I have been horrible at blogging of late - and there is no excuse. Life is as interesting as ever, potty training Lucy -watching her grow into herself and maybe a little too much like her brother - Thomas the Train has come alive once more. I went to Minnesota last week - catching up with friends from Kindergarten, and stayed busy this week making new friends through local mom's groups and such. Oh, and we are putting an offer in on a house tonight - and I haven't slept much in a week - refinancing and remodeling my brain into the early hours. My friend from China the other day told me that all families live with the husband's parents for years on end. So I guess we are experiencing Chinese culture here in Hays.
So, I'll let you know if we get a house - I got a cell phone 2 weeks ago - but it is out of batteries and I don't yet have a charger - so that doesn't seem to be going so well. Hope the house purchase is a little more successful if it goes through.
Keep the prayers coming - and we love any updates we get from you all (....ehehemm - women in Honduras who I know have internet.)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
it's ok
Yesterday I super-glued my fingers together, and was stuck giving the "ok" sign for 4 hours. Today I am leaving my kids for he first time ever for more than 2 nights. When leaving for a four day road trip, it does a mother good to know that any hands she leaves her children in have to be more competent than her own. Thank you super glue and very old sequined hats.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Life Lessons
In eighth grade I would run giddily toward the school door as soon as the bell rang - however if I saw my grandmother’s car I would skid to a halt dreading the moment I slunk into the front seat and heard her pointed question, “What did you learn today?” I knew I had to think of something fast, because she was not a woman that would accept the adolescent shrug of “nothing.” No, I knew all too well the lecture that came after that word.
“Amanda, you learn something every day. If you don’t, your life is not worth living - and I would hate to think you are so lazy that you wouldn’t be willing to at least open an encyclopedia and start reading. There is so much to learn - you are either arrogant, lazy or not paying attention. I suggest you pull out an encyclopedia before dinner.”
So I got creative - anything became a lesson - thank you Grandma. I do learn something every day. And the other day I thought while I’m not doing much interesting in life I should just daily blog about some random thing I learned. For example - last Tuesday, it became quite clear to me that while those cute long sleeve shirts with the thumb holes may be incredibly comfy and stylish - they are completely ridiculous while changing a poopy diaper. Just in case you were wondering.
I learned that you can in fact please “all the people all the time” if the people are under five and the meal is PB & J.
You know that eight grade algebra about exponential growth? It could actually come in handy when figuring how much preparation time is needed when getting 10 kids ready to go to the park. 1 child 5 minutes - but 10 takes more than an hour - somehow. I wish I could remember the equation.
Girls WILL accessorize.
Brothers need each other.
The lessons are small - but ya’ know they could be important.
Most lessons are annoying to learn. Like the melt down Jude had after entering Walmart and perusing the toy isles. He quietly began to whimper as we left saying - “I just can’t DECIDE what I want for my birthday - the Star wars helmet or that transformer car.”
“Well, that is fine Jude, it isn’t up to you. You may not get either.”
“But I want them both SOOOO BAD.” And the tears welled up in my boy's eyes making my usually joyous son so obviously MISERABLE with desire.
“Jude, I am so sorry we came and saw the toys; you were so happy before you saw them.”
“I know mom - because I didn’t even know they EXISTED.”
Well, isn’t that about how it goes? Sorry Jude - you learn something everyday.
A half an hour later he apologized for being so sad. But we know it will happen again. Learning to be fulfilled in all the blessings one has been given instead of wallowing in despair over the things just beyond our grasp is a lesson that you re-learn almost every day.
“Amanda, you learn something every day. If you don’t, your life is not worth living - and I would hate to think you are so lazy that you wouldn’t be willing to at least open an encyclopedia and start reading. There is so much to learn - you are either arrogant, lazy or not paying attention. I suggest you pull out an encyclopedia before dinner.”
So I got creative - anything became a lesson - thank you Grandma. I do learn something every day. And the other day I thought while I’m not doing much interesting in life I should just daily blog about some random thing I learned. For example - last Tuesday, it became quite clear to me that while those cute long sleeve shirts with the thumb holes may be incredibly comfy and stylish - they are completely ridiculous while changing a poopy diaper. Just in case you were wondering.
I learned that you can in fact please “all the people all the time” if the people are under five and the meal is PB & J.
