking her to Toys R Us to finish her shopping was a blast. We basically put her down and let her go to see what items caught her eye and attention. She is going to be so excited, I know it. I can't wait.

~~~~~
Because I tend to be (too) curious about celebs and their personal lives, I picked up Rosie O'Donnell's Celebrity Detox from the library last week. I used to be a big Ro fan ~ back in the day she had her own show I don't think I missed very many episodes. She epitomized, to me, generosity. Here was a woman who had money to give, and she gave it. A lot. That part of her is unchanged, and I do still respect that about her. She even mentioned in the book that if other celebs like her would give away half their net-worth, it wouldn't even change their lives in the slightest, and yet it could save millions of other lives.

However... in the years that Ro went off the air and then came back last year on The View... wow. When I heard she was coming back to TV I was actually looking forward to it. But in those years that she'd been off... it sure seems to me that she has gotten lefter and lefter and louder and louder.

And so the book, though not loud but quiet and introspective, was just... ugh. I didn't enjoy reading it as I thought, though it did fill out some of those details that I'm too curious about in terms of what happened with her and the staff of The View and her war with The Donald. I'm glad it was a short read, and I'm glad I didn't spend money on the book.

This book review brought to you by... LOL

~~~~~
I wish you could see G with Deb. It's like Deb is her best friend, and man, Deb is awesome with her. From giving her baths to letting her walk like a big girl through the stores (teaching her to say, "I'm free!") to facilitating what she calls "atomic drops"... G just has the best time with her Aunt Deb.

She loves having them all here, though, my Miss G. She says "Hi, Pop" and she's finally said grandma a few times. After the first time we got so excited I think we scared her. LOL

Good times...

Kiss and Tell

Ro thought I should share this story. I don't know if translates well to print, but I'll try.

The other night before J's concert, Ro was to meet me at Hallmark, so I could go in and get a card without bringing all of the Wiggly ones inside with me. I pulled into the space in front of the store in a small stripmall. Through the windshield I could see the Hallmark store, a market on the left, and directly to the right a wine and beer store. Ro hadn't yet arrived.

So the kids were in the backseat and I did what I often do. I adjusted the rear view mirror to the night position where I could see the baby behind me. We made eye contact in the mirror, and I waved, and then I blew her a kiss. Just as I sent the kiss through the air, my eyes looked beyond the rearview mirror, where I saw two guys coming out of the liquor store, staring at me curiously.

Quite embarrassing, you know, to be caught waving and blowing kisses at complete strangers while waiting for my husband to arrive...

~~~~~
The other day I told G that Grandma would be here very soon. She narrowed her eyes, looked from side to side, and said, "Where?"

Later I told her I'd give her five bucks if she'd say "Grandma." She just looked at me and said, "OK."

~~~~~
Prayer Needs:

• M and N flying to CO today; D, P, and M driving. G flying to CO on Wednesday.

J on Snow

When I woke up on Saturday morning and saw the snow I freaked out. Evil, tiny crystal clear aliens! I thought. Oh, how I hated snow! Nothing could stop it. Why bother?

(Some writing of J's I came across today as I straightened up)

Battling the Kitten

J's homework assignment was to fill in the blank with the correct word from the vocabulary list. He wrote:

The veterinarian used both hands as he battled the kitten.

Makes me laugh out loud every time I think of it. I think the kid spends too much time in video games and Pokemon scenarios, eh? :)

~~~~~
Got my cards in the mail. Most of the shopping is done. Almost ready for Christmas. Now I'm just working on getting ready for guests. We got a futon for the basement (the guys are still going to have to use sleeping bags) and I did a lot of cleaning down there. Hoping this weekend to get a vanity in there and purchase some other bathroom necessities (shower curtain, etc.) so it'll be functional for those who stay down there. And then there's the rest of the house to clean... :P

~~~~~
C participated in her first band concert Tuesday night. She did great. We videotaped it and I'd hoped to upload it here but when we saved it it came out all choppy. Ro's just going to have to spend some time trying to figure that stuff out. But anyway, the concert was great, although quite short! Seven songs at about twenty seconds each... :) She had a great time, though, and they sounded great together as well.

And last night was J's concert (choral). They did a good job as well and really had some cute songs. They played their recorders for one of the songs, so that was pretty neat.

At C's concert, G was perfect (probably because it was quite a bit shorter). She clapped in the right spots, and was generally quiet and well-behaved. At J's concert... um... not so much. At one point after the applause finished she exclaimed loudly, "Thank you!" At another moment between songs, fairly quiet around us, she started chanting, "Stinky! Stinky! Stinky!" And later, "Stinky! Stinky! Lunch! Stinky!" At least we sat in the back I guess. ;)

~~~~~
Several prayer needs today, please:

• W is taking a test for a new job.
• C lost her grandmother on Tuesday.
• C's health - liver.
• K's pregnancy. M's pregnancy.
• New pregnancy! Our friend T is just 5 weeks along.
• J needs a job.
• Safe travel for our friends and family next week (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

How can it be Tuesday already? I'm sorry I haven't posted, and no, this time I wasn't sick. Just crazy busy. We had a wonderful weekend and then yesterday I had to catch up on some shopping and errands and the day just got ahead of me.

This is a lot of snow for a California native. :) I just measured my back stoop and it looks like it's right at seven inches. In four months I've seen a lot more snow than I did probably in the last 15 years or so at home, and that counts trips to Big Bear. :)

It is absolutely beautiful, though. It's funny because I'd seen pictures like this, but growing up in the desert it didn't really mean much. But this... this is beautiful.

And, I'm learning to drive in it. I thought this little snowfall over the past week was about done, but no, we woke up this morning to quite a bit more and it was still coming down. I drove J to school and then I had to go by the bank (I'm thankful for drive-up ATMs) and Wal-Mart. I go slow, but I think I'm doing pretty good, for someone with very, very little snow-driving experience. :)

But don't you worry, you Cali's who are headed here next week... It's supposed to warm up into the 40s. ;) (I have to tell you, though. Yesterday morning I went out and it was around 18*, pretty chilly. When I went out in the afternoon and it was 35*, it honestly felt positively warm! LOL)

The kids took their little snow discs over to the commons on Saturday and did some mild sledding. They had a blast, although J *hates* to be cold and wet. We're slow learners, you know? We set out after that to find some snow boots for them but their sizes were sold out at WM, Target, and Payless. We'll just have to keep our eyes open I guess. We did manage to get them some thermal underwear. :)

J can't understand why the schools aren't closed. :) They'd be closed for a week if this were in Palmdale. But here... they just deal with it. We sure are learning a lot here!

