In order not rant over the stupidity of this swine flu scare....I will do a picture post.


Dad of the year. This is on our zoo trip a few weeks ago. It was our first day of the year over 70 degrees...we were sooooo happy!


Picnic lunch at the zoo.


Tea time with Lele!


Our group shot at the Creation Museum. I love how the Frye girls are hanging on Joshua. Joshua told me the other day that some day, God was going to move Joshua back to Texas so he can marry Alyssa. Pretty funny since we've never talked about marriage except that he can't marry Leah or Hannah. He didn't say we were all moving back, just him. We'll see.


My first loaf of bread from my fresh ground flour. I used hard red wheat, hard white wheat(prairie gold) and spelt. It is a sourdough loaf and tasted good but didn't rise perfectly. I've made a better once since then.

Robert is down now too. I hope I don't get sick and if I do that it isn't until he is good and well and able to keep things afloat. I hate having to care for others when I'm sick myself. Ok, hate is a strong word, but you know what I mean. I'd rather just keep plugging along, caring for my fam.

Swine flu....maybe. Who knows? Who cares? My kids have had the exact symptoms for the last week...still coughing. Good thing we use our Young Living oils faithfully. I'm not worried, even though we were in the same town as a confirmed case last week to pick up some resale books.

Our media drives me crazy the way they sensationalize everything!

Random stuff.

Trying to be productive this week. Last week was entirely a nursing week. I was proud that we only ate out once...until I crashed on Friday, but that is another story. Robert has a dinner meeting with their board of directors tonight so I have over time today. We are going to run a bunch of errands and get some much needed purging and donating done. I am going to bake some bread since I won't have to have it in the over right next to the bulb to be warm enough for it to rise. I'm really enjoying baking bread and using my grinder although I haven't gotten to much and the whole process is still intimidating to me. How's that for a really long run on sentence?

Kids are doing better. They are all still coughing now and then. Leah is still sleeping really hot, but that is good to burn those germs off. Hannah only napped a tiny bit yesterday afternoon, so I hope today is a good nap day for her.

If you haven't tried Teeccino, you should. I love it and am sad that I am out right now, waiting for a shipment to come in. You can try their sample pack of all ten flavors for $12. It is a great deal. www.teeccino.com You should do it. So good and good for you, unlike coffee, which isn't. I like the Jave, we both like the Hazelnut and Robert loves the chocolate, go figure. There weren't any of them that I didn't like.

More on my health later...off to enjoy this beautiful weather and be productive. Praying for no headaches this week. We hit 87 yesterday, yippee!!!!! Hannah's feet were uncovered for the first time in her life.

Oh, and Hannah is super long, but the skinniest baby I've ever had. I've also lost weight faster than with my other 2, don't know if there is a connection. She still isn't crawling and has no teeth.

In the trenches....

Leah is doing better. Fever gone but diarehea here now.
Joshua has a really nasty cough.
Hannah is coughing some now too.
Mommy is bleary eyed but pressing on.
Daddy is I'm sure exhausted since he hasn't slept well either and has 2 back to back audits this week.

Hang on for the ride......

We are tired. I was up holding Hannah all night on Sunday night because she was running a high fever. Monday, she was fine but a little tired. Last night, Leah woke up throwing up and running a high fever. Up alot with her, although Robert got up and helped last night too. So tired. Hope it skips Joshua and Robert and I.

We have had a great weekend! I love weekends that are just family fun....of course, it helped that God blessed us with BEAUTIFUL weather on Saturday. I needed a beautiful weather day.

On Saturday, we headed out to the zoo. I packed us a picnic lunch and Robert loaded up the wagon and we got there shortly after opening. It was so fun to be there as a family. They've opened some more of the exhibits from the winter break, including the Australian Adventure, which of course I love. I miss waking up to roo's and wallabee's eating in the yard. The kids and Robert climbed up thru a huge treehouse and then slid down the giant snake slide. It was fun. Robert made the mountain trek up to the cats and gorillas pulling Leah in the wagon and Joshua on his shoulders, crazy! This path is sooooo steep and long. This zoo was horribly designed, but we were just happy to be out in the warm sun. We had our picnic at some tables on the swan lake and it was like it was our private area. No one else was around and we had a lovely little meal including fresh strawberries and Ningxia Red. We headed home about 2 when the zoo was getting really really crowded and got the kids naps. I got my grocery run in for the week, which meant I didn't have to do it today and got a nice nap instead. Last night we got the kids to bed and admired our pink arms from the sun and Robert watched nascar/baseball/basketball while I read and baked my first loaf of sour dough bread using my new grain mill. Lovely evening.

This morning we went to church and Pastor Will preached an awesome message. He did an over view of Romans, that we are going thru right now, and it was just great. One of the best things was when we got home. Joshua sat down at the table and started drawing out the chart that Will had drawn up on the white board while he talked. Joshua kept saying "there is a God and he HAS spoken!" This is why we keep our kids with us in church. Awesome! We came home and had lunch and family nap time, YIPPEE! Now the kids are in bed and we are winding down the evening...preparing for another week. Robert has a crazy busy work week and the kids and I will do our normal routine, although hopefully with a little more schooling than we've been doing lately. Joshua is really wanting to do more school, I guess his lazy Mama should be more diligent, but I figure we've got a lot of school years ahead of us...why rush.

