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!!

Beautiful Day

Another absolutely beautiful day spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I've posted a link to it in one of my former posts. It's such a great place. My friend trace went with us this time. We had a blast. It could only have been better had Daddy been with us. We sure are missing him around here! We came home from church yesterday afternoon and the car was in the driveway when we pulled up and for a second I thought "Sunnydale is home!", but then I remembered that he's not home. It was SOHO sad. *laughing* I can be so retarded sometimes.

I have to say though that my little Sunnydale sure is missing his Dad. He keeps asking me where he is and I tell him he's at work right now and he says "no he's not, he's singing". Then we all just laugh, cause he sounds so sweet when he says it. Not a lot going on over here though. Just trying to get settled in and do homework. This week will be a really busy one, but I'll try hard to post every day.

Georgia

So Sunnydale left this morning for Georgia. He'll spend two weeks there then get home on Oct. 8.

The girls are still sleeping. Sunnydale Jr. woke me up this morning exclaiming his need to "go potty". I was pretty excited about that. I've been working really hard with him daily to get this potty training business down. He's been doing wonderful. I've bee so shocked because all anyone tells me is that I should wait because he won't do it until he's 3. I'm sorry, but I have no desire to be changing 3 year old diapers!! So we have a system, sort of, because he changes his request almost on a daily basis. *grin*, sometimes he'll get a sticker, sometimes he'll get a frozen Gogurt, other times he wants to draw, it depends on his mood, I guess.

Hope everyone in the path of this Hurricane Rita is ok. I'll try and write more later

Job prospects??

A few months ago a little bug was put in my ear about the possibility of a job opening at church. I thought about it and when it was announced last week that it was officially open I decided that I'm going to apply. It's the position of RE (Religious Education). I am really excited about the possibility of this job being given to me. We've been attending Chapel for over a year now and I'm familiar with the way a military chapel works, to an extent. I'm sure if I get this job I'll learn so much more. That in itself is exciting to me. Plus, the money would be nice to store away, pay off the truck. *rolls eyes* It's 30 hours a week at roughly $22 per hour. You do the math. *wink* Nice job. I am seriously praying that this works out. I'll let you know. Hopefully I'll know something by the beginning of October, but that's not confirmed yet.

Anyhoo, other than that not much happened today. Adri was home today from school. Feeling slightly "under the weather". She's fine though and will definitely return to school tomorrow. *grin* I'm outta here for the night. Actually tired and am going to bed early.

My hair's testimony

A few of you have brought up the fact that I'm less some hair. *grin* You are right! My almost waist length hair became a little too long, so I went to my friend Tracey and she did an incredible job cutting my hair. This picture doesn't do it justice. I'll have to get Sunnydale to take one with my hair down. Thanks for noticing!

Anyhoo, tomorrow at PWOC I'm supposed to share my testimony. For those of you inside the box, your testimony is your story on how you came to Christ. *wink* I thought it would be nice to hear some of your testimonies. So you can post it here, or email it to me and I can post it for you. Thanks!

I don't have any plans for today. Just laundry. *rolls eyes* Story of my life. *grin* I'll post tonight if something really exciting happens to me today.

Wasabi Vs. Pepto

Date night started off really well. We went to Target, then onto a Japanese place for dinner. It's one of our favorites. However, 15 minutes after we left the restaurant my stomach began to hurt. Anyway, the night went downhill fast from there. This picture above was taken before my upset stomach occurred. Interesting premonition, eh? *rolls eyes*

This picture actually goes after the last picture below. But I couldn't get them moved around for some reason. This is post - wasabi. *grin*
But you just went to the bathroom, you have to go again?^

DON"T RUIN MY NIGHT WITH STOMACH PROBLEMS!! *haha* Just kiddin, This picture is during a wasabi attack. I know a few of you out there have experienced Sunnydale during his wasabi moments. For those of you who haven't, wasabi is this green paste like stuff that you mix with a little bit of soy sauce. It makes for an intense and painful flavor on sushi. *laughing* Hey, it's free entertainment.

