7 Quick Takes: February 19, 2010 (Vol. 30)

~ 1 ~

The biggest event of the week around our house has been sickness.  Lots and lots of coughing and stuff noses.  Quite frankly, with three of the five of us on antibiotics, I'm getting really tired of it.  

As I mused on Facebook the other night, "I think my lungs are trying to stage a mutiny.  Don't they know they need me to survive?"  I'm just praying that we'll be a lot healthier by next week's Quick Takes.

~ 2 ~

So now, with being sick, I have found that I am considerably less enamored with the snow.  Eric and I talked about how at the beginning of the winter, we loved the big snows that were coming in.  But, now we're cringing as they talk about things like "significant snow" next week.  I told him that it reminded me of the first two verses of the song "In Like a Lion (Always Winter)" by Relient K.

It's always nice to look out the window

And see those very first few flakes of snow

And later on we can go outside

And create the impression of an angel

That just fell from the sky

When February rolls around I'll roll my eyes

Turn a cold shoulder to these even colder skies

And by the fire, my heart, it heaves a sigh

For the green grass waitin' on the other side

~ 3 ~

I have decided on something to give up for Lent that already makes me nervous to think about.  That must mean it's a big sacrifice if it makes me nervous when I haven't even done it yet, huh?

I decided that starting with the first full week of Lent, I will be giving up the computer for one day each week.  It won't always be the same day each week (not always Mondays, for instance), but it will definitely be one full day each week.  Although I would have loved to have counted from midnight to 11:59 pm as a day, I know that for me (and my crazy sleep habits), I had to say that a "day" will be from when I wake up until I go to sleep for the night.  

I'm hoping that this will allow me at least one day a week to really focus on non-computer things.  Who knows -- maybe I'll keep it up past Easter.  (Somehow, I doubt that.)

~ 4 ~

I was struck by two things this week while at Ash Wednesday Mass.  They are the same two things that strike me each year.

The first is one that I can't even seem to put into words.  There's just something about seeing the parade of people walking by after having been freshly marked with ashes (and told "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return").  There are babies and there are elderly people.  Rich people and poor.  Our mortality is something that nobody can hide from.  But, there is also a sense of unity in seeing it too.  

The second, on a lighter side, is that at some point while waiting for our turn to go up front, I always have to turn to Eric and say something along the lines of, "Is this church a clown car?  Seriously -- where does this endless line of people keep coming from?"

~ 5 ~

Speaking of faith related items, it's coming up on First Communion time soon.  If you're working on First Communion banners this year, you might want to check out some of my popular past posts about this topic:

How To Make a First Communion Banner

More Than 40 First Communion Banner Examples

First Communion Banner Examples

I can't quite believe it, but it's the first time in three years that we don't have a First Communion in our family.  Granted, it was very different for us, but Eric and I both had our First Communion in 2007, then Noah in 2008, and then Jack in 2009.  It seems a little odd to us that we aren't busy with it this year. 

~ 6 ~

I can't believe that I almost forgot one cool thing from this week -- Brenda and I launched a free toolbar for Catholic families/homeschoolers.  I'm really excited at the kind words that people have been saying about the toolbar.  I can't wait to watch as the resource grows.  (If you know of great sites that should be added, please pass them along.  We already have a list of more sites to add, but the Internet is so big that it's impossible to be aware of all the gems out there.)

~ 7 ~

Do you ever feel like you just can't keep up?  I would love to say that it's the illness talking, but I know that's not it.  (The strong cough medicine probably doesn't help either.  So, if this has all rambled, please blame that, as I took it right before writing this post.)  

Every so often I just feel like the things that I think are my priorities are a little out of whack, and like I need to do some things to bring things back to how they should be.  I know where some of the issues are, but I guess I just need to figure out what to do about it.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday.

photos by:  snowflake - circulating  /  keyboard - julian-

Those Moments That Bring Life Into Sharp Focus

It's easy to let life slip by us, isn't it?  I know I'm guilty (too guilty) of finding time to play on Facebook or Twitter, but "forgetting" to do an activity that I told the kids I would do.  Or, I grumble when my Mom asks a favor while I think I am too busy doing something that probably isn't all that important anyway.

