Stretched, but not broken!

Today was sooooooo long. It all started at about 4am, when Micah came in to cuddle. Now, Micah had spent the previous evening throwing up, so I felt the need hug my poor boy anyway. However, because he is not feeling very well, he was really squirmy, and I didn't really rest after that. Then there was the getting ready and going to church. Micah stayed home with my mom and a barf bucket since breakfast didn't stay down.

Then Tony got a phone call from his sister, and I went to go pick her and her daughter up for church because somehow she go locked out of the car with her daughter's car seat in it. Then came Sunday School. This Sunday I wasn't teaching, so that was kinda a break.

Then I went in to help out with the toddlers during the service, and that's always fun. There were 6 kids all the twin's age (or around there pretty close). It was really cute when they all decided to play ring-around-the-rosy together (a morbid song, but they don't know that). I wished that I had a camera for that.

Afterwards, I went home and fed the kids lunch, left them with my mom and went running around to get stuff together for Becca's dance show that was this afternoon. She had to have her hair done in curls, and that doesn't happen without a lot of gel and hairspray, which I was running low on.

Becca had her dance show without me. I felt bad for not being there, but there was just no way to be there and do the things that I needed to do for that evening at church. Grammy went with her, though, and she got part of her performance on tape. Grammy didn't know how to use the video camera, though (not her fault, no one explained it to her, we just didn't have time this afternoon), and the recording got cut off in the middle. I have the dress rehearsal recorded, though, and we have a lot of pictures, so it's ok. I have to get everything downloaded so I can show off.

So, that's two places that, as the mom, I should have been. I know, I feel awful. So, instead of being there for my kids, I was at church because VBS parent night was tonight. I was the one who knew all the motions to the songs that the kids were singing, plus I had to puppet for the show. I was running around like crazy through the whole thing. Not to mention the setup that came before that. It was fun, but I feel bad about not being with my kids. My mom told me that Micah had felt better in the afternoon, and he kept down his lunch and dinner just fine. When I left, Ali was running a fever, but apparently after a good, long nap she was fine.

Becca came after her show(which started at 4...at least it was suposed to, and was supposed to go until 6, while our service starts at the church at 6:30...Becca was still later than that) and performed at church in the VBS thing, so that was nice, even if she had to wear her tu-tu.

My day was not supposed to be this stretched. It was going to be fine, but my son got sick. I would have still been busy, but it wouldn't have been as bad. I feel like a lousy parent right now, and I am thanking God for my family, who, while they may have rather been elsewhere, came to my rescue. My mom is awesome for dealing with vomit for me. My mother-in-law is awesome for sitting through some really bad dance performances and a really badly organized show to be there for my daughter (It really is a horrible thing to watch...and, of course, Becca was last on the program). My kids are awesome for dealing with stand-ins with flexibility that is amazing for their ages.

I am blessed.

On another note: I was driving home from church this evening and almost had a heart attack. I had a guy who was riding my tail through a residential neighborhood because I dared go the speed limit. I had Becca in the car with me. I was sure I was making him mad, because he kept swerving like he wanted to go around me. All of a sudden this little puppy came darting across the road, kinda far ahead of me, so I just slowed down further. I got up to the puppy, and apparently the guy behind me gave up and backed off because a little kid who looked to be about the twin's age came running out into the street after the puppy. I slammed on the brakes as fast as I could, but I got within a foot of this baby. I am so thankful that the guy behind me didn't hit me because the baby would have been hit if he had. I heard a scream from the house that the baby had come from, and a lady ran out and grabbed her kid. I got home and hugged my children. I held the twins even when they were squirming to get down. I just had to hold them.

After the stressful day of not being with my kids much, to have that kind of almost accident was a total nightmare. I just praise God that he kept anyone from being hurt.

So here I am. I feeling like a total bum for everything. I got so much praise for the work that I put into the performance at church, but it almost felt like slaps. Maybe I should have been with my boy who was sick. Maybe I should have been at Becca's dance show. I don't know if I should be called supermommie right now.

