What Did You Do This Week?

I did this.

I finished my schooling at Grand Canyon University. I love learning, and I am so grateful that God saw fit to allow me to accomplish both of my degrees, but my goodness I am thrilled to be finished.
My biggest problem now is putting my priorities back together. This is a challenge for me. Especially after doing 13 hours of homework on Saturday to finish my assignments before Thanksgiving, I feel I may have broken my brain.

• First priority holidays. Normally by now we have done some family activity to express our thanks and help others, I have completed my shopping, and we are planning our month of December full of memorable outings or hours in front of the television watching Hallmark movies. I am behind. My schedule I mean.

We are traveling for Thanksgiving, which means I don't have to host, which means I don't have to clean, which is why I am typing here instead of cleaning. OK that isn't the only reason, and we both know it. BUT that will change upon our return.
My once organized rental house has begun to feel the sting of clutter. It isn't insurmountable, but it's gotta go. Plus, it's a great time to sell things on Craig's List. People need presents; I need less stuff. We go together.

• Next is exercise. I feel the namer of exercise did us all a serious injustice by not having this word begin with an "f". It would make me feel better to call it an "F-word." Anyway, I need to be doing it. And eating healthier. It must be done. The noises my 35 year old body now make when I- well, do ANYthing are rude. 
• Finally, hobbies. I have five that I want to reintroduce in abundance. 
• My camera. I haven't taken nearly enough photos this year, which is sad because it was a landmark year. (Can a year be a landmark? Well, it was.)
• My guitar. My sweet Rosalie. We will be together again. I will set goals to master you.
• Scrapbooking. I love it. I really, really love it. I miss it.
• Books. Some new friends invited me to join their book club. I am thrilled. 
• Showering. Gone are the days of choosing between homework, eating, cleaning, and showering. With homework taking most of that time, I should be freer in my choices.

I am excited for new seasons that have nothing to do with the weather. Seasons that have much more to do with my husband, my children, settling in, and, frankly, myself. Who knows, maybe San Deigo will get to see The Man and I attempt our first half-marathon after all. Or maybe I will make him take me to Hawaii.

Working Class Citizen

I gotta job. I love my job. I am currently the first and third grade instructional aid who gets to work with mostly English language learners (ELLs) and the lower guys (both my favorite groups). I might enjoy the stories I leave with as much as I enjoy the kids who tell them.
Scene- I am working with a group of four students, all ELLs, on the floor of the hallway outside the classroom. I am teaching math.
Me: Who can tell me something you know about this shape?
Student 1: It has four pointers.
Me: Very good, it has four points. Anyone else have something to add?
Student 2: It has four sides.
Me: Great observation. Who else can add to that?
Student 3 (the funny one): My grandma had a butt surgery. She went to the hospital and they cut her butt right here (points to butt) and they sewed it up. (pause) she showed me.
Me: That's nasty.
Student 3: Yeah. And, that's a square.
Me: (I just sit there for a bit, unable to recover).

Scene- I am pulling students out one at a time to set reading goals for the next month.
Me: N. Can you tell me something you are good at?
N: (without hesitation) My Spanish accent.
Me: (impressed) WOW that's awesome. You can speak Spanish? Can you say something to me in Spanish?
N: (with eyes that are attempting to control my brain as she sinks into her chair like a villain, she breaths) Spanish-aye
Me: (I just sit there for a bit, unable to recover).

Thankful Through My Senses

I was thinking of making my list of what makes me thankful this year of 2011. There is much, truly. Here is a quick, condensed version based on my senses.
Hear: I am thankful when I hear my husband's jeep coming around the corner. Not only that he has a car to drive, but a job to come home from, and no doubt a smooch waiting to be planted on every one of us.

See: I am thankful to look around my house and see we are trading in the old hand me downs for meaningful, better fitting furniture. My green piano, my cozy couches, my rustic with a touch of country entertainment center. 

Smell: Fireplaces burning which means it is time for snuggling and baking and crafting and holidays.

Taste: Coffee. The end.

Feel: My children's kisses and hugs and snuggles and attempts at being human blankets. 

I am grateful.

