Life runs, I walk.

Well, this is Sunday night. Tomorrow we close on our first home and become official home owners. *cheer*
Please pray that this goes ok. If you're reading this and it's Monday, just take a second and say a prayer for our family. Today marks the beginning of a completely new life. A beginning as an "on the way to becoming a civilian family". Being home owners is a task that I'm certain we're ready for. It's exciting, to know that I no longer have to hang pictures, decorative tile, or anything else for that matter, with Velcro. (You can decorate almost your entire home with Velcro. You would be amazed at what that stuff can hold.....) Still, until tomorrow is over, I'm going to slightly hold my breath. It ain't over till it's over. *grin*

On that note, I can tell you that I'm ready to move. Not anxious, just ready. I'm past the point of making lists ( I live for lists ), of all the things I need to do before the movers come. I am, however, at the point of throwing away everything and starting over with all new stuff. *just kiddin*

This will mark our 14th move. Let me tell you, I have learned that it is ALL about the UNpacking. Get all the clutter put away, anything that is trash thrown away. Anything that can not be moved (liquids, cleaners, garage stuff...oil...soap, perishable items....the likes) should be giv en away to some grateful person. Then, you should organize all the books in the house into one location. This makes un packing so much easier. If you know it's books, you can unpack it last. All toys should be moved to one location, all clothes should be in the proper drawers in the proper rooms, all jewelry should be placed together, all telephones and cords should be together, all computers should be in one location....you get the idea?

I've unpacked boxes before where they packed, shoes, clothes and papers together in one box. They will put anything together just to fill a box. Dumping out every drawer in your entire house will give you an idea how how much of a clutterbug you are, but it will also allow you to get rid of the unnecessary items and keep the important ones.

So many people think that if you clean a room and leave it the way it usually is, they will come in, pack it up and you can unpack it the same exact way. Not true. Most likely, the layout of the rooms where you live and where you are going are not going to be the same. Also, you would be surprised how much the movers can tear your house apart while packing. You think it's really clean until they start unloading drawers and dumping out the items in your desk and bathroom cabinets. Not to mention your storage room and garage.

I have a system though. And I like it.

I walk around and mark each and every box they pack, as they pack it, with priority numbers. An open me first box, will have clean towels, linens and toilet paper. It will also have the telephones and their cords, a skillet, 2 pots, paper plates, plastic cups and disposable silverware. For this move, I will include a package of batteries, the new magic erasers by Mr. Clean and a COPY of the kids health and school records, just in case something should happen to the ones on the plane.

Then, I go around and mark the priority of the rest of the boxes. The idea, is to get the number of boxes down to a minimum. We have a ton of furniture. So hopefully, most of the boxes will hold the kitchenware, clothes, book, toys etc. The goal is to NOT have to open a box at the new house and say "oh good grief, this is junk". *grin*

The other goal, is to be able to immediately direct all boxes that can go straight to storage, to storage. And be able to focus on the boxes that contain the things we use on a regular basis.

That's my theory on packing down and unpacking a house. *smile*

Mom owes me money

Isn't this picture the cutest??? I'm telling you, this little boy brings so much joy into our lives on a daily basis. All our kids do, but he's the only boy, so I think all of us girls give him extra attention. Anna and Adrienne are always asking him to sit with them, or asking him if they can read to him, or just doting on him, getting him snacks and juice when he asks. And Abby copies everything he does, making him pay more attention to the things he does, just to see if she'll do it. *smile* That can get crazy! He is such a sweetie and we all enjoy his presence in our lives. I can't wait to see what kind of man he grows up to be.

Ok, here's a funny for today....

Tonight, I was in the kitchen and Anna walked in holding a small brown envelope. She says..."Ahem, look what I found".

The envelope says "Anna's tooth". It's an old envelope.

She eyes me curiously "Do you know what this means?" she asks.

"what" I reply

She smiles and gives me a knowing look. She found the envelope in a dresser drawer.

Somewhere deep down, I knew I shouldn't have put it there.

I tell her, "you know what it tells me? It tells me that the Tooth Fairy never came for it. If I were you I'd put it under your pillow."

Then I smile at her.

Without batting an eye she replies "Yeah, Mom, that's what I'll do, then maybe the Tooth Fairy will leave the $23.00 she owes me" She laughs and winks at me. I wink back.

I love this kid!

Anna's Story

Here is the story that Anna wrote today for her homework.......She is quite the budding writer!

"The Note"
By Anna Hyde

"You all get detention!" Miss B. said. This wouldn't have happened if, wait, let me tell it from the beginning.


It all started on the 100th day of school. "Miss B. is always giving us F's. It's not fair!" Jack said. "Well, not all of us, only kids like you, who like flunking." Amy insisted. Amy's the kid in the group who'a always saying stuff like "technically" and things like that. "Listen guys, there are only 3 of us. I think the other 22 are just fine with Miss B." I said. I'm kinda like Amy, pointing out the obvious.


We were heading to school. When we got there the bell had just rung. So, again, we were five minutes late. "OK, class, time to hand out the answer tests!" Miss B. was explaining. I saw Jack writing a note. He handed it to Amy. After she read it she gave it to me. It said, "Here we go again, F, F F's!". I saw Miss B. heading toward us. I quickly put it in my desk.


Miss B. handed Amy her test. "Yes!" I gave her a look. She had a happy look on her face. Then Miss B. gave Jack his test. He said " I told you so!" He got a F. Miss B. then stopped at me. She said "Wow". Noting else just "Wow". Slowly I opened my sheet. I got an A!!!


I started to get one of my papers out of my desk. Then as I began to write I noticed that it looked different. I continues to write. I realized that once I thought of what I wanted to write, it was already on the paper. So I gave it to Amy and shrugged. She knew something was wrong. She opened the paper, and it read "No, here we go again...A, A, A's". Jack read it too and they both realized the difference. Jack started to pass it back.


Miss B. said, "Stop passing notes!" She started to take it from him. Then she said "You all get detention!". She opened the note and just stared at it. She saw a difference also. She sat down at her desk and started to think of something then stopped. It was already written on the paper! Then she saw a symbol at the top of the paper.


Instantly she said "Class, go out to early recess!". Everyone cheered. She called me, Amy and Jack up to her desk. "Where did you get this paper?" she asked. I said, "It was in my desk". Then she told us that it was worth 1 million dollars!!! She told us that we don't have any more detention but that she has to keep the paper. We groaned but we also knew that she was right to keep it. From then on we never wrote another note again. (We kept the paper to ourselves just in case).


The End

September 11th, 2006

Well, tonight I remember 5 years ago. I had an in home daycare. Adrienne was 2. Anna was 5. Sunnydale was gone. Detached to "group". He was supposed to be gone on a 63 day mission.

270 days went by.

My heart broke every time the phone rang and it wasn't him.

My heart broke every time I left the house only to come home to a message he left on the machine.

That was the worst.

I can still feel the pain in the disappointment that I had left the house and missed his call.

Then I got a cell phone. And got word to him to call that number. ;)

I rarely missed a call after that.

But the calls came less and less.

Weeks would go by.

I would stay up half the night watching the news. Flipping back and forth from one channel to the next.

I took a few minutes tonight to allow the girls to watch a couple of the Memorial videos online.

Anna remembers.

Adrienne does not.

Adrienne had a lot of questions.

Anna answered a lot of questions.

They both got an eye opening view of their Dad and what he's done for them and for our country.

I'll never forget that day.

Mandatory Reading

God placed a book in my lap and said, "read this".

