Vacation - Part 2

Papa had fun too! (Maggie and Abbie are inside)

I WANT NEW WINDOWS!

Not so dumb Blonde...........

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive
double-pane energy efficient kind. Well, today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.

Hellloooo, just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I'm automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told ME last year. Namely, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!...Hellloooo? It's been a year! ..(I told him!)

There was only silence at the other end of the line. So I finally just hung up.... He never called back. Guess I won that stupid argument And I bet he felt like an idiot.

Blasphemy

An interaction between my oldest and Jonah (The only boy of the Kerr children)

Maggie: Superman can't stand up.

Jonah: (Upon hearing this blasphemy) SUPERMAN CAN STAND!

Maggie: No, Superman can't stand. (Produces a Superman action figure, places him on his feet where he promptly falls flat on his face and tumbles off the table)

Jonah: (devastated at the humiliation) You can't talk to me!

Maggie: Uh, yeah I can...

Jonah: NO! You can't talk to me!

Maggie: OK?

Jonah: I'm gonna have a birthday! (And be older)

(Jonah then retrieves his fallen hero and places him high in the air above his head in a hallowed pose where he remained in flight for the rest of the evening.)

Vacation - Part 1

We went to Disneyland!

Amie went too!

Happy Birthday Amie! AKA: Ming Ming

We had dinner for the Kerr family and ourselves in honor of Ming mings birthday.

We ate Carbonara.



We opened presents.



AND we had chocolate cake!

I sure hope not!

Maggie (During dinner)-When I am sixteen, I will be nocturnal.

Can "they" make a patch for this?

So I quit my job... I love the job... just not the people. My Co-workers and the local officials I had to deal with... inflate their importance and hide the truth and that makes me NUTS! I don't have the emotional or mental fortitude to deal with them... Yet I am addicted to the kids I get to work with and the idea of making their world better... oh yeah, and the paycheck was nice.

T-Ball in Paradise

Maggie... seen here looking east with her pony tail swinging in the wind. Dyer mountain is the peak behind her.

Play Ball!

Happy Easter!

So I started a job...

I am so busy... I doubt I will blog much anymore...

Are they all yours?

With a new study out saying Vasectomy may cause dementia... this hat may be more popular than you think.

Clairvoyant

Maggie and I were watching "Wheel of Fortune" and she mentioned:

"I am going to win this game on the 14th level."

"I don't think they have a 14th level."

"I can see the future and I will win the 14th level in the future!"

Friends help with wisdom

An online friend shared this:

Once in a while the L-rd brings us to a place where we can learn his heart just a little better. Often the place he brings us to is a place of trial, so that we can really understand his heart. It is in the place of trial that he has our full attention, and our hearts are open to gaining understanding. David and I are in this place right now, and although it is hard, we are seeing the L-rds heart. He often deals with us around the biblical holidays, he usually shows us something that helps us relate to his relationship with Israel in those times. We left Kentucky 3 years ago during Passover, and David saw Kentucky as Egypt for us. So far this has indeed proven to be a fruitful place for us, as David's yearly income has tripled in those three years. The L-rd has provided me with a richness as well, in the animals and the skills he has provided me with.

Purim is the holiday that celebrates the deliverance of G-d's people as told through through the book of Esther. It is a celebration of how G-d delivered a people that had no where to go. During the sermon on Shabbat our Rabbi addressed deliverance in a way we can now relate to. He spoke about How the Israelites were in a narrow place. They had Pharaoh closing in fast on one side, and the Red sea on the other side. With the time of Esther, the people had an edict coming down on them, and they had no where to go from there. They were in a narrow place.

The thing that strikes me about these narrow places was that they came immediately after times of such great celebration. For the Hebrew slaves, they had just been released from their bondage, they left Egypt after all of the miracles G-d preformed on their behalf. The slaves left Egypt with all the gold they could carry, surely they were rejoicing. For Mordecai, he had just seen his own flesh and blood elevated to the throne, he also had just saved the king himself from a sure death. It was only a short time later that these people were in a place of sheer terror, plucked from the top of the mountain, and tossed into the fire. I had never stopped to consider how crushing it must be to come straight off of the high of G-d's promises, only to head into such a narrow, fearful, frightening, place.

