Saturday, October 4, 2008

Tag your it

Thanks for the tag Angie! Ok, here are the rules: Go to your pictures and go to the 6th folder. Open up the 6th picture and post it.Posted by Picasa
This is of Devin when he was 3 years old. We were living in Washington and I was about to have Braeden. Devin is wearing his pull-up(clean of course) on his head and dancing around the living room. I am sure he was singing a Barney song, since that is what he watched ALL THE TIME! I am sure now he would not admit to that. Such a cute blue eyed boy.
I tag Mindy, Jaimie and Rachael

Getting ready

Lately I have been a busy bee. This year I am Chairman of the Gatorpalooza. It is a festival for my sons school that is a huge fundraiser. I find myself asking the question, "what did you get yourself into?" and then I realize that I thrive on a challenge. This will be one of my biggest ones yet. I have wanted to post and I turn on the computer and just checking my email for this event takes up my blogging time.
I am going to Disney World in a few days and who knew you had to do some serious planning just to get everything in. Thanks to my friends who have given me great advise, I started months ago. Now I finally have my itinerary down and ready for lamination. I know my brother thinks I am nuts but he will thank me later. Right Steve? Please feel free to give me your advice on either task that I am working on, especially game booth ideas for the festival. I want this palooza to ROCK!- that just reminded me, I need to get a DJ- eek!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

PMS



I am sitting here at my machine eating a giant pickle my brother from New York mailed me and a nest of crinkled dove wrappers on the desk. I noticed that my last blog had a twinge of pms in it. For all of you who experienced my "mood" yesterday, sorry, it was the lovely PMS. Now sometimes this "thing" just creeps up on me and whispers in my ear, "go to the refrigerator", "Curl up in a blanket and hide". Yesterdays little friend just took me for a ride. Don't you hate it when feel you have no control? I tell my hubby, its the day, and he instantly knows to back away slowly and reminds the kids its a lets make mom happy day and takes them out to Burger King. I did show some motherly love to my little buddy who beggged me to take him on a long bike ride. I thought the air would make me feel better. But I have to say that I never crunched over so many bumpy acorns in my life. "Isn't this fun mommy?" my little 4 year old speed demon would call back to me? "Yes, Sweetie, --chug chug---huff huff--but lets not do that hill a fifth time again ok?" I am back home, with hot pad and hubby making dinner. I guess there are perks to this nightmare they call the "visitor".

Sunday, September 21, 2008

We may not have electricity but we have always had power.

At sacrament meeting this morning you could see families in jeans and yellow tee shirts with helping hand logos. We have a continual commitment to help other. The calamities came and With our name of our church on our shirt.The lord established a means so people could see that there was helping hands already in place to alleviate the suffering.. The whole meeting was in yellow with the exception of a few. Me being one- I apparently did not get the memo to come to church in jeans and a tee shirt. I felt a Little uncomfortable about that. I fell out side of the loop . It hurt a little. I have lost myself over the past few days. But I know from experience that losing yourself in service, you find yourselves.. Brett picked up our shirts and got instructions of where to go serve. He will go cut down trees and heavy lifting. I am a different circumstance with small children. Our work will have to be helping those around our neighborhood however we can. We may feel like that our efforts to help are insignificant. But the lord and those we serve, know the rue value of our efforts. My kids do want to serve. This is especially hard for me because I would love to be the one with the chainsaw and hauling large trees. Hard labor makes me happy. I am going to have to think of a way that with imaginary chain saws I can cut down some of the barriers with friends.. Haul heavy hurt feelings and place them in a pile and just leave them there. How can I make a difference? I had a sad heart at church.. I have been yearning to help- why did I feel as though I did not belong?

I am very grateful for the service we held, a few ward business and to see what needed to be done. The sacrament came and I was holding on to braed. I will make him strong and want to serve. and Dev also. President Barrow spoke- I am glad he did, I needed it . He said that many have been without electricity and still are but what we never lost was our POWER. What a strong statement. I do have power. the power to help, power from God. I need to rely on my own strengths and His power. I served 21 people dinner the other night from my ward who had their power turned on a few hours before. Having the lights come on and seeing for the first time all of the work you have to do, you just don't want to make dinner. I was that way a few days before. This makes me happy. I do have power and I pray it will shine enough for others to see.

Our closing hymn was Because I have been given much.
http://www.celestial-visions.com/wav/because.wav click
"Because I have been given much, I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live.
I shall divide my gifts from thee, with every brother that I see
who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered , fed by thy good care
I cannot see anther's lack and I not share.
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread. My roofs safe shelter overhead.
That he too may be comforted.


Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord.
I'll share thy love again, according to Thy word.
I shall give love to those in need; I'll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks in deed."

I had a hard time singing since my throat closed with emotion. I was filled with the spirit.
Our ward family and our family worldwide, there is a continual commitment to help others. I was clear- I knew where I needed to serve right away.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

My thoughts on Ike

We are one of the very few who have a pockets of power in our neighborhood. Some have turned off again so I am going to post while I can. I thought of posting the pictures I took but then I decided you have probably seen your share of photos. I decided to list the things I liked and disliked about Ike.
My best moments of Ike
Holding my boys at night. Prayer. The quiet after the storm. Sitting on my porch and watching the children play games from my childhood. Knowing that if I lost everything except my family I would be ok. cuddling. having my hubby home from work. no conference calls. Good neighbors who pull together. Grilling. My church family. Inspired order. Loved ones voices of concern. text messaging. A breeze. deodorant. cool showers. air conditioned cars. Generator and gas. not being a pioneer in Texas. a stocked pantry. family within 1 tank of gas. insurance. spending time just looking at the sky. family. The sound of the Popsicle truck. laughing.
Things I didn't like:
Seeing my children worry. Incredibly loud wind. The unknown. opening the door to see the damage. No communication. broken generator. sleepless nights. The HEAT! sweat. humidity. no power. the heat! throwing away contents of 2 refrig and freezers. Bad news. Finding drenched squirrels clutched to the ground. debris. no flush mandate. Full to capacity sewers. Mosquitoes. fallen trees. holes in roofs. Seeing others pain. deductibles. long gas lines. not knowing when this all will end.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Ike


Target, Yes, it is open and I actually bought something here. My hubby accidentally sawed over the extention cord. oops. You see those little boxes hanging from the preparedness Aisle? well, if you are coming here to shop, you might get a keychain flashlight.
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Ike

Another Aisle completely out was toilet paper. I had a thought while there. Since we probably will be sustaining hurricane force winds for 24 hours, how is my dog going to go? It is not like I can open the door and let her out. She won't even go if the sprinklers are on nearby.

I am sure you are thinking, why am I shopping, Actually, I am not that crazy, I just thought I would get some reminders of this day. The lines were out of this world.



This was the line at Home depot, JUST TO GET IN!!! I tried to pan out as far as I could, the line wrapped around the building. Police at entrance and exit. I talked to a girl who was about at the middle, she had been in that line for about 2 hours. I am so glad I am prepared. Yikes.