Birthday Pix

Baby Boy is no more. He had two friends over this evening to share his Journey to Manhood, or something like that. There was lots of burping, farting, and nonsense going on anyway.He opened presents from friends first since those were to be ammo. Then they headed outside for the big battle. There were three or four different kind of Nerf guns and lots of bullets. They ran around like wild men. We even had poppers and other "firecrackers" for them.Then we came inside for the "Entering" ceremony. When there are mile markers in our lives, we have the kids crash through a barrier into the next stage of life. We put wrapping paper up on the doorframe and he ran from "childhood" into "young manhood" on the other side.Then we used the paper to start a fire. They played in the fire and roasted hotdogs for a while. Nothing says MAN like a fire. The cake this year was easy. He wanted a cookie cake from Sam's. They put the name on it and even give you the candles. Although it was easier, I missed not making something special for him.

He picked out Over the Hill plates as a joke. His mother is starting to feel like it isn't so much a joke for her.

Back for a Birthday

We made it back last night from WV. It was our annual trip home for the holidays, but it was extended due to a nasty stomach virus. We couldn't travel for several days, and we pretty much felt like we had ruined Christmas. The one good thing was that we had someone to help out with food, laundry, and discipline. Some little bugs still seem to be swimming around in our guts, but we are sufficiently recovered to continue with life. I'll write more about our trip later. Today is a very important day: #2 turns TEN!!! Both of my babies are in double digits now. #2 may be turning 10, but he still likes to cuddle with his Mommy. He is a lovable, snuggly guy, full of mischief and adventure. His party today is a Nerf Gun Fight and Bon-Fire Party. So a few boys are coming over to have a battle this afternoon and then roast hotdogs over a fire. He asked for a cookie cake from Sam's Club, so I don't have to make a cake. That's good since I don't think I am prepared to do that today; we are still unpacking and cleaning. So off to the Lysol can...Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

On The Seventh Day, Part 3 Conclusion

I don't expect to change anyone's mind about what they believe the woman's role in worship is; I only write to ease my frustration and allow you a look into my heart. Within my religious heritage movement there is a deep seeded belief that we must do exactly what the Scriptures say or we are in danger of Hell. That belief overlooks the mercy of a Father who loves us so much He sacrificed his God Son for us. We are His children and, therefore, deeply loved. This does not in any way say that we can purposely disobey Him or act counter to his personality. What it does mean is that we should look so closely at the way the Son behaved that we can see how God would instruct us today. Here is what I see:

There are times when Jesus disrupted the belief system of his time. He "broke" the Sabbath on several occasions. "Which is better, to do evil or to do good?" He seemed to promote looking out for yourself. "Be as wise as serpents." He even suggested there are times when you should break from your family. "I have come to pit brother against brother, father against son, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law..."

In a time when women were believed to be less than a man, Jesus treated women with respect and love. He taught the women as well as the men. He had female supporters and disciples. He responded to women in ways that were unacceptable for a man to respond. He loved women, spoke with women, ate with women, and was ministered to by women. Women blessed him, and he praised their actions. I look at this example and ask myself, "How can God not want me to be a leader in a worship assembly?" Within worship we love, speak, eat, minister, and bless. In what way am I negating the Word if I act as Jesus acted? It is time for all of God's children to be allowed to fully participate at the Table of Worship. ----------- On a lighter note...Yesterday was our Family Christmas. I suppose you could call it "Mom's Christmas." We always go to WV to celebrate the holiday with our families. After we had children, I tried to stop this tradition, wanting to spend the holiday at my house with my children. But I have always been out voted; the men in my family want to go to WV. I understand, I truly do. It is a great time to see everyone together and share our blessings and our lives with each other. But as a woman, wife, and mother, I want those sharing times to be our family times as well. There have been times when I have so resented going home that I have been a bear for the holidays, even I dare say, another "b" word. So last year we decided to have a Family Christmas here to appease me. We picked a day as close to the holiday as possible without stressing ourselves by adding to the packing, etc. and we celebrated my way. (Sounds selfish huh? But after 10 years of everyone else getting their way, I think it was time I got a little space.) We have a great dinner, open presents, go see lights, and share some time together. I love it. I would like to have the experience of my children opening Santa gifts on Christmas morning at my own house, but I so much don't want to spoil the magic for them that we ask Santa to go to WV. Allowing our parents to see the boys on Christmas morning is a blessing too, though, so I guess this way I get the best of both worlds. ------- We leave today for our holiday trip so I will "talk" to you after Christmas. May God bless you all.

