That's Just Me

I cheer for underdogs.
I have an aversion for glitter.
I only have one kidney.
I bite my fingernails.
I love math, although I am not good at doing it in my head.
I don't like sharing the food off my very plate.
I only buy Santa ornaments for our tree.
My favorite book of the Bible is James.
Last movie I saw: New Moon
Last iTunes download: Francesca Battistelli - It's Your Life
(yes, I got it after hearing it on Jon and Kate's last episode)
First movie Josh and I ever saw together: Rat Race
I believe in the discipline that comes from natural consequences.
I tend to want to back out of social engagements at the last minute.
I like to be home and in my pjs.
I like the mountains better than the beach.
I like to be on time, ahead of schedule, prepared, and organized.
I am learning to love taking trips.
I do not Facebook, Twitter, or text.
Favorite Color: White (sometimes green)
Favorite Number: 4
I like to do laundry on Friday.
I am already saving BoxTops for Noah when he starts Kindergarten ... in two years.

Deck the Halls with Mickey

The latest addition to our collection of holiday decor.

Thanksgiving 2009

We enjoyed staying home so much last year, we opted again this year to remain on our home turf for Thanksgiving. This time, though, my parents joined us.


There were wonderful Thanksgiving foods to be had.


There was much playing with grandparents to be done.


There were Thanksgiving parades and football to be watched. And if you are Noah, massages to be received.


Then, after company left, there was a little Charlie Brown to be watched as well.


And then we put up the tree. Noah couldn't understand why there were no presents underneath, so he took the liberty of loading some toys beneath the tree when we weren't looking. UH-dorable.


Since we have sworn off any and all Black Friday shopping and outings, we hunkered down for the day after Thanksgiving and watched more football, played trains, I Spy, and Candyland, listened to Christmas music, and got out the rest of the holiday decorations. Noah and Anna thoroughly enjoyed playing with their Little People Nativity Set again, too. Baby Jesus has the drool stains to prove it.


Then I made the mistake of wrapping and putting out the kids' presents to complete the holiday scenery. This started the quarter-hourly onslaught of Noah asking if it's "time now yet?" to open presents.


Some other Thanksgiving mentionables:

Anna's first word: Done (used when she's done eating)
Anna's second word: Shoes (pronounced zzhoos)
Anna's third identifiable word: Da Da (pronounced Duh Duh)
And in case anyone's still counting, we caught mouse #10
We're hoping to go see Christmas lights tonight - last night's plans fell apart

Praying at Thanksgiving: Noah's prayer the night of Thanksgiving was for baby Tyson again and Tyson only. "Dear Jesus, help Baby Tyson not pain." The next morning Baby Tyson passed away - and as his mother posted, he is healed at last and running through heaven with blue eyes brighter and laughter much sweeter. Please pray for this family (they have 2 other young children) while you hold yours close this holiday season.

2 Recipes: Corn Pudding

This is a new slow cooker recipe I tried this Thanksgiving from the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook. It was so sweet and delicious. We deemed it our favorite food from our feast. In truth, somehow I totally botched the ingredients I included, but it still turned out great. Thanksgiving miracle, I guess. Or just dumb luck.

Corn Pudding

2 10 oz. cans whole kernel corn with juice
2 1 lb. cans creamed corn
2 boxes corn muffin mix
1 stick margarine
8 oz. sour cream

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover. Heat on low 2-3 hours until thickened and set. Serves 10 or more. (Yikes, 10? - Next time I'll try to cut the recipe down to half and see how that works).

(I was not paying attention to what I was doing and I used 2 15 oz. cans of whole kernel corn and only 1 15 oz. can of cream corn. By the end of 3 hours we thought it looked a little too wet and soupy, so we stirred it, turned it to high, and left it about 15 more minutes. We took what we could get after that and loved it. Just loved it.)

Then I found this recipe (from Laura :)) that is just as simple and uses about half the above 10 serving recipe ingredients. And it doesn't need several hours in a crock pot. Our favorite version of this recipe ended up skipping the sour cream and sugar and oil although if I had had sour cream in the house I would have included it. And might still next time.

Corn Pudding

1 can creamed corn, 1 can regular corn
2 eggs, 1/3 cup oil, 3/4 cup sour cream
1 box corn muffin mix, 1/2 cup sugar

Mix together. Spray 9 x 13 dish with Pam and pour mixture in. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 1 hour.

