That's the name of the book that Kev and I are reading.
It's pretty much amazing.
Have you ever felt something deeply but didn't even know how to put it into words?
Or have you ever had dreams that you wanted to live out but just weren't sure how or where to live that vision out...or who you could even sell your vision too to live it out with you?
And then you came across a book that finally puts meat on the bones of what you've always felt and dreamed....and you're seeing people actually doing and living that same vision?
Well, that's this book for Kev and I.
It's the reason why - when we were looking to try to pay down our student loans from PBU - I sought out waittressing as opposed to going back to the little Christian school that I have worked at for 8 years.
It's the reason why Kev and I intentionally decided to go to my work Christmas Party at Hollywood Slots last month.....when a year ago I would never have stepped foot in our local casino for fear that someone "might see me" and judge me.
It's the reason why I invite Lew over all the time and don't freak out when he says the D-word in front of my kids.
This book is challenging me.
It's stretching me.
It's growing me.
It is NOT the Bible.
Obviously.
But, it's challenging God's people to rethink how we live life. How we do church. And how we live out our faith to the rest of the world.
Before Lew and before waittressing....before being challenged by the authors....my contact with the outside world was nil. So, my influence TO the outside world was nada. I was happily encased in my safe little Christian bubble of believers. Not to be "tainted," not to be "sullied," and for sure - not to ever hear the D-word or something far worse.
But now - oh man - this book is radical. In a God-thing kind of radical way.
The challenge is to go and "BE" the church to this crazy, post-modern world who - if you asked many of them what they think of church and Christians - would give you a list of things that we DON'T do and things that we stand AGAINST.
The authors' challenge, or stance, if you will - is that no longer is the attractional "Come to Us" approach working. For some it is, for sure. And there will always be a place for this. But more and more the need is for us to go and BE the church to people.
I heard a pastor preach just yesterday: "The church is not to be a "WHAT." It needs to be a "WHO." We are the church. And we need to live it out where others can see it and want it.
And thus....the waittressing thing has been birthed. And it has become SO much more than trying to earn a couple of bucks to pay down our student loans. And as a family, we're talking and we're praying. We're seeking God's face in what He would have us to do and how He would have us to live out that incarnational way that He lived out when He walked this earth.
We're not sure where this is heading. But we see God at work, and we know that He is moving. It's crazy. And it's a little scary. But it's right for us.
More to come.......
Coffee Shop & The Talk
We haven't had a full-blown true family day for a few weeks now - with Christmas, New Year's, and all of the basement saga going on over here in the Booker household.
After yesterday's awesomeness of carrying a million 50lb. bags of rocks to cover the pipes in the ditch we made, and after lugging out bucket after bucket of jackhammered rocks and debris from the basement, we decided we've had enough basement fun for a few days. So, when we (barely) rolled ourselves out of bed this morning, we decided that we needed to give ourselves and the basement a break, and we declared a roadtrip date as a family like we so love to do!
A trip to Camden was in order.
More specifically, a trip to our most favorite coffee shop in the world.
Yes, we do indeed drive almost two hours just for coffee and lunch.
Not ashamed to admit it.
Pure, unadulterated, glorious bliss.
And the thai, peanut, chicken, stir fry plate of deliciousness.
I drool as I scarf.
Heaven, I tell you.
A side jaunt to Wal-Mart and then the long drive back.
One slept. One hollered. The other asked Ten MILLION times "How much farther"?
But, was it worth it?
A million times YES!!!
Anyway....about "The Talk."
Every so often, the topic of more babies arises between Kevy and I. Often initiated by me, I will admit, but about every few months we have a good old fashioned - "I know that we're at maximum capacity right now, but does this mean that we are at maximum capacity just for RIGHT now - or forever? Like, should we just embrace the chaos and go for another or wait until it's not so nuts-o....or are we just plain done?" kind of a talk.
It's a big deal to say you're done, you know. One that involves much discussion.
And funny enough - on the days that those conversations take place, we seem to have a day where we are "one of those families" to other people looking on. Meaning - today at the coffee shop, Ransom felt the urge to yell at amazing decible levels about a million times, Kaden and Jesse felt like wrestling throughout the entire meal - thus, teaching us the valuable lesson of separation while eating out, - Ransom was a bear at Wal-Mart, and the entire drive home was....rather loud....to put it gently.
So, our answer for today is yes indeed, we ARE at maximum capacity.
For tomorrow?
Well, I guess that still remains to be seen.
By the way - Mike & Judy - you guys are amazing. Thank you for the - although always crazy - very fun - family day date! It was good for our souls and for our bellies!
