I'm so pleased right now.

Kyle took Keenan with him to work. They'll only be gone for about 3 hours I'm sure. But, I'm so pleased. We've hardly seen Kyle lately. His plate is way too full! It's a really hard time right now. He's got a lot of stress ... pray for him.

I went to see Dr. Adams again yesterday ... He asked me how I had been feeling the past week. I told him that I've feelt on top of things, content, good ... He said "let me tell you something ... this past week, you were the REAL you!" I love his way of explaining the usage of this medication. He says we are simply supplying my system with something it is not producing on its own right now.

We also had a big discussion about birth control. When he saw that I use the patch he said he wanted to throw something out for me to think about ... I said Okay. He said that I just need to be aware that conception can take place while your on the pill or patch ... and that it causes your body to miscarry ... I sheepishly said I knew that. I told him it is a struggle for us. I said we neither one want to 'get fixed'. If something should happen to Kyle or to Me, and the other was to get remarried ... what if they wanted to have another child together .... We just can't 'get fixed' in good conscience. Then, Dr. Adams told me his own story. He lost his first wife after they had children. He remarried a lady who had children. Then they had one child together. Between them they have 7 BOYS! And he said he couldn't do without any one of them. Which would he choose not to have? He went on the say how the Bible refers to God opening and closing the womb over and over. For him it is a matter of Faith. Wow. I admire people who really make life a matter of FAITH! Yes, I believe God has allowed us medical science ... but this issue of birth control ... it's a whole different plain.

Alright .... this morning is clean the house day. The time is 9:00 ... Kennedy, Kadi AND Koelly are all still asleep! I need them to wake up so I can assign chores! We're gonna have the dry erase board out and make a chart of who is doing what ... the first one to finish will get a treat! Bribery? OF COURSE!!

Last night was fun. Lauren, Chrissy and I sat around and thought up baby names. Chrissy thinks she has a girls name picked out ... and it's meaning is Wisdom and Grace. Beautiful ... Sophia Grace. It is really growing on me! Very feminine. Very strong. Very all about God!

Today it has been a year since Bev's anyerism. Kyle and I laid in bed last night and talked about it. Is it possible that it has been a year? I know it has, but .... I can still see her, I can still hear her. "Open the Eyes of Heart" came on in my car this week. That is what Bev was singing when it happened ... "Open the eyes of My Heart LORD, Open the eyes of my Heart ... I want to see You ....." As I understand it, that's about the point she fell. My heart rejoices that she indeed is with our Lord ... She is seeing Him! The eyes of her heart were truly opened!

Pray for the Chamberlains today. Please. And again on May 5.

Lauren and I played Scrabble last night. She won. HOWEVER ... I played the word FACSIMILE! Hoo-Hoo!! I was very proud of myself. All of 13 points, I landed on NO special spaces and ... The "M" was a blank. :) But what a fun word!! (We were playing you can use 9 letters Scrabble ... that's why I didn't get 50 points for using 7 letters!)

Today has been interesting .... Koelly began it by emptying a Koolaid Jammer all over the floor and sitting in it ... splashing mind you ...

Now normally, I would be a mite frazzled by this ... even more so today since it was 8:38 ... time to leave for school!!!!

So I rushed Keenan and Kennedy off across the street to go to school w/ Tyler and his Dad. Kennedy began to really cry. I guess she is afraid of Scott. He's a really big guy ... Bouncer kindof big. So I told her she could sit by Tyler and he would protect her. He,he. She went for that. So I loaded her up in the great big 1 ton dually truck (which might have been scary for her too). Keenan was thrilled to go!

I called her at school to make sure she was okay. She was. I don't think she'll go for that again really soon though. Silly girl.

And later in the morning, Justin and Kadi called me into the living room ... Koel had pooped in his pullup ... wearing a pullup, cause we're out of diapers ... and he dug right in to check it out ... apparently. Then he gave it to Kadi ... she proceeded to put it in the toilet and flush. Here's where I came in and made them wash their hands. Bizarre. Nasty. Ooooooo.

I guess really it hasn't been that crazy of a day now that I think about it ... a couple of other things happened, but right now I'm blank.

Yesterday however ... Keenan ... he did something very bizarre for him. Jami has a big white trash can. It has been on the back porch. Well, the kids have used it for playing in the water with for a few days. No big deal. Apparently it had a crack. So Keenan yesterday, took a hockey stick to it and, along with Little Tyler's help, beat the poor thing to smithereens. What was that about?

I'm still doing my laundry air-dry. Today it's raining so I've got all the hanging stuff on the door jams in the hallway, and I took a baby gate I don't use, stretched it out real far and am using all the spaces in it for hanging socks and undies! Creative, huh? I have to be. I've got another load about ready to hang dry ... not sure where I'll put it! He,he. Fortunately for Kyle, I find this humorous. Plus my house smells like Gain/Snuggle. Mmmmm .....

The new episodes of Friends start tonight. It's about time!!!

Today was my first day to take Welbutrin. I felt good. I felt 'up'. I didn't cry today. That's good.

It is 85 degrees in my house right now, but I refuse to turn on the air conditioning.

It is time to paint my kitchen again ... and I need new wallborder ... but I just can't bear the thought of doing it without Soeyun and Jenny and a tube of Elmer's glue.

I made $1.50 at a garage sale today.

I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Kent this evening.

Kelsey's birthday party was today. Because it was so nice, the kids got to play in the pool. It was fabulous!

We had pizza for lunch!!!!!! Need I say more about that??? Oh, and Pevely Home Run Sundae icecream.... chocolate with chocolate covered nuts and pretzels!

My brother called me today. That was nice. I love the sound of his voice. It makes me feel 'homey'.

10 reasons why I love my brother ....

1) He loves Jesus.
2) He is kind and gentle.
3) He is incredibly talented musically and genius working with people.
4) He loves to be silly and play. My children adore their Uncle David.
5) He used to tell on himself when I told him to.
6) He says to spell your last name on his answering machine at work ... cracks me up!
7) He is a Star Wars 'fanatic' shall we say. When he was 2 it began. And it just keeps going ....
8) He is an excellent rhymer ... we used to lay across the beds and hang our heads off upside down and rhyme words together. Sometimes not the best words ... but ...
9) He loves the show "Wings" ... we would stay up late and watch the reruns together. I love that memory.
10) He's not just my little brother anymore ... he's my brother who I can look up to. He can truly say, but he wouldn't, 'follow me as I follow Christ'. He is beautiful in his love of Jesus.

I am truly blessed to have such a brother. He is completely cool!

Koel was scheduled for a doctor's appointment this morning at 10:00. No sweat. I asked Lauren to keep Kadi for me. No problem. At 9:25, Kadi tells me that Angel is out ... Marty and Karen's little terrier dog. So I go outside ... Marty and Karen not being home. I chased her up MarMary a ways, then she ran the opposite direction down MarMary. I chased her to the corner, and she disappeared. I ran back, grabbed Kadi and Koel and jumped into the car. We went looking for Angel. She was up on St. Katherine, which is the street behind us. I tried to corner her there, with the help of two kind gentlemen who were working on a house. None of us could catch her and she ran back down St. Katherine. I tried to call Kyle. No answer. Hopped in the car again, and took off down St. Joachim after the stupid dog. She ran into a big dog on a chain and he had her basically frozen. I thought I had her. I got two feet from her and she ran. This time back up St. Joachim and down the opposite direction of St. Katherine. I hopped in the car again and took off after her. Finally I got a hold of Kyle. By this time I was near tears. Marty told him to tell me just to let her go. So, reluctantly, I did.
I drove to Lauren's to drop off Kadi, who was screaming that she didn't want to go there. I said Tough Noogies. I dropped her off and headed to Koel's doctor appointment. He had to get 5 shots today. Isn't that awful. BTW ... he turned 18 months old today!
I have to take him back in a month. He has fluid in both ears. AND his vocabulary is lacking. So, Dr. Finn wants to check his ears again and do a hearing test. Kyle and I are both concerned. Hopefully in the next month his vocabulary will pick up.
After leaving there, I went through the drive thru at Taco bell and tried the new crunchy cheesy gordita. I wouldn't recommend it.
Then Koel and I came home and I worked a bit in the office. We then took off for my doctor's appointment ALL the way out in St. Peters. Yep ... I drove all that way.
On the way there, I made a phone call to Lauren to check up on Kadi. I said "How is she", expecting a "just fine" in return.
I didn't get a "Just fine". I got a "well ....."
"Uh-oh" says me.
"What did she do?" I ask.
Lauren said maybe Kadi should tell me. So I gathered from Kadi that there was paint involved. I told her to put Lauren back on the phone.
Apparently, Kadi decided to play in the paint. Lauren is painting their front door red ... very nice by the way ... Kadi asked if she could help. Lauren said No, and please don't touch the paint. Well, something happened outside and Lauren went to check it out. She came back in to find ...
Red paint on her fireplace.
Red paint on her living room carpet.
Red paint all over the bathroom door, the sink, etc ....
Red paint all over Kadi.
Needlesstosay, Kadi was in a world of trouble. I am fine with Lauren's discipline of her. She couldn't tell Lauren why she did it though.
I was furious. I called Kyle. He wasn't happy either. We both want these behavior 'things' to stop. Kadi says she can't stop. She has to be bad she says.
I went to pick her up. I made her sit by me and tell me why she did it. Apparently, she was holding a little plastic slinky. "Somehow" it slipped into the paint can. So, she went in after it. Then tried to hide her tracks .... by ...
Hiding the red painted slinky under the recliner chair ... which we only discovered AFTER I was there.
Touching the fireplace and the living room carpet .... not to mention the carpet under the recliner, which was dry by the time we found out about that!
Going to the bathroom to wash her hands, touching everything in sight.
Ruining one of Lauren's best towels.
I feel so numb about her right now. I love her sooo much, but I have no energy to discipline her anymore. Nothing works. She just makes me sad. My heart is so heavy.
OH, and Angel found her way home somehow. Sidenote. I'm half glad, half not. I won't chase her again ... let me tell you!
I start taking Welbutrin in the morning. Dr. Adams thinks that will help me. I hope so.
Felicia and I tagged all of our garage sale stuff tonight. It took 3 hours. Not bad. It was fun. I like her so much. She wants to be up by 6 and setting stuff out! Oh My!
Pray for Kadi if you read this. Pray for me. Pray for Kyle. For wisdom and obedience.
I am praying too that Lauren can continue to love my little girl. She makes it so hard sometimes, Kadi does. I know it. I am horrified by what she did today. I have apologized profusely. Lauren says she is fine. She told Kadi that she loves her and has forgiven her.
I just hate it that my child could do this.
It has been a day. A very busy day.
I'm very tired. I am going to sleep now.

