Do you see what I see??

So we went to Winter Park a few weeks ago and I looked out the window as we were driving down this mountain road and this is what I saw... Pretty cool huh? So tell me I am not crazy and that this tree has a face?

Change...I'll have mine in small unmarked bills.

Ok, so I have tried to keep my mouth shut on politics for a while. However, I now see that we are a society of sheep and I cannot keep quiet. We do not honor our eternal gift of AGENCY. We want it easier. We want someone else to choose for us. We want to be taken care of instead of taking pride in taking care of ourselves. Whatever happened to "ask not what your country can do for you???" It isn't just the president( I wasn't thrilled about either candidate- we need Margaret Thatcher), but the congress & soon the court will be moving further towards a plan we once all rejected. Oh well...all I can do is teach my children correct principles and let them govern themselves.
Well what is done is done. Thankfully my hope is in no mere mortal man. And I do at least have some modicum of happiness to see that in all likelihood Prop. 8 in California looks to pass. PLEASE don't get me wrong- homosexuals are not bad people BUT marriage is NOT a right. If it were then at puberty, or birth even, we'd get a card with our chosen spouse on it. There ya go SS card and spouse card. Way easier than dating and such, right? Then everyone would have a spouse. Nowhere are we promised happiness- remember it says "pursuit of happiness" NOT "guaranteed happiness".
I just keep thinking about how the Plan of Salvation is also called the Plan of HAPPINESS. (I guess the other plan was the plan of MISERY.) That happiness would not come without struggle- even the author and finisher knew that. He lived that. He experienced the awful bitterness that can accompany a plan where agency is the linchpin. HOWEVER He still went through with it.
I guess that is what I need to focus on is that the ATONEMENT still applies to our frustration and fear. With that we can focus and move on, RIGHT?

Some thoughts

So we are still unpacking. Nine years of marriage, 4 kids & stuff oh my. I am sure that the garbage men HATE me but oh well. Every Tuesday I madly go through the house and try to get as many boxes emptied as possible. Luckily Ryan will be home for the entire week- YAY!- and he has been a great help unpacking. He unpacked all the food storage, unloaded a bunch of boxes from the garage & wait for it...he even made enough room for my van to fit in the said garage. Just in time for the first snow! What an awesome husband!

On that subject-awesome husband- i must give props to my spouse. Ryan is awesome! He has continually been there for me and I am so unbelievably grateful to have him in my life. He is so great...I am at a complete loss of words but trust me he's awesome!

Next...I am so grateful to have so many awesome women in my life. I am so grateful for their influence in my life. I am so grateful for their confidence. No matter what shape or size, what educatiional background or marital status these women astound me. They are strong and know how to focus on what is important. Not what the world thinks is important but what is truly important. You know what I mean??? Like they are focused on being "healthy" NOT "skinny". They are focused on "learning" not on being "learned". They are focused on being happy where they are and not waiting for something to make them happy. Sure there are days when they want to be "skinny" or really smart or wish that just one thing would go well BUT they endure with GRACE. Unfortunately I don't always deal with things as gracefully as I'd like but I try. I encourage all of us to do the same. Making everyone as miserable as we are isn't they key. It is rising above and sometimes "fake it til ya make it"

Anyway that's enough for now I guess. I will get some pics up of the house soon, I hope. Thanks for your patience & love.

At then end of my rope & there's a noose

So did you ever think about the "end of a rope"? So since I have been sick for nearly 4 weeks I have thought about it alot. There are times when I am just done...You know when you have changed 10 diapers in 2 1/2 hours and feel like that will never end. Or when you have a to do list a mile long and you know you won't get even a third of it done. Or when you are sick and have NO help.

Well even during this I have experienced some "tender mercies". The best example is when I was coming down with this lovely bout of bronchitis and I just couldn't function. James and Will went to bed before 8pm and now that Christi and Michael have their own rooms they were in bed and I was able to go to bed at 8pm. MIRACLE!

Although I feel DONE from time to time I do get a respite and then realize that I am so blessed- even when stressed.

Growing...UP!

Ryan took this picture during a recent family fair that the church sponsors for the community. Michael is quite the little monkey. It makes it even funnier that he is so monkey-like since James called him Monkey when he first started saying Michael.
I can hardly believe how big he is! In just a few months Michael will be 8- how did that happen?

It seems like a dream. How did he grow so fast? Michael is so smart, loving & conscientious. The kid knows something about EVERYTHING and he wants everyone to know what he knows. He reads like crazy & is going to break the bank with the number of books he wants. He loves his siblings and parents and plays so well with James & even Christi.
But best of all is his ability to do what is right when it really counts! What an awesome kid! I hope that we can always appreciate and love each other even when we drive each other NUTS.

