I found these rules and couldn't help but re-posting them. I hope she doesn't mind. They made me laugh and feel normal again. Since she put it WAY more interestingly then I ever could, I'll leave them in her words.
House Rules
1. When Mom naps, we play the "we are petrified pieces of wood" game. 600 square feet leaves no room for noise when Mom is trying to take a nap.
2. One person talks at the dinner table at a time. We do not believe in speaking in tongues, nor interpreting them.
3. Saying "I don't like this" gets you an extra helping of whatever does not catch your fancy.
4. Telling the truth will get you out of many a pickle, and might get you elected to Congress.
5. What Dad says, Mom says, and vice versa. If we catch you tryin the ole' switch-er-oo, your name is mud man, mud.
6. We do not describe Mom using any animal characteristics.
7. We read "Mom's are Marvelous" every time we find it. Finding it is as follows: We find the book, gather and sit no matter where we are or WHAT we are doing, and read it completely through with no interruptions. So what if Mother's Day is months away.
8. Fun comes after chores. I tried the Mary Poppins adage, "In every element of fun there is a job that must be done.." and yeah that didn't work. So chores aren't fun. Do them then have fun.
9. We do not explain what kind of bugs the pitcher plant eats to help our existence at any time of the day.......nausea is instantaneous.
10. By 3 1/2 you are on your own in the restroom. Toilet paper is cheap. Find it and do whatever works for ya.
11. The questions, "Are we there yet?" "What are we having for dinner?" and "Why do I have to do this?" are tolerable the first 3 times...... after that we take 5 cents from your inheritance each repetition. AND when Mom is getting dressed and putting make-up on after noon, the question "Where are we going, Mom?" can make you disinherited all together.
12. When you hear "So-and-so-is-here!" assume emergency stations. Mom will be tripping on her robe as she flies to her room to dress, while you are left to shove as many things as you can under the couch.....dishes included.
13. You are allowed one or two good hearty laughs at an unexpected bodily function, whether yours or not. After that it is just poor manners.
14. You can hide wherever you like so long as you can unwedge yourself when you need to exit.
15. Every outfit without visible food on it is wearable for a two day stretch, then washed.
16. Laugh often, love much and munch much. Wonderful motto.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
John Deere Too
OK, I've finished Andrew's curtains now. (I'll post pics this evening if you read this before I do).
I'm staying UBER busy right now. This weekend is FED, one of the business conferences we go to 4 times a year. Before we get there, I need to get through 3 more days of school, get my house cleaned (not just cleared), pray for my babysitter to come through, and hopefully get the baking done that I have planned for before I leave. I need to write out a list of "To Do's" for before I leave. Ok, now that I've had my brainstorm online.......
These are Andrew's curtains.
I did them a little differently from his brother's with a few more patches that are smaller than the others. Don't know if you can see them very well. I really like the way they turned out. For Christmas, I'm going to make each one of them a John Deere pillow. Just need to go buy some backing material and stuffing. Should be loads of fun!!!!
I'm staying UBER busy right now. This weekend is FED, one of the business conferences we go to 4 times a year. Before we get there, I need to get through 3 more days of school, get my house cleaned (not just cleared), pray for my babysitter to come through, and hopefully get the baking done that I have planned for before I leave. I need to write out a list of "To Do's" for before I leave. Ok, now that I've had my brainstorm online.......
These are Andrew's curtains.
I did them a little differently from his brother's with a few more patches that are smaller than the others. Don't know if you can see them very well. I really like the way they turned out. For Christmas, I'm going to make each one of them a John Deere pillow. Just need to go buy some backing material and stuffing. Should be loads of fun!!!!
Friday, October 16, 2009
John Deere
SO, I've decided to do something to smush my funk.
Ever since the boys were toddlers, we've discouraged cartoons and cartoon characters and encouraged things like blocks and lincoln logs and legos (encourages imagination), and John Deere (something to talk about other than TV).
Because we encourage them in their love of John Deere, last Christmas, I made quilts for each with their names stitched into the bottom:
And yesterday, to pull myself out of my self-inflicted funk, I started sewing a John Deere curtain for both bedrooms. I finished Nate and Aaron's curtain last night, and took pictures of it this morning.
They turned out really cute. And I finished the laundry that needed to be folded. That improved my mood as well. Today, it's time to do school, and core/peel/slice about 5 pounds of apples that God gave us for free. God is good. Even when we're frustrated and depressed.
Ever since the boys were toddlers, we've discouraged cartoons and cartoon characters and encouraged things like blocks and lincoln logs and legos (encourages imagination), and John Deere (something to talk about other than TV).