I think that there are so many of us that find ourselves caught up in life, but not in the important things -- those things that, if we knew we would die tomorrow, we would wish we had focused on more.  Probably very few (hopefully none of us) would say, "Wow -- I wish I had been more active on my blog."  Instead, I suspect many of us would cite things like our families, our friends, or our church, for example.

Every so often though, something happens that brings life into sharp focus.  You have a sudden clear vision of exactly what is important, and also of what really isn't all that important.  It has been my experience that it usually happens a moment, and it's not something that you expected.

It's something like when we were driving to an All Saints Party in November, and I got the cell phone call from my Mom that started like this, "Dad is at Grandma's house, and he thinks she may have died.  I'm on my way there now."

I vowed that I wanted to bring more focus to my life after that.  But, it's so easy to forget about that once things start to settle.  This seems especially true because those kinds of moments don't usually happen to someone often.  It would seem that I had another one of those moments less than a week ago.  (It doesn't seem right to have them happen so close to each other.)

Let me tell you, while the unexpected death of your 90 year old Grandmother puts a focus on your life, seeing a pediatric cardiologist who is normally jovial walk into a room after "checking some measurements against the normal range" with a serious look and a deep breath, life gets a whole lot more focused.  Then, when words like aortic aneurysm are said as the doctor looks from you to your eight year old child, the priorities in your life become, in an instant, crystal clear.  

I think that over our Christmas break, I need to make some plans to help me live so that my true priorities really come through in my life.  I know all too well that once life settles, it's easy to forget that sharp focus.  But I also know that I need more of it.

If anyone has some great tips of how to manage your time or how to work on priorities, I would really appreciate it!

(I don't really want to get into a lot of medical details right now, but I also don't want anyone reading to worry that we are looking at anything life threatening right now.  Although we'll have to worry about things a lot sooner than we once thought, we're still fine enough for now.)


 





photo by ToniVC

7 Quick Takes: November 20, 2009 (Volume 22)

~ 1 ~

All of the sudden, this week, I woke up one day with a sore throat.  Then, my throat got better, but my sinuses started to clog up.  It just went downhill from there.

Still no fever, and my sore throat is basically gone.  But, oh my heck -- the sinus pressure!  And I have no idea how many tissues I have used at this point.  Do you know how I know it's really bad?  I had to try twice to use the Neti Pot last night and couldn't (it wouldn't flow through).  I finally had to take Sudafed and try it again an hour later.  So not good!

~ 2 ~

Loved the Advent Conspiracy video last year, so I was happy to see a new one this year.  (I tried to post it right here, but it was tried to take over the sidebar too.  So, I'll just link you over to it on You Tube.)

~ 3 ~

Speaking of Advent reminds me of Christmas.  Can you believe that I got my first Christmas card for the year last week?

Okay, before you freak out and think about how far behind you are or have to wonder why someone would send them out so early, I actually got this one much earlier than the sender would have meant for us to get it.  While we were cleaning out my Grandma's apartment, we found a stack of Christmas cards that she had been working on.  She said she figured if she did five a day, then she wouldn't get too tired doing them.  My Mom is planning to send them all out before Christmas and include a note with them.

I left that card sitting on the counter, unopened, for about a week.  But, this week, I opened it and I cried.  Jack, my ever emotional guy, cried too.  After all we've been through since the beginning of the month, it was just still surreal to think it was the last Christmas card we would ever get from her.

~ 4 ~

These last few months have been so crazy busy, and I'm just so tired.  So very tired.

~ 5 ~

While I do hope to get a little down time this weekend, I have vowed that this weekend will be the one to get some things done.  I have a lot of things to work on, and I would love for this to be the weekend that I could look back on and say, "Wow -- look how much I got done!"

 Then again, based on how I'm feeling right now, I think I'll just be happy to sleep in one day.

~ 6 ~

Did I show you guys my date book for 2010 yet?

I love this thing!  It is so cute.  And, I really like that each spread covers two weeks, instead of a more standard one week.

~ 7 ~

Time is almost up for voting in the 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards.  Be sure to pop over there and check out some fabulous homeschooling blogs!

