My Other Life

In my other life I clean a few houses. It gives me some extra cash and the hours are perfect. I can put my kids on the bus, go clean a house, and get back to the house to get the kids off the bus. All my weekends are mine...and so are my evenings. Also...I never have to bring home my work in any form. Clean it and forget about it!

Every good house cleaner needs to know a few tricks of the trade. First off...put on a good pair of "lace up shoes".

Get out your tools of trade.

Put on a few good tunes. I try to remember to worship the Lord...and sometimes I pray while I clean.

This customer happens to live out in the sticks. The view from the upstairs is just beautiful. Sometimes I get here early and sit on the couch in front of the window with this view. A few times I have even borrowed a good devotional belonging to my customer. She's a wonderful sister in the Lord!

Sorry you can't really tell what the view is like from this picture.

On the drive home! I'm always on the lookout for deer. You never know when they'll pop out of the woods. This morning I saw a pheasant..but I couldn't get my camera fast enough for a picture.

Happy Birthday, Audra!

It is Audra's birthday today. She is now 10 years old! We celebrated over the weekend with a slumber party. Four of her friends came to spend the night on Saturday. We took them all bowling, went home for cake and ice cream, and to open gifts.

The night was filled with lots of laughter, talking and giggling. I think they finally settled down around 12:45 am. The next morning was a pancake breakfast and then we took the girls to our church...where there just happened to be a Beach Bash party scheduled during what normally is kid's Sunday school. Sunglasses, shorts and flipflops were the attire for the day.

They all seemed to have fun!

Allen is here wondering if it is safe to come out yet!

Winter Fun

Call me crazy, but I took the kids sledding after school today (plus two friends). Not too far from our house...just a few blocks. The yellow building is the city hall. They all had fun and didn't seem any worse for the wear!

Awana Fun!

Alicia and one of her best friends at Awana tonight with Bobo the clown. He made them each a mouse out of balloons. The kids had a great time!

Train up a child

When I went to go pick up my daughter from Sunday school today, I peeked in the doorway and saw her looking up scriptures. I just happened to have my camera in my purse...so I snapped this shot before she knew I had come. It really delighted me to see her in the Word. I can imagine how delighted our heavenly Father is when we are in the Word as well.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17

We have hope in the Lord

I think I am ready to blog again.

We have had a sad week. Our dear friend Dunja lost her husband so suddenly...just stunning and shocking us all. All of our hearts are with Dunja and her family. We lift them up to the Lord to hold close to his heart. May He comfort them during this time of great loss.

I went to the service today and it truly was beautiful with a strong message of salvation and the hope we have in Christ. Please keep the family in your prayers...they will have difficult days ahead.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Ps 34:18

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Ps 46:1

Icy night walk

Tonight I went out for a walk in the freezing cold with my camera. I wanted to get some night shots of the ice on the trees. I really was not all that successful. I wanted the spire of the county court house in the background with the ice shimmering in the light of the streetlights. This was quite a challenge since it was only 10 F out and using a camera with gloves is very difficult!

You will have to use your imagination since in reality...it looked way cooler than this photo shows.

My fingers were frozen and I couldn't wait to get back in the warmth of my house. The dog was with me and even he was in a hurry to get home.

Icy day

It being Martin Luther King Day here in the US...the kids didn't have school. We woke up to ice coating everything outside. It made the trees into beautiful ice sculptures. Here is our crab apple tree.

Dishwasher Girl

Here at my house we have the kids take turns washing the dishes after dinner. They think this is paramount to child abuse. Tonight was Alicia's turn. This will be a picture she will treasure as an adult someday.

my swimmer

Today was a swim meet for my daughter. Here she is competing in the 50 butterfly. She didn't win the race, but she ended up taking 8 seconds off her time!

I am very proud of my swimmer.

Recent photos at last!

At last I have figured out how to put pictures recently taken on the web. It will be more fun that way. However...I must be strict with myself in computer use. It is not typing that bothers me. It is clicking and scrolling with the mouse.

A few pictures here.

Allen on Christmas evening at Martha's house.