My Hero...Michael

So in case you didn't know I have been diagnosed with a hip condition (sacro-illiac joint dysfunction) and more recently the family plague of MIGRAINES. Dealing with both of these is no walk in the park but now the migraines are the icing on the cake. They aren't occurring everyday but just enough for me to remember that in no way can I EVER have another baby. ( I was recently told that having babies was like eating chocolates. You either stop, while always wanting one more OR you keep going until you make yourself sick.)
So today I woke up with a migraine. It was AWFUL. I wasn't even sure if I could get Michael to school. Luckily/unfortunately Michael has learned that his mom is a boob and gets debilitated from time to time and he just steps up and gets the job done. Michael fetched my medicine, got James out of bed, helped with breakfast, kept everyone calm and just didn't even complain in the least. MY HERO! What a great boy he is. Poor thing has been taking care of me since he was 2 1/2. But he is such a wonderful helper I could have never made it without his help this morning.

One last thing...after I dropped Michael off at school I noticed that the missionaries were at the church. I knew I needed a blessing if I was going to be able to take care of the remaining three kids by myself all day long. Luckily I was able to get the blessing I needed and boy did it help. No the pain didn't miraculously subside but the comfort was great. I will never cease to be amazed at how the Lord speaks through these men who know little if anything of my thoughts and concerns & gives me peace. I am a VERY lucky woman for many reasons but right now because I have many avenues to persue for help in every aspect of my life. How liberating!

Awesome friends

So I have some of the best friends in the world.

First, Ryan, what an awesome guy! He puts up with me so well and works so hard to keep me sane. He is gone this entire week but he helped so much before he left- Painted, assembled furniture, cleaned bathroom, took the kids, dishes & on & on. Because of him we may actually get unpacked before Thanksgiving- I hope?

Then my sister! What a babe! She was my escort to Home depot with the galloping hoard. She and her roommate helped start the painting process- amazing! And when I started to lose my mind AGAIN she rescued me and got me sane again. Thanks Jeane!

And not to be outdone my friends of no relation- at least not yet ;) Julie, Aimee, Riley & Marsha. Ladies of the highest caliber! WOW! Thanks to these hot mamas my livingroom is just the right shade of green, and thanks to Julie we didn't have to buy a new disposal- THANKS a TON Julie! We celebrated my B-day just a little late but that's OK. (Riley brought yummy lettuce wraps, marsha had just the right amount of chocolate covered strawberries & Aimee brough this awesome german chocolate cake YUM!)I just wanted to get this done for my B-day. I think that it should be our new tradition. Let's just finish something BIG that we may never get to on our own. Sounds like a plan to me.

There were also other friends that I know wanted to be there but couldn't. Thanks for the good vibes you sent my way. Seriously I feel as though this home was meant to be ours and I am becoming a firm believer in there not being "accidents". Sure it stinks that it took so long but we're here now. Who knows why but it all worked out in the end and that's all that really matters!

Hopefully I'll locate a camera soon and post some pics of the livingroom at least. It's 95.5% done. Just need a nice chair to sit by the fire and read to the kids during the next blizard. Maybe in a year or so- we'll see. And some Pictures on the wall and one over the fireplace...Besides that it's great!

The kitchen is just about there too. Hopefully by this weekend the downstairs will be done! Clean and put together. Books on shelves, furniture assembled, dishes in china cabinet, walls painted, pictures hung or ordered at least, clocks & mirrors up & best of all NO MORE BOXES! YAY!

Well just 4 more days until Ryan gets home. Wish us luck.

Finally

Well we're finally in the house! Almost a week later it still seems like a dream. I will post more later but just thought that you'd all like to know. I might even get some pictures up too.
Thanks for the prayers!

Could it be?

Ok we've all heard this before, "we're moving". But is this really happening? Back on Feb 18th we put a bid on a house that I just LOVED. Little did I know that it would be 6 1/2 months later before we would be able to move in- I hope, cross your fingers, keep your eyes partially closed as we wait.

Of course Ryan would be out of town when it all goes down BUT so what! We will have a house. We will be able to unload tons of boxes and see the Christmas presents from LAST year (Kitchenaid here I come). I will actually be able to have a place to hang a new wardrobe when I can afford it. (Desperately needed since I am down to 145lbs- first time since before MICHAEL!) I will have room to have friends over and family dinners at my house.

My numero uno goal- a place for everything & everything in it's place! Wish us luck! We need it. We are so excited but soooo cautious. We just can't take to many more highs and lows. As soon as we move and get internet up I will post pics. We will be doing some redecorating and remodeling over the next few months but that's the fun of having your own place, right?
So pray that the move goes smoothly, that Ryan will be able to get out of Florida and South Carolina before the next hurricane & pray that Will gets back to normal- he has low grade pneumonia (more on that later).

