Today was one of those days that was filled with delightful unexpected surprises.
We ran into friends on the parkway and spent the afternoon hanging out beside a "swimming hole" at Otter Creek. D and L spent alot of time playing in the creek while I enjoyed some great conversation with friends.
We also had an unexpected visit this morning (before we left town) which led to an evening visit, with some other friends, on our way home from the Parkway.
I'll spare all of the details of the day. Just know that things came together beautifully in totally unexpected ways.
It was truly a God thing that I was blessed to be able to share time with all of these wonderful people today.
As I reflect upon my company today... I realize that these individuals have helped me, emotionally, more than they will ever know.
Two of them... originally Thayer's friends... have been an encouragement to me over the months. I love our times together because I know how much Thayer loved them.
oh! and I think they are great too!!
The other... a blast from my past... had just reconnected with me before Thayer died. Our friendship picked up where we left off and she has continued to encourage me amazingly over the past months. I've had the priviledge to hang out with her family... and they are adorable.
These special friends have all made a conscious effort to 'pursue' me. They have gone out of their way to schedule in some "Jill time" and I am SO thankful!
Thank you so much for your time and your conversation!!
I need to take some lessons from these people! I could certainly be more intentional at encouraging and pursuing my friends...
something to work on this summer :-)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
out of my box
I think that over the last few weeks or possibly months, I've become pretty antsy. No doubt that I have been in a whirlwind since Thayer died....and I'm just starting to get a grip on my situation.
I think I'm at the point where I feel that God wants me to DO something. I don't have a clue WHAT... but just something.
... I have been blessed and served by a gazillion people over the last nine months. People have sacrificed so much for our litte family... time, talents, money, support, food, prayers. When I think of all the ways that people have blessed us... I am still in awe.
I remember how completely overwhelming everything was right after Thayer died. We never had been dependent on other people before and it was very difficult for me to accept the overwhelming responses from relatives, friends and strangers. We certainly didn't deserve such overwhelming kindness. (and I still feel so undeserving of it all)
But, I learned quickly that people served and gave because they wanted to... because they didn't know what to do... ultimately because God led them to serve in whatever way they were capable.
And there aren't words to express how thankful I am for everything. I just know that all the folks that have blessed us will certainly reap their rewards in heaven.
Since I have been on the receiving end of things for 9 months now... it's about time I start contributing in some small way.
Today, I made a TINY step out of my box and helped a local group do some painting.
When I heard that they needed help, my first thought was...
Aha! great opportunity Jill! Something "bigger" than yourself. Painting for the Lord... that's a great place to start. :-)
I knew one guy at the building... but I was submerged into a small group of complete strangers. That in itself was interesting. I met some great folks... and I felt odd explaining my situation to the folks that showed interest.
I've constantly been around people that "know" me... and I really stumbled over my words and explanations of my family. That was harder than I thought. I never know how much or how little to share... since my story usually puts a damper on most conversations.
I wanted to keep it light today but some people just had to ask. ;p
I'm kind of doubting that painting is my true calling (haha)... but I feel that God was happy with my little attempt to do His work. I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve today. It was a great experience for me and I'm anxious to be put to His work again...
I think I'm at the point where I feel that God wants me to DO something. I don't have a clue WHAT... but just something.
... I have been blessed and served by a gazillion people over the last nine months. People have sacrificed so much for our litte family... time, talents, money, support, food, prayers. When I think of all the ways that people have blessed us... I am still in awe.
I remember how completely overwhelming everything was right after Thayer died. We never had been dependent on other people before and it was very difficult for me to accept the overwhelming responses from relatives, friends and strangers. We certainly didn't deserve such overwhelming kindness. (and I still feel so undeserving of it all)
But, I learned quickly that people served and gave because they wanted to... because they didn't know what to do... ultimately because God led them to serve in whatever way they were capable.
And there aren't words to express how thankful I am for everything. I just know that all the folks that have blessed us will certainly reap their rewards in heaven.
Since I have been on the receiving end of things for 9 months now... it's about time I start contributing in some small way.
Today, I made a TINY step out of my box and helped a local group do some painting.
