Saturday, July 22, 2006
Stuck in the basement
Okay, Madelyn and I are stuck in the basement right now. Not because we are locked in or anything. Ben is upstairs priming the living room! So, on second thought feel sorry for him! He's all by himself priming a LOT of wall space with oil-based primer. If you aren't familiar with oil-based primer, then be glad. He is probably rather high off the fumes right now. Hence, why I, the prego, is in the basement. The fumes are even starting to smell down here. I might have to go in the backyard soon.... I will take pictures when it is dry and then more when the new color is on the walls. Then again when we have furniture in there, I guess.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Day Date
Yesterday Ben and I went on a "Day Date". We put Madelyn in day care and took the day for ourselves. It was so nice! In the morning, we were able to go for a leisurely breakfast at a restuarant with a patio to enjoy the beautiful morning. The food and service were great too, which made it all that much better! Then we decided to try and tackle a couple of things we've been trying to get down for a couple weeks - buying a rug for our basement and a new microwave. I've realized that when Madelyn is with me in a store, I become even less decisive than I already am naturally. I think it has something to do with my attention being split and feeling like I'm not able to make a good decision. Anyway...these two purchases have been plaquing Ben and me for at least two weeks, so we decided to get it done! And within two hours, we had both things picked and purchased! Man, I felt so productive! After that, we went home for a nice lunch of sausage burgers (Ben has started making these and they are so good!). 
Then we spent the afternoon watching Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man's Chest. I can say that it was good, but not great. I had heard before hand that people thought it was too long. I didn't think it was too long necessarily, just not as good as the first one. I think I could say that the first Pirates is one of my favorite movies currently - not as good as Brother, Where Art Thou, of course, but a good movie. So from there, it was a pleasure to pick up Madelyn and start our normal evening routine of dinner and then hanging out with her before her bedtime. We took a bike ride to a park for her to run off some energy. Nice evening for a bike ride. Here's a pic of Madelyn in her bike trailer. She really loves to get in and go biking with us!
A few weeks ago Ben was asked to preach for our pastor last Sunday. He did a great job! He is asked about once a year to do this and always has something interesting, yet challenging, to talk about. This time it was about the Holy Spirit and an aspect that many of us might not attribute to it - disturbing. But not to leave you disturbed, but to motivate something, usually some sort of change. Then the Spirit enables you to tackle it. This is a quick synopsis of his talk, but I found it encouraging. So many times we are told that the Spirit is a comforter and I know at times It is. But I also can look back at my life and see times that I have been convicted or challenged by the Holy Spirit about my beliefs or my attitude or even my actions. This isn't a comforter, it is challenging and motivating force that makes me analyze myself and my own motivations - not a comfortable place to be for me. I praise God that the Holy Spirit sticks around to enable me and help me work through the issue though.
As I watched church members walk up and thank him for his talk and telling him, honestly, how much they look forward to hearing him speak, I realized something again (as I do from time to time). I'm so proud of Ben and his accomplishments. He is such a hard worker and continues to astound me with his pursuit of knowledge in all the areas of his life. As he works in his 8-5 job, he pursues excellence in his work and continues to move up in his career, earning more and more respect from his colleagues and managers. In his seminary studies, Ben also pursues excellence in his work but what impresses me most here, he is always looking for what God has to say to him through his classes and interactions with his classmates and professors. AND He continues to refine his understanding of God through his own study too. Ben's passion in this pursuit amazes me! This may make it seem like his family gets the shaft, and honestly during the school year, time with Ben is very limited, but Ben somehow spends the time with his family even on the busiest day or week. He is a wonderful father and my best friend. I am so lucky to have such a man as my husband - so lucky. Thank you God for this wonderful gift!
Then we spent the afternoon watching Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man's Chest. I can say that it was good, but not great. I had heard before hand that people thought it was too long. I didn't think it was too long necessarily, just not as good as the first one. I think I could say that the first Pirates is one of my favorite movies currently - not as good as Brother, Where Art Thou, of course, but a good movie. So from there, it was a pleasure to pick up Madelyn and start our normal evening routine of dinner and then hanging out with her before her bedtime. We took a bike ride to a park for her to run off some energy. Nice evening for a bike ride. Here's a pic of Madelyn in her bike trailer. She really loves to get in and go biking with us!A few weeks ago Ben was asked to preach for our pastor last Sunday. He did a great job! He is asked about once a year to do this and always has something interesting, yet challenging, to talk about. This time it was about the Holy Spirit and an aspect that many of us might not attribute to it - disturbing. But not to leave you disturbed, but to motivate something, usually some sort of change. Then the Spirit enables you to tackle it. This is a quick synopsis of his talk, but I found it encouraging. So many times we are told that the Spirit is a comforter and I know at times It is. But I also can look back at my life and see times that I have been convicted or challenged by the Holy Spirit about my beliefs or my attitude or even my actions. This isn't a comforter, it is challenging and motivating force that makes me analyze myself and my own motivations - not a comfortable place to be for me. I praise God that the Holy Spirit sticks around to enable me and help me work through the issue though.
