So, it has been a really long week (getting up at 6 to exercise has made nap time for the girls nap time for me, too!) and I haven't really gotten the ambition to write much.
Last week our parish's Knights of Columbus sponsored two showings of the movie "Bella". So, I was home with the girls two nights while hubby got to hang out at the theatre (he took me out on Friday to see "Juno", so that made up for it...hmmm...maybe it IS a little weird that both movies are about unplanned pregnancies...) Anyhow, in the hanging out at the theatre, he talked with the theatre manager and found out that they were still looking for a couple of projectionists. They told him how flexible and wonderful they were with scheduling, and that the projectionists could work as much or as little as they wanted.
My last job (before Charlotte) was as a projectionist at our old town's theatre, which I really enjoyed. At that point in time, both hubby and I worked for the theatre because we really did need the money to make ends meet. But, a little bit of a hobby job with a small amount of extra money coming in our house sounded appealing, so hubby brought me home an application and I filled it out and sent it back.
Fast forward to Wednesday: I get a call from one of the board members (the theatre just converted to a non-profit...that's why they needed projectionists) offering me the job. I chatted with her about it a little bit...got the details...still sounded very flexible (in other words, flexible for ME...not flexible for THEM like hubby's job!) She gave me the theatre manager's number to set up training and scheduling.
I gave the theatre manager a call on Thursday, and she asked me to come in that evening to start training on the projector for the run-through. So, I got there 10 minutes early (she was 10 minutes late) and we had to wait another 10 minutes while she found a projectionist (the two board members that run the projector weren't available, so she called the other paid one...who happens to be her son-in-law), they showed me the ropes...fairly similar to what I've worked with before...and the theatre manager told me to work out the schedule with the other paid projectionist.
He told me that he has been working every Friday and Saturday, and wouldn't like to lose too many days because the money he earns goes towards his hobby car. He also told me that he wouldn't work on any Sundays, because it is the Lord's day. All well and good, but the theatre shows a movie Friday night, Saturday night, and two on Sundays. So, they didn't bother to tell me that mostly they needed someone to work Sundays. Dilemma number two, the theatre manager told me that the only day she REALLY needed a projectionist this month was EASTER SUNDAY!!! I originally agreed to do that, and signed up for another weekend in April.
I felt very conflicted about the whole thing, from the nepotism (which I should be used to after 6 years of small town life) to the fact that no one was straight forward with me about what they were actually looking for, to the examination of conscience that Father passed out on Sunday that includes "Did I do work on Sunday that was not necessary?". So, I spent all morning while I was torturing myself...I mean, exercising, praying about the situation, and prayed about it during Mass this morning too...so naturally, Father said something in his homily that convicted me to call up the theatre manager and the board and quit. So, here is Father's statement that just spoke to my heart today:
He was discussing how suffering is beneficial to us, and how we should unite our sufferings to the cross. He told a little story about a time when he was joking around with the archbishop about something and Father said to the Archbishop "Hey, I'm a martyr here" (or something of that nature) and Archbishop responded: "It is one thing to be a martyr for the faith, but it is another thing entirely to be a martyr for your own stupidity."
So, instead of causing myself suffering for no reason (missing our only full family day to work a job that is definitely not necessary), I should stand up for my faith.
So, my shortest time of employment, ever, has come to a close.
Friday, March 14, 2008
NFP can be funny!
Okay, this is one of those stories that I just don't have anyone in my real world life to tell, but it just cracks me up...of course, a lot of that is because you have to be an NFP user with a supportive husband to really get a good laugh out of this.
Yesterday, hubby woke up, got the thermometer, woke me up, had me take my temperature, and got out of bed before he realized that it was 2 am...He must have dreamt that he heard the alarm, got up and hit the snooze, and went about his morning routine (waking my lazy self up for long enough to take my temp). So, after he realized that and told me his mistake, we went back to sleep until 5:40...the actual time my temperature is supposed to be taken.
Needless to say, combine 2 am temperature takings with the fact that we've started a routine of one of us going to the local gym at 6 am while the other one exercises at home and the fact that both LOST (hubby's favorite) and Eli Stone (my favorite) were on last night, I'm feeling rather tired today!
Yesterday, hubby woke up, got the thermometer, woke me up, had me take my temperature, and got out of bed before he realized that it was 2 am...He must have dreamt that he heard the alarm, got up and hit the snooze, and went about his morning routine (waking my lazy self up for long enough to take my temp). So, after he realized that and told me his mistake, we went back to sleep until 5:40...the actual time my temperature is supposed to be taken.
Needless to say, combine 2 am temperature takings with the fact that we've started a routine of one of us going to the local gym at 6 am while the other one exercises at home and the fact that both LOST (hubby's favorite) and Eli Stone (my favorite) were on last night, I'm feeling rather tired today!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
Well, sadly my family is STILL sick...Hubby didn't make it to church yesterday because he had intestinal difficulties. So did Charlotte, but Eva came to church with me, then declared halfway through the homily that her tummy hurt...last time she said that, she threw up...so, I immediately took her home (I had to cantor, but fortunately, I was done by the time she decided she was sick.) Then, I went back after church was over to teach hubby's obnoxious 4th graders...and I got to be thankful that I got this year off...I'm hoping next year's 4th graders aren't so obnoxious!
We joined (well, I rejoined, but hubby agreed to join, too) the local rec center, and I got up at 5:45 to exercise before hubby had to be at work (7)...so I'm trying to cook a little healthier than usual now...hopefully it will be a permanent change.
Monday: Apricot Stuffed French Toast and Fruit Salad
Turkey Chili with Raw Veggies
Tuesday: Chili Cheese Potatoes and Raw Veggies
Chicken Divan (making a freezer meal for the newest mom in my bible study) and Fruit Salad
Wednesday: Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches with either Fruit Salad or Apple Slices
Hamburgers and Coleslaw (Hubby and the kids...I have Bible Study)
Thursday: Charleston Chicken Sandwiches and Raw Veggies
Ham Steak, Au Gratin Potatoes and Broccoli (not so healthy, but we have to use up this dumb pig...)
Friday: Fish Sticks, Baked Home Fries, and Coleslaw (we have to use up the fish sticks, anyway)
Lentil Rice Casserole and whatever salad or veggies or fruit are still around
Saturday: FFYS/Leftover day
So, there it is for this week...go see some more menus at OrgJunkie!
Friday, March 07, 2008
Let God do the pruning...
Okay, I really am trying to spend more time thinking (and blogging about) spiritual matters, rather than physical matters (like the last few posts)...I just have been beating my head against the wall spiritually.
I feel like I had some kind of road block in about week 5 of the Full of Grace study...the good news is that I am starting the whole thing again with my young moms group here in town (of course, I'm finishing up the study while starting the study again, so we'll see how that goes for the next two weeks.)
But something that Father said last night at Mass really hit home to me...
He was talking about spiritual growth and healing, and said that we need to prune out those things in our lives that do not witness to our Catholic faith. But, what really hit me was when he said that we shouldn't try to prune ourselves. He pointed out that sometimes when we prune a shrub, we can easily damage it if we don't know what we are doing. He pointed out that if we let God prune away those things that are not compatable with our faith, it will be healing, and much less painful than if we try to do it ourselves.
I never really do justice to his homilies (the dangers of going to Mass with small children) but that one really hit home...now I just need to work on giving up control to God (and ongoing struggle for me!)
I feel like I had some kind of road block in about week 5 of the Full of Grace study...the good news is that I am starting the whole thing again with my young moms group here in town (of course, I'm finishing up the study while starting the study again, so we'll see how that goes for the next two weeks.)
But something that Father said last night at Mass really hit home to me...
He was talking about spiritual growth and healing, and said that we need to prune out those things in our lives that do not witness to our Catholic faith. But, what really hit me was when he said that we shouldn't try to prune ourselves. He pointed out that sometimes when we prune a shrub, we can easily damage it if we don't know what we are doing. He pointed out that if we let God prune away those things that are not compatable with our faith, it will be healing, and much less painful than if we try to do it ourselves.
I never really do justice to his homilies (the dangers of going to Mass with small children) but that one really hit home...now I just need to work on giving up control to God (and ongoing struggle for me!)
Barforama, part duex...
Okay, Whimsy was telling me all about her woes with everyone in the family throwing up (except her...but at that point, does it really matter?) with only one of the kids actually making to the toilet...
So, she told me all about this AFTER Charlotte threw up on Wednesday night. We didn't think much of it...she worked herself up crying during bathtime and ended up throwing up a bunch of phlegm (and some chunks, but we figured it was most likely the phlegm causing the whole thing.)
So, last night, at some horrible hour of the morning (I never was with it enough to check the clock) Eva came into our room and told us that something was wrong with her arm and that she had "stomach diaherrhea"...both of us got up, and found out exactly what stomach diarrehea is...all over Eva's PJs, all her sheets...her pillow, blanket, and beloved "monkey george".
So, we cleaned her up, gave her a bucket, set her on the couch, changed her sheets, put her back to bed with said bucket...so far, nothing more has happened, but I am definately on puke alert right about now.
Actually, this post is making me very glad I've never used labels or tags for my posts...
This sentence interrupted for an important message: Eva just came in the kitchen to inform me that Bubba (our dog) was "drinking my throwup". So, we have had another episode...luckily it was in the bucket...unluckily, I wasn't informed until after the dog started to get in it...
I'd throw the dumb dog outside for the day, but it is now snowing, and I hear that pugs don't survive weather that well...
Anyhow, glad I have no tags, or I'd have to have a category called "gross things my kids do"
So, she told me all about this AFTER Charlotte threw up on Wednesday night. We didn't think much of it...she worked herself up crying during bathtime and ended up throwing up a bunch of phlegm (and some chunks, but we figured it was most likely the phlegm causing the whole thing.)
So, last night, at some horrible hour of the morning (I never was with it enough to check the clock) Eva came into our room and told us that something was wrong with her arm and that she had "stomach diaherrhea"...both of us got up, and found out exactly what stomach diarrehea is...all over Eva's PJs, all her sheets...her pillow, blanket, and beloved "monkey george".
So, we cleaned her up, gave her a bucket, set her on the couch, changed her sheets, put her back to bed with said bucket...so far, nothing more has happened, but I am definately on puke alert right about now.
Actually, this post is making me very glad I've never used labels or tags for my posts...
This sentence interrupted for an important message: Eva just came in the kitchen to inform me that Bubba (our dog) was "drinking my throwup". So, we have had another episode...luckily it was in the bucket...unluckily, I wasn't informed until after the dog started to get in it...
I'd throw the dumb dog outside for the day, but it is now snowing, and I hear that pugs don't survive weather that well...
Anyhow, glad I have no tags, or I'd have to have a category called "gross things my kids do"
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Cooking for 4...
So, I grew up in a family of four. One older brother, my mom and my dad. You would think that I just MIGHT be able to cook for my family of four pretty easily!
Tonight, I managed to cook just enough food for the four of us (okay, Charlotte snubbed her chili...but ate cornbread, cheese and apple juice...that's balanced, right?)
See, my mom is an AWFUL cook...she thinks that she is a pretty good cook...she's just not. She is very good at making salads...and I think she might confuse that with cooking...
When we were first married and in college, at one point my mother started cooking a week's worth of meals on the weekends. Since she was doing this, she very lovingly doubled everything and brought it to us. We ate most of it...but there was this meatloaf (I think she must have made us a couple of them) that just sat in the freezer...and sat...and sat...it was just dry and tasteless and horrible (okay, the first one of them was...we were unwilling to try the second...and THAT is saying something, because hubby will eat ANYTHING!)
So, needless to say, I needed to learn how to cook after we got married. Fortunately my MIL is a very good cook (at least when she is not setting things on fire...) but she had 4 kids and a farmer husband to cook for...she cooks (STILL, and right now it is MIL, FIL and a very skinny German exchange student who doesn't eat very much) easily for 8 at virtually every meal. This is how I learned to cook!
When MIL gives us hamburger or other meat, it all comes in 2 lb-ish packages. She often uses 2 packages...I only use one, so I guess I cook generously for 5-6. Normally when I make chili, I put in 5 cans of beans (I really should switch to dry, but I'm just too lazy!). We almost always have leftovers of something.
So, tonight I used a 1 lb package of organic all beef chili from SHARE...but I didn't think that would be quite enough for us. So, trying to be conservative, I added one can of beans, 2 T of leftover tomato paste and about 1/2 c of water. I also made an 8 x 8 dish of cornbread. After I filled the girl's bowls with small portions, and our bowls with larger, but not excessive portions...there was nothing left in the pot! I was shocked!!!
Now, if only there had been some cornbread leftovers...but for some reason, there never are!
I told hubby that I really should learn how to cook for 4, but I guess I kinda do like having leftovers around so I can tell everyone to fend for themselves!
Tonight, I managed to cook just enough food for the four of us (okay, Charlotte snubbed her chili...but ate cornbread, cheese and apple juice...that's balanced, right?)
See, my mom is an AWFUL cook...she thinks that she is a pretty good cook...she's just not. She is very good at making salads...and I think she might confuse that with cooking...
When we were first married and in college, at one point my mother started cooking a week's worth of meals on the weekends. Since she was doing this, she very lovingly doubled everything and brought it to us. We ate most of it...but there was this meatloaf (I think she must have made us a couple of them) that just sat in the freezer...and sat...and sat...it was just dry and tasteless and horrible (okay, the first one of them was...we were unwilling to try the second...and THAT is saying something, because hubby will eat ANYTHING!)
So, needless to say, I needed to learn how to cook after we got married. Fortunately my MIL is a very good cook (at least when she is not setting things on fire...) but she had 4 kids and a farmer husband to cook for...she cooks (STILL, and right now it is MIL, FIL and a very skinny German exchange student who doesn't eat very much) easily for 8 at virtually every meal. This is how I learned to cook!
When MIL gives us hamburger or other meat, it all comes in 2 lb-ish packages. She often uses 2 packages...I only use one, so I guess I cook generously for 5-6. Normally when I make chili, I put in 5 cans of beans (I really should switch to dry, but I'm just too lazy!). We almost always have leftovers of something.
So, tonight I used a 1 lb package of organic all beef chili from SHARE...but I didn't think that would be quite enough for us. So, trying to be conservative, I added one can of beans, 2 T of leftover tomato paste and about 1/2 c of water. I also made an 8 x 8 dish of cornbread. After I filled the girl's bowls with small portions, and our bowls with larger, but not excessive portions...there was nothing left in the pot! I was shocked!!!
Now, if only there had been some cornbread leftovers...but for some reason, there never are!
I told hubby that I really should learn how to cook for 4, but I guess I kinda do like having leftovers around so I can tell everyone to fend for themselves!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Menu Plan Monday -even more share stuff
Okay, so I haven't yet exhausted the excessive amounts of frozen foods I received from SHARE last month, and since both girls are now recovering from pink eye, and I'm not exactly feeling at the top of my game either, it's gonna be another week of convenience foods.
On a totally unrelated note: Why is it that it was pushing 80 degrees on Saturday, and snowed several inches yesterday??? I am so ready for spring!
Monday: Chicken tenders (from SHARE) and coleslaw
Honey Soy Pork Steak (still last year's pig) with brown rice
Tuesday: Buckwheat pancakes or waffles and veggie sausages
Organic Beef Chili (from SHARE) I probably will add beans to stretch it with cornbread
Wednesday: Turkey (from SHARE) and cheese sandwiches and coleslaw
Lemon Chicken Scallopini with noodles (never got made last week...or I think the week before that...)
Thursday: Hamburgers (from SHARE) and ???
