It's Time for the Burkulater

Picture God

2015-01-24T13:08:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this? It is a video developed from Nasa's largest photograph of the Andromeda Galaxy at a resolution of 1.5B pixels. 1.5 BILLION. That's amazing.

The more man discovers, the more resigned I am to the fact that God IS.

Does the Andromeda Galaxy exist? Did you see the video? Of course it does. We can see it, therefore, it exists. I just watched the video, didn't you? It's there, right in front of us.

But, the Andromeda Galaxy is 200 million light years away. We are peering into the past by 200 million years when we look at this photograph. That's how long it takes the light to reach our eyes. Who knows if it presently exists?

Stop for a moment. Lay out in the grass, face up, in the darkness - whether it be in your mind's eye, or reality. Think about the vastness of what you can see, and how little you are. Are you the random, meaningless product of an explosion of atoms from nothing? When will you stop to consider God? Many of us, including myself, shove what we know to be important meditation or questions about God aside for another day. We know there is a God. When will it be that we will stop to really consider Him? For the moments and weeks after a profound loss? During a crisis, but not after? In the hour of church on Sunday? On our own death bed? Daily? He is not far off. His majesty is all around us. Just as the Andromeda is a breathtaking vastness with endless possibilities to explore and know, so much more is God, but neither demand our attention by bending our will to force our pause. They demand our attention because they exist and we should pause to will ourselves consider them. Where can we see the rays of God that existed in human form over 2,000 years ago? The Bible. If you aren't a random byproduct of an explosion of atoms, then He made you for a purpose and with meaning.

Pause. Consider.

As it is possible that we can physically see the evidence of the Andromeda Galaxy, but it not to exist, so it is possible that we cannot physically see God, but Him to have existence.

"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God." ~ C.S. Lewis

What an amazing picture.

CD's from the 90's

2014-12-29T11:24:00.001-05:00

My goal this winter is to get our basement in order. We have so much down there that we haven't organized over the years that it has just piled up into a mountain of crap I don't want to deal with. One particular mountain I decided to tackle was in the form of CD's. We have so...many...CD's. The cases were in one box. The CD's and inserts were in another. I spent hours pouring over all of them to find the correct CD to put in the right case. I started to realize that these CD's brought me back...

Beck reminded me of my surprise 16th birthday party at my house, and driving with my friend in her convertible. Sponge reminded me of the garage band I was in way back when and the concert we played at a bar where my mom freaked out because I told her it was a coffeehouse. The crappy $2 samplers reminded me of my old youth pastor throwing CD's out into a crowd of 60 sweaty teens sitting butt-to-butt in a basement. Harry Connick, Jr. reminded me of my first long-time boyfriend and how I somehow scored an autographed photo for him. Oasis & Radiohead reminded me of my honeymoon drive. Aerosmith reminded me my cousin back when she was dating her now husband, before they had their five kids. David Gray reminded me of a wedding I played for that turned out as sad as the song. Metallica & Soundgarden reminded me of my husband at 16. Bon Jovi reminds me of my amazing group of girlfriends since grade school and all of our weddings & reunions. Crash Test Dummies reminded me of meeting my brother-in-law and all of his silly videos and role playing get-ups with his buddy Caleb. Squirrel Nut Zippers reminded me of band camp & hiding so no one would know I was in band for my entire high school existence. Bliss makes me laugh out loud and reminds me of a scary crash on the freeway and a ski trip with friends forever ago. Rebecca St. James reminds me of relentlessly teasing my husband about the giant poster of her on his wall, and how I could never figure out how she got a record deal, even in the Christian market. U2 reminded me of waiting outside of Hudson's for hours with my friend, sick-as-a-dog in the freezing cold, for concert tickets for my husband and also the amazing concert with our good friends who are now married with a son. Lifehouse reminded me of Adam & Laura's wedding. Etta James reminds me of my mother-in-law because she was her absolute favorite, and also a very particular Christmas at the Anderson house. Burlap to Cashmere reminds me of a concert forever ago with friends & Eileen's Song, which is one of those special songs to me. Eric Clapton reminds me of watching my dad play guitar and climbing into his guitar case as a kid. Dido reminds me of the concert I went to with my friend Justin years ago. POD reminds me of Jim Stewart. Collective Soul was my break up CD. The Beatles remind me of my cousin Erik. Pearl Jam reminds of of driving around with friends after getting our licenses. Dave Matthews Band brings me back to too many places to count, several concerts, and some pretty amazing times with my husband.