~~~~~
On Friday C had her first sleepover here. :) The girls had a good time, although J felt excluded (naturally) and that made it kind of a challenge. On Saturday J slept over at his friend's house. Other than that and some shopping, we just hung out as a family this weekend. We played Monopoly. Any guesses who kicked our butts (as usual)?

Yep.

~~~~~
G turned 18 months old this weekend. She is just growing up so fast. I tried to make a list of all the words she can say but I gave up. She learns more every day and I just can't get it all. Yesterday when I got her out of her crib, instead of just saying hello like normal, she said, "Hi, how ya doin'?"

She's also started saying "geese" and "honk" (maybe because every time I see them I say, "Honk if you love geese!"). Man, I love to watch them. They are amazing, beautiful birds.

But back to the kids. G is back to greeting everyone she sees, which really makes shopping fun. At least people are friendlier here; everyone responds so enthusiastically to her, which of course, encourages her to continue.

C has her first band concert tonight and J's winter performance is tomorrow night. We're really looking forward to both of them. C made crepes in her cooking class yesterday and had a ball. And all three of them got together to perform for you, too. Here you go, if you haven't seen it already: Merry Christmas!

~~~~~
Got a lot to do around here. I've finished most of the shopping, except for Grace, one or two stragglers, and stocking stuffers. I've also done the shopping for others, too. :P Got my cards today and I need to get them out today or tomorrow. But the biggest thing is that I've got more houseguests coming next week. They're coming in waves: 2 on Monday, 3 on Tuesday, 1 on Wednesday. :) Fun, fun! But the to-do list is unending!

And days like today... man... I really have to fight the temptation to climb back into bed or a hot bath with a good book.

Oh, it IS Friday! Yay!

You know that song... Six o'clock already, I was just in the middle of a dream...? That's how it was for me this morning, when C burst into our room and exclaimed, "Mom, Dad! It snowed!"

See, we from sunny southern CA... we get excited over a little snow. :) Out the window it looked like we got maybe an inch or so, and it was still coming down lightly.

I took J to school awhile later and I just had to marvel at the beauty. The trees... they are just breathtakingly beautiful to me. The first snow we had -> melted before we left for church. The last snow we had, a couple of weeks ago -> I was sick as a dog and couldn't enjoy it. So today was the first snow we had where I was able to see more of it than out my windows, and man, it's so gorgeous.

From balmy to snowy in a handful of days.

What I like, with the snow and living here, is that this community is snow-ready. The streets were clear, most of the drivers know what they're doing. I didn't have any problems taking J to school, and although it took him a little longer, Ro didn't have any troubles getting to work either, and he took the Sentra.

So today feels like a stay-in-your-pajamas-read-a-good-book-and-drink-hot-chocolate kind of day. Pajamas - well, I don't really have them, but no, I haven't gotten dressed, so maybe that counts. Read a good book - well, I've got a lot to get done around here with Christmas coming, so maybe later. And hot chocolate - I cannot make good hot chocolate at home. This frustrates me, actually, because I *love* hot chocolate, but nothing I do at home comes out like what I can get in any restaurant. Maybe someone out there could tell me how.

Still, I think it's a stay-at-home day, at least for now. I still have more shopping to do, but after the past three days, I'm resigned to the fact that doing it with G is just... hmmm... not fun. She's all right for about one store, but usually by the second or third, she is absolutely done.

(I usually bring a bag of Goldfish or something to snack on to distract her in the stores. Did I tell you the other day that I didn't even notice for quite awhile that she was sticking them down the bottom holes in the shopping cart? When I finally caught her I was horrified to find a trail of fishies and smashed cheese cubes behind us all through the store.)

So... as for shopping... I guess I need to either get up early, before Ro goes to work, or wait until he gets home. I really only have a couple of other things anyway that have to be purchased really soon. The rest can wait until my troops arrive in a couple more weeks. :)

~~~~~
I was re-reading some of my blogs today as I'm in the process of backing some things up on the computer. Anyway, I wanted to give you an update on C and her friend situation. I'm happy to report that although C's friend (the one who is constantly breaking up and hooking up with a boyfriend) has not moved away, the girls have kind of drifted apart. Instead, C has made a friend through her Christian club, and they seem to be hitting it off rather well. This girl, A, has been real sweet and I think it's a better fit for C, for sure. :)

~~~~~
Sometimes, when I put G down for a nap, she cries in protest. Actually, I'd say most of the time, but the crying is over by the time I've walked across the room, shut the door, and sat down at the computer around the corner. Sometimes, though, like today, she is so tired that she's ready to go down. I put her in bed, covered her with her special blanket, and she waved to me and said, "Bye!" :)

And speaking of Miss G... she's telling me she's stinky, and from the smell of things, she's right. Time to go...

I'm Not a Poet, and I Know It

My kids (the older two) fight a lot. I've been praying the last couple of days for them to learn how to show each other love. I know they'll still fight here and there but I want them to appreciate each other and value each other anyway. I know, maybe I've got my head in the stars, but that's my desire.

Anyway, yesterday we worked together to craft a couple of small Christmas gifts. Then the kids decorated the tree. And then they decorated it again.

Ever watch America's Funniest Home Videos and laugh at the people whose Christmas trees fall over? I did, too. But darn if it didn't happen to us yesterday. We had just finished decorating it when it toppled over and I couldn't get it to stand back up again. :( We had to wait until Ro got home. He got it upright again but the fall basically screwed up all the lights, so the kids had to un-decorate the tree after dinner, wait for him to re-string lights, and then re-decorate the tree.

