Day One

So I've decided to try to start the thirty day photo challenge that a few of my friends have started. Some are doing it on their blog, some are doing phone pics on their twitter, etc. I've decided to just stick with the blog. So I think mine will be more like a 30 week photo challenge, but oh well. I'll get to it when I do. ;)

Day one: Self-Portrait

This is me. The first thing that pops out at me are my crazy baby hairs. They never really go away. They stay really bad or just a little less bad. Ugh.
This is me being lazy. There's a basket full of people to pray for, a parenting book to read, craft scissors waiting to finish a project, a Bible to study...all these things gathered on one little table, waiting for me to get up and get going.
Another is the expression. The wrinkled forehead, serious lips, wide eyes...I don't know why but I ALWAYS get caught with this worried, anxious, or concerned expression. It's just me. And we aren't going to point out my eyebrows in DESPERATE need of a wax. Actually, I've been thinking about trying threading...anybody tried it? Yes, No? Opinions please?

This picture feels a little more comfortable to me. I am easily distracted. In fact, Daughter had told me something here and I just kept clicking to see what happened as I listened to her story. So this picture feels like me. Caught candidly, by me.
How do you like my crooked smile and eye? On MY left side, both my bottom lip and bottom eyelid go up just a smidge more than the right side. Which could be really disturbing if you read those science reports on how beauty is calculated...symmetry. Phfff....they don't know what they're talking about. ;)

So there you have it.
Me.
Hello world.
:)

If you want to participate in the photo challenge, hop on board.

Gifts 602-614

Sharing exciting news

Iced coffee

New parenting techniques

Smell of honeysuckle in traffic

neat mow lines in fields of hay

perfect bales bundled just days later

pregnancy sickness

fabric softener

longs rows of uniform white tombstones, marking sacrifice after sacrifice

birthday traditions

small celebrations

bedtime prayers

funny things kids say

The Things Kids Say...

So for Daughter's birthday, she requested a strawberry bundt cake. She didn't know what a bundt cake was but picked the pan because she loved the shape. Anyway, today we've been playing outside and she decided to play restaurant. I was the customer and when I was placing my order she suggested that she had some wonderful desserts. I asked what she had and she said cake. I asked what kind and daughter said "Strawberry cake. With bumps." A little baffled, I said "Sure, I'll have that." As I tried to figure out what she meant by 'bumps' it came to me. I started laughing. Full blown rolling on the floor, laughing. Almost crying, laughing. I pulled myself together and asked daughter (through continued, but stifled laughter, mind you) if she meant 'strawberry bundt cake.'
"Yeah, that's it. Strawberry bump cake. The one with a bump."

And the hysterical laughter returned.

Oh man...if you have ever been hesitant to have children, this is seriously one of the reasons that could stand alone to convince you. The things your kids will say are incredible. And so stinkin' funny.

Ramblings

I've been SO missing from blogland. 

I know.

I have SO much to catch up on.

I know.

I am not making my comeback with some incredibly

thought out piece

that would stir hearts and souls

and make me the most popular blogger in all the land.

I know.

Good thing that's not on my agenda anyway.

;)

I'm making my comeback with a ramble.

Ahh...I love the way I work.

My kids are in bed.

Well, sorta.

I can hear my baby in his room above me

shaking the front of his crib.

I'm pretending I don't.

He's not crying. 

Maybe he's just bored.

He's GOT to be tired.

Ugghhh...

Son is sleeping...

And no, I didn't have to threaten

his life multiple times.

Uh-uh.

I don't roll like that.

Only one time.

And he knew I was kidding.

I think.

Seriously though...

Please know I'm kidding.

CPS would not be welcome visitors right now.

:/

Daughter is awake and well.

Playing in her room.

Way past her bedtime.

Has to get up early (kinda) for dance class.

What?! 

I'm reading this book

Parenting with Love and Logic

It's a recommendation from my Pediatrician. 

So I'm trying out one of the techniques by letting

Daughter decide when she wants to go to sleep.

At first argument of bedtime

I told her that if she didn't think she was tired

that was fine. 

But 8:00 is Mommy and Daddy's alone time.

So I told her I don't want to see or hear you.

As long as you follow those rules you may

stay in your room and go to bed when you feel tired.

However, I reminded her that she still has to get up early

and that I will not be coming back 

to read, pray and sing again.

She was thrilled.

We'll see how it works out.

The idea is that she will likely be tired and grumpy 

tomorrow and after a few nights

she will learn 

(with help from sympathetic and understanding statements from me)

from the consequences of not getting enough sleep.

I'll let you know how it goes.

The book is good and makes a lot of sense.

Although it does touch on some topics for toddlers,

most of it is geared for grade schoolers through teenagers.

