Father's Day

Father's Day was great! The girls made another T-shirt for Hubby. They've made about 10 shirts in the last 15 years. This one was exceptionally cute. I love the back, "Guiding Our Footsteps Since..." The first shirt they made in 1995 had their handprints all over the front (but the handprints were so much smaller).

Hubby always has "world peace" as an item on his wish lists. It drives the Imp crazy because she hates that she feels an item is unattainable. So...this is what she gave him..




Hubby said that was his favorite gift. He is quite the punster so he loved that part of it. But there is also the fact that he and the Imp share a connection over the Veggie Tales' French Peas
The French Peas

The French Peas tend to play roles where they are enemies or are running things behind the scenes. They are small green peas. They do not quite understand instructions perfectly. The main two peas are Jean Claude and Phillippe, who are voiced by Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer, respectively. They also voice the others peas, except for Christophee Pea who is voiced by Chris Olsen.

So if you look real close you can see that the Imp named her peas with French (sort of) names. It was definitely a feel-good time.

Then after presents we went to see Toy Story 3. It was great! I'd go see it again (if it weren't for the sticker shock at the theaters.. We all agreed we need to purchase it for our DVD library when it's released. I've always been a fan of the Toy Story characters...I still am.

Back at the Library

I'm back at the library, but fortunately only until 2 pm today. I've managed to get a little work done, but have spent most of my time looking at laminate flooring online. I think Hubby is going to be going to home improvement stores for Father's Day. We need to make a decision and get going on this. The worst part of the whole process is moving the furniture out of the family room so we can do the work. I'm sure ripping up the old carpet won't be pleasant, either. I did find neat online resources through the library site and am looking forward to using them in the future.

I spent time yesterday reading old posts on The Happiness Project. It's fun to look at lists/hints/tips of others. I almost always find exceptions with at least some of them. At home, I talk back to the computer but here in the library I must remain quiet. Gretchen, at the Happiness Project, is an advocate of de-cluttering, and so am I. But I am also a person of moderation. De-cluttering does not mean never having anything out in the house. She talks about putting away small appliances (coffee pot, toaster) so de-clutter your counter. I leave them out to simplify my life. A tip to decluttering is to avoid souvenirs when travelling. But if I have a shell for souvenirs, then why not? Avoiding souvenirs that you don't already have a place for in the house...got it. I'm sure my the outside of my refrigerator drives my OCD and clutter-free friends crazy. It is covered with magnets (lots of business card/advertisements) so it's not a 'clean' look and then I have all sorts of important papers held up by those magnets. I do 'clean' the outside of my refrigerator and throw out out-dated stuff, but have the girls' schedules, my Jo Ann's coupons and the Rays' schedule so easily accessible is very important to me. When is stuff too much stuff? I don't know...I'll know it when I see it...in someone else's house. I have been trying to simply/downsize. We really don't have much storage room in my house. No basement and no real attic (very few things can survive a Florida summer in an attic). So I am forced to limit my stuff to a degree. I know I'll never be like the people on hoarders who climb over stacks of trash to get through their homes. The hardest thing for me to part with is a book. The Imp is the same way. I was in her room the other day (usually her room is primarily her domain) and I noticed she had a stack of books on her dresser...at least 3 feet high...no exaggeration. I told her she needed to put some of them away on one of her 2 bookshelves. She told me there was no room. I told her she needed to weed through some books. She doesn't know how to get rid of books. Having me as her mom doesn't help. But the 2 of us will be going through her books next week. I just got rid of 2 boxes of books. I let my friends rummage through them then give them to the library.

I wish I could stay home tonight. But Hubby and I have our marriage ministry group tonight. Once there I'll be fine and have a good time, but after 1 1/2 years of running the meetings, I'm ready for someone else to step up, but I know there isn't anyone who will. I think it's an important ministry, so Hubby and I will continue for a while longer, at least. When we started out we said we'd do it for 2 years. 2 years is up in February. We're both disappointed that it hasn't drawn more people. I guess lots of people see their marriage that as something that just IS, and not something that needs nourishing. Oh well.