Twice the fun? Hmph.

But the kids got along great for the most part. There was a tense moment or two during the crafting but other than that they worked together to decorate the tree and set up the nativity set. It was really, really cool. Later when C wasn't feeling well, J even rubbed her back, and (hard to believe this one), C told him she loves him. :: sigh :: Cool kids. Answered prayer.

~~~~~

So I took a hot bath last night and read a Flannery O'Connor short story ("A Good Man is Hard to Find") and then flipped through the anthology and read some of the poetry I'd studied once, eons ago. It definitely isn't my thing, this abstract poetry, but in the spirit of what I read I thought I'd try to write my own verse about how last night went after the decorating was done:

quiet, the house is quiet, and quiet then, we watch tv

heavy, my lids are heavy, and heavy then, i must sleep

busy, my mind is busy, thinking, listing, remembering, and

finally, dozing

waking, hearing her call for us, up to help and comfort

back to bed, warm and comforting

waking, hearing her call, up to help and comfort

back to bed, warm and comforting

waking, hearing her call, up to help and comfort

back to bed, warm and comforting

finally, a reprieve

but busy, my mind is busy, and i cannot sleep

until finally, dozing

and then

waking, hearing the other call for us, up to help and comfort

back to bed, with her between us

restless, sleepless

and then, the dawn

Yeah, pretty bad, I know... but that's what you get when you try to write literary-inspired poetry after only a few hours of fitful sleep. Hmmm... maybe that explains some of what was included in that anthology, too. ;)

On Balmy, Screaming, and Books

Beautiful, balmy day in northern Colorado today. Balmy. That's how Ro described it, and then a few hours later that's how a store clerk described it. I don't know if that's how I would've described it, but I'd be outnumbered anyway.

~~~~~
G baby-talks in her sleep.

We didn't get much sleep last night. G couldn't get settled and ended up in bed with us. I didn't have enough room (not that the bed isn't big enough but who would want to disturb the sleeping princess to move her over?), she moves a lot, cries out here and there, and it was generally an unrestful evening. I really didn't want her to sleep with us, but in the end I figured she's only this age once, and she's definitely our last baby, so... what the heck, right?

But anyway, every once in awhile she would talk, that nonsense babble that only she understands. Sound asleep, baby babble. That part was adorable.

G's latest thing... she screams. Every so often, for no apparent reason, she will let out this high-pitched scream, the type that you hear in a horror movie. Fairly short, incredibly irritating. I think she's just discovered she can do it, so she does it often.

I got some Christmas shopping done today. I have tons more to do, but it sure felt good to be back in the land of the living and out and about. After G's nap (which wasn't nearly as long as I felt it should have been!), we went to a Christian bookstore, then over to Big Lots, and then finally to Hobby Lobby. G was pretty well-behaved in the first two stores. When we got to Hobby Lobby, though, I got halfway down the first aisle and she began to climb out of the cart. I calmly put her back in the cart, went a little farther, and then

The screams began. One loud, shrill, sharp scream about every other aisle.

Quite embarrassing, to say the least.

But there's something about it being your third child I guess. If it were C or even J, I would have promptly left the store. But you know what I did? I stayed calm. I ignored it. I ignored the stares. I finished my shopping, and then I left.

~~~~~
Finished a really good novel yesterday, The Killing Hour by Lisa Gardner. Recently read Vanish by Tess Gerritsen (very disappointing) but the Gardner novel blew that away. It was suspenseful, well-written, and I think the only thing I didn't really like about it was the title. Buyer beware: some bad language and some creepy scenes. If that doesn't bother you, I'd highly recommend it.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Making up for the month or so we were in transit and the month or so before that when we were preparing for transit and I couldn't read much for pleasure. Now it seems like I just can't get enough. Of course as I was sick a lot of the way I spent my time was reading and watching TV. The downside is I haven't been crocheting, scrapbooking, or unpacking. Oh well... they'll still be there when I come back to it. :)

On a somewhat related note, if you do a lot of reading and/or have a lot of books crowding your shelves, you might want to consider this bookswap site. I've always been a book hoarder and hated to part with books, even books I hate. But the more books I unpack the more I realize I have a lot that I'll honestly never read again. There are still many of course I won't part with, books that have meaning or are from college or that I might want the kids to read someday, but I'm finding more and more each day that I don't mind giving up. Anyway... all that to say... if you've got books to get rid of, and would like the chance to get a couple of books yourself (all basically free), check out the site. And if you do join (free), I'd appreciate you saying I sent ya. My user name is Queen B. :)

Now then... time for a story before bed. G'nite.

Nun Better...

Well, I think I've just about got this bug kicked. 'Bout time. I still have a minor residual cough, but I've been Hycodan-free for two whole nights now! ;)

Looks like J is well enough to return to school as well. We got his costume yesterday for his book talk he has to give tomorrow. We listened to him run through his speech - pretty impressive, even if I am a little biased. It can't be more than three minutes, and he's had to trim and trim again; it started out seven minutes long!

~~~~~
We went to a new church today, and I feel so blessed! We walked in, got the kids situated in their various destinations, and had a great, great first impression. And as Ro and I walked to the service, I thought to myself, I sure hope I'm not disappointed again. Each time we try a new church, we have such positive expectations, and it's discouraging to be disappointed. We are truly learning that there is no perfect church! But it's especially sad when these churches seem to have it all together, and then we get to the meat of it - the message - only to find out all we've been served is a generic piece of bologna.

Okay, perhaps the metaphor is a little melodramatic, but it's been frustrating again and again. For the past several weeks we've narrowed the search down to a couple of churches:

• The first had excellent teaching on both the adult and children's level, with expository preaching and apologetics training for the kids. Drawback: we disagree with this church on one theological issue that is tough to just "overlook."
• There were a couple of churches which seemed promising, but we are looking for a different style of preaching (expository rather than topical) and / or a different style of church government.
• And lastly, there was one that we've visited several times now, and had initially hoped it to be "the one," and yet, the more we go, (sadly), the less we like the pastor. It isn't his preaching as much as it is his... personality? We never really felt like he was really glad we were there.

