Lady Bug, Lady Bug, Fly Away Home

Does anybody have a remedy for ladybugs? I got home from church today and it's like "Revenge of the Ladybugs"!!! So far I've vacuumed up about 30 of them and more are coming in as I type. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Never Again!

What a week I had last week. Johnny left for South Dakota on Sunday, after the morning service, to go pheasant hunting with our Pastor and another guy from our church. Monday I started in on the kitchen. My sister-in-law (Dianna) came to help me and I am ever so grateful to her for that. We had to go to Lowe's to get supplies so we didn't get a very early start on things. Everything takes alot longer with one 4 year old and two 2 year olds!! Fun stuff! My brother-in-law (Joe - Johnny's brother) also helped out a great deal. Don't know that I would have been able to put up the crown moulding and chair rail by myself. Although, for those who really know me, I don't think anyone would have been surprised if I would have tried it!

Needless to say we didn't get everything done that we would have liked to, so we kept at it on Tuesday and finally got it all finished by Wednesday around noon, and I absolutely LOVE it.

Thursday, I went shopping with 2 other sisters-in-law of mine (Marlene and Hannah). We had a really good time. I left the kids with yet ANOTHER sister-in-law (Marty) and just took the day for myself!! It was wonderful. Especially after the chaos at the beginning of the week. I was definitely ready for a break.

Friday, Marlene came over and we got the light hung in my kitchen, (yes, I am now proficient in electric work! LOL) and then we just sat and watched a movie. That was also very nice. I'm not used to taking time to just sit. I'm normally very busy with SOMETHING, yet I don't always feel like I've ACCOMPLISHED anything.

Saturday was my day to catch up on laundry. And man, did I have alot of it. It was mostly the kids'. It's amazing how many clothes they DON'T have, until laundry day! I did allow myself to sit down once more to watch another movie. I figured this would be the last time for a while.

Sunday morning I got up and looked out the window to see that one of our horses was out of the fence. Oh great! Well, it ended up being easier than I thought it would be to get him back in. All I had to do was get a bucket of grain and he followed me back through the gate. After the morning service at church, Lester (Johnny's brother) and Marlene took the kids and I out to eat. They are the sweetest people you will ever meet. I don't know what we would do without them around here!! Actually I do, we more than likely wouldn't BE around here!! LOL When we got home, I discovered that the horse didn't stay put. I ended up having to mend our fence. Oh the joys of horse ownership!! Then I came in the house to find that our house had been invaded by ladybugs while we were away at church! Not fun!! They stink so bad. The rest of the day was pretty much uneventful. We went to the evening service and then Ben and Marty and their 4 kids came over to keep me company for a little while.

Today, I'm trying to get the house cleaned up before Johnny gets in, and tonight I have to watch Ben and Marty's kids while they go to supper.

Needless to say, it's been a very long, stressful week without my best friend around. I felt like my right arm was missing. I don't know that I will be so agreeable next time he wants to leave me for a week and a half! (Hence the 'Never Again' title) He's my EVERYTHING and when a person's everything is gone, what's left?

I have definitely learned to lean on my Lord more, through the trials that come with being a 'single' mom and having to deal with all the other problems that come up that would normally be taken care of by the man of the house. Praise God it's over!! Hats off to all you wives of military men!

Do You Work?

I'm not sure WHY I can't get this to space right. I hope you're still able to read it alright.

I've been reading a book in the evenings to pass the time and for refreshment and I thought I'd try to share some of it with you.

The book is titled Calm in My Chaos

"Do you work?" Panic set in. I checked through all the answers in my brain. Do I work? I composed myself and then said, "Yes, I do work. I'm a full-time mom." Why does that question still make me freak out? Do I work? I work harder than you do , sir, 24/7, 365 days a year. By no means am I complaining, And I'm certainly not trying to compare.

It's interesting, though. After answering, "Yes, I'm a full-time mom," I often see a vacant look in the eyes of the questioner. I've been thinking about this question because, obviously, I'm a stay-at-home mom. I'm writing a book for mothers of young children -- not all of whom will be stay-at-home moms. But after some time, I've finally resolved my own feelings of being "just a mom." (And if I hear me descibe myself that way one more time, I'm going to scream.) The problem is, I don't really feel like I'm just a mom -- until someone asks me if I work. I suppose I could politely correct the next person by saying, "If you're wondering if I work outside the home, no. My work is inside the home."

