The play, tea party and Tomata Pie!

Thursday and Friday night, the homeschool group had their annual school play put on by the Elementary School age children. For the past three years, both my girls have had the honor and privelege to be a part of it. However, this year, Kayti has "moved up" into "middle school" and so only Brooke was in it this time.

When I first heard what the play was going to be based on, I admit, I wasn't too excited. We've read the books and they are cute but basing an entire play on them? But I must say that Susan did an outstanding job with the script. I didn't realize it until I actually saw the kids saying their lines and bringing it all to life but she really put a lot of work into it and it all came together beautifully. I think of all the plays, this one is definitely my favorite. And if you haven't read the books, you should definitely do so--"You Are Special" and "If Only I Had a Green Nose" both by Max Lucado.

Here is my little "wemmick":













Friday during co-op, my American Girls class had their tea party:






I have really enjoyed this class and the girls sure seemed to have enjoyed it also. By far, it's been the best class of co-op I've ever been involved in. I also chose this occasion to unveil the American Girl we will be studying next term--Felicity. They were excited and we watched a snipit of the Felicity movie.

Friday night after the play, we went to Tomata Pie for Dylan's birthday. That is his absolute most favorite place to eat. Go figure.






My men are camera shy--especially in public! You have to sneak those kinds of pictures!

Today, I had to take Dylan to his weigh-in in Fultondale for wrestling and the girls and I shopped a little to kill time while waiting on him but didn't buy anything. Jeff had to work. We came home, napped and then Kayti and I went to Kohl's--she needed black pants for choir. Now, we are eating dinner and watching Alabama whup up on Mississippi State! Tomorrow is church and Larry is coming over for a short visit--pray for me! LOL

Happy Birthday, Little man!

Okay, maybe you're not so little anymore. But you'll always be my little man. It blows my mind that you are 16 today! I remember it like it was yesterday and at the same time it seems like a lifetime ago. Where is that chubby little boy with the long curls that waddled when he walked? I have SO enjoyed beying your mother. Every move you made, everything you did, we were so awestruck. Still are. I dont think I fully comprehended what real love was until you were laid on my belly. All I ever wanted to do was make sure you had the best of everything, including the best of me. I know I fell short many a time but when I look at the young man you are fast becoming, I am so proud and I know that through God's grace and strength, something good came through me.

Like the song says, "You've got so much going for you, going right" but I know it's hard to see that right now. Know that God has big plans for you and we can't wait to watch them unfold. I am so proud of you, how smart you are (book smart AND common sense, what a combination and rare in today's teenager!), how you are not afraid to be yourself and follow your own interests and are not so caught up in high school that it clouds your judgment. I love that you still want to spend time with us. I love that you are not spoiled at all, that you think of others, that you are sensitive, that your yes is a yes and your no is a no, that you follow through with the plans you make and that you aren't afraid to try new things. I also love that you will do things you're not very comfortable with when it means something to someone else (like dance with Deb & Mia or pray out loud) I love that when you commit to something, you give it your all and push yourself to not only achieve your goals but to surpass them.

There is so much that I wish for you, that I pray will come to pass for you. But I know whatever details the future holds for you, sweet 16, it's going to be awesome. Because YOU are awesome.

Love,
Mommy

Family Pictures 2008

A few weeks ago, my cousin's bff, Jenny (and now my friend, too!) took some family pictures for us. Friday night, we got to see them and oh my gravy--she took a buttload of pictures! Of course, we knew that--we were there but we just didn't realize how many. Here are just a few of my favorites!
















(I do not know why the one of me and Dylan is oriented that way--it isn't actually. I guess it's just too big to fit in the post or something...)











Thanks so much, Jenny!

Busy busy...

As usual...

Do you ever notice that the more you try to slow down, the busier things seem to get? Does it work that way for anyone else or am I the only one?

I am feeling MUCH better lately. I went back on prozac. I never really meant to get off of it, especially not cold turkey. I just ran out and kept forgetting to get it refilled and then before I knew it, it had been a month and I felt okay so I thought, maybe I can do without it. Not so much.

