Life is Changing

July 29, 2009 2 Comments
So much has happened since my last post. Amongst everything, we celebrated birthdays with each of my chicklets, went on a much-needed vacation, and came to a very real decision for our family. Our lives are about to change in a very BIG way.
How big? Well, about as big as an rv. Yup. That’s right, I said rv. Why? Because that’s going to be our new home. The four of us {and our feline family members} are going to travel across this great country of ours for at least a year in an rv. Fifth-wheel, to be more precise.
Based on previous reactions we’ve received when we’ve shared this with family, friends, and total strangers, you might be like one of those who looked horrified while uttering “What? Are you crazy?!” Or maybe you have a dreamy look in your eyes as you smile and say “Really? How thrilling!” Either way, we are excited!
However, there is a downside…we are selling our home of 9+ years. This was not an easy choice to make. Our home is where my babies have grown up…where most of my family memories lay claim. Once we leave here, the view will never be the same. But I’m not too distressed because I know my family will thrive from this experience.
So why are we choosing to go from a home of 3500+ square feet to one of about 300? Simple. Because of everything we’ll get from it. But let’s remember…it’s really not about the rv. It’s about the adventure! We’ll get to see things we’ve only read about, try food right from the source, and meet people from all over. And yet, that’s not the main reason we’re doing this, either.
Most of all it’s about our family. An opportunity for our family to grow and bond tightly together the way that God wants us to. Time to spend together.
Imagine having devotions in Oregon with mountains behind you. Or white-water rafting down the Colorado River. Or having a picnic at the base of Mt. Rushmore. Wow! Thinking of this gives me chills of excitement!
So let’s talk logistics. Seeing as I’ve been homeschooling the chicklets since birth, we’re going to continue. Hubby works from home now anyway, so we’re just going to pack up his office and take it on the road.
But first we have to get ready. As soon as we finish painting, re-carpeting, and everything else to fix up our house, it’s going on the market. How are we going to sell a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath house in this economy? We’ve put it in God’s hands. If He wants us to go on this grand adventure, then He will send us the right buyer. Preferably in 2009. But still in His hands.
So that’s where we are now. And I’ll keep blogging about our preparation and praying until we actually hit the road. And then the fun starts with our new blog which will document our travels along with photos and video for those who’d like to live vicariously through our adventure. It’s gonna be fun!

P.S. Nope, this is not our rig, just a representation. More pics to come…stay tuned!

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It’s all Relevant – On The Road and In the Car

May 26, 2011 Leave a Comment
Do me a favor and picture this for a moment: you’re in your car, family spread out in their own nooks, listening to some tunes on the radio, snacks tucked into a nearby cooler, pillows and other comforts stashed for when needed.  And lying ahead of you is the open road.  Ahh, now this is heaven.
The road is in my blood.  From a young age I learned to enjoy not just the destination at the end of a long trip but to savor the journey that led us there.  The glimpses I caught of trees and farms and big city skyscrapers as we buzzed past town after town all amazed me.  I wondered who lived there and what they were doing that day and could they see me as we sped on to another spot on our map.
The love of a good roadtrip has endured.  Though my family of four has always traveled together, our next excursion will be a special mom-daughter time for Catz and me as we venture to Pennsylvania for the Relevant Conference.
We have two map routes to choose from, of which I’m leaving the final choice up to TechDaddy as he’s the Safety Expert and Chief-Worrier-of-His-Two-Girls.  {Mainly, I trust his judgement.}   Both routes have us traveling through 7-8 states and around 2K miles roundtrip.That’s a lot of hours driving, but we have some of our listening options all planned out:

How do you like our selections?  Both series by Chuck Black were wonderful reads for both of my kids {perfect for ages 12 and up}.  We’ve heard all of the Odyssey cd’s so we’re starting from the beginning again and moving forward until they record a new album.  The “Jonathon Park” audio series is also great, but we’ve heard them all recently and not ready to repeat them yet.

