Just Because

I love sincerity. I do. There's just something about a person spontaneously telling you something, just because that's what they were feeling at the time. Sometimes it's a secret, something that a friend has been holding onto for too long, and just needed to unburden themselves. Sometimes it's a compliment, and usually these come at a time when you need it most! Other times it may be a criticism. But, no matter the end result, when someone tells you something sincerely, it makes an impact.

More than all of this, I love the actions that come with these sincere emotions.  When Max runs in with a flower from the backyard because when he saw it, he knew I couldn't live without it. Or the random notes and cards that find themselves in my Bible or purse that have wonderful pictures drawn and sweet thoughts lettered on the page. Or when my Dad calls to chat because he was thinking of me at that moment.  Or when Seth comes home with multi-colored daisies on a random day of the week just because he wanted me to know he was thinking of me.  I love it when my Mom calls to speak to one of the kids because she's gone long enough without talking to them. I love to receive smiles, hugs, and kisses from my children just because they love me.

More often than not, in the society we live in, spontaneity gets lost in the shuffle.  We call people just to ask a favor. We buy flowers or gifts because, on that day of the year, it is expected. We send thank-you cards for gifts, invitations for showers, and holiday cards at specific times of the year. Where is the sincerity in this?  Where is the emotion tied to that action? Don't we just do them because that's what we've been taught by society?

I think we could all benefit from a little less structure, and a little more sincerity.  Send cards to tell people you appreciate them. Call your parents or grandparents just to chat. Sit down in the backyard and look for shapes in the clouds with your children. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. Most importantly, share the Gospel!  It is by far the most valuable give we can give!

Because tomorrow may never come, use every moment that you have today.

Thanksgiving 2009: What Are You Thankful For?

Over at MooreThanWords, Cathleen listed the 20 things she is thankful for this year. She inspired me to record some of my 'thankfuls' so that I can look back and remember what my life was like way back in 2009. As we gather together with our loved ones, may we remember who made all this possible. Who are you thankful to?

(If you are reading this, consider yourself 'tagged' and write your own! Link back here so we can share them with each other!)

I am thankful...

...that the Lord saved me. It's that simple. I am so undeserving of such a wonderful gift, and yet He chose me. Long before I was even born, He wrote my name and that was that. Thank you, LORD, for your Son, for your Word, and for your faithfulness.

...for my husband, best friend, and father of our children. For some reason, God allowed us to find each other, even when neither of us were looking. :) Seth is so good to me and the kids, and works so hard to provide for us a life full of walks, smiles, laughter, and games. As a sweet friend said of her husband...he's not perfect, I'm not perfect, but we're perfect for each other. He really is perfect for me, and for some reason, he loves me back.

...for the opportunity to be a Mommy. I never knew how wonderful life could be until the first time I held Maya Jo. To feel her body move as she breathed, to look into her eyes and see part of myself, and to know that this little miracle would never cease to be. Since then, I've held two other babies with much the same thoughts. I'm thankful to know this amazing kind of love...so different from any other love I've known...and thankful I've had seven years to enjoy it.

...for Maya Jo. My sweet pea, my fairy, my Jo Bird...whose strong will and stubbornness brought her through one of the most difficult beginnings one could imagine. That same strong will challenges me often, and shows me that my work as a Mommy is never-ceasing and always changing. I'm thankful for her imagination, her sweet smiles, and her laughter that always makes me yearn to be a child again. I've seen a miracle, and I thank the Lord for her.

...for Maxwell James. He keeps our family going...laughing, running, never stopping! He is always so honest and keeps me smiling with the things he says to me. He makes me feel needed, and I love him for it! I'm thankful I have a little Seth to watch grow up and become a man, and I hope one day he loves me the same way my husband loves his Mom.

...for Nina Grace who has shown me just how wonderful a baby can be! For her cuddles, her belly laughs, her kisses, her outstretched hands reaching out for me...it's so wonderful. I'm so thankful to know Nina Grace and be loved by her!

