Friday Night Fun

On our dining room table sits a napkin holder full of 4x6 cards.  Each night we write something about our day.  I could have written a paragraph about today.  Scott came home sick from school today.  Ryan stayed home with him most the day.  I left work a little early so Ryan could go back to work for some end of the day stuff.  Since Scott was doing okay, I had him jump in the van and we headed to the school to pick up the littles.  I put the littles down for a nap, and chatted with mom on the phone a while.  When it was time to fix supper, I was set on having shredded pork tacos.  While I'm no "Kari in the Kitchen", I've been a little more adventurous in the kitchen.  I love tacos.  But not with flour tortillas, unless they're home-made.  I baked some corn tortillas hanging over the rack, and simmered some of the thawed pork roast I'd taken out of the freezer with onions and salsa.  Fresh out of the oven, I filled the crisp shells with the meat mixture, shredded cheese, cilantro, salsa, and black beans.  YUMMY!

As soon as the dishes were done, Scott decorated our wood floors.  Shall I explain it?  Let's just say that curdled milk, lots of liquid and I'm glad I have wood floors.  Ryan asked "how do you clean up that much liquid?"  I wrapped a tea towel to cover my nose and mouth, grabbed the dust pan and a thin cutting mat to use as a scraper.  How many people do you know that wash the dust pan with hot, soapy water?  Yes, that's me.  So much for wanting dessert!

Know what else has been on my mind?


My Judah is growing so much.  There's nothing little about that boy anymore.  He's all kid and that smile will melt anyone's heart!  I held him in my arms tonight while he had a bit of dessert (while his siblings were busy in the bathroom).  So fun to sit and bond with him.

I have a love for Swedish Dala horses.  Nope, I'm not Swedish by blood.  Or by marriage.  But I was raised in a small Swedish community and the Dala Horse was part of my childhood.

I've also been thinking about a tattoo.  Maybe it was because Ryan was asking for a Christmas gift idea.  Maybe it was because my friend Ingrid posted about it on facebook.  With a quick google search of old people and tattoos, I was sure I would be turned off of the tattoo idea.  No such luck.

I'm feeling really bad about Rum-Tum.  He was old and maybe wouldn't have made it through the winter.  But he was part of the family before I was part of the family.  Poor Rum.  Those younger cats that sneak in the garage all the time... they make me crazy!

We lost one today

We have seven cats these days.  It's a few more than I prefer.  Ryan keeps saying that they won't all likely survive the winter.  I'm not sure if he really knew they wouldn't all survive.

We lost one today.  

Rum-tum-tugger.  Our oldest cat.  Ryan got him when he moved here in 2001 which makes him 11+ years old.  He's our old and grumpy tabby cat.  He went from being top dog to being the bottom of the cat.  He sneaks in the garage daily - driving us crazy.  But he's a good cat.  Gone are the days of his acrobatic career but he still loves to be held and cuddled.

Until today.  Ryan's parents were leaving and Mark thought he'd hit Rum.  When Ryan went to scoop him up, it was clear that he'd been laying there a while.  Which means I hit him when I came in the driveway a few hours earlier.  Gulp.  I wanted less cats roaming around, acting like wild animals each time I go out on the porch but I wanted to give a few away, not hit one.  Oh Rum, I'm so sorry.  I never even saw you.  Mark, I'm sorry that you thought you were the one who hit him.

To the remaining kitties outside, please know that running in front of the van and trying to sneak in the garage is not a wise decision.  The garage is just as cold as the porch.  And besides, when you sneak in the garage, you miss feeding time...

Giving Thanks

Giving thanks regardless of what day it officially is.  

I am thankful for being a family.

I am thankful for my three children.

I am thankful for my eldest son.  When trying to get Bethany to take a picture with me, it was this child who just about knocked me over trying to get in my arms.

I am thankful for my younger son too.  I am so, so thankful that we're building a stronger bond all the time.

This little princess, I am thankful for her too.  Even if she is sassy.

Of course, I'm blessed and thankful for my husband and the relationship he has with each of our children.

I'm not a perfect mom or wife.  I'm not a perfect neighbor, employee, or friend.  But I'm thankful for those who love me in my weakness.

Quiet Here

Throughout the day I think of nice, fun things to share about.  But I don't live a life where everything's fun and beautiful.  In fact, I don't live a life where grace is not needed every minute of the day it seems like.  So, how do I write without complaining?  How do I share the mundane things that really aren't mundane at all?  Now that my kids are in bed and my house is quiet, I've scanned the recent facebook posts and pinterest updates.  Let me give it to you straight... at least how I see it.

It's been a LONG 13 weeks.  No, we're not pregnant and hiding it.  Shoot, that's not even possible.  Since I'm not living in the perfect world, you might as well know that I already look like I'm 4 months pregnant because I like to eat candy!  It's been a long 13 weeks because I've had this mysterious itching that WONT GO AWAY.  Initial thoughts were an allergic reaction to a new med.  Three weeks after being off that and a growing rash, having tried the daily allergy pill and nightly benadryl, they finally noticed that the fine rash was more than that.  There's also some funky patches that are raw looking.  A depo-medrol (I'm not a doc, so it's not spelled right I'm sure) was guaranteed to take away the itch in 24 to 48 hours.  One week later, I felt what might have been a hint of relief.  Two weeks after that, and one week short of how long this miracle shot was supposed to last, I itched like fire.  Again.  Now, we're onto some other drug.  Side affects = drowsiness.  I slept 12 hours last night.  Partly from the drugs and partly from fighting off a cold.  I napped a few hours this afternoon too.  The itching, well it thinks it's my best friend.  Only it's a nightmare.  My knuckles are raw and it hurts to wash my hands and shower, let alone do dishes.  The rash now now grown onto my elbows so they itch like fire too.  There seems to be no relief except when I sleep.  Imagine my attitude.  Imagine my poor family.  Hence, the need for grace every minute.  It's not because my kids are horrible, it's because my attitude, even though I'm trying to be nice, is rotten.  I have an appointment with a dermatologist in late November.  It was the earliest they could get me in - a total of 8 weeks wait.  It's ridiculous.  I need to get this figured out!

Because of the above situation, everything else seems to be a little on edge.  But, I'm trying.  Itching is exhausting though.  So, I sit here and think...

• Today is Orphan Sunday.  I wish my church was involved with that.  I tried to encourage that a few times, it didn't capture anyone's interest.  It's hard not to want to judge.
• Our church is doing some neat things.  Today Pastor gave an interesting sermon on stewardship.  Not directly related to money.  This time. 
• I wrote a blog asking someone to sponsor one of my little friends in Shanto, Ethiopia.  The post I shared yesterday was successful and now sweet Megan is sponsoring Hana.
• I was listening to Christmas music today even though I'm usually 100% against Christmas music before Thanksgiving is over.
• My house is a pit... maybe a result of my massive sleeping lately.
• My back thinks it needs to put it's burden on my body and so I'll be going to see the Chiropractor tomorrow.  Maybe a massage would help too... a girl can dream.
• I've consumed lots of unhealthy foods lately, right on the heels of eating so well for a few weeks.
• I'm learning from the book I'm reading called War on Words.  I need to learn faster! And more!  I have two chapters to read for Tuesday morning and haven't even started them yet.  Guess I'll go do that...