As time goes by....

Let's see if I can get through this without crying! Hush! deutschman...hush!

Tomorrow is the 7th grade orientation. Tomorrow my baby gets on the big yellow bus and rides it to the big ole school (it's 7th-12th grade by the way)! We have always lived in walking distance to the elementary school, so I don't have the official 1st day of school photo by the bus. That scrapbook page(well it will be scrapped booked as soon as I do it!) has always been marked by my kids standing next to each other with their backpacks on next to the tree out front.

No, I will not take a picture of him as he gets on the bus tomorrow! That would not be cool! If I thought I could get the picture, I seriously would do it! So just wait...maybe I will! AH-AH-AH-AH (sinister laugh).

Ok I am prolonging the inevitable....you see starting next tuesday, either Jay or I will always drive the kids to the school. I have loved that time with Chelsea in the morning! Just she and I for the 10 minutes to start our day! Now Alex gets to join in on the fun!

Alex has not always been the easiest child to deal with. From the moment he was born the strong will was very apparent! He refused to sleep in his crib and then bed until he was in Kindergarten. There have been moments that he has looked at us and said, "I will not do what you want until I get what I want" Yes ladies and gentlemen, the kid in the Dobson book "Strong willed child" has NOTHING on Alex! I just laughed at that book and prayed my life would be that easy. For the first year of his life, I only slept about 3 hours a night. I had bruises on my arms and face from where I would walk into doorways and walls because I was soooooooooo tired! He screamed at people when they tried to talk to him.

Jay and I would just pray for God to lead us to become the kind of parent that he needed us to be for our son. It was hard. There were times when I wanted to give in and let him have his way. I knew in my heart of hearts that it would only hurt him in the long run. Jay and I often had to take turns dealing with Alex and his tantrums and strong willingness. There were times we often had to physically restrain him until he relented. It would take hours and upset Chelsea. We would tell Chelsea that Alex needed to learn this lesson to submit to his will to authority because God tells us to obey first. We obey Him and THEN we might get what we want but no matter what we surrender our will to His. Jay and I knew that if we didn't instill that in Alex then we could lose him when he hit teenagehood.

4th grade was another horrific year! We stayed on him like his life depended on it becuase in a way, it did. His spiritual life for sure and maybe his physical life. I would look at him and say to myself..."what is wrong with him!" "Why doesn't he get it?!" At one point Jay and I seriously considered having him tested for learning disabilities because he REFUSED to give in and learn his lesson.

5th and 6th grade were GREAT! He made the turn around the corner! That is not to say that he doesn't try from time to time to exert his will over ours but it is alot less frequent and not as strong. My prayer is that it doesn't rear it's ugly head like the first 10 years of his life again!

My point is this. Jay and I believe that you shape the spirit and break the will so that it can be submissive to the Lord's will. We also believe that what we do now is to raise a child of tomorrow. What we do now is to shape who they are as adults not just deal with the here and now.

I was watching Alex come out of the school today (he went with Chelsea while she got her locker) and it hit me! We are in a new phase of life! It is AWESOME!

Jay and I worked hard and cried tears and with God's help--I do believe we are on the other side! Alex is such a GREAT kid! He is funny and talented and yes he is strong willed. But I would rather him be strong willed with friends and drugs and alcohol and sex than with God's will. I am so proud of who he is! He is turning out to be such a fine young man. I know his cousins think so! His cousins have always thought Alex was DA BOM!


Thank you Lord for your steadfastness and faithfulness. Lord willing, we won't be going through the next 6 years like Alex's first 10 years!

Whew!

CHELSEA MADE THE JV VOLLEYBALL TEAM!!!!!

Way to go Chels!!! We are proud of you!

what can i say?

I have been remiss in posting because I don't know what to tell you all. Our summer has been well....quick, busy, good, fun. I don't know how to put it in words.

Right now, I am feeling very anxious and I don't know why. I have been feeling that way for a few days now. I think there is change in the air. I don't mean to sound ominous but I can't explain the way I feel. I also think that is has to do with hormones too. I feel this way sometimes....I will leave it at that.....

Right now, I am alone. The hubby and kiddos are at an amusement park for the day with the student ministry. It is nasty humid outside...maybe that explains my mood too....the hubby has called me and says that our son is having a GREAT time! He has seen our daughter with about 10 of her friends once.

Our lives are changing. This summer, we have been without kids so much. It is weird! It is a preview of things to come. As much as we enjoy each other's company and time alone together, it is weird becuase my mommy role has taken on a different meaning. It feels natural but yet weird at the same time.

I have a new found reality show....Cash Cab on the discovery channel! This NYC cabby picks up people and asks trivia questions and then they win cash or not if they get 3 strikes! While we were in NYC, I tried very hard to find cab # 1G12. No such luck--I mean how hard could it be with 15,000 cabs!!!??

Alex played some competitive basketball this summer and loved it. So he is all about the basketball now....basketball in the livng room, in the front hallway, in his room.....ugh! We have a hoop in the back yard!

By the way, did you all know that Alex HATES to ride a bicycle? I have done everything I can to bribe him! No such luck!

Alex has pimples!!! oh my! I have noticed the attitude is very teen like now but I am not readyfor the body to change! WE took him shoe shopping for new baskeball shoes. His last pair of shoes--8.5. His new shoes---10.5!!!! Opps!

Chelsea has volleyball tryouts tomorrow. I am nervous about that. I just want her to do her best no matter what happens!

WE have had major car trouble this summer. I have spent a good amount of the summer with out a/c!!! It has also been one of the hottest summers in 10 years! Lovely!!! Get it fixed you say?! What a good idea EXCEPT for the fact that our regular mechanic AND the dealership can't figure out why it is overheating!

I hate buying new cars! I love getting them but hate buying them. We have not had a car payment in 3 years!!! I don't want one now!!! but alas, it looks like I will get one....any suggestions?

Well that is enough of my rambling...sorry but again, I had nothing specific to say! Just felt the pressure to make a post!

it's been a while

sorry that it has been a while...let's see since last I left you...well too much has happened. Chelsea's DR trip was a HUGE success. I do have pictures and I will try to get them up for you all to see.

Right now she is in Richmond doing service projects to houses in the inner city of Richmond. It is called Richmond Work Camp or something like that. She's having a ball serving....

Alex has been busy with staying over at friend's houses and never being home.

I have pulled a muscle in my back and I am really really frustrated with it not healing! HELP!!!

Jay has worked 12 days in a row! he has his first days off tomorrow and sat!

Sunday Chelsea and I leave with some friend to go to NYC for a few days to celebrate a friend's birthday!

My side of the family went to Mountain Lake last week and had a ball! See Tanya's blog on the side there for some pics.

more later! VBS is in 2 weeks, so I will be very very busy!

and they're off....

Well the 2006 FXCC DR team is in Puerta Plata as I type! They left Dulles at 6 this morning...yes if you do the math, that means we had to be there at 4, which means we had to leave our house at 3:30, which means that we woke up at 2:30!!!!

Our teen mission team left to go and be God's hands and feet in the DR (dominican republic) for one week! Let me bring you up to speed on the happenings of the week that will end with Chelsea leaving for the DR.

Monday--
Alex "graduates" from 6th grade at a ceremony at school. The fact that he is now in 7th grade hits me at the end of the ceremony and I am a blubbering mess! We go out to eat with his best friend for lunch and then my mother-in-law takes Alex on a whirlwind trip of the east coast for 10 days. Their ports of call are : south carolina, florida, georgia, and alabama. I go to Walmart to buy supplies for the DR.

Chelsea wakes up on Monday with a horrible sore throat and feeling very "yucky", but soldiers on to school to take her final 2 exams for the year! She comes home and sleeps for 3 hours, all the while feeling "yucky". I take her to the dr. for a strep test. 2 tests=negative. 95% chance of no strep. Dr. says it is virus and to basically "deal" with it BUT if by Wed. she is not better then bring her back in since she is going to a 3rd world country on friday.

Tuesday--
Chelsea still feeling yuck-o, goes to church to work on her skits and props for the DR with her team. by the time we get home she is achy and feeling just rotten. She starts to pack her suitcase anyway. 10:30 p.m.--enters chelsea crying --saying that her eye hurts....yep...gooey stuff coming out--we got the pink eye! I go to walmart to buy DR supplies, again.