I'll try to get pics of the zoo trip up tomorrow!

Our Trip to the Creation Museum

Last Thursday we all got up with Robert at 5AM and hit the road. Robert headed north to work and we headed south to Cincinnati. The drive up was uneventful. We made the 4 hour drive with only one stop, and that made me hopeful for a smooth trip home too. We pulled up to the Creation Museum about 10:20. Angela and I had been on the phone and so I knew that they were running off some energy waiting for us. We pulled up and I casually stopped the truck and asked Joshua who those people were. He said, calmly, the Frye's...and then hysterically THE FRYE GIRLS! There could have been tears in his eyes just from his voice, but I couldn't see his face all the way in the back of the truck. I told him he could unbuckle and get out. Angela came over and he JUMPED out of the truck and into her arms. It was such a sweet moment for me. I hurt for Joshua that he is so lonely here. It is hard on him and hard on my Mama's heart. I knew that we were going to have a FULL day of friends and fun.


I know that this picture is all blurry and horribly lit but this is how Joshua and Alyssa spent the day. Those two just have some kind of little bond that is so sweet. Joshua loves Amanda too but he and Alyssa just jive with each other.
We came in and immediately saw huge life size dinosaurs, moving. It was fun.


Here is a slide show of some of the rest of the day. Take note of the real and very life like Adam and Eve, in the garden before the apple....naked. We were getting a little nervous as we went into each successive room, especially when we came into the room where they were bathing...were a little worried about what would come next, lol! It was all so amazingly beautiful!

This day made something very clear to me. I've always nodded at good art but I can't say that I have ever really appreciated it. This museum is a gift from God. He had to have specifically created these artist to be able to produce such amazingly beautiful detail on such a large scale. It was stunning. The detail and beauty were just overwhelmingly true. There are families from GCC that I've always known were artists, but I must say that I am so thankful that God created families like the Cole's, Mucha's, Lichnovsky's, Woody's, Watson's and so many more. I could never even conceive of the creations that are just natural to them. Isn't wonderful how God created each of us for His own purposes.

We packed up to head home about 4:30. I had a headache that was getting pretty intense, but had a cup of coffee and hit the road. We hit downtown Cinci right at rush hour and I'm so grateful because I was in intense migraine pain and was pretty certain I was going to puke at any moment. Thankfully, all of the kids were sleeping so I could be in misery alone. I don't know how I made that drive home, except for His grace. We made it. Not near as quicly or smoothly as getting there, but we made it. Hannah was really fussy the second half of the drive and Mommy was too. All of that still didn't remotely dampen how awesome the day was!!! I highly recommend the Creation Museum, especially if the Frye's are there!

Resurrection Day 2009

Tax Day Tea Party, Medina OH

We attended the Tax Day Tea Party in Medina yesterday. I'll start updating our last crazy busy week in pics in a bit.

I will post updates soon but this morning I just can't. A friend here lost her 34 year old husband yesterday. He went to the gym and just died. They have three lovely children and she is pregnant with number four. I can't imagine her pain, but know it has to be unbearable because I hurt so bad for her and I never met him. Another friend in Texas lost her husband last week too. This hurts and it is scary. Neil was 4 years younger than Robert. I know we all have a time appointed by God and that these men are now with Him, but it hurts for us here. Bonnie posted that she wishes she just would have touched him more.

We are here and doing great. Enjoying a very special family weekend. I'll get Creation Museum pics and story up next week. It was fabulous and well worth the trip from any where. Absolutely beautiful.

What a wonderful day today. It is funny that I sit here and want to write that right now. My children were quite the challenge today, including a public bar room brawl at the library that left me shocked at their behavior and horribly embarrased that it came out for the first time in public. Nap time was extra challenging with Leah especially and Joshua is just a challenge right now.

But my God is good, all the time. Here are a few ways that He showed me His love and mercy today....in no particular order.

-We only have about a half inch of snow on the ground right now instead of 2 inches that were predicted.
-When the above library incident happened, I didn't loose my temper and kill my children right there in public, or in the bathroom. I calmly asked them both to come and we were leaving....and they did.
-My friend, Cara , got some really awesome news about her boys in Haiti, and I got to be on Facebook chat with her when it happened, which is really amazing because we've never FB chatted before. I mean, this is soooo exciting, you should go check out her news and pray with us.
-I just started my first batch of sourdough.
-In five days, I'll get to make my first batch of homemade bread using my cool new Bosch mixer.
-I've found a source for organic grains and they will even be delivered by their organic foods delivery service. How cool is that?
-I have a really awesome husband that loves me!!

Finally, and this one is the most important!!!!!!!!!! this week I get to celebrate that Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior died on a cross a horrible and mocking death. THEN, three days later, He ROSE AGAIN!!!!!! He reigns in glory and intercedes on my behalf to the Father. How cool is that. And how awesome that I live in a country where I can freely and openly celebrate!!!