After yesterday's awesomeness of carrying a million 50lb. bags of rocks to cover the pipes in the ditch we made, and after lugging out bucket after bucket of jackhammered rocks and debris from the basement, we decided we've had enough basement fun for a few days. So, when we (barely) rolled ourselves out of bed this morning, we decided that we needed to give ourselves and the basement a break, and we declared a roadtrip date as a family like we so love to do!
A trip to Camden was in order.
More specifically, a trip to our most favorite coffee shop in the world.
Yes, we do indeed drive almost two hours just for coffee and lunch.
Not ashamed to admit it.
Pure, unadulterated, glorious bliss.
And the thai, peanut, chicken, stir fry plate of deliciousness.
I drool as I scarf.
Heaven, I tell you.
A side jaunt to Wal-Mart and then the long drive back.
One slept. One hollered. The other asked Ten MILLION times "How much farther"?
But, was it worth it?
A million times YES!!!
Anyway....about "The Talk."
Every so often, the topic of more babies arises between Kevy and I. Often initiated by me, I will admit, but about every few months we have a good old fashioned - "I know that we're at maximum capacity right now, but does this mean that we are at maximum capacity just for RIGHT now - or forever? Like, should we just embrace the chaos and go for another or wait until it's not so nuts-o....or are we just plain done?" kind of a talk.
It's a big deal to say you're done, you know. One that involves much discussion.
And funny enough - on the days that those conversations take place, we seem to have a day where we are "one of those families" to other people looking on. Meaning - today at the coffee shop, Ransom felt the urge to yell at amazing decible levels about a million times, Kaden and Jesse felt like wrestling throughout the entire meal - thus, teaching us the valuable lesson of separation while eating out, - Ransom was a bear at Wal-Mart, and the entire drive home was....rather loud....to put it gently.
So, our answer for today is yes indeed, we ARE at maximum capacity.
For tomorrow?
Well, I guess that still remains to be seen.
By the way - Mike & Judy - you guys are amazing. Thank you for the - although always crazy - very fun - family day date! It was good for our souls and for our bellies!
Stormy Day Bean Soup
Whilst we await my beautious basement makeover, allow me to delight you with a delish winter soup recipe. I LOVE homemade soups and stews during our cold, Maine winters! So cozy and warm while they cook on top of the stove all day filling the house with yummy smells - overpowering the smells of concrete, cement, and dust.
Ahem.
So, this soup works great after you have your Christmas or Easter ham - or whenever you might have a ham bone with a little bit of meat on it left over from a previous meal.
This is an Old Timer's soup - my Grammy used to make this, and my Mom always makes it in the winter. So, it comes with cozy memories for me. We had ourselves a delish spiral ham for supper up home, and Mom let me take the hambone home to make this soup with.
That sounded funny. Yay! I get to have the hambone! Whoohoo!!
Anyway....here it is. No real recipe, I guess. It's kind of a chuck 'er all in the pot kind of a soup. My fave.
SO. Take your hambone with all of the meat that's still on it - you don't really need a lot - and (after taking any skin or fat off of it) put it in a huge pot and completely cover it with water. Add a couple of pounds of beans - yellow eye or soldier - and cook that baby for hours....until the beans are soft.
Take the ham bone out and use a potato masher to mash the stuffing out of the beans.
Pick the ham off the bone.
Add 4 or 5 onions, a couple of stalks of celery, some really finely chopped carrot for color, and 5 or 6 potatoes to make the soup thick. ALL chopped really really finely.
Put the bone back in to get all of the yummy goodness and flavor out of it.
When it's at the thickness you want - add salt and pepper to taste, and serve with your most favorite roll recipe.
I'll admit - it looks a wee bit like cat vomit, but if you can get over that....it's all good.
(Ransom sharing carrots with Tucker. Mmm).
Make a honking soup, so you can bottle up a few quarts for your neighbors.
And perhaps serve with a large dose of bean-o.
Just sayin'.
Heaven for Boys....Not so Much for Mamas
Grand plans are in the works....SEE? (What? You can't read that?)
Today is THE DAY. Today we are conquering the "Basement of Death."
The jackhammer date was successful, so today we move on to phase two.
A large breakfast is in order.
Because this:
and piles of this:
and THIS is what we are about to conquer during these few hours of daylight.
My littles are stoked. No school. Filth to play in.
AND our friend who is helping us brought his dog.
This is Tucker.
The boys are finding great joy in giving me the play by play of how many times he's pooping and peeing in our yard.
They are IN. HEAVEN.
Me? Not so much.
Here's to one rockin' Friday, all!
Today is THE DAY. Today we are conquering the "Basement of Death."
The jackhammer date was successful, so today we move on to phase two.
A large breakfast is in order.