Wednesday--
We go to the drs. and get drops of the viral pink eye she has. her throat still hurts so we are adivsed to give her aleve! our dr. is soooo great! She gives us 2 bottles of eye drops! "Just in case" other children come down with the HIGHLY contagious pink eye! We head to Wal-mart and buy out the store in cold meds, pain relief, and you name it we bought it medical supplies!
Chelsea just sat in the drs. office with tears streaming down her face, thinking that the dr. would tell her she couldn't leave the country! I of course sat next to her and cried with her because this trip has been her dream since she was 11. From the moment she understood what happened on this trip, she wnated to be there and helping out! The dr. tells her to go and that she will be fine! WHEW!
She comes home and finishes packing but has to stay away from the meeting that night due to the fact that she needs to be on the drops for 24 hours before going out into public. Her throat? still hurting.....I go to Walmart to buy, yet even more supplies!

Thursday--
I make my final trip to Wal-mart--or so I was foolish enough to think....to buy more DR supplies. Chelsea cleans her room and is 100% ready for the trip! I drop her off for her final team meeting. She is wearing sunglasses to hide her "el diablo" eyes from the others.
I pick up Chelsea from her final team meeting and she is wearing a different set of sunglasses. Oh, yeah, that's right...her sunglasses broke....my eyes fill with tears...i have to make ONE MORE TRIP TO WALMART!!!!!! Can I just tell you....the thought of Walmart is like the thought of eating at McDonald's....it turns my stomach!
We go to walmart, we pick out sunglasses and oh yea, we need anti-freeze--why? My van overheats and the a/c stops working!!! On THE hottest day of the year. It was 8 p.m. and it was 101 degrees with 85% humidity!!!!
We go home and we crash but not for long because the mother of all storms lets loose on the NOVA area at midnight and lasts until 2 a.m.
Needless to say, we did not sleep at all!

Friday (today)
The teens leave and everyone is happy and doing great! I didn't even cry saying good bye to Chelsea. I am so happy for her an the other 16 teens and 5 adults! I do miss her though! Jay and I have NEVER been without both our kids in the whole 17 years we have been married!

Please keep them in your prayers! Hopefully when she gets back, we will have pictures to post!

Father's day

Today at church a video was shown regarding Dads. In it was a clip of my dad playing with Gillian and George with my words laid over the scene.

I basically said that my dad is the most faithful person I know. He has raised 3 faithful children and all 7 of his grandkids are active in church life. He has one grandchild who has commited their life to Christ. I am sure that the others will follow because we have had that legacy passed down to us.

What I wanted to say was this...(this is his story as I know it...so some of it may be incorrect)

Most of you may not know that my dad was not raised by his parents. His dad was an alcoholic. His mother ran off and left he and his sister to be raised by the dad. The dad having some presence of mind knew he could not raise these children, so he gave them over the their maternal grandparents to raise.

From my experience with situations as this, kids need their mom and dads to be healthy people to pass on positive attributes. As much as my great grandparents did for my dad, they were NOT his parents. From what I understand, my grandfather would call and tell my dad that he was coming to take him out to dinner and then not show up.

That does something to a kid no matter how stable the home and loving the grandparents. There is still the inner conflict of "My own dad can't/won't....."

All of that to say that my dad learned how to be a father from his grandfather and INSPITE of his own dad. My dad learned how to be a faithful man without any positive help from his own father. My dad got married and made a career and had a stable life, even though his own growing up must have been pretty tumultuous.

So thanks Dad for overcoming and being the best dad you could be! That helped me with what I looked for in a husband, so he could be the best dad he could be.


Also a shout out to my fantastic husband, who is truly a wonderful dad!

what is wrong with me....

I don't know how well I am hiding it but for the past 2 and 1/2 years now, my life has seemed to operate in a fog. For over a year, I accounted it to the illness and then death of my father-in-law. I had never been through something like that, noone writes a manuel on "how-to deal with the death of your father-in-law". Yes, I had fabulous support and that gave me the strength to support my husband and kids but I still found myself crying at weird times or the sense of urgency that makes me sick to my stomach that something bad is going to happen. All of that went on for about a year. I have noticed that I don't always feel that way anymore and that I am truly enjoying life again BUT I have no idea what I should be doing.

I feel like I have been "out of the loop" and I don't know how to jump back on!!! It's a really really weird sensation. I feel a kind of disconnect and I am not sure how to get it back. I think of things looooong after I would have in the past....i.e. a person is sick and I talk with them and tell them I will pray for them. In the past I would have done that AND made them a meal. Now, I don't htink about the meal part until long after I am done talking with them. I think of 100 things I "should of" said like hours later!!!

I also have like no desire to go anywhere and do anything BUT I don't want to sit at home either. I have no idea if this is all related or what. I just find it weird.

That is not how I was before February 2004 when Jim got sick but that is how I am now. Weird huh? Am I depressed? Am I stressed? Seriously...anyone got any thoughts on what in the world is wrong with me?

Good news--Jay got his own restaurant! Thank you Lord for rewarding my husband, who went back to school for almost 3 years, worked his tail off and we took a HUGE hit financially! I am so proud and happy for Jay! He totally deserves this!

Chelsea is done with crew! We had a great time in Philly at the last regatta!
Alex and I are heading to Blacksburg this weekend to see my neice and nephew "graduate" from preschool! Then Alex is inducted into the youth group at church on Sat. night!

Alex just went through a growth spurt...he's like 5'6!!!

Chelsea is pretty much driving a little bit everyday....maybe that is where the stress is coming from!!! I find it MUCH more stressful than Jay but guess who is home more to be there when she drives?! ME!!!

Loved all the season finales of t.v. this year! LOST--can't wait until season 3!!! Gilmore Girls---soooo disappointed in Lorelai! Grey's Anatomy--I gotta say that I was not happy about the choices made in that one either! I am a geek--I actually like the show "Deal or No Deal". but last night the woman got on my last nerve!!!

Now I am trying to catch up on reading...I am trying to read the DaVinci Code before I go see the movie....or spending time with my Gillian and George! I got quality time with them last friday!!! LOVE IT!!!

we temporarily interrupt this program...

because spyware stinks! Our laptop is very very sick....we are sending it away to see if it can get better. So until further notice...or things slow down at work....I will catch ya'll in about a week!

We will have much to catch up on....

American Idol, LOST, Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy. Chelsea rowing in Nationals. Chelsea's 6th grade teacher. Many a episode from the always adventuresome, Chelsea can now drive scenes!

Lord willing...we will have good news about Jay and a promotion!

Until then...blog away my friends....I will read you when I can...i.e. whenever it is slow at work and noone is looking!

Who knew?

Who knew....

1. That Katharine McPhee could make us cry with that beautiful rendition of "Somewhere over the Rainbow"

2. That Elliot only sounds good on bluesy, soulful songs.

3. That Taylor could actually sing a song and not gyrate (sp?) around the stage....still love him though!

4. That Randy Jackson stole Sammie's new glasses!!!! Oh snap! I went there! Love ya Sammie!

5. That my daughter is old enough to legally drive....got her permit today....watch out everyone!

6. That Meredith Grey would cave and go back to McDreamy! Poor McVet! I know it is totally wrong but I want Grey and McDreamy together.


My prediction....Katharine and Taylor in the finals...yes I am voting...Taylor to win. Although my 1st choice is still Chris!
The phone lines have just opened!

Shock and Awe

Can someone please tell me how Chris was voted off American Idol last night?!!!! I am utterly disgusted! He is the one on there with THE best talent!!! He lost by 0.4 of 1% last night!!!

That's it! I REFUSE to watch the rest of the season!!!!

Ok well maybe not...BUT I am not as interested in it anymore...I like Taylor, I think Katherine has a great voice but Elliot has to go! He gives me the creeps!


A friend of mine sent me this website and has something about the voting results.

http://www.zabasearch.com/ai_stats.php

OK...just need to vent! I am utterly appaled! Don't ask me if I voted...cause I didn't. I depended on the American public to make the right choice! Like that would ever happen!

Ok well, it's rainy here and Chris is off American Idol and I can't make the 600 name tags for all the children in children's ministry....I am going back home and going to bed!

homesick by mercy me

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you againTo see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

**Some people may think that this is a depressing song. Maybe it is but you know what? It let's me grieve. What is up with Mercy Me? They write the songs that make me cry!**

For Papa Serg

Today would have been Jim's birthday. He was/is my father-in-law. I don't know how to say it anymore. Because on days like this it doesn't seem like he is gone. Then we get together as a family or call and we realize, that yes, he is gone. He passed away on December 31, 2004. He would have been 60 today.

