Insta-Friday

Check me out--my third post this week!  I'm trying hard to get back into the blog-groove.  I do love it...

It's Friday!  Time for a cell-phone pics only glimpse of the Good life.  It's been a few weeks since I shared some instagram pictures, so these insta-glimpses are highlights from a few weeks of cell-phone photography.  Enjoy!

Labor Day Weekend Balloon Classic-a favorite family tradition.

Bubba's spoon-hanging skills.

I didn't take this one--Dave forwarded this one to be from a high-school football game they attended.  I like it.  :0)

My bird feeder usually attracts little finches and the like--this day I spotted a large magpie sitting on the bird feeder hook.

Bubba stacking cups in Sunday School.  We plan "Anticipate" activities for the kids to do when they arrive--this was a teaser for a lesson on the Tower of Babel.

This lovely colorful shot is of our powder bath door last week--the room was sealed off due to black mold remediation.  Oh yeah--facing a bathroom remodel....but not by choice.

Added the My Sketch app to my phone this week and "sketched " this photo of my kids from the summer.  Fun!

On a totally more serious note--today is 12 years since our son Aidan died.  For the first time I didn't notice the day sneaking up on me...and was hours into the day before I realized it was September 30.  I felt guilty about that, then decided it was just another sign of healing.  We love you sweet Aidan...



Linking up today with jeannett at Life Rearranged for Insta-Friday and with the Company Girls at Home Sanctuary.

School Days and Catchphrase

I don't know if you have ever played the game Catchphrase...but this electronic game has a beeping timer.  It starts beep...beep...beep...keeping the pace of the game going.  As time gets shorter, the beeping quickens.  Beep, beep, beep, beep, beepbeepbeepbeep!  It makes me feel panicky--oh no!  time's running out!  

When I'm not careful with my thoughts...I can feel the same way as I see my kids grow up.  It seems like time is accelerating.  Beepbeepbeepbeep... yikes!  Back to school is definitely one of those seasons where I hear the rapid beeping in my head...

We had the fastest summer ever.  Really.  Before we knew it, it was time.   Tuesday was the day, and I made the kids pose for the obligatory first day photos.

Pickle is heading into her sophomore year.  I can hardly believe how grown up she is becoming!  (I know all moms say such things...but it's true!)

ten fingers = tenth grade.  that's how we roll.

And if it's not enough that my baby girl is a young woman, my little boy is in his last year of elementary school!  Bubba is in 5th grade...be still my soul.  Handsome little devil, isn't he?

While I want time to slow down, I choose to embrace.  Be proud of who they are becoming, be excited for each new step they get to take.  Walk alongside them while I can.  Hug them a lot.  And try not to be freaked out by the accelerated beeping I hear now and then in the back of my head...

Blog-hopping with the Company Girls today...

Gray day

 

I went for over a month without blogging.  I didn't intend to, but I kept feeling the need to get "caught up" on life before I spent my time writing.  Well, guess what?  I'm not caught up.  Oh well, I figure if I wait for that, I'll be waiting a while.

Life has been full lately.  In fact, I've decided to ease back in to blogging--with newsy little posts talking about what I've been up.  I'm calling them "Life Lately".    You can read about my life as a porcupine, and my attempt at nester-like window mis-treatments.  There are more of these riveting posts to come.  :0)

Today, I'm just talking about today.  It's Friday and I'm catching up with the Company Girls.  My day-off Friday agenda includes another visit to my needle-weilding PT, helping my mom get ready for a baby shower she is hosting tomorrow, picking up Bubba from school, accompanying Dave to his latest back procedure, and caring for Pickle who is home with a migraine.

