Saturday, November 24, 2007

One month later



So, here I am at Jenness Park for our annual Thanksgiving trip - whaddya know, they've got wifi so I'm able to keep track of the outside world to some extent & keep you all updated with us - obviously, we are alive - there are now carbon monoxide detectors in all the sleeping quarters in all the cabins - after our little incident, those were installed & everyone is supposed to sign a release of liability waiver to stay here. Think they were a little scared??? The boys love coming up here every year, and Nat has had a ball showing us where he had Bible study and rec this summer at camp - and we went on a couple hikes as well as hit Wally world on Black Friday. Next year, hopefully some friends can come up as well & share the holiday with us. Its been cold at night, but we were actually kinda warm today while climbing around. When Nick saw the pick of them from a distance, he couldn't figure out where his legs went! The camo worked! Hope you all had a great turkey day!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Updates

Fall in this household always feels like a merry go round that won't stop! I helped a friend lead worship at a women's retreat one weekend - headed to the Revolve tour with 5 teenage girls the next - Bob was gone for nearly a week at his own conference - one of these days I may actually get to rest with no commitments anywhere....in my dreams! Revolve was great - treasures, not targets - I managed to lock both sets of keys in the house when I left that Friday afternoon in the bus - praise God for male friends who have ladders and are willing to help little boys be little men & rescue mommy in the dark! Nick had to go thru an open window 6 feet up to go open the front door! My little hero! Some of Bob's family was evacuated with the fires in San Diego - all homes survived, but the clean up will take a while, to be sure.
Tony commented about my sister - one of these days I need to jot down my memories of her for my kids to read...and who knows, maybe I'll interview some of you who knew her too...
Off to do something more important than blogging - help Bob sort the bus paperwork for the CHP inspection tomorrow...fun, fun, fun!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Heaven's Very Special Child

A meeting was held, quite far from earth
"It's time again for another birth"
Said the Angels to the Lord above,
"This special child will need much love"

Her progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments she may not show
And she'll require extra care
From all the folks she meets down there.

She may not run or laugh or play
Her thoughts may seem quite far away
In many ways she won't adapt,
And she'll be known as handicapped.

So let's be careful where she's sent
We want her life to be content
Please, Lord, find the right parents who
Will do this special job for You.

They will not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is heaven's very special child.


Copyright © 1981 by Edna Massimilla

32 years ago today, the special child in my life went "to have Sunday School with Jesus in heaven" - Nicole Marie Green - born April 12, 1972, called to heaven October 18, 1975. I was only 7 1/2 when she died, yet, she made a HUGE impact on my life. It is her name that inspired my Nick to be Nicholas...there are so many memories in my brain - and tears in my eyes now - I don't remember who gave this poem to my parents, but it goes on my Christmas tree every year as a shrinky dink. And each night, my boys say, "Good night, I love you, see you in the morning." Nicki was born with hydrocephalus, a birth defect not detected prebirth in the 70's, my parents were told to institutionalize her, they defied that & brought her home. We were told she wouldn't walk, wouldn't be able to say more than 3 word sentences. She ran, and she could carry on a conversation with any adult that was 3 sentences long! My brother was named after the doctors who cared for her - Anthony Lombardo and Eugene Schwenke. She is missed, yet always in our hearts and minds.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

things on my mind

last summer was the summer from heck with the child molester trying to come back to the church...we decided as a church that we needed a year to evaluate his behavior etc...well that year is up - so now we're back to deciding again about things. Bob & the deacons had an initial meeting yesterday to determine things, no results yet, so that's hanging around...some of our older friends have come to join the church and she is really struggling to deal with this decision as she is a survivor of molestation years ago. She told us in tears today over pizza that she will really need to do some praying as we deal with all of this.

On a positive note, my mom told me the other day that she is hearing good things about what is happening here...said she felt like Paul hearing good reports about the random churches he started. Made her & her friends (that she heard from) realize that maybe we did need to stay here even when it would have been easy to walk away.

