Randomness part 400

Throughout my day, I think of all these little snippets and one-liners that I could post about.  But I never make it to my computer.  That's mostly a good thing because it means that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, but then I never share the snippets.   Here are a few:

• I'm harvesting my own coriander.  Only because I don't know how to harvest my own cilantro seed.  It's a very tedious task, especially when I have a mountain of tasks to do.  I just found a time in my day to accomplish the coriander harvest - while sitting at the table waiting (not so patiently) for my kids to finish their supper.  I might get it done pretty fast this way.
• We're having a guest in our home Thursday through Sunday.  My house is NOT AT ALL ready for a guest.  Ryan thinks it will be fine cause he has 5 kids.  I was mortified at the thought of letting someone stay in my house like this.  I will be cleaning nightly if you want to come keep me busy.
• I am so thankful that my husband is a veterinarian.  We used his manly skills on Friday night.  I was his personal assistant.  It was fun to ask him a million questions and learn.  Not so fun that someone shot my cat and it had a broken leg.  More on that in another post where I can tell the whole story and add pics.
• I was cleaning in the garden today.  I love that place.  But my laundry list of things to do in the house called me back inside.  Bah humbug!
• With a high-school girl at the table talking in jest about having no friends, my sweet girl sitting at her side looks up and says "I'm your friend".  It was super cute and melted this momma's heart.
• Why do I always squeeze in one more thing that makes my life a bit chaotic?  Maybe because I love the things I do.  Saturday we needed to leave for a wedding at 1230 but I managed to sneak in some time enjoying the harvest with friends and the kids.
• Sitting on the couch watching Diary of a Mad Black Woman with Ryan and Ali.  Each of us have a computer of some sort in our laps. 

Candy Comparison

Each day at lunch, Ryan puts two bite-sized candies in each of the kids' lunches.  Each day when they get off the bus, I hear that Judah has saved one of his candies for his sister and shared with her.  I think it's so sweet of him.  And I wonder if he knows that she also gets candies in her lunch.  Today, Judah didn't ride the bus as usual but still he saved one of his candies for his sister.  Such a sweet boy.

Meanwhile, I pick S & B up from the library after school where they got a few little candies as part of their project for the day.  B ate one in the van and had two left in her hand when we walked in the door.  She couldn't manage to share one with J because she claimed to only have one left.  Oh my word!  That girl may have a giving heart regarding Ethiopia, but not when it comes to sharing her candy with her Ethiopian-born brother!  Judah showed me the candy he saved for Bethany and I thanked him for his willingness to share but asked him to go ahead and eat it.  He did.

After Awana's, the Spark kids (S & B) get a little candy.  Scott was on the winning team and got two snack-sized candies.  He kindly shared one his candies with me even though he really wanted them both.

It's funny that all 3 of my kids had candy at one (or more) times throughout today.  Two of them had sharing hearts regarding their candy and one of them didn't.  I wonder how their kindness would change if it wasn't candy... maybe I should try it again later this week with some other item.

Heart Warming

I spent most of the weekend at a women's retreat at a nearby camp.  I had a great time hanging out with friends, relaxing, and making new friends.  I was reminded of God's love and faithfulness.  It was refreshing.  I came home early this morning to a quiet house.  We quickly got ready and visited a nearby church for their 8am (yikes, that's early when you go to bed at 1am) service.  This church is partnering with a ministry in Ethiopia and the lady was here from Ethiopia to share.  That was so neat to hear about.  We spent the afternoon in Decorah.  Lunch with Ryan's parents, two of the kids went home with them while we took Judah to buy a wedding gift, grab groceries and buy a pair of pants for our ever growing boy!  Then over to Ryan's parents for a few hours where I napped and the kids had fun playing.