Staking Claim at the Library

Well, I've made my claim on the carrel in the back corner of the library. A teenage boy had his i-pod music so loud I could hear his music over the music from my ipod. Guess he won't hear much in the future. The librarians are pretty good here, and someone came over to have him turn it down before I could finish my internal debate on how loud was too loud. This library is not large and older...so there are limited number of outlets (our new library in Town and Country has outlets everywhere for us laptop users) and claiming a carrel with an outlet is a feat. I got my Bible Study done and since I'm a prisoner of sorts here, I spent more time searching background material than I normally would. I learned quite a bit about the Pharisees.

I'm trying to figure out how to handle the Imp's work schedule. When we gave the okay to work with the iWait program, we were naively unaware that she would have to get to Plant City every day she worked. Ugh. I'm sure I'll get more of my planning done for next year's classes than I would have, but it really takes the low-key approach to the summer away. Fortunately, she doesn't work 5 days a week, so we'll have one day that we can not wake up and hustle out the door with me having to pack a lunch and a book bag filled with things to keep me occupied for 7 hours. I wouldn't mind doing some shopping...but I don't want to spend money and if I spend hours shopping, I know my resolve with not last. There are some antique shops in historic Plant City (right here) that I might meander through. Not much temptation of buying there....most is too expensive and doesn't match the decor of my house. And I use the word 'decor' liberally. I like my house...it definitely has the lived in feel to it. No one would feel like they'd walked into a magazine layout.

Even though the Singer is home this summer, it seems I rarely see her. She's working from 8-5 about 45 mins from home and she's started stopping at the gym to swim on her way home. So she's getting home around 7 or 8 each evening, and is gone by 7 the next day. I guess we'll all get to see each other this weekend for Father's Day. I think we'll go see Toy Story 3 on Sunday...maybe Karate Kid. Then Hubby wants me to make bacon-burger-cheese-dogs for him. You take a hot dog, split it down the middle and put in some cheddar cheese, then form ground beef around the dog, then wrap 2 pieces of bacon around it. Throw it on the grill, and you've got a dinner only a guy would want. We were telling some other people about this, and the women all said..aaahhh a little too much, and all the guys said "Oh I want that, too." Go figure. It's his day, so I'll make them and he'll grill them...

The Singer's birthday is next Friday. She's turning 20...a big deal because she's no longer a teen, but not really any milestone. Don't know yet what we're doing for her birthday. Guess I'll spend my afternoon planning her birthday.

Ballroom Dancing

Last night was a blast! Hubby and I took our 3rd class in ballroom dancing and we were actually dancing! It was fabulous. And more of a workout than it sounds. And we were complimented by the instructor...she asked if we'd taken classes before because we picked up the dances so well. Yea. I can't wait to go back again next week.















I'm reading a couple of different books right now, and they're all good. Two that are especially intriguing and thought provoking are
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink and Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. Here's a great summary of Drive on Youtube. Drive has me thinking of how to run my homeschool courses next year. I'll be teaching High School Geography, Government and Economics. It's a unique situation as I only meet with the student for 50 minutes a week. So much of the work is already done on their own. But, the gears in my mind are churning and I'm getting excited for the school year. Back to Virtue has me thinking about soooo much. Here's a quote, "We have reduced all virtues to one: being nice. And, we measure Jesus by our standard instead of measuring our standard by Him." The whole idea that today people spend more time than ever before in history TALKING about ethics and doing the right thing, but little time in pursuit of virtues or Truth. In fact, many today don't believe in an objective Truth but that Truth (hence right and wrong) are subjective. Anyway it is quite interesting.

The Imp has a summer job working with the iWait group, going around to Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA summer camps to put on skits and such about abstaining from sex and drugs. I think she's perfect for the job and the varied structure of the job is perfect for her. The training is this week...32 miles from home. So I find myself sitting in the library not far from her training. Yesterday I worked on the scope and sequence of my government course and realized I need to learn more about the history of Florida before I try to teach about its government (state government is only 1 part of one unit and there are 15 units, but still...I hate not knowing some depth to what I'm teaching). Today I've been reading Drive and playing with my blog and searching for good swing music to download so Hubby and I can dance at home.

While surfing around on Daniel Pink's site, I came across the Happiness Project, and got caught up in reading many of her posts. In some ways it ties in with something Cindy mentioned in her post the other day about a woman making a new piece of clothing from an old dress each day for a year. Her budget for the year only $365. If you've got some time, it's fun...not near as 'heavy' as the other things I've mentioned thus far. If you sew, you should definitely take a look.

