I'm off to WinCo for my two week shopping trip and thought I'd post my menu first.
BREAKFASTS (for the non-hot cereal/non-granola days)
banana poppyseed muffins
Amish egg casserole
morning glory muffins
sour cream coffee cake (freezer)
DINNERS
leftovers x2
tacos x3
chicken broccoli divan (crockpot)/salad
no peek casserole/rice/salad
meatloaf/couscous/frozen veggie
rice cooker mac & cheese/salad
peanut butter noodles/broccoli
Vidalia chicken salad
egg salad sandwiches/raw veggies
spinach enchiladas/beans (crockpot/freezer)
roasted veggie enchilada casserole/salad
tortellini pesto salad
DESSERTS
rice krispy treats
snickerdoodles
Sunday, February 28, 2010
BOOKS I FINISHED - FEBRUARY 2010
All righty, here goes.
America's Cheapest Family: Gets You Right on the Money, by Steve and Annette Economides
Jess #1 is a friend and she has a blog. Jess #2 is another friend who found out about Jess #1's blog through my blog. Now Jess #2 is a fan of Jess #1. Well, Jess #2 saw a book on Jess #1's blog that she thought I, being a big fan of stretching a dollar, may enjoy reading. So, I reserved it from the library. While it was largely stuff I already knew, I'd definitely recommend it to someone who is trying to get their crazy finances under control or someone who wants to fine tune their controlled budget. It's a super easy read with lots of practical ideas and goals for people at every stage of living within and below their means.
The House on Walenska Street, by Charlotte Herman & illustrated by Susan Avishai
This was a school book. It's a simple story about a Jewish woman and her three young girls living in Russia in the early 1900's. It didn't grab me, but it wasn't bad either. Just a neutral book.
Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited, by Elyse Schein
I actually read this one in January, but totally forgot to add it to that month's list. This is the true story of two women who knew they were adopted. One had no desire to search for her birth family. The other decided, in her thirties, to look for her biological mom. She was shocked to discover that she had a twin sister and chose to have her twin, the woman without a desire to find her birth family (though the searching woman didn't know the other had no interest in her biological family), notified of her existence. This book chronicles the journey these women take as they figure out what to do with this huge discovery, the info they glean about the research project that led to their separation, and the emotional and practical ups and downs they experience as they adjust to their newly discovered life as twins. I really liked this book!
In Search of Eden, by Linda Nichols
This fictional story is filled with people who are hurting, but the main character is a woman whose grief and guilt over the child she was forced to give up for adoption consumes her. A fairly predictable story (though there was one element that totally caught me by surprise), but I enjoyed it. Lots of lessons about choosing between bitterness and forgiveness, which is a battle that I've been struggling with. Got sucked in and finished this book in two sittings.
White Stallion of Lipizza, by Marguerite Henry & illustrated by Wesley Dennis
Another school book. I had the hardest time plowing through this book as a read aloud, but it was a great story. It's about a poor boy who is obsessed with Vienna's Lipizzan stallions and dreams of riding them someday. A story of dreams and disappointments, goals and perseverance ... and a lot about horses.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan
Tim and I had seen the movie a while back, but I finally got around to reading the book. It's the true story of Evelyn Ryan, a woman whose natural ability at winning contests for various ad campaigns kept her family fed, clothed, and entertained during the 1950s and 1960s. She had a determination to make the best of a hard situation and consistently chose to not wallow in the self-pity that she could have easily justified. Good book, though it could have been a bit shorter.
Prisoner of Tehran: A Memoir, by Marina Nemat
Nemat shares her story of life as a teenage political prisoner in Iran. She spent two years in government custody and under the control of one of the jailers, a man who I believe truly cared about her, yet didn't always treat her well. Forced to choose between faith and family, a decision that determined whether she and those she loved would live or die, Nemat chooses to protect her loved ones. That choice not only protects those close to her, but allows her to be a blessing to other prisoners and to find her greatest support from those least likely to be her allies, the family of the jailer. Loved this book!
America's Cheapest Family: Gets You Right on the Money, by Steve and Annette Economides
Jess #1 is a friend and she has a blog. Jess #2 is another friend who found out about Jess #1's blog through my blog. Now Jess #2 is a fan of Jess #1. Well, Jess #2 saw a book on Jess #1's blog that she thought I, being a big fan of stretching a dollar, may enjoy reading. So, I reserved it from the library. While it was largely stuff I already knew, I'd definitely recommend it to someone who is trying to get their crazy finances under control or someone who wants to fine tune their controlled budget. It's a super easy read with lots of practical ideas and goals for people at every stage of living within and below their means.
The House on Walenska Street, by Charlotte Herman & illustrated by Susan Avishai
This was a school book. It's a simple story about a Jewish woman and her three young girls living in Russia in the early 1900's. It didn't grab me, but it wasn't bad either. Just a neutral book.
Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited, by Elyse Schein
I actually read this one in January, but totally forgot to add it to that month's list. This is the true story of two women who knew they were adopted. One had no desire to search for her birth family. The other decided, in her thirties, to look for her biological mom. She was shocked to discover that she had a twin sister and chose to have her twin, the woman without a desire to find her birth family (though the searching woman didn't know the other had no interest in her biological family), notified of her existence. This book chronicles the journey these women take as they figure out what to do with this huge discovery, the info they glean about the research project that led to their separation, and the emotional and practical ups and downs they experience as they adjust to their newly discovered life as twins. I really liked this book!
In Search of Eden, by Linda Nichols
This fictional story is filled with people who are hurting, but the main character is a woman whose grief and guilt over the child she was forced to give up for adoption consumes her. A fairly predictable story (though there was one element that totally caught me by surprise), but I enjoyed it. Lots of lessons about choosing between bitterness and forgiveness, which is a battle that I've been struggling with. Got sucked in and finished this book in two sittings.
White Stallion of Lipizza, by Marguerite Henry & illustrated by Wesley Dennis
Another school book. I had the hardest time plowing through this book as a read aloud, but it was a great story. It's about a poor boy who is obsessed with Vienna's Lipizzan stallions and dreams of riding them someday. A story of dreams and disappointments, goals and perseverance ... and a lot about horses.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan
Tim and I had seen the movie a while back, but I finally got around to reading the book. It's the true story of Evelyn Ryan, a woman whose natural ability at winning contests for various ad campaigns kept her family fed, clothed, and entertained during the 1950s and 1960s. She had a determination to make the best of a hard situation and consistently chose to not wallow in the self-pity that she could have easily justified. Good book, though it could have been a bit shorter.
Prisoner of Tehran: A Memoir, by Marina Nemat
Nemat shares her story of life as a teenage political prisoner in Iran. She spent two years in government custody and under the control of one of the jailers, a man who I believe truly cared about her, yet didn't always treat her well. Forced to choose between faith and family, a decision that determined whether she and those she loved would live or die, Nemat chooses to protect her loved ones. That choice not only protects those close to her, but allows her to be a blessing to other prisoners and to find her greatest support from those least likely to be her allies, the family of the jailer. Loved this book!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
BAD WIFE
Tim's eighth season of officiating basketball ended on Thursday. For seven of those years I attended a few of his games with however many kids we had at the time. That leaves one year unaccounted for. Well, sometime during the middle of his last game on Thursday I realized that we didn't make it to a single game this year. Not one. How in the world did that happen?!
Major "bad wife" points for me. I'm so bummed.