On the other hand, God was the one who laid it on my heart to do that job for VBS. He surrounded me with a family who could be there when I couldn't. Maybe I was supposed to be right where I was. God showed me that if I did that job, I would be there for my kids all week, and keep the stress level down for the most part in my family. Today was the exception, but even in the midst of my worry, God provided a way for things to happen smoothly.

So, should I feel bad? I don't know. I know I can't be everywhere at once. I know that I am there for my kids most of the time, and today was really an exception, not the rule. I'm conflicted, but my kids really didn't care. They had their grandmothers, and that was great for them. No one really suffered in my absence. But did I make the right choice? I don't know. Was that near miss of an accident a lesson? I don't know.

Psalm 25

Of David.

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.

15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.

18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.

19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.

21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!

Real Freedom

I have seen this video several times and in various places, and I just recently saw it again this morning. This is an excellent example of the difficult concept of freedom from sin.



It's so easy to get trapped in sin, and we can't get out alone. Christ has defeated sin, and He is the one who can free us. Sure, we can try to get over the things that trap us, and we may get out, but we are still trapped by one thing or another until we get the freedom in Jesus Christ.


"He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:14-20

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" John 14:6

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galations 5:13

Vacation Bible School

This week is the one week a year that I really just don't have a husband. I see him every once in a while, he sleeps in the same bed (which is probably better than some people), but he really doesn't have time for anything else but work. Every year during the summer, we have Vacation Bible School at our church. I decided to reduce the stress this year by volunteering for something easy and fun during this time. I'm not in charge of anything, I am helping out with the music. It is really fun, and I enjoy not being in charge. I have tried saying that I'm not doing anything, and I ended up doing something big. This year, I think I found the spot where I will stay. All I have to do is get excited and have fun during the worship rally, and learn the motions to the songs and teach them (or at least assist in teaching them).

My mom is in charge of the preschool department, so my girls are all taken care of during the night. Micah has his regular buddy, so he's taken care of. I am free to help out when I'm not busy doing my job of having fun, and basically, that has been picking up people who need rides to and from the church. I had time to talk to my friend last night who is going through some rough stuff with her child and be there for her. I had time to talk to some of the teenagers who were in the middle of drama, and help out their teacher while she dealt with it. It was nice to be available to help others as opposed to being so busy that I couldn't do anything.

I would really like my husband back, but it definitely isn't as stressful as it has been in the past. Maybe it's the fact that we have been married for 8 years and this week has come every year, and I enam getting used to it. Maybe it's the fact that I'm not so busy myself, so I am able to relax and get through the week without being needy. Maybe it's just God giving me the much needed peace over the situation. I don't know, but it's Thursday, and this is the last day of VBS. We have family night on Sunday, so things it's not over yet, but that should really just be fun. Of course, it will also be pretty stressful for me because Becca's dance recital is that afternoon, and I won't be able to go to that (but I am sending my mom and a video camera). It is also going to be a long night because the cleanup is supposed to happen then, too. That's the problem with that night being the family night. I'm sure that Tony will get loads of feedback about that. I like the idea, though, even if it is going to be a rough night.

Just another update that has nothing to do with anything else: On Monday, Micah went to see his doctor about his recent behavior issues and possible absent seizures. I'm taking him in for an EEG in a couple of weeks to see what is going on in his brain, but his doctor is pretty sure that the behavior issues are connected to the seizure thing. He has been off seizure meds for over a year, and if the EEG isn't normal, he's likely to have to stay on them for the rest of his life. Bummer, but at least it's an explanation and treatable. If the EEG is normal (which isn't really expected), then Micah will probably need to go on different meds just simply for behavior issues. I hate that. I also know that it is probably necessary. He loses control of himself and just becomes really violent, and it is really starting to affect him at school and at home. He had always been very careful not to hurt his little sisters until recently. Now, if he loses control, they are a likely target (usually it's me first, though, fortunately). I hate putting him on drugs, but I hate hurting the girls even more. It's a really bad situation. Hopefully, the seizures will explain it all, and I won't feel so bad about putting him on those meds.

