Wordless Wednesday - So close... Yet so far away...

Take particular note of the stickers on the bumper of the Escalade and under the wiper on the Escape's back window.
Although physically within arms reach of one another, the owner of this vehicle and I are worlds apart in our values, beliefs and ideologies!

One guess as to which one is mine...;)

(BTW, the first "A" in the sticker on the Escalade has a picture of an ass (donkey) beside it.)

For more "Wordless Wednesday" fun, link up at 5 Minutes for Mom.  

Post It Note Tuesday: Strawberries & Guns

For more "Post It Note Tuesday" fun, link up at Adventures of Wannabe Supah mommy 

Friday Fragments: Scene 4

All I got to say is..............TGIF!

Can I get an, "Amen!"???

This has been one.long.week.

There's been some good, some bad and some ugly...

(You make "bad" look "good", Clint!)

 

since last Friday's   

The Good:

>>> Went out to eat after church Sunday.
I have to make mention of it, for it's a "whimsy" we rarely indulge in these days.
Bad economy + Private School tuition = Depleted account 
Sugar's hankering for some Chinese landed us at a local buffet that the kids grimaced and "yucked" over.
To their delight and my amazement, the buffet contained two (surely golden to the children) trays: one with chicken nuggets, the other french fries.
Nice to know we're not the only culture out there feeling the strains of a melting pot prepping to boil over.

Fortune Cookies...
Sugar - "An important word of advice may come from a child."
I almost fell out of the booth LMBO!

Mom - "Something on four wheels will soon be a fun investment for you!"
I've always wanted a CJ-7 (soft top Jeep Wrangler).  With this economy in mind, however, it's probably referring to a pair of roller skates!

mySamuelson  - "You shouldn't overspend at the moment.  Frugality is important."  Am extremely thankful he's not displaying any signs of being materialistic.  At least at this point in his life.  Quite the opposite actually!  He has a wallet full of dollar bills from his allowance that are growing roots into his nightstand.

Miss Gracie  - "You will find your solution where you least expect it."  Say a prayer with me for that "solution" to have something to do with her going to the potty to tinkle, not her panties...and not hiding those wet panties under her bed!

Punk  - Be prepared to receive something special."  Yeah...I'm going to give her "something special": A good finger-wagging stern lecture about... (See "The Ugly" below)

 
>>> Miss Gracie had a playdate with her aff (absolute favorite friend) and rode the emotional high it brought for days following the event.

The Bad:
>>> There's really no other way to describe this...

then to say it was a "bad" situation.

And yes, that is a...

foot tangled up in my SUV's seatbelt!

But not just any foot.

And not just any tangle.

A foot with "piggies" that I used to take to the market.

And a tangle like no other.

  

mySamuelson after sharing that it might require a trip to the fire department...

En route, we swung by Dad's office, on the minuscule off-chance he might be able to work some nimble magic.

He has a sleight-of-hand that would have been the envy of Doc Holiday had he lived that era!

 The Ugly:
>>>  Punk's up for an Oscar this year for her leading role in "Breathholding Spells". 
 Rolling eyes, flappin' arms, arched back and creeping blue...

 Had me on my knees, praying FERVENTLY first time it happened.

 A little research and a trip to her Ped later... unbelievably this is normal and nothing to get worked up over.
Watching my daughter turn blue and go limp in my arms is horrific and heartbreaking, for me, "...something to get worked up over." 
"Just walk away.  Don't reward the negative behavior with any attention."
Think her Ped has recently started moonlighting as a comedian down at the local lounge!

It's bad enough holding her tight when she courts a spell.

But to watch it from across the room... as a bystander.
"Huh Uh!"

(emphatically shaking head in the negative!)

          
Wonder where she got that iron will??? ;);)

Sam'ism III

{Setting: Mommy Wemmick cleaning kitchen.  mySamuelson finishing homework and Miss Gracie coloring at breakfast table.  Punk wandering about like a nomad with "ba ba" hanging out one side of her mouth.}

mySamuelson: "Mom, we haven't had any brownies in a long time."

Mom: "We had some a few days ago, but they're all gone."

mySamuelson: "Who ate them all?" (Looking up from his homework.  Voice laced with disappointment.)

