"not me" monday...

Check out MckMama’s blog to read what other bloggers DID NOT do this week.

I DID NOT let my sick 5 year old watch Netflix cartoons for hours upon hours today. She was sick. I most certainly would have had her in bed with lots of fluids. I am a good mommy who would not have paused the Netflix cartoon, wrap the feverish child in a blanket, and driven up to McDonalds because all that was in the house was peanut butter and water. I am Mom of the Year and I always have fresh fruits and veggies available. There is always stocked cupboards in my household. I DID NOT have to go through the drive-thru to give my sick child sustenance. Nope. Never. Not me.

I certainly DID NOT whoop out loud when I saw petrol for $2.09. And that means I definitely did not squeal with delight when it later went down to $1.99. I am always frugal with our money and I am not irresponsible enough to make trips in the van unless they are absolutely necessary. I NEVER just hop in the car and go to HOME GOODS to get out of these 4 walls. So how would I know when petrol prices drop?

Being the great example and devoted mother, I know I DID NOT stay up until 4:00am for 4 nights and 6:00am one other night to watch Netflix movies and the entire 4th season of Grey’s Anatomy. Staying up that late would cause me to be unable to get up in the morning to help the girls get ready for school. I would be so tired I would have to nudge my husband all 5 days and say, ‘Can you please get up with them today.” That would be pathetic. That would make me an irresponsible parent. Could not have been me.

And some of the movies I didn’t watch on Netflix were NOT horror shows. Watching horror shows would cause me to be jumpy and irrational when I had to stay by myself on Friday. I am more sensible with my choices. My choices would surely be all G rated cartoons!

Knowing we are trying to watch our dollars, I am sure I DID NOT take 4 showers in one day just to get warm. I would just put on a coat or sweater; wrap up with a blanket. 4 showers in one day! Not me. As I mentioned before, I am frugal.

I have NOT posted everyday on my blog, but NOT written any of my friends. This would be rude and make me a very bad friend!! And I always make time to write my friends.

I know I was not soooooo nervous for my husband and afraid I would want to ‘help’ him out during his interview, I DID NOT hide up in our bedroom while he was having a phone interview. I would be supportive and sit quietly while he answered the questions. I would be his rock. So again, it could not have been me.

I most certainly DID NOT make a Word document of items to add in my NOT ME post. That would mean I was slightly obsessed with blogging and that I have no life outside of these four walls. Oh wait, maybe I did do that because I have no life outside of these four walls.

And lastly, I know I DID NOT wish something really funny would happen to me so I could add it to my NOT ME post. That would be really, really sad!!

Have a great Monday.

Let me know you’ve been by to see me!!!!

introducing.....

cali

This is Cali.

She is the newest addition to our crazy, unsettled lives.

I had talked to Stephen about getting another dog--moment of insanity:) He was not in favor of the idea. He gave reasons like, "We don't need another mouth to feed." "We don't know where we are moving once I get a job." You know weak reasons:) But in typical fashion, I did not give into common sense. I showed him a picture of a Shorkie (a shih tzu/yorkie mix) His response was "We don't need a dog. But when we get one we need a big dog." We had looked at Old English Sheep dogs and Newfoundlands when we lived in England. OESD take alot of grooming, so the search for a Newfie began.I found CALI on PUPPYFIND. She was 7 weeks old and ready to come to a new home. I contacted the owner. We conversed for a week or so. Last Monday, I told the girls I had an appointment and I would see them later that evening. Michaela went with her friend Hannah B. to work with the Young Republican group, Emma got ready for her date at Chuckie Cheese's with her Daddy, and I proceeded to drive the 4 hours to Bailey Lakes, Ohio.

The surprise was better than I had imagine--I only wish I had it on video!!!!!

She is a good puppy. A typical puppy--but there is hope for a well trained adult dog. Puppy training begins in 2 weeks. Potty training is underway---hopefully she is a quick learner so I can get the 5 foot cage out of my kitchen and the doorways confining her to the kitchen unblocked:)

Facts about Cali:

*She was named Cali by the owner--third litter--all dogs named with 'C' names.
*She will weigh between 100 and 120 pounds (her dad weighed 150.)
*She has webbed feet--for swimming
*She will drool--UGH
*She is a worker dog
*She LOVES putting her foot on her water bowl and swishing all of the water out {cute the first time, not so much the 50th!}
*Her breed is known as the Gentle Giant--great family dog.
*Click here for more info on Newfoundlands.

life's little quandaries...

