I've earned my tired tonight.  But am quite pleased.  I got the primer on all of the walls in the  boys bedroom.  This means that the two big boys are sleeping on the floor in the girls room, and Jer's crib is temporarily in our bedroom.  I wanted it to dry, and I didn't want them to asphixiate themselves.  LOL

Its amazing how good it looks *just* with primer.

Tomorrow the green.  If I can hold my hands above my head that is.  I got muscles!

Good morning.  We had a pleasant day yesterday.  The beginning of it was a bit amusing.  I ended up leading SS opening (which I've never done in this church) and Rob ended up leading all of church except the sermon.  Neither of these were asked of us, its just what happens in a small church.  So Rob had to lead music, and do communion.   The church of Christ doesn't believe in musical instruments, so that was lead music accapella.  My poor husband for all of his gifts can NOT sing.  So it was umm amusing.      After church we came home ate dinner and then decided to run into Walmart to get a mouse, and then go visit my parents.   The drive was gorgeous.  The roads were clear, but the snow alongside them was incredible.  The above picture is for Zvanzivou.  Its Lake Crescent.  We have to drive around it to get to town.  And it was just so beautiful yesterday.   I bought the mouse, and then we headed to my parents. 

We rather forgot about their very long gravel driveway.  It was covered in three inches of glare ice.   We drove the first mile and a bit of it, and then got to the big hill.  My parents had realized what we'd forgotten.  There was absolutely NO way our van would go down that hill.   So they left their 4 wheel drive vehicle for us to get the rest of the way.   Three of the kids ran to grandma's house from there.  (a 1/4 of a mile)  the other three piled into my parents suv.   (After attempting to turn around the white van which in and of itself was a bit of a challenge.)

We had a nice visit.  The kids all played outside and "ice-skated"  on this huge puddle.  And my sister had made very nummy cinnamon rolls.   After we'd visited for awhile.  My parents and us all headed back up the hill.   My mom and I sat in the very back of the van...and my dad drove out of the little slump we were in.   With the added weight, and my dad's experience we got out no problem.   We waved good bye and headed home.  It was nice to have a non-reason visit with them. 

I thought I should share some pictures of kids and puppies.   This is Zeri, Jer and two of the puppies. 

Kaylin and three of them.  The little white one on the left isn't walking yet.  I've never raised puppies before...so I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not.   The brown one couldn't walk until two days ago, so I'm hoping it will figure it out.  It scoots...it just can't get its belly off the ground. 

Jamari getting his face checked out.  It's apparently clean.

Rainee and the fat little brown puppy.  They are definitely gonna be used to kids.  *snicker*

Anyhow school today, and I'm hoping to begin painting the boys bedroom.  Something I've wanted to do since we moved in.  But one has to pace themselves.  ROFL

Still mouseless just didn't feel like fighting icey roads for a "luxury".

I just was asked to teach SS this morning.  The teacher is sick.  I haven't done that in a long time.  But I was quite delighted that he asked me.  I've felt a bit...helpless at this church.  I just haven't been needed to do anything.  So it feels good to have a job even if its for only one Sunday, and without ANY prep time.  LOL

We had a bit of excitement last night.  We were burning all day.   It wasn't a particularly wild fire, so we left the kids to play beside it as we could see them from the house.  We checked them frequently from the windows, and they seemed fine.  Samuel was a major helper and continued to load the fire all day.  With all the downed branches of the big trees we are going to be burning a lot.  Samuel has been so good with fire for so long we just relaxed.  It probably was stupid.

He and Zeria decided to build baby fires alongside the big fire.  They do this sometimes.  Its so wet here there's no danger involved.  But usually they do it with our supervision.  We were busy doing other stuff, and missed it.   Zeria built hers and then put it back out.   Even if she hadn't put it out it wouldn't have been a big deal as there's snow on the ground for crying out loud.

