I'm stealing this from a friend's blog. It struck me that I can sing this hymn from memory, but I never really pay attention to the words. I have much to be thankful for.
Count Your Blessings
Words: Johnson Oatman, Jr., in Songs or Young People, by Edwin Excell (Chicago, IL:1897).
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
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.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Refrain
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Refrain
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
Refrain
Its hard to want to get up in the morning. We are tired, and we want to stay in bed - and its dark! So today I am trying to remind myself to be thankful for the heater, to be thankful for kids that I have to wake up, to be thankful for the school. I can't quite be thankful we are here, but I do know 'God is over all' and all this is but a blip in time. I still cry when I read emails, or when my kids hearts hurt, too, (or their friends' hearts in MN hurt) or when I think about the last months, especially the last weeks in MN. A good cry is a good thing. But I still have much to be thankful for, even when it hurts. I can be thankful that I have those memories and that we have so many people who mean so much to us still. And, by getting up, I was rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise. I love sunrises and sunsets and the colors He creates. I read on yahoo that the new color for 2012 is Tangerine Tango - God got it down today. I love that color.
I have struggled with having personal devotions with kids, work.... in general - life, over the years. I always find time to exercise, but not to talk with God. Just this week a friend tipped me off to a devotional that gets emailed to your in box every day. Its nothing huge, but it gets you to sit back and reflect. So, I joined up. I wasn't too impressed the first day, but they have gotten better, and today's was spot on. I also started a journal on the computer since my hand written journal is still in a box and I was horrible about writing in that, too. I think I can type faster than I can write, and its definitely more legible. Anyway, today's devotional was about gifts we give to God - trust, obedience, praise, and sacrifice. Good stuff. The quote was ' Praise is a continual choice we must make again and again until it becomes a habit.' Reminded me of the movie Elf - 'The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loudly for all to hear.' I have a lot of work to do in these areas, but the reminder was a good one.
Brandon's doctor appointment today was short and sweet. Doc wants him to practice straightening and bending it as much as possible, so we started tonight. He got his shirt off all by himself tonight, too. He and Matt hope to go to a Father/Son dodgeball tournament tomorrow night. Hopefully he can throw well and dodge even better!
I have received thoughts from some of you on how I am doing. I want you all to know, I am fine. We laugh and joke and have fun together. I don't stay in bed or crawl in a hole and cry all day. I do cry from time to time, but I would consider that completely normal. It wouldn't feel normal to move back to MN right now either - even if everything would be oh so wonderfully familiar again. I can do laundry and clean the house and sort of keep up on homework and find joy in those things, too. I'm trying to be real with what is going on inside of me - our family. So, we are fine, and doing quite well. We just hurt from time to time! Thanks for caring and praying. We appreciate it. This is where God wants us, there have been too many things that just worked out for it to be any other way.
And I get to go on runs by the lake and listen to the waves. Good stuff.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Another Day Down
The patient mommy meter fell off today, if it ever existed in the first place. I'd like to blame the shouting and fighting exhibited in my children on the move, but I know they have days like this wherever they are. Needless to say, I wasn't the happiest after listening to it for awhile. These are the days when I need 5 bedrooms so I can send them each to one and I can go to one myself! And I know there are mom's out there everywhere nodding their heads about Arsenic Hour. I swear there is something in the air between the hours of 3:30 - 5:30 pm - they breathe it in, and it all breaks loose. We, as all good mothers, are patiently and lovingly creating a 5 course meal in the kitchen while our blessed cherubs read their books quietly in a chair nearby. Oh to live in the dream of the 1950's household. Anyway, you get the idea. They are all asleep now, and I get to try again tomorrow.
The 'to do' list is growing more quickly then the 'done' list. Another fact of life. And at some point I should actually clean this house that we were so graciously allowed to stay in. I did post the slide show I made on Smilebox, both here in the blog (the previous post) and on my facebook page. If you need the link, I can email it to you as well.