I'm also gearing up to teach a crafts course this summer. 3 weeks of intro to crochet and 3 weeks of intro to knititng with a "catch up week" at the end (no new material...just trying to finish projects). I'm pretty excited about that, too. Although, since I'm mainly self-taught in these I am spending some time online making sure my technique won't teach my students any bad habits.

I was telling Hubby the other night how it was kind of nice that we had no real summer plans and that I was looking forward to just staying home. He then told me he thought we should finally replace our living room carpet with laminate. I'm super excited to have it done, less excited about the actual doing. We're trying to get it done within the next month. (We have our couples group to our house the 3rd week of July). So I've also been spending time researching laminate flooring. Any advice is welcomed, although not necessarily heeded.

memorial day weekend

Our trip over Memorial Day Weekend was fun and packed with activity. We got to Sumter on Saturday afternoon. Got to see Kevin and Lauren (and meet Patrick) and my mom and dad. Brian's boys were spending the weekend with my parents so we had fun with them, too. Sunday we drove the boys home and got to spend Monday and Tuesday with Brian and Tracy. The rain tried to put a damper on things, but couldn't. Tuesday we toured Belmont Abbey and it was absolutely gorgeous. The student who was our guide said he'd try to keep us in the shade as it was so hot. We all laughed. It was beautiful...about 86, sunny and not too humid. Arriving back in Tampa, we have mid 90's and humidity so high you can cut it. The school is obviously small. Only 1400 students. Compared to USF's 40,000+ it's bite-sized, but it felt like a perfect match for Megan. Now if she can just get her transfer credits situated. Enjoy the pics.
Pictures from Sumter
Pictures from North Carolina

'Nuff Said

Florida bishop recalls how mother considered aborting him :: EWTN News

Florida bishop recalls how mother considered aborting him :: EWTN News

Dinner? Again?

I like to cook, and have become a decent cook in the last few years. I enjoy planning meals for us to sit down as a family to share. I don't like planning dinners day after day after day after day. I especially don't like planning (or making) dinner on nights I have to go back out to do something. Tonight is our marriage ministry meeting, last night was Bible Study. I'm preparing for the meetings in the early evening and am rarely hungry before I leave the house. In fact, I usually pull something together for Hubby and girls and don't eat anything myself. It seems we've been having a lot of evening meetings and I just don't want to even think about dinner. I know I'm complaining about something which many people wouldn't...I'm a baby.
My house is a mess right now. With the Singer home from college our front room is full of boxes with her dorm stuff in them...blankets, sheets, dishes, cleaning supplies, printer... The family room is full of my world history class' end of the year project of a timeline (3000 BC thru 2000 AD...and yes I still say AD and not CE). Our counter, which is a paper magnet by design has birthday cards, college loan info and just plain junk mail strewn across it. If I'd taken these last 10 minutes to work on it instead of complain it'd look a lot better, but I'm having much more fun complaining.
Had to run to the store for last minute items for tonight's meeting and so the Imp wanted to drive. We're driving home and she's inching closer and closer to the right side of the road (which borders a ditch). I finally comment on how far to the right she is. Her response is "I knew exactly where I was." Now does that mean she thinks she was not as close to the edge as I thought OR does it mean that she meant to be that close to the edge? Either way is a little scary. She's actually not a bad driver, but is still in the learning stages since we've given her such little time to practice.
I feel like after this week (that is by next Friday) I'll be done for the school year. Of course, I always get my hopes up for a restful summer, but as Hubby keeps pointing out...I spend much more time with the kids during the summer than during the school year...but I'm holding onto my dream for a little while longer.
The Singer is working 40 hrs/wk this summer and they're 'regular' hours (8am-5pm). Last summer she worked odd hours and missed dinner each night, stayed up late and slept till 10 or so. It's so much nicer having her on a schedule similar to ours. It's still an adjustment to have her home. She's simply not used to living as a family and the considerations that entails.

A Happy Birthday

Here's something a friend sent me. I think it's great. Might have to try to memorize and perform it myself.



Had a great birthday. Hubby took the day off of work and we went to You Do the Dishes a place where you paint pottery and then they fire it and you pick it up a few days later. I made a deviled egg plate to match the serving bowl I'd made another day.