We had a nice weekend. Saturday I got some sewing done, including liners on the kids curtains since the sun is staying up longer than they are supposed to. Sunday we did church and family time. We did get pretty Easter dresses and a little suit for Joshua. Yesterday, Leah and I found a very pretty hat to match her dress. All set for Easter. We get to start our family readings in preparation today. What a blessed week to walk thru each year!

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude this week, but I must say the fact that we are expecting 1-2 inches of snow today and more tomorrow is making that tough. It is a gloomy thing to be sitting in April, leading up to Easter and wondering how much snow we'll get. I need some warm/hot Texas days to cheer me up. The Lord has been merciful to us. Mr Tomek said that they usually get 18 inches of snow in March and this year we just had one inch. Thank you Lord. And we've even had a few days in the 60's. It felt so good to just walk around in jeans and a tshirt in the afternoons. One day, I even ventured outside barefoot. Soon. Right?

Kids are good. I have'nt broken the surprise they'll get this week yet. I did tell them yesterday that we are going on a trip on Thursday. I'm not telling them that the Frye family will be on the other end of that trip. I better warn Angela to tell the girls to brace themselves because Joshua will probably SCREAM and tackle them. And hold their hands all day! :-) I'm excited about seeing a friend too. And I'm pretty excited to see the Creation Museum as well.

We've had a great week and I am tired. We have half a cow in our freezer, yummy!!!! And finally got to have dinner with the Lohnes, although the boys were both working. My kids are worn out. Wed night was a late night with small group and then last night was late with the Lohnes's over and everyone is dragging today. Tonight is a nice quiet and EARLY family night!!!! It is rainy and cool here, but that is ok with me. I wanted a quiet down day today. They've also taken most of the snow out of the forecast for next week, and I like that too!!!! Happy weekend everyone! I've got to get some Easter dress shopping done and I hope to hit up the really huge and awesome nursery here. I need something to be living around here. Although, the grass is starting to green up and some of the trees have a few buds on them. Spring really wants to be here, but from what everyone keeps telling me, we have another month before we are officially done with winter. Crazy!

In limbo, I have lots of stuff to get done today and tomorrow but I'm waiting on one major thing to get scheduled before I know when I can do everything. Frustrating. Anyway, tonight we have small group, yea! Tomorrow, I think the pastor's family is coming to dinner. This is our third time to try and get together but things keep coming up for them, I think that is normal for pastor's, in my experience. So maybe this week. We also get our side of beef in this week, who hoo! One more step in my stocking up efforts. AND, I got my grain mill and bread mixer in yesterday. So, I can start grinding my own grain and making our bread soon. This is all really exciting to me. Can't wait to get going.

Kiddo updates.
Joshua- He's so big. He's reading really well and wants to read all the time. BE glad when he is reading totally independently because I think he is going to go nuts. He LOVES Hannah. I mean, LOVES her and I can see why because they are identical twins. It cracks Robert and I up. He's all boy. Loves playing outside. Loves to work. He's happiest when he is doing work with us. He's a good kid. Tests my patients with all of his never ending questions somedays but a good kid.

Leah- SPIT FIRE! This girl is crazy. She's hysterical funny and can crack anyone up but man she is HEAD STRONG. I have no idea where she gets that. Like my Daddy always says, I kept all of mine. She really is a mini me. I just love her.....and wish she were a tad bit easier to raise. lol! She likes Hannah but doesn't dote on her the way Joshua does. She sneaks her loving in when we aren't paying attention or she thinks we aren't. She keeps up with her big brother just fine and no one can convince her that they aren't the same age and size or that he is more advanced than her in anything.

Hannah- She's growing like crazy. She's about 18 pounds now but seems much bigger. Every time we are out people ask how old she is and then ask if she is big. Don't know exactly how they mean that, but all of my babies are big. She seems pretty normal sized to me. She's rolling over but isn't big on rolling all around the room. Not like she ever has to get anything herself anyway. She is starting to sit up unassisted, but hasn't quite perfected it yet. She gives me big big hugs when I pick her up and that makes R jealous. Of course, I don't think he's realized that she is really just trying to get to my hair that she loves to chew on. She babbles and chats all the time and she is a DROOL MONSTER. Seriously. She's really laid back and just tags along for the ride of the Lachney express. She's been a really easy baby and even sleeps thru the night sometimes. That is pretty cool in my book. She'll be 7 months old this week, that's crazy!

Snow on the ground this morning. Should continue light snow this morning and then change over to rain, I think. Our pastor's wife, who also grew up in the South, told me yesterday that they more often than not get snow on Easter. Blech! Snow on Easter. Aren't you supposed to have beautiful backyard picnics with your church family on Easter. Oh well, I'm still going to try and organize a pot luck or something with our new church.

I'm doing better. Need to update on the kiddos, they are doing awesome. So big. We are going to a playdate this morning, unless I chicken out because of the snow. I think the roads should be super clear....right?

Ok, so now that you've gotten to watch the clips below, I'll share this. That guy has been requested to come to the White House to discuss the disturbing nature of his clips. Really.

So, if you didn't believe me that these were worth watching before, check them out now.

In case you haven't seen these....you should.

however, don't mail a tea bag, it won't get thru security. Put one on your rearview mirror and attend a Tea Party on April 15th. More details on those later....