Quote: Diet

Tonight on The Jay Leno Show, Charles Barkley was being interviewed and they were discussing his weight gain and how he planned to lose that weight. He went on to name one caveat to his weight loss plan that totally made sense to my brain:

"You can't start a diet in the middle of the week. That's just stupid."

If that doesn't reveal what sort of fitness know-how I have, then I don't know what would!

The Call to a Holy Life

I just finished a book that I could not put down - An Unlit Path. Took me less than 2 days. Riveted I was. And discouraged and encouraged and over again. It is one family's account of their experiences with foster and adoptive care.

The book closes with a poem by Mother Theresa that I just happened to read for the first time the other day in a gift shop and then suddenly again in the book today.

The Call to a Holy Life

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Family Pics 2009

Our proofs are finally available to view! I think I about went crazy with the wait. I do not wait well. Wasn't that one of my New Year's Resolutions this year? Hmmmm. May need to do a double dose of that in 2010.

Go ahead and take a look. And then try to act surprised when you see one or two of those same pics on our Christmas card this year.

Click on Shannon Watson Photography. Click on full screen. Click on Client Proofs. Username is brown. Password is kimberly. All lowercase.

Trains and Pains

The highlight of our weekend, or Noah's weekend rather, was getting out the trains for Christmas. We had planned to wait til we got out the rest of our holiday stuff at Thanksgiving, but some things just can't wait.


Noah was duh-lighted to have it back out and within reach. he remembers it that well from last year. Anna didn't know what all the fuss was about, but she was happy to be a part of it.

This is pretty much all we did this weekend.

And I spent over 24 hours laid out on the couch on the mend from some quirky neck issue. Nothing a little rest, a lot of Motrin, and a seriously effective Homedics massage thingy couldn't help resolve though.

Recipe: OREO Truffles

Not trying to steal the credit here. This recipe came from Emily and it is TO DIE FOR. Very dangerous to leave open in the kitchen. Disappears quickly. These Oreo bad boys are what I am going to give to my neighbors for Christmas.

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg. of Oreos
8 oz. cream cheese
white chocolate chips
1 T. Crisco

Ground up Oreos and mix with cream cheese.
Roll Oreo mixture into balls and place on wax paper.
Put in freezer for 30 minutes to harden.
Melt white chocolate chips and 1 T. of Crisco in microwave.
Dip Oreo balls into melted white chocolate.
Set back on wax paper to set.

Notes from our family's Oreo Truffle Queen, Emily: Good recipe to let the kids help with. Use a food processor to ground up the Oreos. Don't forget to add the crisco to the chips when you melt them, otherwise it won't be smooth enough to dip onto Oreo balls and you'll get frustrated and want to cuss.

And, there you have it. :)

Recipe: Egg/Cheese Stack

I've made this little breakfast recipe for dinner, too. I like how light it is. And I like how simple it is, as always.

Speedy Egg & Cheese Stack

6 eggs, beaten
6 flour tortillas
1 c. mexican-style shredded cheese
2 tomatoes, thinly slices

Preheat oven to 375. Pour eggs into nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray. Cook on medium heat 5 minutes or until set, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Place 2 tortillas, overlapping, on bottom of 9 inch pie plate. Top with 1/2 of the eggs and 1/3 each of the cheese and tomato. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining tortillas, cheese and tomato slices.

Bake 10 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Taken from Kraft Foods magazine.

Recipe: Super Easy Chicken

It is 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday and I have already made dinner. Yes, that's right. Already made dinner. See recipe below for super easy, tasty, tender chicken. The best past of the recipe is that you do not have to defrost the chicken.

Super Easy Chicken

4 frozen chicken-breast halves
1 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix
1 cup warm water, or chicken stock

Place chicken in slow cooker. Sprinkle with dressing mix. Pour water over chicken. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

Recipe taken from the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook full of nothing but slow cooker recipes.

Quote: Ruthless Trust

Ruthless Trust is the name of the book I have been trying to finish for awhile now. After about three months, I am still only four chapters in. It just doesn't keep me coming back for more. So today I cut my losses and quit the book - which is a real throwback to my teaching days. One of the first skills I remember teaching my third graders in Reader's Workshop was knowing when to abandon a book. It's a very empowering practice for us reader-types and us finish-what-you-start types.

However, all is not lost on my fruitless attempts to get through the book. I had already noted and saved the following line:

"To be grateful for an unanswered prayer, to give thanks in a state of interior desolation, to trust in the love of God in the face of marvels, cruel circumstances, obscenities, and commonplaces of life is to whisper a doxology in darkness."