Because this:
and piles of this:
and THIS is what we are about to conquer during these few hours of daylight.
My littles are stoked. No school. Filth to play in.
AND our friend who is helping us brought his dog.
This is Tucker.
The boys are finding great joy in giving me the play by play of how many times he's pooping and peeing in our yard.
They are IN. HEAVEN.
Me? Not so much.
Here's to one rockin' Friday, all!
Lew
This is Lew.
Lew is my little 80 year old neighbor who lives across the street from me. I think the way that I first met him was when there were two boxer dogs running down the middle of our road. I walked over to his house and asked if they belonged to him.
This is how he greeted me: "Well, Helloooooo!"
Then, last Christmas, the boys and I made him cards and took him over a bunch of junkfood. Again. "Helllloooooooo!"
And ever since then, we've been the best of friends.
HE was the one responsible for my gangbusters garden!
In the wise words of Lew: "If you've got the space, you might as well stick 'er in the ground!" And that's how the 18 tomato plants came to be.
Except in the words of Lew regarding my choice of tomato plants: "Hee. Hee. HORRORS!!!"
Apparantly Lew doesn't like Romas.......
Lou watches my girls for me whenever I go away. I pay him in homemade goodies and invites over for suppers. He likes that. He also likes to come over whenever he hears or sees anything interesting going on. Here, he and Kev are asking each other if they eat their deer's hearts after they shoot them. That's what Kev's holding. Seriously. A lot of men eat their deer's heart after they shoot it. Lew and Kevy don't. I'm glad. I wonder if it's some sort of rite of passage in eating one's deer's heart. Hurl. Hurl. Maybe it's a guy thing. I'm glad Lew and Kevy don't do that guy thing. I don't think I'd be able to kiss Kevy for awhile after that.
Lew also likes to play the deer hunting game that the boy's got for Christmas.
He also likes to say the D-word when he misses the deer.
Lew is my inspiration in some pretty huge things as of late.
Some pretty radical (well, to some), out of the box thinking.
Well, Lew and the "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" grad course that we took last summer AND an incredibly, life-changing, amazing book that Kev and I are reading right now. (Thank you, Caleb Way.....You DO still read my blog, don't you? You'd better....remember - I gave you a whole "shout out post" just for you....And when are you EVER coming to see us????)
But, really, for me......it all started with Lew.
To be continued...
Lew is my little 80 year old neighbor who lives across the street from me. I think the way that I first met him was when there were two boxer dogs running down the middle of our road. I walked over to his house and asked if they belonged to him.
This is how he greeted me: "Well, Helloooooo!"
Then, last Christmas, the boys and I made him cards and took him over a bunch of junkfood. Again. "Helllloooooooo!"
And ever since then, we've been the best of friends.
HE was the one responsible for my gangbusters garden!
In the wise words of Lew: "If you've got the space, you might as well stick 'er in the ground!" And that's how the 18 tomato plants came to be.
Except in the words of Lew regarding my choice of tomato plants: "Hee. Hee. HORRORS!!!"
Apparantly Lew doesn't like Romas.......
Lou watches my girls for me whenever I go away. I pay him in homemade goodies and invites over for suppers. He likes that. He also likes to come over whenever he hears or sees anything interesting going on. Here, he and Kev are asking each other if they eat their deer's hearts after they shoot them. That's what Kev's holding. Seriously. A lot of men eat their deer's heart after they shoot it. Lew and Kevy don't. I'm glad. I wonder if it's some sort of rite of passage in eating one's deer's heart. Hurl. Hurl. Maybe it's a guy thing. I'm glad Lew and Kevy don't do that guy thing. I don't think I'd be able to kiss Kevy for awhile after that.
Lew also likes to play the deer hunting game that the boy's got for Christmas.
He also likes to say the D-word when he misses the deer.
Lew is my inspiration in some pretty huge things as of late.
Some pretty radical (well, to some), out of the box thinking.
Well, Lew and the "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" grad course that we took last summer AND an incredibly, life-changing, amazing book that Kev and I are reading right now. (Thank you, Caleb Way.....You DO still read my blog, don't you? You'd better....remember - I gave you a whole "shout out post" just for you....And when are you EVER coming to see us????)
But, really, for me......it all started with Lew.
To be continued...
You Know What They Say...
The bigger the bedhead....
...the BETTER the nap!
Wowee. This was a good one! A wee Rip Van Winkle, he was!
I think they also say something about mullets...
Something like..."Business in front. Party in the back!"
Da-da-da-DAAAAAH!!!
Sha-ZAM!
Just looky at what Mrs. Amazing created for me!!!
For months, Chantelley has been wanting to play around with my blog design. On New Year's Day, I gave her free reign - password and all - and this is the result!!!