When I'm not on it, I start to erroneously think that I shouldn't have to take some kind of pill to feel normal. I know better than that and I know there is no shame in taking medicine. Or rather there shouldn't be. No one feels guilty for taking medication for a heart condition, diabetes or diminished thyroid or anything else. I have a medical condition. I am chemical imbalance that when it is not managed, I have severe mood swings, anxiety, rage, depression and it is not just mental. I physically HURT. My entire body aches and I cannot get enough rest or sleep. In trying to catch up on rest, I lose my motivation and my focus. I need my medicine.

I am not completely back to "normal" yet and it will be some time before I am. Just like it takes a while to get out of your system, it takes a while to get back in as well and for everything to even out.

In the meantime, I'm trying not to overload myself on the "small stuff" but at the same time, that "small stuff" keeps me sane. I was feeling out of control last weekend and starting to get a touch of anxiety so I reorganized the girls' closet. No, I do not suffer from OCD--you can take one look at my house on any given day and tell that! But when I do get that out of control feeling, it makes me feel better to do some sort of task that I can have complete control over. Some people grow roses--it makes them feel better to have completely control over another living thing! LOL I clean out closets. And garages. And cabinets, etc. Something that I can see immediate results and get instant gratifcation!

So now I'm on a major reorganization/redecoration kick again. I don't like the interior of my home anymore. Everything needs to be repainted and just given a face lift. So I'm trying to figure out what to do with everything in this little bitty cracker-jack box of a house! Part of me says, don't do anything! Save your money for a move! But then where to? We're stuck here in Clay until Dylan gets out of school and that's two more years away! If I have to be here for two years, I cannot keep looking at these walls and this stuff! Ugh!

But we're already strapped for cash. We're keeping our heads above water, fortunately. God always provides but there are things I want to get done, get caught up, get paid off and buy and it's looking like to be able to do all of that, I'm going to have to get another income from somewhere. I can't decide on whether to ask for more hours at my current job or get a night job. Both ideas suck. If I take on more hours at my current job, I am afraid homeschooling will suffer. If I get a night job, I'm afraid family time will suffer. Sacrifices must be made. But which ones? I just have to be faithful in prayer so God can show me what to do.

In other news, Jeff and I did go out Friday night. The kids spent the night with mom so we could have the house to ourselves and we went to eat at Joe's Crab Shack! I love that place and we used to eat there quite often when I worked at the bank and made the big bucks! Then we went to some friends to look at the pictures she took of our family. (I'll post those separately later--there are a TON of them! She did an awesome job and went above and beyond, as usual!) We sat out on "the sip" (I want a "sip" of my own, that is awesome! A screened in porch with heat! It was like camping without the bugs!) just talking and listening to music and having a good time. My favorite cousin was there and we stayed until 2 a.m.

Yesterday, we went to watch the Alabama/LSU game at my parents' and mom and I went to Christmas Village with her bff last night. I spent all of $5! I bought Brooke a stocking stuffer! Hey, it's a start.

I've had a touch of the stomach bug this weekend so we stayed home again this morning from church. Jeff and Dylan have gone to the inlaws to pick up a computer desk they are giving us and the girls and I are here, catching up on laundry, housework, schoolwork and just chillin'. I hope to be able to get some sewing done either today or tomorrow. The girls have choir and stuff later and I am planning on making taco salad for dinner. Just hope my tummy can handle it!


Blessings!

My thoughts on the election...

And some of you will disagree with me. That's inevitable and that's okay. Hope we can still "all get along"! LOL

But this comes from my heart of hearts after much prayer, reflection and listening to both the news, people that I know and respect (and a few that I don't!)

I honestly did not know who I was going to vote for until it came right down to the moment of marking the ballot. I know a lot of you assumed I would be voting for McCain because I am a Christian and I share a lot of the same viewpoints as Republicans do. I know a lot of you assumed I would be voting for Obama because I have very liberal roots, an open mind and I share a lot of the same viewpoints as Democrats do.

