Those Carefee Days of Summer Are Gone...

I'm beginning to feel the crunch of school and deadlines. I'm wondering how it'll all get done. I am spinning so many plates right now. Many are getting neglected. I'm sure that I could probably organize my time better so that I could spin them all more efficiently. My house is really going downhill fast as far as neatness goes. I have so many memos from the schools of my children tacked up on the bulletin board. There are fees to be to pay and forms to fill out and papers to write and a sign to paint and laundry to do and meetings to attend and books to read and cross country meets to go to and stories to tell and schools to contact and go to....
I think you're getting the picture. Tomorrow I am going to the local public library to return 20 children's books and I am going to check out about 20 more I think. On Friday I went to an elementary school in Geneva to observe in a library. I loved being there. On Tuesday I will go to another elementary school here in my town. On Friday I will go to a middle school. Next week I will go to at least one high school.

Meanwhile...my house is getting messier and messier by the minute. I can't stand it, but don't have the time to devote to really clean it the way it needs to be.

A Project

Today I decided it was time to do a little project. I decided to paint this lovely bed black. It looked good white...as long as it was going to end up in a girl's room. You know that shabby chic look that's in? But the truth is, this bed wasn't going to work in my 13 year old son's room. Way too girly. So Allen and I went to Lowe's and bought primer and black spray paint.

It's still drying, but here it is so far. We also bought new drawer handles for a little desk that I am also going to paint black for his room. More on that another time!

Old Family Photo

This is a picture of my grandparents, my Mother and 2 older brothers. Hanging out on the swingset in the back yard of the house I grew up in. I'm guessing it was taken in about 1959. Now a days, you can't even see the fence anymore. There are evergreens planted along it now and they have grown quite tall. Three of the people in this picture are in Heaven now. Grandma and Grandpa...and Dan(on the teeter-totter). My mother is almost 73 now and must be on oxygen 24 hours a day. She carries a tank of oxygen everywhere she goes. Wow. Time really changes things. It keeps marching on. Which is why I am glad I have hope in the Lord.

Walking to School

On nice days in the fall and spring, we choose to walk to school. Today was cool, so everyone needed a light jacket or sweater...but the sun was shining brilliantly! Who could complain? Occasionally our neighbors join us. This morning the little boy and girl from next door walked with us.

We always take the dog along. He feels that it is his personal responsibility to deliver the children safely to school. After we walk them to the door and we say good-bye and the kids go in, Sherman always looks up at me and I say, "You did a very good job." And then I pat him on the head and we go merrily on our way home.

Here's Irene, the crossing guard. She knows my dog by name (but not my kids) and he is always happy to see her.

She's always pretty cheerful...even on the more frigid days.

Blossoms

There are blossoms on my crabapple tree now. A robin has made a nest there. I attempted to take a picture and she scolded me severely. I apologized to her, telling her that I would never hurt her or her family. She didn't believe me. She is suspicious of everyone who comes near. Sherman and I were on the porch. I was working on my Bible study homework and Sherm was laying at my feet. Suddenly we heard a ruckus! Sherm jumped up with all the hairs on his back bristling. He began barking...but neither of us were exactly sure what it was he was barking at. Then I saw it. Two squirrels running for cover. Mrs Robin was dive-bombing them and flapping her wings like mad!

Down Memory Lane

A few years ago I made scrapbook pages for a calendar for my mother in law. This was January's page. Alicia was small enough to take a bath in our kitchen sink. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment back then. All 3 kids shared a room. We had a living room, eat-in-kitchen, a bathroom and 2 bedrooms. On Alicia's first birthday, we closed on a new house. Tomorrow I will try to post pictures from 'closing day'.

My house in the watercolor

I've recently decided to learn watercolor. This is my rendition of my house. Someday when I'm a well-known accomplished watercolorist you can say..."I knew her when she was first learning it..."

My humble home

It's nothing fancy, it's not in the best neighborhood...but it is home. We have lived here for 7 years. This Friday marks the anniversary of the day we closed. We've done quite bit of work on the inside. When we moved here, there were 2 electrical outlets in the entire upstairs and no light switches. Each bedroom had a light bulb with a pull chain to turn it on. The drywall in the master bedroom was so bad it was crumbling. It was duck taped in some spots and there was a piece of plywood nailed to the ceiling to keep it intact.

For about 8 months, we lived in the downstairs while we gutted and repaired upstairs. We ran all new electric and added outlets and switches. Looking at the old wiring made us marvel that the place never caught fire!

We still have work left to do. Maybe someday we will get to the outside! For now, peeling painted asbestos shingles in "granny smith apple green" will have to do.