If you haven't yet voted in the family/group blog category, we'd love it if you would consider voting for The Homeschool Classroom.  Thanks!

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Pictures by: Amazon (date book)  /   Chiot's Run (neti pot)  /  CherrySoda! (sleeping doll)

Disclosure: The links to Amazon are affiliate links.  Your purchases on Amazon through this blog helps to support this blog (and our homeschool!).

7 Quick Takes: November 13, 2009 (Volume 21)

~ 1 ~

Thanks so much for all of the kind words on my Grandmother's sudden passing.  It was so helpful for me to be able to write about it, and I appreciate all of the kind words that you guys have left.

We had the funeral last Friday, and spent this week continuing to clean out her apartment.  It has all been tiring both physically and emotionally, but it has also offered so many small moments of joy, as well as time to be with family.

~ 2 ~

In my quest to say yes to the kids a whole lot more often, I have found myself spending a lot more time doing things like listening to books that the kids have written (especially by Molly, who has to read them to me, since they are mostly scribbles with a "mom," "dad," or "cat" tossed in occasionally), playing rock paper scissors,  and drawing with the kids.

Though I have felt so behind in many things I need to do lately, it has also been nice to say yes a lot more often instead of saying "in just a little while," which becomes "how about tomorrow?"

~ 3 ~

  

Speaking of being busy -- how can I always be busy?  And, really -- if a person is always busy, then are they actually busy or is it just their normal?

~ 4 ~

After struggling with whether to get the H1N1 flu shot for the children or not, we finally had the immunizations.  They had been very scarce around here.  So, when the county had a mass immunization, I knew we just had to decide.  Since Jack has a heart defect (and Molly now has a small murmur), I thought that it was probably a good move for our family.

So far, so good -- no side effects.  And, while the shots were free, we did spend an hour and thirty minutes in line.  We also spent $16 on books for the kids as rewards (seriously -- what kid wants to wait in line that long for a shot?), and then $25 on lunch from out.  Those were some expensive shots!

~ 5 ~

The Homeschool Classroom has been nominated for the 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards!

Help us move up a few more places in the Best Homeschool Group or Family Blog category -- we would really appreciate your support! 

~ 6 ~

It was with a lot of sadness that I read this week that my favorite online scrapbook store, Lifetime Moments, is closing in less than a month.  Not only is this an amazing store with great selection and fabulous customer service, but their message board has introduced me to a whole new family and their yearly crops have left me with memories that will probably stick with me forever.

If you're a scrapbooker and have never shopped at Lifetime Moments, you might want to check out their closing sale.  They have 25% off everything in the store with the code of 25-011 at checkout.  Go quickly though -- they are already selling out of an awful lot of things.  To make it easier to browse though, it does appear that they are trying to keep up on deleting products that have sold out.

Goodbye, Lifetime Moments, I'll miss you.

~ 7 ~

One of my favorite song lyrics lately is from You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie by The Submaries:

Love can free us from all excess, from our deepest debts, 

Cause when our hearts are full we need much less.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.

Photos by: [ henning ] (cemetery statue) / kelvin255 (stressed out doll) /  Brent and MariLynn (candy hearts)

7 Quick Takes - July 31st (Volume 10)

~ 1 ~

I'm not sure why I'm nervous, but this week, we talked to a piano teacher about signing up Noah and maybe even Molly for piano lessons this school year.

I don't know if I'm nervous because it will be an extra expense that we probably don't need to do, or if I'm just nervous that it will be hard for them to learn.

We also are setting up Jack with violin lessons. Not surprisingly, that makes me a little nervous too. Oddly, it doesn't make me quite as nervous. So, maybe it's not about money, since we'll have to rent a violin on top of lessons. (You know, unless anyone wants to send me a kid sized violin.)

Wish us luck!

~ 2 ~

I have a little confession to make.

I have absolutely no idea when we are going to start school. I have been busy organizing for a while now, but I still don't know when to start. My goal is to start at least by the time all the kids around here in public school start.

~ 3 ~

My sinuses have been bothering me lately. Because of this, I have been using the neti pot more often. As a matter of fact, I'm seriously thinking about it right at this moment.

