Lost Tooth #2

For being an online journal, I really haven't been very faithful! Either I have no life and, thus, nothing to write about, or I'm just lazy. Probably the latter. Don't you just like to read about other people? I have to force myself to write about myself. (Does that make sense?) Well, the tooth losing seems to happen on Sundays. Sept. 23rd. About 6 weeks after the first one. Much excitement. E then had a double header in soccer that day. It was quite a crazy day. Little one has been on the nebulizer, and I think he is past the bad part.

I am having trouble with the growing mound on my kitchen table. It's like we try to homeschool, and I don't have the supplies, then the mail comes, then we have to eat... It may not sound like a big deal, but that stuff overwhelms me. I have been having this annoying headache the past 2 days, then there's the gutting of our bathroom. Oh, haven't I mentioned this? That's right, our friend and contractor came over to install an exhaust fan. We knew that paint/drywall was peeling off our walls from water damage and mold, we just didn't know the extent. We knew, right then, that we needed to just gut the whole thing. It should be done sometime next week.

We are planning to leave today for WI to see my grandma. It will be good to get out of this house. Hanging out by the lake, looking at the changing leaves, and the best: eating at Chet and Amos. All you can eat, family style--so much for cutting calories. But it's worth it for my grandma. It's certainly not the same since my grandfather passed away Jan. 2006. I feel like grandma is all alone up there, eventhough she now lives in a retirement community. She is such an amazing woman. I love talking to her.

Well, I hope everyone is doing great, and I'll talk to you again in October!

Random Musings

OK--now for a more positive post! We had an interesting experience that I'll tell you about: we saw the RV that will be driven on the Live Lightly Tour. This amazing family converted their RV and personal vehicle to run on veggie oil. What's amazing is that they totally rely on God to meet their needs by traveling full time. How many of us out there would abandon our house, lifestyle, job to just just travel? I would so love to do that someday. These people have done this, and here's my plug to support them.

Another thing on my mind: What happens from age 3 to age 4? My almost 4 year old is testing testing testing his independence. I admit, I yell. In my case, just picking him up out of the trouble does not work. Corner time and taking things away is what we use at this point. I definitely tell him the times that he is being good...maybe not as often as I should? Maybe because it hasn't been happening very often. Aaaaah! But I love him.

How sad is it when you hear of someone your age dying? Recently, there was a car accident up by Ames in which the deceased was a guy from my graduating class. I will be going to the funeral tomorrow. I didn't even know him well, but I remember at my mom's funeral, I wanted as many people there. There's something about a lot of people making time in their day...people who have been touched by the person, even if they've only ever heard their name. It's comforting as human beings that we can go up to someone we don't even know and say, "I'm sorry for your loss."

Next stage of house remodel: we are gutting our bathroom. Yipee. Our original plan was to just install an exhaust/heat/light dealy-bob. But, if you've seen our bathroom, and most everyone reading this has never seen our master bath (if you can call our 5x8 a master). The drywall is peeling because of 7 yrs w/o this said fan/exhaust thingy. Hence, there is mold. Everywhere. Not the dangerous black stuff, but the let's quick put this bathroom in to bring up the house value and skimp and not put in an exhaust fan kind of mold. So we go from a $50 fan to $3000 renovation. Yikes. But, we like our little house. It teaches us daily that things are not important. Not material goods, space, things.

Thanks for listening.

It's 9/11, and I'm still uneasy

I have been up way too late studying up on my terrorist knowledge. I believe I've become a bit paranoid since having children. No one would have believed that 9/11 would ever happen. To America, no less. After all, who would attack America? Here is some history and some current events. Use them as you will. March 2007: threat that terrorists may hijack buses in the U.S. We are told they are still the safest mode of transportation for millions of American children. Sept. 2004, Russian school attacked by Islamic terrorists, 334 students killed: I won't give you the details. Sept. 2001, World Trade Center attacked by Islamic terrorists. A trend, perhaps? Now onto current events: In the Austin/Houston area there are 20-some buses that have disappeared. Aaaaaaah! Is this an every 3 year event? And is America next, again?

Thank you, Lord that our kids are not in school. I say a prayer for every child in every school.
Surely we cannot be blind again. Thank you to my dh who loves talk radio and fills me in on the important stuff. Even if it keeps me up until 2:30am.

Sick sick and more sick

Does this cycle ever end? I don't remember a single time that we have all been ill so often. Both hubby and my youngest have had allergy/asthma related sickness. Youngest was even thought to have had pneumonia! What the...? Needless to say, they have been both living on the nebulizer, and are now only in the phlemy cough stage. Ya hoo. This is all after the oldest had the ear infection/throat sore thing. In the midst of all of this, Saturday, my kidney really started to hurt in the evening. I told it to go away. I seriously said...God, I do not want this and I'm not having it. The next day it was gone. Now today, I've had a mild fever and both kidneys were hurting. They are feeling better now, though. I went on with life like nothing was wrong, and I plan to dang it. I'm sick of this (pun).

So, now that you know all our aches and pains, I'll share some good news. We have officially started homeschooling as of Tues. (with curriculum and stuff). It's fun! Pretty soon we'll get it down to where it won't actually take a full day! Poor youngest, he watched a lot of TV today and I feel horrible. I've just got to learn to multitask the boys. It's so great, though. I am loving them even more every day.

Wow, and Awanas. I am officially going to be the director of the Cubbies. (That is the pre-K). I feel like this is the time. I know it, too, because we are getting attacked with sickness so badly. I was about to give up, but then remembered all the support at this church. Everyone will be learning. It won't just be me. All this starts in 1 week! Also, flag football is starting for the boys on Sat. I have learned that I do really thrive on being busy. I don't like deadlines, but I do like knowing that I'm being a productive member of society.

Fall is approaching...leaves, thanksgiving, pumpkin farms, corn mazes. It is a truly wonderful time of year. Get out and enjoy!