Over the hill and through the woods

Over the hill and through the woods, to Grandma's house we go....for the second time this month. WOOOOEEEEEE!!!!!

Thats life around here

I have a great "new desk" that I bought at the re sell it shop back in Seminary City. Ed doctored it up with a new cornerround and fixed the drawers tight. Luke has been promised a wage to paint it. We did not paint it in Seminary City, because we didn't want a fresh paint coat to scratch.

The time was finally right to paint today, and he went to work with gusto....as he found a new friend who likes Bakugon and he wanted a mat to play the game. (think expensive new fashioned marble game.) Leah was allowed to be a spectator. I went in to throw in some Laundry and when I came back..... the paint brush was unattended. The distraction? a baby garter snake!!! Our next door neighbor is quite the wild animal lover and found it mowing. His 2 kids and my 2 kids are fascinated! Now, my first thought is KILL IT!! KILL IT!! Snakes fall just below mice on my horror list, only because they eat mice. However, neighbor informed me last week that garter snakes do not eat mice....only bugs. This makes them valuable?????? Isn't this what RAID is for? Anyway baby snake kept its life and was moved so the mower didn't chew it into bits. Lucky snake that he's growing up in neighbors yard and not mine!
Luke gets back to work and actually does a FANTASTIC job with 2 coats. (when both kids are back in school....a little sandpaper will clean up the drip areas) and he earns enough to buy the mat and actually appears to listen to our discussion about things bought with earned money bringing more satisfaction.

No pictures of desk (your loss) and of the baby snake (no one's loss) because my camera has bit the dust. It takes pictures with the off button on and scans all pictures before ready for an actual pose. Now it won't even take pictures! The last pictures taken before this mysterious ailment where of Lightening Mc Queen's positioned transformers. Lightening Mc Queen what did you do? I have tried to reprogram to no avail. Waiting for Best Buy to have a good sale, because one never knows when a post will be begging for a picture!

Leah speaks up

We need to work on Leah's manners. Ed's Uncle Don and Aunt Brenda are visiting and we took them to some Antique stores. Right in front of the owner, Leah says very loud. "This is not a tique store, this is old junk!"

Shopping Trip

Going shopping now requires a planned effort and list for the "big city". Leah is so excited for a shopping trip. She has all of her quarters. Most are pennies and nickels. "But I call them quarters". I wonder if that will work for me?

"What do you mean these look like singles?" "I call them 20's"!!!

YUMMM!

All of the zucchini is put up (or made into bread), 12 quarts of sweet corn and the tomatoes are frozen, with a bowl set aside for tomorrows BLT and salad. I am loving baked zucchini, onion and tomato casserole! If I can stay away from the bread...I just might lose this weight! I am told the zucchini will turn watery in the freezer and makes the best vegetable broth for soup.....YUMMMM! 1 point WW soup!!

My patient LOVES to swing....I push him higher and higher for 3 twenty minute recesses. Tonight my upper body is telling me that this will either kill me or be good for me. I'm sure I'll survive....I've got more good food to eat.....I'm thinking the apples will be coming soon!

The greatest of these is LOVE

So often I am tense after church. It is not unusual to have one or two of my charges in their rooms after church for blurting, fighting or general disrespect during church. It has been getting so much better. Mostly due to the fact we sit right up front. No, not because Dad can keep a stern eye on them....he has many more things to worry about. I have found that the older congregants sit up front and my Leah in particular is a tad scared of the men, and becomes a meek little kitten. Today, much of the service was spent with Luke's arm around his sister, whispering encouragement with her little activity book or rubbing her back. My heart beamed with pride. I so often feel like I am failing as a mother.....this week was filled with many time outs, grounding, and overall discouragement. Impulse control, drama and general childhood fun will continue to test my parenting. But,God has shown me that my children have learned compassion and love and LOVE each other.
But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Budding reptilogist

Most kids use one to catch butterflies....or as Leah says "Flutterflies".

Luke uses it to collect snake skins. At least he's not using his hands!!

YUCK!!!

First Day of school a success!

The first Day of School was a success. Luke really seems to enjoy his teacher and has made several friends. He walked the 2 blocks to the Y and was sweating when I picked him up from playing basketball for about an hour. He wants to stay longer and really wants me to bring my workout clothes tomorrow. My kids are great motivators for exercise.

I got a workout as well at school!! My little guy can walk quite fast and is a fan of slides. I follow him everywhere! I anticipate some challenges some days.....will just need to learn which battles to let go! I am happy with the job and the HOURS are a blessing. Most people know I am not a morning person. I was able to get up at 6:45 versus 5:00 am. What a difference. I was able to pick up both of my kids...get the low down on the day first hand, make supper, read the paper and tuck them both in bed. For a working Mama....it's the best! I am planning to enjoy the weekends! (Although my poor husband needs to work every one!!! :-) ))

First Day of school eve

First day of School for Luke and Mommy tomorrow. Kinda excited, Kinda nervous!! I feel a little put out that I didn't get to buy a new book bag and supplies. I did buy some new shoes and my favorite granola bars for my lunch though! Leah is feeling very left out as she needs to wait another week and a half to start. She wants to bring her rest mat to the babysitter, and wear her new shoes in honor of First Day of School for Luke. I wish she could go to Kindergarten, but next year will be here before we know it and I get to keep my baby home a year longer!

PS Still breathing over here.....no more rodent signs. YEAH!!!!

Is this a blessing?

Hole in garage fixed by carpenter = Blessing.
Fixed hole in garage = possible trapping in critter = terrifying
Ed telling me the Guaranteed trap worked!!! One caught!!! = Definitely a positive, but....

