This and That

Griff's birthday was yesterday. We had some friends over Saturday night to celebrate. I made tacos. Our friend April brought her "famous" black bean salsa. It's a favorite of Griff's. It had been a long time since we've entertained. I'd forgotten how much fun it is. I got Griff a couple of Monty Python's Flying Circus DVDs. (Polly!... Polly Parrot!)

The weather here is absolutely gorgeous. I think we'll do all our reading outside today. :)

My kitchen floor is broken. Really. We have this terrible white ceramic tile that we've always planned on replacing someday. A couple of weeks ago, a section of it started flexing when you step on it. Then the grout started coming out. Friday night, Griff couldn't stand it anymore and was just going to pop out one of the tiles to see what was under there. 4 tiles later... My floor is now broken. Good news, though. I'll be getting a new kitchen floor earlier than we had intended. (I'll post a picture later today.)

I did our taxes yesterday with Turbo Tax online. Even with that, it took me most of the afternoon. But, it's done and we're getting money back. (woo-hoo!) It's enough to pay for curriculum for next year and our trip to the Arlington Home School Book Fair and Six Flags in May.

I'm Addicted

It's time for me to come clean. I can no longer deny it. I am addicted to... books. Particularly, children's books.

Just today, I placed an Amazon order, went to Half-Price Books, and the library. I currently have 34 books checked out from the library. Of all those books, I think two are adult books. Tonight, we went out to eat near a Barnes & Noble. I lobbied hard for stopping there after dinner, but Griff shot me down. We're off for Spring Break next week and I'm planning on driving 45 minutes to my old stomping grounds to go to my all-time-favorite used bookstore. I'm almost giddy about it.

Yep. I'm hopeless.

Oh, and I'm completely unrepentant about it, too. So, if you were expecting this confession to lead to change, you will be sadly disappointed.

Happy Reading!

Angels in Disguise

I read something recently that reminded me of the following incident.

One of the first times my mom was in the hospital, I was driving up there late one Saturday night to relieve my dad by spending the night with her. I had not really figured out the best way to get there (boy, did that change!) and ended up on Fannin by the Astrodome. If you're familiar with Houston, you know that this is NOT an area you want to get stuck in. So, of course, my car engine died.

I owned a cell phone at the time, but had not yet gotten in the habit of carrying it with me. I was close to panicking at being stuck there. I flagged down a couple of girls in the car next to me (my engine died at a light) and asked if I could use their cell phone. They graciously said yes, but I could not remember the hospital number and, long story short, by the time I finally reached my mom's room, my dad had already left. By this time, I was almost hysterical. I didn't know what to do.

Shortly after I got off the phone with my mom, a car stopped and two men got out. To be honest, they were downright scary-looking. If I had seen them on the street, I would have tried to figure out a way to cross over to the other side. They came up and asked if they could help. They pushed my car over to a side road and told me to try starting it again. Amazingly enough, it did. They then followed me to the hospital to make sure I got there safely. I never saw them again.

They were incredibly nice and helpful. While a police car had driven straight past my stranded car, these two men stopped and helped.

I learned something that night about making assumptions about people. I also wonder if God sent a couple of angels to help me.

Thank You, Sir, and Have a Nice Day

I have a low voice. I have always had a low voice. However, when I got pregnant the first time, it got lower. I was told it would go back to normal after my child was born.

It didn't.

I can now, depending on the songleader, sing the bass part at church. I'd always been an alto, but even that can be too high for me at times. A worse problem, though, is that I started being mistaken for a man on the phone on a regular basis. I worked on my phone voice, trying to make it chipper and more "feminine". It helped, until I got a cold a few weeks ago. In the last week, I've been mistaken for a man on the phone 3-4 times.

Ugh.

My Husband Has a Warped Brain

Griff has been rereading the Narnia books. He just said, "It's fun to imagine some of these Narnian phrases being said by The Tick."

My Life Has Changed

Don't faint. I know it's been ages since I've blogged, but I have been a bit busy.

