My Personality

Oh I just get a kick out of old photographs. This one is of my great grandparents-Joseph and Matilda Shafer. He was 20 years older than her and they had 11 children. I know that sounds a little sick....but that is the way it was. He was born in 1862 and she was born in 1882. He looks so much like my father that it makes me smile.

This brings me around to today's topic. My personality. I spent a fair amount of time tonight taking a personality inventory...which I have taken before. I always find them fascinating. It turns out that I am a ISFJ through and through! Just can't get around it. I have some things in common with ISFP...but overall...ISFJ wins!

I wonder what personality types Joe and Tilly had? Was anything passed down to me? I suppose so! I wish I had pictures of the other great grandparents!

Anyway...which personality type are you? You can read up on it at
http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html
Have fun! Let me know your results!

Camping

This picture is in honor of all of Rachel's memories of camping. I'm the kid on the far left. Rachel is in blue...Martha red. That is our Mother and dog, Kate with us. Here are 4 of Rachel's memories from Martha's blog:

Rachel said...

1. Dad heating water over a campfire and coming in the camper to wash our dirty legs and feet before we climbed into our sleeping bags.
2. Dad playing his harmonica or guitar as we all sat by a campfire and sang.
3. Mom saying lets go hiking to "Hodge Podge Lodge" and then having fun hiking through the woods.
4. Mom and us digging for spoons in the bushes when camping. People would accidentally throw them out with their dishwater, go home, and what they lost was our treasure.

-Yes. I believe that this picture was taken just before taking a hike over to "Hodge Podge Lodge."

A Sweet Treat

Here I am with my big sister enjoying a fudgecicle. Yum!
In the background are the Webster water towers...which are now painted pale blue. Perhaps whoever decided they should be painted blue were hoping they would blend in with the sky. In that case...they should have been left grey.
Thank you for the pics, Mart!

Three sisters

Here we are. The three of us. I am on the far left, Martha on the right and Rachel is in the middle. Probably taken in Jan or Feb of 1969.

Memories From My Childhood

I had fun reading the 13 memories that my 2 sisters came up with...some of them made me laugh. You can check them out on Martha's blog. (Rachel's is in the comments) This will be hard because they took a lot of the good ones.

1. Martha and I sharing a room in the former attic and inventing a ghost friend named George. If we heard a strange creeky noise...we would say, "Oh...it's just George." (Later I shared the room with Rachel. He was still around)
2. Rachel rescuing me from Walter every morning on the bus (ok...it was high school...but anyway).
3. Throwing water balloons at Dan from the roof (and paying for it dearly).
4. Eavesdropping and tape recording Dan Muson on the phone.
5. George pouring the split pea soup into his loafers under the table (this was a hippo...not a ghost).
6. Making very long gum wrapper chains.
7. Playing in the mud...and mom letting us!
8. Playing 4-square every day.
9. Being tape recorded having a temper tantrum as a child (while singing "Jesus Loves Me" no less!) and having my family play that stupid tape for every soul that walked through the doors for the next 18 years! Thankfully that tape eventually wore out! (I'm not bitter about this, honest!)
10. Painting rocks. I believe this was the beginning of my "career" as a decorative artist.
11. Playing one of our favorite games with Dad. "The guessing Game"
12. Playing "The Queen is Coming"-a game my mother invented to get us to clean the house. It actually was fun and we sometimes asked to play it.
13. Back Yard Bible Clubs where our driveway would be packed with bikes from kids all over the neighborhood...and those ladies would come with their flannel boards and Bible songs! I loved holding the signs for the songs and I still have my prize for memorizing the books of the Bible in order (a metal ruler with the names of the books printed on it).
14. Gerbil population explosion!

Ok..It was 14, but I couldn't stop. Martha-please scan and send a picture of our childhood to me. I really want to put a picture with this.