When I heard that they needed help, my first thought was...
Aha! great opportunity Jill! Something "bigger" than yourself. Painting for the Lord... that's a great place to start. :-)
I knew one guy at the building... but I was submerged into a small group of complete strangers. That in itself was interesting. I met some great folks... and I felt odd explaining my situation to the folks that showed interest.
I've constantly been around people that "know" me... and I really stumbled over my words and explanations of my family. That was harder than I thought. I never know how much or how little to share... since my story usually puts a damper on most conversations.
I wanted to keep it light today but some people just had to ask. ;p
I'm kind of doubting that painting is my true calling (haha)... but I feel that God was happy with my little attempt to do His work. I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve today. It was a great experience for me and I'm anxious to be put to His work again...
Friday, May 29, 2009
when you least expect it
The upside of today:
We just got back from an exciting evening at "Downtown Lowesville's Premiere Outdoor Movie Screen". We had a blast. I loved the southern hospitality and country charm! Can't wait till the next evening event. :-)
The unexpected of today:
I returned home to a dead fish. I have treated L's fish several times for "ick" and probably other diseases... and I've been waiting for it to die.
But today, the fish that is floating is MINE!! how weird.
L's fish has been on the brink of death for months but it looks lovely and fine today. My fish... that has always been healthy and beautiful was struggling to breath this afternoon and tonight it is dead.
Another loss of a fish... First L's carnival fish many months ago... and now, the only other female in the house. (atleast I claimed that it was a female.) I needed those girlie fish hormones to help balance out the male hormones that seep from the kids and the cat.
Not really sure where I'm going with this post. I only decided to blog so I could delay the inevitable netting and flushing of the corpse. Since the little aquarium is in the kitchen, I don't think it would be a good idea to leave the body floating around. And since Thayer's not here, I will have to do the dirty work.
yuk.
We just got back from an exciting evening at "Downtown Lowesville's Premiere Outdoor Movie Screen". We had a blast. I loved the southern hospitality and country charm! Can't wait till the next evening event. :-)
The unexpected of today:
I returned home to a dead fish. I have treated L's fish several times for "ick" and probably other diseases... and I've been waiting for it to die.
But today, the fish that is floating is MINE!! how weird.
L's fish has been on the brink of death for months but it looks lovely and fine today. My fish... that has always been healthy and beautiful was struggling to breath this afternoon and tonight it is dead.
Another loss of a fish... First L's carnival fish many months ago... and now, the only other female in the house. (atleast I claimed that it was a female.) I needed those girlie fish hormones to help balance out the male hormones that seep from the kids and the cat.
Not really sure where I'm going with this post. I only decided to blog so I could delay the inevitable netting and flushing of the corpse. Since the little aquarium is in the kitchen, I don't think it would be a good idea to leave the body floating around. And since Thayer's not here, I will have to do the dirty work.
yuk.
Monday, May 25, 2009
the meat market
The kids and I ate at Depot Grille for lunch today. While I am eating, I notice a chill looking guy sitting with a lady. They have twin kids with them. I kept thinking, "wow.... why is that cutie with that lady??" I was kind of baffled at the two of them.
anywho... the kids and I ate and headed to Amazement Square. Amazingly, the couple from Depot Grill was also at Amazement Square. I kept passing them throughout the museum. At one point, my kids were gettting ready to trample over the little twins and I spoke briefly to the man. He was very quick to point out that the kids were his neice and nephew. "hmmmm", I thought... "sure would like to chat with him some more."
haha. But we parted ways. and I thought about approaching him again and expressing my love for his devotion to his family. ;)
As I sat on a bench to contemplate the fact that an uncle would be hanging out at amazement square,... a different guy was eyeing me from around the corner. Before I knew it... this new guy came up to me and said, "single mom?" I explained "yes". Next thing I know, he's introducing himself, shaking my hand, asking to sit next to me and explaining that he is there with his mom and his neice.
What is this?? A place for guys to pick up chicks?? I never noticed before!! wow. Amazement square... the meat market.
I guess it was just my lucky day. haha.
