A beautiful day just for me… April 9, 2008

It’s my birthday. I was talking with Chip this afternoon and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m so very into birthdays because my dad died at such a young age. He was only 36 when God took him from this world. I can remember how old it seemed at the time (although I knew it really wasn’t), but as I turn 33, I see this as another year to live life to the fullest to and celebrate this special world/life/family that God has given me. I try to live a life with no regrets and full of freedom. In the grand scheme of things, life is very, very short (have you ever tried to wrap your head around how long forever really is?) so I don’t want to waste any of it!

So, I’m enjoying my day! It’s a normal work day for the most part. I don’t like when my birthday is on a Wednesday or a Sunday because it means that my husband *has* to work. And really, I don’t like sharing him on *my* special day, but everyone has to make sacrifices sometimes.

And you know what? My life is so full of special people that I couldn’t even sleep in this morning! The text messages started rolling in about 6:30 this morning to wish me a happy birthday. I’m not disappointed because it means that there are people who love me. How can I agrue with that?

I fought off the grogginess this afternoon with a nice long bath with a great book (Melody Carlson’s The Boots Weren’t Made For Walking - great book so far!). Now I’m sitting on the porch, watching the kids play in the yard. Seth is running up and down the ramp on the church next door. Lexie and I are playing sidewalk chalk (more her than me) while we wait for her mom to come pick her up. Noah & Kaitlyn have gone from throwing the ball back and forth to throwing ice cubes back and forth. It’s a glorious day outside and I’m looking forward to spending most of the evening out here. I might even be inspired to work on the next great American novel at some point.

Chip asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year. I had a really, really hard time coming up with something. Because honestly, my life is pretty good. We’ll have Chinese takeout for dinner tonight. There is an all new episode of The Office tomorrow night. My husband is simply the.best.husband.EVER. (I really, really wanted a snickers bar and a Dr. Pepper this afternoon. He simply said, “Ok.” and went to Casey’s and got them for me.) My kids are healthy and well behaved for the most part. I have friends. I have family. I have my Jesus. And after 33 years, I think I’ve finally found contentment. What more could a girl want?

I deserve a break today… March 14, 2008

So, I’m sitting here after dinner. All of a sudden, Noah is whining and saying he’s sick. Again. We tell him to go get the bucket and sit on the couch. 20 minutes later, he’s filling that bucket as I hum quietly to myself with my hands over my ears and my eyes squeezed shut so tightly that I’m pretty sure that I can actually see the inside of my eyelids. Chip helped him to the bathroom (have I ever told y’all that I have *THE* most *AMAZING* husband? Seriously, he deserves a medal of some sort after this past week) and I sat down to do what I do best.

You see, two days ago, I found amazingly cute shoes on Skechers.com and I great big puffy heart them. I’ve seen them in the store, but when I found them online for 60% off on some special sale, well, it was a good thing Chip was gone with the debit card at the time. Have I ever told y’all that I’m an impulse buyer? When I see something that I really want, I don’t want to have to wait. I want what I want and I want it now. I *am* from the microwave generation after all.  I did send Chip an email and tell him that I wanted them. He just kind of shrugged. He never said that I couldn’t have them.

But after enduring what I have this week in the Land O’Vomit (see, I’m going all St. Patricky on y’all a couple days early), I figure I deserve these shoes, right?  So, I sat down tonight and bought them. Yes I did. And for only $22. The only thing I love more than great shoes are great shoes at a great price.

Aren’t they cute?

So, sometime next week, I’ll be sporting some new, amazingly cute shoes! Hopefully by then we’ll have left the nastiness that is this week behind us…

So over this… March 13, 2008

I’m warning you now - there will be vomit in this post. If you don’t want to know about it, quit reading now. Because I’m a mom and this is my blog and I’ll whine if I want to, whine if I want to, whine if I want to…

 That’s right - I’ve got ANOTHER sick kid. It started Sunday night sometime between 10pm and 11pm. I don’t remember exactly, but I do remember a shrill scream coming from upstairs and then Elijah thundering down the stairs like a heard of elephants saying, “Seth just threw up.”

