Just Crazy!

some gristle to gnaw on...

2011-08-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

from The Immitation of Christ
by Thomas a Kempis
"Jesus today has many who love his heavenly kingdom, but few who carry his cross; many who yearn for comfort, few who long for distress. Plenty of people he finds to share his banquet, few to share his fast. Every one desires to take part in his rejoicing, but few are willing to suffer anything for his sake. There are many that follow Jesus as far as the breaking of bread, few as far as drinking the cup of suffering; many that revere his miracles, few that follow him in the indignity of his cross,; many that love Jesus as long as nothing runs counter to them; many that praise and bless him, as long as they receive some comfort from him; but should Jesus hide from them and leave them for a while, they fall to complaining or become deeply depressed."

no sermon from me here...I am to busy picking up my jaw....I don't remember seeing Thomas a Kempis in my house...and yet....hmmm... he seems to have been looking in my window...creapy saint...lol...and yet ...trying Lord, thank you for the word....

here we go again....

2011-08-22T05:09:00.000-07:00

So it's probably going to hurt...but I have been thinking...
there was something broken in me and once again God used the people around me to put some of the pieces back together...
So, probably the next step...because this is kinda the way that HE works...is ....growth...
I just know that God is gong to ask me to grow...sigh...I''m not good at it...really I would rather just mumble away in my ignorance...but I would be remiss if I didn't notice some obvious clues....
Christ woke me up at 6:30 this morning with a song in my heart and an amazing sunrise...
He gave me time to pee (by myself!!!)
The baby stayed asleep and I picked up a bible study that I just got on a whim and read the intro...an with this sentence, it hit me...
"If a man tells you that he is fond of The Immitation, view him with sudden suspicion; he is either a dabbler or a saint." (Monsignor Knox on the work of Thomas a Kempis called The Immitation of Christ)
and it struck me....I am perfectly happy...was, I should say, being a dabbler... right now it is easier to just live as a Christian and not grow...and that is why I had to go through that dark place, because I have just been happy with my whining Christian self...
I have been called by Christ to be a saint....and to grow in HIM...and I just ignore HIM...I know what I need to do...and act, instead...in fear...so, crud...that's where I am
I have to do this Bible study now...and then....I guess that I am going to have to read this book....
So...here we go again...help me LORD...without you I can do nothing

wonderful summer part deux

2011-07-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, two wonderful thing are not much you say...but WAIT ! There's MORE!!!

Act right now and you will see the amazing way thet GOD has just poured out HIS blessings!!!!*

We got to participate in our home school groups anual 40 ft sundae...
If you have never seen 40 ft of ice cream, toppings, kids happier than they have ever been,and adults trying NOT to look like thier kids, you should really try it!!!

One COMPLETELY unexpected treat was to spend a glorious Mother's Day weekend with all of my Mom's ! That is right, I got to see my Mom in TN, my Mom from FL, and ROAD TRIP with my Grandma Schmitz!
(complete with police escort, for a time. In fact, that was another blessing! The nice southern officer let me and my Nana off with a "you aren't from around here..." and a "The road's gunna make a dor-leg, then you'll go past the big blue bridge.." Thank you Lord for a gentleman and an officer...)

In conjunction with the Mom's R Us tour was my baby sister's graduation. By some amazing and fancy footwork I not only got to be there for my sister...which is sad to say, a rare thing,,,but I was together with my whole Bacheldor family!!! AWESOME!!! ...see Dad, I still remember that I can only use that word to describe a work of GOD !

*Let me remind you that I am not invoking some pie in the sky uninterested "being"... I am talking about a LIVING, WORKING, POWERFUL, CREATOR who's plan for my family is PERFECT and timed just right!

It has been an amazing SUMMER !!

2011-07-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not going to fool anyone by saying that this has been the best time in my life. You would all know that I am lying through my teeth! HOWEVER, I do need to say that some wonderful things have happened. Not just in a fakey way. God has lived an breathed here in our lives this summer.Since I need to spend a little more time on my blessings...you guys are coming with!

1. We had an amazing time at my Mom's place in TN we were treated to the Renaissance festival complete with a ride in a Limo-corn and a tour of a castle. I am not sure if the kids really got how cool those things were..but, I have never ridden in a Limo-corn...soooo....

2. Jeff graduated!!!! YEAHHH! He not only graduated, but, he graduated Cum Laude!!! I can not even begin to tell you how proud I am!He is an amazing hubby and father, well, that we already knew...but wowee...he's bursting with brains too! He has sacrificed and done without and he has earned his degree! AWESOME LOML!! I really was amazingly pleased at the Dean's breakfast...I think that I was glowing that day more than he was...

I'm a copy cat.....

2010-09-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

A good friend of mine runs a MUCH better blog.....
soooo...
I'm going to copy her, just because no one reads this and I want to, so there..