Tomorrow I will be driving back and forth to school - several times. So much for the 'to do' list. Brandon has a doctor appointment for his arm and Anika has basketball practice after school. Last week we struggled to get any information about band or basketball. She wasn't real keen on the idea of joining either part way through. She was so afraid of being behind. I guess our kiddos are way behind in Spanish and they were afraid everything would be like that. Anyway, I got to school on Tuesday and she hands me her bag and asks if she can go to basketball practice. So, I talk to the coach. They have 2 practices this week and the end of the season tournament on Saturday. Anika is in for one week! Works for me! She also went to band today and found out she is rather far ahead of them all. Now I need to find her a teacher so she can keep it up!
We did manage to get a bank account also as though we live at church. If you ever move, you need to keep several important looking pieces of mail from the address you move to. And keep them handy and until you have your driver's license in that state. Mine are on the counter, ready for the next adventure. Maybe I should have taken them with me to the Emergency Room. But they believed me without the proof.
So, homework, reading, laundry, cooking, cleaning and losing patience. Sounds like I still live in MN. Except my heart still knows.
The 'to do' list is growing more quickly then the 'done' list. Another fact of life. And at some point I should actually clean this house that we were so graciously allowed to stay in. I did post the slide show I made on Smilebox, both here in the blog (the previous post) and on my facebook page. If you need the link, I can email it to you as well.
Tomorrow I will be driving back and forth to school - several times. So much for the 'to do' list. Brandon has a doctor appointment for his arm and Anika has basketball practice after school. Last week we struggled to get any information about band or basketball. She wasn't real keen on the idea of joining either part way through. She was so afraid of being behind. I guess our kiddos are way behind in Spanish and they were afraid everything would be like that. Anyway, I got to school on Tuesday and she hands me her bag and asks if she can go to basketball practice. So, I talk to the coach. They have 2 practices this week and the end of the season tournament on Saturday. Anika is in for one week! Works for me! She also went to band today and found out she is rather far ahead of them all. Now I need to find her a teacher so she can keep it up!
We did manage to get a bank account also as though we live at church. If you ever move, you need to keep several important looking pieces of mail from the address you move to. And keep them handy and until you have your driver's license in that state. Mine are on the counter, ready for the next adventure. Maybe I should have taken them with me to the Emergency Room. But they believed me without the proof.
So, homework, reading, laundry, cooking, cleaning and losing patience. Sounds like I still live in MN. Except my heart still knows.
Monday, December 5, 2011
A Christmas Elf
In response to my Grinch update we received fudge and Christmas lights in the mail from an elf. The kids are QUITE happy with the festive look in their bedrooms. I am trying to make a Smilebox to send out to show all of you the house we currently live in and what the kids see everyday in MI. Hopefully that will get done soon. For now, I'm trying to upload a picture to this, we'll see what I come up with. I don't know if you can see how swollen his elbow is or not, but its still huge! I had to hold it for him, he is getting there, but he can't hold it up on his own for very long yet.
Today was a good day of talking with friends, doing the laundry and getting a few things done. Matt is at a meeting tonight and the kiddos are all tucked in and sleeping! Take care everyone.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
A day in MI
Things that keep us occupied:
-shooting marshmallows out of a marshmallow shooter at the black squirrels in our yard
-Anika and Brandon played a full game of Battleship; I don't think that has ever happened before
-lots of tag and running through the house
-sorting laundry, the kids are getting quite good at it; in MN it had to be done in the kitchen - small space - so I did it all by myself; now, we have an unfinished basement and room for piles, great for everyone to join in the fun
-Matt suggested I take pictures of what the kids see everyday and publish a picture book for you all; good idea, but don't expect much; We'll see what happens. At least I can do all of that from my lap top. All my MN pictures are on the desk computer and that one is not hooked up, so the MN books are no further along!
- tonight we taught the kids how to play Pictionary. We didn't play a whole game, but it was pretty funny watching them work through the drawing and the guessing!