On The Seventh Day, Part Two

I have a friend in TX who says that God doesn't let women do much on Sunday mornings because it makes the men get up and take charge like they should. I disagree with that. If God wants the men to do something, I think he expects them to "take charge" all week. It is like in Revelation when God tells the Laodicean church that they are neither hot nor cold, and He will spit them out. Men who only do their part on Sundays will be spit out in my opinion. My mother-in-law likes that our religious tradition puts men in charge. She believes kids need to see men in charge more often, since they are coming from female homes these days. But I wonder what it says to the girls who are at church? Men can run things and tell you what to do, but come Monday you better expect to get your work gloves on. I know there are passages in Scripture that say a woman should keep quiet and ask a man if she has any questions. There is another that states women are not permitted to teach. I don't want to go against what God may have decided especially for women. And I don't want anyone to think that I am angry about the way I have been treated or ignored. What I want to say is that my God did not treat me the way that women are treated on Sundays. He did not ignore me, expect less from me, or consider me incapable or inept. My Lord created me the same as He did the men. My Lord asked for my worship, the same as He did the men. My Lord died on the cross for me, the same as He did for the men. What I want is to be treated as Christ treated me, no matter what day of the week it is.

On The Seventh Day, Part One

On Monday, God blessed me with the gift of prayer. He laid on my heart people that I love, and the pain they were feeling, and asked me to pray. I went to the Throne on their behalf all day. On Tuesday, my child's poor little soul was deflated and bruised. God asked me to sing to the child, to comfort him as David did for Saul. My child was pleased and the distress left him. On Wednesday, a friend and I were talking about God's grace. She had questions about how this mercy could be, and we went to the Word together to learn of His Love. On Thursday, God directed me to my neighbor's door. She was out of diapers and needed help. I bought her some diapers and juice for the baby, and spent some time visiting over a Coke. On Friday, I baked bread for the Sunday Communion service. The Lord was pleased that I remembered his sacrifice even on a week day. On Saturday, I spoke at a Womens' Conference. The Lord blessed me with words and wisdom to share with my sisters. We all were rejuvenated after the long week. On Sunday, I went to God's House. A man offered rote prayer, even forgetting the diagnosis of cancer received by our sister that week. The preacher asked a visiting guy to lead singing since many men were on the retreat. The Bible Study was on mercy, but I wasn't asked to share my testimony. A family showed up needing some benevolence. The deacon took care of them, and shuffled them out the door. A fellow offered a quick prayer for the bread and cup, and we quickly moved on to the next thing. The preacher did a fine job; he always does. I sat and watched it all happen. God told me He can't use me on Sunday. You see, I'm only a woman.

Slowing Down

I started knitting this past summer. A friend at church showed me how. I have made 2 scarves for me and #2, and for Christmas, 3 scarves and 5 hats for my little lovables. I didn't take pictures of the scarves and first 3 hats, but thought I would of the last two. They are the best ones anyway, at least in cuteness; they do have some mistakes. I hope to get all the kids together for a picture with their hats and scarves at Christmas. I finished the last hat last night. Now #5 wants a scarf so I think I will do that up quick, and then I will attempt a baby blanket. I find knitting very relaxing.

I slept until nearly 8:00 this morning---10 hours!! Today and tomorrow don't have "absolutely must get it done" activities, so I am enjoying the freedom. I have bills to pay, 4-H paperwork, house cleaning, and would like to go to the gym. It is rainy and foggy and the kids are enjoying the slow day as well. I hope they stay this way all day.