Both boys are enjoying their new school years - Nick is doing great in Kindergarten, and Nat is doing well in 4th grade...can't believe they're that old already!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Warning - PMS/work rant

Why is it that some bosses who are not detail oriented just expect those of us who are to know the details of something fairly new without them informing us of the details? Case in point - our new owner/boss/dentist does the implant process (where they place the titanium screw in your jaw, then later attach a crown to it) - we, however have never really done all of this process before. Our first implant patient was scheduled this morning for the 2nd step in the process - did any of us order the next step worth of parts? NOOOOOO, because we had no idea we needed to! So we get our backsides chewed because we had to cancel the patient until we get the parts here (because parts is parts - I digress). Once he arrives at one of the other offices, he calls here because he is missing the handpiece (drill) with which to place the implants. His patient is in the chair, numb, and no way to do treatment. Since we were the last office to use the handpiece, we get a new hole because we didn't make sure he took the equipment! ARGH!!!!!!enough ranting....

Oh - I forgot to say that Nick lost his 1st tooth the other day - he was all excited to put the envelope under his pillow & then look in the morning. The tooth fairy had to tape quarters to a sheet of paper since the smallest bill around was a $10!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Catching up

Wow, we've been home quite a while & I have yet to post about the rest of our trip...
spent 4 hours in the second largest Cabela's in the nation - think Walmart sized store, only all dedicated to hunting, fishing, camping etc...even to the point of having museum style displays of donated "kills" from their customers. All 3 of my boys had a ball -
Nick started kindergarten the 20th - and is loving it! Already bringing homework home to do - simple stuff, but homework nonetheless. Nat just began playing the violin for band at the school - and seems to be doing okay so far.
As for Bob & I, we're just trying to keep our heads up to see the next event. I just spent the weekend at our associational women's retreat at Richardson Springs. A relaxing fun weekend, but hit the ground running as soon as I got back on Sunday. Bob posted about some teenaged fun that we were a part of a couple weekends ago - I had to take the boys home to bed, so I can't claim complete ownership...but I was in on the planning & coverup!

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Texas in August, part deux


Here I sit, at my mom's dining room table in beautiful Keller, Texas...been here since Saturday - enjoying some down time with the family. Headed to Texas Stadium (hence the picture), then to Dealey Plaza (Nathanael doesn't have a new theory yet)yesterday; and to the Fort Worth stockyards to watch the cattle drive thru the city today. Right now it is 90 degrees outside with humidity to match...dark thunderclouds, but no real good thunderstorm just yet...we shall see! We'll be doing stuff with my sister & her family later in the week - her 3 are a hoot!

Friday, July 27, 2007

Texas in August

So...off we go tomorrow am...why Texas in August you ask? It was the only time we could squeeze in a trip & it was $1000 cheaper to go now rather than go over July 4th...the things we do. We'll be at my parents & my sister's homes in the course of the week - most likely laying around her new pool like slugs!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Banana mobile

Almost forgot - some dear friends at church are letting us borrow a car while the van spends 3 weeks in the body shop - and it is pretty much banana yellow!!! Used to be a Servicemaster company vehicle - their name is off, but not the color. In fact, Servicemaster had it painted that wonderful shade, since the posts in between the doors is the original brownish gray still! Looks like they taped off the windows and went at it with a can of spray paint.

Chill bumps and first dental visits

Chill bump story first - a new friend of ours is with Bob at camp this week, and kept just covertly staring at another youth pastor who was conversing with Bob about the knee injury from last summer. She finally questioned his identity Tuesday morning, only to discover that he was a dear friend of her parents who had both been killed in a plane crash when she was a child. An aunt was awarded custody and never followed up on the friendships the parents had made. This gentleman has not seen our friend in years! It gets better - her dad was still conscious when he made it to the hospital and asked the nurse to call 3 people for him - the first name was this gentleman - basically her dad got theses words out "take care of my girls for me". Since the aunt kind of walked away from all the girls knew, this poor guy has had no way of knowing how they were doing and such, and has been carrying all kinds of guilt for years about it. He is a school teacher & would only be at camp Monday thru Wednesday, and they not only were there the same week, but made the connection within hours of being there! Is that God or what?!?!
As for dental visits, I know, I know, I work in an office, you'd think I'd get my kids in when they needed to - Nat had been seen before, but not Nick - so, the hygienists had time today, and I had a car - so off I went to get them. No cavities for either, but pretty much a given that braces are in the future for both. They inherited my crooked teeth instead of Bob's! Nick actually has a tooth coming in behind his front ones and the one it replaces is barely loose....such is life in my household this week!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Vegas happenings

