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I like Saturdays. Andy always blogs. You can pretty much count on it........ and I do.

Pray for Sam and his family. He's only four. I can't begin to imagine.

Have you read "The Great Sitting"? I enjoy the adventure, safe on my own computer. (Read their journals.)

Daddy is Out of Town......

But at least there's Tommy.

Last night we went to Red Robin for part of house church. We had to wait a while. Emma wanted to play the games in the lobby. Specifically she wanted to play "The Claw", which I explained to her AGAIN that it is just a trick and that machine really just steals your money. Next, she wanted to play a game where you were guaranteed to get a bouncy ball. I considered it. Then I saw a sign on the machine that said if you bounce it in the restaurant that it will be taken away. I told Emma that maybe on the way out she could play. Then I noticed it was 75 cents per turn. I told her absolutely NO WAY!!!  I went back to talking and the next thing I know, Emma is playing "The Claw". Tommy claimed they were bored so he gave the kids the money. He also bought a ball for each of the six kids who were old enough to realize free balls were being given out. So often, Tommy reminds me of Doug. (Sorry for you Meghann, but it is good for all the kids of the world) My kids love having Tommy and Meghann (and Avery) in their lives.  We're looking forward to Tommy's party tonight.

Doug is still out of town until late Sunday/early Monday- depending on how you look at it. We have been trying to stay busy to keep our minds off of it. For the most part it is working, but my back cannot be tricked. Neither can Emma.

A Good Quote for Someone Who Quotes Other People's Blogs

We all know that I am no longer quoting other people's blogs. However, it is late at night. I am tired. Doug is out of town and I have to get to bed. This guy's blog address is long, so I just cut and pasted it. If you would like to read the whole thing you can get to it by going to Greg Hubbard and then Alan Creech.

The Gem:

The Church is the prototype for redeemed humanity.  We call people to get with the Kingdom program before the King returns to kick ass.  We can start by calling the Christians to it.  So we learn to love each other.  Not perfectly, but well.  Our love is stunted, and clumsy, and messy, and subject to all sorts of mixed motivations.  But we can learn to love well as God changes us.  He will change us. 
End Quote

What struck me was "Our love is stunted, and clumsy, and messy, and subject to all sorts of mixed motivations." I think that is just honest. We don't have it figured out. Be patient as God molds me. I will try to be patient with you too.

Ice Cream on a Hot Day
 
On my way to work I stopped at the convenience store for a fountain Dr. Pepper (my favorite beverage to which I am incredibly addicted).  I go to that particular store often because it is close to my school and the drinks are cheap. Today when I walked in I noticed a different smell- BO- BAD BO. I got my drink, but was unable to locate where the smell was coming from. I got in line and someone was practically racing me to the counter- it was the owner of the odor. In his hand he had one of those Ben and Jerry size cartons ( a pint I think) of Haagan Daz ice cream. Even though there were two people in line in front of him, he asked the girl behind the counter how much the ice cream cost. "$3.79" He turned to go back to the ice cream freezer when she said, " No it's $1.79" I have NEVER seen ANYONE so happy about ice cream before- and I live in a house with 6 kids. I stood behind him watching his excitement and counting his money multiple times (2 one dollar bills and some change). I wondered if the girl behind the counter lied about the price. I wonder if it actually was $3.79. (after all, a jar of baby food there costs 99 cents- twice as much as a grocery store) And it was Haagan Daz--- not Blue Bunny. I want to believe she did lie. She made his whole day- it was 106 degrees today.
After he paid (he also bought a pack of Speariment gum- the cheap 25 cent kind) he asked if they had spoons. "On the microwave." He skipped over there and then practically RAN out of the store.
This poor guy (not to mention the minimum wage clerk) has restored my faith in humanity- sort of. I tend to be a pessimistic person, and even when I give homeless people money I don't feel good about it because I am just sure that they are using it for drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes- but not this guy, not today. Today, it was ice cream- what a beautiful thing.

You Know You Live in the Desert When...
 