Sunday - a day of rest. I always laugh at that statement. I think about my Grandma and how she used to peel potatoes on Saturday night. I was always told it was so she didn't have to 'work' on Sunday. The realist in me looks back on that and laughs. Now that I have lived through several Sundays as a mom, I think Grandmas was on to something. I think she knew that making breakfast, cleaning it up, making lunch, setting the table, getting cleaned up and dressed, and getting 5 (4 in my case) kids cleaned up and dressed and doing it all by 9 am was a stinking LOT of work, so anything she could get done the night before made it all that much easier!
We do rest from the ordinary on Sunday. But often, I find that it is a lot of work and I long for a day of laying on the couch, or bed and doing nothing. Today, I sort of got that wish! About 3 PM my body said it had had enough of life and I sort of crumpled on the couch, then I went to bed and did not emerge until 7 PM. It was lovely. Typically, Matt falls asleep and I have to keep the kids quiet and out of his way. We normally have homework, piano and flute practice and things to prepare. But, we don't have any of those things scheduled so we watched the Vikings game (one of the three channels we get is FOX) and then the kids watched a movie.
The crazy thing is, I still have a headache and I'm still tired, so much for resting! =) Next time I should go for a walk!
So, here's to a start of a new week and all the promise that it holds. Hopefully you all had a day of REST!
-shooting marshmallows out of a marshmallow shooter at the black squirrels in our yard
-Anika and Brandon played a full game of Battleship; I don't think that has ever happened before
-lots of tag and running through the house
-sorting laundry, the kids are getting quite good at it; in MN it had to be done in the kitchen - small space - so I did it all by myself; now, we have an unfinished basement and room for piles, great for everyone to join in the fun
-Matt suggested I take pictures of what the kids see everyday and publish a picture book for you all; good idea, but don't expect much; We'll see what happens. At least I can do all of that from my lap top. All my MN pictures are on the desk computer and that one is not hooked up, so the MN books are no further along!
- tonight we taught the kids how to play Pictionary. We didn't play a whole game, but it was pretty funny watching them work through the drawing and the guessing!
Sunday - a day of rest. I always laugh at that statement. I think about my Grandma and how she used to peel potatoes on Saturday night. I was always told it was so she didn't have to 'work' on Sunday. The realist in me looks back on that and laughs. Now that I have lived through several Sundays as a mom, I think Grandmas was on to something. I think she knew that making breakfast, cleaning it up, making lunch, setting the table, getting cleaned up and dressed, and getting 5 (4 in my case) kids cleaned up and dressed and doing it all by 9 am was a stinking LOT of work, so anything she could get done the night before made it all that much easier!
We do rest from the ordinary on Sunday. But often, I find that it is a lot of work and I long for a day of laying on the couch, or bed and doing nothing. Today, I sort of got that wish! About 3 PM my body said it had had enough of life and I sort of crumpled on the couch, then I went to bed and did not emerge until 7 PM. It was lovely. Typically, Matt falls asleep and I have to keep the kids quiet and out of his way. We normally have homework, piano and flute practice and things to prepare. But, we don't have any of those things scheduled so we watched the Vikings game (one of the three channels we get is FOX) and then the kids watched a movie.
The crazy thing is, I still have a headache and I'm still tired, so much for resting! =) Next time I should go for a walk!
