Jobs in my world

While sitting outside today in the sunshine waiting for our new baby (and watching kids play), I noted that my venetian blinds in my room need some serious dusting and washing. Oh, I hate to be reminded of that. That is one job that I absolutely detest. So much so that I haven't touched them since we moved here 3 years ago, and they likely needed attention then. I think of all the jobs around here, that is the only one I've neglected that long, and plan on neglecting it a bit longer even yet. (except cleaning G's truck, which did get done recently, with receipts found from living in AZ, but I blame that on him being at work with it every chance we've had to get it clean) There are a few other things I don't care for either but none come close to taking down blinds and soaking and scrubbing them (and I have 9 big ones and a couple small ones waiting for me). Some people hate ovens (I just turn on the self-clean, so that's easy), some hate toilets (do it regularly and it's no big deal), some hate washing windows (yep, I fall into that category too, so I let my mom do it when she comes as it bugs her more than me to have dirty windows) and some hate blinds (I can't see how anyone would enjoy it) I'll make you an offer: if any of you has a hankering to clean some blinds, you can drop on by and I'll show you where everything you'll need will be to have some clean ones by the time you leave.

Due Date

Well, today is our new baby's due date, and no show yet. I guess because both boys were early, I think that is normal, and that's how the rest should be. Each baby has it's own schedule and we just have to adapt. (which is definitely what happens after they are born, so why wouldn't it beforehand) I don't have anything much to say today, but I do wonder why I worry more about logistics (if we'll get the boys where they need to go, if G will be home from work, when to go to the hospital, etc), than I do the birth itself. I guess those are things that are more predictable, and I expect the birth to be pretty much what it wants to be. They've all worked out in the past, but somehow I worry about them anyhow. Here's until next time... when I hope we've had baby by then (although there is a great string of garage sales I'd love to hit on Saturday). Please keep us in your prayers that all goes well and that God would be given glory for His marvelous ways.

My husband the farmer

Since we now live the "rural" life, my dear husband decided it was time to get some chickens. He really wanted goats, but maybe after success with these, we can pursue bigger endeavors. They came as little chicks, and now are getting pretty big (and fairly ugly too) with lots of real feathers. So, in this process, a house was needed, and so G has been faithfully expanding their horizons and meeting all their needs very faithfully. L has taken on his "duty" (as he calls it from the Wonderful Words of Life song) of watering them each day and is not happy if Daddy happens to fill their waterer. Their new house is almost completed and is painted and soon they will be able to go outside to their new quarters where they can start eating grass. G has been totally absorbed in these little guys, and I've wondered why they intrigue him so much. To me they're pretty boring. Just jumping around and pecking at everything, but to him they are extremely interesting. He wonders if the novelty will wear off (I guessed it will when it starts raining and he has to go out and feed them in the dark and gather eggs day in and out for a while), but for now I'll just let the boys be boys and tend to these little guys... I have enough tending of my own inside the house.

The pleasure of magazines

Often I wish that I read more, but it seems I have such trouble finding good books and when I do, I devour them and then am in the same predicament as before. Maybe my criteria is too high (wholesome, somewhat realistic if fiction or nonfiction, teaches lessons, etc) but I usually end up frustrated and then don't read again for months if I get a dud. So this is where the pleasure of magazines comes in. It was once noticed at my house how many subscriptions I had (by a friend) and I told her that I just love magazines. They come straight to my house, they are reasonably cheap (I also recycle them a magazine swap at the library when done, so get many more than I pay for) and I never feel I've wasted too much time if the articles aren't what I hoped they'd be. It's also great with small kids, since you get distracted so much that even if you have to start the article over, you also haven't wasted too much time. And the pictures are usually worthwhile to look at. And I can retain the small amounts of information from them if needed, instead of trying to remember the plot, or storyline, or what character is doing what. They are typically more applicable and useful to my life right now than a book would be as well. Sure...it would be nice to stay up late and get lost in a great novel, but for now I'll just be happy with my magazines.

Do I have a teenager on my hands?

I try not to write too much in here about my kids, since the whole rest of my life seems to involve them as it is, but sometimes the blog and them overlap. The other day I was taking L to the dentist, and on the way there was explaining all the other errands we had to do that day so he knew in what order his appointment would come. At the end of this, he asked "are you just going to drop me off there?" What, did I hear that right? "Drop off" a 3 year old for a dentist appointment. I have never "dropped him off" anywhere, so I have no idea where that came from, unless G or I have used it for quick errands so we don't have to take the kids in somewhere. It got me thinking though, of what it'll be like in a few (quite a few) years when he's embarrassed to be seen with his parents (I hope this never happens, but I do recall being that way myself, as do most kids I think) and asked to be dropped off a block away. I'm hoping by that time our van (the same one we drive now) is really old and beat up so he can be rightfully embarrassed. If you're going to do it, at least do it right, eh?