Autumn Passing Into Peace

Sometimes God will give us a word before we realize we need it. It's just another way he loves us. He prepares us without us knowing we need to be prepared. Sometimes we hear a teaching or have a conversation or receive news, and our brains will send  little spark of recollection that God has already equipped us for this. This is that time for me.
Autumn Passing Into Peace

The year's slipping away,
but my coffee is warm.
There is so much to say,
but the words will not form.

Your blessings are vast;
it's the peace I crave most
as the sins of my past
my heart no longer hosts.

Winds of change; leaves of red,
I commit to seeking
as I stumble from bed-
your peace, your will, my King.

From the tip of my head
to the toes of my child,
let LOVE replace the dread
and beauty, what was defiled.

As fall settles the Earth,
proof of change I behold.
Let me be as from birth
far from the enemy's hold.

For I know who I am
and to whom I belong.
I choose now to stand,
resolute, steadfast, and strong.
Amen

I thought I wrote this in response to things God was sharing with me. Instead, I see now that he was preparing my heart to be reminded of his promises. It is written, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8. I believed this yesterday. I believe it today. I will believe it tomorrow. God is good. God is capable. He is the lion- able to conquer, full of power. He is the lamb- full of gentleness, able to comfort me.

For I know who I am
and to whom I belong.
I choose now to stand,
resolute, steadfast, and strong.

PS. suck it satan

17 Days

The Man. A Girl. The Vampire. 17 days.

It's Coming On Fall.

OK so fall has actually been here for a bit, but I am behind on posts. Go with me down memory lane as I share with you what fall means 'round the Brewer B&B. (Side note, we are booked up for Halloween, but we are taking reservations for November visits).
Fall in our family means:

Ribs. Reno Rib Cook Off ribs. Well, all right, I don't eat them, but they make some mean lemonade and other great goodness.

Hunting for stuff: animals, children in my neighborhood out past their curfew, mitten pairs, clearance deals from summer left overs, Elmers.

School bus rides and stops at the most inconvenient times for me.

Pumpkins. To be specific in this case, we made tiny pumpkin discoveries at the corner farmers' market. Sometime this week, we will be visiting one of the many pumpkin patches for pumpkin picking and the accompanying festivities.

Political campaigns. Layla Grace ran for class president. She didn't win, but she was a gracious loser. Then she dismantled this poster and hung it on her bed in case her roommate of a sister forgets. Her slogan was, "Vote for the new girl!", and her motto was, "Making a difference in the world since 2002!!"

Rain. Aw beautiful rainy days. And, yes. I took a picture with my phone while driving through the rain. I am a rebel dotty- a loner.

Leaves. I have never lived in a place that is so full of trees with leaves that change. The reds are almost startling. The yellows are striking. The oranges are simply beautiful. All of these are mixed in with the evergreens. It's an image of God's beauty for certain.

Did I mention pumpkins? These are in the entry of our corner farmers' market which is open all year. I love this place. They have a .25 cent candy section and seasonal fruits and veggies grown by local and nearby farmers. They also offer a glass bottle pop selection of quirky drinks that are fun for special occasion dinners.

Lunch dates at school. Izzy invited me to join her and her friends for lunch. I got to meet her bosom friends (Anne of Green Gables phrasing for you fans), and see the scary possibilities called "lunch." Please do not look at this picture straight on. You may get poked in the eye.

Fashion shows. Now, I know what you are thinking; "Where are the clothes?" But I have to say, if a straight dude were put in charge of clothing design, he very likely WOULD also turn to rolls of tape, whether duct of masking or painter's, to fashion his designs.

Movie snuggling. I love movie days. Forts, bean bags, pillows, popcorn snacks, and great flicks bring a family together.

Homework in the car. Izzy is on her school's basketball team, and Wednesday nights mean youth group runs, so much of our nightly reading happens in the car. The big kids and I are listening to Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince on our way into finishing the entire series before Christmas! I loved reading these with them. I highly recommend the audiobooks.

Caribou in the cemetery. Wait. What do you mean? Do your cemeteries NOT have caribou? I don't understand. Is Idaho advanced? I feel unsure how to proceed.

Friends

I can't get enough of this show.
"Hi. I'm Chandler. Could I BE wearing anymore clothes?!"