So...we arrive Thursday morning in Sin City - its interesting, they're now marketing themselves with items that have those very words on them - anyway...that nite some guy decides he's going to open fire in the New York New York hotel. Noone is killed, but he sends 5 people to the hospital. Sunday am, Bob & I are headed to the strip when we notice black billowing smoke - the bus driver says its the Venetian hotel...construction accident, so the only injury is a fire fighter who got overwhelmed from the 120 degree outside temp along with his gear and the fire. And then, I keep getting 3 6's at a table game??? Maybe I shouldn't go back????? In spite of all this, we had a good time with the brothers, two sis in laws, nieces, nephews and Bob's mom. There were 15 of us all told...the guys tried to play golf Sat am, it was only 90 when they started at 8:30am...crazy heat!

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day to you all! The boys are happily playing on the Playstation, Bob is in town, getting some last minute things together before he & I head to Sin City. We are meeting up with the majority of his brothers, two of the wives, the older grandkids, and his mom for the weekend. Should be fun! Have a great weekend....and since what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, I may or may not tell you what happened!
Bye!

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Cars



At 7:31pm last Monday night, my airbag in the driver's seat deployed after a huge THUD! Now, I was traveling about 65 mph on the highway, on my way home to Sutter...no one around me...yet I was fighting with the airbag & trying to get to the right side of the road - I figured I had a blow out on the left front tire. Nope - the belt (ya know, steel belted radials) had completely peeled right off the tire - kinda like an onion, but with much more force. The impact was enough on the side sensor to deploy my airbag. Just like you see in the commercials and is promised - Onstar called me immediately to verify that I was okay and to offer to call for help. None the less, I am fine, and since I was alone, so is everyone else. The van however is not okay. Drivable, but missing most of the bumper, a left turn signal, and quite dented along the front fender. The insurance has done their estimate and may go after the manufacturer of the tire since there was no evidence of a puncture. In fact, when my knight in shining armor showed up in his white steed (the 25 passenger bus) with his 2 princes, the remaining part of the tire was still holding air! It always seems that it is the left side of this vehicle that gets smashed (Bob was sideswiped about 2 years ago - same side). Oh well....the boys keep asking when its gonna get fixed...we will see since the insurance lady won't return my phone call now that the estimator is done! I'll keep you posted - meanwhile - the before pictures - sorry they aren't too clear, I was still pretty shaken up when I took them!

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Baptisms



Today, Bob had the privilege of baptizing Nick...the picture on the stairway was before he could see everyone out in the congregation, staring at him. See, he does okay if there is more than one person in the spotlight, even tho Daddy was with him. As soon as he saw every one, he started crying and telling me he was scared and didn't want to do it. We had practiced yesterday in a friend's pool, with Bob telling him everything that would happen and even dunking him backwards, just like he would today. It all changed in a heartbeat! Dad, once he got out and wrapped in his towel, he wanted to know if his whole body went under water! Anyway, it's done now and he was excited to get a new Bible with his name on it from the church too.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

I'm safe with you, mommy

Nick has done pretty good in his room by himself the last couple of nights...this morning he came in to my bed about 4am, said he had a bad dream. He wanted to be on my side of the bed - probably because its away from the door - told him no since then I'd have to climb over him repeatedly to hit the snooze an hour later. Anyway, he fell back to sleep, nestled up against my back. Later at breakfast when I asked him about it, he told me he came to my bed "because I knew I was safe with you" - how precious is that?!

Nat & Bob are surviving together - Nat fell out of the bed last night, sleeping bag and all...luckily he was on the bottom, so it was a short fall. Bob's learning to let him go do things alone, a hard adjustment for Daddy...and Mommy, but I'm not there to live it...