Disclaimer: I awarded myself the "bad wife" points. Tim's never said a word about it.
Major "bad wife" points for me. I'm so bummed.
Disclaimer: I awarded myself the "bad wife" points. Tim's never said a word about it.
Friday, February 26, 2010
A WIDE RANGE OF EMOTIONS
Happiness. Shock. Amusement. Disgust. Embarrassment. Thankfulness.
I experienced all those feelings from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening and they all stemmed from one thing. What could send me on such an emotional roller coaster? You'll never guess. It was a vacuum. That's right, a vacuum.
Our vacuum is lousy. It does fine at picking up whatever is on the very surface of our carpet, but that's about it. I could sweep our carpets and reach the same results. So, we've been talking about getting a new vacuum for a couple years, getting feedback from people about the types they like using, and had a tentative plan to get one with this year's tax refund. Our current carpet is so short it could almost qualify as indoor/outdoor carpet and our pending move will definitely land us somewhere with a longer pile of carpeting, which will require a better vacuum than we have, so we took the plunge and bought a Dyson.
Now, you know I'm a frugal shopper. You may also know that Dyson's are expensive. We found a factory refurbished one on Overstock for about half the price of the ones in the store, but it was still painful for me to spend so much on a vacuum. Well, let me just tell you that my pain has ended. Why? Let me show you and you'll understand the gamut of emotions I've experienced.
.
.
.
Shock - I knew there would be dirt buried in our carpet due to our non-sucky vacuum, but I can't believe how much came up after running the Dyson down our hall twice. The little hall pictured above. I knew the old vacuum was bad, but I didn't realize it was this bad.
.
.
.
Amusement - It cracked me up to see how entertained the kids were to watch me vacuum. Of course, once I tried to get a pic of my audience they all morphed into goofballs instead of attentive spectators.
.
.
.Disgust - Our home is 1000 square feet. About 500 of that is carpeted. Dressers, shelves, and beds probably leave 350-400 square feet of carpet. This is what came up during our first time vacuuming that small space with our Dyson. We almost reached the "max" line!
.
.
.
Embarrassment - I can't believe we've had people sit and play on such filth!!
Thankfulness - Totally glad we had the money to buy our Dyson, that I forked out the bucks for a fancy shmancy vacuum, and looking forward to a lifetime of clean carpets.
.
My vacuum sucks. Does yours?
Disclaimer: These results are not necessarily typical. They stem from 4-5 people, including 2-3 children, living in a home for 4.5 years with a vacuum that was probably less efficient at sucking up dirt than a broom would have been. If you have less people in your house, have no dirt in your yard, have no children, have been in your home less time, and/or have been using a vacuum that had any suction at all, then you won't fill your canister as quickly as we did the first time you use a Dyson. For those who are interested, here is Overstock's current selection of uprights, and here is Amazon's.
I experienced all those feelings from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening and they all stemmed from one thing. What could send me on such an emotional roller coaster? You'll never guess. It was a vacuum. That's right, a vacuum.
Our vacuum is lousy. It does fine at picking up whatever is on the very surface of our carpet, but that's about it. I could sweep our carpets and reach the same results. So, we've been talking about getting a new vacuum for a couple years, getting feedback from people about the types they like using, and had a tentative plan to get one with this year's tax refund. Our current carpet is so short it could almost qualify as indoor/outdoor carpet and our pending move will definitely land us somewhere with a longer pile of carpeting, which will require a better vacuum than we have, so we took the plunge and bought a Dyson.
Now, you know I'm a frugal shopper. You may also know that Dyson's are expensive. We found a factory refurbished one on Overstock for about half the price of the ones in the store, but it was still painful for me to spend so much on a vacuum. Well, let me just tell you that my pain has ended. Why? Let me show you and you'll understand the gamut of emotions I've experienced.
.
Happiness - The UPS man brings our new vacuum on Wednesday afternoon and I get to use it on Thursday night. And, yes, I'm in jammies. Some days are like that.
.
..
..
Shock - I knew there would be dirt buried in our carpet due to our non-sucky vacuum, but I can't believe how much came up after running the Dyson down our hall twice. The little hall pictured above. I knew the old vacuum was bad, but I didn't realize it was this bad.
.
..
Amusement - It cracked me up to see how entertained the kids were to watch me vacuum. Of course, once I tried to get a pic of my audience they all morphed into goofballs instead of attentive spectators.
.
..Disgust - Our home is 1000 square feet. About 500 of that is carpeted. Dressers, shelves, and beds probably leave 350-400 square feet of carpet. This is what came up during our first time vacuuming that small space with our Dyson. We almost reached the "max" line!
.
..
Embarrassment - I can't believe we've had people sit and play on such filth!!
Thankfulness - Totally glad we had the money to buy our Dyson, that I forked out the bucks for a fancy shmancy vacuum, and looking forward to a lifetime of clean carpets.
.
My vacuum sucks. Does yours?
Disclaimer: These results are not necessarily typical. They stem from 4-5 people, including 2-3 children, living in a home for 4.5 years with a vacuum that was probably less efficient at sucking up dirt than a broom would have been. If you have less people in your house, have no dirt in your yard, have no children, have been in your home less time, and/or have been using a vacuum that had any suction at all, then you won't fill your canister as quickly as we did the first time you use a Dyson. For those who are interested, here is Overstock's current selection of uprights, and here is Amazon's.
** This post contains affiliate links and we're grateful when people use them. **
Thursday, February 25, 2010
2/25/10 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful for the bulbs & blossoms in my yard - first because they look pretty, second because, in light of my last post, it gives me hope that the things I struggle with can improve. It's a good reminder that life has seasons. About the time the unflattering or wrong things in my character or behavior start to get under control (spring) and look good again (summer), then some other weakness in my life will start to fall apart (autumn) and go through an ugly time of dying away (winter). But spring always comes around again. Always. I need to focus on the pending growth of spring in my life and not get bogged down in the painful death of winter.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I'VE JUST ABOUT HAD IT
Folks, I'm about to flip my lid. Seriously. I am so incredibly frustrated right now and I'm just going to vent. If you want a happy post, then come back another day.
I'm sick of people who ...
... routinely whine, complain, and get offended about everything.
... take disagreement as a personal attack.
... choose to complain about something, but offer no helpful alternatives.
... tell you what they don't like about you and expect you to say nothing in response.
... find ways to turn perfectly happy situations into pity parties.
... get offended by something you've done or said, then completely ignore your apology.
... expect the world to revolve around their own thoughts, beliefs, feelings, experiences, etc.
I'm really over it. Majorly.
I've thought about typing all that out multiple times, but always opted not to because I didn't see how it would help. It just gets me all riled up.
But here's the deal. I'm finding myself becoming so bitter ... maybe critical ... no, it's more like spiteful toward people who do these things. I don't know, maybe it's all three of those feelings. I've lost respect for people who act these ways. Each incident, whether it involved me or someone else, just brings to mind all the previous ones. I go from calm and happy to annoyed and snarky in no time flat. I hate it.
I need to accept that some people would rather pick a fight and bail than work through one. I need to accept that some people are chronically offended. I need to accept that some people are uncomfortable with disagreement. I need to accept that some people want to speak their mind, but don't want to listen to anyone else's. I need to accept that some people make accusations without any supporting evidence.
I need to let it go. I keep thinking I have, then a new situation comes up and I realize I'm still hanging on to the old ones.