Ross: Chandler entered a Vanilla Ice look-alike contest and *won*!
Chandler: Ross came fourth and cried!

Phoebe: Hey. Why isn't it Spidermen? You know, like Goldmen, Silvermen.
Chandler: Because, it... it's not his last name.
Phoebe: It isn't?
Chandler: No. It's not like Phil Spidermen. He's a spider *man*. You know, like Goldmen is a last name but there's no gold man.
Phoebe: Oh, oh okay...
Phoebe: There should *be* a gold man!

Chandler: The only way I would've said six would have been if I had said, "Let's meet at seven, not at six."
Monica: The only way I would've said seven, would have been if I had said, 'Wow, my boyfriend is such a wiseass... Seven!'


I wish they were real. I wish they would never age and keep the show going forever. I wish Matthew Perry was my neighbor and he had to come over for eggs or practice his one liners. I am an excellent sounding board.

[Monica knocks]
Chandler: You can't come in.
Monica: Why not?
Chandler: Because, uh, Ross is naked.
Ross: What?
Chandler: Well, I couldn't tell her *I* was naked. She's allowed to see me naked.
Ross: Why does *anyone* have to be naked?

Oh The Places We Will Go

There are a number of places I want to go with this here hot guy. I just need the funds and a little bit of time.

• The Grand Canyon for obvious reasons and my graduation in the Spring
• New York to eat a hotdog off the cart
• Broadway to take in a musical that will make me laugh and cry all in one outing
• Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and make out, I mean ride a passenger train
• Oregon to smooch over a sea side campfire
• Florida to take in every bit of Epcot possible
• Washington DC so I can turn to him after a near endless tours of the town and say, "I am very happy to be with you in our nation's capitol" 
• Chicago to touch the bull and eat a slice of pizza
• Italy to eat my way through city after city until we meet someone I am related to
• Germany so we can personally learn the difference between a coffee house and a cafe
• Alaska so my husband can find me and my book by a lodge fire and tell me all about his day of ice fishing with polar bears
• Israel so we can dip our toes in the river and know we are standing where Jesus stood.
• Pennsylvania so we can take a tour of all the notable spots of American history that took place 'round those parts
• Fenway Park to watch the Redsox play ball and scream at the big green wall whilst waving by giant foam finger
• Hawaii so we can swim in a waterfall and reminisce about our pretend honeymoon there

to name a few.

You Know What's Annoying?

My daughter's middle school prefers to send information home with students word of mouth and on the very day of the event. Not a written anything and nary a week ahead notice. Is it that they prefer only spontaneous personalities at their functions? Is it that there aren't enough women involved in the communication department at the school? Level with me boys. Are you trying to annoy me? Because it's working.

Are Those Earbuds in Your Ear or Are You Ignoring Me?

Sometimes my kids will approach me while I am concentrating heavily on my homework as it appears on my computer screen, ear buds blasting tunes, brows furrowed over my glasses, fingers typing frantically, and they will talk. And talk. And talk. Minutes later I look up, probably with the stupid look of befuddle and say, "Um. Are you talking?" They usually role their eyes and storm away with their own furrowed for a different reason eyebrows.

Was it something I said?

Other times, my kids will wear headphones in public and pretend to beat box. I appreciate both times for different reasons.

I Find

I want to adjust my neck without the degree of a chiropractor just because it hurts so much and my appointment is so far away.

hairs on my face where I do not want them. I have very specific hair departments. My chin is not one of them.

my children are loud when I want them quiet and extra quiet and mumbly when I ask them to speak up as in confession.

warmth under the home woven handy quilt I created a couple weeks ago.

myself eating junk more than the average human. GAH! My will power is a snail in a salt storm. goo.

staying up late and waking up early means I am not a fully functioning human. This morning I found myself waving and moaning rather than saying the words I originally planned. Think Frankenstein.

as I age, my grey hairs are determined to own me. I can't decide if I care.

I care about more and care about less all at the same time. How is this possible?

I ramble.

