Carry On...

While Noah was busy scoring his first touchdown in flag football, his brothers were busy doing this...

And this...

No...I did not feel the need to ask Jake if he'd eaten some dirt...I think it's fairly obvious.

I'm the mom who was actually relieved that there was something for them to do so I could watch the game. ;)

Carry on boys...carry on.

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Imaginary Shopping

OK, so there's a little Internet past-time that I love.


I like to call it...imaginary shopping.


Here's what you do.

Go to your favorite website. It can be clothing or home furnishings or whatever would be fun to purchase but you totally can't afford.

Key word: WOULD be fun to purchase.

My personal favorites are here and here and here.

After getting to your favorite site, the fun begins. You simply shop. Put outfits together, plan a room, dream away. No need to look at prices either...fabulous, no?

Each time you just click "Add to shopping bag/cart"

When finished, you get to look at all your "purchases" and admire what a great shopper you are. Then...

you leave. Do not proceed to the "checkout" button. THAT button must be avoided at all costs. Do not checkout. It's not part of the game.

I will not be held personally responsible if you, lets say, CHEAT and purchase something.

See! No money spent...and placing those finds in your imaginary shopping bag feels, if just for a moment, like they were yours.

I know what you're thinking..."it's just not the same"...I know, I know. BUT, it is really helpful in figuring out what you really truly like...what your style is. So maybe, just maybe, when you find a cheap inexpesive knockoff somewhere, you'll totally know what to do with it ;)

Now...go enjoy... *smiles*

Seriously...how weird am I that I really think this is fun!?! :) Weird-O

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Do Not Blog List

The other day I noticed my Labels/Stuff I Write About list along my sidebar...and thought geeesh, that's a lot of stuff.

But in reality, all the stuff I don't write about would make a much longer list.

When I started blogging, I knew there were certain things that I would not be able to share with the blog world.

In relationships and especially in ministry confidentiality is key. After all, who's gonna wanna come pour their heart out to me if there's a chance I'm gonna post about it?

I call it my "Do Not Blog" list.

You see, where I live it's a small world...a very itsy bitsy teeny tiny little world.

Tiny Town
+Tiny Church
+20 minutes away from small town where both my husband and I grew up
= Microscopic world.

You add in those three elements, and it is amazing how quickly people can connect the dots. There's no use in trying to disguise names in order to share...my world is just too small. And, I like it that way.

Here's my list: (some of it anyways)

• Ben, my husband: Oh sure, I'll do it occasionally, because he really is a great husband, and daddy, and pastor...but I'm selfish, and I like to keep him to myself ;)
• Frustrations involving: immediate family, extended family, Church family, friends, acquaintances, tiny-town residents, our school system, etc.
• Private conversations
• Annoyances (unless it's just with myself :)
• Difficult circumstances that involve anyone in my real life
• Church "business"
• Anything that could totally humiliate my boys or anyone I know.

Guess what...that's a lot of stuff...a lot of my life that can't be blogged about.

Which pretty much leaves the list of things on my sidebar, which boils down to a total and complete hodge podge (I love that word.)

I love reading your blogs...getting a glimpse into your lives. I realize though, that it truly is just a glimpse.

So, I'm curious. What's on your "DO NOT BLOG" list?

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It Was 1997...

Certain things get better with age.

My hair is one of them.

I give you: Our Engagement Picture (i.e. my hair with a perm) 1997

10 years later...

No more perms for me...no more hair for Ben...and boy, do I like it better that way *wink*

You're welcome for that my bloggy friends....you. are. welcome :)

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I May Need to Talk to the Teacher...

I pulled this out of Noah's backpack yesterday.



Crack me up.

I asked him if his teacher knew what a blog was, he said "yeah, kinda...I explained it to her."

So I asked him to explain it to me...and he smiled and told me he "couldn't remember what he said."

Oh how I'd love to hear his explanation that he's now too shy to tell me:)

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Where Has My Coolness Gone?

How can it be happening already.

Noah, my first grader, is acting like an adolescent.

*gasp*

We were at a restaurant eating, and Eli stood up and did something silly (typical) and Noah said to him, "Eli, people know you're my brother and when you do that, it embarrasses me, STOP."

Ben and I gave each other the "are you kidding me?!?" look.

I did what any loving and totally sympathetic mother would do, I told him "get used to it." and then proceeded to tell him that "someday even mom and dad will embarrass you...on occasion."

And do you know what my child, my 9 lbs 13 oz first born said to me?!?

"you already do sometimes." and then he giggled.

Sucker punched...right in my jiggly mommy belly...by my seven year old.

I proceeded to explain to him exactly how cool his mom and dad were...and he stared at me and then returned the favor of the "are you kidding me?!?" look.

Surely I should be able to keep my cool factor till at least Junior High...but first grade...that hurts :)

Friday night we went to our first home football game and I wanted a picture of them all decked out in there school spirit attire...check out Noah's expression...

It says it all :)

If anyone figures out where my coolness has gone, please let me know...I'd like it back *wink*

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Little is Much...

Where do I start...

• Last night was the kickoff of our Bible Club for kids (for this school year) It was beyond fantastic! 42 kids...and in tiny-town in tiny church...WOW...all because of Him. We also had over twice as many adults helping as we've had in previous years and I can't even begin to describe what a huge blessing/encouragement that is to me! There's a theme God has placed on my heart this year...Little is Much When God is in It :)


• My official ministry roles are wrapped up for the week, and today, I get to just focus in on my family and I love that in a whole different way.


• I always refer to Noah and Eli as "the boys." Ya know...

Boys...come down and eat

Boys...brush your teeth, eat breakfast, get dressed...on and on

Boys...stop hitting/kicking/punching/provoking each other

Yesterday at Target, Jake said to me, "I need to get treats for my boys...my boys like these."

It was cute.

• And now...some visuals of what I'll be tackling today...for your viewing pleasure (seriously, it will make you feel better about the condition of your own home)

I give you example 1: "The boys" room...

And another view:

And another:

And then there's Jake...who can't seem to resist the urge to dig into anything gooey, greasy, or sprayable.

His dresser...who knows what that is smeared on there:

And this concoction is wads of toilet paper that he got soaking wet in the bathroom and then "cleaned" his garage thingy with...

Lovely, isn't it?

My boys are especially gifted in the "making disasters out of anything" department...it makes a mother proud. *wink*

Off to clean...

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