I AM GOING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY TODAY!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?????? HAVING A GOOD DAY!!!



and she did!

Funk funk go away....come again...um, no don't come again another day.

Way too much computer surfing today, but don't even feel like updating my own blog. blah blah blah

I'm here. Better than before, but realing a bit. This last round really did a doosy on my body and my spirit. I keep reminding myself that God has placed me exactly where I am, with these children and my awesome husband. He isn't surprised that my body isn't holding up so hot right now. I don't expect Him to miraculously cure what ails me, although I would be so grateful if He does. He may just have something special to teach me in my path of sanctification here....and for that, I want to long for it. I know looking back I will be grateful for it. I pray to be grateful now.

I know that last weeks episode was triggered by some bad food choices. I had that blizzard, not a normal occurance for me. Then, at small group on Wednesday night, I had a brownie and some mint choco chip ice cream. I'm pretty sure that the artificial colors and preservatives in the two things sent my body reeling. On Thursday, I knew something wasn't right and by Saturday I was in full eruption mode. Aren't our bodies amazing.

I do keep our diets pretty clean, and I'm glad I do. I just need to be much more observant of what I put into my body, especially at times I know that I am weakest, like when I have a baby.

I saw a new chiropractor this morning and got worked over!!! So, I should be on the mend. Pounding the water today because I know I will start really dumping toxins after the massage and adjustments she did on me. Of course, I'm thirsty all the time right now anyway.

In exciting news, we have a babysitter tonight. Two of the Lohnes children (our pastors fam) are coming over to watch J adn L. I am speaking at the ICAN meeting tonight about achieving VBAC!!! I'm really excited. Robert and Hannah are going to come along to watch.

Thanks for all of you support ladies. Your posts and emails mean alot to me. More importantly, your prayers do!

Headache is still here...day three. I hate this.

Everyone is sleeping or they are supposed to be. I'm pretty sure that Hannah is playing in her crib instaed. Hey, if she'll play herself to sleep, I'm good with that. Robert and the big kids got up and went to church this morning. I had a bad hormonal migraine hit yesterday afternoon and I"m still recovering from that. I knew that I wouldn't be able to tolerate music today and maybe not even sun light, so Hannah and I hung at the house. Robert offered to take her too, which is kind of comical since she's never had a bottle. We haven't even tried with her.

Our other two wouldn't take bottles, no way no how. Ok, Leah did one time. I had a salad with a bunch of bleu cheese on it...it was delicious...to me, not Leah. She went on a nursing strike about about 30 hours and I was panicing that she was weaning early. Our sweet Mrs Woody came over and some how got Leah to take a bottle until she started nursing again. But, she never would take it again. Joshua took a bottle in the NICU but wouldn't for us ever again. So, since we haven't had anyone around that we would trust our baby with anyway, we haven't even tried with Hannah. Who knows, maybe she'd suck it down..... I could use the break.

I really have to figure out some way to get me cleaned up and going again. I'm pretty sure I'm having yeast issues, if not a full blown systemic infection. I have craved sugar soooo bad since having Hannah. This is more worrisome because I've NEVER been a sweet eater. Put a plate of brownies and nachos in front of me and I'll take the salt any day....or used to. Now, it is like I have to have sugar. I know that is making things worse. I need to do a yeast cleanse but Hannah is still too little for me to do any kind of cleansing. So, somehow, I have to come up with the will power to stop the sugar..... I really have to.

Starting about Thursday of this week, I have been so hormonal. Super crabby and down and blah....remember my blah post. Friday was not as blah but more martyrdom of how I never get anything for me, blah blah blah. Saturday when I woke up, I could tell that something was brewing in me. I didn't feel right and I figured something was going on. After Hannah's morning nap, we headed into downtown to hit our food coop store for this quarter and while we were there, I had a full blown migraine hit. When we got home, I popped some homeopathics and took a boiling hot shower and went to bed....being woken up every two hours or so to nurse Hannah, of course. And of course, last night is the only night this week that she didn't sleep thru the night either. Blah.

I'm doing better today. Have that lingering migrainey hang over feeling. You know, the one where you aren't sure if it could come back at any moment. Anyway, I need to start being serious about my health again.

Oh, and to add insult to injury. On Friday, I was trying to find a belt to hold up my pants. I grabbed some out of my belt drawer. I never wear belts, and so I haven't tried these on since I got married, really. Well, of the three I pulled out, not a one of them would go all the way around me. Like, their ends didn't even meet. I was annoyed and disgusted. I didn't expect them to fit great, but I thought they'd at least go around me.

Tortilla Soup

Here is the tortilla soup recipe I start with...of course I play every time.
3 T EVOO
4 corn tortillas, I use more
6 cloves garlic
1 T fresh cilantro, I use the whole head
1 c onion
2 cans tomatoes
1 T cumin powder
2 t chili powder
2 bay leaves
2 cans corn, I use one can and one bag frozen
2 quarts chicken stock, I use one box

Cook some chicken. Sometimes I grill and sometimes I boil, doesn't matter. Saute tortillas, garlic and cilantro, all chopped in oil. In a blender, blend one can of tomatoes with the onion and can of corn until smooth. Add to the tortilla mix and bring to a boil. Add seasonings and other tomatoes and corn and stock. I also add black and sometimes red beans from a can. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Here is the part that makes it super yummy. Serve it with crushed up tortilla or corn chips, diced avocados, cheese and sour cream. Then sprinkle on some reserved chopped cilantro. Seriously awesome stuff!