I only knew him for 15 years. What I did learn about him, gave cause for me to love him. Not only did he proudly serve our country for almost 30 years in the Army, he married the woman who brought him to Christ. He raised 2 sons who are faithful to the Lord. He took care of his mother, and let me tell you that was not and is not an easy job. There are a plethora of reason as to why the previous statement is true.

Not only were Pat, Jay and Chris the loves of his life but he fully loved his grandchildren, my children. They were his pride and joy. One year, I gave him a calendar with pictures of the kids on each month with a different part of Eccel. 3 on it. He cried when he saw it. AFter he died, we were going through his stuff...he still had it.

His co-workers knew of his family and faith. He did not keep it hidden. He provided for his family both physically and spiritually. As a father he taught his sons how to be a father, a husband and a productive citizen. As a grandfather (Papa Serg) he taught the kids to enjoy life and not take yourself too seriously. Once he was frustrated at Chris and the kids were around and he knew he had to watch his language and so he called him a "donut". The kids thought this was hysterica! They knew he was trying to be a good example for them but they laugh about it anyway!

Jim watched a pair of hawks from their back window with a pair of binoculars. They left their nest about the time he was diagnosed with cancer. They returned to their nest the day he died. Pat said it was God telling her that Jim really was ok. He had returned home.

I hear the song often on the radio by the Christian Group, Mercy Me, "Homesick". This song helps me grieve the loss of Jim. (http://www.myspace.com/mercymerocks )

My life was forever touched by a man who married a woman, who had 2 sons and became a Christian. Jim no longer has to imagine heaven. He's there, waiting for us. How blessed am I to have him there along with my other loved ones who have gone before him.

Pirate Party

A day at sea and Castaway Cay (key)

So after we set sail from Cozumel, we spent a day at sea. That was just a very relaxing day! We sat around and had a seafood buffet lunch, read, drank iced chai teas, watched a movie!

The last day of the cruise was Disney's very own island, Castaway Cay!












It is in the Bahamas. It is very cool to think that you are the only people on the island! There was tons to do! The kids did it all! There was a buffet for lunch! It was delicious! We snorkeled and kayaked and sunbathed. Some of us went on bike rides!
















We had just a wonderful spectacular day! We were sad because we knew that we would be home in less than 24 hours! That night we ate our final dinner! We had a party and of course, there was a parade of the wait staff and we all sang "It's a small world!" You can't do anything Disney without singing that song!










I am so thankful and blessed that we were able to take this trip! Our kids had fantastic experiences and memories! Reality didn't hit as hard as I thought it would. It has been almost 3 weeks since the cruise and we talk about it everyday!

Now I have the impressive job of scrapbooking all our pictures to memorialize the trip for all eternity...or for as long as the paper and pictures hold out!

I recommend this trip for everyone!

una dia en cozumel!

We spent the next day in Cozumel! We were one of the first cruise lines back on the island since it was devastated last year by hurrican wilma. The island was still pretty devasted but we were able to rent jeeps and drive to the mayan ruins, go to a beautiful beach and ate lunch on the beach and the kids snorkeled!!!

It was a great day!



That night on the boat we had a Pirate party! We danced and ha fireworks and they showed Pirates of the Caribbean on the jumbo-tron!







Yes you read this correctly...it's a pee pee station. I am sure they had a bathroom but they sold stuff there...like souveniers.

Malicious gave me an F

Today's blog has been brought you by Malicious. the number 10 and the letter "f". (for all you Sesame Street fans)

This is how it works. I was given the letter "f" by Malia. I must come up with 10 words that start with said letter and write an explanation for it. You may play this game if you so choose...just let me know and I will hit ya with a letter!


Fabulous--what the Disney cruise was! My life is also this way!

Freak--what I tend to call people...for lack of a better word! Also known as "freakin'" when used as an adjective!

Fun--what the Sergio 4 has when we are together!

Family--where would you be without family? I have a great family! You can't choose your family but they end up teaching you alot!

Friends--I have some of THE best friends in the world! They are gifts from God. Also one of my all time favorite t.v. shows!

Favorite--hello! This word just makes me happy, 'cause it encompasses all the things that make me happy!

Frenzy--what our life is most of the time! Crew, Basketball, Volleyball, Bunco, work, school, plays, auditions, band concerts, church, youth activities, regattas....need I say more? It is what my work life has been since we got a new server and NOTHING, no NOTHING works!! Haven't been able to do my job for over a week now! Normally people would find that nice...it jsut stresses me out!

Fast--my kids are growing up this way! Sometimes I cherish it...other times...it Freaks me out!

Fresh Fruit--I love fresh fruit! There is this place called Edible Arrangements and you can get bouquets of chocolate covered strawberries!!! hint-hint---cough-cough Mother's Day--cough cough

Flying--I don't like to do this but it sure beats driving!!!


I know, I know..I have to catch you up on our cruise. My life has been a freakously, frenzied, fast and flying event for the past week! I will try to finish...tonight.

Mickey showed up to the Character breakfast!

Goofy was there too!

They made hats from our napkins for the kids! One little boy at another table had a hat with goofy ears!

There's a stingray!

Jay and the kids getting ready for their adventure...look at that water!

Day at sea and Grand Caymans

Sorry, for the delay but it took me 2 1/2hrs. to upload the 245 pictures from our memory card to COSTCO so that we can get our pictures...I was too tired last night to blog.


So after Key West, we spent a day at sea. That morning we had a character breakfast in the restaurant Parrot Cay. Now you may not know how to pronounce C-A-Y. There has been much debate about this among our group of seafaring travellers. All the Disney employees pronounce it "key". I do believe it is a word with British origins. Anyhoo.....Character breakfast! Fun! Fun! fun!

I am trying to add pictures as I type and it is not allowing me so...I will post pictures of the Character breakfast and Grand Caymans tomorrow. For tomorrow is another day! That is for you Malicious!

Anyway, we spent a wonderfully rested and relaxed day on the ship! We saw the movie Eight Below. There was this latino boy sitting behind us who was speaking spanish loudly but completely enjoying the movie! So Chelsea would translate for us what the young boy was saying! His father was not doing much to keep him speaking at at whisper. It was actually pretty cute. The seats in the Buena Vista theatre....so NOT comfortable!

The next day we anchored off shore of Grand Cayman. We tendered in and met up with our excursion group! We catamaraned out about 45 minutes from shore to go to Stingray City! We swam with stingrays! The kids had a quicky lesson in snorkeling and they were great! We were in about 10-15 ft. of some of the clearest water in the world! We could see stingrays on the bottom of the ocean swimming along waiting for us to feed them their daily dose of squid. WE all jumped into the ocean and snorkeled for about 45 mintues! It was glorious! Just such a great way to see more of God's creation! When we were done we sailed back into shore! My WORD it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relaxing!!!!!

The thought crosses my mind..."Thank you Lord! We were allowed to experience a part of your making! My children were able to experience you in a different way today! We are truly blessed. Thank you for allowing this to happen!"

I was just so content and happy! It has been a long while since I truly felt that way.

oops--left out

I forgot about the best Key Lime Pie....we found a great Key Lime place called The Blonde Giraffee. They have Key Lime Pie by the slice OR dipped in chocolate on a stick! After sampling the merengue, the whipped and the chocolate on a stick...the votes are in and Key Lime Pie dipped in chocolate and put on a stick is THE best way to eat Key Lime!!! Sorry no pictures of the Key Lime on a stick...should of thought about that!

Anyway, next time you are in Key West...go to the Blonde Giraffee...you'll find it--no worries! Oh yea, get the key lime on a stick!

Key West, Trolley rides and The best Key Lime Pie

Our 1st port was Key West. We disembarked at the dock and find a trolley ride to take us around Key West. We wind our way in and out of the tiny streets of Key West learning all kind of historical things. We stop at one point and get out for a short break. We load back on the trolley and do another 1/2 hour of info trolley ride. Now if you have ever been to Key West...you know it is not that big...so an hr and 1/2 of trolley ride is a bit much. BUT we went to the souther most point of the U.S. and we got to see mile zero of route 1 that runs from Key West to like Maine or Vermont or something!

We got back on the ship and we celebrated Lisa's birthday by the adults going to eat at Palo's. The food was absolutley AMAZING!!!! Our waiter, Kristian from Croatia, was superb!!!! There was THE most beautiful sunset that night! The kids ate at our next restaurant in the rotation--Animator's Palate. The wait staff was excellent with our kids! The walls start out black and white and then change to color during the course of the meal!!!!