And, for the record, that's not a picture of me using the neti pot. Because, really, as good as I feel afterwards, I have never smiled while I'm actually doing it. In fact, I don't even smile thinking about it.

But, it is amazing. And, I always feel better afterwards.

~ 4 ~

As we get ready for school, I have already begun to think of some changes. What's wrong with me?

Specifically -- I wonder if we should switch from Horizons to Math U See. I have thought about that before, because the boys are very visual kids. I just don't know about that though.

Also, I have the preschool Handwriting Without Tears book for Molly, but I'm seriously considering having her use the D'Nealian style of writing (which was kind of how I was writing before I even heard about it). But, I'm having a hard time finding anything D'Nealian for preschool age. Any leads?

~ 5 ~

We had an interesting thing to deal with a couple of times this past week -- hives.

Oddly, at 1:30 am on two different nights, Jack came to find me. One night, he had hives all over his hands and feet. The next night, it was all over. On a third night, he did come out for something else at around 10 pm, and had one big hive on his neck. And, then just as suddenly as they came on, he hasn't had anymore.

Very, very odd. It also made me feel very itchy for him.

I also felt bad for him because on the night that his body was covered with it, I took at least 20 pictures of him. He apparently thought I was going to show them to everyone, but I promised that I was just taking them in case I had to show them to the doctor. (Or, apparently if all the blog readers had to see his hive-covered knees.)

~ 6 ~

We had our Chuck E. Cheese birthday party! And, while it was a bit pricey, it was worth every penny to not have to have everyone over, clean the house, buy a pinata and fill it (because every home party has to have a pinata for us, apparently), and then entertain a bunch of kids.

Instead, I was busy with the party, but not stressed. The kids also all had a great time.

Definitely worth it!

~ 7 ~

This week, I got to start using my newest edition of the Catholic Woman's Daily Planner.

Such a pretty planner. Love it!

Picture credits: neti pot by * debris * / planner by Family Centered Press / Violin & Piano by Section_Eight

How Do You Sum Up Eight Years in Just One Blog Post?

I wrote a long and sordid post about Jack, to commemorate his birthday.

I wrote about how very much we wanted to add a second child into our family.

I wrote about the whirlwind experience of our lives as we prepared for Jack's birth (including moving twice in five days, just two weeks before he was born).

I wrote about the deep depression that I suffered from, silently, during my pregnancy and postpartum. A depression that couldn't be silent anymore once the night came that I considered doing unspeakable things.

I wrote about how God blessed us by giving him a serious heart defect. It was the thing that brought me out of a depression to know how fragile Jack was, and that I needed to love him and protect him. (And I'm sure that's why it has consistently gotten better since then, because it served its purpose. Though, he will still need surgery one day.)

I wrote that of the difficulties of raising Jack. Having been one of those kids that knows how to push your buttons, and then knows to point it out, in case you failed to notice, raising Jack has had to be accompanied by a lot of prayer. (And also the need to always look at those sparkly eyes and shining smile.)

I wrote about how Jack has come in to his own. While he can still be strong-willed and tiring, he has also become this smart and funny boy. He has become a kid that I not only love, but I really, really like him.

I wrote all those things. I wrote all the details, all the emotions. I wrote everything.

Then, I deleted it all. It went on and on, it was so long. But still, it seemed inadequate. There were too many words, but there just weren't enough.

I'm sorry, Jack, in trying to tell your story, I realized that there just weren't enough words in the world to tell it. Not enough words to truly explain the emotions and the experiences.

All I really have that seems to be adequate is to say --

Our family wouldn't be the same without you, Jack. Eight years ago, God blessed us our family with your arrival. Sure, it's true -- you make us want to pull our hair out sometimes, but you also make my heart hurt because it is so full. I love you.

From Sick in Bed to 20 Guests for Dinner in About 48 Hours

About 48 hours ago, I was getting ready to go to the urgent care doctor on the 4th of July. I had been sick in bed for two days straight, with a fever that peaked just under 102 degrees.

That illness also included a pounding, unending headache. I also had horribly stiff muscles (especially my neck and shoulders) that then included me touching my chin to my chest about a thousand times as I said in my head, "Please don't let it me meningitis." (As a little side note -- apparently you can't touch your chin to your chest if you have meningitis.) Then there were the night sweats, inability to properly sleep, etc.

