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Showing posts from 2009
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While shopping at Target, Dwayne said something that made me mad, real mad. I said, "Let's go!" and just like, we were headed for the checkout at lightning speed. When Norah asked, "Why are we going so fast?!" I told her, "We're trying to outrun the fight." ...It didn't work. Man's anger does not bring about the righteous action that God desires. James 1:20
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Norah's new favorite thing to draw.
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Look, Mom! No chins! Just one chi n . Singular. No. Really, it has more to do with camera angle than anything else. But, I am loosing weight. I think. It's happening so slowly, I don't feel that surely about it at times. I've been going to the trainer twice a week for months now. I've got four fitness classes on the schedule at work and I try to do at least three other cardio workouts during the week. I am eating better. My diet isn't perfect. I don't think it's ever going to be green enough and I still fall for french fries every so often, but its better than it was... So, I figure, it's about time I stop hating my photograph altogether. Earlier this week, I was actually bent over in the isle at the store picking something out. Dwayne almost walked right by me. He didn't recognize me. When he realized it was me, he laughed so hard and said with visible relief that he had actually had a really hard time not checking me out as he was going by. H
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I have some reservation about sharing this, since it is of a private nature. So, if you are under the age of eighteen, I'd simply ask that you have enough respect for my wishes and stop reading now. Come back to my blog on another day. I will not to go into the kind of details that will make the rest of you embarrassed or the kind that will embarrass me, for that matter. But, I wanted to mention that I did this . I started on the fourteenth of this month and gave Dwayne a "gift" every day until Christmas. I asked Dwayne if I could share this on my blog. He chuckled and said, "Sure! I want the whole world to know!" ...Typical. Dwayne said this came at an important time in his career, when he was moving into a new position at work. He had meetings, important ones almost everyday leading up to the holiday. They were the kind of meetings that required neck ties, where he was faced with questions and had to give presentations that required the perfect words said
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My little Indian informed me she wants to be a "horse rider" when she grows up. I don't know much about training horses. I have no real, practical experience. I only know what I've seen in the movies and read in the books. But, I've seen a lot of movies and read a lot of books ;) and from what I can gather, there are two ways to train a horse and there is an age-old debate about which way is better. You can just break a horse in such a way that it submits without question. You can make the animal forget it's natural strength, weaken it's spirit, dull it's wit so much so that it will never be a threat to any rider, young or old, that straddles it's back. This horse will be very useful. It'll carry passengers to and fro and serve well enough and no one will ever, ever question how it was trained, since, in essence, it is no longer even capable of being dangerous. But, there's another way. It's not attempted that often and most people
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We went to one of the Christmas Eve services at church yesterday. When we got home, Norah posed with her gift in front of the tree. Opening her Christmas pajamas... She exclaimed, "They're pink!" with pure joy. Then she realized, "These are the ones I wanted!" The night gown isn't Christmas colored or themed, which bothers me greatly and I personally think that it is tacky, but Norah won't ever know that (until she is old enough to read this blog and find out for herself). She came across this gown several weeks ago when we were browsing through pajamas in a store and said, "Is this a night gown?!" She thought it had to be a princess dress misplaced in the racks. I thought that was really sweet. She also told me that if she had it, she would use it for "dress up." She didn't beg for it, because we don't allow that, but I saw the look in her eyes and I knew she really wanted it, so I went back a few days later when she wasn
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We made sugar cookies again this year. So far, we've kept it simple, with a basic star design, basic white icing and sugar sprinkles here and there. The cookies taste just as good without the colors, you know. But, I have a few zip lock sandwich bags of dough left in the fridge, so we may yet get creative and add some shapes and colors, like last year .
Happy Festivus! When I first heard about today's holiday, Festivus, and that it included a time to "air grievances," I assumed (wrongly) that it had some sort of historic tie to Martin Luther and his 95 Thesis. But, after a quick Google search, I was surprised to find out that the holiday is not at all that orthodox or legitimate even. In fact, Festivus got it's start on the television show Seinfeld, of all places, and has grown in popularity right along with the show! Click here and here for more humorous information on Festivus. It may not be official, but in the spirit of Festivus, I'd still like to air some grievances for your reading pleasure on this December 23rd. The "airing grievances" part is what peeked my interest in the "holiday" in the first place and it's the only part of the holiday I really wish to celebrate. To use Kramer's words, "This holiday... is scratching me where I itch," since I've been looki
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That's a portion of a note Dwayne and I once passed during a lecture on the Bible several years ago. His answer to my question would be the same today and it still makes me smile. I spent four hours cleaning out my laundry/storage room last weekend. It's that place in our house where we put everything to get it out of the way, but once something goes in there, it's usually forgotten and just stays and stays and stays there until I get around to cleaning out the whole room, which only happens once every few years or so. Towards the end of the task, I asked Dwayne to come downstairs to help move some of the larger boxes around. We came across one box containing sermon notes, college tests and terms papers, etc. all dated from our early days together. We had a good time going through them. In those days, we were preparing to go into full-time Christian ministry, thinking of graduating with our four-year degrees in religion and then attending Seminary somewhere. I mu
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Sewing without a pattern can be tricky, you know, but it's just the way I roll... mainly because I find patterns too complicated or restrictive or expensive- take your pick. To use a phrase from English class, this is the "rough draft" of our Christmas stocking. I made this pattern with a piece of tissue paper (the kind you wrap gifts with) a few years ago. I bought the fabric and cut out the first stocking last year. And, this year, I think I'll go ahead and put everything together, even make enough for every member of the family to have one. Why not?! It would be nice if we could actually hang some up on Christmas Eve. I sewed the two good sides together a few days ago and I am slowly, slowly working out the ideas in my head... But, don't judge just yet. Remember my last rough draft came out alright in the end .