I stayed right where I was as Chip got out of his chair to go find out. Because I don’t *do* vomit. It’s just not something that I’m cut out for. Especially when it happens like this. Apparently he erupted in his room. Oh. Dear. Lord. And I was content to just stay out of it until I heard my name being called and Seth screaming for his momma. Because nothing melts my hearts more than that “I need my momma!” cry. I’m not made of stone, ya know?

So, I went over to the steps to find a screaming Seth coming down the stairs. The picture wasn’t pretty and the smell was even worse. I convinced him to take off his own clothes, convinced him to climb in the tub and then took the shower sprayer and hosed him off much like I imagine the zookeepers hose down the elephants.

Later that night, after HOURS of my husband tossing and turning because he’s sick too (he went to the dr today - or yesterday - and he’s most likely got strep). I got up to assess the damage - fully intending to wake him up if I needed to. Kait beat me to the punch though. She was already in the bathroom with a screaming Seth who was holding his hands out as his sister helped him to the sink. Moments like that make me melt. Thankfully, he managed to not get ANY on him and ran and threw up in the bathroom garbage! What a smart little 2 year old! Especially since none of us taught him that.

We got him back in bed and he went to Chip’s parents house the next day while we did our erranding. I really thought he’d had some bad soy milk for dinner. It was dangerously close to it’s expiration date, so I had dumped what was left down the sink.

Especially since no one else was sick at all on Monday. Tuesday was rather uneventful too. Wednesday started early for us when Kait was up throwing up at 6:30. Daddy got up with her because not only do I not *do* vomit, I also don’t *do* 6:30am. She showered and went back to bed. Thankfully she’s 8, so she managed to hit the toilet with her mess. Unfortunately she got it in her hair.

Today was a bummer of a day. Chip ran to the doctor almost as soon as he was out of bed. They said, be here in an hour and he was. They didn’t do the test for strep, but gave him antibiotics. The doctor thought it might be mono - sooo thankful that it’s not! And we got his results back from his MRI. He has arthritis (we see a specialist about that on April 11th), inflammation in the bursa sac (which is just bursitis, right?) and a possible slight tear in the muscle in his arm. So frustrated it too us this long to find that out!

Kait spent the rest of the day on the couch. About dinnertime, Noah started complaining about not feeling too good. But he still wanted to play outside. He’s a bit of a complainer, so we just figured maybe he was tired and not getting sick? I mean, I can be hopeful if nothing else, right?

Shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. Because Mt. Noah erupted right about 12:15am. Thankfully I was still up. I heard the scream, I heard the run for the bathroom and as I walked in, I walked out just as quickly to get Chip up. I went in to check his bedroom and YUCK! I somehow managed to roll his sheets into a ball and made Chip carry them to the basement. I made Elijah get anything else that had anything that resembled vomit to the basement. Chip put Noah in the tub while I threw his eggcarton mattress topper OUT THE DOOR!  It was just GROSS!!!  With most of it cleaned up, I sent Chip back to bed. I helped Noah finish his shower (and I know he was really, really sick because he’s getting to that age where I’m soooo *not* allowed to be in the bathroom when he’s in the shower anymore) and now I’m WIDE awake. At 12:52am. And wondering who in our family will be next…

Good news, bad news, kinda foggy… February 5, 2008

Yesterday was a bad news/good news kind of day. We spent the entire day at doctor’s appointments - mostly for Chip. We left earlier than we’d originally planned because of the fog. Visibility was less than a block and while they said it should lift by noon, it never did. It was almost midnight before we were able to look out the window and actually see the grain elevator across the street. At one point it was so foggy, we couldn’t even see the church building or the neighbors on the other side. It was crazy!