**Note from Sunnydale**

Acid free dates, I'm sure, are a lot more fun.

****Back to me****

Anyhoo, Let me advise that if you know you've been having stomach problems then be prepared. So maybe in two years Sunnydale will try taking me out again. I have a feeling it'll be a while. *sighs, rolling eyes*

Of course, had we done what he wanted and gone to a play down in Carmel, it would have been a much nicer night. Karma, right? LOL

Purple tomatoes, Penguins, Nemo and Seaweed

I took the big kids to school today and then picked up my friend Amy and her 2 yr. old son Luke and we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I love this place. It's one of my favorite things about living here. www.mbayaq.org This is one of the worlds biggest Aquariums. Did I say that this place is beyond awesome? Well, it is. Anyhoo. They have this new things called "crash and splash", well, my little man, Sunnydale jr, that is *grin* HATED it. He was so scared he was shaking. It's just this short little tunnel, but still, it scared him all the same. Other than that, we had a blast. We played in the kids area, where they have all kinds of things for the kids to play with, in, under and around. We looked at the Outer Bay with the sharks, giant turtles, hammer heads, tuna, all kinds of things. We watched them feed the fish and critters in the Kelp Forest, it was a lot of fun. I bought Sunnydale this little hat. He's so cute in it. I'll post a pic of him later. Then we picked up the older kids from school and stayed at Amy's for a little while. Came home cleaned up ate dinner, bedtime is 7 pm! (for the kids)

I enjoy them so much. However, I really enjoy my time at night. They all go to bed at 7 and I go to bed around 11 or 12. That gives me 4-5 hours at night to clean, or just sit and be quiet. (yes, Sunnydale, I CAN be quiet) *wink*

Anyway, so sometimes I just crack myself up. Actually, that can be a problem, because most of the time I get a bigger kick out of myself than anybody else does. *rolls eyes* It is sad occasionally, to think that the people around me are not having as much fun as I am. *sigh* So, I came home today, with a cell phone in my hand. I looked at Sunnydale and I said "don't be mad". He took one look at me and then at the phone in my hand and I could tell this wasn't going to be a pretty conversation. "I got a phone". ****slow motion**** "Y--O--U G--O--T W--H--A--T?? Instantly I knew that this was not going to be one of those 'forgiveness is easier than permission things'.

You see, we gave up cell phones, cable, all kinds of things 3 years ago, so we could be financially free. It has been nice, too, I must say. To not have all the bills that most people have. Including our truck payment we have 5 bills. That includes, phone, car insurance, those normal things. Anyway, so 6 months ago, we added television back in. But it hasn't changed life much.

Back to the topic, I stood there phone in hand waiting for him to get his full reaction out. Which didn't exactly happen. I saw the look on his face and had to give up the truth. I could tell that this was one of those times where my kind of humor probably would only be fun for me.

My friend Tracy gave me the phone. Nice gal, huh? She sure did, it's one of those pre-paid phones. So we just have to register it and put some $$ on it and we got a phone. No contract, no $70.00 cell phone bills. *cheer*

He was relieved that I hadn't signed some kind of life altering contract. I think it's a serious concern of his that one day I'll sign our lives away to something. Although I can't figure that out because I don't recall ever signing a contract for anything. Except maybe that little paper that waived the insurance for our household goods that were in storage that one year......Then when rain ruined all we had, I was in a teeny bit of trouble for that one. *sigh*

Overall, today was a great day. Sure to precede a terrible day tomorrow. I've got my root canal in the morning, and Anna's parent teacher conference at 1pm. 30 minutes after I get out of having my mouth ripped apart.*ACK* Isn't that a joke??? LOL

Caught

Well now, I wasn't going to bring this up. However, considering the fact that Sunnydale already thinks I talk too much, I figured what have I got to lose?. *grin*

Now, my husband is a perfectionist. If given a task he will complete it usually 250%. It's in his nature. It's just who he is. He sees the bigger picture.