ANYWAY, all this to say that we visited a church this morning and we had a wonderful experience worshipping and learning about the Lord. It was far from perfect, but that's okay. So are we. It's a church plant (I guess you would call it) from another large church in a nearby town, and they've only been in our town since this fall. That said, it's doing well, and yet it's not so small that five or ten people do all the work and it's not so big that there's no need for people (like us) to get involved. So... here's hoping. We'll go back again next week.

~~~~~
We are moving slowly on the holiday decorating agenda. I don't know what takes us so long, but it seems like there's always something to interrupt us. We bought the lights but don't have them hung. We bought the tree but only got as far as getting it in its stand. Oh, but it's a beauty. We did good this year with our "let's see what we get," grab-bag style tree choosing. :) It's a grand fir, which I don't think we had seen before in soCal. Big and full and it smells so good... :) And now that I'm feeling better I'm so ready to jump right into to the Christmas season.

Good thing, because I've got a lot to do!

~~~~~
Praises:

• I'm feeling better! I'd even go so far to say I'm feeling good! Working on getting to great!
• J is feeling better, too. :)
• My friend S delivered a new baby boy this past week. God is awesome. :)

I Can't Sleep

... which is odd, considering every part of my body feels exhausted.

I've taken my hot bath, read a good chunk of a book, and I still can't sleep.

Maybe I'm feeling guilty, I think, because I haven't blogged in a few days.
So here I am.

I'm feeling better, for what it's worth, but still not great. On Tuesday Ro called my doctor and she prescribed another course of antibiotics. These are supposed to be very strong, of the last-chance-before-we-hospitalize-you variety, which is ironic because I am feeling better than I was. Yet the shot in my backside and the first course of antibiotics didn't knock it fully out I guess. So today I'm on day 5 of a 7-day regimen. I do think I'm better, but I still get winded and cough. I still just don't feel quite right. And the antibiotics have given me a slight allergic reaction in the form of a rash across my neck. Fun times.

I think I'll make it, though.

J has been sick, too; he missed the last three days of school. He seemed better today, though, I think. I hope. Keeping an eye on him...

C, G, and Ro are all doing fine.

Today we went into Old Town Fort Collins to look around a bit and find a costume for J's book talk on Monday. He read Beyond the Sound of Music by Maria Von Trapp and he has to dress like her on Monday for his talk, and briefly discuss the biography. Pretty gutsy of him, I think, to choose a woman. He's going to dress as a nun. :)

The air was pretty cool - low 30's - but no sign of the storm that had been forecasted in sight. And although it was chilly, it wasn't windy, so it was actually not bad out there. We've got to go back sometime after my cough and such is cleared up, hopefully sometime soon. They had horse-drawn carriage rides and ice skating, and we really want to check those things out.

We got our tree tonight as well. Oh, the tree stories I could tell. :) Suffice it to say that for the past several years we've gone up to Wal-Mart, randomly chosen an inexpensive tree (usually a pine about 6' tall), one that is already tied in twine, paid for it and taken it home. Such is our tree-hunting endeavors, our family tradition. I'm sorry if that takes all the fun out of it, but looking at tree after tree in the cold weather with three kids... they pretty much all look the same after awhile, don't they? Well believe it or not our local Wal-Mart (which is still better than yours) isn't carrying Christmas trees this year. (I think because they haven't fully finished the nursery part of the store.) So we went over to King Sooper's (I hate shopping there because of the way the spell it, by the way) and did the same tree search method we've always done at Wal-Mart. $24.95. Done.

It's still sitting all bound up in twine on our front porch. Hopefully we can get it decorated and pretty tomorrow. :)

Got a few lights for the house and a few more decorations. I can't believe Christmas is less than four weeks away. I have so much to do and I just haven't been up to it. I need to make a list. I am lost without my lists.

So all in all, a decent day. :)

Hmph!

So I made myself get up, take a shower, and get out of the house today. It wore me out, just a short jaunt to get gas and go to K-mart, but at least I did something. I've been working on laundry here and there, too. The problem now is that phsyical activity makes me winded, which makes me cough and cough and cough.

G seems to be doing fine now, though. :) For that I'm thankful!

So anyway, I'm in K-mart today, trying to find a shopping cart that has a seatbelt for G. (Because I already tried one without a seatbelt since there weren't any available in the first stack of 10 or so carts, and I already went halfway down the main aisle, and I already had to tuck little Miss G's legs back into the holes half a dozen times, and I was now returning for a cart with restraints.)

So, anyway, like I said, I was pulling out a number of carts, trying to find one that would hold Miss G down, and an older woman stopped to chat. (Notice how polite I am in my description of her, mind you.) She commented on how cute G is, how big her eyes are, and how sweet she is... and then she asked me if she was my granddaughter.

My granddaughter!?!? Sheesh. Now I know I'm no spring chicken (my grandpa just reminded me of that recently), and I know that if, in fact, I'd started young, then it would be biologically feasable for me to have grandchildren, but to assume that I am a grandma? Wow.

I always thought self-control was one of my weakest character issues, and yet... I was very self-controlled today. I guess I was too stunned anyway. I was pretty shocked and could only mumble a "No, she's my daughter," before I could get away.

Grandmother? Really? That one stung.

On another note, I wanted to pass this along. 'Tis the season where a lot of people ask us to give - not just the traditional (and costly) Christmas gifts and all that goes with it, but to "extra" people and places we normally don't contribute to on a regular basis - bell-ringers, Samaritan's Purse, Lottie Moon, etc. It's a wonderful thing to share out of all the blessings God has lavishly given us, but I wanted to share with you an opportunity to make a difference in other people's lives that would only cost you a few minutes of your time. If you take a few moments to share a story (about sharing) on http://www.spreadthesharing.com/, the cool people from Shedd's Country Crock will donate a meal to America's Second Harvest, which helps feed people across our own country who don't have enough food on their tables. So far they've provided over 300,000 meals. :)

It only has to take a couple of minutes for you to share a story (and you can share more than one). And you know what it did for me? It reminded me that I have so much to give, and there are so many others in need. It reminded me to take some time out this holiday season (and throughout the year, really!) to share with others ~ whether it's time, talent, or treasure ~ we all have something we can share with others.