You know that eight grade algebra about exponential growth? It could actually come in handy when figuring how much preparation time is needed when getting 10 kids ready to go to the park. 1 child 5 minutes - but 10 takes more than an hour - somehow. I wish I could remember the equation.
Girls WILL accessorize.
Brothers need each other.
The lessons are small - but ya’ know they could be important.
Most lessons are annoying to learn. Like the melt down Jude had after entering Walmart and perusing the toy isles. He quietly began to whimper as we left saying - “I just can’t DECIDE what I want for my birthday - the Star wars helmet or that transformer car.”
“Well, that is fine Jude, it isn’t up to you. You may not get either.”
“But I want them both SOOOO BAD.” And the tears welled up in my boy's eyes making my usually joyous son so obviously MISERABLE with desire.
“Jude, I am so sorry we came and saw the toys; you were so happy before you saw them.”
“I know mom - because I didn’t even know they EXISTED.”
Well, isn’t that about how it goes? Sorry Jude - you learn something everyday.
A half an hour later he apologized for being so sad. But we know it will happen again. Learning to be fulfilled in all the blessings one has been given instead of wallowing in despair over the things just beyond our grasp is a lesson that you re-learn almost every day.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The stay-at-home mom that wasn't
So with a job and now a car – our life is looking a bit more settled these days. But strange. Over 2 years ago I started this blog with the title of “Chronicles of a Non-Desperate Housewife” - and really we've kept faithfully along that vain. Whether here or Honduras – that is what I do – keep house and care for kids. Until recently.
Do you realize how difficult (or should I say pointless) the life of a housewife is – without the HOUSE part of things? Here is an illustration:
These are my fingernails. They are all the same length. That has never happened in my life. Ever.
My mother-in-law attributes it to her dishwasher. I am thinking it is the direct result of doing nothing for a month and a half. No garden, no “fix-it” projects, no REAL housekeeping (let's face it I was a much better housekeeper before I had kids and then moving to a developing country where the rest of my mom-friends” had dirt floors really lowered the bar.) I try to be helpful, I really do – but with 4 adults and 2 kids, and a very clean and spacious relatively new house I am thinking I might just deserve a lay off.
But then of course we have the children. They still need me right? After several comments made by my progeny this week I am considering getting a more predictable and civil contributing career – say – as a McDonald's fry cook. As a fry cook you just know the worst you do in a day is contribute to obesity – whereas I am beginning to wonder if I am creating young consumerist assassins.
4 year old in stoic voice, “I only like things that shoot, stab, cut, blow things up, or kill. That's all I like.”
4 year old in whiny voice after his first ride in our nice new car, “Why didn't you get a Cadillac? That's what I really wanted.”
1 year old after a spanking - “you's meeaaaann.”
1 year old to every other child who happens to be holding a toy - “mIne”
1 year old to the three cats she lives with - “meeoooww” “kitty” - pull hair – run away – laugh. A million times a day.
Yeah... I'd fire me – just sayin'...
Do you realize how difficult (or should I say pointless) the life of a housewife is – without the HOUSE part of things? Here is an illustration:
These are my fingernails. They are all the same length. That has never happened in my life. Ever.
My mother-in-law attributes it to her dishwasher. I am thinking it is the direct result of doing nothing for a month and a half. No garden, no “fix-it” projects, no REAL housekeeping (let's face it I was a much better housekeeper before I had kids and then moving to a developing country where the rest of my mom-friends” had dirt floors really lowered the bar.) I try to be helpful, I really do – but with 4 adults and 2 kids, and a very clean and spacious relatively new house I am thinking I might just deserve a lay off.
But then of course we have the children. They still need me right? After several comments made by my progeny this week I am considering getting a more predictable and civil contributing career – say – as a McDonald's fry cook. As a fry cook you just know the worst you do in a day is contribute to obesity – whereas I am beginning to wonder if I am creating young consumerist assassins.
4 year old in stoic voice, “I only like things that shoot, stab, cut, blow things up, or kill. That's all I like.”
4 year old in whiny voice after his first ride in our nice new car, “Why didn't you get a Cadillac? That's what I really wanted.”
1 year old after a spanking - “you's meeaaaann.”
1 year old to every other child who happens to be holding a toy - “mIne”
1 year old to the three cats she lives with - “meeoooww” “kitty” - pull hair – run away – laugh. A million times a day.