The first appt was for Chip’s arm. He had an NCV and EMG almost two weeks ago and we were hoping for results. The doctores office still didn’t have the results in hand yet when we got there, but managed to track them down while we were talking to the dr. Preliminary reports says that the results are all normal. NOT the results we were hoping for because it puts us back to square one. And it doens’t help that the dr is stuck on the whole “You have arthritis in your shoulder” thing. Chip’s doctor and the radiologist said that it looks like a bit of arthritis in his shoulder, but when we saw a specialist months ago, he didn’t seem to think so. He’s trying a new medicine for nerve pain and a steroidal anti-inflammatory to see if that will help. It’s been a long 3 months of pain in his arm and we are back at square one in trying to figure it all out. *ugh*

From there, we went up to the chiropractor. I was having problems with my lower back as well and they gave me a workout! We missed our appointment last week Friday because 15 inches of snow dumped in our yard, so it had been almost a week since our last appointment. I think every bone/joint in my body popped! But it felt soooo good! Even my shoulder popped like we’ve been trying to get it to. As much as I hate having to go to the chiro 2-3 times a week, I’m very thankful that there is someone out there who can relieve my pain some! This whole car accident thing is realy a pain in the neck - literally!

After the chiro, we stopped at home for a few minutes. We came home to find that the dear lady we had watching the kids had not only watched the kids, but also done our dishes and folded the laundry! WHAT A SAINT!!! I made the kids some sweet tea and we were off again.

We met up with Chip’s parents and his grandma for lunch. Her birthday was just a week ago and we didn’t make it down this year. So, we went for lunch at Steak & Shake to celebrate! It’s been hard to watch her health deteriorate over the past couple years. We all seem to know that the time in coming soon that she will be forced from her home because she just can’t do it all on her own anymore. But it’s heart-warming to see how tenderly everyone is dealing with the situation. Granny really has a family that loves her!

After that, we ran and dropped off Chip’s prescriptions from dr #1 at the Target pharmacy and then hightailed it back to the hospital for appt #3. This was a routine checkup by the pulmonologist. Two years ago, we walked through a dark time where words like hospitalization, mass in your chest and biopsy just rocked our world! And while it was just a fungus and he actually had it a bit better off that others who have dealt with this (we had a lady in our church who went through the same thing this year - only it attacked her heart instead of her lungs), they still followed him through the clinic for 2 years. Yesterday, we got the ALL CLEAR!!!  He is being released from the clinic back to his primary MD.  While I wasn’t worried, there is always that lingering doubt in the back of your mind. I’m sooo thankful to be able to close that chapter and move on to the next! (If you go back to the end of March 2006 in the archives, you can read through it all).

We white-knuckled our way through the fog back to Target, did our grocery shopping at Kroger and then came home to relieve Chip’s dad, who had come to relieve our sitter for us after lunch. We had a quiet night at home and watched as the thunderstorms finally blew the fog out!

Today was a rather quiet day as well - which is how I like them. We went out and voted - I’d tell you who for, but then I’d have to kill you! My guy dropped out a couple weeks ago. I’m just not real thrilled with any of the candidates. Although I’ll be glued to the television tonight to watch the results roll in.

Y’all still with me? Not real exciting stuff, but I wanted to get it all down so that years from now I can look back and remember…

Why I love my husband: Reason#2,528,679… December 15, 2007

Oh, and let me tell you, this is how you know what REAL love is…

I cut Chip’s hair. I’ve been doing it for years. He just hates going to have it done anywhere else because I can do just a good a job here at home. It’s not hard to do. It’s basically one length on the sides and another on the top. Easy.

Tonight, he sat down to get his hair cut. We were discussing church stuff and I picked up the clippers. And ran the first buzz through his hair.

On the top of his head. With the clipper for the side.

I just stood there. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t believe I did that. He didn’t even realize. He just looked at me and said, “What?” Never in a million years would he imagine I’d screw his hair up like that. He trusts me! Every two weeks, he puts his hair in my hands and this week I screwed it up - big time!

I told him to go look in the mirror. What could I do to fix it? Oh. My. Goodness. Oh!!! My!!!

He came back laughing. Which is good, because I was bawling like a baby. And feeling fairly nauseated at that moment (still am).

And right before Christmas! And on a SATURDAY night - where I’ll have to relive the horrid moment. Over and over again.

