I guess I'll add it to my own Bucket List.
Check out this albino fawn. How sweet is that? Though they probably have to raise and keep it. I can't imagine it ever being able to survive in the wild. Poor thing would never be able to hide.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wildlife Rescue
I would love to do this one day.
I guess I'll add it to my own Bucket List.
Check out this albino fawn. How sweet is that? Though they probably have to raise and keep it. I can't imagine it ever being able to survive in the wild. Poor thing would never be able to hide.
I guess I'll add it to my own Bucket List.
Check out this albino fawn. How sweet is that? Though they probably have to raise and keep it. I can't imagine it ever being able to survive in the wild. Poor thing would never be able to hide.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Do earplugs work if you're trying to drown yourself out?
Have you ever been sick of hearing your own voice?
I am. As moms we need to give our kids reminders quite often (and when you're ADD, that brings the ratio up to about 10:1).
I realized yesterday, that I am really good at something, though I'm pretty sure it's not a spiritual gift... nagging.
Ah yes, here it is. Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on the corner of a roof,
than share a [whole] house with a quarrlesome wife.
OR
Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrlesome and fretful woman.
Though I may see these constant reminders as an act of service, I'm clearly driving my family to the desert.
See, here's the deal. When I walk by something that hasn't been done and I've asked nicely that it be done (several times) and it's still not done the next day... I'm now seriously irritated. So not only am I now giving the "How many times do I have to say..." speech, but they also earn the bonus track, "If you would just do things the first time I say it, I wouldn't have to keep saying it."
I remember my mother recounting a time of this same type of thing with my brother.
She opened the closet door and found something she had told him to put away days ago.
She yelled out to him, "That's it! This is the last time I'm going to tell you to do this!"
To which my brother replied, "Oh good, I didn't think you'd ever stop."
OK, not so funny when you type it out, but it actually was funny. It was a reality check. Clearly something's not working.
As moms we go through stages, actually... I think as people in general we do. I've always heard that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. (I actually looked it up on dictionary.com and that's not it, but I get the irony, so work with me here.)
I have been beating my head against a wall and wondering why I have bruises.
Why do we do this? For others, it may not be with their kids, it could be anything.
I guess people have just done this... well, since the beginning of time. You'd think we'd recognize it and learn a little quicker.
I think when this happens, I'm most frustrated with myself. It's as if I'm not sure what to do to change things, so I don't do anything (so much for proactivity).
I guess today is a new day and it's time for a sit down talk. No, not with the kids and I, but rather with God and I. He's the only one who's been able to get me out of this before.
God speaks with a still and quiet voice and He's the creator of the universe. Is it any wonder why I am not getting results rattling away?
--
I am. As moms we need to give our kids reminders quite often (and when you're ADD, that brings the ratio up to about 10:1).
I realized yesterday, that I am really good at something, though I'm pretty sure it's not a spiritual gift... nagging.
Ah yes, here it is. Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on the corner of a roof,
than share a [whole] house with a quarrlesome wife.
OR
Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrlesome and fretful woman.
Though I may see these constant reminders as an act of service, I'm clearly driving my family to the desert.
See, here's the deal. When I walk by something that hasn't been done and I've asked nicely that it be done (several times) and it's still not done the next day... I'm now seriously irritated. So not only am I now giving the "How many times do I have to say..." speech, but they also earn the bonus track, "If you would just do things the first time I say it, I wouldn't have to keep saying it."
I remember my mother recounting a time of this same type of thing with my brother.
She opened the closet door and found something she had told him to put away days ago.
She yelled out to him, "That's it! This is the last time I'm going to tell you to do this!"
To which my brother replied, "Oh good, I didn't think you'd ever stop."
OK, not so funny when you type it out, but it actually was funny. It was a reality check. Clearly something's not working.
As moms we go through stages, actually... I think as people in general we do. I've always heard that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. (I actually looked it up on dictionary.com and that's not it, but I get the irony, so work with me here.)
I have been beating my head against a wall and wondering why I have bruises.
Why do we do this? For others, it may not be with their kids, it could be anything.
I guess people have just done this... well, since the beginning of time. You'd think we'd recognize it and learn a little quicker.
I think when this happens, I'm most frustrated with myself. It's as if I'm not sure what to do to change things, so I don't do anything (so much for proactivity).
I guess today is a new day and it's time for a sit down talk. No, not with the kids and I, but rather with God and I. He's the only one who's been able to get me out of this before.
God speaks with a still and quiet voice and He's the creator of the universe. Is it any wonder why I am not getting results rattling away?
--
Saturday, March 22, 2008
minor irritation...
buying 8,000 prefilled easter eggs, only to find out twenty minutes before the egg hunt that they all broke open during shipping.
--
Monday, March 10, 2008
Rainy Day in Austin...
It's a rainy day here in Austin so we decided to hide out indoors and just hang around the house. This seemed like a good opportunity for me to work with some of the things from my scrapbook collection. I love to purchase the supplies, but rarely do anything with them - ergo, my collection.
As I began sorting through this mountain of memories, I decided it was time to scan some old polaroids we have before they completely come apart.
