I have so many good memories of my siblings when we were young. I know we fought a good 75% of the time we spent together, but the other 25% was golden. The imaginations we had! One memory in particular stands out these days... The tulip poplar tree in the back yard that we turned into a pirate ship. Ah, the memories...
And, despite the rocky beginnings, I am pleased to report that today (as adults) we are all pretty close friends. So as I watch my two little ones begin to forge their sibling relationship, it warms my heart to think of the good years of friendship they have ahead of them. Hopefully this rosy vision will sustain my optimism through the squabbling that is bound to occur as they grow together.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Extra, Extra, Read All About It!!!!!!!!
And, no, I don't normally let him play with pencils-- or any other sharp objects.
And, no, I don't normally let him play with pencils-- or any other sharp objects.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
BUSY
I've been busy. Reeally busy. As in, barely-have-time-to-breathe busy. Partly because that's just the way our lives are these days, but partly because we've been busy with all that spring yard-work that seems to crash down on us in April and May every year. There are definitely pros and cons to home ownership. I love our house, but it sure takes a lot of work to keep it going! It's really like having a third child. A large, untidy and slightly pitiful looking child....
So all this busy-ness has led me to re-evaluate how my day is spent. I'm homeschooling Sofi this year, teaching eleven students (that's about six hours a week), and preparing and planning five weddings for this spring and summer. And that's just the sort of extra-curricular stuff, not counting the laundry, cooking, cleaning and, oh yes, let's not forget Judah.
In addition to all this, on Wednesday I had a follow-up appointment with my midwife to discuss the new meds I'm on (for the PCOS). It hasn't seemed to help much with the physical manifestations of the condition as I had hoped. But the really discouraging news is that she said that they don't really consider me to be at "full weight-loss potential" until I'm exercising 90 minutes a day. That really sunk my boat. All the research shows that PCOS-ers who lose even just 10% of their body weight can significantly reduce the condition's long- and short-term effects on their body. So losing that weight could help with the acne, hair issues, fatigue and all that other stuff. Killing several birds with one stone, so to speak.
The truth of the matter, however, is that there's no possible way in the current reality in which I find myself, that I can fit in 90 minutes of exercise a day. Just no way. So in my re-evaluating of how I spend my time each day, I'm trying to squeeze every possible second out of each hour. And I'm getting depressed about how much the condition of my body is determining how our family lives. What we do each day, how much time we have to do fun kid things and our ability to take our time over the eternally important things.
So, this morning, I chucked it all over and spent the entire morning with the kids at the park. And then struggled all afternoon (during naps) not to feel that I'd "wasted" the day, as I used the precious time-without-kids to mow the yard instead of working out.
There is no big conclusion or deep realization to end this post. I'm just venting. Although I'd appreciate any suggestions from mom's who've figured out free ways to exercise (a LOT) without sitting the kids in front of a movie every morning.
So all this busy-ness has led me to re-evaluate how my day is spent. I'm homeschooling Sofi this year, teaching eleven students (that's about six hours a week), and preparing and planning five weddings for this spring and summer. And that's just the sort of extra-curricular stuff, not counting the laundry, cooking, cleaning and, oh yes, let's not forget Judah.
In addition to all this, on Wednesday I had a follow-up appointment with my midwife to discuss the new meds I'm on (for the PCOS). It hasn't seemed to help much with the physical manifestations of the condition as I had hoped. But the really discouraging news is that she said that they don't really consider me to be at "full weight-loss potential" until I'm exercising 90 minutes a day. That really sunk my boat. All the research shows that PCOS-ers who lose even just 10% of their body weight can significantly reduce the condition's long- and short-term effects on their body. So losing that weight could help with the acne, hair issues, fatigue and all that other stuff. Killing several birds with one stone, so to speak.
The truth of the matter, however, is that there's no possible way in the current reality in which I find myself, that I can fit in 90 minutes of exercise a day. Just no way. So in my re-evaluating of how I spend my time each day, I'm trying to squeeze every possible second out of each hour. And I'm getting depressed about how much the condition of my body is determining how our family lives. What we do each day, how much time we have to do fun kid things and our ability to take our time over the eternally important things.
