Simple Woman #25

Simple Woman

FOR TODAY July 6, 2009

Outside My Window... clouds, wind, showers expected.

I am thinking... I really love our church - our church family. We had "Campfire Church" last night, out on the Gibson Family's farm. Had a campfire on top of the hill, roasted wienies, potluck (more than plenty), and set up lawn chairs for singing and the message. The kids all got along (and didn't burn anything but a few marshmallows), and everybody kind of looks out for everybody. I love this.

For instance, one of the younger mom's husband is a fire-fighter, and gone (on duty) for a few days, but she came with her 3 kids, ages four and under. As soon as they spotted her coming up the hill, folks headed down to meet her, carry the baby, carry her stuff, etc.

I mean, I know things like that should be common courtesy, but you don't always see it. And it was just so natural.

I am thankful for... family, friends, things to look forward to.

I am praying for… blog-world friends, with the Air Force, who are being stationed in Japan. Five of their nine children are going with (four are older), and on Sunday morning as they were set to fly out of Sea-Tac, their van (with luggage, papers, passports etc) was stolen. They're updating at Choosing Joy.

From the learning rooms... all is quiet. The boys are at my parents' for the day.

From the kitchen... hmmm, dinner plans. Probably chicken and corn on the cob.

I am wearing... jeans, t-shirt and sweater

I am creating... zippity do dah.

I am going... we are scheduled to go camping later this week. Hoping the weather improves.

I am reading... Just picked up 18 books at the library. (We take a laundry basket.) Which one first...

I am hoping... for dry weather when we camp!

I am hearing... leaves rustling in the wind, but the house is amazingly quiet.

Around the house... I really must put our b'day presents away. I'd kind of forgotten that some of them were still out, "displayed". Other than that bit of clutter, it's funny how the house stays a lot cleaner when we're all outside, though the weather may change that.

One of my favorite things... order.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: preparing and packing for the camp-out, going camping, and then Relay for Life (ACS Fundraiser) on Fri/Sat.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The delights of an old home...
captured by Gunnar

Really, really good news

I mentioned our friends in Zambia a few days ago. The daughter who was sick - Bradyn - seems to be doing much better. Thanks again, to my friends who prayed for her.

And we have more good news from them... they have been going through the process to adopt a child from Zambia, and yesterday they got to bring her home! The adoption isn't officially complete until after a 3-month "foster" period, but for all intents and purposes, she is now their child.

You can read all about it at Alive In Africa. We are rejoicing with our friends!

Freedom

Happy Independence Day!

Remember, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy this "repost" from Pyromaniac Dan Phillips about real freedom.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

The funny thing about blogging is that sometimes the best days seem really boring to write about. Haven't posted much this week... and it's all been good :0) This week has been sunny, about 75-80F, and breezy. Which, from my perspective, is just about perfect! With many of the boys' friends gone on vacation this week, (all at the same time! what's up with that?!), we've been getting a lot done around the house.

We putter away at science projects, (our beans are sprouting and our yeast is inflating a balloon), knock off a few math review lessons, and we've been reading about the Protestant Rebellions in Holland and Scotland. I know, it's summer (!) but for heaven's sake, I don't force them to learn something every day, and it's only for about an hour!

Then they've been doing some jobs... for which they get paid. Ordinary chores are not pay-worthy. We all work because we live here. But sometimes there are extra chores... like digging up stumps, moving and spreading piles of dirt, and things like that.

And, of course, summer has its own rewards... like setting up the swimming pool.

Yes, it may be a dorky little "bubble pool" (that's my name for it), but for the boys... it's hours and hours of splashing, soaking, swirling, screaming fun. Of course, Tate can't wear his HA in the pool, so not only are they just loud because they're boys... they're even louder. They make whirlpools and then float on the current, they play some sort of tag game with the Toypedo, they invent all kinds of things. It's grand. And because it is just a dorky little bubble pool, I don't have to hover right next to them every moment.

Fun for them, and bliss for me :0)

Gunnar and his ducky

Run in circles! Make a vortex!

Wyatt, taking his sweet time actually getting wet.

Tate doesn't hesitate at all

Gunnar, stalking his brothers, like a shark

My handsome guys...

... just have to be silly!

HA HA HA

Changing A Light Bulb. The Christian Way

How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

Charismatic : Only 1
Hands are already in the air.

Pentecostal : 10
One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians : None
Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None
Candles only.

Baptists : At least 15.
One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.

Episcopalians: 3
One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.

Mormons : 5
One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Unitarians :
We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists : Undetermined
Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass..

Nazarene : 6
One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

Lutherans : None
Lutherans don't believe in change..

Amish :
What's a light bulb?

Simple Woman #24

Simple Woman

FOR TODAY June 29, 2009

Outside My Window... laundry flapping on the line, boys playing in the yard, and robins hunting bugs and worms for their babies.