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The day of the first heavy snow fall, I took Norah sledding down our big hill. I took a photo of the magnificent winter view from the top of the hill out over our reservoir. And, when we got too cold, we came home for hot chocolate, of course. I can hardly believe it's been exactly one year since the last snow day I blogged about!
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Avril's gnawing on biter biscuits now.
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Not much has changed in one year, but it was long enough for Norah to grow out of mittens and into gloves.
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We made these adorable mice ornaments out of Hersey's Kisses the other day. The directions called for carpet tape, evidently stronger than poster tape, because that's what we used, because that's what we had, and our mice have been raining off the tree since we hung them up. I thought it was an exception when the first mouse fell apart and then down to the ground, so I told Norah, "You can have all the ones that fall..." Big mistake, since at least half a dozen mice fell off the tree within the first half hour they were hanging up! And every morning, Norah comes in with crazed eyes to glean any of the poor "dead" mice off the tree skirt. She's like the family cat checking traps in the attic. We're saving the ears and tails for next year. That way, I won't have to cut them out again. And, when we stick them together then, we will use carpet tape (or super glue, if necessary) to help hold our little mice together until Christmas. P.S. D
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And everything in time and under heaven Finally falls asleep Wrapped in blankets white, all creation Shivers underneath And still I notice you When branches crack And in my breath on frosted glass Even now in death, you open doors for life to enter You are winter. - Even more lyrics from "Every Season" by Nichole Nordeman
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Here's another color sheet to enjoy with your kids this winter. Click on the image above to enlarge it and then right click and "Save image as..." to have a print-friendly copy on your computer.
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Recently, we made some repairs and improvements to Norah's Native American diorama , still one of her favorite toys. Some of her Indian people had come off their egg-carton stands and the grass around her hut was being uprooted. So, we used some serious craft glue and employed clothes pins to keep everything in place until the repairs took. Norah asked for a larger tee pee, one for the whole family and she explained that she accidentally smashed the old one under her foot... so, after several failed attempts (and a few near-curses) using sheets of large construction paper, I thought to re-purpose this old, brown, paper bag. It's not exactly the right shape, but it stands on end and provides a large enough space for the whole family to fit inside, so Norah agreed to it, even though it isn't authentic. And, of course, Norah wanted to decorate it. We found a collection of Native American symbols online. We copied some and made up several of our own. We both did the drawin
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Norah had so many pine cones in her nature collection, I suggested we make a wreath. When I showed her the picture that I was basing my idea on, she got hysterical. She thought that was a terrible idea, since the pine cones would still be "ugly and brown" and through tears, suggested we do something, anything involving that dreaded word, "Glitter!" I thought this was a terrible idea, but went along with it anyway, for the sake of compromise. She obviously does not see the inherent beauty and design in simple, natural, brown pine cones. But, she is only five. We used some glitter paint that I've had since ages ago. I think my sister gave it to me back when I was still teaching school, so like I said... ages ago . The colors weren't seasonal, but they were perfect in Norah's eyes. "Princess pink!" and "Ariel blue!" The only one I liked, the silver, she called "Boring." But, Norah had fun and they turned out all right
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I'll take a picture of the tree... Hey, You can see my reflec- Norah come see this!!! Cool !!! Let me try! Let me take a picture!!! My nose looks big! Mine too! Giggles. Look Mom, Uhhh! Hysterical laughing, slapping thighs, closing eyes. Wait! Let me get a picture. Okay, go! Uhhh! More giggles. You try, Mom. Okay. Just give me a sec. Uhhh! Ha! Ha! Blahhh! Ha! Ha! Uhhh! Let's try one together! Okay! Sit on my lap. That was fun, Mom! It was. Kisses and hugs.
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Consider making an edible Christmas tree with your little ones. Click here for directions.
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Here's a Christmas tree coloring sheet for you. Click to enlarge the image, right click and "Save image as..." to have a printable copy on your computer, then print and enjoy!