Monday, June 18, 2007

First camp

Bob & Nathanael left this morning for Nat's first camp experience at Jenness Park. They called just after dinner, and he couldn't wait to get up the hill from the phone and into the chapel for worship - Bob finally sent him to go find the rest of the group. Bob did mention that he's having a hard time with the line of protection and letting him grow up! As in, "Dad, can I just stay here & play on the field while you go back to the cabin?" I wonder if it would have been any easier for Bob to not have gone...Nick is spending his first night in his room alone, took a little bit to get him down, but he's finally out. Everything for him right now is about being like his brother - and having Nat play with him - Nat is at the point where he likes to just be alone and read or whatever (sounds a little like me!), and so the battle ensues. We will survive!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Retreating

So...me & 180 other California pastor's wives headed to Jenness Park for a weekend of commiserating and some pampering. Same place Bob heads to camp each summer with the kids - they just spoil us rotten. Got to head down the zip line twice - and did archery for the first time...got some pretty interesting bruises in the process, but had a good time none the less. Bob & the boys survived with out me, barely, but they did. Its fun for all of us to get away & be real without worrying about what the congregation will think, etc....theme this year was that we are the bride of Christ, beloved, betrothed, beautiful, your bridegroom cometh.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Birthdays & Mother's Day


Well....I hit the last year of my thirties this week....and in the course of the day, felt like it was the last day of my 40's...such is life! Had a pretty good day, just a long work day. Off to a mother/daughter luncheon - I'm being adopted by one of the gals who doesn't have a daughter - then to spend my bday $$ on myself!

Came across an interesting passage of Scripture the other day - Hosea 6:1-3
"Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up. That we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth." See, it was Easter 2005 (late March that year) that was our former pastor's last Sunday with us. We voted for our new pastor almost 2 years to that date. I felt like God was telling me that He would "heal us....bind us up...revive us..." Hope is here.....

Nick graduated from preschool last night (again) - he was more excited this year than he was last year, but then he knew he had passed his entrance exam for kindergarten with flying colors on Thursday afternoon. We made the decision to keep him back last spring, and now I'm glad we did....

Time to finish getting ready for lunch....have a great day!

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Saturday Afternoon

Well, here I am, home with the boys while Bob has taken several men to Oroville for the associational men's BBQ - he'll be home probly while I'm at worship practice...went to Lowe's this morning so the boys could participate in their free building workshop - they got to make birdfeeder thingies today. We grabbed some left over paint from the church, and once Bob left, we painted the afore mentioned creations. Nat managed to get paint on his shorts that won't come out, but other wise, things are looking pretty good. Even got a little paint on his cast - but nothing major.

I should go fold laundry & clean the bathroom - but will I???? We shall see....

Sunday, April 22, 2007

God sized dreams


Todd (our new pastor) challenged us today as a congregation to set a God sized dream - I have to say I hadn't really thought about my dreams. I need to spend some time in prayer & study to figure out what that might look like for me. Pray for me as I head down that road - and I may need some input from some of you as to what you see my gifts as being.

Anyway - note the picture of the boys - Todd & his wife Dina sent Nat a goodie box the other day filled with stuff to help keep him occupied - practice golf balls too...so I took the picture for him to take home tomorrow when he goes back to SoCal. Pray for them too, they were told initially by the builder they would be in by May 1st, now it won't be till the 17th. Most of their stuff is packed & Dina is ready to be here, but alas God has other plans for them...

Off to make dinner for the boys - Bob had to head to a VBS meeting, then he'll be back to finish prepping the pinewood derby cars for Wednesday night. We've had to spray paint inside since the weather is not conducive of painting outdoors...smells like Earl Scheib in here!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Safety

Well, the guy turned himself in last nite about 9:30pm to the county sheriff's office - but not before 2 counties cancelled school for today, as well as the private ones here in Yuba City. His pregnant girlfriend said that his words were twisted and he was despondent over a recent divorce. Either way, it made for a long day and a very anxious 8 year old. He's okay this morning, tummy ache yesterday afternoon tho. He couldn't figure out why they couldn't have recess yesterday, and why they were doing rainy day pick up (calling each kid from class as the parent arrived) when the sun was shining full bore. Bob told him a stripped down version, that it was for his protection, but he has his mommy's anxious heart. We're all good this morning, Bob is back at church finishing up some more painting. The boys and I will head in later to maybe do the grocery shopping and get daddy. Thanks for the prayers yesterday - they were felt!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Prayers