Last time I made it, I also blended in some extra mixed veggies, just for extra nutrients! My kids love this, as do we.

My super awesome friend Kelly has a wonderful and uplifting post on her blog today, and if that is what you are wanting to read today, then check hers out here because that ain't gonna be what you get here today.

Ok, now that half of my reading audience, meaning everyone but my Mom, has moved on....I'm blah today. Just plain old, blucky blah. I can't even blame it on sleep deprivation because Hannah has finally found that she can suck her thumb when she wakes up at night and has therefore slept all night the last two nights...ok, until 5:30 when she is starving, but I"m calling it all night....it is Robert's all night after all.
Our pastor and family were supposed to come over for dinner tonight and that has been our ra-ra motivation around here the last two weeks and has actually gotten alot accomplished, but Pastor Will had to be gone for a few days, so that is rescheduled for next week. And so I have no reason to unblah today.
In order not to feel like too much of loser, I have still fed my children and myself(that being the big stretch here since I'm sick of eating) two meals today. I have given baby all needed naps and have even done reading with Joshua and read to the older two. Check....good Mommy duties.
Since I got those off my list, I went blog surfing...and since I'm a foodie or at least want to pretend to be, I surfed food blogs....

and in case you are wondering this is not the smartest place to surf when you are already blah....and THIS is even worse because I already know that I love her recipes and I want her ranch (the real one, not the dressing, although her recipe for that is good too). So in my best judgement of all time, I think I am going to load the kids up for a drive........to Dairy Queen for a blizzard. TAKE THAT BLAHS! ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE!!! OH YEAH!

It is sunny and 64 right now. Life is lovely. Tonight we have a chance of snow after a front comes thru this afternoon....and life is still lovely. My baby is napping, kids are getting to play outside....I have a moment of peace on my computer. I live a wonderful life!

Tonight we have small group. I'm making Tammy's tortilla soup. Yum! I hope it comes out nice, it always has, but it would be my luck that it woudln't when I'm making it for other people.

I'm rereading Reforming Marriage. GCC is doing it as a study in their men and women's meetings and so I am reading along. I forgot how much I really like that book and highly recommend it to all of my married christian friends.

I need to get back to working out, but I'm scared. I don't want more headaches. I really need to find a good chiropractor again and get thru this phase of post partum so I can get fit and looking good before the next Seago wedding in July.

High of 65 and sunny today.....we are off to the zoo.

My knight in shining armor arrived in his tan minivan and strode in, strong and proud. He quickly grabbed his Allen wrenches and went to work. Not a cuss word was spoken and before you could say "Joshua and Leah, bed time" all was right with the world again. My beloved Kirby is charging ahead! YIPPEE!!!! He said that a piece on the transmission toggle had slipped off some how and that the Porsche transmission in the Kirby is a good design. That is the highest compliment you can receive from my husband!!! He's my hero!!!! He saved the day and probably a couple hundred bucks to fix it!

I remember a few years ago, a friend wrote about her beloved Bernina dieing on her and her anguish involved. I now know that feeling.

I'm about to cry. Kirby just broke. Those of you that have known me for a while, know that this is very traumatic to me. I love my Kirby. Really. Things like this don't normally bother me, but I seriously am going to cry. I don't think it is a completely dead kind of injury but still. She and I have done some beautiful cleaning together. I just want her to be better....so I can finish cleaning my house. I love my vacuum cleaner. It's been a good 7+ years.

We had a lovely weekend. Saturday was nice, for here. Temps were in the 40's and it wasn't too windy. We got lots of honey do's done around the house and then went to pick up our milk and eggs and hit Chik Fil A for dinner. Unfortunately, Saturday at CFA right now is buy one get one free milk shakes, TROUBLE! Thankfully we don't live very close to a CFA, so we rarely rarely eat there. We even got a quick grocery trip in before we headed home, which was nice because it meant I didn't have to do the shopping while everyone else napped on Sunday. Yea!!!

Sunday we got up and headed to church. We really really like our new church. We don't know alot of the families yet, but we are getting to know the pastor's family better and we really love them. They have 5 children. Twin boys that are 18 or 19 and then three teen daughters. Joshua has a little crush on one of their girls and all I hear about all week is Martha this and Martha that. It is very cute! And Martha's favorite color is red, in case you were wondering. Pastor Will is preaching thru Romans and it is so great to be back under solid teaching. He is using a white board during his sermons and it is nice to have visual support for the message. And, this morning, Joshua even asked me about some of the diagrams from the service yesterday. This is why our children worship with us. I knew what he was talking about when he asked and we had a lovely discussion about the trees of knowledge and death.

At the end of the service, Pastor Will said his family had won free Chipotle and so that was where they were heading for lunch, and so we went as well. It was fun getting to eat with new friends. We are really liking what we've seen of the Medina area and will be buying around there once our house sales in Texas. If you remember, please say a prayer for our house to sell. We'd really like to be able to buy a house to move into when our lease is up here in June.