...for my church and church family. The Lord led me to the place I was mean to be, and to the church where I needed to be. I'm thankful for our pastor, assistant pastor, future pastor...our teachers, deacons, and many other great men and women who are servants to our Lord.  I'm thankful for the truths we uphold and continue to stand for, and that the Lord revealed these truths to us. For learning about the depravity of man, the Lord's atonement for sin, for the precious blood of our Savior...I can never thank the Lord enough for leading me here. My brothers and sisters there are such great examples for me, and I hope to one day grow to be as great of a witness as some of them are. I'm thankful for their caring spirits, their prayers, and most of all, for the blessed hope of sharing eternity with them.

...for my parents, grandparents, brother, sister, and cousins. I rarely get the chance to see most of my family, but when I do it's as if we had always been together. I'm thankful for their unconditional love, support, and just knowing that they are always there for me, no matter what. I'm thankful for the salvation of many of my family members, and pray that the Lord will give me the words to open the hearts of those who are not. I'm thankful they are only a car ride away, and that I get the opportunity to visit at least once a month. I love each and every one of them, and hope we remain close as we continue to grow.

...for my husband's family, who loves me just as my own. I'm thankful for each and every member...the Andersons, Bryants, Gormleys, Moores, Roses, and Sechrists (in alphabetical order)...they each have a special place in my heart, and I'm so thankful to have a family in Lexington that is as comfortable as being back 'home.' I love you guys!

...for the struggles that have brought me to where I am today. Life has never been easy, and looking back on the struggles I've lived through, I see just how far the Lord has brought me. Things that seemed so hard when I was younger are nothing compare to the things I face today. I'm thankful for each lesson learned, and believe that Seth and I are as close as we are today because of how much we leaned on the Lord and each other. Thank you, Lord, for your chastening, and help me to continue to gain wisdom from my mistakes.

...for my house, car, and all the things I daily take for granted. I'm thankful that we're able to keep our cabinets full, our children fed, and our house warm. I'm thankful for a computer at home where Seth can work, a table where we can eat our meals, and many forms of entertainment for the children so that we can be together often.

...for the electronic age in which we live. I agree that sometimes we take communication a little too far, but it so nice to stay in constant contact with friends and family who would otherwise not share in our daily lives. I'm thankful my Mom and Dad can talk to our children on a webcam, that they can watch videos online, of what is going on in our lives, and can always find an updated picture of us. I'm thankful I can talk to our future pastor and his family in the Philippines by phone, email, or chat. I'm thankful that there is a need for computer programmers, and that my husband, brother, and many family members and friends are employed by this profession.

...for the men and women who serve for our country.  For their families who support them and wait for them back home.  I'm thankful for those who served in the past, as well as those serving today, so that we can enjoy the freedoms in our country.  Thank you for your choice to serve. I pray for your safety.

...for Blue Grass Baptist School, whose teachers are paid a minimal salary, go above and beyond what is expected of them, and teach Christ and the Bible together with math, spelling, and science. I'm thankful the school is still educating our little ones, and pray that the Lord continues to bless them with the ability to do so. I'm thankful for all the work that goes into keeping the school open and functioning, and thankful that after all these years, it is still a BAPTIST school. Thank you!

...lastly, for a voice. Whether it's an electronic voice or an audible one, I'm thankful to have the ability to tell you what I'm thankful for in my life. I can tell you that Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died so that I wouldn't have to suffer for my sins. He shed His blood so that I could have the hope of spending eternity with Him. And He rose again, to show that once I was saved, my life could begin again. Yes, I continue to sin, but He is faithful in his forgiveness and patient as I continue to make mistakes. I pray that I can use my voice to tell others about Him, and that He might let them hear and understand.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love's Most Wondrous Story

So, my baby girl is 14 months old, and she's not a baby anymore.  It's amazing how fast she has learned to do things on her own, as well as sad how quickly the cuddly days are gone.  