Well, that's what is going on with me. Here's a verse just because.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Cardboard Signs

This was on one of my friend's blogs, and I thought I would share and comment:




I don't know what my cardboard testimony would be. God has changed so much in my life. I could say something about how I lost my son to autism, but God has shown me how to find Micah again. I could say something about how judgmental and mean I was, but God has reminded me that all have sinned...especially me. I could say so many things, because the truth is that God has done so much work in my life. He continues the work, and I am still under construction. There isn't enough cardboard to contain all the work that God has done and will continue to do in my life and in that of my family.

So, do you have a sign? I hope so. God is willing to do the work, all you have to do is let him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Stay-At-Home-Momhood

Over the past month or so, I have been pondering the benefits and drawbacks of being a stay-at-home-mom. The facts are that my family just would not function if I had to work outside of the home at a "normal job."

First of all, trying to have someone else watch my twins would be a financial nightmare (not to mention the fact that I hate daycare-I used to work for one, I know what they are like). Micah would have the roughest time, though, unless I could just afford and find a decent nanny who has some sort of experience with special needs, and has more patience than I, and a genuine love for my kids. Since that is just basically impossible for me to find on the salary that I would have on whatever job that I actually qualify for, I'm pretty much stuck here.

Secondly, I realize that my house is not now, nor will it ever in the foreseeable future be neat, but there is always some order in the seemingly endless chaos. I am generally the one who keeps it that way. I don't have great organizational skills, but I do my best. There is help from the other adults in the household, but things like doctor visits, IEPs, therapy sessions, and ballet class probably would not happen if it were not for me. I don't know how I would keep this up working elsewhere as well. I'm just not that organized. If Tony didn't have to work, he might be able to keep up with it, he's a great secretary from what I've heard, though when he is home, he's usually relaxing, but that's because he's worked all day. Don't get me started on when he was out of work, though. I think that's different than being at home on purpose, so I don't really think that counts.

Being a SAHM is hard. It's every job that you can think of without the paycheck, benefits, vacation time, etc. You don't get days off, even if you are sick. You get appreciated every once in a while, but most of the time, you just get complaints.

This may seem like a whine session, but there's draw backs in everything. The reality is that I have been there to see all of my kids first steps. I have heard all of my kids first words. I have recorded special moments on my camera that I have had to explain to others what happened, but I was there to see them. I am there when they fall and get a boo-boo. I kiss them every day. I know what is happening at school with my son, and his teacher knows me. I know my kid's good days and bad days, and in the end, I am the one that they ask for when life gets them down. I am the one that they talk to because they know I am always there to listen. Daddy can be tired when he gets home and need to rest a minute before playing, Grandma may not be in the mood when she gets home, but Mommy is still there. They expect Mommy and I'm there. That's awesome.

When I worked at a daycare, I worked in the infant room as soon as I had the qualifications. I loved it there, but it broke my heart sometimes. There were some kids that were there from the time the center opened at 6am, to closing, 6pm. There was one little boy who was always there the whole 12 hours from the time he was 6 weeks old. Twelve hours! Can you imagine giving up all that time with a baby that small? I was the one who he crawled to first. I was there when he took his first steps. The other teacher and I were the ones that he experienced separation anxiety from, not the mom. He never really wanted to go home. This bothered me. Now, I know that that was an extreme case, and not every parent uses daycare like that, and if you do put your child in daycare, you are not a bad parent, etc. Still, that mom missed everything that happened with her child. She basically took him home, fed him, and put him to bed every night (this parent needed reminders sometimes to bathe her son...there were definate issues). I don't want to miss anything. Life just isn't the same on video.

I'm sure there are other drawbacks on the other side, I just haven't been there, so I don't know. There are definate financial benefits. Stability in finances and the ability to afford more therapies for my son, the fact that there are breaks, and talk with people over 4 feet tall. Conversations where you don't have to answer the question, "why?" eight hundred times. But then, someone else is answering that question, and you don't have any control over the answer that they give.