The rest of the day was a lazy one for me. I got a nap with everyone else, a very rare occurence for me. Then got to chat with one of the Guthrie girls on Facebook for a bit. I made a yummy spinach quiche for dinner and then to bed.

Today we have to get this house whipped into shape. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 65 degrees and sunny. We will NOT be in this house tomorrow! YIPPEE!!! Our first real glimpse of spring....I'm pretending that we don't have snow forecasted for Thursday....la la la la lal ala lalal .... I love the Nile, la la la la la. Wed night is small group, I'm making chicken tortilla soup for the group. THursday our pastor's family is coming over for dinner. It is almost feeling like a GCC week. YEA!!!!

Tomorrow, a real post, but until then, a funny youtube video stolen from my friend, Kelly's blog. I thought I'd lay off of the liberals for the weekend since I do happen to have some close friends and a Grandpa that are quite the crazy liberals!

I don't believe in divorce, but...

DIVORCE AGREEMENT
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, thi s relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).

We'll keep the capitalism, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street . You can have your beloved homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .

You can make nice with Iran and we'll retain our right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values... You are welcome to Islam, Scientology , Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N... but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing , Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World .

We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.

 

I have a headache. I am so tired of having headaches. I just want a friend that I can call and cry to and they will come over and play with my children so I can sleep. I miss the Guthrie girls and Ruth and Sarah and Peggy. They alwasy took care of me when this used to happen. I miss my friends.

We had a lovely weekend, although we didn't do anything spectacular. The weather wasn't amazing that it apparently was every where else in the country, but it wasn't freezing either and that in itself was nice.

Saturday, Robert and Hannah and I started the 419 step process to get our truck registered here. We spent 4 hours and stood in 12 lines and got the first three steps done. Really. It is rediculous how messed up the governmental systems are in this state. Robert and I are college educated and it is difficult for us to navigate the system. It has to be really impossible for some people. They throw money and more money at systems that make no sense, and that is stupid! Anyway, hopefully we can get some more of it done this week. Until then, we just don't drive the truck because it is illegal.

We did get all take a walk together Saturday afternoon. People are always oohing and ahhing over JOshua on his bike and Leah just being cute, then they realize Hannah is on my back and you should hear the comments then. You'd think I had a family of 16 or something. Hello people, I only have three children so far...deal with it. I'm not asking you to take care of them in any way. Heck, we don't even use our health insurance that we pay for ourselves. Oh well, I take comfort that the liberals are breeding themselves out of existence.

Sunday we got to go to our church again, YEA!!!!! This was only our second week and we already love it. The message was great and it is so nice to be under real teaching again. The music is pretty good too. Not Dan Woody good, of course, but much better than we've seen alot of.

Ok, Hannah is sleeping and that means I need to get a workout in.

Am I potty training?

I was just thinking this morning that if I were God, I would look at me as a potty training toddler. You know I posted the other day about Leah doing so great....ummmm, jumped the gun on that one. We've had accident after accident since then. She just gets to busy to make it in time and her accidents are usually right next to the potty. But this morning was different. I got her ready to go play outside and asked her. Do you need to go potty? No. Don't poopy or teetee in your panties. Ok. 30 seconds after I got her outside she came in and said she needed to poopy, I asked her if she did in her pants and she says yes. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I JUST TOLD YOU NOT TO POOPY IN YOUR PANTS!

Anyway, if I were God, I would feel that way about me. I pray for peace, joy, love and patience with my children every morning, as soon as I wake up. But then 5 seconds later they come in the room and start fighting and ignoring any instructions I give and I"m anything but patient, loving and kind. If I were God, I'd be saying "I JUST GAVE YOU PEACE, JOY, KINDNESS and LOVE FOR YOU CHILDREN AND NOW YOU...."

Thankfully, I am not God. For you see, I am a sinful, fallen, imperfect creation. God is not. He is perfect. And HE loves me and He IS all of the fruits of spirit. Thank you Lord.

No Capes Here

In case anyone was confused, there are no capes in my closet. I know, shocking, but I am NOT super MOm!!!! Someone else must have that title, not I. And because I am not super Mom, we have ants. Sure, if I had vacuumed after every single meal and snack like Super MOm would, then my little blessings mountains of food crumbs wouldn't have been there for the taking, but I'm not super Mom. Who knew that ants would still invade our little world when we had snow on the ground and temps in the single digits. It is bewildering to my little southern mind, but our Creator made those little critters HARDY!

So, for the last week, I and Joshua have been tag teaming to vacuum the kitchen and dining room about 20 times a day, literally. Every time I see an ant, we break out the good ole Kirby (that I still love, don't konw if I've written about my love for my vaccuum here or not but, 7 years later, I still love her) and get em. I've been using our favorite non toxic bug spray, Orange Guard. Works well to kill them in Texas and California, but just like the government here in Ohio, the ants are more annoying and persistent. I also started feeling just yucky and run down and very overly tired (yes, more so than my usual I have't slept in 5 years tired). I just thought I was still run down because I didn't get any recouperation when I got sick a few weeks back....yup, no cape here but babies expect to be cared for, sick Mommy or not, cheeky little things...