Remember When

Remember when I mentioned in passing that my neck is causing headaches in a way that feels unnatural and a bit rude? Well, today, I had ex-rays and let me just say Point Proven. Most people have a backwards C curve to their necks areas. I have a C curve, but it is no longer backwards. In fact, it is so jacked up my chiropractor is recommending traction. He assures me I am fixable, thank you Jesus. Not that God couldn't just wiggle a finger and call it good, but maybe, just maybe he is opting to use this man and his training to do the job. I don't call that any less than a miracle. Here is a little preview of what he is recommending.

well, OK it isn't quite that "cool" but you get the idea.

Where Were You??

It's nearly 7am on September 11. 7am is when my sister by law called and woke me. We had two and a half kids then, no dog. My husband was already at work, and I am pretty sure I had been up on and off in the night with babes.
We watched the repeat footage of the first plane crashing into the first tower, still under the impression that a terrible accident had occurred. Our programing was interrupted with news and footage of the second tower crash. She said, "This seems bad." Hind sight.

I cried. I got my kids settled with breakfast and my husband came home. I cried. I watched the news in my room on and off, but I am typically anti the news, and I don't let my kids watch it, so I went about my day as usually sneaking a peak every now and then hoping for new news. Rather than spending my night teaching bible study as I had planned, our church gathered for a prayer vigil. The pastor asked people to stand if they had a loved one or knew of someone still unaccounted for in a crash or New York or the Pentagon or  Pennsylvania field. There were very few people left sitting.
The next day, The Man got a call from his boss saying their company had been asked to fly to New York to set up the computer networking needed for the Red Cross. My first thought was NO WAY. My second thought was, "I am pregnant with baby number three, and there is no way he is flying." Then I thought, "NO." I finally came around to remembering God is in control of my husband and his life. So, he got on a plane and flew to New York. Because the disaster was much greater than anyone foresaw, he didn't get to do much. He was home in a couple of days and clearly in one piece, but if you have never had to experience sending your husband on a plane INTO a crisis, say a quick thank you prayer. I do not recommend it.

Tomorrow morning my husband, the fire fighter, is participating in a remembrance of the fire fighters killed that day. That's a sad way to start a morning. 
All this to say, "Where were you?"

It's All in the Timing

One minute ago, I was finishing up my homework discussion questions and wondering why people get offended when others follow directions. A guy in my class is annoyed that a girl in my class made a suggestion on his paper. Our assignment? Post your paper and allow others to make suggestions.

One hour ago, I was thinking I had a LOT more homework to complete because I had yet to read that my assignment isn't due until next week. I was contemplating whether or not I should turn off the movie I was watching and focus (but I decided no because Robert Downy Jr in Heart and Soul is just too irresistible).

One day ago, I was snuggling into the guest bed at the Harrison B&B after pigging out at the Rib Cook off (yes we drove there to attend; don't judge me)

One week ago, I was saying a sad salute over the fact that we were going to miss the rib cook off for the first time in at least a decade.

One month ago, we were moving and upheaved and overwhelmed and tired of transition.

One year ago, we felt the winds of change as we felt, heard, and saw God preparing us for new. New can be good. Little, Yellow, Different. Nuprin. I wish I had Nuprin. My head feels like it may explode from the pain that is my headache.

First Day of School and Some Other Beeswax

Sam I Am and I stayed home today with The Man while these and the rest of our hooligans attended their first day of school. While Elijah and Layla Grace have been to school before, this was Addison's  first round of elementary school. The bottom picture is an exact likeness of the happiness she felt minutes before walking into class. Currently, she is bleary eyed as she reads me a story about a blue monster from Sesame Street. I have never seen her so exhausted. So cute.
Here are the top ten highlights of my day:

1. Addison's smile before class
2. My children's enthusiasm at being in school
3. Finding out each of my kids have pretty great teachers, whom they each love
4. Eating breakfast and lunch with just The Man and Sam I Am
5. Cleaning things in my house that stayed clean after I touched them
6. Finishing my homework before midnight in a quiet house
7. The routines now in place because school has started- I heart routine
8. That Addison is reading to me
9. Everyone is tired enough to go right to sleep when their 7:30 bedtime rolls around
10. It's a repeating cycle

"Hey, Cameron. You realize if we played by the rules right now we'd be in gym?" Ferris Beuller

Speaking of Beef Jerky (or boys)

Here are mine: Elijah is going to be a fifth grader, and Samuel is going to be a kindergartener. Sigh.