So, here's to a start of a new week and all the promise that it holds. Hopefully you all had a day of REST!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Rainy Day, Broken Bone, and a Parade
Bet that title got your attention. I'm trying to decide to start with the small stuff and lead up to the good stuff, or just give you the good stuff from the start. I better start with the good stuff or you'll skim all the stuff before and not really read it, which means you really aren't reading this anyway,
For you anatomy geeks out there (I am one of them) - its the radius bone on the thumb side of the wrist. Its shorter and smaller than the Ulna (the one on the pinky side of the wrist) and yet oh so valuable in rotation of the forearm. And yep, its broken, or at least the head of it is. If you look up radial head fracture you'll get the idea. And the one enjoying all this fun is Brandon. It seems if you try to leap tall buildings.... ok couches... and don't quite make it, the landing can be quite the bugger. It happened last night shortly after supper. He howled for quite awhile, but if you know Brandon, he howls about a paper cut, so the sympathy wasn't running real deep. I did my athletic training inspection on it, and I have to admit, I was a bit worried. It was point tender and point swollen, not good signs, especially on an elbow. So we got him to bed and to sleep after a movie, and I went in to check on him and he was moaning and grimacing in bed, asleep. Also, not a good sign. He woke up Jessica to come and get me in the morning to help him out of bed. I had already decided I was bringing him in when he woke up, but he wasn't using his arm AT ALL, so off he and I went. Everyone else was still in bed. We drive by the hospital every day on the way to school, which I am very thankful of now, I knew right where to go. We got there around 8 am and we were back home by 9:30 am. This small town stuff of driving 6 blocks to the hospital, one doctor on, etc, worked out all right! The x-ray was inconclusive, but the doctor said the symptoms all point to a radial head fracture. The prescription is a sling and ibuprofen for 3- 6 weeks. We go to another doctor on Monday to check in. I actually think I liked Anika's broken arm better. At least it was protected in a cast - this thing is hanging out there, waiting to get hit and hurt and everything else. He still complains a fair share, but I'm trying to be more sympathetic. The hardest thing for him is to hold his fingers up, so they are getting pretty swollen. They just hang out the end of the sling. I keep tucking them back in. Hopefully some prostrate sleeping will bring the swelling down, both in the elbow and in the fingers. I couldn't believe how swollen his elbow was this morning.
Ok, I hear it is snowing in MN. We just had rain here all day, but I still managed to go for a run. I ran down to the beach. The waves were huge and the noise was mesmerizing. I love the sound of water. We had a lazy day at home, but the kids got bored. The weather was dreary and we are so used to having to run from place to place every day, that they weren't sure what to do with a day at home. We all wrote some letters and eventually we walked over to the church and ran around in the gym over there. That place is huge!
Some good friends of my uncle and aunt stopped by with a meal for us today. They are such cool people - you choose your friends well! It was nice to see a smiling face, even if it wasn't familiar to us, on such a dreary day. They gave us some advice on doctors, too and their phone number if we need anything else, very cool.
Since the couch was mentioned earlier, I have to talk about it. We actually are quite happy to just have a place we can all sit on again, its going to be hard to leave behind. BUT, its got bright blue flowers on it with green leaves. Its not the most attractive thing, but its part of this house, so we live with it, and willingly sit in it. Its great for kids to lay down on when something like a broken arm happens, just saying.
Life without an address is getting tricky. Do you realize that is the first question asked when you do just about anything? We fudged our way around a library card (they still don't know its a work address), but the bank account wasn't working. I have an email in to our loan officer to see what we are supposed to do. The loan department wants us to have a bank account before they process our home loan, we can't open a bank account without a MI license, we can't get a MI license without an address, we can't get an address without the bank loan....... tricky.
Finally, the parade. Grand Haven has a Jingle Bell Parade. Its their version of the Holidazzle. Think Spring Lake Park size parade (girl scouts, boy scouts, local schools and preschools, small businesses) with a float that is lit up something like the Holidazzle, only not lit up on such a grand scale. It was fun to see. They tossed out candy and cans of chicken noodle soup, itty bitty ice cream cones and afterward there was free hot chocolate. The kids enjoyed it too and it was good to have an outing.
I am a self proclaimed Grinch, and if I ever make a club, I know I have a co-founder and at least 3 members ready to join the 'I hate Christmas' club. Having said that, we have no Christmas music playing (none of the equipment is hooked up) no decorations up, and no snow, so it doesn't really seem like Christmas around here. We aren't getting ready for any Christmas parties, we don't have any Christmas concerts, and our calendar is empty every night except for the stuff we want to do. Its a little weird. I don't even know if we'll get around to doing our typical traditions. Some of them we will have to do, once we get into the house. We always paint an ornament and put the kids' hand prints on the tree skirt, so those we will have to do. We always paint a window but we can just do a nice snowman scene instead for January! The computer isn't hooked up, so I can't even look at all the things we normally do. Hopefully we will be able to go sledding at some point! And I'm not doing Christmas cards until I have an address either!