And of course, Catz and I will spend a lot of time talking together because that’s what us girls do.  It’s also what keeps our hearts in sync as mother and daughter. And as one of those intentional activities, having our talks is something that I never want to skip.  My relationship with Catz is just too important!

So now it’s your turn.  Have you written a post about your plans for Relevant? Go ahead and link up the url to your post below so we can read more about it.  While you’re at it why not grab a button from my sidebar to put on your blog or in your post.  And be sure to visit someone else who linked up and show some love.  Ready? Go!

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Christmas Cookie Week 2008

January 5, 2009 Leave a Comment

I know, it’s been over 2 weeks since my last post. Being new at blogging, I’ll have to figure out how to blog AND enjoy the Christmas season next year. And even though it’s already 2009, I still want to share our Cookie Week.

The week before Christmas, my chicklets and I made cookies here at home. And I don’t mean we spent one day baking or made one batch or chose one type of cookie. Our house became a cookie-baking factory. This is what we made:

* Chocolate Macaroons
* Sugar Cookies with Pistacios and Cherries
* Florentines
* Monster Cookies
* Swedish Christmas Cookies
* Sugar Cut-Outs
* Cheesecake Petit-Fours
* Spritz Cookies

This has never happened at my home before. In the past, I’ve bought the prepackaged dough (and there’s nothing wrong with that) and made one or two of those. Of course, that was when we did school until right before Christmas.

But not this year. I decided to eliminate as much stress as possible from our Christmas season, so structured school has been on an extended holiday. Yeah!

So in my efforts to make these weeks off exciting, our kitchen was overrun with almost everything baking-related. I said almost.

In my past, I was a hamburger helper gal. I really had no interest in cooking or baking. If I’d had a family that did not require food, my stove would have become a desk. Or a bookshelf. Or a craft counter would have been cool.

But then I became domesticated. (No, not like a cat.) I started enjoying cooking and baking. Part of that came about because of a line I once read: “A good meal is a daily love gift to your family.” I definitely wanted to communicate love to my family.

So I have tried harder to like making food. Now I love cooking and baking. No, I don’t always care to cook. But baking has become more and more a fun activity for me. Probably because I enjoy eating what I bake. I really do.

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31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive: Day 4 – Take a shower together {gasp!}

October 4, 2011 3 Comments
NOTE: Ladies {and gents} you may want to be extra careful about who’s reading this over your shoulder today!  This is a PG blog, but today you might want the kiddos to go read a book.  Or clean the toilet. Or something else constructive. 
{Hey there! Thanks for stopping by to follow my new series 31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive.  Every day in the month of October I’ll be giving you tips and tricks on how to make your marriage spectacular. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @LilbearMe  for more #31dmymt, and check the bottom of this post for the beginning posts of this series!}

Day 4 – Take a shower or bath together.

Wow. Doesn’t sound too difficult, does it? Pretty straightforward and doesn’t need much explaining, right??

Ladies, when was the last time you took a shower or bath with your husband?  Okay, don’t answer that because I’m afraid you’re going to tell me “Never” or “Uh, what decade is this?”  Not to get all steamy here {pardon the pun}, but there’s more to spending time with your man in some hot water than you think.

Stress-free
Taking a shower together gives you both a chance to relax.  The hot spray can wash away the stresses at the end of a long, hectic day or charge you both up to start your morning right.  It’s a quick way to get clean so you have time for other things…like talking!

On the other hand, a bath is a more leisurely way to spend time together.  Soaking in a tub of hot water has a great way of melting away any issues and helping you get more connected to one another.

Setting the Scene  
First of all, you don’t have to have a celebrity-sized bathroom or a huge garden tub to enjoy a little water together.  In our first apartment as newlyweds, my husband and I enjoyed several soaks and showers in a standard tub.  It can be done.  Sometimes it may seem like a tight fit if you’re tall, but that makes it more fun.

Let’s talk about setting the scene. Placing a few candles around the room sends a warm, soft glow that feels relaxing and inviting.  If they’re scented with a subtle vanilla or your own favorite aroma, that’s even better. {Our fave is called Christmas cookie.}

If the candles are unscented but you still want a pretty smell in the room, try spritzing just a bit of your own perfume in the air.  Or here’s another idea.  I love the smell of bath salts and gels, but I don’t necessarily want that smell on my skin.  