Turkey Tenderloin (from SHARE) with brown rice
Friday: Tuna Sandwiches with ???
Cheese with Broccoli Quiches (from SHARE)
Saturday: Whatever didn't get made because we went to visit my MIL (we were SUPPOSED to go visit on Sunday...but Charlotte got sick and it snowed, so we'll see when we get up there) or leftovers/fend for yourself.
So, there it is...another week of excessive amounts of food from SHARE. Check out more menus over at Org Junkie!
On a totally unrelated note: Why is it that it was pushing 80 degrees on Saturday, and snowed several inches yesterday??? I am so ready for spring!
Monday: Chicken tenders (from SHARE) and coleslaw
Honey Soy Pork Steak (still last year's pig) with brown rice
Tuesday: Buckwheat pancakes or waffles and veggie sausages
Organic Beef Chili (from SHARE) I probably will add beans to stretch it with cornbread
Wednesday: Turkey (from SHARE) and cheese sandwiches and coleslaw
Lemon Chicken Scallopini with noodles (never got made last week...or I think the week before that...)
Thursday: Hamburgers (from SHARE) and ???
Turkey Tenderloin (from SHARE) with brown rice
Friday: Tuna Sandwiches with ???
Cheese with Broccoli Quiches (from SHARE)
Saturday: Whatever didn't get made because we went to visit my MIL (we were SUPPOSED to go visit on Sunday...but Charlotte got sick and it snowed, so we'll see when we get up there) or leftovers/fend for yourself.
So, there it is...another week of excessive amounts of food from SHARE. Check out more menus over at Org Junkie!
Friday, February 29, 2008
WWHD?
So, after my last post, I got to thinking...if hubby were home and I asked him to fix my sewing machine, what would he do?
Given his upbringing and his parentage (and the fact that my MIL gives all the men vice grips practically every Christmas) I went to the tool drawer, found one of many pairs of vice grips and used them to beat...err...I mean, fix, my sewing machine!
So, I managed to complete the machine sewing on one insert (thanks to the girls taking an unprecedented 3 hour nap!...of course, since Eva has pink eye and a fever, I'm guessing that may have something to do with it!)
Once Eva gets out of bed and eats her snack (Charlotte is happily eating, already) the three of us (four with the dog) will go outside so the girls can play and I can turn the insert right side out and hand sew the last side!
Now my big dilemma is: do I go to the scrapbooking crop that hubby is willing to let me go to (given I was away from home last night, too), or should I stay home, lock myself in the laundry room and see if I can knock out 4 more of these things??
(image: http://www.photosharingforum.com)
Foiled again...
Maybe I need to rethink this whole homemaker thing...I just don't know if I am really cut out for domesticity!
I mean, there are basic tasks that I SHOULD be able to handle as a homemaker...ironing, for one (which I lamented about my skills on here a few months ago), cooking, which I at least do well enough that the family MOSTLY doesn't complain (thank goodness I don't have picky eaters!), and one would think working a sewing machine that I've had for 2-3 years would be among the skills of a homemaker.
It is a war every time I get that dumb thing out (okay, hubby actually has to get it out because we have to move our deep freeze to get it off of its shelf in our laundry room!) Most of the time, I can handle some basic sewing (such as hemming hubby's pants to 26 inches, since the shortest I can ever purchase are 29) with several rethreadings (and heaven help me if I have to wind a new bobbin...thankfully, I generally keep blue thread in the machine since most of my mending is hubby's work clothes!). Today, however, the sewing machine has won!
So, my goal for this afternoon is sewing some inserts for...well, the term I've learned at some diaper sites is "mama cloth" so I'll go with that...
I have several ratty prefolds (toddler size) that were partially destroyed when I procrastinated washing diapers for too long, and the ammonia ate away at the cotton (we also lost several diapers and about half our medium covers to mildew...long story...Charlotte was getting too squirmy to diaper, so about 1/2 the time we resorted to disposables...that combined with a diaper pail that could hold 4-5 days of diapers...not good!) After a particularly long cycle, I determined that I wasn't going to buy anymore disposable "mama cloths", and I have been formulating a plan to use these diapers for longer than I should have, and now my need is getting critical.
So, the goal was for me to get some inserts made during nap time, with the theory that next pay period I will buy some fabric to make covers similar to this pattern. Good theory, huh?
Well, until I bent the needle of my sewing machine very badly, and discovered (I've never had to change the needle on the machine) that it is in there VERY tightly, and my big, burly, strong man (okay as big, burly and strong as we have around here) already went back to work. So, I decided to come blog about it while I brainstorm a way to get that silly needle out so that I can finish some inserts before I run out of my small stash of disposables!
Since hubby knew of my plans, as he was leaving for work he asked me "do you think that maybe you should reevaluate your life goals?" I'm starting to think he may have been right!
I mean, there are basic tasks that I SHOULD be able to handle as a homemaker...ironing, for one (which I lamented about my skills on here a few months ago), cooking, which I at least do well enough that the family MOSTLY doesn't complain (thank goodness I don't have picky eaters!), and one would think working a sewing machine that I've had for 2-3 years would be among the skills of a homemaker.
It is a war every time I get that dumb thing out (okay, hubby actually has to get it out because we have to move our deep freeze to get it off of its shelf in our laundry room!) Most of the time, I can handle some basic sewing (such as hemming hubby's pants to 26 inches, since the shortest I can ever purchase are 29) with several rethreadings (and heaven help me if I have to wind a new bobbin...thankfully, I generally keep blue thread in the machine since most of my mending is hubby's work clothes!). Today, however, the sewing machine has won!
So, my goal for this afternoon is sewing some inserts for...well, the term I've learned at some diaper sites is "mama cloth" so I'll go with that...
I have several ratty prefolds (toddler size) that were partially destroyed when I procrastinated washing diapers for too long, and the ammonia ate away at the cotton (we also lost several diapers and about half our medium covers to mildew...long story...Charlotte was getting too squirmy to diaper, so about 1/2 the time we resorted to disposables...that combined with a diaper pail that could hold 4-5 days of diapers...not good!) After a particularly long cycle, I determined that I wasn't going to buy anymore disposable "mama cloths", and I have been formulating a plan to use these diapers for longer than I should have, and now my need is getting critical.
So, the goal was for me to get some inserts made during nap time, with the theory that next pay period I will buy some fabric to make covers similar to this pattern. Good theory, huh?
Well, until I bent the needle of my sewing machine very badly, and discovered (I've never had to change the needle on the machine) that it is in there VERY tightly, and my big, burly, strong man (okay as big, burly and strong as we have around here) already went back to work. So, I decided to come blog about it while I brainstorm a way to get that silly needle out so that I can finish some inserts before I run out of my small stash of disposables!
Since hubby knew of my plans, as he was leaving for work he asked me "do you think that maybe you should reevaluate your life goals?" I'm starting to think he may have been right!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I am now one of "Those" moms...
You know, I made all sorts of stupid assumptions (hopefully I didn't actually tell them to people...I'm hoping I just thought them!) before my kids were old enough to become severely opinionated...
One that hit me this morning was this:
I always thought scornfully that I would never allow there to be a dozen open boxes of cereal in my house. I figured that it was just a lack of discipline that lead parents to buy a variety of cereals for their picky eaters, and then allow them to eat half a box, and start another new box of a different variety of cereal.
My philosophy was that we would not have more than two open boxes of cereal at a time. There is just no need for that many different varieties of cereal all at once!
Okay, so the day is now here...I went to pour myself a bowl of cereal, and opened a new box of a different variety of cereal. Right now we have the following cereals in our pantry:
Rice Krispies (almost empty)
All Bran (almost empty)
Cheerios (almost empty)
Wheat Chex (okay, generic ones, but about half empty)
Raisin Bran (I think it may not be open, but hubby may have opened it)
Raisin Bran Crunch (I opened it yesterday)
Smart Start (the cereal I opened this morning)
Frosted Mini Wheats (opened yesterday for Eva - Barbie on the back of the box)
High Protein Crunch (two bags, unopened...I occasionally eat this over yogurt)
and Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal (opened)
Yeah, I have become a mother I never intended on being!
One that hit me this morning was this:
I always thought scornfully that I would never allow there to be a dozen open boxes of cereal in my house. I figured that it was just a lack of discipline that lead parents to buy a variety of cereals for their picky eaters, and then allow them to eat half a box, and start another new box of a different variety of cereal.
My philosophy was that we would not have more than two open boxes of cereal at a time. There is just no need for that many different varieties of cereal all at once!
Okay, so the day is now here...I went to pour myself a bowl of cereal, and opened a new box of a different variety of cereal. Right now we have the following cereals in our pantry:
Rice Krispies (almost empty)
All Bran (almost empty)
Cheerios (almost empty)
Wheat Chex (okay, generic ones, but about half empty)
Raisin Bran (I think it may not be open, but hubby may have opened it)
Raisin Bran Crunch (I opened it yesterday)
Smart Start (the cereal I opened this morning)
Frosted Mini Wheats (opened yesterday for Eva - Barbie on the back of the box)
High Protein Crunch (two bags, unopened...I occasionally eat this over yogurt)
and Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal (opened)
Yeah, I have become a mother I never intended on being!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Get To Heaven. Bring Your Brother.
Well, I said that I'd have a few reflections on the Mother's Day of Reflection I attended on Saturday. So, I'm going to try to remember all of the really good parts of Danielle Bean's talk. (Since it was a day of relaxation and reflection for me, I didn't take any notes...though in retrospect, it might have been easier to write about had I taken some!)
She had eight different ways to be a happier mother. My favorite tip was "Do what you're doing". In other words, focus only on the task at hand, even something simple like tying a shoelace...we shouldn't be distracted mothers...the tasks that make up our life are important, even the small menial ones.
Another great point was "Focus on long-term goals", and honestly, because I am such a goal setter (to a fault) I didn't really get this one until she mentioned a banner hanging at one of her friend's homes that reads GTH BYB, which of course stands for (as my title stole) Get to heaven. Bring your brother. Our long term goal should be getting ourselves and our family to heaven. We should not worry about what we don't accomplish in a day, as long as we are moving closer to God, we are doing exactly what we should be doing.
I don't remember the words Danielle Bean used for this one, but the gist of it is that we should not underestimate ourselves. We should not allow motherhood to be an excuse not to do things. We should not be a "slacker mom" who allows herself to NOT do things because motherhood is so overwhelming. For instance, many times people may tell us that it is okay not to have a prayer life because we have small children, but that underestimates our abilities...and we should not allow ourselves to use excuses like that.
Of course, we also should "be less busy." We should be home more, and more focused on our vocation as wives and mothers. Since there are different seasons in a woman's life, there are different tasks that fit with each season. What you did before you had kids may not be feasible with small children.
Another key that I don't remember her wording for, was not focusing on material things, and she pointed out that this includes appearances. We should take care of our bodies, of course, but we should not focus on beautifying ourselves to live up to the worldly standards we see in the media.
Okay, so getting 5 of the first 7 isn't too bad! Her final point was the one she most wanted us to remember: PRAYER!
We should always work prayer into our day. Prayer does not need to be separate from our day. We can pray for each member of the family as we fold their clothes. We can pray in thanksgiving as we prepare meals for all of the abundances in our lives. She strongly encourages a morning offering...giving your whole day to God in advance.
I have a long way to go in some of these areas, but they were all good things for me to hear. The other speakers also had some great things to say, as well. (Though I have to admit, I missed a chunk of Father's talk because I was in confession!) The final speakers were a married couple who have been married for a large number of years...their presentation was on "Love is a choice". It was a good reminder that although I may not always "feel" love for my husband, I can make the choice to love him and serve him every day.
She had eight different ways to be a happier mother. My favorite tip was "Do what you're doing". In other words, focus only on the task at hand, even something simple like tying a shoelace...we shouldn't be distracted mothers...the tasks that make up our life are important, even the small menial ones.
Another great point was "Focus on long-term goals", and honestly, because I am such a goal setter (to a fault) I didn't really get this one until she mentioned a banner hanging at one of her friend's homes that reads GTH BYB, which of course stands for (as my title stole) Get to heaven. Bring your brother. Our long term goal should be getting ourselves and our family to heaven. We should not worry about what we don't accomplish in a day, as long as we are moving closer to God, we are doing exactly what we should be doing.
I don't remember the words Danielle Bean used for this one, but the gist of it is that we should not underestimate ourselves. We should not allow motherhood to be an excuse not to do things. We should not be a "slacker mom" who allows herself to NOT do things because motherhood is so overwhelming. For instance, many times people may tell us that it is okay not to have a prayer life because we have small children, but that underestimates our abilities...and we should not allow ourselves to use excuses like that.
Of course, we also should "be less busy." We should be home more, and more focused on our vocation as wives and mothers. Since there are different seasons in a woman's life, there are different tasks that fit with each season. What you did before you had kids may not be feasible with small children.
Another key that I don't remember her wording for, was not focusing on material things, and she pointed out that this includes appearances. We should take care of our bodies, of course, but we should not focus on beautifying ourselves to live up to the worldly standards we see in the media.
Okay, so getting 5 of the first 7 isn't too bad! Her final point was the one she most wanted us to remember: PRAYER!
We should always work prayer into our day. Prayer does not need to be separate from our day. We can pray for each member of the family as we fold their clothes. We can pray in thanksgiving as we prepare meals for all of the abundances in our lives. She strongly encourages a morning offering...giving your whole day to God in advance.
I have a long way to go in some of these areas, but they were all good things for me to hear. The other speakers also had some great things to say, as well. (Though I have to admit, I missed a chunk of Father's talk because I was in confession!) The final speakers were a married couple who have been married for a large number of years...their presentation was on "Love is a choice". It was a good reminder that although I may not always "feel" love for my husband, I can make the choice to love him and serve him every day.
Menu Plan Monday - My 100th post...
Hmmm...fitting that my 100th post is menu planning, since I've made ten gazillion meals for my family (of course, that is an estimate!)
Due to a mix up on our SHARE order this month (I ordered a produce package and two petite packages...hubby picked it up and they had us down for a variety package and two petite packages) we have virtually NO produce in the house, so I will have to do a little bit of shopping. Honestly, though, since we have so many convenience foods in the house, I'm not going to be doing much in the way of cooking. I just finished baking two loaves of bread...I'll probably have to do another batch of bread before the week is over (homemade bread disappears much more quickly than store bought!)
Monday: Ham Sandwiches and Baked Chips (Ham from SHARE, Chips from Safeway Savings Rally)
Frozen Pizza (from SHARE)
Tuesday: Spaghetti (possibly will do meat sauce, with meat from SHARE)
Ham Steak and Au Gratin Potatoes (We did get a ham steak from SHARE, but I'll use up one from last year's pig, instead)
Wednesday: Chicken Tenders and French Fries (Chicken from this month's SHARE, French Fries from our Freezer grab bag last month from SHARE)
Crock pot Moroccan Casserole (recipe from the Frugal Menu Mailer at Saving Dinner)
Thursday: Patty Melts and Baked Chips (hamburger patties from SHARE...hubby raved about his lunch all afternoon last time I did this with patties from SHARE, so hopefully he'll enjoy it again!)
Frozen Pizza (from SHARE, I have Bible Study so hubby and the girls are on their own!)
Friday: Tuna Helper (might as well keep with convenience foods!)
Cheese with Broccoli Quiches (from SHARE, I may not be home, as there is an all day scrapbooking crop that I might go to after hubby is home from work)
Saturday: Leftovers/Fend for Yourself!
Lemon Chicken Scallopini and noodles (recipe from Saving Dinner)
That's it! I'm looking forward to very little time in the kitchen this week...hopefully I'll get some deeper cleaning that keeps getting put off done instead! Lots more menus are up at Org Junkie!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Back from the city...