And, here we are, 48 hours later. I'm getting ready for having 20 people over for dinner tonight. Well, actually just 15 extra people, and then the five of us that would be here anyway, of course.

That's a big leap in just 48 hours, I think. Especially when you consider that I didn't know that 48 hours ago that I would be having everyone over. But, that's okay. It's family, and some that we rarely see, so it is a good thing.

If you were planning a meal for 20 with a couple of days notice, what would be on your menu? Would the menu be different at different times of year?

In all fairness, we originally planned to have at least a portion of those people over, but when I got sick, plans were off. Then, when I could do it, even more people could come.

We thought about some things that we already had in the house, to minimize what we had to buy, and we opted to grill out burgers (we already had some here at home), hot dogs (already had some of these too!), and tofu hot dogs. We'll also have corn on the cob, sauteed zucchini (from our garden), chips, and fresh fruit.

And, as an extra blessing, Eric already cleaned/totally disinfected the house this weekend after having two of the kids and I sick.

So, do share -- what would have been on your menu? Or, what's a go to quick meal you can throw together if you had even less time to prepare?

photo by linkerjpatrick

Sometimes I Think It Would Be Nice to Be Sick

I usually think about it when I am really busy. I wax poetic about how I would get a few days to do nothing and would just get to rest in bed.

I now am at the point where I realize that this kind of thinking is idiotic.

Jack and Molly have both been sick for part of the week, and then yesterday, I got sick. And, I remembered that the time spent not doing anything and staying in bed is not fun and it's not really restful. In fact, it stinks.

The kids are finally feeling better, so I'm praying to not be too far behind them. On the up side, I don't think I'll be wishing to be sick again any time soon.

photo by Sakurako Kitsa

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary (aka "Why did you name me Molly?")

Molly was not feeling well tonight. If her glassy, half open four year old eyes and slightly elevated temperature weren't a clue of this, then her words surely were.

She came to me in the living room and pathetically (and tearfully) cried out, "Why did you not name me a Bible name?"

She then continued in her woe.

"You named Noah a Bible name. Why did you not name me and Jack Bible names?" (insert more tears) "Why did you name me Molly? Why didn't you name me Mary?" (insert woe and tears and a sad, sad face)

I assured her that Molly was sweet and lovely, just like her.

Okay, so perhaps she wasn't so sweet and lovely at that moment. But, I knew that she was saying this because: (1) She was not feeling well, and (2) She loves Our Heavenly Mother. It was hard to begrudge her either of these points. So, I did humor her a bit. It didn't really help.

I tried to reassure her again, and this time pointing out that not only did the name Molly come from Mary, but also that we gave her a saint name for a middle name. In fact, I call her by both her first and middle name together about half the time, so we often use her saintly middle name. When we looked up pictures of some of the saints with the same name, it did seem to make her feel a little bit better.

Still -- I think she went to bed pretty sure that life would look a lot more rosy tomorrow if her name was Mary.

7 Quick Takes - June 26th (Volume 7)

~ 1 ~

This week, we enjoyed our first zucchini from the garden. It was so good! We enjoyed it sauteed along with some fresh basil that was also from the garden.

We are hoping that we will be able to enjoy a lot more fresh zucchini as the season continues.

~ 2 ~

Speaking of gardening -- I actually had to weed our garden for an hour this morning. Most of that was spent in a single garden bed. It was just insane.

Apparently I was looking pretty red and sweaty, because the kids kept saying, "Are you okay, Mom?" Finally, Noah (almost 10 years old) asked, "Mom -- can't I go inside and get you some water?" Poor little worried guy.

Of course, the worst part of it all is that there are going to be tons of weeds again by the weekend. Darn weeds!

~ 3 ~

Last week, I mentioned that I thought our new neighbors might not like kids. Tonight, Molly tried to wave to the lady. I was sure that the lady looked right at Molly and turned and just walked away.

Now, I know -- this is not a huge deal. But, who turns their back on a waving four year old without waving back? I'm hoping that she just didn't notice, but Molly declared the whole thing to be "mean."

