Why I am getting facebook

I have used this blog and our "year end" videos for the last few years to diary my life and hopefully give our kids some kind of record of their childhood. It's been good... and I think I'll keep them up.... HOWEVER... next week (as my reward for finishing our 2010 video) I am going to start a facebook account - because I want to know about other people's lives. The lives of all of you - of course - but I haven't wanted to get facebook because I prefer you call and email!! But there are people - people who I have grown to love very deeply this past month who will never call or email. So I will get a facebook account.

Also - my email is getting full of strange foreign characters I cannot read and it would be handy to have a photo. :)
Also - since 1 in 10 people on the planet now has an account - including my mother - I should probably just jump on the wagon.

And finally - if my children look unbathed, my house is a disaster, and we eat frozen pizza throughout January - don't worry - I have been told it is a phase... I will learn to let comments and photos go by without commenting on each one. But if March comes and I am not prepping a garden - please do an intervention.

These are some of the faces of people I don't want to lose track of in the coming months. We had an awesome time at Bear trap where we spent Christmas with 60 international students and Americans who love them. We hiked (Jude over 2 miles a day), played games, threw snow balls, made Christmas cards and cookies, and learned about Jesus - the bringer of True Christmas - God for us, God with us, and God in us. It was beautiful - scenery and soul.










Yes - I have photos of family Christmas's too - but I need to start the year end video - so look for them there. And don't look for a blog for a few weeks!

The new American status symbol

In a room deep within the recesses of our basement lies this:


The boiler is dead. (I could have even told you that from the photo - and you can ask EVERY HVAC guy in town - I know NOTHING about boilers.)
Me: We need someone to look at our boiler.
Them: What is wrong with it?
Me: It isn't working.
Them: Is it a steam unit?
Me:.... long pause....
Them: Is it the pump or the valves or the compression?
Me: .... long pause.... maybe it isn't ... boiling??


It will soon be replaced with this:


It will cost more than all of the cars we have ever owned - combined
It will cost us more than 6 months in Europe
It will cost us more than our Senior year of college
It will cost us more than having both of our children
It will cost us more than living and going to school for a year in Honduras
It will cost us more than the remodel of the 2 main floors of the house

So if ever you come to my house and I ask you to follow me deep into our basement to look at our boiler - please follow - and please tell me that it is beautiful and our house is so toasty warm.

Happy Birthday to me from the Money Pit.

I tried

2 things about adulthood continually surprise me.

1. How tired I am.
As a child, I can remember my parents saying how much they wanted to take a nap. But I thought they meant every 5th Sunday for 30 minutes when they actually laid down. I didn't know I would grow up to covet a nap at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 every day for years. Is this normal?

2. How forgetful I am.
I will get Alzheimer's. I am convinced that I can take Vitamin E, fish oil and do cross word puzzles until I am a slimy swimming synonym genius but my genetics and something about our modern world (and maybe something to do with my exhaustion) makes it inevitable that I will forget all things. Except I hope - one amazingly hilarious story... maybe about the time I peed my pants at the age of 14... or perhaps the never ending hike up Mount St. helens.. or my 4 hours in Budapest. All I am hoping for is that I am a hilarious old person.
But I didn't think I'd be so forgetful now. At this rate I'll need this blog for a planner and not a journal. Note to self: pick Jude up from school... again today... just like yesterday... same time... same place... it shouldn't come as a surprise every day.

So yeah, I forgot to take pictures. Well, I'd remember as the events of the week were ending, or if some gracious person said, "Shouldn't you get your camera?" Thank you people.

I have no brain. Maybe it is napping.



Toni had to remind me that maybe I would want to take pictures of the super cool helicopter uncle Brandon brought "for the kids" as it zoomed around the room hitting people and scratching our walls on Monday night. I mean how often does one have a helicopter in their house?


May i say I have super cute kids who are seriously enjoying their holidays?