I love going and painting things there. Some people are amazed at how much time I'm willing to put into painting these things. In order to make the deviled egg plate, I cut 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch squares from masking tape and place them on the plate to create the checkered pattern. I really didn't mind at all. I find the whole experience therapeutic.











One of the best parts of going to You Do the Dishes is getting a chocolate moose frappe. There are all kinds of goodies but my tradition is always a chocolate moose frappe. One time I got a strawberry smoothie...not the same thing.


I first went here 12 years ago. A friend took me there as my birthday present. What a great present as I've been going back once or twice a year since then. Here are a few of the things I've made.












In addition to that great experience, I'm waking up to my Christian radio station and hear that my daughter has sponsored the day in honor of my birthday. Now that is a neat present.

There was a slight cake calamity, but I won't go into it as I'm still mourning the ruination of my chocolate meringue truffle cake that I spent 45 minutes putting together.



My family tried to make it up to me with a Carvel ice cream cake. It was nice, but not close to the chocolate meringue truffle cake I'd been planning on having for the last 2 months since I found the recipe.

Another great birthday present was the return home of my nephew from Afghanistan. Glad to know he's no longer in a war zone and is safe on American soil.

Mother's Day

I got the best Mother's Day gift EVER! I love to hear my girls sing. I've been asking for over a year for a recording of them singing Via Delorosa one of my all-time favorite songs. Well...they made me a recording. I find it uplifting, invigorating and moving. I, of course, had tears in my eyes when I listened to it the first time. The sound quality is not professional, but I only hear their voices raised in song, not the sound quality. Just had to share.
via delorosa

Ballroom Dancing

Hubby and I have talked for years about taking ballroom dance lessons. We came very close a few times only to have time and budget restraints get in our way. Well we're finally going to do it. The local library is offering very inexpensive lessons for 8 weeks starting on May 18. We're both super excited. I've always loved dancing even if I wasn't always the best. I've taken years of ballet and just enjoy the controlled freedom required for dancing. That dancing has numerous health benefits is simply a plus.

The weather has been gorgeous. We had a downpour Sunday night with thunder and lightning. We got at least 2 inches. The plants are loving it. Our highs have been in the low 80s. This is why I live in Florida.

I've been working on the courses I'll teach next year for the home school group. I'm teaching Human Geography and Government/Economics for high school students. My eyes light up and my mind begins to race as I anticipate all I'm going to do/teach. The materials I've ordered have started to arrive. I spent last night flipping through the government text we'll use while Hubby and the Imp laughed at my social science-geekness. But life doesn't get much better than being able to immerse yourself into a topic you love. The Imp had order some new shoes online. They arrived via USP during dinner. When I allowed her to open them before she finished dinner, I made her day. She quickly tore open the box and put her new Toms on.

Now I could be an intellectual snob and say being geeky over government books is better than being geeky over fashion/shoes, but instead will just be satisfied that we both got to revel in our interests last night. Lest I forget, the Imp purchased the shoes with her own money and since I have veto power on her spending, got me to agree to the purchase because of Toms' One for One program which provides shoes for children in need.

Voices Raised in Song

We got loads of rain Sunday. The rain actually started around midnight it kept on raining on and off through the afternoon. I think we got over 2 inches. Our pool is nice and full again. April is typically a "dry" month for us and often we have to fill the pool, so just as the pool was getting low we got great rain. It rained again briefly last night. My plants are looking good, now I just have to be patient for the benefits. I had to buy garlic yesterday. None looked great and I wanted to be able to use it fresh from my garden, but my garlic isn't ready for picking/eating yet. What a life, if all I can complain about is not having fresh garlic.

Saturday was the Confirmation ceremony at our church. The Imp had a solo in the choir. I can't think of much that brings me more joy or contentment then to sit and listen to my girls use their talented voices to praise God. It just is wonderful.