It is SOOOO nice to be back home! Traveling with both girls by myself wasn't really that hard, but traveling in general is just pretty exhausting.
So, the funny thing about this trip was that there were two shining, wonderful parts of the trip...but a whole lot of annoyances the rest of the time. I think I got the message that God was trying to send to me this weekend...people, not things or my pride, are important. I KNOW this, of course, but I guess I need a refresher course every once in a while.
I've been stressing out lately about ways to save money. We are trying to save over $1000 per month on a salary of $2500-$3000 per month (depending on the month)...so I've been trying to use more coupons (which is a reasonable goal, I think), but I also got it into my head that I could do a bunch of shopping in Denver to save money.
Finding a store in Denver is pretty hard for me...I just can't handle the traffic and finding places. So, here's what happened: Walgreens, got charged wrong on one item, didn't notice, didn't get $2 coupon for purchasing another set of items, and couldn't find several of the free after rebate items. Also couldn't find the old or the new months Easy Saver catalog. Used children's clothing store: took 3 tall trash bags in, sat there for 2 hours while they went through them (all were unstained and in good condition) they chose to buy 10 items for $17...I had to then locate a Goodwill store to drop them off at (I guess they will do more good for a charity than for a business anyway). Safeway, bought 25 items from the Savings Rally list, should have received a $20 coupon, but got a $10 one instead, was told the wrong info by the assistant manager, and after several phone calls, I stopped back by the store to get the other $10. And finally, to top things off...took my SIL out to dinner with the girls to thank her for watching them. Charlotte completely freaked out and was screaming...I kept taking her in and out of the dining area to annoy the fewest people possible. Someone in the bar complained (after coming out and giving me dirty looks) and the bartender basically asked me to leave the restaurant, when I refused, she suggested I take Charlotte outside until she calmed down (it was 30 degrees), I refused again, but was so upset by the whole situation (the manager told the complainer that we had every right to be in the restaurant...so that was nice)...it was very hard on my pride because I think of myself as a reasonably good mother, but I know the impression that many people got of me there was not that good.
The shining wonderful moments were: the Mother's Day of Reflection (I'll post more about it when I have collected my thoughts), which was wonderful, we had a Mass, confessions, three speakers, a rosary, breakfast and lunch. There were more than 100 Catholic moms there...so cool to see so many people! Also, we met some friends from college at their parish for Mass, and then took all the kids (their 5, my 2) to the zoo. The kids had so much fun, and it was so great to catch up with friends (it's hard to really keep up when we live so far away from each other.
So, it was like being whacked across the head again...what I need to be focusing on more are my relationships...both with God and with neighbor...and worrying and planning a whole lot less!
So, the funny thing about this trip was that there were two shining, wonderful parts of the trip...but a whole lot of annoyances the rest of the time. I think I got the message that God was trying to send to me this weekend...people, not things or my pride, are important. I KNOW this, of course, but I guess I need a refresher course every once in a while.
I've been stressing out lately about ways to save money. We are trying to save over $1000 per month on a salary of $2500-$3000 per month (depending on the month)...so I've been trying to use more coupons (which is a reasonable goal, I think), but I also got it into my head that I could do a bunch of shopping in Denver to save money.
Finding a store in Denver is pretty hard for me...I just can't handle the traffic and finding places. So, here's what happened: Walgreens, got charged wrong on one item, didn't notice, didn't get $2 coupon for purchasing another set of items, and couldn't find several of the free after rebate items. Also couldn't find the old or the new months Easy Saver catalog. Used children's clothing store: took 3 tall trash bags in, sat there for 2 hours while they went through them (all were unstained and in good condition) they chose to buy 10 items for $17...I had to then locate a Goodwill store to drop them off at (I guess they will do more good for a charity than for a business anyway). Safeway, bought 25 items from the Savings Rally list, should have received a $20 coupon, but got a $10 one instead, was told the wrong info by the assistant manager, and after several phone calls, I stopped back by the store to get the other $10. And finally, to top things off...took my SIL out to dinner with the girls to thank her for watching them. Charlotte completely freaked out and was screaming...I kept taking her in and out of the dining area to annoy the fewest people possible. Someone in the bar complained (after coming out and giving me dirty looks) and the bartender basically asked me to leave the restaurant, when I refused, she suggested I take Charlotte outside until she calmed down (it was 30 degrees), I refused again, but was so upset by the whole situation (the manager told the complainer that we had every right to be in the restaurant...so that was nice)...it was very hard on my pride because I think of myself as a reasonably good mother, but I know the impression that many people got of me there was not that good.
The shining wonderful moments were: the Mother's Day of Reflection (I'll post more about it when I have collected my thoughts), which was wonderful, we had a Mass, confessions, three speakers, a rosary, breakfast and lunch. There were more than 100 Catholic moms there...so cool to see so many people! Also, we met some friends from college at their parish for Mass, and then took all the kids (their 5, my 2) to the zoo. The kids had so much fun, and it was so great to catch up with friends (it's hard to really keep up when we live so far away from each other.
So, it was like being whacked across the head again...what I need to be focusing on more are my relationships...both with God and with neighbor...and worrying and planning a whole lot less!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Pray to God, But Row For Shore???
So, I am finding today's reading from Jeremiah challenging. Here is my paraphrase (and, of course, the fact that it is MY paraphrase could be half the problem...) Men who rely on themselves and other humans are like a bush in a desert, but a man who trusts in the Lord is like a tree by a stream and doesn't have to worry about drought.
I guess my issue is...how much should we rely on God, and how much should we rely on ourselves? Obviously, I think there is a combination needed, but I don't know how to work that out in my head!
I watched a Dr. Phil the other day about a couple with 7 kids and no job...they were relying on God perhaps too much, because the husband wasn't really working to improve the situation. I felt for the couple because they got dragged on the Dr. Phil show by the wife's parents, and they weren't bad or lazy people...they just kept waiting for a sign/a direction from God...but in the mean time, things were just getting worse for them. Obviously, I don't think that God wanted this family to fall into such dire straights (they were living in a house with no water and no gas and were a week or two away from foreclosure), but I am sure that God will use it for their good.
Of course, I think it is a lot more common in our society to rely too much on ourselves and to ignore God...there are thousands of examples of that all over the place. But what is the happy median? How do we make sure that we are relying on God, but working towards something (hopefully, God's will)?
We're planning on going to daily Mass this evening, so I'm hoping that Father's homily is on this reading!
I guess my issue is...how much should we rely on God, and how much should we rely on ourselves? Obviously, I think there is a combination needed, but I don't know how to work that out in my head!
I watched a Dr. Phil the other day about a couple with 7 kids and no job...they were relying on God perhaps too much, because the husband wasn't really working to improve the situation. I felt for the couple because they got dragged on the Dr. Phil show by the wife's parents, and they weren't bad or lazy people...they just kept waiting for a sign/a direction from God...but in the mean time, things were just getting worse for them. Obviously, I don't think that God wanted this family to fall into such dire straights (they were living in a house with no water and no gas and were a week or two away from foreclosure), but I am sure that God will use it for their good.
Of course, I think it is a lot more common in our society to rely too much on ourselves and to ignore God...there are thousands of examples of that all over the place. But what is the happy median? How do we make sure that we are relying on God, but working towards something (hopefully, God's will)?
We're planning on going to daily Mass this evening, so I'm hoping that Father's homily is on this reading!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I don't even have the energy to come up with a title...
Last week was very frustrating...nothing in particular was wrong...both kids were on the mend, normal amount of running around, etc.
I am just having another one of those days!
I ordered a diaper off of www.DiaperSwappers.com, and had all sorts of frustrations with paypal...including my account being unable to do bank transfers, a double transfer into paypal from our checking account (this one was my fault...I transfered in the money, then paid a person, which caused an automatic transfer of the same amount) and finally, even though I CLEARLY remember clicking the ship to address for this house, when I checked it today, the ship to address was our old house (where we haven't lived for over 2 years...) and to top it off, the lady had indeed mailed it to the wrong address (not her fault, of course...but when you hope somebody is procrastinating, they never are!)
So, hubby worked it out with the one nice lady at the post office up there (there is one guy that is just a pain...I had to print off the internet at the postal service website the definition of media mail because he wouldn't let me send BOOKS media mail! Okay, I know I should just get over it...) and I have to call my MIL to go pick it up when it arrives.
I've been working on kids clothes all week long...we went through all the clothes from the attic, and now I have 3 tall kitchen bags of clothes to take up to Once Upon a Child when I head to Denver this week...plus a large black ForceFlex trashbag of clothes in more worn condition for Goodwill. I finally have that done, and still need to clean out the car for the trip and pack.
Add on top of that, I've had a stuffy nose and sore throat all week (nothing more than irritating) and Charlotte is firmly in "destruct-o-baby" mode today...
I just am so tired and worn out about being a mom right now. I so need this day off this Saturday! Okay, I am now done complaining, and I will work on changing my attitude to a more positive one!
I am just having another one of those days!
I ordered a diaper off of www.DiaperSwappers.com, and had all sorts of frustrations with paypal...including my account being unable to do bank transfers, a double transfer into paypal from our checking account (this one was my fault...I transfered in the money, then paid a person, which caused an automatic transfer of the same amount) and finally, even though I CLEARLY remember clicking the ship to address for this house, when I checked it today, the ship to address was our old house (where we haven't lived for over 2 years...) and to top it off, the lady had indeed mailed it to the wrong address (not her fault, of course...but when you hope somebody is procrastinating, they never are!)
So, hubby worked it out with the one nice lady at the post office up there (there is one guy that is just a pain...I had to print off the internet at the postal service website the definition of media mail because he wouldn't let me send BOOKS media mail! Okay, I know I should just get over it...) and I have to call my MIL to go pick it up when it arrives.
I've been working on kids clothes all week long...we went through all the clothes from the attic, and now I have 3 tall kitchen bags of clothes to take up to Once Upon a Child when I head to Denver this week...plus a large black ForceFlex trashbag of clothes in more worn condition for Goodwill. I finally have that done, and still need to clean out the car for the trip and pack.
Add on top of that, I've had a stuffy nose and sore throat all week (nothing more than irritating) and Charlotte is firmly in "destruct-o-baby" mode today...
I just am so tired and worn out about being a mom right now. I so need this day off this Saturday! Okay, I am now done complaining, and I will work on changing my attitude to a more positive one!
Hmmm...I don't know how to feel about this...
On the one hand, my blog is mostly about my life as a mom to little ones...on the other hand, I did spend a year in a PhD program...
Monday, February 18, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
Yet another Monday is here...and this week I am back to my normal cooking philosophy of taking as little time as possible to prepare items, and sticking to things that everyone likes! As usual, I will add some sort of frozen veggie to almost every meal.
Monday: Spaghetti with meat sauce
Pork Chops and Stuffing
Tuesday: Leftover quiche (made with leftovers...not a leftover itself!)
Frozen Pizza (hubby has a soup supper with his K of C meeting)
Wednesday: Soup and sandwiches
Ham Steak and Scalloped Potatoes
Thursday: Sloppy Joes
Lemon Chicken Scallopini (from www.savingdinner.com) and noodles
Friday: The girls and I are going to Denver...so I'm sure that I'll get a fish sandwich at "'Donalds" while the girlies enjoy a happy meal...
Saturday: I get to go to a Mother's Day of Reflection and see Danielle Bean (yeah!!!) plus breakfast and lunch are included (double yeah!!!) and my sister-in-law is taking the girls for the day and hopes to take them to see the VeggieTales movie (triple yeah!!! though I have to admit, I would like to see the VeggieTales movie, too!)
Sunday: More Denver in the morning, drive to mother-in-law's town to go to her parish's family fun night and meet hubby there...so no cooking for me on Sunday either!
Go check out other fun menus at OrgJunkie!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Just call me Pedro...
Subtitled: why I need spiritual direction.
So, I have felt pulled towards finding a spiritual director for a number of years now, and this week's Women of Grace chapter challenged us to seek a spiritual director. It would be so much easier if God would just drop one in my lap so that I don't have to ask someone...but I digress!
Since I am a little bit of a type A personality, I harassed hubby all the way home after a "date night" about how to pray for a spiritual director. I was contemplating a novena, and I wondered about whether there is a particular Saint who might be of assistance in finding a spiritual director...maybe St. Teresa of Avila (after she came up in Women of Grace, Bret brought her up, and she turned up in Father's homily today, she's seeming very likely!), maybe St. John Vianney, etc. I'm wondering if my desire to do a novena is just to put off the inevitable need to just ASK someone to be a spiritual director...particularly since I was wondering if a 54-day novena would be better...
So, Father's homily today was all about how Peter was a man who just would not shut up and listen. That Peter was a man of great ideas, and wanted to do great things for God...but Jesus had to tell him to "get behind me, Satan" because Peter did not look at things through the eyes of God, but through the eyes of men.
I'm really not doing Father's homily justice (I did have a squirming baby, who shortly after the homily threw the biggest temper tantrum that the church has ever seen in the un-insulated cry room)...but as he spoke, I really felt that I am very much like Peter! I have all these great ideas that I want to do for God...but I am not very good at checking with God to see if what I want to do is God's will for me (I'm guessing that a lot of the time, it is not!)
So, I guess that maybe God is trying to tell me to stop procrastinating the spiritual director thing...I'm definitely going to pray about it...but I think I'll try to pray about it in a way that I can't control!
So, do you have a spiritual director? How did you find that person? Any advice for me? (I know, I know...let the Holy Spirit take care of it!)
So, I have felt pulled towards finding a spiritual director for a number of years now, and this week's Women of Grace chapter challenged us to seek a spiritual director. It would be so much easier if God would just drop one in my lap so that I don't have to ask someone...but I digress!
Since I am a little bit of a type A personality, I harassed hubby all the way home after a "date night" about how to pray for a spiritual director. I was contemplating a novena, and I wondered about whether there is a particular Saint who might be of assistance in finding a spiritual director...maybe St. Teresa of Avila (after she came up in Women of Grace, Bret brought her up, and she turned up in Father's homily today, she's seeming very likely!), maybe St. John Vianney, etc. I'm wondering if my desire to do a novena is just to put off the inevitable need to just ASK someone to be a spiritual director...particularly since I was wondering if a 54-day novena would be better...
So, Father's homily today was all about how Peter was a man who just would not shut up and listen. That Peter was a man of great ideas, and wanted to do great things for God...but Jesus had to tell him to "get behind me, Satan" because Peter did not look at things through the eyes of God, but through the eyes of men.
I'm really not doing Father's homily justice (I did have a squirming baby, who shortly after the homily threw the biggest temper tantrum that the church has ever seen in the un-insulated cry room)...but as he spoke, I really felt that I am very much like Peter! I have all these great ideas that I want to do for God...but I am not very good at checking with God to see if what I want to do is God's will for me (I'm guessing that a lot of the time, it is not!)
So, I guess that maybe God is trying to tell me to stop procrastinating the spiritual director thing...I'm definitely going to pray about it...but I think I'll try to pray about it in a way that I can't control!
So, do you have a spiritual director? How did you find that person? Any advice for me? (I know, I know...let the Holy Spirit take care of it!)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Coupon Giveaway...
NerdMom over at Making Money, Keeping Money is having a coupon giveaway this week with twenty coupons, mostly personal care/household items, all you have to do is a leave her a comment about what coupon you'd like to see in a future giveaway. Go on over and check it out if you use coupons.
Speaking of coupons...I am trying to get back into the habit of using them. It makes it hard when you live in a rural area to get coupons to begin with...