I did.

I cried.

My heart opened in ways it never has before.

A wall came down.

I cried some more.

I prayed.

I listened.

I heard.




Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers a Christian Novel

Ms. Gladys

I'm sitting here tonight, remembering a lifetime ago. I was 19 yrs old. Married. Pregnant. Trying to make a new home in a new town with basically a 100% turn around from where I had been 18 months prior to that.

We moved to a little town called Bogue Chitto. I swear, really, it's called that. Sunnydale was the youth minister for this tiny church there. Tiny church. Did I mention that this place was tiny? I could tell you how tiny but I actually have fond memories and I don't want to come off as offensive...LOL

So there we were, Sunnydale was driving all the way up to Kosciusko to go to school on Mondays and Tuesdays at MBC. Needless to say, I got lonely when he was gone. We only had one car, so when he was gone it left me at home. I began going on walks up and down the street we lived on.

One day, on one of my walks, I noticed this older woman outside. In that southern hospitality that I truly love (and miss) we exchanged hellos. I recognized her as one of the older women at out church. She knew who I was and invited me in for some sweet tea.....(miss that too). Well, we began these visits regularly when Sunnydale was gone. And even when he was home, Ms. Gladys would invite us over and fix THE best meals. Let's just say we were well fed!!

On one of my visits she asked if I knew how to crochet. I said I didn't, but wished I did. Well that was all it took. She had tiny white thread wound around my hands and through my fingers with a needle going to work in no time. Those are some of the fondest memories I have. She would tell me stories about her life, when she was younger, and I would sit and crochet, fascinated with her.

Ms. Gladys was 93 when she taught me how to crochet.

An old friend called tonight, John Mark Smith, to let us know that Ms. Gladys had passed on to be with our Heavenly Father. I probably had an odd response, I thanked him for calling, it was extremely thoughtful, after all these years to think of letting us know. But now that I think about it, I didn't get any info for the funeral.....how she died, where she was...nothing. Here is this woman that I've thought of so often over the last 9 years and I didn't ask anything.

Then it occurred to me. I am very simply at complete peace with her passing. My very first thought was to thank John Mark for letting us know. It didn't occur to me to cry or mourn her. God had a reason for allowing her to live on this earth for so very long. She touched more people than just me, I can tell you that.

I'll remember her for her kindness, her loving compassion and endless smile. Never a harsh word or thought of judgment crossed over her lips onto my ears. She was very careful in how she taught me. I've never forgotten her and I never will.

Tonight, I celebrate her life. And I'm happy, for her, that she's home.

Chores

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes,looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door.

As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do

all day?"


"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it"

"A Year of Memories" Life After Katrina....

Wow!
Sunnydale has been blessed with the opportunity to fly to New Orleans this weekend for an event held in Pontiff Park.

Emergency Medical Services
"A Year of Memories"
Held at the Veterans Memorial Square
Pontiff Park
New Orleans

He wrote a song a little over a year ago called "I'm Not Afraid To Fly". It's a beautiful song and he's going to sing it this weekend along with "God Bless America". I sure wish I could be there!!

Please keep his travels in your prayers. Also, please keep all the people and families that Katrina affected in your prayers. Anniversaries have a tendency to be very difficult.

~C.H.

You will NOT believe this!!!!!!

I am absolutely stunned at Adrienne. She cracks me up all the time, but this one hits #1 on her chart of hilarious things.....

I was looking through Adri's backpack this afternoon and came across a worksheet of math problems. Now, for those of you who don't know, Adri is in the 1st grade. She is repeating the first grade because her reading skills were not 2nd grade level, so we decided to allow her to repeat 1st. She started school when she was 4 so this is actually better because now she's with other 6 year olds.

Anyway, this math sheet had the basic of all basic math problems. For example....2+1=
So I noticed out of the 20 something problems, you could see where the teacher marked 16 of them WRONG. Ok, well, my first reaction was....ummm....what??? At the end of the year last year she was doing double digit addition, what's the deal?

So I brought her in here to talk to me about this without any of the other kids around. We sat down and I asked her about the worksheet. I told her that I need to know what's going on because I know she can do this math. This is the EASY math!

She put her hands on her face and said through her hands..."Mom, you're all mad at me and you don't get it......"

"Then please explain it to me, Adri"

She sat up in her chair looked me straight in the eye and said...

"Mom, if I do them all wrong the first time, then my teacher will have me erase them and I get to do them again"


WHAT???


She is doing them wrong on purpose because she likes math! She gets them wrong, then she gets to sit there and do it again.

That's hilarious. But clearly the wrong way to go about schoolwork.

Ok, so it's obvious she needs to be doing math that challenges her and this isn't it. I told her that tomorrow, if she'll get them all correct, then I'll tell her teacher that she has to give her extra worksheets to do. She said "You can do that?"

Ummm, yes. LOL

I suppose if you're going to have a problem at school, this is the one to have.

*laughing*

I should have known.....

I should have known by the way my day started that I was probably supposed to stay home today.

After I got the key situation taken care of, I got some housework done, got the girls up and off to school and then was on my way to daycare when.......

I caught a glimpse of a little boy, too little to be in school, walking down the road. I stopped the truck, threw it in reverse and backed up just to see if it really was a little boy....alone. I waited a minute or two (felt like 10) to see if his Mom or Dad came around.....still....quiet......he was alone.

I turned the truck around and drove down his street. When I arrived where he was, I immediately noticed that he was bawling. Not crying. BAWLING. His little face was all red splotched, you could tell he had been crying for a while. I turned my hazard lights on and got out of the truck. I asked him if he was ok and if he knew where his Mommy was. All he said was "My Dad's gone" over and over. He was maybe 4 years old...maybe.

So I looked around wondering what to do, I knew I couldn't put him in my truck so, off I went to the house where I had pulled over. I started to knock and saw it was cracked open. Then I thought, yeah, I bet he lives here. Nope. He didn't. Real nice lady answered though. She was just as upset as I was at the sight of him. He was that upset. Lost. Totally lost.

I asked her if she knew him and she said no then I said "I think you need to call the Police". She said ok and went back inside. I sat with him outside. When she came back outside after calling the Police, She held him while I pulled my truck into her driveway.

Then we noticed a man walking up the street. He was walking casually, not in a hurry. And when he reached her yard, she said to him "We found another one".....I was like huh? She explained that her own son had escaped her yard the other day while she was doing dishes.

So the man walks up and is talking to us he asked me where I found him and I explained what happened. Then AFTER THAT, he reaches out for the boy and takes him. It was HIS kid!!! And he didn't even say anything when he came up! The lady looks at him and said "oh! He's yours?"

The guy said yes and that was that. I couldn't believe it. The guy had left the kid home alone while he took the others to school. Sheesh.

I told him NOTHING was worth leaving him alone. Totally alone and asleep. Anything could have happened. Wow.

So the police came and took my statement and got the guys info and all of that but I have no idea what will happen to him, if he'll get into any trouble for leaving the kid alone. Probably just a good scare. Sometimes that's all that's needed is one good scare and then it never happens again.

What a day.

It isn't over yet. I'm going to hide.....

Oddities in Hayes Park

Ok, so if you haven't already, please read the previous post. It'll help you understand this one. *grin*

So here are a few things I noticed this morning when I stood on my front porch at 4:55 in the am waiting for Roadside Assistance.....

1. People drive carelessly, more so than usual. We live on a one way street that's in the shape of a half moon. Someone drove up the wrong way going quite fast this morning. It boggles me as to why people do this because going on our street serves absolutely no purpose unless you live on the street. We're not a shortcut in any sense of the word.