Truly, Jeff and I cannot afford another 4 years like the last 8. We both voted for Bush twice. And looking back on that now, it was a big mistake. We did not vote our hearts but our wallets and it backfired--bigtime. Jeff works for a company that does a lot of contract work for the military. Republicans tend to like to have a big defense and we figured--hey, this will be good for business. As I'm studying through the book of James in Community Bible study, I'm convicted much about motives. We did not have pure motives. We thought we'd prosper under the Bush administration and while I know one man is not responsible for all the turmoil in the world, when he is the leader of the free world, he must be prepared to act accordingly when things go wrong. In my opinion, he did not. He was just as "hands off" as his father and while some people think that's the way to go...me, not so much. I don't care for the way he handled 9/11 aftermath, the conflict (or lack thereof) in Iraq, the devastation with Hurrican Katrina, the failures of the economy and least of all the energy crises and soaring gas prices.

I resent the implication by so many Republicans that if we don't agree with everything Bush has done, we are looking for a handout or somehow immoral and unChristian. That kind of attitude and lack of compassion is so very contrary to Jesus' teachings that it begs those of us who know differently to want to distance ourselves from the Republican party altogether. Jeff & I work very hard for all that we do NOT have. We aren't looking for a handout. I don't want any of your money. But I DO expect a decent chance at making some for myself to spend and give according to MY convictions. I shouldn't have to foot the bill for things so that the poor can go on living off the government (which is wrong, I concede--every able body should work) or the rest of everyone can "have more money to invest" and MAYBE that will trickle down to help the rest of us. I shouldn't have to put every dime I make right back into the tank of my car just so I can drive to work. And I'm sorry, I know some of you disagree but you cannot tell me that it's pure coincidence that the we had an oil man in office for 8 years while gas prices went through the roof and now that he's about to be on his way out...they're coming back down. Call me ignorant if that makes you feel better about what has been happening but it won't change the fact that something is definitely rotten in the state of Denmark.

All THAT said....I wasn't altogether sure about Obama either. I don't want to see him or anyone else take office and take away from anyone to give to someone else. I just want everyone to pay their fair share and everyone to have a decent shot at trying to make their lives better. Maybe I bought into the media hype a little bit but I confess I questioned whether or not he is who he says he is. God's Word does warn us to be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing. Is he a wolf? I admit, I wondered (still wonder).

I do hold dear to the values that human life should be sacred. I am also against abortion. But I know that since Roe v Wade was passed in 1973, there have been more Republican presidents than Democratic presidents. The GOP has had more opportunities to appoint judges, pass laws, etc. and it hasn't happened. Maybe it's jaded and cynical of me to think this but I think they really don't care about unborn babies either (that is, most, not all!) because they know if they are born, they are likely to have to support them! I think all politicians are full of it when it comes to the abortion issue. Saying you believe something is one thing. When it comes down to actions...nothing much has been done. On the other hand, I also believe with all my heart that passing a law against something doesn't make it obsolete. We have laws against murder and theft. People still kill and steal. If we TRULY want to stop something as horrible as abortion, we need to work on the heart level. We need to share the love of Christ with people, especially women who are hurting and faced with such a crises and make it difficult to even think about making that choice and that includes helping take care of the life beyond the womb, if necessary. We need to get off our holier-than-thou attitudes and stop saying, "she should have made the choice NOT to have sex". Her sin is NO DIFFERENT than the sin you and I commit on a daily basis. It is not God that puts degrees on sin--people do. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. So she sinned. So what? Saying shoulda woulda coulda all day long won't solve the problem at hand.

So how to vote on that issue? It's a wash. And sadly, all morality issues seem to be a wash with politicians. There have been just as many Republicans as Democrats involved in sex and/or other scandals because the simple fact of the matter is that WE ALL SIN AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD and any party that claims to be morally superior to another--that is the party of lies. Beware.