We don't get the Denver paper, and on the few occasions that we have bothered to purchase it, the coupons were missing about 50% of the time. Hubby recently came home and told me about a website (RedPlum) that he THOUGHT would send you the sunday coupons by mail...so far as I can tell, you can just save and print coupons there. Although, the saving coupons feature is pretty cool! I can just click save on the coupons and then go print them out if I find a good deal on the product. The site doesn't have near as many coupons as the average sunday paper, but it might be worth checking out if you like to coupon.
Speaking of coupons...I am trying to get back into the habit of using them. It makes it hard when you live in a rural area to get coupons to begin with...
We don't get the Denver paper, and on the few occasions that we have bothered to purchase it, the coupons were missing about 50% of the time. Hubby recently came home and told me about a website (RedPlum) that he THOUGHT would send you the sunday coupons by mail...so far as I can tell, you can just save and print coupons there. Although, the saving coupons feature is pretty cool! I can just click save on the coupons and then go print them out if I find a good deal on the product. The site doesn't have near as many coupons as the average sunday paper, but it might be worth checking out if you like to coupon.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Maybe we need to move to a state that likes kids...
So, this morning I counted collection at church. Each week two people have to work together under the supervision of the church secretary (who uses it as another excuse to fill my children up with candy, of course!) I enjoy it quite a bit (because I am that much of a dork!) After we are done counting, we have to go to the bank together and put in the deposit.
Today, I worked with an older gentleman...he is very nice and I like him very much. Anyhow, as you could probably guess, anyone who volunteers to count collection has an interest in money. On the way back from the bank (where he very shrewdly pointed out an error in the teller's counting) he asked me if I had done my taxes. I told him that I had indeed finished. He asked if I had mailed them in. I told him that I had filed my federal taxes (no mailing...I e-file if I'm getting a refund), but that I hadn't mailed in my state taxes, since we owe them money.
Now, I've been experiencing some bitterness about taxes ever since finishing our taxes...we are poor enough that we don't pay any federal taxes (thanks to the child tax credit and our two little tax deductions!), but apparently the state sees us as rich, as we owe them more than $400 (in addition to the almost $300 we paid in throughout the year!)
So, the gentleman I count collection with told me that their state taxable income was negative! I was a little bit flabbergasted, since our taxes were so high for the state. He explained that his social security and his wife's social security incomes are not taxable...and further, his military retirement is not taxable either.
This, of course, just increased my bitterness about the state...but I'm working on getting over it...
I wonder if there are any states that like working people with kids more than seniors...
Today, I worked with an older gentleman...he is very nice and I like him very much. Anyhow, as you could probably guess, anyone who volunteers to count collection has an interest in money. On the way back from the bank (where he very shrewdly pointed out an error in the teller's counting) he asked me if I had done my taxes. I told him that I had indeed finished. He asked if I had mailed them in. I told him that I had filed my federal taxes (no mailing...I e-file if I'm getting a refund), but that I hadn't mailed in my state taxes, since we owe them money.
Now, I've been experiencing some bitterness about taxes ever since finishing our taxes...we are poor enough that we don't pay any federal taxes (thanks to the child tax credit and our two little tax deductions!), but apparently the state sees us as rich, as we owe them more than $400 (in addition to the almost $300 we paid in throughout the year!)
So, the gentleman I count collection with told me that their state taxable income was negative! I was a little bit flabbergasted, since our taxes were so high for the state. He explained that his social security and his wife's social security incomes are not taxable...and further, his military retirement is not taxable either.
This, of course, just increased my bitterness about the state...but I'm working on getting over it...
I wonder if there are any states that like working people with kids more than seniors...
Monday, February 11, 2008
My first meme!
Okay, I've finally been tagged for a meme...now the problem is I have to think of people to tag now!
That Book Meme (which is about to show truly what a dork I am!)
I was tagged by Christine over at Good Company.
Here are the rules:
1)Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages.)
2)Open the book to page 123.
3)Find the fifth sentence.
4)Post the next three sentences.
5)Tag 5 people. (This assumes that I know 5 people who blog who haven't already done this one!)
So, the books close at hand are 1)The Art of Natural Family Planning, 2)God Help Me These People Are Driving Me Nuts, 3)Pat the Bunny, and closest because it is at the top of the stack--Fertility, Cylces & Nutrition. (I am such a dork!)
So, here goes:
Small problem...there aren't 5 sentences on 123...the end of a chapter, so here is the 5th sentence: "My breasts hurt so much sometimes that I can't even hug my husband."
The quotation continues: "Other times they feel uncomfortably full, but I'm not nursing. Please don't tell me it's my coffee--I'll give up anything else!"
The answer begins with the third sentence:
It probably is caffeine, as you've no doubt suspected by the correlation between your coffee habit and your symptoms.
Great, now people will find me because of the word breast...I should go find one of those "your blog is rated" tests about now!
I tag Whimsy (since she is one of my few readers!), Theresa at Heckboys, Dietrich over at wombs of life (that had better have a different one than Whimsy) and because I've run out of people to harrass who have blogs...I tag my hubby who should start a blog to answer this!
That Book Meme (which is about to show truly what a dork I am!)
I was tagged by Christine over at Good Company.
Here are the rules:
1)Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages.)
2)Open the book to page 123.
3)Find the fifth sentence.
4)Post the next three sentences.
5)Tag 5 people. (This assumes that I know 5 people who blog who haven't already done this one!)
So, the books close at hand are 1)The Art of Natural Family Planning, 2)God Help Me These People Are Driving Me Nuts, 3)Pat the Bunny, and closest because it is at the top of the stack--Fertility, Cylces & Nutrition. (I am such a dork!)
So, here goes:
Small problem...there aren't 5 sentences on 123...the end of a chapter, so here is the 5th sentence: "My breasts hurt so much sometimes that I can't even hug my husband."
The quotation continues: "Other times they feel uncomfortably full, but I'm not nursing. Please don't tell me it's my coffee--I'll give up anything else!"
The answer begins with the third sentence:
It probably is caffeine, as you've no doubt suspected by the correlation between your coffee habit and your symptoms.
Great, now people will find me because of the word breast...I should go find one of those "your blog is rated" tests about now!
I tag Whimsy (since she is one of my few readers!), Theresa at Heckboys, Dietrich over at wombs of life (that had better have a different one than Whimsy) and because I've run out of people to harrass who have blogs...I tag my hubby who should start a blog to answer this!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Menu Plan Monday!
So, here goes week two of menu plan monday. I have to admit that I am not that new to menu planning in general, I've been trying to do it for a couple of months now. It is nice to have some accountablity (and it's great to be able to come to my blog to go directly to the recipe I need, as well!)
Monday: Charleston Chicken Sandwiches (wrap recipe) with celery sticks
Sirloin Tip Steak Stir Fry with brown rice
Tuesday: Leftover Stir Fry
Roasted Chicken Breats with Couscous
Wednesday: Cold Chicken Satay Noodles (from Rachael Ray's "Just in Time")
Spicy Pork Steak with Spanish Rice
Thursday: Happy Valentine's Day LUNCH OUT!!! (yeah!!!!)
Barbeque Meatballs and Baked Potatoes
Friday: Tuna Helper (it's Lent...and it was on sale!)
Lentil Soup with Whole Wheat Bread (This is the only bread we eat now)Saturday: Leftovers/Fend for yourself
Canadian Bacon Pizza on Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza Crust
Looking forward to checking out other people's menus! Go check them out at OrgJunkie!
Gardening plans...
I love to can...I enjoy cooking and baking...I love having fresh ingredients on hand...
However, I just have trouble getting excited about gardening!
I've had 4 vegetable gardens in my life. One at my parent's house while we were waiting on family housing at the university, not a great plan, as we had moved by the time most items were ready to harvest. I did, however, make my first ever pressure canned item...12 jars of spaghetti sauce...AWFUL recipe...I still think that the 12 bay leaves really should have read 1-2 bay leaves!
Our second one was at a community garden at family housing...all went really well until serious watering restrictions were put on the gardens, and we were only allowed to water for 15 mins per plot three times a week...of course, EVERYONE had to water on the same days, and there was only one hose...so we had to wait in line for an hour or more just to water.
The third was at our first house...I was VERY pregnant with Eva, which made everything difficult! Of course, Eva was born in late August, so I did get some canning and freezing done, but not to the extent that I would have liked.
The fourth was the following year. Gardening was quite a bit easier with a one year old than while hugely pregnant. I did a lot of canning and freezing this time...I still have some of the canned goods, and I gave a bunch of them to my MIL 6 months ago, or so.
So, I haven't had a garden at our new house (that we've been in for two years) and I'm gearing up to have one this year. I participated in a phone conference from the Urban Homemaker about gardening on Thursday, and have been printing articles to figure out how to best do this gardening thing this year. We have plenty of space, but we also have a pretty serious sandbur problem. I'm trying to figure out what veggies I should start with.
I know that I want tomatoes, probably some peppers, and some cucumbers. I've not had much success with beans or salad greens in the past...I know that I can grow zucchini, I'm just not sure I want to! (Although, I don't know my neighbors very well, so I probably could drop bushels of zucchini on their porches!)
Do you have any suggestions for easy to grow vegetables? I'd love to branch out from the types of foods we can get at our supermarket, but don't know which are relatively easy to grow. For instance, we can't get leeks, or any types of greens other than spinach, green leaf lettuce and iceberg...I'm sure that there are tons more, but my brain isn't coming up with them right now...
What is most worth your time and energy to grow? Any gardening expertise you'd like to share with a novice gardener?
However, I just have trouble getting excited about gardening!
I've had 4 vegetable gardens in my life. One at my parent's house while we were waiting on family housing at the university, not a great plan, as we had moved by the time most items were ready to harvest. I did, however, make my first ever pressure canned item...12 jars of spaghetti sauce...AWFUL recipe...I still think that the 12 bay leaves really should have read 1-2 bay leaves!
Our second one was at a community garden at family housing...all went really well until serious watering restrictions were put on the gardens, and we were only allowed to water for 15 mins per plot three times a week...of course, EVERYONE had to water on the same days, and there was only one hose...so we had to wait in line for an hour or more just to water.
The third was at our first house...I was VERY pregnant with Eva, which made everything difficult! Of course, Eva was born in late August, so I did get some canning and freezing done, but not to the extent that I would have liked.
The fourth was the following year. Gardening was quite a bit easier with a one year old than while hugely pregnant. I did a lot of canning and freezing this time...I still have some of the canned goods, and I gave a bunch of them to my MIL 6 months ago, or so.
So, I haven't had a garden at our new house (that we've been in for two years) and I'm gearing up to have one this year. I participated in a phone conference from the Urban Homemaker about gardening on Thursday, and have been printing articles to figure out how to best do this gardening thing this year. We have plenty of space, but we also have a pretty serious sandbur problem. I'm trying to figure out what veggies I should start with.
I know that I want tomatoes, probably some peppers, and some cucumbers. I've not had much success with beans or salad greens in the past...I know that I can grow zucchini, I'm just not sure I want to! (Although, I don't know my neighbors very well, so I probably could drop bushels of zucchini on their porches!)
Do you have any suggestions for easy to grow vegetables? I'd love to branch out from the types of foods we can get at our supermarket, but don't know which are relatively easy to grow. For instance, we can't get leeks, or any types of greens other than spinach, green leaf lettuce and iceberg...I'm sure that there are tons more, but my brain isn't coming up with them right now...
What is most worth your time and energy to grow? Any gardening expertise you'd like to share with a novice gardener?
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Sick kids and Women of Grace...
Well, both girlies are sick right now...they each have at least one infected ear...one might have two...I'm not totally clear on it, even after an HOUR at the doctor's office.
I think that I may just have "sucker" written across my head...either that or I just have really bad timing for doctors appointments. I ALWAYS seem to get the med students (not that I mind, but with two sick kids and a hubby looking at the clock every 2 minutes because his boss was dumb enough to tell him to come back to work as soon as the girls appointment were over...AND it being during naptime...it was just not the most fun hour of my life!) So, after the med student was done figuring things out she went to talk to our doctor for 15 minutes, and then he came in for about 10 to confirm and write prescriptions.
Which I dropped off at the pharmacy on the way home. Hubby said that he'd pick them up on his way home from work. He forgot (which isn't suprising, I'd have a hard time remembering, too!) went back, got EVA's prescriptions, told me they didn't have any for Charlotte, so I had to run back to the pharmacy before it closed (10 mins) to get that straightened out. It turns out that Charlotte wasn't in their computer. 14 months old, and this is apparently her first prescription! I'm so proud!
So, I have my Full of Grace study group this morning, and one of hubby's aunts is being very nice and is going to watch the girls for me. (I don't want to get other people's kids sick!) I've been very challenged by a lot of things recently...and I have a lot of thoughts running around in my head...hopefully soon I'll be able to get them to settle down so that I can get them written down! I'm glad I'll be doing this study again with my bible study group here in town...I'm going to need the reinforcement!
I think that I may just have "sucker" written across my head...either that or I just have really bad timing for doctors appointments. I ALWAYS seem to get the med students (not that I mind, but with two sick kids and a hubby looking at the clock every 2 minutes because his boss was dumb enough to tell him to come back to work as soon as the girls appointment were over...AND it being during naptime...it was just not the most fun hour of my life!) So, after the med student was done figuring things out she went to talk to our doctor for 15 minutes, and then he came in for about 10 to confirm and write prescriptions.
Which I dropped off at the pharmacy on the way home. Hubby said that he'd pick them up on his way home from work. He forgot (which isn't suprising, I'd have a hard time remembering, too!) went back, got EVA's prescriptions, told me they didn't have any for Charlotte, so I had to run back to the pharmacy before it closed (10 mins) to get that straightened out. It turns out that Charlotte wasn't in their computer. 14 months old, and this is apparently her first prescription! I'm so proud!
So, I have my Full of Grace study group this morning, and one of hubby's aunts is being very nice and is going to watch the girls for me. (I don't want to get other people's kids sick!) I've been very challenged by a lot of things recently...and I have a lot of thoughts running around in my head...hopefully soon I'll be able to get them to settle down so that I can get them written down! I'm glad I'll be doing this study again with my bible study group here in town...I'm going to need the reinforcement!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
I've had an epiphany for Lent!
...wait...wrong liturgical season! (Okay, I'm a dork...when I was writing religious ed curriculum for 3-4 year olds, I popped out of the basement, and told hubby that I just had an epiphany about Epiphany...it's been a lame joke in our family ever since...)
On to my thought: I've been having trouble coming up with some sort of Lenten sacrifice to do. I tend to come up with huge plans that are hard to keep up with, and I am trying to be less controlling, so I knew that I couldn't do something that would control the whole family. I've also been making a lot of changes and putting a lot of effort into my prayer life as I've being doing the "Full of Grace" study group. So, I was kinda at a loss until showering this morning...I was looking at the sink afterwards and all the clutter that has collected there. It's something that I just don't want to do...it really doesn't bother me that much. Hubby, on the other hand, used to be a little bit of a neat freak, so I know that at some level, things like that do bother him.
That's when it hit me! I could make small sacrifices every day for my family. I have some St. Therese sacrifice beads...so my Lenten sacrifice is to make 10 small sacrifices per day. So, things like cleaning off the sink, cleaning the toilet (yuck!), diaper dunking the 3rd poopy diaper of the day rather than leaving it for hubby, putting away the rest of the Christmas decorations, etc. (I'm sure that it won't be hard to find 10 things a day that I just DON'T WANT to do!)
So, that's my plan! I'll be starting with that sink very soon!