Well, Yuba City has joined the bandwagon of having a meth crazed guy w/an AK-47 running around making threats. As much as I don't want to give in to making him more famous (infamous) than he already is, we need prayer. He confided in a local pastor, who called the authorities as he should - the secondary campus of Nathanael's school is next door to the church of the pastor. Anyway, things are tense here, schools locked down or evacuated, etc...
As for Nat's arm - new cast remodeling his "bent" arm, all signed by his class mates. No real pain in setting, just some wincing. Thanks for your concerns!

Friday, April 13, 2007

Our First Broken Bone

Well, it was destined to happen with 2 little boys, I just didn't expect it to be Nathanael! Playing at a park in town, both boys running, Nick pushed Nat a little bit & down he went on the concrete. Bent his right wrist like he was trying to touch his fingers to the inside of his arm...more crying than was necessary for the skinned knee we could see - and more crying when we put pressure on the wrist. So, off to urgent care we go - an xray confirms it - a slight fracture on the arm bone just up from his wrist (toward the elbow). He has a splint for now - will see the orthopedic md next week for further evaluation and casting. Of course, true to form, it is his right arm & he has a written report due in 3 weeks! Anyway, when Nick realized that the injury was serious enough to warrant a trip to the doctor, he started crying from remorse - I told you he was compassionate - and Nathanael forgave him even before he said he was sorry! I'll post a picture later - Tony, he's got nothing on your broken arm...no setting required tonight, so I didn't nearly pass out & Bob didn't have to hide in the corner! Such is the story of my life on Friday the 13th!

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Thankful for...


I know, its not Thanksgiving, but as I was in the shower this morning, I was thinking of all the ways God has blessed me -
a husband who never fails to build me up in my sometimes depressing moods, but also never fails to call me on things I need to work on; his dedication to his calling in ministry is commendable; as is his calling to fatherhood (he spent most of this last week painting the children's center classrooms mostly alone, yet he spent an hour or so on the driving range with the boys & I yesterday afternoon instead of taking a nap).
my oldest son, whose intelligence astounds me sometimes - he answers some jeopardy questions before Alex is done reading them! He is a compassionate little boy who loves the creation God has made and often tells his younger brother while watching something on Discovery channel that they're wrong about some evolution theory they're spouting. He has a passion for learning that I pray will never go away. There are some college kids at church that sometimes fear his knowledge - because it is more than their own!
my youngest son, named for his late aunt - all boy, through and through, will try most anything at least once - determined like his daddy to do everything just right; but at the mere mention that I'm hurt (or pretending to be) he stops the wrestling and becomes my defender against all comers. The tears in his eyes as I defined hell on his level were real, and he has thanked Jesus each night since for coming into his heart. His Sunday School teacher tells me he always chooses the right choice when they discuss choices in class...I pray that he continues to make the right choices.

What blessings do you have in your life that sometimes you take for granted until Thanksgiving?

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Salvation for Nick

short version - "Mom....Nick said he's going to send me to hell." Me explaining to Nick what hell really is...does he want to go there? Does he know what he needs to do to NOT go there? Does he want to ask Jesus into his heart? Emphatic nodding. Go get the phone cause Bob is in Texas so Daddy can help him pray. Tears ensue...

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

My mother in law gets it

Bob had the chance to chat with his mom earlier this week about how her life is going - she lives about 9 hours from us, so we don't get to see her all that often. She mentioned that one of his brothers had taken her up to church with his daughter and husband. Bob & I know the reputation of the church, in fact, we recommended it to them. Anyway, their worship is known to be quite contemporary and loud - to the point where they hand out ear plugs on the way in if you want them. So, Bob was curious to hear her thoughts on the matter, since she is nearly 81. She said that they really knew how to worship and that she enjoyed the sermon, all of it. He asked if the music was too loud or too much for her (she refused the plugs) - she said it was fine, she just enjoyed being able to worship with her granddaughter and son! Can I clone her?! We have been having this battle in our church for the 8 years we've been here! Bob nearly fell off his chair at work when he heard her answer. We will see how things transpire if/when we call the new pastor. The church if you're interested in checking things out is called Sandals. Right now they are meeting on the campus of Cal Baptist.

