LOOSE TOOTH!

Maggie has a loose tooth and is plotting it's demise. She can't wait to see what the tooth fairy will leave her.

Oh where is my passport?!?!

Jason (Husband) cannot find his passport... so we had to take new photos... isn't he cute?!?!

Hee hee!

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!

Irked

Pediatricians handing out free formula coupons!

Isn't a pediatrician handing out formula coupons like a dentist who hands out toffee?

Hymn funny

DO YOU KNOW YOUR HYMNS?
Dentist's Hymn...Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn.....There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn..............The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn................Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn.............. There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn................Standing on the Promises
Optometrist's Hymn....................Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn................I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn.....................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn..............Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn..................Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn..................... I've Got a Mansion, Just Over theHilltop
The Massage Therapists Hymn.... He Touched Me
The Doctor's Hymn....................... The Great Physician

AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns:

45mph....................God Will Take Care of You

65mph....................Nearer My God To Thee

85mph....................This World Is Not My Home

95mph....................Lord, I'm Coming Home

100mph.........Precious Memories

Tagging? Isn't that what you do to billboards and the sides of busses?

Apparently I have been tagged by Becky or Rebecca... I have no idea what this means... but she was tagged by someone who was tagged by another... and they all filled out this:

Accent: I parrot the accent I am listening to.

Bible Book that I like: Proverbs

Chore I don’t care for: Mopping the floor... especially the bathroom floor!

Dog or Cat: Yes and yes.

Essential Electronics: TV.

Favorite Movie: The Crow.

Gold or Silver: Silver

Handbag I Carry Most Often: Red Dragonfly Sally Spicer bag.

Insomnia: Uh... yes?!?!

Job Title: Ring leader

Kids: Maggie - 5, Abbie - 2 , Amie - 6 weeks

Living Arrangements: Parsonage.

Most Memorable Moment: Getting Married

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: My lawyer has informed me of my right to: PLEED THE FIFTH!

Phobia: Water.

Overnight Hospital Stays: My first two girls and my gallbladder.

Quote: You're just jealous the voices talk to me!

Religion: Christian.

Siblings: Greg (Marine/super mover!), Jake (CPA extraordinare), Isaac (The sports guru), Brenna (The shy superstar)

Time I Wake Up: Which time?

Unusual Talent: Touching my nose with my tongue.

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: Beets

Worst Habit: Scratching my head until it bleeds.

X-rays: Orthodontal, chest and ankle... BTW ~Don't wear an underwire bra for a chest x-ray!~

Yummy Stuff I Cook: Fresh tortillas, black beans and rice, guac, salsa, deviled eggs... WAY too many things!

Zoo Animal I Like Most: Lions.

I shall not tag anyone...

Mantra

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.

I want tons of kids so...

I CAN HAVE GRANDCHILDREN!

Grandchildren bring joy, happiness, and laughter, while still allowing you to get a good night’s sleep!

“Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage.”Proverbs 17:6

International Breastfeeding Icon Contest

Mothering.com is having a contest for the best Breastfeeding Icon... to use for signs on nursing rooms and so forth... Currently a picture of a bottle is being used... for "NURSING" rooms in airports and malls! I emailed my contribution today... and here it is:
I think it is great!

Don't tell nobody!

Remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family. ~Homer Simpson

Nothing in life is free!

"Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the Sun every year."

Complaints I do not have the backbone to say outloud

My husband (No I am not complaining about him!) has a post on his calling to ministry.

I went to Africa when I was 14 and new that was "home". I knew that sky was my sky and these people were my people. I knew that the people of Africa needed Ethnomusiclogists (Though I didn't know it had a fancy word!) and I decided that was where I was going to dedicate my life. From then on it was part of my testimony: "I am going to be a missionary!"

Now where am I? I am in a small town in Northern California (Which I love). But it is not Africa. My husband is planning his second trip to Africa since we have been married. I ask God, "Why can't I go?!?" But the answer is clear, "You have a new baby to look after."

