Mother : Daughter :: Jennifer : Mikalah

I really loved school when I was younger, but there were some things that we learned that I just didn't like.

Word Problems: I got too involved in the story to actually solve it. I mean, why did Farmer Brown buy the pigs before building the fence for them? And where are the pigs now while he is figuring out what size pen to build? And did he figure in the cost of hardware and a gate? Will it be wood? And what color will he stain it? Does he know how much work pigs are? Did he research that beforehand? Because he apparently didn't prepare to house them!

Library: the Dewey decimal system really doesn't make sense organizationally. And really why memorize it if I still have to look up where the book is located.

English: our language is messed up. I really do enjoy English, but I dislike some aspects. Take analogies for instance. You remember pages of these on the SAT - really dislike that part of the test.

• born : died :: ugly : beautiful
• thermometer : degree :: ruler : inch
• street : boulevard :: construct : build

Those are some easier ones that Mikalah brought home from school today. However, I think she inherited my confusion when it comes to analogies because this was one of hers as well...

• birds : feathers :: humans : socks

Happy Birthday, Mikalah, I love you, and I'm sorry you inherited that part of my DNA.

God Cares About A Pointy-toed Kitten-heel Shoe

In our Bible study this week we were starting to talk about having an intimate relationship with God. Part of that discussion included really listening for God and His "urgings".

So yesterday after I dropped Jeffrey at preschool I started running my errands. But I was a bit overwhelmed with everything "on my list". As I was driving around, I thought I should go to Goodwill.

Now understand that that is only a thought from God, because I can not stand going to Goodwill. Not only to I never find anything there, but the organization drives me nuts. So I dismissed the thought of course. Only to continue to be "bugged".

Then, of course, I have a bag of stuff to be dropped off at Goodwill - that's why I'm thinking I need to go there! I dropped the stuff off and the thought was complete.

I headed off to the mall to buy my favorite jeans, get Mike's glasses fixed and look for some brown heels for the Fall.

Jeans: check

Glasses: check

Shoes: on sale, sort of felt good, still $70 - no check!

Errand were now all done and I still had an hour before I had to pick up Jeffrey. What should I do?

Go to Goodwill.

What??? NO!!!

I started arguing with God. I never find anything there. It is full of germs. What a waste of time. Morgan is too fussy.

Okay, fine, but I'm gonna show you that it is not worth going there.

Did I really think I could show God something???

I walked in and headed right back for the shoes. The ones that are always worn, grandma like, or hoochy-mama and never in my size (because I might be persuaded to wear the hoochy-mama ones). There was a whole rack of brown, pointy-toed, kitten heel shoes. Brand new, never been worn. And in my size. $4.99.

Fine. You'd think my attitude was softened, but oh how I hate to be wrong!

So we found shoes, great, God, but clothes are a whole different matter. I mean look, they are organized by color! Not size. And a silk shirt is right next to a halter top that reads "I am just that sexy!" I won't find anything in there!

Oh how God loves me so much to break my hard little heart and bring me to my knees.

Twenty minutes later and only $35 poorer, this is what I walked out of the store with:

Thank you God, for not giving up on me. you are so GOOD!!!

Purchased:

1 pair of brown pointy-toed, kitten-heel shoes

1 tan trench-coat by Nicole Miller

1 yellow Izod sweater

1 off-white corduroy button down shirt from Eddie Bauer

1 black and white flouncy dress shirt

1 printed t-shirt from Talbots (that I wanted, but refused to pay $20 on sale three months ago - it was $1.99)

1 bag of cookie-cutters for the preschool.

Quick Dinner

Why is that a quick easy dinner of chicken from the grocery store was not so easy?

I remembered a few things I needed and ended up spending $45 dollars - with a $5 off coupon.

And isn't funny that I could remember - without looking - that Grands biscuits cook at 350 degrees, but crescents cook at 375. We don't get them usually, but that's just how much i love them!!!!

Lastly, I received yet another "new to me" computer. Mike did a computer shuffle again and now I have his old and recently repaired one. It is much smaller than my old one, but requires a cooling board because it gets sooooo hot. So really it's only smaller in theory.

You Know...

...it's time to scrub your table and chairs when you try to get up from the breakfast table and stick to the seat.

Dreams

Grief is a funny thing.

Last night I had a dream that my family was on a wonderful vacation of course in some warm sunny, tropical location - minus the hurricane.

We were staying in a beautiful hotel - not a tent.

I took a small child into the bathroom - because I'm desperate to be done with diapers! I've told myself that once I have potty-trained our children I can purchase a nice purse for myself - one that does not need to hold diapers.

When I came out of the bathroom, my brothers and sisters where there.

Jinger was sitting on one of the beds playing with Meredith.

Josh was swinging Jeffrey up in the air - strong man (oh I hate that I really have to call him a man!)

Juliet was holding Bella with Adam behind her holding Tyler.

Laying on the bed, on her side with her head propped up on her hand chatting with Mikalah, was Joy. I could only see the back of her, but it was Joy. I woke up gasping for breathe. Then desperately tried to go back to sleep so I could see her again. And hoping to catch a glimpse of the other three.

Instead, Jeffrey crawled into bed with me and pressed his entire body up against mine. Just to make sure I knew he was there.

So this morning Joy is heavily on my mind. And we are headed off to church. To sing songs like My Saviour, My God and In Christ Alone.