Amidst being sick, homeschooling 5 kidlets, making a New Year's feast for the family, and having a life of her own....this is the gift that she gave me.
Oh, how I love you, dear Cousin.
Whenever YOU get bored with it, feel free to mix it up again.
You know me - this is what I'll stick with till the day I die! :0)
Just looky at what Mrs. Amazing created for me!!!
For months, Chantelley has been wanting to play around with my blog design. On New Year's Day, I gave her free reign - password and all - and this is the result!!!
Amidst being sick, homeschooling 5 kidlets, making a New Year's feast for the family, and having a life of her own....this is the gift that she gave me.
Oh, how I love you, dear Cousin.
Whenever YOU get bored with it, feel free to mix it up again.
You know me - this is what I'll stick with till the day I die! :0)
While We Wait.....
While we wait for my blog makeover....seriously, it might take days - or weeks - or even months....we have 8 children between us, I'm amazingly technologically challenged and have a basement that's absolutely trashed, and Chantelle DOES have her own life and more important things to do than makeover my blog...
So. In the meantime....
I've written a New Year's Ditty....
"Happy New Year!" said she
amidst dust and debris
'cause her basement
was all torn asunder.
So much dirt! So much dust!
But - I won't cry, I won't cuss.
'cause what good would that do now,
I wonder?
What did YOU do for fun
till two thousand one-one?
Did you watch the ball drop
from the sky?
While the clock counted down
Kev jackhammered the ground
I picked rocks
and we watched the dirt fly!
Our night? We were CRAZY!
A "Jackhammer Date!"
My outfit?
The envy of many!
But...long before Midnight came
Where to find Kev and Ame?
Snoring loudly -
while drooling in beddy!
Yes, we crashed LONG before
that dumb ball hit the floor.
We could hardly stand up
on our feet.
I'm now ending my rhyme.
Hope your day was sublime.
Happy New Year to all!
I am BEAT!
So. In the meantime....
I've written a New Year's Ditty....
"Happy New Year!" said she
amidst dust and debris
'cause her basement
was all torn asunder.
So much dirt! So much dust!
But - I won't cry, I won't cuss.
'cause what good would that do now,
I wonder?
What did YOU do for fun
till two thousand one-one?
Did you watch the ball drop
from the sky?
While the clock counted down
Kev jackhammered the ground
I picked rocks
and we watched the dirt fly!
Our night? We were CRAZY!
A "Jackhammer Date!"
My outfit?
The envy of many!
But...long before Midnight came
Where to find Kev and Ame?
Snoring loudly -
while drooling in beddy!
Yes, we crashed LONG before
that dumb ball hit the floor.
We could hardly stand up
on our feet.
I'm now ending my rhyme.
Hope your day was sublime.
Happy New Year to all!
I am BEAT!
Eek.
I am at my cousin Chantelley's house right now.
She's trying to "cutesy" up my blog.
We're in process, so who knows what you all might see the next few days.
There's 8 kids and a New Year's Day party in process whilst we work.
So the work is slooooow going.
I hate change.
This is stressing me........
I'm growing.
Isn't there a verse about iron sharpening iron?........
She's trying to "cutesy" up my blog.
We're in process, so who knows what you all might see the next few days.
There's 8 kids and a New Year's Day party in process whilst we work.
So the work is slooooow going.
I hate change.
This is stressing me........
I'm growing.
Isn't there a verse about iron sharpening iron?........
My New Favorite Color
Well, as we enter Day #2 of Jackhammer Madness, this lady has a splitting headache and my patience virtue is a little lacking. I must confess that there were a few moments last night when I saw just how extensive the dust issue was that I almost lost it.
But then, sweet little Kaden just looked at me and said: “Well, Mommy. You’ve got me and Jesse to help you, and we’re pretty good workers.”
So….I put them to work.
And while I was giving Kaden free reign with the mop upstairs in our bedroom and letting Jesse make little puddles everywhere, I had this vivid flashback of one of our old home videos that we watched while we were up at Mom & Dad’s.
It was just a little video of Kaden dancing around our apartment in PA... but while we were watching it I was remembering ME back then. The woman that I was. It was only four years ago, but a lot changes in four years! Back then, I was a Mommy with an immaculate apartment that I kept meticulously clean. Back then, I only had one little boy who was gentle. And quiet. And neat. And organized. And obedient, for the most part.
And I had the corner on the market on pretty much ALL things parenting.
I can vividly remember watching my friend one apartment over with her three “crazy kids,” and I can remember being over there for only a very short amount of time before my head started to spin with the action. And the loudness. And the chaos.
And then I flashforward to today – to the here and now.
And I am her.