Overall, we are doing well. Anika described it as we are fine, just not complete. Jessica had a sad day on Friday. Nothing major, I could just tell she was off. When we got home I asked her what was up and she just said she was sad, she missed her friends - two in particular. She then asked the 'why did we have to move' question again. I told her I missed my friends, too, but you can't stay somewhere just because you like it. We felt this is where God wanted us to be. So, how are we? We are fine. Sometimes we smile and laugh, like at the parade dancing to Jingle Bells as the floats pass by and singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas with hot chocolate in our hands. And sometimes, we miss you all, LOTS. In the grand scheme, we are held in His hands and much better off than so many, but we often feel like a part of us is missing.
Tomorrow is our first day at church. Matt isn't preaching yet. But off we go! What a difference a week makes - when I think about where I was a week ago this morning, compared to in the hospital this week! Or a week ago right now, we were still driving - through the rain!
Thanks for checking in, and for all of your prayers. I think Brandon, his new friends, and his teachers are going to need an extra dose of patience on Monday.
For you anatomy geeks out there (I am one of them) - its the radius bone on the thumb side of the wrist. Its shorter and smaller than the Ulna (the one on the pinky side of the wrist) and yet oh so valuable in rotation of the forearm. And yep, its broken, or at least the head of it is. If you look up radial head fracture you'll get the idea. And the one enjoying all this fun is Brandon. It seems if you try to leap tall buildings.... ok couches... and don't quite make it, the landing can be quite the bugger. It happened last night shortly after supper. He howled for quite awhile, but if you know Brandon, he howls about a paper cut, so the sympathy wasn't running real deep. I did my athletic training inspection on it, and I have to admit, I was a bit worried. It was point tender and point swollen, not good signs, especially on an elbow. So we got him to bed and to sleep after a movie, and I went in to check on him and he was moaning and grimacing in bed, asleep. Also, not a good sign. He woke up Jessica to come and get me in the morning to help him out of bed. I had already decided I was bringing him in when he woke up, but he wasn't using his arm AT ALL, so off he and I went. Everyone else was still in bed. We drive by the hospital every day on the way to school, which I am very thankful of now, I knew right where to go. We got there around 8 am and we were back home by 9:30 am. This small town stuff of driving 6 blocks to the hospital, one doctor on, etc, worked out all right! The x-ray was inconclusive, but the doctor said the symptoms all point to a radial head fracture. The prescription is a sling and ibuprofen for 3- 6 weeks. We go to another doctor on Monday to check in. I actually think I liked Anika's broken arm better. At least it was protected in a cast - this thing is hanging out there, waiting to get hit and hurt and everything else. He still complains a fair share, but I'm trying to be more sympathetic. The hardest thing for him is to hold his fingers up, so they are getting pretty swollen. They just hang out the end of the sling. I keep tucking them back in. Hopefully some prostrate sleeping will bring the swelling down, both in the elbow and in the fingers. I couldn't believe how swollen his elbow was this morning.
Ok, I hear it is snowing in MN. We just had rain here all day, but I still managed to go for a run. I ran down to the beach. The waves were huge and the noise was mesmerizing. I love the sound of water. We had a lazy day at home, but the kids got bored. The weather was dreary and we are so used to having to run from place to place every day, that they weren't sure what to do with a day at home. We all wrote some letters and eventually we walked over to the church and ran around in the gym over there. That place is huge!
Some good friends of my uncle and aunt stopped by with a meal for us today. They are such cool people - you choose your friends well! It was nice to see a smiling face, even if it wasn't familiar to us, on such a dreary day. They gave us some advice on doctors, too and their phone number if we need anything else, very cool.
Since the couch was mentioned earlier, I have to talk about it. We actually are quite happy to just have a place we can all sit on again, its going to be hard to leave behind. BUT, its got bright blue flowers on it with green leaves. Its not the most attractive thing, but its part of this house, so we live with it, and willingly sit in it. Its great for kids to lay down on when something like a broken arm happens, just saying.