You can pray for my attitude. It's lousy. You can pray for my heart. It's unforgiving.
I'm sick of people who ...
... routinely whine, complain, and get offended about everything.
... take disagreement as a personal attack.
... choose to complain about something, but offer no helpful alternatives.
... tell you what they don't like about you and expect you to say nothing in response.
... find ways to turn perfectly happy situations into pity parties.
... get offended by something you've done or said, then completely ignore your apology.
... expect the world to revolve around their own thoughts, beliefs, feelings, experiences, etc.
I'm really over it. Majorly.
I've thought about typing all that out multiple times, but always opted not to because I didn't see how it would help. It just gets me all riled up.
But here's the deal. I'm finding myself becoming so bitter ... maybe critical ... no, it's more like spiteful toward people who do these things. I don't know, maybe it's all three of those feelings. I've lost respect for people who act these ways. Each incident, whether it involved me or someone else, just brings to mind all the previous ones. I go from calm and happy to annoyed and snarky in no time flat. I hate it.
I need to accept that some people would rather pick a fight and bail than work through one. I need to accept that some people are chronically offended. I need to accept that some people are uncomfortable with disagreement. I need to accept that some people want to speak their mind, but don't want to listen to anyone else's. I need to accept that some people make accusations without any supporting evidence.
I need to let it go. I keep thinking I have, then a new situation comes up and I realize I'm still hanging on to the old ones.
You can pray for my attitude. It's lousy. You can pray for my heart. It's unforgiving.
FUN WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY
Nice alliterative title, huh?
Sunday - We headed to Chuck E. Cheese in Vancouver for the birthday party of one of our kids' pseudo-cousins. We had a nice time visiting and the kids had a blast playing games and scarfing pizza. I also had the best rainbow sherbet I've ever had. It was amazing. Oh my.
As a sidenote, pseudo-cousins are acquired when your father lives with another family for a chunk of his time in high school. The family he lives with becomes his pseudo-family and all future generations become pseudo-relatives.
Monday - Some friends were scheduled to join us for dinner, but cancelled at the last minute because one of them was sick. So, I posted an open invitation on Facebook for a couple people to fill their place. It didn't take too long for Brianne to give me a call and see if anyone had taken us up on the offer yet. She was the first responder, so her family headed over to our house. We had a great time eating and chatting with them!
Tuesday - The kids and I were due for a library trip, so we invited my grandma to come along. We loaded up our bags with books, then Granny treated us to Burger King before we headed home. Naomi, as usual, made sure she got to sit right next to Granny.
Wednesday - Today we're headed to the birthday party of one of the boys' buddies. They're looking forward to playing with friends and eating cake. I'm looking forward to chatting with the birthday boy's mom ... and, well, eating cake.
Tomorrow life will slow down a little and we'll spend some time hunkering down at home, but it's been a fun few days.
Sunday - We headed to Chuck E. Cheese in Vancouver for the birthday party of one of our kids' pseudo-cousins. We had a nice time visiting and the kids had a blast playing games and scarfing pizza. I also had the best rainbow sherbet I've ever had. It was amazing. Oh my.
As a sidenote, pseudo-cousins are acquired when your father lives with another family for a chunk of his time in high school. The family he lives with becomes his pseudo-family and all future generations become pseudo-relatives.
Monday - Some friends were scheduled to join us for dinner, but cancelled at the last minute because one of them was sick. So, I posted an open invitation on Facebook for a couple people to fill their place. It didn't take too long for Brianne to give me a call and see if anyone had taken us up on the offer yet. She was the first responder, so her family headed over to our house. We had a great time eating and chatting with them!
Tuesday - The kids and I were due for a library trip, so we invited my grandma to come along. We loaded up our bags with books, then Granny treated us to Burger King before we headed home. Naomi, as usual, made sure she got to sit right next to Granny.
Wednesday - Today we're headed to the birthday party of one of the boys' buddies. They're looking forward to playing with friends and eating cake. I'm looking forward to chatting with the birthday boy's mom ... and, well, eating cake.
Tomorrow life will slow down a little and we'll spend some time hunkering down at home, but it's been a fun few days.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
"PARKUL"
Do you recall Naomi's request a couple months ago for a pierced nose (a sparkle, as we call it) like mine? She wanted "parkul" of her own. Well, she finally got one!
Like mother, like daughter.
.
Is she stinkin' cute or what?! These are just adhesive, so she'll have fun using them when the mood strikes. Her first words when she saw herself in the mirror? "Match Mommy."
Oh, she's fun!
Like mother, like daughter.
.Is she stinkin' cute or what?! These are just adhesive, so she'll have fun using them when the mood strikes. Her first words when she saw herself in the mirror? "Match Mommy."
Oh, she's fun!
Friday, February 19, 2010
TEN GRANDS FOR KIDS
ATTENTION - I have already requested tickets for our group. However, I'll leave this info up in case others would like to get a group of their own together.
A friend and I are hoping to take our kids to a free concert called Ten Grands For Kids, but we need you to join us. The performance will be on Friday, April 2, 2010 from 9:45-11:00am. The catch? We need at least twenty students (plus their chaperones) in order to get tickets. We've got some already, but we're wondering if you would like to join us.
Here is some info about the performance.
I sending this flyer to you today regarding a free concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall this spring that Michael Allen Harrison and the Snowman Foundation are offering to Portland area students. I am attaching the 2010 flyer regarding the concert for you to distribute to all teachers and faculty that may be interested in participating in this fabulous event!!
As you may know, Ten Grands is an amazing concert that happens each spring at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert raises money for the Snowman Foundation, Michael's organization that supports music programs in the Portland area and beyond. Last year, he created a kid's show by adding some of Portland's finest prodigies to the roster, shortening the show to one hour and 15 minutes, opening the concert hall during the day and offering the show for free to students, teachers and chaperones. The results were astounding. From kindergarten to high school, the responses were the same.....awe-struck students sent cards by the hundreds expressing their amazement at the concert and gratitude to Michael for the experience.
Michael is offering Ten Grands for Kids again this year, and would like to invite your school to attend. He has expanded it to 4 shows, meaning that we have the capacity to reach nearly 12,000 kids, which we are really excited about!! As of now, we are able to reserve as many seats as you would like. Simply send me an email with the number of students, teachers and chaperones that would like to attend the show, which concert you would like to attend and I will block off a section for your school.
Michael is a strong believer in the necessity of music education for every child, and he does not want anyone to miss out on music because of finances. This is the reason he started the Snowman Foundation over ten years ago, and this concert is an extension of this belief. It is his desire to expose thousands of kids to music!
Now back to me. Please keep in mind this is intended for school-aged kids. In fact, knowing some you moms of littles would want to come, I've already gotten that point clarified. Here's the scoop.
This concert is specifically designed and presented for the purpose of inspiring young music lovers and possibly spark an interest in a young child to pick up an instrument! It is not designed to be a free outing for young mommies with babies, toddlers or preschoolers.
And, in regards to little ones, please, please, please tell your mommies that this is a field trip opportunity for kids ages K - 12. If their little ones are squirmy or would not enjoy sitting through a concert, then no one around them will enjoy it either. I don't want to place a ban on little ones, because there always is that exception, but I am telling homeschool families to please be considerate of the audience and of your child in this regard. Don't put your child through an uncomfortable experience which will only cause a ripple effect.
