The top 5

We made it to Arkansas today and brrr, it is cold. The kids were fantastic in the car, could not have asked for more cooperative children. Such precious darlings. Will lost it about Yellville, but it kinda makes you want to scream. So, he rode with me the last 20 minutes.

My goals this week:

5. eat
4. sleep
3. crack up at my precious Abby
2. mentally, emotionally & spiritually prepare Adrienne for children
1. no trips to Mtn Home ER, I still owe those people from our "Ike" drama.

Pruning

The definition of pruning (dictionary.com) is to cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. My trees were trimmed last week. The back yard looked like Ike & Rita hit all at once. I knew they need trimmed but the word pruned was more like it. I love our trees and all the shade. However, I do not like them on my house with water pouring into bedrooms. (maybe the bathrooms could get a hit, they need to be re-done!) I have had 2 roofs in 3 years so it is time to remove trees & limbs.

We had one tree cut down. It is not OUR tree nor is it in OUR yard but I do not need to say anymore.

As I watched the process taking place (and our $ flying out the window), I was reminded of

John 15 in which Jesus describes His pruning process. I remembered I did not like it either. However, I am continually being pruned and I would not change the work He is doing in me for anything. Nor would I change the fact that my trees will grow back more beautiful, faster and healthier than ever! Maybe, I am kinda "green?"

I leave you with this pic of Will, he was fascinated by the process.

Because I like to sleep like a sardine

My children were sleeping peacefully in my bed this morning. As a matter of fact, all 4 of us were. I cropped my hunk-of-burning-love out in order to keep my marriage intact. The space between the girls was mine and do I mean space.

With the annoying vertigo I have, I feel like I am on a lousy cruise ship (not that I have ever been) or sleeping in a washing machine. Once, I glanced at the clock and it was 2 so I just stayed put, knowing I only had 3 more hours of sleep was not worth the fight.

Normally, children in my bed make me very cranky. But, I am struggling with dealing with this issue b/c the issue is Faith, my great sleeper. She is scared and not just a little scared, but gripped with fear. At school, she heard about the recent home invasions in our area. I was going to talk to her & Claire anyway b/c it is a good reminder to never answer the door, talking to strangers, etc.

We have tried to link our daily devotion and bible story time to fear, prayed with her, bought a fancy night-light, talked about our alarm, etc. . . but she is still very upset. So, for today, I just let her sleep. At least they sat in their own bed until the wee hours of the a.m. I would prefer 5 not 2. :)

I hate that our children have to fear the world, it is such a burden on my heart. However, I know that it can be a real lesson to teach her to rely on God as her source of faith not fear. I plan to do an art activity with the girls today making a cross poster with scriptures.

Claire loves to sleep with us and we are always working with her, I am sure she has a root of fear in her issue too. But, I also think she just wants her mommy. And, I thought all my years of Babywise training would solve sleep issues forever (it did help, no babies just kids in my bed!). Silly mother. . .

Please pray for my girls. My worn out body thanks you!

Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and a sound mind.

New news

A red truck is at my house, 2 in fact. The roofers are here! I would take a pic of the men on they roof but they don't like me. I can tell.

We had a slight problem problem yesterday. I noticed the brand name was not the same and I asked about it. They told me it was fine. A few minutes later, they noticed it did not match! So, they wondered what I wanted to do. I said I would call Craig.

I did.

He told me to tell them to change it.

They did and he came home.

I have stayed clear of them for now! I am working on floors, doors & ceilings.

In other news, Will's collarbone is healing! Yeah!

My Oh-So Gourmet Dinner

I had a great plan tonight. I decided I would try to copy a salad I enjoyed the other night at the Elegante. It contained couscous, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, some kind of vinagrette dressing, spices, etc. So...I went to the store & bought a box of Near East coucous and the other ingredients. I thought I could just throw it together. I was so proud I even had mint leaves in the backyard!

Ha!

I cooked the couscous. It is basically rice, little bitty bits of rice. That is not what I ate the other night, the menu said couscous. So, I called Nicole, since she was with me. She basically said for me to tell Craig it was good for him, just eat it. He did, even with the red wine vinaigrette dressing that stained it pink. He liked it! It was pink, tiny rice. I should have taken pics for the full effect but it was too embrassing!

I called Paula, because she has other foods in her house besides Dunkin Donut lattes, green peas and Tyson chicken.

She said I needed to do a search on the Food Network for Mediterranean Couscous Salad. I said ok. I planned on it but before I could I got and email from her & Colleen. They found it. It calls for Israeli couscous. I do not recall seeing that at Kroger and I doubt it would have recognized me either. I think this is really close to it but during my recipe browsing I remembered it also had shrimp. That is kind of a big thing for the-oh-so gourmet me to leave out! I think my head would fall of if it was not attached.

I am sticking to Paula's blog. Colleen posted one I plan to try tomorrow. It is a little more in my league, no more couscous-pasta for a while. My pride cannot take it.

This may actually be blogworthy . . .or not

I really have no answer to may lack of blogging.

I am busy.

I am way busy.

I am struggling to deal with being busy?

I really do not know. I have nothing exciting to report. We did take pics yesterday so maybe I can post them soon. Also, I am enjoying facebook so maybe after I reconnect there, I have nothing to blog about.

One thing I discovered yesterday, Jasam (cannot link it, way to elementary) may be back. I do not watch GH anymore but I caught a glimpse on a commercial of my couple coming back. Silly? Yes, but that is why I have not been blogging. Everything on my mind is either mush, silly or political. And trust me, I need not go there, my brain can't take it. Not to mention, I hate mud-slinging. "They" are still at it, mud-slinging that is, I guess it never stops. So, what can I say? Not much . . .

In other news, I am going out tonight with a bunch of girls to the Hope Center Annual Gala. William P. Young, author of The Shack is the speaker. I have not read the book so do not know how I will feel about him as the speaker, in my emotional wishy-washy state, it may not go so well. The oh-so fabulous Susan (who blogged for 2.5 minutes one time) shared a few articles of clothing with me so I will look fashionable. I am always cuter in the summer vs. Beaumont fall/winter/never know what the weather is doing.

Wow, I am way off. The night is not about fashion, it is about hope!

I really have no words

I could spill paragraphs but I do not have the energy. Welcome to East Texas people (Warren to be exact), it is deer season.