Exhaustion reigns

Exhaustion reigns supreme around here at the moment. Seriously. Maybe I can make it back to the blogging world soon. But for now, I have to do a little better than 5 hours of sleep a night... my body cannot keep up at this pace! If you think of it, and are so inclined, we wouldn't mind prayers on our behalf. I am struggling a bit right now with all that is going on. Hope to be back sooner rather than later!
Happy Monday and
Much Love,
Jennifer

Happenings

Hope everyone is having a blessed week!
As for us? I am currently drowning in responsiblities and various other "happenings" around here with barely a spare minute!
I had a church gathering tonight, another tomorrow night, missions meeting this morning, a party at our house last night, out of town company this past weekend, then the kids and I were out of town Sun. until Mon. morning. I even had a "mama's night out" consisting of dinner and a movie with some people very near and dear to my heart on Fri. night (There was even a babysitter involved- Hallelujah!) I will be trying to catch my breath before the madness begins again next week in the form of more company here at our house for a couple of nights and 2 (unavoidable) afternoon obligations.
This is an unusually busy time for us, and truthfully I don't like it! I don't feel like I am fulfilling my responsibilities as a homemaker when I am never, ummm, home? It makes me anxious, tired and overwhelmed!! I know that after the next 2 weeks things will calm down though. So I can accept that "this too shall pass", and we shall be back into our happy, predictible little routine that I so love. I can't wait!
So, for now, I'll leave you with some photos of the antics from the our home this past week. My little "Miss Shortcake" is obsessed with her new "glasses", and my little man is doing what he loves to do... which would be to make mommy laugh! Definitely a great medicine these days!

Happy Wednesday and
Much Love,

Put it in the want ads...

The text of this little newspaper ad reads as follows: (you can click to enlarge if you like)

NOTICE

To the person that came in Jack Bufkin's store last Friday afternoon, January 4, 1957, between the hours of 3:15 and 4:15 and took my purse from underneath the counter.
Will you please be kind to me and return to some place, say, my front lawn or some prominent place, the personal articles that were in said purse such as fountain pen, gold pencil, cigarette lighter, man's band ring and pocket knife. These articles were Preston's and were valued greatly by me.
I would also appreciate your returning the two big one dollar bills as Preston gave them to me years ago- also my keys and personal papers that were in bill fold.
If you return them, I will not have anything fingerprinted.

Minnie Lee Barrett

I found this little gem tucked away in a scrapbook that had been kept by my great-aunt.... Minnie Lee ... while going through some pictures, etc. at my grandmother's house. This great-aunt of mine died before I was ever born, but people still talk about her to this day in the small Mississippi town, not too far from here, where she spent her life. She was every inch the ideal "Southern lady"~ right down to her manners and white gloves. She always gave of herself and her time to her church as well as others, and was much adored by my dad. She never had children of her own, so daddy enjoyed alot of "special attention" from this beloved aunt.

The purse mentioned in the little ad was never recovered, nor were the items that she so treasured. I got just a little nostalgic reading this tiny bit of insignificant history. Nostalgic for simpler times when the big news of the week (month, YEAR?!!) in a sleepy little town was the purse that was stolen from underneath a store counter.
*Sigh*... how times have changed.

My Valentine

It still hangs in my closet. I saw it again today as I was going through things to place into the box for Goodwill. I contemplated giving it away~ even took the hanger down to view it closer and then replaced it. I'm just not ready yet. I don't know that I will ever be. It's not that I think I will ever wear it again. I know that I probably won't. I really don't even like it anymore to tell you the truth. But I will keep it. It's what I had on the first night we met. The first night we saw each other in the parking lot of that restaurant. The night that you thought I wouldn't show up.

I chose it carefully. Black is always a safe choice for a first date. I added tall boots, sparkly earrings to go with the top and my signature lipstick color. I was so nervous. I almost broke off one of my well-manicured nails on the steering wheel ...tapping it on the way to see you.

The shirt you wore was the same blue as your eyes. I can't get rid of it, either. It still smells like you. I can see you in it, standing there with the biggest smile in the world on your face. I remember what the sleeve felt like against my face sitting on that park bench after dinner. I remember feeling so small next to you.

I remember driving home that night knowing that you were the one that I would marry. I didn't want to take that outfit off because I could still smell a trace of your cologne on the sleeve. I kept it on for a long time that night. I sat in the windowseat looking at the stars and thinking~ about you, us, our future.