On to my thought: I've been having trouble coming up with some sort of Lenten sacrifice to do. I tend to come up with huge plans that are hard to keep up with, and I am trying to be less controlling, so I knew that I couldn't do something that would control the whole family. I've also been making a lot of changes and putting a lot of effort into my prayer life as I've being doing the "Full of Grace" study group. So, I was kinda at a loss until showering this morning...I was looking at the sink afterwards and all the clutter that has collected there. It's something that I just don't want to do...it really doesn't bother me that much. Hubby, on the other hand, used to be a little bit of a neat freak, so I know that at some level, things like that do bother him.
That's when it hit me! I could make small sacrifices every day for my family. I have some St. Therese sacrifice beads...so my Lenten sacrifice is to make 10 small sacrifices per day. So, things like cleaning off the sink, cleaning the toilet (yuck!), diaper dunking the 3rd poopy diaper of the day rather than leaving it for hubby, putting away the rest of the Christmas decorations, etc. (I'm sure that it won't be hard to find 10 things a day that I just DON'T WANT to do!)
So, that's my plan! I'll be starting with that sink very soon!
Disposable Free Night...
Okay, I admit it...I am not nearly as hard core of a cloth diaperer as I thought I would be/intended to be.
As soon as Eva started needing a diaper change in the middle of the night (I mean, as a toddler...I did change her during the night when she was itty bitty!) I ditched the cloth diapers at night. So, Charlotte, naturally has used a disposable virtually every night of her life (okay, when she was itty bitty, I may have kept her in cloth, too! As soon as they move out of my bed, however, I do NOT want to have to get up in the middle of the night!)
So, I recently obtained 7 pocket diapers...greatest things ever! Had I known how great they are, I would have asked for them rather than prefolds and covers at my baby shower...of course, there is a chance that they have improved quite a bit in the past 4 years.
The diapers were Charlotte's Christmas present from my MIL (thankfully, she sees diapers as an appropriate gift for a one year old...my mom thinks only TOYS will do!) I got to pick them out...so I chose a variety of styles. In the one size category, I have 2 Haute Pockets (1 snap, 1 velcro), 2 Tiny Tush Elites (1 snap, 1 velcro), and 1 Bumgenius. I also got one large Fuzzi Bunz, and one large Pocket Change. My favorite by far are the Haute Pockets...but I love all the one size. The only problem I see with them is that Charlotte may outgrow them (I know Eva would have!) before potty training...but then again, as she is my shrimp (50th percentile for height and weight) maybe I won't have that problem. My least favorite is probably the Pocket Change...but that might change!
See, the Pocket Change diaper came with two inserts...not sure what either are made of...one is terry cloth (maybe??) Well, it's the same material as the Haute Pockets inserts, and the other is ?? (no idea on this one...flannel? hemp??) the same material as the inserts for the Tiny Tush Elites. So, last night, feeling brave (and sleep deprived from Eva being sick) I stuffed both inserts in the diaper, and put Charlotte to sleep at 8. She did wake up at about 5:30, but hubby gave her pacifier back to her, and she went back to sleep without even getting a change...and SHE'S STILL SLEEPING!!!! It's almost 8 am! YEAH!!!
So, I guess maybe someday I will be as hard core as I have always wanted to be!
As soon as Eva started needing a diaper change in the middle of the night (I mean, as a toddler...I did change her during the night when she was itty bitty!) I ditched the cloth diapers at night. So, Charlotte, naturally has used a disposable virtually every night of her life (okay, when she was itty bitty, I may have kept her in cloth, too! As soon as they move out of my bed, however, I do NOT want to have to get up in the middle of the night!)
So, I recently obtained 7 pocket diapers...greatest things ever! Had I known how great they are, I would have asked for them rather than prefolds and covers at my baby shower...of course, there is a chance that they have improved quite a bit in the past 4 years.
The diapers were Charlotte's Christmas present from my MIL (thankfully, she sees diapers as an appropriate gift for a one year old...my mom thinks only TOYS will do!) I got to pick them out...so I chose a variety of styles. In the one size category, I have 2 Haute Pockets (1 snap, 1 velcro), 2 Tiny Tush Elites (1 snap, 1 velcro), and 1 Bumgenius. I also got one large Fuzzi Bunz, and one large Pocket Change. My favorite by far are the Haute Pockets...but I love all the one size. The only problem I see with them is that Charlotte may outgrow them (I know Eva would have!) before potty training...but then again, as she is my shrimp (50th percentile for height and weight) maybe I won't have that problem. My least favorite is probably the Pocket Change...but that might change!
See, the Pocket Change diaper came with two inserts...not sure what either are made of...one is terry cloth (maybe??) Well, it's the same material as the Haute Pockets inserts, and the other is ?? (no idea on this one...flannel? hemp??) the same material as the inserts for the Tiny Tush Elites. So, last night, feeling brave (and sleep deprived from Eva being sick) I stuffed both inserts in the diaper, and put Charlotte to sleep at 8. She did wake up at about 5:30, but hubby gave her pacifier back to her, and she went back to sleep without even getting a change...and SHE'S STILL SLEEPING!!!! It's almost 8 am! YEAH!!!
So, I guess maybe someday I will be as hard core as I have always wanted to be!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
I'm sitting here working on my week's menus, and thought it might be fun to join in with the Menu Plan Monday crowd! Keeping a few things in mind: Hubby is home for lunch every day of the week, and two friends just had babies so I'm making freezer meals this week (and doubling them so that I can feed us, too!) Also, most meals will include me pulling out a frozen veggie and nuking it, but I don't plan those in advance. So, here it is:
Monday: Pasta (leftover) with Spaghetti Sauce (leftover)
Sour Cream Enchiladas (from our family cookbook)
Tuesday: Cheese Pizza (finishing off the leftover sauce)
Chicken Breasts with Spanish Rice
Wednesday: Tuna Sandwiches (with nothing...it's a fast day)
Veggie Lasagne (small amounts...it's a fast day)
Thursday: Soup and Bread (maybe canned, maybe homemade...we'll see!)
Pork Chops with stuffing
Friday: Leftover Veggie Lasagne
Lentil Rice Casserole (a la Tightwad Gazette...in my crockpot)
Saturday: Leftovers/fend for yourself lunch
Buckwheat Pancakes and Bacon
Now, feel free to go check out tons more menus (most vastly healthier than our this week!) at OrgJunkie.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Congratulations GeekyCyberMom!!!
...who is the winner of a copy of "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. She blogs and podcasts over at Tales of A Single Parent. Congratulations, GeekyCyberMom--I hope this can help you get started on paying off those student loans and finding financial freedom!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
What is it with grandparents??
Okay, so first of all, I love my in-laws, and I am sure it is not just them (my parents would probably be equally guilty if we lived closer to them!)
Yesterday, I drove up to in-laws town to ride with them up to the big city (okay, the pretty dinky sized city that impresses those of us in towns of 2,000 people!) We got to do some shopping. We went to JCPenney, Bob's Unique Camera and Gun (okay, it wasn't Bob's I don't remember the name...), Dollar Tree, (My MIL and her exchange student went to the Buckle instead), Walgreens, and Walmart.
It was a pretty exciting trip for me, as I had a bigger budget than anticipated. Shortly before I left, I checked our account online to see how it compared to Quicken, and found out that we had recieved a reimbursement from hubby's employer that I had forgotten about. (It was seriously delayed when his boss ended up in the hospital and unable to work for 2-3 weeks). Best thing? I found a really pretty purse on clearance for $19.99 at JCPenney, and they were doing a 50% off the clearance price sale, so it was $10 and some change with tax. (I was planning on waiting one more month to try to find a purse at a thrift store in Denver, but I figured I'd probably have to spend at least $5 at a thrift store, and this way I have a purse I can use!)
So, all went well. I let Eva pick out something at the dollar store to keep her occupied. She chose ABC cookies and shared them very nicely with Charlotte. Then comes Walmart!
I started shopping first, since I had a pretty big list, and eventually the in-laws caught up with me, and the girls wanted to go with them. As I was leaving, I heard MIL tell Eva to have grandpa take her to look at the toys. I specified before I left "NO BUYING TOYS!!!" Do you think that helped???
NOPE! So, an hour or whatever later, when they finally were checking out, I met up with them, and of course there were new toys for each girl. Grandpa and Eva had picked them out. For Charlotte, they chose a Dora the Explorer plush doll for ages 3+ (Charlotte is 14 months!) and for Eva they chose an ATM bank, which upon further investigation, is for ages 6+ (she's almost 3 1/2). The ATM bank requires that in order to open the drawer, you must have the card in the bank, you must push the withdraw button, key in the amount you will withdrawl, press the withdraw button again, and key in your four digit passcode. I had to repeat this sequence about 5 times on the way home until she fell asleep in the car!
Fortunately, my in-laws traded cars with me so I didn't have to move two sleeping girls and all my purchases to my car. So, I need to go get dressed to drive back up there for my "Full of Grace" study group meeting...then drive home this afternoon, then drive back up tomorrow because hubby wants to watch the Superbowl there, but we have to go to church down here first.
Did I mention that it's a 40 mile drive???
Yesterday, I drove up to in-laws town to ride with them up to the big city (okay, the pretty dinky sized city that impresses those of us in towns of 2,000 people!) We got to do some shopping. We went to JCPenney, Bob's Unique Camera and Gun (okay, it wasn't Bob's I don't remember the name...), Dollar Tree, (My MIL and her exchange student went to the Buckle instead), Walgreens, and Walmart.
It was a pretty exciting trip for me, as I had a bigger budget than anticipated. Shortly before I left, I checked our account online to see how it compared to Quicken, and found out that we had recieved a reimbursement from hubby's employer that I had forgotten about. (It was seriously delayed when his boss ended up in the hospital and unable to work for 2-3 weeks). Best thing? I found a really pretty purse on clearance for $19.99 at JCPenney, and they were doing a 50% off the clearance price sale, so it was $10 and some change with tax. (I was planning on waiting one more month to try to find a purse at a thrift store in Denver, but I figured I'd probably have to spend at least $5 at a thrift store, and this way I have a purse I can use!)
So, all went well. I let Eva pick out something at the dollar store to keep her occupied. She chose ABC cookies and shared them very nicely with Charlotte. Then comes Walmart!
I started shopping first, since I had a pretty big list, and eventually the in-laws caught up with me, and the girls wanted to go with them. As I was leaving, I heard MIL tell Eva to have grandpa take her to look at the toys. I specified before I left "NO BUYING TOYS!!!" Do you think that helped???
NOPE! So, an hour or whatever later, when they finally were checking out, I met up with them, and of course there were new toys for each girl. Grandpa and Eva had picked them out. For Charlotte, they chose a Dora the Explorer plush doll for ages 3+ (Charlotte is 14 months!) and for Eva they chose an ATM bank, which upon further investigation, is for ages 6+ (she's almost 3 1/2). The ATM bank requires that in order to open the drawer, you must have the card in the bank, you must push the withdraw button, key in the amount you will withdrawl, press the withdraw button again, and key in your four digit passcode. I had to repeat this sequence about 5 times on the way home until she fell asleep in the car!
Fortunately, my in-laws traded cars with me so I didn't have to move two sleeping girls and all my purchases to my car. So, I need to go get dressed to drive back up there for my "Full of Grace" study group meeting...then drive home this afternoon, then drive back up tomorrow because hubby wants to watch the Superbowl there, but we have to go to church down here first.
Did I mention that it's a 40 mile drive???
Friday, February 01, 2008
A Prayer in Time of Debt
I just recieved this prayer through a yahoo group I belong to (Catholic Curriculum Swap Chat), and given my current giveaway for Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" book, I thought this was very fitting. It comes from the Rural Life Prayerbook (one I probably should look into!)
A PRAYER IN TIME OF DEBT
ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, we beg of You to help us soon to pay off our
debts to our fellowmen. Give us strength and courage to persevere until the
last penny is paid. Give patience to those to whom we are in debt, and let
them not treat us unjustly. Help us have great confidence in You and in the
workings of Your providence, trusting that You will always direct things to
our greatest good.
Make us also fully realize that no debt to our fellowmen can begin to equal
the debt that we owe You on account of our sins, to say nothing of the
immense debt we owe You for the gifts of Your divine grace. These we could
never pay at all but for the coming of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. To
Him be all honor and thanksgiving, now and forever. Amen.
A PRAYER IN TIME OF DEBT
ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, we beg of You to help us soon to pay off our
debts to our fellowmen. Give us strength and courage to persevere until the
last penny is paid. Give patience to those to whom we are in debt, and let
them not treat us unjustly. Help us have great confidence in You and in the
workings of Your providence, trusting that You will always direct things to
our greatest good.
Make us also fully realize that no debt to our fellowmen can begin to equal
the debt that we owe You on account of our sins, to say nothing of the
immense debt we owe You for the gifts of Your divine grace. These we could
never pay at all but for the coming of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. To
Him be all honor and thanksgiving, now and forever. Amen.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
TOO FUNNY!
![[SMMMHDH]](smmmhdh.png){kind=small}
Check out the Society for a Moratorium on the Music of Marty Haugen and David Hass. Very funny alternative lyrics to a bunch of songs that I either strongly dislike, or I feel a strange need to enjoy, even though intellectually I really don't like them.
Here's my favorite from their site:
Anthem of the Hymn Writers (after Tom Conry's Anthem)
We write hymns, we're composers,
We are fans of one another.
We make hymn books for tomorrow
While we rake in cash today.
We're the best, we're the greatest,
So our hymns are all you need.
And our songs are all you hear in church,
The only ones indeed.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Bloggy Giveaways Carnival
So, what a cool way to grow an online community! I've been spending all my free time today checking out all the great stuff posted, and entering a bunch! When I showed hubby, he thought that I should give something away, too!
So, I have for you a copy of Dave Ramsey's best selling book "The Total Money Makeover" that helped us pay off $10,000 in just under a year. We don't need the book anymore, as we now know what to do...so I'd love to pass it along!
Just for fun, please post your biggest financial challenge, or your best financial tip in your comment! I'd love to hear other people's challenges and triumphs!
So, please leave your email or blog so I can contact you, and please US mailing addresses only! I'll randomly select a winner on Sunday, February 3rd at noon.
And don't forget to check out all the other great stuff at Bloggy Giveaways!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Pray-as-you-go mp3 Meditation...
I am in the middle of the second week of the "Full of Grace" study by Johnette Benkovic (through the apostolate "Women of Grace"). The second week focuses on prayer. Vocal prayer, meditation and contemplation, all three types of prayer seem to ellude me most days. So, I was going to go find some sort of meditation podcast so that I could use it first thing in the morning. (A while back, I was praying the rosary first thing every morning...but as I am really not a morning person, I had a hard time focusing, and I became a human jungle gym for my girls as soon as they woke up as I attemted to pray with both of them trying to take my rosary to wear around the house...)
I found out that hubby must be having a similar difficulty with morning prayer. He's set up a folding chair in our laundry room (the closest thing we have to a quiet space in our two bedroom one bath house) and was trying to read something to meditate on. However, he hasn't had much success with that.
Fortunately for me, he had already found something to try out. The podcast is called "Pray-as-you-go" and is a 10-13 minute prayer and reflection time. Beautiful music, readings, reflection/meditation questions are all in it; the podcast is produced by the British Jesuits, so great accents, too (I have an unnatural love for British accents!)
So, I listened to my first one today (I actually don't think it was today's podcast...not sure which ones hubby chose to download, and since we have them on my old Ipod shuffle, there's no screen to tell me what day it was for!) Absolutely amazing! The scripture reading was (naturally, I don't remember the book, chapter or verse...I think it was from Matthew, but could be horribly wrong) about a person going out and sowing seeds, and then waking and rising everyday, until finally the harvest was ready. Then it went on to the parable of the mustard seed.
