Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

Oh my Matia, you are so funny and wonderful!

You are a girl through and through. You love all things feminine, such as: make up, dresses, fingernail polish, dolls, kittens, cooking, and yes even cleaning (as long as it is on your terms). The other day your brother wanted to practice his t-ball skills and you quite happily dragged all your stuffed animals and babies out to sit in the chair and watch the game. Instead of demanding equal ball time, you happily wiped the mud off the wayward balls that had landed in the "goobledy gock" as you and Dade called it. You were so proud of your endless task of wiping each ball as Dade brought it to you. You cheered wildly as your brother hit the ball into the field of mud and never got tired or discouraged as the once clean ball dropped into a puddle of mud. You took on your task with the vigor and joy of a little girl who's skills were needed and appreciated. I can learn so much from you.

How I love watching you run, with your wrists bent up and your little fingers flayed out to catch yourself IF you fall. No puddle jumping for you, you leave that to the boys and caution them in a high pitched voice not to fall. You stand back and let your brother rescue you from beetles and spiders and flies if they have the audacity to invade your space. You scold and train your dollies in the way they should go, I'm sure you have them all potty trained by now, and they are sure to keep to the right path if they remember to obey your strict admonishments.

You have a unique fashion sense, which is a little trying when we need to be out the door in a hurry. It is always a surprise and delight to see which pieces you put together to create your ensembles.


You melt my heart when you tell Daddy all your plans to be a wife and mother. I catch my breath and bow my head when I hear my words come out of your mouth, or my actions come forth as your actions. I know you are watching me closely and modeling yourself after me. The stakes are high! I want to be a good example to you, yet I know I fail many times. Through the years, as we learn together I pray that Love, Grace, Joy, Humility and Perseverance become ingrained in us both. You are such a blessing to me, my little girl.

Wonderful Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend last weekend, and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. We sent the kids to Grandma & Grandpa's, and we went to a wedding in a city 6 hours away. The drive there was quiet and uneventful, serene almost. I passed the time using Mike's baby name app. on his iphone to search for names for M3. We got to the wedding on time, yay! Then checked into our motel. I love staying in motels, even if it was the tiniest room I've ever seen in my life with a really wonky and uncomfortable tub. I love it that someone else will make my bed and wash my towels and that we are definitely eating out. That's what I love about staying in motels.

After we checked in we went on a date! It was so great. We went to Earls and had appetizers. I had mentioned to Mike that I was listening to a Focus on the Family broadcast and the speaker said something about being able to tell which couples were married and which were dating in any given restaurant because the married couples don't talk to each other. So when we had our apps with no iphone apps included. He didn't look at his phone at all, and we talked! Not just me talking, but we talked to each other. Pretty cool hey!



We went to the wedding reception and had a great time there too. Mike even said that it was a really fun wedding, and that is something coming from a guy, I'd say. The decorations were really neat, the food was super good, and the people we were seated with were easy to talk to. We are so happy for the bride and groom, and it was a pleasure to be there to celebrate with them.

Sleeping in the next morning was a big treat. I was determined not to open my eyes until after 9am. That wasn't quite possible, but it was nice to close them again after 7am came and went.

We had lunch with an old friend and her main squeeze at a licensed, no minors allowed, before driving home. Sitting on the patio, soaking up the sun, eating good food and having uninterrupted conversation was simply the most!

The drive home was another chance to talk, and laugh and remember when. I didn't want the weekend to end, so even though it made for an extremely late night, I convinced Mike that we should see a movie in a theater when we got to our home city. We saw Iron Man 2.

The only thing that I wish we had done, that we didn't do, was get a picture of ourselves dressed like grown ups for the wedding.

Other than that, the weekend was wonderful. I don't know when we'll get a chance to do that again, so I had to document it here, so I could look back and then look forward to a time when we'll get to do things like this whenever we want.

I'm joining the Completing Him Challenge over at Women Living Well. Click on the picture above if you want to know what it is all about and maybe even join me.

Ten Years and Still Learning

I've been reflecting on the last ten years, since this summer marks my 10th wedding anniversary. Wondering if I've changed much or learned much in the time that has passed so quickly. I was nearly 23 when I got married and thought I had a good grasp on normal wifely duties, such as: cleaning a house, cooking meals, doing laundry, balancing a budget, spending quality time with my man and being generally all around as helpful and contributing as I could. Some things were a shock for me. How could it be that my husband didn't necessarily like all the same foods my dad liked, or even that I liked, or even that I knew how to make! Getting stains out of shirts and pants and well, any item of clothing really, was impossible and frustrating! Credit cards and dual income and dual spending really throw the budget for a loop! Sometimes I didn't get my own way, and when I stomped and huffed around the house all day (silently of course) the reciprocating response was not "oh baby, you're so lovely and wonderful, how could I have ever done or said any thing to make you up set? I'm so sorry, won't you please forgive me", it was usually a to-bad-so-sad-suck-it-up-princess reply, or no reply at all just a puzzled stare. Yep, those were some of the things that were shocking to me; they were just the tip of the ice berg really. With new jobs, new business ideas, new pets, new homes and new babies the shock factor increased exponentially.

Life is shocking, and I've learned that a person doesn't really get married and settle down. A person gets married then holds on for dear life! It is a thrilling, terrifying, yet sometimes lulling ride and I feel as if my eyes are just now opening to the reality of it all. I'm happy to say that I have learned some things along the way.

• I know now that a roast beef or chicken are easy meals to make, and have a huge impress factor, but they are not a good idea on a 30 degree summer day if there is no AC.
  
• I've learned how to make Granny's perogies and gravy (though I enjoy my mother in laws more).
  
