Better than expensive jewelry

This is what my husband bought me today!

We've been trying to figure out what to do about:
1) my desire to exercise regularly and get back in shape
2) my limited access to anything outside the house
3) my knee problems that prohibit regular walking as a means of exercise

I was way too tired to use it tonight (here start the excuses) but I'm eager to get up and "running" on Monday. I'm so proud of my husband...he decided what to buy, researched the product, found it on Craigslist, and offered the guy $150 less. Maybe my old clothes will resurface one of these days!

Why three-year olds don't babysit

I said, "Could you give him a toy to play with?" If one is good, all of them are better, right?

Sacred diaper changes

Several of my friends are about to have babies, and congrats to Lauren who just gave birth to baby Caleb yesterday. It never gets old; from start to finish it's a miracle to observe. You spend the better part of a year pregnant (which for me means none fun) and then several months (or more) recovering. But God gives you this amazing love for a tiny, squishy, baby who adores and depends on you. God has designed the most perfect process and it never ceases to amaze me.

Jamie Soles is a reformed songwriter who has not impressed me with his musical ability, but he has come up with many catchy tunes to teach children the basics of the faith. (When I complained to a friend about the lack of quality reformed music he suggested Handel's Messiah.) One of Jamie Soles songs always makes me tear up, because as amazing as childbirth is, it is just as mind-boggling that before these babies of ours can even answer back they are marked as God's. Now it's our job to communicate this to them.

To listen to the song click here

Sarah your bride, let Me confide
Will not remain barren forever
To your surprise she’ll have a child
She will become the mother of laughter
And when he is a baby
Before he can even reply
Let him know I choose him to be with Me
You shall give to him My sign

This is the sign between you and I
Although this sign will perish in time
This is the sign that you've become Mine
Until the day Messiah will shine
This is the sign

--------------------------

The other song that always makes me cry (could it be the hormones?) is from Caedmon's Call:

this house is a good mess
it’s the proof of life
no way would I trade jobs
but it don’t pay overtime

I’ll get to the laundry
I don’t know when
I’m saying a prayer tonight
cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred?
and all this time
everything I’ve dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping
but they’re running through my mind
the sun makes them happy
and the music makes them unwind

my cup runneth over
and I worry about the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing

when I forget to drink from you
I can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream
to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper
the Lord, God Almighty
made your Mama keeper
so rise and shine
rise and shine cause

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If only I could remember this during every diaper change or temper tantrum!

Tyrants and such

The earth is the Lord's, and all it's fullness. Psalm 24:1

So far I've spent the last few days catching up from a week of potty training and a week of being sick. Glad to be over the worst of both. The older kids are tapering off in their kleenex usage, but I'm afraid Little T is just now succumbing. I'm heading to bed with the knowledge that he may be up a few times in the night.

Spent the last 2 hours ironing my husband's dress shirts and pants. I'm really grateful for his new job and he seems to be prospering and enjoying it. But I miss the construction worker attire. After reading Keeping House I've been more motivated to iron my clothes (occasionally). Sometimes this strikes me as funny considering the fact that I leave the house about once a week. It's not like I'm wearing pantyhose and heels (more like tights and my lovely boiled wool slippers). But I am learning to appreciate a well-ironed shirt (about once a week). So some days my skirt is ironed but I realize around 10am that I haven't brushed my hair yet. I'm still working on the whole picture.

I watched the Wal-mart documentary on Netflix while I ironed. Seen it? Thoughts? I have a family member who doesn't buy anything made in China, which I completely understand, but how do you insure working conditions/workers rights, etc. in all the other third world countries. It's something I need to think through a little more.

I'm trying to finish up the New Kings of Non-Fiction so I can pass it on to my brother. I read a fascinating piece on Saddam Hussein and his life as a tyrant. It would seem that his mind was so warped from his own belief in the superiority of his clan that he was willing to sacrifice anything that would get in the way of securing more power for himself and his family. It made me want to question my own actions with my "people" and ask: Am I doing this for my own good and comfort or for theirs? It's very easy to feel like I am giving my whole life as a mother to these children and yet actually do my acts of service to them with horrible motives. I'm trying to be more aware of esteeming them more highly than myself. Which sometimes means getting their juice before my coffee. Although sometimes it means getting my coffee first, so that I can hand them their juice with a pleasant look on my face. It's the "put your own gas mask on first before you save the others" mentality.

We did haircuts today and while my optimistic personality does lend itself to thinking, "Maybe THIS time I will give the guys a decent haircut" I still lack a system (which my husband informs me is an impediment to my progress- how can one improve unless one perfects the system?) and I think I need to find a YouTube video on it. I watched a few clips that really helped me cut Sweet A's hair into a bob. That said, I think they look respectable.