So, I was struck by how I need to sow the seeds for spiritual growth not by doing great things (I'm always tempted to give up if I can't pray "properly"!) but by doing small things. Getting up and attempting meditation every morning and accepting my imperfectness and what I am able to do will help me grow more than grand resolutions to pray X,Y, and Z everyday in a perfect (or close to perfect) manner.
Hopefully I will be able to remember that it can be small things that leads to a great harvest!
I found out that hubby must be having a similar difficulty with morning prayer. He's set up a folding chair in our laundry room (the closest thing we have to a quiet space in our two bedroom one bath house) and was trying to read something to meditate on. However, he hasn't had much success with that.
Fortunately for me, he had already found something to try out. The podcast is called "Pray-as-you-go" and is a 10-13 minute prayer and reflection time. Beautiful music, readings, reflection/meditation questions are all in it; the podcast is produced by the British Jesuits, so great accents, too (I have an unnatural love for British accents!)
So, I listened to my first one today (I actually don't think it was today's podcast...not sure which ones hubby chose to download, and since we have them on my old Ipod shuffle, there's no screen to tell me what day it was for!) Absolutely amazing! The scripture reading was (naturally, I don't remember the book, chapter or verse...I think it was from Matthew, but could be horribly wrong) about a person going out and sowing seeds, and then waking and rising everyday, until finally the harvest was ready. Then it went on to the parable of the mustard seed.
So, I was struck by how I need to sow the seeds for spiritual growth not by doing great things (I'm always tempted to give up if I can't pray "properly"!) but by doing small things. Getting up and attempting meditation every morning and accepting my imperfectness and what I am able to do will help me grow more than grand resolutions to pray X,Y, and Z everyday in a perfect (or close to perfect) manner.
Hopefully I will be able to remember that it can be small things that leads to a great harvest!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
BigCrumbs or Ebates?
Well, we are in the process of tightening our belts around here to try to pay cash for a nice used car for our tenth anniversary in 17 months. So far we are almost a month in, and with hubby's paycheck this Friday, we will have $1000 saved. Not bad! My goal is to save $1100 per month on average, but I think most months we will be a little under. Hopefully the months with 3 paychecks will make up for that, but then again, we will get what we can with the money we save up!
Some things about rural living are just so much cheaper than city living. We'd never have a house this nice (albeit, small) in a city or a suburb...you just can't buy a house for $75,000...at least not in a Colorado city! (Okay, technically we live in a "city", but I guess I mean an urban area by city...) But there is the downside that it is difficult to get good used stuff...Getting good used stuff in an urban or suburban area is much easier. Cities have thrift and consignment stores, suburbs have garage sales...rural areas have farm auctions...not exactly handy for good quality kids clothes or plus sized women's clothes. Other household things are hard to get, too. So, I do quite a bit of online shopping. I even sometimes buy groceries online.
Several months ago I found out about BigCrumbs (from someones blog...I don't remember whose) and signed up. Since I'm not exactly a refer-er, I just signed up for the basic plan. It worked pretty well, and I got my first payment from them ($3 and some change) a week or so ago. I still have to confirm my bank account with paypal to get it moved out of there, but that's no big deal. BigCrumbs has some pretty good deals, and I thought of it as a ton of stores (well, Ebates kinda blew it out of the water in terms of # of stores!). The $3 was from two purchases: a Christmas gift for my BIL, and new curtains (on clearance) for our living room.
Well, then another blog suggested Ebates, so I signed up there. They have so many stores it is just mindboggling! Another awesome thing there is they also have coupons listed with the stores, which is excellent! I started out by getting photo prints from Snapfish (40 free prints, plus the % back on the rest) and have a whopping .11 in my account there so far. They only pay out when you get to $5.
BigCrumbs has a better system (you can set up your own mall of favorites) than Ebates (you can set up favorites, but are only allowed 20 stores...a fact that they didn't make clear to me until after I marked every store out of there hundreds of stores that I might possibly someday want to shop at...)
So, I am trying to figure out which system works better for me, and in case someone stumbles across this post, Do you use BigCrumbs, Ebates, something else that gives cash back on online purchases? Which do you prefer? Why?
Some things about rural living are just so much cheaper than city living. We'd never have a house this nice (albeit, small) in a city or a suburb...you just can't buy a house for $75,000...at least not in a Colorado city! (Okay, technically we live in a "city", but I guess I mean an urban area by city...) But there is the downside that it is difficult to get good used stuff...Getting good used stuff in an urban or suburban area is much easier. Cities have thrift and consignment stores, suburbs have garage sales...rural areas have farm auctions...not exactly handy for good quality kids clothes or plus sized women's clothes. Other household things are hard to get, too. So, I do quite a bit of online shopping. I even sometimes buy groceries online.
Several months ago I found out about BigCrumbs (from someones blog...I don't remember whose) and signed up. Since I'm not exactly a refer-er, I just signed up for the basic plan. It worked pretty well, and I got my first payment from them ($3 and some change) a week or so ago. I still have to confirm my bank account with paypal to get it moved out of there, but that's no big deal. BigCrumbs has some pretty good deals, and I thought of it as a ton of stores (well, Ebates kinda blew it out of the water in terms of # of stores!). The $3 was from two purchases: a Christmas gift for my BIL, and new curtains (on clearance) for our living room.
Well, then another blog suggested Ebates, so I signed up there. They have so many stores it is just mindboggling! Another awesome thing there is they also have coupons listed with the stores, which is excellent! I started out by getting photo prints from Snapfish (40 free prints, plus the % back on the rest) and have a whopping .11 in my account there so far. They only pay out when you get to $5.
BigCrumbs has a better system (you can set up your own mall of favorites) than Ebates (you can set up favorites, but are only allowed 20 stores...a fact that they didn't make clear to me until after I marked every store out of there hundreds of stores that I might possibly someday want to shop at...)
So, I am trying to figure out which system works better for me, and in case someone stumbles across this post, Do you use BigCrumbs, Ebates, something else that gives cash back on online purchases? Which do you prefer? Why?
Monday, January 14, 2008
Well, it's one half of hubby's favorite "gourmet" lunch...
| You Are a Grilled Cheese Sandwich |
 You are a traditional person with very simple tastes. In your opinion, the best things in life are free, easy, and fun. You totally go with the flow. And you enjoy every minute of it! Your best friend: The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Ham Sandwich |
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Happy New Year!
Well, I think I may finally be recovered from New Year's Eve...just in time to go visit my parents again!
We went to hubby's uncle's house for his annual New Year's Eve party, which is always a fun mix of older couples, adult children with their children, and a whole bunch of teenagers (thanks to this uncle having both adult children, and still having one teen stepdaughter in the house). We were the youngest of the couples, and the first ones to leave (at 12:30!!! I grew up going to bed at 12:05 on New Years, as I was never allowed to go anywhere to celebrate). So, we went over the MILs house to spend the night (she's a mile from this uncle's house), but my little BIL was having a New Year's party there...with all of the teens spending the night (okay BIL is now 21, but he was the oldest in this group, which included 3 15-16 year old girls). So, we got the girls to bed in MILs room, set up the playpen in there for Charlotte, and we slept on the couches in the living room...the party raged on until about 4 in the morning in the basement, when they all finally crashed. Let's just say it certainly wasn't the most restful night's sleep I've ever gotten.
Been busy trying to keep the house in order...I even managed to mop the kitchen floors yesterday, which is a MAJOR accomplishment in this house.
So, on to our trip today. Once hubby gets off work we are heading up to the mountains to see my mom. Her sister got tickets out here to visit for Christmas from her hubby (they live in Ohio) so she's going to help out my mom for about a week, as my mom still can't do a lot since her surgery last month. Hopefully she'll be up to speed by February.
The funny part about this all is that we are going to end up missing hubby's family's big Christmas shindig, which I've been threatening to miss for months to my MIL (she's so much fun to tease!)...but in the end, we actually are missing it...
It's fine by me to miss the whole thing, as all the fun has been sucked out of it anyway...it used to be in people's homes, and we used to at least do some sort of gift exchange or something (sometimes it was drawing names, sometimes it was a generic gift for your gender, etc.) but complete lack of tact and some oversensitivity has led to no more of that...and the size of the family has led to people hosting at alternate locations (this year it is at the fairgrounds, woo hoo!) Honestly, I have a feeling that the turnout will be low enough that it could have been done at someone's house. Of course, more people might want to come if it were a little more cozy and a little more fun...it feels more like an office Christmas party than a family one.
Oh, and this cracks me up...EVERYONE in hubby's family is really good at cooking for an army. Our family cookbook has recipes like "Sloppy Joes for 100-125" in it...but the aunt in charge of the Christmas get together this year gave everyone TWO items to bring...I'm supposed to bring a vegetable and a dessert...and told 3-5 women to bring POTATOES, including my MIL who makes enough potatoes for 20 if we come up for dinner (bringing the grand total of people to 7...but that includes a 3 year old and a 1 year old!) The thing I am going to miss is seeing just how much food comes to this gathering!
We went to hubby's uncle's house for his annual New Year's Eve party, which is always a fun mix of older couples, adult children with their children, and a whole bunch of teenagers (thanks to this uncle having both adult children, and still having one teen stepdaughter in the house). We were the youngest of the couples, and the first ones to leave (at 12:30!!! I grew up going to bed at 12:05 on New Years, as I was never allowed to go anywhere to celebrate). So, we went over the MILs house to spend the night (she's a mile from this uncle's house), but my little BIL was having a New Year's party there...with all of the teens spending the night (okay BIL is now 21, but he was the oldest in this group, which included 3 15-16 year old girls). So, we got the girls to bed in MILs room, set up the playpen in there for Charlotte, and we slept on the couches in the living room...the party raged on until about 4 in the morning in the basement, when they all finally crashed. Let's just say it certainly wasn't the most restful night's sleep I've ever gotten.
Been busy trying to keep the house in order...I even managed to mop the kitchen floors yesterday, which is a MAJOR accomplishment in this house.
So, on to our trip today. Once hubby gets off work we are heading up to the mountains to see my mom. Her sister got tickets out here to visit for Christmas from her hubby (they live in Ohio) so she's going to help out my mom for about a week, as my mom still can't do a lot since her surgery last month. Hopefully she'll be up to speed by February.
The funny part about this all is that we are going to end up missing hubby's family's big Christmas shindig, which I've been threatening to miss for months to my MIL (she's so much fun to tease!)...but in the end, we actually are missing it...
It's fine by me to miss the whole thing, as all the fun has been sucked out of it anyway...it used to be in people's homes, and we used to at least do some sort of gift exchange or something (sometimes it was drawing names, sometimes it was a generic gift for your gender, etc.) but complete lack of tact and some oversensitivity has led to no more of that...and the size of the family has led to people hosting at alternate locations (this year it is at the fairgrounds, woo hoo!) Honestly, I have a feeling that the turnout will be low enough that it could have been done at someone's house. Of course, more people might want to come if it were a little more cozy and a little more fun...it feels more like an office Christmas party than a family one.
Oh, and this cracks me up...EVERYONE in hubby's family is really good at cooking for an army. Our family cookbook has recipes like "Sloppy Joes for 100-125" in it...but the aunt in charge of the Christmas get together this year gave everyone TWO items to bring...I'm supposed to bring a vegetable and a dessert...and told 3-5 women to bring POTATOES, including my MIL who makes enough potatoes for 20 if we come up for dinner (bringing the grand total of people to 7...but that includes a 3 year old and a 1 year old!) The thing I am going to miss is seeing just how much food comes to this gathering!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Hubby's new toy...
So, we've been having fun playing with hubby's new blue (to match his work uniform...Eva picked it out) IPod Nano, which is so technologically superior to my Shuffle (the white kind that is about the size and shape of a pack of gum) it's not even funny. I've been playing DJ when we've been driving (a lot recently), but on our way home tonight, I put it on shuffle, and hubby told me that he's seen blogs have lists of what was shuffled on their IPod, so I wrote down as we went. I was originally going to do the first 10 songs, but I actually wrote down 13, as that's how many it took to get home...so here they are (I wonder what this says about us!)
1)Count My Blessings
Curtis Stigers
Curtis Stigers
2)Letter Shapes
They Might Be Giants
Here Come the ABCs
3)Give It Up Or Let Me Go
Dixie Chicks
Wide Open Spaces
4)Mary, Joy Of All Who Sorrow (With Script)
Cat.Chat:The Catholic Audio Show for Kids
Mary Leads Me Closer To Jesus
5)Jesus My Faith Is In You (With Script)
Cat.Chat:The Catholic Audio Show for Kids
Cat.Chat #2 Jesus In My Heart
6)Tell Me Something Good
Rufus
Millennium Funk Party
7)Here's To Lyin'
Doug Supernaw
Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
8)With Or Without You
U2
Joshua Tree
9)Just Like Anyone
Soul Asylum
Let Your Dim Light Shine
10)Your Banquet of Love
Simonetta
Keep Your Eyes On The Beloved
11)My Best Was Never Good Enough
Bruce Springsteen
The Ghost of Tom Joad
12)Nickel in the Well
Bryan White
Between Now and Forever
13)I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
U2
Joshua Tree
So, a random sampling of what we have out of 1800+ songs on hubby's IPod!
1)Count My Blessings
Curtis Stigers
Curtis Stigers
2)Letter Shapes
They Might Be Giants
Here Come the ABCs
3)Give It Up Or Let Me Go
Dixie Chicks
Wide Open Spaces
4)Mary, Joy Of All Who Sorrow (With Script)
Cat.Chat:The Catholic Audio Show for Kids
Mary Leads Me Closer To Jesus
5)Jesus My Faith Is In You (With Script)
Cat.Chat:The Catholic Audio Show for Kids
Cat.Chat #2 Jesus In My Heart
6)Tell Me Something Good
Rufus
Millennium Funk Party
7)Here's To Lyin'
Doug Supernaw
Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
8)With Or Without You
U2
Joshua Tree
9)Just Like Anyone
Soul Asylum
Let Your Dim Light Shine
10)Your Banquet of Love
Simonetta
Keep Your Eyes On The Beloved
11)My Best Was Never Good Enough
Bruce Springsteen
The Ghost of Tom Joad
12)Nickel in the Well
Bryan White
Between Now and Forever
13)I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
U2
Joshua Tree
So, a random sampling of what we have out of 1800+ songs on hubby's IPod!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Domestically Challenged
So, I have been a housewife for the last, oh 5 years or so (full time for almost 2 years, part time for 3 years before that...not to mention the other 3 years as a student and wife...), so you'd think that I wouldn't run across that many tasks that I have NO CLUE how to do...
Don't get me wrong, I have ironed items before...I try to avoid it as much as possible after the high school trauma of melting my choir dress (we lovingly called them our blue garbage bags) by using too high of heat.
Hubby had thrown a couple of horribly wrinkled uniform shirts in with a wet load of laundry to try to get the wrinkles out. He fished them out, and they were still just as wrinkled, and I told him to throw them back in for the rest of the cycle (he thought that they might burn in the dryer...I figure, if I've never burned an article of clothing in the dryer, it is just NOT POSSIBLE!) He made the comment that he would probably need to iron them if they came out and were still wrinkled. So, they came out of the dryer, and guess what!?! STILL WRINKLED!!! So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to practice sacraficial love for my husband by doing something that I can't say that I hate (because my iron and I don't have enough of a relationship to label) but that I can say I avoid, and thus, really don't know how to do!