Only a month ago, we were in a place of wonder. We had just been given a literal ton of food, we got our horse, David had been exceedingly blessed at work, and we entered into contract for our home. It did not take much time before our land lord told us we had one month to be out of here, and the next day the lender told us she was going to be unable to get the loan for the new home. Only three days before that she told us there would be no problems at all. It was on the same day we were to find out about getting a loan that the Wall Street Journal ran a huge story about sub prime loans, and all five lenders immediately backed out. In many ways we feel like the Pharaoh is behind us, with the Red sea fast approaching in front of us. We are in a narrow place. I have been frightened, and confused and even a little depressed. We also came right off the top of the mountain immediately into the fire, it was a long, long fall down. Much like the Hebrews leaving Egypt we had hope, we had a glimpse of G-d's vision for us and a home on enough land to have the ministry we have discussed for years, only to see all of that crumble down.

So here we are with only 10 days to finalize the details of this loan, or get out of the contract, and 25 days until we will have no place to live. Because we have such a large family, in addition to the animals, a rental will not be an easy thing to find. It is hard to shake the vision we had, it is hard to contemplate moving into a rental property and being a slave to a land lord again, after we had such a strong sense of the L-rd finally having freedom in store for us.

It is in this narrow place where we can only pray. We can only cry out to G-d for true deliverance, lasting deliverance. There is nothing else we can do. All of our best game plans have failed, all of our plotting and planning has come down to nothing. Apart from G-d we will be either destroyed by our enemy, or swallowed by the sea in front of us. It is a reminder of the total dependence we have on our G-d. It is also a chance for us to behold the miracles that our G-d has in store for those who will believe and trust. Not only for our sake, but to show the nations (those around us) how merciful and good the L-rd is to those who call on his name.

I do not yet know the way that G-d will pull us out of this narrow place, but I know that something is coming, and it will probably be quick and mighty. G-d's heart is to bring us to a place where all we can do is cry out to him, so that when deliverance comes, we have only him to give the glory to.

So how do you bandaid an imaginary friend?

Abbie: Sherman (her imaginary pet) is hurt.

Me: What happened to him?

Abbie: Sherman is falling down. He's crying.

Me: Go pick him up and make him feel better.

(Abbie runs off)

Abbie: Sherman is hurt.

Me: I'm sorry. Did you give him a kiss?

Abbie: Yes, he needs a bandaid.

Me: Imaginary pets do not get bandaids!

Abbie: Sherman does!

Me: (Inspecting imaginary worm) No Blood, No Bandaid! Sherman is fine.

Personality

So we took a personality test... no big suprizes

My husband is a INFJ and I am a ESFP

Chicken Farmer

Chicken Farmer

A city slicker moves to the country and decides he's going to take up farming. He heads to the
local co-op and tells the man, “Give me 100 baby chickens.”
The co-op man complies.

A week later the man returns and says, “Give me 200 baby chickens.”
The co-op man complies.

Again, a week later the man returns. This time he says, “Give me 500 baby chickens.”

“Wow!” the co-op man replies. “You must really be doing well!”

“Naw,” said the man with a sigh. “I'm either planting them too deep or too far apart.”

Do you have a home computer? Predictions from 1954:

To everyone who reads my blog

It doesn't matter whether you agree or disagree with me on my views of birth... but there is a new indie movie coming out that helps make my point:

Pregnant in America

"What smells like big business?"

To lighten the mood here

A cardiologist died and was given an elaborate funeral. A huge Heart covered
in flowers stood behind the casket during the service.

Following the eulogy, the heart opened, and the casket rolled inside.

The heart then closed, sealing the doctor in the beautiful heart forever.

At that point, one of the mourners burst into laughter. When all eyes stared
at him, he said, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking of my own
funeral.........I'm
a gynecologist."

The proctologist fainted

Each house has a smell

Every house I have been to has a distinct smell. While the people and their cooking may alter that smell, it still maintains it's own smell.

I am opening up bags of family heirloom linens... and trying to decide what to do with them. I have some with a "P" or Pitman on them... since I am now a Franklin... these might be good for my sister-in-law or my new sister-in-law to-be. The ones that were my Grandma Marcia's have been ziplocked with cedar since we lived in the condo... and even with the cedar... smell like that house. The linens of Gram Marge and her mother "Budder" smell like their house in Oak View.