And after a sunny week, today we woke up to fog and frost and snow flurries.   GRAY.  But pretty in it's own way.

this is actually a picture of two trees in our yard--if you look closely, you'll see that Dave unintentionally lined the trees up, and some of the branches belong to the one way closer to the curb.  :)

my frosted-on-one-side bush

For those of you following along, Dave's back procedure today is the latest idea the latest doctor wants him to pursue.  He will be getting the nerves that give him the most trouble deadened/killed.  I guess the nerves will grow back in several months, but the hope is they will grow back happy.  (I obviously don't really understand).  Today is just the first step, where anesthetic is shot into the specific place to determine if indeed they got the right spot.  He will be sedated--so I will be with him.  If you are a pray-er, please pray that they get it right and that he finds some relief.  In prep for these procedures he can't take his pain meds for 5 days--so it's been a rough week.

Well, bloggies, it's time to bundle up and get out the door with plenty of time to take it slow on the slick roads.  My mood today is not gray like the outdoors--I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for this day.  Each day is an adventure as I walk with Him.

***Update 6:40 pm.  Dave did fine at his procedure--however, the results weren't great.  It was diagnostic to see if they killed the nerves there, would it help.  We were to know right away in the recovery room.  He had no relief.  SO, we are back to the drawing board.  Boo.

I asked for a Christmas miracle...

If you read my blog, you might be tired of me talking about my hubby's back issues.  If  you want to read the drama of this week, click here and then here.  So, forgive me for mentioning it again, but this time it is to say something positive!  :0)

The week prior to Christmas, Dave was pretty much flat-out with back-pain.  We were scheduled to fly to FL at 6 am on Christmas day to visit his folks and take in DisneyWorld for three days.  I wasn't sure how he was going to do it...flying, luggage, walking, etc.  And the kids (and I) get so disappointed when he has to sit out of family things.  So, I asked God for a Christmas miracle.  I remember telling God that I understand that if this pain is in His Big-G-Good plan for us right now, that it may not go away.  I understand He has His purposes.  But I asked if there was anyway within His will for Dave to be able to be with us at Disney--so we could have a good family time together--would He please give us that miracle.

I am here to say that we got our miracle!  Dave was not pain-free by any means, but he was able to be up and around.  He got through the flights, and out of three days at the parks--He missed only one evening.  I am so thankful and wanted to give God the glory for that provision for our family.

I should have also prayed for the weather--cause it was FREEZING!  We now own mickey scarves and hats and fleeces and jackets... but we had fun and made a memory.  It was also super-crowded.  We've gone at Christmas time before--but this was more nuts than I ever remember.  Thankfully, we weren't feeling like we had to do everything--cause we never could have!  Special thanks to Nana and PopPop for making our trip happen...it was great!

Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Checking out the animal kingdom lodge. 

Pickle and Bubba with Mickey.

Nana and PopPop with the kids--waiting for Epcot's Candle Processional.

Dave and me riding the tram into Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Like my neon Mickey scarf? 

The kids after Bubba braved the Rockin' Roller Coaster for the first time.

Dave and the kids at Magic Kingdom on our last day--see, he's there!

That's our Christmas catch-up.  Linking up with Rachel and my friends over at Home Sanctuary today.

Company Girl Coffee 12.3

 

It's been forever since I linked up with the company girls--a fun group of bloggies who hang out over at Home Sanctuary.  I don't know what happened...lost my blogging mojo for a while.  Nothing in my head seemed to want to be written down.  I think I'm getting back into the swing of things now--although life sure seems full these days, so not sure how often I'll manage a post.

Are you enjoying the Christmas season?  I'm so excited about Christmas this year.  Last year, for whatever reason, I had trouble finding the mood.  This year, it kicked in early.  I've bought some gifts (early for me), I've decorated (as much as I'm going to this year) and I've been listening to Christmas music any chance I get.

Today is my day off, and I have more than a day's worth of things I would like to get done.  I have laundry up to my eyeballs, Christmas gift plans to make, grocery shopping to do, bills to pay, house to clean, bank to visit, etc.  I actually look forward to doing all (ok, most) of these things...just wish I could pause time so I could do them all today.  Hubby's home with back pain...pain shots scheduled for Monday again.  He might be able to help me with things he can do from his perch on the couch.

