When we had lots of relatives here last week, someone asked what Evan is doing now. I explained that though he has applied for several jobs since graduating last spring, he has not found one. So, he continues to work at the Rec center. Anna-Laura asked why no one has hired him. I said I suspected it was partly because he is so young. (He went to college a year early, then graduated a year early, so he is 20.) Anna said, "Yes, but he is smart AND funny!"' As if this was an attribute employers were looking for!





His degree in English was meant to help his entrance to Law school, but when the AF did not pick him up as an officer(and hopefully later sponsor his law school through the JAG program), he had not done the paperwork for any schools. He does have applications in now. And he gets paid decently to Lifeguard, teach swim lessons and coach swim team.

Friday Funny

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, My friend Jennifer "tagged" me for 8 random things in a "meme". Somebody please tell me what that is and what I am supposed to do about it!

Meanwhile: 8 random things about me:

!. I really don't like dresses unless the skirts are long and "swirly".

2. Whistling(other people's) physically HURTS me.

3. I was adopted at 4 months in New Orleans where my dad went to Seminary. The same Seminary my husband now attends.

4. I drink British tea every morning, and don't really care for coffee.

5. I ran cross country and track in high school, too.

6. Michael and I do NOT like cats and can barely tolerate dogs(other people's). I always say I kill plants, and pets overwhelm me. It is all I can do to keep the kids alive. It's a slight exaggeration, but true, nonetheless.

7. I am not a big movie watcher, I just can't stand to sit still that long. But I love to read.

8. I lived in Vietnam as a child, where my parent were missionaries, and it colors my world. For instance, it has much to do with my "pack rat" instinct. Having lost all I owned once, I hold on to everything, and let my children do the same.

We had a crazy busy Thanksgiving week! Just when I thought I might be able to check my email, blog, etc, I discovered that an enterprising relative ahd loaded a virus onto our computer and just about killed it! (well, rendered it useless for several days, at least). I felt totally bereft. I did not realize how addicted I had become to expressing my thoughts and reading other people's blogs.

Savannah is home! In the end, I went to pick her up instead of Michael. I decided that would be better than the consequences of leaving me home with the children! I had just had one of those days when mom needs to take a step back. Please continue to pray for Savannah to really KNOW what she needs to do next.

Ben enjoyed racing in the pre-nationals, but had a terrible cold on the actual day. The rest of us stayed here and continued to visit. I hope to post pictures a little later. Savannah took some pictures of me that are not a total loss.

Menu: Smoked Turkey, Ham, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pineapple casserole, green bean casserole(2 kinds), sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls, pumpkin pie, raspberry ribbon pie, chocolate swirl cheesecake and pumpkin cheescake dip with gingersnaps.

GO Ben! 16 minutes and 32 seconds! 24th in the STATE! He is planning to compete in the Nike Team Nationals this coming weekend! GO Ben!

Trying to think of something funny. Being wildly unsuccessful. Ok, think of something thought-provoking. Again, nothing. So I will leave you with this silly poem Savannah wrote for her dad for his birthday last Sunday. Funny, Sappy, and sentimental. Happy Friday.

So this is the sappy one a poem by yours truly,

Ode to my father of forty-four
Who is twice my age, not a minute more.
It was he who revealed this fact to me,
I was ten, and remember it vividly.
He told me that when he was twenty-two,
He was half the age of his own father too.
He said this had been his discovery,
When he was around the age of ten like me.
As we sat in the car staring eye-to-eye,
I filed this thought into my memory,"
He must have been a smart boy way back then,
to think up such a complex thing at ten!"
And now on the eve of our momentous year
I think back on that memory and it is clear;
You were more than a smart man way back then,
You were king of my heart at the age of ten.
Savannah

Nothing of import to say. Today I have been contemplating the merits of showering at night as opposed to in the morning. Not a deep subject, I know. But one that has made a difference for me. I just feel better somehow, being clean when I go to bed; Like a shower after being at the beach all day. If I wait until morning, I feel like I am just losing time, and then my hair soaks my clothes( as opposed to my pillow, I guess). I prefer to read my Bible at night, too. I just can never be sure when I will be woken up by really short people, but I can pretty much guarantee I will go to sleep after most of my children. So I feel like I have whatever amount of time I need. Just what works for me. But, I would love to know your ideas. I am always looking to improve. Ok, to be honest, I REALLY just like to know what others do that works for them. I actually have a little trouble changing my habits. But not as much as a couple of my children. I am always kidding them about staying inside their little box(-es, I suppose, one for each child who LOVES routine).

