Superwoman

Superwoman is dead. She was found crushed beneath a mountain of laundry that swept over her like an avalanche. It was no surprise, really, her reflexes were understandably dulled from dutifully serving four hours in football field food booth, staying up past midnight to bake for the next day's tailgate party, getting thoroughly chilled at the morning soccer game, becoming thoroughly soaked at the afternoon band competition and then finishing out the day serving a dinner for the youth group (while looking like a drowned rat). The next day went no better for her as she rushed around until she finally met her doom in the laundry pile. Authorities are unsure whether her demise was caused by the weight of the behemoth that overtook her, or if she asphyxiated from the fumes rising from the tube socks from deep within the mass. No matter what the cause, we mourn our loss, even if Superwoman was, admittedly, delusional.

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Yes, I know, you get it already. I'm not Superwoman, but wow - did I ever try. This weekend left me exhausted and wrung out. By bedtime on Sunday, I was demanding a weekend do-over - in vain, I might add. The best thing about weekends, though, is that in five days there will be another one, a better and brighter one, I hope!

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But, please, if you will, let's have a moment of silence for Superwoman.

Bible Study Accomplished!

This evening was the last night of the Bible study that began back in July. I cannot believe how quickly the time passed. What sweet fellowship and learning we experienced together. I am so thankful to all that God has done!

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We studied from the book Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, in which we read about the lives of Sarai/Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. After reading the book through before beginning the Bible study, I realized that those flannelgraph lessons from my childhood were woefully lacking some important details from the Bible accounts. Yes, I do realize that some of the information was left out as it was not suitable for impressionable listeners.

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Together, we learned that these women had issues with control, manipulation, arrogance, envy and competiveness. Too familiar. Yet, despite these obvious flaws, God loved these women and used them, just as He will us as well. I would highly recommend reading this book and if at all possible, organize a study of your own.

Blessed

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

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There is simply nothing quite as awe inspiring as seeing a favorite Bible verse leap up off the pages and spring to life before your eyes.

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My daughter is planning to travel on a short mission trip over holiday break this year. I honestly admit that the thought of the cost occupied my thoughts more than I should have let it. My heart knows to trust in God, but sometimes my head forgets.

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A very kind group of people from our church planned and executed a breakfast fundraiser for my girl and the two girls she will be accompanying. Not only did my daughter receive funds for her trip, our whole family walked away feeling very encouraged. What a blessing our church family is!

New Addition #3

In a moment nearly as monumental as Pa Ingalls presenting the brand new cookstove to Ma Ingalls, my darling husband and father brought home our much anticipated new stove. I was so excited to make supper for my family this evening. In honor of the momentous occasion, I tried this new recipe from The Pioneer Woman - http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/09/delicious-hominy-casserole/

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The kids were wary of the strange new stuff. I'm so glad they are past the dramatic reactions to new food, though. They did try it and while they did not rave over it, they did eat it. It was the first time my husband and I had eaten hominy. It was different, but very, very good! Perfect for a cool-ish, drizzly evening at home.

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I am so glad to have a working oven again!

Of Tubas and Odd Greyhound Diseases

This week brought two new additions to our household, a tuba and Runner's SLO diagnosis. Both unexpected, but only one unwelcome.

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As I've said earlier, both of my children are now attending middle school now. My son had taken up the saxophone a few years ago, but gave it up as it was not a good fit for him. He has told us many times over the past year that he had no intention of rejoining band. We were supportive, but told him if he ever changed his mind, that would be okay. To our surprise, he DID rejoin band and is now playing the instrument of his dreams - the tuba. Whodathunk? (translation - who would have ever thought of that?) The "home" tuba, the one that he practices on, has become a semi-permanent fixture in our dining room. I'm already thinking of ways to decorate it for Christmas. In all seriousness, though, it is so rewarding to see your children participate in activities they love.