A six year old, one whirling dervish of a wild child, and one screamer of a one year old, later…..I’m there!
Four years ago in Phillly, if I saw one dust bunny roll across my floor - a full-blown house scrubbing ensued. And I assure you….I did it all by myself. Flashforward again to today, and I am honestly thankful for the help of my two littles – imperfect though the completion of the job may be. I don’t even care. I guess I’m growing.
Side by side we washed down walls, windows, bedding, blankets, floors, and all cookware that was exposed. And instead of the Littles stressing me and “getting in the way” I found them to be very comforting and honestly….very helpful.
And as far as having the corner on the market….on ANYTHING….the longer I am a mother, the more I realize I don’t know much at all, really. And with each successive child, I get increasingly humbled....with disturbing consistency! I’m actually starting to find it somewhat (honestly, just a VERY tiny bit) amusing.
I was talking to someone just this week who said that she is raising her kids to see all things as “absolutes” – black and white, all the way. And then I remembered a comment one of my other friends said.....she commented that the older she gets, the more “grey is becoming her favorite color!”
I kind of like that. Obviously, there are absolutes in life. But, I’m growing to love that second line of thinking. I’m changing. I’m growing. I’m morphing. I’m mellowing. I’m daily getting humbled. And stretched. And tired, to be honest. And….I’m starting not to worry so much about what other’s think about me. Or what I think about others, for that matter. I can spend my time in much better ways.
So, like the grey blanket of dust in my home, I'm really liking the color grey. It involves giving others a whole lot of grace - myself included. And that's kind of freeing in a dirty, dust-covered sort of way!
But then, sweet little Kaden just looked at me and said: “Well, Mommy. You’ve got me and Jesse to help you, and we’re pretty good workers.”
So….I put them to work.
And while I was giving Kaden free reign with the mop upstairs in our bedroom and letting Jesse make little puddles everywhere, I had this vivid flashback of one of our old home videos that we watched while we were up at Mom & Dad’s.
It was just a little video of Kaden dancing around our apartment in PA... but while we were watching it I was remembering ME back then. The woman that I was. It was only four years ago, but a lot changes in four years! Back then, I was a Mommy with an immaculate apartment that I kept meticulously clean. Back then, I only had one little boy who was gentle. And quiet. And neat. And organized. And obedient, for the most part.
And I had the corner on the market on pretty much ALL things parenting.
I can vividly remember watching my friend one apartment over with her three “crazy kids,” and I can remember being over there for only a very short amount of time before my head started to spin with the action. And the loudness. And the chaos.
And then I flashforward to today – to the here and now.
And I am her.
A six year old, one whirling dervish of a wild child, and one screamer of a one year old, later…..I’m there!
Four years ago in Phillly, if I saw one dust bunny roll across my floor - a full-blown house scrubbing ensued. And I assure you….I did it all by myself. Flashforward again to today, and I am honestly thankful for the help of my two littles – imperfect though the completion of the job may be. I don’t even care. I guess I’m growing.
Side by side we washed down walls, windows, bedding, blankets, floors, and all cookware that was exposed. And instead of the Littles stressing me and “getting in the way” I found them to be very comforting and honestly….very helpful.
And as far as having the corner on the market….on ANYTHING….the longer I am a mother, the more I realize I don’t know much at all, really. And with each successive child, I get increasingly humbled....with disturbing consistency! I’m actually starting to find it somewhat (honestly, just a VERY tiny bit) amusing.
I was talking to someone just this week who said that she is raising her kids to see all things as “absolutes” – black and white, all the way. And then I remembered a comment one of my other friends said.....she commented that the older she gets, the more “grey is becoming her favorite color!”
I kind of like that. Obviously, there are absolutes in life. But, I’m growing to love that second line of thinking. I’m changing. I’m growing. I’m morphing. I’m mellowing. I’m daily getting humbled. And stretched. And tired, to be honest. And….I’m starting not to worry so much about what other’s think about me. Or what I think about others, for that matter. I can spend my time in much better ways.
So, like the grey blanket of dust in my home, I'm really liking the color grey. It involves giving others a whole lot of grace - myself included. And that's kind of freeing in a dirty, dust-covered sort of way!
Eating Dust
Currently, as I am typing - this very moment - I am sitting amidst a plume of dust...
(See? It's true. hack. hack.)
...whilst "Husband and Friend" use an ear splitting jackhammer in our basement. Their mission that they have chosen to accept is to dig a one foot wide and one foot deep drainage system around the perimeter of the basement so that the NEXT time we get some heavy duty rain or some snow meltage, we will have no more flooding.
(GOOD times).