The really fun part, they are pictures of Ben when he was first born. I haven't looked at these in years. Now seems like a good time to share a few of them with you.
Ben was born 8 weeks premature with intestinal issues.
Here is a pic of how his little life started.
Here he is a week or so later ready to eat anything he could get his hands on.
That diaper he has on is a preemie diaper. They are so tiny and yet they're so huge on him.
This is a picture of him about 2 weeks before he was ready to come home the second time. Benjamin was about 5 months old then.
It was a struggle, but what Ben went through changed the whole course of life for our entire family. When he came home from the hospital the second time, he had in-home nursing care. One of those nurses was Cheley, probably the sweetest lady I've ever met, who attended a church in Cincinnati. We decided to give church one more try and went to visit with her and... well, the rest is history.
--
As I began sorting through this mountain of memories, I decided it was time to scan some old polaroids we have before they completely come apart.
The really fun part, they are pictures of Ben when he was first born. I haven't looked at these in years. Now seems like a good time to share a few of them with you.
Ben was born 8 weeks premature with intestinal issues.
Here is a pic of how his little life started.
Here he is a week or so later ready to eat anything he could get his hands on.
That diaper he has on is a preemie diaper. They are so tiny and yet they're so huge on him.
This is a picture of him about 2 weeks before he was ready to come home the second time. Benjamin was about 5 months old then.
It was a struggle, but what Ben went through changed the whole course of life for our entire family. When he came home from the hospital the second time, he had in-home nursing care. One of those nurses was Cheley, probably the sweetest lady I've ever met, who attended a church in Cincinnati. We decided to give church one more try and went to visit with her and... well, the rest is history.
--
Saturday, March 08, 2008
unseen doorways...
Today was a day full of surprises. Not the kind that come wrapped in colored paper with beautiful bows, but moments filled with new things, realizations, opportunities, and the true goodness of God.
This afternoon we took our son, Ben (15), to the airport. He’s going to be gone a little over a week on a mission trip to Los Angeles.
Wow! That sounds very calm and mature of me to say it like that.
Now let me tell you what my mother's heart is saying:
This afternoon we took my youngest baby son, Ben, to the airport (for his first airplane ride ever!). He’s going to be gone for eight long days and seven nights on a mission trip to Los Angeles.
*whew* Thanks for letting me get that out of my system.
Seriously speaking...
Something happened today. I was OK with him leaving, though I knew we'd miss him. I was good with what he'll be doing there and even excited about what God will show him while he's gone.
And yet... something changed today...
We watched as Ben made his way through airport security. I even stood on my tip toes to see him as he crossed through the final metal detector frame. At that time it just seemed to hit me... something changed.
It's as if there are so many doorways that we as parents must go through. Most we see coming and we meet them as they approach with open arms - whether they're good or bad - because we knew those doors were on their way. Sometimes we walk through them with all the celebration and fanfare as our child takes their first steps. Sometimes we walk through with tears and hugs as they learn some of life's toughest struggles as they become teens.
I learned today that there is one doorway that I never realized existed. I don't even quite no how to name it. All I can say is that it hit me as I could no longer see the top of his baseball hat on the other side of airport security. This door was not embraced with fanfare and celebration, nor was I able to give the hugs as we were yards away from each other with 94 security personnel between us. It did, however, come with tears.
Not tears of grief, not even really tears of sadness... I think.
It was just like a reality that my son has grown up. The last of my little boys has stepped towards independence. The youngest, who of all of them, was told he wouldn't live to see his first birthday.
There he goes. All grown up and not only alive, but thriving! The goodness of God still amazes me sometimes.
No, I wasn't sad. I'm very proud of him and the young man God is shaping him into. I guess, I was just overwhelmed with God's faithfulness that he brought Ben through such an amazing doorway. One that I never even realized was on its way.
I guess I always saw this milestone as the day he moves out - that was my visual doorway.
--
--
This afternoon we took our son, Ben (15), to the airport. He’s going to be gone a little over a week on a mission trip to Los Angeles.
Wow! That sounds very calm and mature of me to say it like that.
Now let me tell you what my mother's heart is saying:
This afternoon we took my youngest baby son, Ben, to the airport (for his first airplane ride ever!). He’s going to be gone for eight long days and seven nights on a mission trip to Los Angeles.
*whew* Thanks for letting me get that out of my system.
Seriously speaking...
Something happened today. I was OK with him leaving, though I knew we'd miss him. I was good with what he'll be doing there and even excited about what God will show him while he's gone.
And yet... something changed today...
We watched as Ben made his way through airport security. I even stood on my tip toes to see him as he crossed through the final metal detector frame. At that time it just seemed to hit me... something changed.
It's as if there are so many doorways that we as parents must go through. Most we see coming and we meet them as they approach with open arms - whether they're good or bad - because we knew those doors were on their way. Sometimes we walk through them with all the celebration and fanfare as our child takes their first steps. Sometimes we walk through with tears and hugs as they learn some of life's toughest struggles as they become teens.