There are many things in life I do not understand.

Most things I do not try to understand. The price of petrol. Ear stretching. Football. They are what they are.

My trip to Wal-Mart for Children's Tylenol for Emma allowed me to add a few more items to me list of things not understood:

1. Salvation Army bell ringers in front of stores in November.

2. Christmas music being played in stores and on the radio in November.

3. Parents who take their young tired children out to shop way past their bedtime--and then yell at them the entire time they are in the store because they are acting up.

4. How petrol can be $1.57 at one exit and $2.29 at the next. {But I am not complaining about the $1.57!!!}

5. Did I mention Christmas music in November!!!!!

But I do understand why I usually shop at Target instead of Wal-Mart.

another fabulous friday...

Happy Friday.

I really have nothing to say tonight--actually I have plenty, but I do not have the energy to think.

So, everyone have a great Friday evening--what's left of it.
The girls have just gone to bed. Steve is in Monticello chopping wood, and I am going to find a movie on NETFLIX and stay up until the wee hours to watch it.
WOW-the glamorous life!!!!

I guess this counts as a post:)

repeat after me...

...i will not become my mother. i will not become my mother.

When does it happen? When do we cross over and say and do the things we swore as children we would NEVER do when we became parents? When do we become our parents??????

You walk into your newly painted living room, only to find a hand print on the wall. You see the small culprit coming down the stairs--dragging her hands down the stairway wall. You open your mouth. The words come out, but it is not your voice you hear. The voice saying, "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE WALL." is the voice of YOUR MOTHER!!!!!

The culprit rolls her eyes and says, "When I am a parent, I will not tell my kids to keep their hands off the wall. It is just a wall."

Hence, the cycle of parent and child continues.

I can't wait until SHE"S a Mommy!!!!!!!!!

diy--lesson one...

HOW TO BUILD A WALL

...as done by Builder Emma Shea

Dig a trench

taking out as much dirt as possible.
Get help if you need it.
Sometimes it is very heavy!!

Grab a bag of sand to layer in the trench
...my helper says this gives the bricks a level place to sit.


Smooth out your sand
Make sure your bricks are level.

Flatten them out if needed.
Measure
Chisel away the extra bits
Stack the bricksPut the dirt back

Voila'!!! a wall

Now, if she could just come up with a landscaping plan!

shhh.. secret family recipe...

Addition... I thought I would add our secret family recipe for peanut butter lollies. So that everyone can enjoy them.

INGREDIENTS:

One jar of peanut butter {We prefer Jif Creamy, but you use whatever brand is your favorite.}

One spoon. The bigger, the better.

STEPS...

First, open jar of peanut butter.

Next, take the spoon and scoop a ginormous amount of peanut butter onto the spoon.

Then, enjoy--Emma chooses the small licking method, but experiment and find your favorite method of eating the lolly!!!

***This is a great recipe for those mornings when your darling tells you for the first 30 minutes she is awake that she IS NOT hungry, but as soon as it is time to go to the bus stop she is STARVING! It is simple enough for her to make and it travels well as you walk to the bus!!!

November is....

National Peanut Butter Lover's Month

Emma is thrilled!!

An entire month devoted to peanut butter lollies!!!!

just what we needed...

she says with a hint of sarcasm!!

Announcing...

Cali the Newfoundland

8 weeks old

"not me" monday...

Not Me Monday--A fun way to confess to the 'not so cool things' you may have done throughout the week--or not done:) This was started by MckMama at MyCharmingKids. Check out her blog and the amazing story of Stellan, the miracle baby.

Here goes...my first 'Not Me! Monday"

(1) I did NOT drive 8 hours, round trip, to pick up a puppy. Nope. Not me. That would make me crazy. A dog--when we do not know when Steve will get a job or where we will be living. Getting a puppy would add another mouth to feed and added expenses. Deciding to get a puppy now would show a lack of sense. And I always use my common sense and make practical, logical decisions. Definitely NO PUPPY CAME TO THIS HOUSE TODAY. I did not choose to buy a Newfoundland. NOT ME!!!

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(2) I certainly did not have to spank my 12 year old for being mouthy and rolling her eyes at her father. If I had to spank her that would mean my child was NOT the perfect, respectful well-mannered child I raised her to be. And because my 5 year old is always the picture of goodness and obedience, I did NOT have to punish her for telling a lie. I certainly did not have her take a bite of soap to wash the ugliness out of her mouth. I always use non-physical punishment. I am always the picture of the patience mother. So, that certainly was not me.