Plastic is up, towels and tape are around the doorways, and yet - once this whole thing is over - some major, MAJOR real early Spring cleaning is going to need to take place around here. EVERYTHING is covered in a thin film of dust.
And this is just Hour #1.
(Hmn. Fabulous. My home is cursing me).
The plus side in all of this - well, there are a few....
1. We had to organize the basement in order to do this. I LOVE to organize.
2. As a result, we threw away boatloads of junkaroo. We've only lived here for one year, but it's amazing the stuff that multiplies down there.
3. We also loaded up about 6 boxes of yardsale/transfer station worthy junkola, as well....so when the dust finally does settle, there's going to be some nice room down there.
4. AND we got pizza for lunch. That's always fun.
The down side in all of this, though, is...
1. The dust.
2. I HATE to dust.
3. This is why I do not own any knick knacky things.
4. I hate dusting almost as much as I hate ironing.
5. I think ironing is from the Devil.
But, the plus side in all of this.....
1. I'll have a really clean house in a few days, or weeks, or months. Not sure WHEN exactly.
2. I really don't mind cleaning.
3. And, it's time for all of the Christmasy stuff to come down, anyway, so I always go a little crazy when it's out with the old and in with the new.
4. So, this time, I'll just go REALLY crazy.
But, the down side in all of this, though, is.....
1. What if I wasn't feeling like going REALLY crazy this time?
2. I seem to remember that I wasn't planning to this year.
3. In fact, I'm quite sure that this wasn't to be the year for crazyness.
3. And the dust. Remember the dust?
It's mocking me........
(See? It's true. hack. hack.)
...whilst "Husband and Friend" use an ear splitting jackhammer in our basement. Their mission that they have chosen to accept is to dig a one foot wide and one foot deep drainage system around the perimeter of the basement so that the NEXT time we get some heavy duty rain or some snow meltage, we will have no more flooding.
(GOOD times).
Plastic is up, towels and tape are around the doorways, and yet - once this whole thing is over - some major, MAJOR real early Spring cleaning is going to need to take place around here. EVERYTHING is covered in a thin film of dust.
And this is just Hour #1.
(Hmn. Fabulous. My home is cursing me).
The plus side in all of this - well, there are a few....
1. We had to organize the basement in order to do this. I LOVE to organize.
2. As a result, we threw away boatloads of junkaroo. We've only lived here for one year, but it's amazing the stuff that multiplies down there.
3. We also loaded up about 6 boxes of yardsale/transfer station worthy junkola, as well....so when the dust finally does settle, there's going to be some nice room down there.
4. AND we got pizza for lunch. That's always fun.
The down side in all of this, though, is...
1. The dust.
2. I HATE to dust.
3. This is why I do not own any knick knacky things.
4. I hate dusting almost as much as I hate ironing.
5. I think ironing is from the Devil.
But, the plus side in all of this.....
1. I'll have a really clean house in a few days, or weeks, or months. Not sure WHEN exactly.
2. I really don't mind cleaning.
3. And, it's time for all of the Christmasy stuff to come down, anyway, so I always go a little crazy when it's out with the old and in with the new.
4. So, this time, I'll just go REALLY crazy.
But, the down side in all of this, though, is.....
1. What if I wasn't feeling like going REALLY crazy this time?
2. I seem to remember that I wasn't planning to this year.
3. In fact, I'm quite sure that this wasn't to be the year for crazyness.
3. And the dust. Remember the dust?
It's mocking me........
Christmas in the County
Well, we are back from the Land of Dial-up. No blogging, facebook, or email for a week - except for the one time we dialed-up and managed to do fourteen loads of laundry while we waited to connect. JUST KIDDING! .....Kind of. It wasn't THAT bad.
But that is one of the little things that actually does make it a whole different world up there. One of the reasons why I really love going "home" so much! Life slows waaaaay down. It's simple. And it's good.
This was the first Christmas in many years where both of my brother's families and my own were together under one roof celebrating all together. Aaron didn't make it the actual day of Christmas - he came in a few days later - but for a few days, we were all together - every last one of us. And we make quite a crew.....
The big plan was for all of us to go on a one horse open sleigh ride, but instead we got a few feet of snow, so we made our own fun....
THIS is Dad's "Christmas moose head carcass" that he put Christmas lights in - JUST for us! (Visions of nightmares dancing in their heads, methinks.....)
The large ones shot a couple of partridge! (I put these pics up for you, Rachel, since you've never seen one before! They look like small pheasants, see?)
We learned many new games, as well! Mancala is our new fave. So far, Kev and I are three for three....but who's counting?
And my nephew taught us RISK.
At 9:00 at night.
Holy Hannah.
Fun game, but CRAZY long.
And those kids don't sleep.
