Do ya ever wonder what people were thinking (or smoking?) when they chose their children's names? I mean when were "Gamble Moore" and "Lust T. Garten" ever acceptable? And what about those people who are so terribly uncreative that they just use the poor kid's last name as his first name too? Surely you all know some Bill Williams' or Steve Stephens' or even Tom Thomas'. What's up with that?
Go here to read the most humiliating baby names of all time. At least according to ancestry.com. And if you know anyone with an interesting name or perhaps you've bestowed one of those "interesting" names, be sure to leave a comment! We'd love to make fun of you, I mean hear from you! ahem.......
Of course, I'm sure you're all interested to hear how we chose our own childrens' names.
Brooke Ashleigh - We just liked it. I don't remember seriously discussing any other girl's name. It was always Brooke. We chose to spell Ashleigh differently just because it was so common at the time, and I thought it was prettier that way. My mom wanted to name me Brooke but my dad strongly disagreed, so she was thrilled when we chose Brooke.
Sydney Paige - Sydney is named because Jeff and I started to date while we were traveling in Australia. We actually considered Sydney for Brooke's middle name but wanted to save it in case we had another girl, and I'm glad we did! We chose Paige just because we liked it and it went well with Sydney.
Payton Noah - While I was pregnant with Payton, Jeff and I took a trip to historic Williamsburg. There was a beautiful house there called the Peyton Randolph house, and Mr. Randolph was a pretty cool guy. We both loved the name! We picked the "masculine" spelling for obvious reasons although I have found since that spelling doesn't mean a blessed thing. His name was Payton Matthew until about a week before he was born. We had always liked Noah for a first name but didn't think it went well with Brooke and Sydney so, at the last minute, we made Noah Payton's middle name.
Sawyer Christian - Sawyer was a close second for Payton's name so when we found out we were having another boy, we didn't have to think long about his name! We never considered anything else. Christian was a name I always liked for a first name but never wanted to have shortened to Chris. So it worked perfect for Sawyer's middle name.
Now I will attempt to answer some of the inevitable questions regarding our children's names.
1. No, none of them are family names. We just liked them, if you can imagine that!
2. Brooke and Sydney are girls; Payton and Sawyer are boys.
3. No we did not start to date by a "Brooke" in Sydney.
4. Yes, Brooke has an "e" on the end.
5. Sydney is spelled with a "y", not an "i".
6. Payton is spelled with an "a" not an "e".
7. No, he is not named after Peyton Manning.
8. Sawyer is spelled just like "Tom Sawyer", not Soyer.
9. No, to my knowledge, Sawyer does not have a friend named Huck Finn.
I think that about covers it. More on names tomorrow..........
3.31.2008
3.30.2008
3.29.2008
Day 14
What you see here is the ultimate picture of desperation. Yes, folks, we have taken to soliciting the grieving. There was a funeral on Thursday, and we decided it couldn't hurt! I don't mean to make light of others' sadness, but you never know, maybe someone would like to live close to their loved one.
3.27.2008
Day 13
March 28, 2008
To whom it may concern:
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter of apology.
But, first, a disclaimer. You all know that life has been busy at our house lately. What with repairing, cleaning, planting, showing, and worrying, not to mention work, sports, laundry, homework, church, and life in general, shoes haven't exactly been at the top of my list. Heck, these days I'm fortunate to even have a list, but that's another story.
That said, I think most people would readily agree that my children are normally clean, well-dressed, even ironed at times (their clothes, that is, not the children, obviously). So how these shoes of Payton's got past me for the last three months is a great mystery. But, somehow, some way, they escaped me. Until Monday, when Payton made what may be the understatement of the year: "Mom, I need new sneakers." Ya think????????
(The photo does not do them justice, trust me.)
So, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize to anyone, anywhere who may have witnessed my son actually wearing these "shoes" or, worse, anyone, anywhere who may have smelled the odor I am quite certain was emitted from the "vents" in them. In hindsight, I am ashamed and appalled; but we all know that hindsight is 20/20, don't we?
No need for pity--we can afford new shoes. There are plenty of new shoes to be had, I'm certain. And I can safely say that never (save for the last three months) has one of my children left the house in anything even close to resembling these sad excuses for footwear. But, what's done is done. Please accept my apologies.
The "sneakers" (term used loosely) are now safely on their way to their new home. And Payton has a brand new pair. Please be sure to notice them and restore a small measure of my dignity.
Thank you for understanding.
Sincerely,
Payton's negligent mother
To whom it may concern:
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter of apology.