It was just great!!!!

Vacation--Ahoy!

I have never cruised before. In fact, I have been quite nervous about it because I don't really like boats. I know a cruise ship that holds 2700 passengers and over 1000 crew members isn't a boat but you know what I mean....anyway, we load onto an official Disney bus and away we go to Port Canaveral! While we are on the bus a great little info video comes on to tell you all how to get checked onto the boat. Exact details of what will happen once you get on the boat! The excitement builds on the bus full of people heading to what is known to be THE best cruise in the world. I think we have done our kids a disservice because if you talk to people who have been on a cruise with another company they will even tell you that Disney is the cadillac of cruises! Everything is of course done in Disney fashion and it is superb!!!

So as we arrive to the port. This is our ship! The Disney Magic!!!! It is beautiful! A HUGE Goofy is hanging off the back of the ship and looks like he is finishing up painting the word MAGIC!!! We go through all the check points and checking in and then we walk the plank to board!!! My word!!! They ask your name as you and your family walk in the door and they announce it over the loud speaker--The Sergio Family! Welcome aboard the Disney Magic!!! This is the awesome chandelier hanging in the main foyer!!

We go eat up on deck 9 at the buffett! Then we head off to find our stateroom. Our room is a great size and we ahve a huge window! No joke! We drop our stuff off and head to deck 10 for the Bon Voyage Celebration!



Yes Mickey and the gang come out and sing songs. We set sail!!! We all ordered virgin Bon Voyage drinks (1/2 pina colada, 1/2 strawberry daquiri)!!! The wind blows in our hair and away we go!!! The coolest thing is that when the captain blows the ships horn it plays "When you wish upon a star". It is enough to make you weep!!! So much fun!!!!

We eat at Lumiere's restaurant that night and meet our awesome wait staff that follow us all week long for dinner! We take in a Broadway quality show about setting sail on the Magic! The music and dancing is great!!!

None of us got seasick! We were gently rocked to sleep by the boat! AHhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I like cruising...tomorrow...Key West!

Vacation--day1

We land in Florida, thursday night and head by Disney shuttle bus to Pop Century resort! It took like an hour and 1/2!!! So we check in to one of Disney's newest resorts at like 10:30 p.m. Drop our stuff off in our rooms and head to eat!!! The resort is really really cool. It has several buildings, each one with it's own decade theme! WE stayed in the 90's. It was decorated with huge cd's and the pool was shaped as a laptop and floppy disks.

Chelsea took this picture of the 80's building.

Friday we all got up. 7 of us went to Epcot and 4 went to MGM. I went to EPCOT!!! I conquered a fear! I rode Mission Space!!! For those of you who don't know....it simulates space flight...from take off to landing....yes...you are in a centerfuge and you pull some serious G's. I apparently have some sinus problems because HELLO! I felt them! The most relaxing and fun ride was Soaring! What a GREAT ride!!!!

We ate lunch in England with some fish and chips. WE had dessert in France! The big hit with the teens was that they say the cast from Disney's massive hit t.v. movie--High School Musical!

We went back to the resort and went to bed. The next day the REAL fun started! The Disney cruise!!!!

for my day of birth

My birthday started on friday by Alex and Jay detailing my van! IT was great!!! As the mom of a teen and a preteen...the van was NASTY! Car was washed, waxed, armoraled, windows washed and carpets vacuumed AND cleaned! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Sat. Chelsea and I took Gillian to Chickfila, Build a bear, and cold stone creamery!!! Then Chelsea and I went to Kohl's to shop for the cruise! We got tons of stuff for very little money!! Gotta love a sale AND a coupon!

Today, Alex gave me flowers and Chelsea gave me "Walk the Line" dvd. Lisa gave a sweet bracelet watch. Tanya et al gave me a very cute bracelet! My other friend Lisa, who's son's b-day is also today...went by Starbucks and got be a grande marble mocha macchiato! That beat the fact that NONE of my kid's worship people showed up today on time or at all and that my computer is missing ALL of the things that make children's ministry run!

For that is to worry about tomorrow becuase tomorrow is another day! Until after the cruise! Buh bye!

presenting....

This wall will have shelves on them as soon as we get wall anchors!










Chelsea's room
A Mimi original

coming soon....

*Pictures of Chelsea's room,
*tales of another exciting adventure of Ellyn and Gillian's day on the town,
*the list of copious amounts of birthday presents that I get on Sunday! HA--NOT!
*how I spent my day of birth (and Gillian's, and Joan J.'s, and Larry C's, and Ethan's, and Alia's)
*the freak out and stress of trying to buy and get packed and work and run carpool and get homework and projects done and be ready for Easter by the time I leave.
*what I think about LOST
*what I think about Mason going to the final 4
*what I think about Walk the Line---best movie EVER!!!! Love all things Johnny Cash!

Until then--hold your breath and wait!

nyc review

Yes, Chelsea made it back from NYC--the big apple....not sin city...that's Las Vegas....

She had a blast! She did call at most every moment she could. She had lots to report! If you check out her pictures you will see some of what they did. She was disappointed that the conference was set up in such a way that you didn't always get into the workshop you wanted. It was a first come/first serve basis. So one day they didn't get into anything they were remotely interested in. She was a little sad about that.

Her highlights were...seeing a woman dressed as an angel singing opera for her living in the subway, a pimp (see pictures), going to Times Square, NBC studios, Top of the Rock, the St. Patty's parade and all the drunk people, eating at Carmine's and seeing the 25th annual Spelling Bee of Putnam County.

She thinks she is soooo ready to move to NYC! I am glad she had a good time. She learned a few things are her eyes were opened to a world she is not a part of everyday but all in all...she's the same kid.

My parents pulled a "While you were out" on her with her room while she was in NYC. It looks really good. I hope to have pictures up soon..well as soon as my mom finishes her room...which hopefully will be Tuesday.

Oh I do have to say, that Chelsea probably got no more than 5 hours of sleep a night while she was gone and she has done really well with her attitude! I am very proud of her!

So all in all, I grade this test a "A". There is always room for improvement!

Gotta love a smart preschooler!

What happened yesterday at church was just too precious to pass up so I am going to share the story for you!! For those of you not living in our area and who don't attend our church, I am going to need to give you some background info.

People constantly confuse my cohort and myself. We have learned over the past 5 years to just respond to each other's names. FEW people call us by the right name. So when someone is addressing me and calls me "Miss Lisa" I just respond and keep going. As you can see from our pictures there are some similarities. We have the same mannerisms. People get us confused on the phone. Even the children of the deaf adults get us confused and I am the one out of the 2 of us who knows sign language. You would think they could keep it straight.....

Anyway, all that to say, we have become accustomed to answering to whatever we are called now.

So yesterday there must of been a full moon or something because just about every little girl under the age of 6 was having a hard day. One little girl inparticular wanted her Dad to stay with her in Bible class. Miss Lisa said she would sit with the little girl to help her get adjusted so that Dad could go and worship. So Miss Lisa did that for a while. About 30 minutes later, the teacher peeks her head out of the door and said that this little girl needed to use the restroom and doesn't want to use the one that is there in the room. She wants to use the one in the hallway. Ok, so I go down that hall to get the little girl and we go to the bathroom in the hallway.

Upon entering, I ask her, like I do all the children at this age (3)...."Can you do this by yourself? or do you need help?" She took a look at the potty and then turned around to me and smiled and said..."I don't have to go potty. I want you to come sit with me in class." I smiled back at her and thought....clever little girl! So I made her try to go potty anyway and then probably because she is so clever she figured out, I wasn't going to sit with her.....she said "Where's the other you?"

The "other you"!!!!! That was a new one! So now we are just going to tell people that I am "the you" and Lisa is the "other you"!!!

I thought that was just so precious! It is things like that that make me smile and enjoy my Sundays! This you is going to run crew carpool! Later!

Put to the test

Chelsea leaves for NYC at 4:15 a.m. tomorrow....as I have been having hives about her going to NYC without me and with a bunch people who, more than likely, hold very few moral values in sync with ours, including her teacher who is living with his girlfriend and their year old daughter...i know because he feels the need to inform and update his students on his personal life in class.....i realize that what we have been doing with Chelsea for the past 15 years now comes to a head. This is our first big test of Chelsea and of us.