When I opened the bag... yummy memories of that home come to my mind. I remember living in that house as a toddler. I remember the shag carpet, the piano and the tupperware drawer. I remember frying donuts with "Budder" and giving concerts to her on the piano while she slept. Then later I spent many weekends and vacations there. When my brother spent time in the hospital as a baby... I was there with my Grandmas. The day my horse fell and had to be put down, we went there. It was a safe place.

When the house was too much for Gram Marge to handle, I moved in with Maggie (2) and Abbie (10 days) The day we moved in, we also were given our cat, Jack. I spent almost 2 years in that house, cleaning it, replacing all the broken appliances, ripping out shag, hauling out 12.43 tons of things my Grandmas couldn't throw away (Working womans magazine 1980-1983 and more... you get the idea) I didn't plan on leaving. I wrote my kids measurements on the arch in the entry way. I had a huge garden and raised chickens from little chicks. I tried to grow grass in 100 degree weather and give the girls a place to play. It was a safe place for them.

We were called to Northern California by God. I had to leave a place that meant so much to me. We left it in the hands of some treasured friends. People we loved. A family who really needed a large home and some stability. They hadn't had a stable home due to the housing boom and wildly fluctuating costs in Ventura.

Less than a year after our friends moved in, my father asked them to leave. His mistress was in trouble (And living in my other grandmas home by the way) and he moved her in. He re-painted and re-carpeted the house for her. He permanently damaged the safe place. All my yummy memories with these smells are now ruined. I fall to my knees crying. I find my curtains from when I lived there as an infant and become hysterical.

I live in a parsonage which will never be mine. I can fix and paint all I want... but it will always be owned by the church.

With the separation and upcoming divorce, my parents home hurts me to visit. And now both of my grandparents houses are tainted. I will probably never enter them. Our of respect of my brother (Who lives in "other grandmas home") I will be cautious and go if he needs me. But I will never set foot in the home I loved so much, No matter what my father does.

I currently cannot talk to my father. I cannot handle what he has done to this family. I cannot maintain my sanity when he talks about his mistress and "their home", how pretty she thinks my kids are, or how happy he is.

He has ruined all of us permanently.

Paula's Home Cookin'

I love watching Paula on Food network. Today she made BLT soup. After cooking the 1/2 lb of chopped bacon she doesn't drain it... but adds half a stick of butter. Then after assembly of the other ingredients... she adds CREAM! Then she makes the statement, "You will be surprised how good this tastes" UH NO! I am sure anything with that much bacon, butter and cream will taste great!

Then she starts off making the dessert and says, "This dessert is almost dietetic... I am only using one stick of butter!"

HA!

Gates vs. GM

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.

At a recent computer expo (CO MDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,

"If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating:

If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........
Twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.


7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

So how will you die?

Go here first... then comment your answer!

How will you die?

Oh my!

My husband is currently arguing with mormon missionaries! Why would mormon missionaries come to a parsonage? (Pastor's house on church property) Fascinating... Mormons talking about contradictions in scripture...

Where's Baby?

Huh?

Abbie is very interested in the sun's rising. Especially since she can't get up until it does. So this morning she kept saying, "The sun is coming up" over and over. Finally I repeated, "Yes, the sun is coming up" and she replied, "It's coming out of the egg."

(Doesn't it make your eyebrows hurt?)

full moon + snow = erie colors

I love when a full moon is casting shadows on snow. All the colors are black and periwinkle. I bet it would be great inspiration for a quilt!

Lost in Translation part 2

Jason: So you speak from experience?

Maggie: No. (long pause) I speak English!

I love Mr. Rogers!

Do you remember this song?

It's you I like,
It's not the things you wear.
It's not the way you do your hair,
But it's you I like.
The way you are right now
The way down deep inside you
Not the things that hide you
Not your diplomas...
They're just beside you.
But it's you I like,
Every part of you,
Your skin, your eyes, your feelings,
Whether old or new.
I hope that you'll remember
Even when you're feeling blue,
That it's you I like,
It's you yourself, it's you
It's you I like!
Mr Rogers

You have got to be kidding!

"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."
--Department of Social Services

I've been tagged!

I have been tagged by Becky...

A- Available or married? Married

B- Best Friend? Jason Franklin

C- Cake or Pie? mmm CAKE!

D- Drink of Choice? COFFEE!

E- Essential Item? Shoes

F- Favorite Color? Black

G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Worms

H- Hometown? Ventura, CA

I- Indulgence? Long Bath!