The Singer is probably transferring colleges this Fall. She's planning on going to Belmont Abbey College is Belmont, NC (just west of Charlotte). I think it's a great fit for her and God is probably calling her there. But boy it's hard to give up the free ride at USF for the private tuition. Granted, 2 of her scholarships will transfer and Belmont Abbey is also offering a substantial (about 60%) scholarship, but still... The Singer is determined and I'm sure she'll find a way to make it work. I'm actually very excited for her and her future there. We're planning on making a trip there at the end of May. Now the prayers are for her finding a part time job there. If she can find a decent part-time job, she should be okay financially. The Singer talked to my brother in Charlotte, who graciously offered her a room 'as long as she needed'. I'm not sure what his wife thinks of that (although she is very gracious...I just find it funny how easily he offered without consulting her). It's very nice to know she has some family nearby. My parents are only about 2 - 2 1/2 hours away. It will be hard not seeing her so often, as she tends to pop in pretty frequently just for an hour or two. The Imp is not happy with the situation. She and the Singer are very close and she does not want the Singer to be so far away. Now, when it comes time for the Imp to choose a college, I don't think location will be a big factor. The younger sibling always has a different perspective. The older one should always be there and not change and the younger should be allowed to be the one to loosen the ties.

Crew season is over for the Imp. YEA!! It had become drudgery. 5 nights a week for the entire school year is a bit much, especially when the regattas were full day events often requiring us to leave at 4 or 5 in the morning. I'm not sure what we'll do next year. I'm not sure Hubby and I can do an entire year. There are technically 2 seasons...a fall and spring. Maybe we'll let her participate in one season. Hubby was pretty tired of the whole thing (he's usually the one who goes to the regattas). At the end of the season, the Imp was trained as a coxswain. What she wanted to do all year. But we didn't realize that the coxswain does NO physical training with the team. And a big part of doing crew was for the physical activity. [The girls have to pick one something the requires physical activity..dance, swim, judo, doesn't matter what...but something.] Another reason to revisit the whole crew team thing.


Last night I got to present an overview of the courses I'd be teaching next year to the home school high school kids. I'm pretty excited. I'm teaching a semester of Government and then a semester of Econ. We'll do government in the fall due to the elections. I'm also teaching a human geography course. I'm such a social studies geek, that I get all excited just thinking about all the neat things I'll be able to do. I really do love teaching, too. Only 5 weeks left for this school year. It felt good when a few parents of little ones, said they wished their kids were older and able to take my courses. Yea!

My brother and niece have been in my thoughts in prayers this week. 14 years ago my sister-in-law (wife and mother respectively) died of breast cancer. She was a pretty wonderful person. I'm saddened that I haven't had her life these past 14 years as a continued example of living the good life. I'm saddened for the loss to both my brother and my niece. But Ellen would be so proud of her daughter and all she's accomplished and become. She'd be pretty impressed with how well my brother has risen to the task of single parenthood, too. So many people still miss her, I had to honor her memory by mentioning her again.

I'm off to get a new pool filter and some 'polysheen' to counteract the pollen in the pool. The weather promises to be gorgeous today.

There Ought To Be A Law

I've been thinking a lot about the saying "there oughta be a law..." It sounds so good. Yea, we should have a law to make people behave the way I think they should. But really, we have enough laws. You constantly hear the argument against some laws that you can't legislate morality. Well, I think we try to legislate common sense. Do I really want my government making laws dictating the ingredients allowed in restaurants (i.e. types of oil)? Let people think for themselves. There is a big difference between immediate poisons and long term/large use effects. I'm not sure where to draw the line. I have always been a proponent of seat belt laws. But, now, I don't know. I have no problem making a law regarding children, as they are not, by definition, able to make certain decisions. But shouldn't I be able to decide whether I want to wear a seat belt. I also don't have an issue with me being responsible for more of my out of pocket medical expenses were it determined I wasn't wearing a seat belt during an accident and I am injured. I'll accept the consequences of my decisions, but let me make the decision. It just feels like we really are passing laws that simply began with someone saying, "You know, there oughtta be a law about ..." The more we legislate the less we hold ourselves accountable and the easier it becomes to say, "well, there isn't a law so it must be okay." The ability to decide and then take responsibility for our decisions is the hallmark of being an adult. Don't take that away from me.

I was reading a "Marriage Minute" by Gary Smalley (I get them emailed to me on a regular basis) and he was talking about listening. While in theory I agree with what he said, I take issue with some of it. He said active listening requires you to ask questions of the speaker. Yes and no. Yes some kind of questions do indicate your interest and the fact that you are actually hearing what is being said, but I have had many people tell me that I'm a great listener and I make it a point to NOT ask questions. I think too many questions actually make a person feel "on the spot" and defensive. Someone telling me about their medical treatments doesn't need me to question all the details and inquire as to second opinions, etc. Responding to the feeling, not the facts, is what I think is important. I know people who I don't share much with anymore because of their questioning. "Why didn't you...? Where? When? How? Who?" It makes me feel like they're filling out a check list and are more concerned with the story than with me.