Shadow "Paintings"

Even though I am tired of snow, I thought this was interesting enough to photograph and post. We had gotten a light dusting of snow, then the sun came out and melted everything except for what laid in a shadow. Here you can see the shadow of our crabapple tree and the peak of my neighbor's roof.

My house in the snow

Here's my house. This was taken this morning. Just to give you an idea of the size of the snowbanks, I am 5'6" tall and the snow banks at the end of my driveway come up to about my chest.

Me...an update.

The drywall is up. Mudding is being worked on. It is coming along quite well.

I have access to a sloooooow computer. (better than nothing)

I have carpel's tunnel in my right wrist. (Finally went to doctor) I am wearing a wrist splint...not all day, but particularly at night.

Sorry so short. Trying to conserve wrist. Blessings to all!

Back to the Basics

Yesterday I took the kids to the dentist. There was a mennonite boy waiting in the lobby for members of his family to come out of the examining room. He had a hat similar to the one shown here...except that the mennonite men and boys in our area wear black straw hats without a ribbon. He observed my children quietly. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. I watched as the family came out...two women in dresses and caps...holding a baby and another boy about aged 8. They sat in the waiting room for awhile...quietly chatting in their Pennsylvania Dutch. After speaking to the dentist, they left without fanfare...probably to resume activities at their farm on a dirt backroad. I couldn't help but envy them a little for their simple livestyles. They are hardworking citizens of our community and quiet...they aren't distracted by computers, television and the technology of today. They rise up with the sun and go to bed at its setting. I was looking at this boy and thinking he probably works hard on his family's farm...while I can barely get my children to do a sink full of dishes without a fight.

I returned home and began the busy task of fixing dinner. I had the kids each pick up 10 things to help straighten out the house. I felt myself getting frustrated at seeing so much stuff. Toys and gadgets everywhere. Too much stuff! I thought again about that Mennonite family and wondered what their house looks like. I'm sure they have far fewer things. The basics. Instead of sitting on the computer in their spare time...they play a game of checkers or write a letter to a relative in Pennsylvania or Indiana. I often long for a simpler lifestye. Sometimes I imagine getting rid of everything extra, selling the house and moving to a log cabin and living off the land. I probably wouldn't last 2 weeks...but its a dream just the same. And then in the next moment I catch myself wanting things. A new camera with all the gadgets to download pictures quickly. New living room furniture. Siding for the house and new porches. A nicer car (no rust!!!). A new pair of black dress shoes. Art classes. The list never seems to end.

I woke up in the middle of the night worrying. Our front porch is literally falling off the house and needs to be rebuilt. How are we going to afford that? Should I just get a job and give up the painting? God, will you help me learn more business savy so I can be more successful? Our health insurance is dropping Jamie and I as of September 1st. What are we going to do? How can I get a job and still take care of our home and children? I won't take them to daycare!...

This morning I found myself going over the same things and thinking about the Mennonites. I felt short-tempered and frustrated. "I've got to get back the the basics," I thought as I grabbed my Bible...which had lain neglected for a few days. "God, what are you trying to teach me? What am I doing wrong?" I opened to the following passage:

Colossians 3:1-3
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Lord, Help me to set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. Help me to do what you have called me to do and be content with what you have blessed me with. Forgive me for being frustrated and angry and worried. I know you promise to take care of my needs. Amen

39!

Jamie and I decided to try some healthy recipes. The other night he made some low-fat chocolate chip cookes that were awesome! We decided to try again tonight. We made some banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. They were horrible!!!! They were the most blah cookies I have ever tasted in my life. We ended up tossing the whole thing. What a waste! I say that there is something to be said for eggs and butter!!! There is an Amish community nearby and their baked goods are to die for! You can be sure that those Amish ladies use all the best stuff! Butter and eggs...straight from the source!

I have this horrible sweet tooth. I am trying to cut back because I can no longer eat the way I did just a few years ago. Yep! I guess I'm getting older. I used to be able to eat anything and I remained skinny. Not anymore. I think I could stand to lose a few pounds. I'm getting discouraged because I am looking like a frumpy old lady. I need a new look!

That's why the profile picture I use is from 2001 when I was 34. I can fool all my cyber friends into thinking I still look like that! (well...now you know the truth!)

Scilly's Spot

I'm feeling a little bit frustrated today. My house is a disaster. I just can't seem to get on top of it. I'm also tired of living in a house that is under construction. I just want a house that is finished that I can be proud to invite people over to! Is that too much to ask?
It just seems like my time is constantly demanded by everyone and I can't organize it to get everything done. It seems like I should be better at this whole homemaker, mom, wife, me thing! Right now as I am writing this, my dog is crying and nudging my arm because even he wants something from me. To be fed? To go out? I just can't do it all!