Before our shower or bath, I’ll heat up a cup or two of water in the microwave and bring it to the bathroom. Then I just drop a little bath salt ball in and let the aroma drift about the room. 

What about the kids? 
 ”But we have a newborn…how can we take a shower together?”  That’s easy.  Babies are very agreeable when water is running.  The sound seems to soothe them.

When our daughter was an infant, we’d put her to sleep in her angled bouncy seat placed right in front of the shower.  That way we could see her while spending some water time with each other.  Just wait until your little one is fed and dry, put her to sleep in her carseat or swing near the shower or tub, and enjoy while keeping an eye on her.

If you have older children, that’s when you get more creative.  Who says your bath has to be at a certain time?  Use the hour that works with your kids’ schedules.  If they’re asleep by 7pm, then make your shower or bath date for 7:30 or 8.  If they stay up late, why not have an early morning shower together?

Of course, sleepovers at grandma’s house or with a friend are like bonus points!  Grab those opportunities whenever you can.

Surprise!

The strategy for your shower or bath can be up to you.  If your plan is to relax and talk, then do that.  If something else is up your sleeve, go for it.  And ladies, there are no rules against you surprising your man.  Imagine how thrilled he would be to have you join him even for a quick morning shower before he dashes off to work.

The whole purpose behind taking a shower or bath with your husband is for you both to get connected and stay connected.  When you feel in-sync with each other it makes for a marriage that thrives!

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Here’s the rest of the series “31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive”:
For more 31 Days series’ visit The Nester.

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31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive: Day 3 – Turn off distractions

October 3, 2011 Leave a Comment

{Hey there! Thanks for stopping by to follow my new series 31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive.  Every day in the month of October I’ll be giving you tips and tricks on how to make your marriage spectacular. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @LilbearMe  for more #31dmymt, and check the bottom of this post for the beginning posts of this series!}

Day 3 – Turn off distractions regularly.
 
Right now you’re reading this online through some type of device that connects to the wonderful world of the internet.  Whether it be a computer, tablet, or smartphone, we live in a tech world.

It’s a Tech World

We have the ability to communicate daily, hourly, or within seconds through phone calls, text, email, Skype, IM, Twitter, Facebook and other social medium.  Many of us even make a living {or attempt to do so} at responding constantly through one or more of these outlets.
It should be no surprise that, in one way or another, we get bombarded with technological distractions.  The phone rings, a text message bings, or our Twitter platform announces that we have a new tweet.
Perspective
How about some perspective.  Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation with someone and they check their phone for email or a text? Ever have it happen repeatedly in the same convo?  Suddenly what you have to say doesn’t seem that important, does it?
So let’s be honest here. How many times have you checked your phone or computer while doing something with your husband? How about while in the middle of a discussion with him, or worse, during dinner?
Yep, I’ve been on both sides of that scenario. More than once I held up a movie and put a pause on dinner to check some ringing device.  But I’ve learned that there’s a super secret solution to this malady.The Solution
{Psst! Are you ready?  It will blow. your. mind.  Okay, here it is.}Turn off the distractions.

I know.  Right now you’re probably looking at these words in horror and saying “Are you kidding?” But it’s okay.  If you do this you will survive.  I promise.

Instead of hourly checking your email, Twitter feed, or Facebook status, turn it off and turn to your husband.  Your man may chuckle slightly when you say “Just checking real quick…” as you grab your smartphone, but really when he’s with you he’d like you to be with him {and not your followers}.  It makes him feel he’s more important when he’s your focus instead of some gadget.

Social Media Siesta
I’ve made it a rule to turn off the sound on my phone and not check it during time with my man.  Watching a dvd together, talking at the end of the day, or anything else, my husband deserves my complete attention.  If I’m out and the kids are home, then I leave the ringer on and only take a call or text from them.  But social media takes a siesta.