Just Amusing Myself

I worked all day and got home around 3:30. Managed to take a quick shower. Dinner was put into the crock pot this morning before I left. I have decided that I worked enough today so I turned on the computer at 4:00 to entertain myself. I want to publickly thank all those out there who write very entertaining blogs. Some of you of whom I have left comments are probably wondering why I don't get a life of my own. This is my life? Peering into the lives or blogs of others? I put the comic because some of you probably think I'm a desperate housewife looking for friends!

Anyway...thank you for making me laugh out loud to the following people who come to mind:
Martha, Rachel, Beth, Ben, Hannah, Marla, Greg, Laura, Luke, Andrew, Kurt, Taryn, Natalie, David, Christine, my nephew Jim, "messy Christian",...oh I can't think of all your names! But anyway...even though I don't know most of you personally, you really are appreciated! And come to think of it, all the people I mentioned here are sisters and brothers in Christ! It's amazing! I have this huge family around the world! Isn't heaven going to be fun?! We are all just going to be laughing and having such a wonderful time! Real Joy! The people I mentioned here are from all over the place-New York, Illinois, Vancouver Island in Canada, Massachusettes, Asia...and I don't even know where else!

I've got the coolest family! Any of you who read this...even if you don't find your name...feel free to check in anytime! I'll leave the light on for ya!

Memories of YL

Today has been a fairly good day so far. I've been working on the cupboard I am painting roses on for a client. In between painting and allowing for drying time, I have been lurking around on the computer. I had a fun "conversation" with a stranger in New England who is a Young Life leader. Some of his blogs brought back great memories for me when I was a YL leader years ago. I really miss those days! I haven't set foot on a YL property in about 14 years. Great and happy memories and lots of laughing!

I think YL actually was a huge blessing from the Lord to me after I returned home from college in 1989. I was just getting over a major depression. I got involved with the ministry of YL which helped get my eyes off of myself and my broken heart and onto others and helping them. Not to mention all the laughing I did! Who could be depressed watching those silly program guys? I never laughed so hard in my life I think. Those Tuesday night dinners at the O'Leary's house and praying for club and kids, and then loading up in the van to go to club to hang out with a bunch of high school kids!

Life is good now too of course...but sometimes I miss those crazy, fun, laughing days. I still laugh...mostly at my children's antics. Yep. Life changes...but as I said earlier in the day, Jesus remains constant. Amen!

Memory Lane

Well I've had some fun today looking around on other people's blogs and ran across one that happened to mention Young Life. I had to stop and read it because YL has had a tremendous impact on my life. First as a club kid in Webster, NY...going to Saranac Village in the Adirondack Mountains. What a blast! Parasailing, hanging out with friends...and just laughing at the crazy fun! Who can describe it? I just can't give it justice! I have old photos somewhere that I ought to post...but I don't own a scanner.

My visit to Jamestown

We had a great visit to Jamestown to see Jeff and Amy and their kids. It was great to see them after many months of not seeing them since they moved away. Anyway...We were up by 6:30. Grabbed a quick shower and woke the kids. Got them dressed and scooted out the door...stopping at Tim Horton's drive thru to grab bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.
After 2 hours and 45 minutes on the road, we arrived at their home at approximately 10:20. Jessi was anxiously waiting for our arrival and greeted us even before we were out of the car! Took a tour of the house. It's really nice! We also got to meet their adorable 4 month old puppy, Chloe. The kids all dispersed into various parts of the house to play (7 kids in all...ages 10 and under). Jamie, Jeff, Amy and I sat and had tea or coffee and carrot cake. We spent lots of time catching up on eachother. Then they took us over to take a tour of the church they "live" at. Jeff is the worship pastor there and he showed us all the ins and outs of what he does. It looks like a great church!
On the way back to their house, Jessi asked if we could drive by her school so that she could show Audra...which led us to drive by Caleb's school as well. Back to the house. Lunch was served. More talking, more laughing, more playing. Wow! It was dinner time before we even knew it! All in all. We didn't do much besides talk and eat. But it was good!
We left around 9:30 and got home around midnight.
My only regret was that I forgot to bring my camera so I didn't get pictures. On the flip side...I think I convinced Amy that she needs to start a blog so I can keep track of her better. She took pictures which hopefully she will remember to send me.

