snippets of time...

Cool morning.  Warm coffee.  Quiet house.  


I spend a great deal of my time yearning for more of this allusive thing called time.  It's really quite absurd.  Rather than live in the moment... whatever the moment is,  I find myself planning ahead.  Spending time that isn't meant to be spent yet and pining for time I do not have.  


I long for great lengths of time... long conversations and long vacations.  I desire hours to quietly read and days with nothing to do.  I crave extended time with extended family and prolonged visits with far away friends.  


Slowly... ever so slowly... through His patient and graceful teaching, I am learning what I think I desire is not what I need.  He promises to supply all my needs according to His riches in glory... even in time.


When I let go of the pining and the planning and trust Him with my days, I see snippets of time provided just for me.  In the midst of the chaos around me... and often in me... He provides spontaneous date nights, a few quiet moments to read, an encouraging conversation with a friend, a weekend away with family.  


I am learning to recognize a snippet of time and to see the beauty in it... the wonder and beauty of a cool morning, a warm cup of coffee and a quiet house.  And for these few moments, I will immerse and enjoy.

oh so true...

A friend sent this to me in an email this morning.  I was rolling on the floor laughing!  Oh so true in my world and oh so funny!  


Please don't be offended by my warped sense of humor.  True life is not only stranger than fiction, it's also more hilarious than fiction.


I have no idea who gets the credit for this.  Whoever it is... thank you for the laughs!! 


Enjoy!


The Bathing Suit (by a middle-age woman unknown)

When I was a child in the 1950s, the bathing suit for the mature figure was-boned, trussed and reinforced, not so much sewn as engineered.  They were built to hold back and uplift, and they did a good job.

Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the prepubescent girl with a figure carved from a potato chip.

The mature woman has a choice, she can either go up front to the maternity department and try on a floral suit with a skirt, coming away looking like a hippopotamus that escaped from Disney's Fantasia, or she can wander around every run-of-the-mill department store trying to make a sensible choice from what amounts to a designer range of fluorescent rubber bands.

What choice did I have?  I wandered around, made my sensible choice and entered the chamber of horrors known as the fitting room.  The first thing I noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength of the stretch material.  The Lycra used in bathing costumes was developed, I believe, by NASA to launch small rockets from a slingshot, which gives the added bonus that if you manage to actually lever yourself into one, you would be protected from shark attacks.  Any shark taking a swipe at your passing midriff would immediately suffer whiplash.

I fought my way into the bathing suit, but as I twanged the shoulder strap in place I gasped in horror, my boobs had disappeared!

Eventually, I found one boob cowering under my left armpit.  It took a while to find the other.  At last I located it flattened beside my seventh rib.

The problem is that modern bathing suits have no bra cups.  The mature woman is meant to  wear her boobs spread across her chest like a speed bump.  I realigned my speed bump and lurched toward the mirror to take a full view assessment.

The bathing suit fit all right, but unfortunately it only fit those bits of me willing to stay inside it.  The rest of me oozed out rebelliously from top, bottom and sides.  I looked like a lump of
Playdoh wearing undersized cling wrap.

As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from, the prepubescent sales girl popped her head through the curtain, "Oh, there you are," she said, admiring the bathing suit.

I replied that I wasn't so sure and asked what else she had to show me. I tried on a cream crinkled one that made me look like a lump of masking tape, and a floral two-piece that gave the appearance of an oversized napkin in a serving ring.

I struggled into a pair of leopard-skin bathers with ragged frills and came out looking like Tarzan's Jane, pregnant with triplets and having a rough day.

I tried on a black number with a midriff and looked like a jellyfish in mourning.

I tried on a bright pink pair with such a high cut leg I thought I would have to wax my eyebrows to wear them.

Finally, I found a suit that fit, it was a two-piece affair with a shorts-style bottom and a loose blouse-type top.  It was cheap, comfortable, and bulge-friendly, so I bought it.  My ridiculous search had a successful outcome, I figured.

When I got it home, I found a label that read, "Material might become transparent in water."