We are so very, very blessed. Even if we do look old. :P

Been AWOL

So I last wrote a week ago yesterday, complaining of being sick and not being able to warm up. I'd been dealing with a cold for the past couple of weeks, but Saturday afternoon marked the turning point. From there I began dealing with a cycle of chills and fever that lasted quite awhile. It was really awful. I don't remember the last time I've felt so sick.

I'm sure you don't want to hear all the details but suffice it to say we finally dragged ourselves into the doctor on Tuesday and G and I both have pneumonia. I was actually surprised at G's diagnosis, as I thought she was pretty much over it. I was feeling so bad I got a shot in the rear to get the antibiotic party started.

I've had every symptom I think there is: chills, fever, congestion, cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. It's been insane. And although G and I both finished our course of antibiotics yesterday, we're still not feeling 100%. This thing really kicked our butts.

But finally I thought I'd make myself sit down and post. I really love maintaining this blog and posting so you have to understand that if I haven't posted in over a week, I've been really sick. I'm so far behind on everything - phone calls, e-mails, posting, paperwork, laundry, etc. I'm really hoping that tomorrow will be a good day, a productive day. I need it.

In the meantime we had our first real snow. We woke up Wednesday morning to about three inches, and it's just now beginning to melt off. It's so beautiful.

Our Thanksgiving was nice, although different and quiet and low-key. I wasn't feeling good of course and it's just not the same without Mom, Deb, and Pop here. Still, we made the best of it. I talked C through much of our cooking, and she pulled off a delicious dinner. We played a couple of games and got to watch the movie Holes.

Our 2007 Thanksgiving Menu

Chilled Berry Soup

(I'm so glad C remembered to include this; one of the highlights of our meal)

Santa Fe Cesar Salad

Dinner Rolls

Roasted Turkey

(prepared by Mom a couple of weeks ago and frozen until Thanksgiving)

Grandma's Yum-Yum Sweet Potatoes

(came out a little runny but still tasted yum-yum)

Corn Bread Stuffing

(came out a little soggy but still tasted okay)

Gravy

Grandma's Velvety Custard Pie

(mmm... the bomb!)

Our Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Ro had to go back to work on Friday, which is always a bummer. The kids and I pretty much just hung out for the day. Yesterday I made it out for the first time since last Saturday and we got lunch at Mimi's (corn chowder, mmmm). The kids helped me make a batch of fudge and we also visited a church last night that meets on Saturdays and enjoyed most especially the great convo afterward.

We did make it to another church today. I'm sad to report I'm getting pretty burnt out on the church hunt. It's so discouraging for me to get up each week, feel optimistic and hopeful, go to church, and just come home let down again. I know it's just a long process, but it sure does get tiresome.

I took the kids to see Enchanted today as well. It was cute, different. Came back home though and I've been vegging out ever since. I just feel like I have no energy at all.

So anyway, that's the happs for the past week. Thanks for missing me. :)

Do You Ever Just Think in Bullets?

• I'm sick.
• And I'm freezing. And it's not because I'm in Colorado, either. It's only 52 outside and inside it's a toasty 71. But I'm freezing. I want to go to bed but I wanted to say hello first.
• G is still sick, too. Our colds have moved down into our chests. At least I can take stuff. I feel so bad for her, though.

My WalMart is Better than Your WalMart (at least to me!):

• No one checks your bags and receipts when you leave.
• There are plenty of people at the cash registers, even on a Saturday afternoon when there is a plethora (that's for you, D) of holiday shoppers in the store.
• None of the signage is sub-titled.

My Kids are Finally Getting It:

• I asked C and J Friday night what they wanted for dinner. "McDonald's?" I asked with a resigned sigh. J said, "No, not there. They don't have good toys and their food isn't even that good." :)
• Miss G is mostly staying in her high chair these days, rather than escaping and sitting on top of her dinners.

Good News:

• Ro's diploma arrived from TMC on Friday!
• G is getting her appetite back. Today for lunch she ate two apple slices, two French fries, and drank a bottle of milk. Not much, I know, but it's better, really.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season:

• I've been seeing some Christmas lights pop up here and there around town. It feels so early to me. Really, it's not even very cold, just a little chilly. But we saw them on one house the other night and on Friday I drove home after dark by the lake. Across the street from the lake is a park and it had some neat lit-up Christmas decorations placed by the City. Pretty neat.
• The local newspaper has been reporting about some controversies in neighboring Fort Collins concerning disallowing Christmas displays (I'm not sure to what extent, to be honest; I haven't read much on the subject, but the local sheriff was reported to defy those guidelines the other day and light a Christmas tree in front of the police building.) Sometimes life gets too PC, don't you think? But last week when we drove up to nearby Estes Park I was *delighted* to see a nativity scene in the middle of the park in the middle of the town. And on the way out, we saw other "people" from the scene... the wise men were on camels near the entrance to the downtown area. Very, very cool.

G'Night All. I hope you have a wonderful, God-focused weekend.

TGI(almost)F

I'm frustrated today. I've screwed some things up and I can't find some other things and it's just one of those days where I don't like myself so much.

I can't shake this feeling that I'm smelling onions for some reason. We don't have any in the house, and I've taken a shower (!) so I don't know what it is.

G is still dealing with her cold. She was hard to get to sleep last night - really hard. In a way I don't mind sitting up with her because she's getting bigger and more independent every day and it's so nice to cuddle with her on the couch, even if we do have to watch Blue's Clues or Barney. But given the fact that I've been dealing with headaches for the past few days, it was a rough time. She has a cough from her chest, although it's not that frequent, even at night. My biggest concern is that she has no appetite. I don't think she's eaten more than two bites at every meal for the past three days. She's drinking a lot, though, so I'm not worried enough to take her in to the doctor yet.