As most of you know, Sunnydale leads the praise and worship team at church. Like most everything else, he's efficiently effective. *grin* They practice every Sunday night at 7pm. This past Sunday was no different.
As Sunnydale was leaving, Adrienne wanted to go with him. So, being the awesome multi-tasker that he is, he told her to come on.

Well, they were gone for a while and I got the other tenants fed, bathed and in the bed at 7:30 pm. I was in the laundry room *yes, I was doing laundry* putting clothes in the washer when I heard the front door open. After a few minutes, Sunnydale joined me in the laundry room. He looked pretty disappointed. So we talked for a while about why his day had gone the way it had. He picked on me because I had thawed out ground beef then decided that chicken was healthier, so I wasn't going to cook the ground beef. Sunnydale decided he was going to make hamburgers. He had been home for about 45 minutes. By now it was 9pm.

So at 9:30 pm, Sunnydale had taken 4 POUNDS of ground beef and made 5 **yes** 5 hamburgers. They were more like hambookies than hamburgers. Just picture in your head the huge cookies they sell in the mall. Eww.
Anyhoo, the phone rings and I answer it. This is how it went...

Ring
"Hello?"
"Christi? It's Heather"
"Hi, Heather! What's up?"
"Where is Sunnydale?" (sounding slightly frantic)
"Umm, right here, why?"
"Because I've got Adrienne here at the church, he went home without her"

I look up at Sunnydale and say...
"Adrienne's WHERE??"

You see, I was doing laundry *clears throat* and it took him a while to come in the laundry room with me. So I assumed *and yes, I do know what assuming does* that he had laid her down in her room when he came home. But I was wrong. Very wrong.

He had left her at the church. From 8 pm at night until 9:30!!!!!!

Now, before you laugh and think it's no big deal, there is more.

A couple of weeks ago, when Sunnydale was working nights he met us at church Sunday morning. He led the Praise and Worship and then came and sat down next to me.

A friend of mine brought her granddaughter to church that Sunday. Nine weeks old, she is the cutest thing. While Sunnydale was singing I leaned forward and asked to hold her.

Ok, So Sunnydale came and sat down next to me. He looked at Marissa, the baby I was holding and asked if he could hold her. I said sure! He smiled at her then asked me why I changed her clothes. I just sat there and looked at him. It only took a second before it registered that he thought this baby was Abby!!!!!

So, much to my chagrin, I am leaving in November for Colorado for 4 days and I'm supposed to be comfortable that when Sunnydale comes home with our kids, IF he comes home with our kids, they will be the right kids. *sigh*

*laughing* Sunnydale ;) I love you.

Drugs anyone?

I know that my 4 faithful readers have been somewhat concerned about me updating my blog. I plan to recommit to writing everyday. I've been frustrated latley and I am currently on drugs for a terrible toothache. Of course, I can't take what they prescribed mebecause that would mean sleeping while my kids rule the roost. Also, you can't drive while on this medication. I believe the conversation went something like this with my Dentist:
"Pull my tooth!"
"no"
"Shoot me"
"no"
"pull my tooth, please???"
"no, I don't extract permanent teeth unless it is a dire emergency"
"There is going to be a dire emergency if you don't take some action"
"do you really want me to ruin your mouth for life?"
"no, smart eleck, I want you to make it stop hurting"
"Ok, I can do Friday morning at 10:15, you'll need to be here for 2 hours."
I sat there dumbfounded. FRIDAY??? This was yesterday (Monday). Um, did I mention that I felt like crying and passing out, and I was beginning to weigh my options about whether you'll really pass out if you hold your breath??
"Friday? Are you joking? This is Monday!"
"It's the earliest I can see you"
"What am I now? A hologram?"
"Mrs. Hyde, I understand that you are in pain, but the earliest I can see you to take care of the tooth is Friday morning. However, I will prescribe to you a pain killer that will help until then."
"umm, ok. Thanks"