I thought to pull out my camera for the amazing spread of Chinese "Hot Pot" only after I saw the girls taking photos of their work themselves. It was amazing... and I love our little family more and more each day.



And of course my mom reminded me that we might want some photos of my brother Randy's baptism. I did. I hope I never forget his laugh and "oh boy!" excitement. Congratulations Randy!!!



Not pictured:

Hett Thanksgiving of over 100
Walmart black-friday midnight craziness
Jude's WHOLE CLASS party... and the aftermath
and so much more
so much to be thankful for!!

Note to Self:

Take pictures when interesting things are happening:

Exhibit A: The great pie crust fiasco of 2010. New recipe, ten pie crusts. Do I really need that much lard? Surely not. They're ready to go in the freezer.
Out of the freezer.
OH, Yes I DID need that much lard because now I will be cursing myself throughout the entire holiday season. OH – except I solved the “flakes under the pin – not in your pan” problem by dipping – yes I said Dipping – the crumbling mess in melted butter. If, perchance, we cross paths at any holiday potluck this holiday season – mine will be the food wafting with fat fragrance – and not looking so pretty. But flaky we have. Discovery – the real reason American's BUY pie crust is not because we are lazy it is because we really don't want to SEE the lard we put in our yummys... and on our tummys – we want that to remain a mystery.

Exhibit B:
From the kitchen, trying to use my mom's kitchen aid for the first time,
ME: AHHHHHHH!!!! I just threw pumpkin pie ALL over the whole kitchen.
From the living room, pausing from a vibrating power chisel,
JAROD: Ummm, that's ok I just threw brick ALL over the living room.
ME: Well, I can't clean it up because I have pie dripping from my pants...
JAROD: Well, I can't come get the broom or I'll grind this rock powder into the wood floors.
BOTH: JUDE!!!!!

Holidays A LA construction zone.

Exhibit C:
Trip to california.... 3 cute kids and 2 photographer(ish) people... and still NO photos.

Exhibit D:
A church full of my favorite people, talking, laughing, eating, chasing kids all over, singing in voices so off key and high pitched that Sunjin questioned if that was normal, crying (oh wait – that was just me) and talking about the good, bad and ugly of the year through the eyes of a loving God – who despite how it might appear – has cancer, debt, families, and even deaths orchestrated into a great plan of love and glory.


Exhibits to photo dairy this week: last session of kid yoga, monday family dinner, school thanksgiving meal, an “all class” play date at our house, Hett Thanksgiving, early morning black Friday city shopping with international students (yes, that would be ME – doing THAT), and probably a food coma by Saturday.


HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING – and take a photo or two – you know you won't regret it!

wow!

Wasn't this blog template transformation amazing?!

The template is called 'awesome' and the font is called 'trebuchet' - you can't get much better than that.

We're waiting online for a phone call from Honduras, so you can thank David and Olga and Central American appointment times for the update... (by the way - their daughter is adorable!! and I think i'll just go cry myself to sleep now missing them!)

Also you can tell by the photo I chose I don't plan to update the blog look often. The kids just change too much to be in a static header.

Me?
Well, I'm always like that.
really. that happy.
Honest.
I wish I lived with that perky, awesome girl on my blog.


P.S. Just for fun. Last night Jarod and I were watching 'House' and as always their patient had this super cool disorder - only this time he would "mirror" the Alpha in the room. So all these people got glimpses into their own inner thought life by the patient reading their actual opinions of every situation. I ask Jarod what he would say if he was mirroring me. He's lame - so he wouldn't (either that or he figured there was no way it would end well). So mirror me - what am I actually thinking in that photo?

Ode to motherhood

On September 12th Joslyn Quinn Gaudry was born in Cabridge, Massachusetts.


On October 11th Levi Duane Denham was born in Hays, Ks.


On October 21st Anna Hunt McCann was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.


On October 28th Elliana Faith Bernard was born at Loma Linda, in Southern California.