I've been searching for a new way to celebrate advent this year with my family.  We settled on reading through a book I've had for years:

It explains the whole story of Christmas from Creation to Jesus' Birth.  It's our first time through...but I'm sure we'll love it.  We are trying to light a candle and read one chapter a night.

In other news, I am starting treatment for my neck issues--an MRI showed arthritis and bulging discs.  I am seeing Dave's back doctor and he said most 40-somethings would show something like that in an MRI, pain or no pain.  Apparently, we are all slowly falling apart!   He is not sure if that is the trigger of my problem, but I am so encouraged that he completely gets my issues--he described my headaches and neck pain to me like he has had it itself!  He thinks I'm fixable (at least this part of me {smile}).  I start some aggressive physical therapy massage soon, as well as taking some arthritis medicine daily like an old person.  But, here's to being able to turn my head normally!

Oh, and I must share this link for when you need some mindless fun.  It allows you to make your own snowflake, and I must admit it's a bit addicting!  I've convinced myself I am teaching symmetry to the kids...but deep down I know I'm just playing.  Give it a try!

Well, life isn't perfect, girls, but it's full and it's Good.

so much to say, so little time

This pic has nothing to do with anything, other than I drove past this today...gotta love Colorado!

There is lots I want to say, lots of thoughts in my head that need to find their way through my fingertips or through a pen.

Yet, sometimes I need to stop focusing on my thoughts and ideas, on my wonderful bloggie friends, on my desires, and just get some practical stuff done!

Things are in a state of disarray here...nothing that unusual, but much going on and much to keep up with.  And I just need to step away for a bit and get things in order in my home and take care of my family.  Not that I stopped doing that, but it needs my full attention now.

However,  I hate letting a Friday pass without saying hi to the Company Girls.  So...Hi.  Hope you are all well.  I'll be back soon.  Try not to miss me too much.

If you were listening carefully...you just heard the sound of my laptop close.  :0)

something pretty, something meaningful, something gross, something fun

Catching up with the Company Girls today, a little late this week, but here I am.

 

Pretty.  Last weekend was homecoming and Pickle went to her first high school dance.  Ohmy.  Look at my pretty girl.

Meaningful.  Yesterday was the anniversary of Aidan's death.  God is gracious and faithful to heal broken hearts.  I posted about being scarred but whole.

Gross.  OK, I can't believe I'm telling you about this, but it has been a significant part of the week over here at our house.  On Wednesday, as the lawn guy fiddled in my garage with the sprinkler system programmer thingy...I looked at the floor of the garage and saw a little white wormy thing crawling on the floor.  I stepped on it.  I didn't like him.  Then I noticed he was not alone...the floor was covered in the little suckers...all making a mass exodus from the garbage can area toward the outside.  Lawn-guy told me they were maggots.  Excuse me??  Maggots?? He thought maybe a mouse had died somewhere and they were coming from there.  Gross.  Or maybe they were from the trash.  Gross.  I left for work and hoped when I returned they would be gone.    Nope--although there were less of them, and hubby thought perhaps I had exaggerated when I described them earlier.  Then he lifted the trash lid and found--HUNDREDS--of them all crawling all over each other and the trash.  G.R.O.S.S!!!!  I will spare you the detailed description.  Suffice it to say a strong stomach was in order.  I am thankful to report we have killed the majority of the floor crawlers, and the others went out with the trash today.  But the skin-crawling feeling might hang around a while...

Here's a pic of a few parading through the crack in our floor...

charming little creatures, aren't they?

Fun.  Can't end on the maggot note... Today I got to meet a blog-friend in real life!  Meredith and I met at Panera and talked for hours.  She is every bit as wonderful as I thought she'd be.  Thanks for a great time, Meredith!

company girl catch-up

It's Friday again.  I love Fridays, but not how quickly they come!  Boy, the weeks fly!

I am finding the days very full lately.  I find myself running out of steam a bit.  I think I'm using more mental energy than my old brain can handle.  And I find myself not getting around to reading blogs or taking much time myself to blog--which I love to do.

