Ready to Roll

This is the conversation I just overheard my (almost) 2 yr. old & my 3 yr. old having that almost brought me to tears, cause they're so grown up!

Faith: "Caleb, are we ready to roll?"

Caleb: "Umm...Gym."

Faith: "Well, we have to go to the store first, then we can go to the gym."

Caleb: "PARK!"

Faith: "You wanna go to the park?"

Caleb: "Umm....yep."

Faith: "Ok, first we need seat belts so we can be safe. We're ready to roll! Let's go to the park!"

Caleb: "YAY! PARK!"

LOL, I love their day-t0-day conversations. Precious. And so safety conscious. Faith is such a mother.

And in other news, Faith just came to me and said, "Mommy, Caleb is trying to eat my lipstip (lipstick). Can you beat him up for me?" - HA. We always say that to each other when we're play wrestling...I guess we need to come up with a new phrase!

Isn't it Ironic?

Isn't it ironic that I finally wrote a song, but I've lost my voice to record it? Or even sing it for class on Wednesday?

Isn't it ironic that I specifically set aside time today to get some rest before work cause I'm sick and exhausted, but I can't sleep?

No? Maybe it's just me.

Divine Inspiration

The past few weeks, we've started a Wednesday night series @ church about Worship. It's really been a interesting class so far, I've really enjoyed it. This week, we were challenged to write lyrics as homework. I've always wanted to write a song, but have never been disciplined enough to sit down and do it. I decided I really wanted to challenge myself to do this homework and come up with something. I thought it was going to be a lot of work. Well yesterday, on my way to work, a song just came to me (along with the melody). I've never experienced anything like it before, totally divine inspiration. And all through work I had stuck in my head (I managed to write it out and finish it my head during work) and I woke up singing it this morning. So, at the risk of vulnerability, I'd like to share it. The title is 'FIND ME' :

When this world

falls apart around me

my only hope

is that You'll find me

Lord You know all my hopes and fears

Lord You know what I need from here

Thank you for the Truth when I have nowhere to run

Thank you for your Love when I feel so alone

Thank you for the Hope I thought had fell through my fingertips

In the midst of the storm

thank you Lord

for finding me.

Lord sometimes

I see dark days

and all I want is for you

to take it away

But you know all my hopes and fears

and you know what I need from here

Thank you for the Truth when I have nowhere to run

Thank you for your Love when I feel so alone

Thank you for the Hope I thought had fell through my fingertips

In the midst of the storm

thank you Lord

for finding me.

When the rain falls down around me I think I've lost my way

When lightning strikes and thunders roar I fall to pray

And you find me...

Thank you for the Truth when I have nowhere to run

Thank you for your Love when I feel so alone

Thank you for the Hope I thought had fell through my fingertips

In the midst of the storm

Thank you Lord

For finding me.

Maybe soon, I'll record it so you can hear the melody.

Bucket List

Got this idea from some friends....but decided to make a bucket list. It's always nice to have a point of reference in your life for goals. Not all of these are realistic for me, some are silly, some I've already done, but in no particular order:

1. See the Eiffel Tower

2. Read my bible more

3. Buy my dream home

4. Tour Europe

5. Spend more time on the floor playing with my kids

6. Find a career that I love

7. Stop biting my nails for more than a week

8. Lose weight

9. Take the family to Disney World

10. Take more time to read for pleasure

11. Catch up on scrapbooking

12. Cook more

13. Get more involved @ church

14. Raise god-fearing children

15. Be the best grandma ever

16. Get out of debt!

17. Take a spa weekend in NYC with April

18. Learn to drive a boat

19. Get a jet ski

20. Watch my kids get married (to Christians)

21. Publish something (book, article, etc.)

22. Go on a mission trip

23. Learn to play piano

24. Go skydiving

25. Be more content with the life I have NOW

26. Not compare myself to others

27. Have another romantic getaway with my hubs

28. Spend more time with my parents/siblings

29. Love me for me

30. Volunteer more

What's your bucket list?

Poopy incidents

Do you ever feel like you have days seem to be going just fine and the Devil tries to bring you down? Today was such a day for me...

This morning started out like any other. Maybe better, cause I always seem to wake up in a better mood when the sun is shining and it was beautiful day. I had lots of things on my 'to do' list - catch up on bills, run to the bank, drop off some things at the college that Jer had forgotten, get groceries, etc. So, I was motivated...but then, everything came down at once.

It started with the mail. We got a letter from the bank that holds our mortgage saying that we have an escrow shortage (how does that even happen - I thought it was built in to our mortgage) so we either have to pay an enormous amount of money up front or our mortgage will be going up by almost $200 a month for the next year....um, hi. I do not have $200 extra dollars a month right now, I barely have $10. And, of course I don't have a huge lump sum of money just lying around. Poopy incident #1.