Anyhoo--this is where Jay and I's parenting skills will come into play. In some ways this is the beginning of things to come in the very near future. Our daughter is an amazingly responsible young lady. Who loves the Lord and seeks to follow Him in all that she does. It has been rather easy since she is still living at home and when things don't turn out right, mom and dad are right around the corner. Well for the next 4 days we will be 5 hours away from her.

As much as I hate to see my children fail at something, we really try to tell them that it is a redirection and not a failure. What they tried didn't work, they need to try again....sounds like an old proverb huh?!

So tonight, I tucked Chelsea in bed and told her that I trusted her. That no matter what happens, I will always love her. There is nothing she can do to take my love away. That I am proud of who she is. That I am confident in her abilities to make good choices. The clincher was I told her that at all times, God sat on one shoulder and I sat on the other. And while God holds eternity in His hands...I hold the next 3 years until she graduates!!!!

I don't know about you but, when I was a teen, it was the image of my mom sitting on my shoulder that kept me from doing many a thing that I should not have done. It owuld have been a fate worse than death to have to tell Becky that I had really really messed up and confess my sin to her and to see the disappointment on her face. That kept me out of ALOT of trouble that presented itself during my teen years....alcohol, sex, drugs, lying, stealing, cheating...you name it...it all presented itself to me at one time or another.

So when you are done reading this...please pray for the safety of the 23 who are going to NYC on this trip.

This is one test that I am sure Chelsea will pass with flying colors!

Tag! Thou art it!

I was tagged by Malia to fill this out! Let's see what I can come up with!

1. Who is your favorite Biblical personage, other than Jesus? Not just one but the 4 women in the lineage of Christ. A great reminder of what God can do thru women!

2. What is your favorite book of the Old Testament? Proverbs--I write some down for my kids to read on their bathroom mirror!!! Very relavant!

3. What is your least favorite book of the Old Testament?hm.....maybe Numbers

4. What is your favorite non- gospel book of the New Testament? James! Lots of very relative topics that I use on my kids!

5. What is your life verse? James 1:2-6 Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters) when you face troubles of various kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
AWESOME STUFF!

6. Tag 3 people who might want to play. Shayna, Sammie, Jacque, It gives you something to post that is easier than writing prose, come on, you know you wanna play!

love him, hug him, squeeze him and call him George

Here are pictures from our evening with George. He is fast becoming a curious George!

shocker

I have been sick for about 4 weeks now. So this past friday, I made an appointment and went to the dr. I couldn't take being sick anymore. I absolutely love my dr. Shout out to Lisa for introducing me to Dr. Nguyen. She is a fireball and just lovely! I have only seen her once, a year ago, and when she saw me, she asked all these personal questions such as; "how are your kids?" "are they still liking swimming?" "how does your daughter like high school?". I saw her ONCE a year ago!!!! She is great!!!

Anyway, she takes my blood pressure and well according to the numbers, I should be stroking out at anytime now. My blood pressure was high last year but I had taken 2 weeks worth of decongestants and that raises your blood pressure. I was suppose to (suspoose to--that is Gillian style) come back a year ago for a full physical...yeah, I didn't.

So one year later, I come back...sick and my blood pressure is through the roof! So she does what every good dr. should do....give me a talkin' to about my diet, weight, life style, job, etc.

I relfected with Jay all the way home about my life and how I choose to live it.

Yes, I am about 70 pounds overweight. I live for my family. I work a job outside the home from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m. and when I get home at 3 the amazing race begins. We have homework, housework, practices musical and sports, we have meetings, and phone calls, school stuff church stuff and then there is the blogging!!! Just kidding..that is a side activity. We eat out ALOT or else we are eating at 8 p.m.!!!

What I am trying to say is, I live for my family. We choose to have kids. I choose to be a mom. This is my "season" of being a mom with kids at home. I know that I am completely against what the world says but "my time" will come in about 3-6 years when at that time both my kids will be at college and I will only be 43. When my house is empty then I will have time to work out and focus on me. Don't get me wrong. I do do things that I like and that fill my cup now. But contrary to the world's view, being with my kids and doing things for them is what I love and that does fill my cup! My kids are not going to be in my home fulltime in such a very very short time. NOW is my time to talk and listen and laugh and cry with them. This is my time to take them and use teachable moments to move them closer to their relationship with God.

When I say "this is my time" I mean from the time they have been born. So, after I reflected and Jay's eyes finished glazing over...poor guy, he tries so hard to keep up but I am not easy to keep up with....I come to the conclusion that I will work harder at taking care of myself. My family needs me to be healthy. I will watch my salt intake and drink more water and take my meds. I will run carpools, help with homework, make/order dinner, read, laugh, talk, cry and sit with my kids. I will go to BUNKO or book club. I will keep the house picked up and laundry caught up. I will keep fridays as my day off so that my hubby and I get "quality" time. As we learned at Winterfest, I am going to live for the line (eternity) and not the dot (today).

and then in 2012, when Alex goes to college, the basement becomes a workout room!

Rock on all you moms, rock on!

hit the bullseye in 2 questions

Took this test for Shayna's blog....it pegged me perfectly!!!! I am so predictable!



the HelperTest finished!

you chose CX - your Enneagram type is TWO.
"I must help others"
Helpers are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me
Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.
Share fun times with me.
Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.
Let me know that I am important and special to you.
Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

In Intimate Relationships
Reassure me that I am intersting to you.
Reassure me often that you love me.
Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

What I Like About Being a Two
being able to relate easily to people and to make friends
knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better
being generous, caring, and warm
being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings
being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

What's Hard About Being a Two
not being able to say no
having low self-esteem
feeling drained from overdoing for others
not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish
criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should
being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them
working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings


Twos as Children Often
are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism
try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding
are outwardly compliant
are popular or try to be popular with other children
act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention
are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Twos), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Twos)


Twos as Parents
are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)
are often playful with their children
wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"
can become fiercely protective
Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages


You liked the test? so please RATE it :-)


The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Testhttp://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=12721960859055255705


Go ahead...take it! Ya know ya want to!!!

...let all the earth rejoice....

How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God....and all will see how great, how great is our God!!!

Lauren Schwamb is coming home!!! The baby that THE top pediatric doctor's said would not likely live through birth much less out of the womb...is coming home on Monday! 5 days before her due date!!! Simply amazing!!!

All I have to say is .....prayer works! If you have not had a chance to check out her care page on the web...go to.....


www.carepages.com and sign in as a new member and then type in LaurenSchwamb. You will see how great our God is!!!


Now I need to go take more drugs because I feel awful and I hate being sick!

ramblings of a weekend spent w/ no sleeping

Winterfest '06--Gatlinburg, TN---amazing! an incredible weekend! spiritually uplifting and rejuvenating. 14,000 teens and chaperones came together to praise God, learn more and be edified!
--we stood in FREEZING temperatures, snow and ice.
--we ate krispy kreme donuts from a real krispy kreme store--not Giant
--we sang "How great is our God"!
--we heard that we we should believe in "Gesus"!!! yes i spelled it correctly---Jeff Walling had a little freudian moment there and spelled "G-E-S-U-S"!!!
--we saw 2 kids from our youth group turn their lives over to Christ!
--we (well the teens) went swimming at an indoor oasis at 11 p.m.
--we had a boys with special needs have an allergic reaction to his meds and suffered most of Friday. On sat. when his episodes were over, one of our teen boys took him swimming at 7:30 a.m. because he had missed it the night before!!!!!! This kid is amazing! They both are!
--one of the kids who was baptized has been ready for a year and he was reassured that "there was room for 2 in the pool and that his mom was there and no time like the present!" God at work!!!!
--we had no teens get piercings and tatoos this year! well at least not that i know of today! last year was a different story!
--jay got to go for the first time!
--our bus driver was hard of hearing...i would prefer this to the crossed eyed bus driver we had 2 years ago!
--we saw and connected with friends and family that we had not seen in a year!
--i had very little, i mean very little sleep this weekend--but it was all worth it!
--bus rides--so much fun!
--mexican food---yumm-o!
--what is up with gatlinburg having mostly pepsi and not coke!!!!???? I am a coke girl--preferably cherry coke!
---can't complain too much because we did have sweet tea! gotta love the south!