We got home right at bed time.  No showers.  Again.  Kids didn't make their lunch.  Al the groceries didn't even get put away.  It's a little crazy.  After all I was gone for the weekend and Ryan was home with 3 kidlets, has been sick himself, and one precious one didn't feel good all day yesterday.  You can imagine that our house isn't spotless.  I could have started into cleaning (after all, I did have a good nap), but when I saw this, I stopped.  I grabbed the camera to capture this:

She had climbed into my sleeping bag that was thrown in the floor with her bible in hand, snuggled up and was digging in.  "Bethany, what are you doing?" I asked.  Her sweet reply was "Oh, I'm just reading my books of the bible."

And that's it.  Pure preciousness.  I love it.  I love it even more that she can't even read yet though it won't be long now cause she's starting to sound out the words.  Atta girl Bethany.  Dig deep!

Lazy Day

I love a lazy day.  Well, they're never really lazy days... there's always something going on!

Sunday after church, naps were required.  By everyone.  It was awesome!  After naps, the boys played on the trampoline with their daddy.  Bethany and I played with the baby kittens.  She loves her baby kittens, their momma and the other "baby" kitten we got a few weeks ago.  She talks to them in 3rd person saying "come to momma".  It's so sweet.  The picture above is my sweet thing showing off the 3 kittens.  I think they'll need to be finding new homes in a month or so... let me know if you want one.

Bethany and I also baked a batch of cookies.  While we baked, we had to have fancy juice in fancy glasses. My little farm girl has a love for the city and all things fancy.  Oh, be still my heart.  Will she want to be a city girl?

Saturday we had a friend over for the day.  She brought Alpine chicken for supper and we made the sides.  I'm such a rule breaker that I can't even manage to follow instructions in the kitchen.  While cooking noodles for a salad, I went outside a bit too long and the noodles burned.  Whoops.  Good thing I had more bags of ramen on hand!  While I was finishing up the sides for supper, Bethany was in the kitchen helping.  She likes to be in the kitchen helping.  She decided that we needed to serve the meal on fancy dishes.  We pulled out the china and the crystal and served the meal.  We even uncorked a bottle of wine (that I got for my birthday 6 months ago).  It was great having a friend to share the evening with... fancy or not.

Lately, we've been living life to the fullest here.  Trying to focus a little more time on the kids, trying to be a lot more respectful to my husband, working less hours, and enjoying life much more.

Word[less] Wednesday

Did you really think I'd post something without words?  That's so not me!  Thought I'd share a few pics from the past month that were finally downloaded from the camera.  The first few are from my visit to see Captain Murdock and Semi Feral Mama:

He is handsome. And beautiful.

My precious oldest son!

SMF learning to make injera.

I tried my hand too.

The girls played with Ryan's "hair".  And then mine too.

Dorito faced boy at the playground.

The farm place had lots of animals - farm and wild.

They love each other!

My precious little porcelain doll.

Not a bad photo taken by a 5 year old.

With her kitty, Pepsi.

Working in the garage with daddy.

No words

Late & Lazy

It's late and I'm lazy or I'd grab the camera card and share a few of the really cute pics of my kiddos from the weekend.  Bethany was sporting her Cyclones outfit for game day and were headed out the door to do a little shopping.  Tell you what, my little girl looks good in wranglers!

It's Monday, right?  Almost Tuesday but let's ignore the fact that I have to be up in just over 6 hours.

I am blessed beyond measure.  By my husband.  By my children.  By my family.  And most importantly by my God who forgives me.  Today my honey was home early and allowed me to stay late at work so I could get a few things done.  I got home and the chicken kabobs I'd planned for supper were already skewered and ready for the grill.  How thoughtful is that!?!?!  I made some mashed potatoes quick and then headed out the door for some girl time.  While checking out make-up is a little out of my comfort zone, it's always good to have some time with girlfriends.  On my way home, I connected with Ingrid, who also has a passion for orphans in Shanto Ethiopia.  An hour later I put down my phone, grabbed some leftovers for supper and am ready for bed.  My kids are tucked in bed. The clothes are all folded except Bethany's (but she's horrible about folding her clothes), and my hubby is chilling on the couch watching a really old Batman movie.  

