Sunday, June 29, 2008

Treading Water

Chris's job with the church isn't going to happen. He found out on Friday that they (senior pasters)want a more "jr high type" guy. That's code for high energy, scrape me off the rafters, did you remember your underwear?, Do ya know Jesus, huh, huh, huh.. kind of minister. Clearly not my husband.

Now he/we has/have to figure out what to do for employment for him. I'm still teaching, so we've got our steady source of income. But he's about done with not having a job. It really messes with the male psyche to not have a way to provide for the family. So, we've got choices to pursue: go back to teaching, search for and take any ministry job that comes along, try a whole new career path... He/we just don't know right now.

The good news in all of this is that if he gets a reasonable job, we are firmly committed to paying off our debt within a year and fixing the house in the ways it needs to be fixed. Trees/roof/drywall in certain places/deck/fence/new flooring. I also have designs on a new to me car and a new downstairs couch. Those, of course, are simply dreams at the moment. We can do this because we have made it on just my salary (with well timed God interventions) for the last year. Now we just need the job.

Can I say how much I hate not having a direction to pursue? Like my oldest son, I want a plan to know exactly what needs to be done, and a visual timeline is a nice perk. I will pester whoever is in charge until I get it out of them. Sorry God. It's gonna happen. Having no idea what to do is hard. And I don't tread water really well. I feel like I've been treading for a long time and that's where I don't do well. But I'm working on being content in all situations. Content with my faith and my God. I really should go back and read that part of Scripture more often.

So it's Sunday afternoon. Chris is finally getting some sleep (he's been up and anxious since Friday when the bad news came down). Josh is finally getting some sleep (his schedule is all whacked out and he's been going to bed late, getting up early). Ryan is having a water fight outside with the neighbor kids. And I get some peace and quiet. Ahhhhh... there it is... contentment.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Not enough sleep?

Apparently someone isn't getting enough sleep. Yes, Josh falls asleep during dinner anytime he doesn't like what's being served.
Passive aggressive? Maybe.
Just notice the shirts. These are all different times in the last few months.


I don't ever remember falling asleep like this during a meal. Oh yeah, he is O-U-T OUT. Usually he sleeps for about 45 minutes. Then is in bed by 8:30. Someone should probably be taking a nap still, but that is just not going to happen regularly when you have an older brother.


Crazy kids..

Monday, June 23, 2008

Monday Madness

Mondays are crazy, even when I'm not in school. This is the first real Monday of summer, with nothing much planned, so I got to start "home school", "Earn the X-Box" chart, "this is how you play with no one helping you" time, cook dinner together and rush to the swim lessons. Oh the fun.

I went looking for left handed scissors at Wal-Mart. No such luck. Gonna have to go to the teacher supply no doubt. Of course, I'm struggling with the thought of just teaching Josh to cut with his right hand. He's still young enough. We'll see how he takes to it before I purchase the lefty scissors.

All in all, I wish more days were like this. With the exception of Chris's dark mood while he struggles with how to approach the church about his job, it's been a great day. Keep us in your prayers. Just 9 more weeks until school starts. :)

Saturday, June 21, 2008

And I finally decided....

on cooking Mexican Jambalaya. Ok, so I got a little creative and it came out great. I mixed 1 can of corn, crushed tomatoes, and black beans with the leftover fajita chicken and sauteed onions/peppers (cut into bite sized pieces). I then seasoned it with cumin, garlic, chili powder, cayenne and about 2 tablespoons of chunky salsa. I served it over Jasmine rice and the family loved it.

Now, for today.....

Friday, June 20, 2008

Summer dinners

What to cook for supper? It's the age old cry of moms and wives around the world. I really think some poor lady in deepest, darkest Africa is trying to decide what to throw in the pot. So, being the resourceful one that I am (and having internet access), I make my way over to Kraftfoods.com and get inspired in less than 10 minutes.

Now,if anyone wonders why we have this problem, I can tell them why. It's all the variables. I've got a kitchen full of food. I have several leftovers that I'd rather not waste. I have everyone at home (think portions and likes/dislikes). I have to leave for swim lessons at 5:30. And I have the option of fast food of any kind less than 5 minutes away. No wonder I don't know what to do for dinner.

Right now I'm torn between fajita omelettes and southwest casserole. But Wendy's is calling loudly. And then there are those pork chops that need to be eaten in the next day or so. So, time to stop playing on the computer and go make a decision.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

SummerTIME, summerTIME, sum, sum, summerTIME...

Summer is here! It's time for days of leisurely breakfast, boys in pjs until 9 am (at least). Lots of X-box and puzzles and reading and X-box and coloring and videos and swimming and X-box. Josh has become addicted, finally joining my other 2 boys, in the joy of video gaming. They are currently sitting on the couch, all 3 of them, discussing the best way to attack the latest problem in Star Wars Lego. One is in his underwear, one is wearing shorts and one is dressed in blue jeans and a very wrinkled T-shirt. I won't tell which one is doing which.

So I find myself with TIME on my hands... Something I'm really not used to... TIME to do anything I want. First time in over 8 years I have time without someone hollering at me, needing something. The little boys have reached the ages where they can take themselves to the bathroom, play with each other without needed intervention for hours at a time. And they are also old enough to be fun for the husband to play with. And they share a common hobby. So I have the next few weeks to figure out what to do with my time.

I've got lots of options. I could start working out. I have the gym membership, after all. I could find a hobby. I could spend more time in prayer and Bible study. I could catch up with friends who have forgotten all about me since I seldom return their calls. I could read another book. I could clean the house. I could create an elaborate management system to get the household moving in the right direction. I could terrorize the MIL with vacuuming the upstairs. Oh, the options... What's a girl to do?? Help!!

I don't know what to do. Guess I'll go make lunch for now. We'll see what happens later.

To Be Continued.....

Thursday, June 12, 2008

FLEAS!

Ugh! I hate 'em.. Fleas are a part of life every summer. And poor poor Blazer, they just won't leave him alone. So, it was time to head to GNC to get some of that old stand by: Brewer's Yeast. Add a little garlic powder to that every night, and that dear pup should be good to go. My mom did this with our dogs growing up and they almost never had flea issues.

I also just found out that Diatomaceous Earth (found in the garden center) with some Borax mixed in seems to be an all around winner for treating the house and yard. They say that you've gotta let it sit for a few days, though. Can't wait to see if it really works.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

HAIR, pt. 2

My hair loss is finally back to normal. I got it chopped. I now have this cute "summer" thing that is SHORT. I'll say it again, SHORT. But at least I don't have to battle looking like a cancer patient any more.

It's funny to me that I'm the only one (other than people I live with) who noticed anything wrong... people at work were clueless. Church folks were clueless. Now they all just think I got tired of long hair. And I'm ok with that. I kinda learned that what's big for me, isn't for other people. I would get so sad in the mornings when I had to comb out my hair, knowing that the "mass follicle exodus" was waiting. But others had no idea where I was in my head. They couldn't even tell with a cursory glance. And that is all we normally give people, right? Just a quick once over and then we move on. I mean unless something is glaring we just don't get it. And this goes for hair as well as our own spiritual conditions.

So maybe my hair loss is one big metaphor. Look closely at people, with their good in mind. You'll probably see more than you expected to see.