The Beach

We had a lovely day at the beach. The weather was iffy, but we carried on and had a nice time. It was in the upper 60s with sporadic sun. The weird part was the fog that would drift in and out every half hour or so. The kids had a great time playing on the rocks until the park ranger told them not to (what bad mothers we are to allow it!) and then they just dug, walked, looked for shells, and read. Their real fun came when they got to explore the fort. The mothers' real fun was the sitting on the beach doing absolutely nothing. Heavenly.

The first thing you do at the beach is take off the shoes. Sand on the toes is so relaxing. The kids built a "dribble castle." You let sand dribble off your fingers until a mound forms for the castle. They spent a little time on the skim board. You would have thought it was summer.

The fog drifted in and out without rhyme or reason. At one point on a walk we thought we had lost the children, even walking toward a rock that looked like one of the kids!

Climbing on the rocks was a highlight. We found other rocks to climb on later. #2 found oysters and mussels to harvest. He hopes to go back and get more when they are 3 inches long. The ranger he talked to told him that was the right length. I love our December Traditional Trip. As #2 said, "I can't wait until next year!"

Digging

Yesterday I was walking by the back door when #2 showed up with something to show me. In his hands was a small, furry animal. I thought maybe he had caught a mouse, but instead it was a mole. I had seen the dog earlier with the mole, so I supposed it was dead. No, it was alive and twitching its nose all around. Also yesterday #2 caught a cricket and a fly. He was asking me if the mole dies can he cut it apart and reassemble its skeleton. He also wanted to make something out of the skin; moleskin being so soft, you know. In the afternoon, the kids dug a hole for it to "nap" in. "That kid has to grow up to be a doctor," I told his father at dinner. "No way!" "Why?" "He'll be some kind of mad scientist and try to do experiments on people." Or on himself I continued, he tried sewing his fingers together recently, just to see if he could attach his fingers to each other. (If you notice, it is all of the scary stories or really outrageous stories that involve #2. That is why there isn't a #3.)

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Today we head to the beach. The weather is supposed to be mild. This is the second annual December Beach Trip. A friend and I went last year and decided it has to be a tradition. During the hectic month of December you need a day to stop and relax. This is our day. The 5 kids go as well, but they run around and leave us alone. They will be digging and throwing frisbee, that sort of thing. Gotta run and pack a picnic. Bet none of you in WV are saying that!

Nineteen

I woke up in a comfy, cushy bed full of pillows. My face was sore from the wind burn the night before. I could hear a little movement downstairs, and I smelled muffins baking. That was how December 16, 1989 started for me. Today is my 19th Wedding Anniversary! I can't believe it has been that long. This is the year that I become married as long as I was single. Next year I will be married longer than not married. Whew. What a thought. That won't happen for Hubby for a LONG time since he robbed the cradle! We were married in WV during one of the worst snow storms seen in years. We had to cancel our honeymoon because the roads were shut down. Many people called to say they wouldn't be able to get there. Our cake was precariously driven from my hometown to the wedding site, each layer held by a different person in hopes of getting there safely. It did. In fact, we had a big turn out. By the time of the wedding the city streets were clear, but you still couldn't travel, so every one in town came to the wedding. I think we had close to 300! After the wedding we drove to a nearby city in PA and stayed at a Holidome Inn. There was a Gabriel Brothers nearby and we went shopping. Those are the highlights. Of course there was riding in a car for 2 1/2 hours with no heat, when it should normally take 45 minutes. Then there was getting to the hotel with empty stomachs and the hotel restaurant closed. They did give us a cheese and cracker plate. We were young and in love. It makes a great story. So how will we celebrate? I was thinking some Cheez Whiz and a run on Rugged Wearhouse, the local name for Gabriel Brothers. Actually we are going to a nice restaurant (I have been told, we have never been) and a friend is watching the kids.