Amen to the message of this quote and amen to the beautiful phrase at the end ... "to whisper a doxology in darkness."

Me Pilgrim, You Indian

They're both a couple turkeys, if you ask me.


Funny Thanksgiving note: Noah insists on calling every turkey he sees - a chicken. He just can't seem to grasp the concept that they are not the same thing. Too funny.

Baby's First Haircut

Annabelle got her first hair cut yesterday. I was even brave enough to go for it alone without Josh to assist in case of a screaming emergency. Turns out I had some built-in assistance anyway. Noah rose to the occasion and was quite eager about helping Anna be brave if needed. During her cut, he could be heard in the background singing a Noah original entitled, "Baby Dude, Baby Dude". Really, though, no help was needed. The lady set Anna down and got to work on her flyaway and uneven wispy pieces of hair that I was determined to see gone. When Anna had absolutely no reaction to the new experience, Noah yelled in surprise, "Mommy! Anna no cwy!"


I was just as surprised myself. I was braced for the worst. She is nothing if not dramatic.

But no, she was a total rock star about it - if by rock star you think of stoic, silent, still, and sober. Heh, heh, heh...not likely. But she WAS all those things, so in my book she totally showed Noah up in the first-haircut department. He panicked and screamed and cried his first time. Then again, he had a lot more hair to lose for the occasion. And he was a a lot younger, too. Here's a shot of Noah getting his first haircut at 9 mos. Thankfully, that zebra print did him no permanent damage.

Anecdotally Anna

Anna (at almost 14 mos. now) has a few things, antics, and tendencies about her that crack me up, steal my heart, and/or really dance around on my last nerves lately. Any which way she goes though, it's all in day's work for the girl.

Some pieces and notes about our days with Anna:

- Anna's recent and first favorite book is a bath book called Busy Bath, that we don't ever use in the bath actually. Also, she really digs a touch-and-feel alphabet book called B is for Bear and a Disney babies book called Simba and Nala at Play.

- She never got cradle cap or went through a drooling stage...until now. We have been suffering with her through both for weeks - with no end in sight yet.

- She goes from sitting to standing on leg power alone. She does not use her arms to get up and this always draws a surprised and impressed comment or two.

- She will request (by finger point): a banana - and then eat only half; bubbles - and then pay no attention to them; her pooh ride-on toy - and then abandon it once she pushes it 2 feet.

- She does this thing where she hunches her shoulders inward and forward, splays her arms out behind her, and then hurries forward. She looks a little, no - a LOT - like an albatross trying to take off.

- She is our resident small-scale moving company. At every possible turn, she picks up and walks around with and then relocates both of Noah's step stools or pushes the slide in his room to the opposite corner.

- She give kisses by planting her open mouth on your cheek or mouth. If you let her linger, you'll get a little tongue, too. Yecth!

- She has turned into a real purse-lover. She has this little black one my parents gave her that is just her size and she recently discovered how to put things in it (plastic coins, a ball, or her red beanbag) and then take them out again. When she puts it on her arm or over her shoulder, she grins her toothy grin and raises that arm into the air to keep it in place while she walks to another spot to empty and reload it again. Uh-dorable.

- She has welcomed having her teeth brushed. In fact, a toothbrush is a real relief for her to chew on when her gums ache. The only drawback is that she drools in triple-time then and I have to change her shirt. And I fret and fret that she is going to fall down with that thing in her mouth.

- She also welcomes having her hair brushed. She brings her brush to me to brush it and then she wants it back to brush herself. Problem is, she uses the hard side and when I try to correct her hand position, she clenches it in her fist and screams like I am taking it away. And then I crack up laughing. So she does, too. And that is my open window to finagle it to the right direction in her hand. By then she has lost interest and I get to brush her hair again myself. Which is good - because that flaky cradle cap she has is driving me bonkers!

- She can be relied upon to start her own round of applause and say "Yaaaaaaaay!". And she expects you to join in. Usually after she has climbed up the slide in Noah's room, or when she has followed a direction successfully, or when she is praised.

- She will stand there and dramatically cover her wide-open mouth with her wide-open hand and squeeze her eyes shut and cry and cry and cry...and then open the eyes to see if you are watching, and if you are, she goes on some more. Steal. My. Heart with the full-sized drama on a pint-sized frame. Still not gonna give in to your tantrums, little girl, but I will give you full credit for trying...and for cuteness.