I learned today that there is one doorway that I never realized existed. I don't even quite no how to name it. All I can say is that it hit me as I could no longer see the top of his baseball hat on the other side of airport security. This door was not embraced with fanfare and celebration, nor was I able to give the hugs as we were yards away from each other with 94 security personnel between us. It did, however, come with tears.
Not tears of grief, not even really tears of sadness... I think.
It was just like a reality that my son has grown up. The last of my little boys has stepped towards independence. The youngest, who of all of them, was told he wouldn't live to see his first birthday.
There he goes. All grown up and not only alive, but thriving! The goodness of God still amazes me sometimes.
No, I wasn't sad. I'm very proud of him and the young man God is shaping him into. I guess, I was just overwhelmed with God's faithfulness that he brought Ben through such an amazing doorway. One that I never even realized was on its way.
I guess I always saw this milestone as the day he moves out - that was my visual doorway.
--
--
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Beef o' the week
Where we live there is a Discount Cinema about 15 minutes away. On Mondays it's only fifty cents to see a movie (just in case you're wondering, the movies are not in black and white). Pretty sweet, huh? I mean, where else can you take a family of 5 for $2.50? Of course, this doesn't include snackage, but we won't even go there.
Anywho, I was standing in line to see I am Legend watching a mom buy tickets as she half bent over to hold her two year olds hand. He was just toooo cute. I looked at the board and guessed that they must be going to see The Veggie Tale movie, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. How sweet.
After we get our tickets and the guys are fully loaded with the proper nutritional course for any good movie, we head in to find our seats. The previews had already started so it was dark, but we managed to find seats together.
About twenty minutes into the movie, I heard a child. A CHILD! You have got to be kidding me?!? If you haven't seen I am Legend, let me share with you why this is shocking as I do understand I had my three children with me also.
First, this is not a "horror" movie. If you know me, you know I don't do horror movies. It's just not entertaining to watch that sort of stuff for two hours on a big screen. But this is... an intense movie. Will Smith is alone in New York City. Because of a vaccine that was supposed to cure cancer, but instead ended up making people into... scary night things. He is immune and working towards a cure. Regardless, you can imagine some of the panic that a child would feel in a movie like this. If not, then go watch the trailer, then you'll understand. As for my kids, they are 15, 18, and 19. Though I can tell you there was much debate over whether our 15 year old could/should see it.
Back to the preschooler in the theater. I look over to confirm my fear and see that it is the same child that I thought was going to be watching vegetables take on the high seas.
I tried to give them a little credit and thought that maybe, some how, they had no idea how intense this movie would be and would probably take him out when it gets rough. My hopes were quickly dashed when I glanced back only to see that at one point the mom had pulled her head down in her jacket (like a turtle) because she was so afraid she couldn't look - as her little one sat next to her. WHAT? You have got to be kidding me! That's when I had exclaimed out loud (without realizing it), "That's crazy!" Even though it was dark, I know my son's face was turning fifteen different shades of red. So I piped down a bit, as there was no way I could sheild this little guy from what he was seeing and/or hearing.
Alright, I need to go and do something so I'll stop thinking about this, as I can feel my temperature rising and my heart hurting for this little guy.
--
Anywho, I was standing in line to see I am Legend watching a mom buy tickets as she half bent over to hold her two year olds hand. He was just toooo cute. I looked at the board and guessed that they must be going to see The Veggie Tale movie, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. How sweet.
After we get our tickets and the guys are fully loaded with the proper nutritional course for any good movie, we head in to find our seats. The previews had already started so it was dark, but we managed to find seats together.
About twenty minutes into the movie, I heard a child. A CHILD! You have got to be kidding me?!? If you haven't seen I am Legend, let me share with you why this is shocking as I do understand I had my three children with me also.
First, this is not a "horror" movie. If you know me, you know I don't do horror movies. It's just not entertaining to watch that sort of stuff for two hours on a big screen. But this is... an intense movie. Will Smith is alone in New York City. Because of a vaccine that was supposed to cure cancer, but instead ended up making people into... scary night things. He is immune and working towards a cure. Regardless, you can imagine some of the panic that a child would feel in a movie like this. If not, then go watch the trailer, then you'll understand. As for my kids, they are 15, 18, and 19. Though I can tell you there was much debate over whether our 15 year old could/should see it.
Back to the preschooler in the theater. I look over to confirm my fear and see that it is the same child that I thought was going to be watching vegetables take on the high seas.
I tried to give them a little credit and thought that maybe, some how, they had no idea how intense this movie would be and would probably take him out when it gets rough. My hopes were quickly dashed when I glanced back only to see that at one point the mom had pulled her head down in her jacket (like a turtle) because she was so afraid she couldn't look - as her little one sat next to her. WHAT? You have got to be kidding me! That's when I had exclaimed out loud (without realizing it), "That's crazy!" Even though it was dark, I know my son's face was turning fifteen different shades of red. So I piped down a bit, as there was no way I could sheild this little guy from what he was seeing and/or hearing.
Alright, I need to go and do something so I'll stop thinking about this, as I can feel my temperature rising and my heart hurting for this little guy.
--
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