The conversation sounded pretty much like an interview for EHarmony or something. He asked about my work, my hobbies, my kids, about Thayer's accident. He told me where he worked, where he lived, etc. etc.
And boy, he didn't waste a second... he asked if I was dating anyone... and wanted to know if he could have my number!
I couldn't resist asking him if he came to Amazement Square just to pick up women...
Amazing! - I've always seen that kind of stuff in movies... but no one has ever tried to pick me up before. I didn't know that people were that bold in real life. It was a first for me.
I didn't give him my number but he insisted on giving me HIS number. (THAT was really a first for me...getting a guy's number.). I told him that I'd put it in the file with all of my other numbers. haha.
We ran into each other a few more times during the afternoon. Each time, he stopped to make conversation.
His boldness was a little unsettling. He is either really nice, really desperate, really scary... or else I just looked like easy prey. I'm not too sure.
But all in all. It was flattering. The up-side is that he was good looking.
What are the chances of a good looking guy talking to me??
It was encouraging.
Anyone up for a trip to Amazement Square next weekend? ;)
anywho... the kids and I ate and headed to Amazement Square. Amazingly, the couple from Depot Grill was also at Amazement Square. I kept passing them throughout the museum. At one point, my kids were gettting ready to trample over the little twins and I spoke briefly to the man. He was very quick to point out that the kids were his neice and nephew. "hmmmm", I thought... "sure would like to chat with him some more."
haha. But we parted ways. and I thought about approaching him again and expressing my love for his devotion to his family. ;)
As I sat on a bench to contemplate the fact that an uncle would be hanging out at amazement square,... a different guy was eyeing me from around the corner. Before I knew it... this new guy came up to me and said, "single mom?" I explained "yes". Next thing I know, he's introducing himself, shaking my hand, asking to sit next to me and explaining that he is there with his mom and his neice.
What is this?? A place for guys to pick up chicks?? I never noticed before!! wow. Amazement square... the meat market.
I guess it was just my lucky day. haha.
The conversation sounded pretty much like an interview for EHarmony or something. He asked about my work, my hobbies, my kids, about Thayer's accident. He told me where he worked, where he lived, etc. etc.
And boy, he didn't waste a second... he asked if I was dating anyone... and wanted to know if he could have my number!
I couldn't resist asking him if he came to Amazement Square just to pick up women...
Amazing! - I've always seen that kind of stuff in movies... but no one has ever tried to pick me up before. I didn't know that people were that bold in real life. It was a first for me.
I didn't give him my number but he insisted on giving me HIS number. (THAT was really a first for me...getting a guy's number.). I told him that I'd put it in the file with all of my other numbers. haha.
We ran into each other a few more times during the afternoon. Each time, he stopped to make conversation.
His boldness was a little unsettling. He is either really nice, really desperate, really scary... or else I just looked like easy prey. I'm not too sure.
But all in all. It was flattering. The up-side is that he was good looking.
What are the chances of a good looking guy talking to me??
It was encouraging.
Anyone up for a trip to Amazement Square next weekend? ;)
While I'm Waiting
This song has become my prayer lately.
John Waller - While I'm Waiting (Official Music Video) from Provident Label Group on Vimeo.
please take the time to listen... I really like it.
I chose this version of the video... (not that the Fireproof movie is relevant to my situation... I just think that Kirk Cameron is hot.) haha.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
on being single
I haven't been single during my adult life, until now. I was married, fresh out of college, at 21. I was one of the first out of my friends to get married. I was always SO thankful that I had found Thayer and that God blessed me with a husband earlier than later. I had always wondered what it would be like to still be searching for "the one" in my twenties or thirties.
So when Thayer died, I was thrown into this foreign category of "single". Not just single... but "single mom". I've spent the last nine months adjusting to the fact that I'm solely responsible for these two little humans. I've learned just to do my best... and God can pick up the pieces when I fail. I have to "lay my Isaac down" and let God do the rest.
Since I'm accepting the single mom thing, more recently, I've started to notice what it's like to be "single." For those of you who have been single for a while.... I totally sympathize with you now! :-)
For FUN, I've composed this list on being single:
When you are single...