I have always admired John McCain, even before most of you knew who he was. I think he would have made an EXCELLENT president (not so enamoured with Palin though--she struck me as a dingbat!) and I have never been more impressed with him than I was last night watching his concession speech. What a class act! Too bad I can't say the same for some of the people in the crowd. Booing? Didn't their mothers ever teach them manners? No excuse for such horrible behavior! But getting back to McCain--yes, a deep, deep respect I have for him and most of you know what a fan I am of Rudy Guiliani. And Rudy backed him! LOL

I actually have a lot of respect for Obama, too, though. I identify with him. I know what it's like to grow up estranged from your biological father and even though things turned out well for him as well as for me, I know how it feels to grow up feeling not whole and not because of anything you did. And no matter how great things are in your life, how wonderful the people that raised you are, nothing can change the fact that a part of who you are has been altered in some way for some reason. I also know what it feels like to have my faith questioned (and it will probably happen again after I get finished with this blog. So be it. If it makes you feel better about yourself to try and tear someone else down, knock yourself out). It hurts to know that there are people out there that think THEY know your heart and they know what you're about when no one ever knows another's heart except for the Lord. It doesn't matter if it's the saintliest person on the earth or the worst dreg of humanity. While there is something to be said for behavior being a product of faith, it's not an absolute. I have witnessed many a "godly" person do ungodly things and vice versa. My point is, there's just no way to know.

After all that, all I could think to do was pray. "Lord, I want to do what you want me to do. I want to be obedient to You. I want to use my vote to your glory. I already know that whoever You want to place in the highest office of our land will be placed there. Your will will be done and may we take a lesson from David and not raise our hands against Your annointed. If there is to be justice, retribution or whatever needs to happen, YOU will handle it."

Yesterday, God gave me a small gift of having another car pass in front of me with the following bumper sticker, "Don't worry. God is in control."

Yes, He is! Praise the Lord! I took that with me to the polls and I'm holding onto it now. I hope that, if I have offend anyone by speaking what is in my heart and on my mind that you will forgive me. That is not my intention at all. I know not to be afraid for speaking the truth and that is what I've tried to do. I hope that you will also join me in giving President Obama a chance to do what he aspires to do. Don't be discouraged but be encouraged. Show him the respect he is due as our earthly leader and never forget who our REAL leader is.

I watched in wonder all day yesterday as my 10 year-old attempted to grasp what was happening. It did not fail her what a historic moment yesterday was and bless her heart, she WANTED Obama to win despite the fact that most of her friends were for McCain. When I asked her why she wanted Obama to win she simply stated, "because he will be the first African American President." I am not sure why that was important to her but she asked questions all day long--why don't people like him? How come they think that? etc. etc. Oh and it was TRULY a lesson in civics when I was trying to explain the electoral college to her last night! My head still hurts. I'm 38 and it still baffles my mind, can you imagine an air-headed little girl trying to wrap her mind around it! LOL But it was so amazing to see the hope in her eyes and watch her absorb everything that was happening. Words cannot express.

Before going to bed last night, we all prayed for our country, for McCain, for Obama for all of us. Lord, let him be the man he claims to be. Not a savior, not a saint but a servant like the rest of us. Help people to put aside their prejudices, the misconceptions, their negative thoughts and give him a chance. He is going to be under so much more pressure than any president before him that I feel sorry for him. Every little thing he does is going to be scrutinized--I would not want the pressure. But Lord, you allowed him to lead for a reason and whatever it is, we pray that your will be done and whatever comes to pass, you get the glory.

Blessings,

Happy Anniversary, Baby! Got you on my..mind!

Okay, a singer I'm not. Sue me.

But today IS mine and Jeff's wedding anniversary. We have been married for 19 years!!! I can't believe it myself and neither can anyone else. But we have actually been "together" for 25 years and 1 month! Saying that makes me feel ancient.

But we met in High School, on the band bus for the love of Pete. He was a friend of my cousin's and me and my bff at the time sat in front of them and we all got to talking and we both had mutual instant crushes. It would be another year before we would consider ourselves "in love" and even then, at the ripe old ages of 14 & 15, everyone thought we were nuts. "It'll never last," and the odds were in their favor, for sure. We were SO young and so....clueless!





Get a load of that first picture, would ya? Wasn't I a dish! LOL

We dated off and on all through High School. He graduated a year ahead of me and we lost touch for a little while. But he still had my heart, no matter what I did, who I was with or how much I tried to "move on" and "get over it".

A few months after I graduated and I thought I was finally moving on, my bff's first love was killed in a car crash. As naive and goofy as it sounds, I started to think about Jeff again and much to my mother's disapproval, I called him. We started dating again, though it was not "serious", supposedly. Just some carefree young adults, having a good time.