Mom: "I ate most of them." (Feeling like a first-rate fat jerk pig!)

mySamuelson: "Mommy!" (disbelieving & disgruntled)

Mom: "Brownies are one of my favorite desserts, Sam.  You can't just leave them lying around.  I love me some chocolate!" (semi-sheepishly grinning)

mySamuelson: "But Mommy... that's not fair to the kids!" (earnestly)

Wordless Wednesday - Love Notes

To join this wonderfully wordless meme, link up at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Post It Note Tuesday: A punk

Join in the fun of "Post It Note Tuesday" by visiting Adventures of A wanna-be Supah Mommy!

Getting to know ME! {Chapter 3}

1. Are you superstitious?

Webster defines "superstition as: 1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation  b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition

2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

In examining #1 a, all I have to say is, "I'm no fool."

As a christian, #1 b is the ANTITHESIS of my "attitude of mind" toward my Savior!

For response to #2, see answer to #1 a.
 

2. If you were an animal..what kind would you be?
Lion

King of the jungle!

Top of the food chain!


3. You would never catch me wearing.........?

Hmmmmmm...

Initially wanting to reply, "granny panties".  But to be brutally honest, they were some of my best friends during my 3 pregnancies.

Astounding how as one ages, one begins to find themselves doing things they said they never would.    Sure does tend to breed caution!  Mayhap that's why older people (like I'm growing into) tend to be more prudent!

*Update*
Just realized I never fully answered the question.  Hands down it would be those jeans that sit at or above waist level.  UGH!  If I want something hugging my waist, it'll be a dress or Sugar! 
Oh...and you can keep your tapered-leg jeans, as well! 


4.  If someone posts a VLOG..do you watch it?

Huh??????

Guess I just reared my blogging greenhorns! 


5. Have you ever waxed your girlie/manly parts..or any other part of your body?

Eyebrows only.

Although I do wish I had indulged (or should I say "suffered" through!) a bikini wax when we went to Hawaii in 2006... 

...I forgot to "clean it up" before hitting poolside at our Maui resort! 


6. Are you a spender or a saver?

Thrifty spender... married a saver.  

By the grace of God, managing to meet in the middle.


7. If  you were starring in a movie..who would you want to play your leading man/woman?

Christian Bale

Sugar of course!


8. Smoker..never smoked..social smoker..or smoked back in the day?

Recently retired smoker...

PRAISE GOD!

After 16 1/2 years, our Lord took the addiction and removed it from my life in October, 2009!

After MANY failed attempts on my own, that is.

The final few months prior to cessation, I mentally fought HIS Spirit with every rebellious streak in me.

mySamuelson came home from school one day asking me to quit smoking.  

He had recently started the bad habit of biting his fingernails.

I asked him to quit biting his nails.

We both went to bed that night, praying about our requests of one another.

The next day I took the opportunity to teach him about "covenants".

We made one with God and each other and, with my eyes turned heavenward, NOT DARING to look away, he led me through the valley of the shadow of death (3 days of withdraw, which HE thankfully "watered down"...though still a great physical challenge) and came out the other side VICTORIOUS!

HALLELUJAH!!!

To join the fun of...

link up at MannLand5.

 

SNEEZING those Particularly Prolific Posts

[ALERT: This is an on-going meme that has no "end".  Do not be put off by it's post date.  Even if you've run across it a year later, I encourage you to participate.  You'll better understand "why" after you read through it.]

At the recommendation of ProBlogger (aka Darren Rowse), upon whom I stumbled over at The Secret is in the Sauce, I recently began pilfering through my archived posts in search of "the best of the best" to spotlight in what Rowse has coined a, "sneeze page".

Quite the brilliant bloggy idea.

The sneeze...

• ...spotlights your really good posts that get lost in your archives.
• ...creates deep linking which is good for SEO.
• ...makes great content in your blog more readily available whereby the visitor is apt to stick around your site (“stickiness”) longer and more then likely become a follower/subscriber and regular reader.

 To create a sneeze...