I put it on again one year to the day later. We went out to the same restaurant that night to celebrate the anniversary of our first date. We were now Mr. and Mrs. What a difference a year had made. We became engaged 2 months after that first date, had a fairytale wedding and were starry - eyed and in love. We sat at the same table and laughed about things had changed in those 12 little months. What a beautiful change it was.

Here we are. 5 years, 2 kids, and 2 houses later. That same outfit still hangs in our closet. I can't give it away. Not now, not ever. It was what I wore when you walked into my life. There is no advice I would give the girl that wore it. No tips, no suggestions. Maybe I'd just like to tell her to savor every moment, for it only gets better from here. Maybe I'd tell her that she was in for the best days of her life. Maybe I'd tell her to slow down and enjoy it more. Maybe I'd tell her nothing. For there is nothing I would change about our life together. Not one thing. You are my perfect valentine, the final name in my appointment book, my future tense.

Happy Valentine's Day and
Much Love,

Flat Daddy

Guess what we got in the mail today??? Our very own "flat daddy". (Click

here for a description of what a flat daddy is!) Andy arranged for one to be made and shipped to us, and the kids have been sooooo super excited about it! Flat daddy has taken a nap with Andrew, had a tea party with Anna Kate and eaten supper with us tonight. The funniest thing is that he was going to "sleep" with Andrew tonight BUT.... my little man came stumbling into our bedroom, bleary eyed and sleepy (holding flat daddy) and said "Mommy, he be-wongs in here in the bed with you in the night-time". My sweet little man. So at present, he is lying in our bed amidst the pillows. A little wierd looking, to tell you the truth! Thanks Andy (and to J., another pilot's wife, for her help). Flat daddy is lookin' good.... and we are happy have "you"... even if you are just in 2-D!

Thanks to everyone for your incredibly sweet comments on my previous post. I've decided that posting every 2-3 days will be a good balance for me right now... and maybe more if I have the time, but we'll see!!

Happy Tuesday and
Much Love,

Balance?

I am going to have to make some decisions about blogging.... soon. My "real-life" is so time consuming and overwhelming right now, that I simply do not have much time to post or really even give a second thought to blogging (or reading many blogs). I love this community. I love all of the support I have been given and friendships that I have made. I never expected any of that, and I really don't want to give it up. That being said, however, I cannot neglect my family and obligations for the "cyber world". When I am on the computer, there are a million and one other things that I *need* to be doing at this point in my life. Simply put, the computer and blogging take my focus away from where it needs to be. I have TONS of things I would like to write about, TONS of posts I would love to do.... but to do them would mean that other things are NOT getting done. Other duties are neglected. Things that would have gotten done in a day stretch into 2 or 3 because more of my free time (what little that I have!!) has been eaten away by the computer! This is something that is just not acceptable to me. I have been given an awesome responsibilty in my home and my children and I simply cannot do the best job of what I have been entrusted with when other things (blogging, etc.) steal away that precious time.

"Do not squander time, for it is the thing of which life is made".

I have prayed about this, and think that I have a solution. You know in Proverbs 3 where it says in ALL your ways acknowledge him? I absolutely believe that in ALL of our ways (situations, conversations, problems) every. single. one. we should acknowledge God, consult him, ask hime what HE would have us do. I don't think blogging is any exception. He DOES care what we do with our time and we WILL be accountable for how we have handled/what we have done with the time we have been given. I don't think that I will give up blogging, but I do know that the time dedicated to this venture will be less than it has been in the past. It has already diminished some by necessity! I post much less now than I did in the past- not because it has been a concious decision- but because the time to do so simply has not been available. So bear with me, dear friends, as I find my new "groove" on the wonderful world wide web. I am thankful for each and every one of you, and pray that you have a blessed week.
Happy Monday and
Much Love,

Housekeeping

I thought I would change the mood a bit here, and introduce a rather "highbrow" discussion here at MG.
Let's start off with the question of ...
What is the best remedy that you have for removal of soap scum from a glass shower door?
Seriously! Yes, I know this is a rather boring and mundane topic, but it IS one that is driving me absolutely nuts! After spending hundreds (yes, this is an exaggeration) of dollars on cleaning products, I still cannot get that door clear!
Any comments, remarks, suggestions that you have on the subject would be much appreciated. Help me out!