Alicia with our dog, Sherman.

Audra working on a sewing project.

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!

Unpredictable

Hi everyone. Just wanted you all to know that my computer use will be unpredictable (not as regular) for a month or so. I'll try to duck in once in a while when I can. (If I'm near a usable computer with internet) We are taking down our computer in order to drywall the room that it is in.

Hurray!!!! This means progress on my house!

As you can see by this picture, even my daughter is excited about it!

Things that make you go "Hmmmmm"

I learned something today. Just because someone danced at your wedding (and I have pictures to prove it) does not guarantee that they will have a clue who you are 14 years later.

Happy New Year

As I think about this new year...I'm thinking about how the Lord is continuing to work in me and mold me and make me into the person He desires me to be. I just hope to be as pliable and workable as the clay in this potter's hands.
Wishing you all a Happy 2007!

A nice visit

Some of you will recognize this picture from Dunja's blog. (I am using it with permission) I went to her house this afternoon for coffee and visit. We really had a nice time together. Her 'Apfel Kuchen' was delicious too. Of course the best part one another's company.

I'm looking forward to having coffee again with her some time.

Stepping out

I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and allow people to read my Princess Prayers. It is a blog that I have kept my own since earlier this year. Maybe it will encourage others to knw what I struggle with.

yesterday's surprises

I had a fun day yesterday and the Lord brought some surprises my way. We took the kids to the Rochester Museum and Science Ceneter as a surprise. I took a lot of great pictures, which I can't put on my blog right yet. Oh well.

We walked in to RMSC and there stood a very familiar face. An old friend whom I had not seen in about 14 years. Craig and I met when we were 12. We sat next to each other in math class in 7th grade and used to make each other laugh. We became such good friends (but never romantically). A few years later we found we had a other bond. Christianity! In high school there was a group of us who would get together through a group called Young Life and we studied the Word of God on Saturday mornings. Later on we lost contact because we went to different colleges. After college we met up with one another by both becoming Young Life leaders in the Rochester area. My husband Jamie also was a leader, so he met Craig too. Craig became engaged to a girl he met in college (T) and I got engaged to Jamie. J and I married in Oct 1992 and C and T got married in Nov 1992. That was the last I saw of him, because he and T moved to North Carolina. I figured I'd never see him again, but often wondered what ever became of him. Once in a while curiosity would get the best of me and I would google his name to see where he was.

The Lord brought me a surprise because there he was! I recognised him immediately and he recognised me too! We were able to pick up right where we left off, and talked about the Lord too. He said, "Wait a few minutes because Sarah (another girl from our YL study in high school) will be here shortly." She walked in. I hadn't seen her in 21 years. She always was a very sweet girl, although I never got to be close friends with her. However, with believers there is a bond. We gave each other a hug, introduced our children and husbands to one another and had a nice conversation.

I felt such a joy at seeing these two. I am quite sure that the joy would not have been the same if we did not share our relationship with the Lord with one another. It makes me think how wonderful Heaven will be. There are so many people that I will get to see some day! Sometimes I just can't wait!

Good news...and some bad.

The good news is, I recieved a digital camera for Christmas! Yeh!!! I got a Kodak Easy Share C875. That means that I potentially have the ability to blog much more interestingly for all my readers. Woo Hoot!

The bad news...my computer is so hopelessly obsolete that I couldn't download the program disc onto it...so I still can't put interesting pictures up yet! There is a possibility of using my husband's laptop to do that...but he has to see if it can be done.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! This is the Christmas video that my hubby's work sent out to their clients. Just so you know, my hubby is sitting at the desk while everyone is bustling around and his is the first head to pop up on the roof.

Click right here .

My hubby works for a small company that makes videos/dvd's for other companies, organizations, etc. They've made a few local comercials, documentaries, training videos, wedding videos...you name it!

Introducing...

Hello. I wanted to introduce to you some missionary friends who are serving in Thailand. Ruth and Colin hail from Australia, but spent a year and a half interning at our church here in the states. They have served the Lord in Cairns and then more recently in Melbourne. The Lord has now sent them to Thailand. Check out their blog on my links.