Then, just as we're finally getting some headway on our kitchen (we are now on DAY 20 of construction since we tore out the wall)....we finally painted and put up the upper cupboards last night. Well, when they tore out the kitchen in February, they damaged a few of our cupboards, but of course the insurance didn't cover those, so we had to replace at the minimum the lower corner lazy susan. Found out today that not only is it WAY more money than I thought, but it will take 3 weeks to arrive.....3 WEEKS!!!! As if I haven't waited long enough, in three weeks will mark more than 4 months will no running water or dishwasher in my kitchen! I'm so annoyed!!! Poopy incident #2.

As many of you may know, Rochester College is not in the best financial situation. They're having to make budget cuts as anyone would imagine, and there is a real possibility that Jeremy could lose his job, maybe as soon as tomorrow. I'm not getting enough hours at work to help pay the bills will both of us employed, let alone trying to carry the household. Just when we thought we'd made a breakthrough in our debt, poopy incidences keep preventing us from reaching our goals of getting out of debt. This is, of course, poopy incidence #3, 4, & 5! AH!

Please keep our family in your prayers as we try to untangle all these poopy situations!!!

A true Michigander?

This past weekend, we got to take a break from choatic life to visit Jer's sister-in-law and family while Jeremy went on his annual fishing trip. (Which was great - I wished we lived closer to his family!) The trip there is basically a straight shot up 1-75 to Sault Ste. Marie. On our way there, we pass some of the most famous Michigan tourist attractions in the state, and it made me realize that in my 26 years of living in Michigan, I've never been to most of these places.

Is it strange to anyone else that I've lived in Michigan my entire life but I've never been to Frankenmuth? I've never shopped at Bronners? Never stopped at Sea Shell City in Cheboygan even though I've passed in more times than I can count? I've never been to Michigan

Adventures or even Mackinac Island! Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty sure I'm the worst Michigander ever.

On a lighter note, thought I'd share this fun 'You know you're from Michigan when..." Apparently, according to this, I AM a Michigander! (I only copied the ones that actually applied to me, and I didn't leave out many!)

• You show people where you're from
  by pointing to a spot on the back
  of your left hand. (Especially useful
  if you're from the Thumb or the
  Little Finger.)
  

• The only place in the world can you
  experience all four seasons in one day.
  

• You know what a 'party store' is.
  

• You've never met any celebrities.
  

• "Vacation" means going to Cedar Point.
  

• At least one member of your family disowns you the week of the 
  Michigan / Michigan State game.
  

• Your idea of a traffic jam is 40 cars waiting to pass an orange barrel.
  

• Half the change in your pocket is Canadian....eh?
  

• You drive 86 mph on the highway and pass on the right.
  

• You know how to play (and pronounce) Euchre.
  

• It's easy to get Vernor's ginger ale, Better Made chips, Sanders hot fudge sauce, and Faygo pop.
  

• You know how to pronounce "Mackinac."
  

• You've had to switch on the heat and the air conditioning in the same day.
  

• You bake with SODA and drink POP.

• The word "thumb" has geographical rather than anatomical significance.

• You measure distance in minutes.
  

• When giving directions, you refer to "A Michigan Left."
  

• You know that Kalamazoo not only exists, but is only 100 miles fom Hell.
  

• Your year has two seasons: Winter and Construction.
  

• Home Depot on any Saturday is busier than toy stores at Christmas.
  

• You know when it has rained because of the smell of worms.

• You can see a car running in a parking lot with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
  

• You end your sentences with a preposition; example: "Where's my coat at?"

• You carry jumper cables and snow chains in your trunk.
  

• You design your kids' Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
  

• Driving in the winter is better because the pot-holes are filled with snow.
  

• Your favorite holidays are Christmas,Thanksgiving, and the opening of Deer Season, which  you consider a National Holiday.
  

• You have 10 favorite recipes for venison.

• Shoveling the driveway constitutes a great upper body workout. 

• The "Big Three" means either Ford, Chrysler and GM, or Little Caesar's,Domino's, or Hungry Howie's.

• You have experienced frostbite and sunburn in the same week.

Mother's Day

It's been awhile since I've updated. Mostly because the same ol' stuff is happening. We've been working crazy around the house, I've been trying to get organized (with little success, mind you), and Jer has been working a lot. I did manage to squeeze in some girlfriend time on Friday night with my old roomies: Teresa, Natalie, and Becky. It was a great 'roomie-union' and we had a lot of fun catching up. I haven't had a night out in awhile, so it was nice. I hope we do again soon.

Yesterday, I had the perfect Mother's day. I spent all day Saturday cleaning like a mad woman, trying to get stuff done so that I wouldn't have to do much on Mother's day except relax, and that's pretty much what I did, it was wonderful. I did, however, have to get up very early (6am) to get myself and the kids ready for church early for praise team practice. Jeremy led worship (and did a wonderful job) and I sang Soprano. Service was awesome, such a great way to tribute mothers and dedicate all the babies in the congregation. I, of course, teared up in both services.

My parents came to second service, which was very special to me (they don't regularly attend church anymore) so my heart was full to see them there to celebrate mother's day with me and to see Jeremy lead.