Life without an address is getting tricky. Do you realize that is the first question asked when you do just about anything? We fudged our way around a library card (they still don't know its a work address), but the bank account wasn't working. I have an email in to our loan officer to see what we are supposed to do. The loan department wants us to have a bank account before they process our home loan, we can't open a bank account without a MI license, we can't get a MI license without an address, we can't get an address without the bank loan....... tricky.
Finally, the parade. Grand Haven has a Jingle Bell Parade. Its their version of the Holidazzle. Think Spring Lake Park size parade (girl scouts, boy scouts, local schools and preschools, small businesses) with a float that is lit up something like the Holidazzle, only not lit up on such a grand scale. It was fun to see. They tossed out candy and cans of chicken noodle soup, itty bitty ice cream cones and afterward there was free hot chocolate. The kids enjoyed it too and it was good to have an outing.
I am a self proclaimed Grinch, and if I ever make a club, I know I have a co-founder and at least 3 members ready to join the 'I hate Christmas' club. Having said that, we have no Christmas music playing (none of the equipment is hooked up) no decorations up, and no snow, so it doesn't really seem like Christmas around here. We aren't getting ready for any Christmas parties, we don't have any Christmas concerts, and our calendar is empty every night except for the stuff we want to do. Its a little weird. I don't even know if we'll get around to doing our typical traditions. Some of them we will have to do, once we get into the house. We always paint an ornament and put the kids' hand prints on the tree skirt, so those we will have to do. We always paint a window but we can just do a nice snowman scene instead for January! The computer isn't hooked up, so I can't even look at all the things we normally do. Hopefully we will be able to go sledding at some point! And I'm not doing Christmas cards until I have an address either!
Overall, we are doing well. Anika described it as we are fine, just not complete. Jessica had a sad day on Friday. Nothing major, I could just tell she was off. When we got home I asked her what was up and she just said she was sad, she missed her friends - two in particular. She then asked the 'why did we have to move' question again. I told her I missed my friends, too, but you can't stay somewhere just because you like it. We felt this is where God wanted us to be. So, how are we? We are fine. Sometimes we smile and laugh, like at the parade dancing to Jingle Bells as the floats pass by and singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas with hot chocolate in our hands. And sometimes, we miss you all, LOTS. In the grand scheme, we are held in His hands and much better off than so many, but we often feel like a part of us is missing.
Tomorrow is our first day at church. Matt isn't preaching yet. But off we go! What a difference a week makes - when I think about where I was a week ago this morning, compared to in the hospital this week! Or a week ago right now, we were still driving - through the rain!
Thanks for checking in, and for all of your prayers. I think Brandon, his new friends, and his teachers are going to need an extra dose of patience on Monday.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A day of sunshine
Its birthday month! A friend from church informed me that when you have a December birthday, you get to celebrate all month - I'm in! So, I'm sitting here with mint hot chocolate and candy cane oreos (thanks ladies) celebrating the arrival of December.
I used to hate the fact that my birthday was in December. Like when you would get a Christmas card that said 'Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday' - it's two separate days - celebrations people!
And then for awhile it was fun to do things over Christmas break and never tell anyone it was your birthday. Like your own little party in your head.
Now I really get into all the fun treats. Who else gets every restaurant and store to decorate and bring out the yummy treats???? Frango mints from Herbergers, egg nog shakes and peppermint hot chocolate from McD's; DQ used to have candy cane blizzards - how dare they stop that yummy treat; candy cane pie from Aldi or Baker's Square; candy cane oreos, mint m & m's; mint truffle and candy cane hershey kisses..... I could keep going.
So, on with the celebration.
Things that have happened lately
- we met the neighbor
- we were given a calendar of things to do in Grand Haven during the Christmas season
- someone brought chocolate peanut butter cupcakes!