1.... you look for wedding rings on the hands of...well...every man you pass.
2.... you notice that every young, nice looking guy has a wedding ring.
3....you wonder what is wrong with someone if they aren't already married.
4...you notice husbands and wives when they show affection... and wish it were you.
5...you notice wedding rings on other girls and would like to feel "claimed" in that way.
5...you can't sit on the loveseat when you are with married friends... because it throws off the balance of the room.
6... you are sometimes the third, fifth, or seventh wheel.
7...you get to sleep in the middle of the bed. (see! it's not all bad!) :-)
8...you can stay up as late as you want.
9...you can sleep in as late as you want.
10...you can hang posters of Edward on your bedroom wall.
And I'm sure that there is more... but I'm just babbling now.
please, please... no sappy comments about my future...
... I am content where I am now. (besides missing Thayer). I'm not eagerly searching out a man. I have faith and hope that someone will come along. But really... I don't think I'm ready to take down my poster quite yet! ;)
And on a super, non-related note: I managed to change the bathroom light bulb by myself tonight!!! It's not one with a little screw... I had to figure out how to take the cover off... and I DID IT!! I was hollering through the house, "Mommy did it!! Mommy changed the light bulb!"
It's the little victories that make me so proud! :-)
So when Thayer died, I was thrown into this foreign category of "single". Not just single... but "single mom". I've spent the last nine months adjusting to the fact that I'm solely responsible for these two little humans. I've learned just to do my best... and God can pick up the pieces when I fail. I have to "lay my Isaac down" and let God do the rest.
Since I'm accepting the single mom thing, more recently, I've started to notice what it's like to be "single." For those of you who have been single for a while.... I totally sympathize with you now! :-)
For FUN, I've composed this list on being single:
When you are single...
1.... you look for wedding rings on the hands of...well...every man you pass.
2.... you notice that every young, nice looking guy has a wedding ring.
3....you wonder what is wrong with someone if they aren't already married.
4...you notice husbands and wives when they show affection... and wish it were you.
5...you notice wedding rings on other girls and would like to feel "claimed" in that way.
5...you can't sit on the loveseat when you are with married friends... because it throws off the balance of the room.
6... you are sometimes the third, fifth, or seventh wheel.
7...you get to sleep in the middle of the bed. (see! it's not all bad!) :-)
8...you can stay up as late as you want.
9...you can sleep in as late as you want.
10...you can hang posters of Edward on your bedroom wall.
And I'm sure that there is more... but I'm just babbling now.
please, please... no sappy comments about my future...
... I am content where I am now. (besides missing Thayer). I'm not eagerly searching out a man. I have faith and hope that someone will come along. But really... I don't think I'm ready to take down my poster quite yet! ;)
And on a super, non-related note: I managed to change the bathroom light bulb by myself tonight!!! It's not one with a little screw... I had to figure out how to take the cover off... and I DID IT!! I was hollering through the house, "Mommy did it!! Mommy changed the light bulb!"
It's the little victories that make me so proud! :-)
Saturday, May 23, 2009
sneaky kids
alrighty. So the "no TV" has been going splendidly. The boys seem much happier and they are actually using their imaginations again!!
L has dressed up as batman for several days now. And they have played in our kiddie pool for the past few days as well.
I am SO glad for warm weather and outdoor play.
The boys are still allowed short time periods on the computer. They have been watching educational videos on United Streaming.
I had a perfect system set up where they could only use the computer when I had the power strip turned on.
Otherwise, they were baffled at why that machine wouldn't work! haha.
Unfortunately, one of my sneaky kids managed to spy on me one day and learn about my little secret.
As of today, I have password protected the computer. Now, when they turn on the computer.... the user name "Ask Mom First" comes on the screen and asks for the password. (clever name, eh?)
I had a great moment of pause when I changed the user name from "Thayer" to "Ask Mom First". It felt so final as I deleted Thayer's name and replaced it with something "modern". But it had to be done. Thayer is obviously not using that computer anymore and I really need our surroundings to be relevant to our current lives.
So... another small step of "moving on" has taken place.