Love

Today my boy asked me, "why does Jesus live in our hearts?", and I answered him, "because He loves us so much, and wants us to share this love with others." I went on to say that it's because of that love that we can love others so much, and we can share it because we have so much to give. Kind of a long explanation for an almost 4 year old, but I got thinking about it, and it always fascinates me how love works. The more you have, the more you want to give away. The less you have, the more you need, but you can still give plenty away. If you think you don't need love, you likely need alot of it. Jesus is our ultimate example of love, and He died for us. That's alot of love. I think as parents we would hope we can love our children and spouses that much, but then could we really? We're human just like everyone else, subject to all the weaknesses we seem to have. Love cannot be hoarded, it must be shared. And what a feeling when your heart is so full of love, that it feels it will burst. What a wonderful thing. I remember that with the birth of each of my boys (and look forward to again) to say with the Psalmist, "my cup runneth over."

Meeting the neighbors

Living where we do, we rarely get a chance to talk with our neighbors (other than the ones who live right next door). It seems we don't run into them, or have the chance near as often as we'd like. Most of them work all day too, so there is no one home in the daytime. Anyways, yesterday we had the unfortunate opportunity to do so. For quite some time, this little dog (Pomeranian) has come over to our house on occasion, and we didn't know where it came from, but it seemed friendly enough. The boys would play with it, and although it was rather scruffy, it seemed to need the love. It hadn't been over in quite a while (we called it "the yappy dog" since we didn't know it's name), but yesterday it was sitting by G's shed when he left for work in the morning. He didn't think much of it, but when he came home, it was by the back steps in a rather 'unmoving' position. After some examination (tap, tap on the foot), we concluded it was dead. Poor little guy. Anyways, we had to call the neighbors (who we suspected owned it, since we didn't really know), and sure enough, he was theirs. They had been suspecting he would die soon, since he was 14 years old, and getting quite unhealthy, apparently. So, we then got a chance to visit with the neighbor, and also the opportunity to explain the answer to "why do dogs have to die?" question from our eldest. You just never know what each day will bring....

My 5th birthday in my favorite corduroy jumper

Facing Fears

Today is Easter, and we are reminded what a wonderful gift God gave us, through Jesus' death on the cross, and today his glorious resurrection from the dead. As the song I have running through my head goes, "He's alive and I"m forgiven, heaven's gates are open wide" What a wonderful message, that never gets old, though it happened so many years ago.

Another thought running through my mind lately is completely unrelated, but I've been trying to analyze it and deal with it accordingly. With my boys (during pregnancy) this thought never crossed my mind (since we didn't know with them if they were going to be boys or girls either), but somehow it's come often this time around. That is of the (what I call it) "princess syndrome" that I see so often in girls today. I told G that I dread if we have a girl and she turns into one of these. I doubt this would happen since I think it's so nauseating, but somehow the fear nags there. Too many little girls (who turn into big girls), somehow are elevated so that they think everything they do is "cute", and that the world revolves around them. They may have been cute to begin with, but their behavior makes them rather annoying and I hope my boys never end up marrying one, because as wives they are selfish and needy. Much of this comes because discipline is neglected because they are the "princess", and their brothers usually are expected to treat them as such, as well as their parents catering to their every whim. It's so refreshing to see girls who act like real people, who are polite, live by the golden rule and whose parents train them up to act like ladies. So, when I see a little girl with a bob and a corduroy jumper, I am so relieved that there are a few "real" girls left. The kind I was when I was a kid. A bumper sticker I saw lately kind of sums it up "YOU ARE UNIQUE, just like everyone else in the world." Not a princess or angel, just a kid, made special after God's own image.

Good Friday

Yesterday was one of those days. The kind where you just want to stay in bed all day, but can't since the kiddos won't allow it. I've had a sinus cold, which makes breathing at night really fun, so really hadn't slept a wink. But, when I did finally get up, I spent the day just trying to get by, and in doing so, came across a few thoughts that likely have been lingering for a while, but I finally acknowledged them and dealt with them. The first is how blessed we are as Christians. We tend to doubt, nag, and advise God, but He still is true no matter how fickle we are. His promises are sure, and new every morning. Today being Good Friday, we try comprehend what price Jesus paid for our sins, to give us a second chance, but really can we even begin to fathom what took place. For me? Little old me? That I may gain heaven someday? Wow! Like any of us deserve it, but what better gift could anyone be given. All we have to do is believe and have faith that He did. Seems pretty simple, and it is, but our pride often would like to go our own way and so often we think we "know" best. And when we go our own way, we end up with much heartache and disappointment. You'd think we people would learn someday, but I guess that is also where daily grace and forgiveness come in. Learning to trust in God for today, not looking ahead to yesterday (what's done is done) or worrying about tomorrow (sufficient strength will be given as promised). That's where part 2 comes in. The devil/satan trying to keep those nagging doubts around, causing fear and worry. With the pending birth coming up, I have been trying to quench the fears and worries because there is so many unknowns, but the devil keeps bringing them up. Prayer is extremely helpful, but also looking them in the face and trusting that God is bigger than them all and will carry us through, in the way He feels best and that would bring Him the most honor and glory. What a wonderful promise and what peace when we can have when we know that our lives are in control of the Heavenly Father, and we don't have to worry about a thing.