But, first, a disclaimer. You all know that life has been busy at our house lately. What with repairing, cleaning, planting, showing, and worrying, not to mention work, sports, laundry, homework, church, and life in general, shoes haven't exactly been at the top of my list. Heck, these days I'm fortunate to even have a list, but that's another story.
That said, I think most people would readily agree that my children are normally clean, well-dressed, even ironed at times (their clothes, that is, not the children, obviously). So how these shoes of Payton's got past me for the last three months is a great mystery. But, somehow, some way, they escaped me. Until Monday, when Payton made what may be the understatement of the year: "Mom, I need new sneakers." Ya think????????
(The photo does not do them justice, trust me.)No need for pity--we can afford new shoes. There are plenty of new shoes to be had, I'm certain. And I can safely say that never (save for the last three months) has one of my children left the house in anything even close to resembling these sad excuses for footwear. But, what's done is done. Please accept my apologies.
The "sneakers" (term used loosely) are now safely on their way to their new home. And Payton has a brand new pair. Please be sure to notice them and restore a small measure of my dignity.
Thank you for understanding.
Sincerely,
Payton's negligent mother
Day 12
Well, the last 24 hours have had an eerily similar theme. See if you can figure out what it was!
Drove my beloved Mac eBook to the Apple Store and sat at the "Genius" Bar for 30 minutes before they finally told me I would need a new keyboard, which I already knew. The missing keys and worn-off letters were my first clues........... They told me I would have it back by Saturday. I told them that was ridiculous. They said it would be 24 hours. Thankfully, I could use Jeff's computer to check e-mails last night so I didn't shrivel up and die.
Drove home and, immediately upon entering the house, answered a phone call from the Apple Store telling me my computer was fixed. Naturally.........
Drove to hotel near BWI airport, where my boss is conducting a weekend seminar and I had to handle registration this morning.
Drove back to the office, making pit stops at the gas station and post office.
Drove to Office Depot to have copies made for the seminar.
Drove back to the office to actually get some work done.
Drove back to Office Depot an hour later to pick up the copies.
Drove back to the hotel to deliver the copies.
Drove to the mall to pick up my computer.
Drove home.
And this was just me! Yesterday, Jeff ran some errands while I was at the mall. Then he drove Brooke to a friend's house after dinner. Then he drove to church and back for worship team practice. Then he met one of our pastors for breakfast this morning. Then he drove Brooke to yet another friend's house. Now he's driving Sydney to a birthday party.
So much for saving gas this week while Jeff and the kids are on spring break.........
Drove my beloved Mac eBook to the Apple Store and sat at the "Genius" Bar for 30 minutes before they finally told me I would need a new keyboard, which I already knew. The missing keys and worn-off letters were my first clues........... They told me I would have it back by Saturday. I told them that was ridiculous. They said it would be 24 hours. Thankfully, I could use Jeff's computer to check e-mails last night so I didn't shrivel up and die.
Drove home and, immediately upon entering the house, answered a phone call from the Apple Store telling me my computer was fixed. Naturally.........
Drove to hotel near BWI airport, where my boss is conducting a weekend seminar and I had to handle registration this morning.
Drove back to the office, making pit stops at the gas station and post office.
Drove to Office Depot to have copies made for the seminar.
Drove back to the office to actually get some work done.
Drove back to Office Depot an hour later to pick up the copies.
Drove back to the hotel to deliver the copies.
Drove to the mall to pick up my computer.
Drove home.
And this was just me! Yesterday, Jeff ran some errands while I was at the mall. Then he drove Brooke to a friend's house after dinner. Then he drove to church and back for worship team practice. Then he met one of our pastors for breakfast this morning. Then he drove Brooke to yet another friend's house. Now he's driving Sydney to a birthday party.
So much for saving gas this week while Jeff and the kids are on spring break.........
3.26.2008
Day 11
I'd like to introduce you to our new additions. Please meet "Very Expensive Leland Cypress' 1 through 5." Since the cemetery has been the only roadblock in selling the house (apparently, people don't appreciate quiet neighbors.), we decided to plant some trees, some very expensive trees, or did I already mention that? ahem......
Of course, the trees don't hide a thing now, but we are hopeful that only those with vivid imaginations will come look at the house and will be able to imagine those (expensive) 40-foot trees hiding that quiet, peaceful cemetery in just five short years. Of course, at the rate we're going, they may not have to use their imaginations at all. Sigh..........
Of course, the trees don't hide a thing now, but we are hopeful that only those with vivid imaginations will come look at the house and will be able to imagine those (expensive) 40-foot trees hiding that quiet, peaceful cemetery in just five short years. Of course, at the rate we're going, they may not have to use their imaginations at all. Sigh..........