I am thinking... that last week was just crazy. I forgot to post on Monday - no big deal - because we had appointments and meetings and check-ups and parties all week long.

I am thankful for... a more relaxed schedule this week!

I am praying for… the boys' attitudes, especially Wyatt's. It stinks. That boy needs to have an outlet for his boundless energy - like running about 20 miles a day, or something. Though I know nothing about it, there are times I wished we lived on a farm - somewhere there was meaningful physical work to give the boys.

From the learning rooms... we're picking away at a few things. I told Wyatt and Tate that if they will do just a couple of math lessons a week during the summer, then they will be able to have a four-day school week pretty much all year. We're also doing science experiments and writing them up with sketches.

From the kitchen... Must. Throw. Something. In. Crock-pot.

I am wearing... crop jeans, t-shirt, purple hoody. Cool today.

I am creating... feeling very flat in this department. Maybe when I get my office picked up I'll have the mental space to want to work on something.

I am going... as few places as possible this week!

I am reading... the boys and I finally finished the Joe Moser book. While they were fascinated by his experiences and enjoyed reading through the book, it was written for adults and assumed a certain amount of background knowledge that the boys didn't have, so I had to do a lot of explaining and "connecting the dots", so to speak.

I'm reading "The Light and the Glory", and our next read-aloud is ??????

I am hoping... to feel better. I've had some unexplained dizziness lately. Talking with the doc about it. Only possible conclusion so far is Stay Hydrated. Okay.

I am hearing... a few birds. Silence from the boys. I think they're playing with Legos.

Around the house... I've moved the furniture again - something I enjoy :0) The boys have tidied their bedroom, and I have summer sheets on our bed with big tropical yellow, green and turquoise flowers.

One of my favorite things... the brief feeling of satisfaction when the kids are behaving, the house is in order and nothing is hanging over my head. But it never lasts.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Looking forward to the 4th of July. We're invited to my parents' to hang out and BBQ. They live way up on a hill with a glorious view for miles and miles. We sit on their deck and watch everyone else's fireworks, far away from most of the hubbub.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



I'm so glad Kerry snapped this picture because I forgot to save the "wrapping paper" - blue prints that the boys accessorized with personal messages. They read as follows:

Wyatt
To: Mom
From: your lovable, adorable, handsom, strong, helpful, smart and totally awesome son: Wyatt

Tate
No pecy pecy!!! (No peeky peeky.)
Tope Secret!!!!
and that means you can't loke inside!!!!!
from milita (militia) mastermind Tate

Gunnar
To MOM
From your loveing compassionate son Gunnar

The Netherlands Are Not Frightening. Really.

Note: If you're one of my few male readers... well... I won't be horrified if you see this or I wouldn't post it, but read at your own risk.

Plus, Ambulance Mommy, if you're reading, I'm remembering a funny story you told back in March...


Someone should tell doctors to be careful what they say…

So, last week I went in for my not-so-annual check-up. My doctor is a man, and I’m fine with that. He’s been my doctor since I was 10 or 12, so we’ve had a long run together. He’s great with the boys. And I’ve always liked his nurses, too.

Anyway. We came to That Part of the exam. To distract myself from the basically unpleasant nature of someone probing my personal “Netherlands”, I started telling the doctor and the nurse the story about Gunnar walking in his sleep.

Meanwhile, apparently I have a tilted uterus. No big deal to me, but the doc is having some difficulty locating my cervix. This has all happened before. I know I have one. Children have passed through it. But, seemingly, it is nowhere to be found. Gone to Texas.

So I’m telling my story, the nurse is listening and nodding with interest and concern, the doc is still dithering around and giving distracted “uh-huh”s, and as I get to the part of the story where Gunnar left the house the doc blurts out, “Well that’s just frightening!”

I froze.

Please. Just tell me you’re referring to the story. That’s all I ask.

When 8 Year Olds Get Mad

Gunnar was really, really mad at Wyatt because of something he'd done to Tate.

Summoning up all the fury an 8 year old who doesn't know any curse words can command, he turned to me, with his fists and jaw clenched and said:

"Mom! Next time that boy gets sick, don't give him any medicine!"

Brady the Brave

An update from our friends in Africa...

Bradyn seems to be responding to the antibiotics, and no further word about needing to med-evac her, so that is all good.

She is still miserable as well as sick and tired of "pokeys". She may get to go home, but would need to return 2x daily for IV antibiotics, or 1x daily for a "pokey" in the bum.

No fun for anyone, especially a 7 year old!

And now the little sister is coughing...

Thanks for caring and praying for my friends :0)

Julie


UPDATE - Saturday evening
Bradyn is home but going 2x daily to the hospital for antibiotics for one more day, then orally at home. They'll x-ray her later in the week to make sure she is clear.

God is mighty.

Thanks for praying for our friends :0)