Tomorrow is a new day.  Maybe I'll even get the treadmill out tomorrow.  Maybe not.  I need some motivation in that department.  What do you do to keep yourself less lazy and more healthy?

My very own Super hero

Sometimes she's impossible to please.  Tonight she's a joyful, happy little girl.  In fact, she's claiming to be Captain America.  

In case you're really dissapointed that this wasn't a bus riding post, I thought I'd give you a quick update.  Today the bus arrived much earlier than expected because not on the kids were on the bus today.  Our bus driver made sure they made it to the house, and radio'd the school secretary who called my cell phone to let me know.  Thank you to those who help care for my little ones throughout the many parts of their day!

Bus Riding Blog?

Is this going to become a bus riding blog?  I assure you, it's not.

My dad drives bus.  I have a LOT of respect for him.  It's a big job with a lot of responsibility.  I'm thankful for our bus driver.  His name is Les.  I made a point to introduce myself to him on day 1.  My goal is for my kids to get home safely each day.  But I also want Les to know that we appreciate him and want to make his life a little easier.

Today when the bus showed up, I was waiting.  In fact, I'd been early.  As I greeted my children exiting the bus, Scott had a fully-flowin' bloody nose.  I ran back to the van for tissue for my son.  He dripped on the floor of the bus so I wanted to clean that up too.  Then I saw that my lovely little children had left the empty bag of their bus snack on the floor, along with some animal crackers, and 3/4 of an apple.  I don't have patience for waste.  Or lazy children.  They were fortunate that I do offer grace.  While I picked up the kids' litter, Les found a pool of blood from Scott.  Why didn't Scott say something?  Les felt bad.  I explained that he had a bloody nose earlier in the week and had likely picked at it.  I wasn't upset about the bloody nose.  I was annoyed with my littering children who don't bother to pipe up when one gets a bloody nose.  Les wouldn't let me clean it up, he said he'd take care of it at home.  I think Scott owes him a little "thank you" tomorrow.

So, day #2 on the bus wasn't much of an improvement over all.  I have over tired children in need of a snack.

On another note, it's warm in my house tonight.  I'm not motivated to be in the kitchen or any other room that  requires my attention right now.  Supper is being prepared and two of my kids are getting a quick rest.  This is a bit stressful and I'm ready for this new routine to be old hat for all of us.

Change is Good but it takes a while to adjust

Have I mentioned before that our schedule has changed recently?  Things changed with daycare and we opted to send our pre-schooler full time.  I wasn't a big fan of that but the more time passed, the more I thought it was a good decision.  Judah functions well with consistency so going to the same place during the week would help with that.  We also love and trust our kids' lives with our preschool teachers.  Not just during preschool, but during summer days, out-of-town trips, etc.  The older two kids were headed to school full time too.

The unknown was how we'd juggle their mornings and afternoons while we were at work.

They start their morning from the vet clinic and come home in the afternoon where I meet their bus.  Today was the first time the schedule actually worked out.  Aside from the bus arriving earlier than I thought, it went well.  Well, until my children got off the bus.  They were upset that they were the LAST ones off the bus.  It broke my heart!  I don't want the kids on the bus for an hour.  I don't want them picking up more bad habits and learning naughty phrases like "it scared the hell out of him".  I don't want older kids to laugh at them when one of them falls off the seat onto the floor.  I don't want them to be soaked in sweat from being on a warm bus.  But, that is where we're at right now.  And this first day experience with their first full day at school and riding the bus all the way home has this momma a little sad at the situation.

Does anyone in my community want to volunteer to be a bus monitor and ride along for that hour each day to keep the little kids' ears and eyes safe from the big kids habits and words?

