The Simple Woman's Daybook 10.12.09

FOR TODAY October 12, 2009

Outside my window...The sun is not up yet. a couple of streetlights shining and a small light glowing through the woods from the next house over.

I am thinking...hot water! I don't appreciate what I have until I don't have it. We are now on day 4 of no water heater and I continue to be amazed at how much we rely on that thing. Laundry, dishes, showers, washing our face. I am beginning to think the life of the Amish isn't all it is cracked up to be! :)

I am thankful for...In-laws who live close. After one experience trying to "spit bath" in freezing well water, I sure do appreciate going to my in-law's house and showering in warm water. Saturday, I decided to bathe the kids at home rather than bugging Papaw again. After boiling 7 pots of water only to go return to the tub and find they had all drained out, we decided on bugging Papaw again. He was SO gracious...imagine our not so quiet family of six intruding on his peaceful, football watching Saturday evening!

From the learning rooms...One child down, he is hanging out with a buddy who is on Fall Break. Hopefully today will be an easy school day and then they can get a "life lesson" as they help, okay watch, as a new hot water heater is installed. (Please let it be today, please let it be today, please let it be today)!

From the kitchen...Well, that is a good question. We have eaten out far too much this weekend, definitely don't need to spend the money. But clean up is a pain...again with the hot water! It involves boiling water, washing by hand...okay, I am spoiled! Anyway...I am not sure. But I promise to feed my family. Something!

I am wearing...pajamas...hey, I can't take a shower yet!

I am creating...Christmas lists...only two and half months till the big day, yikes!

I am going...well, probably to the grocery store and to Nana and Papaw's to wash underclothes. I have been washing most stuff in cold, but I just can't bring myself to wash underclothes in cold! Since we are about to run out, I'm heading over there, maybe we can sneak in some showers, too.

I am reading...my Bible, that is it, no time for more.

I am hoping...to have a lovely new water heater installed by day's end. We have decided (probably) to go with a tankless heater. It is more expensive in the beginning, but there is a pretty good tax incentive and it is supposed to save quite a lot on your energy bill. AND, you never run out of hot water...I may take a two hour shower before the evening is through!

I am hearing...the hum of the computer. Okay, it is really more like a groan. I have a sneaky suspicion this little guy may be the next thing to kick the bucket around here.

Around the house...Laundry and dishes. They have been piling up...hopefully today will be the day we get back under control!

One of my favorite things...C'mon, you know what is coming! HOT WATER!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week:Post office, tutorial, gymnastics, guitar, baseball and Saturday we have to choose between a Hayride party and an engagement party. Why is it you have no social life and then everything is planned at the same time?

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Tigercub "helping" with pledges. He LOVES to hold the "Bibo"!

Have a great week and check out The Simple Woman's Daybook for more Daybooks!

Coffee Talk 10/09/09

Good Morning Ladies, I missed our "talks" last week. Hope everyone had a great weekend and has had a nice week this week!

Grab yourself a Diet Soda and a doughnut and have a seat. I hope this post finds you doing well.

We have had a good week here in the Tigerden. Last week was plagued with sickness, although a trip to the Dr. said it wasn't the flu. By week's end, everyone in the house except Football Boy and me had fallen prey to the bug. However, based on what I have heard from others, we did get lucky because each person only felt awful about 3 days and were then able to get back into the swing of things. Most folks around here have been down for close to a week, so I guess we can't complain!

This week has been a catch up week. Monday we got the privilege of hosting a long lost friend for a few hours. Back in "the day" he, my sister, another buddy and I were tight! We called ourselves the "couch quartet" and spent many hours together watching senseless movies and just having a great time together. I don't think I have seen him since my younger sister got married...twelve years ago! We reconnected on Facebook about a year ago, how fun is that? Anyway, he and his family have purchased a motor home and have been on the "Freedom and Liberty" tour travelling the United States and visiting landmarks, historical places, and Disney (of course). We caught them on their way home and had a lovely visit. Baseball boy is now asking for a motor home for Christmas. I really think he wants one to travel around town in. Bunk beds with DVD players, a refrigerator stalked with food and a bathroom...that is the life!

The rest of the week has been pretty quiet and normal. Until last night. If you know the Tigerden very well, you will know that Thursdays are "date night" for Tigerfan and I. The kids are swept off to bed by 8:00, all our doings get done and at 9:00, we turn on House Hunters, pop popcorn and hang out with a soda and peanut M&M's. I don't even know when this tradition started, but it is SACRED! I don't even cook supper on Thursdays, I fix the kids a "quickie" meal and we don't eat...because that would ruin the popcorn, of course!