Yeah... I'd fire me – just sayin'...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Slightly more than the magic eight-ball
After Jarod was offered a job Tuesday, that would have logically been an opportunity to “jump on” we spent the next 36 hours pouring over Pro/Con lists and discussing, praying, debating, and re-discussing if we really did want to live here (Well I did – and my laid back husband just kept saying, “Either way” - and shaking his i-pod magic 8-ball ap. for an answer when things got a little too serious).
But do we really want to live in a town with such a low cost of living that we can save money - even while I get to enjoy staying home with the kids?
Do we really want to stay in a town where we have more eager babysitters than we have days of the week?
Where we have build in friends for all family members?
Where we have church that is eager to plug us into ministries and opportunities to serve the community?
Where our kids can grow up with 4 generations of family that they visit every week and get to know on a truly deep level?
We think so.
There were reasons to leave. Good reasons to leave. And places to go. Wonderful, amazing, new and exciting adventures to pursue. There always will be. The world isn't going anywhere.
And neither are we. Jarod will start Monday as a customer service tech for Eagle Communications – and ironically be the guy on the other end of the phone that he is so used to yelling at. And I will probably do just what I did here before, just what I am doing today. Spending time with my kids – spending time with my family and friends – filling in the inevitable gaps in people's lives – that only someone as blessed as me has the free time to fill. We haven't missed a beat... and who knows how long the song will continue
Thanks for your prayers
But do we really want to live in a town with such a low cost of living that we can save money - even while I get to enjoy staying home with the kids?
Do we really want to stay in a town where we have more eager babysitters than we have days of the week?
Where we have build in friends for all family members?
Where we have church that is eager to plug us into ministries and opportunities to serve the community?
Where our kids can grow up with 4 generations of family that they visit every week and get to know on a truly deep level?
We think so.
There were reasons to leave. Good reasons to leave. And places to go. Wonderful, amazing, new and exciting adventures to pursue. There always will be. The world isn't going anywhere.
And neither are we. Jarod will start Monday as a customer service tech for Eagle Communications – and ironically be the guy on the other end of the phone that he is so used to yelling at. And I will probably do just what I did here before, just what I am doing today. Spending time with my kids – spending time with my family and friends – filling in the inevitable gaps in people's lives – that only someone as blessed as me has the free time to fill. We haven't missed a beat... and who knows how long the song will continue
Thanks for your prayers
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I think you should be a physical therapist
It seems to me a lot of people, like us, are wondering what they should be when they "grow up". From hours of on-line job searching of numerous cities and states - it has become quite evident - you can go anywhere if you want to be a physical therapist.
Thank you baby boomers.
Thank you baby boomers.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Bambi rule
Well, I guess I now know that my grading idea was dumb because I can't write when I am in a below C state. Because I am logical enough to know that everything I am feeling makes no sense what-so-ever and because the movie Bambi has had a profound impact on my interpersonal dealings for many a year (who knew?)
Here's the deal – our camera (purchased for it's claim to fame durability) was damaged and sent in for repairs – before Christmas. The slow and incompetent Olympus people returned it in worse condition- AFTER we missed the holidays. So finally this week they sent us a replacement camera – thus explaining the lack of photo blogging.
Also, (if you can't tell from my not-so-gracious description of the poor customer service people) I haven't been the most gracious lately, and following Thumpers ever pertinent advice, I have tried to adhere to the rule, “If you don't have anything nice to say – don't say anything at all.” (Well, at least refrain from writing it for the whole world to see.)
Current situation. We don't have a job, a car, a house, nor are we any closer to these things than we were 6 weeks ago. My husband is annoyingly calm and enjoying himself mooching off his parents for a bit and getting caught up with friends, family and his motorcycle. My children are loving eating ice cream 5 times a week and spending the night with friends. Our friends seem to be loving having us around, and as of yet there has not even been any complaining amongst our parents about our extended stay. So, apparently, I am the only one freaking out. I am the only one who lets her expectations float away like a released helium ballon on every wind of opportunity. I have been “sure” of the next step about every 72 hours for the last 3 weeks. Totally to have the winds change on me or better yet just get dashed into a horrifically thorny tree or electrical wire. So I am feeling zapped... but maybe just a little awakened by it all.
And all the cliches to “let it be,” and “enjoy it while it lasts” seem far to apropo. And I find myself clinging to the the Psalms of waiting upon the Lord with my fingernails. I am humbled by the graciousness of my in-laws, and overwhelmed by how posh** our life really is. We could be so carefree – if I let us.
