The last few years I have enjoyed having a year-end list of what books I read during the year. I read enough that I easily forget which books I mean to recommend to friends, and the list is a way to recall the titles and authors. I still love reading a good mystery, but each year my lists get better. I aim to read books that challenge me to learn and grow. I used red text to indicate which of my reads have been nonfiction; I read several parenting books, many about homeschooling, and lots of memoirs and biographies. I highlighted our book club reads with orange, and the novels I read aloud with the kids are highlighted purple. This is the first year in my three years of book club that I did not read all the choices. Life got busy when we started homeschooling and if I knew I would be missing book club meetings and sometimes, if the books didn't immediately call to me, I was okay with skipping it.
January
1. Wish You Well (David Baldacci)
2. Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours (Kevin Leman)
3. Mommies Who Drink (Brett Paesel)
February
4. What is the What (Dave Eggers)
5. The Thomas Berryman Number (James Patterson)
6. Bleachers (John Grisham)
7. Stiff (Mary Roach)
March
8. The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling (Debra Bell)
9. Play Dead (Harlan Coben)
10. Peter Duck (Arthur Ransome)
11. Drop Shot (Harlan Coben)
12. The Hurried Child (Dave Elkind)
April
13.7th Heaven (James Patterson & Maxine Paetro)
14. Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning (Karen Andreola)
15. The Wheel on the School (Meindert Dejong)
16. The Courage of Sarah Noble (Alice Dalgliesh)
17. 8th Confessions (James Patterson & Maxine Paetro)
18. A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khalid Hosseini)
19. 9th Judgement (James Patterson & Maxine Paetro)
May
20. 10th Anniversary (James Patterson & Maxine Paetro)
21. Island of the Blue Dolphins (Scott O'Dell)
22. Heaven is for Real (Todd Burpo & Lynn Vincent)
23. What's So Amazing About Grace (Philip Yancey)
24. Death Comes to Pemberley (P.D. James)
June
25. The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Kim Edwards)
26. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are (Ann Voskamp)
27. Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food (Lysa TerKeurst)
28. Spider Bones (Kathy Reichs)
July
29. The Full Cupboard of Life (Alexander McCall Smith)
30. Decision Points (George W. Bush)
August
31. Now You See Her (James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)
32. Infidel (Ayaan Hirsi Ali)
33. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Jacqueline Kelly)
34. Hell's Corner (David Baldacci)
September
35. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (Seth Grahame-Smith)
36. Creative Correction: Extraordinary Ideas for Everyday Discipline (Lisa Whelchel)
37. Kill Alex Cross (James Patterson)
38. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)
39. Weekend Warriors (Fern Michaels)
40. Port Mortuary (Patricia Cornwell)
October
41. Because of Winn-Dixie (Kate DiCamillo)
42. Red Mist (Patricia Cornwell)
43. Hide and Seek (Fern Michaels)
44. And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)
45. 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess (Jen Hatmaker)
46. Flash and Bones (Kathy Reichs)
November
47. The Jury (Fern Michaels)
48. The Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
December
49. Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day (Macrina Weiderkehr)
50. Lethal Justice (Fern Michaels)
51. Murder With All the Trimmings (Elaine Viets)
52. A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
53. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (E.L. Konigsburg)
54. Stepping Heavenward: One Woman's Journey to Godliness (E. Prentiss)
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Checking Off Six More!
New Year's Resolutions - normally, they aren't really for me. Yes, I do try to do something to improve myself, but several years ago, I decided to try to check off something from a sort of a bucket list. Back in July 2002 I made a list of 101 things I wanted to do in my lifetime.
Last year (2011) I didn't make much progress, so I didn't even post an update. This year, I've checked off several, so I'm back to being enthusiastic about it. Here is my checked-off list for 2011 and 2012.
#12 - Paint with watercolors and do it well (spring 2012) It isn't perfect, but I love how it turned out!! I am definitely inspired to keep trying.
#14 - Read the entire Bible in six months (I finished that one in 2011...in three months!)
#17 - Spend a day at the spa (San Diego, March 2012)
#81 - Remove the stain from my front teeth (February 2012)
#95 - Go on a trip planned by Allen (San Diego, March 2012)
#99 - Have friends that are a couple and friends to both Allen and me (2012)
A person can change a lot in ten years. Looking over the list, I see several things I cared about then, that I don't give a hoot about anymore. Maybe this year will be the one I replace these with some new ones.
#10 - Have a flower shop
#23 - Paint my house
#42 - Tile a kitchen or bathroom
#50 - Have an attic room
#58 - Do a nature film
#65 - Have my own field of lavender
#74 - Refinish all the bedroom furniture
All in all, I'm pleased with the progress! I am excited to try new things for 2013 -- some of the new things are sort of resolutions, some more of checking off more from my original 101.
Last year (2011) I didn't make much progress, so I didn't even post an update. This year, I've checked off several, so I'm back to being enthusiastic about it. Here is my checked-off list for 2011 and 2012.
#12 - Paint with watercolors and do it well (spring 2012) It isn't perfect, but I love how it turned out!! I am definitely inspired to keep trying.
#14 - Read the entire Bible in six months (I finished that one in 2011...in three months!)
#17 - Spend a day at the spa (San Diego, March 2012)
#81 - Remove the stain from my front teeth (February 2012)
#95 - Go on a trip planned by Allen (San Diego, March 2012)
A person can change a lot in ten years. Looking over the list, I see several things I cared about then, that I don't give a hoot about anymore. Maybe this year will be the one I replace these with some new ones.