However, last night, Tigerfan came in and mowed the yard. When he got close to the house, he noticed water standing around the foundation. He wondered about it, but was anxious to come in. He showered up, we got the kids in bed and turned on the tube. We popped the corn and began indulging. But he kept thinking about that water. So, when the first episode ended and before we got started on the REAL bounty...M&M's, he decided to go check under the house.

Now, if you have read for any length of time, you know that we have had some plumbing issues this year. 7 or 8 to be exact. We have spent a lot of time and money replacing pipes, cleaning up water damage and we still have a hole in the ceiling while we wait to replace our leaky bathtub (which, on a side note, has become a wonderful storage facility for blankets and sleeping bags that I want to hide from Baseball Boy so he will sleep in his bed and not on my bedroom floor!).

Anywhoo, I think you can see where this is going. When he got under the house, he found himself standing in at least 2 inch deep water that covered the entire bottom of the house and the water heater was just pouring water out steadily. We are not sure how long this has been going on...obviously a while judging by the amount of standing water. To make it worse, we have a water source heat pump, which means that the water heater is literally under the house to prevent freezing in the winter. At some point, some owner poured a deck, covering up part of the access hole. So, in order to replace the heater, we will have to totally re-plumb and move the heater to the garage OR cut a new hole in the side of the house that is big enough to get the water heater out and a new one in. Good times! I must say, I am proud of Tigerfan because he didn't have a heart attack right there on the spot. However, if any one sees Ty Pennington or any other member of the Extreme Home Makeover team, we could really use them over here. I have never really been a camping girl, but right now a nice tent and porta potty would at least not be a money pit!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and if you see a plumber, feel free to send him our way! Be sure to check out Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk!

I Have Failed

I admit it. I am ashamed.

You see, we had house guests yesterday. I had a ball getting reacquainted with a friend from the past. Someone I hadn't seen in at least 12 years.

I met his wife. Dancer had a ball with his FOUR, yes four, girls.

The boys offered up great entertainment as punching bags.

We ate supper, reminisced, laughed.

We toured the Motor Home they have been traveling the country in.

AND I DID NOT TAKE ONE SINGLE PICTURE. NOT ONE. NONE. NADA!

Bloggers everywhere are hanging their heads. What kind of blogger doesn't take pictures of that? I am kicking myself!

But we did have a great time, you will just have to picture it for yourself! As we put the children in bed, Baseball boy informed me that he knew what he was asking for for Christmas... a motor home! Santa better get a better job!

The Simple Woman's Daybook 10.05.09

FOR TODAY October 5, 2009...

Outside my window...It is still dark outside, the sun is just starting to peek through the tree line!

I am thinking...of everything that must be done today. We have visitors coming that I haven't seen in ages (they were supposed to come last week but were a little delayed). I also have a wedding shower for a girl at tutorial tomorrow and do not yet have a gift...long story and need to prepare a breakfast dish for it. Add school and normal home maintenance and a trip to the grocery store for some much needed toilet paper, and I have NO BUSINESS on this computer this morning!

I am thankful for...an incredible weekend this weekend. We had a great time with our family and a great day of worship yesterday!

From the learning rooms...a little bit of catch up as we only worked about half a day on Friday, I am trying to channel my more laid back self. I guess that means I can't freak out Monday morning and double the workload!

From the kitchen...Chicken and Dumplings, salad, bread and bacon wrapped green beans...yum!

I am wearing...pajamas and a fleece jacket. I love it when fall weather hits and there is a little chill in the house in the morning!!!

I am creating...again, nothing. I NEED to be creating Christmas lists but I am going with procrastination this year!

I am going...shopping for toilet paper, toothpaste and a wedding gift...now that is an interesting combination!

I am reading...my Bible, that is all I have time for these days.

I am hoping...to not be too stressed out today and lose it with my kiddos. I will be laid back, I will be laid back, I will be laid back...

I am hearing...The hum of the computer and the clicking of the keys...beautiful!

Around the house...Ha! Guest room bed needs sheets, vacuuming needs to be done desperately, dusting, laundry...oh, House Cleaning Fairy, where are you?

One of my favorite things...a visit from long lost friends, worth all the stress!

