Family Fast

Most of you know that Liam was born with a rare blood disorder called Mastocytosis. It's a very itchy and uncomfortable disease. He has had many blessings that have promised his recovery in the future. Lately, the disease has flared up and seems to be more itchy and is causing other problems. (He's been waking up 3 to 5 times a night.) As we have thought about it, Jason and I have been prompted that it is time to ask for a healing. We will be fasting for him the first Sunday in February (the 3rd). We would like to invite anyone willing, to join us. We'll break the fast around 5:00 pm our time. Thanks so much for any support!

They Love Me, They Really Love Me!

I have been Tagged!!!!

I always enjoy reading others interesting (and embarrassing) idiosyncrasies. Now that it's my turn, I'm stumped! Here is the stuff I came up with.

1. You know how some people wish they could "go back and do it again with all that they know now"? You couldn't pay me enough to re-do Jr. High.

2. If I could do anything in the world right now, I would hop on a plane for a 3 week vacation in Scotland. (Does anyone want to come as my nanny?)

3. I watch "Matlock" almost every single weekday. Ridiculous. I know how every episode ends. I could probably plot a murder and pull it off from all I've learned not to do on that show.

4. I have to close my closet door every night before going to sleep. I've even got Jason trained to get out of bed and close it before I ask.

5. When I was little, I watched a vampire movie (when I should have been in bed asleep) that really freaked me out. For years I slept with my hair around my neck. Even after the horror faded, I slept with my hair around my neck to keep me warm. Can you guess why it took me so long to start "Twilight"? I still hate scary movies. I won't watch them.

6. My most embarrassing moment involves my brother, a HUGE group of boys (including the current crush), and a story about my first driving lesson...

7. I LOVE labor and delivery. I like hospital food. I would stay in the hospital for a week after having a baby if they would let me. Where else do they bring all your meals on a tray, clean up after you, take the baby when they cry (if you can part with him), and change your sheets?

This is fun! I tag Kristen, Amy, Mom, Carly, Tiffany, Natalie, and Nora. Write 7 things about yourself that you can stand to share with the world and then tag 7 others.

Ammendment

I'm generally a sane person, but every once in a while, I go crazy. I'm sure someone out there somewhere can relate. Anyway I've been informed that my post "To the World...Just so you know" sounded a little....well you know. I didn't write it in response to any one comment or offense taken. I just meant it in response to my being cooped up all day in a small condo with 4 small children. We have wonderful neighbors but I just can't keep my kids silent all day anymore. And if I go to the grocery store, that's a treat for the kids. I'm not going to tape them to the cart and wire their mouths shut. You know? So if you work at Walmart or Maceys on Thursdays between 10 & 11 watch out. We're coming. Um...Hi. My name is Michelle and I have active kids.

My Quarter Life Crisis

I refuse to believe that I had a mid-life crisis since the average life expectancy is MUCH higher than 60. However, I have resigned myself to the fact that I did in fact have A crisis. I call it my quarter life crisis, because I plan to live to be 120 years old (you can quote me on that).

As part of my new vitality for life I bought a VERY COOL yet impractical car about a year ago. I love this car. This is the kind of car that every guy wants (from my generation) whether he's man enough to admit it or not. I am comfortable enough with myself to admit that whenever I drive it somewhere, I turn and look at it as I walk away (every time).

It could be an obsession, but it doesn't matter anymore because I have finally come to terms with the fact that I must part with it to another worthy owner. I have included some photos so that we may together mourn its passing.

I LOVE MY JANEY

Little miss Jane is one of my favorite people. Why? Here's a list:

1. She always wants to hug and love everyone around her.

2. She has a very cute, contagious giggle.

3. She makes up her own worlds full of friends instead of waiting for them to come to her.

4. She is sensitive to others feelings

5. She smiles A LOT which makes me smile.

I love you Janey!

TO THE WORLD...JUST SO YOU KNOW

I would like to state for the world's information that, yes, I have "active" children. I have heard more than one person, usually someone with one child, describe various other children thus. I would like to stand and say that my children are active and I'm GLAD! I'm glad they have imaginations. I'm glad I don't have to come up with something for them to play all day every day. I LIKE IT when they run through our home giggling and laughing together, even if my ears are hurting from the noise. I LIKE IT when my children have little tiffs with each other because when they figure out on their own how to forgive one another and solve their own problems I think that they'll remember it better than if I tried to explain it with words. So, NO! I refuse to tie my children to chairs and tape their mouths shut so that people around me can have quiet. NO! I refuse to chase after my kids trying to solve every problem for every child with out letting them try first. I don't care if you, the world, think I should! I'm grateful my children are healthy, happy, and have legs and arms that work. If they seem a little overactive, it's because we live in a small condo for 6 people and sometimes we have explosive energy to use up. GET OVER IT!!! Maybe instead of asking me "What is wrong with your kids, can't you control them?" you should ask yourself, "What is wrong with my child? Doesn't he have any creativity or happiness? What can I do to WAKE YOU UP?!"

GRATEFUL

My friend Tiffany has a section on her blog called 52 weeks of gratitude. Each week she shows a picture of something she's grateful for. I decided to copy her idea-better late than never. This week I'm grateful for good literature. I just finished reading The Peacegiver. I've had it on my book shelf for over a year. The other day I was looking for something to read and it just stood out to me. What an incredible insight to forgiveness and ways to strengthen relationships! I cried through half of it and came away feeling like my life had been truly blessed and changed forever. Has anyone else read it? What's your favorite book?

Rosemary Clooney & Vera Ellen (the next generation)

If you haven't seen the movie "White Christmas" then this movie will only be worth it's face "cute" value. However, if you have seen the film, I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy this modern rendition of an old favorite...