2. When the sprinklers come on, one of them goes around and around, continuously hitting the light pole and making this "zink, zink, zink" noise.......creepy

3. I was quite surprised how few lights I saw on other people houses. I just figured that most of the community, seeing as how we're all military, would be awake. But they are not.

4. The trucks alarm system works well and sounds especially loud and healthy at 5 in the morning.......I bet they're awake now.

5. An owl lives somewhere close to my house. I listened to it while I was waiting.

6. My neighbors have 2 flags in the front of their house, which they apparently follow procedure by taking down in the evenings. My other neighbors have a light on their flag. They are the only 2 houses on the street to have flags up. Hmm, I think that's weird.

7. And last but definitely not least, I am reminded of why I do not stand on my front porch in the dark...... little cute creatures called SKUNKS.

I think Sunnydale should cook dinner tonight. *grin*

How about some Peanut Butter & Jelly??

Roadside Assistance

We'll start this blog off with a smile.


:)


It's 4:46 in the morning and I just got off the phone with road side assistance. :)


Sunnydale locked the keys in his truck.


Er......someone locked the keys in his truck. :)


I'm sure it wasn't him. :)

He's all freaking out about the truck and I said, "you'll just have to take the car babe"...

There is this look on his face like...."the car.....but it's for girls.....I want my truck"

"it's ok, babe, things happen" is what I tell him. (guilt reminds me of last year when I locked the keys in the truck)

So he took the car.

I'm all proud because I spent my day on Saturday cleaning out the car. I mean I took a toothpick and an old toothbrush and cleaned my car, like I was going to sell it or something.

So I'm slightly disappointed that I don't get to drive it today.

However, I do get the truck. :)

It has air conditioning. :)

There's always a bright side.

So I called our car insurance and they are sending someone to get the keys out.

I'll blog again when it's over and I'm holding the "manly" truck keys in my hand. *grin*

Mercy or no mercy??

So, I've been pondering James 2:8-14. And I'd really, really appreciate some input.

⁸If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"^[a] you are doing right. ⁹But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers ¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"^[a] also said, "Do not murder."^[b] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹²Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Basically, I see this as pretty cut and dry. Whether you sin once or ten times, you've sinned and broken the Law. Actually verses 12 and 13 are probably the ones I've been pondering the most.

It seems to me that so many people out there try so hard to find a way out of being merciful. In James we are told not to show partiality and yet, we do, we judge people and self righteously make up credible reasons not to show mercy. Someone wrongs us and we spend our lives sometimes trying to "right" the wrong. It's so much easier to not show mercy than to show mercy.

There are people who just can't help the situations they are in....Sometimes it's easy to show mercy to them. The children who are a living example of their conditions. However then there are people who are what they are because they have chosen that path. And let me tell you, we are told to show mercy to them also. There is no discrepancy in who we should show mercy to. Like them or not, frustrated and up to your ears in excuses, still, mercy will not be shown to those who have not shown it.

"Oh! But I have shown mercy". Don't be fooled. Showing mercy to some yet not others is just what is being discussed in verse 9!

It's definitely easier to show mercy to some. Sometimes it's very very hard to show mercy. Especially if someone hurt you or someone you love. But it's the fact that when you can show mercy, you are allowing yourself to be pulled up by God, you are fulfilling a purpose put on you only by Him who knows what we can and can not accomplish. And apparently, we can accomplish anything through Him. Striving to be Christ like is the key. Hard as that is, it isn't impossible or he wouldn't have asked it of us. Our Lord wouldn't give us false hope of being something we can't be!

Mercy triumphs over judgment! I love that.

I need all the mercy I can get, so that leaves me in a position to give all I can give. Judge me for that. And see where you are left.

Ok, let me just say something.

Sometimes the hardest lessons to learn, are the ones we think we already know. *sigh*

Anna and the King.....er....Drill Sgt.

The 2006 Army Birthday Ball.

This was SO much fun! I mean, getting her dress and fixing her hair and all that fun girl stuff. I stayed home this year with all the other banshees (sp??) and Anna got to go. After having to sit through all the speakers and the dinner last year I opted to sit this one out. *grin* It was held this year at the Monterey Portola Plaza.

Anna says it was all great except for the food.... Left a lot to be desired. On their way home they stopped in Borders Bookstore. All dressed up and nothing to read. Anna loves to read, I just wish Adrienne was as interested in reading as Anna! But Adrienne thinks it's fun to do Math in the summer, so I let her. She'll go through almost half of the math curriculum I have in just 3 weeks!

Anyway, so they had a great Daddy/Daughter date. This one was especially special. ;) We decided that each of our girls would have the opportunity to attend the Army Ball with their Dad the year they turn 10. Anna is 10 so it worked out really well for her. I think any younger than 10 and it wouldn't be enjoyed as much.

Anna is going through a hard time because most of her friends have moved. Though, she understands this is part of military life. Honestly, it's a little easier when you are the one moving, but we've lived here for 3 1/2 years and now we're saying goodbye to a lot of friends.....They're leaving yet we're still here.

Wow, I look at this picture of these two very special people and I just can't believe how fast time flies. Seems like yesterday we were in complete awe of this beautiful little life, totally and completely dependent on us. And Sunnydale had hair......Those were the days....*sigh*
Just kiddin! *smirky grin*

I'll have to post more about our Summer so far and all the things we have done......It's pretty busy and it isn't over yet!

Excerpt of Casting Crown's song "Can Anybody Hear Her?"

( just a part of this song...I suggest getting the whole CD. It's fabulous)

Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her
If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her
Never even met her

Reminders of Faith

There was a time where I might have wondered where my faith was. Or if I had lost it. I went through a phase where I really had to find it for myself. Not based on anything other than scripture. Wow, was that a struggle. Still is.

I'm pretty sure it was a few years after Sunnydale joined the military. Once we left the safe haven of "home" it was a much larger world than I ever knew it to be. And I thought I had tested the limits when I was a teenager! *laughing* I found that I was a little angry. I was angry at the life I grew up in.

Wait a sec and let me explain. I absolutely love the Lord and I am so excited about being a part of His ministry. But I've had to go through so much to get where I am. And it isn't over yet. That's the story I want to share tonight.

I'm now a firm believer that sometimes you have to lose something in order to appreciate it to it's fullest extent. Most people would probably associate that to a spouse or girl/boy friend.But I'm talking about faith. What you believe and why do you believe it. I believed everything my parents taught me when it came to church and the Bible and everything in it.

Borg would have considered me in the "pre-critical naivete". *scoff*

If you know me well nowadays, you'll know *exactly* how I feel about Marcus Borg and all the Christian people he's leading astray.

Anyway, so I began asking questions and mostly just listening and reading. Until one of the Chaplains I work with severely challenged my thoughts when he proposed to me that the Bible not be writings based on factual history. *what*??? This spun me...yep...You guessed it...Right down the "slippery slope to heresy" *grin*

Just kiddin. However, I did go through a pretty traumatic experience with the whole thing. I spent weeks reading all the books I could get my hands on. Johnson's "The Creed", Marshall's "Why the Jesus Seminar couldn't find Jesus" and a ton of things online. I printed out things periodically and handed them in to this Chaplain as my "defense". *laugh*

In case you don't know about the war out there with Robert Funk and his delusive followers such as Marcus Borg here is an example of what Borg believes...