On November 3rd Ezra Randell Hankin was born in Morristown, NJ.

On November 9th Eugene received official word that he will be adopted into the Lowery family.


I love these children's mothers. In turn I have stocked their various pregnancies and journeys into motherhood (or re-motherhood) over the last 9 months (or two years in Gene-o's case) with awe and prayer. The women who have born these children in the last two months couldn't be more different, but I respect each of them deeply for the unique perspectives and strengths they will raise their children with. I am overjoyed at their safe arrivals, and though I may have been horrible at keeping track of due dates (and wrote this blog so I would have a written record of the births) I am thrilled to be surrounded, even at a distance, by such strong and wonderful mothers.

Let's just say it like this. It is really good to know that at 4 a.m. when my kids are refusing to puke IN the bucket but rather on the 16 stuffed animals they insist on having in their bed – there are women who can understand that in complete empathy and compassion I can firmly say, “Now lay down and puke HERE.” And when they are teenagers... we will be there together too.

Dear new babies - welcome.

Dear new mommies – you've got my number.

P.S. Sam and Andrea.... photos? Maybe a mobile upload even?
P.P.S. If I have already messed up your kid's birthdate please email me the correct one... it got a little confusing :)

May The Force...

Wish you a happy Halloween - and a good night of sleep

Autumn and Me

I first noticed a changing of the seasons when I was 21, pregnant with Jude and going on 2 mile walks each day with Marian (our housemate with Alzheimer's). We made the same circle daily and her comments would repeat like clock work, "What beautiful blossoms," "what beautiful leaves," "What lovely colors" - my tour guide through the seasons. For three months we watched the leaves change and fall.

In Kansas, autumn is not a three month dance with nature. Rather it is a gail force wind that hits between 9 and 10 p.m. on any Thursday night in October.
Summer. Wind storm. Winter.

This year though, we have had an autumn. Marian taught me well to watch the trees, and on my drive home from Jude's school twice a day I watch the leaves change - and uncharacteristically Kansas sway in the wind. Our autumn says been a gift. My dad's time has been free as it has been too warm to move trees, the garden is still producing, and gym memberships have been delayed by long evening walks. Almost everyone has been please by it, but with undertones of suspicion.

Ever the practical one, my father sniffed out news of he coming "big freeze" and yesterday picking preparation began in almost every garden, and at 3:25 exactly - a wind came in a and took the leaves.

They say about Kansas that if you don't like the weather all you have to do is stay until tomorrow - it is bound to change - who knows what this day will bring -but we are in for the long haul. I just hope we can get the wood stove installed before it "get's cold and stays cold."

This week's Autumn highlights:

David's awesome Birthday BBQ with Jay's hamburgers and Jessie's pig feet - and some yummy cupcakes:



My family rocks: 6 loads of debris and trees hauled off on a beautiful Tuesday!


Carl cleaning the chimney of 50 year old ash:


Free hats "leftover and unwanted".... what great give aways! And free veggies from Bethesda's giving garden. Have I mentioned before that I think people in need should move to the midwest? Look at that abundance!



Marrina cooking "dumplings" for Jude's international lunch at school - they were a hit - even if she said I made them WAY TO BIG.


And finally Lucy and my mom working in the flowerbed mom has been waiting to transform since April. "i know you don't think about it Amanda but you need to get those spring bulbs in the ground NOW." Thanks mom


Huh... looking at these picture makes me think I have liked the extended Autumn for all the great stuff other people have had time to do for me.... opppsss... :) I guess mayby everyone else is ready for a winter rest.

In a good week

It scares me how much schizophrenia this house brings out in me. I am humbled by how much of a life process "learning to be content in all things" really is turning out to be. And all those funny cliches about "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans-" Or "When praying don't give God instructions, just report for duty-" would be a lot more amusing if I could get the hang of it. Thankfully for me - once in a great while our plans align and I feel happy... oh so happy... and free.