• I try to recognize my part in a conflict, and have come to realize I'm not perfect all the time! There are many factors that influence my moods and not all of them have to do with my husband's words or behavior, so I have to consider these factors before (hopefully) I react.
  
• I try to say sorry as soon as I am sorry, instead of waiting for things to cool off, or settle down, or for him to see my side or even for him to say sorry first.
• I know how to give birth to, feed, change, burp, cuddle and love our children. I'm still wondering about the other things like reasoning with them, disciplining them, getting them to go to bed, and teaching them table manners and work ethic!
• I know that God answers prayer and I can never pray to much for my husband and kids, friends and family.
• I've learned that I needed to learn patience. I've always been described by friends and family as patient and easy going, so I took it for granted that I was. I wasn't. I'm getting there.
• I know how to change a tire now.
• I know how to build a shelter out of drift wood and a boat.
• I know how to dress out a bear.
• I know how air brakes work, or at least I have a certificate that says I know this information.
• I know how to make beef jerky.
• I can describe nearly 100 different flavors of ice cream, and can scoop 6 single cones in one hand.
• I have learned how to wake board.
• I've learned how to surf the internet, blog, down load, google, and email (how shocking is it that I did not know how to do these things when I was 23?)
• I've learned about 10 new recipes in 10 years that I know my husband likes. He still wonders why I insist on making stuff he doesn't like, but it's getting better I think.
• I've gained an appreciation for Metalica! ha ha not sure if this is good for me or not!

There are many things that I will be working on for the rest of my life. I wish I was wiser, handier, tidier, kinder, better in so many ways. Some of the things I still struggle with are:

• House work
• organizing
• Stain removal
• Ironing
• cooking with out substituting
• accepting criticism with grace
• believing in my own self worth
• being respectful
  
• Praying
• Hemming
• Patching
• Sewing of any kind!
• Time management
  
• Not procrastinating

There are many others but let's focus on the positive, shall we?

I guess after thinking about it for a time, I'm finding that I'm becoming comfortable with my life. There will always be things to learn, changes to adjust to, surprises to reel from, disappointments to recover from. I think I'm learning to zoom in on what is important, though I still get caught up in the trivial from time to time. It will be interesting to look back in 10 more years to see what I will have learned. Right now I'm off to try my hand at hemming a pair of pants! I think I'll google it first!

Songs to Bless My Little Ones Before Bed

Tomorrow (Annie)

The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!

Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!

When I'm stuck a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh!

The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!

All Through the Day (Psalty)

All through the day
All through the night
Dwell in his promises
Walk in his light
Darkness will cease
At his command
All through the day and night your in his hand


Sabbath Prayer (Fiddler on the Roof)

May the Lord protect and defend you.
May He always shield you from shame.
May you come to be
In Israel a shining name.

May you be like Ruth and like Esther.
May you be deserving of praise.
Strengthen them, Oh Lord,
And keep them from the strangers' ways.

May God bless you and grant you long lives.
(May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.)
May God make you good mothers and wives.
(May He send you husbands who will care for you.)

May the Lord protect and defend you.
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
Favor them, Oh Lord, with happiness and peace.
Oh, hear our Sabbath prayer. Amen.

Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler on the Roof)

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

They look so natural together
Just like two newlyweds should be
Is there a canopy in store for me?

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears


Til There Was You

There were bells on the hill
But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you.

And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew.

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you

All I Want Just Right Now

I'm a cereal junkie. All I want to do for food for the next 12 weeks is eat cereal. Ok? Ok. Everyone good with that? I'm tired of trying to think of healthy choices, low carb meals, tasty treats and variety in our diets. How about one box of every cereal from the cereal isle? That should give us plenty of variety, a fair bit of fiber, enough sugar to substitute for the cookie requests and, well, sorry low carbie, you're out of luck, but could you stop by the store and pick up a couple of gallons of milk? I'll be waiting up with my spoon.

Just for kicks here are my 10 ten picks for cereal (for you Miranda):

Hangin' at the Hospital

We got better acquainted with our local health care providers yesterday and today. Fun times!

Yesterday Dade pulled an engine hoist down on top of himself and caught most of the impact with his forehead. Praise the Lord he is ok, and has only a bump to show for it now. It did cause nausea and vomiting all morning, but after having him checked in the ER he was deemed to be ok. No concussion, no fracture. By supper time he was able to keep food down and asked to play outside. When I asked him if he had a headache he said "no, the kids can yell if they want to, if it starts to ache I'll just tell them to be quiet". I think his reasoning had something to do with the last time I had a very bad headache and told the kids that their shouting was like poking a knife into mommy's head. Apparently his head didn't feel as bad as that. He went on to play t-ball in the evening and slept well and woke normally (Mike woke him up before we went to bed, or at least he tried. Dade was not what you'd call coherent, but honestly that's normal for him. We can rarely rouse him out of a deep sleep). Today Dade is back to his normal self and the bump on his head is only a 1/4 the size it was 24 hours ago.

I got to go into the hospital today to retake my blood glucose test. I guess the first one came back high. So today I packed up the kid's Fisher Price DVDs, their Tag Pen & Books, toys, snacks and books and we spent the morning (2.5 hours) sitting in the medical lab. I was treated to a "yummy" orange pop (or at least my kids thought it must be yummy) and got poked 3 times. I'm praying that my test comes back normal this time, since I have recently gotten over my nausea and find food to be good again, I don't want to have to go on a diabetic diet for the remainder of this pregnancy.

And that was my exciting day! Whew! I know you were on pins and needles and could hardly stand to read all the interesting details!!!! Now I'm off to clean up my house a little bit, do a little laundry, wash a few dishes, put together a bite to eat and call it good.