Goings On

The girls had an early AND extended visit today.
So I had the whole house to myself this WHOLE morning.

Love those girls buuuuuuuuuuuuuut......

It was glorious! :)

I set up camp in bed, ate breakfast, watched home shows (you know those HGTV types), took a bath, listened to an awesome sermon, started dinner in the crock pot, and just generally took my time puttering around.

(Sigh)

It really was nice.

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Some highlights from last week...

Adam and I got to go to a concert with some friends

For $10 we got to see Jamie Grace, Matt Maher, Tedashii, Mercy Me, Group 1 Crew and David Crowder.

It was super fun and we were able to get super close to the stage. 

Then Saturday night we celebrated 3 birthdays at my parents houset: My sister in law's, my younger sister's, and my grandma's!

Also it snowed like mad all Saturday night.
We woke up to 10+ inches of snow!
Sweetums seemed pretty into playing out in the snow so we got all her gear on and headed out.
Not more than 2 seconds after stepping into the snow.....

.....wails of  suffering.

Note that she's not even IN the snow but on a sled on top of the snow. 

Oy vey.

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Coming up this week we've got our small group meeting together, a meal to deliver to friends with a new baby girl (I'm planning on making Dorito Casserole yummmm), Adam will be at a conference, and I hope to do something extra fun with the girls that day.

Maybe go to the BIG kids museum in Indy

Foster families get free access and we have yet to take advantage of that for some crazy reason!
So maybe that'll happen.

Once they had a Barbie exhibit!
Like just a couple years ago.
I would have loved to see that!

Anywho, we'll try not to overdo it. :)

25 things

One of my favorite blogs did this list today.
For lack of a better idea I wanna do it too :)
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Reading... The bible in a year. Right now I'm in Psalms, Matthew, and Genesis. I'm loving it.

Playing... Trivia Crack and Candy Crush.................constantly. We're a little obsessed with Trivia Crack in this house, especially Adam.

Watching... weirdly, American Idol. I don't even know what season they've gotten to now. I'm not really digging it.

Trying... to make yoga a daily thing again. I'm doing this challenge AND this challenge by Erin Motts. I did the 30 day challenge this time last year when I was trying to distract myself from working towards our foster licensing. Now I'm doing to cope with fostering! Ha! In a good way :)

Cooking... I'm planning on making Chili Mac 'n Cheese using this recipe. I bought veggie pasta to make it with. That makes it ok-ish right?

Eating... Oy vey. I'm eating nachos....while watching American Idol. Geesh.

Drinking...water. Water, ummmmm, pretty much always. I feel so dry all the time with heaters on full blast and the dry winter air.

Texting... I sent out a picture to some of my family of Sweetums' wearing her new glasses. They are adorable! And she actually loves wearing them. So I've been getting responses from them all morning.

Calling... no one. Well maybe Adam later on.

Pinning... too much. Here are 5 recent ones....

1..... I love a snow globe. these are too cute.

2.....Bourbon Street Chicken- we like us some chicken.

3..... taking adoption day photos. Love that. 

4...... mud mask: yes please. 

5..... diy guess who and it's so stylish!

Tweeting... my last tweet "we've had our littlest 3 months today!

Crafting... not much. I failed a T shirt project a few days ago. It did not turn out well.

Doing... notta lot.

Going... to pick up the girls from their visit soon.

Loving... Him, him, and them.

Hating... lice. agh.

Discovering... new ways to kill them. Turns out wishing them away doesn't work so well.

Enjoying... the sunshine today.

Hoping... for some a ton! of snow. I love snow. Even if I have to scrape it off my car. So far this winter as been light on the snow. What's with that?

Celebrating... Monique's birthday today! Happy birthday!

Smelling... leftover nacho cheese. Ha! Ew.

Thanking... God. Always.

Considering... going away with Adam at the end of this month for a night. It would kind of be for work but it would still be fun because we would be going with two other couples. But I'll need to arrange care for the beebees. We'll see.