Homeschooling is taking over my life. I used to spend my internet time on a scrapbooking message board. Now, I'm on a homeschooling message board.

I used to read books for pleasure. Now I'm reading children's books on ancient civilizations to check that they are acceptable to me.

I used to spend time organizing scrapbook supplies. Now I spend time organizing homeschool supplies.

I used to fantasize about the perfect kitchen. Now I fantasize about the perfect school room.

And it's worth it. Every bit of it. I've seen their school knowledge show up in our lives, but not like this. Maybe it's just the personal satisfaction of knowing "Hey! I taught them that!". When Robert is using his new vocabulary word "din" as many times as he can in one day, it's incredibly satisfying. When a short lesson on nomads spawns many conversations about them over the week, I feel that I am successful. When I finally come to realize that actually sitting beside my son while he does his math turns an all-day battle into a 20 minute effort that results in a completed assignment, I know that God is working on me. When I'm out of the room, and I hear my children talking and laughing (and obviously not doing their work!), I know that this experience is bringing them closer together.

I knew that homeschooling was the right thing for us to be doing. I just had no idea how much it would bless me personally.

Recently...

You will all be happy to know that I found my planner. It was in the car. I LOOKED in the car a few days ago, though, and it wasn't there. I think it's a conspiracy to make me think I've lost my mind.

Homeschooling is going well, other than the occasional battle over math. Yes, you have to do it. I know it's not too hard because you did that same type of problem every day for the past 3 days without any problem. I know you're hiding a toy. Give it to me and get back to your math. No, you cannot go to the bathroom for the 5th time in the last hour. Yes, you have to take it with you when we go to pick up Ruthie. GET BACK IN THAT ROOM AND FINISH YOUR MATH! (not one of my better moments)

Ruthie's last day was Friday. She was slightly sad, but mostly excited. I'm excited, too. I'm enjoying this way more than I thought I would. I started because I felt it was what my children needed, but not necessarily what I wanted. (I enjoy my "me time".) God has truly worked on my heart.

Robert had the Pinewood Derby this morning. He placed 2nd!! Woo hoo!! In case you're wondering, it's all in the wheels and the axles.

My birthday was Wednesday. I turned 39. (I start counting backwards next year.) We went for dinner at Pappadeaux. We had lousy service, but got a free dessert out of it, so I was happy. Griff and the kids got me two Willow Tree figures - "Mother and Daughter" and "Mother and Son". I love them.

Lost and (Not-Yet) Found

Don't you hate it when you can't find something?

I have a planner notebook. It holds 8.5x11 paper, so it's not small. It has my calendar in it, as well as Girl Scout information and various other things. I can't find it. I have looked everywhere and I can't find it. It's been awhile since I've used it. Maybe a few weeks. Where is it?! I'm going to call the school and our church on Tuesday to check lost-and-found, but I don't think I left it there. I'm pretty sure it's in the house somewhere... I think...

This is going to keep me awake at night. I know it will.

Argh!

Don't Ever Google "Cheerleader".

My father-in-law (a huge University of Texas fan), sent me this picture. It's funny, but to be honest, it doesn't look real.

I checked out snopes and found nothing, so I decided to google it. My search words were "usc cheerleader picture university texas".

Oh. My. Goodness.

I didn't even look at any of the sites because the short description under the sites listed was bad enough.

Lesson learned.

Scottish Dances and New Year's Resolutions

I'm definitely getting old. I went to bed at 11:00 last night. Our new neighbors had invited us to a New Year's Eve party, but I really wasn't feeling well, so Griff went by himself and I stayed home with the kids. He went at about 9:00 and, while he did come home a few times to check on me, stayed until 12:30. I was shocked! Griff does not like parties. He had a great time at this one, though. Our neighbors (next-door, in fact) are from Scotland. They've only been here a few years, so their accents are still strong. Most of the people at the party were from Scotland. Some of the men were wearing kilts. They played Scottish music and had Scottish ale. They even did some Scottish dances. Griff was fascinated by all of it and really enjoyed it.