As you can see, I could go on forever.
Now, to get these out of my house.....

Pastor Saeed

2014-12-24T23:01:00.000-05:00

This Christmas, as we remember our family and our Savior, please remember Pastor Saeed Abedini. His message of hope during his current persecution puts me in mind of Paul. Praise God for the strength He gives this courageous, faithful man, who is my age and has a faith much stronger than I would ever hope to have.

Read his letter - it's a reminder of the need to express our faith...get out of our comfort zone, because the cold world needs the warmth of Emmanuel. Please pray for Naghmeh, his wife. Please pray for the church that is persecuted, and that we don't take our freedom for granted. Go to church. Exercise this wonderful gift to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die

Just Not Today

2014-12-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

When we found out my cousin had cancer and the type was described to me, all I can remember is hearing the word 'tentacle,' which is a disgusting word all on its own without it's connotation in that context. I was in the car alone when I heard the news, and I went numb. Up until that point, we knew that she had brain cancer and we held out hope for the best possible scenario during the surgery that was supposed to remove it. That nasty word meant that the cancer was far reaching, twisty and tricky - thin ribbons of lost hope. Not much time passed and she was gone. After battling ovarian cancer, my mother-in-law soon followed. My uncle lost the fight with multiple myeloma shortly after that. Other friends and loved ones passed in between. Our family has never been the same.

Every once in a while, I find myself looking through pictures on my Facebook page. It's amazing how fast my children have grown, and the fun times we have spent with family and friends. I love how it takes me back to the places and people I've spent my life with. I happened to notice that the few profile pictures that I have picked over the years have all included my husband.

He is a man of few words. He is strong. He is steadfast. He is a rock. He is honest, deep, and wise. He loves me so deeply - with integrity and with purpose - as he does with the few who take the time to know him. I cannot imagine my life without him. He is not my other half. I am a whole person. He does not complete me. I will never be complete in this lifetime. He is kind of like that tentacle. He has grown in my life, reaching to places that I never would have opened up to him on my own. He is this part of me. I know the more it grows, the more it will hurt, but just like cancer brings out a deeper and more meaningful love in people, so does he. So did Katie. So did my mother-in-law. So did my uncle. So did yours. And we will never be the same without them. Maybe because we were not the same when we were with them. We were better.

We are better.

And we will be OK...

just maybe not today.

Board Short Dilemma

2014-04-23T21:06:00.001-04:00

K-Dogg and I recently took our kidlets on a mini vaca overnight to a hotel with a pool. When you have kids and you book a hotel room with pool amenities, you end up using every last second of the pool time available to you ~OR~ you hear: ("Can we go to the pool?") x (5,000,000) x (# of kids you have). Naturally, we spent a lot of time at the pool, and naturally, the kids wanted to make sure we were able to go one last time before we had to leave the next day. SO, in the morning, we loaded the oh-so-cool minivan, checked-out, and kept a change of clothes for each of us handy so we could hit the road when we were done.

After the swimming was finally over, K-Dogg and I shoved the kids' sopping wet stuff into the duffel bag, threw the hotel towels back into the towel bin, and went on our merry way.

As we were driving, K-Dogg realized that he did not remove his swim trunks from the hotel towel before he returned it to the bin. Hilton scored a free pair of trunks.

These trunks were old and were the purchase due to him (ahmmm...me) forgetting to pack them on our trip up north three years ago. Also, they were bought from an up north Michigan shop, just to give you an idea of their awesomeness. People, we are talking downright sexy.