2010 Kids say the darndest things...

1. What is something mom always says to you?

James: That you love us.
Paul: Stop doing that,Paul
Stephen: Obey the rules.
Liza: I love you.
Simon: I love you because I always ask for glasses.

2. What makes mom happy?

James: Helping with a good attitude.
Paul: When I make great things to show you.
Stephen: Cuddles.
Liza: When you do the right thing.
Simon: Cleaning

3. What makes mom sad?

James: When I disobey.
Paul: When I disobey her.
Stephen: calling her mean names.
Liza: When you umm...don't do what our parents tell you to do.
Simon: Doing stuff that are wrong.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

James: By tickling us.
Paul: How your voice can change some times.
Stephen: Monster atack, tickling me.
Liza: By tickling you.
Simon: Tickling.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

James: You were happy and the oldest.
Paul: I don't know.
Stephen: ummm...nice and careing
Liza: Great child.
Simon: Doing good things.

6. How old is your mom?

James: 32
Paul: 33
Stephen: 32
Liza: 24
Simon: uh...32

7. How tall is your mom?

James: about 6 rulers
Paul: I don't know that!!!!
Stephen: about 6 ft.
Liza: big
Simon: as big as Dad

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

James: Play!
Paul: Watch us play nicely.
Stephen: Play with us.
Liza: help me.
Simon: Chasing people.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

James: She misesus.
Paul: Play city of wonder?
Stephen: Think of you. (as in him)
Liza: She calls somebody to watch us.
Simon: Look for them.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

James: It will be giving up for God.
Paul: Me.
Stephen: Loving.
Liza: Work at a movie theater??
Simon: Having dimmer.

11. What is your mom really good at?

James: Making costumes.
Paul: Making me laugh.
Stephen: Crafts and taking care of us.
Liza: Typing.
Simon: Chasing people alots and lots and lots.

Well, I guess that I am not doingso bad after all....

in bed...

2010-04-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

So...ahem, a lot happens in our bed...kidwise...watch it, this is a family blog...

ANY WAY! Our kids have a tendency to pile into our bed most mornings in a random assortment...at differing times and funny things happen, some of my favorite conversations take place there...that is for sure...this morning was no exception.

The scene:
Jeff and I are in bed with Littlest Man and Princess...there is tickling and laughter...and at one point Princess is trapped...the comedy begins...

Daddy: "HaHA! I have you trapped!"
Princess: "That's not a trap!"

Enter Davey Crockett...with perfect timing...

Davey: "That's right...some traps hang you..."

Davey pops onto the bed

"...or trap you underground...or..." (the litany continues with much imagination...apparently he has thought about this a lot!)

What a great way to start the morning!

Our family has SPRUNG!

2010-04-18T17:54:00.001-07:00

It has been a while, so, here we go...
The year has a new season, as has our life, with our newest son entering the family. I think that I am starting to get a hold on this mother of seven bit, but I'm sure that I am just getting cocky, and soon the baby will not be sleeping all day like he is now, and then I'll really know what the story is...LOL!
We have started a family unit study/garden project and are spending as much time as we can outside learning away and preparing beds with a good bit of dirt hauling thrown in for good measure.I have avoided telling the boys that it is good for their character, but I'm sure the next one to whine will get that line thrown at them, it has been a near miss up until now...LOL! Hopefully, I will get some pictures up of the garden and will be letting you all in on our experiment with square foot gardening this year. I hope that it is all it is cracked up to be, if it is we will be very happy campers.
We are very excited that next weekend we get to have our son enter into the family of God through Baptism. It is the most amazing service at our church, I am looking forward to the fun an fellowship afterwards, but I am really looking forward to something that our church does that is pretty special. We all have things that we love about our churches...and this is one of mine. There is a part of the Mass where we all say the 'Our Father' and during that time our priest takes the child who has just been baptised and lifts them up to the Lord as an offering, as Simeon did with Jesus as a baby in the temple. It is beautiful, I cry...no big suprise,,,when it is other peoples children, and when it is my child I nearly weep. It is a powerful moment where I truely feel that I am giving up my child to God...after all they are a gift to be given back...I'm sure that you will hear more about it in the near future.
AND to top it all off we get to celebrate Easter for another 4 weeks in the church. So much to celebrate! God is so Good!

Advent Adventure

2009-11-29T16:49:00.000-08:00

So, as I was walking through Meijer with a couple of girlfriends at midnight (long story, only ask if you want to know, and yes, we felt like we were back in high school) we got to talking. We were talking about Advent. Some of you may not know what Advent is, and I will post more about it later, but for now let's just focus on the story and see what happens.... shall we??

Any way, all at once, it overwhelmed me. I love Advent!!! I love the fact that our church celebrates the seasons the way they do, and it really comes to me at moments like this. See, Advent is the Catholic new year...it's going back to the beginning and getting a fresh start. It is also about getting the right start. Unlike traditional (errr...that really does not make sense since Advent has been around a lot longer that Dick Clark has been around, believe it or not, but you get my meaning) new year where it is all about what you can do for YOU... Advent brings it all back to the real focus, what can I do to serve the God who made the ultimate sacrifice?

