Noah's 6th birthday

Noah's birthday was September 6th and he had a football party. I wasn't sure when he first mentioned his desire whether it was going to be a good theme or not. Well, it was the best party ever. The smallest party too! But the kids were gung-ho fans of football and everyone got so into it. The decorations were so easy to find with it being the beginning of football season and the weather was incredible that day. It was the first day of college football and the weather was crystal clear and cooler (mid 60's-70's). I've been bad about posting pics on here. I will try to be better! New school pics will be coming as well!

Thankful Friday

I realize it would be more alliterate to do Thankful Thursday, but oh well, I missed it. So here is the list for this morning!

1) I'm thankful for cool morning temps. While I don't exactly want them to last throughout the day yet, I'm happy to wake up to an environment that encourages blankets, candles, coffee, hot showers, etc.

2) I'm thankful for my new non-frizz hair routine. I probably have never talked about my hair on this blog because well, it is my curly hair that hasn't changed in decades and there is never anything new to talk about. However, I created an easy non-frizz technique that is working swimmingly! It makes me feel cute---which is important at this stage of the pregnancy. :)

3) I'm thankful for my boys. They are both just so cute and cuddly and hilarious. I might be prone to treat Wesley like a baby sometimes because in some ways he's still my baby. BUT, they are both growing and maturing in such awesome ways and I'm proud of each of them for different reasons. And it seems putting them into the same room to share has helped their relationship. There has been less fighting and less pestering which is music to my ears.

4) I'm thankful for Brian. He's just the best. I love his devotion to our family as well as his job. I trust him, I love him, I admire him, and I need him.

5) I'm thankful for wonderful smelling candles. I just found some melting candle squares from last year that I bought in Nashville at this amazing little antique/country store. They are Apple Cider scented and now my kitchen smells amazing! I also loaded up Monday on some new Yankee candles as they were having an awesome sale plus I had a $15 off coupon! So my house has good smelling going on in full effect!

6) I'm thankful for people God puts in my life. Today was my first morning of ladies Bible study. I wasn't really sure if I was doing it this semester. But deep down I knew I should. The group I am in has some amazing women in it that I had never met and their stories keep me in awe. One woman had her 2 month old little boy with her who has only months left to live. He was born without a good portion of skull and so his brain is held together by extra skin. He wasn't even supposed to live past birth, but there he was, cute as a button. Amazing.

7) I'm thankful for weekends.....and actually every day that Brian isn't traveling. Brian has almost been home for one month solid and it has been glorious! He goes to work early so he gets home between 4:30 and 5 every day. This consistency and the nice evening weather we've been having has just felt like heaven. Tomorrow we start soccer practice, go to the farmer's market, and just enjoy the weekend. I'm so thankful for all of us to be together.

8) I'm thankful for upcoming family visits. My sister Kasey is coming out at the beginning of next month for the weekend. I cannot wait!! She has never been to Indiana and truthfully I have no clue the last time she and I have spent any time together without her kiddos in tow. It has been years and years. So this is a very special treat. My mom is coming out in November to keep us company while Brian is away. I'm so excited for her to be here when fall weather is in full effect not to mention her birthday and my baby shower will happen too!

Lots of other things I could list, but I am going to go downstairs and bake some muffins from this new recipe I printed off. Another thing to be thankful for! :) I've already made them once and the fam scarfed them up!!! I'm gonna try a slight variation this time with apples instead of blueberries. Until next time, my friends! Oh, and a picture of my belly about 10 days ago for those who are curious (Amber). Rest assured that in the last 10 days it has probably doubled in size.

Thoughts on recycling

I'm not sure how to begin this post without heaving through a bunch of boring old stuff. But I'll do my best to summarize. Recycling is a wonderful thing--I'll start with that. And just so you know, this post will most likely be just as much about priorities/perfectionism/guilt as recycling.