A few plans for the rest of the week:visit with friends, wedding shower, dance, guitar, baseball

Here is picture (or three) for thought I am sharing...

Welcome to Golf Cart Games at the Tiger Den! Tiger fan is getting golf carts ready to take to Camp Bluebird in a couple of weeks so the kids had fun "testing them out" this weekend.

Football Boy felt the need for a helmet after riding around the yard the first time with Dancer. A feeling I could relate to after screaming "the house, the house, the tree, the pond!" a few times!

Dancer's reaction to me testing out my close up picture taking skills while driving the golf cart...so little faith!















Hope everyone has a great week! For more Daybooks, go to the Simple Woman's Daybook!

The Simple Woman's Daybook 9.28.09

FOR TODAY September 28, 2009...

Outside my window...Yay, the sun is shining for the third day in a row! Now, if I could just get healthy kids so we could enjoy it!

I am thinking...about "kindness" week. We are learning about the fruit of the spirit, kindness and will spend the whole week doing "random acts of kindness" even printed off a "kinded" card from this website.

I am thankful for...one sick child feeling better and two that haven't come down with it...yet!

From the learning rooms...bug collections, writing paragraphs, spelling lists, the usual...if we can get it done between sickos!

From the kitchen...just finished eating a serving of monkey bread, mmmmmm!

I am wearing... shorts, t-shirt and tennis shoes.

I am creating...chaos from calmness--oops, turn that around, I hope!

I am going...to nurse sick kids and hopefully make it to the store to at least buy milk!

I am reading...the Bible and hoping that I can get the Workbox book soon!

I am hoping...that no one else comes down with this virus! We have friends coming Thursday that I haven't seen in YEARS and I don't want to miss out because we are all puny!

I am hearing...A screaming 21 month old...what else?

Around the house...laundry and Lysol!

One of my favorite things...Sunshine after two weeks of rain!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Dance, guitar, tutorial and hopefully a visit from friends!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Just for your amusement this morning...saw this sign as we were driving down the road awhile back. Not exactly sure when a cow becomes classified as used.

Have a great week!

To read more Daybooks, go to The Simple Woman's Daybook

Coffe Talk 9.25.09

Good Morning Ladies! Hope the morning finds you all doing well! Grab a Diet Soda or some Chocolate milk and a powdered donut...I know, my home isn't exactly a dieter's or a baker's dream lately, what can I say...the donuts were on the "oops we baked too much" rack and Dancer begged for them!

I can also offer you some chocolate revel bars which are usually a chocolate lover's dream come true. Unfortunately, I was baking and schooling at the same time and being somewhat distracted, I was a little creative with the recipe. A few left out ingredients, a few extra ingredients--a snack that can never be replicated, but hey, it is chocolate!

If you have ever been by here before, you may notice my new look. Now, I know some of you change blog designs frequently, but I have had this one ever since I moved to blogger at least 2 years ago! And...I did it myself! For a technology challenged person like me, that is impressive! Of course, it took at least 5 hours that I didn't have to waste and lots of frustration. My kids also didn't get the best education that day either! But I am excited to have done it, so I just had to take a moment to pat myself on the back!

In other weekly news, we are beginning plans for the ark that we are going to have to build soon. Ordinarily I get a little depressed when it rains non stop for two weeks. It really hasn't bothered me this time. My ferns are still alive! AND the weather has kept us from ball games, practices, and a couple of other extra curricular activities giving us one whole night this week at home. Total peace, it was beautiful! There is so much to be said for simplicity!

Finally, I am doing a Bible study by Voddie Baucham called "Ever Loving Truth" It is so very convicting. It talks about how politically incorrect it is to speak the truth of Jesus in our culture, but how necessary it is. I have really had it impressed upon me that I need to be more bold and not sit quietly by in order to "keep peace" or not offend anyone. So last night, on FB, an old high school friend made a comment about saying the pledge of allegiance in school but taking out the portion that says "under God". It is funny, because even though I won't see any of those people, probably ever, as I typed a response defending the Name of God, my heart just raced...it is so amazing how much we desire to fit in with a society that goes so against what we believe! Anyway, in a very small way, I stood up for my faith. I hope that as I proceed through this study and grow, that I will become more willing and more able to speak the truth.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We have a busy day, with school, a haircut for Tigercub, guitar and dance. And ball tomorrow...if we haven't floated away before than! For more Coffee Talk, check out Home Sanctuary!