Where is the white stuff?

It is a little odd here for this time of year. No snow. Usually by this time there is atleast some. I think we will have a green/brown Christmas this year. At least we don't have to drive in it!

Christmas Cookies

Every year we cut and decorate Christmas cookies. This has been a tradition in my home all through my growing up years and into adulthood.

The kids always enjoy it and it makes such good memories. The kid in me still enjoys it as well.

And of course, we all enjoy eating them!

little miss santa

My husband took this picture of our darling daughter sleeping with this santa hat on.

Home

This picture probably was not taken near Christmas...but it's a snowy picture, so it's allowed in my "Christmas Series." (because I said so, that's why)

This is the house I grew up in. There's the old blue station wagon...which gives us a clue as to when it was taken. Late 60's is my guess. But really, it doesn't look all that different from how it often looked in winter during all my growing up years...(until I was in about 11th grade when my parents decided to make it a light brown house). This is home. It evoked all sorts of sentimental memories for me. I've been thinking a lot about this lately.

Home is powerful. It is where I felt the most nurturing and a place of love and safetly. I feel thankful for the home I grew up in. As Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home."

Anyway...I thought it would be fun to hear what "home" was for you and one of it's best memories.

Ok. I go first. One of my best memories was sitting on my father's lap. He would be sitting in his favorite rocking chair in the living room and I would climb up onto his lap. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time just to do that once again. Eventually I got too big to do that.

This is a pathetic picture of me and Tigger with Dad in about 1976. Martha and I shared a bedroom. I wasn't sitting on his lap...but it's the best I can do.

Ok...so let's hear from you now.

Christmas 1966

I know. You're thinking, "Where's the tree? Where are the Christmas trimmings?" They're not in this picture, but I am certain that somewhere in the vicinity of this small child there is a tree and probably some presents.

This is me. I was born a week and 2 days before Christmas. So I guess you could say that I am the present this year. Notice the glass bottle. No plastic ones back then. My mother nursed all the children in our family except for me (and my brother who was adopted). I was not adopted (atleast that's what I've been told)...but for some reason, my mother's body refused to produce milk. She was under great stress and grieving at the time of my birth and I guess the result was having no milk. My second brother Tim was 8 at the time. He was put into a special home because he had severe autism. During this time in history not much was done to help children who had autism. Luckily today much more can be done. Anyway...my mother tells me that I came along as a gift from the Lord and was a big help in distracting her from her distress. You can read a story about a visit with Tim here. I don't know who the bear is next to me. It was probably placed there by my older sister, Martha. She was 2 at the time. I vaguely remember this bear. I think it talked if you pulled a string with a little plastic loop out of his back-side...but I'm not sure about this. Am I right, Mart?

Memory is a funny thing sometimes.

Christmas 1970

Well, here we are just a year later. A few changes have occurred. Rachel has grown beautiful curls to her shoulders and has learned to walk. Martha is now wearing glasses and I am undoubtedly a bit taller.

I just love Martha's look on her face. Even though it is a profile, you can tell that she is full of glee...holding up that beautiful package that holds such promise of pleasure. I'm the one wearing the green pajamas. As you can see, I'm already tearing into a package of some sort. Probably clothes judging by the shape of the box. I'm wondering where my brother is in this picture and the last. He would have only been 13 in 1970, so he was there somewhere. Dad was always the one with the camera in our house...so that explains why he is invisible.

Stay tuned for more Christmas memories in the next few days.

Christmas 1969

With the Christmas season upon us once again, I thought it would be fun to do a series of Christmas memory photos. This might be challenging since I only have a few on my computer right now. But I have an excellent source (start looking through your files, Mart).

Here we are with Mom, Christmas 1969. That's me in the back wearing the gold sweater. I was 3 years old. Rachel was one years old and Martha was 5. We must have all gotten dolls for Christmas. Goodness, my mother looks young, doesn't she? She was only 35. Younger than I am now. I look like I know exactly what is going on and am very excited. Rachel on the other hand...looks like she's not quite sure. She appears to be holding a bit of wrapping paper which I'm sure made her quite content.

