Wow, busy weekend. This is the weekend we put up our Christmas decorations! I also did most of my Christmas shopping today. I only have 5 more people to buy for, 4 more cheap exchange gifts to get, and my kids and husband to finish. That's pretty good, since I started with having to do all 4 sets grandparents, all 4 of our parents, 5 siblings (which is not all our siblings, but we did a name exchange with hubby's siblings), 4 kids' exchanges, 8 cheap party gifts... Whew!
After I came home we got pizza and put up the tree and decorations. It was great! I love putting on Christmas music and decorating the tree and the living room together. Unfortunately, we discovered that none of the 3 strands that we usually put outside the house are working, so I'm going to need to buy all new. Oh well.
My hubby and I are going to make a date out of buying the girls' gifts this year. We have a gift card to one of our favorite restaurants, and we will buy their stuff, see a movie, and go to a party that a bunch of my friends from High School are having.
I'm excited for the day and night with my husband! This time of the year is so busy. And even though that day will be full, I think it will all be relaxing, as they are all things we can take our time doing. And it will be relatively quiet! My kids are creative, loving, funny... but not quiet. I'm definitely looking forward to quiet.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Songs...
...Are such beautiful ways to express things. My new favorite Praise/Worship song is this one by Addison Road. I highly recommend you look it up on YouTube if you don't know it. I just love the words to this. What, really, do we know of God? The one who could snuff the earth out with a word? We make Him so small. Beautiful song.
What do I know of Holy? by Addison Road
I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all, no
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life its name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy? by Addison Road
I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all, no
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life its name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A Breather
Whew! It has just been a whirlwind of a fall around here. Between Prince Charming starting classes, and S finishing soccer, and Wednesday night activities continuing, and a few trips out of town for me, and a sister-in-law getting married... and more! This has just been a crazy time of year. I found out I need to have a (very very minor) surgery on a dislocated vocal cord soon and I couldn't even find a weekend in October or November to do it! It has been go go go and I for one am ready for someone to stop the world so I can get off. My goodness.
S's soccer season ended well. She only played the one game I could go to because the last one (that I would have had to miss) was canceled due to all but 4 of her team being out sick, plus rain. She was bummed but it was kind of a relief for me... I hate missing those sorts of things.
My sister-in-law got married this weekend, so a BIG congratulations to them that neither of them will ever see because they don't read this blog! :) But I did say congrats TO THEM, of course, so it doesn't really matter. All I know is, I'm so glad they are happy, but I am also REALLY REALLY glad that day is over. It's not easy being the mommy of the flower girls! I know it's less stressful than being, say, the bride (voice of experience), but it's pretty stressful anyways. One torn dress, some tears, too many pictures, a mommy-daughter co-tantrum (in which C threw a fit and I carried her none-too-gently from the room), some life-changing vows, and some fun dancing later, it's over. *whew!!*
I've had a couple chances for some cool-off time over the last couple weeks, so that's been nice. I took a day trip to Chicago with my mom a while ago to help her teach a class at a librarian's conference, and two day from now (yay!) I'm going with a bunch of ladies on my mom's side to Chicago again for a shopping overnight. THAT is going to be fun. And loud.
Fair warning: I'm going to pat myself on the back for a few minutes. But I have to say I'm excited about this and it IS fairly life-impacting. I have been watching my calories and trying to add more exercise into my life since June, in an effort to look better by the wedding. This is the first family wedding (including my own) where I had not either just had a baby, been in the middle of a pregnancy, or been in the middle of chemo treatments for cancer. So I finally had a chance to try to look my best. Well, success! I am now 15 pounds lighter and have lost 12 inches from all over. I fit into single-digit jeans again!! Fantastic. That's going to make it more fun to try on clothes this weekend, too. I know there's still some pounds to come off, but outside of trying to keep exercising (which will be good for me anyway) and keeping track of my calories, I'm not going to stress over it. Just casually pay attention, and let my body get itself to where it needs to be.
I threw my second clothing swap Tuesday. These things are so much fun. I get a bunch of women together, and we all bring out our clothes that we're sick of or don't fit anymore. We lay/hang it all out in my living room, and then 'shop' through it. The rule is, first come, first served, and if it fits and you like it, you get to keep it! I think that everyone went home with something new-to-them. (I had a hard time paying attention to what everyone got...I was trying on a LOT of stuff.) It works out so well! And then we made a big donation to His Harvest Stand too. I also had a friend set up a table for her Discovery Toys business, and I know she made one sale and hopefully will make at least one more. So that was nice.
I've been reading a book called 'In Praise of the Stay at Home Mom,' by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. This book has been fantastic for me! I love that it articulates for me that SAHMs really do have a place in and a contribution to society. It's wonderful. And it has been encouraging me in the attitude I want to have toward caring for my children and my household, and loving my husband. Running the household so that my husband can de-stress after work, my kids can come home to a loving place after school, and we all can relax with each other every day is important to me. And I am praying for the patience to not only watch my kids grow up, but to delight in the fact that God has blessed us in such a way that I am the one who teaches them to walk in His ways. I am the one who sees their each new milestone, who can teach them right from wrong, to share, to care. It's a beautiful thing, and I'm so honored that I get to do it.