On Sunday, during mandatory Anderson naptime, she threw every stuffed animal out of her crib in protest to being in bed when she wanted to be up playing.  And, at some point over the weekend, she learned to say "Uh-Uh" for all those times when I try to figure out what she wants, and she wants me to know that I have NOT figured it out.  She carries a little purse with her Bible in it on Sundays.  She follows the kids around all the time, and actually plays with them.  (They have this game where Maya and Max pretend she is the bad guy.  The kids zoom by into the other end of the house, and about 5 seconds later you can hear Nina toddling after them.  It's so very cute.)

She's still not able to do everything Bubba and Sissy do, but she wants to.  She does not know how to share.  :)  And she's having a hard time learning that Mommy and Daddy like to hold Maya and Maxwell sometimes, and that she can't make them stop just because she wants them to.  She likes to be the center of our attention, and is having a hard time learning that we love three children, not just one.  :)

But, what makes this time even more special, is that Nina has learned to show her love.  She gives hugs, she gives kisses, and she gives big, beautiful smiles.  I don't think there's anything better in the world that to see her leaning over to give me a kiss.  I'm so thankful the Lord has shown me what a special love exists between parents and their children.

He tells us in 1John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."  It's hard to imagine that I wouldn't love my children as deeply as I do if I didn't know Jesus as my Savior and Lord.  I'm thankful He revealed to me what a sinful creature I was, and continue to be, and suffered for my sins so that I wouldn't have to.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  He showed such great love for me...even when I lived in sin and enjoyed that sin, He died for me.  He saved me from that life, and showed me how to live with Him as my guide.

I'm so very thankful for His love, as well as the love I now possess, and I pray I can show others how to receive it.

Old School Frugalista

2003 – 2009…Seth and I are thankful that have been blessed to have three wonderful children to raise.  We made the decision in early 2003 that I would stay home and take care of our children, and the Lord has blessed that decision.  It’s never been easy to buy groceries, clothing, and everything else that comes with our growing family, but we’ve somehow done it.  And with no credit card debt to this point in our life.  I am now entering into my 7th year of being a stay at home Mom, and I have become a pro at finding good deals and taking advantage when I find them.  (Read about some of the ways our family saves here.)  I clip coupons, look for sales, buy in bulk, and stay connected to many money-saving blogs on my RSS feed.  (Including ClippingMakesCents, MoneySavingMom, and The Simple Dollar.)  

…(I should stop here and say…Not that I don't occasionally splurge...believe me, I do…and I am really trying hard not to do that as often as I used to.  But sometimes…those kids clothes are just too cute to pass up!  :)…

In a way, I find it rewarding to know that even though I am not bringing money into the budget, I try to be frugal in a way that makes our life a little less stressful.  It’s kind of my job, and I try to do it well.

At the present…Our nation is technically coming out of a recession, but our bank accounts have yet to show this as true.  But saving money and cutting costs seems to be a growing trend across the board in American homes.  And guess what I saw on a commercial yesterday…Target’s “frugalista” girls showing how to be fashionable on a budget.  Whaaaa??  Did they really say “frugalista”??

  

So…what?  It’s now cool to be on a budget?  Awesome!  Finally, a trend I can be a part of!

And skirts are “in,” so I may just be the coolest Mommy on the block…the verdict is still out on that one.  :)

5 Way to Simplify Your Cooking

I've been reading articles and talking to friends, and have found a few ways to simplify your time in the kitchen.  Here are my 5 favorites:

1. Use your crock pot.  In years past, I have only used my crock pot for making roast and potatoes.  That's one of my least favorite meals, so my crock pot has rarely seen the light of day.  However, after looking around online and talking to some other ladies, I have found many other ways to use it.  From beef stroganoff to spaghetti, to potato soup, to homemade barbecue, the crock pot cooks the meat while you're out, and makes the meat much more tender in the process.

2.  Use online cooking websites.  My favorite is allrecipes.com but there are several others.  What I like most about allrecipes is that you can search for a dish (Fried Chicken, for example), and then sort by rating, and you're virtually guaranteed a recipe that is fantastic.  There is also a tab called "Ingredient Search" which allows you to search for recipes by the ingredients you have on hand, or would like to use for that particular meal.  I use this all the time, especially during harvest time when veggies are plentiful.