So, if you happen to be on the beach or near any other body of water this year and I'm there too, I'll be the one in cut-off jeans and a T-shirt!

****You'd better be laughing or rolling on the floor by this time.  Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain, with or without a bathing suit!!

15 minutes...

I have 15 minutes before it is time to pick Eric up from early morning football practice....


Seems like this summer is filled with snippets of 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there.  Usually those 15 minutes are waiting in the truck for the child at football or at llama club or at Exploring 4H or at the library or at softball or... or... or...


The question is not where are those 15 minute snippets of time but rather...

what am I doing with those 15 minutes?

Usually I spend that 15 minutes contemplating all that I need to get done or deciding what to cook for dinner or mentally rehashing an argument.  

I no longer want to waste those 15 minutes.  Even though it is a short moment, I won't ever get those 15 minutes back.  I need to make them count...

15 minutes to pray.  15 minutes to connect with Chad.  15 minutes to encourage one of the Es.  

It all boils down to 15 minutes.  

What can I do with 15 minutes?

The Quotable Rogue...a BookSneeze review

She is arguably one of the most influential women of the 21st century.  In the few short years since the world first met Alaska's woman governor Sarah Palin, she has made her mark on American history.


It seems as if all of Sarah Palin's words have been hashed and rehashed, including emails.  Nothing she says gets by the "lame stream" media without discussion. 


 Regardless of individual Party affiliations, Americans cannot seem to get enough of the words of Sarah Palin.  Many a hilarious SNL skit stars Tina Fey as the Quotable Rogue herself.


The Daily Caller senior contributor, Matt Lewis, has compiled 180 pages of Mrs. Palin's own quotes.  He includes her words on 32 different subjects... from abortion to Barack Obama and most everything in between including Mrs. Palin's thoughts on Tina Fey's portrayals of herself.


The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin In Her Own Words is a great reference book into the views of Mrs. Palin.  Laid out in an easy to use, easy to read format, anyone looking for more information on Sarah Palin's ideals would be wise to pick up Matt Lewis' book.


The Quotable Rogue will be released by Thomas Nelson Publishers June 28, 2011.

on laughter and family...

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
   and your lips with shouts of joy.

Job 8:21

...my 21 1/2 most favorite people in all the world!

We gathered, this weekend, to celebrate 45 years of marriage, 42 Father's Days and 14 years of birthdays.  In two very large, very nice suites we lived together... in complete and utter mayhem. For one weekend, immediate family's lines blurred and blended into beautiful chaos.

These truly are my favorite people.  We've lived, loved and laughed together.  And it is the laughing together that is the ab.so.lute favorite part of my life!

All I could pray today was "thank You! thank You! thank YOU!!"

Thank You for another weekend of laughter and family...

...late night giggles of 6 girls all in a bunk room together 

...teen boy humor

...the tickle-me-giggle of the newest member

...hearing my dad's deep laugh

...laughing so hard tears run freely

...joy in watching the 2 yr old share his breakfast with Grandma

...having fun at an old-time photo session

...and making fun of the results

...waterslide squeals

...water cannon wars

...splashing with little ones

...floating and chatting
...nieces waterslide requests "Puh.leez Aunt Heidi!"

...late night encouragement

...brother in law humor
...the 3 inseparable mancubs

...2 year old kisses

...cousin love
...built-in babysitters

...one last lunch together

...life long memories
...beautiful chaos

  

Lorrie's Audios... a Gabby review

It's that time again... time for another review for Eternal Encouragement and the Gabby Moms.


Honestly, this review is hard for me to do.  I've spent the week ruminating on how I would write this review.  I hope and pray that my words are encouraging and God honoring even though I really didn't like these products.  


Lorrie Flem and her team at Eternal Encouragement sent me two mp3 files to download, listen to and review... Attitude Adjustments and Keys to a Queenly Castle.  Each of these files is available as an mp3 file for $6.97 or a CD for $9.97 at www.eternalencouragement.com.


