Wednesday Hodgepodge

My friend Erin always links up and does Joyce's Hodgepodge questions. Since I am at a loss to say anything that isn't sad and depressing, I will give Joyce's questions a shot. Thanks Joyce!


1. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time or have a significant conversation with two people?

Umm... have a significant conversations with two people, and typically - it's with the same two people I arrived with. I don't know why. Maybe because I'm married to a social butterfly. The evening isn't complete until Keith has talked to EVERYONE and then makes the rounds again to say goodbye to everyone. I'm glad we have children that I can pretend occupy my time while I am doing some serious people watching. Taking it all in.

2. What objects do you remember from your parent's living room?

A large television. There's been several replacements, so brand isn't the issue. My Dad can't function without a television. He might be the very reason I can watch hours on end of tv and know all the TBS movies by heart. The tv and the same coffee table and end tables. The exact same. They don't look half bad either. We would leave cups and hot plates on it and the rings would always fade over time. My sister and I trashed that table and it still looks good. This is the point I make to Keith when he stresses over coasters.

3. Do you hog the bed? Steal the covers? Snore?

No, No, and Not always. Keith is a bed hog. He believes if his torso is on one side of the bed, he's not hogging it. I believe if you bend your body like a boomerang and take up 3/4ths of the bed, you ARE hogging it. I don't think I steal the covers, but I am not afraid to steal them back. This is usually by one violent tug jolting him awake. I'm really a pleasant person. Promise! I have found that when I am pregnant and close to 50 pounds over my typical weight (these days I should refer to it as my dream weight), I snore. I think it's a weight issue with me. I come from a long line of snorers and I'm afraid my day might be coming.

4. Speaking of Easter dinner....what is your favorite way to cook/eat lamb? Or does just the thought of that make you squeamish? If you're not cooking lamb what will be your entree du jour on Easter Sunday?

Is eating lamb an Easter tradition? I didn't know this. And, I've never cooked lamb and don't believe I'll start now. What will we be eating? I haven't planned that far out. I'm luck to plan 2 hours out.

5. Let's throw some politics into this week's mix-oooohhh...Do you know the whereabouts of your birth certificate and when was the last time you had to produce it to prove you're you?

My birth certificate is in our little safe in a top secret location I can not reveal so don't go peeping around my bedroom. The safe is so small it only holds our birth certificates, passports, and titles to our cars (ect....) The last time I used it was to get a passport before we moved to Korea. I have to show the boys all the time... sports, schools....

6. As a child, how did people describe you?

Who knows. I don't think I ever thought about it or cared then... or now. I was pretty thin and lanky. My parents would include smarta%$, strong willed, and expensive.

7. What do you complain about the most?

From my first two answers it would appear my husband. Humm..... I should work on that. Overall, I think I complain about things going wrong or things that have to get taken care of by a deadline. I don't like the pressure of a deadline.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My cat is sitting by the computer chewing on a rubber band. She's weird. And it doesn't make the noise I would imagine a cat chewing a rubber band would make. Interesting.

A Month...

...and counting.

My Baby

Last night we had a couple over for dinner. They are getting ready to move to Korea and had a few questions. Super nice people. They also had their 5 weeks old baby with them. The little girl was so precious. I was talking with the mom, asking her questions about how she's eating and sleeping... baby talk. Little did I know Cole was paying attention. He came over and whispered to me "mom, tell her about your baby."

I told him that she knows, but his words have played over and over in my head. I'm not sure of the exact reasons he said that, but I love him. I love him for wanting to share her. I love him for thinking about her. I love him for wanting to include me in the conversation. I love his little heart. Remind me to increase his allowance when he starts getting one.

Only My Brad

This is Brad. Brad went through a phase of wearing an Elf hat (amongst other things) everywhere he went.


Brad is getting very excited for his 5th birthday. He has already decided he wants an Elf party. He wants Jelf the Elf to be there (from the Elf on a Shelf book), and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Parents are to wear our Santa hats and he wants snowflakes on the walls inside, not outside.

Brad told me he wants an Elf cake - not cupcakes, and a hat just like the one he composed yesterday:



His party is in May. I love him and can't wait to honor his every adorable request. I'm imagining a wood working station where he and all his little elf friends build toys for Santa and he takes them to deliver to other kids. Santa is already in the works for a scheduled appearance. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to make snowflakes a mere seven weeks before the party. Why do I get all crazy and want to make Christmas in May? Last night I kissed him to bed and he said "Mama is so beautiful" And just like that, his wish will be granted.

April Showers bring May...