Can't wait for Winterfest '07---Heaven! by the way alex gets to go next year....he will be in 7th grade....now there is something to blog about...my baby in the youth group!


sigh!

riddle me this

ok, so we are going on the disney cruise for spring break. we have worked very hard to save money and pay for it outright. our destinations are key west, grand caymans, cozumel, and castaway cay (the disney owned island). because we are going to other countries, we need passports. technically my children don't need them but why carry around paper birth certificates if you don't have to and can carry passport books instead. besides chelsea is going to the DR (dominican republic) this summer on a mission trip..she needs one anyway.

so in true sergio fashion, we don't have birth certificates for me, chelsea and alex. we looked absolutely everywhere for them. the obvious places and the not so obvious places. none were to be found. oh, we had jay's because his mom had just given us all of his medical records and school records and old passports and stuff. so now we are in a pickle. we are 8 weeks from departure.

so this past friday, i call the state of virginia and go through their whole process to have certified copies of their birth certificates sent to us. i explain to the lady that i need to have them overnighted. she kindly explained with glee in her voice that i would have to pay extra money...um, duh! all this happened last friday. so, i gave her my credit card number and verified that they were going to overnighted and i would have them by monday...yes she confirmed. she did however, fail to explain that i would have to be home to sign for them!

so while i am doing all of this on the phone, i am online ordering my birth certificate from the great state of TN. i have it overnighted too. by the way, it cost me $27 to order and overnight it from TN. it cost me $50 a piece to order my kids from RICHMOND, VA!!!! which is only 2 hours away!!!!

monday comes and i get my birth certificate. no kid's. tuesday comes--no kid's. wednesday mid-morning and thank God, jay is home and he signs for it. which was required...but not explained...

so, my question is...why can TN be 1/2 as much and get here on time? and virginia cost twice as much and took 4 days!!!! i am sorry but last i checked 4 days is not the same as overnight. well, it is overnight, overnight, overnight.

anyway, all is fine, we have our passports in the process. the cruise is just 7 weeks away!!! just a small price to pay for a vacation of a lifetime...and yes, we will probably do this only once but from what i hear it is completely worth it!!!!

a day for love

happy valentine's day!

jay--thank you for 16 great years. i wouldn't trade them for anything! yes, and thanks for lovely flowers. they are perfect!

chelsea--thank you for being the most amazing daughter! i love you just the way you are!

alex--thank you for being the light in my life. thank you for keeping me from taking myself too seriously.

guess what? i found the book "fresh faith"!!! long story...anyway, i am rereading it. don't let satan steal your joy!

pray for the committment to keep the joy in your life. the joy that Christ offers. the joy of a husband, child or friend.

have a great and LOVEly day!

Our Snow Storm

So here are our reported 10 inches! YEAH! Finally we have winter!

new skills

i have new skills to add to my already extremely long list! i figured out last night how to add pictures to my posts!

i did find out however that i need to remove/update my list of skills because today we had gillian again...and i forgot to bring another diaper and wipes to alex's game. so she tells me she needs to go potty. we head to the bathroom and her diaper is soaked. she goes potty but um, i dont' have the goods. so i explain to her that i don't have a diaper and she is going to need to be a big girl and tell me everytime she needs to go to the potty. "ok" she says to me. we spend the rest of the game running down the hall because every 15-20 mintues she tells me she needs to go potty. she thinks it's funny!

here are some shots of alex playing his game. he plays the #5 position under the basket. he's tall, 5'3" to be exact so he is the rebounder and defender. he rebounded 10 times to score 8 points for the team. he took the ball away from the opponent and while doing so threw the kid to the ground. the final score 54-4....that is not fun for the other team. good for us but not them.

here's the pics....

how quickly we forget

gillian is with me tonight. she is almost 3.

we share the same birthday. she is very very smart. gillian and i have an aunt/niece night tonight. we go to mcdonalds and to target. at mcdonalds we talk about who is related to whom in our family. she tells me about how daddy picked her up and put her on his shoulders "last year" (everything happens last year) and they went to toys r us but it was closed. she starts every sentence with "um" or "remember". she is talking non stop.

it all comes screaming back to me. chelsea was just like that at almost 3. she could talk about anything. i used to have to tell her that my ears needed to take a "time out" for a while and then they could listen to her. she talked non stop about everything. gillian is the same.

there is one thing that is different though...thanks to james and/or ramona...gillian is my backseat driver. "um, ellyn? remember that when the light is red you have to stop." thank you james and ramona.

at target gillian gives me this sob story about how she has...and no i am not exaggerating, these are her words verbatim....she has no tea set. she has always wanted a tea set but mommy won't get her one...she has always wanted one. she also needs more polly pockets. oh yes and she always wanted dress up clothes, she is sad because she does not have any dress up clothes.

so what did i do? yes, i bought her waht she wanted. well, she had to pick between the polly pockets, dress up clothes and the tea set. we found all 3. she chose the polly pockets.

then she see the clothes and she talks about how she needs new pretty pink dresses. so what do i do? yes, i buy her a pink shirt with a sparkly elephant and a green skirt. it was her choice.

oh then, she pulled at the thread in her pink tights she was wearing. now there is a hole. she is sad. what do i do? yes, i buy her new pink tights with no holes. that's what aunts are for.

on the way home, she reminds me "remember ellyn, red lights are for stopping. God wants us to stop at red lights." that's what almost 3 year old nieces are for.

there is a deep lesson there...everyone...God wants you to stop at red lights!

now we are watching monsters, inc. she keeps reminding chelsea that it is pretend...even though she is digging her nails into chelsea's arm.

i don't know what's up with the no caps, other than i am tired. notice that i did however, cap it up for the big guy.

it's baaaaaack

Survivor! Exile Island! AHHH now Thursdays has something good on. Although The Office is pretty darn funny! Survivor should be fun to watch though...the guy going thru nicotine withdrawals, or the lady who hates leaves or the professional lumberjill!!!

So now, I have something fun to watch most every night of the week.....

Sunday--Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy
Monday--24
Tuesday--American Idol, Gilmore Girls (tivo), Supernatural
Wednesday--American Idol, LOST---although Chris B. keeps telling me how good Beauty and Geek is.....haven't seen it yet....
Thursday--Survivor, My Name is Earl, The Office

Friday and Saturday--movies or sleep :)

Superbowl is this weekend. Most of my household is routing for the Seahawks (sorry Shayna)...they are the painfully obvious underdogs. I just like the commercials!

So all of Chelsea's friends are getting either their permits or licenses! I can't believe we are there already! I have learned though that if Chelsea is going to practice driving it is going to have to be with her father....my heart can't take it! So tomorrow while Alex is at basketball, jay and chelsea are going to practice driving....watch out! Don't be near Frost intermediate and Woodson High School between 6 and 8 p.m.

I need a drink--a cherry coke! Puhleeze--I know what you were thinking. :)

um......

I know it's been like a week. I just don't know what to blog about. I have the blogger block. Nothing is spurring me to blog.

Yeah it's sad that Coretta Scott King died. Yes the Oscar noms came out. Yes the President made his speech....I hate to admit it but I watched American Idol instead. I know for a very patriotic person that was not very patriotic of me.

I have been home for 2 days with a sick son and all I ahve done is read blogs and catch up on 24!!! My laundry is not done. The bathrooms are not clean...well they are now, Alex and I ran to Target and I got those Clorox toilet wand thingys. Not bad. But a better invention is the mr. clean magic eraser!

I did cook dinner 2 nights in a row this week! That is almost a record!!! For those of you who don't know me...I don't cook very often! I am trying....Dinnermyway helps!

OOOO---Dinnermyway results--2 thumbs up for Chicken and black bean burritos and Chicken Parm and Cumin and Lime pork roast!!!!!

Hand slap down for the skillet chicken pasta thing that looked and smelled like prison food. Not that I ahve eaten prison food but that is what I imagine it to be like.

A So-so for the shrimp stir fry--I let it thaw for too long...it was mushy!

Good news is that my sister in law has a blog!!!! It's on the side there under Tanya's blog! She has 3 kids--6 year old boy and 4 year old twins (girl and boy). She has many numerous stories to share! Her life is a trip! Hopefully she will share her Colby stories that include body parts! He is Jim Carrey in a 4 year old body!

Apparently people are all a buzz about the Oscar's. Ya know there should be an Oscar for best mom or something. I'm happy that we honor these people to entertain us but really they earn millions...i mean millions of dollars for us to honor them and then they get to make more millions becuase then we will go see their next movie regardless if it is worth seeing or not.