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(3) As I was driving down I-71, I did NOT see animals on the side of the road and ask outloud, "What are those?" and then answer, "Oh, they are sheep." This certainly could not have been me because a). I know my farm animals and b). I was alone in the car and that would mean I was talking to myself--and answering my own questions. I am too 'together' to talk to myself and I most certainly am not loony enough to ANSWER my questions. Again, this was NOT ME!!

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(4) It was not me that became annoyed when my husband said he was going to play golf tomorrow with Joe. Nope. Not me. Never. I am always the supportive wife! I realize he has been working very hard around the house. I certainly would not get aggravated because I want him here doing the rest of his honey do list. That would make my selfish. I always put my wants behind his. If this had been me, the conversation would have been more like, "Only one round? Are you sure you don't want to play two?" "What time do I need to be up to fix your breakfast and shine your clubs?" So, since the conversation did not go that way, it could NOT have been ME!!!

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(5) And lastly, (not because it is the last of the crazys, but because it is time to take the puppy, I did not get, outside to go potty and to her new bed) I did NOT stuff my face with the girls' M&M's and Milky Ways. I am watching what I eat and M&M's and Milky Ways are not calorie smart foods. I would only be seen eating carrot and celery sticks. I have no idea where all of the chocolate went, but it was NOT ME that ate it. Clearly, since my sweatpants are fitting fine it was NOT ME that had to wipe the evidence from my face!

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I was about to publish this post, but I needed to add one....

(6). It was NOT ME that just went down stairs to check on the puppy (Because we did not get one) only to find my husband sitting with her. It could not have been me that snapped a picture of him petting her and getting her used to the crate. He wanted no part of getting a dog. He was against the addition to our family, so I certainly did NOT hear him talking to her and comforting her. Not Me. Not my husband.

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i will not complain no matter the outcome...

With the upcoming Presidential election only two days away, the talk everywhere I have been has been about who is going to be the next President of the United States. Some voters are excited about the prospect of the first African-American president or the first woman Vice-President. Others voice fear over the future of America if this one wins. Or if that one wins. There are strong convictions on both sides of the vote.

I am not political. I AM a law abiding citizen that is very thankful for the freedom this country allows me. Yet, I am not interested in politics. I have never voted.

Okay, I will wait for the gasps to stop. Everyone picked their jaws up off the floor? What? Yes, I know it is my responsibility. Yes, I know many have died for me to have this right. Okay. Okay. I know 'every vote counts'. {which actually they do not in a Presidential election--if it did Al Gore would have been President), but even with these arguments, I do not vote.

Why do I not vote? Call me cynical, but I do not believe that what the candidates tell us during their campaigning is true. They ARE campaigning to win the ultimate political prize--Commander in Chief. They tell us what demographics tell them we want to hear. Do I have strong convictions about issues? Most definitely I do! Do I doubt that politicians hold firmly to their beliefs? Certainly if the beliefs are not popular with the constituents. I have a difficult time deciding between the lesser of two evils; deciding who is lying 'the least'. So I choose to not vote.

But you, please go out and vote on Tuesday. And while you are deciding your vote for the next leader of our country, consider the candidates political experience, not the impact of his skin color on history. Weigh out his belief on the value of life at all stages of development, not his charisma when he speaks. Determine if your nation will be safe from outside enemies with a leader that has no military experience. Honestly contemplate the future of the USA as we know it before you cast your vote on Tuesday.

I will not be in the voting booth on Tuesday, but I will be kneeling in prayer for the future of our 'one nation under God'.

nablopomo...

Okay, so it is National Blogging Post Month, NaBloPoMo, and I have taken the challenge to write 30 post for 30 days.

And...since it is 11:52pm, or 10:52 if I go by my clocks that have already been moved back for Daylight Savings Time :), I decided I had better get something posted before I fail---on DAY ONE!!!!

So this is it. My first post of thirty. A post about posting.

ghost and goblins, oh my...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

May the ghoulies all be friendly!!

Tonight we loaded our cheerleader (and big sister) into the van and headed south to Mrs. Camillia's and Mr. Bill's house for Halloween fun!!