I'm really random today.

I like the Roaming Gnome from Travelocity.

"Don't forget your hat". Hilarious. Especially in the English accent.

I found an hilarious website today. http://www.freethegnomes.com/index.html
I really hope it is just a joke. Who knows. People are crazy enough.

Did I every mention my dryer isn't working? I'm doing the hang out the laundry thing. It's kindof fun ... don't tell Kyle!!!!

I never make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Why?

I don't like to spread the jelly. It just sits there and then moves in a clump with my spoon or knife.

So, I just don't make them.

That is, until .... today!

I discovered I should spread my jelly with a fork!!! Lay down the peanut butter first, then slap on that jelly and spread it with a FORK!!!!

It is fabulous!

I thoroughly just enjoyed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I made at Kadi's request.

Just an FYI note, that is all, nothing more.

EXCEPT that .... you know I can't get away with having nothing more to say ....

Kadi, Justin, Koel and I went to Shop-N-Save today for some groceries. I had tons of coupons. I bought what I had coupons for. Filled 2 carts.

When I checked out, I had .... $ 25 ... in coupons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a fun feeling to know I just got $25 of my food/stuff FREE!!!! He,he!!

I'm having an "I'm very cool" kindof day thus far. Shouldn't toot my horn ... days not over! But right now ....... there's a big ol' smile on my face!!!!

Hey Jenn Reedy, having fun with your padres?

Classic Justin & Kadi this morning ....

Justin loves Kadi, therefore Justin like to hug Kadi.
Kadi has something 'up her bootwa' today.
Therefore Kadi doesn't want to be hugged.
Kadi screams. Justin hugs more. Kadi screams more ... like screeching now.

End result ... Kadi is in her room for her screaming.
Justin is confused. He loves his mommy and she likes hugs. Shouldn't Kadi too?

Ah ..... my girl.

AND .....

Kadi girl quote .....

Background info first ... my mom and my Aunt Lesta were here to spend the night with us on Monday night. They had been to Ohio to be with their brother Uncle Perry ... course his name is Perry ... but he's my uncle. My Aunt Bobbie passed away soon after they arrived, and they stayed on with him for over a week. On their way home, they stayed with us. (Please continue to pray for Uncle Perry and my cousins John, Sally and Judy and their families.)

So, we're sitting in the living room, and Kadi is between her Grandma and her Great-Aunt Lesta. She looks at her Grandma and says "Why is Aunt Lesta so old?"
Mom's reply was "We are Grandmas."
Kadi then quickly said "That's okay, Grandma's are old." He,he,he ....
I'm glad Aunt Lesta and Mom found the humor in it.

AND here's a frightful tale ....
Koel snuck out the front door on Monday evening. I found him in the street. When I started after him, he took off 'running' away down the street just giggling. When I caught him, he was spanked swift and true. My heart was pounding!! Now in retrospect ... the sheer glee on Koel's face was hilarious! The freedom! But then, not so much. Good thing for him he's adorable and funny! He is trying to say "PeekaBoo" now, but it comes out more like "Boo-Bah" ... uh-oh ... that's that show on PBS ... maybe that's what the title really is!!!! Peek-a-Boo!!

Kyle got to rent a 953 Tractor Loader this week for work. One of the Granddaddy of all Tractors kind of tractor! He's been like a little boy in the candy store with a bunch of money to spend ... that sort of happy! Did I mention he's also dyed his hair again ... maybe I should say 'bleached'. His face is shaven as well ... very nice. I like it.

Kennedy however, does not like her dad's new look. She straight up told him so. We figure she'll get over it.

Did I also mention that she had a lightbulb dawn the other day?
I picked her up from school and she says immediately ... MOM! Did you know that there is "Ned" in Kennedy???? I laughed, but not rudely! I'm still giggling at the thought of it! He,he.

And for a word about Keenan ... he's going to get to move downstairs ... maybe I've mentioned that ... He drew a plan for his room yesterday. He,he. He has it all mapped out where we should put everything in the room. Again, still giggling at the thought of it! He loves to draw and create. I need to check into an art class or something for him.

My family is just funny! Thank you Lord that I find the humor in this group of people you've created!

It is quiet in here.

How lovely.

I have to say that I watched the finale of Adam's Quest for Love last night. Very disappointing. Or is it just me? Sam over Rachel? I don't think so! He's a typical man ....

I'm going to be participating in my like 9th garage sale since I moved into this house in two weeks! it feels soooo good to throw "stuff" out! I'm even thinking of pricing stuff real low just to move it fast! That sounds like fun!

And it is a fabulous opportunity to get to know my neighbors Felicia and Nicole better.

I want to list something happy about each one of my kids ....

Keenan: He is totally creative. He wants to be a cartoonist now. Isn't that great? It changes alot, but I want to encourage his creative side ... God can use imagination in a large way! And my little man wants to be used by God! Yeah!!!

Kennedy: She is just so pleasant. She really can make your day brighter. She is very encouraging and sweet-tempered. She makes my heart smile. She is a great reminder for me to not raise my own voice. She really rarely raises her own ... for being a baby that screamed as much as she did ... this is God's handiwork!!!

Kadi: Boy is she funny! None of my children can make my emotions swing like she can! I love the faces she makes and she knows it too! We have a lot of fun making faces together. Her newest thing is when she gets a kiss, it has to be right on ... or you have to do it over and over and over until it is just right! Funny.

Koel: He is indescribable. He is into everything .... but at this point, it is just funny. He isn't doing it to be malicious and I know it. He is exploring ... quite a lot ... He has become quite a little dancer lately. He grooves as a matter of fact.

Paige, Zaine, Kadi and I ... well mostly me ... decided Koel is Jewish today ... when he was 'speaking' at breakfast he had that phlegm sound going on in his speech! Oh how we all giggled! he,he.

Quote of the day ...

"Great Barnacles!" ... Keenan when his sisters were retrieving a ball from the neighbor's yard.

Hilarious kid!

Kadi screamed for 1/2 mile today. Didn't know that was possible. Her cries ranged from "My legs hurt" to "I can't walk". Why. I ask you, why??????

When I say she screamed, she screamed.

I walked a good few paces in front of her the entire time. I'm not going to be accused of beating her. I don't. I want to sometimes, but what would it solve?

She makes me nuts sometimes. She has continued her behavior throughout the rest of the evening.

Parenting her is so hard. Keenan and Kennedy are so easy. What is Kadi's special need?

My dryer has gone ca-put. So, all day long I've been doing laundry like 'in the olden day's'. I even constructed myself a pretty good little clothes line! I discovered my garden arch is great for a drying rack! What a day. Paige and Zaine were here. That was nice. But poor Paige, she doesn't understand that I "work" for our company. I was so busy today with phone calls, invoices, and laundry. Finally 2:00 rolled around and she could watch the Ryan Seacrest Show ... that made her happy.

Zaine wrote "I love Dacia" in chalk on the porch today. Ahhh ..... I nearly cried. I gave him a big kiss on the cheek and told him that I love him too. He blushed. Too cute.

Man, fighting will totally take the breath out of you. We've had a very off day. I'm so tired. So tired. Going to bed now....

Okay, so they make Le Divorce ... the movie ... seem like it will be a funny movie. Nope.

And ... personally, I don't think Diane Keeton should have been nominated for an oscar for being totally nude in a movie! Just my own thoughts.

We watched Le Divorce and Something's Gotta Give last night. Lauren and I were up until 1:30! WOW!

I hate it when pretty girls curse. I don't like it when anyone curses ... but when a beautiful woman has a filthy mouth, my skin crawls. Where are the ladies? I almost said something to the person I'm thinking of imparticular tonight. Maybe I should ... I just want to tell her she's much to pretty to have such a dirty mouth. It makes her so ugly. Such a shame.

I want to be a lady. Sure I belch now and then, but on the whole, I think it is important to be a lady. Courtesy, kindness. fairness. The fruit of the Spirit.

We got to watch Kyle take down a big tree today. He's so manly. He's a lumberjack! Woo-wee!! Let me tell you ... now it doesn't frighten me so much to watch ... it just makes me swell with pride that that's MY man up there!!! He does such a good job. I was a bit concerned today as I watched ... but mostly just excited to watch him work.

Kennedy is reading this as I write it. We've had a nice discussion about why we should have pretty words come out of our mouths and not ugly ones. What comes out of the mouth is from the heart. Right Kennedy? "Yes", she says.

Time to get Koel and Kadi out of the tub ......

Again, the pantry door was left open today!

Again, Koel bee-lined for the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the bag of chips was taken by Koel from the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the bag of chips was poured out on the carpet by Koel ... the bag of chips that was taken from the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the mother of Koel, who poured the bag of chips from the pantry that was left open today, was very frustrated .....

Frustrated to the point of hilarity.

I almost got upset ... then decided I needed a good picture of that moment and ran for my camera! Good parenting? I hope so.

Moments like that are precious, despite the mess ....

People keep the doors shut when Koel comes over!!! Let me tell ya!!!

I can't be responsible for his actions! Well, too much ....

It is 60 degress and lovely today. So nice. So nice.

Girl's night is tonight. Lauren and I will go it alone. We are gonna rent Chic-Flics and have steak. I'm excited!

She made me do Pilates this morning. We did them alot back in the fall ... she has continued to do them ... me ... not so much. Lauren has gotten really good .... I'm just really good at the giggling part ....We did buns and thighs, then abs. Ay-yi-yi! My buttocks!!! Nika tried to help me with the Pilates this morning as did Koel.