Long about Midnight, Kev and I are TRYING to die.
Put us out of our misery.....I need my bed.......
And Daddy-O.....this is him....he won't care that I put his pic on my blog.....he always comes up with some sort of hick craft for the boys to do to stay out of trouble. This here's a multi-purpose candle holder, a-yuh. Yessiree. See, you can use it for a candle holder OR these handy dandy bullet casings can serve as mighty fine pencil holders, too!
And he even let Jesse use the glue gun ALL by himself. While showering, I heard some yelling, some crying, the basement door opening and closing rather quickly.....and I knew that:
1. Jesse had burnt himself and
2. Dad was dunking his hand in a snowbank
3. It's all good.
4. Yeesh, Dad. Dude. You should KNOW that kid by now.....
And THIS is one of my most fave Christmas gifts! It's a pile of things to burn! But, look how cute everything is! I can't burn this!!
So, anyway....we are HOME.
Way overtired and overfed.
It was wonderful to have been with family. And it is wonderful to be back in our own little space and rhythm of life.
A very merry Christmas was had by all....and we still have one more to go with Kev's side of the family! Whew!
But that is one of the little things that actually does make it a whole different world up there. One of the reasons why I really love going "home" so much! Life slows waaaaay down. It's simple. And it's good.
This was the first Christmas in many years where both of my brother's families and my own were together under one roof celebrating all together. Aaron didn't make it the actual day of Christmas - he came in a few days later - but for a few days, we were all together - every last one of us. And we make quite a crew.....
The big plan was for all of us to go on a one horse open sleigh ride, but instead we got a few feet of snow, so we made our own fun....
THIS is Dad's "Christmas moose head carcass" that he put Christmas lights in - JUST for us! (Visions of nightmares dancing in their heads, methinks.....)
The large ones shot a couple of partridge! (I put these pics up for you, Rachel, since you've never seen one before! They look like small pheasants, see?)
We learned many new games, as well! Mancala is our new fave. So far, Kev and I are three for three....but who's counting?
And my nephew taught us RISK.
At 9:00 at night.
Holy Hannah.
Fun game, but CRAZY long.
And those kids don't sleep.
Long about Midnight, Kev and I are TRYING to die.
Put us out of our misery.....I need my bed.......
And Daddy-O.....this is him....he won't care that I put his pic on my blog.....he always comes up with some sort of hick craft for the boys to do to stay out of trouble. This here's a multi-purpose candle holder, a-yuh. Yessiree. See, you can use it for a candle holder OR these handy dandy bullet casings can serve as mighty fine pencil holders, too!
And he even let Jesse use the glue gun ALL by himself. While showering, I heard some yelling, some crying, the basement door opening and closing rather quickly.....and I knew that:
1. Jesse had burnt himself and
2. Dad was dunking his hand in a snowbank
3. It's all good.
4. Yeesh, Dad. Dude. You should KNOW that kid by now.....
And THIS is one of my most fave Christmas gifts! It's a pile of things to burn! But, look how cute everything is! I can't burn this!!
So, anyway....we are HOME.
Way overtired and overfed.
It was wonderful to have been with family. And it is wonderful to be back in our own little space and rhythm of life.
A very merry Christmas was had by all....and we still have one more to go with Kev's side of the family! Whew!
A Christmas Ditty
Twas two days before Christmas
When in Booker Land
Two big boys were making
One fine, large snowman!
He looks rather grumpy
His eyes aren't so cute.....
(My boys really hate
being in their snowsuits!)
The chickies were nestled all snug in their box
Trapped and enclosed - because of a fox
Their eggs are so yummy
I do love them so
Too bad that we lost some
That fox has to GO!
Thus endeth my ditty
My lyrics are bad!
It just ain't real pretty
...Hope your Christmas is RAD!
When in Booker Land
Two big boys were making
One fine, large snowman!
He looks rather grumpy
His eyes aren't so cute.....
(My boys really hate
being in their snowsuits!)
The chickies were nestled all snug in their box
Trapped and enclosed - because of a fox
Their eggs are so yummy
I do love them so
Too bad that we lost some
That fox has to GO!
Thus endeth my ditty
My lyrics are bad!
It just ain't real pretty
...Hope your Christmas is RAD!
Blessed Beyond Measure
Whenever I know that we are about to accumulate more STUFF, I start to get a little panicky. I HATE clutter. I am a minimalist. Stuff stresses me, and it makes me grumpy. So I want to purge. Today was one of those days.....
All that aside....
I am trying so hard to ingrain (engrain?) into my little boys' hearts just how very blessed we are. We need NOTHING! We have "exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond ALL that we could ever ask for or imagine."
And there are many - OH so many - little boys and girls who have nothing.
