Testing

Downloaded the Blogger app for my iPhone (why can't I ever start sentences with "I"?? "I downloaded..." It's a sickness) and wanted to test it out real quick. Of course 2 weeks after I get my new laptop and am excited about finally blogging again, I find the Blogger app and can do it from my phone anyway. But shhh! Don't tell Big Hunk! He might steal my laptop away!

The most wonderful time of the year.

Have you ever seen that commercial with the dad dancing up and down every school supply aisle, while "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" played on the store speakers? That commercial always made me crack up. Still does, even though I am jealous of that guy because he clearly gets to send his kids off everyday, and mine are always in the next room, fighting.

Nah, it's not that bad. And I really do love homeschooling. Especially in September! Everything is fresh and exciting. January, however, would have me dancing up and down the aisles if I could take the rest of the year off.

We started school today and I wish I could bottle Ikie's excitement as she completely 3 1/2 math worksheets, constantly asking to "do more school." Any bets how long it will be before she's groaning and saying she hates school?

But both kids were eager and happy to learn today, so I will take it one day at a time. We are using Five in a Row again, after a really successful last year. On top of that, we are also doing math (of course, blech) and Apologia science again. Last year we did Apologia Astronomy (LOVED it!), so this year we are starting their zoology studies. We are in Zoology I, which is the flying creatures of the 5th day. So far I can tell we'll be studying wasps and beetles on top of the furry flying things, so that should be fun.

Tomorrow night the kids go back to Awana (except this year it's not Awana anymore, they're calling it ITZ), and I start Bible study again. I can't wait! I miss Bible study SO much during the summer and can never wait to go back. I stepped down from any kind of leadership this year (last year I was an assistant group leader) only because I have so much going on with children's ministry.

Okay I'm even boring myself here.

Really quick and I'll explain more later, but have you heard of the book The Beauty Detox Solution?

 I'm still not too far along in it but have been reading Kim's blog and Facebook updates for a few weeks, and about a week or so ago started her Glowing Green Smoothie that I've been reading about everywhere. My goodness, I have never felt better. I just feel so good. My energy is a million times better (today I didn't even need coffee *gasp!*) and my skin has completely cleared up. Yeah, we won't even go into the teenage acne that decided to camp out on my face on my 29th birthday and never leave.

Anyway.

Gotta get rest to handle the 2nd day of school excitement.

Melly out.

Hey you.

I'm back.

I created another blog several months ago to cut down some walls of anonymity (which I hate), but it has really hit me that though I can't really stand using code names for my kids and husband, if it's what I have to do to keep my kids safe, you do what you gotta do. I would so much rather annoy everyone calling my kids Mike (the boy) and Ike (the girl) and still be able to share details of my life, than share everything under the sun with no boundaries and later realize how much it hurt us. I read so many blogs of people that have no problem opening that window to their life and I guess I tried to be like them, but it's just not worth it. I don't want to live with trepidation of sharing what we did over the weekend or what we do, all just because I share our names and I'm afraid someone will put 2 & 2 together.

Don't know if it makes sense to anyone else. ;)

Anyway. I'm back. Partially because of what I've written, and also because the most awesome husband in the world (mine) bought me a laptop for my birthday yesterday (my 5th annual 29th birthday!) and I feel like blogging is an attainable goal again. It was just flipping impossible to sit at the desktop computer for any length of time without the house falling apart! Not to mention I just feel like we have too much going on. Now I can divert my eyes from the trillionth episode of Sports Center my husband has on, and bore you to death instead. It's a win-win.

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.