#10 - Have a flower shop
#23 - Paint my house
#42 - Tile a kitchen or bathroom
#50 - Have an attic room
#58 - Do a nature film
#65 - Have my own field of lavender
#74 - Refinish all the bedroom furniture
All in all, I'm pleased with the progress! I am excited to try new things for 2013 -- some of the new things are sort of resolutions, some more of checking off more from my original 101.
Friday, December 28, 2012
(Asparagus,) Mushroom and Ham Strata
Several weeks ago, our Bible study group got together for visiting over brunch. One of our mentors made a delicious casserole and I couldn't wait to get the recipe so we could have it Christmas morning with our traditional monkey bread. Though my favorite part was the asparagus, I only put it in half the strata because Allen doesn't like asparagus (the photo isn't mine). Even with the slight recipe change (I used half what the recipe called for, and I sauteed it separate from the mushrooms and onions) it turned out delicious!
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that I was able to prepare it two days before Christmas so that all that was left was to bake it Christmas morn. This savory recipe is moving to the top of my recipe file for breakfast or brunch!
2 TB unsalted butter
1 lb. asparagus, ends snapped off, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 oz. fresh mushrooms (oyster, baby portabella, or white), stemmed and thinly sliced
6 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, white and green parts separated (1/2 cup green, 2 Tbs. white)
9 large eggs, beaten
2-3/4 cups milk
1 large loaf (about 1 lb.) rustic white bread cut into 1-inch cubes
8 oz. sliced deli ham, cut into 1-inch strips
3 cups grated extra sharp Cheddar
Asparagus, Mushroom, and Ham Strata
1 lb. asparagus, ends snapped off, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 oz. fresh mushrooms (oyster, baby portabella, or white), stemmed and thinly sliced
6 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, white and green parts separated (1/2 cup green, 2 Tbs. white)
9 large eggs, beaten
2-3/4 cups milk
1 large loaf (about 1 lb.) rustic white bread cut into 1-inch cubes
8 oz. sliced deli ham, cut into 1-inch strips
3 cups grated extra sharp Cheddar
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spears start to soften, about 3 minutes.
(Here, I took the asparagus out of the pan.) Add the mushrooms and scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms soften and cook through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. Whisk the eggs with the milk and 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper. Spread half the bread in a single layer on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half the egg mixture and then cover with half the ham, cheese, and asparagus mixture, and sprinkle with half the scallion greens. Repeat with the remaining bread, custard, ham, cheese, asparagus mixture, and scallions. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down so the bread is completely submerged in the egg mixture, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days before baking.
Put a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Let the strata sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Bake until the custard sets and the top browns, about 30 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake for another 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, cut into square pieces, and serve.
(Here, I took the asparagus out of the pan.) Add the mushrooms and scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms soften and cook through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. Whisk the eggs with the milk and 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper. Spread half the bread in a single layer on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half the egg mixture and then cover with half the ham, cheese, and asparagus mixture, and sprinkle with half the scallion greens. Repeat with the remaining bread, custard, ham, cheese, asparagus mixture, and scallions. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down so the bread is completely submerged in the egg mixture, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days before baking.
Put a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Let the strata sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Bake until the custard sets and the top browns, about 30 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake for another 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, cut into square pieces, and serve.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Christmas Eve Cocoa
Since I print my blog as a book each year, I thought it would be a perfect place to keep some of my new favorite recipes. This is a recipe I found on Pinterest, but it is definitely worth sharing and keeping. The dark chocolate creaminess.... oh my goodness, I loved it! ... but it isn't healthy at all. Maybe I'll work on that part next.
Heavenly Hot Chocolate
Heavenly Hot Chocolate
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 pint of half and half
- 2 cups of bittersweet chocolate chips
- 6 cups of milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Put all ingredients in a crock pot set on high (if you want it sooner than later). Stir regularly for 30 minutes until the chocolate chips are melted, then set the crock pot on low to keep the cocoa hot. We topped our full mugs with mini marshmallows, but I may try the leftovers with a candy cane instead.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Day Busyness
I had such grand plans for our Christmas Day meals. I planned on making a fresh pie with sweet and tangy Honeycrisp apples. I planned on a making fresh bread. I planned on our family making a variety of homemade cookies for Santa. But... my plans went out the window since the kids have been sick for the last week. Thank you to Mrs. Smith for the sweet apple pie, to Field's for the pecan pie, and to Pillsbury for the golden crescent rolls and sugar cookies.
Santa left just as many crumbs on his plate as when they are homemade. We spend just as much time making memories over our dinner as we did when we made everything, but a little less time in the kitchen. Hopefully, my kids don't look back on our not-quite-homemade meal and discuss it for hours with a therapist.
Christmas Day was still wonderful. Allen's parents and grandma came Christmas Eve, so this year they got to enjoy a lot more of the Christmas morning surprises. The kids started out the morning way too early -- 5:30am. I sent them back to bed and overheard Will yelling at them that Daddy said not to get up until 6:30. Grandma Ann somehow stayed asleep through all the noise, but I stayed up to work on breakfast. The kids were back downstairs digging in their stockings an hour later.
Santa brought each of them a pretty classic book -- he does that every year, so when they leave home, they will each have a nice collection of classics to take with them. All of them got some chocolate straws, Scotch tape, card games, small Lego sets, and each of the boys also got some Ninjago Legos. Maddie's stocking was full of bracelets and hair clips and bands. She also got a matching nightgown for her and her doll. Ben got a stomp rocket;Will got a Rubic's cube, hex bug, math set (compass, protractor, and ruler), and a loop for his marble set; Jon got a Perplexus marble maze ball. Allen's stocking had a book in it that he has been wanting and some tie hangers. My stocking had a wallet, a book I wanted, and a neat how-to-draw birds book that has a lot of avian anatomy (I'm thinking I'll aim to draw more in 2013.) Santa was nice to Nana, Papa, and Grandma Ann, too!