Koel decided I needed help ... so he climbed all over me. Have you ever tried to do floor exercises whilst a toddler crawls on you? Hilarious! I told Lauren that they should have one of the 'models' of the Pilates being crawled on by a toddler.

AND ... Nika ... she decided I needed to cuddle. So she curled herself right up next to me. So funny. I just kindof kicked and stuff around them.

Funny stuff.

I'm gonna go enjoy the sun .....

On a much more serious note than earlier,

My aunt Bobbi passed away a little over an hour ago. She's had cancer for a while. Her pancreas shut down earlier this week, so it was just a matter of time. It is still sad, yet she isn't suffering now.

So ... here are the prayers of my heart at this moment:

My Uncle Perry ... Lord, give him peace, comfort and ease his loneliness.

My cousin Judy, who is 8 months pregnant in Portugal, and who could not be there. May the Lord fill her with peace and assurance that she will she her mother again in Heaven.

My cousins Sally and John who were there. May they hold fast to each other Lord and be a shoulder for their father as well.

My mother, who traveled yesterday to be there with her brother Perry, and their sister Lesta who traveled with mom. The experience of being there while someone slips from this life is new for my mom ... give her peace Lord.

Aunt Bobbi's sister and her husband ....

Mom's sisters ... Dorothy, Doris, Mary, Wilma ... I'm not sure if they are all there with Perry, Lesta and Mom. It's a big family. Lord, keep them close and help them to encourage each other.

I don't understand Cancer. It is just mean. Simply put ... it is just mean. But Lord, I trust that you can bring glory through this and any event. Thank you.

Kadi, Koel and I got into the car to pick up Keenan and Kennedy this afternoon.

Kadi asked if we could listen to the "Lotion Baby" song.

I was really confused.

At that moment, my CD player was playing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison. I thought ... this is my 80's CD ....

Then it hit me ... Lotion Baby ....

LoveShack ... She wanted to hear LoveShack ...

So I turned it on and ... Bingo! That's what she wanted! Hilarious!

I have been diligently working in the office.

Whilst I was diligently working in the office. Kadi was thirsty.

Kadi helped herself to a large glass of milk. She poured it and everything. Then, she hid it under my round cake taker lid from Tupperware. You know, that big one.

I took a moment to start some laundry, then tidy up the kitchen a bit. I picked up the cake taker to put it away ... and ...

SPLASH!

Milk all over the stove, dishwasher, floor and cabinets.

Why? I ask you ... WHY??????????

She was spanked. She had to clean it up with my help. She is now no longer watching TV today. I don't know what to let her do. I shouldn't be taking this moment away in here ... she has to be watched 24/7.

Why is she so sneaky? Is there a way to stop it?

Is her definance and unhappiness a direct result of my own frustration and unhappiness? Are we feeding each other? If so, what can I do?????

She was so good in OKlahoma last week. Was it because I was relaxed? What made it different?

Lauren said she was fighting with Justin the whole time she was at their house yesterday. Now she is fighting with him here at our house today. And Justin is tattling ... this is happening while I'm writing ... their right outside my bedroom door.

Last night Kadi fell asleep around 5:30. Slept all night. Now she is screaming and mad like she needs a nap. I need help!!

Justin is tattling again. Kadi is screaming.

Alright, I put her in her room.

My face is hot and red. The rosacea is a great marker of my state of being/mind. I guess it's good for if you ask me how my day is and I say 'fine' ... you can tell I'm lying.

Why is my little girl so unhappy? She hurts my heart.

She just hit her door. Justin is laying on the floor talking to her under the door ... taunting her. She is just crying and crying. Their fighting over Kelsey's feather boa.

Can I just throw it away?

Ah, ....

Do you ever think you're losing your mind?

I am.

Why is it harder for me to accomplish my job this year than it was last year? What is different? Why does the business overhwhelm me so much? Why do my children overwhelm me so much? Why does Kyle overwhelm me sooo much?

My face. I don't eat spicy food anymore. I don't spend time in hot rooms or in the sun. I know it is directly related to the stress in my life. My rosacea that is.

My aunts in OKC suggested to me that I have a Magnesium deficiency. So I looked it up thinking it would help the rosacea. It actually helps Depression. Stress. It is a leveler. Interesting. It is all a vicious circle ... stress and rosacea.

So, I'm taking Magnesium now, my multi-vitamin, and using Arbonne Skin products. We'll see ....

Lord, please help me reduce the stresses in my life! Help me love my children. Help me not to be so concerned about the state of my home ... cleanliness.

Ay-yi-yi ... Kadi is already whining today. Keenan and Ned are doing mad-libs and asking me to spell everything under the sun ... and I'm trying to finish up some things in the office ... plus getting Kadi's shoes on her ... which she doesn't want to to do ... surprise. AND we need to leave for school.

I need a happy check today.

I'm very random. Is there a way to publish a scream on a blog?

I'm on my own self-imposed lunch break ... I have so much work to do!!! But I must take a break ... course, it's almost over ... but that's okay!

Well .... we're home again.

Sunday night after we got home, I made a comment to the girls about Daddy having been home all that time by himself in the house, then I went on about my business. That comment had been part of a conversation. It was done. I moved on.

Kadi started bawling ... so Kyle went to her. He asked her 'what's wrong'? She said ... "I don't want Daddy to be alone." She cried and cried because Daddy had been alone. I guess it hadn't really registered to her, you know. Kyle tenderly told her "it's okay honey, I'm not alone now. You're here with me". It was so sweet, yet sad. I stood watching. She was so brokenhearted for her daddy. How wonderfully sweet. She told him the next time we leave, he has to come too. :) Big smile.

I just went to McDonalds ... I thought they were taking credit cards now ... nope, it's debit cards. So before I got to the counter and embarrased myself, I took a few steps back and counted my change.

Then, I purchased 2 regular hamburgers and a medium soda. $2.79. Not bad for only have $2.90 in change! Koel and I quite enjoyed our little lunch out. Also a part of my lunch break. We had to go buy stamps ... so why not get a soda I figure!

Because I had so much office work today, Lauren took Kadi for the day ... isn't that wonderful??? Kadi was thrilled to pieces, as was Justin. So, I am working my little buns off today. I still have about 2 hours of work to do at this desk. I must begin ....

Maybe later I'll have time to share more of the 4 K stories from our vacation.

It is the eve of my half-birthday. Yep ... March 23 ... I will be 31 1/2. Wierd. My mom and I were looking at my baby book ... there was a picture of she and I in there. I was Koel's age, and my mom was my age. Wow ... time flies.

The kids are in bed. Yeah. Mom and I are fiddling around working on Kyle's work shirts. We're trying to get the logo just right.

Speaking of Kyle. I wonder how he's doing all on his own. All by himself.

Probably having way too much fun.

Today was a fun ... lazy day. Just lazy. Ahhh .....

We are in Talequah ... the kids and I. It has been so much fun. The trip down we sang and sang ... and we stopped at the Bridge McDonalds ... course the ice cream machine was broken .. but that was okay ... we stopped in Pryor instead at BRAUMS ... which is my favorite ice cream place!! Mmmmm .....

Yesterday, Sunday, we went to the early Service at 8:30 a.m. Then we had a marvelous lunch courtesy of the Walmart deli ... have you tried their Rotisserie Chicken??? OH MY!!! Then, we went on a long scenic drive. We must have seen 15-20 deer. I tried to take pictures, but they are just sooo fast! What fun for us all!

We saw the Illinois river and we went to Lake Tenkiller. We took some really fun pictures. The kids skipped rocks, and played a long time. Koel tried to run a few times ... by run, I mean, take off .... he,he ....

It was such a nice time.

Then, we came home and played all evening in the den. All of us. Grandpa, Grandma, the kids and me. We threw balls. We told stories about 'calling in the ants'. We had a great time! We were all in bed and asleep by like 9:30. Exhausted. What a fun day!

I believe today's plan is to weed the garden ... we'll see ....

I am happy and content.

Kadi, Koel, and I dropped off Keenan and Kennedy this morning at school. As we drove away, Kadi was looking out the window of the car ....

"Mommy, I see God!" she says excitedly!

I looked, and there was the Sun sending rays through an opening in the clouds. It was beautiful. I told her in a way she did ... and wasn't it so nice of God to make such a beautiful thing for us to see.

We decided that God and Jesus were watching us.

Sweet morning thoughts.

We just got home from the most fabulous party with our church family! We had a St. Paddy's day dinner together, did a few toasts, told a few irish jokes, and shared a keg of rootbeer! Hilarious! Then, we shared a time of worship and praise that was truly so much fun! The children were given musical instruments and allowed to dance all around, there were balloons everywhere, and we all just sang, clapped, danced and had a ball worshipping God together! That was truly a PARTY!

So often as Christians we lose sight of the fact that we are to celebrate, to eat of the fat, and enjoy our Lord together! We did that tonight. What a way for 'family' to grow. God is pretty smart. Jesus set us a great example ... he could often be found at parties! JOY ... the joy of the LORD is our STRENGTH!

Where is our JOY??

"I will dance, I will sing ... to be mad for my King ... Nothing Lord is hindering this passion in my soul ... I'll become even more undignified than this ......" Dance like David danced!!

Today ... Koelly is 17 months old!!!!

I need stuff to sell on ebay!!! I've run out! It is such a bad spot for me!!! Help!!!!! I need the gas money. It's great gas money!!!!

Tomorrow being St. Paddy's Day ... my children (Keenan and Ned) are planning their 'green' clothes. They're cracking me up!

I've already picked out mine too ... truth be told!

Well, Ned, Keenan and I went to Wal-mart this evening ... we hit the shoe isle ... and WOW! We each got a pair of shoes off the clearance rack. Keenan's are new 'light' up tennis shoes. He is beyond excited! And Kennedy's are a pair of Mary Kate and Ashley navy/white slip on tennis shoes/mules. She is very excited too. AND mine ... two pair of Thomas McAnn ... slip on sandal/mules. One is black. The other is brown. I love them!!! So exciting! I'll have trendy feet! I never have trendy feet.