So, obviously, he needs new trunks, and what a better time to buy some than now? They are everywhere. I've been keeping an eye open for deals and keep noticing these cool board shorts. They are supposed to be able to be worn as regular shorts or for swimming. They're a nice cut, they have great quick-drying fabric, and they come in cool colors, so I picked up a couple. I was checking them out when I realized...there's no liner.

Buy here

No liner.

I checked all of them. NO LINER!

So, my question is: what the heck??? Does one wear skivvies under these amphibious shorts?

Or nothing?

Really?

But, then there's Speedos so maybe this is a happy alternative?

Is this weird to anyone else?

Someone answer me!

Utensils of Life

2014-01-03T23:04:00.006-05:00

I have come to a realization that the forks in the road always exist. I never realized that they were always there, but truly, they are. The way I see it, forks come in two ways: when you decide to change, or when God creates a need for change. You can always decide to change, and we all know God creates a need for change whenever He desires. And as we all know, when the latter happens, it isn't always welcome.

I started out thinking about the fork in the road of my life with my family. I thought about how I would organize my thoughts into this blog. I thought about how this year contained a particularly huge fork. Like, bigger than those giant, human-sized forks that no one buys to hang on their walls. But, then I started thinking about years past, and guess what? There were enough forks for a feast. A feast of my sanity. A feast of my faith. A feast of roast beast. (Ok, so I've watched The Grinch enough this year.)

Just in case you've been dying to buy one

So, what do we do with all these crossroads?

I have been praying this entire past year. I have a sound faith. I feel like I do, anyways. It could always be better, but one thing I have always known is that God answers prayers. So, I prayed. I prayed for direction and for answers. I prayed for blessings and for contentment. I prayed for peace and faith. I can tell you, I don't know that I feel a whole lot of what I prayed for.

You know how sometimes in a movie, or maybe with your own parents, or maybe even with your own children, a question is asked and it isn't answered right away. As a parent, I have done this. My child may ask me, "What should I do? I'm bored." You know, sometimes, I just refuse to answer. I have the power to do that. I refuse to answer for a very good reason. I refuse to answer so their little minds are challenged. They must become restless to create a very important event: action. After a while of no answers, they give up, frustrated, and go on their foot-thumping, huffing-puffing way. In about ten minutes, I usually find them into something interesting. Something that, if I would have suggested it ten minutes previous, would have been shot down with a, "No, I don't want to do thaa-at." Mothers are smart, aren't they?!

God doesn't play games. I don't view Him as this puppeteer in the sky manipulating our every move with his answers or silence. I view Him as a loving God who knows what we need. He knows when to spur us on to action. He knows His plan.

I want to tell God I am sick of waiting, and not knowing. I want to tell God to give us some clear answers. I'm sick of school loans, and the cost of braces, and being stuck in a house that's value has tanked by half. I'm sick watching of the hurting people I know. I hate that my cousin died. I hate that my Uncle and Mother-in-law suffered. I want it fixed. Now. But guess what? Even though some of it is understandable, that's rude. It's bratty. It's condescending and just plain obnoxious. How dare I tell the creator of the universe how I think He should do His job? It's like my kids telling me how to do mine. I just plain know more about what's good for them than they do, because I have experience, wisdom, and love that they will never fully comprehend.

We forget, don't we? We become childlike sometimes. We measure things by our standards, which ironically, usually includes more things. But, that is no standard for measure.

Every gift is from the Father above. Our rewards are in heaven. If He cares for the birds, how much more will He care for and provide us, whom He loves. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The largest gift has already been given to us who believe in the miracle, wonder, and truth of the cross. We have what all others need.

Is it more important to you and to me to be comfortable, or to be close to God? Those forks...they are split paths. They should be prayed over. They should be walked upon. Even if it is the path of the valley of the shadow of death, it should be considered as another way to lead others to Christ. Those paths are not about us. They are about how we can use them for the glory of the One who gives us breath, and life, and meaning.

