happy sunday!

It is very chilly this morning, but what a nice walk I had! Suri was horrid, she wants to sniff everything, and she actually gobbled something up from in the road, I am not sure what it was, yuck! She is learning she has to stay on my right side, not cross in front of me whenever she darn well feels like it, causing me to trip over her. Mama Kitty came the whole way with us too, which I find hilarious.

My headache is gone, and I am very thankful for that.

No church for us today as our building is being expanded and is under construction. We haven't had a whole weekend at home in so long. Even though we worked at the Dome Friday night, it seems like such a luxury to just be home. I have to call a lady back about taking a kitten, so there ARE some things to do. Of course if she comes here to pick it up, I will want to clean up a bit more than I would if no one was coming over.

Camille needs some attention. She is cuddled up on the arm of my chair, being a Bug. Poking me and trying to rock the chair, humming in my ear. She has a beautiful princess dress on. She wants to go someplace. I do not want to go someplace. It is cold out, overcast, and it is warm and cozy in here. I want to make pumpkin spice lattes (and pumpkin muffins, but they are a No-No for me.)

Well, I thought it was a good time to write, but apparently the kids here don't think so. I shall go and be a good mama and perhaps write later, since I have so many important things to say.

the best laid plans of man...

My mother used to say that quite often when things just didn't go like they were supposed to. Today, I have a mega-headache. It started out as a mild annoyance this morning, and I was able to go on my 1.2 mile walk with Suri-pup. After some puttering around, I started some breakfast. Two pounds of bacon on a cookie sheet in the oven. Some of the kids had scrambled eggs, some cereal, and there was toast being toasted. I do miss toast, as I don't eat it anymore. I had just a tiny little bit of whole oats with crunchy peanut butter, some sliced almonds, blueberries, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and some Stevia. And one egg, scrambled. And coffee. And too much bacon. It was so good though! Lots of the kids and Paul and I sat around the table for too long, just talking.

My head started hurting more and more...I should have taken some ibuprofen earlier. But I didn't. I finally just took a few, and I feel almost like I am going to get sick to my stomach.

Yesterday was a good day for exercise. After my morning walk, then working out, then walking on the nature preserve for 2-3 miles, we went to the Dome...parked in the parking garage at the bottom of The Evilest Hill..then up three flights of stairs..and walked up a Super Evil Hill...in fact, it is referred to as The Hill. Someone simply forgot to add the word, "Evil". Because it is very evil. Then, to add insult to injury,there are steps. They aren't ordinary stairs, they are higher, steeper. I counted them....like 80 something...then, into the building and up two more flights. But the good news is that my racing heart slowed down pretty quickly and I felt fine. I always wish I had stairs like that here, it is like a total work-out just from the parking garage to our concession stand! And may I mention the joy of repeating the whole schmiel on the way back to the car after standing on my feet for hours and hours?

I was a beer pourer at the Dome. From the time we opened until four hours or so later when we closed, I poured beer from tap, non-stop. Except for when I had to pour a cup of wine. Cup after cup after cup. The best part was that I made a new friend...a very nice girl who goes to college there. Very sweet and friendly. The worst part, besides when one of the kegs went dry and we got showered with beer, was the repeat customers who thought they were so funny...one of the guys was so inappropriate. According to his I.D., he was 23 years old. Same age as my son Benjamin. Seriously? He was talking like that to me? I acted all innocent, but I was steaming mad inside. Then I answered him as cold as ice, and he was all like, "What, I am just being nice, giving you compliments." Yeah, bud, you are saying one thing and meaning another, I am not stupid. rrr. Then another guy got totally ticked off because one of the beers was coming out super foamy. He really got mad about it, and I put my foot down and said, "Listen Mr., don't you dare give me a hard time about this. I just volunteer here for a church group, and I this is NOT my fault. No way." I looked right at him while I said it, and he totally backed down. He apologized, and I backed down too, and joked about the long line...then he came back later, and the my new friend looked at him and said, "You're the guy who was so mean to us before." It was SO funny. But he did feel bad about it, which he should. I mean, jeepers. He had to wait a minute for his beer. too bad!


Anyway, it was not too bad for the most part. Most of the people were friendly, and Paul and I got to leave after half-time because that's when they stop serving beer there.