The Bible as Word is symbol and metaphor.
His approach (and that of current biblical research) is Historical-Metaphorical.
The bible is not written for us or to us.
It is a mixture of memory and metaphor.
The bible is (David Tracy) "a religious classic."
The Historical metaphorical approach is the ability to hear the stories as true without
worrying about their historical accuracy.
A major need in the church and in education is help the people move from
A. A pre-critical naivete, thru
B. Critical thinking (How much do I take with me into adult life) to
C. Post-critical naivete: that is, able to hear as "true" events not factual.
"Now I don*t know for sure whether it happened this way or not, but this story is true...."

Now, through all the studying I've done (and I'm not done), I have come to my own conclusion. Which I am proud to say is truly my own conclusion that I worked hard for and not the conclusion of anyone else.

Obviously I strongly disagree with Borg. While I am respectful of his knowledge of the scripture, I am disappointed in his lack of sheer faith. Somethings got to be said for believing what is written. And I believe that Timothy warned us of such deceivers coming.

I also know that when I say to one of my 4 children "Tell me THE TRUTH, I want to know exactly what happened" I mean it.

Truth = Factuality

Borg would disagree.

So in all of this, I may slightly disagree with some of the beliefs I was brought up with. But I'm sure that it isn't anything essential to salvation. Mostly tradition disputes. The root is the root and to that I am sticking. I believe that I was taught in truth and in love.

I also believe that there are a lot of things that we argue over, things that sincerely bother us, that are not important issues for God. I think he wishes sometimes we'd put away the bickering and just worship him in freedom and love.

I wonder what he thinks of Borg. Probably something way out of the box and completely love inspiring. I'm not that wonderful. I feel a great deal of frustration to the teachings of Borg. A wise man told me not too long ago not to be frustrated, but fascinated. It changes your perspective greatly. I am having a difficult time finding anything fascinating about Borg's theology.....Then again, it did capture my attention. And I certainly know a lot more now than I knew 6 months ago.

~~

Random thoughts of sheer hydration

You know, I actually bid on my contract. If you'll remember back in September I wanted to become an independent Contractor.

*grin*

Being the Director of Religious Education at a military chapel definitely has been interesting. Especially for this girl with such a conservative background. Thinking back, it still amazes me at what a small world people live in when they surround themselves in a "Christian" environment. Forgive the quotes as I am still searching for clues to why people think it necessary to live like this. Did Jesus? No. Who did he eat with??? Thieves, murderers..Prostitutes?

But don't we get comfy in our pews, 3rd from the front on the right hand side. And isn't it amazing how quickly we judge when someone seems different.

Want to know how many times people have judged me for being different? Well, when we were younger (11 years ago...*laughing*) and we attended Bible college...I didn't exactly fit in. I didn't look or play the part. Funny how now, things are so very different. Now, I probably look a more worldly part, And suddenly I find an environment that I fit into. A sinful one? I don't think so.

I absolutely LOVE my job. Religious Education is definitely something I will pursue further. I have gained insight on so many things on so many levels.

However, I have come to the conclusion that the "Christian" lifestyle has the potential to be terribly deceiving. Going back to when we were in Bible college, yes, we made lifelong friends there and respected so many people. I never truly felt comfortable. It was the "learned environment". That people who worshiped differently were to be shunned. "Lofty glances from lofty people" (Casting Crowns) I've seen it my whole life. Someone raises their hands to praise God and all of a sudden you're having a sit down with the Elders......

I had spent my entire life a preachers daughter, yet couldn't seem to get my foot in the door of the crowd that people liked. Of course if I remember right, I carried a huge chip on my shoulder back then. *grin* But I didn't realize what the difference was until we moved away and joined the Army. Back there, in that beautiful small town, from my experience, most of the Christians kept themselves tightly and deeply involved inside their own community.

Out here, away from the southern lifestyle, things are very different. I certainly don't condone any lifestyle out here. Worship is very different. People don't care how many songs you sing before the prayer, or if anyone took communion to the nursery workers (our nursery workers are paid contractors...Like me!), it doesn't matter if no one responded to the invitation....Out here, the "alter call" which may be administered 2 times a year.

I've had to deal with so many political things lately. Working in a military chapel is different than how I thought it would be. But then again, I NEVER attended a worship service other than a church of Christ one. So what did I expect? Certainly not what I got. And I've been so disappointed with the political games I've been privy to. *grin*

Out here acceptance is a religion. That's dangerous. It's a danger to be treaded on like tiny shards of ice. Acceptance is a powerful tool. Satan uses it masterfully. As he takes our weaknesses in the palm of his hand and turns them over and over, grinning, strategically planning his next attack. Causing people all over to be so accepting of anything and everything.

I recommend throwing away any desire for acceptance. Funny, I learned a few years ago, that displaying confidence demands acceptance. It's the nature of people. Very simply, you are accepted if you display a strong sense of confidence. ;)

I love every stage I've been in. My life is full of memories, ranging in a variety of emotions. Yet I will remain grateful for each. They are who I am. My past is why I make the kinds of decisions I make today. It's how I am so deeply in love with my husband and our children. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The "man room"....should that be in caps???

The man in his room with his dog....is that my DYSON??

The man room is fully furnished with 4 couches, not all pictured, an entertainment center housing the t.v and the X-Box, the "D.J" area (holding all the music equip) and the coffee table which is actually my own work in progress. Oh...and a heater ( the white thing...remember this is actually just a garage. It's cold in there!)

And of course...the Man, himself. Gorgeous isn't he?

*wink*

Half Geek Half Bully

Broke a nail tonight. I hate it when that happens. That means I have to go back tomorrow and get them redone. *sigh...rolls eyes*

I don't have time this week for girlie froo froo stuff. It's back to reality as it stands. I drank coffee this weekend and thought of someone when I did. I won't mention names but she knows who she is. Just couldn't quite enjoy it the same way......it was either guilt or not starbucks....*sigh* Although I did get the pick me up I was looking for. Which leads me to send you back to the post about being a coffeeholic.

I got absolutely nothing accomplished today. At least nothing in the way of laundry. Which is what I'll be up for the next 4 hours doing. But hey, if we can't admit our weaknesses then what good are we really? I figure the fact that I KNOW who I am and can admit it is a major plus.

If the first step is admittance then I've only got 11 steps left right?

Might I add that this past week was enlightening on several different levels. All of which are not related but encompass some disturbing similarities. Well, I don't know if disturbing is the right word.....

Remember a few months back when I was so irritated by the women around me? (November blog) I think I figured it out this week. I can't say here, for the obvious reasons (hello friends!), but I think some of it is that I respect people who carry and execute their own opinions. People who say "Oh! Well, no actually, I think spinach is disgusting but if you enjoy it, more power to ya."
Rather than those who follow every word you say with an.."oh yeah I like that too"...or... People who change their opinion once they've heard yours. *rolls eyes* That just eats at me. Come on! If you agree, agree, if you don't say so. I'm so sick of people who want to be liked so badly that you can't even hold a conversation with them.... because you never know what their opinion really is.

I think I've lost a daily dosage of brain cells over this since October. *rolls eyes and grins*

My name is Christi and I'm a coffeeholic.....

Ok, I'm suffering Post traumatic stress from trying to kick my coffee habit. See here's the problem, if I were on crack, I could check myself into a center and be helped by professionals. If I were an alcoholic, same deal. But because I'm on coffee (....no you can not crush up those beans and sniff them nor can you heat and inject and absolutely can't...well...nevermind...) there are no real professional places of healing to check myself into for a coffee addiction. It's a pathetic addiction if you ask me, one that everyone should ignore. ;) Ask, Sarah, I have become slightly delirious.

