Quote to Remember

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."  C.S.Lewis

Easter 2010

It was SO GOOD to see the Rhodes side of the family for Easter this year. It had been WAY too long. I now have TWO nephews that I don't get to see nearly enough. Madelyn had two days off school on either side of Easter (her spring break). So, we took advantage and roadtriped to Oklahoma. Again, Momma-Susan spoiled us rotten and fed us very well, the weather was simply beautiful, and everyone seemed to have a great time! The roadtrip down and back even went well. The kids have ended up being great travelers - so glad about that!

Highlights of the trip:

• Seeing Sam and MEETING ISAAC and loving all over them!
• Susan's cooking
• watching Mad and Grey interact with and get loved on by the rest of the family
• Grey enamored with the airgun
• Madelyn drawing and coloring a whole book full of pictures for Aunt Stephanie!
• the three older grandkids, and the (grand)parents, LOVING the Easter egg hunt.
• the best dress I've made to date
• reading the Easter story (via a book called "Benjamin's Box") to the family the night before Easter
• the BEAUTIFUL Easter day that God gave us!
• .... the rick-diculously large remote that Greyson brought home with him.

I'd have to say, this Easter trip was egg-cellent!

34 and still counting

Today I turned 34. I'm happy admitting it. I love being a 30-something. I feel more sure of who I am and where I am going than any other time in my life. I like that.

However, my sister sent me a card this year that made me laugh. She said, "Is this when we start enabling each other to be in denial about our age? I think so! :)" Okay, sis, you just aren't old enough yet (she's 28) and I didn't think I was old enough yet.... Liz, you trying to say I'm old? jk, I know what you are saying.

Today was a wonderful day. My friends and family have loved on me all day. This morning, we all had breakfast together and I was given my gifts. A dress (to wear out this evening), a teapot I've been eyeing, the Juno soundtrack, and my sister's gift of a sushi press. I loved that all the presents were not generic gifts but ones picked specifically for me. Something I want to remember: Madelyn has been making me birthday cards ALL DAY! She made one last night, two this morning, two at school (as well as her best friend and her student teacher), and two more after she got home. I love that she loves me THAT much!

The day was fun and I felt very loved, but now for the great part. After feeding the kids mac&cheese and settling them in with a babysitter, we headed out to a VERY nice restaurant. This is how Ben started our outing. I thought it very clever and cute.

Did you see that? The Oceanaire! The best seafood restaurant in town! And man, did we eat up. I'm so full right now, I'm gonna bust. It was terrific, thanks babe. Thanks for some real adult conversation, great food, and a great time! You know how to make an "old" girl feel special!

Oh, and these were on my table when I got home. My daddy knows how to make me feel special too.... love you, Daddy!

Family Picture

This family picture is actually a bit old - from Thanksgiving - but I pulled it out from the files to print for Madelyn.  (She needed one to take to school.)  I thought while I had it out, I'd post it too.  I love you, crazy Rhodes!

Crap (I mean Craft) Room

Call me crazy, call me a packrat, call me embarrassed.... all I have to say is that something has GOT to change soon or I'm gonna completely lose it. You see, I have this room that I call my "craft room" and Ben calls my "crap room" (figure that I can't be upset when he's speaking truth). It is busting at the seams! Here, take a look:

this is the door into said room...

these are the 16 boxes of boys clothes that DON'T fit Grey anymore... (and a couple of really cute Easter type suits) [Come to think of it, I should ask in sis-in-laws if I should bring clothes down at Easter time.]

and the fabric corner...

and one of two baby paraphernalia corners (that we just might need one day)...

this is the pile that drives me the most crazy - the stuff piled up to leave and the bins I've bought to help organize the stuff that will stay...

but don't worry, there is a "place" for me to sit and sew (but barely)...

I would love to organize this room. Once, four years ago, I had a friend come over to organize it with me (Thanks, Sarah W!) and it stayed that way for about 2 weeks. Maybe a little longer, I don't remember. My issue is that a lot of stuff would leave if ... well, what is my hold up? Maybe I can do some processing here.

The kind of things I feel need to stay are:

• select baby toys, swing, exersaucer, and crib - we don't know what is ahead of us in the realm of foster care. I think that makes sense - right?
• fabrics that don't have any specific project - scraps are sometimes big enough to do something else with and I guess part of me is dreaming of doing a scrap quilt someday
• craft items that could, and do, come in handy - baskets, dowel rods, old fish bowls, old curtains, picture frames are all things that were kept in a time of non-use and came in handy later
  
• sentimental knick-knacks that aren't currently on display - so much of this is just stuff but is so hard to see go
• extra blankets and comforters - we have been in several situations where ALL of our blankets and comforters were in use. I can't in good conscience get rid of something that we would only have to replace
  

There is A LOT of stuff that needs to go though. There are boxes upon boxes and bags upon bags of clothes that are no longer necessary in our household. There are baby and children's toys that are no longer age appropriate or necessary for our children. There are suitcases that aren't used. And here is my dilemma - I don't want to give them to the Goodwill or Salvation Army because I would rather give them to people that need them or want them for free!

Just as I wrote that, it seemed silly. Silly because I am holding on this stuff hoping to find the "best" place to give it and it is ending up not being of any good use. Silly because I'm saying that I can determine where the best places are. Silly because I am surrounded mostly by families that don't NEED these hand-me-downs but the Goodwill and/or Salvation Army can make these things available to people that do. Granted, if I knew of the perfect family for any of this stuff, it would be bagged up and delivered. (I've been known to do this. Really I have!)

Nevermind.... I guess my next job will be to pull everything out and make a list of it. As a last call, I could email my list out to all my other mom friends to see if anyone wants to make any claims. Then, everything left will get loaded up in my van and taken to the Goodwill. [Or maybe I should talk to Ben about having a garage sale... it would be our first.] Sounds like a plan.

The good news is that I think with the removal of these things, I could easily organize the above list of things in my spacious CRAFT room. Whew... maybe you've helped me solve my problem and I *won't* lose it! At least not for this reason. Thanks for listening! And if you have any anti-packrat advice, lay it on me!

PS - Steph and Chris, so you want me to bring the boys clothes to pass off at Easter?

Can I call it Spring?

Starting to warm up around here!! YEA!

On another note, just yesterday I stepped my big toe back into the engineering ring! I took on a part-time job (5-10 hours/week) working for the group I left in Nov 2007. I will be doing tech writing for them FROM HOME! I think this will be great because I'll be able to stay in the loop and be home with my kids... then maybe one day take a bigger step back. Right now I've made absolutely clear that Greyson and I are a package deal and that if I have to come in to the office, I most likely have him with me. And that I might not be working doing work hours because that is the time I spend with my kids.... They have been so understanding of this and I have felt so blessed. Yesterday, the group took Greyson and I out to lunch to welcome us. I am so excited to start this new adventure! And to think, if I hadn't quit 2.5 years ago and been in the office to visit back in November at just the right time, this probably would never have come together.... I'm so blessed. Thank you, God!