So I guess that is it. We are so glad that you have been there for us through this roller coaster that we affectionately call life :)

NICE PIC

So Ryan took the picture above and I love it. He does GREAT work when he has the time. I love that he can find this beauty all around and bring the pictures home to share.

Kids & brain damage

Have you ever seen the Bill Cosby sketch on kids and brain damage...It is SO applicable! How can these brilliant people do such dumb stuff! I swear their insanity is contributing to the brain damage that I am experiencing,

You know those laws that say you can drop off your baby at a firehouse or an ER rather than harm your baby? Do you think that they still apply to my kids? the baby is NOT the problem. Just try taking a two year old through the grocery store. Just try to hold a conversation with someone with a verbal 4 3/4 year old. Just try to have a 7 1/2 year old NOT TOUCH his sister while driving anywhere....So can I leave them at the firehouse?

I am close. If I do it I'll let you know how it goes. I think that sanity is highly over rated, can't you tell ; )

29..what?

So only 50 years to go before I think my life will finally calm down...Wish me luck.

TORNADO

So what do you do to relax on a Sunday evening? This is what we did....

Fancy Nancy

Ok so if you have little girls this is the book series you HAVE to get! Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor. This lady is a genious and has been able to capture the inner diva of the preschool aged little girl.

When I saw these books about 2 years ago I knew Christi would love them...I was right. We have all but one of the books. Target even carries a Fancy Nancy dress up line. I have a friend whose niece had a fancy nancy birthday party too.

I am telling you you have to get these books- or at least put them on hold at the library because they are ususally cheked out.

No new address...yet

Ok so we have a verbal approval for this home purchase but now we need the written letter. How long does it take for some pencil pusher to write a stupid letter?

I wanna house for my birthday. This YEAR!

Please? I am so sick of living out of boxes. :( I just want to be settled and unpacked- before Thanksgiving?

I am holding out because the house is PERFECT for us but I need it soon.

Oh a lighter note....I'd like to offer hope to all those of you have had kids and never lost that baby weight...I am now only 10lbs away from being pre-Michael weight again. Thanks to my friend Kris' diet (she's prego with twins now) & tons of stress I have lost a TON of weight & now have to go through the wardrobe and make sure it all fits. I never thought that I'd lose it- the weight that is. But here we are. Maybe my life expectancy will go up and my cholesterol will go down?

Interesting Picture

I'd like to apologize to all my Catholic friends and ancestors for this but when you are pregnant, need a halloween costume and the nun fits and is on clearance doesn't it just say "buy me"?

I just found the picture and I thought that you'd all get a kick out of it- or not.

NOT moving to Chicago!

So we got the news......we get to stay here!
YAY!

I am sooooo excited. We will be moving again at the end of the month but to a bigger house. One we've waited for since February.
I deem this year the year of the roller coaster.

I guess that the saying night is always darkest just before the dawn really applies here. I am soooo glad that Michael gets to stay at his school & be in this great program. I am soo grateful that I get to stay with my friends. They are my rocks, the strength I need to keep going.
I am sooo happy that I get to stay near our family. Ryan's parents, my grandmother, Jeane & my uncles. I didn't know how hard it must have been to raise a family away from extended family until I was faced with the prospect. Boy were my parents and in-laws stronger than me to be able to do that.

Above all I must thank my Father in Heaven for answering my prayers. Really answering ALL of my prayers. I really can't ask for more.

I am so glad that I have Ryan! He has made this year bearable. He is an awesome man & I am so blessed that he puts up with me!)

I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. Chaos- I am certain of it. But we will have stability and each other so giddy up!

What NOW?

Chicago? Denver?
Denver? Chicago?
New Job? New house?

Do I really have to expound on this? For the past month Ryan has been interviewing for a new job- thank goodness. We thought that the position would be in Chicago until a week ago when we were informed that we may be able to stay here. At the same time we find out that the bank is going to get back to us on our offer on the house we've been waiting on since FEBRUARY!

Stressed? Just a TON!
So Ryan accepted the new job Friday and today we should know where we will be living and if it is here than we can move forward with the house and maybe even close by the 22nd. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Moving twice in one summer- Mucho dinero, living out of boxes- mentally draining, having a home and a regular schedule- PRICELESS!

So would any one want to trade my 2008 for theirs? We all have our own garbage but sometimes it's nice to realize that ours is specially designed for us.

James Is 2!

I can hardly believe it but James has turned 2. What a wonderful little guy he is. It seems like yesterday he was born and yet so much has happened.

My Kingdom for a Can Opener

So we are moved and I thought hey I'll make dinner for my family. Well deja vu all over again of being a newly wed wanting to make Ryan dinner and what do I need? A can opener.
Nowhere to be found. It's here somewhere but boy is it frustrating to be halfway through making dinner only to realize that the can opener is MIA. Hopefully today we can find it soon. Or we'll all be skinnier.