3.25.2008
Day 10
It's Sydney's job to keep track of the cat litter and empty/refill as needed. The other day, after she had encountered some particular unpleasantness in the litter box, she felt led to share all the gorry details with her brothers---around the lunch table of course.
Overheard:
Sydney: Pixie (cat) must have had diarrhea or something because the litter box was GROSS!
Sawyer: Well, maybe she's constipated.
Payton: No silly. Diarrhea is when it all comes out. Constipation is when it can't come out.
I am so glad we cleared up that misunderstanding........
Overheard:
Sydney: Pixie (cat) must have had diarrhea or something because the litter box was GROSS!
Sawyer: Well, maybe she's constipated.
Payton: No silly. Diarrhea is when it all comes out. Constipation is when it can't come out.
I am so glad we cleared up that misunderstanding........
3.24.2008
Day 9
Thought you might enjoy visiting some of the fun sites that I have found in "internet land" over the past week.
Go here www.apartmenttherapy.com if you, like me, find their mission compelling: Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online. To connect people to the resources they need to improve their homes, while reducing their reliance on stuff.
Go here www.hulu.com if you have been searching everywhere for reruns of some long-lost and well-loved television show. I myself am enjoying St. Elsewhere and I plan to introduce my kids to Major Dad. Very fun!
Go here www.iheartcvs.com for everything you ever wanted to know about CVS deals! Thanks C.C.
Go here www.hometooling.org for some really cool lessons on teaching scripture to kids. The downloads are free and look very good!
Go here www.iateapie.net for healthy diet food reviews. I guess you can find out what actually tastes like food and what tastes like the box it came in. Good stuff! (or you can just be like me and eat the dang pie!)
Go here www.heateatreview.com if you are hip, single, don't have picky kids, and can afford all those fancy Lean Cuisine flatbread thingies. This will tell you whether or not they are worth the money!
Go here www.blissfullydomestic.com if you just want to read a fun, well-written blog about family living. Some of the writers are great christian ladies with great ideas and insight.
Go here www.nestingplacenc.blogspot.com for some amazing, cheap decorating ideas. I can't believe what this lady can do with a glue gun and some spare fabric. Amazing!
Go here www.metaatem.net/words if you want to have some fun with blog titles, letters, etc. Just enter what you want to spell into the white box and be amazed by the results!
And, finally, just in case you care and/or would like to follow suit, my iPod is the new home of two fabulous songs: Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins (stop laughing, I'm a product of the 80's and this a great song!) and New Soul by Yael Naim (you probably know this better as that Macbook Air commercial song).
Go here www.apartmenttherapy.com if you, like me, find their mission compelling: Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online. To connect people to the resources they need to improve their homes, while reducing their reliance on stuff.
Go here www.hulu.com if you have been searching everywhere for reruns of some long-lost and well-loved television show. I myself am enjoying St. Elsewhere and I plan to introduce my kids to Major Dad. Very fun!
Go here www.iheartcvs.com for everything you ever wanted to know about CVS deals! Thanks C.C.
Go here www.hometooling.org for some really cool lessons on teaching scripture to kids. The downloads are free and look very good!
Go here www.iateapie.net for healthy diet food reviews. I guess you can find out what actually tastes like food and what tastes like the box it came in. Good stuff! (or you can just be like me and eat the dang pie!)
Go here www.heateatreview.com if you are hip, single, don't have picky kids, and can afford all those fancy Lean Cuisine flatbread thingies. This will tell you whether or not they are worth the money!
Go here www.blissfullydomestic.com if you just want to read a fun, well-written blog about family living. Some of the writers are great christian ladies with great ideas and insight.
Go here www.nestingplacenc.blogspot.com for some amazing, cheap decorating ideas. I can't believe what this lady can do with a glue gun and some spare fabric. Amazing!
Go here www.metaatem.net/words if you want to have some fun with blog titles, letters, etc. Just enter what you want to spell into the white box and be amazed by the results!
And, finally, just in case you care and/or would like to follow suit, my iPod is the new home of two fabulous songs: Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins (stop laughing, I'm a product of the 80's and this a great song!) and New Soul by Yael Naim (you probably know this better as that Macbook Air commercial song).
3.23.2008
Day 8 - Happy Easter
Here are some fun Easter facts for you.
Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 20).
This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that the Hebrews used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Based on the above, Easter could be even one day earlier (March 22), but that is very rare.
This year is the earliest Easter any of us will have for the rest of our lives. In fact, only the most elderly (95 years or older) have ever experienced Easter this early. The last time it happened was in 1913!
None of us have ever, or will ever, have Easter a day earlier! The next time it will be this early will be the year 2228, which is 220 years from now!