I’m just glad he’s laughing…

Why I blog… December 12, 2007

Chip got a call for an interview the other day about his blog. He was a bit puzzled because he doesn’t blog very regularly (although he is now) and somehow they managed to find his blog and not mine. Doesn’t really matter to me, but he gave them my blog address and told them I was the one to talk to.

I’ve been blogging for almost 5 years now. I started shortly after Noah was born (unfortunately, I lost quite a bit when I changed blog servers from Blogger to Xanga many moons ago). I was blogging before before blogging was cool…

The big question for the article was “Why do you blog?” I blog because I like to write. I blog because it’s cathartic for me and much cheaper than therapy. With 4 kids, I need somewhere I can just let it all go. As a pastor’s wife, I need somewhere that I can just let it all out from time to time. As a wife, I just like a place where I can brag on my husband. And to show off my kids. To stay in touch with relatives far off. To be real.

That’s the thing about my blog that is different from most - it’s me. My whole theory on life is that life is too short to pretend that I’m something that I’m not. I’m who I am - and if you don’t like it, that’s ok. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. I don’t agree with everyone else. And from time to time I make people mad with things I say on my blog. Because I’m not into legalism when it comes to my relationship with Jesus. And if there is anything that will make people mad, it’s questioning what they believe - especially if they don’t have an answer!

I guess I just try to live an authentic life. I want people to see Jesus in me. Not because I’m trying to sell them anything, but because my love for Him pores from my very being. I want them to see that marriage really can be GREAT and FUN. I want them to see that raising kids is work, but it’s the most rewarding job in the world. I want them to see that you can adapt to small town life even if your heart is screaming, “But I’m a big city girl!” I want them to see me for who I am. Because that’s all I am. With all my faults and screwups. With all my accomplishments and hard work.

I am who I am. And this is why I blog…

Off on an adventure… December 1, 2007

In our family, when we go off and do something new, we call it an adventure. It started because when Elijah was about 4 or so, going and doing new things struck panic is his little heart. So saying, “We’re going someplace we’ve never been before.” was not a good thing. So, we started going on adventures. Because heroes go on adventures. Because adventures are fun and conjur up images in their minds of Frodo’s trip to Mordor or Luke’s missions in space. Adventures are something to be experienced. And that’s exactly what we want for our kids, for life to be an adventure.

And let me tell you, they are MAD they are not going on this latest crazy adventure with Chip and I. We finally bought a new van. On eBay. In Texas. We fly out of Indy on Monday early afternoon to fly to Houston. My mom is coming to stay with the kids. We got a great deal on the tickets (I’m talking both of us flying for like $225). We will fly down on Monday and pick the van up on Tuesday morning. Then we’ll start the trip home. *IF* I can figure out how to post to my blog from my phone (I can’t get my phone to log into WordPress), I’m sure you’ll hear all the adventures along the way. If not, I’m sorry, but only my Facebook friends (feel free to add me - I like new friends) will be able to see because I can add a note there.

Why is this such an adventure? Because it’s the first time in our married lives that Chip and I have gone anywhere by ourselves that didn’t involve going to visit family or going to some sort of meeting. We went on our honeymoon, but even part of that required us going down to his parents house for a second wedding reception (not that I’m complaining). And by the time we got home from our honeymoon and settled in at new jobs, we found out that Elijah was on the way and well, we popped out even more kids since then. It’s hard to get away without them. We enjoy spending time with our kids so we like to take them places with us. When Seth is 18, Chip and I will still be in our late 40’s so we figure we have a lot of time left to enjoy together! But we’re looking forward to our adventure. Right now the only definite stop we have planned is in Memphis for barbeque.

 Looking forward to the journey!

I’m thankful… November 22, 2007

We were driving back from Thanksgiving dinner today and I told Chip, “Sometimes I just love one of the kids or you so much that it literally feels like my heart will BURST if it fills with anymore love!” And I’m not kidding.  I think it’s just my heart stretching and loving more. I *love* this family of mine that God has blessed me with. There is no other person or people on this earth that I would rather spend time with. Period. I thank my God every day that He not only gave me this amazing life to live, but also that He gave me such a wonderful family to love - and that loves me.