As I watched church members walk up and thank him for his talk and telling him, honestly, how much they look forward to hearing him speak, I realized something again (as I do from time to time). I'm so proud of Ben and his accomplishments. He is such a hard worker and continues to astound me with his pursuit of knowledge in all the areas of his life. As he works in his 8-5 job, he pursues excellence in his work and continues to move up in his career, earning more and more respect from his colleagues and managers. In his seminary studies, Ben also pursues excellence in his work but what impresses me most here, he is always looking for what God has to say to him through his classes and interactions with his classmates and professors. AND He continues to refine his understanding of God through his own study too. Ben's passion in this pursuit amazes me! This may make it seem like his family gets the shaft, and honestly during the school year, time with Ben is very limited, but Ben somehow spends the time with his family even on the busiest day or week. He is a wonderful father and my best friend. I am so lucky to have such a man as my husband - so lucky. Thank you God for this wonderful gift!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The joys of motherhood
Disclaimer: This is definitely a doting mother post, beware!
Man, I didn't know how much life would change having a child! One of the big things that changes is what makes you jump for joy! The smallest achievements by your child will put you in a joyous frenzy! Now I understand the parents that would say things like, "Did you see that?!?" or "I am so proud of Bobby!" when it seems like what Bobby did wasn't so great...but that was before I had my own! I think it has something to do with seeing them grow from not being able to do anything - not even really cry, eat, or sleep right! Then you watch them grow from this helpless state to being able to do things themselves. Maybe that is what highlights the fact that they can do those things so much more.
Okay, all of that to introduce the topic of....Madelyn's recent achievements! She is such a smart girl! In the past two weeks there have been two achievements worth noting. 1. She no longer uses her "pi" (pacifier) because Mom (me) took them away on June 23rd. But that wasn't her achievement! Her achievement was learning in a weeks time that she didn't need it and is now going to bed peacefully without it! I'm so proud! 2. She pooped in her potty last Sunday! I was so surprised! She was in the bathtub and started to make those signature grunting sounds and I knew what was coming. So, I pulled her out of the tub and put her on her potty. But again that wasn't her achievement! Her achievement was deciding to stay there for the next couple minutes until she was done doing her thing and then saying "All done!" And again I found myself proud (and not knowing what exactly to do with what I found in her potty)! I think she is closer and closer all the time to being ready to potty-train. However, I DO NOT want to deal with the whole issue until she is really ready. So I'm not pushing it yet.
And there you go. Two very strong examples of why motherhood changes a person and what she can find herself jumping for joy about.
Man, I didn't know how much life would change having a child! One of the big things that changes is what makes you jump for joy! The smallest achievements by your child will put you in a joyous frenzy! Now I understand the parents that would say things like, "Did you see that?!?" or "I am so proud of Bobby!" when it seems like what Bobby did wasn't so great...but that was before I had my own! I think it has something to do with seeing them grow from not being able to do anything - not even really cry, eat, or sleep right! Then you watch them grow from this helpless state to being able to do things themselves. Maybe that is what highlights the fact that they can do those things so much more.Okay, all of that to introduce the topic of....Madelyn's recent achievements! She is such a smart girl! In the past two weeks there have been two achievements worth noting. 1. She no longer uses her "pi" (pacifier) because Mom (me) took them away on June 23rd. But that wasn't her achievement! Her achievement was learning in a weeks time that she didn't need it and is now going to bed peacefully without it! I'm so proud! 2. She pooped in her potty last Sunday! I was so surprised! She was in the bathtub and started to make those signature grunting sounds and I knew what was coming. So, I pulled her out of the tub and put her on her potty. But again that wasn't her achievement! Her achievement was deciding to stay there for the next couple minutes until she was done doing her thing and then saying "All done!" And again I found myself proud (and not knowing what exactly to do with what I found in her potty)! I think she is closer and closer all the time to being ready to potty-train. However, I DO NOT want to deal with the whole issue until she is really ready. So I'm not pushing it yet.
And there you go. Two very strong examples of why motherhood changes a person and what she can find herself jumping for joy about.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Sarah, on my mind
Today, Sarah would have been 9 years old...
For those that don't know, Sarah is the daughter that I lost in college when I was only 22 weeks pregnant. If you are a friend and it isn't something that has come up in conversation with you, don't think that I am trying to keep it quiet. It is an odd topic to come up in conversation and it probably just didn't have an opportunity to surface yet. I don't mind talking about it at all! Sarah was a blessing to me in many ways.