3.22.2008
Day 7
It's time for more CVS success. I wasn't even going to go this week because I didn't think there was much that I wanted/needed, but I needed to get a prescription and ended up saving LOTS of money. The picture below is what I got this week. I don't know what it all would have cost full price but according to my receipts (I went to two stores), I saved a total of $112.35 yesterday. I "spent" 18.26, which I paid for with a gift card from a previous prescription (so no cash out of pocket), and earned $9 ECBs plus another $30 gift card for the future!!!!!! Can't beat that.
From the picture: all the Crest toothpaste was on clearance for $1.65. I had five, $1 coupons so I got all of them for $3.25 total. The regular price for each tube was $3.99!! The Listerine Smart Rinse was buy one at $2.99 and get $2.99 ECBs back. Plus I had two, $1 coupons. So they paid me to take that off their hands! The CVS toothbrush was totally free with a coupon that printed with a previous receipt ($1.50). The Lady Speed Stick was buy one at 1.99 and get $1 ECB back, plus I had two $1 coupons. So, again, they paid me $2 (in ECBs) to take them! The Bee Movie was just a splurge with the gift card because it's such a good movie! All in all, a great trip! I'm glad I decided to go.
According to my receipt, I have saved $564.98 so far this year and have spent just $89.71, which has all been ECBs or gift cards. If this doesn't inspire you to dive into "CVSing", I don't know what could. Go here to learn more or get started!
From the picture: all the Crest toothpaste was on clearance for $1.65. I had five, $1 coupons so I got all of them for $3.25 total. The regular price for each tube was $3.99!! The Listerine Smart Rinse was buy one at $2.99 and get $2.99 ECBs back. Plus I had two, $1 coupons. So they paid me to take that off their hands! The CVS toothbrush was totally free with a coupon that printed with a previous receipt ($1.50). The Lady Speed Stick was buy one at 1.99 and get $1 ECB back, plus I had two $1 coupons. So, again, they paid me $2 (in ECBs) to take them! The Bee Movie was just a splurge with the gift card because it's such a good movie! All in all, a great trip! I'm glad I decided to go.According to my receipt, I have saved $564.98 so far this year and have spent just $89.71, which has all been ECBs or gift cards. If this doesn't inspire you to dive into "CVSing", I don't know what could. Go here to learn more or get started!
3.21.2008
Day 6
Behold the cross of Christ. See there how Jesus loved you! See there what Jesus suffered to prepare for you a way of salvation! Yes, careless men and women, for you that blood was shed! For you those hands and feet were pierced with nails! For you that body hung in agony on the cross! You are they whom Jesus loved, and for whom He died! Surely that love ought to melt you: surely the thought of the cross should draw you to repentance. Oh, that it might be so this very day!
3.20.2008
Day 5
...........the God who made you in the first place,
the One who got you started, says:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
So don't be afraid: I'm with you.
Isaiah 43:1-5
(The Message)
the One who got you started, says:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
So don't be afraid: I'm with you.
Isaiah 43:1-5
(The Message)
God does not love us less when he gives us fewer evidences of his presence. He simply desires to grow us up and teach us to walk by faith and not by sight. These steps are most challenging when we're delivered through difficult experiences rather than from them.
Beth Moore, Breaking Free
3.19.2008
Day 4
Okay folks, it's been just four days and I'm out of ideas already! Help me out! Do you have questions? What do you want to know about me, within reason of course. What "wisdom" can I impart to you? Today will just be a random fact post. (I'm getting the distinct feeling that these random posts may show up fairly often.)
Jeff and I started to date in July, 1987. We were both on a traveling singing team from Cedarville and had spent six months practicing to tour Australia for six weeks. I always thought Jeff was handsome and very sweet but he was dating someone else and so was I. However, as we got closer to the time to leave, I remember thinking "Yay, I get to spend six whole weeks with Jeff VeStrand!"
It didn't take long--we were an item before we hit the ground in Sydney! (Yes, our daughter is named Sydney because we started to date in Australia.) Over the next six weeks, we spent as much time together as we could, getting to know one another as best you can in a close-knit group of 12 and performing 96 concerts in that time period. We did manage to have our first kiss in a McDonald's parking lot in Sydney. I still have the french fry container from that night!
Six weeks later, in early September, Jeff asked my dad if he could marry me. We got engaged that Christmas and were married on July 23, 1988. This year we will celebrate 20 years of wedded bliss! :-) I love you Jeff!
(Oh, did I forget to mention that both Jeff and I were child prodigies? We graduated from college at the age of 12.)