After getting home, things didn't go perfectly as planned either.  I dreamed of this afternoon of a combination of Betty Crocker cooking and the best mom in the world.  They kids were hot, tired, hungry, and fussy.  Sounded like the perfect time to kick them outside to play in the sprinkler!  Gone were the visions of having lunch bags cleaned out, re-packed, supper cooked and dishes done when Ryan got home.  How could that not happen in the one hour I was home!?!?!?  While I'm technically only off work 30 minutes earlier, I'm leaving working one hour earlier and the kids are also home one hour earlier.

 I did succeed by not opening my laptop, had supper partially made, and had some pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce in the canner.  I'm looking forward to these extra hours at home with my kids.  If I get used to it, I might request an even earlier work schedule... that is until it's horrible winter weather and I'm having to drive to work on un-plowed roads.  But hey, in this 95+ degree weather with LOTS of humidity, I might actually be looking forward to the cold weather a tad bit :)

It's not over yet...

It's been a good weekend.  The best part... it's not over yet.

Saturday was a work day.  Cleaning in the house in the morning and then outside in the garden.  I picked another 10 gallon buckets worth of tomatoes as well as some okra, some sugar snap peas, and some anaheim peppers.  I tilled the empty rows once taken up by onions, spread out some compost and begin tilling it in when I sheared a pin off the tiller and couldn't use it anymore.

My inlaws were here to help.  And help they were.  Thank you M&E!

The guys tilled up the bare ground around our summer garage project, rolled, seeded, spread some cover and got it ready to be watered.  They also managed to move some old hay bales, trim a tree and who knows what else.

By time we got supper, we were all filthy and hungry and ordering pizza was the only option.  TJ's is never a bad option when ordering out.  I bathed the 3 littles while waiting on our pizza order.  After supper, our eldest son jumped in the truck with his grandparents to make up for the summer over night trip we never got him to, and Pops headed down the road in the diesel.

I slept good last night!

Today was another good day.  We pawned off child #2 to the other set of grandparents after church.  It was just us and Judah.  We took him out for lunch for a special treat, including a big 'ol bowl of icecream.  While Ryan and Judah napped, I stopped by a friend's house and chatted for a while.  I love that family!  After nap time, we put up Bethany's netting over her princess bed (shh, she doesn't know yet) and then headed to town.  A quick stop at Grammy's to drop off clothes, grab a smooch from my girl and some freshly baked cookies and back to the clinic where Ryan and Judah were ready to head out for a bike ride.  Judah doesn't know how to ride without training wheels but I was sure he'd have it down in less than an hour if he had our sole focus of teaching him.  We did laps on the nicely concreted Hidden Valley Homes area where Judah was a little nervous, a lot dependent on those stupid training wheels, and a whole lot of tensed up.  He improved and was riding like a rockstar by time we left, albeit the training wheels were still on.  That wasn't enough so he and I jogged from there to town.  He's Ethiopian after all, and we're guessing running might run in his blood.  He jogged non-stop until we got to the fire department where Daddy met us and we jumped in the truck.  I'm sure he could have made it all the way to the clinic.

We got home as the sun was setting.  Not enough time to set up the sprinkler system but I tried anyway.  I should have waited until the morning.  Watering a hill side isn't easy.  I think I need sprinklers that sit 3 feet in the air so it can water better.  There's so much bare ground that I had 3 sprinklers running off two hoses.  After a bit of trying different options, I concluded that the waterhoses couldn't run through the garage even if we do have a floor drain in there.  Too many leaks in the hoses.  I checked a sprinkler and found a muddy mess.  So much for washing my running shoes last week.

In the house for a now cold piece of left over pizza.  It was still good.  The boys were playing wii, the two eldest are still gone and two of the girls just called to see if I'd be up for a movie night.  I need to hit the shower before I head over there :)

Tomorrow I have a lot to do.  Meal plan, grocery shop, pick up kids, can tomatoes.  I'm so glad there's another day in the weekend.  Ryan is even off tomorrow so that's a bigger bonus.  Now, I only hope his "on-call" hours are silent!!!