I've known some fantastic moms who put their kids in someone else's care while they work outside the home, and I have known some great SAHMs. I've also known some moms who probably should have put their kids in daycare so that they could get some attention, and some moms who abused the system and kept their kids in daycare because they didn't want to deal with them. Which way is the best? The way that works for you. If you are a better parent because you have that time at work, you need to be working. If you need to be there for your kids and they need you all the time, then you need to stay home. The best is using the gifts that God gave you to benefit your family. He made you who you are, and he gave you the child(ren) you have, and all you have to do is what works for you. For me, at the moment, I'm a SAHM. I am going to school so that I will eventually be able to do more of the breadwinning (in a more convenient way so that I will still be able to be there for my kids when they need me). I am also in doing so making sure that if anything happens to my husband or his job, we will still be able to pay the bills. Right now, though, staying home (in the figurative sense, I'm rarely actually home) is what works for my family. I content with that.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillippians 4:11-13

Fear and my baby bro.

Another thing of note that happened in this last week was where I was on Sunday morning. It was not my usual Sunday morning of going to my church and teaching my HS girls, then attending service with my son (who is doing quite well in church lately). Instead, I went to the church where my little brother leads the youth group and music. This particular Sunday, my baby bro preached his first sermon. I have to say, for a first sermon, it was quite good. He spoke on fear, which is an interesting topic when one is speaking in public. It was excellent, though I really did not expect anything less from Steven. While he may be more comfortable behind some instrument, he doesn't usually lack verbal ability, either. Though in this case, I believe that his strength came from God alone.

Using the talents that we have worked so hard to refine in our lives is easy. God uses that, but I think that when He truly shines is in our weakness. He has a way of taking us out of what we know, making us totally rely on Him so that He can gain all the glory. It's awesome, but really scary. But when we truly rely on Him, we are trusting the One who has complete control over everything. Scientific laws don't apply, knowledge on our part can be unnecessary (and can even get in the way). The rules of the world bow to the Ruler of everything. Isn't that awesome?

So, I may be repeating some of the things that Steven talked about, but isn't that what sermons are there for? We use what we are taught and apply it to our lives, and in my case, this blog. So thank you, Steven. There, no plagiarism, though I don't think that there was much that Steven said that I hadn't heard from somewhere else. I saw some influences from some teachers that we both had in Steven's style and content. Still, "do not fear" is something that needs to repeated in our lives quite a bit.

I leave you with the words of Christ:

"I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows." Luke 12:4-7 (NASB)

Kindergarten, second grade, and stuff.

Yesterday, I took my oldest daughter to test for kindergarten placement. I hate mentioning my pet peeve, but it came up, and I am kinda venting what I really wanted to say, but it just wasn't appropriate at the time. Just because a child is intelligent before going to kindergarten, does not mean that the child attended preschool! Just because a child does not attend preschool, they do not have to lack intelligence! OK. I feel better. Sorta.

Becca took their test and answered almost every question that they handed her correctly. She knows more than I even thought she did, and I thought I was just a biased parent! I sat there and watched her count to 100, identify letters, upper and lower case, and the sounds that go with most of them (though she didn't quite understand the multiple sounds in vowels), she identified most of the numbers that they gave her (she had problems after we ran out of calendar numbers, and she did hesitate on a few of the twenties), she even corrected the teacher giving the test about one of the shapes! Their square did not have even sides, and she pointed that out to the teacher. Then, she told the teacher that her blue looked a little too purple, and the teacher told her that she was right, and that the printer must be running out of ink. It was kinda funny.

Monday, I had an IEP for Micah to discuss placement for next year. He will be with the same teacher, and he will continue to mainstream for math. I think that this will be a positive experience for him next year if they can keep their act together about his aid. She needs training. I finally met her for the first time at this meeting, and it seemed like she just didn't want to work with Micah at all. Hopefully all of that will change by next year. He will have the summer off, and during that time I will be going over some new treatments with his doctor. His aggression is starting to get bad, and my baby is having seizures again. They aren't as bad as before, but I'm still concerned. I'm probably going to have to get him back on meds. I hate that. I hate putting a kid on medication, but I'm out of options. I've lost hope that he'll get over it with just the behavioral interventions. He started to get better for a while when we began praying together before school, and I really believe that the Holy Spirit is still working with him on these issues, but I just can't get over the feeling that there is something medically wrong.

Then there is Ali. She hasn't been feeling well lately, and I just don't know what's wrong. I am going to get an appointment for her to see her doctor for her two-year-old check up anyway, but I might take her in before that. She had a fever yesterday, but it went away after I held her and she drank a bunch of water. I wasn't home or I would have given her tylenol or something. She just looks drained sometimes. I hope that it isn't serious. It's wierd when you put her next to Zoe, who weighs so much more and is just happier all the time. I'm worried. I'll probably call the doctor tomorrow.