But I finally realized on Tuesday that I've never used the Orange Guard when I couldn't open up the windows and ventilate and air everything out before. Texas and California are kind enough to let you do that. And hey it is safe around pets, kids and good...package says so, but not for non Super Moms, apparently. So, I stopped the orange guard and am now feeling better. But those pesky ants..... so, since I didn't feel like googling the natural ant killers that I should know off the top of my head, I just dumped a bunch of my Young Living Peppermint oil where they were coming in....haven't seen one since. I love my oils!

I also got back on the wagon and worked out this morning, which leads me to my latest dvd review. I got the Biggest Loser Workout DVD #2. I LOVED #1 but am just ok happy with #2. The instructor guy has some funky, nasty gay looking hair do with an 80's tail and all, YUCK! And there is a new little peppy instructor girl that is pretty annoying and her movements aren't that great. So, I will only do this one a few times and quickly send it back to Netflix for my next installment. I think I have the 30 Day Shred up next in my queue. Lord help me!

I was right about Leah. We bought her some big girl panties this weekend and she's had no accidents until this morning, but that was my fault really. We ran an errand and I forgot to make her go before we left. As soon as we got home she was half way to the potty, with her pants pulled down and didn't make it. Poor girl. But, today is laundry day anyway, so no big deal. She's a potty training super star!!!!!!

A few other things I forgot to mention about church #14. They did family worship time and then the kids left for Jr church (not our kids of course, the others) and THEN they pull out donuts for the adults. Cracked me up!!! After service, they did announcements and I just wanted to jump up and down to volunteer. They have one family that is moving this week, she lost her father last week with the funeral yesterday and she is early prenant and having problems. They were talking about who was going to clean their house for them and then who was going to grocery shop to make sure their pantry and fridge were full when they moved in. I LOVED IT! We are going to the pastor's small group tomorrow night!!! I'm a little nervous because I hate meeting new people and the fake get to know you junk, especially in a group, but excited too!

What an amazing weekend!!!!!
First, Joshua started officially reading. And then Robert took us to Olive Garden for dinner where we met the nicest couple. Very conservative. It was like visiting with a family from GCC. A nice break from our normal surroundings. I thought that was a nice little gift from God and was thankful for some fellowship...even short in the waiting area of a restaurant. THEN....

Today, we visited church #14! And, WE'VE FOUND A CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!! Just like with Grace in Texas, we knew the first time we visited that it was our new church home. We are so excited. When we got in the car, I asked Robert my usual blah "so, what'd you think" We both busted out laughing and he said "that was encouraging". They are a nondenominational church that has been there for about three years. The pastor reminds us of a mix of PT and Mark Brenan. It is a small small church. Meets in an old fashioned theater kind of place on the square in downtown Medina. We are pretty excited because we've been eyeing some homes with land in Medina....hmmm, conincidence...I THINK NOT (said in my best Dana Carvey SNL voice)! There are homeschoolers in the church, but not all of them. The pastor and his wife talked to us quite a bit. When we started talking about doctrine, the pastor just lit up when he heard we are reformed....as are they!!!! Isn't that awesome! They aren't family integrated but what a blessing to find a reformed church here!!! And finally, and the funniest thing of the day for Robert and I was when the pastor started the sermon and said.....Turn in your bibles and stand as we read in ROMANS 2!!! ROFL!!!! We talked with him afterwards about the fact that GCC just finished going thru Romans. We love this place already!!! God is so good!!!!!!!!!!

Joshua just read six Bob books to me. I can't believe my oldest is reading. So cool! I'm so stinking proud I could cry!

Looking up here. We are above freezing today and last night and the newest snows have melted...although they are to return again this weekend, but for today the kids and I enjoyed a jaunt to the zoo. It was still too chilly to do outside zoo stuff but we wandered around the Rainforest again. We got to hang out with Reggie, a new friend, and her children and it was nice to be out. Hannah was so awesome. She loves the Ergo because it keeps her really close to her Mama, just the way she likes it.

Leah is getting big girl! Her potty training is going. She is really good, as long as she's naked. Joshua was the same way. Although, sometimes L waits too long to head to the potty when she needs to poop and well...you konw. Still a process. She totally doesn't get it when I put a pull up on her though. I think pull ups are just too much like diapers. The only reason I use them is becasue they are easier for me to pull up and down....which I guess is the point. I'm kind of considering buying her some big girl panties and just going straight to them. I think she might get it better when she wets them. We'll see.

I'm tired. We've had late nights all week. I don't remember why on Sunday and Monday right now, but I"m sure it was probably tv related. Tuesday was the presidential liefest....I mean, address. Last night, we sat up reviewing resumes for the positions Robert is trying to hire for. There were acutally some possible candidates in the latest batch, so that is good news. Our family NEEDS those positions filled because Daddy is wearing too many hats and is starting to drop balls. Thankfully, only at home so far...where God has given him a helpmeet to pick them up for him.

Joshua is a bit challenging right now. I think he is too bored to obey, honestly. He needs stimulus and I don't mean from the government. Thankfully, the weather is slowly changing. Although we are still getting snows, we are also getting breaks here and there. HOpefully soon we will be able to start getting out more. I'm hoping to start hitting library story hours and maybe find a MOPS group or something for some social interaction.