What are you married to?

This is a nice picture of my parents on their wedding day. I am happy to say that theirs is a Godly marriage. They have loved and served the Lord together now for over 50 years.

This past week at Bible study...the lesson was truly amazing. We are studying the period of time in which the Israelites return to Jeruselem after years of captivity in Babylonia and Syria. This week's study focused on scripture from Ezra.
Ezra 9:1-4 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the priests and the officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness."
When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifices.
Our discussion turned to how the Israelites had been warned by God not to intermarry with the pagans because their hearts would be turned away from God. I got to thinking about us. Oh...maybe we are not married to Baal worshippers...or maybe it's not a marriage in the traditional sense ...maybe what we are married to is something else that is dragging our hearts away from God. I was convicted myself because I have to confess that lately I have married busyness and chaos. I have not taken the time to be still and quiet before the Lord. It has dragged my heart away.
Reading on in Ezra.
Ezra 10:1-2
While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites-men, women, and children-gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, ..., said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."
I won't go into the rest of the story about what the Israelites decided to do to make themselves right before the Lord (you can read it for yourselves)...but I will say this. They took drastic measures! Praise the Lord that he is full of grace and mercy and does not give us what we deserve...but because of Him we still have hope. I am devorcing myself from the busyness and chaos of life and sending her away. I am going to be still and quiet before the Lord.
What are you married to?

Catch the Bug!

My sister sent me this old photograph of our father and uncle. Dad is at the pump...Uncle Art is in the tub. Looks like a fun way to keep cool. Perhaps I should have saved this one for a hot July day. Anyway...my own water lover went swimming this morning to see if she could make state times for one of her strokes. Didn't make it. She came back smiling though and I'm very greatful that she has a good attitude. She is in her first year of swimming and is just 9. Plenty of time left to worry about making states in my opinion. I'm just so proud of her for being on the swim team at all. At her age I really didn't swim that well and would never have had the confidence to do that!
Went and had coffee with my friend Melissa today while Audra and Allen played with her Sarah and Sam. She is always so cheerful and upbeat. She just loves the Lord and it is contagious. Contagious Christianity! I've got the bug! Do you?

The Blustery Day

If you read my sister's blog today, you already know that it was a very windy day here in upstate NY. It was so windy that I felt the house shaking. I went downstairs and asked my hubby if there was school today. He was already on the computer bright and early. He said, "Yes." The kids all moaned and groaned and got ready for school. I send them out to the bus stop. A few minutes later they were back inside because Mrs. Castle had called out her front door to them that school had been cancelled. There are a lot of walkers and I guess there was concern for their safetly. And for good reason. A HUGE pine tree blew down in the yard behind ours. It just looks like a big mass of pine boughs in a giant heap on the ground. Luckily it did not hit a house. After that I kept eyeing the pine tree next to our house. Praise the Lord that it stayed upright!
I put the picture of the fire up because that's what I felt like being near all day. I do not have a fireplace. Perhaps my next residence will...if I ever move again.
Audra is on the swim team here in town and she's turning out to be quite the little swimmer. She was supposed to go tonight and swim to see if she could make state's. I guess her time on the backstroke is close. Anyway...all swim events have been cancelled. It's too bad because it is now 5:30 PM and the wind is completely gone. It looks very still out there. Now we have to have her at the high school at 8:00 in the morning to do this swim thing. I guess I won't be sleeping in in the morning.