3. Buy meat in bulk.  I have been doing this for a couple of years now, and am thankful every time I open the freezer.  I buy 5-10 lbs of beef, chicken breasts, or whatever meat is on sale.  Then I cook it, bag it by the pound, and freeze it for later.  When you want to make a dish of beef stroganoff in your crock pot, just grab the already cooked beef from the freezer and throw it in the pot.  Easy.

4. Sign up for an online cookbook. I've signed up for both free and paid versions of this, and my favorite version is TasteBook.  You can copy and paste recipes from any website, email, or document, and keep them all in one place.  And if you're ever at your parent's home and want to make a special dish, all your recipes are accessible.  I love this.  I use it all the time, and can now t hrow away all those random slips of paper in my makeshift recipe book.

5. Buy frozen veggies.  I don't always do this, because they are sometimes more expensive than fresh.  However, during winter and spring, this is a very time-saving and affordable way to keep those vegetables in you menu.  Corn, peas, green beans, spinach...all the frozen varieties contain the same vitamins and minerals that the fresh version have, and are usually already chopped and diced in the package.

So, get out your crock pot, grab a couple bags of frozen veggies, a baggie of ground beef from your freezer, add some tomato sauce and have some veggie soup tonight.

Happy Cooking!

Lisa: The Sequel

My oldest child is just like me.

There, I said it.

I see myself in her smile, her personality, and even in her habits. The older she gets, the more I am convinced that she really is “little Lisa.” As frustrating as it is to argue with “myself,” I am thankful for her tenacity and her sense of adventure.

Maya’s introduction to this world was precarious, to say the least. As I’ve mentioned before, she was born very prematurely. She was only 25 weeks gestation, 15 weeks early from the “normal” 40 weeks. She was a fragile little thing, weighing 1 lb. 11 oz. at her birth. Her skin was pink, almost translucent. She didn’t open her eyes for weeks. She “ate” through a feeding tube. There were nights we were afraid to go home or answer the phone.

At 3 days old, 1 lb. 7 oz., she had her first surgery – on her heart. To put this in perspective, at this time, Maya’s leg was the size of my index finger. Because we are told that the human heart is roughly the size of his/her fist, Maya’s was about the size of a blueberry. We spent over 3 months in the NICU, with many heart-wrenching moments, and many that made our hearts soar.

Maya was almost 3 months old before she took her first breath independently. But once this feat was overcome, her departure was inevitable. 97 days after her unexpected birth, Seth and I brought our little baby girl home. The Lord has blessed us 6 ½ years to enjoy Maya Jo, and we are looking forward to many more.

We now know how blessed we are that Maya was born a fighter. A baby with less resolve, with less fight would never have survived. And it is this fact that makes me thankful for her stubbornness. My mother did not have a premature baby, but she had one just as stubborn. :)

As I matured, I grew independent and loved to try new things. My mom taught me by example that if you want something, you have to work to get it. I am thankful for my mom, and thankful that I have her determined spirit. I rarely ask for help, and because of that I appreciate what I have even more.

With that being said, I know God’s plan included my personality. Without an independent nature, I would have never moved to Lexingon, met Seth, or experienced all the wonderful things that have happened since then. I am so very thankful for God’s providence, and look forward to seeing Maya work hard to accomplish the goals she sets for herself as she grows.

I hope to remember this as we delve into parenting older children and teenagers. Oh my goodness…driving lessons??? Her Daddy will have to take that one! :)

Chucktown

After a week away, and a couple of days to recover, the Anderson family is finally back to normal. Well, close enough. :) Our trip to Charleston, SC was much needed and very rewarding for us all. Our youngest, Nina Grace, spent the week with her grandparents in Manchester, and the rest of our family made the trek through four states to our greatly anticipated destination, Folly Beach. The trip from Manchester, with three stops, was eight hours. We arrived around 9:00 p.m., and didn’t waste another moment. We quickly ventured out to the sand to see the ocean and find some seashells.