Oh, who I wouldn't kill to know what I know now and still have those thighs! I'm sure they're under here somewhere!

But eventually, God began to do a work in both our hearts and we became engaged in June, 1989.



Yeah, everyone thought we were nuts. I was 19, he was 20. We were SO young and everyone told us to wait. It'll never last, they said, you don't know what love is, blah blah blah. My own mother tried to get us to just live together, if you can imagine! But because we were so young and knew everything (why couldn't all of life's problems have come then, when we knew all the answers!?) we were married in November, 1989.






Nineteen years and three wonderful children later, here we are. Against all odds. It hasn't been easy. But it has been worth it.

We haven't really begun to celebrate yet. Jeff did bring me breakfast in bed this morning and the kids made us dinner and cleaned up. But we will do something special this weekend when we aren't so busy with all the details of everyday life.

And my mom, I think is more surprised than even we are but I believe that she is amazed and proud also. Proud that we proved people (even her) wrong with our commitment to each other. She drove all the way out to my house today while we were gone and hung a banner over the door that her daycare kids made. It said, "To heck with Voting Day--Happy Anniversary!" All the kids had colored on it! I'd show you a picture but the camera batteries are charging for tomorrow!

She also left a card that said:

A Marriage is made of a number of things...

Enjoying the same little day-to-day things, Staying together whatever life brings, Sharing the dreams of your future together, this is the love that you'll cherish forever.

How fitting! But what touched me even more was the personal note on the inside that said:

Chel & Jeff,

No one said it would be easy but just look at your three great kids. That's what we do! The small stuff doesn't matter so much! Love, Mom

I'm tearing up now just thinking about it. To have the admiration of the woman that told me I was nuts for getting married at 19 (and how many times over the years I've thought that she might have been right!) is just overwhelming. I love you, too, Mom! Thanks to you and Dad both for giving us such an amazing example!

Do we love each other the same as we did November 4, 1989? No. And anyone who says they do is lying. It's not possible. I'm still crazy about him, just like when we were kids. But God has taken what was there and made it into so much more than we ever could have imagined. Life may never be perfect this side of Heaven. But true, honest, mature love definitely can be.

I love you, babe!

More pictures...

Yes, I realized I've not blogged in over a week. I'm not up to it right now. I'm having medication issues and therefore my thoughts would not be coherent and since I seem to have the problem of people taking my words out of context so often, I'll just keep them to myself for now.

But I would like to share a few pictures so I can get them off my memory stick!







On Tuesday of last week, I carved six pumpkins!!! One for each of my kindergarten classes. For some reason, the picture of the 5k class did not transfer from the camera. But we had so much fun! The kids loved touching the pumpkin guts and gathering up seeds to take home and collectively deciding what kind of face each pumpkin would get. Then they got to take their pumpkins back to their classroom with them and name it! I LOVE preschool!!

On Wednesday afternoon, we went to some friends house and carved pumpkins! We had a wonderful lunch, decorated cookies, the kids played and the moms yacked! I LOVE my mom-time! And I am so thankful to have some of the dearest friends!







Dylan was in school and so could not come to the pumpkin carving party. So he carved his the night before.






We hit several Fall festivals last week as well as went trick or treating. One would have thought we'd have enough candy to last us awhile but no...it's mostly gone already! I'm so not looking forward to our next visit to the dentist, which is overdue come to think of it! Ugh!

Of course, my men would not dress up. One is "too cool" and the other is just an ol' fuddy-duddy! lol I'll let you figure out which is which! But the girls and I LOVE to dress up. This year, Brooke wanted us to be Hippie-chicks and Kayti and I complied. So here we are, the "hippie-Quicks"!




Heavens! After dying 16 shirts for the American Girl class and then these three, and carving all those pumpkins, I feel like all I've done all week is dye shirts and carve pumpkins. My poor hands! But it's all good. Everything turned out lovely.

Brooke took a lot of time with her American Girl shirt and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that MOST of the girls really got into that project. All the shirts looked great! Beautiful and unique, just like Kaya would have done!



We have had so much fun with this class and I can't wait until next semester when we do a different girl!

Off to get all the things done that I did not get done last week!