Oops - dinner is ready for my attention.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

On Calling A Senior Pastor

Many of you know that for the last 2 years we have been without a senior pastor, meaning Bob has been it as far as ministerial staff goes - this weekend there is hope! We have a couple here in view of a call - meaning they are here to check us out & we're checking them out - Bob & I are both in favor, and after 2 rounds of meetings (deacons & search team) things are opening up. I can't tell you who they are, since his church doesn't yet know he's looking. But, we like them, and the buzz is good. We'll do potluck tonite w/the whole church body, he preaches in the morning, open forum Sunday PM with a pie social (we're baptists & love to eat, can you tell?!) after. They will head home on Monday am to pray while we pray as well. Then we'll all vote on Sunday AM after our morning service. That will be the fun one - we have decided to do 2 votes - one to call him & one on what to pay him. We have to do it that way or it all gets political & a huge mess. Be in prayer - a weekend full of meetings is never fun and this type of stuff can get exhausting for all parties!

Kudos to my boys, however - they have been shuttled off to a separate room on their own with a TV and a couple movies for both meetings I've needed to be a part of. Bob has to go back earlier than I do tonite, so that's good for the kiddos, but makes for VERY long hours on Bob.

BTW - my heart rate is now back down after the telemarketer call at work, but then yesterday my CELL phone rings with a telemarketed automated call?!?! Since when can that be done?

Life goes on!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Telephone Solicitors

I was just rude to someone & I feel the need to confess & RANT at the same time. Two days ago, I answered the phone here at work - a non-native English speaker tells me they need to verify the address & provider associated with the phone number. I verify the address, but then she wants to keep going with me verifying more info. ARGH!!! This is a business & I do not have the time to answer questions they already have the answers to! Besides, most often, this is how phone service etc get changed without you realizing it. I hung up on her then & I hung up again today when she called back with the SAME questions!!!! The girls here are laughing at me because my neck, ears & face are all red from getting so agitated with this. I don't like being rude, but when I hang up on you once because I tell you I'm too busy to deal with it, dontcha think I'll do it again?!

And thus ends my soapbox confession/rant.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Plugging Away

Bob is in the middle of a stewardship team meeting, the boys are munching on pizza fresh from the microwave & me, well, I'm just biding time..enjoying a few minutes of peace before I need to head to a "town hall" meeting for the church. The congregation here feels the need to have a monthly meeting to review the monthly financial report, altho several months ago we voted that we would only have "business meeting" once a quarter. A good chunk of the people here must have been burned sometime in the past by a church staff who "took advantage" of being staff and making money decisions without consulting the congregation first. Don't know if it happened here or in their church experiences elsewhere, but it makes life hard now. It feels like, on some occasions, that we can't spend more than $10 on anything without having to get full congregational approval! I'm exaggerating about the amount, its more like $150 I think. Anyway, Bob has graciously allowed me to not have to be present for the business meetings since its not fair to me to have to listen to him be pulled down for decisions that the leadership team is trying to make. Tonight I probably will go, since its only supposed to be an informal informational kind of thing.

Mom & Dad's house in Texas is progressing - you can check the progress here - Dani & her husband have been keeping the pictures up to date when they can get over to the build site. Bob will probably be helping them get vehicles across the country sometime in mid-March, we think. I do okay most days about it, but I do have my bad days...not that I think they need to stay in California just for me...but it is still hard. Anyway, I need to pay attention to my boys, they're making a mess with the water and pizza...such is life!

Friday, February 02, 2007

Things about growing old

More from my friend Heidi...

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

Ya know, I'm not even 40 & some of these apply! Such is life...