L has dressed up as batman for several days now. And they have played in our kiddie pool for the past few days as well.
I am SO glad for warm weather and outdoor play.
The boys are still allowed short time periods on the computer. They have been watching educational videos on United Streaming.
I had a perfect system set up where they could only use the computer when I had the power strip turned on.
Otherwise, they were baffled at why that machine wouldn't work! haha.
Unfortunately, one of my sneaky kids managed to spy on me one day and learn about my little secret.
As of today, I have password protected the computer. Now, when they turn on the computer.... the user name "Ask Mom First" comes on the screen and asks for the password. (clever name, eh?)
I had a great moment of pause when I changed the user name from "Thayer" to "Ask Mom First". It felt so final as I deleted Thayer's name and replaced it with something "modern". But it had to be done. Thayer is obviously not using that computer anymore and I really need our surroundings to be relevant to our current lives.
So... another small step of "moving on" has taken place.
Friday, May 22, 2009
manners
I'm constantly stopping my kids mid-sentence and asking them to say things in a nicer manner. I will say "try that again" or "what's a nicer way to say that?"
Tonight, we were sitting in a booth at Burger King and D was ready to get out and play.
He said "move mom".
I said "try again."
"please move"
"nope, try again"
"please move now?"
"no. nicer."
"please move now, mom?"
"no... try a word that starts with an E sound,"
and as he's crawling under the table to get away from me.... he says:
"please Evacuate?"
hahahaha.
I was looking for a simple "excuse me please"
Am I asking too much?!
haha
Tonight, we were sitting in a booth at Burger King and D was ready to get out and play.
He said "move mom".
I said "try again."
"please move"
"nope, try again"
"please move now?"
"no. nicer."
"please move now, mom?"
"no... try a word that starts with an E sound,"
and as he's crawling under the table to get away from me.... he says:
"please Evacuate?"
hahahaha.
I was looking for a simple "excuse me please"
Am I asking too much?!
haha
summertime
well... summer isn't officially here. But today was my first full day of summer vacation!!!
I'm out of preschool until the fall... and I am super excited!!
To start the summer off right, I have successfully disconnected the cable from our tv. And there is no chance of my genius kids fixing it this time. The cord has been relocated at a secret location-Grandma's house.
So far, the game system is still in tact... but it could disappear any day without warning.
Being the genius, that I am NOT, I realized that the cable ran through my dvd player... and by removing that particular cord, I have also disabled our option to watch dvds.
But, being creative, as I am.... I realized that we are able to watch movies on my laptop! yay!
D and I sat up late tonight and watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
(which, btw, has a great soundtrack!)
Poor L had thrown a bit of a tantrum moments before the movie started and had to go to bed early. He pouted in his room for quite a while. And then he came out of his room crying...and said :
"Why do I get all of the bad luck?... when I get all of the lucky pennies?"
I was really tickled by that statement :-)
but then I shared with him that it's not about luck.... it's about his behavior and the consequences. It looked as though he understood me... he crawled back in bed and said "your a mean mom".
haha.
I'm racking up points for consistency here! I'm proud of myself
:-)
I'm out of preschool until the fall... and I am super excited!!
To start the summer off right, I have successfully disconnected the cable from our tv. And there is no chance of my genius kids fixing it this time. The cord has been relocated at a secret location-Grandma's house.
So far, the game system is still in tact... but it could disappear any day without warning.
Being the genius, that I am NOT, I realized that the cable ran through my dvd player... and by removing that particular cord, I have also disabled our option to watch dvds.
But, being creative, as I am.... I realized that we are able to watch movies on my laptop! yay!
D and I sat up late tonight and watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
(which, btw, has a great soundtrack!)
Poor L had thrown a bit of a tantrum moments before the movie started and had to go to bed early. He pouted in his room for quite a while. And then he came out of his room crying...and said :
"Why do I get all of the bad luck?... when I get all of the lucky pennies?"
I was really tickled by that statement :-)
but then I shared with him that it's not about luck.... it's about his behavior and the consequences. It looked as though he understood me... he crawled back in bed and said "your a mean mom".
haha.