Our Boys (and Girls, Too)

Sometimes I read a book that gets me fired up (to serve) and I want people to read it. This time I am reading Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson. I like him. Probably because my mother read all of his books when I was a kid and raised us according to much of his advice, so it is familiar. Also, because I have seen his advice change parents, including myself and my mother, and our approach to kids.

This morning I was reading about boys and their self image and how vastly different the men these boys become can be. I have personally heard testimony of a grown man who suffered with eating disorders and self image issues to the extent of considering suicide. There were other struggles beside body image, but when I look at what a solid man of God this guy is, it proves to me that satan can tempt anyone in to believing these nasty lies. He is subtle.
I am pretty sure that is the devil's forte: subtlety. He gets us to believe before we even realize we are believing HIM. It brings up the question: Why do we go round and round with God and His word before we will begin to consider it, but we take what the father of lies tells us at a mere whisper?
The passage I read today was wrought with statistics of boys and violence, abuse, abusing, drug and alcohol addiction, and every other devastating path parents are terrified to consider. Herein lies the problem.
I get these stats. I get that so many of them stem from boys from seriously jacked up homes, so bottom line, these boys didn't stand a chance. What really gets me aggravated are the boys who come from solid homes, two loving and present parents, happy homes. The ones who kill themselves in 8th grade because of bullying at school and didn't know how to cope.

It isn't enough as parents to pray away what scares us in our children and their futures. WE MUST EQUIP OUR CHILDREN TO DEAL.

I am a huge believer in prayer. Come over for coffee sometime, and I will give you a time line of events showcasing the answered prayers in my life. It's real. I am also a believer in the brain, skills, gifts, and heart God gave to me. As it turns out, I have things I can teach my kids, so that when they find themselves face to face with that puking vomitous mass the devil they have the words to speak and the know how to deal.

Too many parents fall asleep fearful of the road their child is on or what evils may worm its way into their child's heart. The fact is, we live in the world. Evil is everywhere; you can't run; you can't hide. But you can equip. Does your child know what to do if he/she is being bullied? Does your kid know what anorexia is and what to do if they see it in a friend or someone at school? Does your kid know you love them and consider them handsome/beautiful? Does your kid know what to do if someone in the high school locker room shows them a pornographic picture? Herein lies the second problem.

You have to be brave enough to ask those poignant, probably embarrassing questions.
Here is a transcript of a conversation with Eli a few months ago:

(As we drive in the car alone together.)
Me: So, are you excited to be in fifth grade?
Eli: yes! I am very excited.
Me: The kids in 5th grade are different than fourth grade. Sometimes stuff will come up that may not always be appropriate.
Eli: What? Gross. What?
Me: Well, what would you do if boy asked you to come look at a magazine and when you got there it was of naked people?
Eli: MOMMY! OH MY... WHAT? That's gross.
Me: Yes, but not all boys are raised by our house rules. Some families may not think it's a big deal, or their family members make bad choices and have magazines like those, so the kids find them and bring them to school. What do you do?
Eli: There are magazines like that?
Me: I am not trying to give you ideas of what to spend your money on. I want to know what you will do.
Eli: ew. that is so inappropriate. I wouldn't look.
Me: I am glad to hear that. Because that is disrespectful to you, and to that girl, and that girl's parents who are probably not very proud of her career choice. Is that all you would do? Just not look?
Eli: I don't know. I guess.
Me: Well that's great that you wouldn't look, but maybe your friend doesn't have anyone in his life to tell him that isn't OK. Maybe he is looking for someone to tell him he doesn't have to look at stuff like that to be cool. Can you think of something you could say to him so he knows you still like him for him and that he shouldn't look at magazines or other inappropriate pictures?
Eli: um. Yeah. I could tell him, "hey man, that magazine is gross. You shouldn't look at that either because it's disrespectful. Wanna go ride our skateboards?
Me: That's perfect. Now you have let him off the hook from trying to be cool, you have been a positive influence in his life, and you have now made yourself a safe friend for him. He doesn't have to be someone else; he can be a little kid and ride skate boards.
Eli: OK. Can we talk about something else?
Me: Yep, I love you buddy. I am proud of you. And, last thing, if something like that ever happens, even if you don't make the right choice, you can tell me or daddy.
Eli: I think I will tell Daddy. He will understand.
Me: I am fine with that. (Although, I am a little nervous as to why my son thinks my husband will understand porn talk)