Please check out the completion of 3 of 7 rooms in the basement....











and not a moment too soon as Daisy - our fourth student arrived shortly after the paint dried (more on her later).

Jarod and Dad had a wonderful week installing doors, ceilings, and working on counter tops and chimneys - thanks to God for weather too warm to have dad busy moving trees.

And every once in a while our remodeling brings joy to everyone's lives as the kids and Sunjin enjoyed an arial view of our neighborhood and the kids spent a long afternoon playing "hide out" in the toilet boxes with their cousin.


A Community Connections event with FHSU international students was hosted at Bethesda Place on Friday night where over 100 students enjoyed wonderful fall weather, garden tours, a hay rack ride, pumpkin chucking in the trebuchet, and a 'weenie roast" and smores.


My brain is coming out of motherhood atrophy as the students allow me to help edit their papers and I couldn't find more enjoyment in our late night work and laugh sessions.

On top of all the good things happening in our lives, our friend Amy is recovering nicely from a scary bout with leg numbness after a LONG labor... and I am planning a trip to California to visit some other friends who are expecting.

And finally - Jude and I reassembled the lost body parts of 23 LEGO men, Jarod's sister survived to tell about her skydiving trip, and this morning Katie showed me a 100 day around the world cruise for $17,000. :)


Hope you all have a good week.

World Cruises

I don't have time to blog tonight because I am looking up around the world cruises for no reason (Thanks Katie - and they are not $10,000). I may not be accomplishing anything tonight but my friend had a baby today (Congrats Amy and BJ) - and as far as I'm concerned that's enough accomplishment around here anyway.... now back to cruise shopping... Welcome Levi.

... and I choose this one:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The Trip: Seven Seas Voyager will sail a 145-night cruise from San Francisco to Southampton. Guests can also choose slightly shorter world cruises, including a 131-night cruise from San Francisco to Rome, 111 nights to Dubai and 86 nights to Bangkok.

The Dates: January 13 - June 7, 2011

Itinerary Segments: San Francisco to Sydney, 41 nights; Sydney to Beijing, 25 nights; Beijing to Bangkok, 20 nights; Bangkok to Dubai, 25 nights; Dubai to Rome, 20 nights; Rome to Southampton, 14 nights.

Prices: Full cruise fares range from $75,999 to $289,999 per person, double occupancy; segment fares begin at $9,999 per person.

Strange ways to warm a woman's heart

Jarod bought me a freezer about a month ago (not sure if it is because he loves me or because he was tired of hearing about all the great meat sales I had to pass up because of lack of space.) And now due to our mothers who are generous in meat, a few great bread and frozen veggie sales, a few afternoons with a kitchenaid and fall produce, a tamale sale at the Spanish church, and a night of casserole making and trading with my girlfriends – it is full. And I granted my self the wasteful pleasure of a few moments of standing in front of freezing warmth of the “fullness” of it all. Then I proceeded to wake up twice in the middle of the night and check to make sure it was closed securely (Thanks Sommer). How fickle the security of abundance really is.

Other things that warm my heart are:

Fun family interactions like Seonjin and Lucy's new found primping bond.

My dad putting in window frames!

These guys.





These guys.



A friend's beautiful pregnant belly


A brother who can think of nothing better than spending his Sunday afternoon continuing the digging in our accidental swimming pool/pond.



And a crock-pot full of my favorite sweet potato peanut soup for our family meeting tonight.

Things that don't warm my heart:
What on earth are we going to do with that POND! And after hauling over 300 wheelbarrows full of dirt around the house to prevent leaking Jarod calmly comments, “But you see here? That looks like structural weakness. We are gonna have to pull this whole side out. Do you know a brick guy?” GREAT!! So now I have a swimming pool that didn't fix anything.


I think I'll make zucchini bread.

This is called a full freezer avoidance mechanism.

(Photo props here go to Layton... (the strange kid by the pole) - good work for his first time holding an SLR... "here's lookin' at you kid.")