And I'm back again. In my opinion, there are few things more annoying than a child who won't quietly sit still in an audience or congregation or as inconsiderate as a parent who thinks their kiddo's antics are more important than everyone else being able to concentrate, so please use discernment in deciding which kids to bring. The woman who is in charge of the tickets has homeschooled her kids too, so she's not trying to be difficult. She just wants the concert to be a positive experience for everyone. Okey dokey?
Homeschoolers are in a tricky spot, as the mom of littles is also the teacher for the bigs, but if your littles will ruin the outing for everyone else, then just get a sitter. Everyone will have more fun that way!
Lecture over.
I know some schools are out on 4/2/10, so this invitation is not limited to homeschoolers. Anyone with school-aged children is welcome to join our group. If you want to get on the list, then shoot me an e-mail (bethanyandtim @ yahoo . com) with the number of adults and kids that will be coming.
There are three other performances. In case the one we're working on doesn't fit into your schedule, then try and get a group together for one of the others. Here they are.
4/1/10 from 9:45-11:00
4/1/10 from 11:45-1:00
4/2/10 from 11:45-1:00
A friend and I are hoping to take our kids to a free concert called Ten Grands For Kids, but we need you to join us. The performance will be on Friday, April 2, 2010 from 9:45-11:00am. The catch? We need at least twenty students (plus their chaperones) in order to get tickets. We've got some already, but we're wondering if you would like to join us.
Here is some info about the performance.
I sending this flyer to you today regarding a free concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall this spring that Michael Allen Harrison and the Snowman Foundation are offering to Portland area students. I am attaching the 2010 flyer regarding the concert for you to distribute to all teachers and faculty that may be interested in participating in this fabulous event!!
As you may know, Ten Grands is an amazing concert that happens each spring at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert raises money for the Snowman Foundation, Michael's organization that supports music programs in the Portland area and beyond. Last year, he created a kid's show by adding some of Portland's finest prodigies to the roster, shortening the show to one hour and 15 minutes, opening the concert hall during the day and offering the show for free to students, teachers and chaperones. The results were astounding. From kindergarten to high school, the responses were the same.....awe-struck students sent cards by the hundreds expressing their amazement at the concert and gratitude to Michael for the experience.
Michael is offering Ten Grands for Kids again this year, and would like to invite your school to attend. He has expanded it to 4 shows, meaning that we have the capacity to reach nearly 12,000 kids, which we are really excited about!! As of now, we are able to reserve as many seats as you would like. Simply send me an email with the number of students, teachers and chaperones that would like to attend the show, which concert you would like to attend and I will block off a section for your school.
Michael is a strong believer in the necessity of music education for every child, and he does not want anyone to miss out on music because of finances. This is the reason he started the Snowman Foundation over ten years ago, and this concert is an extension of this belief. It is his desire to expose thousands of kids to music!
Now back to me. Please keep in mind this is intended for school-aged kids. In fact, knowing some you moms of littles would want to come, I've already gotten that point clarified. Here's the scoop.
This concert is specifically designed and presented for the purpose of inspiring young music lovers and possibly spark an interest in a young child to pick up an instrument! It is not designed to be a free outing for young mommies with babies, toddlers or preschoolers.
And, in regards to little ones, please, please, please tell your mommies that this is a field trip opportunity for kids ages K - 12. If their little ones are squirmy or would not enjoy sitting through a concert, then no one around them will enjoy it either. I don't want to place a ban on little ones, because there always is that exception, but I am telling homeschool families to please be considerate of the audience and of your child in this regard. Don't put your child through an uncomfortable experience which will only cause a ripple effect.
And I'm back again. In my opinion, there are few things more annoying than a child who won't quietly sit still in an audience or congregation or as inconsiderate as a parent who thinks their kiddo's antics are more important than everyone else being able to concentrate, so please use discernment in deciding which kids to bring. The woman who is in charge of the tickets has homeschooled her kids too, so she's not trying to be difficult. She just wants the concert to be a positive experience for everyone. Okey dokey?
Homeschoolers are in a tricky spot, as the mom of littles is also the teacher for the bigs, but if your littles will ruin the outing for everyone else, then just get a sitter. Everyone will have more fun that way!
Lecture over.
I know some schools are out on 4/2/10, so this invitation is not limited to homeschoolers. Anyone with school-aged children is welcome to join our group. If you want to get on the list, then shoot me an e-mail (bethanyandtim @ yahoo . com) with the number of adults and kids that will be coming.
There are three other performances. In case the one we're working on doesn't fit into your schedule, then try and get a group together for one of the others. Here they are.
4/1/10 from 9:45-11:00
4/1/10 from 11:45-1:00
4/2/10 from 11:45-1:00
Thursday, February 18, 2010
2/18/10 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful for the really great week I'm having with my kids.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
SHOCKING CREATIVITY
I don't have a crafty bone in my body. My sister got all of those genes. So, I'm fairly proud of the idea that came to mind a couple months ago. I had an old frame that was in great condition, but it was empty and odd-shaped (it used to have space for three matted 5x7s in it). I decided that I would cut five Ws from colored poster board, then have each family member decorate one. So, that's what we did on New Year's Day. Here's how it turned out.
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I love it! We'll probably do a new one each year on New Years Day, just because I love traditions.
Now, here's the proof that I'm not naturally gifted at this crafty stuff. The frame was supposed to be vertical, perfect for a specific spot on the wall, but I glued all the letters horizontally. Oops. So, now it's sitting out with no place to hang and not enough time left in this house to find a spot. I'm sure we'll find a great place to hang it after we move next month though!
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I love it! We'll probably do a new one each year on New Years Day, just because I love traditions.
Now, here's the proof that I'm not naturally gifted at this crafty stuff. The frame was supposed to be vertical, perfect for a specific spot on the wall, but I glued all the letters horizontally. Oops. So, now it's sitting out with no place to hang and not enough time left in this house to find a spot. I'm sure we'll find a great place to hang it after we move next month though!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
SUCH A NICE DAY
Absolutely nothing exciting or newsworthy has happened, but it's just been a great day. Mellow, yet productive. This morning I decided to scrap school for the week. We could take four weeks off and still finish the year when public school does, so taking some time off is not going to hurt anything.
I packed up all the playdough and the "tools" that go with it, plus all the books on a bookshelf. The boys played SMATH, a game I'd seen for twenty bucks at a game store, then found at Goodwill for a couple bucks. I've had it in the closet for a long time and finally busted it out today. Naomi spent a chunk of time working on her puzzles.
Two kids and I had a jammy day. I hung out online for a bit. The kids and I all piled on the couch under the snuggle blanket and read a pile of books together. We've eaten truckloads of Valentine cookies and pink rice crispy treats. I read half of Prisoner of Tehran while the kids napped and had downtime. It was Taco Tuesday, which means good food and minimal dishes. Three loads of laundry got done. I combed, brushed, then oiled Naomi's hair. We listened to the Forrest Gump soundtrack.
Now the kids are going to bed and I'm going to finish the book I started earlier in the day. It's been a perfect day.
I packed up all the playdough and the "tools" that go with it, plus all the books on a bookshelf. The boys played SMATH, a game I'd seen for twenty bucks at a game store, then found at Goodwill for a couple bucks. I've had it in the closet for a long time and finally busted it out today. Naomi spent a chunk of time working on her puzzles.