On Tuesday, Seth and I took the kids into Charleston, and packed the day as full as possible. We saw Yorktown, rode a water taxi, had tea, visited the children’s museum, rode the trolley, ate at a nice restaurant (Hyman’s), and saw many of the famous sights. We strolled through the market, saw Rainbow Row, relaxed at Waterfront Park, and we let the kids play in the fountain there even with no extra clothes. I’m not sure what else we could have added to the day!

The rest of the week was filled with lots of pool time, some beach time, golfing, a carriage ride, several nice meals, and a couple of fire drills. :) Suffice to say, it was an eventful trip, and one I wouldn’t trade for anything. The kids were amazing, and loved every minute. Both overcame a couple of obstacles in the week spent away. On the first day, we took off Max’s arm floaties and discovered he could swim! And Maya finally overcame her aversion to the sand, and walked all the way to the pier on the last day with no shoes. Yay! Max and Maya stayed in the water constantly, and even rode in a few waves on the boogie board. Max built a sandcastle with Papaw, and Maya came home “as brown as a biscuit.” I don’t think they wasted a moment.

I think we counted a total of 12 things that went “wrong” on the trip, which included everything from finding no Entenmanns donuts at the grocery store to enduring a stomach bug. However, with 24 people I still call that a successful trip. I would go back tomorrow if I could! Well…make that next month. I’m still catching up on my sleep! Thanks to Mamaw and Papaw for the many ways they made the trip amazing, and to everyone else who had a great attitude and loads of patience.

See you all again next year!

Planting the Seed

As most of you know, I planted my first garden this year.  I came home on the day of our anniversary, and Seth had tilled the land in the far corner of our backyard.  He told me it was for my garden, and I was so eager to begin!  I went the following Saturday to the farmer’s market and got all I needed to plant tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, lettuce, potatoes, onions, and green beans.  Still, I was excited.  I came home and started digging, planting, and watering.

2 hours later, with a sore back and soiled hands, my garden was complete.  The word “disappointed” does not convey the emotion I felt when I looked at my little brown rectangle, filled with meager green sprouts.  Had I really spent my whole Saturday working on something that looks so bare?  *sigh* Yes, I had.  Despite my initial disappointment, my high hopes soon returned as I looked forward to what my garden would someday produce.

And then, the Lord took over.  He poured his blessings upon Lexington in the form of sunshine and rain, and my garden grew.  

He gave me time and energy to pull the weeds, and my garden grew.  Now, almost 2 months later, I see great potential from something that began so modest, and still my garden grows.

Man’s work has a limit.  We can only do so much with these bodies and minds created from dust.  I worked hard on my garden, but my work did not produce what is found in it now.  God’s work is unmistakable, and unattainable by man’s standards.  I’m thankful that when the Lord begins a work, he completes it perfectly and with greatness. 

Has the Lord begun a great work in you?  1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 shows us what some of us were before the Lord changed our lives.  Verse 11 tells us, "such were some of you."  If He has begun a work in your life, give thanks! His finished product will be unmistakable.  

Conversation: The Lost Art

I can remember many nights as a teenager spent on the phone for hours talking to my friends about the day's events.  I can also remember fighting tooth and nail with my brother who wanted to do the exact same thing with his girlfriend.  Ahhh....the memories of childhood.

And then came the internet.  My first utilization of the internet was a handful of websites and mIRC.  When we found chat rooms that included friends from school, my brother and I then fought over the phone line for a completely different reason.  (I still have nightmares about that screeching sound of connecting to the internet. *cringe* ) We no longer wanted to talk to a friend for hours; we wanted to talk to several friends for any given amount of time.  Not everything about mIRC was easy, but it was simple enough that I, the surface-only computer-user, could find my way around.  It sounds like a dinosaur now, but it was pretty exciting at the time. :)

Fast-forward to the present, and I find myself wondering what happened to conversation.  The answer is right at our fingertips; it has been replaced with texting, instant messaging, and email.  Kids no longer talk on the way to school or school functions.  Instead, they insert their ear buds and that's the last you hear until the trip is over.  And the way language has changed does not make me thankful for this change.  Most adjectives are being replaced with four-letter words that I am still offended by as an adult.  Even families rarely have conversation, as dinner together around the table is being replaced with fast-food in the car and dinner in front of their current favorite reality show.