We were driving in the car and Loredana says, "Mom, why those black things go up and down?" She was, of course, talking about the windshield wipers. I started singing "The Wheels on the Bus" because she is familiar with the song, but she told me that she doesn't yike that ong.
 
I personally do love the rain. I hope it rains everyday for a while. "I'm only happy when it rains.....I'm only happy when it's complicated....."

Dr. So and So

I took Jack for his follow up appointment from his ear tubes. They finally took me to the exam room and Jack was hungry so while I was waiting I decided to nurse him. Dr. So and So walks in and says, "What is he going?" I said, "He's eating." All of a sudden the doctor is so shaken he can't talk straight. He fumbles around with the chart and quickly, but no so eloquently says, "I'll be right back." And staggers out of the room. He later sends his nurse in to find out if I am done.
I'm confused. I thought he was a doctor. I thought he went to medical school. I think he is probably familiar with the human body and its workings. I think he is probably aware that breast milk is the most nutritious food for a five month old (which I am sure he sees often). Now I realize that the guy is an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, but I am pretty sure that you can't just major in that in college. I am pretty sure that Medical School covers the whole body- I hope. So I am not sure why my nursing baby-completely covered in a nursing shawl should bother this guy.
I am a little jaded because at this point Jack is the only purpose for my breasts to exist. AND I am not a super model over here. There was nothing sexy or inappropriate about what was happening in his exam room. I'm not out to make people feel uncomfortable, but I don't like to be treated like I am the one acting inappropriately.
On top of it all, my appointment was at 10:30 and I didn't go into the exam room until 11:00. If he had been running on time, Jack would not have needed to eat. Not to mention that if you do not cancel your appointment within 24 hours he charges you $45. That's right, $45 for a doctor who is uncomfortable with the POSSIBILITY of seeing the human body. I hope he never decides to become a Family Practice doctor or, God forbid, a G-G-Gyn (I can't say it I'm too embarassed). PLEASE!!

Loredana said

Loredana said, "I pooped I think."

Therefore, this post is over. If I have time, I'll try again, but I didn't have anything already planned to say.

It Sucks

It sucks to be a failure






at everything.

Raising Kids

Raising kids would have been so much easier 100-150 years ago (post Civil War period). This was my revelation tonight as my kids played outside. They were meticulously placing large rocks on some weeds we've begun growing. Emma was concerned that someone might get poked. My kids get along a lot better when they are outside. Most of the fights they have on a regular day are over video games, which movie they're going to watch, and specific toys. A hundred years ago there was no TV, no video games, and very few toys. Kids had rocks, water, flowers, dirt and each other. How great would it be to let your kids go play in the field on the swing hanging from the old oak! They could go fishing, pick flowers, skip rocks, play chase and watch the clouds change shape. Even when we were kids, our parents let us play outside. Right now is a sad time in history to be raising kids.

Drugs

Why do we need commercials for prescription medications that treat very specific ailments? Today I heard a radio commercial for Desert Radiology. I don't need a commercial for that. If I have insurance, my insurance company will dictate which radiologist I go to. If I don't have insurance I will be looking for the cheapest radiologist, which is probably NOT one with a prime drive time radio commercial. Can we please just get universal healthcare already? Then we can have commercials for recycling or organic farms or give all that "commercial money" to poor children that actually need radiologists and prescription drugs.


The Artful Potter is a great place to have a kids' birthday party. Alex had her party there last night. It was quiet and calm. The kids created together and had conversations. Kristi painted a bowl during the whole party, so she didn't have to do much. If you are looking for a party spot-that's what I recommend. It is the opposite extreme of Chuck E. Cheese (my least favorite party spot).

I really do have the best friends in the world. Even if I miss their birthdays. Thanks you being you.

Happy 4th of July!!

Hair

Hair is disgusting. This is a new discovery for me because MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT in clumps. It is all over everything. If you ever wondered what I might look like bald- you're about to find out. I give it about two more months at the current rate of fall out.