Now, I am not delusional. I am sure Eli will be tempted plenty and not always make the right choices. But, I have done my job as a parent and he is much better prepared when something comes up. I have helped him to pre-think a situation and its outcome rather than having to play clean up or cowering in my bed with fear. I am a mother; translation, I am a warrior. I am prepared to fight for my kids.
And, I know that what I say gets through to my kids. On a car ride with Izzy I asked her if any of the boys at school have wanted to be more than friends, and she casually said a boy had just asked her out. (This is a boy who had come to her because he heard she prayed and his parents were divorcing and he was devastated. She prayed with him and we prayed for him in our family prayers over the next few weeks). I asked her response to his request. She told him it didn't really make sense to be his girlfriend because she wasn't planning on marrying him(a conversation we had previously about dating). Then she invited him to dinner at our house. He came, and it was really great.

He told her he thought she was a little crazy but that he really liked her. They were friends til she switched schools.

Why He is Called The Man

So, once again, my husband is amazing. He worked so hard for the last three weeks to complete a crash course fire fighter's academy. He graduated Friday, and I was left overwhelmed with how God works, not only giving me a man who is simply someone to be proud of at every turn, but God also knew how much we would love being here. As it turns out, we are small town people. Here are some pics of the big event.
This is my kids getting a tour of the fire fighters' museum. Old hoses, turn outs, and fantastic pictures of the city back in the day when horses pulled their water tanks to the fire. The only real let down was the tour guide telling Samuel that he could not jump out of the building onto one of the old school trampolines used to catch people as they jump out a burning building.

And this is Samuel communicating with the machine that will now tell us where to find the last golden ticket and exactly what we can do with a life time supply of chocolate.

Old turn outs. Super cool.

Last time Eli pinned his Daddy. This time Layla Grace asked if she could do the honors. So sweet.

The Man. He is truly a good lookin' man.

This is the fire engine The Man will be riding in. 'Cause he is awesome.

And this is Samuel and the best present he has ever received. I sort of want to buy him a box of these for Christmas. Sort of.

And this is Sam telling his new friend all about it.

Oh My Heck, I Broke My Neck

Okay, not really. But I am in so much subtle pain. I realize some people are in unsubtle pain, which is way worse, but this is my blog. Why would I write about them?
Being here makes me miss my chiropractor; I like to call him Mr. Aric. Neither of us are big fans of Facebook, so I can't drop him a line and say how I miss the way he would twist my neck around like an owl and send me crying from his office. You wouldn't think it's true, but it is. I have had a head ache for at least 21 days. Am I exaggerating you ask? No, no I am probably under estimating in fact.
I visited him just before the big move. My neck was apparently so tense he couldn't get my bones to go back to their originally appointed position. That is just rude of my muscles if you ask me. And why wouldn't you; it's my blog. Haven't we been over this? Don't confuse me; I have a headache.
This may be what I look like now:

Oh, and good news; our insurance doesn't kick in after 30 days. It kicks in at the first full calendar month. I get to wait two more weeks than I thought. MR. AAAARIC!!!!! I may drive back to Reno for an adjustment. That is not a euphemism. Don't make me laugh; I have a headache.

Some Things I Have Learned About Idaho

In Idaho, Addison is not as good at putting on sun screen

The trees here are amazing. Truly

The corn here is DELISH!! For reals. We live around the corner from the Karcher Farmer's Market. They sell unbelievable corn, fruit, veggies, dime store candies, and cinnamon rolls. So. Happy.

There are several restaurants here that have been featured on Food Network. Today we visited Rockies where we pigged right out after a long walk through the Boise Zoo.

Common in My House

I give a direction or make a request.

My son argues.

I want to pluck said son in the neck.

I don't. I give him chores.

He cries.

His life is clearly terrible. Also, sometimes he is just a boob.