Samuel however has a nack.  HE built his in the bottom of the HUGE stump that is home to two massive nursery trees.   It was nice and dry under there.  You know a secret cave.   It never became a raging fire.  But it definitely liked that big dry rotten stump.  *sigh*  So Rob and I spend from 6-9:30 last night checking on it, and hosing the stump down.   The tree still stands today.  The emergency is avoided.   And I'm not nearly as mad at Samuel as I should be. It was our fault.  You do NOT leave 8 and 9 year olds around fire without closer supervision.  Its just stupid.  We won't be repeating it.  And we're greatful the tree is fine.  There was NEVEr true danger.  We just hated to loose the beautiful tree.  And we haven't.

We had a long discussion with Samuel about fire.  He was appropriately sheepish.  But quite frankly I feel like I'm the one who should be disciplined for trusting him so much.  *sigh*

You can't win I bought the wireless mouse I wanted.  And got it home, and realized the little sattelite thingy mabob that your supposed to hook into the back of the computer has a round connection.  My new computer doesn't take round.  Only the flat ones.

*shrieks*

Its a hour fifteen one way to replace it.

Shrieks some more.

I'll decide in the morning how badly I want a functioning camera.   There is literally no place closer.

Do I really want to drive almost 3 hours so I can have a computer that works?

Or maybe I can search google with my limping keyboard skills and teach myself how to surf completely mouseless.  *growl*  Each time I'm without one I learn a couple more tips.  Its just extremely hard to open links on a page without a mouse.  You have to hit the tab button until you get the right one.  And if you skip it you have to go through every single link on the page another time.   Its not exactly worth it.   Unless there's another command I don't know.  The joys of being self-taught on the puter.

Anyhow on a lighter note.  Rainee made her and her sisters crowns.   They wore them around the house, and played some kind of princess game.  It was too cute.   I love watching them entertain themselves and get along so well. 

so much for being a concientious writer the month of January

Shrieks.

Monday-Wednesday I was sucking ibuprofen and praying to survive.

Today well my mouse gave up the ghost.  Its a MAJOR pain in the neck to even get xanga to open let alone try to surf BW.

Note to self.  Do not "save" money buying a cheap mouse.  This one lasted a whole month.

I head to town tomorrow.  I will buy a $$ mouse, and save the receipt this time.

Growl

Awana was  cancelled due to intensely slippery roads.  We had already decided we weren't going, but that makes the kiddos feel better as now they know their not missing anything.   Its been a lazy day.  The kids have played blocks, and watched tv, and played in the skiff of snow we got.  The blocks I bought for Christmas.  They have been such a hit.  They had a huge set they used to play with a ton, but I stopped keeping it "safe".  And it disappeared.  Its worth it to keep it safe.  All of the kids (mom and dad included) have enjoyed them.  I'm actually gonna splurge and buy a second set so we will have 400 pieces total.  It comes in a zippered canvas bag which makes it nice and easy to store.   

I'm also removing the legos from the boys room and putting them back in the living room in a plastic box.  They are just getting trashed, and their supposed to be everybodys toy.  The train table we've had the last five years is finally dying.  That is where they were stored.  We will throw it out, (the train pieces are all gone *sigh*)  And the legos can live in the living room.  Their actually neater there go figure.   And its good for the kids to have a few toys they have to "ask" to play with.

Jerbud's favorite occupation of course is to knock down block towers.  We're still training him, that is not always acceptable.  Rainee has cried on several occasions when her massive towers have suffered the fate of little brother.   He's starting to learn to wait for there permission. 

Jeremiah was quite excited this morning about the snow, and kept shining his light out the window trying to see it.  All of the kids were out in it before it was daylight.  Better them then me

Good morning

Plans have more then likely changed today.

It snowed.  When its a bit later in the day I'll call my mom and see what the weather is like in PA but I doubt I'll be doing everything originally planned.