Both audios are recordings of Lorrie Flem teaching at a homeschool convention sharing her life lessons that she has gleaned being a wife to Randy and mother to 8.  While she has experiences to share, I found her to be distracting at the beginning of both speeches because she sells herself and her product.  Most of her products stand alone and do not need solicitation but because she is at a convention, she directs her listener to "the best curriculum in the vending hall today."


As I listened to Lorrie, I don't remember ever hearing her say "this is what has worked in my home."  Instead, I got the distinct impression that she feels like she is teaching the only way to accomplish a particular goal.  The concepts she teaches are Scriptural.  However, sometimes a mom has to teach something 2 or 3 or even 10 different ways to her 2 or 3 or 10 different children.  

Because both of these audios were recorded as workshops at conventions, there is some background noise and the audio isn't as clear as it would be if they were recorded in a studio.  For me, this made them more difficult to listen to than other recordings or podcasts I have heard.

Lastly, the content of both audios seems to be a bit redundant.  Not only does Lorrie repeat herself often, the subjects of each audio overlap in areas which leads to a feeling of deja vu.

I am sorry that this review is so negative.  However, I felt like I was expected to give an honest review and honestly, I do not think either of these downloads are worth the price of $6.97/ea.  Especially considering that in both audio sessions, Lorrie stressed she is doing this as a ministry and is not making money from her products.

**disclaimer... I was given these 2 free downloads for my honest review.  I received no other compensation. 

on weariness...

I seem to experience different kinds of weariness in life.  Such as...

the I'm-so-tired-I-can-hardly-keep-my-eyes-open weary

or

the bone-aching-I-can-hardly-move weary

or 

the if-one-more-person-says-"MOM!"-I'm-going-to-scream weary

or even

the life-is-too-overwhelming-to-breathe weary

All cause weariness.  All wear me out at times.  All true to my life at one time or another.

... and then, there is the best kind of weariness...

the I've-given-all-I've-got-for-Him weary

That is where I am, tonight.  I'm bone deep exhausted.  It's been a week of preparing VBS for 75 kids on Monday, taking a girl to 4H camp, planning a family reunion, preparing for Fair, getting up and driving a boy to early morning football practice, editing and rewriting 7 Bible studies and preparing for a new ministry site.  It's been hours facing my computer screen, a zillion emails and countless texts.  It's even settling for Burger King tonight only because it was easy and cheap.

Though I am tired, this is the kind of weary I like.  It's knowing that though I am tired, what I'm doing matters.  It's the kind of weary I want to be when He finally calls me home and I fall on my face at His feet.  I want to KNOW that I've given all I've got for Him...

...I want to be that weary.

Uncommon... a Tyndale review

It's no secret that I love football... especially the National Football League.  Even in the midst of a HUGE labor dispute and the very good probability that there will not be a season opener at the beginning of September, I still love NFL football... the Indianapolis Colts... and this man... former Indy coach Tony Dungy.


Tony Dungy is a man who chooses to be different.  He chooses to be a man of honesty, integrity and morality.  He chooses to talk about those things.  He chooses to be Uncommon.  And, in choosing to be uncommon, Coach Dungy encourages others to live an uncommon life.

Uncommon... finding your path to significance is more than a how-to-live-a-great-life book.  It's more than a coach's memoir.  This book is even more than a great read.  


Instead, Tony Dungy honestly deals with the struggles and pitfalls of life.  He shares real life examples of victory and defeat... joy and sorrow... life and death.  He neither minces words nor sugar coats tough issues but with patience, humor and wisdom, he tackles life choices that face all of us.  Throughout its pages, Coach Dungy writes this book in the spirit of Apostle Paul who said, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)


Tyndale House Publishers has just released an update edition of Uncommon for $14.99.  The update version includes a bonus chapter on the "Dare to Be Uncommon" movement that is sweeping schools across the nation as well as updated information on Coach Dungy since his retirement from the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.


Though written primarily for men, I thoroughly enjoyed Coach Dungy's no-nonsense approach and sage words of wisdom in Uncommon.  


...and, as of today, my 14 year old son's summer reading list just got one book longer.


**disclaimer... I reviewed this book as part of my affiliation with Tyndale Summer Reading Program.  I received no other compensation.

how to do a man's job...