We spend the four weeks before Christmas asking for Faith, Hope, Peace and Joy to enter into our lives as Christ entered the world. An incarnation of God made into man.

MIND BLOWING,

I know. Say it again.... GOD made man... gives you chills doesn't it? I mean we take so much for granted about God, we can blithely say, He died for us, and He rose again, and He loves us. But what happens when you take apart the journey that Christ made here on earth and spend different seasons really taking them apart. Really wading through them. Paying attention to this journey that He now calls us to take. Then, an amazing thing can happen. The reality of Christ goes from a glibly stated phrase to an integral part of your families life, a living, breathing faith. Because when you enter into Advent Jesus truly is the reason for the season. May God richly bless your family with and Advent season that draws you closer as we anticipate, and enjoy, the celebration of His entrance into our lives.

like it says on the top of the page...we are....

2009-10-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

So if anyone had told me that we were going to be going quite so full tilt at life this year I probably would have laughed at them...what is that list of biggest stress factors in life???

Moving

New family member

Family upheaval (health related)

Job issues

Severe money problems

Anyway, it runs something like that an by gummy if we aren't checking them off at a rapid rate...oh wait! We have DONE those all this year....in just one year...darn we are good!

Fortunately God is good as well, and I can honestly say that I am amazed that He has provided so much GREAT into a year that (if we were just going to be blunt about it) sounds pretty bad on paper. He has granted us strength and friends and love and a TON of laughter and I really can not ask for more in a year. It may sound silly that I am doing this look back at the year right now, but the truth is I am kind of counting from the time we moved last year (which was the week of Thanksgiving) and I am just flabbergasted that we have been through so much. However what is the most wonderful part of this is the fact, not that we are still standing, but that I am so content with where we are. God has granted me such peace...in the midst of all of the yuck... you know that can only come from Him! LOL! Hope that you can look back on this past year and say the same thing.

Thanks God, for carrying us through all of this.

and baby makes....?

2009-10-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it is official.... I stink at blogging... but here goes...attempt number 6...I think...

A really funny thing happened to me a few weeks back...someone asked me if this was my first baby....and I was so shocked that I couldn't even remember... after all which kid am I on, and how do I explain it?
Would I really go to all of the trouble to say, "This is my 4th full term pregnancy, 6th baby (we got one son at the ripe old age of a day and a half), 7th child." And yet I find myself wanting to...and yet not wanting to, because even that does not make our family picture complete.
I have this beautiful son up in heaven named Christopher that we lost to miscarriage when I was 16 weeks. Whether most people acknowledge, or even know about him is not as important as the fact that he is a real member of our family, and that he is missed (and not just by me, the kids mention him regularly, even though none of them were even born when he was conceived.) Not to mention that it leaves out two amazing children that entered our lives just a little later than birth...and frankly our family just isn't the same without them. So, how do I include them???
Is it as simple as, "Actually we have been so blessed by God through birth and adoption that we are working on number 7 here." However then I get that annoying glazed look and the sigh, often accompanied by, "Wow, I could never do something like that!" or the equally ridiculous (speaker takes a step back) "You must be a saint!" Since, trust me, I am one of the farthest things from a saint those get old quick.
With few options available to me, due to a need for brevity and the fact that (contrary to my own belief, not everyone wants to know everything about me) I pretty much just sum it up with a quick..."Nope we have 6 more at home." but that seems unfair as well...after all then I have to go and pick a jaw up off of the floor and wipe the drool up, and frankly with number 7 (8?) on the way I have a lot of drool in my future...so help me out here...just what should I say??? LOL!!!

I love my husband...

2009-08-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you this first, I love my husband. Please don't think this is going anywhere but here because, I love him, he is truly an amazing gift of God. Frankly, I am giddy that we are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year, and the truth of the matter is that I love every anniversary. My husband said something once that he will never live down. On our first anniversary he told me that he wanted us to re-new our wedding vows so that I could always be his bride...are you KIDDING!!! Can you get more amazing that that, well, turns out you can. Turns out that amazing really turns up in the everyday moments. I'm not saying he always remembers to take out the trash, or that we don't annoy each other (duh, we're human) but my husband is truly astonishing.
Last night was Jeff's first night back at school in a while, and he got there and had to leave. He got a call from his sister saying that his Dad was sick and needed to go to the hospital, and that he really didn't want to. Jeff wrote the instructor a note and left class to do...here it is the amazing, astonishing...THE RIGHT THING!
On his way to the hospital his car tire blew out, and he ended up getting it towed home, hoping that he could fix it and get back on the road, he enlisted the help of a neighbor. It didn't work, but instead of giving up, he helped me put the kids to bed and left for the hospital in the van instead.
Now let me say that my husband does come from a line of people who do the right thing, and that his family and their love for one another somethimes makes me nutty, but the truth is, it is one of his best traits. And I LOVE every one of the crazy Freeman Clan. Back to our story...