UPDATE

550 Verbal 500 Math Needed to get in...500 each. Deep breath.

This Is It

Today is the day. The test starts at noon EST, so pray hard for my attention span, focus, and recall. I took yesterday off of all things test related just to give myself a fresh brain for today. We went to see Bolt in the evening. I laughed myself silly. Now granted, I am feeling a bit stressed, but it did seem to be a very humorous and clean movie. The boys sat in front of us and there was one other family in the theater. I have a tendency to laugh out loud at movies, and the boys kept turning around and telling me to be quiet. ------- #5 was singing this song the other day...Supercalifrage--lipstick--expealladocious. I guess you try to make as much sense out of something as you can. It reminded #1 of when he thought "There's a Bad Moon on the Rise" was "There's a Bathroom on the Right." ------- I started wrapping Christmas presents yesterday only to discover that we were out of paper. I went to Dollar Tree by Michael's and found very cute paper. They had all the holiday shows, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Frosty the Snowman, even Peanuts. Good buy if you need paper.

Innocence NOT Lost

My children are sweet. I love them with all my heart. I truly wouldn't change them one bit. I absolutely know they are a gift from God. HOWEVER, they drive me nuts!

We spent yesterday cleaning their room. It has looked terrible for quite a while- months- and they have been sent to clean it numerous times. But somehow their idea of clean means moving things to other spots. So about quarterly I enter the room and go insane trying to clean it. I suppose I am either not a good mother or a very poor teacher. I have actually tried to teach them how to clean the room, how to organize, how to make me happy. They just don't get it. I even threaten to send them back and get daughters instead, but then Hubby reminds me that I requested sons, and I slink off to clean some more.

This time of year always involves the Christmas Cleanout. This is when I demand they get rid of 6 things each so that they can have room for what they get at Christmas. Yesterday, however, they didn't have much to get rid of...a magic kit and a marble maze. But we still managed to make a lot of room where there hadn't been any. How? We threw away trash. Yes, trash. For some reason the trash can in their room is invisible when I am not in there. Yes, it is amazing, I know, but they have been reading a lot of Harry Potter. They have learned to put a spell on the trash can so that it only appears in my presence.

#2 likes to put things all over his bed. There is absolutely no space to sleep. I went in last week to cover him and couldn't even get to the blanket because of all the lightsabers and markers. I told him yesterday he better marry a very patient woman. At dinner as we discussed once again how to not get into this predicament again, I told #2 that I need him to stop having ideas. Either stop having ideas, or see them through to the finish and then clean up after yourself. He agreed to the second option. #1 said he would have chosen to just not have any more ideas.

#2 wanted to take a picture of his bed a few weeks ago after one of his cleanings. This is just one end of the bed. He usually has a library or art studio at the other end.

Today I have them cleaning out their treasure boxes. These are large drawer boxes under their beds where they are to keep the things of utmost importance to them. Perhaps I am not such a bad teacher after all. #1 came in earlier to tell me he had made three piles--trash and recycle, things that go in other places, and things that stay in the box. Perhaps there is light at the end of this VERY long tunnel!

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#1 wrote his letter to Santa this week. He made 2 copies for his grandparents and mailed all three letters off yesterday. Santa was able to intercept his letter before the post carrier came. I read it last night. There are two letters in the envelope. The first says, "Read me first." on the outside. It is a nice friendly letter to Santa. The second letter says, "Read me second." and it contains "THE LIST." He told me that he wrote a letter to the grandparents so that he wouldn't appear rude to just send a list of wants. I guess he was afraid of that for Santa too.

So Santa shopped online this morning, and had it all delivered to the drop site in WV. That Santa sure is getting smart. No worries trying to hide things in the van!