Christmas breakfast was mostly homemade, and I ate much more than I should have. After a quick clean up of all the paper plates, we moved on to the gifts. The weather outside was stormy, and, without sunshine coming through the windows, it seemed dark. We didn't get too many great pictures, but it was a busy, loud, joyful (sometimes a bit overwhelming) morning. The kids did a great job being patient... maybe even better than I did as I tried to write down everything and get pictures. I eventually put the camera away, and decided to enjoy the morning instead.
As we have the last couple years, the six of us drew names to get some gifts. Allen and I want the kids to enjoy the fun of shopping for someone else -- finding the certain something that will make the other happy. We want them to all experience the challenge of fitting a gift to a budget, purchasing it, wrapping it, hiding it under the tree, and keeping it a secret. We want them to experience the joy of giving. Strangely, the drawing this year ended up being mapped as a circle: Daddy gave a hex bug hive and robot hex bugs to Will, who gave cozy pajama pants and wine stoppers and a filter water bottle to Mama, who gave the game Battleship to Jon, who gave Lalaloopsey dolls to Maddie, who gave a volcano learning set to Ben, who gave the game Fluxx and dice to Daddy. Unfortunately, some of the younger kids didn't keep the secrets, so not everyone was surprised.
I got a neat laptop cooling pad and pop-up desk, a great wall calendar, an awesome swimsuit cover up my sis-in-law made after I showed her a picture I liked. Allen got a set of eight different beer cups/mugs/steins/etc, a beer-of-the-month subscription, and a portable speaker. Allen and I both got a Keurig coffee maker, some gadgets for it, and lots of coffee.
Some of the things that Maddie got include a doll bed, doll clothes, a tea set, a bike helmet, a sun catcher paint set, a watch, and a Leapster game. Jon received cowboy boots, a cash register and play money, a bike helmet a watch, a toy bear, and a Leapster game. Ben got some body and brain books, cowboy boots, a bike helmet, a toy lion, a watch, dinosaur and space-shuttle Lego sets, and a Leapster game. Will jumped up and down with glee a couple times -- he received a new (bigger) bike, a Spooner board, some black cowboy boots (he cried when I made him put the others in the trash after his toes came through the front), a toy tiger, a watch with changeable bands, and a Lego simple-machines set.
After we opened everything, we rested and played games for a while, then lunch came quickly. Sadly, Ben slept right through most of our tasty meal -- ham and cherries, salad, potatoes, and rolls. He woke up from a feverish nap just before we cut the apple and pecan pies, but he did eat a quick lunch so he could have dessert with us. Nana, Papa, and Grandma Ann left soon after lunch so they could get home before the weather got worse. The rest of us napped or read, then played with new toys in front of the fireplace.
If you don't live in East Texas, you probably can't imagine the surprise and joy that we all felt when we looked outside the afternoon of Christmas and saw huge snowflakes dropping to the ground. It didn't snow at all last year, and, in the five-plus years we've lived here, it has only snowed about three times -- all of the snow melted within 24 hours. So, we got a white Christmas dusting that stuck just long enough to remind us that it is now officially winter. Dinner was not too fancy -- I may have actually thrown the bag of salad and tortillas to the table from the fridge while Will set out paper plates. It was make-your-own sandwich night after lots of cooking and cleaning and fun, but what a happy Christmas we had!!
Santa left just as many crumbs on his plate as when they are homemade. We spend just as much time making memories over our dinner as we did when we made everything, but a little less time in the kitchen. Hopefully, my kids don't look back on our not-quite-homemade meal and discuss it for hours with a therapist.
Christmas Day was still wonderful. Allen's parents and grandma came Christmas Eve, so this year they got to enjoy a lot more of the Christmas morning surprises. The kids started out the morning way too early -- 5:30am. I sent them back to bed and overheard Will yelling at them that Daddy said not to get up until 6:30. Grandma Ann somehow stayed asleep through all the noise, but I stayed up to work on breakfast. The kids were back downstairs digging in their stockings an hour later.
Santa brought each of them a pretty classic book -- he does that every year, so when they leave home, they will each have a nice collection of classics to take with them. All of them got some chocolate straws, Scotch tape, card games, small Lego sets, and each of the boys also got some Ninjago Legos. Maddie's stocking was full of bracelets and hair clips and bands. She also got a matching nightgown for her and her doll. Ben got a stomp rocket;Will got a Rubic's cube, hex bug, math set (compass, protractor, and ruler), and a loop for his marble set; Jon got a Perplexus marble maze ball. Allen's stocking had a book in it that he has been wanting and some tie hangers. My stocking had a wallet, a book I wanted, and a neat how-to-draw birds book that has a lot of avian anatomy (I'm thinking I'll aim to draw more in 2013.) Santa was nice to Nana, Papa, and Grandma Ann, too!
Christmas breakfast was mostly homemade, and I ate much more than I should have. After a quick clean up of all the paper plates, we moved on to the gifts. The weather outside was stormy, and, without sunshine coming through the windows, it seemed dark. We didn't get too many great pictures, but it was a busy, loud, joyful (sometimes a bit overwhelming) morning. The kids did a great job being patient... maybe even better than I did as I tried to write down everything and get pictures. I eventually put the camera away, and decided to enjoy the morning instead.