Jeff and I started to date in July, 1987. We were both on a traveling singing team from Cedarville and had spent six months practicing to tour Australia for six weeks. I always thought Jeff was handsome and very sweet but he was dating someone else and so was I. However, as we got closer to the time to leave, I remember thinking "Yay, I get to spend six whole weeks with Jeff VeStrand!"
It didn't take long--we were an item before we hit the ground in Sydney! (Yes, our daughter is named Sydney because we started to date in Australia.) Over the next six weeks, we spent as much time together as we could, getting to know one another as best you can in a close-knit group of 12 and performing 96 concerts in that time period. We did manage to have our first kiss in a McDonald's parking lot in Sydney. I still have the french fry container from that night!
Six weeks later, in early September, Jeff asked my dad if he could marry me. We got engaged that Christmas and were married on July 23, 1988. This year we will celebrate 20 years of wedded bliss! :-) I love you Jeff!
(Oh, did I forget to mention that both Jeff and I were child prodigies? We graduated from college at the age of 12.)
3.18.2008
Day 3
First, a little background. When I was in seventh grade, the earth moved and the heavens opened and my dad decided that my mom needed a car of her very own. And, because he is magnanimous at heart, daddy spared no expense and got mom the best car he could imagine. Because he loved her and only wanted to give her the best. Well, at least the best that $4700 could buy.
In 1980, the "best" was apparently a royal blue Toyota corolla. It had manual everything-- windows, seats, locks, even the transmission. It also had blue vinyl seats, a defroster that took five minutes longer than our drive to school to actually begin defrosting, and a radio--no cassette player, just a radio. Oh, and just two doors. Evidently, two additional doors were a luxury we couldn't afford. (It looked almost exactly like the one in the picture minus the racing extras, naturally.)
The car quickly became part of the Lenhart household. It was dubbed "the little car" because we Lenharts are creative that way, and because we loved it like we loved one another, we fought over it. The worst days were when "the big car" (a finely tuned Pontiac Bonneville station wagon) was at Johnny's (the local mechanic) and daddy had to drive us to school before he went to work. You see, my dad is almost 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Now consider that the entire Corolla was not even 8 feet long, and you can see our dilemma.
Daddy drove from the back seat. Yes, he technically sat in the driver's seat but that driver's seat itself was in the back seat. And, yes, there were four of us kids, which meant some poor soul had to sit "behind" (under) daddy while he drove. Oh how we argued to sit anywhere BUT behind my dad while he drove. To this day, I'm not sure what was worse--actually sitting behind (under) daddy or the mortal embarrassment that one had to endure when trying to extricate one's self from that seat in front of everyone in the school parking lot.
Fast forward to today. This morning because of how our schedules worked, we all rode to school/work together. As we tooled down I-70 in our roomy Toyota Sienna mini van, I had to chuckle. Today, as we drove, Jeff was listening to his iPod, Sydney was listening to her iPod, Brooke was on my laptop, finding some part in a movie that she needed for a class, and the built-in video player rattled ever so slightly in the car ceiling. All was not lost though---Payton was reading happily, and Sawyer was working intently on his NCAA bracket to submit in the contest at school.
It's kinda sad. My kids won't be able to laugh with each other about how they argued over sitting behind (under) dad in the car. (Although, trust me, they do argue about who will sit where.) Nor will they realize that they WILL survive the near-death experience of having to get out of such a fine piece of machinery in the school parking lot. Those are character-building experiences that my children will miss. My how times have changed. (I wonder if anyone is selling a 1980 Corolla on ebay?)
In 1980, the "best" was apparently a royal blue Toyota corolla. It had manual everything-- windows, seats, locks, even the transmission. It also had blue vinyl seats, a defroster that took five minutes longer than our drive to school to actually begin defrosting, and a radio--no cassette player, just a radio. Oh, and just two doors. Evidently, two additional doors were a luxury we couldn't afford. (It looked almost exactly like the one in the picture minus the racing extras, naturally.)
The car quickly became part of the Lenhart household. It was dubbed "the little car" because we Lenharts are creative that way, and because we loved it like we loved one another, we fought over it. The worst days were when "the big car" (a finely tuned Pontiac Bonneville station wagon) was at Johnny's (the local mechanic) and daddy had to drive us to school before he went to work. You see, my dad is almost 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Now consider that the entire Corolla was not even 8 feet long, and you can see our dilemma.
Daddy drove from the back seat. Yes, he technically sat in the driver's seat but that driver's seat itself was in the back seat. And, yes, there were four of us kids, which meant some poor soul had to sit "behind" (under) daddy while he drove. Oh how we argued to sit anywhere BUT behind my dad while he drove. To this day, I'm not sure what was worse--actually sitting behind (under) daddy or the mortal embarrassment that one had to endure when trying to extricate one's self from that seat in front of everyone in the school parking lot.