So I went back to Amazon and ordered

Love and Logic magic for early Childhood.

That is supposed to be for birth through six years.

Perrrfect.

I'll let you all know how that one is also.

So I'm exhausted.

So far this pregnancy is kicking my Bootay.

I am more tired than I was with any other pregnancy.

And morning sickness?

Try night sickness.

I get sick every so often in the day time, usually afternoon.

But EVERY SINGLE NIGHT

around 8ish I feel a wave of nausea.

It lasts until around 1:00 ish. 

Seriously??

I wake up sick.

What?!

I'm supposed to still be sleeping fine!

Agh!!

Ah well, comes with the territory. 

And obviously, it's completely worth it.

;)

BTW, my official due date is January 23.

*squeal*

So I've been wanting to blog all week

and besides barely being able to keep my eyes open

sometimes I just think

I really don't lead a super exciting life.

What am I going to talk about?

What can I talk about that people will care about?

Do you ever have those kind of blog blocks?

My life just isn't blog material.

Maybe I could blog about someone else's life.

Any volunteers?

Out of curiosity...what comes to mind when 

you think "blog community?"

Is there one?

What is it?

Good, bad?

Fourth of July was nice.

Daughter turned five.

I love that her birthday is Fourth of July.

She had a nice, quiet day.

I'll post about that later.

Justin Alfred was a guest speaker at church the other day.

I lost my marbles.

He was my high school Bible teacher.

I miss that teaching so much.

Really tearing apart the Word...

getting down to what it all means,

where it comes from.

I've been frustrated lately

feeling like church so often

ends up being a pep talk,

motivational speaking.

Everyone leaves feeling good about themselves.

Not that I want to feel awful when I leave church.

Sometimes I just feel like it's all about getting more people

and once they're in

it's all just shallow talk.

Not deep teaching.

I wish it could just be real.

But then maybe it would be too hard for 

new believers to understand.

I don't know.

I'm just hungry.

Craving.

I feel like I can't be satisfied.

Maybe I'm expecting too much of that hunger 

to be met through "church."

Maybe it's my own issue.

Maybe I should  

look to God more to fill my cravings.

Huh.

I honestly hadn't really thought about that.

Go figure.

Well I do believe I've wasted enough of your time.

Quick prayer request:

I just found out that an old friend is very sick.

He has a rare parasite from some food he ate

and is rapidly losing weight, strength, and control of his daily life.

He's very sick 

And they can't figure out how to help him get well.

:(

Good thing there's a much more qualified Healer looking out.

Anyway, thanks for listening...

I'll try to have more quality posts soon.

Right now I have to go eat a tortilla 

to try to keep my stomach...

well...

in. 

:/

Good night all!

Hometown Tour

I am linking up with Melissa at Huckleberry Prairie for her Parade of Towns party. I was a little hesitant because I try to keep my locations vague for safety reasons. So I am going to do it but also keep my tour vague, just covering some of my favorite spots around where I live rather than my actual hometown. Although I have enjoyed looking at everyone else's hometowns! I'm just strange like that.

Anywho...on to my tour...

There is no shortage of historic buildings anywhere around me...shops, restaurants, museums, homes...you name it. I love finding these little gems, an old shop here, a run down barn there, a small factory or a cluster of old farmhouses. It makes me think of the way things were then and the people that lived in and operated these buildings originally.

Some of the views are breathtaking. And you don't have to go to special spots or drive far to see God's majesty. It just unfolds right there.

It's only about an hour to some really nice beaches. You can find quiet coves that are clean and smell fresh or busy, bustling beaches displaying the kick-back and ever-loved beach life.

An hour or so drive in the other direction will take you to crystal skies and lakes like mirrors. Mountains reaching high to the heavens, pushing above the clouds. I love the mountains and always feel so calm and peaceful there. Nature is at it's fullest and God seems just a little closer. ;)

 Historic architecture and museums are a plenty in all directions.

And if I ever get the itch to feel like a smashed sardine, it's not too far to jump on a jam-packed interstate. Nothing makes you feel a little more connected with mankind than three hours of traffic covering a twenty mile stretch. ;)

But really these are the things I love... seeing rows and rows of crops, grapes, citrus, hay.

Going to fun festivals and competitions like the fair or sand castle competitions. Isn't this amazing?! I've seen a few incredible ones in my day, but I found this one online...amazing.

Seeing hot air balloons early in the morning. When I was a child they would often wake us in the morning, the sound of the firing up. And they'd often land on our property. I took a couple rides too and they are just incredible.

God has put me in a wonderful place to live right now, and I am so thankful for it! I hope He moves us around so I can experience more of this great big beautiful world filled with so many Home Towns.