We had a good childhood. We had parents who were trustworthy and loved us. We had what so many children didn't have. Security. Love. Here we thought the gifts were under the tree. Ha! They were nothing compared to the real gifts our parents gave us each day.

Thank you Mom and Dad!

Pumpkin Pie, anyone?

Yesterday was our Thanksgiving feast at my sister-in-law's house. Lots of family and lots of fun. A few days ago I called up Jamie's mom because it is usually up to her and I to make the pies. She said she would be making 2 apple and 1 cherry. So I decided to make 2 pumpkin and 1 lemon meringue. We got to Laurie and Kevin's house and found out that my neice's fiance's mother and brother (Daniel) had come too. Daniel had made a pumpkin pie...all by himself (he's 12). "Wow, 3 pumpkin pies," I thought..."that's a lot." Kelly and Drew showed up. Kelly had made 2 pumpkin pies. "Five pumpkin pies! Can you believe it?" This was the discussion that was going on when Jamie's Aunt Helen showed up with the 6th pumpkin pie. "We have 6 pumpkin pies here, everyone...so you better eat up after dinner!" I announced to a crowd of relatives gathered in the kitchen. "Oh no we don't, " said Wendy. "We have 7 because I brought one too." I waited for the 8th to show up, but it never did. I'm guessing that at the next family Thankgiving no one will dare bring a pumpkin pie and we won't have any!

Anyway, the food was great. The fellowship was wonderful. The laughter was rich.

*sigh* Would anyone like to come over for pumpkin pie?

Come unto me and I will give you rest....

Today I went over to visit Martha. On the way there, I was getting sleepier and sleepier as I was driving. I was getting very scared. I was not very safe on the roads! My head kept nodding! It was scary, but the Lord got me there safely (and all the other drivers out today were safe from me too). I went in her house and felt such a heavy fatigue that I had to lay down. This was the result. Good ol' Martha with her faithful camera! Actually, it's not a bad shot of me.

I was already asleep when she brought me coffee. I slept quite a long time and felt very refreshed. We had a nice visit, albeit shorter...but I was ready and alert for the drive home!

Still having fun!

Well...I'm doing good here...averaging a post a week. My arm is doing very well provided that I stay off the computer. I used my right hand very briefly...and I am paying for it! Maybe I ought to break down and see a doctor?

I hate left handed blogging as it is slow and clumsy...but it is a great way to keep me off the computer and doing other things! This past weekend I busied myself helping my 4th grader build a Iroqouis Longhouse! It was great fun! It turned out to be very cool! (although I'm not sure using a hot-glue gun was the smartest thing to do with my ailing hand and arm) We delivered it to her classroom today! I took a picture...but with my older camera, so I can't post it yet.

God bless!

Hi to all! Still blogging left. Haven't been here in awhile! Been busy. My daughter's swim team is in full swing. They had their first meet Saturday. She got a personal best in her 50 free. We've had an extra daughter for a few days. Her name is Sarah and she is 9. Her mom's been in Colorado for CBS training. We've been having fun!

Life is good!

Here's "Al" taken this summer.

I know this sound choppy. Trying to keep sentences short and simple.

I miss you all!

Hi everyone! I am doing well...except I am sure I have a mild case of carpal tunnel. I should not be on the computer. (using left hand for this) Just wanted to say hello to everyone! I miss blogging!

Here is a picture of my handsome father in about 1949.

ABC check DOESN'T WORK!!!!!!! And other things

Hi!!!!!! This is Priscilla's son al again.(yes I have permission) while posting blog entrees I've used ABC spell check but it's really frustrating because it says common words don't exist.(It wants to change Priscilla to priceless) As for my mom her arm stopped hurting but she's not using the computer because she wants to prevent it from hurting again by using less computer. She often says that the computer is addicting and I have to agree. So that's why she's not answering question as often. Tomorrow's Halloween and no I'm not going tricker treating. I not sure what the point of this Halloween is. Luckily I'm going bowling with friends that feel the same is me. I can't find a way to end so I'll end it like this.