Two kids and I had a jammy day. I hung out online for a bit. The kids and I all piled on the couch under the snuggle blanket and read a pile of books together. We've eaten truckloads of Valentine cookies and pink rice crispy treats. I read half of Prisoner of Tehran while the kids napped and had downtime. It was Taco Tuesday, which means good food and minimal dishes. Three loads of laundry got done. I combed, brushed, then oiled Naomi's hair. We listened to the Forrest Gump soundtrack.
Now the kids are going to bed and I'm going to finish the book I started earlier in the day. It's been a perfect day.
Monday, February 15, 2010
MENU - SECOND HALF OF FEBRUARY 2010
I haven't had to make dinner for three nights in a row! Saturday night we got together with some other couples and the guys cooked. Devon made a dump cake for that event. Sunday nights are always leftovers, though last night ended up being Burger King due to the drama of Devon being stuck in the bathroom all evening. Friends have invited us over tonight and I'm bringing apple cinnamon cake.
This menu is largely centered on cleaning out our extra freezer (we can't take it with us when we move) and cupboards (don't want to pack, move, unpack a bunch of non-perishables).
BREAKFASTS
Dutch babies
honey wheat muffins
pumpkin bread (freezer)
DINNERS
leftover x2
tacos x2
turkey (freezer)/stuffing/cranberry sauce/Leslie's salad
turkey pot pie (I'll probably make up an extra base for the freezer)
rotini & spaghetti sauce (crockpot)/asparagus
Italian sausage & bowties/broccoli
tuna couscous salad
teriyaki chicken (crockpot)/coleslaw/rice
creamy butternut squash soup/new biscuit recipe
Mexican chicken (crockpot)/brown rice/salad
DESSERTS
apple brownies
This menu is largely centered on cleaning out our extra freezer (we can't take it with us when we move) and cupboards (don't want to pack, move, unpack a bunch of non-perishables).
BREAKFASTS
Dutch babies
honey wheat muffins
pumpkin bread (freezer)
DINNERS
leftover x2
tacos x2
turkey (freezer)/stuffing/cranberry sauce/Leslie's salad
turkey pot pie (I'll probably make up an extra base for the freezer)
rotini & spaghetti sauce (crockpot)/asparagus
Italian sausage & bowties/broccoli
tuna couscous salad
teriyaki chicken (crockpot)/coleslaw/rice
creamy butternut squash soup/new biscuit recipe
Mexican chicken (crockpot)/brown rice/salad
DESSERTS
apple brownies
Sunday, February 14, 2010
TRAPPED
5:00pm - Devon enters the bathroom. He empties his bladder and washes his hands. He tries to open the door to leave, but it won't open. He calls Silas. I hear them talking through the bathroom door and go to see what all the hooplah is about. I try to open the door. It won't open. The knob will turn in both directions. It can be locked and unlocked. The latch, however, will not move. Devon is trapped in the bathroom
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My dad happens to call and ends up giving Tim some ideas. They don't work. I post on the Sonlight forums and on Facebook, which leads to a variety of suggestions on how to help Devon escape. They don't work. We pass Devon a screwdriver under the door and he removes the doorknob. That doesn't help. Tim explains how to lift the pins out of the hinges. Despite the fact that Devon has one leg on the sink and the other on a counter behind the door, pretty much spread eagle across the back of the door, while trying to use a screwdriver to lift the top hinge pin, he's just a little too short to get it up high enough. The father-in-law of a friend on Facebook spends time on the phone with Tim talking him through some ideas. They don't work.
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Trapped.
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An eyeball peeping through the hole where the doorknob used to be.
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Talking Devon through some possible solutions. Notice the screwdriver wedged in the moulding of the doorframe.
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About 7:00 pm I read the following suggestion on the Sonlight forums.
.Dh said to call a "non-emergency" fire department line and they should send out an engine and get Devon out. With little or no damage to the door. He said they'd be fine about it. They're there to help.
.The fire department? I'd never have thought of that! Since we'd exhausted all options, Tim made the call.
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The truck. No lights. No siren. Just a big truck parked in front of our house. I realize this is the word's worst picture, but it was dark and I didn't want to have to walk out in the yard for a better one. At least this is enough evidence to prove the fire department came.
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Three firefighters arrived, assessed the situation, acknowledged that Tim had already done what they were going to do, asked "is the little guy resourceful?" before giving Devon directions on how to help them from the inside.
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Checking things out. Pulling out tools.
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The rescue begins.
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Doing the exact same thing that Tim did, except it took three firefighters putting all their muscle into it at the same time in order for it to work.
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7:30pm - Devon comes out of the bathroom after two and a half hours of being trapped. It was an adventure, no doubt. He had fun being manly with his tools and trying to get the door open.
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From a distance. Notice the paint shavings on the floor. And the napkin. That's how we slid waffles under the door for Devon to eat.
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The door frame looking somewhat destroyed.
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The hole where the doorknob used to be.
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The door jamb.
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As a result of this ordeal, our annual family Valentine's party got bumped from 6:00 to 8:00, which is bedtime. So, the kids all got to stay up late decorating heart-shaped sugar cookies and opening Valentines from a swap with other Sonlight kids around the country.
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Never a dull moment at our house!
Friday, February 12, 2010
HOW DOES A WORD BECOME OFFENSIVE?
I've already told you about how I upset someone by using words I didn't know some people found offensive.
I learned my lesson, but it made me start wondering about something. Here's my thought process.
People that look like Tim (actually, those who looked like Tim's dad) used to be called "Negroes". That was considered a non-offensive term. Then the acceptable word changed to "blacks". Now the acceptable term is "African American".
Yesterday I was watching a baby who is half .... oh gosh, I can never remember ... Japanese, I think. The acceptable term to use in describing him, assuming you didn't know the specific country his family came from, would be "Asian". It used to be "Oriental".
There's a thread on the Sonlight forums right now about the word "retard(ed)". While the point of that thread is about using that word as an insult to people without any mental/medical issues, it's another example of a word that has become offensive. Now we have to say "cognitively delayed" or some other phrase deemed non-offensive.
While I do think it's important to be sensitive to the feelings of particular groups of people and that we should strive to be non-offensive in our language, I think the heart behind the words is significantly more important than the actual words being used. That's why I (a mom who requires her kids to call adults Mr/Mrs Last Name) would much rather hang out with a pleasant kid who sweetly calls me Bethany than a punk who calls me Mrs. Weathersby.
So, when does a previously acceptable word become offensive? What happens there? Why does a word become offensive and need to be replaced? Who determines that? When will the word currently deemed appropriate to describe a set of people suddenly become offensive? How are we supposed to keep track of the changes in acceptable terms?
I'm only referring to words that have been considered polite, professional and/or appropriate at some point and then were deemed offensive.
I'd love to hear your thoughts or knowledge about that process!
Clarification: I'm not particularly interested in whether or not certain words or phrases are offensive or not. My questions are more about changes in language than they are about sensitivities.
I learned my lesson, but it made me start wondering about something. Here's my thought process.
People that look like Tim (actually, those who looked like Tim's dad) used to be called "Negroes". That was considered a non-offensive term. Then the acceptable word changed to "blacks". Now the acceptable term is "African American".
Yesterday I was watching a baby who is half .... oh gosh, I can never remember ... Japanese, I think. The acceptable term to use in describing him, assuming you didn't know the specific country his family came from, would be "Asian". It used to be "Oriental".
There's a thread on the Sonlight forums right now about the word "retard(ed)". While the point of that thread is about using that word as an insult to people without any mental/medical issues, it's another example of a word that has become offensive. Now we have to say "cognitively delayed" or some other phrase deemed non-offensive.