Kyle hasn't lost anything yet today. That's good. I'm glad.

My girls painted up a fiesta in the kitchen tonight. Mucho paint all over the place. But they had fun.. I need to do better at letting them create. Now they're doing the same ... painting, in the bathtub with bathtub paints.

I do believe Kadi will single handedly destroy our home. The water she spills out of the bathtub alone will rot the foundation of the upper floor. EVERY time she bathes! What to do. What to do.

Kyle is on his way to Dairy Queen!!! Yippee!! I told him I wanted icecream, and he said he'd go get it! I didn't even have to do a little pouty routine! ... not that I would do that mind you!

I'm looking forward to this week.. It is going to be busy.

Tuesday: Errands and clean out the car.
Wednesday: Laundry and Packing
Thursday: Pick up Paige and Zaine at 12:00 noon, then wait for Mom and Dad to arrive!
Friday: Paige and Zaine will be with us again. AND there's the big sale at Mary Grove. I'm very excited about that!
Then ... Saturday: We leave for OOOOOOOklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains ...and the waving wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain .... I know I belong to that land ... and that land I belong to is grand ..... so let me say ... YeoW! A-yip-I-O-E-A ... Yow! I'm only saying You're doing fine Oklahoma! Oklahoma ... okay! I'm a little excited.

AND my cousin Gretchen had her baby ... so we get to meet Avery Elise Davis this week! And I get to meet Gretchen's husband Greg ... finally!

I'm excited about the whole trip. I'm excited to get to relax with my mom and dad. Just to be in their house and be able to just 'be'. You know. Yeah!!!

So .... the busier the better this week!!!!

Course, I need to label a bunch of stuff and get everything in plain view for Kyle ... so he can find things! he,he.

Keenan note for today: He is just a great guy. I like him so much! How fun is it to just really like your own kid!! It's fabulous! I was hugging on him this afternoon, the way I usually do on Koel ... Koel didn't like it at all ... but then he conceeded and just joined in the hugging. I can't believe how big Keenan is ... wasn't he just a baby?

Kennedy ... Before dinner tonight, there had been much fussing and broo-ha-ha. So, I told them all we were going to have quiet for 5 minutes and I set the timer. No talking. Well, Kadi lasted only about 30 seconds. She was sent to her room. (she proceeded to throw a huge fit and ended up staying in there for quite a while). Keenan lasted about 2 minutes. Then he had to go to his room for the remaineder of the 5 minutes. Kennedy was as quiet as a mouse. And after the buzzer she was quite proud of herself. "I did good", she said. I admitted she had. Me thinks she was a bit too proud. Ah well.

Kadi ... well you heard about her fit already ... Jenny brought up an interesting thought today ... maybe I should play with her diet ... could it be she might be hypoglocemic? (sp??) I just couldn't please Kadi today. Everything I did made her mad. I was real sad. ... HOWEVER ... bright spot ... this afternoon, when she took her shoes off ... a miracle happened! She put them away in the shoe basket!!! OH did I ever sing her praises!!! She was very pleased.

Koel ....that boy is an eating machine!!! He had seconds and thirds at lunch and at dinner!!! Is he growing again! He's already a big guy!! WOW! He really had fun with the word "Uh-Oh" today. He was dropping a block and saying it. Very sweet. AND he talked on the phone to Jenny today ... he really had a big conversation. It was quite fun! For all three of us!

Nika ... (she's staying with us for 2 weeks ... Lauren and Jason's dog) had a big event today too! She got to go to DAiry Queen with Kyle. Oh, she was real excited to get out! She's such a great dog! I don't mind having her here at all! She is just awesome.

That's all. There is no more today ... my ice cream is here ...

Here's a great big ARGH ... for today!

Kyle couldn't find ... not one ... but FOUR things this morning!! What would he do without me? He'll be lost next week while we're in Oklahoma!

1st ... lost his shoes. I told him I don't know where they are. They're his shoes and their dirty. I said he should know I don't like to touch his dirty work stuff. They were found ... by me ... under the office desk, where he had taken them off.

2nd ... his cellphone ... he let Koel play with it! Why, Oh Why?? It was found ... by me ... beside the toilet on the floor. Oooo gross.

3rd ... a phone number he needed. He had left it on the desk. Keep in mind, no one but me shuts my bedroom door in an effort to keep Koel away from the desk. Koel got in here yesterday morning and knocked everything everywhere. .... The phone number was found ... by me ... in the stack of papers I picked up after Tornado Koel.

4th ... his cellphone again. After finding it, he let Koel have it again ... Koel proceeded to take off withit. It was found ... by me ... on the entertainment center by some books on a shelf.

He finally left for work ... now I can get something done! :)

So ... we did the planting thing today ... that was wonderful! I already mentioned that earlier today. I failed to mention however, that we went to the Dollar Store after Wal-mart. If the kids are good, I sometimes treat them to the Dollar Store. Keenan picked out an Ice Cream Sandwich ... personally what I would have chosen! Kadi picked Bubbles. Kennedy picked a lipstick/nail polish combo. I was pleased with their choices.

Upon arriving home, I made lunch. After lunch I offered the children ice cream. Keenan said "Mom, remember I already had some." Isn't he a great kid! I would've so gone for that second helping of ice cream! I was proud of him. I thanked him for reminding me.

Kadi's bubbles were fun for a time. Then, they cleaned the floor and the table ... with the help of my arm and a couple of wet rags. Ah .....

And Kennedy ... well she was lovley in her carnation pink lipstick and nail polish. For a while ......

Her sister ... Kadi ... she ate it ... the lipstick that is. About an hour and a half ago. Yep, she ate it. I was furious. I asked her why. She said she was hungry. I said it's not food!!! She was covered in lipstick ... her entire face. Well, nearly. So, I sent her packing to her room. Keenan and Kennedy get the priviledge of sleeping in the basement. They love to. However, Kadi missed out. I was so furious with her. I told Kyle that I quit.

I don't really. But sometimes I want to. I yelled and yelled at her. I forced her to drink water until she almost threw up. I spanked her. I don't remember what order that all happened in ... but it all happened.

I don't understand.

When she was falling asleep ... nearly out ... I sat beside her and rubbed her head. I bent low and kissed her ... then I prayed. Lord, protect my little girl's spirit. May she always love you. Replace this stubborn spirit with kindness and peace.

I'm tired now.

OH ... the bathroom toilet overflowed this evening also ... and I mean .... OVERFLOWED! The carpet in the hallway downstairs is alllllll wet. There was atleast a standing 1/2 inch of water in the bathroom when we discovered it. Kennedy heard it and came running ... Good girl! So, I learned how to use the wet-vac. Something new everyday. That's cool.

We just did all of our indoor planting ... the beginning of the 2004 garden!

I've decided this year that the top garden is going to become an herb garden. WHAT FUN!! And behind the garage down to the fence, I'll fill with tomatoes, peppers, okra, etc....

The herbs I've chosen are .... Lavendar, Oregano, Chives, Garlic Chives, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Basil, and I want to add Rosemary. I also want to grow Strawberries there. We are going to make a spot for the green beans and peas in the top garden. I want it to be so pretty! I'm very excited! Maybe I should add Chamomile, just for pretty's sake.

The kids and I all loaded up and went to Wal-mart today. We picked out our seeds, cups and soil. Then at home we pushed holes into styrofoam cups with toothpicks, filled the cups with soil, planted the seeds according to package directions and then placed them in two large cookie sheets that have sides. Exciting stuff!

A few of them say we'll see seedlings in as early as 7 days! We are excited! Now ... I just hope Kyle won't forget to water them while the kiddies and I are gone to Oklahoma!

We've also been listening to Junie B. Jones audio books and Ramona, Age 8 ...audio book. Hilarious! Great fun for while we've been working!

I love the Junie B. Jones just calls her teacher ... Mrs. That's all. Just Mrs. She says "She has another name, but I just like Mrs." So cute.

I have to give big KUDOS to my brother. (His name is David). He taught me this fabulous way to tie shoes that has really saved me sooo much time and frustration with my children and their shoes! Even Kennedy uses it!

What you do is ..... When you make your two loops ... Instead of only taking the loop down and through one time ... do it twice ... and pull!

Wha-la ... a double knot that is easy to untie ... simply pull the ends of your shoestrings! No fuss!

It is fabulous!

I just had to give David a big THUMBS UP today. It really jumped out at me this morning how much time that has saved me!

So, DAvid if you read this ..... THANK YOU!!!!

I am so proud of Keenan right now.

Well, at first I was a bit torked at him ... when I dropped Keenan and Kennedy off at school, they wanted to be let off at the top of the building. That's fine, especially since they go in together. Well ... Keenan gets out of the car and races toward his friend Andy ... totally leaving his sister behind! I couldn't believe it! That's so not like Keenan! Kennedy struggled to get her stuff and get going. I watched her walk into the building as I slowly drove away .... and then I saw him ....

Keenan was standing right inside the front door waiting for her. Ahhh .... I'm so proud.

My kids love each other so much! Especially Keenan and Kennedy. What a relationship they have!

AND ... Kyle lost his keys yesterday too!!!! He finally found them in his friend Donnie's truck! Ha! I knew I hadn't had them!!!! he,he.

For anyone who reads this ... what are your thoughts on BOOBAH ... PBS's new show???/

HERE Is something FABULOUS!

I spent most of my morning at Wal-mart with Lauren, Justin, Kadi and Koel. We stayed in the book/musical toy isle for quite a long time. The kids played and Lauren and I read books. It is like being at the library/toybrary. Wonderful! Then, we strolled over to the Clearance isles. We stayed quite a bit of a long time there too!

I found ..... two gorgeous table cloths .... 100" x 60". The colors are Navy, Purple, and Sage on a white background. Flowers, Leaves, Music, and sweet garden sayings. ... Lovely! They are now the drapes in my bedroom!!! I paid $4.25 per table cloth!!!! Fabulous! AND there were matching cloth napkins ... now I have two big throw pillows on my bed. And I brought in a smaller navy one from the living room! My bedroom looks amazing! The napkins were 2 for $1 ... so for $10.50 ... I have a lovely 'new' room. I plan on now painting my bedroom sage ... with my white wood trim, big white bookcase ... and these new pillows and drapes ... Oooo-wee .... I SO EXCITED!!!

