New blog address

After months of hating this blog and neglecting it like crazy, I finally created a new one. More me, less blah. If you'd like to visit, drop a comment w/your email addy and I'll send the link . :)

Making up time.

Okay I know I'm just stating the obvious here, but where in the heck did 2010 go?

Every year I endeavor to prepare earlier for the holidays so I can enjoy every stinking minute of it all, and every year it sneaks up faster and faster on me. This year didn't help that we were in Arizona for a week at the beginning of November, and it totally threw me off. One minute we were getting costumes for Halloween (Rainbow Brite & Zorro), then next we're hearing commercials on the radio for Christmas. Doesn't it seem like we just skip fall altogether now? {I tried to capitalize fall right there, but every time I do it just feels like I'm writing about the Fall of mankind and not the season.}

We're all doing well, though busier than ever. I swear I feel like I can never keep my head above water. I don't know why I was ever under the impression that homeschooling and being a stay-at-home mom would mean I'm ever home. Or that I'd ever have a moment of peace. Okay that's not true. I have peace. It just only comes at 6:30 in the morning when the kids are still asleep and my husband has already left for work. So yes, I do have peace.

Mikey is in 3rd grade now and Ikey is in 1st. We're using a new homeschool curriculum this year called Five in a Row and we LOVE it. I never dreamed we'd see a day when we all looked forward to schoolwork and no complaints were made. Linny first told me about it and I'm SO glad she did. Instead of days filled with fighting and whining (and that's just from Mom!) and busy work that was like pulling teeth to get completed, the three of us cuddle up on the couch, read our Bible and do Awana or their TruthQuest worksheets for church (LOVE this Sunday school curriculum by the way. if you're in charge of it for your church, you must check it out!), and then read whatever story we're on for FIAR. Of course we have other things that aren't always fun (math, writing), but this year has by far been the most pleasant since we began homeschooling.

I also LOVE our Apologia Astronomy! I will never ever step away from Apologia as long as I homeschool. I love it that much. Seriously awesome.

Okay so this wasn't meant to be a post about homeschooling, but I guess it's such a huge part of my life that I can't help but talk about it a little. I'm done.

Winter ball is over for Mikey now and being I never signed up Ikey for dance lessons like I planned {3 months ago}, things are slowing down a bit for Christmas. In theory. Two more weeks left of Awana and women's Bible study, but our "slower" time is being filled up with church Christmas musicals and field trips, so not a whole lot of that free time I hear so much about. I think it's kind of like that magical pegasus- sounds like a great idea but no one's ever actually seen one.

Much like an honest politician? Hmm.

I'm in the middle of my month-long break from Facebook and I have to say, Mommy likey. {Tried to find a cute little clip of Tommy Boy saying "Tommy likey. Tommy want wingy!" but couldn't. but it's here in spirit.} Without feeling the need to check several times a day to find out what my friends have had for lunch or how many loads of laundry they've done since breakfast, I find I have a lot more time to focus on the things that actually matter. Like ingesting books like there's no tomorrow, and perfecting my Viva Pinata garden. Oh yes, my life is full.

Okay so it's taken me 4 days to actually go from typing this post to submitting it, so I need to shut my trap and just get on with it. Or this stinking post will be sitting in my drafts until the year is actually over, and everyone will understand why my 2011 resolution is to blog more. I'd like to at least make an effort before that.

So now, pictures.

  when you give a kid a camera...

 at the nhra drag races last month. it was kinda loud.

old-school for halloween this year with a little rainbow brite & zorro

the kiddos w/magician nathan burton in vegas. yeah. the guy who told me the was "family friendly" clearly doesn't have kids.

in malibu for our anniversary. *cough cough* in august.

going whale watching

Instead...

I've had potential blog posts and corresponding photos running through my head the past few days. Sitting at the computer now, all I can think of is how much my house smells.

Something's got to give. Either these cats' stomach issues take a hike or they will be.


You're welcome.

Why do I love Compassion??

This.

Yanci is a little girl sponsored by Shaun Groves. 

Compassion doesn't just change the life of the child you are sponsoring. It changes the lives of those around them, and I guarantee it will change yours. Without a doubt. 

Would you consider giving one (or two? more?) little one a reason to truly celebrate, and HOPE, this Christmas?

*Edited to add: I just went on Compassion's website and saw that if you sponsor a child today, you get a $30 gift card to Dayspring! I don't know how long they're doing this, but that's an excellent bonus!! I loooove Dayspring and just ordered my daughter the cutest apron (and of course one for myself to match) for Christmas. Check it out!

Distance...

Oh my poor, poor blog. I'm sorry, I know I've neglected you oh-so-badly.

I gave up Facebook (for at least the next month), so I will make time for you again. You've been on my mind.

You know, the whole "distance makes the heart grow fonder" thing? It's true. I've missed you.

I married the funny

The humor that's shared between my husband and I never ceases to reach all-time highs. And to relay even half the conversations we share would only cause you to roll your eyes and think "Huh?", so just trust me on this one. My husband is one of the funniest guys on the planet. In fact, his sense of humor was one of the first things that made me fall in love with him. You know, right after the beautiful baby blues and awesome smile. 

Texting is no acception. He makes me laugh, even when he's not here to hear it:

Big Hunk: I'm not going to meeting tonight.

Me: How come?