I got a neat laptop cooling pad and pop-up desk, a great wall calendar, an awesome swimsuit cover up my sis-in-law made after I showed her a picture I liked. Allen got a set of eight different beer cups/mugs/steins/etc, a beer-of-the-month subscription, and a portable speaker. Allen and I both got a Keurig coffee maker, some gadgets for it, and lots of coffee.
Some of the things that Maddie got include a doll bed, doll clothes, a tea set, a bike helmet, a sun catcher paint set, a watch, and a Leapster game. Jon received cowboy boots, a cash register and play money, a bike helmet a watch, a toy bear, and a Leapster game. Ben got some body and brain books, cowboy boots, a bike helmet, a toy lion, a watch, dinosaur and space-shuttle Lego sets, and a Leapster game. Will jumped up and down with glee a couple times -- he received a new (bigger) bike, a Spooner board, some black cowboy boots (he cried when I made him put the others in the trash after his toes came through the front), a toy tiger, a watch with changeable bands, and a Lego simple-machines set.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Graham House Village
Today, Allen and I helped the kids. They got to pick out and open all the candy they thought they'd need. It was a great way to get rid of some of our Halloween candy (we threw out all the opened stuff that didn't make it to the decorated house.) It was fun to be creative with some of the different treats -- and yes, they tasted plenty. Ben got creative and turned candy corn into a camp fire. Jon had a great time with the icing decorations. Maddie just wanted to do lots of lollipop trees, and I couldn't help but think back to Candyland games when I saw her finished project. Will was the one who started the whole idea, but he was the first one ready to be done with it.
Will's chocolate house is topped with decorative Smarties, the same type of "stones" that line the walkway to the door. Will chose to work more on the landscaping: a Twix bench sits in a garden of Skittle flowers and Whopper statues.
Ben sniffled his way through his project with a bit of help from Daddy. He was so proud of his campfire made with Tootsie Rolls and candy corn. His wreath is a lime Toosie Roll, and he even has a chimney made of graham cracker scraps. He liked Maddie's chocolate floppy chimney enough that he made one like it, too.
Allen suggested I try to make a house with candy windows that light up. After a bit of experimenting -- or a lot -- I crushed colorful candy canes and melted them into a flat sheet. Some of those worked well enough to glue to the inside of the windows. We built the house so we could just lift it up to put a battery powered tea-light under it, and I love how it turned out. What a great idea Allen had!!... I just somehow turned it into an entire afternoon of creating. I found a pretty use for some of the Halloween ghost candies by placing them in a KitKat garden pot.
Our family now has a pretty little village of gingerbread-style houses lined up on the shelf. The kids have coughed all over them, so there isn't any chance I will let them eat them. I think all of us had enough fun that it may turn into a new tradition for us.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Hanukkah Cheese - 12/16
Ben was excited to help Allen cook pancakes. "Hey, Ben, smile like you're happy to be helping!"... this is when the "cheese" began.
Hanukkah Cheese Pancakes
- 3 eggs (or whites)
- 1 cup nonfat milk
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 TB sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
Friday, December 21, 2012
Twenty-six bells
When I was in kindergarten almost three decades ago, I remember making a daisy. A yellow die-cut circle was the center, and my daisy started when I could spell my own name: Sarah Williams. When I knew my parents' names, I got a white petal with their names on it. I learned my phone number for a second petal and my address for a third. I don't know if I got past the third petal, but I do remember looking forward to filling out a new petal each day with my teacher Mrs. O'Neill. She would call each of us up to her desk to write on our petal, and in my mind's eye, it was an awesome project. The class daisies were a garden on the wall next to all the coat hooks. I remember several things about that classroom under the main stair case at Hebron Elementary in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. I can picture it with my eyes shut -- a colorful door that opened into a wide hall where the coats were hung on one side; on the other side, we lined up when it was time to leave our classroom. Just beyond the entryway, the classroom was set up with long rows of desks facing the green chalkboard that was next to Mrs. O'Neill's desk. On the other side of the rows was the play area -- stations of square shelves, pretend kitchen, and an empty area on the carpet where we would sit as Mrs. O'Neill read stories to us. My happy little kindergarten world came to an abrupt halt the morning Mom woke me up to say there wouldn't be school for a few days. Mom explained that some older kids set the school on fire and I wouldn't be able to go there anymore. All I really heard was that my daisy was gone, and I was heartbroken. I had nightmares about fires for awhile after that. I'm not sure how long it was till our class was together again at (I think it was) Shenandoah Elementary. I don't know if I remember all the details, but it seems like only part of our class was there with our same teacher, but many other kids that were originally at Shenandoah. All I am certain of is that I didn't like it there and I wanted my other school back... especially my daisy.
One week ago, tragedy struck another elementary school and it broke my heart. Though I've seen news stories the last fifteen years about school shootings, I didn't hurt me the same as this time with the heart of a mother... a mother of school-age kids... a mother of six-year olds.
This morning, church bells across the country rang their bells for each of the 26 victims of the shooting a week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A young man burst into the school and gunned down twenty children and six adults who were trying to protect the students. All the children were first graders -- mostly six-years old. When news report starting coming in, I was heart broken to read that one child and one teacher were shot. It wasn't long until the media started changing the numbers as more children were found dead. My heart broke even more with each one added. I don't want to imagine the pain that community is feeling when my own pain for the strangers is so heavy.