While I do think it's important to be sensitive to the feelings of particular groups of people and that we should strive to be non-offensive in our language, I think the heart behind the words is significantly more important than the actual words being used. That's why I (a mom who requires her kids to call adults Mr/Mrs Last Name) would much rather hang out with a pleasant kid who sweetly calls me Bethany than a punk who calls me Mrs. Weathersby.
So, when does a previously acceptable word become offensive? What happens there? Why does a word become offensive and need to be replaced? Who determines that? When will the word currently deemed appropriate to describe a set of people suddenly become offensive? How are we supposed to keep track of the changes in acceptable terms?
I'm only referring to words that have been considered polite, professional and/or appropriate at some point and then were deemed offensive.
I'd love to hear your thoughts or knowledge about that process!
Clarification: I'm not particularly interested in whether or not certain words or phrases are offensive or not. My questions are more about changes in language than they are about sensitivities.
IT'S FRIDAY!!
Snack - I "bought" a Whirley-Pop off Amazon by using gift cards I earned from online searches using Swagbucks a while back. It's so much easier than shaking a pan back and forth over a burner for making kettle corn. Anyway, we've discovered a kettle corn combo that we really like. It's one batch of regular kettle corn mixed with one batch of cinnamon crunch popcorn. Yum!!
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Taxes - Did them last week. We owed this year. It's the first time ever, but we knew it was coming. When some states held back refunds last year I decided we needed to have less withheld. We depend on our refund for buying curriculum and need to know it will be in our hands when it should be. So, Tim changed our withholdings ... and we sent a check to the state. Next year we'll pay federal too, but it all comes out in the wash. I think I'm going to miss getting a big refund check though. Getting it spread out over the year in a regular paycheck just isn't as much fun.
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February Syndrome - It's alive and well! I'm tired and impatient. The kids are either whiny, bickering, crying, or disobeying. Basketball will be done in two weeks. Not that I'm counting.
Mow - I got to mow the lawn earlier this week, first time in months I've had to do it. I'm really going to miss that job once we return to apartment life!
Movies - I've watched three in the last week. Goodbye Solo - knew nothing about it, didn't really like it, waste of time. The Cove - not necessarily a big animal rights activist, but this movie was disturbing, definitely worth watching. Gifted Hands - remember when Ben Carson first separated twins, have read a couple of his books, loved the movie.
Class - I really want to teach another bargain shopping class, but life is so busy! Part of me thinks I should wait til after we move. The other part of me has a craving to do something outside of the house and without my kids. Plus, I just love chatting about stretching a dollar. I'll have to decide whether to bust one out soon or just wait.
Tooth - Each of our boys has lost one this week.
Reading - Devon started reading a few months before turning four. While I realize that's earlier than a lot of kids, I never brought it up in conversation because it just doesn't matter. Plus, I just can't stand "mommy competitions". You know what I mean? It's where women feel this burning desire to prove how their kid is just so amazing. Drives me batty! No two kids have the exact same skills or develop the ones they do have at the same rate as every other kid in town. Devon, for example, read early ... but he's in speech therapy. He's always been good at anything requiring agility and coordination ... but his impulse control leaves something to be desired. It all comes out in the wash.
Anyway, that's a tangent. My point was about reading. I understood when people would be surprised at hearing him read while he was three and four, but it blows me away how many people are still surprised at his reading skills. After all, he's closer to six than five.
Time out, lest someone be offended. I realize a lot of kids have various learning disabilities that make that skill hard to develop. That's totally fine and understandable. I'm not criticizing those kids. I'm just talking about your average kid without any medical diagnosis that would make reading difficult.
Maybe my frame of reference is skewed because I don't have other five year olds to compare him to (Silas had comparable skills at five years old and he's not in a traditional classroom filled with other five year olds), but I'm wondering why it's shocking that a kid who is more than halfway through kindergarten can pick up a book and read it, read the packing of the items on a store shelf, or read signs that are posted on a wall. Is that truly uncommon now? If so, then I think that's kinda sad. If not, then maybe it's just a fluke that we keep running into people that think it is. So, clue me in. Do the five year olds (those without learning disabilities) in your life know how to read beyond "see spot run"?
Update - I just heard from someone whose child went to a public school in Oregon. She said they started reading in late kindergarten and tackled it more seriously in first grade. If that's standard across the state, then I now understand the comments about Devon. I thought kindergarten was the year public school dove into reading, but it sounds like I was wrong and that it's more of a focus in first grade. Now I know.
Sarah - A couple weeks ago I got to have dinner with my friend Sarah. We hadn't hung out in ages and she was the only one who accepted my invitation to hang out at Noodles & Company. Lucky her ... she got a free dinner, thanks to a BOGO coupon I had. Three hours of chatting and eating was great!
Nap - I very rarely nap. However, I came home from church on Sunday and konked out for three hours. Felt so good!
Kid #4 - Nope, I'm not preggo. However, we did get to spend a chunk of yesterday with a little man who was the fourth kid in the house, a cutie that Naomi wanted to be in charge of. Evidently she's not aware I've been changing diapers since I was in grade school and don't really need her supervision, but that's all right. The kiddos doted on him and I got some baby snuggles. Fun times!
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Taxes - Did them last week. We owed this year. It's the first time ever, but we knew it was coming. When some states held back refunds last year I decided we needed to have less withheld. We depend on our refund for buying curriculum and need to know it will be in our hands when it should be. So, Tim changed our withholdings ... and we sent a check to the state. Next year we'll pay federal too, but it all comes out in the wash. I think I'm going to miss getting a big refund check though. Getting it spread out over the year in a regular paycheck just isn't as much fun.
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February Syndrome - It's alive and well! I'm tired and impatient. The kids are either whiny, bickering, crying, or disobeying. Basketball will be done in two weeks. Not that I'm counting.
Mow - I got to mow the lawn earlier this week, first time in months I've had to do it. I'm really going to miss that job once we return to apartment life!
Movies - I've watched three in the last week. Goodbye Solo - knew nothing about it, didn't really like it, waste of time. The Cove - not necessarily a big animal rights activist, but this movie was disturbing, definitely worth watching. Gifted Hands - remember when Ben Carson first separated twins, have read a couple of his books, loved the movie.
Class - I really want to teach another bargain shopping class, but life is so busy! Part of me thinks I should wait til after we move. The other part of me has a craving to do something outside of the house and without my kids. Plus, I just love chatting about stretching a dollar. I'll have to decide whether to bust one out soon or just wait.
Tooth - Each of our boys has lost one this week.
Reading - Devon started reading a few months before turning four. While I realize that's earlier than a lot of kids, I never brought it up in conversation because it just doesn't matter. Plus, I just can't stand "mommy competitions". You know what I mean? It's where women feel this burning desire to prove how their kid is just so amazing. Drives me batty! No two kids have the exact same skills or develop the ones they do have at the same rate as every other kid in town. Devon, for example, read early ... but he's in speech therapy. He's always been good at anything requiring agility and coordination ... but his impulse control leaves something to be desired. It all comes out in the wash.
Anyway, that's a tangent. My point was about reading. I understood when people would be surprised at hearing him read while he was three and four, but it blows me away how many people are still surprised at his reading skills. After all, he's closer to six than five.