I just had a PET scan and will hopefully get results soon.
Well, the fall whirlwind is dying down a bit, but the holiday one is brewing on the horizon. Hopefully I can keep up with this in all the craziness. How many blogs do we read that say things like that? "I don't update enough!" Ah well, it's nice for me to be able to come back and re-read things I've written. It's encouraging to be able to see what has changed in our lives for the better. So I really do hope to keep keeping a record of what happens to us.
S's soccer season ended well. She only played the one game I could go to because the last one (that I would have had to miss) was canceled due to all but 4 of her team being out sick, plus rain. She was bummed but it was kind of a relief for me... I hate missing those sorts of things.
My sister-in-law got married this weekend, so a BIG congratulations to them that neither of them will ever see because they don't read this blog! :) But I did say congrats TO THEM, of course, so it doesn't really matter. All I know is, I'm so glad they are happy, but I am also REALLY REALLY glad that day is over. It's not easy being the mommy of the flower girls! I know it's less stressful than being, say, the bride (voice of experience), but it's pretty stressful anyways. One torn dress, some tears, too many pictures, a mommy-daughter co-tantrum (in which C threw a fit and I carried her none-too-gently from the room), some life-changing vows, and some fun dancing later, it's over. *whew!!*
I've had a couple chances for some cool-off time over the last couple weeks, so that's been nice. I took a day trip to Chicago with my mom a while ago to help her teach a class at a librarian's conference, and two day from now (yay!) I'm going with a bunch of ladies on my mom's side to Chicago again for a shopping overnight. THAT is going to be fun. And loud.
Fair warning: I'm going to pat myself on the back for a few minutes. But I have to say I'm excited about this and it IS fairly life-impacting. I have been watching my calories and trying to add more exercise into my life since June, in an effort to look better by the wedding. This is the first family wedding (including my own) where I had not either just had a baby, been in the middle of a pregnancy, or been in the middle of chemo treatments for cancer. So I finally had a chance to try to look my best. Well, success! I am now 15 pounds lighter and have lost 12 inches from all over. I fit into single-digit jeans again!! Fantastic. That's going to make it more fun to try on clothes this weekend, too. I know there's still some pounds to come off, but outside of trying to keep exercising (which will be good for me anyway) and keeping track of my calories, I'm not going to stress over it. Just casually pay attention, and let my body get itself to where it needs to be.
I threw my second clothing swap Tuesday. These things are so much fun. I get a bunch of women together, and we all bring out our clothes that we're sick of or don't fit anymore. We lay/hang it all out in my living room, and then 'shop' through it. The rule is, first come, first served, and if it fits and you like it, you get to keep it! I think that everyone went home with something new-to-them. (I had a hard time paying attention to what everyone got...I was trying on a LOT of stuff.) It works out so well! And then we made a big donation to His Harvest Stand too. I also had a friend set up a table for her Discovery Toys business, and I know she made one sale and hopefully will make at least one more. So that was nice.
I've been reading a book called 'In Praise of the Stay at Home Mom,' by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. This book has been fantastic for me! I love that it articulates for me that SAHMs really do have a place in and a contribution to society. It's wonderful. And it has been encouraging me in the attitude I want to have toward caring for my children and my household, and loving my husband. Running the household so that my husband can de-stress after work, my kids can come home to a loving place after school, and we all can relax with each other every day is important to me. And I am praying for the patience to not only watch my kids grow up, but to delight in the fact that God has blessed us in such a way that I am the one who teaches them to walk in His ways. I am the one who sees their each new milestone, who can teach them right from wrong, to share, to care. It's a beautiful thing, and I'm so honored that I get to do it.
I just had a PET scan and will hopefully get results soon.
Well, the fall whirlwind is dying down a bit, but the holiday one is brewing on the horizon. Hopefully I can keep up with this in all the craziness. How many blogs do we read that say things like that? "I don't update enough!" Ah well, it's nice for me to be able to come back and re-read things I've written. It's encouraging to be able to see what has changed in our lives for the better. So I really do hope to keep keeping a record of what happens to us.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Fall Fun
I think we may have started a new tradition today. We went to a local apple orchard with my family and picked apples! I've never done that before. It was a lot of fun. My parents bought the girls their pumpkins for Halloween (which mean I don't have to, yay!) and we picked Honeycrisps and Red Delicious straight from the trees. Another first for me, I've never had a Honeycrisp apple before, so that was nice to finally taste one. Of course, everyone was right, it was the best apple I've ever had. Yum.
S only has 2 soccer games left, and I'm going to miss one as I'm going to Chicago for a day with my mom to help her give a speech at a conference. So I only have one game left to watch this year! I need to take some pictures, too! Good grief.
I came up with a new plan for getting some exercise in. My girls like to watch Sesame Street, and my parents live next door to us, and have a treadmill and TV in their basement. So we're going to buzz over there as often as possible, and I will walk on the treadmill while they snack and watch their show. It worked really well on Friday, so I'm excited about that.