Downloadable print by Printable Wisdom - order here

So, in 2014, have life. Have it to the full. Use the correct measures for your happiness.

And when the thief comes, stick a fork in him.

Water

2013-11-30T20:20:00.004-05:00

I am engulfed in a perpetual torrent of water in the middle of nowhere. To stay alive, I must tread it. I am working. I am exhausted. The work, because constant and mindless, induces anxiousness. Worry and fear creep into every cell of my being. I wonder how I got here. I wonder how long I will be here. I am surrounded on all sides - to the north, south, east, and west. It is all consuming, this water. I dare not turn my mind off, for if I do, I fear my fate. However, escaping these thoughts would be such relief, like taking the salt out of the very water I am surrounded by and thirst for. Water is all I think about, day and night, night and day, because I don't know if I will ever again feel my feet on dry land.

In its purest form, water is life-giving. It quenches the most longing thirsts. It makes things grow and helps our minds become strong. It is fascinating and takes on different shapes and forms. It is cold. It is hot. It is solid, liquid, and vapor. It's sound is like the voice of the Creator. It is powerful. It is calming. It is fun. But, as with most things, too much...surrounding yourself with it...is dangerous. It can cause you to waste your minutes and hours and days as you tread it. It confuses you as you work and try to reach the end of it. It is relentless, tossing you and turning you. It can leave you gasping for air.

You know this water I am speaking of.

Practice Time, My Fat Pocket Style

2013-10-01T22:31:00.001-04:00

9YO: "Mom, can you help me learn a pas de bourree for jazz tomorrow?"

ME: "A party boo huh?"

9YO: "No, a pas de bourree."

ME: "Oooohhhh! A party beret! Sure. No problem!"

The things we do for our kids.

While researching what the heck that was, I came across this hidden gem:

I'm totally pulling this out at the next wedding I'm invited to.

School Lunch Packer

2013-09-04T21:38:00.000-04:00

JOB POSTING:
School Lunch & Snack Packer

QUALIFICATIONS: Willingness to be slowly driven mad.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Must pack three healthy but different lunches according to the specified sensitive palette of each child.

Lunch Requirements:
1 FRUIT that won't brown, doesn't contain any "weird" spots, and that won't become "mushy" or look distasteful in any way.

1 VEGETABLE that each child will actually eat that won't "look funny" after staying in appropriate packaging for 4 hours and that will also not be considered "gross" or that a child will suddenly "not like anymore."

1 SANDWICH on bread with the crust cut off (since it is slightly darker than the bread), with no tree nut products on the bread, or in the bread, or around the bread, or between the bread. Bread must not look mushy or be dented in any way.

1 STRING CHEESE OR YOGURT that must stay cold.

1 ICE PACK that won't leak, will stay frozen, and will touch the fruit and the yogurt and that won't shift during transportation.

1 NAPKIN with a sweet letter about how much I love my kids, and love packing their lunch, and that cannot ever be next to ice pack because of the condensation.

1 WATER BOTTLE that doesn't have a twist-off lid, is BPA-free, won't come unsealed, won't break, is easy to clean, and that can be tilted any which way without leaking, and that costs under $10.

*Please note: all above items MUST fit easily into a lunch box that is never big enough, or wide enough or tall enough for everything to fit into it.

Snack Requirements:

Each child needs a snack that will differ from what is in their lunch. Snacks must be healthy, contain no tree nuts and are not manufactured in a place that contains tree nuts. One child needs two snacks, both of which should be different, and again, should also different from what's in the lunch.

BENEFITS:

Weekends off.

Hugs.

Chocolate.
My child's avoidance of salisbury steak.

**Extra chocolate for awesome Pinterest-worthy, color-coordinated, printed and labeled packaging that makes people like me roll their eyes.

All interested applicants, please leave your comments below!

To purchase from Etsy Seller SmallMeadowCreations

Self Sabotage (Part 1)

2013-02-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

~ Romans 7:15

Did you have to reread that?