My husband stumbled into the house around 5:30 am. He and his brother and sister spent all night fighting a disintertested hospital staff, to get his Father the care that he needed. For anyone that has delt with a hospital, you know that is not easy! And so, I'm just putting it out there for the world to understand...

I love my husband,
for all of the every day amazing,
stick to it astonishing,
do the right thing moments...

I love you LOML !!!

wow...it's been a while...

2009-08-25T05:59:00.000-07:00

For the sake of redundancy I will not repeat my title, but geeze it sure has.

So since I felt the desire to do this blog thing and I enjoys others blogs so much I will attempt to do this thing.

We started school last wekk, and things are humming along, I am happy that our school room is back to school room status after a long time of just being a playroom. It is amazing to me that we were just on traqsh pick away from the perfect schoolroom. We now have a great room that works even better than before, and I am vrey jazzed. We have been so blessed by others within our home, and it is really ba=eginning to look like that, a home...

I'll come back with some shots of our house and tell you what is working for our family, and hopefully the things that I share will help you too!

so, I guess I'

2009-02-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

That is what I have going on in this house right now, and I was wondering if there is some sort of link between the weather and the amount of yelling that occurs...somethig like...

(nice weather)4 + (cold and icky)5 x Weekend of birthday parties + Mom trying to get a handle back on things= screaming kids
quantifying at it's finest! right...

Yeash it's like I don't get to ease up and just have fun...it's like...golly, I'm the Mom...grrr...

I have to get this off my chest...sorry

2009-02-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just have to, this has come up one to many times... please no one get upset, I'm not trying to attack people but I have to say it.

LEAVE HOMESCHOOLERS ALONE !!

I don't run your life, and I don't comment on you sending your kids to school, heck, this deep in the winter, I am playing with the thought myself. Also, I have always been careful to state that homeschooling is not for everyone...it's not. I get that. But if it is MY choice then back out of it. Frankly my darling, I don't give a darn (much more eloquent when said by Rhett...) If you think that we should be watched over, or tested, or made to jump through some useless hoop. I don't dare say that every parent should be investigated...just because some are abusing their children. So stop suggesting that I make my life more complicated just to pacify some misplaced notion that I am homeschooling just to screw my kids up....
Sorry I just had to get that off my chest...

Oh where is my Loml...???

2009-01-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

No it's not a new veggie tune, although it does get sung like one. Also, I have not forgotten to press the spell check and am somehow in dire need of our nonexistent pet llama. Nope I just miss my husband. For those of you who don't know, Loml is one of my DH's nick names. It stands for Love Of My Life (yeah, I know...gross...and really cute, don't you think?)

And I don't miss him for the reasons I should...
...I've been home alone with 6 kids ages 8 and under since Sunday, nope that is true, but things have gone surprisingly smoothly, and I feel strangely confident as a mom right now.
...no one took out the trash, hmmm...I could have done it, I was just lazy and didn't want to get snowy, besides, I have LOTS of boys, and they can do it.
...lacking in adult conversation, I got to talk to him on the phone, and anyone who knows me knows that if I have to talk, I will get it out, plus I went to a friends house for like 5 hours, and I'm not sure that either of us even breathed we talked so much (yep, I mean you Shelly.)

Nope none of those are the reasons that I miss him, well, not really. I just miss HIM. I think that my body has finally gotten to the point that I have really "cleaved unto" him. I just have a piece gone, and I am amazingly aware of that. When we were first married I was so possessive and my emotions toward Jeff were so...much, I really couldn't stand to be without him...you all know what I mean, it's all so BIG when you first start out. Now we are going on ten years, and all those emotions are just as big they are just down deep, way in the marrow of the bone. I ache to have him here, and yet I have to stand the fact that he is gone, not just stand, but thrive, and grow, and nourish others... what a funny thing love is, and what a gift God gives us. He takes something selfish and turns it into a means to serve. Thank you for this deep in the bone love Lord, and keep me loving my Loml.

Holy CUTNESS Batgirl

2009-01-11T18:53:00.000-08:00

So today, a bit on impulse, we went to The Henry Ford (as it insists on being called, apparently Henry Ford Museum wasn't good enough for them...but I digress...are you surprised?) We went for many reasons, family outings are a noble calling, and are a means of bonding, we have a membership and it was free, some kinda wacky people we like agreed to take the plunge with us...but mostly we went because we are geeks and we are attempting to instill geekiness in our kids... and we appear to be succeeding. My cute princessy...not a word, but should be, daughter took about 15 minutes in the costumes from cool movies exhibit to become...theme music...BATGIRL....add more theme music. This can only be explained by genes, and I am proud to say I did it. Somewhere between drooling over the Batmobile and decorating a paper mask...she got it. Be cool for you, even if that means vanquishing your brothers in a dress...You go Liza!