Catching Up

I told you blogs would be sporadic for a while! Let's see...Friday we did celebrate by going to the pool with some friends. I also milled some flour at a friend's house since my mill isn't working. I have shipped it off to be repaired. It came with a lifetime warranty. Thank goodness. Those things are expensive! Saturday was #1's first basketball practice. It went well, but of course now we have to add in all of the practices and games to the next few months' events. We don't know anyone on the team; hope it goes well. Sunday was the annual Holiday Banquet at church. It is always fun to get together and eat, and then make fools of ourselves. There are a few who don't look foolish, for those we applaud out of genuine appreciation. The others get pity applause! Sunday was also a bridal shower for one of the church girls. The women met at a local restaurant and ate together then gave her a gift from all of us. It was so much easier that way. I even enjoyed the shopping for the present...Go into Target, plug in her name, go to aisle F1, have Hubby carry it to the register, pay, walk out. Whew! If only all shopping were that simple. Last night we went to a friend's house for dinner and a little stargazing. It was a pleasant evening, AND she kept the boys over night. So this morning I got up and started on another practice test. 660 on Math and 560 on Verbal. I need 500 on each to get into school, so I am feeling a little better. My friend came over today to bring the boys home and to help me with the Math section. She was very polite, but I am sure she was screaming on the inside. I just don't "see" math the way I can an essay or composition. I have also been working on Christmas preparations. I have completed the annual Mother and Mother-in-Law presents, though they are a bit different this year. I'll say more after Christmas, since they read the blog sometimes. I have been knitting as well. I am really starting to get the hang of it, and I miss it when I don't have knitting to do. The rewiring is still a work in progress, hopefully to be finished next week. I'll probably be without power tomorrow. So no blog. Spent this afternoon with 4-Hers working on the calendar and other yearly paperwork. ---------- I asked Hubby the other day if he is rethinking this "going back to school" idea. I think he would have said "Most definitely!" if he were a more emotional man. As it was I got a yes and head nod. We haven't had a meal at the table for quite a while, the house was a wreck, laundry needed doing, food was getting scarce...Need I say more? I think it will be a little better when I am not working and the house remodeling project is done. At least that is what I am telling myself.

Party Day

A friend kept the kids a couple days ago so that I could take practice GRE tests. I had not slept well the two nights before, which was adding up to some very fuzzy thinking, but still managed to pull of passing scores. In fact, the second math test I took went up 40 points! So it was encouraging to me that if I don't sleep well the night before I should still be ok. One week until test time and counting. My scores were good enough to pass, but I really want great scores so that some financial assistance may be available. Pray for me and my old brain.

Yesterday we worked on 4-H Project Record Books all day. #1 did projects in Photography and Theater Arts. #2 did Photography as well, and one in Animal Science called Nest Structures for Mourning Doves. Record Books are different from anything I did when I was in 4-H, but remember that mine is an old brain. I guess things change in 30 years. Anyway, all of the books are typed and assembled, and we are taking today as a party day! (If you knew what it involves, you would say, "Party away, Girl!) We're going to ask all of the boys from our clique to go swimming with us this afternoon.

Another event yesterday was going to Harris Teeter Supermarket. They have Juicy Juice large bottles for Buy 2 Get 3 Free! That makes them 80 cents each!! I bought 20 bottles. I plan to go back on the last day of the sale and get a raincheck. I am sure they will be out by then, and then I can have the same price later...the rainchecks never expire. It's called working the system.

I didn't buy eggs at HT because I have soooo many chickens. What was I thinking? I still don't have any eggs. No one is laying. I don't know why. Here is a picture of the first egg I got next to a store medium-size egg, maybe that is why no one is laying. They are all afraid.

It was as big as my palm!

Art, Elections, and Truth from a Child

The kids had their last art class for the semester last evening. We have taken this art class for 3 years now! It really was time for #1 to move up to the next level, but I didn't want to drive over there twice a week, so I held him back a year. Next fall I will move him up and have #2 skip a grade. They have really improved their skills, learned to use different media, and had a good time being with others in a group setting. The last class is always an "art show." I think this was sponge painting collages. #1 did the moons right behind his jacket. They made maracas using paper mache and ballons. This didn't turn out so well with the camera, but these were my favorite pictures. They used chalk and then smeared white paint on it in swirls. Neat effect.

These are #3-4. #3 also takes art there. Their mother is planning to lie about #4's age if he can't get in next year! They enjoy the class as well.

------------- Yesterday was election day in our 4-H club. Last year it was a very stressful day. There were other families in our club at the time, and they were not nice at all. The kids jeered and refused to vote for people, AND the parents just looked the other way. It was a stressful, hurtful day, and I am glad it was not repeated.