Time out, lest someone be offended. I realize a lot of kids have various learning disabilities that make that skill hard to develop. That's totally fine and understandable. I'm not criticizing those kids. I'm just talking about your average kid without any medical diagnosis that would make reading difficult.
Maybe my frame of reference is skewed because I don't have other five year olds to compare him to (Silas had comparable skills at five years old and he's not in a traditional classroom filled with other five year olds), but I'm wondering why it's shocking that a kid who is more than halfway through kindergarten can pick up a book and read it, read the packing of the items on a store shelf, or read signs that are posted on a wall. Is that truly uncommon now? If so, then I think that's kinda sad. If not, then maybe it's just a fluke that we keep running into people that think it is. So, clue me in. Do the five year olds (those without learning disabilities) in your life know how to read beyond "see spot run"?
Update - I just heard from someone whose child went to a public school in Oregon. She said they started reading in late kindergarten and tackled it more seriously in first grade. If that's standard across the state, then I now understand the comments about Devon. I thought kindergarten was the year public school dove into reading, but it sounds like I was wrong and that it's more of a focus in first grade. Now I know.
Sarah - A couple weeks ago I got to have dinner with my friend Sarah. We hadn't hung out in ages and she was the only one who accepted my invitation to hang out at Noodles & Company. Lucky her ... she got a free dinner, thanks to a BOGO coupon I had. Three hours of chatting and eating was great!
Nap - I very rarely nap. However, I came home from church on Sunday and konked out for three hours. Felt so good!
Kid #4 - Nope, I'm not preggo. However, we did get to spend a chunk of yesterday with a little man who was the fourth kid in the house, a cutie that Naomi wanted to be in charge of. Evidently she's not aware I've been changing diapers since I was in grade school and don't really need her supervision, but that's all right. The kiddos doted on him and I got some baby snuggles. Fun times!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2/11/10 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful for blogging - the first hobby I've had in years, something that is not a requirement of marriage or motherhood, a place to meet new people, a mental outlet after spending all day with the kiddos, an emotional outlet when I'm struggling through something, somewhere I can just be random, and a venue for showing off the cutest kids in the world. And that's just for this blog! I also enjoy the other ones I do, though they have a way more functional purpose than this one. So glad I acted on the shocking moment of spontaneity when the thought of blogging crossed my mind a couple years ago!
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
CANDY HEARTS. YOUR THOUGHTS?
Photo from Reader's DigestValentine's Day is just around the corner. It's not a day that's ever mattered much to me. I suppose that's a good thing, as Tim is almost always working a game that night. Our kids participate in a Valentine's swap with other kids who use Sonlight. So we decorate heart-shaped sugar cookies and open all the cards on Valentine's day, but Tim and I don't really do anything to celebrate.
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However, there is one hugely positive thing about Valentine's Day. Candy hearts. Or conversation hearts. Whatever name you give them, I think they're wonderful. Cheery colors. Sweet flavor. Loving words. Friendly greetings. You just can't go wrong with that combo.
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What do you think about candy hearts? February perfection or colored chalk? Classic Necco brand or a bag from another line of candy? Big and flat or small and thick? Loving, humorous, suggestive, or tech lingo ("text me") messages? Give me your thoughts!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
A WEEK IN REVIEW
I offended someone. However, I'm wiser, or at least more knowledgeable, from the experience.
Devon whined about his sore tooth. However, it fell out during a dinner and the Tooth Fairy paid him a visit that night.
I wrote Silas' all-nighter event, scheduled for 2/6, on the calendar for 2/13. However, someone mentioned it on Facebook Friday morning, I realized my mistake, and Silas didn't miss the event.
Naomi choked on a coin when no one was in the room. However, she ended up swallowing it instead of choking to death.
I missed Bible study on Wednesday because all my kids had colds. However, I got to relax while Tim was gone and the kids were in bed.
We didn't get our whole week of school completed this week. However, we're still ahead of schedule and I got some other projects taken care of.
I felt the pressure of moving. However, I was able to pack more boxes and give away some furniture we won't take with us.
My sink backed up on Wednesday morning and that's where we wash our dishes. However, Roto Rooter came today and worked their magic.
So, it's been a long week. I've been stressed. I've been discouraged. I'm exhausted.
However, my kids are all going to bed early tonight, our dishes will get washed, and I'll get to purge coupons (I'm nerdy enough to find that relaxing ... it's mindless work that makes me feel productive) while watching a library movie with Tim.
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Devon whined about his sore tooth. However, it fell out during a dinner and the Tooth Fairy paid him a visit that night.
I wrote Silas' all-nighter event, scheduled for 2/6, on the calendar for 2/13. However, someone mentioned it on Facebook Friday morning, I realized my mistake, and Silas didn't miss the event.
Naomi choked on a coin when no one was in the room. However, she ended up swallowing it instead of choking to death.
I missed Bible study on Wednesday because all my kids had colds. However, I got to relax while Tim was gone and the kids were in bed.
We didn't get our whole week of school completed this week. However, we're still ahead of schedule and I got some other projects taken care of.
I felt the pressure of moving. However, I was able to pack more boxes and give away some furniture we won't take with us.
My sink backed up on Wednesday morning and that's where we wash our dishes. However, Roto Rooter came today and worked their magic.
So, it's been a long week. I've been stressed. I've been discouraged. I'm exhausted.
However, my kids are all going to bed early tonight, our dishes will get washed, and I'll get to purge coupons (I'm nerdy enough to find that relaxing ... it's mindless work that makes me feel productive) while watching a library movie with Tim.
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Rinsed dishes on the left, food-caked dishes on the right, nasty water backed up in the sink.
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Tim snaking the pipes, which didn't do the job. Neither did hose pressure or two different types of liquid pipe cleaner.
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The van of my dreams.
WHEN A GIRL LOVES A MAN
Want to see something totally sweet and completely pathetic? Then go visit my dad's blog.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I'M AN AUNT AGAIN!!
Three years ago my sister and her husband started the adoption process.
Two years ago they got their son. (In the Philippines you foster the child until the adoption process is complete.)
Yesterday the judge finally approved the adoption.
I am now officially the aunt of a nephew I've had for two years!!!!
Two years ago they got their son. (In the Philippines you foster the child until the adoption process is complete.)
Yesterday the judge finally approved the adoption.
I am now officially the aunt of a nephew I've had for two years!!!!
2/4/10 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful that I slept well last night.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
LEARNING SOME LESSONS
As some of you already know, I spent Monday night in tears. I had received an e-mail from someone who was offended by words I had said when asking for their advice on something. They made it clear that they understood my intentions were good and appreciated the motive behind what I had said, but they were pretty upset nonetheless.
While I never want to offend anyone, I'm not prone to crying about it when it happens. Unfortunately, this was the most recent incident in a string of complaints over several months from people who aren't happy with me because of one thing or another - the questions I ask, blogs I post, way my days are scheduled, keys I use when typing, gatherings I plan, ways I try to make things right after offending someone, etc. No matter what I do or say, whether serious or trivial, someone is upset. It seriously makes me want to just withdraw from everyone. We're all bound to hurt someone every now and then. That's just part of life. It seems, however, that I have a unique ability to do it effortlessly, unintentionally, and constantly.
I'm not going to get into specifics of Monday's situation, but it was about some words I'd used and an assumption I had in giving the physical description of someone. I know that's vague, but I don't want people trying to figure out who was involved or what the details were. It doesn't really matter.