~ 4 ~

I had my first eye appointment in four or five years on Thursday of this week. Not surprisingly, my prescription had changed. I hate having to pick out new glasses.

Even worse, I had my eyes dilated for the first time ever. I told Eric that I looked like a Cupie Doll, with my giant pupils. Seriously -- my eyes looked like this doll's eyes.

That's just not right.

Also not right? I kept trying to text message while I was waiting for my eyes to dilate. I don't even know what I was writing. Hopefully it made sense.

~ 5 ~

Now, just so you don't think that getting my eyes dilated was all the fun of my doctor's visit, I have to share what happened before I was called in to my appointment.

Luckily, my parents were with me and the kids, because right before they called me back, Jack (almost 8 years old) had been complaining about a stomach ache and then promptly just started getting sick. Right all over his clothes and the clinic's floor. (Oh, and in their trash can and in their bathroom.)

I won't go in to details because it was ugly. But, I will say that neither Jack nor I have any desire to eat French Toast any time in the foreseeable future.

~ 6 ~

Staying on the medical front, one of the biggest things that has been happening here over the two weeks (without my really knowing it) was that I was having several reactions to the Doxycycline that the dermatologist prescribed for rosacea.

It was just crazy, but I didn't connect any of it. I was horribly tired, but kept thinking it was from helping with VBS or from doing things around the house. I chalked up depression to being tired and being sad that our priest (and friend) is being transferred. I thought my joint pain was just because I was doing too much. Of course, I had already read that gastric distress and headaches were side effects, so I was just dealing with those.

Then, finally when I was so tired after a full night's sleep that I wanted to go right back to sleep, I googled for side effects. And, while I am well aware that I can probably find someone online who grows a third eye and claims it was from taking Amoxicillian. But, when I found forum and around fifty people were all posting the side effects I was having, I figured that cinched it.

The doctor said to stop the meds. Well, only after I called and declared that I wasn't going to take them anymore. And, after some time to wear off, I'm feeling a lot better! Yeah!

Aren't side effects crazy?

~ 7 ~

I seriously want to start making us more healthy meals. We're working toward it, but I would love some healthy recipes that are also more "normal" food. We're not fancy food people, but it seems that a lot of healthy recipe sources feel the need to make fancy food.

Anyone have any tips of places to look for healthy and "normal" recipes?

photos by... zucchini by Vanessa Pike-Russell cupie doll by Catherine T antibiotics by sparktography

7 Quick Takes - June 19th (Volume 6)

~ 1 ~

While at Walmart with the kids today, I spent $10 on a bubble blowing machine.

What a totally fun way to spend $10! If the plastic toy doesn't break, it is going to continue to be a ton of fun. I'm glad that I picked up one to give as a gift as well.

~ 2 ~

Speaking of blowing bubbles reminds me of being outside. And, that makes me think of our new neighbors. They are a young engaged couple (with no children).

As soon as we went out to try our new bubble blowing machine, Eric told me that they had been sitting outside and then immediately went inside. He told me this after he said, "I don't think our new neighbors like kids."

I said, "Maybe they were just ready to go inside."

He told me, "I've seen them outside and then they go inside as soon as we go outside."

So, I guess this will remain a mystery, but I'll be keeping my eye on it. Of course, it's not like I can do anything about it (or should). But, now it will be one of those things that I won't be able to not notice.

Operation Neighbor Watch 2009 is officially in effect.

~ 3 ~

Last week, we had a little run in with UPS. I won't get into the whole story, because then I may sound like I can't let anything go.

But, suffice it say, while receiving several UPS packages, I told the driver that one was missing and was listed as being on the truck. He was rude to me, said there were no more packages, and wouldn't go look. Of course, the package that was missing ended up being one that Molly had been waiting for all day long. She was heart broken.

I called the 1-800 number for help, and they claimed that the driver would have to bring it back when he found it still on the truck. I was skeptical. Then, when the customer service agent informed me that UPS has no way to contact their drivers once they are on the road, I knew I could officially not believe a word that he said to me.

Seriously? It's 2009 and they are trying to claim that once a truck leaves, they are completely unable to contact them? Unwilling to contact them -- that I can believe. But, don't try to tell me that nobody has the ability to contact them once they are on the road.