Wordless Wednesday

Yesterday I spent the morning rearranging different bedrooms and ultimately the garage to make room for Savannah. She just needs a more private place than the schoolroom! It is slightly annoying that we have no attic. I guess the upside is, we can see all our junk at a glance in the garage, so we can't let it just build up.

In the afternoon, we went out to a beach in the next town over, on the island. It did not seem a big deal at the time, but Trinity got caught in a riptide, and Joel's Friend Will waded in to save her. Just makes me think. She was innocently playing a game of fetch the stick with the waves, and wandered into a dangerous area. I did not even realize she was in trouble until I saw her slightly overwhelmed by the water. I called to her to stand up, thinking she had fallen over. Will just came right in and lifted her up. I did not have time to react. The look on her face, and the degree to which she clung to his neck showed how scared she really was.

Of course this made me think about how often we do this same thing. We become complacent and caught up in our "game". It is too late when we realize that we cannot get ourselves out of the mess we are in. Sometimes we cannot even ask for help. How much more aware of his surroundings is our FATHER? I am thankful today for His omnipresence and omniscience.

Joel and Will

For more pix see: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30009&l=40609&id=725730929

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30005&l=aa792&id=725730929

May you be blessed with the knowledge of his encompassing protection!

The final decision included children in the birthday dinner. They were SO excited! We had a great time, except the diaper bag got left at home!

The kids' musical was a smash! They did such a great job. Unfortunately, Liberty was exteremely moody yesterday, so Michael had to watch on closed circuit TV in the nursery! Enjoy the pix!

See more at : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29931&l=01f47&id=725730929

GO Vikings! Ben qualified for state!

I successfully placed this music video on my blog! It was perfect for my Sunday morning. Thanks, Jennifer! NOw I want to make one with OUR pix. Help, Savannah!

I tried to change my template, hoping to alleviate the issues of the mac users. I found one I liked on what I thought was a free site, but I could not figure it out. My computer illiteracy is catching up with me! In my defense, the ONLY computer class offered at my high school clashed with AP Biology, and since my family did not even own a computer, I figured I would be better served to go with the advanced biology class. This is why I rely on my dh.
Michael's birthday is this weekend. I have no special gift. Can't think of one I can afford. We will have dinner with Mike and Nancy on Saturday. Still can't decide if we should bring the kids or leave them at home. They want to see Mike and Nancy, too.
So, what IS up with this whole "dawn is coming" business? My friend Loree joked that I was getting a maid, then called to say God had revealed that "dawn" was a dishwasher! (get it, the liquid soap?) The next morning, my alarm went off to "I'm forgiven, because He was forsaken", but the next song was Third Day singing "There's a light at the end of this tunnel, and there's a light at the end of this tunnel.." As if this wasn't enough, this morning I turned randomly to an article in the magazine from church about how to live in the fog until it lifts and clears. I guess I did not realize I was in such a dense fog.
Waiting for the new day!

Wordless Wednesday!

Bet you thought I fell off the face of the earth! No, I got the flu. so , I could do Nothing for a day. Do you know how backed up you get when that happens? I felt off kilter until yesterday. As usual, the weekend was busy and fun, and I left the camera filled with new batteries at home!
I got ALL the kids up and went to Ben's race Saturday morning because Michael had to work. He got his best time ever, 16:43! Ivy ran the open with a time of 21:46! In case these numbers have little meaning for you, it was a 5K race(3.1 miles). Ben placed 12th in the district. And I forgot the camera! We are excited for him to do even better this weekend at regionals.
Later we went to Farm day. It was put on by a local church out on a farm(imagine that) and it was free! Food, games, pony rides, petting zoo, a scavenger hunt. And we got the chance to participate in an attempt for a Guiness Book of World Records hayride!
At church, we had a special speaker. This is the strange part. Apparently, long after I had to leave the service (due to small children), the speaker said he had a message for "Laura". I had never even seen this fellow before. Honestly, I did not believe my husband when he said I was to talk to the speaker. When I did, He told me that God wanted him to tell me not to worry, that Dawn was coming. I am still not sure what to think about this.