Lastly, I had Chicken Pot Pie on the menu for today, but since we are doing our main meal at lunch it seems like I have less time to prepare "dinner." Chicken pot pie from scratch can be labor intensive, and I found this perfect substitute on another blog I like to visit. It was a great meal for a cold and rainy Wednesday. Who knew whole wheat biscuits with olive oil could be so good?

The one where she talks about her favorite room

Well, I think we have survived the Last Cold of Spring, and as with labor (and many other things), just when you think you can't take it any more things get better. After a pretty tough night of getting up about every 20 minutes between the three kids, I really thought I was going to die. (Just call me Anne with an "e.") I got about 2 hours of sleep Saturday night, and that was WITH my husband taking a few turns comforting hacking children who can't breath out of their nose so they can't suck their appendages. But enough of that. The kids are on the mend, I'm feeling much better, and we are just trying to keep WH and the baby from getting anything more than a scratchy throat.

Still no dining room curtains. So you may just never see that room unless you visit. But that's not my favorite room anyway, so on to the kitchen.

My bedroom is A favorite, especially since I have a fabulous bed. Our new bedroom is bigger and has almost no clutter which makes it even more of a retreat. However, my all time favorite room would have to be the kitchen. Which makes my mother wonder if we are actually related.

My current kitchen doesn't have enough room for my stainless steel island, the one that makes me feel like the Pioneer Woman when I cook. But I'm getting over that. If you like to cook, there are endless possibilities of creativity in this little room, and since almost everyone loves to eat, it's a place for providing a daily source of happiness to my family. I'll have to wax eloquent on my love of the kitchen another time.

Here are the only things worth noting about my kitchen:
These are my window mistreatments. My old curtains tacked up to my new kitchen window. Nothing spectacular but it took me 2 minutes and they make me happy.

The fridge of my dreams. I've never really had a dream about a fridge with a freezer on the bottom, but if I had to choose any model it would have been this one, and we don't even own the house! (My dream fridge of this make and model would, however, have a working icemaker.)

And my new little island where all my important work takes place. Tomorrow is grocery day, and I haven't had a two-week trip since we moved so I need to go finish my list. Do you see that amazing looking Double-Caramel Turtle Cake on the cover of that magazine? It is delicious in real life.

Already?

Little T at four months...time flies when you're having babies.

Obviously we are not doing a whole lot of house stuff this week but we are trying to avoid getting (or giving) pneumonia and taking lots of pictures.

I've also been reading a "book" (really just lecture notes) about church history through the 16th and 17th centuries, which was written by a man from our last church. It's been fun to unload all of our books and as my husband says, see which ones have spawned new books on our shelves. Every time we look through our books it seems there are a few we have never seen. Is there a book fairy?

True Confessions

No, this isn't one of those 25 Things You Wish You Didn't Know About Me lists.

Before I got married my music collection consisted of :::::::this is so embarrassing:::::::: independent Christian artists and Michael Card. Oh, and Twila Paris. Don't forget her. Marriage greatly broadened my music repertoire, although it mostly gave me a better knowledge of early 90's rock music. (Sorry, honey, but it's true.) I was learning to love it during our engagement because I loved him so much, but let me tell you what sealed the deal when it came to loving Ace of Base. (Yes, that's what I said.)

My then fiance surprised me once in Charlotte when I flew in to visit some friends. He picked me up at the airport and took me downtown. It was Spring, there was a full moon, and WH knew I didn't know a thing about dancing (that was back in the day when my family didn't approve) but wanted to learn. So, he parked his truck in downtown Charlotte, opened up the door and turned Ace of Base up super loud, and taught me to dance right there on the sidewalk. Passers-by were charmed, and one guy even asked if there was a cover-charge. It's a sweet memory. And even though we don't dance much these days, last night he hooked up our speakers and opened up the windows and turned on that memorable cd and let our children dance their little hearts out. Not sure what the neighbors think, but our kids think we're normal.

2009 Rental Home Tour- The Children's Room

Well, Coop and I are sick with some flu/cold type thing, so the house tour has taken a back seat to r-e-s-t. But I did take some pictures of the room that the cuties pictured above call their own.
Well here it is, in all it's simplicity. Toys, chair, bed, bed, bed, rug. Yes, three children in one room. Although we are cheating and have a pack and play set up in the Spare 'oom for times when it's not convenient for baby to be sleeping. My Mom convinced me to put this mega chair in the kids room and I balked. I love the chair- we got it for $4.95 at Goodwill years ago, and I slipcovered it with some of my favorite fabrics and a bedspread. I just thought chairs that could double as beds were too big for children's rooms. Well, as moms will be, she was right. It's a favorite spot for reading books, hiding behind, and jumping. And when you only pay $4.95 for a piece of furniture that has already had a long life, it's okay to jump on it.