Here are a few of the mental activities I'm guessing are a big part:

1)  24/24 challenge.  I am striving to spend an hour a day with God for 24 days.  This sounded easier than it turns out to be, and I think I was wrong about how much time I actually do spend with God.  Such a valuable venture--I'm sticking it out and not obsessing over the two saturdays and one thursday that I barely got 5 minutes with God.  I hope to post more on all that soon.

2) New kids program at church:  Two weeks ago we kicked off our fall schedule at church which included a new format for our kids.  It takes more weekly planning and coordination on my part--which I enjoy--but am finding myself working Saturdays some, and stretching some brain muscles on making it all work.  I love what we are doing though--and am sure God led me to it.

3)  Weight Watchers:  My mom and sis have had great success with weight watchers.  With my sister trying to take off baby pounds again, they are re-upping their efforts and I have decided to join them.  I would like to get rid of the 12 pounds that showed up over the last few months.  Uninvited, I might add.  And my normal ways of shedding the results of an overindulgent week or two weren't working.  Those pounds were not taking the hint and inviting others to come and hang out with them.  I think it's an age thing, which is not encouraging.  I lost three pounds during week one.  I am not used to thinking about everything I eat, or even thinking about eating in general very much.  So, it's a mental shift that I am sure is taking it's toll on my brain power.  Cause now my eating involves math.  Too bad you don't burn calories doing math and keeping track of what you eat!

4)  New Bible Study:  Started Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild in our women's Bible Study.  It is a "thought closet makeover".  I am working to listen to the things I say to myself, my internal soundtrack.  It's interesting, but you can imagine that my soundtrack is quite wordy!

5)  Medical Stuff:  Hubby's back, Pickle's migraines, my neck stuff.  Bills.  Best ways to treat.  What works, what doesn't.  Research. Appointments. Watching them suffer. Exhausting.

So what?  I have plenty to think about.  Who doesn't?  I just need to keep relying on God to help me spend my mental energy on things that are most important.  Trust Him to supply all my needs as He promises to.  And listen to Him, so He can guide and shape and teach me the way to go.

It's been unseasonably warm here in CO--hit 90 a few times recently.  However, there is a crispness to the morning air that is reminding me fall really is coming.  I can see yellow on the mountains as the Aspens begin to turn.  It's rejuvenating to think of a new season--my favorite at that.  I think I'll try to steal some time today to fall-i-fy my home.  Light an apple candle and let it's smell remind me that seasons come and go, but God's faithfulness remains.

And now I'm off to get Pickle to the doctor--hoping this three day migraine does not prevent her from going to her first homecoming tomorrow!

Linking up with the Company Girls today! 

Caffeine Time

It's Friday again.  I love Fridays, they are my day off from work at church. The kids and hubby are out of the house.  And it's quiet.  I catch up on stuff.  Do crazy things--like, you know, laundry.  And, I catch up with some bloggie friends at Home Sanctuary and have some virtual coffee diet coke with them.

This week has been about two main things for me:

First, this Sunday is our fall kick-off for our children's ministry.  We are changing things up a bit and I am really excited.  I have been recruiting and training staff, learning songs, thinking about the environment I plan to create, preparing this Sunday's lesson, etc. etc.  I have LOTS left to do.  But God has led clearly and provided all along, and He will get me to Sunday as ready as He wants me to be.  He has been teaching me to be still and let Him do the fighting.  So I am doing just that.

Second, my friend Carly has challenged her girlfriends to spend an hour a day over 24 days with God with a 24over24 challenge.  I thought that would be manageable, I can easily spend an hour or two with God when I make a point of it--and do that a few times a week.  So I joined in and invited my bloggies to join in too. (I have been thrilled with the handful of gals who are going for it...God is working!)  What surprised me, is that while I love to spend time alone with God--finding an hour every single day is tricky.  It's worth it though, I can already tell. It's not too late to join us--find out the scoop here.