Yeah, me too.

Think about the verse, though; it is true.

I'm not sure if it is the winter, or my laziness, or some kind of repressed need to

self-sabotage, but it is so hard to do some of the things I want to do.

Actually, if you read on later in this chapter of Romans, Paul explains why we do these things.

Go ahead. Read it.

You know you want to.

There are two things in particular that I know I really want to do that I do not do.

Maybe you can relate.

GO TO BED, GEORGE SAID

The first is to go to bed at a decent time.

I don't do it...ever.

When I was a kid, I was always the last one up at all the sleepovers.

Everything was more hilarious the later it got and I never wanted to miss any of it.

I've drawn on so many people while they were sleeping, I couldn't even tell you.

This hatred of anything-near-dawn has never faded.

After one semester in college, I learned to never schedule classes before 10:30 a.m.

and I always held waitressing jobs that kept me up half the night.

I just cannot get myself to go to bed!

I know I would have so much more energy and I know I would get so much more accomplished if

I went to bed around 10 p.m. - says me as I sit here typing at 10:15 p.m.

I set out almost every night to get to bed at the right time, yet, I do what I hate.

AUGUSTUS GLOOP ME UP

The second thing I know I want to do but I do not do has to do with overeating.

I eat way past when I am full unless I'm really trying to be good, which I currently am not.

Although, if I did have an appropriate amount of ice cream, I would definitely eat it with these amazing spoons because chocolate is better.

These hand-crafted spoons by Kayla are available at her Etsy shop: Love Letters Upcycled

People who know me know that I can put it away.

They may also want to punch me through their computer because they will also know

that I am not overweight, however, I eat like a gluttonous pig sometimes.

Gross, I know, but it is true.

The thing I like to eat most is sugar.

No, not literally spoonfuls, but I love me some chocolate and cookies,

brownies, licorice, ice cream, and the list goes on and on.

I will never understand the person who claims that they are just "not a dessert person."

They should be, I feel. They're missing out on a very satisfying and fantastic part of life.

I did just download a calorie counting app.

Now, to use it.

No one likes to do the things they hate.

Yet, we find ourselves doing these things all the time.

So, how can we become more proactive about implementing good behaviors that last?

Stay tuned for Part 2...if I decide to fulfill my desire to make one.

What is something that you want to do that you do not do - something you hate to do that you do?

Keep Calm and Fly On

2013-02-21T09:13:00.001-05:00

For sale on Etsy by Marcus Mok. Click here to buy!

I'm leaving!

I will not see snow for 3 days which will make me very happy.

My flip flops are packed and my monstrous winter Sorels will take a chill here where it's friggin' cold.

I'm going to see my best friend in Florida.

It's been a long time coming.

I tried before to see her and hurricane Irene decided to spin in.

The problem is I do not like flying, so I tried to think of ways to help me keep calm.
I made sure I flew in at night so I could not see how high up in the air I am.

I also got an aisle seat so I cannot even see the stars.

I also may take a couple shots of vodka.

I figured it was better than Dramamine which would probably put me out for the night.

I already feel bad for the person who is going to be sitting next to me.

They may have nail marks in their arm.

They will have to realize that I will interrupt their sleeping/reading

to ask them if that noise is normal.

Lord help them if there is turbulence.

On a final note, I made sure that I sat next to the engines so it will be a quick and painless death should something happen.

Yes, I've thought of everything.

Those Wright Brothers were brilliant but crazy.

Have you seen that contraption they belted themselves to?

Crazy.

I need to buy one of Marcus' pictures and stare at it during the entire flight.

How about you...do you like flying?

Hell Froze Over

2013-02-15T20:40:00.001-05:00

We adopted a puppy.

Her name is Maisy.

She's the cutest little thing you ever did see.

We must have been momentarily crazy, but it's been working ok...and of course the 4YO is thrilled to death.

For the first 2 weeks, we thought she was perfect.

She ate fine.

She went to her crate to sleep.

She is mainly housebroke.