I look deeper into his eyes... not really believing what he just told me... wondering if this is another not-so-funny 14 year old joke... only I don't think he would joke about this.  "Freddie's dead, Mom."


I watch from the screen... trees partially block my view but I see 2 men shovels in hand... silently working side by side in the heat of the day... digging a final resting place.


I observe and my heart swells and skips and thumps wildly... I see the boy, no longer a boy, working next to the man who fathered him and fathers him... I see in the sound of metal hitting earth another life lesson best learned side by side.


I see my man teaching our man how to do a man's job and my spirit soars for in this moment of the loss of a dog I am fiercely proud of my men!

library spoiled...

I came to the conclusion, today, that I am "library spoiled"!  See this building?  Seriously, this building not only houses the World's Coolest Public Library (WCPL) but within those walls are a group of people I affectionally call "My Favorite Librarians".   


Unknown to me, until today, was the fact that My Favorite Librarians at WCPL have spoiled me rotten.


My mom and I took a short road trip today to meet up with my cousin to do some ministry brain-storming (more on that later...).   We opted to meet at a public library that offered free wifi.  At the time, it seemed like a safe and convenient way to spend several hours sharing thoughts and ideas.  Safe, definitely.   Convenient, not so much.


This particular library, which shall remain nameless, seems to be a public library in name only.  Let's just say, it's not very welcoming to have to ask a librarian to unlock the ladies' room when you are in need of its use.  Furthermore, free wifi takes on an entirely different meaning when you the librarian has to secretly enter the user name and password every hour.


I'm not sure what has prompted this particular public library to take such drastic measures to protect itself.  Apparently, they take their security seriously though!  


They advertised their Summer Reading Program.  I was a little leery of inquiring further.


... just another reminder of how much I love my local library!

the other side of tomorrow...

The years know

what the days could not see.

~unknown

Eric 2000

Time is elusive.  Holding on to it is like nailing Jello to a tree... try as you might, you just can't do it.  

I have memories of my grandmother looking at the 20-something Heidi wistfully... reminding me that I was young and had my entire life before me.  "Time flies" she would often say. 

While I hope I said something polite, kind and relatively intelligent, my heart thought, "Are you kidding me?  There's always tomorrow!"

Jake, Drew and Eric 2000

It's amazing what time looks like on this side of tomorrow... 

Truman 2011

I spent the weekend with a special little boy.  He's two and a half.  He's precocious.  He's lively.  He's incredibly intelligent.  He's beautiful.  He is 100% boy!  He reminds me of another boy or two I once knew.

Truman 2011

Spending the weekend with my nephew, Tru, brought back many memories to this Mama's heart.  Memories of Eric playing with his 2 BFF's, his cousin's Drew and Jake.  Memories of little boy times with cars, Rescue Heroes, Thomas the Train and football.  Memories that on this side of tomorrow don't seem that far away... until I realized that tomorrow is Eric's last day of middle school.

Jake, Drew and Eric backpacking for 3 days with Uncle Steve and Aunt Susy 2011

There is always another side to tomorrow.  For Eric, it's high school... football, finals and fiascos.  I excited for all that Eric will do, see, learn and become.  I'm thrilled to see the man that God will shape him into being.  

Eric 2011

...and on the other side of tomorrow, I will miss the boy of today.


**most of these pictures respectfully stolen from my very talented sister at in the details 

Wis-cousin...

...once again, I wish I had a page full of pictures...


It's a holiday weekend... and a cousin weekend.  When I was a kid, my favorite place was my Uncle Dave and Aunt Sally's farm... my children's favorite place is their Uncle Dave and Aunt Gabe's home.  As we drove into Wisconsin, Emme informed us that we should call this state "Wis-cousin" and I think I agree.   Wis-cousin is my children's favorite state in the Union.  


Wisconsin is a lovely state but to us, it simply means cousins... Drew, Jake, Leslie, Annie and Lydia.  It means a big house and a huge backyard.  It means jumping on the trampoline and making volcanoes in the sandbox.  Wis-cousin means creating a mammoth water slide and late night sleep togethers.  