Of course, the package was later changed from "on time" and "out for delivery" to "missed at drop off/rescheduled." I could comment more on this, but I will just let you imagine the nasty words I had to say about it.

~ 4 ~

Oh, Feedburner. Dear, dear Feedburner. Don't you know how crazy it makes me when you drop my subscriber number by 124 people in one day?

I try not to be a slave to the numbers, but I notice these kinds of things. I can't help it. Why do you do that sometimes? And, if you could, would you stop it.

Thank you.

~ 5 ~

On Monday of this week, I had a biopsy of a little spot on my face. The doctor said that I didn't have to have it removed. He didn't really think it was anything. But, apparently the spot bugged my mother, and it seemed like the thing to do.

I worried for a whole week about getting it done. And, then about two hours before my appointment, I had a calm just wash over me. Sure, I did still say an Our Father and a Hail Mary while I was in the chair. But, prayer is always welcome, right?

I'll get the results in two weeks, but I'm not concerned. Quite frankly, the only thing that concerns me right now is having to keep a bandaid on it for a week. My skin itches!

~ 6 ~

And, as long as we're talking about my face -- I actually went to the dermatologist because I was pretty sure I have rosacea. Yuck!

I'm on medication for it now, as he thinks it could be that. But, it also appears that a good portion of the cause for my newly bumpy, itchy, red skin is that I have been slowly killing it.

Okay, perhaps killing it is a bit extreme. But, when he gave me a list of things I should be doing and things I shouldn't be doing to my facial skin to properly care for it, with one exception, I have doing everything I shouldn't be doing, and not doing anything that I should be doing.

Oh, my poor skin!

~ 7 ~


Eric installed the ceiling fan in our screened in porch this week. Because there was no wiring to it, this meant he actually had to punch a hole in the house, wire out to it, and so on.

Confession #1: I was terrified to hear that he would be putting a hole in the house to do this project, though I'm not sure how else I thought he would do it.

Confession #2: I was slightly more terrified when he told me how "lucky" he was that the hole ended up being in the exact right spot (since it was difficult to precisely pinpoint the spot).

He did a great job, of course, as he typically does with projects. I almost said he always does a great job with projects, but he and I both know that we once had to trade in a truck and tell them that although it was still running great, it would no longer stop, thanks so somebody's "repair" of it.

Seriously though -- Eric worked really hard on it to be sure that we would have some breeze out there once summer really hit. And, the extra sweetest part about it is that he even let me sleep in one day while he worked on it. Thanks, Eric!

photo credits:

Bubble photo: //amy// Skin Cream: sunshinecity UPS: iirraa Feedburner: magbag

7 Quick Takes - May 22nd Edition (Vol. 4)

1. Thursday was our very last homeschool co-op meeting of the school year! I love going to co-op and seeing everyone, and my class is really good group of kids. But, I'm super excited to have a few months off!

2. Speaking of time off, as of this moment, we have completed 179 days of school. Friday will make 180, and we will be starting our summer break after that. I secretly am quite sure that I'm about ten times more excited than the kids. And, let me just say, the kids are pretty darn excited.

3. We will actually still be working on math all summer long, as well as reading. I may even throw in some handwriting. Who knows. You know what else I'm going to throw in? Sleeping in and playing video games.

4. As long as I'm on the subject of homeschooling, I have officially become the co-coordinator of our homeschooling group as of this week. I just hope to make it through the next two years with my sanity intact. Hopefully this will teach me the important skill of delegating. Either that, or I'll be committed at some point.

5. Most of my time on Monday and Tuesday of this week was spent at the hospital. My Mom had abdominal surgery, and was in so much pain. Usually, she bounces right back after surgeries, but this one has been pretty hard on her. (If you have a moment to pray for her, it would be appreciated!) She said this was even worse than her total knee replacement!

I spent probably 13 hours at the hospital on Monday and about 8 on Tuesday. I ate a total of three not so great hospital meals. And, despite my dificulty with falling asleep in strange places, I was so tired that I fell asleep on a couch in a pseudo waiting area right on a busy hallway.

6. We finished putting in our garden plants last weekend. But, then on Thursday, I added a couple more, as well as some flowers, just because the kids wanted them in there.