She's great with the kids.

She loves to play, is a non-barker and a non-shedder.

Jackpot, right?!

Uh, no.

Let me tell you...this puppy can clear two rooms with a single SBD.

People, I'm talking eyes watering, air-gasping, nose hair frying noxious fumes.

What a disgusting problem.

Man, I love pets.

If you are thinking about adopting, read my post Happy to be Pet-Free which I wrote...
when we were pet-free...
when my house smelled like Scentsy Home Sweet Home.

You will thank me.

Love and Loss

2013-02-14T10:48:00.002-05:00

When we meet someone, they make up a cross-section of our lives.

There are some people who, when we think of them, can bring us back to a vivid place and time
with colors and feelings, smells and sounds.

We may not have even known them well, but the memory of them sits in a quiet place in our minds - waiting until a day when the house is still and our minds have the clarity to revisit the past.

Then, sometimes, they are gone.

We feel a tinge of ache for what might have been.

We wonder, if they had a few more years, who else they might have encountered along their way.

We ache for the loss of what could have been and for those who are grieving hardest for them.

And then we grieve for ourselves...the moments we shared...the time spent...the laughter or tears.

And we hate that they're gone. We wish for another moment.

But, sometimes, they are not gone, and so we should thank God for them. We have more moments.

These little pieces make us who we are, and we may be a part of them in some small way.

There is a time for mourning, and a time for laughter and a time for grief and a time for joy.

There is no time for so many of the things we make time for -

laziness, gossip, slander, jealousy, selfishness, hatred.

I'm reminding myself, because I forget.

The time it took me to hate my crazy neighbor could have been used to send a card or write an

email or make a phone call...or 20. (I did a little venting last week on his account.)

That's not what we're given time for!

DO something to create those good memories -

for love...and what better day for that than Valentine's Day?

Here's just one idea for you to get you started - play Nerf with someone.

Those are good memories.

Yes, that says, "Get my butt."

REAL Animal Farm

2012-11-08T23:31:00.000-05:00

Me to 4YO: What do you want for Christmas?

4YO: A REAL pet chihuahua...a REAL one mom, and a REAL pet parrot, and a REAL pet bunny.

Me to 4YO: You don't want anything else??

4YO: Yes. A REAL pet turtle. It has to be REAL.

Me to 4YO: What if we don't want to get real animals for our house. Isn't there something else you want?

4YO: I guess a fish. A REAL fish.

Awesome.

I just love REAL animals.

My 4YO's Most Quotable Moments

2012-10-22T21:23:00.002-04:00

The things they say...oh they are hilarious.

Ages 3 and 4 are the absolute best for re-quotable, hysterical rhetoric.

Here are a few from our 4YO:

LISEY ON DAD'S PAJAMAS

"Dad's pajama pants are soft.

They are as soft as a lion's head and a tiger.

They are as soft as a giraffe probably, too."

LISEY ON THE DETROIT TIGERS

"Are you KIDDING me?

Are YOU KIDDING ME?!?!
The TIGERS are going to the WORLD of SERIOUS?!?!?"

LISEY ON THROWING FITS

My Husband to 4YO: " OK, Elise...that's enough now."
4YO to My Husband: "I'm hiccuping now. That's the last part of throwing a fit, so I'm almost done."

LISEY REGURGITATING MY POORER PARENTING SKILLS

"Why do I have to ask a hundred TIMES?!?!"

LISEY ON STOMACH ISSUES

"Mom, my stomach has a headache."

LISEY ON STRANGE ANIMALS

4YO: "One time I rided a camel."

Me: "When was this?"

4YO: "When I rided the camel for 10 minutes."

Apparently, our 4YO knows a lot about exotic animals.

Who knew?!

Butt Rock

2012-08-02T09:33:00.002-04:00

It is little man's birthday today.

Our youngest decided to give him an early morning present.

3YO: This is for you for your birthday.

It's a rock.

It looks like a butt...

a sparkly butt.