Needless to say, though, today is a bittersweet day for me. Sad that she couldn't stay with me but blessed to have had her in my life. God really used her little life to speak to me in so many ways.
The hard part for me this year is that I am 24 weeks pregnant right now. To be in such a similar physical state (yet, SUCH a different place in life) to where I was when I lost Sarah leaves me feeling very odd. Odd because I know that this child has such a better chance at life than she did and that Pipsqueak wouldn't have that great chance at life if it wasn't for Sarah. Even though it feels so wrong, I mourn my loss of Sarah but praise God that Madleyn and Pipsqueak (and the children I might carry in the future) don't have to endure the same hardship because of what I learned through my experience with her.
Ben and I were discussing how my life would have been different if Sarah had made it or if she would never have been conceived at all. And in either case, I think my life would have been impacted greatly! Ben then mentioned that any birth of a child - first, fourth, planned, or unplanned - changes the lives of its parents. How true! Sarah, Madelyn, and now Pipsqueak have definitely changed mine... and I love them all for it!
I miss you, Sarah.
For those that don't know, Sarah is the daughter that I lost in college when I was only 22 weeks pregnant. If you are a friend and it isn't something that has come up in conversation with you, don't think that I am trying to keep it quiet. It is an odd topic to come up in conversation and it probably just didn't have an opportunity to surface yet. I don't mind talking about it at all! Sarah was a blessing to me in many ways.
Needless to say, though, today is a bittersweet day for me. Sad that she couldn't stay with me but blessed to have had her in my life. God really used her little life to speak to me in so many ways.
The hard part for me this year is that I am 24 weeks pregnant right now. To be in such a similar physical state (yet, SUCH a different place in life) to where I was when I lost Sarah leaves me feeling very odd. Odd because I know that this child has such a better chance at life than she did and that Pipsqueak wouldn't have that great chance at life if it wasn't for Sarah. Even though it feels so wrong, I mourn my loss of Sarah but praise God that Madleyn and Pipsqueak (and the children I might carry in the future) don't have to endure the same hardship because of what I learned through my experience with her.
Ben and I were discussing how my life would have been different if Sarah had made it or if she would never have been conceived at all. And in either case, I think my life would have been impacted greatly! Ben then mentioned that any birth of a child - first, fourth, planned, or unplanned - changes the lives of its parents. How true! Sarah, Madelyn, and now Pipsqueak have definitely changed mine... and I love them all for it!
I miss you, Sarah.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
WORSE before it gets better
Ya'know the old saying, "It will get worse before it gets better"? Well our house definitely looks worse than it did a week ago! It is a disaster area! I host a Bible study at my house every other week and they are going to have to have some grace tonight when they arrive. We might have enough places to sit for study but the area isn't going to look nice! The reason that it is so crazy is that we are painting and things are being moved around to accomodate. However, there is a lot of stuff that has been pulled out of corners that we put them in temporarily *a year ago* too. Going through it now to figure out where the stuff should go isn't easy for me!
My problem is that I'm a moderate packrat (that might be putting it too lightly). I like to hold on to things. I always hold on to things not for a specific purpose but with the thought, "This might come in handy one day." And now I have to pay the price and get rid of at least half of the stuff that "might have come in handy" because it is cluttering my house! Maybe I need to come up with some rules for myself on keeping things. So, what might these rules be to keep a random "something"...
My problem is that I'm a moderate packrat (that might be putting it too lightly). I like to hold on to things. I always hold on to things not for a specific purpose but with the thought, "This might come in handy one day." And now I have to pay the price and get rid of at least half of the stuff that "might have come in handy" because it is cluttering my house! Maybe I need to come up with some rules for myself on keeping things. So, what might these rules be to keep a random "something"...
- Must have a specific use
- Must be used within a year (is this reasonable? does this mean that I need to date it?)
- If not used, must leave the house!
- If kept for sentimental reasons, must fit inside assigned tote (1-2 totes for sentimentals?)
So, hopefully my self-imposed rules will help as I go through the plethora of boxes that need to be sorted sitting around the house.
As I said in my last post, we worked on painting the grand canyon wall this past weekend. It didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped. Moving the piano, though heavy, and taking the mural posters off the wall went well. The grand canyon just peeled off the wall and the adhesive was thick but after about 6 or 7 applications of adhesive remover, it came off the wall rather nicely as well. It still left some places that needed to be patched, though, and this is where our problems started. Something about the wall in those places didn't like the putty or the primer we are using. We don't know if it is something about the paint that was under the mural or what, but it bubbled up real bad! So Ben scraped those areas back off and started again. It looks like what he did this time is going to work, but it has added a lot of time on to our "painting the grand canyon wall" timeline. I think he will be able to finish it tomorrow night though! Yea! Then we will be one more wall closer to our goal of getting the first floor painted!
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