Fast forward to today. This morning because of how our schedules worked, we all rode to school/work together. As we tooled down I-70 in our roomy Toyota Sienna mini van, I had to chuckle. Today, as we drove, Jeff was listening to his iPod, Sydney was listening to her iPod, Brooke was on my laptop, finding some part in a movie that she needed for a class, and the built-in video player rattled ever so slightly in the car ceiling. All was not lost though---Payton was reading happily, and Sawyer was working intently on his NCAA bracket to submit in the contest at school.
It's kinda sad. My kids won't be able to laugh with each other about how they argued over sitting behind (under) dad in the car. (Although, trust me, they do argue about who will sit where.) Nor will they realize that they WILL survive the near-death experience of having to get out of such a fine piece of machinery in the school parking lot. Those are character-building experiences that my children will miss. My how times have changed. (I wonder if anyone is selling a 1980 Corolla on ebay?)
3.17.2008
Day 2---Bonus Post
Since it's St. Patrick's Day and I'm part-Irish, I thought I would help you feel lucky today and give you a bonus post!
Jeff and Payton were on their way out the door for a quick game of P-I-G after dinner. This is how their conversation went.
P: Dad, can we play a quick game of P-I-G?
J: Sure, you must want to get beat!
P: Dad, I've beat you before!
J: Have you beat me or have I let you beat me?
P: Dad, pride goeth before a fall, you know.
All that Bible verse memorization is obviously paying off!
Jeff and Payton were on their way out the door for a quick game of P-I-G after dinner. This is how their conversation went.
P: Dad, can we play a quick game of P-I-G?
J: Sure, you must want to get beat!
P: Dad, I've beat you before!
J: Have you beat me or have I let you beat me?
P: Dad, pride goeth before a fall, you know.
All that Bible verse memorization is obviously paying off!
Day 2
Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's not like I'm celebrating or anything, but I do need to post something after all to keep this thing going. Also, I have a rich Irish (Scotch-Irish, to be exact) heritage on my mom's side of the family, but there won't be any corned beef and cabbage or wearing orange for me. (I don't enjoy getting pinched, thank you very much!)However, while I'm not celebrating, this is an important day for lots of special people in my life.
Happy Birthday to my brother, Adam
Happy Birthday to my niece, Jacqueline
Happy Birthday to my niece, Jacqueline
Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Kimberly
Happy Anniversary to our dear friends, Bruce and Steph!
Happy Anniversary to our dear friends, Bruce and Steph!
I hope the day is special for each of you and wish you God's richest blessings in the year ahead!
3.16.2008
Day 1
Okay, here we go folks! And I don't want any smart comments about the titles. I'm blogging for one hundred days straight people. Don't expect creative titles too. ahem.........
On to today--have you ever gone to church and felt like somehow the pastor got into your brain and planned his sermon just for you? Like he figured out exactly where you were struggling/sinning and worked all week just to convict you? Well, that was me today. Hit me right between the eyes. We could have been the only two people in the entire building. And what, you ask, was this sermon about? Why, TRUST, of course.
Our house has now been on the market since January 31. We've had 13 showings, lots of great comments, one quasi, almost laughable offer, and lots of frustration. Oh, and we've had a VERY clean house since January 31 too. In all of this, I have been beating my head against the wall trying to figure out how **I** can sell this house? What can **I** do to make people want to buy it? What can **I** do so God will smile on us and bring us a great offer?
This morning I was reminded that there's only one thing I can do. Unfortunately, that one thing is the very hardest thing of all for a type-A, wants to be in control person like me. That one thing is TRUST. I can't arrange showings. I can't make people not care about the cemetery out back. I can't make my house something it's not. The only thing I can do is TRUST that God is big enough to sell the house when he wants and to whom he wants.
Trust is a choice I haven't made lately. I'd much prefer to lay awake at night worrying about what we should be doing differently or yell at the kids because I'm frustrated over the lack of showings or drown my sorrows in a bag of Hershey's nuggets. Yes, all of those may be easier than TRUST but they are far less rewarding in the end. We were admonished to choose to trust; to rest and wait to be caught off-guard by a God loves us more than we could ever imagine and will give us only what is best.
I'm choosing trust. At least for today. And with God's help, I will choose it in the days ahead.
On to today--have you ever gone to church and felt like somehow the pastor got into your brain and planned his sermon just for you? Like he figured out exactly where you were struggling/sinning and worked all week just to convict you? Well, that was me today. Hit me right between the eyes. We could have been the only two people in the entire building. And what, you ask, was this sermon about? Why, TRUST, of course.