First Day of School

On a little mini-vacation for a few days and am thankful that I have some time to post pictures of the first day of school.

The night before when my kids should have been on a perfect schedule - showered, lunches made, read to, and tucked in bed, they were out swinging on the swing set.  Scott, who is normally not my outdoorsy kid found a toad with an owie leg.  He collected it in a jar, brought it inside, and gave me clear instructions to open the lid every two minutes to let it get fresh air.  It sat in a mason jar on my counter so that Scott could show it to his daddy.  Then, he insisted on creating a little habitat for it and putting it in his room over night.  As you might imagine, the next morning he insisted on taking it to school.  So, here's my eldest with the toad his proudly caught and created a habitat for:

Scott was also sure that he had to take a picture with our dog, who's currently under quarantine.  Not a worthy picture.  But this one sure is... it's my littles hanging out on the front porch taking pics with Daddy while momma showered.

Scott and his teacher.  We look forward to her challenging him and having high expectations.

Bethany and her teacher.  She is so excited to have her teacher.  Which is great because two weeks ago, Bethany was sure she was going to have the other teacher - the one that Scott had.  We look forward to a year of learning for Bethany too.

 Bethany, in true Bethany style, was adamant that she wear her new shirt to school.  That was after she was adamant that she wear it to bed last night.  She was so excited!  Momma doesn't normally let that happen but I didn't want to squash her excitement.  I had wished that I'd already found an idea on pinterest to make the regular 'ol baseball tee into something cute.

Judah doesn't start school until next week.  He needs all things to be fair or he shuts down and mopes.  But Judah had his final day at Grammy's daycare.  A special day it was.  He was greeted by his friend, Anna.  Later in the day, by request, Grammy made him chocolate chip cookies!

sorry, it's turned and i'm not fixing it!  

What a Gem

Bethany

She's always been a helpful little girl.  In the above picture (take November 2009), she was holding her beloved sippy cups.  Long gone are the days of her chugging a full bottle of hot chocolate out of those things the moment she woke up.  These days, as she gets ready to prepare for kindergarten, she's growing into such a helpful little girl.  Much like her momma, she's a diamond in the rough... and has lots of refining to do, but also has a heart of gold.

This morning when my bathroom was out of clean towels, she volunteered to bring me one from upstairs.  Not just any towel, but her favorite Dora towel.  It was so sweet as she tried to hang it just perfectly next to the shower for me.  It was sweet seeing her to think of others first.

While she can have a sassy mean streak on occasion, she was award winning sweetness again tonight.

On our way home from Grammy's daycare, I informed the kids that I had a meeting and would be leaving the house right after getting the kids home.  Bethany informed us that she wanted breakfast for supper.  On this hurried night where Ryan was outside working on the garage/landscaping and I was headed to a meeting and we both had small group bible study at 7pm, I knew that our best "breakfast for supper" that I could put together would be cereal.  She was happy with that.  The wheels must have continued turning for my girl, cause it wasn't long before she informed me that she would make me something to eat for supper.  We came in the house and she went right to work.  While I picked up the living room, Bethany carefully spread nutella on sandwich bread for me, leaving just enough goodness on the knife and her fingers that she could get a small taste and smear a whole lot over her beautiful little face.  I'm not a fan of nutella sandwiches but how can you say no to the preciousness of a 5 year-old's efforts?  While I grabbed up my laptop and binder for the meeting, Bethany slid the sandwich in a quart ziploc bag, carefully picked out a watermelon jolly rancher which joined the nutella spread in the ziploc, and carried it over to me.  As she handed off the goods, she had a big 'ol smile on her face.  I had a big 'ol smile on my face too.  And the preciousness, and thoughtfulness of my daughter warmed my heart.  