Gingerbread Cookies for Family Night

Despite the "wholesome recreational activity"-ish look of the whole thing, the cookies were store bought, and given to us as leftover by our neighbors. But hey, the kids weren't complaining! Everyone enjoyed decorating their little man with confections of all colors. It's a good thing pictures can't talk, otherwise you'd be able to hear the loud, boisterous voices of our outspoken children commanding each other to look at their creations. You would also hear them tell you all the reasons why they were doing what they were doing, and if you weren't listening don't worry, our children have NO PROBLEM repeating everything they just told you except twice as loud the second time around. Please tell me this occurrence is not unique to our little family! Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Ye Olde Museum

As I sit here typing this, the picture is giving me the chills. It might not last too long on my blog but I know how most of you feel about spiders and I thought it would be fun to freak everyone out. Including myself. We had a fun trip to the Bean Museum for family last week. The kids had a blast and it was free. Afterwards we went home for hot chocolate because it was too cold for ice cream. We all had a lot of fun and it wore the kids out who all slept soundly that night.
One of the things they have there is a giraffe head mounted on the wall as you're going up the stairs. Giraffes have always been one of my favorite animals at the zoo. They're kind of mystical but now, I think they're kind of freaky. The way they stare....or maybe they don't do that when they're still alive, it's just the glass marbled eyes that give them that look. I don't know, but I felt more comfortable next to the spiders.

It's a Liger. It's pretty much my favorite animal.

Liam really liked this bear.

Sappy Entry-read with caution

I've been going in for iron infusions at the cancer clinic once a week for the past couple of months. Today it struck me how really incredible those people are. Because I go at the same time each week, I've gotten to know a lot of the cancer patients a little. They are all so friendly and they like to tell me about themselves. I think I'm a magnet because I'm usually the only one under 60 in the room. I don't mind. They're incredible. There's Mae who comes in right before me every week. She can barely walk but she refuses the wheelchair every time. The receptionist walks her to her car every week and then stays and chats with her for a while. Then there's Doris. When she came in with her husband today, I had to hold back tears because they looked so much like my grandparents. They stood waiting to get checked in and Doris leaned on her husband for support. I saw him straighten up and move closer to her in support. He was old and thin and wrinkly and easily 70 years old. But there he was, physically and emotionally supporting his wife through hard times. I hope Jason and I are still that way in 4o years. And the new lady today (I don't know her name-yet) explained that she had to pace because she likes to walk but she was sick of going from the kitchen to the bedroom. She said she came from an athletic family. She has 20 grandsons, all over 6 1/2 feet tall with scholarships to play ball all across the country. She has bone marrow cancer. I know this is a sappy entry but it really struck me how lucky I am. I'm complaining about low iron and they're in the fight for their lives. I like they way they seek one another out and comfort each other. I like the way they don't waste time feeling awkward or self-conscious before opening up to one another. It's like they don't have time to waste for all that and they just get on with it. I hope I can be a little more outgoing and conscious of others needs before my own.

Older and Wiser Too

There has been a lot of talk lately on my blogging buddies blogs about feeling old. I know I'm not 30 yet, but I reserve the right to feel old. I have four children and so I'm about 10 years behind on sleep which makes me feel old. I got arthritis from a strep infection when I was a child so I know about bones achin' n such. I am currently the Mia Maid advisor. They constantly remind me how out of date I am. They don't know who Harry Conick Jr. is. The other day I asked them if they knew where their current favorite song "Chipmunk Christmas" came from. They all looked really confused! Someone suddenly remembered the new movie that came out and guessed it was from there. I soon discovered that NONE of them had ever heard about the Chipmunks! That's like not knowing who the Smurfs are! The latest thing to make me feel old is Ben's discovery of the game Heads up 7 up. How well I remember closing my eyes and anticipating someone's sweaty or rough hand smashing my thumb down. I could always tell if it was a girl or a boy who picked me. I always wanted a turn but when I was picked, I was too embarrassed to go up to the front. I love going to church on Sunday and seeing the outfits some of the young women put together. I swear I had the same things in 3rd grade-or wished I was old enough to wear them. My favorite was a wide red leather belt that scrunched up on the sides. I still remember my 5th grade teacher had one she wore over a long black tunic. Long live the olden days of slap bracelets and jelly shoes!

What Makes YOU a Nerd?

I believe that everyone is a complete nerd about at least one thing. You know weird details about something or someone. Like that time Amy had that 4 inch binder full of Mel Gibson interviews and pictures. If you ever want to know anything about Mel Gibson, ask Amy. Most of you already know my nerdish tendency towards the sci-fi show Stargate SG-1. I can't explain my fascination. I generally hate science fiction. I absolutely hated the movie "Stargate." It took Jason quite a while to get me to watch it in the first place. Now I dream about Richard Dean Anderson with his brown hair with distinguishing patches of gray (don't worry, he lost the mullet) and brown eyes... Somewhere between MacGyver and Stargate, he learned to act but he never grew old. I wish I was a tall incredibly brilliant blond like Amanda Tapping and I have unexplained desires to join the air force....
RDA 4 EVER!!!!
What are you a nerd about?

A Job Well Done?

Christmas break is wonderful when you're married to a school teacher! We had 2 full weeks to get projects done, which is what we did. We got a lot of painting done, the oil in our cars changed, fixed stuff on the van, and rearranged and redecorated. Too bad I forgot to get all of the paint put away before Liam woke up! Who knew such a little guy could figure out how to open that huge heavy paint can, dip in a stirring stick, and flick it all over the place. He was very proud of himself. I think he's got talent.

Christmas Eve Nativity

11 Kids (6 and under), 1 Mary, 1 baby Jesus, 1 angel, 2 kings, 1 Joseph, 5 shepherds
Chaos. But fun!