Because we encourage them in their love of John Deere, last Christmas, I made quilts for each with their names stitched into the bottom:
And yesterday, to pull myself out of my self-inflicted funk, I started sewing a John Deere curtain for both bedrooms. I finished Nate and Aaron's curtain last night, and took pictures of it this morning.
They turned out really cute. And I finished the laundry that needed to be folded. That improved my mood as well. Today, it's time to do school, and core/peel/slice about 5 pounds of apples that God gave us for free. God is good. Even when we're frustrated and depressed.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Sweetest Grass is in the Valley
As I posted last night, it dawned on me how depressed my blog seems lately.
I don't mean for it to. I definitely feel anything BUT depressed. Sure, the circumstances seem impossible right now, but I'm leaning harder, depending more on my Heavenly Father than I have in a long, LONG time. While I may not understand WHY our family is experiencing trouble right now, I know that our Heavenly Father has a reason, a "method to his madness" as my mom would say.
Last night, the evangelist that was preaching said something that really is true to me right now. He said, "Many times, as the Shepherd leads his sheep, he leads them into the valley, because the sweetest grass, and the stillest water is found there." It made me think. Some of the sweetest devotions, some of the most comforting moments have been found in the midst of the confusion I call my life at the moment. While I can't wait to arrive at the top of the mountain again, I am peaceful in knowing that He is ahead of me, leading the way. No matter how dark, no matter how steep, no matter how impossible life seems, HE walked that way ahead, and His ears are listening to my cries.
While the way seems impossible and the climb seems never-ending, He has a reason, and He has a plan. He will do what He planned, and He will make us stronger, and more blessed at the mountain top.
As I was writing this, the song that began playing was... My Father Planned it All.... "I'll sing through the shade and the sunshine, I'll trust him whatever befall, I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father Planned it ALL!!!!!!" How cool is that??????
"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
I don't mean for it to. I definitely feel anything BUT depressed. Sure, the circumstances seem impossible right now, but I'm leaning harder, depending more on my Heavenly Father than I have in a long, LONG time. While I may not understand WHY our family is experiencing trouble right now, I know that our Heavenly Father has a reason, a "method to his madness" as my mom would say.
Last night, the evangelist that was preaching said something that really is true to me right now. He said, "Many times, as the Shepherd leads his sheep, he leads them into the valley, because the sweetest grass, and the stillest water is found there." It made me think. Some of the sweetest devotions, some of the most comforting moments have been found in the midst of the confusion I call my life at the moment. While I can't wait to arrive at the top of the mountain again, I am peaceful in knowing that He is ahead of me, leading the way. No matter how dark, no matter how steep, no matter how impossible life seems, HE walked that way ahead, and His ears are listening to my cries.
While the way seems impossible and the climb seems never-ending, He has a reason, and He has a plan. He will do what He planned, and He will make us stronger, and more blessed at the mountain top.
As I was writing this, the song that began playing was... My Father Planned it All.... "I'll sing through the shade and the sunshine, I'll trust him whatever befall, I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father Planned it ALL!!!!!!" How cool is that??????
"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Simply Trusting
"Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way. Even when my faith is small trusting Jesus, that is all... Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by, trusting Him whate'er befall, Trusting Jesus, that is all."
Some days are harder than others, and sometimes it seems impossible to trust, but trusting Jesus gains a great reward. Today was a hard day. Nothing went to plan, but all the VERY important stuff happened. The boys schoolwork is done, the check got into the bank, the lot rent got paid, and the trash got to the dump. I even started a load of laundry. Nothing else got done, but I'll take what He gives. Tomorrow, the dishes will still be there, the bills will still be waiting, the house will still be messy. Today, I'll trust that he had a plan in all the back-tracking I did, and know that patience was definitely one of them.
" But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
Some days are harder than others, and sometimes it seems impossible to trust, but trusting Jesus gains a great reward. Today was a hard day. Nothing went to plan, but all the VERY important stuff happened. The boys schoolwork is done, the check got into the bank, the lot rent got paid, and the trash got to the dump. I even started a load of laundry. Nothing else got done, but I'll take what He gives. Tomorrow, the dishes will still be there, the bills will still be waiting, the house will still be messy. Today, I'll trust that he had a plan in all the back-tracking I did, and know that patience was definitely one of them.
" But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Trusting in the Rain (Part 2)
You know, there's always those days where you wonder if God is really there... Really listening.