Chip, my husband, loves me. I know it. I can tell by the way that he looks at me. Even after 11.5 years of marriage, my heart still skips a beat and I have to catch my breath when he walks into a room. He’s my best friend. The love of my life. My soul-mate. God gave me a small glimpse of heaven and what real community will be like when He put Chip in my life. Because, with this wonderful man of God that I’m married to, I find it easy to put his needs before my own. Each day, I grow in my love for him and in my love for God. And while I know that we’ll get to spend eternity together, I’m so very, very thankful for the opportunity God gave us to know one another in this lifetime as well. Today, my heart swells…

Elijah is growing up before my eyes. He’s such a great big brother. Sure, he has his differences with his siblings from time to time, but just stand back if someone tries to hurt them. Kaitlyn had an altercation (as she often does) with one of Elijah’s friends the other day. I can always count on him to be the voice of reason and I can always count on him to protect his sister when she needs it. I love that he’s always willing to lend a helping hand. Last night I watched him look through the world vision catalog and dream of ways that he could raise money to help others around the world. He teaches me what it means to love my neighbor as myself. And my heart swells more…

Kaitlyn is such a bundle of energy. She lives in the dramatic. It is all or nothing with Kait.  Her dreams aren’t just big, they are HUGE. And she’s learning what it means to put her hope in God and not the things of this world.  She was telling me how someday she’ll use her heart and the talents and gifts that God has given her to glorify Him. She teaches me what it means to really praise and worship God. And my heart swells…

Noah is so full of  life. Everything  around him is thrown upside down because a battle that we may not be able to see is always raging. He is always involved in a sword fight or a light-saber battle of some sort. He will win the VICTORY! And he  does not give up (unless of course mom takes away the light-saber) and presses on. I guess some might say he gets that competetive edge from me. He teaches me what it means to persevere. And my heart swells…

Seth is growing like a weed. The changes from one day to the next amaze me as he learns to communicate and share his world with us. Every day is a new adventure. A day to be appreciated. An experience waiting to happen. A place waiting to be explored. Some might say that trouble finds him. I prefer to think that he just wants to live life to the fullest. Seth teaches me to soar. And my heart swells…

I’m thankful. Not just today, but every day that God blesses me with on this planet. And there really aren’t words to express how deeply thankful I am…

Building my own golf pro… November 8, 2007

Chip loves to golf. Absolutely loves it.  Doesn’t get to do it nearly as much as he likes, but there are still golf magazines all over my house.  Thankfully, I find those subscriptions online for free most of the time.  But they are the one magazine of his that he “forbids” me to throw away. (Much like I “forbid” him to throw away my Rachel Ray magazines).

His current subscription just ran out, so I was looking for a new “free” link online.  And while I didn’t find one for a magazine, I did manage to find a website that might help him develop the perfect golf swing. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll start getting rid of some of those golf magazines!

Walk with me… October 12, 2007

We’ve had a crazy week.  Bordering on insane. When we got home from a visitation for a distant family member of Chip’s, we were looking forward to getting the kids in bed and settling in to watch the Office (which was kind of boring last night? I think I need to rewatch).

Chip did the dishes and I got homework ready for today.  Talked to my mom on the phone for a few minutes. Read some blogs. Jammied the kids.  We got them in bed and Chip put on some popcorn.

While waiting for the popcorn to get done, I was cleaning up a bit on the counter.  I spotted a washcloth sitting on the end of the counter with something disgusting on it.  I decided it just wasn’t worth washing and possibly spreading the offending slimy goop onto other towels.  I grabbed the pile of towels and started towards the garbage.  I was looking through them to make sure the goop wasn’t on any of the other ones when…

BAM!!!

I walked into an open, upper cabinet door!  OH MY!  I literally saw stars, the room spun around me, I felt like throwing up and could do nothing but bend over with my head between my knees.  Instant migraine!

So, maybe it wasn’t The Office that was boring, only my perception of it.  I’m sure I’ll watch it again sometime.

Anyway, the moral of the story - Walk with me!  Just not too closely, and if you see any open cabinets, probably a good idea to warn me!