Big Hunk: Leg & foot issue (*he hurt his leg ankle really bad playing baseball on Sunday)

Me: Ok babe. They'd make you stand the whole time? ;p

BH: No but tonight is "dance your best dance for Jesus" and with my clogs being so heavy it might hurt.

Me: Ouch, that would be bad. Poor Jesus. I bet He would have loved your dance of "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N."

BH: Well I was thinking more of the Jesus-arana but whatever.

Me: And instead of putting your hands on your arms, you raise them in the air and lay hands on people?

BH: Sure.

Me: Wow. Way to shoot down our witty banter.

Okay so most likely that's only funny to me. And if I'm right, just lie to me.

God's Chisel

After a lot of friends were posting this on Facebook, I had to check it out.

Um yeah. Ten minutes and forty thousand tears later...

I would highly recommend watching this to anyone. Man did it hit home for me.

"You think you're junk, don't you? You really really really think you're junk. Listen to Me. I don't make junk."

I can't tell you how often I look in the mirror and see exactly that- junk. I see my sins. I see the many things I've done wrong in my life and continue to do everyday. I see the people I've hurt. I won't let me see myself through God's eyes. I guess I feel unworthy to actually live in the outpour of His grace and mercy, because it's a lot easier to remind myself continuously of how filthy I am was, than to believe I could ever be anything that He would love.

But then who am I living for if I'm doing that? I say I'm living for God, but if I'm allowing myself to live in the lies of the enemy- am I living for God at all? If I tell others of this great, miraculous forgiveness my Savior offers, but won't stop living in condemnation, aren't I a hypocrite?

"God, today I'm turning everything over to You. I'm not going to hold onto anything anymore.
Your word says that You will make me Your masterpiece, and use me to do great things. I don't see how that's possible. But I want that with all that I am."


Today. Today is the day.

Longing for the sand

We tried going to the drive-in tonight, but apparently the rest of California had the same idea. We're all about the trendsetting. So instead we attempted a couple u-turns and tried to outsmart the crowds, but only ended up going home. Ikey was in a groichy mood anyway, so it night be better that she got in bed on time.

We've been having a blast this summer, so much so that I'll have no desire to let it out of claws come September. We'll finally, hopefully, have our first beach trip next week and I can't wait. To live in California and not go to the beach in almost a year is pretty close to being a crime. We have been diligent, however, in our pool duties, and I've secured a pretty decent tan, so all is not lost.

We've had a trip to a local waterpark and have played in the fountain at the mall till little toes were pruned. We've sampled every bit of fruit (no vegetables) at the Farmer's Market and have brand-new butterflies on our table. Yes, I think our summer has been a success.

And God-willing, many sandy, wind-blown days and road trips await us.

I'm praying for you.

I want to update about our family and our summer, but this was weighing on my mind. In fact I've been wanting to write about it for quite a few months, but as I sat down skimming through my friends' Facebook updates, something struck me and I couldn't put it off anymore.

If you have a pulse, you've had someone tell you "I'm praying for you." At times that brings us comfort. Some may even pray right then and there with us (oh how I treasure those friends!). But am I the only one that hears those words once in a while and just thinks yeah right? I hate to sound bitter [and maybe I am], but it just seems like it can be such a cop-out. I guess it all depends on the person saying it. We all have those friends that are true prayer warriors and will drop on their knees the second you ask for prayer. The ones we know will lift us up when we're all prayed out, can't find the words, or just need to know someone has our back.

But then are those that toss around the words like breath.

Well what ever happened to being the hands and feet of God? Now I'm not saying we aren't to pray for one another. I think ALL of us are called to be prayer warriors. But where in the Bible does it say to pray for each other, and then wash your hands of it? Is that really loving our brothers?

A few minutes ago on Facebook, I read the status update of a friend telling about a fundraiser for a family that had just lost a child. Someone replied with something along the lines of not wanting to buy what the fundraiser was selling, but that the family definitely needed prayer. Now it didn't seem to bother anyone else so maybe I'm reading too much into that, but why are we so unwilling to just give a little of ourselves? When a friend is hurting and has no money for gas, why does I'll pray for you jump off our lips so quickly, but we never think of how God might want to use us in that instance? Do our words mean anything to that homeless man with nothing to eat?

I don't know, maybe these things don't even go hand in hand. My original issue was with the lack of prayer behind the words. Today though, it morphed into not just an irritation with the empty words, but with our ability to stand, hands tied behind our back with that invisible string, "helpless" to reach out to those that need us.

When do we unbound ourselves from that string we put on ourselves, and really truly get out there and walk the walk? When does the word Christian start to mean laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters, and not just someone with a busy Sunday morning?

Around

You know it's been a long time since you've blogged when Blogger has changed the format of their website and you didn't even know about it.

This blog has not become my redheaded stepchild (not that I have anything against redheads or stepchildren), but there has been so much going on. A lot of times I just didn't have the words for it all. Others, I couldn't even process it in my mind, let alone put it out there in coherent terms for anyone else. I'll try soon though. I think things I've learned about myself and others the past few weeks (!) are worthy of my time typing it out.

Until I actually find the time to sit and sort out the madness that is my brain, I just read this and wanted to share. I have been reading Lindsay's blog for a couple years and this is the perfect example of why I adore her. Anyone that isn't afraid to make fun of their kids' art project (or as is evidenced here, hates to share the spotlight) is right up my alley.

Now back to listening to the same episode of Curious George for the 32nd time.