There are exceptions to this rule.  If you have a major merger going through or you’re waiting word on the birth of your newest niece, then keep the phone handy.  But is there really a need to see how many comments you received on your Facebook status while spending time with your guy?  I think not.

Another tip is to go completely offline for one day every week. I’ve implemented this on Sundays.  I don’t check email or any social media all. day. long.  That way when I’m with my husband, I’m with him physically and mentally.  If I want a blog post or Twitter update to go up on Sunday, I’ll set it up a day or two beforehand to post at a certain time.  But me and social media remain strangers for one whole day. My husband has come to love it {and so have I}.

And remember, girls, that the more you show your husband how important he is and how much you respect him, the more he’ll want to shower you with attention and love.  And that’s one more way to make your marriage thrive!

How do you handle social media and your time with your husband?

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Here’s the rest of the series “31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive”:
For more 31 Days series’ visit The Nester.

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Filed Under: love and marriage

Coming Soon: 31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive

August 13, 2011 Leave a Comment

Have you visited The Nester lately?  Of course you have because she. is. fabulous.  And in October she’ll be hosting 31 Days of Change and encouraging others to host their own 31 Days blog series, too.

I’ve been writing up a storm and will be hosting 31 Days to Make Your Marriage Thrive.  Whether you’re newly married, been with your man a loong time, or counting the days to your own wedding day, this is a series you won’t want to miss.

I’ll give you tips, make you laugh, and help you feel closer and more connected to the man you love. There will be something for everyone!

You can also follow along on my series with the Twitter hashtag #31dmymt and look for at least one giveaway in October related to making marriages thrive.  But don’t wait until then to visit, ok?  Hope to see you soon!

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A B See Photo Meme: B is for Birthday Season!

January 25, 2009 Leave a Comment

 

My kids are so clever. And they love surprises. Which is an awesome combination at this time of year in our family. ‘Cuz it’s birthday season!

Not only are two of my 3 sisters celebrating their b-days in January, but my mom and I share the same birthDAY. That’s right. I was Mom’s birthday present thirty-eleven years ago.

The cake you see above is what we had on our special day {No, I did not take this photo}. The store where I bought it calls it Chocolate Lovers Delight. It’s chocolate, obviously. Is there anything else more worthy? I think not.

But the best birthday news of this month is all about my beloved…one of my own blessings…my one and only personal computer guru…drumroll, please…Spider X!!! This year is a significant birthday for him. My hubby is turning…well, I’m really not at liberty to say. Let’s just say he looks awesome!! His cake doesn’t deserve to be seen on my blog because it’s boringnot chocolate. Oh well.

And while we’re on the subject of my husband, I guess it’s time to explain his pseudonym for those who aren’t in the know. “Spider X” is a two-fold name. And not at all creepy. Or weird.

The “spider” part is actually cool. During high school, hubby was the goalie for the hockey team each year. As a goalie’s job is to hover in front of and protect the goal – which resembles a web – he got the nickname “Spider”. See. I told you it was cool.

The “x” part comes from a favorite tv character. Having watched his fair share of cartoons as a kid – and as an adult – one of my husband’s favorite shows was the original “Speed Racer”. And therefore, Racer X was his fave car-racing dude because he’s an older brother just like hubby. So that’s where he got “Spider X”. Here’s his avatar.

Anyway, let’s return to what I said at the beginning of this post about my kids being clever. On Spider X’s birthday, the Chicklets used their super-abilities for good to surprise their daddy. After breakfast in bed {for him, not them} they sang and danced to “Happy Birthday” a la Wooton {from Odyssey}. It was priceless. And potentially embarrasing when we meet their future spouses. And show them photos.

But the best part came next when the kids presented their daddy with a treasure hunt!