I'm so proud to call her daughter.  Intentional parenting is tough, and doesn't always pay off.  I could make more effort, I know.  But today, two different times today, it paid off big time.  She's learning from those she watches.  She's thinking of others and serving them.  And I am one grateful momma who enjoyed that nutella sandwich for supper tonight!!!  Thank you Bethany for loving me more than you love those sippy cups in the above picture.  You are a gem and I thank God for you!

Ryan

Ryan

He's my husband.  And the father to our children.  But not just any father.  He's a rock-star Daddy.  He has his children's hearts and they have his.  He has my heart too.  He's a visionary.  He's also Mr. Steady.  And he's smart.  Like really, really smart.

We've had a busy few weeks.  

A few weeks back when I was super iron deficient and had NO energy, he encouraged me to lay down and rest, even though our garden and home needed my attention.  He worked on the garage with the kids at his feet pounding nails in scraps of wood.  VBS and visitors from Mexico City last week required a lot of time and energy.  Ryan managed it all seamlessly and even made sure the kids had clean VBS shirts each morning.  This week I'm spending a few days, with very little notice, in central Iowa.  We still have a lot going on in our family this week.  He stayed home with Bethany and took her back to the doctor on Monday while dealing with one itchy little girl.  

I was bragging about him today.

I'm not trying to make him look perfect.  He's real.  He's not perfect.  But, he is AMAZING and I'm so thankful to be called his wife.  Not only did he take care of his girl, he also managed to get 3 kids registered for school.  

Honey, I'm so glad to partner with you in marriage, parenting, and life.  

Welcome

What to do with guests from Mexico City, a city of 18 million people, when they come visit you in rural Iowa...

First, you thank God, literally, that your friends are wonderful hosts and are fluent Spanish speakers.

Then you sit back and try to join in on some of the conversation and the fun.

In a whirlwind 3 days, the Pastor of the church we partner with in Mexico City, and his wife, came to visit us.  The excitement radiates from these people!  So, what did we do???  Or should I say, what did I get to participate with them in???

1. Checking out Fayette:

Victories, a walking tour of UIU, Pavo Blue coffee shop, and a local construction site

Me walking with Sara at UIU.

2. Lunch at the Irish Shanti

Pastor Jaime did manage to eat an entire jalapeno styled "Gunder Burger"

3. Check out a local farm:where they fed yearling horses grain out of their hands, snuggled baby kittens, bottled fed a baby calf, learned about canning tomatoes, and sat on the front porch of a beautiful farm house

Jaime and Sara pose with owner and gracious hostess: Lyneen.

4. Good 'ol fun:

A potluck, follwed by a campfire, s'mores and some singing

5. Take them to the SonQuest Rain Forest

It was Bible School week at our church and they jumped right in and participated.

I was right in my element this past week.  In more ways than one.

Big Picture

I have been criticized and criticized and nit-picked a ton lately.  I'm getting tired of "turning the other cheek". So, tonight as I sit with a keyboard in my lap, I have a fiery, anger-filled post I'd like to write.  As I just told my husband about it, he reminded me of last week's lesson in Sunday School.  It's only because of his wisdom and reminder, that the thoughts won't spew onto this blog.

I am so thankful to be surrounded by people who are willing to listen but people who are also willing to hold me accountable.  These are people I love to have in my circle of friends, and regardless of an actual blood relation, I count them as family!

I, by no means, am comparing myself to Joseph but it is my prayer tonight that like Joseph, I will prove faithful in the midst of trials and that in the end, God will be glorified.

a few sights to see

B having tea with her buddy, Ryan.  They both have their favorite color in hand.

Celebrating birthday #7 for our oldest son, Scott.
He's smart, funny, thinks of others, and handsome.

It didn't turn this pic, but no worries, I cropped off the evidence of
child bearing years and only showed our smiles.

Bethany had the bright idea of making yogurt
parfaits for our family.  She was meticulous in
her prep work and layered yogurt, granola and
fresh peaches perfectly...

... then served them to everyone.  She can be precious!

Judah enjoys the parfait in the living room... when did I get
soft and let me kids start eating in the living room???