Finishing... this post.

Starting... to feel my bum go numb from sitting so long. I think I made a rhyme.
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Unwanted Pets

This is another one of those posts where I'm like eww.
Do I really want to write this?
Do you really want to know?

But whatever.
Here it goes.

Lice.
We have been dealing with lice this past week.
Ugh.
Gross.
Yuck.
Ugh.

I started scratching last week.
Ew.
I have really dry, sensitive skin in the winter so I just didn't think it would be anything more than that.
But then, when I picked up Sweetums from their Monday visit, the visit supervisor broke the news to me that she had lice something awful.
I felt the blood drain from my face and my throat went dry.
And I knew I did too.

We headed home and I sent out an SOS to Adam for backup.
He very kindly came home, picking up a kit for us on the way.

Meanwhile I went into hyper drive, throwing every thing I could into the wash and Googling what the heck to do. 

As soon as Adam got home, I got down to business coating Sweetums hair and mine with the shampoo.

Look at her sweet little baby bun!

I love a baby bun. 

And mine. 

Not as cute but a bit more enthusiastic.

After some major shampooing came some intense combing.

Adam even felt up to trying his hand at this mane. 

It didn't last long. 

I can deal with pulling my own hair but I have a hard time not squealing when someone else does. BTW, this guy rocks. 

Some other things that have helped are:

• using a straightener on our hair (kills everything it goes over)
• putting all of our bedding in the dryer on high heat for at least a half hour when we get up. 
• using a chemical spray from the kit on our floors, couches, mattresses,.....anything that's soft but can't be washed.  

I did panic a bit that first night dealing with it all thinking I might have to chop my hair off. 

I've been growing it out for so long.

We're still not completely out of the woods, but I don't think it will come to that. 

I do foresee a visit to the salon to get some pampering once it's all over . 

Today though, I haven't seen any signs of life on either one of us. 

I'm pretty sure my scalp is crying for mercy from all of the chemicals, heat, and combing it's suffered through.

Remember? Dry and sensitive?

:)

Wish us luck. 

A Whale of a Post

Hi blog!
You ready for a major download?

Life seems to flow on with a haze around it.
But some things lately.....
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- for Thanksgiving (nearly 2 weeks ago already!) we drove to Adam's Aunt's house near Indianapolis. Since we were first married we decided that we would alternate which side we visited on Thanksgiving every year.
We do Christmas with all (or as many as possible).
It's worked out pretty well for us and limits the crazy.
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- I always love having leftover turkey for sandwiches and whatnot and usually just try to bum some off our host that year :) This year though I just bought our own and roasted it at home. It was so easy! I just rubbed it with some salt, stuck it in one of those roasting bags, layed it in a disposable roasting pan, and cooked it for about 4 hours. It was perfect. And we had "leftover" turkey for a week.

Left over turkey recipies-

this turkey chili sounds really good 

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- Our church is in the middle of its advent series.
All three pastors are rotating giving each message.
Adam gave the message the Sunday of Thanksgiving week and is giving it again this week.
I love hearing him preach/ teach. Whether it's to a group of high school students or a whole congregation, his heart is all in and he simply seeks to let God speak through him.
Love that man. :)
No doubt though it takes him a decent chunk of time and energy in the week(s) before to prepare and seek God's will.
Its hard work and I appreciate all that not only he but the other leaders put into their task.

...................................................................................................................................................................
- As far as babyland goes, things are good.
Both girls had to get vaccines last Friday.
Sweetums does fine with them and never seems to suffer much discomfort afterwards.
This was the first time I had been with Peanut as she had hers though and it's been a different story.
Both her sleeping and eating habits have been off, especially eating. Poor baby.