Houses. At least, that's what we hope. I use the term "we" kinda loosely, but if the stars align we could be home owners... again. That's all I can say about it now because my stomach flips and I feel the need to scratch my neck excessively.

As always, my dear husband is keeping me on my toes. April will be a big turning point for our household in many many ways. You know that I took a class in college that listed the top 10 most stressful times in a persons life. March and April will make sure we cross at least half of those off. I hear that's good for blood pressure and things of that nature. So, if you thought my posts were random now, just wait till I've lost even more sleep and I walk in small circles in about 3 weeks.

The boys are well and ever so funny. Cole suffered his first sports injury. A big goalie fell on his leg and hyper-extended his knee. I wasn't there to witness it because I was running late with a small blonde child who operates on his own time clock. That same night Cole cut his foot open with glass. I wasn't there either. A small blonde boy needed to go to bed ASAP. Cole is suppose to be on Dr's orders of no running, jumping, active playing, P.E., or movement which involves planting his foot and moving his knee. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Honestly! We're doing our best, but the "no soccer for two weeks" rule just about broke his heart.

I felt like a crazy Texas parent explaining to the Dr. how much soccer the kid plays. I'm sure she made a note of that in his file. I'll be sure to watch the next persons facial response as she reads his file the next visit. Also, do you know how difficult it is to find a sports sleeve for a knee that's 10 inches around?

Keith is studying and I have thank you cards to write that I promise I will send out one day! I actually made two trips to the post office in 4 days. Progress.

Delayed Apprecitaion

Do you know what I found as I was cleaning out some things?? Thank you cards. Thank you cards that I have written to other people the past 2 years that I've never mailed out.

I have all kinds of cards - thanks for birthdays, thanks for Christmas gifts... all just sitting here. Envelopes are all addressed but just never mailed. And it's not for the lack of stamps either. There's HUNDREDS here in the drawer.

I also did the same thing with our Christmas cards this year. I ordered, addressed, even bought more stamps, and yet never mailed them out. I don't know why. Maybe now that I'm older it's my new quirky thing. Crazy old lady characteristic #1. Yea me!

Time

We left on a cruise boat. Ran away from the world and reality for a bit. It was a trip planned long before life got crazy. A trip we were cleared to take. It might sound crazy to some. Leave on a tropical vacation a week after your delivered your daughter.... but it was exactly what we needed.

The boys were in good hands and I really had limited contact with them between "that day" and the day we flew out. If I did, I almost don't remember much of it. We sailed away to escape. I couldn't have asked for better travel buddies. I love Steve and Ashley. I didn't have to pretend, or explain why I couldn't get in the water. We didn't have to keep up and fake our way through high adrenalin excursions. We sat, we talked, we prayed, we ate, and ate, and ate, and ate.

I was even ready to get back. Ready to be a mom, wanting to wash their hair, and clean up behind them. I was looking forward to routines, schedules, and life together again. A perfect get away, and a perfect reunion.

The morning after we returned, sweet Cole crawled into bed to snuggle. The only thing he said was "Mom, how big was the baby's heart?" I know he still is thinking about her and processing his questions and feelings. I just hope we are able to help him in honest ways without causing fear or doubt for our love for him.

We've been overwhelmed with people sending their love and prayers. Honestly, it was truly God's love sent to us through each and every one of you. Life can be beautiful, even when it's painful. I'm reading some books and trying to get a grasp on everything that's happened. There's one book, that has the answers and has told me time and time again. His word. I'm totally convinced that God had a plan for Carrie, and God was equally, if not more, heartbroken over her passing. He was crying with me. He was wiping my tears, and He was holding my baby. Without a doubt, I believe she is healed and with our Father. Without a doubt, I believe He will help us through this trial. Without a doubt, I know he will piece my heart back together. I just have to hand it over to Him through faith. Every day. His word says so.



"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.." Jeremiah 1:5

"Jesus wept" John 11:40

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:10

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:50



I hope you don't think I can slap a bunch of bible verses on my wounds and call it good. That's not how it works. The most amazing thing about God's word is that it keeps you coming back for more. Often times it will raise more questions, and more questions, and sometimes questions that aren't answered this side of Heaven. But what it does tell me, I believe through faith. Believe me, I'm not a biblical scholar. I don't know all of the stories or histories of the great men and women of the bible. I wish I were a better Christian, teacher, and leader. But if you don't have faith or a relationship with God and have questions, please ask. There's no such thing as a dumb question (believe me, I asked them publicly in a bible study and loving women helped me without laughing) and there's never a too-late-to-start age limit.

I usually don't get this "heavy", but I want to share my hope with you. If you don't know Him, He's waiting with open arms.