The question is WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?  As I see Maya Jo growing up, it makes me scared to think that one day we might not be able to talk about the daily happenings of her life as we do now.  We still have dinner together every night around the table, she still answers our questions about her day, but I can't help but wonder how much longer it will last.  (I vividly remember the anti-social behavior of my teenage days. Blech.)

So, we canceled our television, we ignore all calls during meals, and we fight the urge to turn on music every time we are in the car.  Some of my favorite conversations with my husband have been during random road trips.  I'm trying earnestly to find other ways to keep conversation alive, but as I look around the world around me, I can't tell who is winning the struggle.  I'm still holding onto the hope that it's me.

Our Quiver Full

Mother’s Day always makes me reminisce all of my motherhood memories.  This is my seventh year as a mother, and those seven years are jam-packed with oodles of memories with my little ones and their Daddy.  Why has God blessed us with such happiness in our little, temporary home on earth?  The only answer that I have found is - because He saw fit to do so.  That is why He saved me, that is why He saved Seth, and that is why He has blessed us with three little miracles we call Maya Jo, Maxwell, and Nina Grace.

Maya Jo was born at 25 weeks (10/20/02), weighing 1 lb. 11 oz. and spent 97 days in the NICU at the University of Kentucky Hospital.  I could use this entire post to write about the days spent in that sanitized, metallic, fluorescent wing of the hospital, but I will save that for another time.  She came home on oxygen and a heart monitor, and we had to wake her up every 3 hours to feed her so she could “catch up” to other newborn babies.  She eventually did.  J  Now, at 6 ½ years old, she is a bubbly, energetic, intelligent young lady who wants to please everyone she comes across.  She loves to sing, she loves school, and she loves alone time with Mommy.  It’s rare, but it happens.  J

Maxwell was born just 4 days early (10/4/04), weighing 8 lbs. 8 ½ oz.  He finally slept though the night at 10 months old, and walked about a week before his first birthday.  His first nights in the hospital told his story; the nurses came into my room and asked us if they could take him to the nursery because we were keeping other patients awake. We quickly agreed.  J  He is loud, rambunctious, and rough, but he has a soft side that is incomparable with any little boy I know.  He sometimes crawls in my lap, holds my face up to his, and says, “I wuv you, Mommy.”  He also gives the best bear hugs.

Nina Grace was born 2 weeks early (8/21/08), weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz.  She is so quiet, peaceful, and snuggly.  She slept 6 hours the first night in the hospital, and has been a 10-12 hour sleeper since she’s been home.  (Yes, we know that is unusual, and we are very thankful.) She loves affection, and she loves her Gi-Gi (doggy) so much that she squeals with laughter if he even walks near her.  She loves the wind in her face, loves to swing outside, and is so bright-eyed in the morning that I can’t help smiling when I carry her from her room.

So, that’s our quiver, and it’s pretty full.  J  My husband, Seth, is absolutely my soul mate.  The Lord answered my prayers before I prayed them, and brought us together.  Seth works very hard so that I am able to stay home and raise our children, and I don’t know that I can ever thank him enough for that.  What a blessing it is!  He washes the dishes, puts the kids to bed, and brings me flowers…I’m not sure any Mother’s Day could be much better than that. 

Seth and I are trying to raise our family with God as our center.  I hope our children learn from our example (and our mistakes), and do the same.  I thank God for these blessings, and I pray His will to be done in our lives.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

Always the Optimist

Do you like to try new things?  I do!  Sometimes Seth tells me I'm a little too spontaneous.  :) Since marriage and kids, that has subsided a little.  However, I still enjoy trying new things and pushing myself to see just how far I can go.  My most recent endeavor is a new website.  I purchased a domain a couple of weeks ago, and Seth has set up WordPress for me.  So now it's up to me.