I wouldn't change what I do for what they do. I LOVE being a mom! Even when I have to miss work to take care of my sick child. I feel a little guilty about not going to work but not a lot guilty becuase I choose to have kids and raise them. I only have them for a short time. So when Jay and I decided to have kids...or should I say when God decided for us to have kids (another blog), this became their time. Our wants are put on hold, not a lot of them but some of them. They will all too soon move out and then we can do all those things we wanted to do.

um.....i guess i had more to say than i thought. A shout-out to Shayna who is apparently not having a great week! I am sending out to you 100 good thoughts and hugs!

no faith, yes headache, yes jury duty

Well I have looked everywhere at home for the Fresh Faith book. No luck. So apparently I gave the book away. Which I tend to do. So I am sorry for bringing up a subject that I can not continue. Could have been interesting! I would write about waht I think but I have had a killer headache all day, I can't seem to shake it long enough to be productive today. Then to top it all off, I have been called for jury duty tomorrow. I know it's my civic duty and right but this is not happening at a great time!

So to sum it all up...I have faith. I work on it everyday. Am I convinced that anger is a lack of faith? Nope, not convinced. I am convinced however that excedrin migraine is excellent medicine! Thank you excedrin people! I also know that it is great that we live in a country where democracy reigns and that people die to protect our freedom and so to honor that I can go to the courthouse tomorrow and wait to see if I am called to be a juror. Hm...I am wondering what they will think of my job and how that will affect a lawyers decision to pick me or not!?

Should be interesting!

By the way, God is answering all kinds of prayers for baby Lauren! She has opened both eyes as of today and she is at her lowest weight! I have seen pictures and she looks GREAT! Now, we need continued prayers for her to be able to keep off the fluid and breathe on her own. The doctors are not optimistic about her heart condition and she is not a candidate for a transplant or corrective surgery. So more prayers in that area too! The family at Fairfax has been praying without ceasing!

anger later...24 now

I like the thoughts of Shayna and Malia regarding anger. I am going to look for the book Fresh Faith and read my Bible and I will post tomorrow....right now...24 is on.....i am all snuggled in my select comfort/sleep number bed in my fav. pj's with a warm krispy kreme doughnut!

I will pick up anger tomorrow!

Angry words

We all get angry. I especially hate it because according to my strength finders test, harmony is my numero uno strength. Yes it is true, I love for everything to be in harmony and it really really bothers me when things are not. So as you can imagine, I tend to stay stressed out alot! Cause if you haven't noticed lately, there is very little in the world that is harmonious--is that a real word?

Anway, I remember reading a few years ago the book called "Fresh Faith" by Jim Cymbala, I believe is his name. He said in his book that anger is showing a lack of faith. I remember that because it made me stop and think. I had never put being angry and letting anger control you with having a lack of faith.

So I am curious. What do you think? Is being angry or letting anger control your words and actions a lack of faith. In very many ways, I think that yes it is. But I will share with you my thoughts so as to not sway your thinking.

I am serious. I would love to hear what you have to say on the matter. I can go for a very very long time without being angry and then when I am...well it seems to be overwhelming. Hey, maybe I am as dysfunctional as the rest of the world! :)

Ok so to recap...anger...a lack of faith or what?

urgent prayer request!!!

Baby Lauren is not doing well. The baby that I told you about earlier. She has taken a turn for the worse.

For the first time, her parents are discouraged and afraid. They know God is all powerful but they are fearful!

We are FXCC are having a 24 hr. prayer vigil. Please ask all you know to do the same. Tim and Cristi and baby Lauren need to be lifted to the Lord!

Thank you!

tgif

I am really glad today is friday! I needed it to be friday!

Something to look forward to....Feb 12th Extreme Home Makeover will air and feature the story from Blacksburg! It is sweeps week and it will be a 2 hour special! For those of you who don't know...My brother and sister in law live in Blacksburg AND they helped in the house!!!

I went to the place Dinnermyway today! I will tell you how the food tastes when we eat them! Let me just say I got 6 meals that feed 6 people for $105. That is $17.50/meal! That is waaaay cheaper than eating out!

Our menu:
Braise Brisket!
Skillet Chicken Pasta
Chicken and black bean burritos
Chicken Parmesan
Cumin and lime roasted pork loin
Shrimp stir fry

Yummo!

favorite things to watch

Ways to relax. We all need to relax. I think Americans are way too tense. I know I am. Right now it is 7:02 p.m. and I can hardly keep my eyes open! I am tired and worn out and tense! A deep tissue swedish massage would be perfection right now! Or a really good realignment from a chiropractor! I do have a few things that I love to "do" that help me relax. Here is my list. What's yours?

I love to watch the following tv shows:

LOST--THE best show EVER! Hands down!
Grey's Anatomy--he didn't pick her--yet!
American Idol--it makes me happy and sad at the same time.
30 Minute Meals--while I am eating my take out!
24--I find myself yelling at the t.v. with this show! INTENSE!!!
Gilmore Girls--I am now beginning to believe that Logan is Rory's "lobster"!(you know, in the tank holding the claws! mates for life)

That is 6 1/2 hour of pure escaping and enjoying per week!

If there happens to be reruns then I watch the following DVDs:

Any of the 10 season of Friends--Love them all, they make me happy.
A knight's tale--heath ledger, need i say more?
Sweet Home Alabama--josh lucas--again...enuff said!
How to Lose a Guy in 10 days--Matthew McConaugHEY!!!


Ok well the afore mentioned plus a bubble bath are how I relax! Maybe I need to go and do that now! Happy watching and bubbling!

The Prayer chain

I have an urgent request for prayers. On Friday last week a member of our church who was 33 weeks pregnant started to have light contractions and the baby was not moving. She was headed to the hospital anyway to get her firstborn child's allergy shots and so she went to see her dr.

As they checked her, they decided to admit her to the hospital because the contractions were going full strength. They gave her all the medications to slow down/stop the contractions. When it was determined that they were not going to stop they gave her very detailed sonogram because the nurse could not get the regular sonogram to work so the only specialist they have was there and gave her a detailed sonogram. Upon finishing it was determined that they baby had a large amount of fluid. Maybe even an inch of fluid between her skin and skull!

The did an emergency c-section and a baby girl was born. Not sure what was going on and why this was happening to the baby. They wisked her off to the NICU. Her birth weight was over 9 pounds! Remember she was 6 week premie! The doctors told the parents that because they didn't know why this happened to her, they were not sure how they were going to treat her. The onset determines the treatment. She did try to cry when born which was a good sign but she was a sick little baby. The next few hours were going to be touch and go.

The prayers went out and up. The Lord is good. She has survived to today and she has lost over 3 pounds of fluid!!! She is intabated (sp?) and has a chest tube to drain off more fluid. The fluid is gone from her internally but not from under the skin. Her eyes are swollen shut but she is doing well.

The doctors have given her status as stable BUT she is still at risk. She is responding to stimuli and they have cut back some on the ventilator and she is able to keep up on her own and take up that slack!

God is amazing! This little baby is being lifted up and she is getting better and better! Our whole church is on prayer vigil for her.

Please do the same. Because this is on the WWW, I am not giong to tell you the parents name and the baby's name. God knows who they are. IF you go to my church then you know who they are!

Just please pray! Pray for full recovery! Pray for comfort for the parents. Pray for the doctors and nurses who are giving this precious life around the clock care.

The doctors can't tell them anything about a future for her becuase they are trying to figure out what is going on themselves. I will tell you though that the military has only 3 pediatric kidney specialists and one of them "just happened" to be there this weekend and has stayed on to help out. He has determined that it is not her kidneys!!! Isn't God wonderful!!!!

Thank you! I will update as I get information!

California dreamin con't

Can I just tell you how much I love southern CA. I mean who wouldn't. I keep thinking....i could live here! But then Lisa reminded me that what I absolutely LOVE about VA is that we ahve all 4 seasons. True that! I would miss snow and a cold christmas...oh wait..i missed that this year! Some of my fondest memories are snowy christmases! Like the one where it snowed Christmas morning and my family went out to feed the troops that guard the pentagon andhave to work on Christmas day and are not with their families! See just makes you all cozy inside!

The conference was great! A high light of the conference was a group called Go Fish who sang to us! They are 3 young guys who sing acapella! They were fabulous! I just love good music! I bought their cd for my neices and nephews. One of our keynote speakers was Lisa Welchel from the Facts of Life. Ever wonder where she has been? Well she has great story! She came to know Christ by walking up the church near her because they had donuts! Her family didn't go to church and she got up on sunday mornings and went becuase they had donuts! She of course kept going because she was finding what she was missing but what got her in the door was donuts. She has 3 children and they are teenagers and she wrote a book on creative correction. I ordered th e book!