Like TOTALLY

2009-01-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I have done something awful to my kids and I am going to put it all out there for you all to see....

I have taught them 80's slang. The boys seem to be the most affected by it, and is shows up in the oddest times.

The scene: Sunday morning, the Freeman house, people are dressed for church (a miracle and thank you Jesus) and I am pouring bowls of cereal.
The players: a 5 year old spunky blond boy (code named "Trouble") and an 8 year old brunette (we'll call "Cowboy") Both have hair that needs to be cut very badly, but as a result they have taken to "doing" their hair in the mornings.

Cowboy walks up to Trouble, and grabs his hand, they start that ever endearing game that is the true mark of brotherly love...Stop, hittin' yourself...

Concerned by the results that may occur given said activity...Trouble turns to Cowboy, and remarks with all of the disdain of a greaser

"DUDE! THE HAIR!!!"

2009-01-05T04:10:00.000-08:00

Wow, it happened, it IS happening. Paul does not wear his cowboy boots and hat everywhere. Now the reason for the boots is a bit sad, he grew out of them. In fact he has been growing out of a lot recently, and bumping into things left and right. Today is his 8th birthday and he will just keep growing and running into things. I don't want this to turn into a big boo hoo my firstborn is old thing, as I have been spouting in my head since yesterday, I have been close to tears for about 48 hours now...so I won't, I will just celebrate the person that Paul IS. He is the kind of boy who wears a cowboy hat and boots EVERYWHERE (hats take a little longer so it still joins us on occasion.) He laughs with his whole face, imp eyes, big wide mouth and everything. Paul loves so many things and he soaks up information on the things he loves in an amazing way (4 year old Paul was often heard quoting his favorite movie,"That's how he would kill his prey, pick it up and shake it, like a rag doll!" Some were disturbed by that...we laughed...) Paul wants to grow up to be a real cowboy, and I don't have the heart to tell him that Steve Irwin (the croc hunter to some...) died over a year ago. He tells me ways that people can take care of the earth and the life that God has given us to protect. Most importantly though he LOVES Christ. Paul does things and offers up things just for the love of God, he gives his sucker away to a kid that dropped theirs all the time, and never says a word till we ask him where it is, then he mumbles, I thought Jesus would want me to...

Thank you God, Thank you for blessing me with this amazing person, help him lead me closer to you, just like he has always done...

Great I'm crying any way...oh well...

Lots of boxes down....lots more to go...

2009-01-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

So, the reason that you have not seen a lot of posts on here is that we moved. Yep, crazy Jen just got a little crazier. We moved with about a weeks notice and 6 kids to pack...it was madness.But (yes, I homeschool and so gramatical problems do reflect badly on the homeschool community at large, but darn it I am beginning a sentence on MY blog with but...now back to your regularly scheduled ramblings) where was I ...oh yeah, BUT we appear to be moved.
Funny thing is that we really feel very at home, and it happend right away. Maybe it was the fact that two days after we moved we hosted Thanksgiving at the new place for 31 people (16 of whom were ages 8 and under.) If it were not for my Mom I would have not been able to feed anyone, as I was to busy making sure that there was toilet paper in the bathrooms (was that in the box marked, bathroom...emergency bathroom...where the heck did all of this stuff come from...or junk?)
So long story short, we are moved, and happy, and dare I say it, grateful to God in His goodness, and thankful for the plan that He put into place for our family...Lord, you are all good, and all Loving...

2008-11-21T04:52:00.001-08:00

I can not spell!!!!

Don't blame me, I was tagged...

2008-11-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

A. Attached or single? Very Very attached!

B. Best friend? My LOML (for those of you who are code word challenged, that stands for Love Of My Life) it's pronounced a bit like llama,but with a "l" at the end instead of an "a" and yes, it is Jeff's super cute nickname.

C. Cake or pie? Cake, unless it's aple pie, with cheddar cheese,

'cuz apple pie without the cheese
is like a kiss without the squeeze

D. Essential item? my kids, no really, yesterday I didn't have them most of the day, and for all of the fact thaat I got a whole heck of a lot done, I really missed them.

E. Day of choice? It's a toss up, between Sunday and Thursday, Thursday has a lot of hope, because it's supposed to be our family day, so I keep thinking that we will do a cool game night or something, and really USE the day propperly, I think that it figuse with me with an apron on and the kids quietly playing a game with their Dad...I know crazy, but I can dream any way... What was I saying? Right fav. day So I guess that Sunday is my real Fav. day, because we worship together, and soon we are shipping off 2 more boys to be altar servers, and we will only have to sit with 3 kids through Mass, then we get Simon and Patrick to serve and Liza to join the chior...there might be hope that Jeff and I could LISTEN to a whole Mass...amazing
wow, tangent, who knew that this would be the longest answer..funny how life goes...shoot I am not even past e and look at me babbeling...shoot this is going to take forever

F. Favorite color? Blue, but I look better in green, must be the flowing auburn locks...yeash I am vain about my hair...sorry...