What is my status?

I am up to my elbows in information for my new website!  I want to do so much, but am getting bogged down with formatting.  I forgot how frustrating it is to try to get what is in my head into a language that people can understand and use.  Posts for this blog come pretty easily, as I think about what I'm going to write about for several days before I post it.  Put it in paragraph form and viola, a little story about me.

Unfortunately, this is not the case with the new site.  I'm few weeks into it, and it is still in the beginning stages.  Even the simplest of ideas are never simple when it comes to formatting.  :)  Just the decision of what font to use is difficult!  

However, I am staying motivated, keeping my eyes on the prize, and plugging away.  I'm convinced the hardest part is behind me!

Dream a Little Dream

So, after 6 years of marriage, I found out that my hubster isn't as intrigued as I am when I talk about my dreams.  Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and tell him everything that just happened in the most recent dream.  Last weekend, I realized that my details have been falling on deaf ears.  He's all, "Hello?! It's a dream! Of course you were fishing with a kangaroo...dreams are SUPPOSED to be bizarre!" 

(Eye roll.  Don't insult my dreams.)  

Well.  OK then.  I'll share my fascination with other, more interested, listeners.  My kiddos.  :)

Maya, Maxwell, and I have our fair share of wacky dreams, and we all love to talk about them.  I think it develops imagination, helps the kids become more aware of themselves and their surroundings, and it encourages them to share their thoughts and ideas with me.  Mostly, I just love to talk about dreams.

My strangest dream ever happened when I was in high school.  In it, my entire biology class took a trip into the woods and climbed a rather gigantic hill.  When we were almost to the top, we started sliding in this thick, green goo which sent several of my classmates slipping and sliding out of sight.  I awoke just as I was pulling on the root of a tree, trying to take the last step to the top.

Do I want to know what this dream means?  Not in the least.  I will tell you one thing I learned from this dream, however - I dream in COLOR!  (I always wondered if I dreamed in color or in monochrome, and I'm extremely happy to know that my dreams are just as vibrant as my taste in wall colors.)

In conclusion, you should know I enjoy talking about dreams.  I enjoy hearing about dreams.  And I do not believe that some people do not have dreams.  My theory is that they're just not that interested in remembering them.  

What is your most vivid dream?

  

10 Items or Less

I have thought today about a few of the things we have in our house, and how much our family uses these things. As Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, said in John chapter 17, we "are in the world" but "not of the world," and He has given us the choice to take advantage of what this world has to offer.  There are definitely some things my family "needs" on a daily basis.  So, I've made a list of then of those things, and I wonder if any of you feel the same way.  Here goes (in a very particular order):

10. Skype/Facebook/YouTube/etc. - These are so useful to us!  We use at least one of these daily to keep my extended family updated on what's going on in our lives (i.e. Maya losing a tooth, Maxwell playing with Robert, Nina waving bye.).  I honestly don't know what we did without it.  It is so much better than talking on the phone!

9. Chocolate - This had to be on the list somewhere!  Seth and Maya Jo are scrounging through every cabinet and drawer looking for chocolate after supper every night.  I think they would pick this over just about every other thing on the list!

8. Cetaphil - If you have dry skin and haven't tried Cetaphil, you have no idea what you're missing. It's amazing stuff!  I use it daily, and my skin thanks me for it.

7. ExerSaucer - Max used this only a couple of months when he was a baby, but Nina has had it since she was about 4 months old, and she absolutely LOVES it!  She's either chewing on a toy, playing with the spinning wheel, or jumping in it...we're all thankful for this one!  :)

6. Henry Brown Diaper Bag - This has got to be the most indestructible diaper bag I've ever used. (After going through diaper bags with three kids, that should mean a lot!)  Not only does it hold all of Nina's accessories (toys, diapers, food, etc.), but my purse and as random toys for the older kids all fit with room to spare.  Those handles must be steel covered with canvas!  Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the AWESOME monogram Seth and my Momma picked out for it.  LoVe It!