I think I've decided that I should open up a B&B for recovering coffeeholics.
And I've realized that NOTHING can actually take the place of coffee. You just have to get over it. *sigh*

I'm not sure I'm completely ready to kick my habit. (does that make me an official 'holic?)

So anyhoo, I'm 30 now. I had a b'day a couple weeks ago. I don't feel 30. And I know I don't look 30. Seriously, I took one of the teens from church to school the other day and the teacher out front said..."you guys need to get in the hall quickly, you've got 2 minutes before you're late". She was looking right at me.

I stood there and looked at her a second before I pointed to myself and said "thirty" then pointed to the girl I was with and said "15". We had a good laugh and I left. Ahhh, nothing will ever replace that memory! *grin*

I had wrapped my hair in a scarf that day too, I swear I look older when I do that. *rolls eyes*

Oh well. I'm 30 and I'm loving it. Can't wait to be 40!!! I know, I'm nuts. But it would be a boring world if we all sat around complaining about the same things. *wink*

Thunderstorm!!!!

YES! It is 2:30 a.m. and I;m awake because we are having a thunderstorm. So what??? Well....

Our two youngest children and our dog have never heard a thunderstorm! In fact, in the three years we've lived here it hasn't rained this hard much less, EVER, have we heard thunder or seen lightening! *sigh, missing home*

It's been nice to listen to the rain. Although I have yet to get any sleep. Fortunately we went to bed early tonight (got to bed at 10 pm!) so at 12:30 after Sunnydale had already gotten up with Abby twice, I got up and have been up ever since. Once I finally got her to sleep, my little man woke up. He was sitting up in his bed crying for me. I crawled up in his bed with him and he said "I can not get to sleep!". However, his eyes were closed and I doubt he was truly awake. *grin* He's such a cutie! So now he's finally asleep. I came downstairs and decided to blog.

I'm sitting here and I look out the window where it's pouring rain and the lawn sprinklers just came on. What a funny sight! I don't know anyone in there right mind who would go out in the freezing cold, pouring rain at what is now 2:45 a.m. to turn off their lawn sprinklers, so don't look at me! *smile*

Okay, off to bed again. Wish me luck this time. :)

P.S. I'm just going to say this because it's about time and it's my blog so I can say whatever I want, right?

Chris, we're so proud of you!! You've been working on this degree for the better part of 9 years! So so so many obstacles have been put in front of you. Mostly by people you love, a lot by the military and you have jumped each hurdle with amazing height. What sincere dedication and loyalty you have shown. Don't worry about the future for the future will take care of itself. Take care of today! Don't allow the insignificant to become significant. (read what you want into that)
*laughing* We love you. Thanks so much for that precious wife of yours. Make sure you keep her!!! *grin* Although it wouldn't hurt to bring your family closer to ours!!! Congratulations!!!

Rainy Day in Paradise.....what??

A lot of people call Monterey, Paradise. I'm not sure I'd agree. Although it is beautiful here! It's been quite a long weekend for us. Anna's birthday was Saturday. She had a huge party and word around the school is that she's got the coolest Dad ever. 'Cause he throws the coolest parties ever. *huge grin* Then on Sunday, Anna came home after church with the stomach flu, it soon spread through all of us, with the exception of Abby. Thank goodness. But the rest of us had it. YUCK!! Let's just say it was an awful time of it, and we all hope it never happens again.

We're all feeling better though. Now I'm just trying to get the house clean and all the linen washed from the yucky germs. If only I was a clone, then I could stay home and clean and go to work too!! *sigh*

Anna is so excited about being 10. In the military world it's a big deal to be 10. You get your military ID when you turn 10. So now she can go shopping in the PX and Commissary with her ID card. *smile* She's so sweet about it all. "Mom, now you can wait in the car and I can go get your groceries". Boy, do I wish!

Ok, well I'm off to change the sheets on the bed so we can go to sleep. *cheer*
nite!

Untitled Me

The smell of pledge will remain on my hands all day tomorrow. Maybe even until Friday. I hope not. I've got parent teacher conferences on Thursday and would prefer not to go in there smelling lemon-fresh. The only thing I didn't dust was the piano. It needs a different kind of oil than what I've got here. Probably should get the Old English oil, not spray.

Well, now that I've made the important decisions.....*smirky grin*

Today was a weird day. Short day at work, didn't get there until noon. Left at 2:30. Just can't seem to pull myself together. I walk in that place and immediately want to leave. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the work, just uncomfortable with the environment.

I changed my schedule too, so I think it will help. Don't ask me why, most of the time I probably don't have very good reasons for my opinions. What's that phrase, opinions are like elbows...Everybody has a couple. *smile* I like that about my job though, that I can change my schedule. I can stay home if I need to or work longer if I need. I LOVE being an independent contractor. And this Religious Education thing is a lot of fun. I think it's the whole "protestant" thing that's bothering me. Not that I agree with all of the "church of Christ" stuff either. So finding my place is a strange feeling. Hmmm. I'll get back to you on that one.

So I wore my favorite red shirt today. Hate that I have only one. *grin* It's one of those shirts I'd wear everyday if I could just cause I like the fit. But I suppose I'd be committing a fashion crime if I had a bunch of shirts that were exactly alike. Although now that I think about it, I'm famous for buying the same style in more than one color...*laughing*

Ok, well, my old friend, Tide, is calling my name. He pretty much hangs out in the laundry room all day. Although I'm beginning to resent him. I feel used when he's around. Like he's got this thing for cleaning. It's weird if you ask me. *rolls eyes* He's got his friend, Downy, with him this week and let me tell you, she smells soooo good. *wink* *laughing*

Ok, ok, so I only humor myself. But it's a great world when you can admit you're retarded and love it. I admit it and I love it. I'll forever look 10 years younger because of it.

nite nite all ~

Battle of the brain...

Ok, so I never claimed to have true control over my brain and all of it's function buttons. However I am putting more of an effort into maintaining some level of accuracy. *smile* I'm really slacking on this blog aren't I? Doesn't help much to keep up with us, huh. I'm just trying to challenge all of you readers out there to keep in touch some other way. Like phone calls or email. :)

I'd say that not much is going on, but that wouldn't be true! January has been busy and February will be even busier! My parents are coming on the 7th *cheer*, and yes that is our 11th anniversary. *wink*
"One More" will be recording on the 10th, 11th and 12th up in Chico, Ca. Also at DLI on the 26th of Feb. They are currently getting ready to perform for the Battle of the Bands (Christian bands). So wish us luck! (in other words, pray pray pray!)

The fam is good. Kids grow fast when time flies! Abby is walking everywhere trying to run even! She is such a little sweetie as they all are. Anna's best friend just moved so today is her first day back at school without Tory. She was nervous not to have her friend by her side. It's a challenge to her now too, to make new friends. Adri is enjoying her new teacher at school. She enjoys it but gets frustrated because she says "all we do is count money...money, money money!" *grin* Sunnydale Jr. is doing really well also. Although he's eating me out of house and home. I really have no idea where he puts it all!

I am enjoying work SO much more!! We have a new Chaplain, and he is absolutely wonderful! His wife reminds me a lot of my Mom! They are truly kind people and put God first. I really appreciate that. Everyone in this Chapel is enjoying the atmosphere around here so much more. Thank you God!