I also made an Italian Meatloaf for dinner ... AMAZING! It was like eating a giant meatball! MMMMMM....

AND here's another fun thing .... I now own "The Thrill of It All" starring James Garner and Doris Day! I love that movie!!! It is so funny ... one of those you can watch over and over! Now I 'need' "Move Over Darling" also starring James Garner and Doris Day. It is sooo funny too!

I found a new foundation makeup today! It really evens out my skin tone! Exciting stuff!

Keenan ... he's so cute ... every morning now he runs into the school building and up the stairs to the middle landing which has windows that look over the parking lot. He wants me to wave and blow him a kiss ... so I do. Sweet Boy.

He has also informed me that the Tyler in his class at school does not like him. Actually 'hates' him. That is hard to hear as a mom! I wanted to scratch the kids eyes. But I realize also, they are 7 and 8 years old. Emotions are rampant. Still a hard mommy moment for me. I asked Keenan why ... he says he doesn't know ... maybe because he sits too close to him ...

AND Kennedy told me that Jarrod in her class 'hates' her. I was shocked. I know for a fact that Jarrod likes her. But she says that she got in his way [unintentionally] in PE while playing Hockey. Apparently he is competitive.

Hard stuff for a mommy's heart. My babies are awesome! How dare anyone not think sooooo!!!!!

Kennedy dressed herself up in a black long sleeve top, black leggins and her long black boots this evening ... topping off the outfit with a black headband. My oh my ... didn't we look coffee-shoppee. She said she was a secret agent. He,he. She could wear a gunny sack and look pretty.

Kadi-here's my question .... why is it so hard for her to get along with people some days. I find myself being so embarrassed by the mean things she does and says ... yet I realize she isn't me. She may be a reflection of me to a degree ... but she is her own person. She must have some anger issues, or it is purely selfishness. Lord, I need wisdom to know how to parent this little girl!

By the way, Ike told her she was beautiful on Sunday ... so now she has decided she wants to marry Ike and not Justin. Fickle. he,he. Toddler romance. Funny stuff.

Koel ... at Wal-mart today ... he wanted Lauren and not me!!! I reached for him and he pulled away ... when he did come to me ... he wanted right back to her. My poor little heart. However, when he gets his little feelers hurt ... he comes running to me ... he knows who momma is!

It's funny. Every day, I just can't get over how cute he is. What a doll. Always smiling. And that dimple ... it goes on and on ..... AND speaking of his dimple ... which leads me to his cheeks .... his cheeks will do that flappy thing that Lauren's do! Hilarious!!!!!! For those of you who know what I'm talking about .... you know that is funny!

Kyle couldn't find a receipt tonight. I discovered quickly though that it wasn't that he couldn't find it ... he just really did not look for it first. Here's where I would place a smirking smiling face.

Thank you Lord for a relaxing day! And even for the non-relaxing days ... but I'm glad today was ....

This is the day that the Lord has made ... I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.

I've been very inward focused today.
Sitting here reading through Colossians and listening to music, I realize how I've been focusing on myself. It's been a hard afternoon. I still feel like sharing all my woes in here, but I realize ... I have not worked with enthusiasm today in anything. I have not pursued my day for the Lord ... I have pursued it for man ... for Kyle ... for me.
All things are to be for Christ ... FIRST.

"Who is He, whose the mightiest of all ...
Who is He, Creation trembles at his call ...
Who is He, the lowly sacrifice, who paid a victims' price ... His name is Jesus ...

Jesus ... from the Father's own right hand ...
Jesus ... Son of God and Son of man ...
Jesus ... who died and rose again ...
Jesus ... He's the Lion and the Lamb .....

Who is He, with a power none can tame ....
Who is He, that every foe will fear his name ....
Who is He, who was humbly led away to suffer that dark day ... His name is Jesus ....

Jesus ... from the Father's own right hand ...
Jesus ... Son of God and Son of man ...
Jesus ... who died and rose again ...
Jesus ... He's the Lion and the Lamb .....

He's the Lion and the Lamb .......

He's the lamb that was slain
He's the Lion that Reigns
My Savior and King ... both the same ...

Who is He, with the eyes that burn like fire ...
Who is He, oh the wonder He inspires ...
Who is He, who bore the guilt and shame for those who've gone astray ... His name is Jesus ...

Jesus ... from the Father's own right hand ...
Jesus ... Son of God and Son of man ...
Jesus ... who died and rose again ...
Jesus ... He's the Lion and the Lamb ....."

Jesus. I forget on a daily basis that it's not about me ... it's all about Him!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for Man! Why is it I go through day after day not living with Christ's power. He stands ready to give it.

Kris Bishop issued a challenge a couple of Sunday's ago .. I may have already mentioned it. But I think it is good. To not feed oneself physically, until it has been done Spiritually.

I don't want to walk around defeated. And I don't have to. That's the cool part. It is a choice. To live with enthusiasm for Christ ... it's a choice.

"Just as I am, without one plea.
But that thy blood was shed for me.
And that thou bidst me come to Thee ...
Oh Lamb of God, I come ... I come ...

Just as I am and waiting not,
To rid my soul of one dark blot.
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot ....
Oh Lamb of God, I come ... I come ...

All to Jesus, I surrender .... All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him ... in His presence daily live.

I surrender all. I surrender all.
All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all."

This is the day the Lord has made ... I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Enthusiasm! Joy! It's a choice! It's all about Jesus! Thank goodness, it's not about me!

Today is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

I'm repeating these words to myself because honestly right now I just want to cry. I'm overwhelmed by hard words said to me and hard words that came out of my own mouth.

Why do we let our tongues defeat us so much?

I had quite a near-fright this evening while on the phone ....

Pete came quickly to where I was outside and said these words ... "Your children have blown something up in the microwave!"

Oh my goodness!! thought I ... and I ran to see what the matter was ... in my mind thinking it must be a fork or a spoon .....

Did you know you shouldn't microwave a pop-tart longer than 4 seconds? It's true. That's what my children learned this evening. There sat Kadi's pop-tart billowing smoke in my kitchen after being 'nuked' literally. Poor pop-tart all tattered and blown up.

It really was quite funny. Not at first, but now it is.

Binkies are funny things. First of all how gross is it really to suck on a bulb of rubber day after day ... yuck. Then, they have this funny was of disappearing .... like today ... Koel has been through 4 of them. I don't know where they go. Somehow they always surface ... except for a yellow/red one ... it is just gone. Just one of those little things I think about.

Everyone but Koel is asleep right now. He's in his bed though. So, I'm off to slumber myself. It has been a long day ... good but long.

Here's a funny about today .... Each month I make a food menu and then plan my grocery list accordingly. Because I do this, I pay attention to grocery store ads and I remember prices. I can tell you whether something is cheaper at Shop N Save or at Aldi. I added it all up yesterday and told Kyle I was going to spend $243. That is 5 weeks of food for our family ... planned meals. Milk and etc., will continually have to be purchased. So, keeping in mind the $243 amount ... I went a little over that ... I actually spent $244! Oh my! He,he ... I love it when it is that close!!!!! What fun!!! Should I get out more?

To bed I go .......

I love Kyle. He's a good man. He's a hard-working man. He truly is my friend.

He performs this disappearing act sometimes. Last night he walked out the front door and didn't come back for like 3 hours. He does this every now and then. He just doesn't think. And then he doesn't answer his cell phone. If I only had the luxuries that he does!

He came back around 11:00 and changed what I was listening to on the computer without asking, then went out to the kitchen for a bite to eat and to watch TV. He remembered after he walked out of the room to put my music back on.

I was hurt. He had disappeared for 3 hours without even telling me he was leaving. Then he comes home and does exactly what he wants to here. In my way of thinking he owed it to me to leave the TV off and spend a little time with me!

BUT No ... then he fell asleep on the couch watching TV and stayed there all night ... with the TV on. (Same man who complains about lights being left on ... says it's different because after he's asleep ... he's not aware ....) I just don't get it. Ah well......

AND on Sunday mornings, I don't like him. For 9 years I've been getting the children and myself ready for church by myself while he lays around in bed. Today he's on the couch...where he slept all ngiht.

I don't know ... I just would like for him to take an interest in being a part of the Sunday morning routine. Fix breakfast for his family, change a diaper or two, fend off fights and disagreements that don't need to happen before church. There are so many things to do on Sunday mornings. I have just gotten good at doing them all myself.

Last week he just slept and slept so we left without him.
I may do that today.

Rather than start a fight/argument myself. He has to make his own choices. So often his choices hurt my heart, but I'm gonna be a big girl and realize that ...

1) He is different than me ... he is truly from Mars.
2) He straight up is a more self-focused person than I am ... I am five person focused. (self-focused is a nice way of saying 'selfish')
3) I can't change him by arguing with him.
4) We are each responsible according to the Lord for our own actions!

Therefore ...

Choose you this day who you will serve ... but as for me and my [children] we will serve the Lord!

Again, not saying that he doesn't in his own way ... just not the way I see it should be done.

Kyle just poked his head in the door ... we'll see if he stays awake. Then the question will be ... will he get ready on time. Even on Sunday mornings when he gets up on time .... he doesn't get ready for church until 10:00. I like to leave at 10:00. I'm never late for church when he isn't home. Never.

Things are so backward here. In so many ways this macho man of mine is a girl!

I feel better now. I decided rather than feel frustrated all morning, I would voice it on my blog.

I know my relationship with my husband is different from so many other relationships. Just know that it does work for us. There are things about me that drive him batty too.

On .... to get my household ready for church ................

Jenny is in Puerto Rico and I am in St. Louis. Yet we have the same moon to see in the sky. Tonight we looked at the moon together via the distance over the phone wires. It was a beautiful moon tonight. Full. Bright. Had a Halo. Lovely. I miss her.

Why is it that so many people I love are so far away from me?

I truly look forward to Heaven ...

"Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed, He'll prepare for us a place.
"While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will over-spread the sky; But when traveling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh.
"Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory, Will the toils of life repay.
"Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open, We shall tread the streets of gold.
"When we all get to Heaven ... What a day of rejoicing that will be ... When we all see Jesus ... We'll sing and shout the Victory!
"When we all get to Heaven ... What a day of rejoicing that will be ... When we all see Jesus ... We'll sing and SHOUT the VICTORY!"

We took the kids to McDonalds for lunch today. That was nice. It sure is getting pricey for us though. Makes me think Taco Bell is a better option!

We all brought our sodas home ... that was nice. The kids set theirs on the kitchen table and I carried mine all around the house. I have no idea what became of Kyle's.

Koel got up from his nap about 30 minutes ago. Apparently he went straight to the kitchen ... where he immediately found a full McDonalds size Medium soda! Yep, he tried to reach for it and found that he could get it .... Next thing ... it's all over the floor. A FULL MEDIUM size regular Coke. Sticky mess.

This is what I walk into in the kitchen about 25 mintues ago.

Keenan is standing there right beside the mess playing with something else, oblivious to what has just occurred ... SO typical of male behavior!

So, I mopped it up ... bonus here is that my kitchen floor will be clean while I cook dinner. That's always nice.

You just never know what is going to happen in a split second. Around here it usually involves a spill or a stain of somekind.

It is a hustling, bustling, bursting, happy home of 6 ... 7 when you count Pete!

Good morning ... and I mean morning ... It's Saturday and I was up before 7:00 ... CLEANING!!! I just couldn't lay in bed thinking about the mess.

Here is something interesting. I papercut the tip of my left pinkie yesterday evening. Ouch. But right now while I'm typing ... my ring finer is making up the difference for my pinkie. Wow. Typing is an amazing feat of the brain and hand when you really know how to do it. I'm amazed at how my brain is compensating for the huge bandaids on the top of my pinkie! Cool.

Last night was girl's night. I felt it was a bit chaotic. But that's okay. My oven was at fault. It is not working at all now. Kyle tried to fix it, but no luck. So ... I'm gonna check Kenmore's website and just see if maybe there is a recall on it. It's only 4 years old! So, all our plans for cooking last night were pressed into becoming creative ... we used my neighbor Felicia's oven. That was fun though too. AND next time ... I"m turning the TV off. We watched TLC ... but it just wasn't conversational.

I've set up a calendar of events for the summer for my kids. I think that is a great idea ... it will get me out and them too! I'm so motivated early in the morning! I'm waiting now for the post office to open ... then off I go to mail some ebay items.

Kyle is already off today too.... had two job bids this morning! Fabulous!!!!!

He couldnt' find his jacket yeserday. It had gotten underneath another jacket somehow ... so of course he couldnt' find it ... Oh the hilarity of it all!!!

Well I just don't think before I act ....

I just called Jenny in PORKA-RITO ... and well ... she's asleep ... it's 11:30 there!!!!!! p.m.!!!

It is so hard to remember that part of the year they're 2 hours ahead and part of the year they're only 1 hour ahead!!! It's 9:30 here!

Jenn Reedy, I am SOOOOO sorry!!!!

Thank you in advance for fixing my BLOG problemo!

NOW ...

I feel I accomplished just a heck of a lot today. I finished up two big landscaping/planting bids today. I really think both are quite lovely. We'll see if the clients like them in a few days. I'm plopping them in the mail tomorrow. I spent the WHOLE day on them today! What fun! It felt like I was doing homework or research ... well, I was researching! I felt ALIVE! Yes, I realize I am bizarre.

Kadi tied herself to the piano today. She had a dress on with ties at the waist. A beautiful yellow dress from 30 years gone by .... ahhh, what a picture she was. So, I walk in the living room and she's crying because she has tied herself to the piano and is stuck. He,he ... my first thought was to sit right down and just giggle. But I decided to be a good mom and untie her. It would have been funny to have left her there for a while longer. She should know better than to tie herself to large pieces of immovable furniture!

Koel can say "Okay", "This", "Daddy", and "Hewwo" ... we think. They are sort of clear, but maybe we're trying to hear more than is there ... I don't remember when the other kids started talking. Is that wierd? Shouldn't I remember those things? Good grief ... I've been through this 3 times before ... You would think I would know!!

An update on bathroom-locking Keenan ... I received his progress report in the mail this week ... GLOWING! Mrs. Burkhardt just loves him. Course that is probably why he got yelled at this week ... I'm sure she was shocked to say the least by his behavior! But his progress report was fabulous! Proud, Proud, Proud.

Ned has decided that she likes to be called Ned. Whew! I can't break myself of that habit! So that's good news for me! She told me today that she and I should exercise together so I could lose weight. Out of the mouths of babes .............

Kyle lost his hat again. I say again, but I've never mentioned it before. Just know that atleast 4 times a week, he misplaces his hat and we turn the house over looking for it. And if it isn't his hat ... it is something else ... now that can be 7 days a week. I think I'll start writing about what he loses each day .... it really is funny to people who know and love him! Right .. Jenn? Just a quick comment like ... "Kyle lost his hat again ... took us an hour to find it". That'd be good.

We talked today about what if we just stay in this house forever ... and then we planned how we would change it ... once we have some good equity established in a bout 5 years, we could add on ... go up. Make three bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom. That would be groovy. I really love our neighborhood. It is sooooooo homey!!!!

K' .... welll it is nigh upon 10:00 .... actually only 9:45 ... but saying Nigh Upon works doesn't it?

G'Night.

I'm poised and ready for a new day here at the computer and it is 9:15 a.m.
Kadi, Justin and Koel are busy watching BARNEY, so I must concentrate while they are glued to the big purple dinosaur.

On the agenda this morning ... finish two big job bids ... all planting !!! What fun! I spent so much time yesterday researching plants! I love it! Maybe I should take some horticulture classes. Might be a good idea.

After I finish up the bids ... write bills. Yeeha! Now, I'm okay with it though.

Then I NEED to clean my room. It looks like Mrs. Abominable Snowman must live in here. I'm embarrased ... it is hard to work in this pit ... but because I've been working is why it has gotten so bad. What a vicious circle.

Good Morning to this Day! I'm ready!

Let me just say ...

I saw the Passion of the Christ on Friday night.

Sunday a.m. we were singing God of Wonders. During the chorus where we sing "Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and Earth" repeatedly, I wept.

The scene where Jesus crawls to put himself on the cross was etched in my mind.

Hallelujah for the sacrifice he CHOSE to make for us!

He did NOT have to do it.

PRAISE GOD that HE did!

Wonders never cease.

I picked up Paige and Zaine from school today because they had a half-day. Very fun. They're very fun. We love them sooo much.

Paige told me that if she didn't come to our house she was going to spend the night with a friend. I said "What are we?" She said ... "You're family". Ahhh.... Isn't that awesome????? I was so touched!

Then, we walked to Buder to pick up Keenan and Kennedy with Felicia and Skyler .... all of us ... Kadi, Koel, Me, Paige, Zaine and Felicia and Skyler. What a group!

When the children were released, Tyler and Kennedy came out first. Tyler promptly informed me that Keenan must have been in trouble that day because he saw him crying in the hallway ......

When Keenan came out, Tristian was with him and Tristian immediately informed me ... "Keenan got in trouble today!" So I asked him how ...

Apparently my son decided to lock all the doors in the boys bathroom by crawling under the stalls.

He was yelled at by his teacher and lost his recess.

He can't tell us why he did it.

I'm baffled. Wonders never cease.

I've asked him repeatedly about it and he just doesn't know why ... he says.

When we talked to his father about it .... Kyle began by being serious, but was so tickled by it, that he ended up telling Keenan a story about something he did when he was in school ...

Apparently my dear husband switched the boy and girl signs on the bathroom once upon a time ... some poor little girl ended up crying in the boys bathroom.

He told Keenan never to do either of those things ... what he did or what Keenan did, but that it was funny.

Can you believe it? Wonders never cease!

So, Keenan has been sort of chastised here at home. If you can call it that.

I'm going in tomorrow to find out from Mrs. Burkhardt her side of the story.

My boys.

My, oh, my.

Who out there doesn't just love to spend minutes upon minutes on the phone with insurance people!!! That's what I'm doing right now ... I'm holding as a matter of fact ...

We're in the process of setting up some Worker's Comp insurance. It falls on me to do this of course. Ick.

So, Lauren is in the kitchen preparing a meal for the kids and Kyle ... I should be helping, but I have a phone stuck in my ear.

She and I are going to leave at 5:00 and go to Sweet Tomatoes and then to see The Passion of The Christ.

I'm getting more excited each time I look at the clock, then I feel the phone stuck in my ear and feel sad that I'll still be on the phone ....

I cut Koel's hair today. I think he looks cute. I used a 4 on the clippers. I spiked the top. Very fun! Kyle like it too! Yeah I passed!!!

Okay, still on hold ... my ear hurts.

Credit Cards are evil.

Just had to be said.

I reallllly feel bad that Lauren is making dinner by herself! I just want to get off this phone!!!!!!

ARGH!

La, la, la, la, la, la ... to the Smurf tune if you please .....La, la, la, la, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la.

I just learned a great big lesson today.

Kadi ... I had enough this evening. I told her to get her pajamas on, she refused. I went to get the spoon and she went screaming to her room. She knows better than to scream now ... that gets her soap. She still was also refusing to put on her pajamas. I grabbed her by the arm and took her into my room to spank her. She fought me like crazy. That just makes it all worse. I lost it. I yelled and yelled. Then in the midst of it all I discovered that she and Justin had torn up Barbie stuff AGAIN today. That's it. I yelled and yelled at her as she stood there just crying. I even called her a name. I won't repeat it because I've since asked her forgiveness. We agreed to not yell at each other and shook on it. I hugged her, told her I just need her to be a good girl and then put them to bed. Right after I finished praying she pestered her sister. Will she never learn?

Then, I went to tell Keenan goodnight. He was in near a fetal position on his bed. I asked him what was wrong as I hustled and bustled around in his room to clean it ... of course commenting on the mess while I was doing it. He wouldn't tell me anything. So I sat down in front of him on the floor.