I'm feeling awful. I had dental work, and since then I have had a headache every time I try to eat anything. The dentist said I would be sensitive for a few days, but this is awful. I haven't eaten much because it just hurts too much afterwards. I'll get over it, though. I always do.

VBS is coming! I'm excited. I'm working in the music area, and that is where I have wanted to work for years, but I kept getting talked into (not by Tony, but by the Holy Spirit) working elsewhere. I think God is finally saying, OK, go for it. I love the excitement of the music, the worship, the kids getting into the motions to the songs, and everything else that goes into this area of VBS. I'm really looking forward to it. I also don't have to be in charge, which is so great. I'm working with our awesome music leader, and he is a really great guy to work with. I'm not really talented musically, but Steve really is. He gets excited, and kinda dorky, but I think that is so cool. He loves the Lord and the kids and music, and that is a winning combination for our VBS.

Well, that's my life right now. School is out tomorrow for Micah, so I won't have much time then for blogging, probably. Since my mom bought a laptop that I have been using while she is at work, I may be able to figure out something, though, since I am more mobile.

Here is my verse for the day. OK, so it's more than one verse, and it's pretty long, but this passage is usually torn apart and used wrong a lot of times, that I thought I'd share the whole thing, quite a bit of it anyway, this isn't the whole, awesome chapter. I highly recomend reading the whole book really.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:28-39

Parenting Advice...a better explanation

For those of you who read my blog that is now deleted, I sincerely apologise. I said some things in it that I should not have. I really want to better explain myself because there are things that I wrote that did not come out as I intended. I appriciate the person who showed me that I did not explain myself well.

First of all, I would like to show you a verse that better explains the point that I was trying to make, but failed miserably.

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

This passage was written to Titus by Paul. Paul was teaching Titus how to instruch various groups within the church. This is specifically Titus how to instruct the older women so that they can know and what to teach the younger women. Older women instructing the younger on how to raise their children is not a new concept, nor was it then. It does not say for this to stop, and if you know of a place in the Bible that tells us this, please show me. What this scripture tells us is how and what to say as a follower of Christ.

Women are generally supposed to be silent. This is something that I struggle with, but, this specific scripture tells us a specific group that we are supposed to speak to and subjects that we should speak about.

When it talks about teaching the older women not to be slanderers, I believe that it is because the attitude of the teacher, or person giving advice, needs to not be the "you are doing that all wrong, this is how you do it!" and more of an attitude. This is often the case for those who give advice in the grocery store or wal-mart. They say things because the child is annoying them, not out of concern. This is my problem with grocery store advice.

There are also those who give advice because they believe that their way is the only way to do things. Now, if you can back up your ideas with scripture, I agree that they should be adamant about it. However, if it is not specifically from God, it is fallible. This attitude of pride I have in the past been convicted of, and I still am sure that God is still not done with me yet in this area.

I do, however, know many things because of my experiences with parenting thus far. There are many who know more than I, but there are no others who know everything that I know. My kids, like everyone else's, are different than any other children. Because of my experiences, God has put me in a position to assist others by sharing my knowledge. He is also teaching me so that I will better be able to instruct. He has put many people in my path whose instruction has been invaluable to me. He has also put people in my path who chose to share with me information that does not apply to my situation, is rude, and is not helpful. There were also many cases that information was given to me that might have been helpful, but I didn't want to accept it because of how it was presented. This is why we need to be careful how we give information.

Advice needs to be given, for without the voice of experience, we make mistakes that could be avoided. However, and I say this to myself as much as anyone else, it needs to be given properly. God gives us instructions, and we need to seek Him first so that the words that we say are in His will, and are also as effective as they can be.

For those of us who also accept that advice, which should really be everyone, for no one but God knows everything, we need to be willing to listen, even if the person giving that advice may not be approaching us in the correct way. We listen to others, we go to God to be certain of His will, and we either apply the advice, or we don't. There have been times that I have received advice from non-christians that was very helpful, even if it was not given in the best way. Of course, we just can't expect non-christians to act like christians.