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The unwelcome addition of the week was a final diagnosis for Runner. She has been losing toenails for months now, slowly at first, but now happening with alarming regularity. SLO is an autoimmune disorder typically limited to greyhounds, which causes their immune systems to reject their toenails of all things. I guess I'm glad that it targets the toenail and not some vital organ, but it is very painful for her and heart wrenching to watch her hold her paw out for me to wrap up after another one falls out. It is treatable, but not curable. So, now we are pumping her full of fish oil supplements and vitamin E trying to help her feel better. I am also on the market for shoes. For my dog. Yep. I said it. Shoes for my dog. Pictures to follow as soon as I find them.

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Another addition to the household will be arriving tomorrow, so that makes three! Stay tuned! (Yes, I DO know how cheesy that sounds!)

Summer Reading List - Scorecard!

Earlier this summer, I posted a list of books that I intended to read. Today, I thought I'd fess up to how I did and write a little review about a few of the books. The original post is below, with my additions in bold:

Reading is my favorite thing to do, no matter what the season. But, because I always looked forward to the summer reading lists handed out this time of year during my school years, here is my 2009 summer reading list:

That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

This one won't be released until later this summer, but I cannot wait for it to become available. Set in the same community as Forevermore, Fancy Pants and Whirlwind, these books tell such sweet, wholesome, romantic stories and the leading ladies are delightfully quirky and real!

*I did read That Certain Spark and enjoyed it very much. It was like visiting old friends, first introduced in Fancy Pants, Forevermore and Whirlwind. I will admit, though, that my favorite book of the series is Forevermore and my primary disappointment with That Certain Spark is that I did not hear enough about those characters to make me happy.

A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling

I became hooked on this series when I picked up the first in the Daughters of Blessing series while on vacation in Williamsburg, VA. Set in North Dakota, in a primarily Norwegian immigrant community at the turn of the century, these books paint beautiful word pictures of a simpler time, even if the characters lives are not always so simple.


*I confess I did not read this book - yet.

Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This one just looks too good to pass up. I've read three or four other books by this author, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Waiting for Summer's Return has got to be one of the most touching historical romance books that I have read - reminiscent of Love Comes Softly.

*Ditto.

And, even though I am planning on reading a lot of fluffy, historical fiction - dessert reading, if you will. I'm going to eat - no - read something more nutritious, too.

Me, Myself & Lies by Jennifer Rothschild

The tagline of this book is "Cleaning out your thought closet". Basically this is a six week Bible study (which I found on http://www.livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ ). The focus in this book is to target the negative things that women say to themselves about themselves. I know I need to work on that.

*Okay, so I flat out misunderstood that this is a WORKBOOK. I do still plan on working my way through this book at a later date - once the Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible study is completed. Which, by the way, will be finished in two more weeks. More on that in a later post.

Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
I was so impressed by Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, I'm going to read this one too. Also, I accidentally ordered it in a lot on eBay along with some used copies of Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible (to be used in the Bible study this summer). Since I was going to read it anyway, it worked out well.


*Love, love, loved this book. Each chapter was excellent, but Rahab knocked my socks off. Liz Curtis Higgs has such a way of taking these women we have read about for years, in some cases, and fleshing them out until we go, "Wait, I think I know her." or "Wait, I think I AM her." Definitely recommend this one.

They Should Make A T-Shirt

You know those t-shirts sold at amusement parks that say, "I survived the (insert name of roller coaster here)"? I think they should make one for parents that proclaims, "I survived the first week of school!"

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Sure, everyone knows the first week of school is hard on the kids. They go from complete freedom to a very structured environment overnight. They have to deal with new teachers, new classes, bus rides and sometimes new schools. It makes for a hectic week for parents too, though! Morning routines take well over a week to re-establish, meaning we have to roll out of bed and morph into a staff sergeant/cheerleader/nutritionist/events coordinator/fashion consultant/meteorologist. All before fully waking up, too. The evening of the first day comes, and with it, the dreaded back to school paperwork. I am of the mind that enlisting in the armed forces requires less paperwork than going back to school. It baffles me as to why, in the age of computers that we live in, does the school need my child's emergency information filled out in triplicate? There are also books to cover, scientific calculators to buy and lunch bags to find. By the weekend, my husband and I are usually as giddy at the thought of Saturday as the kids are.

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Today, as they head out for the second week of school, I can't help but think that our routine is well on its way to becoming smoother. I still want a t-shirt, though!