Summer fun.  Many evenings are spent on the trampling with
the sprinkler keeping them cool and giggling.

This isn't a great picture but I had to capture it anyway.  Just last
weekend we visited Ryan's Grandma B.  Here the kids are playing
with dinosaurs on what was Grandpa's bed.  Grandpa may be gone
but his memory lives on and is clearly seen in this photo with his
flag laying at the head of the bed.

Great Grandma with the wild 3.  She was amazed and kept telling
us how good of eaters they were.  We had breakfast for supper
and they ate like champs!

Judah and Great Grandma.  He took several pics with her
that were absolutely precious.

This little boy loves reading to his Great Grandma

This little girl is just a ham and wouldn't take a pic with her
Great Grandma at first.  I guilted her into it and then it went well.

One summer night after baths, Bethany donned
an old sorority t-shirt of mine and danced around
in it for quite some time posing for pictures.

Two in a Row

I guess posting two days in a row is possible when you're laid up on a couch.

While I struggle with being still, and accomplishing "nothing", this is a much needed rest.  For some time I've been in what seems like a constant state of exhaustion.  Is it because I'm no spring chicken?  Is there something more going on?  I began paying attention to some of the little things going on.  I would list them but it might be too much information for you.  Needless to say, I finally went to the doctor and asked the "spring chicken" vs medical issue question.

The physician's assistant thought there might be several things going on.  She also thought they might all be tied together.  She ordered blood tests and an ultrasound.  By the next day, with my exhaustion worsening (maybe because I'm up late watching the olympics at night), the results were back on the iron test.  Surprise, surprise, my iron was low.  I would soon be adding an iron supplement to the hormone treatment I had just started.  For someone who doesn't like to take any meds, you can imagine my frustration.  However, at least now we were starting to have some answers to the exhaustion.  With just one more test, I was seeing light at the end of the tunnel, or was it just light headed-ness from the exhaustion and heat mixed with new "drugs" in my system.

On Thursday I headed over to the hospital for an ultrasound and laughed when they said I would need a mammogram.  Angry that this was new news to me, I laughed because it's impossible to squeeze "nothing" into something.  Anyway the technician was sweet and everything about her deameanor and words led me to believe that it all looked normal.  When the radiologist finally came in, his voice carried no emotion and he said "well, with bilateral pain like this, it doesn't typically say cancer" and then he paused.  As he paused, I think my heart skipped a beat and I was trying to run through my mind what he said again while CANCER seemed to be the only thing that stood out.  The radiologist has zero bedside manner.  He should have totally worded it differently and started with words like "no worries...".  In the end, it was good news.  I was so dumbfounded my him that I didn't even manage to get my question out: so if it USUALLY doesn't mean cancer, how are you sure that I'm fine????

I left his office with a new level of exhaustion while at the same time being so, so incredibly thankful that I didn't walk out of there broken-hearted as sometimes happens to people.  I went from there to the chiropractor because my back was already problematic at that point.  It amazed me that my chiropractor seemed more interested in getting to the bottom of my "issue" than my doctors.  I don't want a band-aid fix, I want to know what's causing the hormone issue, the low iron, etc.

As I lay here on the couch again, I thank God  for this time of rest.  I'm thankful that it's been a continual, refining  process.  I'm so, so dissapointed to be missing the Sunday School class, and I would love to worship with my church family and set up for Vacation Bible School.  But I'm thankful that, as we prepare to go into a wild week of VBS, I chose not to commit to teaching this year which means if need be, I can lay on the couch each night of this coming week.

Rest

Intentional parenting means less blogging.  Being bed-ridden because of my lovely lower back issue means I finally get to lay around and do nothing.  It allows me to watch the olympics and update my blog.