There was a bonfire for roasting hotdogs--and to sit around telling really scary stories; the scariest one being about the upcoming presidential election:( and of course, food galore. There was trick or treating (Mrs. C and Mr. B live out on several wooded acres so trick or treating stations were set up around the yard and in the woods.) After collecting all the goodies around the yard, we loaded up for a hay ride to do some more 't-n-ting' around the 2.5 mile loop of DARK country roads. (It was more members from the church that had set up along the road) I am sure, if any of the people were home in the few houses we passed, they were confused about the combination of Halloween ghost and goblins and the caroling of 'This Little Light of Mine." and 'Roll the Gospel Chariot Along' as the hay ride passed!

The kids had a great time and came home with some LOOT!!!!!

Now, what to do with all the candy!!! {There is a dentist in La Grange that is giving $5.00 to anyone who brings in his/her candy. Tempting. Very tempting:)}

***Emma went from wanting to be Marie Antoinette to a fairy to a cheerleader.

***Michaela was not allowed to go t~n~ting--we had decided last year was her last year to dress up. Somehow she still managed to bring home ALOT of candy????

j.o. lantern...in the making...

5 little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, Oh my its getting late!"

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run, let's run!

The fifth one said, "Isn't Halloween fun?"

Then WOOOOOOO went the wind

and OUT went the lights.

and 5 little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Emma's masterpiece in the making

the planning

the blueprint for carving

scooping out the goo

making the cuts...

Michaela's masterpiece in progress...

scooping...

cutting...with some helpmore cutting...the finished masterpieces!!!

God's beauty unfolds...

Have a glorious Wednesday

the things nightmares are made of...

Before I begin this post, there are two things you should know about me. The first is that I like antiques. Especially items that have history in our family. One's with meaning for my husband or myself. The second thing you should know is that I am EXTREMELY afraid/petrified of mice. Not just, "Oh, there's a mouse!" Heart pumping, body shaking fear!!! They are not more afraid of me than I am of them. It is not possible!!!!

Okay, with that being said...
A few years ago, before Emma was part of our family, Steve, Michaela, and I went down to Steve's grandfather's land in Sunnybrook, Ky. Steve showed us around the house (that should really be demolished), the outhouse in the backyard (UGH!!!), and around some of the acreage. We also explored the attic of the house and found a small table and a pottery jug. Steve was excited to be able to have a part of his family history.

The table was refinished. The jug was put in the garage to be cleaned out. We left for England and were gone for three years. The jug was left in the garage. Since returning to Kentucky, we have been very busy getting things back in order--cleaning, painting, etc... One of the projects Michaela volunteered to do was to clean out the jug. She took it to the backyard, put some dish detergent in it, and began spraying water into it. I went back to check on her progress. There were suds and lint everywhere. Michaela wanted to go sand a project in the garage so I took over spraying the inside of the jug. As I continued to spray, I began really looking at the enormous amount of dust and lint coming out of the jug. I realize it had been in the garage for many years, but the amount of stuff coming out was extraordinary. I bent down to get a closer look and was fairly certain that what I thought was lint and dust was actually MOUSE HAIR!!! I sprayed one more time and out pops a mouse carcass!!! Did I mention I am petrified of mice. Even dead mice give me the heebie geebies. I had been cleaning out TONS AND TONS of mouse hair. I threw the hose down. Ran into the garage and told Michaela to go wash her hands. ALOT. I immediately went and stood in the shower for 45 minutes with the water as hot as I could stand it. I am not sure I feel clean yet!!!

Steve took the jug to the back and dumped it out. He would not tell me what he found, but it was 'quite a few' skeletons. ( I later saw in the fence row that 'quite a few' was actually more than a dozen.) Lots and lots of mice in the garage. In the jug. It makes me ill. I shiver just thinking about it.

What is even crazier than dozens of dead mouse carcasses in my garage is my husband thinking that the jug is coming into the house. I.DON'T.THINK.SO!!!!!!!!!

you know you have eaten too much when...

Having lived in England for over three years, there were many conveniences we were use to in the States that we missed greatly during our time there. Restaurants being at the top of the list--right after Target. Needless to say, since we have been back, we have made up for lost 'dining' time. Olive Garden, Skyline, Don Pablos, among sooooo many others have seen our smiling faces--and widening bums:)--on many, many occasions.

