hummm.

Last night Hannah was dressing up some of her dolls, and bringing them out to show me. This one was so, umm, beautifully dressed, that I decided to take a picture of her. Notice the details.... bow on sock in hair, I-dog scarf around her neck, etc., etc.





This is how Brody presented himself to me this morning. I think he took a few pointers from the doll.

Story of the day

Great Game.


What are the rules? I said & she said, Do exactly what I want whenever I want, make no demands of me whatsoever & love me forever, no questions asked & I said, how do you win? & she said, you don't understand. I'm the only one who wins & then she laughed & clapped her hands. Isn't it a great game? she said.
--- Story People

Snowin' and Blowin'

When the kids left for school this morning, in was a balmy 49 degrees. They were sent home early, because of a blizzard warning predicting high winds. By 3pm, the wind chill was reading 6 below zero. Yep, 55 degree difference. In 7 hours. Why exactly did I think Iowa would be a great place to live again?

a few more....

Eagle Watching

We spent the afternoon today down at the locks doing some eagle watching. It was a glorious day, so warm. You know it has been cold when forty degrees is a heat wave.

---

"Today I overheard an American teenager comparing her deprivation to that of our children, here at the orphanage, because her parents would only buy her a used car. There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives."
-- Paul Cook's Diary ( as told by Richard Paul Evans, in "The Sunflower")

do you see it?

that's me, in his eye. :)

naptime.

funny quote

"A clean house is the sign of a broken computer."


don't know who said this, but it is so true....

something to think about...

Anticipation, as in, something to look forward to, changes the dull and drab every day, into something beautiful and exciting.
May we all begin each day, remembering that we do, indeed, have something to look forward to. Because, I believe if we choose this, this simple way of thinking, we can change even the most routine of days into something magical.

and again ...

As has been the case on many mornings, this morning, I awoke to find our driveway plowed. Proof, once again, that we live next to the best neighbors in the entire world.

Gifts galore

So Steve came home bearing all kinds of gifts. The little boys got Japanese candy, and little toys, Isaiah got a little remote control car, made in Taiwan, of course! Emily got a new bag to carry her school stuff in, and Hannah got a cute t-shirt, and a beautiful purse made in India. And, he didn't leave me out either. I received a beautiful marble in-layed plate, made by hand in India, and some great Starbucks stuff from Taiwan. But, my favorite thing was this paper that the plate was wrapped in. I love it. What does that say, when my favorite gift is the wrapping paper? Who knows? But is is beautiful, don't you think?

He's Home!

.... and all is right in the world.

This morning

So, I went to

take a shower

this morning....

I was a little afraid of what I would find when I came out. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this! They do ocassionally listen!

cold blooded

tanning confessions

I have recently renewed my love affair with tanning. I know it is bad for you, but let me explain. I love tanning for two reasons:
First of all: I have said this before, but tan fat is way more attractive than white fat. No matter how you look at it, this is true. I do not have the time to get into a regular exercise routine. To do that, I would have to go to the YMCA, which is about a 15 minute drive, when you factor in all the lights, so figure an hour to work out, thirty minutes in travel, amounts to an hour and a half per day without my kids. And lets be honest here, if I had that kind of time everyday without my kids, there is no way I would spend it at the gym.
And second: Last week I looked into teeth whitening. Specifically ZOOM whitening. The cost is somewhere between four and nine-hundred dollars. Don't have that kind of money for my teeth. So, I figure, the tanner I get, the whiter my teeth look. It's true, I have before and after pictures, and they are at least four shades whiter.
Valid argument for tanning I think.

seriously?

okay, so, i was coming home from a great dinner with two great women, when the not so great happened. i happened to look at the thermometer. you know, the one that tells you what the temperature is outside. well, it said 0. are you kidding me? ZERO? seriously? this just sucks.

in the shadows

and somewhere, lurking in the shadows of the unknown, something changed. there was no longer space for darkness. whatever hidden spaces that were, were no more. and although the light, at times, was blinding, she knew it was the only way to be fully known.

---

“When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable.
But to grow up is to accept vulnerability… To be alive is to be vulnerable.”
– Madeleine L’Engle

originally posted my my friend janece

M & M's

Micah: Mom, there is something wrong inside my head.
Me: (although I have known this for some time, I act surprised, for his benefit) What is it?
Micah: I don't know, I will have to get back to you on that.