J- January or February? February

K- Kids & names? Maggie, Abbie and Amie

L- Life is incomplete without? Love

M- Marriage Date? December 1999

N- Number of Siblings? 3 brothers and 1 sister

O- Oranges or apples? Oranges

P- Phobias/Fears? House fires, while the kids are asleep upstairs (Ditto, Becky)

Q- Favorite Quote? When in disgrace with fortune and mans eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state.
And trouble deaf heaven with bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate.
~Shakespere

R- Reason to Smile? Happy girls

S- Season? Spring

T- Tag three people! Jason, Jake and his new woman... Katie.

U- Unknown fact about me: I get cravings for chewing on plastic.

V- Vegetable you hate? Okra

W- Worst habit? Scratching till I break skin

Y- Your favorite food? Cheese Enchiladas

Z- Zodiac? Aquarius

Lost in Translation

Abbie was eating her pancakes when...

Me: Are those yum?

Abbie: No, they're pancakes!

Happy New Year!

I would like to try resolutions for once... but most of the things we could "resolve" to do less of... are disapearing anyway.

1.I don't want any junk food for all of January; Due to finances, all non-essential food items will not be purchased.

2.I want my kids to watch less TV; Due to finances, Cable will be discontinued until further notice. (I am canceling this friday, I must give 30 days notice... SO YES VIRGINIA there will be a SUPERBOWL!

UG SNOW!

Yesterday, it was raining. So I decided to go to Walmart. While going over the pass, 2 OLDER cars... one was probably a dodge reliant... were stuck in the snow at the top. The other side of the pass was dry and clear. After shopping, I noticed it was raining and figured CalTrans would be stopping people at the pass. When I got to the pass, it was still raining and no snow. But they told me to get my chains out. I explained that I had studded snow tires. But they insisted. I called my husband and asked for tips on our cables. (No, I have never used cables... and I haven't used chains in FOREVER!) As I was pouting about putting on chains and looking at the 2 inches of standing water by the side of the road... an 18 wheeler came down from the pass with no chains on... I went and asked one of the Cal Trans workers on break, "Why would a big truck like that come over without chains?" He said they might not be stopping people on the other side. I asked if highway patrol was on the hill and he replied, "No...." So I threw the cables in the back and went on my merry way. I figured if an 18 wheeler could make it down... I SURELY COULD!

Yeah, yeah... I am a crazy moron for trying such a "stunt". And it was quite yucky at the top. Everyone was taking it slow and it was not that bad. And the dodge reliant was still there.

But earlier in the day, The Kerr family's van was stuck on the same pass and a tow truck removed it promptly. I bet that dodge reliant is still there!

Merry Christmas!

We are having a wonderful Christmas morning... It started at 4 am with our children singing Christmas tunes. UG. We finally got up at 5! It is 6:41 and we have opened all our presents and look what Santa brought!

Computer games

Maggie was playing a computer game... and NOT winning.

Maggie screams, "I'm being manicured!"

I need a vacation!

nevermind

Introducing the class of 2019

Maggie's kindergarten Christmas

Video coming soon!

I hate the hollidays!

Sanity dwindleing...

...where is a good mental health professional when you need them?

I hate the "busy busy"!

I hate the forgetfulness of others.

I hate the fact that no one washes their hands after going to the bathroom during the flu season! I DON'T CARE IF THE WATER IS COLD!

I did better than I thought!

You paid attention during 86% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "CHRISTMAS IS CANCELED"?

Christmas terminology

While driving home from the Greenville church, we saw beautiful christmas lights.

Abbie: Look, SPRINKLES!

That's Weird!

Alex and Kristen Skillen are here to play today. Alex and Kristen are the youngest of 4 boys and Kristen is the only girl.

I mentioned that Abbie was upstairs and Kristen asked, "Who?"

"My other daughter" I responded.

Blank look on her face.

"I have 3 girls"

No responce.

"There are three girl children living here."

She turned and walked away... I overheard:

"That's Weird!"

Something I love...

I love my husband's footprint. His toes make the perfect prints! It is just something I find cute!

Kind snow.

I figured it would be really hard driving to Susanville on the road where my aunt died. But all the beautiful colors of fall (which were present on that hard day) are now hidden from me. The entire landscape is colorless. The sides of the road are covered with huge waves of snow from the plow. I can't even see where we pulled over to find her gone.