Maybe she's on a hunger strike for her grandma and auntie to return.

I finished reading Francine Rivers' The Last Sin-Eater this morning. It was definitely an interesting read, very different from the other Rivers novels I've read. In fact, her Redeeming Love is probably one of my favorites of all time. Anyway, this one was different! I liked it, though. I'd never even heard of a sin-eater, so that aspect was pretty interesting. I think I'll have to check out the DVD of it sometime soon.

Here's what happens when Aunt Deb gives the baby her bath:

I'm Stinky

Wow... almost a week since I last posted. No wonder the e-mails are starting to come in. :) Thanks for missing me, though.

Thursday night was wonderful. I drove to Denver for the first time, to the airport, and at night. I'm not a fan of the 25, I have to say. The speed limit goes 75, 60, 70, 55, 60, 75 - it drove me nuts. I like consistency. But I got to the airport just fine (it's a lot easier than LAX to figure out, I think), and barely had time to pee before Mom and Deb arrived. It was a great reunion! :)

We had a wonderful weekend. Deb had a nasty cold (which she lovingly shared with G and me) so we just relaxed and visited and had fun all weekend, rather than installing, unpacking, moving, and etc. like we did last time with her here. We ate, played games, ate, shopped, ate, relaxed, and ate. We went to Estes Park and saw some bighorn sheep on the way and generally just enjoyed being together.

I think we all had a fab time but I have to say that Miss G really wrapped her auntie around her little finger. They really are two of a kind, so it only makes sense I guess.

As usual, though, the weekend was all too short. :( I took them back to the airport on Monday evening and kept my mind off the good-byes on the way home by refereeing the kids' arguments and singing Christmas carols. Then we got home, and Ro said, "It's odd for them to be gone; I miss them," and that's when it really hit me. I miss them, too.

So yesterday G and I just hung out all day. I think she misses them as well, for she was a little clingy. We watched TV and napped (and she napped a LOT) and generally just behaved like a couple of lazy bums. :) Today it's back to life / back to reality (remember that song?). Back to laundry and checkbooks and bills and phone calls and dishes and all that fun.

31 more days until they come back.

Speaking of which, can you believe that Christmas is less than six weeks away already? Sheesh. I'm not really ready for that.

Let's see... other updates... C is great and plugging away on her trumpet. We had considered changing to clarinet but I think she is going to stick it out with the trumpet. One thing I've noticed since we've moved is that her attitude is almost always great. We had really struggled with that a few months back. I don't know exactly what it is - be it new friends, a new school, a new teacher, new environment, her own room - who knows, but I like it.

J has finally figured out how to ride his bike, and... don't tell anyone... but I think he's enjoying it, too. :)

And Miss G... her vocabulary seems to grow every day. This weekend she came to us and said, "I'm stinky!" and she was. She did it again the next day, and the next. She doesn't do it every time her diaper is dirty, but she does it a lot of the time. I think that's a good sign. Hopefully potty training her won't be as traumatic (for me) as it was with the last two. Boy, the stories I could share...

Prayer Needs - I have a lot today, because a lot of people that I care about have a lot going on in their lives. I figure we could all use all the prayer we can get, so would you please pray for these needs as well? Thanks:

• C - healing (liver problems)
• W and G - potential new jobs
• J - needs a job
• B and M - to know Christ
• Renee - unknown need
• my G - to completely get over her cold
• M - to get her house sold or at least rented out
• T - relationship with her mom
• K, M, and S - pregnancies

Spring and Fall, to a young child

Remember this, by Gerard Manley Hopkins? It's been on my mind lately.

Spring and Fall, to a young child

Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves, like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! as the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you will weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sorrow’s springs are the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It is the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

~~~~~
It's almost time! 11 more hours! I'm pretty excited, although I have a lot to do today. I didn't sleep well last night and a headache is looming. It'll all work out though. I'd better get going, though. Got toilets to clean. ;)

Funnies

Poor My Ro... he has to wear a lab coat in the worst shade of blue you could imagine. At his previous job, it was white, and that was fine, but these... these are the color of the smocks WalMart employees have to wear. (I keep wanting to stencil "How may I help YOU?" on the back.) Wal-Mart blue, Smurf blue (that's what they dressed up as on Halloween)... a really unflattering shade, especially for a guy!

But the best response yet was the little boy who came to the counter this week and timidly asked Ro, "Are you Thomas the Tank Engine?"

~~~~~
J asked me the other morning, "Is Reporter Harold still alive?" That's the name of our local newspaper, The Reporter Herald. :)

P.S.

C went to her Christian club meeting on Friday afternoon and a new girl came who she knew from some of her classes. When it came time to request prayer, this girl asked for prayer for her aunt who was pregnant and had found out that there was a chance that her baby would be born "retarded." Interestingly enough, C was able to encourage her and pray with her because of what we went through when I was pregnant with G. I thought it was neat that C talked to her about it and prayed for her.

Coincidentally, I read an interesting article recently in World Magazine by Joni Eareckson Tada - interesting and sad. I wish the whole article was available online; the good part especially is left out. It's about Down's syndrome profiling, and it's worth reading if you have access to the magazine and/or want to pay $5 for access + a trial subscription (8 issues - actually a good deal).

It makes me think of when I was pregnant with Miss G and how devastating it was to consider that she might have Down's - even knowing that these kids are among the most loving and kindest kids on the planet. It was sure a trying time in my life, and in hindsight, I really regret having the amniocentisis that carried with it risk to my daughter. I chose to put knowing (which would in no way would have affected whether or not I chose to carry her to term) ahead of my daughter - and that was wrong.