After church, we came home, put the kids down for a nap, and Jeremy made me lunch (ham sandwhiches and pickles - I know, we're fancy!) and we enjoyed our quiet time together, catching up on The Office. When the kids woke up, we dedicated some time to just enjoying them, playing/wrestling/tickling/laughing with them and savor being parents. They are, after all, the reason I am a mother. We had a yummy dinner, got the kids in bed, and put up another layer of mud in the kitchen (which was the only real work I did all day - but I didn't mind, cause I'm so anxious to get our kitchen finished!). Then we layed in bed and watched a few more episodes of The Office. It was the perfect day. I slept well with a full heart. =]

Kitchen Makeover - Part I

Some of you know this story, but if not, here's the abbreviated version:

February 7th, we had a warm day and all the ice and snow started to melt...into my house! My kitchen flooded and it was basically pouring in. Jeremy was, of course, out of town so I had to find someone to come take care of the issue. We had a restoration company come in to dry it out, and ended up finding a whole mess of other issues in the kitchen. We have a 2 ft. overhang in the kitchen and it's basically rotted out, down to the studs. Mold, leaks, the works. They tour out that entire wall, so for the last three months, I've been living with no sink or dishwasher (and let me tell you how OVER IT I am!)

After no returned calls, people not showing up, terrible luck, waiting on insurance, etc....we FINALLY got to work on the kitchen!!! We ended up calling my brother-in-law, Kirk, to come over for the weekend and help. Here's the result of the weekend work:

After ripping off the aluminum siding, we discovered it was actually overtop wood siding, probably painted with lead paint. Awesome.

Probably the most fun part of the project for the boys - demolition!

Goodbye rotted wall....hello breeze! Praise the Lord for a nice weather weekend.

Kirk is a pretty handy guy - he did most of the work.

End of day 1 - wall up. siding started. Electricity back on.

And...a new wall!! We had to get a new meter box, too cause there were a whole bunch of problems with the old one, of course.

Now, white would not be my first choice for siding, but it matches the white aluminum siding on the rest of the house, and since we can't afford to side the rest of the house for now, white will be just fine. It still looks a million times better than before. Nice work boys!! This week, Jeremy and I will be working on the inside...hopefully by this time next week, my kitchen will be put back together! YAY =]

Aside from the construction site that was our house this weekend, I got to have a nice visit with April and the boys. And, I got to meet my 3 week old nephew, Brennen!!! Here are pictures from what went on behind the scenes:

My sweet nephew, Brennen, 3 weeks old.

Faith enjoying her new helmet and scooter!

Cousins - Brennen, Isaiah, Faith, Caleb, and Jack

LOL - Love these kids! They were pretty great all weekend. Can't wait to see them again in two weeks!

For Grown-ups

I have nothing profound to enlighten you with today...but, I'm bored. Just waiting on Kirk, April, and the boys to get here for the weekend!!!! =]

Are you tired of all those surveys made up by high school kids where half the questions have no bearing on your life? Here are questions for people who are a little older.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Probably the mortgage, it's hurts my bank account the most.

2. Do you miss being a child?
Not really. I miss the simplicity of being a child, and the carefree spirit, but I love living my own life.

3. Chore you hate the most?
Dishes! By a mile

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
B-Dubs. We're really fancy...

5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
I would have made better decisions with  my money.

6. Name of your first grade teacher?
Ms. Wedel

7. What do you really want to be doing?

Visiting with April and the boys, I wish they were here already!

8. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A famous singer. Or a teacher.

9. How many “colleges” did you attend?
1

10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
I love it, but it's a Saint Patty's shirt (with a Detroit D on it), so I never get to wear it. I was just lounging around the house today, cleaning, so I thought..."Why not?"

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Better than they were.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
NOO!!

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
What do I need to get done tomorrow?

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Christina Aguilera. I know, I know.

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle
Yes.

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
I would love to say yes. I need to do more volunteering now, cause I love it.

17. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in

18. What is your favorite cartoon character?
This is a survey for grown-ups? Umm...I dunno...Ariel

20. When did you first start feeling old?
I don't feel old. I feel better every year.

21. Favorite lunch meat?
Turkey

22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Sweet tea.

23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Absolutely not.

24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
I actually thought 'The Ice Princess' was adorable. And, I loved the soundtrack. 

25. What's your favorite drink?
Sweet tea

26. Who[m] from high school would you like to run into?
Elizabeth Martin. I think about her all the time. Miss that girl, wonder how she's doing.

27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
Either 95.5 or 106.5

28. sopranos or desperate housewives? 

I don't watch either, but I'd watch Desperate Housewives

29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Not listening to friends' advice

30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?
I don't sit at work. Ever.

31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
No.

32. Last book you finished reading?
Click Clack Moo Cows that Type (with Faith)

33. Do you have a teddy bear?
Yes. His name is Bamalama.

34. Do you go to church?
Yes.

35. How old are you?
26