So, recycling is wonderful. I'm happy when I see blue trash cans scattered everywhere from museums to my church building that give us people a way to make our earth a healthier cleaner place. I don't think it's a burden or a conspiracy. I think it is something that has been around forever (including my annual elementary school newspaper recycling competition) and just in the last 5-10 years has picked up much more national attention, for the better.

When we moved here to Bloomington, I was aware that this city was very "green" in comparison to others I had lived in. Not sure how this would affect me, I went on with my business and actually, blogs I was reading changed me more than anything about my city. I made the decision to do away with paper napkins and paper plates (cloth napkins work so much better anyway!). Then once a local trash company included our neighborhood for recycling, I signed up for that. I also bought a composter at Sam's over a year ago and started composting all of our appropriate kitchen scraps and yard waste. Major steps for the greener good! I was feeling good and everything was going strong.

Here is where the other topics of my post come in. My mind became a bit consumed with "green". Whether I was doing something well or feeling guilty about something I had yet to be doing, I was constantly looking at other ways to be green (like ALL those other people on the web I was reading about). Some of these things were reasonable (think line drying your clothes), others were a bit bizarre (homemade personal deodorants, "no-poo" campaigns which meant to stop using traditional shampoos and resort to vinegar and oil.) So what do I usually do when feeling overwhelmed with things I should be doing? I stop doing ANYTHING.

Isn't that a wonderful strategy? Um no. But it is what it is. Paper plates started making their way back into my cupboard. Many recyclable items started ending up in the trash. Composting ended all together for months. I will admit I felt a bit liberated to operate under convenience rather than guilt. That is when I knew I needed to develop my own personal philosophy of recycling/green efforts that did not produce guilt or judgmental feelings. Not to mention, I actually started to think of God in all of this instead of just what society was "telling" me to do. Was I making all of these changes out of a true respect and love for what God has given me or was I simply trying to jump on a bandwagon and impress myself and others while advocating the new social and political issues? To be honest with you, both. I was really doing both. I loved teaching my kids about God's great blessings to us and how we were responsible for taking care of this earth, not wasting, and seeing the great lifecycle God had created through composting. But the guilt and perfectionism were coming from outside sources in media and myself. They had nothing to do with my trying to please and glorify God.

So as I was thinking of all of this, I knew I needed to document it. While I've had a huge sabbatical from blogging, I have not had a deficit in ideas. It's simply getting the time to type them out. So what is my new philosophy? Well, nothing official. Mainly I'm trying to recycle, compost and limit our paper use consistently enough so that we (my family) all learn, are all aware, and all begin to care a bit more about this amazing world we live in. No guilt trips, no rants, no crazy stints of new trends. Satan has found a foothold in me over the last couple years where pride, judgementalism, and insecurity have found refuge. God is working on me to rid my life of those yucky things and this is one area where I've learned that my priority is not to do what even really smart people in the world tell me to do. My priority is to let Jesus transform me and take steps to hear His voice above all the others.

Must end this post! More thoughts later!

Times are a changin'!

So I am not going to ignore that it has been MONTHS since I've written. I have 3 new posts that I'm working on. But for now, one small bit of exciting news.


It's A Girl!!!

Okay, that's all for now. But consider it a small start to a renewed commitment to blog. :)

Noah

This is gonna be quick, but I have to write it down before I forget. Nothing funny or situational. Just simply want to record my love for Noah. He is amazing. God has given me a miracle. At this moment, as I fold clothes in my bedroom and put them away, I reflect on how incredible Noah is to me. And it's not because he and I have had the dreamiest day ever together because we haven't. But he forgives me.....when I need to be forgiven. He hugs me and snuggles me and compliments me..........when I need all those things. He is so very smart it blows my mind. He is extremely creative and while his constant building/creating ventures torture me at times, I realize it is a rare gift he has, and I need to let it grow. He thinks about things that 5 yr olds should not be thinking about. But it tells me he is like his mama and likes to prepare himself for things. He wants to figure the bigger picture of life out. But there is no fear in him with regard to that (now, riding his bike is a different story......sigh). He is so confident and in awe of God that nothing about life worries or scares him. And as I've voiced before, he would gladly die today just so he could be with God. He dreams about heaven. I don't.
As I just put some pj's away, an envelope fell out of my drawer. I clutched it to my chest and then smelled it. The timing is amazing considering...............it is an envelope filled with potpurri that Noah sealed and decorated when he was 3. We did it together. He had me draw on the outside of the envelope all of his favorite smells. So it has a flower, pizza, an orange, and pancakes with syrup. We put it in my drawer back in TX and obviously it was still hidden there all this time. Thank you God for that gift! Man, I pray I get to spend a lifetime with this kid. I pray he only grows in his love for God. I pray his sensitivity and love for others only multiplies with time.