So, this morning, I chucked it all over and spent the entire morning with the kids at the park. And then struggled all afternoon (during naps) not to feel that I'd "wasted" the day, as I used the precious time-without-kids to mow the yard instead of working out.
There is no big conclusion or deep realization to end this post. I'm just venting. Although I'd appreciate any suggestions from mom's who've figured out free ways to exercise (a LOT) without sitting the kids in front of a movie every morning.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Jeremiah, on buying bathroom products for men....
him: "The general rule is, go for monosyllabic. Pert"
me: "but what about Pert Plus?"
him: "That's a monosyllable and a mathematical operative. That's even better. And Lever 2000. That's two syllables, but there's a number, so that eliminates one syllable. And Zest. But nothing with fruit. Fruit just ruins it right away-- regardless of the number of syllables."
me: laughing hysterically and rolling on the bed.
me: "but what about Pert Plus?"
him: "That's a monosyllable and a mathematical operative. That's even better. And Lever 2000. That's two syllables, but there's a number, so that eliminates one syllable. And Zest. But nothing with fruit. Fruit just ruins it right away-- regardless of the number of syllables."
me: laughing hysterically and rolling on the bed.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Bedtime Playing
Don't they play together nicely? ;)
He really is going to crawl any day now... I just know it in my bones (please, Lord, please...)
He really is going to crawl any day now... I just know it in my bones (please, Lord, please...)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Judah plants one on her!
This will go down as his first french kiss, I believe.... Good thing they're related!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Oh ye of little faith...
... you know who you are!
The New Look:
The super-cool thing about this haircut is that this is how it looks after an entire day of gardening in the sun! Haha! At last, the truely "low-maintenance hairstyle". On the down side, the side part bangs make my crooked face really noticeable. Bet you never knew I had such a lopsided face.... (just say you didn't, to make me feel better).
Proof (albeit somewhat grainy proof-- no scanner available) that the New Look is really an old look.
Age 17
Age 20 (aprox)
And I still had 'em at my wedding and up until Sofi was weaned. I cannot at the moment find pics of this, though... You'll have to take it on faith :)
The New Look:
The super-cool thing about this haircut is that this is how it looks after an entire day of gardening in the sun! Haha! At last, the truely "low-maintenance hairstyle". On the down side, the side part bangs make my crooked face really noticeable. Bet you never knew I had such a lopsided face.... (just say you didn't, to make me feel better).Proof (albeit somewhat grainy proof-- no scanner available) that the New Look is really an old look.
Age 17
Age 20 (aprox)
And I still had 'em at my wedding and up until Sofi was weaned. I cannot at the moment find pics of this, though... You'll have to take it on faith :)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Time for a new look!!
Can you catch my drift??
Oh yeah! They're back, baby!! More pics to follow when I can collar my husband long enough to pose for them....
Oh yeah! They're back, baby!! More pics to follow when I can collar my husband long enough to pose for them....
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Call me a freakin' greenie...
... but you have to do something with this info. It can't all be a product of a "liberal hippie mindset" (a response I've gotten from Christians on this topic in the past). I don't know how to check up on all the facts, but I have seen quite a few of them verified from other sources. It's quite upsetting and makes me wonder what the Christian response ought to be, in view of our admonition to "take dominion". Surely this isn't what the Lord was talking about.
Credits to Sarah, who's address is in my contacts list for some reason. Not sure if I know you or not, but thanks for the link in your chat profile. Very thought-provoking.
Credits to Sarah, who's address is in my contacts list for some reason. Not sure if I know you or not, but thanks for the link in your chat profile. Very thought-provoking.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
No birthday info yet
People keep emailing and asking me about my b-day this weekend, but I haven't had a chance to blog about it yet. And this isn't it either, because I'm waiting till I can include pictures! I"ll whet your appetite by saying that Jeremiah gave me an AWESOME present this year, and even people I've mentioned it to haven't heard the whole story. Only people who've been privileged to actually see the front yard yesterday or today know the true depth of awesomeness!!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Update on the babies
Judah is now sitting in a "big boy" seat!