- our MN house closing went through
- Maria jumped out of the car and said 'Bye mom' on her way into school today; I don't think it hurt that I bought her a new pillow pet blanket for rest time. She needed a pillow and a blanket to take to school every day for quiet time. This solved that problem and it was on sale at Meijers
- we have a library card - it took three hours, but we have one - who knew you need two pieces of mail with your name and address on it to get a library card
- the kids went to Wednesday night activities at church
- we left our winter coats at said activities, but some wonderful woman delivered them to school this morning
- we have renter's insurance and a homeowner's insurance policy
- the kids have an application in for health insurance
- I went for a run and did sit ups and push ups
- I took a shower and flossed my teeth and put in my contacts, although the contacts thing might not happen for awhile again - that one missing bathroom box is killing me. It has my nail stuff and my boxes of contacts among other things. All in good time
- we are closer to setting a closing date on our house, maybe even the 16th
- I bought a really cool frame at Hobby Lobby - its a store like Michael's or JoAnn's but way better frames - and it was 50% off!
- I hopefully solved the fighting in the morning between Jessica and Maria over shoes; I thought having the two of them in the same size would be so nice. OH MY! One shoe is misplaced - probably in a different box - so I went out and bought a new pair of shoes today. Yes, new, from the store, with tags, never been worn by another child; maybe it will cause more fights, who knows; but it felt good to try; they weren't on sale though and there is tax on clothes in MI. bah
Yesterday was hard for me to not compare to how things used to be. And in my head, they were all better before. I was reminded that we are starting over, and it takes time. Its good to have friends that help keep reality in its place, even if we aren't in our place.
Perhaps tomorrow I will conquer the bank accounts. This is going to get complicated as the bank that is processing our loan is only in Grand Haven and we plan on living in Muskegon, hmmmm. Not sure I want to drive 10 miles whenever I need to do some banking.
I used to hate the fact that my birthday was in December. Like when you would get a Christmas card that said 'Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday' - it's two separate days - celebrations people!
And then for awhile it was fun to do things over Christmas break and never tell anyone it was your birthday. Like your own little party in your head.
Now I really get into all the fun treats. Who else gets every restaurant and store to decorate and bring out the yummy treats???? Frango mints from Herbergers, egg nog shakes and peppermint hot chocolate from McD's; DQ used to have candy cane blizzards - how dare they stop that yummy treat; candy cane pie from Aldi or Baker's Square; candy cane oreos, mint m & m's; mint truffle and candy cane hershey kisses..... I could keep going.
So, on with the celebration.
Things that have happened lately
- we met the neighbor
- we were given a calendar of things to do in Grand Haven during the Christmas season
- someone brought chocolate peanut butter cupcakes!
- our MN house closing went through
- Maria jumped out of the car and said 'Bye mom' on her way into school today; I don't think it hurt that I bought her a new pillow pet blanket for rest time. She needed a pillow and a blanket to take to school every day for quiet time. This solved that problem and it was on sale at Meijers
- we have a library card - it took three hours, but we have one - who knew you need two pieces of mail with your name and address on it to get a library card
- the kids went to Wednesday night activities at church
- we left our winter coats at said activities, but some wonderful woman delivered them to school this morning
- we have renter's insurance and a homeowner's insurance policy
- the kids have an application in for health insurance
- I went for a run and did sit ups and push ups
- I took a shower and flossed my teeth and put in my contacts, although the contacts thing might not happen for awhile again - that one missing bathroom box is killing me. It has my nail stuff and my boxes of contacts among other things. All in good time
- we are closer to setting a closing date on our house, maybe even the 16th
- I bought a really cool frame at Hobby Lobby - its a store like Michael's or JoAnn's but way better frames - and it was 50% off!
- I hopefully solved the fighting in the morning between Jessica and Maria over shoes; I thought having the two of them in the same size would be so nice. OH MY! One shoe is misplaced - probably in a different box - so I went out and bought a new pair of shoes today. Yes, new, from the store, with tags, never been worn by another child; maybe it will cause more fights, who knows; but it felt good to try; they weren't on sale though and there is tax on clothes in MI. bah
Yesterday was hard for me to not compare to how things used to be. And in my head, they were all better before. I was reminded that we are starting over, and it takes time. Its good to have friends that help keep reality in its place, even if we aren't in our place.
Perhaps tomorrow I will conquer the bank accounts. This is going to get complicated as the bank that is processing our loan is only in Grand Haven and we plan on living in Muskegon, hmmmm. Not sure I want to drive 10 miles whenever I need to do some banking.
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