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#45 out of 100 Virginia Creeper
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Norah actually wants to do handwriting these days. I've been having her write "Merry Christmas" on a sheet of her lined practice paper, fold it and then decorate it as a card for the neighbors. I think that I'm onto something here. Maybe I should just scrap the formal workbook and let her write notes to loved ones more often? I know the grandparents would love it.
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Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things. Excerpt from "My Favorite Things" by Julie Andrews
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#44 out of 100 Smooth Sumac
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#43 out of 100 Nightshade
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Norah was changing her panties the other day when something occurred to her and she asked, "Why do they even make panties so colorful if no one ever sees them anyway?!" We told her, "Good question, Norah. Good question."
I started recording Norah as she was finishing a page from her phonics book. When she saw this video and that it was sideways, Norah said, "Mom! I wasn't laying down while I was reading... Why does the video look like that ??!?" The older she gets, the more she points out my mistakes . Now I know what my parents meant when they said, "Just wait till you have kids..."
Avril loves her Jumperoo . (I bought it from another mom off Craigslist for $10, only a seventh the price of a new one.) And, Norah loves to sing the song "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." We got the DVD last year and she's been watching it at least once a day since we pulled it out of storage along with the other Christmas items earlier this week. Why is this video sideways, you ask? Read the explanation here .
Avril's baby talk.
Avril is sitting up on her own, officially. But, before you watch this, understand that you'll have to forgive my stupidity. I shot this and some other videos with my digital camera earlier this week. It was the first time I ever used my digital camera to capture video. I usually only ever take regular photographs with it. So, I am used to being able to hold my digital camera horizontally to take one photo, then turning it vertically to take the next, whatever works best to fit the subject matter into the screen. But, it turns out, when you are done taking video, you can't click "Edit" and "Rotate" to make it turn right side up like you can with pictures. Seems obvious to me now, but... Anyway, half of the time, this video taken with my digital camera is sideways. Lesson learned. I take hundreds of photos with this camera each month, so... old habits die hard! I don't do this with my video camera, just so you know. I'm not that stupid. B
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Once, during a college class discussion, I was asked to choose from four handicaps: blindness, deafness, being confined to a wheelchair or obesity. I was asked to tell which I would rather live with and why, which would I never want to live with and why. Without hesitation, I chose being confined to a wheelchair over not seeing or hearing. Communication is vital to me and I'd rather see in order to read and hear in order to speak than be able to get around. And, I said that obesity would be the worst handicap of all, one I would never want to live with. I remember someone getting defensive about this answer and asking me, "Why?!" I explained that people perceive the three other handicaps differently than obesity, especially in our culture. People have something that resembles grace for you if you are blind or deaf or in a wheel chair, but if you are fat, people automatically assume that it's your fault, that you are lazy or a glutton and they usually detest you for
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Go here and sign up to win one of these adorable quilts. (You will have to scroll down till you find the post for November 28.)
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Chicken Salad I get lots of compliments on my chicken salad. I love it. My family loves it. And they never hesitate to tell me if they don't like something I make. And I have to believe everyone else is being honest when they say they like it, too. So, if you're interested, here's the how to: Use a large skillet with a lid to cover and boil the number of chicken breasts you want to use in shallow water. While the chicken cooks, boil one egg per chicken breast. You can do this by placing the eggs in a sauce pan with just enough water to cover their tops. Bring the water to boil, turn them down to simmer gently for eight more minutes. When the timer goes off, pour out the hot water as you run cold water over the eggs. Let them cool in cold water till you are done preparing the chicken. If you are in a bug hurry, you can add ice to the water. When the chicken is done boiling, remove the breasts from the water and tear them into pieces. Add chopped onions and chopped green
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Dwayne picked up a toy airplane at a trade show in NYC a few weeks ago. He didn't go to the trade show for it, just got it while he was there, you see. Anyway, he put it together and took Norah outside in the yard to play with it this last weekend. They came back less than five minutes later with Norah in tears. The plane had landed on the neighbor's roof. After knocking on her door and receiving the nice old lady's permission, Dwayne climbed up on her roof using one of his ladders to get it down. It was quite a sight to see him carrying a full sized ladder down the road, Norah trailing behind him, wiping her eyes but smiling again. After that, the two of them took the quick trip to the neighborhood park where they could fly it in the empty ball fields. That went much better.
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"Pumping sucks." I usually say this to myself anytime I have to. Then, I laugh at the double truth in the statement. I usually also have to tell myself things like, "Nothing's wrong. It's normal. It's the only way to keep up supply. This will pass." and "It's worth it." And, when, God forbid, I have to explain what I am doing to someone who has never had to pump, explain that I have to do it on days when Avril's teething pain makes it too painful for her to suckle as necessary, those people usually say things like "Really?!" and "You could just wean her, couldn't you?" I usually say things like "Yes, I do have to." and "I know, but..." until I can just get away from them. I know these people are just trying to be helpful, just trying to get me to let myself off the hook, but it's no good. I want to nurse her and I want to do it badly enough to turn myself into the family cow to do so. I
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More pictures from Thanksgiving.