school days

It feels like we’ve been “doing school” for this school year forever. Already.

I know.

But it’s really just been two weeks and two days.

We were originally going to start school on the 15th. But hubs was going to be out of town and I am not good at tech support and the school is using new software. So I am of little help.

Like I’m such a big help otherwise.

But then last week we had company and this week we’ve got some odd things going on. So we are stretching out “Week 2” and finishing it up this week.

We have no plans for a fall vacation. We can’t decide where we want to go. We almost pulled the trigger on a trip to DisneyLAND. And then backed out. And then we almost pulled the trigger on a trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Tennessee and a really nice log cabin. But backed out on that one too. We need some ideas…and preferably at a place where it’s not as hot as the surface of the sun…like it is here.

Ideas? Anyone..anyone?

that look in her eye

We’ve had a lot going on this week. Hubs folks have been visiting so that means I’ve made a few meals and had a few things to do to entertain the troops.

The other day I was about to run out the door to do an errand and I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the cat litter box needed to be scooped something fierce. Usually I just do it myself so I don’t have to listen to ‘it’.

And I think all you moms know exactly what ‘it’ is.

But I was in a rush, so I asked the girl to pwetty pwease take care of it for me. And then I passed through the house a couple of times before I walked out the door. As I walked past the bathroom, I could hear the grumbles…this is gross…I don’t like doing this…this is not any fun. (you know the drill)

So I replied…hmm, that’s odd. It’s loads of fun when *I* do it.

I am pretty sure there was some stink-eye-shootin’ in my general direction.

vacuum troubles

I’ve been cleaning house today. Nothing huge…just the usual. Well ok, maybe a little more than the usual. I dusted. With spray and everything.

But things came to a screeching halt when my vacuum cleaner wasn’t working correctly. So I did what I always do and took apart the beater bar cover thing and cleaned all the people hair from around it. Sometimes that alone is enough to keep it from working. I got it put back together. On my second try. But it still wasn’t working.

I stared at it for a while and finally decided to call Dyson and talk to them about it. The nice lady showed me where the filter is. We’ve had this vacuum cleaner for a little more than 7 years and guess what?! I didn’t know where the filter was. And it’s supposed to be cleaned every few months. OOOOOPSY!

So! I got that all cleaned and let it air dry in front of the fan. I will spare you the scene of a laundry basket upside down propped up on one end with a stack of books and the fan blowing right on it. Patience is a virtue. That I don’t have.

I put it all back together a few minutes ago and it works. Yay. I was worried that something major was wrong and I really didn’t want to have to buy another one.

So the moral today…

1. Clean your filter more often than say…NEVER..and your vacuum cleaner will work great.

2. The only thing that is bad when it doesn’t suck is a vacuum cleaner. (thanks, I’ll be here all week)

The end. : )

ps..that is probably the first and last time I have ever blogged the word suck. Carry on..

my summer reading

Earlier I think I mentioned that I was reading a book by Watchman Nee, The Breaking of the Outer Man and the Release of the Spirit. There are so many things in that book are really messing with my thinking and my heart in a good way. Wow. And I’ve just been really hungry for Him in a renewed way.

This little book is amazing. I read things by these  authors that have gone on and I just have to sit back and say WOW. Nobody says this stuff now. And yet when I read it, God within me agrees and longs for me to know more of it. This book talks a lot about the outer man..our self..and the inner man..what we would call the spirit. And it has helped me see these two entities in a totally different and more complete way than ever before. And to see myself in a different way as well. I would try to share more but every time I start, the words just won’t come. It has been just so overwhelming (so why am I here blogging about it?). :-D

I’m reading the first few chapters of Jeremiah while I’m finishing this book by Nee and it has just been so interesting to see how both of them go hand in hand so easily. The beginning of Jeremiah is really focusing on just how utterly sinful we are apart from God (I could go on and on here but you get the idea). And then to read in the Nee book about our sinful nature and God’s spirit and how the two are in conflict with one another.

I just love when it’s so easy to see how God is at work to bring two works written many many years apart together. The same Spirit that breathed the scriptures to life is evident in many of these writings from our more recent past. And the truths are still the same. His Word and His Truth never vary or change. Amen.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (NASB)

some hot news

So I guess I’ve got this thing called a blog. Hmm..I guess I’ll have to try this out and see how it goes. Seeing as how I haven’t posted in almost a month. Do you all even remember me? LOL

Well, there really isn’t that much to tell. It’s summer and we haven’t been up to much.

Oh and it’s hot. I mean really, rilly hot.

And last week I was watching the news and the weather man said that this week was going to be the hottest yet. I’m thrilled.

In another weather cast, he said something about a cooling trend (at some point) and “cooling down” and then he said “100”. That is not even funny, my friends.

We have pretty much given up on the local water park. A friend of mine was there the other day and said the water felt like bath water. Not exactly refreshing, if you ask me.

We have gotten to know our local malls/shops/stores pretty well though. They have air conditioning. And I’m pretty sure I’m not going to have to deal with any bath water in there either.

And in some other, other news..we start school two weeks from today. Doing online school again, cuz we love it. Excited and a bit nervous to get started. Just like always.

Oh..did I mention it’s hot? 

it’s the nurse!

Today I was just getting started buying groceries when I noticed a familiar face. It took a second or two for it to register just exactly where I knew her from. And then it hit me.

She was our pediatrician’s nurse from when both kids were babies up until just a couple of years ago when she had her first child. I loved her. And have often wondered what happened to her after her baby came.

I found out today that she’s now working at the children’s hospital where Bub was treated, but in a different department.

We chatted and caught up a little bit and then she asked me how long ago, how old was he, how long..all the usual questions regarding Bub and his illness.

And then she told me…Dr. XYZ cried and cried and cried when we found out about what was wrong with Bub.

We continued to talk some more and then she needed to get going, so we said our glad to see you’s and our goodbyes.

I turned to pick up some tomatoes and suddenly heard the weirdest sound. It was me. Choking back tears.  I couldn’t get the thought of our sweet pedi, Dr. XYZ sobbing her heart out for our sweet little boy out of my mind. 

I composed myself and moved on….willing myself not to fall apart into a puddle right in the middle of Walmart.

*on a side note, Dr. XYZ “retired” after she had kids. She has an amazing family and is taking time off to raise them. I’ve seen her a few times through the years. We saw her while we were out with Bub not too long after she left the practice…we were out and about over the Christmas break. We knew by then that it was Bub’s last holiday with us, but she did not know that, as she had stopped working before that bit of info trickled down to her. So I told her myself standing in the middle of the mall about his prognosis. And a few years later, I heard her yelling out Mrs. You Know Who…and I turned to see her waving frantically at me. We stood outside Target and chatted for a good half hour. And there have been a couple of other times I’ve seen her ‘out’ and we’ve gotten to talk a bit. I miss her. She is a special lady.

So was our nurse. I miss them both. : )

visitors from afar

We recently made some new friends.

The mother of one of my girl’s classmates called me and wanted to know if they could drop in for a visit so our girls could meet.

They don’t live anywhere around here…we are talking several days of journey for them.

We said we would love to meet them.

So we did.

And our girls did.

I enjoyed listening to our girls giggling in the same room.

Instead of over skype.

For six fun filled days.

I loved meeting and getting to know her parents a little bit…fighting my ‘from the wall’ tendencies the entire time. : )

And more importantly meeting them at our church on Sunday for worship…which is the thing that binds us more than having daughters that happen to be friends.

And then we said our goodbye’s and there was stillness in my little house again.

It was a wonderful experience and one that I never expected when we signed on to do homeschooling online.

Who’dathunkit.