- Also in babyland, Peanut has been staying in our room in a pack 'n play since we got her 2 months ago.
Well things have been mounting and all of a sudden, I decided it was time to move her on to her sister's room and out of ours.
Her eviction was cold turkey.
Last night was the first night with the new arrangement and I was prepared for the worst: waking each other up, non stop crying, a super early morning......
But it went surprisingly well.
Peanut slept til 3 am. I heard her through the monitor and went to feed her.
Sweetums did wake up and did cry but Peanut went right back to sleep when she finished her bottle. Sweetums eventually calmed herself down and fell back to sleep.
Even though I had a hard time settling back down I didn't hear anything else from them until 7 am. That is a solid win in my book. Hopefully we can maintain that amount of peace. :)
Ha, we'll see.
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- Last Thursday I went over to a friend's house and we watch the live production of Peter Pan on NBC.....

I thought it was ok. 

The whole styling of it was just too glossy and perfect.

They needed some dirt rubbed in.  

And I know that in original productions of the play like a hundred years ago a girl would usually play Pan but it was just kind of weird for today's world with the prominence of homosexuality. :/

Also (sorry!) none of the lost boys were actual boys!

There were only 2 children in the whole thing!

What's with that?

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But my friend made this awesome yummy popcorn and shared the recipe with me:

“Dorito” or Taco Popcorn (I know right? yum)

★★★★★

Mixes & Spices, Snacks
Makes Makes 6-8 cups ∙ Source Wholenewmom.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels (organic preferred)
• 2 -3 Tbsp coconut oil for popping (I love Tropical Traditions oil)
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder or granules
• 1 teaspoon onion powder or granules
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 teaspoons salt (I recommend Real Salt)

Directions

1.  Prepare popcorn using oil with preferred method.  My Basic Popcorn post has simple instructions and information about my favorite stovetop popcorn popper.  Air popped popcorn won’t work without additional oil since the seasoning needs moisture from the oil in order to adhere to the popcorn.
2.  Combine all spices, and salt in a small bowl.
3.  Blend seasonings in a spice or coffee grinder, or blend in blender to make a fine powder.
4.  Sprinkle seasoning over popcorn and toss to coat

   
Yup. Super yummy, super easy, super not-at-all-terrible-for-you
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Otherwise Christmas is in full swing around here.
The tree is up, lots of presents are bought (but not all), cards are in the mail, and the calendar is filling up.
I've got several little projects weighing on my mind that I plan to jump on this week.
One are some photo ornaments for the girls as keepsakes,

link

wrapping gifts for our family Christmas party this weekend, and making a gift for my sister-in-law.

Good stuff.
I like it :)

Oh, this week....

Ok. Lots of things have happened this week that I could easily brush under the rug and act like they never happened here.... ever.
But they did.

Like gross real life stuff that happens to everyone but no one likes to talk about.

1.We have fleas. Agh! First we had a cat....

     ...and I bought cheap flea meds for him......which didn't work.
     And now I've been spending my mornings vacuuming up the little buggars and spreading (baby          safe) flea-killing powders.
     And Henry has been kicked out and living on the front stoop like a vagabond.

2. Since Henry's been out, little mousy's have come back to play.
    Bring on the poison..... and more vacuuming

3. And the last most pleasantest trial: a seemingly unfixable clogged toilet.
    Have you ever had to go several days with no working toilet in the house?
    Oy vey.
    When stuff like that goes down, it really makes you appreciate having things like flushing toilets.

    But! My husband is awesome and didn't come to bed last night til he fixed it.
    When I got up this morning, miracle of miracles, it flushed!
    What a beautiful thing.

So yea. Just in case you've had real life things go down in your house, you're not alone.
Us too.

Yuck.
  

Things Lately

Nothing terribly noteworthy has really happened lately but as this is a place to record our life as we live it here are some somewhat noteworthy happenings.....

• Last Saturday I went to my first yoga class. I've been doing yoga on my own on and off for several years and have gotten more serious about it this year. I finished this 30 day challenge back in January/February. The class I went to was awesome! I can't wait to go again and make it a weekly thing. I've never been a mover and a shaker but I can bend, breath, and move through painstakingly slow poses for, like, forever an hour. :)

• Wednesday night we brought the high school students to see two of our girls play in the local high school soccer game between our two biggest town rival high schools. Sweetums tagged along for a chilly, late night. She did well and our girls' team won. It was a fun evening.