It is a nice cozy day here, very chilly outside. The kids put on snowpants and coats and boots and went out to play in the leaves for a while. Then they came in and slid down the carpeted stairs with their snowpants on into a huge pile of coats they had taken off the hooks. It took them a while, but they did pick all the coats back up by themselves when they were done.

Evelyn is making brownies. I just want to go lie down and get rid of this headache, but I remember now that I promised Margaret a ride to her cousin's house. blah, I do not know if I can drive.

When I don't have a headache, please remind me that life is so good! Pound pound pound, dang.

So off I go to talk to Miss Margaret...maybe she can wait a while to go...

feeling rather accomplished today....

Aim low and you'll never be disapointed, that's what I jokingly tell my kids. I had an invisible To-Do list this fine morning...this fine morning which started a bit too early for my liking. Paul forgot I didn't have to get up with the kids. It was a half hour later than I usually roll out of the comfy bed, so he shook me quite insistently, wondering why I was not up...he was very sorry when I so nicely reminded him I didn't have to get up. Not sorry enough to be super quiet as I tried in vain to fall back into that yummy sleep....naw, he was rumpling through a bag for something, ugh. Then my stupid brain started ticking...oh, the things I had to do! Nothing earthshatteringly important, just enough things to make me decide to just get up...

I walked my mile with Suri. One thing crossed off the mental list.

Got the turkey breast into the oven by 9 a.m.....

Washed a load of socks and a load of darks. To be fair, this wasn't on my Dang I Should Get Up List, but it needed doing.

Swept the floor. Not on list either.

Filled and ran the dishwasher. Not on list.

Picked up the car I dropped off yesterday for a state inspection.

Worked out. Definitely on list!

Took a shower and washed my long tangly hair.

Phew. Then Emily texted and invited us to go walking on a local nature preserve.

Yes! She said, "I am the Good Idea Maker", which is an expression from when my little brother Casey and I were little.

She was certainly the Good Idea Maker, because it was just plain fun. Emily, Samuel, Kathryn, Evelyn, Suzanne, Sonja, Jonathan, Charlotte Claire, Camille, Suri-The-Dog and I...it was lovely in the woods. Suri got to run free, and thankfully she stayed with us nicely. We saw a few snakes and some butterflies, and a huge turkey buzzard. We saw a huge rock commomerating the park and remembering the place which housed German prisoners of war during WWII.

We walked too far, then had to turn around and walk back. Camille got a few piggy-back rides. Suri is still pooped out! She is snoring on the kitchen floor.

Turkey breast, a light yogurt, and a cup of afternoon coffee while I sneak in some computer time...then it is ready to get ready to go to the Dome!!! Never a dull moment, but life is good. As I drove home from the garage this morning all by myself, I had a rare five or six minutes to think....and I mulled the fact that for all intents and purposes, my life is more than half over. If I were so lucky to live another thirty years....thirty years! That's nothing! Thirty years ago I was seventeen, and it seems like five or ten years ago!

Then I thought how good my life is. I am in no hurry for it to pass by. I enjoy my days, enjoy my kids, and my biggest longing in life is simply to be good. Obviously that is encompassed by being faithful to God.

It's funny because my kids are growing up, life is simpler, I am not as frazzled. But there are still messes. Kids who cook. My puppy eats her food too fast sometimes and yarks all over the floor, and this morning one of the kitties didn't make it outside, I think he was afraid to go past Suri, so he pooped on the floor, yuck. Suri didn't make any messes during the night though, so I can't complain.

Well, I have to go braid my hair and get ready to go to the Dome...

field trip to the apple orchard....

I think I like first graders. In fact, I think I would like to go to first grade all over again. But guess what? When I am with first graders, I feel like a first grader. I played, "I Spy With My Little Eye" with Mya on the bus, and threw my apple core at a tree in the orchard to try to knock down an apple, and I passed out gum on the bus, which is, according to the kids in my group, a No No.

Today was a total wash-out as far as exercising...no walk, no work-out. But I did walk around the apple orchard with the school kids, and I did go shopping with my sister and my two little girls...I ate well all day, then had too much popcorn this evening, dang. blah.

I don't know how blogging will fit in for the next few days. The kids have a four day weekend! So tomorrow the nine school kids will be home...and it is a Dome day, so Paul and I and some of the older kids will work the concession stand at the football game, for church, in the afternoon/evening.

Paul is playing Chase-Around-The-Circle with Suri, who has just too much energy for a House Puppy.