In other news, Miss Anna Kate's tooth has "tightened up" in its' socket. It IS crooked, but I am just so thankful and happy that it is actually there. I can take the crookedness in her wee little smile; after all it is just a baby tooth! Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers.

Busy, busy days ahead. Days full of starting a new bible study, birthday parties, choir preview practices, and family dinners. Days that remind that these really are the good ol' days.

Happy Friday and
Much Love,

Wordless Wednesday- Sisters

(well maybe a few words!)

....Sisters... circa 1984 (I am on the right) in dresses handmade by our mom.

Valentine's Fun

My little man has begged and begged me to "make Balen-times" with him. I relented and went by the craft store for stamps, ink, blank cards, glitter and stickers. We had a blast doing them ! .....And the smile on his face?? Totally worth all the glitter stuck in the grout- glue washed out of hair- and- ink under the fingernails in the world. Here are a few of our "Balen-times".

Happy Tuesday and

Much Love,

Now THAT'S entertainment!

Apparently, Andy has become quite the "dart thrower" while overseas. You know the scenario.... when a bunch of guys are hanging out in an office, and don't have anything else to do (you know like FLY MISSIONS!!) they all hang out and throw darts. You KNOW that I am just kidding!! Actually Andy has been so busy lately that he barely has time to talk/email... which makes me think that perhaps this was just a "stress relief" break, right honey??

That being said, here is MY man in action. Pretty good form, don't you think??

Happy Monday and

Much Love,

*** Please remember our little Anna Kate in your prayers today if you are so inclined. She fell in the bathroom last night and hurt her mouth badly on the tile floor in their bathroom. We had to visit the pediatric dentist today, and are praying that she doesn't lose one of her wee little bottom teeth- it is hanging on by a thread! Thanks so much....

Before and after

HERE it is!! The finished "baby doll crib" project.
I showed y'all in this post a peek of the bedding I was making for the baby doll crib that was mine as a little girl. That little crib started out a darkish stained wood (so very "80s" looking, doncha think?) that I painted white.... after a coat of primer and 3 topcoats! I made the little "sheet" of the pink gingham, and the blanket of pink gingham and leftover white eyelet from the bassinet cover and a wee little white eyelet pillow. And what does our sweet girl think of it? LOVES it. LOVESSSSS it. My dilemma now? Oh, just keeping a certain little 19 month old OUT of the crib with her babies. Check out the photographic evidence!!

Happy Saturday and
Much Love,

Andrew-isms

These are my favorite (and funniest) recent Andrew-isms from my favorite little 3 year old in the world!

Walked into living room wearing plastic construction hat and carrying plastic tool box. Exclaims "Mommy WOOK.... I am a big construct-er may-un"

When seeing a picture of yarn on his "ABC" floor puzzle, exclaims "MAMA! It's kitty cat balls"

Mommy calls Andrew to come here.... Andrew walks into room and says "What is it my child?"

Finds toothpick, sticks it in his mouth and says "Hey folks, I'm Daddy"
note: his Daddy has a penchant for toothpicks, obviously

Mama and Andrew are reading a book at bedtime.
Mommy says, "Okay, we are going to read the Tale of Jeremy Fisher" (who is a frog) (by Beatrix Potter).
Andrew sighs heavily, throws his hands up in the air and says "Mama, you are just so silly, you know frogs don't have tails"

Mama: Andrew would you like some hot chocolate with Mommy
Andrew Ummmm..... what about just some regular ol' cold chocolate?

Andrew "MOMMY we forgot to take my bottom-may-uns.
Me: "WHAT?!?!"
Andrew "You know mommy, in the cabinet with the silly ma-un on da bottle"
Translation (after a little research).... He was referring to his Flintstone VITAMINS.

When I lost my keys and was just frantically searching for them.... Andrew taps on my leg and says "Mama, I think you just need to stop and pw-ray and ask Jesus to help us find those keys. He will help us Mama, I promise, "

A:Mama, you telled me that this bo0-boo would leave a "scarf" on my hay-und.
Me:Yes darlin, it will probably leave a little scar.
A:But, mama, my hay-und doesn't need a scarf, it's already warm

Out of the mouths of babes....

Happy Thursday and
Much Love,