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Things I have learned

okay - credit my old boss, Heidi for this list...just to make you laugh (or at least giggle)


GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

Tomorrow I'll do more from the email she sent me....

Most of my fellow team members are on a cruise to Mexico w/the boss...I chose not to go, but they are in San Diego today & the weather sucks! Ha Ha Ha!!!

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Lego's are from HELL


This "little" picture does no justice to the 1367 pieces it took Bob & I THREE yes 3 hours to assemble last night! I have re-assembled it at least 5, maybe 6 times in the 2 hours since we've been home from church today. Nathanael is not happy with himself for the fact that no matter how careful he's being, something comes apart. He just came in to tell me it had broken again & was laughing at my title - I told him to just leave it sit for now, we'd figure something out when Bob gets home.

Good sermon this morning, I know I needed the reminder that "Without the Head, the church is dead", but so do a lot of people at our church. One of the search team members gave a report & basically said, if we don't get unified and our "Head" on straight, we will die out, and nearly in tears, that he didn't want that to happen. It will be 2 years the end of March since our pastor resigned...and while I know God's timing is perfect, humanly I want Him to hurry up!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

By the way

I changed the setting so anyone can post a comment, you don't have to join if you don't want to......

A Weekend with no commitments

Wow, first weekend in quite some time that other than men's bible study this morning, and the normal church thing tomorrow, we didn't have anything planned! Woo Hoo! Nat didn't even have school yesterday. If we'd had our brains about us and some money, we could have actually gone somewhere overnite - oh well. So, we headed to the Sacramento Zoo for the day yesterday - had a couple by the adult get the kid in free coupons - it's not the best zoo in the world, but we watched some lemurs jumping around for a while, then the otters...shopped at Arden Fair Mall, then Roseville Galleria and ended the day with dinner at Spaghetti Factory. We hadn't eaten there in a while and it was gooood. Today, grocery shopping, laundry, and that's about all I need to put my foot down about doing. Its 10am & the boys are still in their jammies (Nick actually in his clothes from yesterday since he crashed on the way home). They're watching Curious George and playing with the stuffed otters we bought yesterday. Still fighting this awful snot nosed cold I've managed to catch - Bob called me Rudolph the other day! Anyway, I should run and get the aforementioned laundry started and the grocery list made so we at least have some purpose to our meanderings around the store!

Monday, January 15, 2007

A Few Minutes

So, here I sit - having run to the mall to have 3 watch batteries replaced...finished inhaling my lunch, and not enough time to really do anything all that constructive. Besides, I can't breathe thru my nose right now and my ears are plugged...darn winter & chronic sinusitis. Lots of things floating thru my head right now...mom and her stuff, my parents leaving, still not having a senior pastor...one of these days, I'll find the time to vent it all when I don't have to necessarily look pretty for the next patient who walks in the door. As for now, I need to blow my nose real good, re apply the mentholatum under it, and get back to work, the schedule for tomorrow is relatively empty & its my job to fill it....wish me luck!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Too Much Going on!

Jeepers - its been a long time since I've blogged! Life has been nuts - left for So Cal Dec 21st to spend Christmas with the families; Bob & I headed to Long Beach on the 27th for Tsunami (State Youth Conference) - boys stayed with my parents; boys arrive back with us on the 29th; do the pirate dinner show thing with all the youth on the 30th; and then did Disneyland on New Year's Eve. Anyone tired yet? It gets better! New Year's Day we drive home to Yuba City. Bob & I dismantled the tree & decorations in 45 minutes flat before collapsing completely. Oh and on the day after Christmas, one of our kids calls from the church because the youth building and Bob's office are under 1 inch of water due to a broken pipe in the men's bathroom! I worked for the next 3 days, then flew back to my parents on the 5th to help my sister prep the house to be on the market (they're moving to Texas). Flew back home on the 7th, and back to work I went. Had a great time with our respective families - my boys are the youngest of the Veach cousins, and so get spoiled pretty rotten - they had my parents to themselves this year, since my bro moved to Ohio & my sis is in Texas...I need to finish sorting thru all the gifts piled in this back room; pay bills; and maybe start the taxes.

More later! Chelle