When I asked him if he was mad at me ... he said Yes. Because of my yelling at Kadi. He said it makes him freeze. My heart broke. We had a big talk then about yelling and why it is wrong. This is what we came up with ... Jesus didn't yell at us. He chose to be hurt and yelled at himself. He chose to die for us. He showed us love when what we really deserve is much worse. We talked about that is how we are to love each other .. to be willing to be hurt for them. To show kindness and grace.

I asked Keenan to pray for me and for Kadi. We talked too about how we both need to pray for Kadi. I also asked Keenan if yelling ever makes anyone do what's really right. He said No. I said he was right.

Then we cried and prayed together. My son is amazing. He understands so much and sometimes I understand so little.

Kennedy also in the course of the last 45 minutes got her word in too ... she reminded me that when she was little and wasn't good, I prayed for her and she got better. She said I should pray for Kadi that way too.

She's right.

Big lesson learned tonight. Through my children. Jesus loves me and I don't deserve his favor ... especially after the way I treat my children sometimes ... He shows me love and tenderness like I'll never truly deserve except through himself. I must love my children, as Jesus loves me. Patiently, kindly, tenderly, unconditionally. Oh, how conditional I can be.

Thank you Lord for your loving kindness! Thank you for your faithfulness! Your forgiveness!

Make every effort to live at peace with all men ... that includes children!!

You know that No water Anti-bacterial soap at Bath-n-Body Works? I have a bottle of Warm Vanilla Sugar. It's great. I really love it.

I was sitting in the living room when in wafted in a familiar scent that I couldn't pin-point. Then Kadi came in the room with wet hair. I was confused. I knew then that she had put something in her hair. I told her to bring it to me.

Out she came with my warm vanilla sugar ... mind you the NO WATER ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP!!! Her hair is matted!

WHY????????

So the chewing goes on .....

I wonder, will little fiber-optic pieces be good or bad for Kadi?

Kennedy got a flashlight with fiber-optic 'sprigs' coming out the top for Valentine's Day. Very neat. We had a lot of fun with it. But, oh that fun is now gone to Kadi's innerds.

I am sooo angry with her. Why does she think it is okay to destroy any and everything?? I don't understand.

AND today Kadi and Koel had a little 'fiesta' in the kitchen. Pete and I were doing 'make-overs' on ourselves on IVillage.com. I heard some noises in the kitchen and went to investigate. There I found Kadi and Koel sitting in an entire bag of rice spilled on the floor. I'm talking 5 lbs. of white rice. There were some raisins mixed in too. Oh, the fun they were having.

I'm really blown away today.

Frustrated.

At a loss to know what to do.

Count ten ..... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 .... better? Not really.

I'm gonna just breathe for a while.

I sat and thought this morning about venting my frustrations ... but I didn't want to unload on anyone ... so I am here to web-log ... say web-log ... you end up saying weh-blog. Thus blog is the word I guess.

Running your own business is sooooo hard. So here is my venting for today...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

There, not totally better ... but better.

I have no business training. Never even wanted to look at numbers for the rest of my life. I have a college degree in Christian Education. I am not a business trained woman.

Yet, here I am. In the thick of it. A duck among swans. Daily I just pray I am doing this right. I don't know. I don't understand any of the state and federal ends of things. I give it all to our accountants and that worries me too. Is it all running smoothly? I just don't know.

Kyle doesn't see the bills mounting. I do. I don't handle it well. I feel totally overwhelmed today. I KNOW business is growing. Good grief here we are in the middle of February and he has still been working! That is so good. I know God is taking care of us ... oh me of little faith at times. I don't want to be the business manager. Why didn't I get a say in this? I feel lost. Scared. Out of Control.

I find myself wondering who I am. I'm sure this is the story of sooo many people. But today, sitting here in my chair, it feels like it must just be me.

Is it?

On the upswing, when I disassociate myself from all of that .... today are the kids' Valentine's Day parties at school. Kyle and I (with Kadi and Koel) will be up there for those. That will be nice. I'm going to try to remember to take the camera.

I bought them each a cup for valentine's day. I'm going to put just some conversation hearts in them. I looked at all the candy and just decided No ... I wanted to get them something they could use. So, the girls are getting a BRIGHT pink cup and the boys a BRIGHT green cup. Very fun colors. I think they'll like them. They're definitely something I won't mind. Candy, I mind.

Keenan had to write spelling sentences yesterday. LEt's just say he wasn't crazy about doing them .... So, here's what he wrote on his paper instead .....

"1. I hate spelling sentences.

2. Put a mad face if you hat spelling sentences.

3. Put a happy face if you love spelling sentences.

4. I love sentences Brandon and Danny.

5. I love more sentences Raina and Patra.

6. I wish that I could have nothing.

That's when I caught him ........... mind you none of his spelling words are in the above sentences. There sat Keenan at the table, in tears, and just hating his homework. I was a mixture of fury and pity.
So, I copied his paper on the computer and told him his teacher needed to see what he had done ... then I had him erase his original and start over.

He started over, but did it VERY sloppy and bad ... mind you, on purpose. Shocking!

So, he had to erase it and start over again! I know Mrs. Burkhardt will not enjoy all the erased marks ... however, what else could I do? Finally he did it right.

He was at the table for EVER! Why does he do that to himself? It never needs to take that long!

I know it is hard for me to understand because I LOVE Spelling!!!! Spelling is fabulous! Everyone should spell well!!! There's a Celebrity Spelling Bee show coming on soon .... looks like great fun to me!!

Sick. I know. But hey, when you enjoy something ... you just do.

Like Phoebe's wedding last night. How marvelous was that? Monica was a bit over the top nutso, but that's okay. Pete and I enjoyed it very much!

Alright, time to get a move on ... or a groove ... I'll turn some music {Tim McGraw's "Real Good Man"} on so it will be a groove ....

Kennedy has informed me she can't be nice.

She also said she can't get Satan out of her, it's too hard.

She has had a rough rough week.

For going on two weeks she has been snipppy and sassy to me and rude to her sister. I've addressed it each time, but I just seem to end up losing my cool. Today has been extra rough. She was rude in the car before school. And before we left for school she was huffy about getting ready. After school she immediately was huffy about doing her homework. I then said she couldn't watch TV. Then she made a crack remark about that. So, I sent her to her room to pick up some hangers. She THREW them all over her bed. So, I said she had to stay in there and pick them up nicely. She made a remark then about not caring if she had to stay in her room. Ay-yi-yi.

The evening just progressed. I talked to her about being kind. To no avail. She was allowed to eat dinner with the family. After dinner there was a problem with the computer ... she decided she was done on it, she left the room, so I shut it down. SHe came back a few minutes later and had a cow that it was off.

"I SAID I changed my mind" she said to me. I said I didn't hear that ... (she didn't say it). She made a very sassy remark then, and was promptly sent to her room ... AGAIN. Crying and Screaming ... as if she were being stabbed. So, I said I was getting the spoon. I did.

I discussed with her before a spanking why it was happening and how she was being rude. She says to me, I wish there were no spankings. I told her so do I. I told her I am sad when she is like this. We talked about how God is sad when we do wrong. Yet there are consequences for our actions. I told her this was her consequence. I spanked her. She cried. I held her. She calmed down. All was fine for about 30 minutes.

About 8:00, I turned off the TV ... I was watching American Idol then.

We have been trying to read Bible Stories, Sing and Pray .... so tonight in the middle of the story, Kennedy got up and ran in the other room. I called her back and she didn't respond. I called her again and she came out trying to change her clothes. I said "What are you doing". Well, she wanted her pajamas on. I said, No you can wait until we are done. If you can get up and run around, then so can I. And If I do, then there's no special time. Well she huffed and puffed. Pouted and held her PJs like they were her last friends on earth. So, I told her she couldn't sing with us in that mood. So, Keenan and Kadi and I sang some songs while Kennedy crouched in the corner by the couch. I noticed her slipping the PJ over her head. I then promptly sent her to her room. She was shocked that I had caught her.

I am baffled right now. I want my sweet little girl to remain. This sassy girl is not my Kennedy. Oh, Lord ... help me know how to stop this spirit of rebellion now! We can't have this. On so many levels, it is wrong for her.

She just sassed me again ......... she yelled to see if she could go to the bathroom. I said Yes. Apparently she didn't hear me ... so as she finally passed by my door, she just HAD to say ... "I've been YELLING and YELLING" in a very haughty tone.

Lord, please grab my little girl's heart and teach her to love YOU and others. I pray for our relationship as mother and daughter .... may we grow to be friends as she grows older.

I'm pooped. Motherhood is so hard some days.

Here's a lighter moment ... maybe it's lighter ... I'm still debating it ...

Kadi has this very nasty habit of not closing the toilet or flushing either. Well, again today she left the lid open and the pee in the pot. The bathroom door she also left open. I think Koel must have an open toilet radar. I found him playing in yellow liquid ... yep. Sure did. He promptly was washed with Dove soap.

I shudder to think about what really was involved there. Ugh. Yuck.

Atleast he was happy! Maybe he thought it was pretty.

You never can tell with babies.

Today was the 9th anniversary of Kyle and I getting engaged. I can't believe it! 9 years ago!! WOW!

Good morning,

I just slept in freshly washed $59.00 sheets. What a beautiful night.

I took a friendship quiz yesterday with Jami. One of the questions is still making me giggle ... it asked if I find myself constantly interupted .... Ha! What an understatement!

As I sat down to write this, Kennedy needed to tell me something about when she went shopping with Chris. Now Kadi is asking questions. Don't get me wrong, I love their questions ... but can I complete a thought? I sat down with an idea in my mind to write about ... now it is gone. Ah ... well ...

I had so much fun talking to Jenny last night! We talked for near 2 hours! I cannot wait for that girl to get home! Yep, you Jenn Reedy ... Come home! I love you soooooo much!!!

AND ... to hear that Miss Lisa Reedy may be coming home as well .... Yeah! Now, maybe she might come over and see us!

I taught the kids in children's church the Lisa Reedy dance ... "As long as I'm alive, I'll glorify His HOly name ...." I can't sing that song without thinking of her! So, I did the dance and they all followed suit!