Something to look forward to

I have not blogged in forever. I was not feeling well for a few days and then I just got so busy. These are pictures of my father. Wasn't he cute? I don't know how old he was. Maybe 5 or 6? Anyway...they were taken circa 1937 or 1938.
I am feeling a little lonely today. I took the dog for a long walk. It is beautiful outside. I can't believe it is February. As I was walking, I was noticing some green poking up through the ground in one of the gardens I passed. Crocuses maybe? It's a little early for them to be coming out...but they don't know that. I stopped by my husband's work for a cup of coffee and a visit...but everyone in the office was quite busy. They had potential clients there and were showing them their portfolios. I didn't stay long because it was not a good time to visit.
Next week there is no school because of winter break. On Monday we will drive down to Jamestown to visit our friends. It is just over a 2 hour drive. We miss them terribly. They have kids the same ages as ours and Amy and I are very close friends too. She is like a sister to me. Our families used to share a house. We lived upstairs and they lived downstairs. We used to do everything together. That was back in the days when we had one car and so did they. Our house was out in the country...so it wasn't like we could walk anywhere. Amy and I would spend a lot of time together drinking tea and watching our little boys play together. Then we each had a girl. Neither of our families had much money so we would get very creative with what we had. Sometimes we would decide to pool our resources and cook dinner together...or plant a garden. We had such good times. Eventually we both moved from there but remained close...still hanging out often. This past August however, her husband Jeff got a new position at a church down in Jamestown...so they moved. This will be our first visit there. I can't wait!

Paintings and Tooth Fairies

This is a painting I did in my home. It is a small mural that is painted in an old fireplace mantle. No fireplace...just this mural. It matches the wall paper border in the room. I'm planning on putting this on my business cards when I have them made up. Do you think that is a cool idea? Hopefully next week I am going to go along with a woman who is in the art field I am trying to break into...and learning from her. God is really good to orchestrate this very willing contact! I'm also hoping to go to faux finishing school. There may be hope now that my husband is almost finished with school.
On Friday I hope to finish a cupboard I am painting roses on for a lady here in town. And by the end of next week...I hopefully will have the layout of a cat painting for a woman who has commissioned me to do that on a milk can.
Other than that...I am being the busy mom that I am. Yesterday Alicia lost her second tooth. As usual...in the middle of the night I snuck into her bedroom to replace the tooth with a dollar. This morning she triumphantly announced that she had seen the tooth fairy in the middle of the night. I said, "Oh yeah? What did she look like?" She had this amused look on her face and she pointed at me and said, "You, Mommy! I was awake when you came into my room!" I was amused but decided to play along. I said, "What? The tooth fairy looks just like me? That's amazing!" She put her little hands on her hips and said, "Mom! It was you. And I know it!" Anyway, the jig is up...but we are all enjoying ourselves!

Seasons of Life

Hmmmm. I just went on line and saw a bunch of pictures from my 20th high school reunion...which I didn't attend. If it weren't for the captions...I wouldn't have recognized anyone. Well...maybe a couple here and there. I saw several group pictures and to me...they look like a bunch of older people. Which could only mean one thing...I look older too! It is quite sobering. I just never thought I would look like a 39 year old woman some day....or atleast not yet. It went by fast. It couldn't have possibly been 20 years ago(actually 21) that I was running to catch the bus...or scribbling a note to pass to a friend in the hall (this was before the days of instant messaging). It couldn't have been 21 years ago that I was stopping by my locker on the way to math class...and laughing at the antics of a boy I liked who I ate lunch with. It just couldn't be! Could it?

Which leads me to think about now. I'm a mother who begins the day making lunches for the kids and kissing them goodbye and watching them as they run off to catch the bus. Instead of scribbling a note to a friend, I hastily sign a permission slip for one of my kids to go on a field trip. Now a days I stop by the grocery store to pick up a gallon of milk on my way home.

Seasons of life! And to every season the Lord has a purpose for me.

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14.

Lord, help me to live out the purpose you have for me where I am today. Amen

Can I make a cake and eat it too?