Sunday morning, Jon woke me early for a breathing treatment and I decided not to go back to bed. I sat and read my Bible, prayed for my own peace over the tragedy, prayed a lot for all the families and children involved. I thought of how crushed I was as a six-year old when my school burned and realized how trivial that is compared to what the children in Sandy Hook saw... heard... knew... experienced. Then I was right back to being crushed... again. I pleaded with God to help me quit obsessing over the tragedy and I came away from my long quiet time with a few answers. First, God understands the pain of the parents of those twenty children; His innocent child was murdered, too. He will take care of the ones who ask him to. Second, God was there when evil arrived. He gave courage to teachers and staff who gave their own lives for the children. He helped other teachers hide, comfort, and love children protectively. He showed that small town that our country cares and hurts with them.
When I was reading, I felt nudged to keep reading. I started at Psalm 32, and He kept nudging me to keep going. When I got to 37, peace flooded my heart. I read that Psalm at least a dozen times that same day.
Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
For now, I still hurt, but I trust God to take care of the evil in the world. I am not supposed to worry because that leads to anger and evil, but I think it is okay to hurt... to be sad along with the families and friends and the rest of the country. I didn't know these people, but they are the "everybody" that I could know --it could have been the teachers at our schools who blocked the bullets. For now, I will continue to pray for the families of these brave souls: Rachel D'Avino, 29, teacher's aide; Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal; Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher's aide; Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher; Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist; and Victoria Soto, 27, teacher. I will pray for the families of seventeen six-year olds: Charlotte Bacon, Olivia Engel, Dylan Hockley, Madeleine Hsu, Catherine Hubbard, Jesse Lewis, Ana Marquez-Greene, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Benjamin Wheeler, and Allison Wyatt.... and of three seven-year olds: Daniel Barden, Josephine Gay, and Chase Kowalski.... and of the many staff, children, and families of the survivors of such a brutal day.
One week ago, tragedy struck another elementary school and it broke my heart. Though I've seen news stories the last fifteen years about school shootings, I didn't hurt me the same as this time with the heart of a mother... a mother of school-age kids... a mother of six-year olds.
This morning, church bells across the country rang their bells for each of the 26 victims of the shooting a week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A young man burst into the school and gunned down twenty children and six adults who were trying to protect the students. All the children were first graders -- mostly six-years old. When news report starting coming in, I was heart broken to read that one child and one teacher were shot. It wasn't long until the media started changing the numbers as more children were found dead. My heart broke even more with each one added. I don't want to imagine the pain that community is feeling when my own pain for the strangers is so heavy.
Sunday morning, Jon woke me early for a breathing treatment and I decided not to go back to bed. I sat and read my Bible, prayed for my own peace over the tragedy, prayed a lot for all the families and children involved. I thought of how crushed I was as a six-year old when my school burned and realized how trivial that is compared to what the children in Sandy Hook saw... heard... knew... experienced. Then I was right back to being crushed... again. I pleaded with God to help me quit obsessing over the tragedy and I came away from my long quiet time with a few answers. First, God understands the pain of the parents of those twenty children; His innocent child was murdered, too. He will take care of the ones who ask him to. Second, God was there when evil arrived. He gave courage to teachers and staff who gave their own lives for the children. He helped other teachers hide, comfort, and love children protectively. He showed that small town that our country cares and hurts with them.
When I was reading, I felt nudged to keep reading. I started at Psalm 32, and He kept nudging me to keep going. When I got to 37, peace flooded my heart. I read that Psalm at least a dozen times that same day.
Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Hope in the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.
a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
I haven't told my kids about the shooting since I don't want them having nightmares. I learned that Will knew about it because he has a news feed on his iPad, but I don't want to force him to discuss it if he doesn't realize the gravity of it. I told him we could talk if he had any questions or concerns. As for my six-year olds, I can't even think about what happened without tearing up imagining the pain of those parents. One day my kids can read this story and know about it.
For now, I still hurt, but I trust God to take care of the evil in the world. I am not supposed to worry because that leads to anger and evil, but I think it is okay to hurt... to be sad along with the families and friends and the rest of the country. I didn't know these people, but they are the "everybody" that I could know --it could have been the teachers at our schools who blocked the bullets. For now, I will continue to pray for the families of these brave souls: Rachel D'Avino, 29, teacher's aide; Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal; Anne Marie Murphy, 52, teacher's aide; Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher; Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist; and Victoria Soto, 27, teacher. I will pray for the families of seventeen six-year olds: Charlotte Bacon, Olivia Engel, Dylan Hockley, Madeleine Hsu, Catherine Hubbard, Jesse Lewis, Ana Marquez-Greene, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Benjamin Wheeler, and Allison Wyatt.... and of three seven-year olds: Daniel Barden, Josephine Gay, and Chase Kowalski.... and of the many staff, children, and families of the survivors of such a brutal day.
Tending the sick ones
Sunday night, I noticed Jon had a fever, so I made plans to keep him home Monday. Monday came and went, and although he seemed a bit tired all day, he didn't have the fever anymore. When he asked to go back to school Tuesday, I didn't have a problem with him going.
Allen took a vacation day Tuesday so he and I could spend the day together. We did a bit of shopping, went out for gyros, and worked on a play kitchen that was meant to be done by now. Kaleb's mom volunteered to pick up Kaleb and Will and let them play so Allen and I could have a bit more time together. Early in the afternoon, she called to tell us Will had a headache and felt warm. Sure enough, he had a fever, so I emailed his school that he would be home Wednesday.
When I picked up the younger kids from school, Jon jumped in the car griping at me that I "made" him go to school when he still had a cough. Evidently he coughed all day and it made his tummy and head hurt. I'm not sure why he didn't ask the school to call me, but that night he had a fever again, so I kept him home Wednesday, too.