While I don't really like the cold wet snow... I am finding it's white blanket very merciful.

Back in westwood

UG SNOW! So I am away from home for a week and a half and the house is a mess, the kids are still sick and now I am sick and not in the mood for this mess or SNOW! I am trying to listen to Christmas music to lighten my mood... good luck with that!

Location: Ventura

Most of the people who read my blog... know that I am in my home town right now mourning the loss of my aunt.

She was not an aunt by blood but by choice. She drove my grandma to the hospital when my mom was born... and has followed my mom ever since.

On the 21st of October, my mom, aunt (Titi) and my 9 year old brother and sister, came to Westwood to meet my new baby. On tuesday the 24th, we were driving to Susanville and going over a pass when my aunt said she felt dizzy. Since she has spent the last 55 years at sea level... I didn't think much of it and told her we would be going down soon. She passed out.

I pull over as soon as possible... but she was gone. We drove as quickly as we could to the hospital but her pupils were fixed and dialated. No electrical heart activity. She left us.

What a way to go! She was surrounded by the kids she loved (Brenna, Isaac, Abbie and Amie) and was in no fear. Many times we are reminded how terrible we would feel if we had to break into her apartment where she lived alone and worry if she was scared or felt pain. But she passed out, never knew what was happening, never knew the inside of the ER or a nursing home.

We had a memorial service for her. Many people stood up and told their stories about how they knew her. There were probably 70 people there.

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Warning! Warning! My robot is flailing wildly!

Warning: The next person to tell me, "This too shall pass," will die a slow and painful death.
Thank you and have a great day

Where babies USED to come from... by Maggie

Maggie is watching Dumbo.

"Mama, when was Dumbo made?"

"I don't know baby... before I was born."

"It was made back when people thought babies came in bags."

Ego boost

Maggie and I were driving along listening to the local christian radio station, when a song that Jason sings came on.

Maggie asked, "Did you turn papa's cd on?"

"No honey, it is a different guy on the radio who wrote the song."

"He is better" Maggie replied.

"Who is better?" I asked.

"Papa!" She announced.

"I agree baby"

Just mean

Every channel on TV has a movie about a dog this morning! Old yeller, turner and hooch, dog whisperer... you name it. Maybe I don't need to be watchin tv this AM.

Too Sad

Lola was hit (AGAIN) by a truck and killed right in front of me. It was VERY traumatic! She died quickly though. That was a blessing. I wouldn't have survived if she had to suffer.

Amie and Jason at 4 months.


Could these two be any more related?

What are dreams made of?

Since my brain takes a full 6 months to process something into a dream... Amie hasn't yet entered my dream life. But last night Amie was trying to nurse while I slept and because I wasn't quite cooperating... she scratched me up! So in my dream I was trying to nurse a MACAW!

Nothing falling from the sky!

Maggie normally panics over EVERYTHING! But today she lost tooth #2 and when it fell from her mouth... she never saw it again... apparently the tooth fairy has a "tooth magnet" that will go to the school and find it!

E I E I OOOOOH!

Abbie has started singing at the top of her lungs this week. She also sings while she splashes in the bath. Maggie (Who is also in the bath) is screaming, "Abbie, I'm not in the mood!" and Abbie replies, "Maggie, na na na nude!"

Amie has a new seat. I gave in and purchased it when Amie decided that she wanted to sit up at least 6 hours a day. My arms were getting tired! Now she can sit in front of me when I type, sew, cook and wash dishes!

In loving memory

We have had the same 10 fish for the last 2 years. When we moved last year, we placed 2 plecostomus and 8 neon tetras in large jars and moved 622 miles north. The next day, we found our fish tank broken. So DAYS later I went to walmart and purchased a replacement... it had missing pieces! So I mixed and matched the pieces together and gave our fish their new home.

Just yesterday... one of our plecostomus fish finally gave in after a long illness. He is survived by his friends plecostomus and tetras 1 through 8.

Lost in translation

Abbie keeps telling me that Jason is over at the church. When I say, "No baby. Papa is in Africa." She reminds me, "Papa, a na CHURCH" She says CHURCH nice and slow so I can catch on!

Trying to get the kids to pose!

PLEASE SMILE! LOOK AT THE CAMERA!

Maggie... warning! it's long!