Here’s the first clue…

 

It’s in code so hubby figured that out s-l-o-w-l-y…

 

and then raced to the answer here:

This was the next clue…

365/5

…which led to here and clue 3.
This clue told Spider X to race to the playroom where he found this…
365/6
On the other side of the car was a track that led to a fortress made of blocks. And inside was the birthday boy’s prize…a homemade gift certificate to a Richard Petty Driving Experience! {Of course, this will have to wait until next time we’re on one of our travels and near one of these tracks.} Anyway, the Chicklets had fun making up the treasure hunt all on their own, Spider X had a blast racing around finding clues, and I loved every photo opportunity. It was a great day!
The best part of birthday season is that it lasts for 2 more months while the Chicklets celebrate their big days! That means more cake. Maybe even cupcakes. I’m not sure what flavor Mr.C will want. He’s known for being all over the place on sweets. But thankfully, I can rely on Catz to make the right choice…chocolate.

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A B See Photo Meme: One More "A"

January 10, 2009 7 Comments

365/4

I couldn’t help it. Once we got rolling on taking pix, I just couldn’t stop. I know… I already made my entry for “A”. But this photo was just staring up at me saying “Post me! Post me!”. So what could I do?

And when I saw what my sweet girl Catz shot for her new blog, my mind started racing. Oh, hers is a much superior photo than mine. Hers has great composition. It’s beautifully shot. But mine is tasty.

Just so you know, my entry is “A lot of”…as in almonds, chocolate, and yum. And my personal favorite? Well, the almonds of course…as long as they’re wearing a robe of chocolate.

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A B See Photo Meme

January 5, 2009 Leave a Comment

There’s a cool new meme over at The Homeschool Post. It sounds like fun, so I’m going to play along. (I might even get Catz and Mr. C to join in as well.)
Here are the rules… be sure to post them when you join!
1. Post a photo for each letter of the alphabet of anything that starts with that letter.
2. Write a few short explanatory, quirky, or witty sentences about each photo you post.
3. Only post one photo at a time (the meme can take as long as you want – a month, three months, whatever… you aren’t being graded). You can link them later in a blog post so they are listed in order if you are the list-making type.
4. If you want to join the meme, go to The Homeschool Post and follow the rest of the rules.
Have fun!

 

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A B See Photo Meme: D is for Darling Dress…a la LOTR

February 10, 2009 4 Comments

 

Seeing as Catz’s 13th birthday is coming up, I guess I can divulge one of my latest projects {and do the A B See Photo Meme, too}. Last summer my sweet girl requested I sew her a special dress for her special birthday. She chose this one {dress A} due to her love of the LOTR series of books and movies. And hey, it’s a pretty dress!
No, I don’t consider myself a seamstress. That term I save for those girls and women who can whip out a wardrobe in a week {or less}. They’ve got skills! Me? I feel very blessed if I can make a skirt. In less than a year.
It’s not that I can’t, it’s that I always seem to find other things taking up my time. Like homeschooling. And making dinner. And reading all the 119 blog feeds I signed up for. I really need to prioritize.
Anyway, as you see, the pattern pouch is sitting on some of the fabric Catz chose. It’s a deep olive/forest green and it is supposed to will have gold satin lining in the sleeves as well as something similar to shantung in the yoke.

For those of you who are saying “Shan-what?”, don’t feel bad. When I first saw the word I couldn’t decide if it was some sort of fancy cutlery or a disease of the mouth. Praise the Lord I have Google to define words or I’d have to walk to the bookshelf and crack open a book. I personally think using the computer to define a word is a lot like using a remote to change the tv channel. But that’s another topic…back to sewing.

In the above photo the pattern is also lying near my nasty Kenmore sewing machine. Yes, I am thankful I have my own machine. Especially when there are starving kids in…uh, wait. Wrong story. Anyway, I’m happy, even thrilled to have this noisy contraption device to sew on. But let’s face it. This thing is so ornery that it often times simply refuses to work properly. It’s like a toddler keeping his lips firmly shut when mom is trying to feed him. Veryfrustrating.

But I am determined to deal with it. So here I am. With a beautiful dress to make for my cutie. And a moody sewing machine. But I have one more thing that’s even worse…a deadline.
So before I get back to sewing, I have to ask…what projects are you trying to finish?

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