As far as the new year goes, I am making a New Year's Resolution. Typically, I don't do those. I believe that if there is something about your life you should change, you should do it anytime, not just January 1st. However, I read a book that influenced me, and I just finished it yesterday, so this whole resolution thing qualifies.

The book I read is Honey For a Child's Heart. It is about finding the best books for your children. While it does this wonderfully (it has a great list for children ages 0-12), she also shares how books have influenced her whole family's life. That's what I want. I want shared memories around reading books. I want to read the Bible as a family. I want to share great (and even not-so-great) literature. I have always felt this has been a weak point for me. My children are great readers, but I don't think I can take the credit for that. I haven't read to them as I should since they were babies.

This is a perfect time to add this to our lives. Homeschooling lends itself to time together, reading. I'm hoping to involve Griff, but even if I can't, I want to share this with my children.

So, that is my New Year's Resolution. Read to and with my children. I'm not going to promise a certain amount of times on certain days, because I know myself, and that will lead to failure. I'm going to choose a book today and start reading it to them.

If you have children, I highly recommend this book. I got it at our library, but will be buying it. She has also written Honey for a Teen's Heart (with Barbara Hampton) and Honey for a Woman's Heart. I will definitely be reading them both, although the former can wait a few years.

A Houston Winter

I just love winter in Houston. Guess what the temperature is right now. Go on, guess.

...

Nah, you'll never guess. It is 74 degrees!! The sun is shining. It has been like this all week. I love it. I absolutely, positively love it. Sure, it's December 29th. Sure, it should be cold. But it's not. And I'm thrilled. We're working in the yard. The kids are playing on the swingset. We are wearing shorts. I love, love, love Houston in the winter.

It may be 30 degrees next week, and I will survive, because I know another warm spell will be just around the corner.

March of the Penguins

Have you seen the movie "March of the Penguins" yet? If you haven't, and you are a parent, you need to see it. Any sacrifices you have made for your children will suddenly seem insignifigant. Goodness! Going four months without food in order to protect your offspring? Walking for a week to get to a food source? I don't even like going to the grocery store that's five minutes from my home. And I get to travel in a cozy car. I'm just pitiful.

After watching the movie Christmas Eve, I told Griff, "You are a great father, but those penguins have you completely beat." His response? "Right back at ya'!" (well, not exactly, but close enough)

It's All About Me

I was tagged by sprittibee months ago, but I'm just now getting around to doing this.

Things I want to do before I die:
1. Go to Europe
2. Live next door to my best friend Linda
3. See my children happily married
4. Get down to a size 8 again and STAY THERE

Things I can do:
1. Sing the bass part of four-part harmony
2. Make great birthday cakes for my kids

Things I cannot do:
1. Cure my sister's MS
2. Keep my house clean (I'm trying!)
3. Figure out what to get my husband for Christmas

Things that attract me to my husband:
1. His beard
2. His cheesy grin
3. His strong work ethic
4. His love for our children
5. His strong feeling of right, wrong, and absolutes

Celebrity crushes I've had in the past:
1. Tom Selleck
2. Sean Cassidy

Thelast thing I was supposed to do was tag others to do this, but there's noone I know well enough in blog-land to call on for that.

Okay, I Feel Better.

As of yesterday, I had bought 2 Christmas gifts. Two! And neither one was for my children. I was actually beginning to get a little panicky about not being able to find what they wanted. So, I decided today would have to be the day.

I went to Wal-mart, Target, and Toys R Us. I found their "big" gift item and a couple of other things on their lists. Even though there are other things I still want to get for them, I feel that even if I don't get any more shopping done, we're okay.

Whew!

...

Oh, wait. I forgot about stocking stuffers. Dang.

A New Chapter in Our Lives

Life is ever-changing. Just when you think you are settled, it has a habit of throwing a wrench in the works. We are in the middle of a mjaor "wrenching".

With two children in a private school, we have been falling further and further behind financially. Our heads are above water, but only with the help of the Mastercard, which has a balance higher than it's been in years. Neither of us are comfortable with that, but we have not seen a way to cut many more expenses. We had begun talking of me returning to work, hopefully at the very school our children attend. This is not something I want, but we also do not want to put our children in public school, so it seemd our only option. I did bring up homeschooling, but Griff was opposed.