We also were urged by the greenhouse guy to not rip out our new raspberry bush which is currently just sticks because the rabbits ate every bit of the leaves. He promises that if the branches are still green, it is still alive. We now, however, do have a fence around it.

7. I'm hoping that our summer break will find me having time to re-organize the house and clear out some things we don't need. I also have plans to change up our schooling schedule and the like. I'm praying that I can stay on task, and have more to show for my summer than just a rockin' score on Tap Tap Revenge on my iPod Touch.

7 Quick Takes - May 15th Edition (Vol. 3)

1. You can now find my blog easily by going to http://www.manylittleblessings.net. And, you know what, if you forget and put in the .com, it will also redirect. I just could never configure Blogger with the host that I bought the .com with. And, trust me, I tried it about a million times. So, I finally sucked it up and went with a .net. Yeah for an easy web address!

2. It is time for planting our garden. Not only have I not started planting, I haven't even bought any starter plants. (And this certainly means that I didn't start seeds, other than the ones that I started earlier.) I'm hoping to have time to go out plant shopping this weekend.

3. We took a road trip this week to the Children's Museum. It was especially great, as we are counting down these last precious days of the school year.

We went with another homeschooling family, and we were glad that their 12 passenger van allowed for us all to make the trip together. It was a long day, but everyone seemed to have a really great time.

I know that there are a lot of people who homeschool that don't have much contact with other homeschooling families, but I don't think I could have made it through this year without all of the support and love that I have received from other people in our homeschooling group!

4. Speaking of homeschooling, I keep having Math U See pop up in conversations or online. I have wondered if that means that I should be using it. But, I watched one of their videos, and was kind of confused. Finally, Eric said that maybe I just needed to buy the manipulatives and add them to the Horizons Math that we are using now. So, I think it's a plan! Hopefully it will work!

5. Even though we're planning to continue working on math throughout the summer (as well as grammar and reading as well), we officially have just seven days of school left! I can't decide who is more excited -- me or the kids.

6. We watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. I just don't know what to say about it. All I can say for sure (especially without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't watched it) is that I was shocked when I figured out who "John Doe" was just moments before Meredith uttered his name. I promptly gasped and burst into tears. It's going to be a long wait for the new season.

Sure, I have a lot more I could say about the episode, but I won't. Because, well, this is quick takes, and I'm still feeling emotional about the whole thing anyway.

7. My teeth hurt part of last week and all weekend. First I thought it was something seriously wrong with one of my teeth. Then, that whole side hurt and I was in pain every time I ate.

Finally, I used our Neti Pot, and a week's worth of horrible pain was gone. I was about one step away from the doctor's office and a prescription for antibiotics. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Neti Pot maker.

Many Little Links: The Middle of the Night Crying Edition

If you're a parent, you know how it usually goes down. You've either had an exhausting day and are finally settling in to a sound sleep or you are staying up late desperately trying to get something done.

Then, in an instant, your plans for the night change because a child is crying.

As usual, I am up late. This time, it is baking cookies for a retreat. Poor Molly woke up screaming about leg pain. (This is not the first time she has complained about the same thing -- almost always in the evening or at night.)

She is back to bed now, but only after a very traumatic event of trying to drink some Tylenol.

My cookies are finally almost done (and I only almost burnt one pan in all the craziness that happened), and I'll close out with sharing some links that I have enjoyed lately.

• It's Never Too Late to Mend Your Ways -- Home Ec 101
• Living Off The Grid Daydreams -- Frugal Dad
• Creating a Frugal Home -- We are THAT Family
• Fun. PreK Style. -- Life with My 3 Boybarians
• Status in the Sight of God -- Conversion Diary
• Write Them on Your Doorframes... -- Wild Olives (this is seriously too cool!)
• Words, Words, Words: Writing Centers -- ABC and 123
• Come Up With 10 Post Ideas -- ProBlogger
• Simple Doughnuts -- Home Ec 101
• One Pot Spring Garden -- Joy the Baker
• 40 Ways to Go Greener at Home -- Simple Mom (be sure to check out the link at number 3 on the list -- some very cool guest writer did that article. Or, maybe I did.)