I'm racking up points for consistency here! I'm proud of myself
:-)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
9 months
Yesterday marked 9 months since Thayer's death.
I was fine all day until I decided that I needed to look at photo albums from last May. I had a good cry as I remembered some of the moments that we had with Thayer just a year ago at this time. It seems like yesterday when we took the boys to Crab Tree Falls on Memorial day.
But so long ago.
(I just had some thoughts about things that seem like opposites... but God has connected them for me...)
While thinking about a nine month time frame, I was reminded of expectant parents who wait a treasured 9 months for a new life to enter a family.
I am so thankful and excited for my friend, Cathy, who is currently in that process. (and Hema too!) I can remember the wonderful anticipation that accompanies pregnancy and am so thankful for those joyous moments.
At the other end of the spectrum, the boys and I have endured 9 months after a life has departed our family. We have experienced the lowest of lows with our emotions over the last 9 months.
So...an entering and a departing of a life...connected through the extremity of the emotions surrounding each event.
Another thought:
We just spent the weekend with an amazing family. When I think about this wonderful couple, I'm pretty sure that they, like me, are living a life that they would have never imagined in a million years.
I'm pretty sure that they never expected to have an abundance to their family.
Just as I never expected to have a scarcity.
Both of our families can now be labeled as something other than ordinary thanks to God who throws kinks in our plans... so that He can go about His business.
So...life, death, abundance, scarcity.... We will all face these at some point in life. We may not be able to choose what God throws our way... but we can choose how we will react to these circumstances when they come.
God, help me to remember to praise you through it all.
I was fine all day until I decided that I needed to look at photo albums from last May. I had a good cry as I remembered some of the moments that we had with Thayer just a year ago at this time. It seems like yesterday when we took the boys to Crab Tree Falls on Memorial day.
But so long ago.
(I just had some thoughts about things that seem like opposites... but God has connected them for me...)
While thinking about a nine month time frame, I was reminded of expectant parents who wait a treasured 9 months for a new life to enter a family.
I am so thankful and excited for my friend, Cathy, who is currently in that process. (and Hema too!) I can remember the wonderful anticipation that accompanies pregnancy and am so thankful for those joyous moments.
At the other end of the spectrum, the boys and I have endured 9 months after a life has departed our family. We have experienced the lowest of lows with our emotions over the last 9 months.
So...an entering and a departing of a life...connected through the extremity of the emotions surrounding each event.
Another thought:
We just spent the weekend with an amazing family. When I think about this wonderful couple, I'm pretty sure that they, like me, are living a life that they would have never imagined in a million years.
I'm pretty sure that they never expected to have an abundance to their family.
Just as I never expected to have a scarcity.
Both of our families can now be labeled as something other than ordinary thanks to God who throws kinks in our plans... so that He can go about His business.
So...life, death, abundance, scarcity.... We will all face these at some point in life. We may not be able to choose what God throws our way... but we can choose how we will react to these circumstances when they come.
God, help me to remember to praise you through it all.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
Trip to Walmart: $19.00
Snapdragons for Grandma: $6.00
Lunch at Arbys : $14.00
"Mom's play free" golf at Putt Putt: $25.00
Soaking your kids while driving the bumper boats: PRICELESS!!
Happy Day!
(March 14, 2009 at a DC metro stop.) Friday, May 08, 2009
some mower of my thoughts...
In the past, I had always taken pride in the fact that I would help Thayer with the yard work. We would take turns cutting grass. Some years we used a riding mower, some years we pushed, and some years we pushed...even though we had the rider... just for exercise. (yeah... imagine that...)
I would cut... but Thayer always trimmed.
After Thayer's death, my Dad took over the yard work for the fall and the winter. I realize now that I was in no shape to deal with yard stuff and I am thankful that my Dad stepped in and got us through the winter.
But now that Spring has arrived... I feel that I need to take ownership in the yard chores once again.
And boy....after attempting this stuff, I realize that I should have given Thayer alot more credit.
My Dad is helping me get reaquainted with a riding mower and he is teaching me to use a trimmer.