Survived

Well, I survived the gum surgery and it was actually not as terrible as I thought it would be. I'm still in pain and won't be eating solid food for a few more days, but all in all, I'm happy it's over. Of course, I've lost this weekend. I spent Friday afternoon and Saturday sleeping due to the pain pills. I've not taken anything but Ibuprofen today...so I'm actually more aware of the pain, but am happy to be cognizant of what is going on around me. I've a nice bruise on my chin...which is much smaller than the bruise on the inside of my mouth.

The Singer goes back to college after a week of Spring Break. Since she did not take time off of work, it wasn't a total holiday but she enjoyed laying around and catching up on some reading.

The weather has finally turned Spring-like. Thank goodness! I spent some time outside today and plan lots more of that this week. It's actually supposed to be in the mid 70s next weekend. Yippee!

Gum Surgery

Gum surgery...sounds wonderful, doesn't it? I've not written about it even though it has been on my mind constantly this past week. I've had a lot of dental work in my life...a root canal at 8, it removed at 12 (much worse than getting one), wisdom teeth removed (cut out before they erupted and all 4 out on the same day with local anesthesia). And I've handled all those things without much of an emotional response. I needed...I got it done. But for some reason this gum surgery has my stomachs all in knots. Not a fun feeling at all. So I've been trying to pretend it's not going to happen...but today at 1 pm I'll be having gum grafts. My four bottom front teeth have extensive root exposure similar to these. Although, mine actually look worse.

BEFORE:



And we're hoping for this kind of outcome.


AFTER



Basically, I'm just hoping next week comes quickly and I can then promptly forget this week of my life.

SC trip

Megan and I had a great time in South Carolina. We missed Tracy but know how it goes with work. But I took pictures so she could see what her boys did. Family is wonderful! Sad to think of my parents selling their house, but it's time. Meg wants to win the lottery so we can buy the house and "keep it in the family."

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slideshow attempt

I'm sitting here at the car dealership waiting for my car to be serviced (oil change mainly) and decided to try to create a slideshow for my blog. So here are some pictures from Christmas, both at home and in SC at my parents.

iWait

The Imp is part of a newly forming group of iWait. iWait is a program that teaches abstinence first and foremost, but it's much more than that. It is really about healthy relationships and strong sense of self. There was a parent meeting (translate: mother's meeting) before the first kids' meeting and a former member came to speak to us. He was a very cute, exceptionally articulate 22-year old guy who was quite open and honest about the group. He admitted that pledging to abstinence is really easy before you're in a relationship, but becomes much harder once you're going out with someone you are attracted to. He also said, had he not pledged ahead of time, he's not sure if he would have been able to resist the very real temptation of physical pleasure. He's planning on going to one or two of the early meetings of the new group, and I think he'll be a big hit. I'm very hopeful for this group and it being a source of Christian support for the Imp. The biggest issue from her point of view is that at this time, all the other members know each other and the Imp only knows 2 of the girls.

Saturday I got to scrap at an all-day crop, but I didn't get done near what I had hoped. That was disappointing. I went into the crop tired. Friday was a really long day with me presenting at Career day at the Imp's old school, then teaching my home school class and ended with running the marriage ministry meeting at our church. The marriage ministry was a blast! We held a "Not-so-Newlywed Game." Everyone had a great time and it was just loads of fun telling and hearing stories of first dates and strangest presents. Everyone was having such a good time, that when Hubby and I tried to rush through the last round to make sure we finished on time they voted to slow down and not worry about the time. Of course, that put us home later. Saturday I got to the crop 10 minutes after starting time, but had to leave at 11:45 to go pick up the Imp from crew practice (the practice was announced on Friday and Hubby had plans to go to a USF basketball game). I sat for 35 minutes waiting for the Imp. The coach held them later than he said...and with crew they're out on the river. It's not like the Imp could just leave. So I was gone for almost 2 hours. Ugh. Then I had to leave for another 1 1/2 to be sacristan at the 4:30 Mass. So what should have been an 11 hour crop ended up being closer to 7 hours when you take into account start up time after each 'break'. But as another scrapper said, "a little time at a crop is better than no time at all."