- She is OBSESSED with the tags in her shirts, tagless shirts included. They drive her crazy and she constantly pulls and yanks on them. I tried and tried to not have to start cutting them out for her (for consigning purposes later) but in the end her sanity was more valuable. Ironically, now she will pull and fret over what I can only surmise are phantom tags. They aren't there anymore, and yet she still will not relent!

- She is committed to having her shoes on as often as possible. And once she has them on, she is committed to making sure the rest of us do, too. She will bring us our shoes and socks one at a time if she has to. And the times when she does not have her shoes on, she is also satisfied to carry them around and chew on them ... which I am not too keen on.

- She enjoys digging through the Tupperware cabinet. She has also re-inspired Noah to do the same with her.

- She can't resist knocking down any sort of tower that Josh or Noah build. She rushes over, swishes her hands in and over said building projects, and makes this gleeful squeal-gurgle sound.

- She will color for longer than Noah.

- She loves getting a bath.

- She can understand and respond to/obey the following:
Take it to Daddy/Mommy.
Go put it in the trash.
No!
Are you hungry?
What do you want?
Do you want to go upstairs/outside?
Let's go to Noah's room.
Get down.
Where's your milk?
Come here.
Are you tired?
Did you poopy?
Let's change your diaper.
Are you done?
Give me kisses.
Go get (fill-in-the-blank).

And in true Anna fashion, she still cries a lot. Thankfully, she smiles and laughs a lot more, too.

Recipe: Baked Swiss Chicken

I made this recipe of my mom's tonight and Josh loved, loved, loved it. I have to admit, I really liked it, too. Quite tasty and super easy!

Baked Swiss Chicken

4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
8 (4x4 inch) slices of Swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup herb seasoned stuffing mix
1/4 cup butter, melted

Arrange chicken in lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Top with cheese slices. Combine soup and wine and spoon evenly over chicken. Sprinkle stuffing mix over casserole and drizzle butter over crumbs. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes.

Mmm-mmm! Turned out to be really great as a leftover as well! Bonus!

Geriatric Santa

Several days ago, Noah: Santa too old [to] get up.

Today, in the car, Noah: Santa too old [to] make toys.

Photo Slump

We take a lot of pictures in our family. It's Josh's philosophy, in fact, that when the kids are grown and gone, we won't regret the surplus I worry we have now and we will probably wish we had more to remember these days by. So in this family, we click, click, click away and enjoy ourselves doing it. But for some reason, November came in and my picture-snapping impulses went out. I must have been feeling distracted, or you know, scattered. I think the mice (of which we are hunting the eighth! eighth!!) have chipped away at my focus. All I have to show for the past few weeks are these two uninspiring shots from McDonald's, which, by the way, we will never go back to. Sorry Noah. Too much ick for my brain to handle.


I have taken some pics from our recent home improvements, though. I offer those here now. Our new counter tops (still waiting on getting the back splash installed) and the screened porch (with shingles now, and almost completed handrail for the steps Josh built last weekend).



It's about to rain soon (any minute now really) and I am looking forward to that. By then, Noah and Anna will be up from their naps and I have plans for us to enjoy hanging out on the porch watching the rain come down. Just thinking about it inspired me to go take some pics of the back porch. And then I got distracted (imagine that) and started taking pics of our back yard instead. Now, at least, I have something to show in our picture folder for this month. And so, without further ado, let me show you around our yard!

Josh's office is housed in a separate space in the the back of his workshop. We just had it wired for electricity last week.


Anna's play equipment that used to be Noah's. Actually, Noah still loves it and climbs all over it when Anna is using it.


Noah's "bwoo swing". Josh has it hanging from a very high branch and it swings so smooth and long and high. According to Noah he is "high as the clouds".


One of many stupid mole hills and tunnels in our yard.


Noah's swing set. His favorite thing to do is roll two giant Tonka trucks down the slide. Anna's favorite thing here is the sandbox underneath the platform area.


View from the corner of our yard.


Where we (and by we, I mean Josh) are going to build a veggie garden next year.


And I know these aren't exactly back yard pics, but I got on a roll while I was outside. Some shots from the back porch ... complete with plastic furnishings, aka - toys.

Noah's basketball goal, transplanted from his bedroom.


Outdoor seating....which is really hard to find in stores in fall/winter.


Anna's kitchen, transplanted from the playroom.

Now, the kiddos are up, Josh is done working, and we are all just waiting on the rain ... and dinner. Sadly, Anna's kitchen won't get that job done. Duty calls.