One last note... It's October 10!! That means Christmas is a month and a half away! AHHH! I CANNOT believe how fast the time is going... it's crazy.
S only has 2 soccer games left, and I'm going to miss one as I'm going to Chicago for a day with my mom to help her give a speech at a conference. So I only have one game left to watch this year! I need to take some pictures, too! Good grief.
I came up with a new plan for getting some exercise in. My girls like to watch Sesame Street, and my parents live next door to us, and have a treadmill and TV in their basement. So we're going to buzz over there as often as possible, and I will walk on the treadmill while they snack and watch their show. It worked really well on Friday, so I'm excited about that.
One last note... It's October 10!! That means Christmas is a month and a half away! AHHH! I CANNOT believe how fast the time is going... it's crazy.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
I am a sucker...
...for the words to love songs. The one I'm currently loving is called "Smile" by Uncle Kracker. I love the words. I love to think of my husband while I listen to the words. I know, I'm such a sap. A hopeless romantic, even.
SMILE, Uncle Kracker
You're better then the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow, that's right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me,
Lets me know that it's ok, yeah it's ok
And the moments where my good times start to fade
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Don't know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
I'm so glad to have shared 9 years of my life, and 6 1/2 years of marriage, with you, my love. Thanks for loving me, too.
SMILE, Uncle Kracker
You're better then the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow, that's right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me,
Lets me know that it's ok, yeah it's ok
And the moments where my good times start to fade
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Don't know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
I'm so glad to have shared 9 years of my life, and 6 1/2 years of marriage, with you, my love. Thanks for loving me, too.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Alumni Band Night
Tonight is alumni band night at the local football game. Since I left the high school, the district had to add another high school, and somebody over there had the brilliant idea that when the two high schools played each other in football, they'd invite alumni to play the two school songs and the national anthem. So I hauled out my trumpet the other day for the first time in something like 4 years.
I've played a couple times since high school, in fact, for a couple months during the year after high school I was in a local trumpet group that played at a couple churches. And once I played in a BIG Easter celebration at our church. However, it's been years since I played for longer than just the B flat scale to see if I could still remember it.
Prince Charming was a drummer in high school and played bass drum in marching band so he's going to play tonight too, and my brother-in-law played snare so he's going to play too! This should be a good time!
I've played a couple of times through the national anthem, but I can't make my brain match up the school song tune that I have in my head with the music that is on the page I printed off. I play by ear (mostly), which for me means I can play a piece of music once I know what the tune is supposed to sound like. So, play me the tune while I'm looking at the sheet of music once or twice and I'll be able to play it fairly well after that. But I can't just look at a sheet of music and know what it's supposed to sound like. I know, after 6 years of music education, you'd think I'd be able to do that, but I can't.
I'm hoping the girls will be able to go to the game to watch us play, but when your babysitters do the babysitting for free, you can't be too choosy! My in-laws are watching the girls and they might not be able to take them all out there. So next year we'll try to make the plans more in advance and get them to the game to see us. We'll have a better idea of what's going on, too. I don't even know for sure if my hubby and I will be able to stay for the game. It'll be pretty packed (Being a "home" game for both teams, and all). Actually, if they don't go, we can use the money I set aside for their tickets in to the game for a nice dessert for hubby and I. So if they can come, that would be really fun, but if they can't, we get a mini-date night! So that's cool too. :)
All I know is, I just LOVED marching band in high school, and I can't wait for this chance to experience it again. Very nostalgic.
I've played a couple times since high school, in fact, for a couple months during the year after high school I was in a local trumpet group that played at a couple churches. And once I played in a BIG Easter celebration at our church. However, it's been years since I played for longer than just the B flat scale to see if I could still remember it.
Prince Charming was a drummer in high school and played bass drum in marching band so he's going to play tonight too, and my brother-in-law played snare so he's going to play too! This should be a good time!
I've played a couple of times through the national anthem, but I can't make my brain match up the school song tune that I have in my head with the music that is on the page I printed off. I play by ear (mostly), which for me means I can play a piece of music once I know what the tune is supposed to sound like. So, play me the tune while I'm looking at the sheet of music once or twice and I'll be able to play it fairly well after that. But I can't just look at a sheet of music and know what it's supposed to sound like. I know, after 6 years of music education, you'd think I'd be able to do that, but I can't.
I'm hoping the girls will be able to go to the game to watch us play, but when your babysitters do the babysitting for free, you can't be too choosy! My in-laws are watching the girls and they might not be able to take them all out there. So next year we'll try to make the plans more in advance and get them to the game to see us. We'll have a better idea of what's going on, too. I don't even know for sure if my hubby and I will be able to stay for the game. It'll be pretty packed (Being a "home" game for both teams, and all). Actually, if they don't go, we can use the money I set aside for their tickets in to the game for a nice dessert for hubby and I. So if they can come, that would be really fun, but if they can't, we get a mini-date night! So that's cool too. :)
All I know is, I just LOVED marching band in high school, and I can't wait for this chance to experience it again. Very nostalgic.
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