Wednesday, Allen took Kaleb, Ben, and Maddie to school, and I stayed home with Jon and Will who ran fevers all day long. It turned into a Christmas movie marathon, but neither felt like doing much by laying down. They didn't even eat much, and getting them to drink fluids was tough.
Thursday, we added Maddie to the crew. She had a fever and sore throat, but she seemed to have her normal amount of energy. Jon and Will had coughs that had me doing many breathing treatments, and I think I finally found something to help them feel better. By bedtime, Jon and Maddie were begging to go back to school and both had decent temperatures all day. Will would have to miss a third day of school because they are supposed to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. He did have enough energy to work on some school work, but I'm thankful all his teachers were more concerned about getting him healthy than about doing work.
This morning (Friday), I checked on Maddie and Jon. Both were still anxious to get back to school. I didn't bother waking Will, and Ben was coughing -- the bad kind of cough. I checked Ben's temperature, and since he had a fever, I kept him home with Will. Both boys were upset to miss the last day of school. Will would be missing a pizza party with his classmates; Ben would be missing his class Christmas party. I emailed their teachers, and Ben's promised to send home his treats. I promised Will a pizza party. Here it is Friday afternoon. Ben, Will, and I enjoyed little pizzas for lunch, the boys watched Star Wars and a few cartoons while I paid bills. I am REALLY hoping everyone is healthy for Christmas!
Allen took a vacation day Tuesday so he and I could spend the day together. We did a bit of shopping, went out for gyros, and worked on a play kitchen that was meant to be done by now. Kaleb's mom volunteered to pick up Kaleb and Will and let them play so Allen and I could have a bit more time together. Early in the afternoon, she called to tell us Will had a headache and felt warm. Sure enough, he had a fever, so I emailed his school that he would be home Wednesday.
When I picked up the younger kids from school, Jon jumped in the car griping at me that I "made" him go to school when he still had a cough. Evidently he coughed all day and it made his tummy and head hurt. I'm not sure why he didn't ask the school to call me, but that night he had a fever again, so I kept him home Wednesday, too.
Wednesday, Allen took Kaleb, Ben, and Maddie to school, and I stayed home with Jon and Will who ran fevers all day long. It turned into a Christmas movie marathon, but neither felt like doing much by laying down. They didn't even eat much, and getting them to drink fluids was tough.
Thursday, we added Maddie to the crew. She had a fever and sore throat, but she seemed to have her normal amount of energy. Jon and Will had coughs that had me doing many breathing treatments, and I think I finally found something to help them feel better. By bedtime, Jon and Maddie were begging to go back to school and both had decent temperatures all day. Will would have to miss a third day of school because they are supposed to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. He did have enough energy to work on some school work, but I'm thankful all his teachers were more concerned about getting him healthy than about doing work.
This morning (Friday), I checked on Maddie and Jon. Both were still anxious to get back to school. I didn't bother waking Will, and Ben was coughing -- the bad kind of cough. I checked Ben's temperature, and since he had a fever, I kept him home with Will. Both boys were upset to miss the last day of school. Will would be missing a pizza party with his classmates; Ben would be missing his class Christmas party. I emailed their teachers, and Ben's promised to send home his treats. I promised Will a pizza party. Here it is Friday afternoon. Ben, Will, and I enjoyed little pizzas for lunch, the boys watched Star Wars and a few cartoons while I paid bills. I am REALLY hoping everyone is healthy for Christmas!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Choosing Our Charities
Each of the kids puts part of his or her allowance in the DONATE section of the piggy bank every week. This weekend, we counted out what they had in that section, we discussed different ways of donating our funds, and each of the kids got to choose where his money and matching parent-funds went for Christmas donations.
Will wanted his to go to help military, Ben insisted his go to a hospital and selected the NICU he was born in, and Jon really wanted his to go to the hospital Ssali was born in, but we settled for sending it to Parental Care Ministries with a note explaining he wanted it to be used for medical expenses at the Mbarara school. Maddie asked that hers go to the Salivation Army... that's how she kept reading it. I constantly corrected her pronounciation since I kept thinking of a bunch of drooling dogs when she said it.
I am thinking about putting a present under our tree for Jesus. Though it won't be able to include everything we do in His name this time of year, I want to show the kids that even though we aren't writing a check ON Christmas Day, we have done many things this month to honor Him and His birthday and His children -- young and old. It would be a small reminder to them, as they are tearing into presents, that He is who we are celebrating.
Dear Jesus,
Will wanted his to go to help military, Ben insisted his go to a hospital and selected the NICU he was born in, and Jon really wanted his to go to the hospital Ssali was born in, but we settled for sending it to Parental Care Ministries with a note explaining he wanted it to be used for medical expenses at the Mbarara school. Maddie asked that hers go to the Salivation Army... that's how she kept reading it. I constantly corrected her pronounciation since I kept thinking of a bunch of drooling dogs when she said it.
I am thinking about putting a present under our tree for Jesus. Though it won't be able to include everything we do in His name this time of year, I want to show the kids that even though we aren't writing a check ON Christmas Day, we have done many things this month to honor Him and His birthday and His children -- young and old. It would be a small reminder to them, as they are tearing into presents, that He is who we are celebrating.