Well, I need to run and get back to work. Continue to keep us in your prayers. That God will lead our family to where He wants and to do the work that He needs. Pray for the band too, they really are exceptional Christian musicians. ~

Back into the swing of things....

Well, it's that time isn't it? Time to finish putting all the holiday decorations away and get back into the swing of things. Sunnydale went back to work yesterday. Three weeks at home with us was bliss! But all good things must come to an end, right? I wonder if I can take three weeks worth of leave and go to work with him....*laughs*

The kids started back to school this past Wednesday. Anna told me that they were working on a project in her class. They had to write their "New Years Revelation". I cracked up. So funny how kids interpret things differently inside their heads.

So, I was thinking last night while I was sleeping (yes, I'm a multi-tasker) about what my resolution would be for the year. I thought about all the normal things like, saving money, keeping in better touch with family, but then I came to the conclusion that it would be a lot more fun to try something new. So that's my resolution. Sometime this year, I'm going to try something new, no - not food. Something outside of my comfort zone. Broaden my horizons some. *grin* Hope you all have fun coming up with a goal for this new year. This is a big year for us, you know. We'll be thirty. I have complete mixed feelings about that....*laughing* However, at the same time, I'm excited about it.

Well, when I'm done here it's back to the land of Laundry, city of Tide. *sigh*
:D

Christmas with the Hyde's

So, I think we agreed that next year, we’ll skip Christmas. Maybe take a cruise or something. That sounds like fun. We did have a great Christmas at home, but it seems that the little people are all sick. So it has been a very quiet holiday this year.

I have been very proud of myself lately, awarding myself little “mother of the year” awards occasionally. For doing things out of the norm for me, like cleaning up more vomit than those Dr.’s on “ER” have EVER seen. *rolls eyes* Anyhoo, my “Mother of the Year” awards have been revoked as of last night. In fact, I think I’ve also been added to the non-eligible list for the award.

We were sitting there watching Gilmore Girls last night and the phone rang. It was my Mom. She asked me how Anna was feeling and we talked for a little while about that. Then she asked how Abby’s day went. I was slightly confused it was a weird question. So I said “her day went…fine…why?”…..then it came. The words every parent never wants to hear….

“Isn’t today her birthday????”. WHAT?? Holy Cow. It IS her birthday!!! We totally missed Abby’s first birthday. Does that tell you how crazy our lives have been lately? Wow. I am just reeling from that. I feel awful, but at the same time, it’s pretty funny. It’s the 4th child syndrome, just starting a little early. *sigh*

So anyway, we’re going to start celebrating her half birthday. So mark your calendars….. June 27th, we’ll celebrate Abby’s birthday (half)……hahaha

So the holidays are almost over and I am beginning to see how the year goes by much faster the older you get. At work, I’ve already got my schedule prepared for all of my teachers through the month of April. Wow, then we begin to prepare for VBS. Actually I’ll start that sometime in March.

Did I mention that I got a Dyson for Christmas? Look it up. I LOVE IT!! Also, that wonderful hubby of mine picked out Christmas China for us. I got that sweet thermos from Starbucks that I’ve had my eye on for months, hmmm, what else? A turtle. Yes, he bought me a real turtle. I collect turtles, you know the little bitty ones,. Tell me, if you collected elephants, little ones to sit on a shelf, and someone bought you a real one would you feel the same way about it? Hahaha! Just kiddin, I think it was sweet. And she really is a beautiful turtle. *wink*

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. Isn't this the time of year when all the overweight people in the world vow to lose weight, all the drowning in debt people vow to get out of debt, all the smokers vow to quit smoking, drinkers vow to quit drinking and loners vow to spend more time with family. LOL I think that's probably the top 5.

Let's see, what's my New Year's Resolution this year???
Hmmmm....
I'll let you know what it is after the 1st.

Wal-Mart doesn't sell brains - but you may be able to get one on sale at Target....

Now that I've freaked you all out over my last blog, finally I'm back on the "net". Well...somewhat. My *stupid* computer crashed again.....so I'm typing this at work.

How is work going? You ask? *grin* Well, much better, I'm sure. I'll fill you in more when my brain gets back from vacationing in the Bahamas. *rolls eyes* But it is a lot better, I can say that!

We are getting ready for Christmas. Sure is a lot more to do with 4 kids. More things to buy, more things to wrap and if you really want to get technical... Normally I may wrap 4 presents for each child. Using about 6 pieces of tape per present. The first year I used 24 pieces of tape. I've worked my way up to 96!!! *laughing*

I know, I know....no one thinks of things like that except for me. But that's why this is my blog and I can be weird on it because this is a preview of what goes on inside my head. *scary*

*laughing*
Ok, hopefully I'll get my computer fixed and I'll be back on every day again soon.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas plays, bad Wednesdays, lessons learned, sad Christmas trees and white elephant gifts...*sigh*

Allow me to submit a small disclaimer for this post. A sort of...um... reminder....

This blog's sole purpose is for my own entertainment. This blog is my own personal journal that some are invited to read and others are not. If you happen upon it and enjoy it, then great, if not, feel free to move on. If you know me and read something on here that could possibly offend you then let me remind you where the delete button is.

I know to most, that may sound harsh. But I feel the need to remind some, that we are all different. We all express emotions differently - and that's ok. We all think differently - shoot, we eat differently, we cook differently, we bathe differently, drive, shop, type, parent, lead, follow, sing, write, clean, walk, dress, run, talk - it's even possible that we hear differently *rolls eyes*

I just want to say that I invite you to read my blog to see things how I see them. I'm not perfect, no one is. It's just me, being me.

I know, I know...you're still trying to recover from the title to this post. And to think that I couldn't fit it all in either. I had to leave out some things. *rolls eyes*

I do think that this past week could definitely go down in my book of most memorable weeks ever. However it lost it's place to fit into the most "happy" memories slot. But found a nice empty page to fill in the "worst moment of my life" page.

Seriously though, I could have done without this past Wednesday. I could probably live the rest of my life happily if I never have to work with another Chaplain in my entire life. But then....That wouldn't be any fun would it?

And then there is the part of me that does know that all Chaplains are not the same. Just like the rest of us "lay people".

So since I can't really go into everything on my blog, let me just say that someone I work with hurt my feelings very badly this week and it may take me some time to recover.
I still consider myself to be quite new to the ministry field. Sunnydale was a youth minister way back when, but I wasn't really a part of the ministry then. However, I do think I am a part of it now.

But being a part of the ministry and working in a military chapel, I think, can be two very different things. Probably depends on the Chaplain you're working for. I am the Director of Religious Education for our military Chapel. This has been quite a learning experience for me.
I wonder a lot about things I didn't give much thought to before. About how Jesus felt about things. Administratively. Or did he, even give much thought to such petty things.

I can't help but to wonder if he met someone who was profound in their own way, someone that isn't mentioned in the Bible. Maybe he dropped something and they picked it up for Him. A common courtesy, right? What does it feel like to be perfect. And to know you're perfect? What does it feel like to know that no matter what you say, how you say it or whatever, people are going to flock by the thousands to hear it.

I wish I had people flocking to hear anything I had to say. The only thing people flock to me for are favors. Well, at least that's how it feels sometimes. I know that's not how it is in reality. But in the Christi bubble that I live in, that's how it seems.

Well, I'm off to bed, so I can get up in the morning and pray that by some miracle of God I can manage to pull off a decent Children's Christmas Play tomorrow evening. That way on Monday morning I can wake up feeling some sense of fulfillment. *choke choke*

night

What is that smell???