While looking for the correct spelling of this word (which I still don't know that I have) I found these things:
1. The definition of the word: luxuriant
profuse, plush
abundant, ample, copious, deluxe, dense, elaborate, excessive, extravagant, exuberant, fancy, fecund, fertile, flamboyant, flourishing, fruitful, lavish, luscious, lush, opulent, overflowing, palatial, plenteous, plentiful, prodigal, productive, profusive, prolific, rampant, rank, rich, riotous, sumptuous, superabundant, teeming, thriving.
2. How to overcome horrible web formatting when transfered into office
3. These 2 web sites which will come in very handy as my kids get older and I become even more clueless (if that is possible):
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/
http://www.urbandictionary.com/
4. A lecture that I had heard about but never had taken time to listen to by Randy Pausch.
You learn something new every day.. even if it is surfing the web at midnight for new reason in your in-law's basement. Thank you blogging ritual
*** 6:30 a.m. Internet surfing of classifieds for house, car and job is even less enjoyable with a internet hangover from a pointless web surf the night before. Thank you blogging ritual
Oh and things I am taking time to do – that I never would in ANY other season of life:
Learn to do my duaghter's hair
Go on a random road trip with my parents to re-zone their water rights, distribute Bibles and low-and-behold – stop at a train club display with a 3 legged dog and eat way too much ice cream
Here's the deal – our camera (purchased for it's claim to fame durability) was damaged and sent in for repairs – before Christmas. The slow and incompetent Olympus people returned it in worse condition- AFTER we missed the holidays. So finally this week they sent us a replacement camera – thus explaining the lack of photo blogging.
Also, (if you can't tell from my not-so-gracious description of the poor customer service people) I haven't been the most gracious lately, and following Thumpers ever pertinent advice, I have tried to adhere to the rule, “If you don't have anything nice to say – don't say anything at all.” (Well, at least refrain from writing it for the whole world to see.)
Current situation. We don't have a job, a car, a house, nor are we any closer to these things than we were 6 weeks ago. My husband is annoyingly calm and enjoying himself mooching off his parents for a bit and getting caught up with friends, family and his motorcycle. My children are loving eating ice cream 5 times a week and spending the night with friends. Our friends seem to be loving having us around, and as of yet there has not even been any complaining amongst our parents about our extended stay. So, apparently, I am the only one freaking out. I am the only one who lets her expectations float away like a released helium ballon on every wind of opportunity. I have been “sure” of the next step about every 72 hours for the last 3 weeks. Totally to have the winds change on me or better yet just get dashed into a horrifically thorny tree or electrical wire. So I am feeling zapped... but maybe just a little awakened by it all.
And all the cliches to “let it be,” and “enjoy it while it lasts” seem far to apropo. And I find myself clinging to the the Psalms of waiting upon the Lord with my fingernails. I am humbled by the graciousness of my in-laws, and overwhelmed by how posh** our life really is. We could be so carefree – if I let us.
While looking for the correct spelling of this word (which I still don't know that I have) I found these things:
1. The definition of the word: luxuriant
profuse, plush
abundant, ample, copious, deluxe, dense, elaborate, excessive, extravagant, exuberant, fancy, fecund, fertile, flamboyant, flourishing, fruitful, lavish, luscious, lush, opulent, overflowing, palatial, plenteous, plentiful, prodigal, productive, profusive, prolific, rampant, rank, rich, riotous, sumptuous, superabundant, teeming, thriving.
2. How to overcome horrible web formatting when transfered into office
3. These 2 web sites which will come in very handy as my kids get older and I become even more clueless (if that is possible):
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/
http://www.urbandictionary.com/
4. A lecture that I had heard about but never had taken time to listen to by Randy Pausch.
You learn something new every day.. even if it is surfing the web at midnight for new reason in your in-law's basement. Thank you blogging ritual
*** 6:30 a.m. Internet surfing of classifieds for house, car and job is even less enjoyable with a internet hangover from a pointless web surf the night before. Thank you blogging ritual
Oh and things I am taking time to do – that I never would in ANY other season of life:
Learn to do my duaghter's hair
Go on a random road trip with my parents to re-zone their water rights, distribute Bibles and low-and-behold – stop at a train club display with a 3 legged dog and eat way too much ice cream
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