G. Gummy bears or worms? worms, we all like to chase each other through the house with them..good times...

H. Hometown? Royal Oak (that was said with my nose straight, and no attitude...

I. Favorite indulgence? hidden chocolate (you know what I mean, "Mom, what are you eating...mdajhlgfiuhpetf..." (translation...nothing sweetie) I don't think that I am fooling them anymore they are just being nice to a crazy old lady

J. January or July? dunno, not my faves really, I'm more of a spting autum kinda girl

K. Kids? I have a great sign that my dear SIL got me, that fits us to a tee it says "I childproofed my house, but they still get in."

L. Life isn’t complete without? God...how do people do it without him???

M. Marriage date? 9-11-1999 (yes it's sad, but we were married 2 years before, so pardon the attitude, but we try to focus on our marriage that day.)

N. Number of magazine subscriptions? the kids get some, great Christmas presents, and we get readers digest....I read it for the articles

O. Oranges or apples? apples, oranges have those white stringy bits, in fact if you take the membrane off of the range, I like them, and they are amazing to take apart, God is so good!

P. Phobias? fear of losing my kids pretty much tops the list

Q. Quotes? anyhing from Princess Bride...anything...i could answer most questions with a quote from that movie... it's a sickness I know

R. Reasons to smile? kids...man I need a hobby...but it is true...they are fun to watch and they think out loud..

S. Season of choice? SPRING....Easter...planting...dirt...worms...earth...LOVE IT!

T. Tag 5 people... I don't know 5 more people who blog...you took all of my people Shelly, first you make me do this thingy then you take all of my people, the people whose blogs I read would never sink this low, and you left me high and dry...some friend... UMMMM...pressure...can't think....

U. Unknown fact about you? I talk to my son in heaven a lot. Christopher was our first son that we lost through miscarraige, and I talk to him all of the time, most of the time I am asking for prayers so that I can raise his brothers and sisters up right (or just not throw something at them... like each other) but, the truth is I miss him and I think that it is a good thing I get to see him someday

V. Vegetable? all of them, give me veggies over fruit and day...

W. Worst habit? not praying in the morning...HAVE to break that one...

X. X-ray or ultrasound? ultrasound...babies...happy

Y. Your favorite foods? anything my mom cooks

Z. Zodiac sign? Libra...but trust me I am not well-balanced...so much for that one LOL!

I did it!!!

2008-11-18T22:10:00.000-08:00

So apparently due to a need to thank God, and spill my guts, it turns out that I actually gave no one any actual information about our moving, and since I said that that is what I was going to do, I had better do it! LOL!
Several questions and their answers follow... (DUH, you may say, but I once heard a news anchor say that before a taped interview...so can I get paid for that too??? ...but I digress, is that how you spell digress...drats, I did it again...

Where are we moving to? We are moving to Troy (don't roll your eyes at me, you all know that I will avoid all attempts at yuppieness thrust upon me with every fiber of my being...do people still use the word yuppie?)

When are we moving? As soon as we are packed, which by my calculations should be sometime in the next 2 to 3 decades... no really it's happening on Tuesday...6 days from now...wow, why am I typing, I NEED to pack...

Why do I have to share? Whatever happend to Sonny and Cher? (sorry, Bob & Larry, I am totally plagurizing you guys, don't be mad, it's a great gag, and I just had to...apparently I don't just get goofy at MNO after midnight it happens here too, I must need sleep or less kids, and since only one is truely an option...I'll answer one more question.)

When can we come over? I PROMISE that I will have a big open house and have lots of people come, we may have a giant house blessing and open house, I have to get past Christmas first, and I am hosting Thanksgiving at the new house, yes that is riht, I am HOSTING Thanksgiving 2 days after I move the table into the house...

Pray for me, I am obviously going mad, Thank you Lord that my Mom is comming into town, she can do anything, and yes I mean anything...trust me! So with her help and your prayers I might just pull this thing off!

2008-11-18T04:18:00.000-08:00

This should have been on the post, but I am still learning!

funny thing happend Tuesday (last Tuesday)...

2008-11-18T03:46:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about MNO...that was a Friday...
Okay, so God is good and all of that, but wow, every once and a while He just kinda knocks your block off, right?So a lot of people have been asking why we are moviing when we all KNEW thst I was not moving, and frankly I was grumpy about it, I asked many of you for prayer. So, I got over myself, decided that God knew best and hung up my new dinner bell.(I love this dinner bell, and was not going hang it in a house I hated...but like I said, I got over myself right?) So deciding that apparently God knows best, contrary to my personal opinion, I settled into the house that I have lived in for about 4 years and set down to getting it to work with 6 kids 2 adults and a cat.