To make a long story short, the pharmacist says I shouldn't take this medicine if lactating *rolls eyes*, Can't drive while on this medication, can't consume caffeine, need to eat to avoid nausea and vomiting (did I mention it's a toothache?) and last but certainly not least, This medication will make me sleepy, so if I work or take care of children I shouldn't take it.
*sigh*
I may not make it until Friday

Peaceful

Isn't it fun to watch a sleeping baby? Abby fell asleep on the couch so I couldn't help but take her picture. Her little pig tail sticking up. It's so hard to believe she is 8 months old now! In the midst of all the chaos around the world, she sleeps full of peace knowing that she is loved and taken care of. That speaks to me during this time in our country. To see all the sadness right now, yet it is possible to know that we are loved, by our Father, and that we are taken care of. It's hard to remember sometimes that even though we fight the battle, the war is won. But it is. A simple, yet profound truth.

So I went to Starbucks this morning glad to have caffeine pumping through my system. *grin* Sunnydale informed me that we cannot take stock out in Starbucks. Even though personally I think I would find a certain satisfaction in knowing I was contributing to the world of caffeine addicts. I did forgo the pastry and I also got a nonfat mocha w/ no whip. Even though technically it still has 2 grams of fat, the original mocha has 22 grams of fat!!!!! I'll go ahead and consider this progress. Okay, well, thanks to the stress from worrying about family with the aftermath of Katrina and all, I have successfully organized quite a bit of the parts of my house no one ever sees. Like the storage room downstairs, the junk drawer in the kitchen, the top of the fridge etc. You get the idea. Because my house is almost always CLEAN, I have learned over the past few years that surface clean and deep clean (like, storage closets, under beds things like that) are two completely things......*rolls eyes* So now, the task is to DEEP clean. *whew* Think I'm going to go have another coffee. *grin* Just kiddin, Sunnydale. ;)

Okay Sarah, I'm waiting to hear how classes went on your first day of Grad. school. Hope it all went well. I have complete faith in you, though. Not one doubt that you can accomplish this with flying colors.

Onto the land of Tide city of.....whites???

Kids Helping Kids...

Yesterday our kids and some of the neighborhood kids made a lemonade stand. They sold, candy, lemonade and Promise Pins. When we were all done and packed up the stand, 6 hours of sitting out there produced a total donation of $340.00!! We're doing it again next weekend. I was so proud of the kids. They did an awesome job. We are also going to call some of the local dealerships and see if they want to match our donation. Great job kids!

My neighbor came up with this great idea to make pins to show our support for the people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. She came up with this pin and is calling it a "Promise Pin". We made 49 of them last night and are selling them at our Lemonade stand this morning for $3.00 each. I think this is going to end up being a huge hit. The rainbow and the dove are obviously significant of God and His promise to all of us.

Hats off to Texas and all they are doing to support all these people. Let me know if you are intrested in us making some of these pins for you or for people in your area!

Helping Out

Please send any clothes, money, food, things for the kids to stay occupied etc... to;

South Huntington Church of Christ
Hurricane Relief
P.O. Box 1399
Kosciusko, 39090

OR

Gateway Church of Christ
245 Brent Lane
Pensacola, FL 32503

Thanks for any and all help!

Talked to family

Finally got a hold of Sunnydale's Mom last night. I called her cell phone at 11:00 pm my time. She could only talk for 2 minutes, and that is not an exaggeration. They are down in the New Orleans area doing what I gathered is similar to search and rescue. She said there are dead bodies everywhere. She sounded so very sad. Please pray that they sustain their strength not only physically (it was 1:00 am her time when I talked to her) but emotionally. They are going on almost NO sleep. For those of you who don't know, they own an ambulance service farther north in Louisiana. They were down in New Orleans for an EMS conference. Evac'ed to Baton Rouge and now are back in N.O.

That's all for now, I'll write more later.