As I cleaned up the containers from dinner tonight, (We worked outside until 8:00pm--much too late to cook. Really) I began thinking about how I have not cooked one meal, no not one, since Stephen came back into town. {If truth be told, probably since the girls and I came back!} That is B.A.D. Most children think it is a treat to go out to a restaurant. My children would LOVE to stay home and have a home cooked meal!

So, how do you know that you have eaten out for over 30 days?

1.If you were brave enough to add up all the restaurant charges on your bank statement, you would be fairly certain it would be AT LEAST one month's mortgage payment.

2. When you look in the mirror you see the beginnings of a layer of winter warmth--and you are NOT a polar bear.

3.You are fairly certain that if you had liposuction (which has crossed your mind, but you were crazy enough to watch the procedure done on a documentary and there is NO way you would go through that) dark, carbonated beverage would come out of your thighs and buttocks.

4. Your sweatpants have become your favorite clothes.

5. Your 'unmentionables' are beginning to fit like thongs!

So if you come looking for me and I don't answer I am probably:

1. At the grocery store shopping for nutritious food. Novel idea!

2.
Downstairs on the treadmill. Yes, with it turned on. Did you know just having it in the house doesn't help take off pounds??? You have to get on it and run!!! Who knew?

3.

Spending time with my friend, Kathy. UGH!!!! With friends like her, who needs enemies!!!

4.

JUST SAYING "NO!!!!"

5.
Dusting off the stove. Washing out the pots. Cooking!!!!


Okay, I have said it outloud (sort of). It is out there in blogger world. I am accountable!!!

Repeat after me...

You can do it! You can kick the restaurant habit. You are stronger than your desire to have someone else cook your food!!!

Do you think there is a 'I hate to cook so I eat out too much' Anonymous??

what not to wear police beware...

This is what an outfit looks like when you let your 5 year old choose it for herself!!!!

No, not really!

Last week was RED RIBBON DAY--saying "NO" to drugs.

Friday was "Drugs and I don't match!"thus the mismatched outfit.

Sadly, we went out to eat and shopping after school-with her STILL in this outfit. We got a few looks. Maybe a sign stating "We don't normally dress like this." should have been put around her neck:)

drip. drip. drip...

drip. drip. drip
Mmmm!! the sound of fresh brewed coffee dripping through the percolator.
Oh wait, I don't drink coffee. That can't be it.

drip. drip. drip
Ahhhhh, the soothing sounds of a relaxing water feature.
No, that's not it either.

drip.drip.drip
I know!! I know!! Pick me!!! That is the sound of the first rainy day in weeks and an unfinished roofing job!!!

That is NOT a good sound.

We woke up this morning to the sounds of rain pelting the roof. Normally, this would be a soothing, welcome sound. I say 'normally' because we are in what was to be the final day of the roof repair from the storm damage. The front of the house and the garage have NO shingles. So, along with the soothing sounds of the rain outside, came the drip, drip, drip of water coming through the light fixture in Emma's room---onto the BRAND. NEW. CARPET.

But with each trial lessons can be learned. Right? In order to grow, we need to see past the negative and search for the positive.{she says through clenched teeth:)}

So what did I learn from this...

1. Longaberger baskets make great buckets. WHAT!!!!!
***Obviously a husband's choice. His response when I said, "Your using my basket to collect rain water? (You add the infliction in my voice that you imagine I used) "It has a protector." Oh, okay. Silly me.

2. Roofers get here pretty fast when you call and say water is coming into your house--and they are liable for the damage!!!

3. I am glad I am not a roofer--because as I sit in my dry kitchen drinking a Dr. Pepper, Dave and his wife are on the roof, in the pouring rain, trying to re-felt the areas that are leaking.

4. That no matter where we live, how together we think we are finally getting, Murphy's Law will always prevail in our lives!!! And it makes us stronger. Right? Builds character. So I hear!!

Have a great Friday!!!

too much information...

I have always had a fascination with the origins of colloquialism in our language. While living in England, we were able to learn the histories of many familiar phrases while we toured various historical sites. It is amazing to hear words and phrases that were 'created' hundreds of years ago in England, still being used today--in the States in 2008! {Yes Rebecca, I know the English developed the language! Yet you MUST remember, we Americans perfected it:):)}

Along with the origins of colloquialisms, I also have enjoyed researching the history of customs--driving on the left hand side of the road, Mufti Day, holiday traditions, etc. Knowing my interest, Michaela shares any tidbits she learns in her classes with me. Her Social Studies class is studying Mesopotamian history this quarter, so she has had some interesting topics of discussion-- Hammurabi's law being the most recent. I have been learning a lot about early civilization! More than I would like at times!!!
So when she came home and asked if I knew why we shake hands with our right hands, I was curious. Maybe that is why "curiosity killed the cat"!
She proceeded to tell me that we shake hands with our right hands because in Mesopotamian times, individuals used their left hands as 'toilet paper' thus making it unclean.(Ya' think!) Eating and greeting one another with a hand shake had to be done with the right hand--the 'clean' hand.