This Friday I'm off with the Singer to SC to see my parents. It should be fun, albeit a swift trip. We'll be back home by Monday afternoon. The Singer hasn't seen my parents for a while and she's looking forward to it. Also, she wants to say "good-bye" to their house. My parents are trying to sell their house and downsize while they are both healthy enough to actively participate. They're planning on moving to a retirement/assisted living facility/nursing home in town. It's a difficult task, as they had the house built after 30 years of military moves and almost as many houses. It's a gorgeous house and my girls are both sad that visiting grandma and grandpa won't always mean going to that house (which is quite amusing as they both think going to Sumter is anything but fun). When we were there at Christmas, the Imp was quite melancholy about her probable last night in their house.




I'm really enjoying a book I'm reading for Lent, "Praying Scripture for a Change" I'm still on the first chapter, after reading the intro multiple times. I think this will be a book I reread numerous times and will go back to when I hit 'desert' times in my faith journey.

Hubby just realized that he gets an extra week of vacation this year. Yea! So he's planning on taking time off during the Imp's Spring Break. So last night I spent time on the internet looking for a beach place on the gulf that week. Anything reasonably priced is booked through April, and even many of the unreasonably priced places. That's a good thing for our state economy, but bad news for us. Not that we won't relish the time to work in the yard and sit back and relax. Between now and Easter, I don't think we have a single weekend with nothing to do. So I guess the week after Easter will do some serious Spring cleaning in the house and the yard.

Speaking of our yard, my potatoes arrived Saturday. I can't wait to plant them Thursday...gotta do it before I leave town. My cucumber seeds "drown" during our downpour last week. My lettuce and beans are sprouting. I'm so ready for warm weather. I went to wear a dress to church and was embarrassed by my white-white legs. While I'm always pale...especially compared to other Floridians, I'm not usually pasty. But between the cold and rain, I really haven't been outside as much as past winters. Yesterday and today we actually had warm temperatures, but another cold front is coming through before the weekend.

Are you B.U.S.Y., B.U.S.Y.?

I've so many thoughts swirling in my head, I almost didn't write again today. Seems contradictory, but I know the time to get all my thoughts down is longer than the time I have to spend on the computer today.
The Imp is sleeping in, but I need to wake her shortly so we can go driving. She got her permit over the summer and we went out a few times over the summer but haven't been since. When she's at school until 7 pm each night, there's not a lot of time for driving. She's not quite ready for driving to and from school, which is what our goal is. Once she's able to do that, she'll have plenty of 'practice' time.
Saturday, Hubby and I went to a Jeff Cavin's information day
(for lack of a better description). During one of our discussions about how to help participants in the Great Adventure Bible Study
create time for daily Scripture reading and reflection, the idea of how busy everyone is these days. Another participant said, "Ahh, if you find yourself saying you're too busy for anything that's really important (i.e. spending time in God's Word) than remember what BUSY really stands for: Being Under Satan's Yoke." Wow. "We're too busy to eat together" "I'm too busy to really spend time with my... (child, husband, parents)" "Too busy to meet the neighbors" and on and on. Obviously, it's stuck with me. Being Under Satan's Yoke. I really like that and will hold onto that one. With Lent approaching this Wednesday, it's an idea to remember when thinking of how best to utilize this time of spiritual Boot Camp the Church has wisely set up for us.
On a totally different topic, I read the Yoder and Son column in the Sunday paper. Yesterday, the dad said "Just because you have the money doesn't mean you can afford it." Again, I literally sat there and said "WOW! That's SOO true." For years I've said that parents today (i.e. ME) have a harder time saying no to material requests from the children because we have more disposable income than our parents tended to have. When you have 8 kids like my parents and only 1 employed parent (notice I did not say 'working parent') there simply wasn't any extra money available. So their response to requests were honestly 'we don't have the money' For Hubby and I, we use to say that and then our kids asked if we were poor. So our response became, "We choose to spend our money differently" (You know...give to the Church and other charities, save for retirement, save for emergencies, save for college, etc) How I wish I'd had the gem of "Just cause we have the money doesn't mean we can afford it" these past 19 years.
So all day yesterday I had these two sayings whirling through my head...each prompting many different threads of thought. More on that later.