Or--what a shame I didn't think of this sooner--"Yes, I do work. I'm in management. I specialize in training." I can't wait to try that one.

Personal Touch

Don't be discouraged if some people don't understand your God-given role. Remember, if you are a believer, you are in full-time ministry. If you are a mother, you have a more-than-full-time job. Never, ever forget those truths.

Prayer

Dear Father, please instill in me a healthy pride for my vocation as a mother. Whether I stay at home or not, mothering is my priority, and I ask that You remind me of that commitment today. And I ask that You help me to be the kind of woman who can gracefully and creatively embrace my calling as a mom. Amen.

Sweet Angels

Monday night Cheyenne crawled into bed with me, missing her daddy, and snuggled up really close. She was holding onto my arm and pretty soon I hear her say, "I love you really bad, Mommy!"


I love my kids so much. The Lord has truly blessed me with them. Even at times when I don't think I can handle the sibling rivalry anymore, I wouldn't want to be without either one of them!! They are my life!

Changes

Well, after 2 1/2 days, my kitchen is finally done!! I don't have any 'before' pictures, so I guess you'll just have to see what it looks like now and take my word for it that it looks ALOT better!!

My brother-in-law and his wife helped me with it as a surprise for Johnny. I can't wait till he sees it.

This is my favorite corner. And yes, the phone really does work!




This table was a Mother's Day gift!! I think he loves me!!! ;)

Still looking for something to fill this space. Maybe a buffet to match my table? I'll have to talk to Johnny about that one. :) Christmas and Birthday are just around the corner.;}

I love my big kitchen. God is so good!

Time Well Spent

For those of you interested in being informed please visit http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3865048042993700360.

I just got through watching it and I found it very interesting. It is rather lengthy, but if you don't inform yourself, you'll NEVER KNOW.

Enjoy.

Birthday 'Costume' Party

The kids were invited to a birthday party for a girl that goes to our church. They had a really fun time, even though it was really cold outside. There were alot of princesses there, but I think Cheyenne was the prettiest! And of course Travis was the cutest giraffe.


Rest assured, it was JUST a Birthday party. We don't have anything to do with halloween!

AcroBATs

After playing baseball in the house last night, Johnny thought the kids needed to do some 'strength training'! LOL It ended up turning into a gymnastics class I think. The balancing 'bar' of choice is Travis' baseball bat that he got at one of the Nashville Sounds ball games we went to. It is such a blessing not to have a TV. My kids and my husband are all the entertainment I need!!

That was AWEsome!

This is just something to help me remember something cute that Travis said the other day.

We were riding in the car to go to town and had Aunt Marlene with us. Cheyenne had asked if we could go the "bump" way, so I decided we could. The "bump" way is a few miles out of our way sometimes, but the kids love the huge tummy tickler. Marlene was oblivious to what we were doing but the kids kept telling her, "hang on, Marlene!" She said, "I'm hanging on, we're going really fast aren't we!"

Well, we surprised Marlene with the "bump" and Travis said, "That was AWEsome!" I just thought it was something cute he said, that I would want to remember later.

Most mom's would write it in a baby book, but not me.... I BLOG!!! LOL

Blast 'em!

Well, there were NO guns involved, but, in Johnny's words, "we blasted 'em" with the car! He was laughing when he said that, cause he knew you two would get a kick out of it, Mom and Dad!

On our way to pick the kids up from a birthday party last night, we hit a deer. Earlier in the evening Johnny and I had been skeet shooting and target practicing with my 22. Just as it was getting dark, the fog started to settle in, so we quit and decided we better go get the kids. About a mile from our house I was thinking to myself, 'hmm, it sure is a good night for deer to be on the road hiding in this fog!' "THUMP!" And there he was! Johnny slammed on the brakes but it was too late. Poor Beau was in the very back. I'm sure it brought him to the back of the seat in front of him. He was okay though, and so were we. The deer on the other hand didn't fare so well!! He died. And of course, Johnny said, "Should we load him up and skin him out at home?" To which I replied, "Um, NO!" He was only about 50 pounds. It didn't do much damage to the car. Just knocked the fog lamp off, but we found that and I think we'll be able to fix it without too much cost. These plastic bumpers are wonderful. I also got backed into the other day and nothing happend to MY car. The other car only had a minor scuff. The Lord is so good to take such good care of us. With as much as we are on the road, we are definitely blessed to be kept so safe.