I'm thankful that God protected her, and forgives me, and has blessed us with an incredible (albeit rather busy), beautiful, healthy little girl.

~~~~~
I'm excited because my Mom and sister are coming soon. They'll be here in about 49 hours, as a matter of fact. The house is a mess, but I just can't seem to concentrate on things long enough to get anything done. I'm kind of overwhelmed with all things on my list but I'm totally jazzed they'll be here in two days. I can't wait.

Not much else to say... G is a handful, as always. :) She's jumping now, so that's pretty fun. When she squats all the way down to get a good jump she doesn't get off the ground, but when she doesn't think about it much, she does pretty well. I've been working on her to say Grandma but no dice.

I think I'll go let Calgon take me away.

Prayer Needs:

• Safe travel - Mom and D
• C's health - healing and wisdom and peace
• K's pregnancy (and C's friend's aunt's pregnancy, too)

Kids and God Stuff

All week I kept forgetting to write about this, but I thought it was pretty cool so I'll share now.

Last Sunday we attended a church we'd been to once before. It was the first and only church we repeat-visited. Anyway, we knew they didn't have a kids' program during the service so we talked to the kids, especially J, about that - about how it honors God for them to be in there, even if it's hard for them to sit still and listen. Anyway, I was pretty impressed with both of the kids through the service. J participated in the singing and C took notes on the sermon, which was about the lost and being purposeful in sharing Christ with people you build relationships with.

After the service we went to lunch of course and talked about it some as a family. The pastor preached about two parables - the ones about the lost lamb and the lost coin. It was neat that the kids understood the stories and we talked about it throughout lunch.

Anyway... fast forward a few days and imagine my surprise when Joshua told me that he shared Christ with one of his friends at recess...! I was incredibly surprised because it was completely unprompted. I don't know if it's coincidence after the sermon or if he specifically sought to apply it to himself. Either way, as he told me the details of the conversation, I was so moved and proud of my son. He shared from his heart and told the boy about heaven. So cool.

Also a couple of weeks ago C asked us about The Lord's Supper. She's actually asked us before about it but she never asks at the right time; she always asks during the service, and it's rather difficult to explain such a thing to a child in the middle of the service... and as I do all the time, I forgot to explain it to her later. Well, we finally sat down after dinner last night and discussed it with her, and we talked about some other things as well...

So lo and behold C got up this morning and made excellent use of the extra hour we had because of the time change. On her own she got up and read several chapters of Genesis - and took notes. It was neat, too, because she came out to show us and we talked about Enoch and how he was special, and then, would you believe, the sermon in church this morning was about Enoch? Pretty neat.

And G? Well, she's learning to say, "Amen!" :)

People

So somehow yesterday ended up being an incredibly busy day, but one of those incredibly busy days where you don't have much to show for it in the end. And today, also, another incredibly busy day. J was to have a friend come over and I'd planned on doing so many different things, but life got in the way and things didn't get done... but you know what? It's okay, because as a very special friend reminded me today, people are what matter. Not stuff.

I took C to the doctor today as her cough had progressed and I was concerned that she had picked up Ro's pneumonia. Nope, not that. "Does it hurt anywhere?" the doctor asked her. She shook her head. "Are you sure?" he asked again, because by the way her ear looked, it should've. :) So C has an ear infection and is the one on antibiotics now.

But isn't it cool he diagnosed it and began treatment before it caused her pain?

C and I talked about this dance a few days ago. One of my concerns was how she would have a good time, if truly all her friends were going with boys. She came to the decision that she'd rather not go after all, and, to alleviate any disappointment slightly, I decided the two of us would have a girls' night out. J's friend was here, so after Ro got home from work, I left him with the boys and the baby, and C and I found a theater in Fort Collins and checked out Martian Child.

It was a decent movie. We enjoyed it well enough. But something in it must have stirred some emotions deep within C, because as I was pulling out of the parking lot, she began to cry, saying she misses Grandma with the Gray Hair (that's what we called her, my grandma). I pulled over and brought her up front and comforted her for a bit, but there was just something in her, I guess, that needed to remember Gram... and I guess it made her a little bit sad because she misses her.

I was a little surprised, because Gram's been gone over five years now. There are moments, of course, when I miss her so much it hurts my own heart, but I was 32 when she died and she was probably my closest friend. C was only 5. And yet, there's so much she remembers.

Truly, as I sat there in the car and stroked C's hair, I thought about how much Gram adored C... and how proud she would be of her right now. I know she loved that little girl more than just about anything, and they had such a special bond. I thought about how much my Gram loved and adored me when I was 11, and to be truthful, it made me a little sad, too, that she's not here for C, because she would have just delighted in everything that C did, said, accomplished, earned, and loved.

So on the way home, C began to ask me a few questions about Gram... and it brought back some of those memories that I treasure in my heart. How she made me do flashcards after I'd walk home from school at Manzanita. How she'd let us color in a Peanuts coloring book on the front porch. How after school she would scratch my back with her long nails so I'd be quiet as she watched General Hospital. How she smelled. How she laughed. How incredibly much she made us feel loved.

But you know what else? It also triggered some memories of my childhood with Pop also; it made me think of things that we just took for granted because we were kids. It was about more than just teaching us how to throw a softball (not like a girl!) or how to run with our toes pointed straight ahead, and it was more than about how to sit in church or even how to eat grilled cheese sandwiches with homemade jelly on top or cornbread soaked with milk. I was thinking about some of the things that Pop did for us that, I think, are kind of unusual. He made us jumpropes out of this cool, gray, smooth rope. I don't know where he got it, but I can actually remember how it felt in my hand. He made us "snuff" out of cocoa and sugar and fashioned us a brush to "chew" it with out of a stick. (Now that was cool!) And he made us stilts! Who makes anything fun for their grandkids anymore, let alone stilts?!

So it was an interesting night. It was great for the mother-daughter bond, you know, but it ended on a quiet note. But quiet isn't bad, especially when out of the quietness you are reflecting on how blessed you are by the people in your life; when you're musing about the silly, wonderful, special times in your childhood that helped mold you into who you are today; and when you're thinking about how life isn't at all about the busyness, the house, the work, or all the other things that compete for our focus throughout the day.