I am tired. I stayed up late and got up early, with nary a minute of rest all day..except for the few hours my sister-in-law was here today after the field trip, before I dropped the car off for inspection and picked up the little girls from school and went shopping with Cheryl. Yes, I made Kim some lunch, and a pot of coffee, and we relaxed. I ignored the messy house, and the impulse to work out. We had some relaxation, and we decided Martha had better join us next time. Kim said, "Martha doesn't know me from a hill of beans, but I have been reading her blog for a long time, and I know her."

So it was another good day. I found myself irritated at some sweet little children this morning as I tried to usher them out the door to catch the bus, and Camille got sidetracked with some toys while she was supposed to be Brushing and Flushing, and the puppy peed right inside the door, just couldn't hold it. rrr. I hate when I get so impatient with the kids. It was probably because Suri had gotten into the garbage earlier, AND peed behind my chair, which flowed all the way under it, ect. Two clean ups already on a rushed morning, then that last pee...blah. It does not matter the reason for the irritation, I can have every good reason in the world, but it is still sinful to be angry, and I can't blame anyone but myself.

But tomorrow is another day.

one rainy wednesday...

A lady sat in her chair with her feet up, sipping coffee slowly so it lasted a long time, because she knew a second cup would be good, but never as good as the first one. Plus, she would disturb the kitten sleeping on her feet if she had to get up and plod out to the kitchen for a refill. So she sipped, and she wasted time on her computer.

She read weight loss blogs. Turns out there are fatter people than me out there, she comforted herself. That thought made her feel too proud though, and almost afraid that she just instantly gained back like fifty pounds for just thinking such a thing. She was encouraged by some of the blogs though, by those ladies who have been so successful, and by the perseverance of those who were in this fight for the long haul.

She also read other blogs written by moms with lots of kids. Oh, recipes and plans and organizing tips...blah.

She read news, too, skipping over the election finger-pointing, crying for the little girl who fell out of the limosine, and delighting in the little girl with Type 1 Diabetes and her new helper dog, a Lab puppy, who can detect highs and lows in sugar levels. She looked up The List on Drudge Report, and said a little prayer for the families of each fallen soldier, looked at his or her picture and guiltily thanked the good Lord that it wasn't her son Benjamin posted on there.

She knew she had sat in her comfy chair for long enough. Her hind quarters, to put it nicely, were getting numb. And there was the matter of The House. It needed her. The bowls from the kids' cereal were still sitting there, and the dryer had beeped, signaling that she needed to take the stuff out before it wrinkled.

There were phone calls to make, too. She hated making phone calls. She was an expert at putting things off, waiting 'til another day. If there were medals for Procrastinators, she would get the gold. I mean, she didn't HAVE to call the orthopaedic office and apologize for missing her daughter's knee appointment last Monday and reschedule. She COULD wait until they called her, or until her daughter started complaining about her knee again. No, she would call. Maybe. And the big van needed to be inspected. The inspection expired in July. But officer, she would say if she got pulled over, I don't like making phone calls!

Then there was Working Out. It hung over her head and bothered her until she actually finished exercising. It didn't even make her feel better to be dressed in her shorts and tank top, because she still did things like call her sister or clean up one little mess in the little girls' room....she needed to get it done, or it bothered her.

She was proud of herself. She had just as good as given one more kitten away! She had to call a girl about the response to her ad, and did not want to, but she did anyway!!! The girl sounded nice, just like her own daughter Mali. Since this lady doesn't like people dropping in, she suggested meeting the new kitten owner half way. Good idea! No strangers dropping in this way. So part of her Friday was planned now.

Well, two of the woman's college kids were up and about, so she was distracted. Her daughter was eating whole grain Rice Krispies with melted peanutbutter, which the lady had bought at BigLot's for half price. The Rice Krispies, that is. Gluten-free. Did regular stores sell these, the daughter wants to know? So since the lady is feeling more guilty than ever for sitting in her comfy chair, since her older kids must surely think she is lazy, she shall get up and stretch and...but dang, she does not want to disturb the sleeping kitten....

staying home, ha....