Huh? If all it takes is donuts to get the lost in the door then why are we not doing it?! I mean we don't have to compromise our beliefs and our faith. All we have to do is rethink our donuts!

This generation of kids is not donuts but more media driven. Teen "donuts" are also different than kid "donuts" Our church is in the middle of 2 neighborhoods. I wonder if we went and asked what would bring them in to church we would find that it probably wouldn't take much, just not what we are doing now.

But I digress...the other speaker worthy of being noted was a lady named Lee Ezell. Waht a great lady she is. She gave up her baby for adoption after she became pregnant from being raped. Later got married. He died of cancer. She was diagnosed with cancer that same month and then her daughter who she gave up called her and wanted a relationship with her and guess what? That daughter is a Christian, just like this woman! AMAZING! Through it all she could still laugh and know that God was with her! What amazing faith! What a testimony to all of those who are going through hard times and fall into the pit of self pity! i ordered her book too!

The workshops were good. Most of them for me just reaffirmed something we need to be doing at Fairfax and in Children's ministry. I.e. equipping parents to be the spiritual leaders of their children and revamping Kid's worship. We connected with others in the ministry and made some new acquaintances.

One night we did go to Downtown Disney and eat out and shop and take in a movie!

Now i need to get my energy level back up to par and clean my house and get organized and ready for the next several months! A mommy's work is never done! A big shout out though to my lovely husband for not complaining that on my day off and his day off I laid in bed all day watching t.v. and doing sodoku puzzles!!! What a kind soul he is! He even went in and volunteered in Alex's class for me! I am blessed!

Until next time here are some books I suggest you will find a good read: Three by Ted Dekker, Redeeming Love by Francine River.

Movies to watch: Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Cinderella Man

If you are not into the LOST craze! go rent the 1st season!!!! It is AWESOME!!!!!

California dreamin--Tuesday

My co-worker/friend and I went to lovely Anaheim, CA. for the Children's Pastor's Conference held by the INCM (International network of children's ministry). We stayed at the lovely Anaheim Hilton. Literally right around the corner from California's Great Adventure and DisneyLand! We could see the fireworks at Disney every night from our room!

Anyhoo--we left at the crack of dawn on Tuesday (5 a.m.) and as we were about 10 minutes from Dulles Airport a United Airlines agent calls and tells us that our flight ahs been cancelled. Hmm...ok? So we ask what flight they are putting us on instead and they said "sorry we can't do that". So taking our chances, Lisa and I went on to the airport and stood in the "special" line with about 200 other people who were also "special" as the one agent helped us. While standing in line I started to call United and talk to an agent to get us on any flight leaving anywhere from the Washington DC area to anywhere in the LA area. The newly trained phone agent, who was doing a suberb job of reading his script word for stinking word, kept asking me if I could be put on hold and then would come back tell me how sorry he was but the only flight he could confirm us on would be the Friday flight! Um, that won't work! Then he was very so helpful as he told me that a flight would be leaving from Reagan in 15 mintues and oculd I make it? Um, no!

So as I watched people trying to finagel (sp?) the system to work in their favor, i.e. the lady who tried to cut in front of 200 people so that she could check her precious little yippy sweatered dog on the plane, I went over to the man at the United informaiton counter and guess what information he had for me....there was no way to confirm Lisa and I on any flight except until Friday! Our best chances were to fly stand by. We decided that this was our fate for whatever reason and God was trying to tell us something so we took the stand by tickets.

By this time the security line was out the front door of the airport!!! We take our stand by tickets and wait and wait in line to be scanned. It actually wasn't that bad until we get up to the scanner thing and our tickets are marked so that we are pulled aside and scanned extra! Yes, I do look like a terrorist! I know, many people wonder about me and my loyalities! Me and my lily white skin and complete american features! I wanted to scream..."Excuse me! My father lost 46 men in the Pentagon that day! DO NOT question my loyalty to the USA!!!" I didn't. I stood there as the lovely lady (thank God) ran her hands up and down my body to find...whatever seh was looking for....I guess I needed to have worn my I "heart" America shirt. Anway, taht goes over fine and we head to the terminal. ON the litle shuttle thingy there were 2 I am guessing Marines...they were very young so they may have been in a military school but anyway, they did not give up their seats to any women! That is another blog...

While waiting at the terminal...well I guess I better back up and say that Lisa and I have a few traditions when we fly. One is that we ALWAYS buy a cinnabon to eat on the plane. So we wait to buy one until we get to the terminal. Guess what Terminal D doesn't have....yes, that is right, a Cinnabon. So I go to the stupid Dunkin Donuts and buy a stupid and not good bagel and donut. Apparently that was the only vendor open because everyone in the terminal was there to get their not so good bagel and donut and coffee.....ok.....so I am in line waiting and I get my stuff after telling the new guy at teh cash register 4 times what I wanted and then he charged me the wrong amount and didn't give me my donut! I turn around and Lisa is in line....I look at her funny and she says with a big smile! We are on the plane at 8:25!!! You see unbeknownst to us there is a trick to flying stand by...."Be standing by the ticket counter when they call names" Yeah for Lisa standing by!

So we get on the over booked flight and fly over 5 hours in a very cramped and small plane to CA. We did get to see a movie! Another thing that Lisa and I pray for on long flights! We LOVE to watch movies!

We get to CA and our luggage made it!!! Some famous child or a child of a famous person was picked up by his driver! Not sure who he was but interesting all the same. We head to the Avis place and we got an upgrade for a convertible!!!! hee hee a red 2006 Chrysler Sebring convertible!!!! We put down the top and put on our sunglasses and headed to the beach! Ahhh...we love conferences!

Four Real

Snagged this from a friend of my cousin's....sorry not original but fun!

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: Linen's n things, School Age Child Care, Interpreter for the deal and hard of hearing, worked at a hair salon washing hair.

Four movies you could watch over and over: A Knight's Tale, The Count of Monte Cristo, Sweet Home Alabama, and Bruce Almighty

Four TV shows you love to watch:LOST, Grey's Anatomy, The Amazing Race, Gilmore Girls

Four places you’ve been on vacation: The Outer Banks, NC; NYC, Mountain Lake, Orlando, FL

Four websites you visit daily: Fxcc.org, Chelsea's My space, Sammies blog, Bruce Black's blog
Four of your favorite foods: A good sloppy cheeseburger--i.e. 5 guys, 7 layered salad my mother in law makes, Cheesecake from Outback, Shrimp scampi

Four places you’d rather be: The beach (OBX), the beach (CA), the beach(Hawaii), maybe NYC

Four albums you can’t live without: I can't pick just 4. but since you asked...Les Miserables--the original London Cast, Point of Grace Christmas CD, John Denver and the Muppets Christmas, and.....i dunno

Four people you’d tag to play this game: You, you, you and you. YOu know you want to play!

Just got back from sunny CA today! I will blog about that tomorrow! well, maybe! Jet Lag and all!

Prayers and blessings

Well as of 5 a.m. tomorrow...I am off to sunny CA for the next 5 days. Why you ask? Lisa and I are going to the International Children's Pastor's Conference in Anaheim! Very exciting!

Last year we went to Saddleback's Purpose Driven Children's ministry conference! That was probably hands down THE best conference I have ever been to! We heard amazing speakers, such as, Craig Jutila, George Barna(love that man!!!), Rick Warren. The praise time was wonderful! Going to church there was so fantastic!!!! Lisa and I learned soooo much!

Please pray for my family as I am gone this week. I hate being so far away from them but after the hectic holidays I am looking forward to some peace and quiet and the beach! Pray for the pilots and the men and women working on the plane. Pray that the Lord keeps the crazy people off the road while I am gone. Pray for my families peace of mind that things will be just fine while mom is gone.

Lisa and I land in LA at 1:13 and we are headed to the beach before we head to our first session that evening!

I think being at the beach is a blessing. The beach is so relaxing! hearing the waves roll in and out. Just can feel the tension roll away! My family is an amazing blessing, that they encourage me to go and learn more about what will make our children's ministry more successful. The elders of our church and our church family is a blessing that they are supportive and encouraging to Lisa and I. Our church's financial situation is a blessing too. We hear of so many people at these conferences that have to pay their own way to these things. These things are expensive!!!

Everyone have a great week and I will check back with you on Sunday!