I stand by the concept that "it takes a village to raise a child," but I would really like it if my village didn't have idiots. But then, God often uses the idiots.

My Anniversary

Yesterday was my anniversary. I have been married for 8 years. Not an exceptionally long period of time, but considering all that my husband and I have gone through during that time, I think that the 8 year mark is pretty good.

Tony sent me flowers and brownies and a funny card at my parent group that I had to go to last night. He was working. He got the other guys in the group in trouble for not being romantic. I have to say, I stick up for the guys in that case. I hardly ever remember dates. Tony always remembers. He always sends me stuff on special dates. That used to irritate me because we couldn't really afford it. I have to admit, when I first saw all the stuff that he gave me, my thoughts were on how I was going to lug it all to the car. Yep, I'm the guy in the relationship. Tony cries at movies, I look over at him and laugh. Of course, he generally cries at sports movies. I tend to make fun of him because it doesn't matter how many times he sees it, he always cries at the end of Rudy. He is sensitive and caring and romantic and all those sappy things that most women want. I love him.

After he was done working, we went out. Tony took me to Boston's. They have karaoke on Tuesday nights, and he serenaded me. Okay, it was Blue Moon, but I still liked it. He also sang his awesome rendition of What a Wonderful World. His Louis Armstrong impression is fantastic.



We had a good time. My day wasn't that great before that, with all the normal life things when Micah is having a bad day, but Tony did a great job of getting me out of the funk. We had a fantastic pasta dinner and they have Dr Pepper there, so Tony really covered almost everything on my usual list. The only thing that was missing was the black cherry ice cream for perfection, but I didn't really miss it last night. We really had a wonderful night. Tony will probably top that for 10 years. He's pretty sentimental, especially with the "big dates." Yep, I think I'll keep him around a while.

"Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Matthew 19:4-6

Dumb Dog!

This morning I took the girls out to the front yard to play and try out my new digital camcorder. I intend to post video soon, but I want to play with it first. So the girls were playing around and then all of a sudden my dog is in the street. Now, the backyard and the front yard of my home are separated, and generally, we don't go into the backyard unless we are playing with the dog, which at this point requires my full attention on keeping the dog from jumping on my girls. Needless to say, I wasn't going to mess with the dog and my video camera at the same time.

So anyhow, my dog somehow got out of the backyard, and then she wandered into the street (my front yard has a fence, but it opens at the driveway). I happened to be barefoot, so chasing my dog up and down the street was not my idea of a good morning exercise. I did it anyway. I yelled for Becca to go and get my shoes and the dog treats (the only way Banita will listen to anyone) and took off after the dog. It's a good thing my feet aren't all that sensitive, or I'd be in even more pain right now.

Where are my twins? Standing in the yard yelling, "go doggie go!" I have a feeling I know who let the dog out. They must have loosened the gate and then walked away, though, because they were right in front of me when I say Banita's escape.

So here I am, barefoot, running to try and catch my dumb dog, when another toddler down the street lets his dog out of the yard. Now, this happens all the time to my poor neighbor down the street. She is often chasing her son or the dog who constantly get out of their yard. This kid just sits in the middle of the road sometimes and plays. The mom sees him and takes him back to her house, but this is really common to see on my street. What is really frightening is that when the major cross street a block away is busy, people often speed down our road trying to get around traffic.

At this point Banita is now with the other dog and slowed down enough that I might be able to catch her soon, plus my neighbor is now chasing after the dogs as well. Becca finally comes back out with my shoes, and we are near enough to my house for me to go get them, except they are heels, and there is absolutely no way I can run in them in the gravely road. She didn't come with the treats yet, either. Nope, when asked later why she brought out those particular shoes, she said that they went with my outfit. Yep, my feet are getting torn up, and my daughter is worried about color coordination.

We finally cornered the two dogs, and I got Banita back in her yard. I decided we needed to go inside and watch tv for a few minutes so I could soak my feet.

Are you done laughing at me? My neighbors (who sat in their yards enjoying the show) are probably not done yet.

"A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel." Proverbs 12:10

Yep, I looked that one up to keep me from beating my dog.