Neither the words nor the assumption have ever been a problem when I've used them before, so the fact that someone was offended caught me completely off guard. I immediately sent a one sentence e-mail back apologizing for the offense, then just cried the rest of the night.
As the offended person had specifically referenced their own childhood and because I'd never had someone complain before, I wasn't sure how much of their offense was a personal issue or if all people in this particular group share the same feelings. However, since they were so upset that they couldn't even think of how to answer my question, I was afraid that anything I said or questions I asked would just dig the whole that I was in even deeper.
I know others in similar situations, so I shot out some e-mails explaining the situation and asking for their feedback. As I told some of them, I firmly believe that if you ask a question, then you need to be prepared for any answer that comes. With that in mind, I asked them to honestly tell me if they thought I was offensive in what I said and to clarify if my assumption was correct or incorrect.
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I'm so thankful for their honest responses. The responses varied from person to person, but they were all helpful. Technically, I didn't do anything wrong. The words I used weren't "bad" words, my tone when using them was good, and my motives in the conversation were right. However, I now know that the words I used will offend some people, that I need to be sensitive to that fact, and have been given some alternative words to use. I also had my assumption, which wasn't mean or judgemental, shot down. It was just a simple case of misinformation. Actually, it was lack of information.
Basically, I learned some new facts, reasons some people get offended, and ways to avoid this situation happening again. Lessons learned the hard way.
While I never want to offend anyone, I'm not prone to crying about it when it happens. Unfortunately, this was the most recent incident in a string of complaints over several months from people who aren't happy with me because of one thing or another - the questions I ask, blogs I post, way my days are scheduled, keys I use when typing, gatherings I plan, ways I try to make things right after offending someone, etc. No matter what I do or say, whether serious or trivial, someone is upset. It seriously makes me want to just withdraw from everyone. We're all bound to hurt someone every now and then. That's just part of life. It seems, however, that I have a unique ability to do it effortlessly, unintentionally, and constantly.
I'm not going to get into specifics of Monday's situation, but it was about some words I'd used and an assumption I had in giving the physical description of someone. I know that's vague, but I don't want people trying to figure out who was involved or what the details were. It doesn't really matter.
Neither the words nor the assumption have ever been a problem when I've used them before, so the fact that someone was offended caught me completely off guard. I immediately sent a one sentence e-mail back apologizing for the offense, then just cried the rest of the night.
As the offended person had specifically referenced their own childhood and because I'd never had someone complain before, I wasn't sure how much of their offense was a personal issue or if all people in this particular group share the same feelings. However, since they were so upset that they couldn't even think of how to answer my question, I was afraid that anything I said or questions I asked would just dig the whole that I was in even deeper.
I know others in similar situations, so I shot out some e-mails explaining the situation and asking for their feedback. As I told some of them, I firmly believe that if you ask a question, then you need to be prepared for any answer that comes. With that in mind, I asked them to honestly tell me if they thought I was offensive in what I said and to clarify if my assumption was correct or incorrect.
.
I'm so thankful for their honest responses. The responses varied from person to person, but they were all helpful. Technically, I didn't do anything wrong. The words I used weren't "bad" words, my tone when using them was good, and my motives in the conversation were right. However, I now know that the words I used will offend some people, that I need to be sensitive to that fact, and have been given some alternative words to use. I also had my assumption, which wasn't mean or judgemental, shot down. It was just a simple case of misinformation. Actually, it was lack of information.
Basically, I learned some new facts, reasons some people get offended, and ways to avoid this situation happening again. Lessons learned the hard way.
BOOKS I FINISHED - JANUARY 2010
I didn't read as many books for myself as I'd hoped, but that's all right. One book took me forever because I just couldn't get into it. Another ended up being unexpectedly raunchy, so i took it back to the library. Here's what I did finish during January.
.
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Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley
One of Silas' books for school, easy read with great pictures. History has never been my strength, so I learned some stuff (like the pressure she had to marry, her relationship with a cousin she never met and eventually had executed, etc) from this book too, even though I was the teacher.
.
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Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
I read this book on my own, even though it's considered a children's book. Loved it! Sweet story about friendships, imagination, fitting in, and family. After reading it I checked out two versions of the movie from the library. The first is from 1985 and the second from 2007.
.
.
Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space by Chris Jones
My motive in reading this book was to learn more about things that don't particularly fascinate me. Well, that flopped. I had a really hard time reading this book. I ended up reading the first few chapters thoroughly, then skimming the rest of the book.
Cool quote - p. 28 Sometimes, our fates are no longer ours to decide, and we can only grip our fists until our knuckles turn white and hang on for the rest of the ride..
.
Why Animals Sleep So Close to the Road (And Other Lies I Tell My Children) by Susan Konig
I was in desperate need of a lighthearted book that would make me laugh. Last year I was gathering book recommendations for a friend on bedrest and someone mentioned this one. It was exactly what I needed. Short chapters and a witty author.
.
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and illustrated by Garth Williams
.
.
Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley
One of Silas' books for school, easy read with great pictures. History has never been my strength, so I learned some stuff (like the pressure she had to marry, her relationship with a cousin she never met and eventually had executed, etc) from this book too, even though I was the teacher.
.
.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
I read this book on my own, even though it's considered a children's book. Loved it! Sweet story about friendships, imagination, fitting in, and family. After reading it I checked out two versions of the movie from the library. The first is from 1985 and the second from 2007.
.
.
Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space by Chris Jones
My motive in reading this book was to learn more about things that don't particularly fascinate me. Well, that flopped. I had a really hard time reading this book. I ended up reading the first few chapters thoroughly, then skimming the rest of the book.
Cool quote - p. 28 Sometimes, our fates are no longer ours to decide, and we can only grip our fists until our knuckles turn white and hang on for the rest of the ride..
.
Why Animals Sleep So Close to the Road (And Other Lies I Tell My Children) by Susan Konig
I was in desperate need of a lighthearted book that would make me laugh. Last year I was gathering book recommendations for a friend on bedrest and someone mentioned this one. It was exactly what I needed. Short chapters and a witty author.
.
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and illustrated by Garth Williams
I read this to Silas as a school assignment. It's the story of a cricket from Connecticut that finds himself in New York City. A story of friendship, fame, and priorities. Silas and I both enjoyed the story.
Monday, February 1, 2010
MENU - FIRST HALF OF FEBRUARY 2010
I think I still have some recipes from the last rotation that I need to get up on my recipe blog. Better check that out. Meanwhile, here's what's on tap for the next couple weeks.
BREAKFAST
baked oatmeal
sweet potato waffles
DINNER
leftovers x2
tacos x2
herb & cheese stuffed burgers/potato wedges
black bean couscous salad
chicken broccoli quiche/salad
chicken soup with dumplings
cracked wheat & rice pilaf/ Leslie's salad
meatball sandwiches/fruit
Napa cabbage salad/garlic bread
baked pasta with cauliflower & cheese/salad
Mexican casserole/cornbread/salad
DESSERT
sugar cookies
dump cake
BREAKFAST
baked oatmeal
sweet potato waffles
DINNER
leftovers x2
tacos x2
herb & cheese stuffed burgers/potato wedges
black bean couscous salad
chicken broccoli quiche/salad
chicken soup with dumplings
cracked wheat & rice pilaf/ Leslie's salad
meatball sandwiches/fruit
Napa cabbage salad/garlic bread
baked pasta with cauliflower & cheese/salad
Mexican casserole/cornbread/salad
DESSERT
sugar cookies
dump cake
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