Both of my boys are tender-hearts. They both feel things really deeply. They initiate conversations like this of their own accord a lot. So, today, I thought we'd all do something about it. Smallscale, for sure. But, something nonetheless.
We systematically went through their bedroom - toy by toy, and we assessed whether we should keep it, chuck it, or give it away. I have two little extremes when it comes to doing something like this. One of my boys is a wee bit of a hoarder, and the other wants to give away the gifts we just gave him a few days ago. Hey - he doesn't even want to keep his bed! So, we're working on balance, here.....
Two bags of trash and one box of pretty nice toys later, we have a much more organized and tidy room. And today, we're taking everything over to the transfer station, we're going to line everything up on the table, and we're going to hope and pray that some needy little family comes in and finds a few perfect, FREE little Christmas gifts for their little ones.
Truthfully, I wish there were three or four boxes of toys to take to the transfer station. Honestly, I was hoping for a little more willingness to part with some of their treasures. But, I AM proud of them.
Filling one box of toys when there is still a bedroom FULL of treasures is a small gesture, I know. But small gestures add up to big ones.
And, if I can just keep this constantly in the forefront of their little hearts and minds, if they can begin to learn to give things away - and even buy things with their own money for others - of their own accord, they will grow to be more selfless and loving. They will see with the eyes of their Savior. They will feel with tender hearts that break easily for the suffering of others. They will learn that it REALLY IS more blessed to give than to receive. And they will hold their things loosely realizing that all that they have is only a gift on loan.
All that aside....
I am trying so hard to ingrain (engrain?) into my little boys' hearts just how very blessed we are. We need NOTHING! We have "exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond ALL that we could ever ask for or imagine."
And there are many - OH so many - little boys and girls who have nothing.
Both of my boys are tender-hearts. They both feel things really deeply. They initiate conversations like this of their own accord a lot. So, today, I thought we'd all do something about it. Smallscale, for sure. But, something nonetheless.
We systematically went through their bedroom - toy by toy, and we assessed whether we should keep it, chuck it, or give it away. I have two little extremes when it comes to doing something like this. One of my boys is a wee bit of a hoarder, and the other wants to give away the gifts we just gave him a few days ago. Hey - he doesn't even want to keep his bed! So, we're working on balance, here.....
Two bags of trash and one box of pretty nice toys later, we have a much more organized and tidy room. And today, we're taking everything over to the transfer station, we're going to line everything up on the table, and we're going to hope and pray that some needy little family comes in and finds a few perfect, FREE little Christmas gifts for their little ones.
Truthfully, I wish there were three or four boxes of toys to take to the transfer station. Honestly, I was hoping for a little more willingness to part with some of their treasures. But, I AM proud of them.
Filling one box of toys when there is still a bedroom FULL of treasures is a small gesture, I know. But small gestures add up to big ones.
And, if I can just keep this constantly in the forefront of their little hearts and minds, if they can begin to learn to give things away - and even buy things with their own money for others - of their own accord, they will grow to be more selfless and loving. They will see with the eyes of their Savior. They will feel with tender hearts that break easily for the suffering of others. They will learn that it REALLY IS more blessed to give than to receive. And they will hold their things loosely realizing that all that they have is only a gift on loan.
My Heart in Their Hands
We took a break from traditional holiday baking this week and made some mini pies for a fun, festive mid-day treat.
The boys particularly loved double dipping their spitty fingers into the pie filling...
We made a basic pie crust, cracked open a can of pie filling, and cut out simple little shapes.
Voila!
Super cute and delish. A wee token of my love for them.....
Easy - relatively healthy - crust recipe:
1 cup flour (spelt, unbleached white, or wheat - or a blend if you're feeling sassy)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup olive oil
4 TBlsp. cold water
Roll out crust and cut into desired shapes.
Put filling in the middle.
Make an egg wash out of 1 whisked egg and 1 tsp. water - use this to "glue" the two peices of crust together and then "paint" the top of your mini pie.
Sprinkle raw sugar on the top.
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
The boys particularly loved double dipping their spitty fingers into the pie filling...
We made a basic pie crust, cracked open a can of pie filling, and cut out simple little shapes.
Voila!
Super cute and delish. A wee token of my love for them.....
Easy - relatively healthy - crust recipe:
1 cup flour (spelt, unbleached white, or wheat - or a blend if you're feeling sassy)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup olive oil
4 TBlsp. cold water
Roll out crust and cut into desired shapes.
Put filling in the middle.
Make an egg wash out of 1 whisked egg and 1 tsp. water - use this to "glue" the two peices of crust together and then "paint" the top of your mini pie.
Sprinkle raw sugar on the top.
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
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