It seems each year something new is added to the Wis-cousin memory bank.  This year we added the other 3 cousins... Jenna, Truman and Audrey to the Wis-cousin weekend.  We also added a 3 day backpacking trip that the boys are on with their Uncle Steve and Aunt Susy.  Three days of wilderness in southern Wisconsin... packin' it in and packin' it out... sleeping in a 3 sided shelter and learning to lead the way.  Today is day 3.  Tomorrow morning we pick them up at the end of their trail.  I can not wait to hear all about it!


Today, I'm joining the gratitude community at Ann's again... grateful for these and much MUCH more on this Memorial Day Multitude Monday...


... for those who have given their life for my freedom
... for the freedom to worship and praise my Savior
... for the freedom to raise my children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD
... for the freedom to come and go and to travel
... for the freedom to be together


... for Wis-cousin
... for life long memories made in the living together for a few days
... for life long best friends named cousins
... for late night giggles
... and for early morning breakfasts


... for a family that loves one another
... for brother in laws who accommodate 
... for sisters
... for team work
... for conversation on the deck


... for sweet baby snuggles
... for funny 2 year old conversations
... for group hugs
... for learning how to work things out
... for a weekend of finishing projects

Read for the Heart... the last TOS review

Over the years of homeschooling, I have fallen in love with Apologia Science.  I think it is due, in part, through the strong influence of my science teacher friend, Debbie.  Debbie taught science in the public school, had babies and opted to stay home and teach homeschool science, and now is back teaching science in our local Christian school.  Debbie and I have spent many hours discussing homeschooling, curriculum and Apologia Science.  She loves using Apologia and has convinced me to do the same!

However, did you know that Apologia has much more than just science curriculum?  I didn't!  I was blown away when I opened their website and looked at all of the options.  Even more fun than that was receiving a copy of Read for the Heart to review for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!  


After reading through Read for the Heart, I like Apologia even more!  Read for the Heart by Sarah Clarkson is a compilation of over 1,000 terrific titles to read aloud to your children.  This book reads as a guide and directs you to finding quality literature for at home reading.  It's like having your own personal librarian!


Reading aloud has been foundational in our homeschool.  Years ago, a wise woman told me I could do nothing better for my children than to teach them about Jesus and to read aloud to them every single day.  We have gone on many adventures together from the comfort of our living room.  We've giggling through Mr. Popper's Penguins and Junie B. Jones.  We've journeyed through the prairie with Laura Ingalls Wilder and under the sea with Jules Verne.  All of these and more are fond memories for all of us.


Apologia offers Read for the Heart for $17.00 and in my opinion, regardless of where your children go to school, no Mom should be without this book.  This book is just another example of the excellence of Apologia Curriculum.


Click here to see what my other TOS Crew mates had to say.


... this will be my last review for the TOS Crew.  Thanks to Crew leaders, Heidi and Brenda, and my mini-crew leader, Heather, for a fabulous year!


**disclaimer... I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.   

ads? or no ads?

My man sometimes tells me I read too much... there may be some truth to that statement!  


I spent last weekend reading about how to make money blogging.  If you're looking for a great story, there are lots of them out there!  Not sure how many are true but they read like a "happily ever after" story.  

...and then I decided to put my reading into action...

Please bear in mind, that I am a 100% self-taught blogger.  EVERYthing I have done, I have learned by trial and error... mostly error, I'm afraid.  So, with some fear and trepidation I added Google adsense and Amazon associates to my blog to see if I can generate a little extra spending money.


Honestly, I think the only person who noticed my ads was my cousin... at least, I hope she was the only one who noticed because today I saw the Amazon ad...

 ...Lady Gaga...   

Ummm.. I don't think so.  Not in my neck of the blogging woods does Lady Gaga need to appear.  


So, for 5 days I ran ads on my blog.  After Gaga appeared, the ads disappeared.  


...and in those 5 days, I made a whoppin' 45 cents.  Definitely not a "happily ever after" story!