About a week before Thanksgiving, I decided what I needed was God's input. (I know. I'm a little late to the game.) So, I prayed that God would show us what to do. Should I get a job? If so, help me find one that is family friendly. And, oh, by the way, could you make the answer really obvious? (I do so love obvious answers from God!)

Three days later, I received my answer. Well, okay, it was actually a letter from the school. They were requesting a meeting to discuss Robert's future at the school. I did not have a good feeling about this, but I did try to be optimistic. And what a waste of optimism it was. I figured that with school registration for next year starting in January, we were going to be told that our son would not be allowed to return. THAT was optimistic. They actually, basically, gave us 2 weeks to find a new school because he would not be allowed to return in January. I felt that I had been kicked in the stomach. It was terrible. Words cannot express the feelings we went through during and after that meeting. The one thing that has given me peace is that prayer I prayed a couple of weeks before. I know that leaving this school is God's will for our family.

So, Griff and I started discussing our options:

1) another Christian private school - well, we already know they won't take him
2) a special school for high functioning autistic children - at triple the current tuition rate, we just cannot afford it
3) public school - the mere idea of the bullies that he would encounter is enough to knock this off the list
4) homeschooling - what I've wanted for awhile now

Griff realized our best option at this point is home schooling. I, of course, am thrilled. Well, yes, but also scared to death. What a huge responsibility! But I am ready for the task before me. Then, Griff mentions he wants me to homeschool Ruth, as well.

Wait a minute! Back up the train! Homeschool 2 children at one time? But I've never done this before! How can I possibly...

But, we are a family. We do things together. We stand united. So, that means, if Robert is homeschooled, so is Ruth. So, Robert will be coming home for school after Christmas. I am going to take a month to get him used to it, then bring Ruth home at the end of January.

Please pray for all of us during this time of adjustment. We need all the prayers we can get. Do be careful, though, about asking for obvious answers. God does give them at times, and they are not usually what you are expecting.

Blog Block

I've had blog block for awhile now. I have not been able to figure out what in the world to blog about. Actually, I have had a couple of ideas, but they are going to take time to put together and I am not exactly finding myself with excess time lately.

While reading my latest issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine, I came across of list of things to scrapbook about. I haven't had much time for that lately, either, so I thought I would blog some of them.

There are 52 ideas. Some are mundane. Some are thought-provoking. Tonight, I'm going with the mundane.

- What books and magazines are you reading right now?
I'm obviously reading Creating Keepsakes magazine. I just started Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I've been looking forward to it, but I already know a huge spoiler about it. I found it accidentally in two different locations, so I know it's true. Sigh...

- What's the last TV show you watched and why?
I watched Lost tonight. Why? Because it's a fascinating show.

- Who was your second-grade teacher and what did she teach you?
Mrs. Comstock. I'm sure she taught me typical 2nd grade stuff, but I realized after reading this question that she is the one elementary teacher that I remember absolutely nothing about. I have some memories of every other teacher, except her. Isn't that odd?

How many times have you moved in your life?
Let's see... not including college - 6. Only one of those was outside of the Greater Houston area.

What's your favorite sport to participate in or watch?
Well, I'm totally not athletic, so I don't participate. I love to watch high school football. I think it's all of those years in the band.

More fascinatingly mundane questions answered later. I'm going to bed.

I Believe! I Do!

The other day Robert asked if he could have a tennis racket. I told him to put it on his Christmas list. The following conversation then took place.

Robert: I'll ask for it from Santa. ...pause... Of course, Mom, you know who really does that.

Me: Does what?

Robert: You know. Who puts the stuff out at night.

Me: What stuff?

Robert: Mo-om - the presents

Me: Who puts the presents out?

Robert: Mom, you know that you do it.

Me: Do what?

Robert: (with a big grin) You put the presents under the tree.

Me: Do you think so?

Robert: Yes, I do.