And that's it!

Ha!

But life is interesting. 

Monday I shared that there were some pretty big feelings being felt, and that's still true. 

It's wonderful though how God uses all kinds of big feelings to even us out and give us hope to keep on keeping on. 

He knows all. 

He knows what the future holds and all the little stitches that have to happen to bring it about. 

I'm glad He's keeping me along for the ride. 

It's crazy but I wouldn't miss it. 

A Tip For Free

Just a really quick post today!
I wanted to share a tip that I think I came up with on my very own..... but maybe you already do it.

Everyone (including myself) makes lists to remember everything they need/want to get done.
Duh. Yes. This is not the tip. Of course you do this.

BUT.... some days I'll make a list of everything I've already done that day.
I know right?!
Major morale booster I tell ya.

Usually I'll do this when I feel unmotivated or like I'm not getting as much accomplished as I wanted to.
Sometimes my list can be really full of obviously needed stuff like cleaning or grocery shopping.
Sometimes they're full of things like I took a shower, sorted out junk mail, took a needed nap.....

I just did this a little bit ago when I knew my little one's nap was almost up and I felt like I had wasted my "down time".

Here's what I accomplished during her nap:

• caught up on a few bible study lessons
• ate (very necessary)
• cleared up my email account (organized, deleted unnecessary messages)
• a bit of pinterest
• vaccumed (just a quickie)

I'd say that's an hour and a half well spent.

So yea.
Take account of your day or hour or whatever.
Make a backwards list and sleep a little better tonight when you see how you clearly DID NOT waste your time.

Or ha! maybe you did.
In that case try a regular list tomorrow :)

source

Life Too Seriously

I am very prone to take life maybe a little too seriously.
Especially when it gets busy and the busy-ness doesn't ever look like it's gonna end.

It makes me panicky and impatient and cry-y.
A lot of cry-y.

Things get confusing.
Things that aren't that big of a deal become very big deals.
Other things that are bigger deals get minimized.

And also I ramble on my blog.
But I trust that if you are a woman reading this blog, you understand.
If I'm lucky, you even sympathize.

So yes, things are like this lately and I am taking it all too seriously.
All these busy times will pass, emotions will settle, and the tears will stop their flow.

Maybe I'll even learn a little better how to go with the flow and trust that God will bring rest and peace when it's time.

Until then I pray for fun, joy, and self control when I have no control over the things around me. :)
Amen.

Lifey life

Lifey life has been whirlwind like, especially these last 5 days or so.
Most people dread Mondays because that's beginning of their work week.
Tuesday- Sunday is our work week with weekends being majorly busy.
So when a weekend ends, we usually crash on Mondays.
That is Adam's day off and usually one that I have off.

This weekend was an especially busy one with church events, our small group's first meeting, me working at the Haute, and house guests, and Adam working all the while too.
Sure it was fun, but it was also tiring.
I'm now sitting here at the end of it all with a major cold and dreams of days filled with naps.

These last couple of weeks have actually seemed exceptionally full so not much got done in the way of working towards our foster license.
That realization started to go to my head so of course I pestered Adam for a "Foster Meeting" on his day off.
We did actually end up spending some quality time on it all though and got a few more things checked off the list.

As a plus, we got lunch together and had some quality time with each other too.

So all in all, life is good.
It's full and it tiring and I want a nap and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight.
But it's good and I hope it's all to God's glory.

Neglected blog

Blog!
I'm so sorry I've neglected you!

But there's just not been a whole lot of interesting happening lately.
Haven't really made anything or anything fun like that......

Saturday was my little sister's 22nd birthday.
Crazy
She's 18 months younger than I and she's probably my best bestie (did I just use bestie....? weird.)
We went flea market and clearance rack shopping.
I found a sweet little cross necklace with turquoise stones for $4 and an awesome thick, colorful, striped, cotton baby blanket for $5!
She found some cool wedge sneakers that totally work for her and a new blouse that she looks snazzy in.