Alright, back to folding........

Thankful Thursday

What I'm thankful for today..........

1. Brian is home safe and sound.

2. My neighbor, Sandy, who watches the boys for an hour so I can work out.

3. Our cheap Easter tablecloth that brightens up our dining room.

4. free coupons for Dill Chips from Scotty's. :)

5. All the clothes I get from my sisters to clothe my children.

6. The first daffodil that bloomed in my yard yesterday.

7. Great friends who call to check on me.

8. A weekend coming up with all 4 of us.

9. essential oils (lavender in particular)

10. my cutie patootie boys that I can't stop kissing.

Check Engine Light

That is my engine light. Could be I'm out of gas, could be my air filter is blocked and I need some refreshing, could be my battery is going dead, could be..................but whatever it is, my engine is coming closer to a stand still.

I can't even begin to write what might possibly have caused this "phase" or refer to past phases like it. I have no energy to do that. All I have energy to do is express that I'm wiped out. I feel like a doormat. I feel like I have gone gone gone for almost 2 weeks and now there is little go left in me. I can't even speak coherent responses to my children because my brain is fried. "Uh huh" is about all I can muster. I feel lazy (which is highly impossible), tired, and just blaaaaaaaaaa. I don't feel like "doing" anything. I don't feel like taking care of responsibilities or filling roles. I feel like shutting my eyes and waking up a week or two from now with a new engine and a full tank of gas.

Amidst this phase, regardless how I have felt noted above, I have not been lazy. I have done anything that a normal mom, housewife, wife, friend, and sister would have done. Made phone calls, mailed presents, cleaned out closets, organized things, fed children, cooked, laundry etc. There were occasional glimmers of feeling accomplished but a majority of the time during this phase I have felt like I was simply going through the motions. Grey would be the color to describe my psyche. Each day seems to fly by and seems to repeat itself in a similar manner. I hope it is because my husband has been gone for 7 out of the past 9 days. I say that with full respect for him and his job. It is in no way a knock. He suffers just as much as me when he travels. Anyway, I was saying I hope that is why this phase has set in. I hope with his return tonight, that things will look brighter tomorrow.

I long for the energetic, bright hearted, engine I'm used to....that others are used to. I'm tired of Satan making me feel insecure about everything....that has never been my nature. So feel free to pray for this phase to end soon. Feel free to pray that when I do sleep, it would be good sleep instead of restless sleep. I'm completely aware that this is a phase and will end and that is why I keep referring to it as such. So don't worry, this Eeyore won't be around forever. :)

Word throw-up:

A quick and painless way to clear my mind. And you know I would never use the "v" word in this title. :)

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed just for the moment on all the messages the world sends us---mostly good---definitely cheesy, but difficult to balance and just be free!
Calgon.....take me away!

-Be true to yourself (whatever the crap that means anyway)
-Be in the moment
-Listen twice as much as you speak
-Pause before you respond
-Listen to God's still small voice (which can be EXTREMELY amidst all these other messages)
-Let go and let God
-Don't judge
-Be the change you wish to see
-Think positively
-Take risks
-Get out of the box
-Be green
-Live for today
-Live for tomorrow
-Make the most of every moment
-Take the time to slow down and rest
-Let kids be kids
-Discipline your children
-Have the heart of a child
-Protect your children
-Let your children make mistakes and learn lessons
-Be different
-Read lots of books to learn what everyone else is doing
-Listen to your heart
-Listen to Oprah ;0
-Hold your tongue
-Let it all out
-Believe in yourself
-You are a strong, powerful, beautiful woman
-Recognize your potential
-Be humble
-Think of others more highly than yourself