This Friday finds me a little busy.  I spent the morning helping in Bubba's class.  The house has suffered the results of a mom-with-brain-overload week, a sick daughter, a sick dog (yuck!!), and some assorted laziness and distraction.  So I am in the midst of catch-up (as usual) so that I can stand to be here.  Aaah, it will be good to find the counters again...

Just for fun, let me show you what I came home to last night.  Dave and I were at church for meetings.  Bubba who normally isn't much of a sports watcher, has decided to embrace dad's team, the Minnesota Vikings in full force.  We came home to find him in front of the TV--all decked out in purple and yellow with signs he made to set the tone.  We just cracked up.

it's good with the shorts, huh?

see the signs on either side of the TV?

Dave says this is a beautiful thing.

And this morning we told him the bad news.  They lost.  He wore his vikings sweatshirt today anyway.

Off to get-ready-for-but-not-worry-about Sunday, to make my surroundings peaceful again, and to sit and listen to God for an hour.  Have a beautiful day, bloggies.

moments of the week

Weeks are made of days, days made of moments.  Here are some moments from my week.

Informative moment of the week:  Attending Pickle's high school back-to-school night allowed me to picture all she experiences each day.  I wrote more about it here.

Frustrating moment (s) of the week:  Hubby's back pain has been dominating his days this week.  He has missed more work than he has been able to be at.  Poor guy.  We all get frustrated for him.  The doc keeps trying things.  We keep praying...

Encouraging moment of the week:  While checking facebook this morning, I saw that Pickle's status yesterday said "I think I just might like my school..."  {huge smile on my face}.

Creepy moment of the week: We had a large house fly in our house driving us crazy.  I eventually hit it with a rolled up magazine and it fell to our counter.  I walked away to take care of something else, and within a few minutes pickle was screaming that the fly had babies!  I came over and looked at it, and sure enough, there were tiny white string-like things squirming all around it!  I quickly and thoroughly cleaned it up at that point.  I don't think flies have live births, so I am not sure what it was exactly.  Did a little research, got progressively more grossed out, and decided to stop thinking about it... yikes.

Meaningful moment of the week:  Our pastor called us to a day of fasting and prayer on Wednesday to intercede for some serious health needs in our church that have recently arisen.  I must admit, I have fasted from meals, but very rarely for a whole day.  I fasted from food and media.  I found it very difficult, particularly the media part--which is quite telling, and served it's purposed of calling my focus to God.  After a day of fasting, as many as could came together for a prayer meeting.  We had a very encouraging turn out of people ready and willing to pray.  Many were prayed for, for all sorts of needs.  People prayed alone, in pairs, in families, and in groups.  I was touched by a group of high schoolers surrounding their friend facing surgery this week to pray.  I was moved when another high schooler wept through prayer with our elders for his needs.  My husband  also had the elders pray for him and his back.  I am trusting that God can heal him, and I wait.

Mundane moment(s) of the week:  Driving back and forth to the kids' school--about 20 minutes each way.  Since my hubby works there, he normally does the majority of the driving. Since he is laid up, I'm doing my share of playing school bus driver.  I'm trying to enjoy the time in the car.  Yesterday, Bubba wasn't feeling well when he woke up. The cold he's been fighting seemed to have done him in, so he stayed home with dad.  I drove pickle to school.  Returned 45 minutes later to find a perky, much better boy.  So, he hopped in the car and we went back.  :0)  I had to laugh at myself thinking I would rarely have to drive them--and here I was doing it twice in one morning.  And of course again in the afternoon...

Many moments.  Some wonderful, some hard, some neither.  All part of the Good life.  

Linking up with my friends the Company Girls today.

 

Coffee Girl Coffee 8/20

On Fridays I link up with a fun group of bloggers--the company girls--to chat and catch up on our weeks.

yummmmm.

Well, it's back to school week around here.  Pickle started with a Freshmen-only day on Tuesday, and then Bubba started on Wednesday.  It's gone well, although Pickle has had her moments of not liking being the "new girl".  It takes time to make real friends, yaknow?