I was planning to stay home today. I really was. Sam is sick with a cold, Joe is sick with a cold, and Sonja convinced me she just didn't feel well and had to stay home from school. So, I started my day...got kids washed up and dressed and brushed, made lunches, and sent them out the door. Washed some dishes, cleaned up a bit...then Paul called. He forgot his lunch. I was just about to settled down with coffee and some oatmeal with peanutbutter. Well, he said, his breakfast was in there too. Dang. I said I would be there soon. Sonja came along, and Suri too. And then...

we were all dressed, and Sonja loves going shopping...

so we went to Target. We got backpacks for 70% off for next year.

We got a few Christmas presents.

We got some almonds for Joseph, plain roasted, not smoked.

There is a Starbucks in Target. The smell, oh yummy...and they have pumpkin spice lattes. $3.45 for a small. ouch. I told Sonja that Aaron said the ones we make at home are better than Starbucks. So we went to the grocery store instead. If we had just bought a can of pumpkin, I would say we saved money. But we bought some burger and some chicken and some more Christmas presents, AND some of the wokery chicken for lunch.

I haven't made the lattes yet, I will soon for the older kids when they get home from school. I put pumpkin in the blender with some half and half and milk, and pumpkin pie spices. I add just a little bit of sugar, and a few packets of stevia, or none at all if it's just for me. After it's blended, I pour it into a pan and heat it a bit, then pour it into a half a cup of coffee.

Anyway, Paul would've been better off just buying his lunch from the cafeteria at work, for all the money he didn't save by me bringing it in.

I worked out when we got home, and put some laundry in. I put some chicken to marinade, then put it in the freezer. I plan to make meatloaf and potatoes and carrots for dinner.

Oh, when I was in Target, I was texting with Benjamin. It is surreal to walk around in Target and communicate with someone who is half the world away, in Afghanistan. He was promoted today to Specialist, he is no longer a Private First Class.

I was in B.J's talking to him the other day about a rough day he had, getting shot at, ect., While he was telling me about having to call in a 'copter for help, I was wandering down the Christmas aisle, wondering why on earth anyone would pay $14.99 for a Hershey Kiss shaped candy dish...the contrast between the Real Life War Story I was hearing, and the frivolous-ness of that candy dish...wow.

Anyhoo...not much of anything exciting going on here. Just regular days, just how we like 'em. It is cloudy and sprinkly here today, just a bit chilly. So very cozy and comfy in the house. The dog is snoring, the kittens are snoozing, and I would love to take a nap too....

another monday...

I haven't gone for my walk yet. I woke up at 6 a.m., and decided to snooze a bit more. It was dark and chilly and I was ever so comfy. I don't use an alarm to get up, I just wake up when I am supposed to. Usually. Well. I fell back to sleep and woke at 6:45. Very refreshing, but...oops. No time for a morning walk then, if I want to be around for the older kids going out the door to school. Instead I took Suri out for ten minutes or so, then came in and cleaned up the garbage she had taken out of the can and scattered around the kitchen during the night. Then I cleaned up the pee she couldn't hold...blah.

As the three elementary kids went out the door all showered and brushed, with their lunches and backpacks, Mama Kitty was trying to get in with a nice treat for her kittens. She is an excellent mouser. Mice, however, dead or alive, are not welcome in the house. Suri was already hooked to her leash, ready for our morning routine of waiting in the driveway with the kids for their bus...Kitty ran in the door with her gift as the kids exited the door, and Suri was lunging to snack on that gift. I was holding her back with one hand, holding the door open with the other, and trying to smack the kitty back from retrieving the gift she had dropped, which was still very cute, by the way. blah, I do not like dead mice though. I had to call Jonathan to hold the door while I hit the mouse with Paul's flip-flop, right back out the door onto the deck. Jon so kindly took over and gave that mousie little shoves with the shoe until it went over the side.

Never a dull moment. And shh, don't tell Paul that I used his shoe.

We have two kittens to get give away. They are eight weeks old, and need to find new homes. The big white one with gray spots is a boy, and the littler black and white one is a girl.

I must say, cats are a pain in the neck. Broken screens, meowing to come in and out all the time. But. I don't want to speak too soon, but they do keep the mice out. That I know of, anyway. I haven't found any little mouse droppings.

Kitties are nice companions too. One of my favorite things in the whole world is when dogs and cats are friends. I know, they probably aren't really friends, but when they live together in harmony. Yesterday afternoon, Charlotte Claire fell asleep on the couch, and Camille curled up next to her and fell asleep too. Suri was on the floor next to the couch, and the boy kitten came over and curled up next to Suri. It was too cute, and I can't believe I didn't think of taking a picture.