Dear Jesus,
When you were born, the shepherds and wise men traveled far
to find You. The wise men brought
gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Gold was the metal of kings, and their gift
to you acknowledged the King of kings. Frankincense was an offering of
thanksgiving and praise to our great High Priest. Myrrh was used for embalming
– strange to us, but it was a gift of faith in You. We pray that we may
be like the wise men, constantly seeking you. May we open
our treasures and present you with gifts, and may we always strive to give you
even more of our treasures and ourselves. This birthday season, we have gifts
for you:
Will gives a gift to your soldiers
– men and women who have been hurt and disabled fighting for our country. Ben gives a gift to your sick and
weak – babies born sick or prematurely at the St. John Arnold Mbarara , Uganda
We pray that we honor you by
sharing our treasures, our gifts, and our time with Your people. Happy
birthday, Jesus! We love you!
Love, The 6 KaisersFriday, December 7, 2012
Homework
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Bringing Back our Buddies
Three of my friends and I have recently read a book about a mutiny on excess (specifically in the areas of waste, stress, clothing, food, media, clutter). It was a powerful book that spoke to each of us a bit differently, but we all decided to try some of the experiments as new year's resolutions... or new year's improvements. We chose to do a trial run on reducing stress in December.
Each of us are choosing slightly different ways of reducing stress, but it seems the one thing that all of us have in common is that we are pausing several times a day for prayer -- sometimes longer prayers, sometimes a quick "Thank you." Last week, in Bible study, I read a section about our hearts being like an untended garden; the weeds can choke out the pretty flowers if the gardener gets distracted for too long. I felt like I needed to clear my weedy REAL garden, as a way to clear my heart of the weeds, but also because I was ready to have the birds visiting regularly again.
This weekend, I made time to work in the garden while Will was playing his new Wii game with Allen and the others. It has been a huge weedy, grassy mess since about the end of July, but the mosquitoes kept me away. I finally cleared a bunch of the mess out, and found lots of healthy plants underneath. I cleaned and filled the birdbaths, refilled some of the birdfeeders, and spent a lot of time just talking to God about all my blessings, asking him to show me what the weeds are in my heart, which parts need nourishment, and which need to be pruned to grow stronger. It felt great to be outside on such a beautiful day, and it looked great when the job was done.
In October, we had nine of our trees taken down, and I was afraid we would lose a lot of our bird visitors, but with fresh water and seeds nearby, they started returning on Monday. Tuesday afternoon, Maddie noticed a small mouse in one of the suet cages. It scurried away when it saw me coming. I moved the feeder, but it returned to pick up some of the fallen seeds, and the kids giggled from the window. Last night, Maddie prayed at dinner: "God, please protect the bluebirds and please let all the birds come back to our garden for Mama." He must have heard her because we've seen many!
This morning, I spied the mouse again. It seemed frustrated that it couldn't get the seeds, but it creatively climbed one of the basil plants. As the stem bent over, the mouse grasped it and nibbled the stalk. The little fella took off with a stem of basil and seeds that was three times longer than it was. Then and there, I named it... I know I probably shouldn't, but I promise not to bring the cute brown fuzzy into the house. PROMISE!! But, I named him "Remy" after the rat in the Ratatouille movie. When this little one took off with basil, it just seemed like he was working on a recipe.
Each of us are choosing slightly different ways of reducing stress, but it seems the one thing that all of us have in common is that we are pausing several times a day for prayer -- sometimes longer prayers, sometimes a quick "Thank you." Last week, in Bible study, I read a section about our hearts being like an untended garden; the weeds can choke out the pretty flowers if the gardener gets distracted for too long. I felt like I needed to clear my weedy REAL garden, as a way to clear my heart of the weeds, but also because I was ready to have the birds visiting regularly again.
This weekend, I made time to work in the garden while Will was playing his new Wii game with Allen and the others. It has been a huge weedy, grassy mess since about the end of July, but the mosquitoes kept me away. I finally cleared a bunch of the mess out, and found lots of healthy plants underneath. I cleaned and filled the birdbaths, refilled some of the birdfeeders, and spent a lot of time just talking to God about all my blessings, asking him to show me what the weeds are in my heart, which parts need nourishment, and which need to be pruned to grow stronger. It felt great to be outside on such a beautiful day, and it looked great when the job was done.
In October, we had nine of our trees taken down, and I was afraid we would lose a lot of our bird visitors, but with fresh water and seeds nearby, they started returning on Monday. Tuesday afternoon, Maddie noticed a small mouse in one of the suet cages. It scurried away when it saw me coming. I moved the feeder, but it returned to pick up some of the fallen seeds, and the kids giggled from the window. Last night, Maddie prayed at dinner: "God, please protect the bluebirds and please let all the birds come back to our garden for Mama." He must have heard her because we've seen many!
This morning, I spied the mouse again. It seemed frustrated that it couldn't get the seeds, but it creatively climbed one of the basil plants. As the stem bent over, the mouse grasped it and nibbled the stalk. The little fella took off with a stem of basil and seeds that was three times longer than it was. Then and there, I named it... I know I probably shouldn't, but I promise not to bring the cute brown fuzzy into the house. PROMISE!! But, I named him "Remy" after the rat in the Ratatouille movie. When this little one took off with basil, it just seemed like he was working on a recipe.
This afternoon, the birds were keeping the garden full of music. Though it was a cloudy, somewhat dreary day, the male cardinals and bluebirds added vibrant splashes of color. The goldfinches brought a bit of their sunshine, and the chickadees and nuthatches seemed like they were home again. The woodpecker, sparrows, and house finches all showed up for an afternoon snack. I love it!! Sometimes I wish I had a comfy chair next to the kitchen window, but then I'd probably spend the whole day watching the birds. I guess that would be a sure way for me to reduce stress, though.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Recent Posts
Sadly, I'm often better at keeping up with Facebook than my blog. Lucky for me, I can go back through all my posts to see what has been said and done that I want to remember. Here are a few that didn't get their own stories.