5. Tempur-Pedic - We've been Tempur-Pedic users for 6+ years now, and I still love my pillow! Yes, I admit it was a little hard getting used to, but it is the most comfortable thing you will ever lay your head on!  I take mine everywhere I go (and have had it shipped back home on occasion.)   Maya Jo and Maxwell now have their own pillows, and I'm trying to convince Seth to get the matress to help his back problems.  We'll see how that goes.

4. Van - I love our van!  It was hard admitting life was officially over, and taking the plunge to buy it, but things are so much more convenient now.  It can carry 8 people, plus plenty of room for luggage in the back...are you kidding me?  We have a DVD player with wireless headphones, all-weather floor mats, a secret compartment, seat warmers, something like 12 cup holders, climate control, AND push-button door openers.  Can a mom of 3 ask for more?  

3. Digital Camera - It is amazing how many thousands of pictures are on our computers.  Our whole lives are well documented, and can be reprinted on demand.  We are the first generation with that luxury, and I hope you guys appreciate this as much as I do!

2. Tivo - Yes, number 2 is Tivo.  We are going to try life without Tivo next month for the first time in 7 years.  I'm not sure how this will go.  Since I am married to the most electronically savvy man ever, we have two dual-tuner Tivos that are available on both televisions.  This means we can be watching/recording four things at the same time!  We have one full of movies and kid shows, and the other full of mine and Seth's fav shows...mostly Raymond, Seinfeld, Frasier, Frontline, and The Office.  I don't know how other DVRs work, but you just tell Tivo what actor you like, and it records everything that comes on with him in it...or you can say you want all Disney movies, and it records every one that comes on.  This has made us extremely spoiled...the kids think everyone should be able to "watch that again!"

And...drumroll please...

 

Number 1 goes to...

 

COMPUTERS!  (Was there ever any doubt?)  I counted, and there are 8 working computers in our house.  One is just for the kids, one is the laptop, and the rest are Seth's.  :)  I don’t mind...he makes his living using these great machines, and our documents and folders are so well organized that I can find anything in about 5 clicks.  Our network disappears at times, but I can deal with that.

There are a few honorable mentions, including the iPhone, the iPod, and text messaging, but there just wasn't room for these items on my list.  What things can't your family live without?  Do any of you agree with mine?  Let's hear what changes you would make (if any)!

Have a great weekend, and enjoy your luxuries!

I'm Laying It All Out There...

Ok, so sometimes I forget things.  Wait a minute, let me correct that sentence…Often I forget things.  I am constantly asking myself questions like, "Where are my keys?  Where did I leave my purse?  Has anyone seen my cell phone lately?  Did we get Louie?"  I can't tell you how many times Seth has found my keys in the door as he's leaving for work the next morning.  Yes, these things happen more often than I would prefer, but thankfully my husband has come to accept this flaky side of me.  (Much like I have come to accept his enjoyment of not-so-intelligent movies...i.e. watching Blazing Saddles last night.)  Even my family has come to expect this from me.  Whenever I leave their homes, they put into a pile whatever items I may have left behind, and greet my quick return with, "What did you forget this time?"

However, today something happened that has made me decide once and for all to change this behavior.  This morning when we got in the van, Maxwell asks these questions back-to-back: “Mom, do you have your purse?  Do you have your keys?  Do you have your cell phone?”  Does that sound like something your four-year-old should ask before you leave your house?  Ummm…let me think about that for a minute….NO!  This just goes to show you that the other male in our house has accepted this as normal behavior, and is trying his best to help me out!  (I am thankful for the help, might I add.)

So, today when I got home, I hung my purse on the coat rack and put my keys inside.  I have pledged to make an effort to do this every time I come home, or use these items.  

Now, as soon as I find my cell phone I will put it in there as well…