Ma, get well soon

This is Pricilla's son. Encase your wondering I have permission from this blog's owner encase your suspicious. I do not do evil things like sneak on someone's blog unlike one of my uncles. I come with a message from my mom. She's in pain I'm afraid. This computer of ours has given her pain from her wrist to her elbow. She obviously didn't want to leave it on the entree about sesame street. To make it more dramatic I drew a picture on paint. Do not worry about her she'll probably be better by the end of the week but for now I'm writing for her. All we can do now is hope and pray she gets better.

Sesame Street days

Sometimes I admit that I miss having a little one here at home...and sitting and watching Sesame Street, snuggling on the couch, taking naps and reading picture books. I felt much more useful during the day than I do now.

I've been struggling to find my sense of purpose now that all of my children are gone to school all day long.

Doing Better

Well...my arm is considerably better. I've been able to resume most every activity. I must be careful not to restress it. Left hand blogging is very difficult and no fun!
It was a very windy and rainy day. Many more leaves have fallen to the earth. I was up at a friend's house today. What a gorgeous view of God's beautiful earth...even in the wind and rain. She lives on a hill in the country and the colors are magnificant. Wish I had a picture.
Now...I just need to think of something interesting to blog about.

Get your tissues

This one will bring tears to your eyes.

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

slow blogging

I am having a considerable amount of pain in my right forearm. It is so painful that I can barely do anything. I finally figured out that it is from using the mouse on my computer and typing so much! So I will need to refrain from blogging quite so much. Right now I am using my left hand which is sloooooowwwww. Hmmmmmm. Do you think the Lord is trying to tell me something?

On a brighter note...Jamie and I went out for lunch today. It was so nice to connect again with him. It is sometimes hard to do that in the hustle and bustle of life. Last week when I said we were going out...we actually didn't. Something came up at his office and he couldn't get away.

Junking and Consigning

On Friday I walked downtown with $5 in my back pocket to buy a copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I'm tired of hearing about either the book or the movie every time I turn around and not being a part of the discussion. I decided it was high time to read the book. Well...to my dismay, Judy's Bargain Books was closed! Bummer. I didn't have the dog with me so I decided to poke around in the shops...not really expecting to find anything. I went over to Cuddleback's Antique shop. I love poking around in there. You never know what you'll find. I just love looking at the stuff. I hardly ever buy anything because my budget won't allow it. I think my husband would totally freak out on me if I started bringing home old bird-cages and stuff. He doesn't see things quite the same way as I do. They have a pretty big section of old books. I thought, "Ok...what's the chance of P&P being here?" So I looked...and it was like looking through a haystack for a needle. I found it! It was quite an old copy...no copyright date in it, so who knows. I'm guessing 1940's? It cost $1. I was very happy, walked home and started reading it. I just loved the book! I can't wait to see the movies now.

So yesterday I picked up my lovely middle daughter for a dermatogist appointment. The appt overlapped her lunch time at school, so I allowed her to choose a restaurant and we ate lunch together at Denny's. I hadn't spent this kind of time with her alone in a while. She is quite a character and often reminds me of Ramona Quimbley! While we were eating I decided to not take her back to school, but to go out shopping. Went to a great little consignment shop in Victor. She needed shoes and I found the perfect pair for $4. She was so excited that she wore them to school today. Unfortunately, they had no pants that would fit her and she really needed them. Ended up spending more than I would have liked at Old Navy.

We had fun together...which was so good for us. I've been in a junk shopping mood, if anyone would care to join me.

No words are necessary

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

Anniversary

Today is my wedding anniversary. Jamie and I have been married for 14 years. It has been joyful, fun, challenging, tough, rewarding, happy, sad at times,.....overall great. I am blessed to be married to Jamie. We really didn't do anything to celebrate today...but tomorrow we are meeting to go out for lunch.

Martha scanned a picture for me so I could put up a wedding picture. He was 28 and I was 25!