Its okay cause I spent most of yesterday in bed thanks to severe cramps.  I had to ask Rob to stay home from work as when they hit the ibrupofen that normally covers them did nada.   Rob quite enjoyed the day off.  *snicker*   Seriously he did.  He played games with the kids and caught up on some household chores.   I laid in bed hoping someone would put me out of my misery.  Alas they didn't.

I still rather wish they would.  Which is why I'm up voluntarily at 6 in the morning.  (beats head against wall)

So guess I'll find out what happens when I can get a road report. 

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

This is verse 5 of Philippians 4 the passage I copied yesterday.  I looked up that word gentleness.  It means sweet moderation.  A word that is hard to come by in this day and age.   Life today is about tangeants.

I have lots of them.   I can never live on a moderate life.  I focus on this or that, but I can't keep a balance on everything.  I joke about I can do one thing good at a time.  This is for me setting a boundary on God.  With God's help I can do ALL things well.   Its just another one of those lies I like to tell myself which gives myself permission to settle, to lie to myself, and not to get much accomplished.

I've been told that my grandmother on my mom's side (her mom) was a perfectionist.  She wanted everything just so.  But she had 8 kids and lived in a teensy house.  She just gave up.  And so she lived in a house that my mom was embarassed to tell her friends was hers.  And had boys that she had to call the cops on to break up there fights.   It was too hard to attain her goal of perfection so she quit trying period.

I can relate.  I have a husband who has picked up a lot of pieces or we might be close.  Not with the kids.  I can't give up there.  But oh man have I given up on the house.  A lot of this is pain related.   I will admit.  But that doesn't mean I can completely stop.  I can do small things.  And find the limit.  Baby steps ya know.  Not perfection...sweet moderation.

Let your gentleness be evident to all the Lord is near.

School went well yesterday.  Samuel struggled with reading, but each time he reread the passage he got it.  So this was a good thing.  I got my fall photo album for shutterfly.  It turned out soooooo well.  Its a major splurge, but I really like being able to put my favorite pictures into a already printed out album to show people.     I'm hoping to be able to continue to do it if I'm careful.

Major wind last night, but not lots of rain.  The river is much tamer as a result.  This is a good thing.

And irony.  My kids do ONE activity a week.  Just one.  We have one night a week we have prior commitments.  So of C"OURSE that's when they set little league basketball.  *argh*

The next month Wednesdays are going to be a royal pain in the neck!!!!

Basketball from 5-6  Awana from 6:30-8:15.   Drive is forty-five minutes between.     Their just gonna have to be chronically late to Awana.  And I absolutely detest being late.   But alas its the only option. 

Just heard from Rainee;

"Jamari is not my hero anymore."

Snickers a lot.

The reason for this?  HE broke the head off of one of her Polly POckets.

Snickers some more. 

Phil 5:7 And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Its been a good weekend.  Rob was able over the course of two days to lay the laminate in our bedroom.  With the exception of curtains our bedroom is totally finished.  Its wonderful.  I have the curtain material, have just never sewn it.  I'm thinking of begging my mom, who can do it with her machine in a fraction of the time.  We shall see.

This however wasn't the good.  The good was the verse I put up.  Its been swirling around in my head all weekend.  I deal with constant anxiety and depression.  And that was the verse God gave to me.   He WILL guard my heart and mind.  His peace which transencds all understanding will guard it.

I'm just amazed.  I don't understand it.  I can't explain it.  It transcends EVERYTHING.  But He will guard it. 

So yesterday each time my body pains threatened to overwhelm me, and I began to hit panic mode.  So did the first hit me.  And I said it over and over.  And peace came.

It wasn't a perfect fix.  It didn't take the pain away.  It didn't take my concerns away.  But the peace came.  And then I'd take my eyes off God and put it on myself, and whoosh it all came back.  It was a battle.  But at least I have tools.  Weapons if you will.  

So I went and looked at the verse in context to see where it came from.   I was quite delighted.