It's a sparkly butt rock.

6YO: Thanks. ((grin))

For purchase from Etsy seller Spoon Chick

Three's a Crowd...and so is Four

2012-07-10T23:45:00.002-04:00

K-Dogg to Kids: "So what do you guys think...would you like another brother or sister?"

3YO: I want a SISTER!

5YO: I want a BROTHER!

8YO: I think we're good.

Wrecking Crew

2012-07-03T21:28:00.004-04:00

Me (to our younger two kids):
OK. Which one of you wants to be called "Wrecking" and which one wants to be called "Crew"?

5YO: I'll be Crew.

3YO: {{blank stare}}

3YO: I'll be Wrecking.

5YO: I think "Crew" means good behavior and "Wrecking" means bad behavior.

That's why I picked Crew.

3YO: I'm NOT BAD BEHAVIOR!!!

Me: Wrecking crew means you two made a mess of the living room that I just cleaned.

5YO: Oh.

3YO: Yeah. It's messy!

HAP HMO...Again

2012-07-02T18:37:00.002-04:00

I am SO GLAD that I have to get a referral to a Dermatologist that I've already seen.

That means, I had to make ANOTHER Dr.'s appointment with my PCP.

That means, I have to pay TWO doctors.

That also means I have to line up two babysitters at two different times for my kid.

Why wouldn't my PCP just write a script for me so I don't have to make an appointment and get a sitter?
Because he wants his cut.

He wants the money paid to him for an office visit.

Today I paid $20 to my PCP to write on a piece of paper.

I also paid $50 to my dermatologist.

This doesn't include the percentage that I will be billed!

WHY does it cost me $70+ to have a mole checked?!?!?!

The appointment lasted 5 minutes, by the way.

I am paying WAY more out-of-pocket in 2012 for this runaround!

Thank you, HAP HMO for making it so difficult and expensive to get the care I need!

All this to check one mole.

Seems kind of silly, doesn't it?!

I'm sure that I sound rude and unknowing to people who have no health care coverage.

For that I am sorry.
I am angry.

But, considering we DO have health care coverage through HAP's HMO plan,

the amount of hoop-jumping so that our insurance company makes an extra buck is absolutely ridiculous!!!

It's just not right.

500

2012-06-25T02:50:00.002-04:00

It's hard for me to believe this is my 500th post.
That is a lot of writing!

This blog was started a few years ago to chronicle my life as a mom.
It has turned into so much more.
I've made some friends along the way and have gotten closer to some friends I already had.
I've learned more about myself and other people.
I've grown as a wife, a mother, and a friend.

So much has happened over the past several months.

I've lost a beautiful Mother and Uncle and watched our entire families groan under the weight of these losses.
I've watched my two beautiful Sister-in-laws' bellies grow, waiting in anticipation for two sweet little babies.
I've seen the fortitude of my Brother-in-law enduring a heart procedure to preserve his chances of being there for his wife and daughter.
I've watched my husband persevere through heartache and grief while working full-time and going to school full-time.
I've welcomed home two sets of cousins and their beautiful baby boys adopted from South Korea and Uganda.
I've felt the rush of time sweep past my face as our oldest finished 2nd grade and our middle child moved out of Kindergarten.
I've had the privilege of being the first to congratulate my husband on his completion of his degree and the acceptance of an offer into management.

I've questioned God.
I've rejoiced with tears.
I've prayed without ceasing.
I've pushed God away.
I've held weeping adults and have been held as I've cried.
I've seen the presence of God in the people I love.
I've felt God nearer than my next breath.

Job says, "There is a time for everything under the sun."

I feel these past several months have brought everything under the sun.

This has been a time for reflection, mourning, laughing, rejoicing, but most of all, this has been a time for trusting in a loving God who is as close as a whisper and BIGGER than all of that...

5 Minutes in Silence

2012-03-25T08:57:00.000-04:00

We all have heard of 7 Minutes in Heaven.
Well, after high school games have passed and marriage and kids come,
there is a new, not-so-fun game you get to play!
It's called 5 Minutes in Silence.