I had asked God to give me a heart for teaching the preschoolers on Sunday mornings. Today I am looking forward to being with the little people that take lots of attention rather than sitting in service reflecting. Funny way He answers prayers.

Back To School

I really thought that as the four oldest went off to school I would have more time to do things, like blog. Somehow I have found myself with less time. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed running errands with just one child now that Jeffrey is also back at preschool, but somehow those hours just fly by. There have been so many things running through my head, that I am opting for a list format tonight. I'm sure each of these things could be posts by themselves, but oh well.

1. Should I feel guilty that as many Kindergarten moms were crying the first day of school, Mike and I were giving each other high-fives?
2. Mikalah is going to the junior high for math. JUNIOR HIGH!!!! Somehow just being there for one class allows me to ease into that idea.
3. When we went to the junior high open house, a student council member gave us tour. She pointed out the classrooms, the gym, the library, and the elevator that is only used by the decapitated kids. That's our tax dollars at work!
4. The weekend before school started we went to the lake with Mike's parents. It was a beautiful, enjoyable time with temps at 105! We tubed, skied, swam, and saw big horn sheep. I saw big horn sheep and enjoyed the boat ride and sunshine. We also set up "taj-ma-tent" and slept all eight of us. It wasn't bad, but really - I'd rather not camp. Can you tell I'm just not the outdoorsy type?
5. Jarrett got his first bee sting that weekend. He was trying to squish the bee on his knee. Didn't work.
6. Mikalah has outgrown her shoes again. She is now a size 8 or 8 1/2. I like that we can share shoes and increase my shoe collection. However, Mikalah thinks that means she can wear my three inch heels. I think not!
7. When driving the kids to three different schools one morning, Morgan was chatting to herself. Her little voice is so sweet as she counts to 14...and then to seis in Spanish. Either Dora really is educational or we watch too much Dora.
8. We have all contracted some sort of head cold. Meredith has already finished antibiotics for a double ear infection and Jeffrey is almost done with his. Meredith told us that when she blew her nose she couldn't get anything out of it, but if she sniffed her nose it came out her mouth. Lovely!
9. Judson was complaining that he could hear out of his right ear. Not messing around, we went off to the ENT. Turns out the tube was falling out and was quite clogged. Unfortunately, he also had lots of fluid on his ear. Instead of scheduling surgery to replace the tube (set #6), the Dr. put a new one in in the office. The positives? Less than an hour in the office and Judson can hear better. The negatives? Having to get a numbing shot in the ear.
10. The calendar changed to September and the highs went from the 90s+ to 56 and rainy. Oh that we could remain in Summer really until September 21st!!!!
11. It is election time. Has anyone noticed? I've now listened to both candidates. Each have things that I like, but there is a single issue that is a deal breaker. I guess ultimately that makes me a single issue voter. I've made my decision, have you?
12. Jarrett has decided he would rather live upstairs with Jeffrey than downstairs with Judson. Judson's thrilled, Jeffrey's thrilled, Mike's thrilled that we will be moving furniture this weekend.
13. This weekend, we will also pull out the Fall clothes and put away the tank tops and swim suits. And dismantle the pool.
14. MOPS Int'l asked me to do a workshop about the MOPS@ program at their convention in October. I agreed thinking it would be speaking to about 50 ladies. Just found out it will be to 184 ladies! Do you smell the fear?
15. I had my yearly Dr. visit this last week. I told him I was falling apart. For one issue he said I should cut out caffeine. For another I needed rest. For another I needed exercise. And for the last I needed more caffeine. I decided rest and more caffeine would be following half the orders - right?

She did NOT get her fashion sense from Daddy

Today I took Meredith running some last minute back-to-school errands. She wanted to buy some new sunglasses. So I showed her the Dora ones and the Barbie ones. But that's not what she chose. She chose these ones.

Then she told me she needed bigger underwear. Bad mommy still has her 5 year old who wears a size 6 wearing size 4 underwear. To the girls department for new underwear.

"Oh, and Mommy, can I buy a bra too?"

Oh yes she did ask that!!!

I guess that goes back to having older siblings. Meredith is definitely a little fashionista. And a girly-girl. She would wear a dress every day if possible and all the better if it glitters and is pink.

Mike on the other hand, wears whatever is on the top of the pile in his drawer. In an effort to make him look presentable I usually put the shirts I don't like at the bottom of the pile. Somehow he still manages to find them and wear them. However I must publicly confess to buying him a shirt that falls into the dorky category.

You see Mike has some weird phrases in his vocabulary.

"They were all over me like two dogs on a pork chop."

(He actually said that in church...once)

"Dog farts fried in butter."

(His answer to what is for dinner when he has been asked by small children twenty times)

But the most widely used phrase is in response to a question...

"Daddy, do I have to do chores?"

"Mike, do you have your knife on you?"

"Do bears poop in the woods?"

I seriously thought this was something dumb he made up until I came across this...

And I did buy it. I admit I spent the $9 on a dorky t-shirt. But it came with conditions. It is not allowed out of the house. It is a lounge around and watch tv shirt. Maybe a mow the lawn shirt, but that's pushing it. However it has now become a favorite - one he will dig to the bottom of the pile to find.

I know - no complaining - I bought it. Hopefully my daughters will learn from this experience and just take a picture of the shirt instead.