In our home, I am often accused of smelling things that aren't there. At least, no one else smells it, so it must just be me. *rolls eyes* Well, today Sunnydale was in the garage getting ready for band practice and he pokes his head in and says, "Christi, come here, I need your nose". I went out there and he was sitting on one of the loveseats looking all around. "Do you smell that", he asked. "No, I don't smell anything", I replied. "sit here", he says So I sit down and proceed to smell everything, the loveseat, the floor, all over. Nothing. I don't smell anything. Hmmm.
Well all he knows is that he smells it and it smells like urine. I definitely didn't smell that.

A little while later he walks over to me in the garage and gives me a big hug. Then he takes his hat off his head and puts it on my head and I yelped. "It's the HAT!!", I said. He took the hat and smelled it and was like EWWWW! It was the hat. Somehow HIS (let me emphasize his) dog, Chester, had apparently relieved himself on the hat. Now, how the hat came to be on the floor or where and when this happened no one knows. I know that somewhere in my soul, there is a tiny bit of love for the dog...Somewhere. But he'll never know about it. *sigh*

Ok, I'm logging now. Hopefully this weekend will go smoothly without any more kinks thrown into it. By the way, our computer crashed a few weeks ago and now that we have it fixed and I'm back online, we realized that we lost ALL the pictures that we ever had on the computer from Abby's birth on, so if any of you have any please email them to me. That would be great!

How DO we feel about advice, really?

I have so much to say tonight. I'm going to try and process it slowly, so I'll type it slowly, so it will make sense to you.

People give advice about so many things, everything from how to cook, to how to be pregnant, how to deliver - pain meds or no pain meds, to how to parent, to how to deal with life. Some of it we retain with a grateful heart and some of it we hear as a whisper - making it harder to recall. But, for most of us, secretly we know our way is better.

Then someone will come along and give the same advice over and over. And we find ourselves thinking, "what makes them the expert?". It's that that I find so heavy on my heart tonight. Generally speaking, when I look at my life, I think I'm a good mother. I'm home for them, I cook for them, I laugh with them, I do homework with them, I am here when they go to bed at night and I'm here to see them off to school in the morning. I pick them up from school happy to see them and eager to hear about their day. But that's not what makes a good mother. Those things, the ones I mentioned above, those are the easy things. It's what I'm learning to call, the "surface" clean.

The "surface" clean is when the house appears to be clean but when you open closets and drawers it's cluttered. When you parent on the surface, you are blind to the things you aren't doing. The truly nurturing things. The things that will cement a happy memory in your child's head. The things that will cement life lessons and how to deal with them appropriately. Instead of just going through the motions of daily life. Having children is way more in depth than what I ever dreamed. It's teaching them to do the simple things like brushing their teeth. Ok, got that one covered right? Wrong. I always thought, you tell them that it's important to brush their teeth then when they don't do it you discipline them. It's important to be responsible. But, wait. Their just kids . It doesn't work that way. Try thinking of it like this. Teach them to brush their teeth, then if you are on your way to school and you ask "Did you brush your teeth?" and they reply "no" discipline yourself. Because as parents it is OUR responsibility to teach them to follow through. Follow through and make sure it's done before you are on your way to school.

That's just an example of a tiny thing. Here is a bigger thing. When you are frustrated, it's been a long day and the kids are fighting and one's crying and another is hungry and you've been cleaning up diapers and spilled sippy cups and trying to fold the only half a load of laundry you got done and it's 5:30, somehow, and you didn't take out anything to thaw for dinner and you're not prepared.....What are they learning then? When they are doing their homework and it's not a "homework" environment (quiet) and they are frustrated because they are feeling overwhelmed by the work load and you are feeling overwhelmed by your work load so you find yourself yelling, trying to be successful at creating peace and quiet, when all they need is your undivided attention. What are they learning then?

All of a sudden it doesn't matter if you're home for them, if you laughed with them, if you met them at the school eager to hear about their day. All of a sudden it doesn't matter how many times you say "I love you" it doesn't matter that you spent your entire day thinking about them and missing them. What matters is that they are frustrated, you're frustrated and you appear to be frustrated with them. It crushes their spirit. It truly creates doubt in their little hearts. Even when you think you're doing such a good job. Because you're not like some Mom's who are hopping around from boyfriend to boyfriend or are on drugs or are never there or whatever. You compare yourself to how bad it could be not even realizing how bad you're creating it to be.

Does that make sense?

My best friend (not mentioning any names but it's someone I live with) gives me advice all the time. Parenting advice. I can't help but to think half the time "what makes you the expert?". But maybe it's not what makes him the expert, but what doesn't make me the expert. Maybe it's what the people around us have experienced in their own lives that DOES make them the expert. They know how to do this or how to do that because they know how it feels to either receive it or to need it and not get it. Sheer wisdom. And we all know that wisdom comes from life. From living it.

So I should not be so quick to defend my mothering skills. I see my kids get frustrated with their homework, like they did tonight. And I realize (because I seem to learn things the hard way) that they are reacting to a stressful situation the same way that I do. I'm good when it's other people's stress. I'm pretty good at calming down another military wife when she learns that their orders got dropped or that they are moving overseas instead of to Texas. I'm pretty good at lending a shoulder or an ear. But how good am I at teaching my kids that? Where are my kids when I'm sitting in some woman's living room helping her out after a long night with her kids? Mine are at school. There is a stress free side of me that my kids probably rarely see. And that's not acceptable. I'm making an eternal impression on them. They are going to LIVE how I teach them to live. They are going to react how I teach them to react. They are going to love how I teach them to love. And it's THOSE things that I'll call "deep" clean.

I heard something on the radio last night and I can't get it out of my head.

How come, when Jesus was accused of so many things, how come He didn't defend himself? Most of us when we are unjustly accused we are very quick to defend ourselves. Some fight diligently until nothing has been gained except for more pain, some fight quietly in their circle of friends. But we all, probably would defend ourselves in one way or another. But not Jesus. Why? Look at it from His point of view. He knew that in His Father's eyes he was blameless, spotless, innocent. So why defend himself to ordinary men? There was no need. Because He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that His Father loved Him.

So maybe, I'll be less quick to defend. Quicker to listen...Hmmm that verse pops up, slow to speak....*rolls eyes* Ok, ok Lord. I hear you. Thanks for the pep talk. I'm listening. And P.S Lord, thanks for giving me a husband who has the insight of a child, the heart of a child, the compassion of a child, yet the wisdom of a man.

And Sunnydale, I loved being home with you today and watching you make cookies for the kids. That was a blast. They have enjoyed the cookies, but probably more because you made them just for them. That was special. *wink* Thanks for the life lesson once again taught in gentleness. I am truly blessed. So are the four precious little lives asleep upstairs.
See you in the morning....

Music To My Ears...

I just have to take a moment and dedicate a spot on my blog to the band "One More". They are awesome musicians, everyone from the lead singer to the drummer and all the guitarist. I am so proud of them and the incredible Christian music they are putting out. Can't wait until I hear them on the radio and all the nights of practice in our garage are over...LOL.

Just Kiddin. I mean how many kids can say "My Dad is in a Christian rock band and they play in our garage." *huge grin* Seriously though, if anyone wants to fly out here for Thanksgiving they are playing at our huge Thanksgiving bash. Sunnydale's parents are coming along with the 40 guests we're having for Dinner. I do believe this will be a Thanksgiving to remember!