Our house has now been on the market since January 31. We've had 13 showings, lots of great comments, one quasi, almost laughable offer, and lots of frustration. Oh, and we've had a VERY clean house since January 31 too. In all of this, I have been beating my head against the wall trying to figure out how **I** can sell this house? What can **I** do to make people want to buy it? What can **I** do so God will smile on us and bring us a great offer?
This morning I was reminded that there's only one thing I can do. Unfortunately, that one thing is the very hardest thing of all for a type-A, wants to be in control person like me. That one thing is TRUST. I can't arrange showings. I can't make people not care about the cemetery out back. I can't make my house something it's not. The only thing I can do is TRUST that God is big enough to sell the house when he wants and to whom he wants.
Trust is a choice I haven't made lately. I'd much prefer to lay awake at night worrying about what we should be doing differently or yell at the kids because I'm frustrated over the lack of showings or drown my sorrows in a bag of Hershey's nuggets. Yes, all of those may be easier than TRUST but they are far less rewarding in the end. We were admonished to choose to trust; to rest and wait to be caught off-guard by a God loves us more than we could ever imagine and will give us only what is best.
I'm choosing trust. At least for today. And with God's help, I will choose it in the days ahead.
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9
3.14.2008
A Friday Bonus!
This isn't the "official start" to the 100 days of blogging but I wanted to get these pictures posted. Brooke had the amazing opportunity to go to NYC with some friends last weekend to see Hairspray on Broadway. I am still a little green from the envy.
Anyway, they had a great time! They stayed at the Marriott Marquis Hotel right in Times Square, did lots of shopping, and enjoyed the show immensely--from the first row of the balcony, if you can believe that! Below are some pictures of their weekend.
The girls all ready for their night on the town!
(Brooke is on the far right.)
This was the view from their hotel room!
The four-story H&M! Brooke's dream come true!
The one and only---Radio City Music Hall.
Anyway, they had a great time! They stayed at the Marriott Marquis Hotel right in Times Square, did lots of shopping, and enjoyed the show immensely--from the first row of the balcony, if you can believe that! Below are some pictures of their weekend.
The girls all ready for their night on the town!(Brooke is on the far right.)
This was the view from their hotel room!
The four-story H&M! Brooke's dream come true!
The one and only---Radio City Music Hall.3.13.2008
Going for it!
Well, I'll be! I have ELEVEN faithful readers! (Although I did notice that my own dear mother and youngest sister were conspicuously absent.) ahem.......
Anyway, give me a couple days to collect my thoughts and maybe backlog some posts and we'll go for it. Now, will you all promise me that if I do the posting, you'll do some commenting??? The posting is a lot more fun when I know someone out there is actually reading! :-)
We'll start on Sunday! Enjoy your weekend.
Anyway, give me a couple days to collect my thoughts and maybe backlog some posts and we'll go for it. Now, will you all promise me that if I do the posting, you'll do some commenting??? The posting is a lot more fun when I know someone out there is actually reading! :-)
We'll start on Sunday! Enjoy your weekend.
3.12.2008
Should I??
Okay, faithful readers (all four of you!), I have a question for you. I have seen a 100-day challenge floating around the blogging world. Bloggers are committing to post every day for 100 days. I am considering taking the challenge. Although if I did, I assure you it wouldn't be anything interesting or exciting every day. So, should I do it? More importantly, would you care if I did?
3.11.2008
Sawyer VeStrand, News Reporter
More creative writing, courtesy of Sawyer Christian. They each made a newspaper called The Galilee Gazette and wrote all the articles. These are two of Sawyer's. Enjoy!
Revenge of the Evil Demons
Well, Jesus did it again! Jesus was on a boat. When they got to the place, a large crowd was waiting for them. One of them was Jairus. Jairus' daughter was sick. He asked Jesus if he could heal her. When he got there, Jesus went to the girl's room. She was sleeping but Jesus got her up and she was fine!
Revenge of the Evil Demons
One day the devil sent out some demons to go into some men. The demons went out and found some men. They stayed in them, and the men got violent. Until Jesus came. The demons were afraid. They said "What do you want?" They even said he was the Son of God! Jesus said "Get out of the men. There are some pigs. Go to them." And they did. The pigs went crazy. They fell off a cliff and died. When Jesus came back, the people said "Get out of this town!". Because Jesus was so powerful.
(Doncha love the falling pig exclaiming "Oh boy!"
and the pig at the bottom who has been KO'd??)