Me: Well, honey, you know...

Robert: I know, I know! If you don't believe in Santa, he doesn't bring anything except coal for your stocking. I believe in Santa! I do!

Funny kid. And smart. If you say you don't believe in Santa, he doesn't come.

Just Life

Minor ramblings...

My dryer died. It was making a thunk, thunk, thunk noise as it tumbled, but now it doesn't tumble at all. Griff, of course, is out of town. I'm going to call a repairman today. I'm hoping that fixing it will be cheaper than a new dryer.

I spent a lot of yesterday cleaning out my "garage sale" closet upstairs. I had said that if I didn't have a garage sale by October, it was all going to be donated. Purple Heart is coming tomorrow and I will make their trip worthwhile.

Ruthie is home sick from school today. It's one of those "should she really be home?" sicknesses. She has a congested cough, stuffy nose, and a sore throat. I can understand why she feels crummy, but, with no fever, I do wonder if I should have sent her.

I went to Memphis last week. My best friend is going through a rough time and I went to lend moral support. Shopping with her and picking out new kitchen tile was just a bonus. :) I had never driven by myself that far, so I was a bit nervous. However, it was no big deal and books on tape make the trip go quickly.

We're starting to get more orders at our online business. It was so odd the first time somebody we didn't know ordered from the web-site. Our first $50 order was a cause for much rejoicing. This thing may support itself yet. At this point, that's all we're hoping for.

About My Mom

Friday was my mom's birthday. In honor of her, I thought I would share some things about her.

She was the youngest of 4 children.

She grew up in the country. With siblings that were much older, and other children living so far away, she was often lonely. She did NOT like living in the country.

She married my dad when she was almost 19, after 13 dates.

She graduated from high school a year early. She took college courses over the years, but never got a degree.

Daddy was in the Air Force and she loved all the moving around that included. Her favorite state was Colorado.

She loved working. Her favorite job was as a secretary at NASA when the space program was getting started. Daddy made her quit because the hours were so long and she was away from home so much. It took her years to forgive him for that.

She was incredibly hospitable. She keep a file card index of everybody at church and noted when they were last in our home. We had company over all the time.

Our home was cluttered and often messy. Every time company was coming (and remember, we had company a lot!), we would spend the day crisis cleaning.

She taught 2 year olds at church until she literally could not get down on the floor with them anymore. I think she was in her 60's when she quit teaching.

She was a great seamstress. She sewed a lot of clothes for me and my sisters. She made my oldest sister's wedding dress and mine.

She loved wine, but stopped drinking it when her children came. She felt that she could not ask us not to drink alcohol if she did.

After retirement, she took tole painting classes. She made dolls and other craft items. She and my dad did lots of craft shows.

She loved puzzle magazines. I remember she was very good at cryptograms and logic problems.

She enjoyed card games. Her favorite was bridge. If she was alone and wanted to play, she would deal 4 hands on the table and take turns playing each hand. I never did understand how she didn't cheat doing that.

She was an adequate cook, but liked strange food combinations. One time at my house, she mixed macaroni & cheese, cornbread, and tomato soup together and ate it like that.

She often refused to have her picture taken, but came to regret that in later years.

She was a great mom.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you and miss you.

Good, Perfect Gifts

I am participating in Bible Study Fellowship again this year. If you are not familiar with BSF, it is a international non-denominational Bible study program. Each week, you have a discussion group and a lecture. You have homework that consists of notes covering the previous week's lesson and 5 days of questions about the next section of scripture. This year, we're studying Genesis. It has only been a few weeks, but it has already been an incredible study.

This past week, we studied the creation of man and woman. During the lecture, our leader said, "Every gift from God is good and perfect." This statement has been swirling through my head ever since.

My beautiful son is on the autism spectrum. He has problems and struggles other children don't have. As a parent, I face problems and struggles others don't have. I have railed against fate. I have railed against God. Why my son? Why me? Why is their child so "perfect"? It's not fair!

I got my answer this week. My son is a gift from God. He is good. He is perfect. I am blessed.