Lessons

On the Lighter Side:

1. I'm just really not even in the running for Mother of the Year. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be supermom. But surely there are a few standards: like being able to walk through the house without tripping over a shoe or maybe being able to eat a meal without first moving a stack of school papers. Then there is always the chance they would interview my children. THAT would surely be the end of the line. Once they had a little sit down and found out from Football Boy that not only would I not encourage Daddy to quit his job and move us all to L.A. to start FB's acting career and then this week we said no to the basketball team--well, we can forget about a vote from our oldest!!!
2. If you go to Jason's Deli on Tuesday night. AND you order from the new girl who is not entirely sure what she is doing. You can feed a family of six for Eleven dollars and some change. Yes! ELEVEN dollars! Plus, she'll throw in a free pickle for Dancer who is devastated it didn't come with her pb&j! I can't even cook for that cheap! Now--if they will just keep hiring new girls...
3. If you stop exercising, drinking your 8 cups of water and drinking your green smoothies at lunch and replace all that with a diet of candy corns, popcorn & M&M's, and chocolate covered peanuts, all that weight it took months to lose will come back very quickly and you will begin to look pregnant again--really NOT a good look!
4. If you leave a pan of uncooked rice out (that was being used in an educational activity, of course) and a certain 21 month old dumps it all over the kitchen floor, Tigerfan will volunteer to vacuum it up while you get the children bathed. Wondering if this would translate to all the rooms of the house...I may just have discovered how to get the house vacuumed this week!

On the More Serious Side:

1. You may or may not know that this has not been the best school year we have ever had (okay, I kid, everyone knows that because I have whined about it non stop for the last week or seven). I have been on my knees more than I ever have in my life trying to figure things out. I will be honest. I have been not only frustrated but just plain mad at God for not "fixing" things for me. On the bright side, I have found a much deeper faith than I have had in the past because despite the fact that at some points I have really WANTED to just stop talking to God, I have found that I can yell and whine to Him and tell Him how angry I am, but I can't stop believing in Him or ignoring His presence and authority. I have been disappointed after pouring out my heart, waking up optimistically to a new day only to find it was worse than the day before--and I have cried out asking why and what was I supposed to do. Things haven't changed much, although I can start to see a shifting a bit. What has changed is my perspective. As an American, I have gotten used to a pretty easy life (still live one, as a matter of fact). My struggles revolve around plumbing leaks and money woes...but I HAVE a house, and a husband, and enough food for my family. I have thought a lot lately about my struggles, and they are real. They are painful and frustrating and exhausting! But God never promised an easy life. I think as Americans, we have grown to expect that, I know I have. But there are many beautiful christian people in other countries who will not have enough food to feed their families today. There are faithful, loving Christians that will go to jail, be beaten, and possibly martyred today in other places simply for their faith! Our life abundant is not necessarily an easy life void of problems...it is a life full of Jesus and of a hope a non christian just doesn't have!
2. Along these lines, as we have suffered through this year, I am learning that I CANNOT do this alone on my strength. I am out of fight. I am tired! But that is where, if I choose to, I can lay down and let my Father in Heaven fight for me. You see, all this time, I have prayed, asked for peace or help or something...and then immediately taken back the control and tried to do things on my own. And right now, my own just isn't enough. I have never really been stripped down to just total dependence on Him, and that is where I am. I admit, I don't like it. I am kicking and screaming and shaking my fist. But in those moments when I remember, I don't have to do it alone...in those moments, I find peace.
3. Be careful what you pray about. A few months ago in a Bible Study, we discussed the growth that you have during a struggle. I realized I had never really struggled through anything. I have healthy children--a healthy family, no marital problems to speak of...other than I keep leaving my shoes out and that REALLY irritates Tigerfan, no major financial woes, no prodigal children. For the most part, I have never deeply struggled. And so, without really asking, I asked. I wanted a deeper relationship with God. I wondered if I was tested, would I stand. And now, here we are. I must admit, though this trial has been quite small compared to what many suffer, God has allowed me to walk through a tough time--and I am embarrassed by my lack of faith, my lack of trust...I have been so easily shaken. And yet--I already feel a bit stronger, knowing that my God has not left me. Understanding that my answers aren't always His, but His are always better. I am not sure how much longer this time of learning will be--I think it is going to be a tough year! But I KNOW that I have a Heavenly Father that is walking through it with me. Thank God for that hope!