(Doncha love the falling pig exclaiming "Oh boy!"and the pig at the bottom who has been KO'd??)
Jesus Does it Again!
Well, Jesus did it again! Jesus was on a boat. When they got to the place, a large crowd was waiting for them. One of them was Jairus. Jairus' daughter was sick. He asked Jesus if he could heal her. When he got there, Jesus went to the girl's room. She was sleeping but Jesus got her up and she was fine!
3.08.2008
Overheard.......
Last night, the Ferber boys came over for pizza and then we all went together to see Isabella perform in her school variety show. If you have ever been around four 8,9, and 10 year old boys for any length of time, you know that the conversation is...ummm.......lively, to say the least. It was hilarious. I thought you might enjoy some snippets from the evening's conversations.
After being asked why he was rolling his pizza cheese into little balls, one boy explained "Oh I do this with all my pizza cheese. It makes it less greasy."
Boys.........ya gotta love 'em!
After being asked why he was rolling his pizza cheese into little balls, one boy explained "Oh I do this with all my pizza cheese. It makes it less greasy."
:::::::
"Hey, have you guys ever put a straw in your armpit and then blown on it? It makes a really cool noise.":::::::
"Oh yeah, I can kinda whistle. I do it all the time.":::::::
"Yo dude, that road is named 'Bottom Road'!!" (followed by hilarious laughter, of course.):::::::
And, last but not least, we were serenaded with the timeless tunes of Al Yankovich, who seems inexplainably popular with fifth-grade boys these days. We heard I Got it on E-bay and Constipated and, of course, Livin' in an Amish Paradise.Boys.........ya gotta love 'em!
3.07.2008
Yeah, right................
You Are Basil |
 You are quite popular and loved by post people. You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive. You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good. |
Okay-I don't think anyone who truly knows me would say I have a "mild" temperament. But, hey, at least I don't stink!
3.06.2008
Breakfast of (cheap) Champions
There you have it folks--my major deal of the week! That is 25 (well, 24 in the picture because the kids opened one already!) boxes of cereal that I got for........................................$13.50!!!! Using my amazing math skills, I figured out that that comes to $.54 a box! Safeway was having an amazing (unadvertised!) deal on certain cereals that were 5/$5. You had to buy $10 in other merchandise and you could get all the cereal you wanted, as long as you bought it in groups of five. So, I picked up a few things we needed and got 25 boxes of cereal. I also had quite a few manufacturers' coupons that I was able to use, which made my total even lower. Can't beat that! My boys are going to be soo excited when they see Crunchberries. We never have those!
And, since I whined in the last post about customer service, I should give credit where credit is due. Because this sale was unadvertised, I went up to the customer service desk to make sure they really were 5/$5. The lady was very helpful. She rang up a sample transaction for me and then told me to come check out with her and she would make sure everything rang up correctly. She was so friendly and helpful. And SHE didn't think I was mean at all! (ahem..)
3.04.2008
Customer service at its best.....
So, I'm in the grocery store yesterday. Same store I go to every week. Minding my own business. Trying to make the most of my time so I can do all the errands I need to do, get home, unload all the grocery goodness, start a load of laundry, think about dinner, and maybe get a nap before everyone gets home. (Hey, I can dream, can't I?)
As I was checking out, and watching my grocery total climb steadily, the clerk started to giggle. I looked at her questioningly, wondering what was so funny.
"You always look so mean when you come in here every week." she said, between chuckles.
"Excuse me?" I gaped, hardly believing what I was hearing.
"I mean, I'm sure you're a very nice person but you always look so mean when you're shopping." she explained.
"Well, I don't think I'm mean. I'm just trying to get lots done and I'm concentrating on what I'm doing." (That's what I said. "What the heck is your problem? Leave me alone and let me shop." is what I was thinking)
She was clearly embarrassed but, at that point, the damage was done.
What the heck was that??? I'm not sure if I was offended because she was right or because she was being so rude stating it out loud. Sheesh...........
As I was checking out, and watching my grocery total climb steadily, the clerk started to giggle. I looked at her questioningly, wondering what was so funny.
"You always look so mean when you come in here every week." she said, between chuckles.
"Excuse me?" I gaped, hardly believing what I was hearing.
"I mean, I'm sure you're a very nice person but you always look so mean when you're shopping." she explained.
"Well, I don't think I'm mean. I'm just trying to get lots done and I'm concentrating on what I'm doing." (That's what I said. "What the heck is your problem? Leave me alone and let me shop." is what I was thinking)
She was clearly embarrassed but, at that point, the damage was done.
What the heck was that??? I'm not sure if I was offended because she was right or because she was being so rude stating it out loud. Sheesh...........
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