This week at our church is a revival meeting. The things the Lord has touched my heart about are vast, but one of them has been trusting him with EVERYTHING! So many times, it's easy to trust him about me, but when it comes to my husband or my boys, it's hard to just let go and let God.
As in all marraiges, there are things about Doug that I would love to change, but watching God do the changing on His time table has been neater still. I've watched God give my husband convictions without ever opening my mouth about them. I've seen Doug change so much since the day we got married. Not that I didn't love him that day, or that I didn't think he was wonderful then. Just things that I was willing to accept in order to be in his life.... those things I've watched God change all on his own. Stupid things.. Tripping over his shoes in the middle of the night, and praying in my heart that God would help him to remember to put them away.... Washing the towels for the third day in a row and asking God to help him rinse the toothpaste off rather than wiping it on the towels (ok, so I did ask him once why he wiped it on the towel). But God did all the reminding. I didn't have to nag him or tell him what I wanted, GOD did it!
It's memories like that that help me continue, since I know that if God cared about the stupid things that I cared about, then it's a sure thing that he cares about the big things that I care about. Things that bother me more than toothpaste and shoes. I'm just glad that I get to go to my Heavenly Father about all things and know that he cares about them.
"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, THEN thou knewest my path." Psalm 142:3a
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Psalm 61:2-3
This week at our church is a revival meeting. The things the Lord has touched my heart about are vast, but one of them has been trusting him with EVERYTHING! So many times, it's easy to trust him about me, but when it comes to my husband or my boys, it's hard to just let go and let God.
As in all marraiges, there are things about Doug that I would love to change, but watching God do the changing on His time table has been neater still. I've watched God give my husband convictions without ever opening my mouth about them. I've seen Doug change so much since the day we got married. Not that I didn't love him that day, or that I didn't think he was wonderful then. Just things that I was willing to accept in order to be in his life.... those things I've watched God change all on his own. Stupid things.. Tripping over his shoes in the middle of the night, and praying in my heart that God would help him to remember to put them away.... Washing the towels for the third day in a row and asking God to help him rinse the toothpaste off rather than wiping it on the towels (ok, so I did ask him once why he wiped it on the towel). But God did all the reminding. I didn't have to nag him or tell him what I wanted, GOD did it!
It's memories like that that help me continue, since I know that if God cared about the stupid things that I cared about, then it's a sure thing that he cares about the big things that I care about. Things that bother me more than toothpaste and shoes. I'm just glad that I get to go to my Heavenly Father about all things and know that he cares about them.
"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, THEN thou knewest my path." Psalm 142:3a
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Psalm 61:2-3
Friday, October 2, 2009
Trusting in the Rain
Somedays, it seems that life as we know it is impossible.
This last month has been a series of the bad and the worse. Started out with Doug and Nate getting sinus infections. Then, I got poison Sumac, then Aaron smashed his finger in the door of the blue truck, then Doug's truck has a hole in the water something or the other, then Doug's mom has 2 stints put in, then Dad C. has too high potassium levels and gall stones. I am ready to get off of this merry-go-round.
I am so glad to know, though, until the Master Conductor brings the merry-go-round to a stop, there is hope in knowing that HE is at the controls, HE knows when I'm too dizzy to stand any longer, HE knows how much I can trust Him for. HE knows what is best for us. It seems right now, that he is weaving just the dark colors into the tapestry of our lives. I am so thankful, though, that HE knows what He is making, and that it will be BEAUTIFUL when it is over.
Days like today, I'm thankful that I believe HE knows best. Days that make no sense, Days I want to quit. HE is faithful. He is there. HE is working. God is good... ALL the time. ALL the time... God is good.
This last month has been a series of the bad and the worse. Started out with Doug and Nate getting sinus infections. Then, I got poison Sumac, then Aaron smashed his finger in the door of the blue truck, then Doug's truck has a hole in the water something or the other, then Doug's mom has 2 stints put in, then Dad C. has too high potassium levels and gall stones. I am ready to get off of this merry-go-round.
I am so glad to know, though, until the Master Conductor brings the merry-go-round to a stop, there is hope in knowing that HE is at the controls, HE knows when I'm too dizzy to stand any longer, HE knows how much I can trust Him for. HE knows what is best for us. It seems right now, that he is weaving just the dark colors into the tapestry of our lives. I am so thankful, though, that HE knows what He is making, and that it will be BEAUTIFUL when it is over.
Days like today, I'm thankful that I believe HE knows best. Days that make no sense, Days I want to quit. HE is faithful. He is there. HE is working. God is good... ALL the time. ALL the time... God is good.
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