Church #14 this week. Sounds promising. I'll keep you updated.

We had a quiet weekend. Didn't get to visit a church because Robert was sick. It was his turn after all. I think I got him pushed thru it. He went to work today, no surprise there. He always goes to work.
Yesterday, I got to go pick up milk, go to Target and get groceries all by myself. It was in a blowing snow storm, but I didn't mind. Roads were fine and I enjoyed myself. I had a Starbucks at Target and wandered around, took my time. I even found a clearance section tucked back in the men's underwear section. Score, since Robert needs some more under shirts and some driving gloves. It is on my radar now.

When I was grocery shopping, I found lower rib roast that was $73. I didn't buy it. But it made me appreciate our organic farmers that don't price gouge. We have almost a quarter of a side coming in April. Organic and loved by its farmer. $2.96/pound for all cuts. Awesome! I will be getting some lower rib steaks and roasts! Can't wait. We are trying to get completely stocked up with all necessities because the next year could be really interesting for our country. I think the media is calling us the "Bubba Effect", nice. You know, us weirdos that are getting ready to take care of ourselves in case our government screws things up even worse than they already are....yup, bunch of quacks us. We really should just go stand at the white house with our hands out like everyone else I guess. But no, we plan on having gardens and putting up our own food and providing for ourselves and our family on our own. We are a bunch of messed up crazies!

Mainstream VBAC Coverage

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1880665,00.html?imw=Y?iid=perma_share

As you all know, this is a story that is very impactful in my life. Hannah was a VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans). I had to fight and I mean FIGHT to have it be that way. I am a member of ICAN, that is quoted for stats in this article for Time. Please read the article and get the word out. This is a huge problem and it is only going to get worse. We have to change the birth environment in America.

I wonder how a depression will affect this, hmmm? Maybe no one will be able to afford hospital births and we can get back to safer home births!

I have a headache. I'm sick of having headaches. I've had them my entire life and I am soooo sick of them. I think these are the same ones I had after I had Leah. We figured out that they are blood sugar related and that I am probably pre diabetic...no surprise there with my family history. I found a supplement that worked well then, but I ran out and am waiting for it to come in. This makes me mad. I just want my body to work right.

Robert is really stressed out. He's pushing 80++ hours of work a week into about 60 and of ocurse still not getting everything done. He's trying to hire the person to take over the interim position he is doing but there aren't any good applicants. All you hear about in the liberal media is hwo awful the economy is, unemployment every where. Well, Robert and several of our other friends that are trying to hire for good, management level positions say otherwise. He can hardly ever find an American applicant, much less one that is remotely qualified for the job. It is rediculous!!! Seriously! And it isn't just management. He needs some engineers too and those applications are worse. Almost all of them are from India. Where are all of these Americans out of work?

Well, I think they are happily sitting at home waiting for the hero Obama to feed them money for sitting on their butts. It makes me want to puke. They say we are headed into a depression and I say GOOD! Maybe it will wake up the lazy, me me me, give me everything for nothing losers that are the majority in our country now. Maybe it will make people start taking care of themselves and possibly they will actually teach their children to take care of themselves as well. Do I look forward to be short on somethings we like to have...not really, but if it will get some attention to the rediculous issues we have in our country then bring it on! We are preparing. We are out of debt and are tightening tightening our belts up to save save save cash right now. We are stocking our freezers and pantries and when the big crash comes, we are ready. I'm not scared.

Most importantly I'm not scared or worried because this is all in God sovereign plan for our country and our lives. Obama is here now and doing what he is doing because God has allowed him to be so. I'm thankful to serve a loving God that cares for His people and I believe He loves and cares for us enough to allow us this pain. Maybe He's saving us from something worse. Or maybe it will be worse than we can imagine, and that is justified too. Our country is in a nasty, awful place and it isn't just because of politics. The church is defiled and families are defiled. What we hold up as good is filthy. I pray for mercy from God, but I also pray for relief.

Well, I am feeling better. Still a nagging little cough in the mornings, but no biggie. OH and when I am trying to nurse Hannah to sleep, of course. But.........brace yourselves...........Hannah slept from 10:30 until 6:45!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA HANNAH!!! We will see if this will be repeated or not. I won't konw what to do with myself if I have a baby sleep thru the night before a year old. Her naps are stinking it up this week, but we'll work with that if she'll sleep thru the night!

I had a whole bunch I wanted to write about but...it has taken me three hours to write this much and Hannah is fussy again...so

ok, I'm back...for the moment
Hannah is getting so big. She is really playful now and always want to be a part of the action. It is really fun.

Leah is potty training. She tells me in the morning not to put a diaper on her because she wants to ride the potty train. I think that she thinks that she is going somewhere soon...and I've chosen not to correct this little in accuracy at this point. She is doing well, although she pooped on the floor this morning when she was squating down to put on shoes. Other than that, accident free for several days now.

Joshua is really turning a corner. He is growing up and I like it. He's a good kid but man he can be moody some days.

Robert is still working two full time managment positions at his new job. He and I will both be soooo glad when they hire someone for his interim job....gotta go