It's about the people.

Hello, November :)

I can't believe it's November already. I can't believe we left CA three months ago already.

Well, I'm looking forward to today and getting back to a routine. Ro has had pneumonia, and although he worked on Monday, his boss called him Tuesday morning to tell him to stay home. Thus he was off Tuesday and yesterday. We had a really relaxing couple of days, catching up on some TV and playing some games. I love having him home and I could easily adjust to that kind of life... but someone's gotta pay the bills... and in our lives that someone is Ro, so back to work today, my Ro... and I'll get back to my routine!

C missed school on Monday but that was all. She seems to be doing a lot better but continues to cough an awful lot, so I may have to take her in the doctor at some point. :(

The other night our neighbors had us over for dinner. It was the kind of thing where you secretly don't want to go because you have so much other stuff you need to get done, but they ask and you can't really say no, and then you get there, and you have a GREAT time. We really enjoyed hanging out with them and getting to know them a little bit better. They are a really neat family.

Yesterday the kids dressed up as Harry Potter (J) and a chef (C). We didn't bother with a costume for G, poor kid. :) After school we took them to a place called FuNation to reward them for their excellent report cards and parent conferences. It was kind of nice because the place was empty and the kids basically had the run of tubes and ball pits. Even G seemed to enjoy it.

J and I (more me than he) have been working on his toys, trying to find a better way to organize them and such. Toyboxes are so expensive, and frankly, small. I ended up getting a monster tub at WM yesterday and told him that he needs to get rid of a LOT of stuff. He simply has too much stuff, and most of it - maybe 85% of it - he never touches. He really only plays with Legos, Pokemon, and video games. Anyway, it's unbelievable to me, but he agreed, and we are planning to get rid of (eventually) his Hot Wheels and Rescue Heroes sets (major space-takers) and a box full of other toys.

Well, after we got home from FuNation, we went through three or four boxes of his toys, weeding out the trash and unwanteds and putting the keepers in the bin (which is now probably less than half full, interestingly enough!). It was really good timing because we took all the little toys - the small balls, sticky hands, Happy Meal toys, etc. - and put them in a bucket and gave them out to the trick-or-treaters. We finished, literally, about 10 minutes before the first TOTer came by.

So, I handed out candy and toys, and the kids that came to our door were so excited. It was fun because I didn't think they'd really want the toys but they did. :) And I got rid of most of those little, crappy, penny toys.

Anyway, while I handed out goodies (and G was busy emptying and reloading the candy basket, you know, all over the floor), Ro took the chef and the wizard to a fall festival around the corner. They had a great time and came home with too much candy, and Ro had a good time visiting with the pastor there. We are planning to visit that church on Sunday.

Prayer Needs:

• C's health - biopsy results came back, and although it's not cancer, her liver is failing at a disturbing rate, with no known cause.
• K's pregnancy

Is It Just Me?

Congratulations, Sox. Well, what can you say? Oh well. Better luck next year.

C didn't make it to school today because she's feeling pretty yucky. Ro is worse but he went to work anyway. However, they insisted he go get checked out, and sure enough, he's got pneumonia. G had a rough night sleeping last night until at last I got her up and let her cuddle with me on the couch for about half an hour of Barney. After that she went down all right and slept through the night. Wonder if it's growing pains? She doesn't seem to have the cold symptoms Ro and C have. J and I are fine.

I got to scrapbook today for a little while. I love having my scrap stuff down in the basement (where I can leave it out!). While G napped and the laundry ran, I got a little bit organized, finished one page, and laid out another. It was nice... no interruptions, the Wicked soundtrack playing in the background. I hope to make this a regular part of my laundry day routine.

I also finally finished the last book of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Yes, it's children's literature, but I'm so impressed at how well written it is. I started the series in January, so it took me awhile, but to be fair, I was in the middle of a huge move and I'm a mom, so I don't get to read quite as much as I'd like to. (Besides, as much as I love to read, I have other hobbies, too, like scrapping and crocheting.)

Anyway, this series, I think, is rather long, and Lemony Snicket is quite verbose, but I loved it. There is so much irony and humor in there, and it isn't all wrapped up nice and neat at the end. On Saturday night C and I read together The Beatrice Letters, a companion book, and that was a lot of fun. We still don't get everything, but there's one more book - The Unauthorized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket - so hopefully that will make some of the things more clear.

On another note... We learned at the beginning of the school year that there would be a harvest dance (at C's school) in November. At the time I hadn't really thought much about it, but guess what? It's here already. And, over the course of the past two months, we've learned a little more about C's friends and what I'd originally dismissed as harmless fun is now causing me some concern.

I spoke with C about it... most her friends have boyfriends, and one has even told her to go away and come back (to their group, I guess) when she has one. Ugh. That's the last thing I want to encourage her to do. There's *plenty* of time for that, don't you think? Anyway, C has been interested in going to this dance, but we talked about it today... if all her friends have boyfriends, what's she going to to do? Especially with the pressure to "hook up" with someone by her friends... sheesh.

With all this pressure to begin romance so early, is it a wonder that pregnancy is a problem in middle schools? Perhaps the schools should examine the environments they encourage, rather than simply pass out birth control.

Is that a harsh stance? A couple of weeks ago I might have thought so myself. But today I sit here with a daughter who isn't ready for hook-ups and who is saddened by not being able to find any one like her with whom she can be friends. Today I sit here worried because my daughter likes to please people, and I wonder if she'll be strong enough to withstand peer pressure. (It's funny because I don't doubt her ability to say no to drugs and alcohol, but I do wonder if she'd rather be accepted by her peers by having a boyfriend...) I know that my daughter understands what's best for her right now (no boyfriends) and has even agreed... but I also know that junior high / adolescence / and even pre-adolescence is a really tough time to go through.

So I sit here a little anxious about all of this, and a little bit angry that the schools even put us in these positions. Why encourage romance and hormones and all that at sixth grade? Am I just a prude? Hmmm. I wonder.