And Sofi is reading on her own :) Hooray! I can homeschool! I've always considered reading as the proof of my ability to pull this off-- if I could teach her to read, everything else would fall into line. So, she's reading now, I can relax. She's also just about up to par on the 1st grade scope and sequence for math, as well. Should easily finish by May. So glad... I'm here to say to any people reading and considering homeschooling-- if I can do it, you can do it. I am the least organized person I know, by far. But somehow, it all worked out. Thank the Lord for that.
And Sofi is reading on her own :) Hooray! I can homeschool! I've always considered reading as the proof of my ability to pull this off-- if I could teach her to read, everything else would fall into line. So, she's reading now, I can relax. She's also just about up to par on the 1st grade scope and sequence for math, as well. Should easily finish by May. So glad... I'm here to say to any people reading and considering homeschooling-- if I can do it, you can do it. I am the least organized person I know, by far. But somehow, it all worked out. Thank the Lord for that.Thursday, April 3, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Fun on the net?
I'm up for some new blog addictions. Anyone have any suggestions for me? Something funny, informational, interesting... the works. I"m getting tired of Facebook, and too many of my current blog addictions don't update often enough (ahem...) for me. So I need some new sites to haunt. Actually, it doesn't even have to be a blog. I'll take anything! So, 'fess up, what do you do on the net in your spare time?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Ho-hum..
I really need a new post up here, but nothing of note is going on, I don't even have any interesting thoughts! Well, I have them, but just not at a time when I can blog about it and then, nursing mother that I am, by the time I get around to posting-- I've forgotten everything!
Some thoughts on my mind recently:
Thanks, Mom, for laying the groundwork of a Biblical understanding of a wife's role in the marriage. I know you think of yourself as not being a good example of that, but you did plant the ideas in our heads, so that when we read/hear/see further admonition/instruction in that area, it is something we can embrace! So many women have a hard time even hearing (let alone embracing) the doctrine of Biblical submission. It's kind of sad that our society has done this.... Hopefully future generations will reverse this trend.
Springtime in the Shenandoah Valley is quite flirtatious and needs to learn some lessons in constancy and faithfulness-- fulfillment of promise. Yesterday was rainy and cold, today was 75 degrees and tomorrow the highs will be in the 50's!! Ridiculous. No wonder Sofi's sick again.
The more I hear about other people's husbands, the more grateful I am to the Lord for my own. Not so much because other women have horrible husbands, just that mine is so well-suited to me!! :)
People should not have to turn 29. It's too close to 30 for comfort, but not close enough to get sympathy. All the 20-somethings look askance at you, thinking to themselves, "Wow, she's almost 30!" and all the 30-something people pooh-pooh your grey hairs and top your stories of memory loss, sagging bustlines and low energy, mercilessly!
Oh my gosh, in no time at all, she's going to be leaving me for college and a MAN.... depressing....
P.S. I really do have grey hair, I'll show you sometime.
Some thoughts on my mind recently:
Thanks, Mom, for laying the groundwork of a Biblical understanding of a wife's role in the marriage. I know you think of yourself as not being a good example of that, but you did plant the ideas in our heads, so that when we read/hear/see further admonition/instruction in that area, it is something we can embrace! So many women have a hard time even hearing (let alone embracing) the doctrine of Biblical submission. It's kind of sad that our society has done this.... Hopefully future generations will reverse this trend.
Springtime in the Shenandoah Valley is quite flirtatious and needs to learn some lessons in constancy and faithfulness-- fulfillment of promise. Yesterday was rainy and cold, today was 75 degrees and tomorrow the highs will be in the 50's!! Ridiculous. No wonder Sofi's sick again.
The more I hear about other people's husbands, the more grateful I am to the Lord for my own. Not so much because other women have horrible husbands, just that mine is so well-suited to me!! :)
People should not have to turn 29. It's too close to 30 for comfort, but not close enough to get sympathy. All the 20-somethings look askance at you, thinking to themselves, "Wow, she's almost 30!" and all the 30-something people pooh-pooh your grey hairs and top your stories of memory loss, sagging bustlines and low energy, mercilessly!
Oh my gosh, in no time at all, she's going to be leaving me for college and a MAN.... depressing....
P.S. I really do have grey hair, I'll show you sometime.
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