If you are a parent, you know about 5 Minutes in Silence.

If your child is playing and you hear silence for 5 consecutive minutes,

a little alarm goes off in your head.
You see, kids are NEVER silent.
If they are, something is being destroyed or someone is choking to death on a toy.

It is time to check on your kid and see what type of destruction they are causing.

It could be unwrapping every feminine product in the entire house and sticking them to their bodies.

It could be drawing amoeba people on the walls with Sharpies.

It could even be painting their "nails" hot pink on your newly finished bay window with oak trim.

It could be anything.

You know you must check or you could be in for it.

I recently have been hearing a lot of 5 minute silence from our very vocal 3YO.

Usually, she's in the next room.

When I go in to check on her, our conversation goes a little something like this:

Me: What are you doing?

3YO: Nothing, nowww.

How clever.

In two short words, she:

1) Doesn't incriminate herself before the actual havoc has been discovered

2) Tells the truth since at present she isn't doing anything wrong

3) Entices you to believe that she was not going to continue whatever mischief she might have been into

That's a smart kid.

Too bad our conversation is always followed up by me asking,

"What were you doing?"

Busted.

That would be a 6-quart pot filled with water ON MY RUG, half of my cooking utensils and half a box of Q-tips to "clean her dollhouse peoples' eyes."

When I said anything could happen, I really meant anything.

Two days later, my rug is finally dry.

What's your best 5 Minutes in Silence story?

Hilarious

2012-03-24T11:48:00.000-04:00

This came home in our 7YO's school work.

"My Dad is very hilarious when he tackles me all over using body slams, tackle power, and sometimes hangs me upside down!"

My children knew what a suplex was at a very young age.

Let's just hope Mr. Brehmer sees the humor in this.

It wouldn't be too hilarious to see CPS at my door!

Please note my husband's hairline.

Happy to be Pet-Free

2012-03-10T09:42:00.004-05:00

My cousin and his wife brought their beautiful lab mix over.

He's a wonderful dog...he's so good with the kids.

I started to think, I could handle one of these.

But, here's what changed my mind:

1. Murky water

My son put a toy the dog got hold of into his cup of water.

He was going to drink it before I stopped him.

2. Hair/fur brushes

My daughter stuck my expensive hairbrush under her shirt and took it

downstairs to brush the dog's fur. Not awesome.

3. It wouldn't be fair to the dog

He would be subjected to being dressed up in a variety of costumes...

like, for example, a cowgirl - complete with cowgirl hat tied on with a robe strap.

After our daughters got hold of the dog, he would be begging to go back to wherever he came from.

4. The above three items happened in less than 30 minutes

I love dogs.

Bring them over.

I will pet them.

I will play with them.

But, I think I'll let you keep them.

Are you an animal lover?

7YO Knows Nose

2012-03-10T09:13:00.002-05:00

7YO: Awwwwwe. My little sister's nose is sooo cute.

Me: Yes it is. ((smile))

7YO: It's just so cute. It's like a 3 Musketeers Bar. Awwwe.

Me:

7YO: The fun size ones. Not the big ones.

Me: Huh...I've never looked at it that way.

Royal Immunity

2012-03-03T10:29:00.000-05:00

Recently, the 3YO and 5YO were playing Legos downstairs. The 3YO was dressed in a princess costume. My husband told them to clean up their mess. About two minutes later I heard our 5YO yelling at his sister and then he came pounding up the stairs.

5YO: "MOM! She is not cleaning up and we both made the mess!!! She isn't helping me at all!"

3YO pounding up the stairs, hand on hip

3YO: "But I told him I'm a PRINCESS! Princesses just don't have to clean up!"

5YO: "YOU are NOT a REAL PRINCESSSS!!!!"

3YO: "Yes I AM! LOOK AT ME!"

Husband: "In this house, princesses have to clean up too. Nice try."

3YO: "fine"

I need to get me a princess dress.