So, I grabbed up the three work shirts in the load of laundry, and set up the ironing board and the iron (there have been YEARS in our married life when we couldn't find/couldn't use our iron...for instance when it was covered with bits of wallpaper from trying to steam off 3 layers at our old house...), and set to work. I vaguely remember my MIL telling me of her grandmother's order of operations while ironing, so I thought I'd try that. (I am at least 2 generations away from any level of domesticity) So, I ironed and ironed...and got no where! Sadly, the shirts are made of a cotton/poly blend, which on our iron is in that ambiguous range where it might be steam iron, but it might not bother... So, now I am online not only to lament my pathetic domestic skills, but also to look up nonvideo (as our dialup and videos do not get along) instructions for ironing shirts.
Don't get me wrong, I have ironed items before...I try to avoid it as much as possible after the high school trauma of melting my choir dress (we lovingly called them our blue garbage bags) by using too high of heat.
Hubby had thrown a couple of horribly wrinkled uniform shirts in with a wet load of laundry to try to get the wrinkles out. He fished them out, and they were still just as wrinkled, and I told him to throw them back in for the rest of the cycle (he thought that they might burn in the dryer...I figure, if I've never burned an article of clothing in the dryer, it is just NOT POSSIBLE!) He made the comment that he would probably need to iron them if they came out and were still wrinkled. So, they came out of the dryer, and guess what!?! STILL WRINKLED!!! So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to practice sacraficial love for my husband by doing something that I can't say that I hate (because my iron and I don't have enough of a relationship to label) but that I can say I avoid, and thus, really don't know how to do!
So, I grabbed up the three work shirts in the load of laundry, and set up the ironing board and the iron (there have been YEARS in our married life when we couldn't find/couldn't use our iron...for instance when it was covered with bits of wallpaper from trying to steam off 3 layers at our old house...), and set to work. I vaguely remember my MIL telling me of her grandmother's order of operations while ironing, so I thought I'd try that. (I am at least 2 generations away from any level of domesticity) So, I ironed and ironed...and got no where! Sadly, the shirts are made of a cotton/poly blend, which on our iron is in that ambiguous range where it might be steam iron, but it might not bother... So, now I am online not only to lament my pathetic domestic skills, but also to look up nonvideo (as our dialup and videos do not get along) instructions for ironing shirts.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
I love Taxes...
Okay, so technically, I don't really LOVE taxes...I don't particularly like paying them...I'd prefer to keep our money...but I love the new year because I have 1) an excuse to buy a new piece of software every year (TurboTax...tried TaxCut once...it SUCKED!) and 2) an excuse to look at all our finances and recap the year in what we accomplished or did not accomplish to make goals for the new year.
Yes, I am a dork! I'm sure at some point I've put up a blogthings quiz to prove it...
So, I got TurboTax in the mail today, and have been playing around with it instead of accomplishing any dishes or laundry. Of course, I don't have any tax forms yet, but we just got hubby's last pay stub of the year today, so I've been figuring things out based on that. Of course, that means that I'll have to correct a bunch of numbers when the appropriate forms come in the mail, but hey, I find it fun!
I've always been a money nerd (not a math nerd, I never could do math problems unless they involved money...I just need it in practical terms I understand $$$) I used to balance people's checkbooks for them in college. I did try to get my MIL on a budget/to balance her checkbook for the first time EVER...but after about 3-4 months of it, I found that I didn't have the time to babysit her. If there ever was a lost cause in terms of financial responsibility, my MIL is it...I love her dearly, of course, but I just try not to even THINK about her finances.
Oh, we've also set a new financal goal...I'll probably work on a ticker for it (I love tickers...I'm a dork, I said it already!) but we plan to save right around $20,000 in the next 18 months to buy a new to us car for our tenth anniversary. That means ol' Bessie is gonna have to make it 18 more months...I've been expecting that car to die for about 5 years now, but it's still going strong, so what's another year and a half?
Yes, I am a dork! I'm sure at some point I've put up a blogthings quiz to prove it...
So, I got TurboTax in the mail today, and have been playing around with it instead of accomplishing any dishes or laundry. Of course, I don't have any tax forms yet, but we just got hubby's last pay stub of the year today, so I've been figuring things out based on that. Of course, that means that I'll have to correct a bunch of numbers when the appropriate forms come in the mail, but hey, I find it fun!
I've always been a money nerd (not a math nerd, I never could do math problems unless they involved money...I just need it in practical terms I understand $$$) I used to balance people's checkbooks for them in college. I did try to get my MIL on a budget/to balance her checkbook for the first time EVER...but after about 3-4 months of it, I found that I didn't have the time to babysit her. If there ever was a lost cause in terms of financial responsibility, my MIL is it...I love her dearly, of course, but I just try not to even THINK about her finances.
Oh, we've also set a new financal goal...I'll probably work on a ticker for it (I love tickers...I'm a dork, I said it already!) but we plan to save right around $20,000 in the next 18 months to buy a new to us car for our tenth anniversary. That means ol' Bessie is gonna have to make it 18 more months...I've been expecting that car to die for about 5 years now, but it's still going strong, so what's another year and a half?
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Decorations
Well, it is December 23rd, and hubby is at church serving up breakfast to all the brave souls who stayed to decorate for midnight Mass tomorrow. I brought the girls home because I am just not brave enough to let them wander free in the church with decorating going on. However, the fact that the church is getting decorated is making me think that maybe...just MAYBE...we ought to decorate our house!
Hubby pulled down the Christmas decorations he could find from the attic (a place I have never ventured, and never really intend to...) but he couldn't find the ornaments for the tree. The tree itself has been up since Thanksgiving (only because my parents sent us a new, prelit artificial tree as an early Christmas present...had it been in storage, I'm sure it would be going up today!). I am, however, proud to say that our Advent wreath (we've had it for a few years, so it had to come out of storage) has been out all of Advent, and our nativity scene (new this year) has been up for weeks.
The rest of the decorations, minus the ornaments are in our bedroom, which the girls keep going in to attempt to eat things off of our wreaths, etc. So, today when hubby gets home, he will be sent up into the attic one more time to attempt to find the ornaments (and put up some outgrown clothes and toys) and I hope to clean and decorate the house, and pack for our whirlwind trip to see my parents. We get to leave sometime after noon tomorrow, and have to be back in time for hubby to go to work at 7am on the 26th.
My mom is doing well, she had a very long named surgery on December 12th to deal with the scarring from her cancer, so she will be sore and unable to hold the kiddos, but I know she is looking forward to seeing them!
Oh yeah...I almost forgot, I have to wrap all our presents (minus the girls two, since I wrapped them immediately after I got them home so that they wouldn't find out what they are!
Merry Christmas!!!
Hubby pulled down the Christmas decorations he could find from the attic (a place I have never ventured, and never really intend to...) but he couldn't find the ornaments for the tree. The tree itself has been up since Thanksgiving (only because my parents sent us a new, prelit artificial tree as an early Christmas present...had it been in storage, I'm sure it would be going up today!). I am, however, proud to say that our Advent wreath (we've had it for a few years, so it had to come out of storage) has been out all of Advent, and our nativity scene (new this year) has been up for weeks.
The rest of the decorations, minus the ornaments are in our bedroom, which the girls keep going in to attempt to eat things off of our wreaths, etc. So, today when hubby gets home, he will be sent up into the attic one more time to attempt to find the ornaments (and put up some outgrown clothes and toys) and I hope to clean and decorate the house, and pack for our whirlwind trip to see my parents. We get to leave sometime after noon tomorrow, and have to be back in time for hubby to go to work at 7am on the 26th.
My mom is doing well, she had a very long named surgery on December 12th to deal with the scarring from her cancer, so she will be sore and unable to hold the kiddos, but I know she is looking forward to seeing them!
Oh yeah...I almost forgot, I have to wrap all our presents (minus the girls two, since I wrapped them immediately after I got them home so that they wouldn't find out what they are!
Merry Christmas!!!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Vacation planning...of sorts...
Well, one of the challenges of having a hubby who works 6 days a week (who likes to point out that it would be worse if he were farming with his family!) is that trips and vacations are few and far between. Hubby managed to get Monday off work (which is amazing with recent events at work including one woman out for a couple of weeks because of a brown recluse spider bite...my squash first ask questions later policy has been very much strengthened by this!) So, we can leave Saturday after work (hopefully 1 or 2 pm) and come back Monday night.
Originally the plan was to go see my mom, who just finished her last round of chemotherapy two weeks ago. However, both girls have come down with a cold (not serious for them, but VERY serious for my mom's compromised immune system) and my mom spent most of this week in the hospital with a staph infection. So, no trip to see grandma. We are trying to make the best of it though, but of course (as always) we are on a tight budget! So, I've been trying to priceline a hotel room for two nights, with no luck so far. So, hopefully we will be going to Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Denver, or Cheyenne, WY this weekend.
Also trying to find a few (very few!) fun things for the kids to do. We're all kind of hoping to get a Colorado Springs hotel so that we can go to "Boo at the Zoo" at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Eva LOVES the giraffes, and I think that Charlotte would enjoy feeding them, too.
I'm looking forward to finding some antique/thrift shops to go to, and checking out the specials at the big grocery stores (I'm such a dork!) and hubby is looking forward to relaxing a little bit. I think that I'll go do some shopping during naptime, and the kids and hubby can stay at the hotel and sleep/watch TV.
Well, better get back to priceline and see if I can do any better!
Originally the plan was to go see my mom, who just finished her last round of chemotherapy two weeks ago. However, both girls have come down with a cold (not serious for them, but VERY serious for my mom's compromised immune system) and my mom spent most of this week in the hospital with a staph infection. So, no trip to see grandma. We are trying to make the best of it though, but of course (as always) we are on a tight budget! So, I've been trying to priceline a hotel room for two nights, with no luck so far. So, hopefully we will be going to Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Denver, or Cheyenne, WY this weekend.
Also trying to find a few (very few!) fun things for the kids to do. We're all kind of hoping to get a Colorado Springs hotel so that we can go to "Boo at the Zoo" at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Eva LOVES the giraffes, and I think that Charlotte would enjoy feeding them, too.
I'm looking forward to finding some antique/thrift shops to go to, and checking out the specials at the big grocery stores (I'm such a dork!) and hubby is looking forward to relaxing a little bit. I think that I'll go do some shopping during naptime, and the kids and hubby can stay at the hotel and sleep/watch TV.
Well, better get back to priceline and see if I can do any better!
Monday, September 17, 2007
My Republican Rant of the Day (well, Month, more likely!)
Okay, so this is actually a continuation of a rant I've been having for a few weeks now...but the first time I started on it, hubby called it my "Republican Rant of the Day" so that's how I think of it now (even though, incidentally I am not in any way affiliated with the Republican or any other political party.)
So, we recently found out that hubby's new co-worker is pregnant. Which I think is great! Babies are wonderful! It would probably be better for her, her daughter (incidentally named Charlie) and her baby if she and the kid's dad were married rather than just living together...but whatever...I'm still happy about the baby.
So, I was talking with hubby about the health insurance from his work (which is AWESOME, at least the plan that we have, in regards to maternity care) and he ended up talking a little bit with this co-worker about it, and telling her how happy we were with it, and the fact that we didn't have to pay a penny for Charlotte's delivery or my prenatal care compared to our old insurance with Eva where we paid out of pocket about $8000 the year she was born.
So, hubby was expecting a happy reaction, or at least relief that this pregnancy wouldn't be too difficult for her financially, etc. What I don't think either one of us expected was confusion that you'd have to PAY for medical care with insurance!
You see, with her first kid, she was on medicaid and didn't have to pay for anything, either. (Now, don't take this the wrong way...she is a lovely women and I like her very much...I also understand how in SOME cases medicaid is a very good system) She worked a retail job, and because she wasn't married to the baby's father she qualified for medicaid (she may have qualified if they were married, but if they were married he might feel as though he needed to be responsible for his family)
So, in the end, who really got to pay for all of her medical care...people like us! The year we had Eva we made about $24,000 gross. We paid out about $8,000 in medical bills...forget that 7.5% threshold the IRS requires to deduct medical expenses...about 1/3 of our GROSS income went to medical bills...
I don't even want to think how much more went to social welfare programs like Social Security and Medicare...
It just ticks me off to think that essentially the government is REWARDING stupid behavior!
Now, I would like to say that both hubby and I are happy that is coworker had enough ambition to get a better paying job with benefits...because all the hoops to jump through to apply for the job are pretty extreme...but I just get frustrated when I think of all of the people in similar situations to her that don't work as hard to become self-sufficient someday...
So, we recently found out that hubby's new co-worker is pregnant. Which I think is great! Babies are wonderful! It would probably be better for her, her daughter (incidentally named Charlie) and her baby if she and the kid's dad were married rather than just living together...but whatever...I'm still happy about the baby.
So, I was talking with hubby about the health insurance from his work (which is AWESOME, at least the plan that we have, in regards to maternity care) and he ended up talking a little bit with this co-worker about it, and telling her how happy we were with it, and the fact that we didn't have to pay a penny for Charlotte's delivery or my prenatal care compared to our old insurance with Eva where we paid out of pocket about $8000 the year she was born.
So, hubby was expecting a happy reaction, or at least relief that this pregnancy wouldn't be too difficult for her financially, etc. What I don't think either one of us expected was confusion that you'd have to PAY for medical care with insurance!
You see, with her first kid, she was on medicaid and didn't have to pay for anything, either. (Now, don't take this the wrong way...she is a lovely women and I like her very much...I also understand how in SOME cases medicaid is a very good system) She worked a retail job, and because she wasn't married to the baby's father she qualified for medicaid (she may have qualified if they were married, but if they were married he might feel as though he needed to be responsible for his family)
So, in the end, who really got to pay for all of her medical care...people like us! The year we had Eva we made about $24,000 gross. We paid out about $8,000 in medical bills...forget that 7.5% threshold the IRS requires to deduct medical expenses...about 1/3 of our GROSS income went to medical bills...
I don't even want to think how much more went to social welfare programs like Social Security and Medicare...
It just ticks me off to think that essentially the government is REWARDING stupid behavior!
Now, I would like to say that both hubby and I are happy that is coworker had enough ambition to get a better paying job with benefits...because all the hoops to jump through to apply for the job are pretty extreme...but I just get frustrated when I think of all of the people in similar situations to her that don't work as hard to become self-sufficient someday...
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Well, something pretty cool happened today. I'm a little bit of a loner, so I often deal with stuff on my own as well...
At Mass on Sunday, we had a ministry fair of sorts (donuts were provided...apparently not nearly enough of them, but we're still adjusting to this 8am Mass thing...) where we all were supposed to go down in the basement and fill out our time and talent forms for the upcoming year. I was chatting a little bit with a couple of the ladies from my bible study. They asked how Eva's destination birthday party went, and so I told them that it didn't go that well and the whole hospital saga, then I told them about my grandma, and about going up to sit with my mom at chemo the coming Friday (tomorrow). They told me that I was in their prayers, etc. which I appreciated a lot. It felt pretty good to get some of that off my chest.
So, last night I got home and noticed an e-mail that I wasn't supposed to read. The two ladies had sent out a call to make me and my mom a care package of sorts for at the hospital. So, tonight a bible study, a bunch of them brought a few things...some sympathy/thinking of you cards, a book, some magazines, an angel figurine, a few snacks and a little baggie of quarters for vending machines at the hospital.
I was so touched by these little things. It means so much to know that other people are there for you. I guess I should know by now that in a small town, when someone says "Let me know if there is anything I can do for you" they mean it (growing up, it was more of an empty phrase that people really didn't mean...)
Anyhow, that made me smile and cry a little bit, and made me grateful for friends.