Then the phone rings and my world tips upside down...

We are moving!

Due to the love of God (and a kind and understanding German, and his talented wife) we get to live in a place that we can strech out in and really let the kids run!!! Oh God, thank you! You just wanted me to be happy with your plan, DUH! You think I would have learned this through the MANY times that I have wrestled with God, and yet...I did it again... yeash am I a fickle and whiney human.

I never thanked you God,

Not for the home you gave us when we needed a back yard.

I didn't thank you for the neighbors that don't judge us,

they think we are crazy, but they don't judge us for the wierdness.

I never thanked you for the home that we brought 4 of our children home to.

I never thanked you for the fact that my hubby worked 2 blocks away,

and when we needed him he was right there.

I never thanked you for little old ladies who love our family and

taught us so many amazing lessons

(send them outside every day darling, and they won't get sick,

I've been outside every day of my 87 years, and I never get sick...

we miss you Emma!)

I never thanked you for the fact that when I homeschooled here

I met some of the most amazing families I could never dream up!

You had your hand on our family, guiding us and protecting us, and giving us what we needed, and I never said thank you, I just pouted in the corner.

I am sorry Lord, I am humbled by your gifts...

I'm not going to waste this one Christ,

I am going to live with a grateful spirit,

and not miss all of the little jewels that you have placed in my pathway

You know. You give. You are all good. You are so kind. You know.

I'm sorry Lord, and Thank You!

2008-08-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

Just thought you should know...

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yeppers, specially in a michigan salad! mmm...
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? NO!!!!!!(got to copy your answer Shell
3. Do you own a gun? no, but that is ruling out one in the future
4. . What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? don't go there...what do they have?
5. Do you get nervous before doctor Appointments? depends, shots for my babies, always!
6. What do you think of hot dogs? something I would only feed my children and hubby! LOL
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Sorry, It's a wonderful Life, I'm a Shmeep-aholic!
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? my new "coffee"
9. Can you do push-ups? hmmm...define...up?!?
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? symbol of my LOML's love...sigh!
12. Favorite hobby? Scrapbooking
13. Favorite Actor? Mel...Gibson, of course, I'm praying for you man!
14. Do you have A.D.D.? I don't think...Oh LOOK, a chicken!
15. What's one trait you hate about yourself? laziness
16. Middle name? Louise (a proud heritage!)
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: 1.Chitty Chitty Bang Bang CAN get stuck in your head for weeks!2.My kids are cute! 3. When is Jeff going to be home? (I miss him)
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday/today: 1. Pizza 2. ice for park day 3. gum
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, iced tea, & more water
20. Current worries? Dave, when will I do those dishes (not really a worry, just a nagging thought) and how do will I ever keep the house clean??
21. Current hate right now? CANCER
22. Favorite place to be? Loving my LOML and hanging with the kiddos
23. How did you bring in the New Year? I think I was sleeping...not sure
24. Where would you like to go? Rome
25. Name three people who will complete this? Don't know I don't think I have ever really done one of these before...not sure, but they shouldn't feel pressured, I never did.
26. Do you own slippers? hmmm...saw one slipper sock somewherre in a pile...
27. What shirt are you wearing? little light blue number
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? can't remember, it's been quite a while
29. Can you whistle? yeppers, name that tune was a fav. in my family
30. Favorite color? green
31. Would you be a pirate? according to facebook, no, I would be a cowboy
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? why stop in the shower?
33. Favorite girl's name? Elizabeth (duh) Isabella ... Emily...
34. Favorite boy's name? Paul, James, Stephen, Simon & Patrick (just in case the kids read this someday LOL!
35. What is in your pocket? no pockets today
36. Last thing that made you laugh? Dick Van Dyke...we're watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, remember?
37. Best bed sheets as a child? unicorn, Liza has the top sheet on her bed right now
38. Worst injury you've ever had? riding accident, seem to feel it more now then i did then
39. Do you love where you live? Nope... just content, two very diffrent things
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1
41. Who is your loudest friend? Jen (crazy Jen, my long lost twin)
42. How many dogs do you have? None
43. Does someone have a crush on you? unless your talking aboput when I am dog piled by the kids, nope, no crushes
44. What is your favorite book(S) the walking drum
45. Where were you born? Michigan
46. What is your favorite candy? Toblerone
47. Favorite Sports Team? none
48. What song(s) do you want played at your funeral? as the deer, played at my wedding, and I can only imagine
49. What were you doing at 12 A.M.? probably watching the olympics...they need to end, i need my sleep
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? must use bathroom!

giggle, giggle tee hee, sorry, I'm learning

2008-07-23T12:17:00.002-07:00

hahahahahaha!!!

can you tell that I am still getiing used to this? I just posted a title.