#1 didn't want to run for anything this year. I thought that was a good idea since he has always been something, and needs to give others a chance. I also thought it might be a good year to not have extra commitments that Mom has to help with!

This is #1 with a smile, so hard to catch on camera, and his friend the VP.This is #1 as President (looking like a deer in the headlights!) beside the new Preident-elect.We always start the meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge. I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

#2 wanted to run for Vice President. The dilemma was that he would be running against his best friend. It was a mutual dilemma. Both houses were going through the drama, "What should I do? I want to run, but I want to vote for my friend." As it ended up they both voted for each other. It is a secret ballot, but the person counting votes told the two moms what they had done. They are such good buddies!

I asked #2 last night how he was doing with the results. He said he was a little disappointed, but he was glad that J won. In fact, J went with us after 4-H to the art show and then joined the guys for their "night out." So I guess all is well.

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Monday I was working on the computer for a bit, and #2 was playing a game on his computer. #5 walked in to my room and started talking about the computer. He was bemoaning the fact that they aren't allowed to play games on their computer at home. I said that my boys weren't allowed to play computer games when they were 4 years old, either. "Yeah," he sighed. "It takes a long time to be an adult. You can't be an adult in just a minute." How true, but for the mamas time sure does fly.

This is #5 at the art show. He is much cuter than this, but seemed to be very tired. Maybe he is sneaking computer games in when his parents are asleep!

Stars and Planets

Did you see the two bright "stars" near the moon last evening? That was Jupiter and Venus. Venus is the one lower and brighter than the other. We got out the telescope I borrowed from my parents and looked at them. It is difficult for me to see through the lense, but after about an hour or a little less, I found the planets! They are round and bright; amazing. We even used the kids' binoculars and got a good view that way. Go out this evening and look just after dusk. ------ I enjoyed sharing that time with my son. He wanted to build a fire and spend the whole night outside stargazing. I assured him it was too cold and windy for that. I have been studying so much lately, and trying to finish other projects, that I haven't spent as much time with the boys as I like. It has made me think about this "going to school" idea. It will really mean a big change in the way our family works. I think it will be good for everyone in the long run, but it will definitely be difficult at the beginning. ------ The other fish died a few days ago. Just wanted to let Jeri know.

Shoeboxes

Our first home together was a small trailer. I think it was 10x50 feet, but it may have been 12x60. We entertained friends there, learned how to live in a small space with a new person, "played house," and jokingly called it our shoebox. The next home was a one bedroom efficiency apartment, after that we had a couple of two bedroom apartments, moved into a house with 3 bedrooms and two living spaces, and now we are in a larger house, though the number of rooms is smaller. I recently found out that the people living across the road from us are a family of four. The trailer they live in is what you take camping. It is about the size of my minivan; maybe 6x10 feet. They have two children living with them, ages 2 and 5 months. I went over last night and saw inside the trailer. You only have room to turn your body when you walk down the "aisle." The last couple of days have been rainy, and they haven't been able to let the little one outside. I can't imagine what you do in a "kiddie shoebox" with two small children all day long. Right now they are without a vehicle too, so going somewhere for a change of scenery is not a possibility. I took the husband to get propane the other day, and to buy diapers. Last night I was there because an ambulance was there. I wanted to make sure they were taken care of if they needed a ride to the hospital. The EMS let them all 4 ride in the ambulance. The mother had fallen and hit her head very hard. The father was calm, but a little shaken, and got the kids dressed and in their car seats. They seem like such a nice couple. Her comment to me the other day was that "at least we have a roof over our heads, and our family is together. That's what is important." That is a difficult thing to say when you are the one living it. I suppose you could look at it as things could be worse. There are people who live in real cardboard boxes. They don't have toilets or electricity. There is no heat. There is no refrigerator to store your food for later, no stove for cooking dinner. That kind of shoebox would be unbearable to me. The husband came by a minute ago to borrow our phone. He said his wife is fine, though they gave her some pain meds. --------- I am registered to take the GRE next Friday. The next two weeks will be brief blogs.