Do any remain????? We had no evidence for over a week, so thought it had left. Praying that it was a lonely rodent. Praying really hard it was not a new mama!

I was exhausted when I visited DM this weekend. Rodent phobia (notice how I can't type the M word?) leads to very poor sleeping. My legs kept kicking with my dreams. The only way I got any sleep is because Checkers sleeps under our bed or on top. I finally got a good night sleep in DM. I really don't see that happening tonight.

Breathe....Breathe....Breathe!!!!



Had a wonderful trip to DM. in order of occurrence.....
* 60Th Birthday Party for Uncle B in a beautiful State Park
* seeing beautiful baby H (now 7 weeks, ADORABLE and such a good baby!
* church with 4 of my 5 niece/nephews, with 2 more safely in their Mama's tummies
* seeing Ann with 14 other church friends/family at brunch and hanging out with Miss Emily. It was so good to see her again...in only 2 months!
*Then finishing with a Baby Shower for M. Great time!!! Thanks to God for being less then 4 hours away!

Well off to try to sleep....Tomorrow is my last day as full time SAHM. I go to school on the same day as Luke! Tomorrow we tour his class room and meet his teacher. She sent him a welcome letter yesterday with a stick of gum. She's his new favorite....sight unseen!

EWWWWWW!

EW EW EW EW!!!
I am trying to be a big girl here.....but I don't know if I can bear it any longer. My biggest fear was being given a country parsonage.....and I was relieved this was a town vicarage. Driving on country roads..."NO problem". Isolation from the living in the country...."Piece of Cake". Critters such as Mice sharing my home. "OH MY!!!!" I couldn't bear it. For 48 hours I have known there is a mouse in the house. I'll hold the dreaded details but there is a workman's hole in the garage that must be fixed ASAP!!!!! I know the church has far more concerns than Vicar's wife having a mouse.....but this one ate the peanut butter off the trap....and probably has invited all it's friends for a little more Jif. I bought the $4.80 traps now...guaranteed to work. But until the hole is fixed....no restful sleep for me. My cats have no apparent worries.... lazy creatures!!! The neighbor next door is trying to convince me to use live traps... so is Aunt K. I DONT THINK SO! Trying to be a big girl....do not throw a fit..... BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE!

New Job!

God is Good! I did receive the new job...driving only 6 miles (reimbursed), and working only during school hours -3 days a week. Calling our new babysitter to discuss the hours made me cry "Mommy Happy Tears". There is only a 1/2 hour between schools out and Mom is home. No weekends, no evenings, no holidays or school breaks.....roads bad enough to cancel school...... = SNOW DAY for Mom too. It's the easy life of a teacher.......... HA HA HA. Teachers are worth their weight in GOLD!!!! It was suggested that I could be a classroom presence to ease the stress of the teacher and behavioral problems of students. I expected as much and I know I will be blessed in many ways from this position. Telling the former job offer was easier than I feared.....she understood a Mama's dilemma.

My husband is very happy. This will relieve his stress in many ways. This weekend's prayers were about finding peace in our decision with the job decision. On Saturday night, Ed was called to the hospital to pray with a teen before a surgery. If I was working evenings and weekends..... he would have to have a backup person to come and stay with the kids, delay his hospital visit or not go at all. He did not return home until midnight. Neither option would have been good. So we are content with the job decision and trusting God that the future is in his hands.

Difficult decisions remain on the church front. Muddling through grief is hard. I have no idea how one does this without prayer. Thank you for your prayers!!

Thank you for your prayers

Well it has been a long week. We have appreciated all of your prayers. The visitation and funeral were well attended, as expected due to how loved Pastor was. A former vicar and the president of the District performed the beautiful service and Pastor's son and wife spoke such messages of hope. They were amazing. I know I could never be so put together and share messages of hope. God is powerful to give such strength. The funeral was healing and now there is a feeling of need to pick up pieces and grow together. It is amazing to watch and exhausting at the same time. Ed and I were asked to sit with the other pastors and wives. Awe inspiring. To hear 45 pastors singing with all of their hearts, 'Abide in Me'....sends shivers down one's spine. My in laws came to watch the kids at the funeral and I am so grateful.

Several times in the past week, Ed's focus, strength and faith has brought me to tears. I have faith in my husband- but to watch it....makes trusting God even easier. Truly, we are taking just one day at a time and praying for every step we take. This is the only way to find our way. The District president asked a retired pastor to preach this week's sermon. Ed just did not have time. He did well last week adapting a sermon from one of his Sem classes....but this week he is so grateful to focus on the hundred other areas that require his attention. Your prayers, emails and support have been felt and so much appreciated.

I accepted a RN position in the nearby small city. I am very excited about it, however received another call today regarding a community position attending to the needs of a child in the public school. Ed and I are praying about this as would offer so much more stability for the kids. When God provides, he provides so much!!! Lots to pray about this weekend and a decision to be made on Monday. Leaning on God's guidance and prayers!

Prayers for our new church

Please pray for our new church home as Ed's supervising Pastor died Friday morning. He was such a remarkable man and wonderful Pastor. His family is full of grief as is his many friends and congregation. We are so grateful for the 3 short weeks we knew him and knew right away why so many loved him. At present, they will not call a new pastor and Ed will assume most of Pastor's duties. A neighboring Pastor is being sought to offer guidance. We know Ed was called here for a reason and Ed will be staying as this church's Vicar. What the future holds is completely in God's all knowing and loving hands.

Learning to trust God has far more meaning to our new church and our family. Prayers are appreciated for this week with funeral proceedings and in the coming months as everything changes. Thank you.