HOld on interuption number #3. Apparently Kadi hit Keenan for calling her a SugarPuff ..... my advice here ... "Move On", after apologizing of course!

Back to the Lisa dance ... hilarious! One of the mothers asked me if I was teaching them a clubbing dance! He,he. No, It's just pure Lisa fun!

Now Kadi wants to know when she is going to go to Sissy's school ... Hopefully next year ... probably in 2 years. Ugh! This is an issue for me! I want her to go next Fall ... she's ready, but she misses the cutoff by a month and a half. Maybe I'll need to homeschool her too through Kindergarten.

Keenan's back, worried about if his bag of dental products is his or Kennedy's. I just don't understand ... And Kennedy wants to know if I said she has to take a rainbow striped paper to school ... No, I never did say that. Oh my. Funny questions. You honestly never know what you'll be asked.

I should go rescue Koelly from the highchair seat ..........

Bring it on MONDAY!!!! I'm in a great mood this morning!!!!

I'm online through DSL!! What fun is this!!! I'm even on the laptop. Kennedy is playing on Barbie.com in the bedroom, and I'm in here in the kitchen ... wireless internet! Woo-Hee!

Kennedy was just trying to 'surf' the internet and the parental controls wouldn't let her! Hee-Hee!

So, I went to the St. Gregory's Trivia Night last night w/ Kyle and several other people ... Marty, Karen, Bill, Michelle, Craig and Little John. Interesting. I had no idea how much the Catholic church really ENFORCES Alcohol consumption! Shocking. We didn't even come close to winning, but Marty won 2 of the 15 raffle drawing baskets ... apparently you should fold your entry papers four times ... they 'float' to the top of the pile that way he says. Interesting ... it worked.

On a much more serious note. Brandon Bishop has cancer. I really don't think that is okay. I tried to call Cindy earlier, but they weren't home. David said he'd have her call me later. Sometimes I just don't understand the way this world goes around. Brandon is a joy-filled person, not just joyful.

Well, it is Friday. Friday it is.

Girl's Night is tonight. I'm very excited. Lauren, Chris, Pete and I will just hang out and eat Penn Station, who knows what else. Part of me wants to have a plan, but the other part is saying "Nah". So "Nah" wins. I made brownies too .... yummy! Chocolate Chunk. Oh my!!

I have done so much today, but as I sit here to write ... I get nothing.

OH, I finally got the information from the insurance company I needed. That is cool.

By the by, before I forget .... Kadi told her Daddy that he is "sucky" the other night. Yes, she is still around. But OH my ... what a brazen little thing she be.

Jenn Reedy has inspired me ...

I'm having an "I just want to scream day", so .... I'm going to think of 10 things that make me smile instead of wanting to scream....

1) Realizing I will have enough money to pay my bills this month ... early even!
2) Yahtzee
3) Koel saying "Momma"
4) Realizing I'm not the only person in the world disgusted by the half-time show
5) I get to go to the grocery store and buy what I WANT and Need this month!!
6) Trivia Night w/ Marty and Karen is only 4 Wake-Ups away
7) Girl's Night is only 3 Wake-Ups away
8) It's going to SNOW on Thursday w/ Accumulation!
9) I like Kyle ... Genuinely ... Today ... he,he ... I ALWAYS love him though!
10) I made a math error in the check book of $100 in MY Favor!!!!!!!!

Wow! That was easy ... I can think of more! So, it's not such a "screaming" day after all.

Here are a few more:

11) THREE of my friends are pregnant!!!
12) And I AM NOT!!!
13) Unlimited Long-distance from SBC!
14) My Parents, whose love for each other grows every day and inspires me!
15) Keenan's Imaginary SuperHero "V-Man". I love "V-Man".
16) Drama. Drama. Drama. Courtesy of Ned and Kadi.
17) Snow again .... Opening the curtains and turning off the inside lights to watch the snow fall at night.
18) American Idol ... I've never really watched it before. Hilarious!
19) Dancing with Koel
20) Pizza has to be on any JOY list!
21) Those Quizzes you pass to your friends about all your favorites! I love those!
22) Soeyun and Jenny's comments on my Blog.
23) Soeyun...Just one of those people in life you love immediately and miss all the time....even though I never call ... I never write ... the thoughts are there ........
24) My Pansy border in my kitchen ... thanks Soeyun!
25) My living room Sconces ... thanks Jenny!
26) Fact that #24 and #25 are inside smile 'jokes'. Good memories.
27) A keychain my friend Jackie gave me when I turned 16. I still use it. What a smile maker!
28) Heaven
29) Hearing "Circle of Friends" by Point of Grace this morning .... "When we get to Heaven, we will recognize each other ...." It was one of Bev's favorite songs. What a smile for me today!
30) Being in Heaven with so many people who I love and can't see here on this earth very much .... Jackie, Lana, Rhesa, Gretchen, My brother, my Parents, My Grandma ... Oh gee ... all my family in OKC and their extensions!, Diana Jackson, ... gosh this list could keep growing and growing ........
31) The stained glass that hangs in my front window that says "The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength!". Bev gave that to me nearly 9 years ago when I got married. God knew then that I would need that reminder in my window of the JOY Beverly Chamberlain found in HIM!! Cool.


Why I'm feeling quite Peppy right now! Everyone should do this!!

All-righty I feel like going back into the world of children now .......

AH, mornings before school .... the sound of siblings fighting, books ripping, tattling, .... music to my ears .......... maybe I should really try to find the music in it rather than being sarcastic about it.

How do you spell Whooooh ... you know like when you're expressing a yell without doing it ... more of a whisper ..... Kennedy was just told to brush her teeth for the fifth time and she made a 'disgusted with mom' sound under her breath .....

It's not that I don't understand ... I still do that to Kyle ... of course being half deaf he doesn't hear me ... but I guess Kennedy does. It isn't so fun when it is directed at you.

Ah, the lessons of a busy morning before school.

Justice. She got toothpaste in her eye. It always come back to haunt us doesn't it? Sin, that is.

Keenan got a wonderful report yesterday! The school system has begun offering dental care at school ... which by the way is VERY cool ... and again ... NO CAVITIES!!! I'm so proud of my little boy who can sooo live without sweets! He's awesome!

Again, another lesson for me on this busy Tuesday morning.

We've all just recently begun using those spin-head toothbrushes ... it is like having a dental cleaning everyday! It is fabulous!

Random thoughts here.

Time to push us out the door .............

On the way to the Bishop's Superbowl party, Keenan told me he was going to make sure and spend some time with Kris (Bishop) ... you know because of what good friends they used to be. I said "That would be great!".

Kris informed me about halfway through the evening that Keenan had been periodically coming and sitting by him on the couch. One time imparticular, he reported Keenan to have made this statement...

"I like food, it helps take your mind off of things".

He,he!

He is so funny! And profound! It really tickled Kris. Just out of nowhere, here came this funny from Keenan! Now, however, I have to wonder where he learned that and consider if I teach him that's a BAD philosophy! Again ... he,he.

I really had a fun time last night. Being with the Martins, the Steeles, the Frys, the Bishops, ... it is just RIGHT! The comfort level astounds me. I cried a bit about it after I got home. It was nice to have Wendy there and Pete also. My two worlds colliding. How bizarre, yet good.

And it turns out .... the new couple at New Heights ... Cort and Laura .... she and Pete know each other from Church camp ...fairly well it seems! What a small great world we live in! Her dad preached in Bowen, Ill. before Jami's dad! Wow!

It was nice to introduce Wendy and Pete to Brandi. They've met everyone else ... now the cirlce is complete.

I just like them all so much.

There's my big statement for today. ... And it's only 7:05! Why am I up???? Because Koel has been waking up at 6:00 a.m. the last couple of days, and my body expected it again today ... and yep ... he did NOT wake up at 6:00 a.m. So, I laid there for a long time and decided WHY NOT get up. Then I remembered everything I need to do today .... then I really knew it was time to get up!

Kyle is out working already. He is salting. Fortunately, rain is coming. Today. Then Snow again. I'm happy and sad. Happy for the work for Kyle, but sad because ... it is just so cold. Today might reach 40!!! That sounds marvelous!

What was up with the Superbowl's Half-time show? Could I possibly have enjoyed it any LESS??

One of the funnier things for me last night came when Jamie Bishop looked at me and said ... Dacia, someone just yelled "Dacia It Was Tim" across the house. She says ... I have no idea what that means ... but that's what I heard .... So naturally I had to go investigate .... It was Pete. Apparently I had missed a Tim McGraw commercial in all my yapping! I missed seeing Tim McGraw!!! Unbelievable! Yes, I think he is rather nice. I have a bumper sticker in my bedroom that says "Tim McGraw for President" you know!
Funny.

I also watched Toby Keith's Superbowl Party Concert on Saturday Night ... amusing. It was Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, Joe Perry, and a Rum DMC guy all on stage together. I still can't get over that combo. Strange, but somehow it worked. Wierd. Now that's the kind of thing they should try to pull off at the Superbowl! A little something for everyone! How smart is Toby Keith now that I think about it! Whoever put together the HalfTime for the Superbowl was not very smart! Come on ... Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, PDiddy, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, .... all cavorting around simulating "acts" on the stage ... not appropriate for living rooms full of children!

And finally ...

Kennedy has decided that Keenan needs to wait to get baptized. You can't get baptized when it is cold. I didn't know that. Apparently you can't. She was very sure of that! :)

I reminded her of course that there are indoor places.

Kadi had normal events happen to her yesterday. Nothing out of the ordinary other than her outfit for church. .... White Turtleneck, Bright Pink Cordorouy Jumper (comes above the knee) and flare leg Jeans, finished off by black boots. She just had to wear her dress and jeans together! I had mixed remarks concerning the outfit ... but you know what ... she was happy! That's what matters!

I really don't want to yell at my kids today. I need to begin to take this a day at a time. Purposefully. They are such neat people. I don't want to be the reason they develop issues.

I said "finally" about 20 lines ago didn't I ?? Ha!

It is 7:22 ... gotta get the kiddies up for school ..............