Those Little Things

As I was putting the boys to bed tonight, they both wanted to stay up later (how surprising), but tonight I actually let them, because it meant singing a few more songs for them in the Lazboy and visiting in the darkness as they "wind down" for bed. They each had a had a head leaning on my shoulder and arms wrapped around my neck. They picked song after song, and L sang along to the ones he knew, and J did the arm movements for his favorites (since he doesn't talk yet, he loves the songs with arm movements- Fishers of Men, the Wise Man and the Foolish Man, I Washed My Hands, etc). The moon came and went outside the window behind the clouds, and I wondered "how am I so blessed?" How does God know exactly what we need in life and why does He give it? I know the answer (because we are His children and He loves us so very much and only wants good gifts for us, and He knows what we need because He made us who we are), but still can't believe it, although He's shown His power, forgiveness, and most of all love time and time again. I pried them off my lap finally, tucked them in and am now just reminiscing over how lucky I am to be a Mom, and most of all, their Mom. I wouldn't trade those little perks for all the money in the world.

Possible answers to one of Many Questions in my life

I've been questioning since last summer (after taking J to the naturopath that actually had some answers for us), why newborns get jaundice. A healthy newborn, who is developed in every other way and is born on or close to their due date, should not have an "immature liver" as every bit of research I've found has claimed. To me this just doesn't make sense. (and I'm that "need to know why" girl from a few posts ago). Anyways, just reading a book yesterday, I finally came across an answer that makes sense to me, and isn't the same as everyone in the medical field would like to tell. So, I'll share it word for word, and I am doing more research to verify these results, although this book is very well referenced and the results of the studies are cited in the references. To quote: "Severe fluid overload causes jaundice because excess fluid swells and bursts (baby's) red blood cells. Jaundice results from excess circulating levels of bilirubin, a yellow pigment and a breakdown of red blood cells." So, the 3 liters of fluid I received while in labor could have quite likely caused this problem, not my baby's liver itself. I'm researching more, but am thrilled that I at least have one answer that is a solvable problem, and hopefully will be able to avoid it with the next baby. Not an exciting blog note for you likely, but huge step forward for me.

Summer feet

Yesterday was our first really nice day this year, and we spent the time outside pretty much all day. The boys didn't want to wear shoes, so were gingerly walking around on the gravel with their bare feet. I remember being a kid and those first few times out were always so hard on the feet, and the ground cold still too. But oh, the fun when your feet toughen up and you can run wherever without being tied up (no pun intended) by staying in the house and taking the time to tie up shoes. So today here they go outside again, one day nearer the tough summer feet that will serve them well this year. I'd love be small and run again like that, but instead spent my time weeding my blueberry/strawberry boxes and checking out the other flower beds that will need attention for the summer. And of course, sat and rested, which I'm needing plenty of these days too, waiting for baby.

A Little Sun Goes a Long Way

It just amazes me how much sunshine affects us. Especially here in the Northwest where most days are rainy, and even more are cloudy. My son actually asked me this morning "why is it warm in the sunshine, when the sun is out every day?" I had to explain that when it's cloudy, the clouds block the sun, reducing the heat we feel. And, because it's cloudy most days here, you can guess how much heat gets blocked. But...today the sun is shining and I feel like I could take on whatever is thrown at me (although, I'm not sure I want to). I feel recharged, rejuvenated, relaxed, refreshed and whatever else starts with a 're' and is a good feeling. I just wish you could bottle it all up and save it for those cloudy days. Anyways, I got my fill outside this morning, and now am just sitting here waiting for lunch to heat up and then we'll get back out and soak up some more sunshine. Until later....

On Health and Well Being

These past few days as I've been preparing (mentally, mostly) to get ready to welcome in our new baby, I've been very thankful for all the health care options that are available to us. Since the beginning of time, people pretty much settled for whatever health care they could get (good or bad) and lived and died accordingly. But these days, if something doesn't suit our fancy, there is many things we can do about it and things we can try (unless it's life or death, then you pretty much do what they tell you, wherever you've ended up). Although this is beneficial in most peoples lives, it also can be a bad thing, as we tend to think that medicine/treatments will cure anything and that we're invincible. Working in the health care field, I'll be the first to admit I've seen my share of miracles and failures, and am glad they are there for me if I should need them (and I will here in a few weeks). They have also let me down severely and I've had to explore other options with my littlest ones health problems. They had nothing to offer other than prescription after prescription, and no hope or options for me to turn. This is where the natural health field came in, and I'm happy to report they have been my lifesaver. It took me asking tons of questions from many different people and reading a wealth of books, but finally we have some "closure". I'm the kind of person that wants to know why things end up the way they do, and have a really hard time accepting when I can't. To me there is a reason for everything that goes on in this world, and finding out the "why" helps me understand where things are coming from and what to do about them. Then I know what is in my realm and what is not. Unfortunately there are still many unknown answers in this world, and God only knows why. But the one thing that is sure, no matter what may ail us (physically or spiritually), we can trust that God knows what is best, and He gives us what we need. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." We will be blessed, and He'll lead us to answers, if He thinks that would be in our best interest.