PS = She said that the lines are more open in the middle of the night, like when I called her. So if you're trying to get in touch with someone try calling in the middle of the night. ALSO - when I call my Mom, it tells me that all circuits are busy.... But if I hang up and call 3 to 6 times in a row I finally get through. Although this hasn't worked for my Aunt in Laurel, I sat and hit redial for an hour and half yesterday thinking at some point I'd get through, but it didn't work. Anyway, it's worth a shot to call in the middle of the night.

Hope everyone is safe.

Katrina

We have family and friends that are in the path of this horrible storm. We are praying for the safety of everyone.
I've stayed up most of the night. I suppose it's different when you've got family in harms way. I've flipped back and forth from The Weather Channel, MSNBC and Fox news. I fell asleep for a little while on the couch (Sunnydale worked last night and came home around 5:30 am) filling Sunnydale in here and there late last night. He called his brother at 1am their time. I talked to his mom who is in Baton Rouge around midnight. I am most concerned about New Orleans and the Biloxi/Gulf Port area. So many friends down there... JD, we're praying for you guys. Dee you too! Tommy, I'm not sure of the location of the town you guys went to for the weekend, so I hope you all are safe. My Aunt and Uncle in stayed in Laurel hoping that it wouldn't get too bad. I've just been so worried about everyone. My Grandma is in Vicksburg praying also that the worst of it won't head her way. Mom and Dad are in Grenada. All those tornadoes that will hit Mississippi and Alabama before it dissolves slightly and heads into Tennessee, just to produce more tornadoes. I'd rather go through an earthquake than tornadoes and a hurricane. Plus, half the earthquakes we've had out here, I somehow have been oblivious to. *rolls eyes*.

I'm logging now, back to the TV. Praying for safety for everyone down there.

Trivia...

Answers...

Which state has the longest coastline? Alaska
Which state has the greatest density? New Jersey
Which state has least density? Alaska
Which state grows coffee? Hawaii
Where is a diamond mine? Arkansas
Where is the driest state? Nevada
What is the wettest state? Hawaii
Which state grows the most food? California
Which state has the shortest coastline? 13 miles, New hampshire

Hijacked

I know you've been sitting in suspense over whether or not my linen closet is organized. You'll be happy to know, that I did organize it and it looks very....Clean. Tidy. Like no one ever uses it. It's sad, really. I tried to give it some encouraging words, like, "it's ok, being clean and organized is a good thing, when we need something, we'll be able to find it." I think the problem is that now it has a few barren shelves, and it feels unproductive or something. Over time, I think, probably once I'm done folding the towels, it will be happier.

I am slightly unhappy today because Sunnydale has hijacked my purse and won't bring it home to me. Why don't I go get it, you ask? Because he left me with the vehicle that has barely any gas. *sigh* When I questioned him this morning, he said something, I vaguely remember, something about him telling me to get my stuff out of the truck last night because he was taking the truck today and that he has hijacked my purse as a learning experience for me. *crosses arms* How rude.

I say that I am slightly unhappy because there is an up side to the story. After realizing that he was wrong and that I needed my purse today for important reasons, he has written the following apology to me...

Dearest Christi,

I am so sorry for hijacking your purse. You are right, if I want to use your truck I should transfer all items for you to my car. I realize that this is a huge inconvenience for you so I have come up with a solution. Tonight when I come home, I will fix dinner for you. After you have eaten and had dessert, I will clean up the dishes while you take a bath. I'll get the kids ready for bed too, while you go on to bed early. I am so sorry for the stress I caused you this morning. My intent was for you to learn to remove your purse from the truck. However, I have learned a more valuable lesson. I have learned that when I want to change your routine, then I should provide the necessary tools to make it the easiest transition possible. Removing your purse would have been an easy task for me, because I had no children hanging on my arms preventing me and also because I always have your best interest at heart. Because I know that your happiness is a reflection of me.

Love forever,
Sunnydale (by P.O.A)

;)