Tereza...you asked How I Do It. Seriously, I don't! I cannot manage to keep my house clean or organized! One day you will visit and you will realize how it really is here. Not dirty, but...well, lots of things to see. The clean laundry on the couch...the couch covers all askew....the toys and books and school papers ever and ever out and about. A Zhu-Zhu pet on the floor, a few towels draped over the dollhouses, a princess crown, a mail-order catalog which we are not going to order from....unless we have just cleaned up, it is quite obvious that 14 people live in this house. Last night we had a nice dinner (lemon-pepper pork chops, applesauce, fresh cauliflower, green beans), Emily and Abigail came over too. Ashley also visited but she had already eaten dinner. We sat at the table for a while and solved all the world's problems while Paul and Sam watched football...most everything got cleaned up...most everything.

Cleaning up is continuous here. I am still trying to find my way through a happy medium of giving the kids freedom/not being too strict, and having some semblance of order. Yesterday afternoon, one of the girls really wanted tomato soup. I told her to wait until dinner time, and she could make it. So she ate canned soup while we had our yummy dinner.

This is their home. They are all individual people, not one big unit. We eat our dinner together at the table every night, which I think is really important.

Oh, I lost my train of thought. The kittens are being too cute.

I guess my point is: do not wonder How I Do It. Because, seriously, I am not a good housekeeper. Not a good meal planner. Not a good organizer. The socks need to be matched. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished here today, plus I will make a surprise Monday afternoon chore list for the kids. (but guess what? I have NO IDEA at all what to make for dinner tonight.)

I am much better at talking to the kids, taking them places, planning fun outings. I would rather play Matching Game with the girls than clean up the kitchen, any day of the week. I don't like a messy house, so I clean it up as much as I can, but I don't love cleaning it. Honestly, if we were rich, I would hire a cleaning lady or two or three. I wouldn't miss doing the housework at all.

I also love doing work at church, whether in the kitchen there, or running the candy store, or working at the Dome. It is so rewarding to be with friends. It isn't really work to me.

Also, Tereza asked how many calories I eat. Well. I used to keep track...but I don't anymore. I generally keep a list in my head of what I eat, occasionally I write it down. I just eat good things. Oats with almonds and blueberries, raw spinach with chicken and pears and green peppers, a yogurt for snack, meat and veggies for dinner....ect. I have to keep out of the chocolate chips, not snack in the evening, and I do alright. I keep away from breads/pasta/potatoes/cookies/chips. I suppose if I kept more careful track of quantities and calories, I would perhaps lose more. But for me, this is not a race to lose as much as it is a Lifestyle Change, as much as I hate that new saying. It is a Diet For The Rest Of My Life. Losing slowly is okay, although I would like to just snap my fingers sometimes. The biggest issue for me is and probably always will be - self-control. Just because there are brownies doesn't mean I can break a piece off everytime I walk by the pan. I usually don't do things like that, but there are days... popcorn is another big one for me. I love me some real stove-top buttered popcorn.

It is hard for me to concentrate on all these things when I am so encouraged by the excellent church conference we just had. It doesn't matter in the least what people think of me! (rev. 3:1)"I know your deeds, you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." I don't want to be a whitewashed tomb, looking good, appearing to be a good mom, but filled with envy or anger or irritation. We have such a short time here on this earth to be cleansed from sin! Jesus will come back to claim the ones who have followed Him!

I am so filled with thankfulness for this way to live! Thankful that our home can be peaceful even amidst the chaos. Thankful that Paul and I can grow more and more in love with each other, even when we are so different and don't see things the same way. In the meeting on Saturday, we heard about when a wife says something to her husband which he thinks is much too harsh, so he stays quiet for a while. Sort of punishes her with the Silent Treatment. He is offended. That is NOT okay! To be offended is the cause of so much suffering! We need to be awake and when we are tempted to feel so hurt, or be so offended, say NO! I know my tendency to lash back, and I hate it! I am just thankful that we can be purified in our situations instead of getting hard and bitter and growing apart.

Anyway, there is much to work on, both the spiritual and around this house. When I don't feel like cleaning, I have to remind myself that this is my job, and I do it to make things go more smoothly for my family....I try to sing myself happy in the sweeping and cleaning up...it is an excellent chance to get victory over grumpiness and complaining!





























Anyway.