MostofthetimeIamconfidentinhowIfeelandcanleanonGodnomatterwhatmessagesareoutthere. Todayisadaywheretherearesomanythingstoconsiderasawife,woman,mom,andindividualthatIfeel alittleheavyandweigheddown.IwouldloveadeletebuttonsothatIcanclearmyheadandhearonlyGodandmyself.

Fears

It is almost midnight and I am taking refuge in the normalcy of my computer, light, and my Bible. It isn't often that I am up this late or if I am, to be on the computer. But you see, I have this fear. A silly one. A REALLY silly one. So silly that you'd think I could stomp it out but so far, I haven't been able to.

The stomach bug is floating around our house. I'm afraid of the stomach bug. I wish I could tell you why, or when this started, or what rational reasons there are for being afraid, but I can't. I will tell you that I didn't use to be afraid. I have many horrific memories of people throwing up in loud and violent ways around me from the time I was a child. But the degree to which I am now afraid goes way beyond that. And just to clear it up, it isn't "the throw-up". Nope, that part doesn't get me. Which is good considering God blessed me with 2 VERY gaggy kids and therefore I deal with some amount of throwup weekly. This fear definitely deals with the virus. Anything that sneaks up and causes one to go through such trauma, so quickly, so unexpectedly, is pretty much feared in my book. Add to that the waiting game involved with if and when it will approach the next member of our family.

So here I am. Trying to get sleepy. Trying to find peace. And let me tell you that a large part of this fear magnifies and even finds its footing in the dark. Meaning, I can be fine with this virus during the day. But when anyone wakes up in my house (including myself) in the middle of the night, it freaks me out. Darkness plays mind games with me and it sucks. I've thought a lot about this lately as I've pondered how much it means to me to see light starting to dawn outside. I remind myself that even the darkness is light to God. In Him there is no darkness. So instead of laying in my bed going crazy, I decided to come downstairs and catch up on some of my Chambers "Utmost". Lo and behold, Psalm 46 pops up and I'm grateful. For the 9.5 out of 10 (don't lie) of you that don't know that off the top of your head, I'll quote a few verses:

"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging."

My first thought was joy and relief at the reaffirmation of God's protection and strength. Then I agreed with how ridiculous it was that I was worried about a virus. NOT earth quakes, mountains falling, or roaring seas, people. A virus. I mean, really? Despite that, the fear is there---it doesn't need legitimacy to stick around. And really, if God can handle all of our fears, then size is irrelevant. I just wish God would delete my fear. Remove it from my being forever. And I know He can do that because he has done it before. But there has to be some meaning in all of it. If I was really honest and told you just how ridiculous I act when I'm letting this fear get the best of me you would be FLOORED. For real. Pretty much panic attack sums it up. I'm sure Brian wants to beat me upside the head but he is wise and knows he is better off supporting me and playing the whole thing down. However, it has me on my knees more than usual and obviously has my eyes in the Word tonight when they otherwise wouldn't be. So if you happen to be reading this over the next 8 hours or so, please offer up a prayer for me and my family. I know we have no more right to be healthy than anyone else. In fact, I know of a family who lost their sweet young daughter/mom/wife just yesterday. My prayers about not throwing up seem pitiful as opposed to prayers about keeping one of His Creation here on earth a little longer.

No further direction for this post. I just wanted to throw this out there. Maybe you wrestle with silly fears yourself. Maybe you wrestle with not so silly fears. Either way I leave us with this:

"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Some things never change...........

Noah just called me in his room where he was supposed to be resting.




This is what I found:

If you take a close look, that is Valentine's Day candy that Hoosya-Dog (that's the family dog) is eating. Here is a flash back to another time this little Noah did something similar.....

http://noahspicer.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-valentines-day.html