So I look for my calling here. I have jumped on "good ideas" for ministry and after being here 10 months, nothing I have touched has grown. In reality, if I was to step away from the things I started, no one would pick them up. Our church is growing, but our women's ministry is not. Emotionally I feel rejected by God and the other women of my community. I know that the other women would say, "we are just so busy" or make other excuses for why they don't attend. But they also don't invite anyone they know. I don't know many people in town... and maybe that is another problem.

It doesn't help that my family waits for me to call... they don't call me. My dad won't answer when I call and won't call me back. They don't visit me. My husband's entire family came for a 10 days. His parents and sister have been 6 times already.

I don't pray much anymore. Mostly because I am sleep deprived and spend 16 hours a day sleeping, eating or feeding a little baby. But even when I have the time, I find my prayer time bitter. Many of the things I have prayed for (Some of them since I was 10) have been answered with a "no". A few prayers have been answered with a "trade". It is as if God said, "I know you wanted "this", but I am going to give you something else. It is very similar and you will thank me in the long run."

I ask God, "Why me?" Pathetic really. I know that there is a purpose for all of this. I just feel like each of my problems, unanswered prayers, and my losses are like millstones around my neck. Each time I give them to God, I get another. It seems like I can't get away from them. Then after my prayers to resolve these "millstones" come back as a resounding "NO" I take all my millstones back and carry them around with me.

Some of my millstones are painted and carved with such anger at the negative response... I fear them. I fear what people would think if they saw them now. The stone itself is not harmful, but the hate that now covers them (through my bitterness) is crushing.

I am afraid that most of this rant will be considered post partum depression. But honestly, I have felt this way for some time... probably 2 years now. I can't help how I feel. I try to keep my outside looking normal/calm/cool/collected. But inside I am always a mess. Some days I feel rejected by God. Most days I feel rejected by my family. I always feel rejected by myself. I don't even want to be around me.

Childhood

"Childhood is something you spend the rest of your life to overcome" from the movie Hope Floats. Ok... it was swimming in country music, but it was an ok movie. This was one of the last lines in the movie. I am finding that it is so true! You spend your 20's trying to scrape yourself off of your family and become your own family. I am finally starting to see myself clearly without my millstone of a family around my neck.

EEEW!

Amie has a blocked tear duct and often has green goo coming from that eye. Upon noticing this, Abbie said, "Oh No! Poop in the eye!"

A story of Abbie and the illusive potty

Abbie is useing the potty every day... but only once a day before her bath. We will try to reinforce additional use of this illusive but important skill.

Can you tell?

Who is who... Can anyone tell which baby is which?

More 4th of July

We really did have a great time! My girls played with their boy cousins of the same age.... it is amazing how different boys and girls are!

Me...? A show off? .... Well maybe... (Sleepless midnight Ramblings)

Ok. Yes I am a show off! I spent this last week showing off my new daughter to my husband's entire family... minus a few cousins. I was also showing off how tall and how long Maggie's hair is and how well Abbie has done since we moved.

It has been quite a crazy week. It started off with his Maternal grandparents staying with us... two days later his parents and sister came... 3 days later... we packed up and drove 3 hours to show off to the paternal side of his family and spent 3 days there.

Finally, we are home! It is good to be home. I enjoyed my time with his family. They are neat people.

But, on my usual depressing note: I want to show off to my family! I want to say, "Here, I did this myself, without medical help, the way I wanted to!" This was the first time I really stood up for what I wanted. My family will not be visiting us because of financial reasons. Even though my family has plenty of money... they chose to spend it on an ugly divorce. Plus, my family hasn't really traveled in 16 years. I have already gone down to "the war zone" twice since moving up here. I am not interested in packing up 3 kids and driving 10 hours strait to see them. I don't want to see my mom, crying alone... I don't want to see my dad happy, free, healthy and thin with his girlfriend. But then again.. I don't want to see it like it was either... it has been ugly for a long time.

Anyone want to adopt a crunchy, wannabe homesteader?

Where can I go from here?

I haven't heard from my dad in almost 3 weeks. Is he not calling/answering to punish me for the week I didn't call/answer my phone? Is he afraid of what I will say about his new girlfriend?(Who is my age... and no the divorce isn't final yet) What ever it is, I don't know why I can't just live and let die. I have some strange attachment to these humans. I can't just stop cold turkey.