Recipe: Chicken Pie

Nothing flashy about this recipe. Just something really hearty and really good. Comfort food if there ever was one. I got this recipe from a friend (remember Annie Clausen, Heather?) from college right after I got married. It only took me 7 years to get around to trying it. Kids will do that to you - turns out you gotta keep 'em fed. ;)

Chicken Pie (A Southern Tradition)

6 T butter, 6 T flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper
1 3/4 c. chicken broth, 2/3 c. milk
2 c. boiled chicken, cut-up
2 9" pastry pie crusts

Melt butter, add flour and seasonings. Let bubble.
Add liquids and cook until thick. Add chicken.
Fill one pie crust with filling.
Cut the other pie crust to make 1/2" strips and place across pie.
Bake at 425 for 25 minutes.

Oh my goodness - Yum!

Recipe: Sweet-n-Sour M'balls

This makes the second sweet-and-sour meatball recipe I have posted. I couldn't resist. But, this one is better than the first, though it involves a few more ingredients and steps. This one is the recipe I ate growing up. Of all the things my mom ever made for dinner, this was always my favorite.

Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. lean ground pork sausage
1/4 c. soy sauce, 1/4 c. cider vinegar
1/2 c. brown sugar, 1/8 c. cornstarch
1 egg, 1 (8 1/4) oz can crushed pineapple
1/3 c. water, 1 tsp. garlic, 1 tsp. mustard

Mix ground beef, sausage, egg, mustard, garlic, 1 T soy sauce, and 1 T cornstarch. Form into balls. Cook at 375 for about 20-25 minutes. Drain balls on paper towels. Set aside.

Combine soy sauce, cedar vinegar, brown sugar, crushed pineapples (including juice), water, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat til bubbly and thickened. Add meatballs to sauce and cook until meatballs are heated.

Serve over rice or chow mein noodles.

Say What?

Two dumb things I said recently, and I quote:

1. It isn't showing my heart rate - it's only showing my pulse!

2. Today went fast, but kinda slow, but mostly fast.

The Cut continued

I had morning duty with Noah and Anna this morning. We were all crammed on the couch, still in our pjs, kind of piled on each other ... in a way that had not ticked Anna off yet, of course. Noah wraps his arms around Anna (somewhat smothering her - but still not ticking her off yet) and lets her in the club.

Noah: I wuv you, baby! I wuv you.
Noah: I wuv you. So much. Today.

Today, huh? I guess we'll keep her fingers crossed for tomorrow and the next day.

WPTM #18: Delight

What Parenting Teaches Me #18: Delight

Having children has opened my eyes to so many things about the Lord, about myself, and about my relationship with Him. Most recently it has had to do with delight. Pure, simple, thrilling delight.

It thrills me to watch what my babies will do next, watching them just be. I flat out DELIGHT in watching them do something new, watching them laugh, watching them cry, watching them figure something out, watching them struggle with something else, watching them succeed or have to try some more, watching their habits and impulses that are so uniquely them, watching them communicate, watching them concentrate, watching them get excited, watching them build relationships, watching them learn, watching them sleep, even watching them be bad when they think no one is watching. I can get so sappy over them - heck - I am all watery just typing this list - just thinking about how I think about them.

And I think about how that is mirrored in heaven. Can God really feel such delight in me? He must, I know. He didn't just give birth or adopt us. He created us and every thing about us that makes us different and special. He made those details. So he loves us and delights in us in a much more deep and powerful and yet intimate way. And that is amazing to think about. And that is humbling. And that is so thrilling, too. And such a relief.

And then I feel guilty knowing that in my flesh, in this life, I will probably never be able to love Him back as much or as well as He loves me. I'll try, of course, and because he loves me like he does, it will only delight Him more.

List: A Child's Needs

A list taken from our pastor's blog, Doing Life Together:

Here’s some great stuff about raising your kids from Robert Lewis. This list, entitled “What Your Child Needs for You to Know,” comes from Session 8 of Men’s Fraternity’s Authentic Manhood: Winning at Work & Home.

* I need you to know somebody must be there for me in the early years. It’s critical for my development!

* I need a balance of discipline, instruction, and love growing up.

* I need you to know my personality and honor it. The sooner, the better.

* I need you to discover my bent and actively support it.

* I need you to know too much is too much.

* I need you to show me what to believe by living it.

* I need you to know you can wound me for a lifetime.

* I need you to adjust your leadership style to me as I grow.