I'm looking forward to settling into routine.  One of these days...

Work at church has been busy as we gear up for fall.  It's exciting, but last week I was feeling a little overwhelmed.  I processed about it here and seemed to hit a nerve with some of my readers.  Click on over if you want to hear my babble and join the discussion.  I'd love to hear if you get overwhelmed and what you do to cope.  My inlaws are visiting, and they are helping me get on top of things at home...so that is helping.  The more I think about it, the more I think that being overwhelmed is just a new chance to be overwhelmed by God's grace and provision rather than by my circumstances.  Hmmm.

And those wonderful inlaws of mine?  They brought super sweet, yummy, peaches.  Heaven with a pit.  Yummm.

And then yesterday I found out I won a blog giveaway to one of my favorite jewelry designers--Lisa Leonard!!  I couldn't be more excited.  Click over here and help me pick!

Happy Friday, bloggies!

Life in no particular order (sweetened by cuteness)

Monday night I wrote about how I have discovered I love to write.  Tuesday I wrestled with figuring out how to make a Facebook page for my blog, and have the posts find their way there automatically. (If you are on Facebook, feel free to "like" my page there!) Then time to write alluded me the rest of the week.  Even today, I am barely eeking out this post to greet the company girls.  Maybe time to write will come soon.

Here's what's going on in our world (in no particular order):

We've spent some good time holding sweet cuties, which totally sweetened our week.  I took the kids to visit my friend's puppy while she is still pretty tiny.  They fell in love with her as I knew they would.  This little bundle is named Revy.  Isn't she something?

And, whenever we get the chance, we get our hands on my little niece.  I am soaking up the littleness, the floppiness, the newness of her.  I enjoyed the chance to change a poopy diaper,  finagle her wiggly body into different clothes, and burp her.  Tasks that were mundane when mine were little bring great joy now that I realize how fleeting those moments are.  She is precious.

don't you love that little leg hanging out of Pickle's arms??

We are wrapping our minds around the fact that school starts next week.  Brand new school for Pickle with new friends to meet.  Bits of paperwork to wrap up, the last few supplies to buy.  I feel less organized and ready than I ever have.

My hubby's parents are arriving today from FL for a few weeks.  They have driven their RV here, and they willingly submit themselves to our busy lives, catching time with us when they can.  The kids will spend the night with them tonight while hubby and I hang with the groupies.

Work is busy and exciting as I prepare for a new school year and new program for the kids at church.  I'm pulling together my team, exploring new materials, and watching the clock move too fast to get it all done.  My pastor (and boss) is an excellent coach, and I am growing as he challenges me.  I don't take that for granted.

And that plan to shred myself?  Yeah...no.  I did six days of it.  Never began to like it.  Then I got sidetracked with a week of waterparks, baby's arriving and a two day conference.  Now I'm dragging my feet about starting again...guess I'll be embracing the flab for a little longer.

I'm sad summer is over.  And yet, as always at this point of the year, I'm craving routine.  I'm ready for the house to stay the way I leave it in the morning all the way until the afternoon.  Not sure I'm ready for the faster pace...but it doesn't matter, here we go!

Coffee Girl Coffee 8/6

Hi company girls!  I just have time for a quick post cause I'm out the door soon to attend my second day of the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit--simulcast here in CO.  Day one was really, really good.  Hope my brain can fit some more good stuff in today.

This has been a wonderful week.  On Monday I went to Waterworld with the youth group.  We had a great time, and yes, I got flushed.  Tuesday was my only day in the church office this week.

Wednesday was the highlight of the week (and Waterworld is hard to beat) because my niece Maisie was born!  She is the cutest little thing!  My sister Kerry lost Sadie almost a year and a half ago--so to have a healthy baby girl in our arms is nothing we take for granted.

Yesterday I joined in a blog-hop with Robin--there is still time to join in if you'd like!

That brings me to the Leadership thingy--which I really need to go to right now!  Thanks for stopping by!