At Mass on Sunday, we had a ministry fair of sorts (donuts were provided...apparently not nearly enough of them, but we're still adjusting to this 8am Mass thing...) where we all were supposed to go down in the basement and fill out our time and talent forms for the upcoming year. I was chatting a little bit with a couple of the ladies from my bible study. They asked how Eva's destination birthday party went, and so I told them that it didn't go that well and the whole hospital saga, then I told them about my grandma, and about going up to sit with my mom at chemo the coming Friday (tomorrow). They told me that I was in their prayers, etc. which I appreciated a lot. It felt pretty good to get some of that off my chest.
So, last night I got home and noticed an e-mail that I wasn't supposed to read. The two ladies had sent out a call to make me and my mom a care package of sorts for at the hospital. So, tonight a bible study, a bunch of them brought a few things...some sympathy/thinking of you cards, a book, some magazines, an angel figurine, a few snacks and a little baggie of quarters for vending machines at the hospital.
I was so touched by these little things. It means so much to know that other people are there for you. I guess I should know by now that in a small town, when someone says "Let me know if there is anything I can do for you" they mean it (growing up, it was more of an empty phrase that people really didn't mean...)
Anyhow, that made me smile and cry a little bit, and made me grateful for friends.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sometimes I just don't have the energy to whine about my life...
...and maybe that is a good thing!
It's been about three months since I got that phone call from my dad about my mom's cancer. Now, I've never been the biggest fan of doctors (not saying that they are bad people, or anything...I just don't really like medicine, etc.) but this really hasn't improved my view much.
So, my mom has Kaiser Permanente insurance...when this whole thing started, she ended up really sick and jaundiced. She was sent in for CT scans, MRIs, etc. She was first sent to a surgeon who told her that she had inoperable pancreatic cancer. Not a fun thing to hear...not to mention complete lack of bedside manner, and an assumption that his guess was indeed, fact.
When she was sent on to an oncologist for testing, it turned out that she has lymphoma (not sure which type...there's a reason I didn't go into nursing or anything like that!). They have competely ruled out pancreatic cancer, and her most recent CT scan did not show any tumours. So, Friday is her 5th round of chemo, and she will have one more round, but then most likely will be done.
I was supposed to go up and sit with her during her chemo, but naturally my snotty little girls gave me a cold! Obviously, it would be better for me NOT to enter into the chemo room with any sort of illness, so instead I am going to stay home and feel a little guilty about my mom having to be there all alone.
I have to admit, this has been a very trying couple of months for me...but I know that it has been so much worse for my dad. I am hoping that all of what has been happening is God's plan for my dad's salvation...
So, the whole cancer thing happens...
Good news (my aunt, uncle, hubby and I all think this first one might have been a miracle) lymphoma with a 50% survival rate (or so) instead of the less than 5% survival rate for pancreatic cancer.
My mom went back to teaching, and has ended up in the ER three times now (she still doesn't want to take time off because she is afraid that she will need sick leave later...never mind that she has been paying into a sick leave bank for 25 years...never mind that she definately has reason to used said sick leave bank if she needed to...)
Most recent ER visit was over labor day weekend. Hubby and I and the girls were going up to the mountains with his extended family (to the same town where my parents spend weekends and summers) and my mom had planned this grand 3rd birthday bash at their house. My mom ends up in the ER neutropenic (not sure if I spelled that right or not! but basically having no immune system) and needed antibiotics and a blood transfusion. It turns out that she had e. coli from the stent in her liver, and she had to stay in through Tuesday so that they could put a cathader into her because all her veins were going bad from all the chemo and the IVs from hospital stays.
My dad threw the bash by himself, took lots of pictures, and my mom was well enough after the party for us to bring the girls down to see her.
So, my mom took a week off from school after that. Last Friday, I got a call from my mom saying that my grandma (dad's mom) who was in the hospital with a broken hip had a lot of problems during a hip replacement and was bleeding internally and not likely to make it through the night. She passed away that night.
See what I mean about my poor dad?
Anyhow, that's just a short update on how things have been around here in the past few months. I'm going to try to get back in the habit of blogging (though perhaps with less whining involved!)
It's been about three months since I got that phone call from my dad about my mom's cancer. Now, I've never been the biggest fan of doctors (not saying that they are bad people, or anything...I just don't really like medicine, etc.) but this really hasn't improved my view much.
So, my mom has Kaiser Permanente insurance...when this whole thing started, she ended up really sick and jaundiced. She was sent in for CT scans, MRIs, etc. She was first sent to a surgeon who told her that she had inoperable pancreatic cancer. Not a fun thing to hear...not to mention complete lack of bedside manner, and an assumption that his guess was indeed, fact.
When she was sent on to an oncologist for testing, it turned out that she has lymphoma (not sure which type...there's a reason I didn't go into nursing or anything like that!). They have competely ruled out pancreatic cancer, and her most recent CT scan did not show any tumours. So, Friday is her 5th round of chemo, and she will have one more round, but then most likely will be done.
I was supposed to go up and sit with her during her chemo, but naturally my snotty little girls gave me a cold! Obviously, it would be better for me NOT to enter into the chemo room with any sort of illness, so instead I am going to stay home and feel a little guilty about my mom having to be there all alone.
I have to admit, this has been a very trying couple of months for me...but I know that it has been so much worse for my dad. I am hoping that all of what has been happening is God's plan for my dad's salvation...
So, the whole cancer thing happens...
Good news (my aunt, uncle, hubby and I all think this first one might have been a miracle) lymphoma with a 50% survival rate (or so) instead of the less than 5% survival rate for pancreatic cancer.
My mom went back to teaching, and has ended up in the ER three times now (she still doesn't want to take time off because she is afraid that she will need sick leave later...never mind that she has been paying into a sick leave bank for 25 years...never mind that she definately has reason to used said sick leave bank if she needed to...)
Most recent ER visit was over labor day weekend. Hubby and I and the girls were going up to the mountains with his extended family (to the same town where my parents spend weekends and summers) and my mom had planned this grand 3rd birthday bash at their house. My mom ends up in the ER neutropenic (not sure if I spelled that right or not! but basically having no immune system) and needed antibiotics and a blood transfusion. It turns out that she had e. coli from the stent in her liver, and she had to stay in through Tuesday so that they could put a cathader into her because all her veins were going bad from all the chemo and the IVs from hospital stays.
My dad threw the bash by himself, took lots of pictures, and my mom was well enough after the party for us to bring the girls down to see her.
So, my mom took a week off from school after that. Last Friday, I got a call from my mom saying that my grandma (dad's mom) who was in the hospital with a broken hip had a lot of problems during a hip replacement and was bleeding internally and not likely to make it through the night. She passed away that night.
See what I mean about my poor dad?
Anyhow, that's just a short update on how things have been around here in the past few months. I'm going to try to get back in the habit of blogging (though perhaps with less whining involved!)
Friday, June 08, 2007
The C word...
Okay, so I got some pretty bad news yesterday. My mom called to let me know that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The dreaded "c" word...worse yet, it is inoperable. Reading up on pancreatic cancer, it does not look good, but I'm still waiting to hear back on more details. So, anyone who sees this, please say a prayer for my mom, Donna...and also for my dad! My mom is at least nominally Christian, but my dad isn't at all. They really don't have anything to hold on to during this suffering.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
This is sooo COOL!!!
Check out what Danielle Bean is up to! What a great idea!!! A charity raffle for St. Gianna's Maternity Home near Fargo, ND. She's raised lots of money so far...
Being technologically behind, I don't know how to link in the post, but go to my link for Danielle Bean, and you'll find plenty more info there!
Being technologically behind, I don't know how to link in the post, but go to my link for Danielle Bean, and you'll find plenty more info there!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Dress update...
So, the girls and I went to a doctor's appointment with my MIL up in the city, and naturally we went shopping afterwards. I tried on all sorts of outfits at Kohls, and most of them were horrible, but I did find one dress that I really liked! It was black and white, and is very similar in style to the dress I bought this winter (which is black, white and red) and the price tag read $54...so, I thought that was a little pricey, and I was sad and about to put it back when I passed a price checker thing...the dress was on clearance for $16.20!!! So, cool!
I looked around some more and found the dress in two shades of blue, and even found it in my size. So, I ended up getting the dress in blue...and I thought with that good of a deal, maybe I'd buy a necklace to go with it...just costume jewelery, nothing that fancy. I found two great necklaces that I really liked with it, and since they were buy one get one half off, I got both...the sick part? The two necklaces together cost more than double the cost of the dress!
Also, I finally got a couple of doormats for the house, and got hubby two new shirts and ties (we can BOTH look classy for the upcoming wedding! Woo hoo!!!) And grandma of course got the girls some clothes (Charlotte cute part dress onesies, and Eva a t-shirt and two sets of PJs...she has a pajama fetish...) and Eva a little sports set (with a football, 2 baseballs, a soccer ball, a bat, and a glove) with Dora all over them, so Eva has some great outdoor toys to go with our great weather!
I looked around some more and found the dress in two shades of blue, and even found it in my size. So, I ended up getting the dress in blue...and I thought with that good of a deal, maybe I'd buy a necklace to go with it...just costume jewelery, nothing that fancy. I found two great necklaces that I really liked with it, and since they were buy one get one half off, I got both...the sick part? The two necklaces together cost more than double the cost of the dress!
Also, I finally got a couple of doormats for the house, and got hubby two new shirts and ties (we can BOTH look classy for the upcoming wedding! Woo hoo!!!) And grandma of course got the girls some clothes (Charlotte cute part dress onesies, and Eva a t-shirt and two sets of PJs...she has a pajama fetish...) and Eva a little sports set (with a football, 2 baseballs, a soccer ball, a bat, and a glove) with Dora all over them, so Eva has some great outdoor toys to go with our great weather!
Our First Homeschooling Project!
So, on Sunday after church and lunch, we decided to go to the hardware store to price pavers, etc. for our landscaping woes (I am adamant that this year we WILL have a sidewalk to the front door rather than old boards placed over the dirt where said pavers will go!)
So, Eva pipes up that we need to get a birdhouse. No idea where this comes from...as I really don't like birds very much...they are noisy when I try to nap and they poop all over my car...(okay, likely this is some genetic thing from my mother that SKIPPED a generation!) So, I ended up talking her into a bird feeder, because I see no purpose for bird houses (isn't that what trees are for?)
At first I thought we might get something decorative to class up our yard, but after discovering that birdhouses start in the $20 range and go UP from there (to feed birds...I just don't get it!!!) we decided to instead go with the early homeschooler's model. A kit that had a base and suction cups that you attach a platic bottle to (20 oz soda bottle is what we used!) and fill up with bird seed. So, Eva and I put together the bird feeder, and she has been enjoying watching the birds come eat at the feeder.
So, as a Future Homeschooler of America, I diligently went on line to Paperback Swap and found children's books about birds. So, Eva will be getting a field guide to 24 common bird species in the mail before too long. I'm thinking that unschooling during preschool may be the way to go!
So, Eva pipes up that we need to get a birdhouse. No idea where this comes from...as I really don't like birds very much...they are noisy when I try to nap and they poop all over my car...(okay, likely this is some genetic thing from my mother that SKIPPED a generation!) So, I ended up talking her into a bird feeder, because I see no purpose for bird houses (isn't that what trees are for?)
At first I thought we might get something decorative to class up our yard, but after discovering that birdhouses start in the $20 range and go UP from there (to feed birds...I just don't get it!!!) we decided to instead go with the early homeschooler's model. A kit that had a base and suction cups that you attach a platic bottle to (20 oz soda bottle is what we used!) and fill up with bird seed. So, Eva and I put together the bird feeder, and she has been enjoying watching the birds come eat at the feeder.
So, as a Future Homeschooler of America, I diligently went on line to Paperback Swap and found children's books about birds. So, Eva will be getting a field guide to 24 common bird species in the mail before too long. I'm thinking that unschooling during preschool may be the way to go!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Another one that doesn't surprise me!
| Your Dominant Intelligence is Musical Intelligence |
 Every part of your life has a beat, and you're often tapping your fingers or toes. You enjoy sounds of all types, but you also find sound can distract you at the wrong time. You are probably a gifted musician of some sort - even if you haven't realized it. Also a music lover, you tend to appreciate artists of all kinds. You would make a great musician, disc jockey, singer, or composer. |
Okay, so we all know that I'm not normal...
| You Are 30% Normal |
 You sure do march to your own beat... But you're so weird, people wonder if it's a beat at all You think on a totally different wavelength And it's often a chore to get people to understand you |
...but this particular quiz asked me for my views on spanking and living together before marriage, among other things that really didn't make me think one answer was normal and the other was not...oh yeah...and if I'm 30% normal and 60% weird...what's the other 10%????
Dress rant...
Okay, continuing my theme of ranting about clothing...today's topic is dresses.
So, in two weekends we are going to the wedding of a college friend who may be the world's most fashionable person...(okay, maybe I shouldn't go that far...but she is the most fashionable person either one of us knows!) Hubby is going to be a reader at the wedding, and I am having the dilemma of what I should wear...
You see, the last dress I bought was for Charlotte's baptism...I love the dress, but since I bought it to wear in DECEMBER...I'm thinking it might not work for a summer wedding. The last dress I bought before that was for my SILs wedding (and really, I just don't like the dress that much...a little more matronly than I want to look!) which was also in DECEMBER the year before...
Then my next newest dress is one that I bought before we last went to the Midwest Catholic Family Conference (which we will be attending again this year)...unfortunately, the last time we went was in 2002...the other two dresses that I have in my wardrobe were bought for me by my mom...probably in 1999 or 2000...
So, I went to every website I could think of that might sell plus sized women's clothing, and looked at every dress option...I found two "maybe" dresses...
The problem I seem to have is that dresses either scream "look at me!!! I'm a skank ho!!!" (and a FAT skank ho at that!) or "excuse me, I am on lunch break from my business casual office job."
Whatever happened to nice dresses for church or whatever?? I don't want to look like I'm in my 50s (my Catechism class this year guessed that I was almost 40...I'll be celebrating 28 this summer!) but I don't want to look like I'm trying to pick up Johns (with very bad eyesight and a thing for fat chicks, of course!)
So, still trying to figure out what to wear to above mentioned wedding...
So, in two weekends we are going to the wedding of a college friend who may be the world's most fashionable person...(okay, maybe I shouldn't go that far...but she is the most fashionable person either one of us knows!) Hubby is going to be a reader at the wedding, and I am having the dilemma of what I should wear...
You see, the last dress I bought was for Charlotte's baptism...I love the dress, but since I bought it to wear in DECEMBER...I'm thinking it might not work for a summer wedding. The last dress I bought before that was for my SILs wedding (and really, I just don't like the dress that much...a little more matronly than I want to look!) which was also in DECEMBER the year before...
Then my next newest dress is one that I bought before we last went to the Midwest Catholic Family Conference (which we will be attending again this year)...unfortunately, the last time we went was in 2002...the other two dresses that I have in my wardrobe were bought for me by my mom...probably in 1999 or 2000...
So, I went to every website I could think of that might sell plus sized women's clothing, and looked at every dress option...I found two "maybe" dresses...
The problem I seem to have is that dresses either scream "look at me!!! I'm a skank ho!!!" (and a FAT skank ho at that!) or "excuse me, I am on lunch break from my business casual office job."
Whatever happened to nice dresses for church or whatever?? I don't want to look like I'm in my 50s (my Catechism class this year guessed that I was almost 40...I'll be celebrating 28 this summer!) but I don't want to look like I'm trying to pick up Johns (with very bad eyesight and a thing for fat chicks, of course!)
So, still trying to figure out what to wear to above mentioned wedding...
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