I have been procrastinating all day and of course getting no where. I am supposed to be throwing a birthday party for my daughter, Audra tomarrow. She is turning 9 on Sunday. I'm good at putting things off...like housework. I have this problem with clutter and getting rid of it. It is a constant battle for me. It must run in the family because I remember going to visit relatives down in the southerntier as a kid and their houses were always messy. I remember thinking that as a little girl and being pretty sure that my house wouldn't be that way when I got big. I've included here a picture of some relatives. My grandmother, Florence is on the far left. She is with 2 of her sisters. They were part of a family with 11 kids...so I don't know which sisters they are. Anyway...if my memory serves me correctly...my house isn't as bad as some of the ones I remember...but it is messy enough. I don't seem to have the knack of getting it neat and tidy and keeping it that way. I suppose step one could be getting off my can and to work. Hey! I've got the cake in the oven so give me credit for something!

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a (wo)man will not work, (s)he shall not not eat." 2 Thess 3:10

So does this mean I can atleast have a piece of the cake?

It's the Thursday Thirteen!

Thirteen things about me!

1. I usually drive the speed limit.
2. I am very right brained.
3. I am sometimes absent minded and forgetful...this drives my husband nuts!
4. I'm a prettty good cook.
5. I struggle with organization.
6. I love Mexican food.
7. I did not gain much weight during my pregnancies.
8. I can talk on the phone, cook dinner, do laundry, pack my daughter's swimming bag, help my son with his homework, let the dog out or in, and spot clean the kitchen all at the same time.
9. I'm somewhat introverted.
10. I clean one house every other week and get paid for it.
11. I once worked at JC Penney.
12. I wish I lived in a house that was finished.
13. I enjoy nature documentaries.

Allen

My son is so cute. He saw the picture I put on of his father yesterday and wanted me to put his picture from the 5k up too. Here it is. My husband and son ran in a 5k this past summer to help raise money for a cancer research center. I walked it. Ok...I'm a wimp I admit...but I helped raise the same amount of money, so there! Allen wants me to put 15 things about him on this.
1. Allen is going to be 11 on March 8.
2. Allen likes sports...particularly soccer.
3. He likes to read. He just finished The Hobbit and plans to read The Fellowship of the Rings trilogy next.
4. He still likes snuggling with his mom sometimes.
5. His teachers have told me they really appreciate his sense of humor in class.
6. Allen is a very good student.
7. Allen made profession of faith two summers ago and was baptized.
8. He says he wants to be a computer animator when he grows up.
9. He really enjoys reading Calvin and Hobbes and has a few of the books.
10. His favorite food: noodles with melted butter and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.
11. Favorite movie: Probably a toss between Star Wars and Chronicles of Narnia.
12. Best friends: Michael, Rylan, Jordan, Sam, Jonathon
13. Enjoys hiking with his family.
14. Took saxaphone lessons but didn't care for it.
15. Is in 5th grade.

My Husband

Well...I've barely written anything about my husband. Here are 15 things about him.
1. Born 6/30/64
2. Country boy
3. He's a morning person.
4. He loves bike riding.
5. He's an extravert.
6. He's a hard worker.
7. He can play the piano.
8. He's a Christian.
9. He's a good father and husband.
10. He can cook.
11. He's good with numbers.
12. He's not much of a reader.
13. He enjoys acting in dramas and plays.
14. He likes seafood.
15. He's not much of an artist...but appreciates my art.

A day in the life...

It was not a very productive day. I had my eyes dialated for a good share of the morning so that made me useless. So I watched the second half of the movie, Oliver Twist. Once I was down...it was hard to get motivated to do much of anything. I'm not always this lazy.
Tonight I my husband and I are going out to dinner with my 2 sisters and their husbands. We do this in place of Christmas presents. I know it'll be fun and I look forward to it. Just hope my babysitter shows up when he said he would!
I'm annoyed with myself because I forgot to go visit Laura and her baby at the hospital! How could I have done such a thing?
I should go heat up dinner for my children and babysitter. Good news is-the babysitter is here!