Adam and I are getting ready to visit family in South Carolina.
Tomorrow's my day to prepare, clean, and pack.
Plus we moved youth group to tomorrow night so we wouldn't miss time with our kids.
While we're gone, Kris (my sis.....ha) will be here watching Mr. Henry so he doesn't become a lonely (hungry) soul.

I have been fighting the same cold for two! weeks now.
My hopes are high that the South Carolina sea air will cure me.
I don't know if I can put up with it much longer.

So yea, I guess there's some news.
Prepare to be neglected once more, blog, as we drive off into the sunrise Thursday morning.
Maybe I'll sneak on while we're there to share some photos and snippets.

Until then......

In Bed Til Noon

Lately, maybe for the past month or so, I've been accepting the fact that at least once a week I don't want to get up.
So........once a week I stay in bed till noon, sometimes one.
There was even a time I stayed in bed til two!
:)

Hate me if you will but I figure:
1. I hardly ever was able to when I was in school full time and working.
2. Foster care and all that entails is hopefully in our future. If I'm going to stay in bed till noon (or more), I better do it while I can!
3. I feel a little rebellious sometimes and staying in bed when I "should" be getting up (because those dishes in the sink aren't going to wash themselves) pretty much fits the bill.

:)

I might read a book or surf the web.
Like I'm doing today, I might make a blog post about staying in bed.
Or hey, I might just go back to sleep.

But whatever I do, it's nice to let it all go for a morning and enjoy the impulse to be a little useless.

:)

What makes you feel refreshingly useless?

A Coupla Thoughts

Literally, I have only two thoughts right now.

#1. When life is running at a fast pace there's always one recurring event that you seem to just be doing over and over again. For me, right now, strangely enough it's going to bed. The days have just been flying by and every time we start to do our going to bed routine I'm like "didn't I JUST do this?" It's weird. It's that Groundhog Day feeling. Do you get that feeling when life settles into a routine?

#2. I am not always the most thoughtful when it comes to what comes out of my mouth. I tend to have really dry humor that can fall on the jerky side. I can be a jerk but I'm just kidding. But sometimes I'll say something to someone along those lines for whatever reason and later I just kick myself. Why did I say that? That person had the grace to not show the feelings I probably hurt. But why would I SAY that? Then there's a bit of a struggle: should I bring it up again and apologize? Did it even matter to them? Maybe I'm reading into the situation? Or maybe I really hurt his/her feelings and should just humble myself...... I don't know. Either way, insert foot into mouth and hop away in shame.

God definitely has a sense of humor, but it's always edifying.
He enjoys what is good and uplifting.
Even my humor should be becoming more like His.

So that's it.
Any thoughts?
Any times that I have hurt your feelings with my jerkiness?
Please share.
:)

Guess what!

I'm now in Instagram!

I deleted my facebook profile and have not missed it but I have missed seeing my family and friends' pictures.
So I was really wanting to get on it.
Medium length story short, I didn't have a device to do it on and now I do (Adam's old droid).

Now I'm on it!

And I'm so happy seeing everyone's pictures!

I'm trying to figure out that line: how much is too much and do I need to set a limit for myself from the get go?
I guess we'll see.
I could become an instagramin' maniac..... but hopefully not. 

List Brain

Since I'm so good at thinking in lists, I'm just gonna go ahead and communicate in list form:

• Our church's annual kids day camp started up today and will go through Saturday. 
• There were 33 chillens there today
• Henry has returned yay!
• I spent yesterday shopping with my sister and spent most of my birthday money
• I've been cooking this week from a meal plan that uses a single whole chicken for 3 meals. Each meal is $5 or less. Check it out here.
• It's getting ready to rain. Thank goodness. 
•  I need to go do laundry
• .....and take a nap
• ta ta for now

The squeeze

Are you tired of hearing about how tired I am of school?
I know I am.