* I need you to make some great memories with me to live on.

* I need you to love God and share Him with me.

Case in Point

While I was on the road to my sister's house on Friday (at least 3 hours into the drive), I stopped to use the bathroom, grab a bite, and generally wake myself up. I even took a phone call from my sister and walked around a few minutes. As I stood at the counter waiting for my order, I started going through my purse and realized that my keys were not there. A short heart attack and a long wait for my food later, I stalked to my car praying aloud, ALOUD I tell you, "Oh God, please let it be unlocked, please let it be unlocked, please let it be unlocked." In my head I was even explaining to God that even if I had locked it he still had time to unlock it and no on would be the wiser. I believe, Lord, I believe that car is unlocked.

Well, miracle of miracles, it was unlocked. The keys were in the car. In the ignition. The car was STILL RUNNING!

Didn't I tell you I was feeling scattered? Well. Case in point.

The Cut

To date, Noah has officially declared his love for two people - without being asked or told to say so, that is. Those people are his daddy and his babysitter. But today, TODAY, I made the cut. As I turned the DVR to his ever-loving Max and Ruby show per his request, he announced, "I WUV you, Mommy." And then, for emphasis, he said it again with a smile when I looked at him all surprised and happy. "I wuv you."

I wuv you, too, Noah Brown. I wuv you, I wuv you, I wuv you.

Scattered

I'm feeling so scattered and stressed this week. A lot is going on with the house and family - nothing bad though. Well, nothing too bad. We do have yet another mouse to deal with that apparently died under our house. The smell was so bad this morning, I was gagging and could not go downstairs. It puts me in real panic mode. Noah kept asking this morning "Why Mommy - oh my gosh?" when I kept having to gasp fresh air outside and hold my ears and eyes and chant "Oh my gosh. Oh, Oh Oh." and on and on. This dead mouse makes number 5 for the season for us. Not liking that number and how it seems to keep rising. Please, Lord, please let there be no more after this one!!

This has been a busy week for appointments and installs and errands and travel plans and bullies at school and such. Life-type stuff just all happening in the same week or two. Besides the mouse fiascoes we have had of late and besides having the screen porch built and then fixed soon after, we had new counter tops installed Monday which was no small thing and no small mess afterwards. Josh is having his workshop set up with electricity on Friday. I leave tomorrow to go see my sister's new house in GA. We had to buy our second new HVAC in 6 months (ouch!) and that is being installed today. Josh finished up his medical stuff for the adoption and I finished up the last of our checklist of stuff to do for it as well. Tonight is our last training class - it's on CPR and first aid. We had a long anticipated family photo session outdoors yesterday that came as the biggest relief for me to have done and over with. It went really well overall and I must warn you - there are some fantastic shots. I can't wait to see the proofs in a couple weeks. We donated some furniture this week so that pick-up had to be scheduled and managed when they came late. Last week there were a couple minor catastrophes that happened of course when Josh was out of town - so those also were managed over the weekend and this week. I cancelled my gym membership and we just got our own elliptical machine to use at home. So that was a big ticket item we also bought and assembled this week. It's all so stupid really that it occupies so much space in my brain. But there it is. Lots on the brain and the holidays are coming so quickly. I think I'm about half done with Christmas shopping. But truly, I'm exhausted already and again. I insist, I insist, I insist that I will be settled and peaceful and together by Thanksgiving.

And then I scold myself for how stupid and petty my concerns are lately. I know of a friend from college who has but 2 more weeks with her 2 year old before his poor little body gives in to his brain tumor. Josh and I can hardly speak of it without tears lately. It so fills my head and heart that I dream about them, about his dying, about my days with this friend from college. And man, how remembering your college days can get you thinking again. That's a whole other distracting story. I won't go there. But I will tell you that Noah prays for this little boy that is losing the fight for his life every night. I don't think Noah really gets it, but he gets that it is concerning to Josh and me and he gets that baby Tyson is sick, very sick. So he remembers him, remembers all on his own, and lifts him up to the Lord when he prays his short and sweet prayers. I can't think of anything more moving than that right now. How tender it must be to the Lord - to hears prayers from one baby for another baby. My heart just breaks at the thought, for their family, and for the beautiful witness they have been and continue to be through what must be slowly ripping their hearts apart. Oh Lord, oh Lord....

I just can't concentrate.

Hectic happenings,
home ownership,
holidays, and
heartbreak,
oh the heartbreak...

... they all just kick my butt.