The garage is almost finished, we turned it into an honest to goodness "band room". LOL We have the drums set up on one wall and the mic's in front of that. Then the amps and everything else is to the side, the computer and keyboard are off to the right. In front of it all, are 2 couches and one loveseat. Did I mention I got a job to pay for Sunnydale's music career? *laughing*

It's a lot of fun, good memories that's for sure.

I'm proud of you babe. I'm proud of you for not letting this talent fade. But for doing everything you can to use it. Sacrifices are worth it, huh? God provides, He always has. It's all for Him anyway isn't it? Love ya!

Purple People Eaters

Ok, I have to say that I realized something today. People have really been aggravating me lately. I don't know why. But all of a sudden over the last 6 months or so, I have come to the conclusion that I disagree with over half of the things that come out of women's mouths. Now, before you women out there take that wrong, let me explain.

I have heard so much gossip and taken part in a lot of it, thinking that I was trying to "help". That's our way of gossiping, you know. We "help", or we're trying to be a good listener, or sometimes we're just "being honest". Right?

Here is my perception of my life at this moment....

I have been married for almost 11 years, not always happily, but I do believe that is normal. I am happy now, and that's all that matters. Anyway, we have 4 children. I will have an impact, an eternal impact, on these children. Now, as much as I love my husband (and he's a GREAT Dad), he can't always be here. I understand that. I want life for him when he IS here to be relaxing. When he walks in the door, I don't dump the kids on him saying I've had enough, I am grateful he is there to provide moral support, but to dump him with an entire other job as soon as he walks in the door would just be wrong. I have listened to so many women lately complain about their lives, their husbands, their children, the bible study we attend, other members of our Chapel, you name it I've had to listen to it. Then it occurs to me, I did this, I made these people think they should be comfortable telling me these things.

Also, DRAMA. Raise your hand if you enjoy DRAMA.

Ok, why can't we just bake a cake for someone when they need it and move on with life. How come everything is everyone's business??? People create their own drama. Women, create their own drama. I'm guilty of it, too. But it is something that I am quickly growing very tired of. Sometimes I just wish I could hole up in my house and not deal with anyone. Mostly because I am so sick of the stupid things that people say.

No, I'm not pregnant...LOL Seriously though, I truly believe that Paul really had something when he said for us women to be quiet. We're so quick to defend that. Why don't we WANT to be more like Sarah, Abraham's wife?? What was it that was said about her, that she had a quiet and gentle spirit? I find myself longing to be in the company of a woman with a quiet and gentle spirit. Where is she, Lord? Where is my friend that I can learn from, you know, the one who's spirit is quiet and gentle, so quiet and gentle that also is her tongue????

Where is JUNE?? You know JUNE CLEAVER?? The one who always had a smile on her face, who laughed at her kids instead of yelling at them, who packed sack lunches everyday. Said goodbye at the door fully dressed and her hair done? Our worship has changed too.

What happened to that generation where we actually cared about being decent people. Whatever happened to the Christians who worshiped our Lord through dance and song? Who lifted their hands to the sky in unabandoned love and adoration for our LORD?? Church doctrine is not the truth, you know. Sometimes, it may be BASED on truth, but there is only one Truth.

Sorry to completely vent. But I'm a little frustrated at the Christian women I am surrounded by. Where is our servanthood? What are we loyal to? Cause I seriously doubt it's God.

Adrienne's cake!!

I suppose she loved her cake so much that she wanted to put her face in it!! She kept asking us, "Can I put my face in the cake?". So she did, 3 times she dunked her face into the cake and icing. She had cake all over the table, floor and us! It was a lot of fun though. *huge grin*

Adrienne's birthday

Adrienne's birthday was great. She was SOOO surprised when she came home from school. Daddy had decorated the house AND made his first birthday cake!! It was good, too! *grin* We were proud of his work and Adrienne just loved the decorations, the cake and her presents. She is always a blast to watch. *smile*

Colorado

It snowed! Yep, it snowed while I was in Colorado. It was the coolest thing I had seen in a long time. It was different snow than the Kansas snow I saw a few years back. This snow was soft and billowy (is that a word?). Anyhoo, it was so neat. We watched it come down from the top of the mountain across the valley and sweep 3 inches over us in a matter of an hour. The Army/Air Force football game was played at the Academy in Colorado Springs in 3 inches of snow. Not a big deal to them, but was neat for me. We didn't get to actually watch the game, but the Army coaches were staying in the same resort that we were staying in. By the way, Army won, 27 - 24. We heard it was a great game.

Anyway these pictures are of the snow when it was on it's way down the mountain. Enjoy!!

I did it Again, huh?

Wow! It's a record! I guess I've just been trying to see how long it'll be between posts! So much has been going on it's been crazier than usual around here. I've been working at the chapel and I'm lovin' it! I went to Colorado for 4 days last week. That was definitely fun. It was for a Woman's Retreat....PWOC...Protestant Women of the Chapel West Regional Conference.

Great!! It was SOOO great! I learned a lot about worship, the diversity of the women in the Chapel and how to work with each of them. It really was quite a weekend!

Today is Adrienne's birthday. Wow. I just can't believe that she is six years old! She is so beautiful and so funny. Always cracking us up. Happy Birthday Adri. I love you!!!

Welcome Home!!

Sunnydale called me last night and asked me if I would drive to San Jose, CA to get him if he could get an earlier flight and land there. I said no. It's not that I haven't missed him, because I have, but send me with 4 kids to some place I've never driven to at 10:00 at night and all of a sudden I feel out of my comfort zone. Sunnydale is very good at putting me there. *grin* So anyway, he said ok, and that he would see me today, sometime.

So the kids and I all went to bed. The older girls couldn't sleep because they were excited about him coming home so they ended up all piled up in my bed. Somewhere in the middle of the night I woke up to see a man carrying Anna across the room. I freaked out and did what all good mothers would......I froze. Then I heard her talking and it certainly didn't sound like she was being kidnapped...*laughing*. It was Sunnydale!

He had landed in San Jose after all and taken the shuttle back home. So nice of him. *sigh of relief*

It's nice to have him home. We've just laid around the house all day and played with the kids. We've all missed him so much!! The girls made cakes for him and decorated them all by themselves. So we had cake for breakfast. LOL

Work is going well. I so LOVE this job! It's a nice mixture of complexity and simpleness. Sometimes I can't help but to laugh that I'm actually getting paid to do what I do. But hey, I'm not complaining!

Sunnydale Jr. Had a slight setback with the potty training since he started daycare, but when I picked him up yesterday he was dry and had been doing great all day! Since then we haven't had any accidents. Let's hope he's getting settled now into a routine. It isn't everyday that he will be going so I think once the girls get off fall break from school everything will go back to normal.

I'm going to post some of the pics my Dad sent me from their trip down to Biloxi, MS to help in rescue/rebuild efforts. I'll have to do it tonight, my family is calling! ~

*Cheer*!!

I am SOOO Excited! I got the job that I talked about in an earlier post. This is going to be such a wonderful job. Plus it doesn't hurt that it's going to look nice on my resume when we leave here!! Wow, this has been such a difficult week. With Sunnydale gone, I've been consumed with getting this job and I haven't really been able to talk to him about it, seeing as he isn't here. LOL Although I think my friend Tracey is really glad that I got it so maybe I'll STOP talking about it. *rolls eyes* I know she's happy though, because she gets to keep Abby for me while I'm at work! And Abby is the easiest baby on earth. *laughing* True though, very true. I'm going to hit the sack. Now that I can sleep easier. *sigh* Thanks for the prayers!!