Any way, I have to say that I love Craigslist, I have gotten so much stuff that I was looking for and I didn't have to check if it was currently residing in outer mangolia. Because, frankly, no matter how good the deal, I'm not going to outer Mangolia to get it, I think that seems fair.
I mean I felt like the kids needed a punching bag, one kid in particular, and there it was a nice lady was selling stuff for her brother, and not I have a cheap punching bag! Whoop-de-do! can any one say let the healing/kick boxing begin (they seem to be one and the same fro mu little man)
so thank you Lord for Craigslist and all of the wonderful goodies therin, (but stay away from their adoption forum, there were some BITTER ppl over there!)

hmmm...

2008-07-23T12:17:00.001-07:00

To many stinking choices...

2008-07-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

I just spent a LOT of valuable time setting up a Netflicks thingy... It is irritating that this stuff takes up laundry time, oh wait, no it's not I hate laundry, and let's face it so do you, if you don't you are welcome to take over my family, as you MUST be a beetter mom than I am!

shoot...it's offical

2008-07-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Alrighty then, shoot, I knew she would do it, I just thought that I would have more time! Man, that Shelly is a tough nut!
Update on the thingy status, I am officially borrowing one from a friend, she is willing and happy to lend me her extra (imagine being so with it that you have extra thingies that you haven't lost, and I can't keep track of my originals...there must be something wrong with her!)

So we are trying a new homeschooling technique out at my home, it's call child enslavement (wow, if this was a popular blog, would I be getting emails right now) I have decided that I am WWWWAAAYYYY!!! outnumbered and that if they don't lend a hand we will drown in laundry. It's the ugly truth. So, after much masking tape (instructions, are written on in sharpie) and an official claiming of washing machines. (We recently received a second washer and dryer from my mom)Paul and James have taken over the laundry, I just have to fold and sort and the little ones even put away their own.Wow! I really sound like I have it together!

Amazing, when I spell checked, I only got 2 words wrong, and miniacal wasn't one of them , I wonder if the computer just dosen't know what to make of me...

still in search of a thingy!

2008-06-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am, days later, lots of pictures and not a thingy in site, I am going to end up at a drug store downloading these things, aren't I? GRRRR!!! Well, I guess that the cat will be out of the bag soon, I did announce it to Shelly (Hi Shelly, did you find me?) and I think that she is going to bl-out me. (I invented that word, I get to use it, to me goes the glory...drats no that's not right, God, you get the glory, I just look silly for using a non-word.
Okay my hubby is offically asleep and I must get things ready for church in the morning, so ta ta, and toodl-o! I'll have to ramble more later!

Found my camera

2008-06-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

Whoopie dee dooo!
I am so excited, I found me camera, which means as soon as I find out where the cordy thing is I will have pictures for you all to peruse, and once that is completed, I will send out my madness into the world...so everyone (who is not reading this yet, I know, but you'll just have to deal with the weirdness) get ready!

Alrighty, I need help!

2008-06-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

So the horrible truth is, I need help, I am still a little bit behind on this whole technology thingy, and the truth is I need help. I haven't sent this out there because it isn't "pretty". I wanted pictures and a neat-o format, and I wanted it to look good!
However, I need help, see, my pictures are all on this digital camera (that non of my friends will be surprised to find out, I can't find!) And even if i could find the silly thing, I can't find the cord, so they can't go on the computer, which means that my mucho cuto kiddies may never grin at you.
Don't think that this is anything that is strange, I have always had trouble with "things" and "attachments". I had to learn to break into my own house so I didn't have to hear my Mom lecture about the silly keys that she tried to pin/tie/neon/and clip onto me, or place in what I like to call "clever places" you know, those places that you put things, then can NOT find when you need them, but it WAS the perfect place! Once I learned the old hose real and screen routine, I was freed for years from lectures, that is, until we moved. Then I had to learn how to break into a whole new place. Frankly it astonishes me that I have maintained a pinpoint on my 6 kids for this long... hey, maybe I can teach them to break in to our house...the windows are a little high for me, just in case!

Be gentle with me...

2008-06-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

It is my first time, I'll admit it, blogging scares the begebies out of me. There was a time that I thought what is all of the hype, why would someone want to read another persons ramblings???
And then it was said, by people... and at them you may point the finger... "no, really, you should blog!"
Now let it be known that I am a people person, and I think that I have my moments, but I'm nothing special!
My intro pretty much sums me up (after all, what would I have time to do besides all of that?!?) But I love looking at things and learning and sharing. I have always believed that I go through things so that I can share them. And in hopes that I can share those things with people, that may be wanting to share their lives as well. Done with the mushy stuff, I do get mushy sometimes, and I will answer all questions (thought the reply I find myself giving the most right now is "Stephen, where do you come up with these questions?" ) You'll meet all of the kids later, and I'll get pictures of them up soon. So welcome, pull up a chair and we'll talk and share a bit.
Love in Christ, Jen