But I'm SOOOO close!
This time next week I will be FINISHED!

Fun stuff.
To that effect I am spending my day here at the Java Haute whittling down my school-todo list.

Some other news lately:

• We're having a senior day next week for both our graduating and incoming seniors. You can bet there will be a post on that.
• In the midst of finishing up my semester, I am planning a vintage bride wedding shower for Ally
• Also, Bryar and Ally have found out that the wedding they were planning for next month won't be possible and will be eloping instead. 
• They were also told they will be stationed in northern New York state. Whoa. They did not see that location coming. And we will miss them so incredibly much. :( 
• Adam and I have been discussing moving back into an apartment for simplicity's sake. 
• If we do, we are not willing to pay the $200+ to have our pet with us so Henry would be going to live with some friends. That makes me kind of sad.

So it's busy times in these parts, but it's all good. 

Life is exciting. 

Time for Rest

I think I can safely say that my crazy schedule and busy plans have finally come to a head.
Not that everything that has taken my energy and time this last month has been worthless. It hasn't.
Actually its all been so necessary and so full of blessing, all the tiredness (is that a word?) is worth it.

God has blessed me with schooling, He has blessed me with parents who are still married and love each other, and He has given me an opportunity through my church to serve and be refreshed.

Yes, it was all worth the effort, and time, and worry. It was all a blessing.

But now, thank God it's over and it's time for rest.
:)

Just a Ramble

About 3 weeks ago I made a calendar of all the stuff I had to get done from then to this weekend.

I am happy to announce that at the end of the week, I will have made it through and will be in the clear!
After 3 projects, 2 papers, 2 finals, classes, planning for 1 party, 1 conference, and still running our house and going to work during it all, it will be time for some major downtime.

Needless to say, I am planning on not planning anything for awhile.
World, let it be known: I am taking a break.

When I mapped out everything that needed done within these last three weeks to make sure I made time for it all, I almost sat down and cried.
Actually I may have.
There was just too much crammed into too short of a period of time and I didn't know how I was going to get it all done, pass my classes, AND not let anyone down.

But it's almost over.
And I'm pleased to say that I have passed all my classes.
Whew.
I'm already planning to take a nap on Sunday.

Facebook: Friend or Foe?

Here I am again.

Trying to decide if I should just get rid of something that seems to be a way for crap to flow into my life....

I posted something I thought would be uplifting but ended up being turned into something ugly and hurtful.
I deleted the whole post and "unfriended" the offending commenter.

While what comes out of their heart is the offender's responsibility, what I allow into my heart is my responsibility.

Life has enough downers.
Why make a way for more to come in?

On the other hand, it really is nice to be able to communicate and share easily with those who I DO trust and have loving intentions.

But deleting my facebook would limit my sphere of influence (always a positive thing) and limit the unnecessary evil that seems to always find its way onto a facebook news feed.

Matthew 5:30
And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

I think I found my answer.
Facebook is definitely not a big a deal as my ARM ......even more reason to let it go.
:)

Peace, please

Feeling..............impatient

Maybe it's the spring fever or the fact that I just scheduled for possibly my LAST college classes (for a very long time) or that God is slowly millimeter by millimeter answering our questions about the near future but I am definitely feeling IMPATIENT.

Restless.

UN-peaceful

Antsy

I am so ready for warm weather, to not have to deal with college anymore, to move on to a new chapter in life, to hear/see the next bit of God's plan, to open the windows in the house!

All these things, big and small, are adding to my watchfulness and antsy-ness.

I know there are so many BIG things God is doing, so many eternal things to have endless gratitude for..... but my heart is distracted by details.

Right now all I can do is keep doing what I'm doing: get my butt to class, finish the next paper, wash another sink load of dishes, stay active at church, feed the cat, and KEEP PRAYING.

My hope is that one morning, very soon, I'll wake up, and God will say "Open the windows. Time for some fresh air."