Since I haven't hung any pictures or even purchased a new lampshade for their lamp, the only other thing to point out are these:
We bought a cheap laminate shelving unit and then purchased these plain white boxes (that unzip to store flat- which made for easy packing and moving) at IKEA for $5 each. The children all have three: one each for shirts, pants/skirts, and pjs and underwear. They can easily put away their own clothes and each one has a tag with a stamped initial so they know which boxes are theirs. It works really well and doesn't take up much space.

Well, the curtains probably won't get done this week since I'm doing well to get through the laundry. But I do hope to tackle a mound of thank you notes while I'm hanging out on the couch.

2009 Rental Home Tour

Well, our internet is officially up and running and we are living like the modern family we thought we already were. This past week was full of potty training, of which I will not bore you with details except to say that the tears (on her part and mine) during the first three days brought forth great fruit in the end. I'm happy to say that at the ripe old age of 23 months, she has the basics down and has even been dry during nap times and most night times. Further proof to me that she was ready for all this. Anyway, the no-couch/bed ban has been lifted and she is fairly trustworthy, and I'm sure WH is grateful that I have other things on my mind and more diverse dinner conversation.

Friday we had a thank-you dinner for some of the people who initially helped us unload the moving truck when we first rolled into town (and Warren was sick in bed). Three of these people are Chinese students who were so much fun to get to know. It still strikes me as amazing that we can have acquaintances with such different backgrounds and experiences...and yet some things are universal (like the growing up stories we exchanged- apparently boys around the world are all mischievous at times). This dinner was also the impetus for getting the main living areas of my house finished. My mom and sister came for a quick visit last weekend and shared their talent (and encouragement) for moving furniture and hanging pictures. My mom is amazing. That's all I can say. She could make a living redecorating homes and making them feel like the perfect cozy spot you just can't wait to get back to. So, hopefully I can give you a little tour throughout the week of our humble abode. It's certainly not perfect, but thanks to The Nester I know that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. :)

So, let's start with the living room, shall we? (Because the dining room doesn't have curtains yet.) When you walk in the door, which I hope lots of you will do this year, this is what will greet you:
As you will see, I finally incorporated the red I've always wanted into my little room. For ages red has been my color choice (red coat, red bags, shoes, etc.) but never has it worked it's way into my decorating. By the way, have you seen this curtain fabric before? It's the header for my blog. I know, it IS great fabric.
The artichoke picture also found a little spot. Thanks Grandpa Glenn! :) I love how my Mom was able to take things I already owned and move them to places I never would have thought to create a whole new look. The kids love having their table in the living room, and I think it welcomes them into "our" space vs. trying to make it look like the children belong in the back of the house.
Not that you really need another angle, but this is my favorite spot in the house. And you can't really tell from this picture, but on my hope chest is a great painting my friend Tiffany gave painted for me on my 30th birthday. She didn't know I would be leaving Chattanooga when she gave it to me, but the "See Rock City" barn she painted has become a sweet reminder of our time there. And it has red in it. :)
Lastly, the living room is long enough that we were able to make an office area behind the couch for our laptops. We won't store a lot of papers here (hopefully) but it will be a nice place to recharge our phones and keep our computers.
Looks like we'll be having lots of happy days here in this room!

Still no service

Just wanted to let you know that we are all alive but without internet service. (Still.) (Despite using V-r-zon and today being their promised start date...two weeks after we signed up. What is this? The dark ages???) Anyway, I am deep into the all-consuming world of potty training Sweet A, so it's probably just as well. I find this necessary task of motherhood to be quite draining, physically and emotionally. But it will all be worth it soon...and maybe by then I'll have internet at will. And then I can post my Extreme Mom Makeover pictures. My house is really coming together, thanks to a quick visit by my mom and sister this past weekend. :)

So much to tell, so little wireless. Goodnight!

MIA

We have signed up for wireless internet, but it will supposedly take TWO weeks for our service to start. So for now, we get about 2 minutes of service a day (bumming off the neighbor). The lamp post was (unfortunately- if I had known I would have used my time better!) all the time I got that day, and it's been pretty sketchy ever since.

Until then, I remain,
Your technologically deprived blogging friend who is buried in SNOW! Pictures coming soon..ish