Eagles Wings... a TOS Review

During this year of doing reviews for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, I've gotten a few products that excite me.  This is one of them!


Considering God's Creation is a natural science curriculum from Eagles Wings Educational Materials that includes the studies on the following... the universe, stars, solar system, earth, light, sound, wind, weather, clouds, rocks, plants, insects, mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, amphibians, food chains, reproduction and genetics, human, animal anatomy, and physiology.


Authors, Susan Mortimer and Betty Smith, have written a gigantic, 272 page science book that is adaptable for students from 2nd grade to 7th grade.  The authors graciously allow reproduction of the workbook pages for families.  

When my copy of Considering God's Creation came, my girls were thrilled!  They were quick to pick it up and thumb through it begging to do all the workbook pages at once.  


We poured through this book "oohing" and "aahing" over the pages.  The thrill for the girls was that 2nd grade, Ellen, could do the same pages that 6th grade, Emily, can do... though Emily has more to do than Ellen.   The thrill for me... a science curriculum for both girls that costs $29.95!!


Since we received this curriculum at the end of the school year this year, we've decided to not go any further in it but to save the rest of it for our science next year.  The girls are excited to work on it together!


You can click here to see what other TOS Crew members had to say about Considering God's Creation by Eagles Wings.


**disclaimer... I received this product for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.  

how to make him happy...

I've heard it said that it's the little things in life that bring great joy.  The older I get, the more I find the wisdom in that...

all I had to do was shave his head and he hasn't stopped smiling.  


I'm so glad something that simple could make him so happy!  


Who knew?!?

thanks LORD

Dear LORD,


Thank You!  I often complain about the weather, my circumstances, others or even You, LORD.  I'm sorry.  I hate that I do the same things over and over and over again.


This morning is stunning, Jehovah!  Thank You for this gift... these gifts.  Thank You for Your creation... for the sunrise that nudges me out of bed... for the songs that the birds sing... for the cool breeze that blows in open windows.  Thank You for a sweet dog at my feet and for a warm vanilla latte in my hands.  Thank You for senses... the ability to see, hear, touch, taste and smell all of these gifts and more this morning.  


Thank You for the prayers of friends and family yesterday.  I don't often realize the ways that You love me through others.  Open my heart to see You more in the people You have put around me.


Thank You for mercies that are new every morning and stirring my heart this morning to You.  I want to love You more, serve You more, know You more.  You alone are God and I am in awe of You!  


In Jesus' name
amen

the other side of today...

It's been nine years today.  Nine years of celebrating the loving, laughing, living life of Emily.  Nine years of gratitude for who she is and Whose she is.  Nine years of remembering back to the day of her 3rd birthday.


Nine years ago, today, celebrating at Chuck E. Cheese's.  She played.  I prayed.  I knew something wasn't right.  I rubbed my belly hoping for a nudge in response.  While I smiled and watched, she and her very "bestest friend", Taylor, hopped and skipped from one thing to the next. I prayed with few words... just, "please God."


The morning started out bright and beautiful.  I woke to feel his little nudges where he was being knit together in the quiet and dark.  Seen only by his Creator and yet loved by me.  My heart was sure the little bumps meant he was saying "Hi Mom!"


A day that started out bright and beautiful ended with heartache and sorrow.  My little unseen man's heart had stopped.  No warning.  No explanation.  Only empty words... "I'm sorry but your baby's heart has stopped beating.  There is nothing we can do."


On that day nine years ago today, my Matthew met Jesus.  My Matthew that I had carried deep within me left this earth before he took his first breath.  No hurts, no pain, no tears... no sin, no shame, no sorrow.  


The other side of today is what this Mommy's heart ponders... how one heart can celebrate and mourn at the same time... on the same day.

a dozen years ago...

She came into the world

without a lot of fuss

at 10 lbs 10 ozs

and almost 24 inches

she was almost half grown

She's brought us much joy

and many laughs

she's taught me much
about how to love Jesus
and others

and I can't even begin

to imagine life

without her

a dozen years ago

we were blessed

to be given the gift

of her.

Happy 12th birthday Emily Grace!