Sometimes knowledge is not power. Sometimes knowledge just gives you bad images. This is certainly not the visual I need every time I shake someone's hand.

a life lesson...

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

This evening during the invitation at Bible study, Emma was acting up--wiggling, squirming; being a regular booger. After the prayer, I looked at her and told her I was very disappointed in her behavior and that God was very sad because she disobeyed her parents and she was disruptive to others. I told her she needed to tell God she was sorry for her behavior. Of course this broke her heart and the tears began to flow. In that moment, the lesson I was trying to teach to my child became a lesson for ME.

Emma was sincerely upset that her behavior was disappointing. No act of discipline would have had a greater impact on her little heart. When do we lose that deep emotional reaction to our disobedience? When does the genuine remorse for disobeying our heavenly Father become numb in us? How do we remain as 'little children"?

I pray Lord, that I can take the lesson that Emma taught me tonight and feel deep remorse when I have sinned. I pray that I am genuinely pained knowing I have disappointed you. I pray for my heart to be as pure as my child's. I thank you for the lesson I thought I was teaching, but I was actually learning.

..farm livin's the life for me...

There was a gentle breeze. The temperature was a mild 68. The sky was bright blue. It was a glorious day to visit Farm Haven for an afternoon of getting 'lost' in a 5 acre corn maze, taking a hay ride around the 300 acre cattle farm, saddling up for a ride on Brownie, enjoying a drive in a 1926??? Model T (the first car of one of the previous Ferguson generations!), and of course, picking out the perfect pumpkins!!!!!!

back again...

Well, Steve worked on the blog and finally got it back to the 3 column and I added my widgets back onto the side columns. ERRRR Frustrating!!!!

I just wanted to check in and let you know I have not given up posting. I will be back in full force tomorrow! Now I am off to do my Bible lesson and go to sleep.

Bye for now:)

isn't this pretty...

I went to do one thing and the template change and I lost all of the widgets I had on my sides. I am not pleased right now!!!!! I will fix it as soon as I have the patience!!

overqualified...

As I drove home from church services Sunday evening, I noticed a large sign on a warehouse off of 75. I am not sure if it is a new company or if it has always been there and I have just not noticed. Anyhoo, they are hiring for seasonal work. I told Steve about it. I figured it would at least bring in some income until he gets a 'real job'--so our savings does not have to be whittled away. He went in today for an interview and was told ...he was overqualified. WHAT?????? You have a responsible family man willing to work for you and because he has some schooling and work experience, he is overqualified. I don't get it.

Of course God knows how to get our attention and remind us who is in charge ( a frying pan across the head moment as my dear friend Holly says.) About 10 minutes into MY wallowing in self-pity and ranting about the stupidity of that line of thinking, our phone rings. On the other end is a representative from Orion International. This is a company (basically headhunters) that work with corporations across the US and with former military personnel to match jobs and place them. Steve has been in contact with them for a few weeks. They called to tell him they reall want him at the hiring conference so they are paying for him to go to the hiring convention in Chicago this weekend--travel expenses and room and board. So, as I have thanked God for opening a door for financial stability in our future and for the reminder that I do not have the control (as much as I would like to think I do), I ask for your prayers as Steve heads up to Chicago and for a company--or two or three:)--to want to hire him. ..but not in Indiana, Texas, Arizona, New England... I know, I know God knows what is best. I pray for the wisdom to see God's desire for us and not what I think is best.

just because...

sometimes you have to post

about the u*g*l*y

As much as I would like to always write about the fantastic, happy times of life, there comes a time when the sad, depressing topics must be discussed. Tonight is one of those nights:(

ALABAMA beat KENTUCKY!

We here in Kentucky are grieving.

**Not really--I just wanted to be able to post about the Crimson Tide and put Auburn colors!

I just wish I could be in Muscle Shoals when Lindsey reads this!--Love ya'