Nov. 4 - Cub Scout family camping weekend: LOTS of shooting stars, trying to sleep while the owls and coyotes sing, hours of fun games and laughter, and dewy Chinese water torture bringing me to tears.... that was the first night. Saturday was a fabulous day with hiking, fishing (I watched), raingutter regatta, and lots of kids running and playing non-stop.... then storms threatened us and the field of tents cleared out in under an hour. Three and a half tents/families stuck it out, and had a beautiful DRY night with vibrant electric storms in the distance, an easy-going morning, with six children (4 mine) creating and leading the fire-circle church service. What a blast!!
Nov. 4 - I was frustrated at Maddie for putting her wet & muddy camping clothes on her clean bedsheets. I told her she needed to think things through and use the wonderful brain God gave her. She replied, "Mama, I know that 20 minus three is 17, and 5 plus 5 plus 5 plus 5 is twenty, and that two and two are four, and four and four are eight. I have a math brain. Not a laundry brain."
Nov. 10 - Yesterday: the worst day in our life with kids to have the washer break. Today: best day in our life with kids to take a field trip to the laundromat... With more than a dozen loads of clothes, sheets, comforters, towels, and more. Really hoping I can get by without just quarters.
Nov. 9 - Today was crazy. Jon was sent home because his class had lice. Thankfully, it seemed he picked it up at school today, and none of our other kids had it. I put the medicinal shampoo on his head and combed out his hair before it was time to go get Will. By evening, I piled everything in the laundry room: sheets, comfortors, towels, jackets, stuffed toys, etc. After the first load, the washer looked at the 15 mountains of laundry and decided it had lived a good thirteen years. It quit. I've been scratching ever since the school called...
Nov. 15 - When I know I will have company, I usually try to make sure the house is half decent. I didn't take into account how to deal with the FaceTime home tour Will is giving his friend. :P
Nov. 28 - The 6 Kaisers swapped names for our in-home gift exchange. This is the third year we've done it and I love our young tradition! Today, I taught Maddie how to shop... First get the comfy pillow, then turn on the tunes, check the prices, pictures, and comments and choose wisely. Now *I* am excited as she is to see how much Ben loves his "perfect gift!"... On a similar note, Jon has been boasting that he has an AWESOME gift idea for Maddie. This morning, he told me NOT to get him any awesome gifts because the "awesome presents are too girly." :)
Nov. 29 - I really never thought I'd ever be SO excited about doing laundry... at home! Glad to have a new working machine.
Dec. 2 - Shorts and flip flops donned for gardening today. I love 80+ degree weather in December!!
Dec. 3 - Breakfast date with my husband. We've been together for 19+ years, but I'm still giddy with excitement waiting for him :)
Nov. 4 - Cub Scout family camping weekend: LOTS of shooting stars, trying to sleep while the owls and coyotes sing, hours of fun games and laughter, and dewy Chinese water torture bringing me to tears.... that was the first night. Saturday was a fabulous day with hiking, fishing (I watched), raingutter regatta, and lots of kids running and playing non-stop.... then storms threatened us and the field of tents cleared out in under an hour. Three and a half tents/families stuck it out, and had a beautiful DRY night with vibrant electric storms in the distance, an easy-going morning, with six children (4 mine) creating and leading the fire-circle church service. What a blast!!
Nov. 4 - I was frustrated at Maddie for putting her wet & muddy camping clothes on her clean bedsheets. I told her she needed to think things through and use the wonderful brain God gave her. She replied, "Mama, I know that 20 minus three is 17, and 5 plus 5 plus 5 plus 5 is twenty, and that two and two are four, and four and four are eight. I have a math brain. Not a laundry brain."
Nov. 10 - Yesterday: the worst day in our life with kids to have the washer break. Today: best day in our life with kids to take a field trip to the laundromat... With more than a dozen loads of clothes, sheets, comforters, towels, and more. Really hoping I can get by without just quarters.
Nov. 9 - Today was crazy. Jon was sent home because his class had lice. Thankfully, it seemed he picked it up at school today, and none of our other kids had it. I put the medicinal shampoo on his head and combed out his hair before it was time to go get Will. By evening, I piled everything in the laundry room: sheets, comfortors, towels, jackets, stuffed toys, etc. After the first load, the washer looked at the 15 mountains of laundry and decided it had lived a good thirteen years. It quit. I've been scratching ever since the school called...
Nov. 15 - When I know I will have company, I usually try to make sure the house is half decent. I didn't take into account how to deal with the FaceTime home tour Will is giving his friend. :P
Nov. 28 - The 6 Kaisers swapped names for our in-home gift exchange. This is the third year we've done it and I love our young tradition! Today, I taught Maddie how to shop... First get the comfy pillow, then turn on the tunes, check the prices, pictures, and comments and choose wisely. Now *I* am excited as she is to see how much Ben loves his "perfect gift!"... On a similar note, Jon has been boasting that he has an AWESOME gift idea for Maddie. This morning, he told me NOT to get him any awesome gifts because the "awesome presents are too girly." :)
Nov. 29 - I really never thought I'd ever be SO excited about doing laundry... at home! Glad to have a new working machine.
Dec. 2 - Shorts and flip flops donned for gardening today. I love 80+ degree weather in December!!
Dec. 3 - Breakfast date with my husband. We've been together for 19+ years, but I'm still giddy with excitement waiting for him :)
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