Abbie is quite the singer

Amie's second try

Amie's first movie

Still no news

I haven't heard from Jason yet. He landed 13 hours ago in Uganda. I know his plane landed safely 45 mins late... but that is about it. It is 9 pm his time and I doubt I will hear from him today. Tomorrow he starts his travels around the country and will have no chance to communicate. I guess I am just lonely. Grammarge comes in 2 days... so we will have someone to talk to.

SHE IS 3 MONTHS OLD!

Wow! Time sure flies! She is such a wonderful baby!

What a day!

Maggie lost her first tooth! She is HYSTERICAL! And... so am I. She lost it at school. She walked to the nurses office (BY HER SELF!) and recieved a tooth shaped box to keep her tooth in.

I was down in Chico with Becky and Heather

We had TONS OF FUN! And went to many of the craft stores in town.

My mom and my littlest brother and sister got a dog today and are loveing "louie" !

Anyways... tired... can't think or spell... must sleep to live!

How do people do this?

I am doing my best to be edifying and not cuss like a sailor!

But how in the *&#$ do uneducated people manage to cut through all the red tape!

We are on food stamps and Medi-Cal... when Amie was born I called and asked what I needed to give them. MY NEW case worker told me I needed to get a birth certificate. So I gave her a birth certificate. I new I needed a SS# and went to the SS Office. They said I needed a birth certificate and another form of identification. But because she was born at home... we had nothing. So I needed a medi-cal #. I called my case worker. SHE NEVER ANSWERS THE PHONE! But 4 days later I get a medi-cal card in the mail. Then my husband gets laid off. She asks for proof of unemployment amount. I sent it to her. Then I get a letter in the mail stating I need to give her proof of termination (Doesn't unemployment count?!?) and 1 months worth of paycheck stubs. After doing all of this I thought I was in the clear. Then I get a letter saying that my food stamps are being canceled at the end of the month! UG! So I read that unemployment is paying us $1800 a month and it is $200 more than the allowed income for 4 people... Well we have 5... clearly she didn't add Amie. So I call... NO ANSWER and leave 3 messages over 2 days. I get a letter in the mail saying she needs a SS#. So I call up the SS office and ask when Amie's card is coming. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN PROCESSED THE APPLICATION! So last week I was told my application would be processed and I would have a SS Card within 7 - 10 business days. But in that time... my food stamps will be canceled! So I called my caseworker and LEFT ANOTHER MESSAGE! I kindly asked for help. I have no idea what to do. That was friday... On Monday night I got an EMAIL from the SS office saying they have lost my application... and could I come back to fill out another one?!?!

DID I MENTION THAT ALL THESE OFFICES ARE 30 MILES AWAY?!?!?!

So I called my caseworker again today (Tuesday) to ask for help and still have no responce.

I am a well educated woman with a car that works and a husband at home who can watch the kids while I deal with this. How do others who are less fortunate DO THIS?!?!

I hate to send dumb jokes through email... so I will post it on my blog!

The Pentagon announced today the formation of a new 500-man elite fighting unit called The United States Redneck Special Forces.
These Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas boys will be dropped off into Iraq and have been given only the following facts about terrorists:

1) The "season" opened today.

2) There is no limit.

3) They taste just like chicken.

4) They don't like beer, pickups, country music, or Jesus.

5) They are DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the death of Dale Earnhardt.

6) Their favorite movie is BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.

We expect the problem in Iraq to be over by next Friday.

oh them....

About those voices in your head... don't answer them! That is what they want!

Doggie cup?

This evening at the table, Abbie grabs her sippy cup and says, "My bottle."

I answered, "You mean, SIPPY CUP"

She replied, "My sicky pup"

First day of school

Mama: How was your day?

Maggie : Not so fun.

Mama: Oh dear! How come?

Maggie: No one will let me have any fun!

Mama: Do you like your teachers?

Maggie: Well, they are the trouble! Their rules won't let me have any fun!

Going Faster

Time seems to be flying. My girls are going back to school...

Where did our summer go?

My Beeeee-u-tiful girls

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER!

We just took this picture today....

We wanted to take the picture with the girls matching before Amie grows out of her 2006 4th of july outfit.... I doubt I can use this as a "hand-me-down"

Quite a start

Maggie has taken 96 photos for her first lesson on photography... here are some samples:

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.