Monday, November 29, 2010

PEACE...

Dear Justice, JC Penney, Dillards, Younkers, Children's Place and Claire's (feel free to insert your favorite children's store here),

Does everything in your store have to have the peace sign on it?  I'm all for hoping, wishing, and praying for world peace.  I mean come one now....who doesn't want that?  Will we get it quicker if the peace emblem is plastered all over the notebooks and earrings, and sweat pants, and brushes, and sweaters, and coats, and pillowcases and....well everything you sell at your store? 

Also, could you please ask your salespeople not to look at someone like they are a two-headed monster when they ask, "Can I get this without the peace sign on it?"  or "Point me in the direction of something, anything that doesn't have the peace sign on it?"  I already feel enough like a fish out of water when shopping in the tweeny-boppers section, surrounded by glitter and fur and all things sparkly.  I don't need "Tiffany" looking at me like I'm the daughter of Hitler. 

Thanks for listening and if possible could I get something by Christmas??

Peace....out.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

BLESSINGS...

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.


Thank you Lord....

for your grace, the gift of salvation you give freely, and your love.
for Christian parents who raised me with the foundation of faith.
for the freedom we have in this country to worship you freely.
for the men and women who have given their lives to ensure this freedom.
for a husband who is quite possibly the most well-adjusted, normal person I have ever met and that makes him the perfect complement for a neurotic person such as myself :-)!
for a husband who works long hours to support our family and still finds time to help with homework, and housework, and play with kids who adore him.
for a first-born who is just like her daddy, laid back, sweet, unbothered by much and who is quickly becoming more companion than someone who needs to be cared for. 
for a youngest child who is just starting to find his way in this world and who never meets a quiet space he can't fill with words and laughter.
for parents who I can call anytime I need to talk.
for parents and in-laws who are active participants in their grandkid's lives.
for my sister and the important role she plays in the lives of her niece and nephew.
for cousins who are also friends.
for a close-knit extended family.
for answered prayers over the last year.
for the hard times that have drawn me closer to you.
for calling Sam and I to send our kids to a school where your Word is taught, where your name is revered in the classroom and not just used as a cuss word, and where teachers and students are free to pray with and for each other.
for our church, a place that ministers to over 700 children a week.
for children who are healthy.
for lives free from disability, pain, or disease.
for a warm, comfortable home.
for a car that runs.
for jobs that provide more than we need.
for a fall that was so pleasant, sunny and warm.

For all this and more we thank you!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

CATCH UP...

Barely keeping my head above water here trying to kick some kind of weird, mutant cold that I picked up somewhere!  I've been fighting it for 2.5 weeks and it is getting VERY discouraging!!!  Kind of makes doing anything hard, even blogging. (And really how hard can sitting on the couch, typing on a keyboard be but that is how much this alien is kicking my behind!)

So until things get back to normal. let me leave you with this picture of the kids on International Day at their school (International Day takes the place of Halloween).  One benefit of traveling to China is being able to pick up authentic outfits for them to wear!!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

168 HOURS....

Starting now I'm on 168 hours of minimal kid duty!!  Woo Hoo!!  Don't get me wrong...I love the little humans but I've been looking forward to this for a while now!!  Sam is on vacation and we aren't going anywhere so....again I say woo hoo!!  He keeps telling me about all these projects he's going to do this week (i.e. replace the faucet, work in the basement, winter-proof the garage).  Not quite sure how he's going to get all that done between school runs, helping in the classroom, chauffeuring to swimming and piano, parent lunch, homework, baths, and bedtime. 

Now don't go and start feeling sorry for him....I'll help....a little! 

as little as possible!! :-)