That man has patience of steel!! Because I am much "blonder" than I thought!
We have always push-mowed this yard and I have found that it can be pretty scary attempting to use the riding mower on one of our side "inclines".
And it's been kind of frustrating because I don't have a good "rhythm" or knowledge of a pattern in which I should mow.
And who would have thought a trimmer could be so darn complicated? You've got to be an artist to pull that job off. (Thayer and my Dad always make it look so easy!)
My Dad reminds me that he is such a yard pro because he's had so many years of practice.
Good thing that I'll have all summer to practice. I'm looking forward to the day that I can cut my side "incline" all by myself :)
I would cut... but Thayer always trimmed.
After Thayer's death, my Dad took over the yard work for the fall and the winter. I realize now that I was in no shape to deal with yard stuff and I am thankful that my Dad stepped in and got us through the winter.
But now that Spring has arrived... I feel that I need to take ownership in the yard chores once again.
And boy....after attempting this stuff, I realize that I should have given Thayer alot more credit.
My Dad is helping me get reaquainted with a riding mower and he is teaching me to use a trimmer.
That man has patience of steel!! Because I am much "blonder" than I thought!
We have always push-mowed this yard and I have found that it can be pretty scary attempting to use the riding mower on one of our side "inclines".
And it's been kind of frustrating because I don't have a good "rhythm" or knowledge of a pattern in which I should mow.
And who would have thought a trimmer could be so darn complicated? You've got to be an artist to pull that job off. (Thayer and my Dad always make it look so easy!)
My Dad reminds me that he is such a yard pro because he's had so many years of practice.
Good thing that I'll have all summer to practice. I'm looking forward to the day that I can cut my side "incline" all by myself :)
Monday, May 04, 2009
a blogger's lull
I have sat around the last few days... Distraught that I just don't have anything to blog about.
(not really... but it would be nice to blog...)
We've been trying to cut back on scheduled activities. It's been great not rushing somewhere every night. We've even had a few free nights where we have gone to Target... just to browse and pick up a few things. I've been feeling very casual and laid back around the house.
I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that warmer weather has arrived and we don't feel like we are "trapped" anymore.
As for the blogging... I seriously think that I'm lacking "material" because I haven't been in The Word as much as I would like to be. I need to be taking my morning Bible reading much more seriously. So this is a note to self: Don't press the snooze button tomorrow! Get up and read!
;)
I should really thank an old email friend, John, for encouraging me to have a morning session with God. It has probably been the best routine, ever, for me. (I used to study at night... but that pales in comparison to starting the day in The Word.)
anywho... I need to do better.
I am currently reading in Mark... and I'm anxious to see what God will continue to teach me.
On a side note:
I have been going to bed EARLY for about a week now! wow. I never knew that was possible. After many months of sleeping 4-5 hours each night... this has been a welcome adjustment. For the past few nights, I've been in bed by 9:30 and not waking until 6:30.
I suppose that I may be making up for my lack of sleep over the past 8 months.
(not really... but it would be nice to blog...)
We've been trying to cut back on scheduled activities. It's been great not rushing somewhere every night. We've even had a few free nights where we have gone to Target... just to browse and pick up a few things. I've been feeling very casual and laid back around the house.
I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that warmer weather has arrived and we don't feel like we are "trapped" anymore.
As for the blogging... I seriously think that I'm lacking "material" because I haven't been in The Word as much as I would like to be. I need to be taking my morning Bible reading much more seriously. So this is a note to self: Don't press the snooze button tomorrow! Get up and read!
;)
I should really thank an old email friend, John, for encouraging me to have a morning session with God. It has probably been the best routine, ever, for me. (I used to study at night... but that pales in comparison to starting the day in The Word.)
anywho... I need to do better.
I am currently reading in Mark... and I'm anxious to see what God will continue to teach me.
On a side note:
I have been going to bed EARLY for about a week now! wow. I never knew that was possible. After many months of sleeping 4-5 hours each night... this has been a welcome adjustment. For the past few nights, I've been in bed by 9:30 and not waking until 6:30.
I suppose that I may be making up for my lack of sleep over the past 8 months.
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