The last few months around our house have been different.  Busy, good, difficult, exhausting, and blessed.  A few of the things we've been up to lately include:

• The 3 littles new love of impersonating wild animals thanks to Ralph Duren, the animal impersonator.
• One sweet girl who has made multiple meals in for our family lately.  Yes, she's 5.  Ryan usually makes the kids' breakfast, he was gone, and Bethany took it upon herself.  If only I could have caught a picture of Bethany standing inside the refrigerator dragging bagels down off the shelf.
• The building of a new garage requires Ryan's time almost nightly which then means I'm given the chance to become more comfortable in the kitchen :P
• Garden, garden, and more garden.  It's twice the size of last year.  Some things are growing great, others have left plenty of room for improvement next year.  I dug 120+ onions last week and have canned several quarts of tomatoes already.  If I can get a hold of a tiller, I'd like to replant stuff again just to see if I can get a second season of crops.
• The kids are big enough that they can play independently.  That can be good and bad.  I have to make a point to allow them to entertain themselves but still take the time to nurture and love on them.  That's sometimes hard to do after a full work day, time in the garden, prepping supper and dishes.
• Scott has been earning money for a Spider Man book for quite some time.  He read the 100+ page book in a few short hours as soon as he got it.  He still loves to snuggle and he's heart broken if I don't specifically tuck him in at night.
• My heart longs for Ethiopia but I haven't managed to pursue much recently in that arena.
• A few months ago, Ryan and I started to pursue a waiting child.  My eyes were opened to the need and I raised my hand without considering a few things.  With many other projects impacting our finances and time, we decided to put a halt on adoption.
• The drought that has impacted much of the midwest has not directly impacted us but does indirectly impact us because our neighbors, clients and friends are farmers.
• Judah is growing in height and bulk.  He's a solid little boy, just like his siblings.  His smile is contagious and he's such a good little helper.  I still wish I knew what goes on in his little mind.
• A guy backed into my van yesterday at the dollar general store.  He did little to no damage.  He came in and found me.  I so appreciate honest people, especially when it means putting him in a financial crunch.  The right thing is always the right thing.

Trying to simplify life hasn't come easy or quickly.  Nor do things come without a  price.  I have become the cup nazi at our house the kids MUST use their specific cups.  I have shopped the sale ads and we've eaten a LOT of chicken lately.  I have been slowly learning to say "no" which has been the hardest lesson for me but one that I pray proves fruitful for my family in the long run.  Besides that, we're up to the same 'ol, same 'ol and thank God for each new day He gives us!

 Normal randomness here:

• I really, really need a hair cut.
• I also really, really wish I was hanging with adoption friends.
• Ryan's amazing coffee meat rub is so much better when he prepares the meat and I chill out.
• We got an early out from work.  I didn't leave so early.
• We're re-arranging our office.  It's a bit of a disaster.
• High 90's for weather for a few weeks straight is not normal here.  
• When are we going to be an air conditioning unit for this old house???
• Stopped by a friend's today to drop off cilantro.  She was gone and her mom was there with the kids.  I love being greeted by her 1 year old, I enjoy her mom, and I don't stay near as long when she's gone. 
• I want to eat constantly and it's not even that time of the month.
• I really need to fix supper but I'm totally procrastinating.
• Scott went from not being able to write his name to a self portrait in about twenty minutes:

• Limbo with a water hose and the kids was quite entertaining.  I'd share pics but it was also really hot and we were at the grandparents sans bathing suits so the kids played in their undies.
• They also spent time with Great Grandma reading books on the ipad 

• Bethany celebrated her 5th birthday in style with a party thrown by her Grammy and Papa.  It was warm but fun.  

• I have a tomato on the vine turning red.  They're also getting blight.  So, I've been reading up on natural remedies but I'm about as motivated to do that as I am to prepare supper.
• Intentional parenting is frustrating but has it's rewards.  I asked Ryan the other day "why do I even try if they're just going to act like that?"  Ryan turned the question on me when he asked "and do you think God is asking the same question about you?"  Ouch.

That's it for now.  Tomorrow we'll lay low and try to keep cool.