•  pick out some of your best content and create a post that links to those posts. 
• you can also use a theme for your sneeze page such as time (“Best Posts of 2009″) or topic (“Top Ten Recipe Posts”).
• every month or so, rifle through those posts that followed your sneeze's creation and move new one's  in and out as you deem fit: remember, your writing improves the more you do it.
• in order not to bog down and "lose" the visitor, stick to a minimum of 10 post links in your sneeze. 
• be sure you publicize it! Put a link to it (or them – it’s OK to have more than one sneeze page!) in your sidebar and/or your navigation bar so readers can find it easily.

Am going to turn this into a one-time meme using Mr. McLinky (isn't he just a dandy?)
Once you've created your "sneeze page", come back, leave a comment at your leisure and link your sneeze at the bottom of this post.  

Then share the love and visit the other "linkers" and their eye-popping posts!

The absolutely wonderful part of this meme is that it's a one-time only link-up that will increase your blog traffic: maybe even culminating in a traffic jam!
**Be sure to check back frequently for new "linkers"!!!**
**The button is located toward the middle of my sidebar labeled, "Catch a SNEEZE!"** 

Below are my self-proclaimed "Top 5 Posts of 2010".
Don't forget to link up at the bottom of the page!

Family Plant Day

Tutorial: Overhauling a down-on-its-luck dresser

 "And the awards go to...Mommy Wemmick!" Huh???

Black Fingernails; Beautiful Hands

Dead Goat Ninjas with Milestone

Friday Fragments: Scene 3 & hatching chicks

Have really begun to look forward to Half-Past Kissin' Time... Time To Kiss Again
 

Besides meeting wonderful new bloggers who develop into cyber-friends, it gets me posting about the "happenings" in our lives that are important for posterity's sake, but wouldn't make it to the blog otherwise: after all, there are only so many hours in a day and that family I blog about does need the ocassional "tending to"!

Click on the button above to link-up and play. :)

* Miss Gracie's pediatric urology appointment finally came around yesterday: 7 weeks out from the pediatrician's referral.  Has our narcissistic Prez's self-proclaimed ground-breaking, "fix-it for good" health care plan, which includes killing the people he proclaims to help with it (see the bill's plan for the elderly and abortion), already winding its spidery fingers throughout my healthcare?  And of course I have to use code words like "Prez" and sound like a literary lounge lizard for fear of reprisal from his internet police.  Next thing I know they're knocking on my door, with his agricultural police behind them ready to confiscate my garden.  Up until this point, we have been blessed with amazing physicians and specialists with bedside manners, experience and skill leaving naught to be desired.  

One particular physician demanding to be noted, my OB/GYN, always comes to mind when I count my many blessings.

This wonderful man delivered Miss Gracie and Punk: reason enough to lay my loyalty at his doorstep.  However, this remarkable Dr. went above and beyond his calling, redefining "doctoring" when he walked alongside me through 3 miscarriages.  He mourned with me.  He held my hand and wiped my sweaty brow as I was wheeled down that green mile for a DNC.  Go to bat for him?  Hot coals?  Bring it on!

But I digress.  I've noticed I do that alot.  Perhaps I need to start a meme...something along the lines of "A Rantin' Thursday" or something similar for "venting" purposes!  Anyways, once again, back to the subject at hand. ;)  Guess our successful running streak with doctors was bound to end at some point.  And end it did in this particular Specialist's office.  Just as a good many vertically-challenged people cater to what I've heard dubbed a "Napoleon Complex", somewhere along the way, the phrase "God Complex" in the same breath as "doctor" has been mentioned.  Perhaps you've been in one of these said physician's audience at one time or another?  In this case, the NP (Nurse Practitioner) and Dr. were discussing the details of Miss Gracie's urinalysis.  During this brief, but very important discussion, neither looked at me nor addressed me: no acknowledgment WHATSOEVER!  And being without a medical training background, minus the humble on-the-job-training one gets as a mother, their jargon was just that, gibberish jargon...a foreign language.  At one point I heard the word "low" and caught a fleeting, concerned look pass over the Dr,'s face.  Without hesitation and much aplomb (and perhaps a bit of glee) I quickly became the rude, obnoxious person in the crowd interrupting the performance.  Miss Gracie herself, however, saved what could have turned into a cold and rigid affair.  During the course of this entire exchange, she had sat on the bed brushing her hair (unlike her mother, she takes her purse everywhere).  Not long after insinuating myself in that conversation I should have been a part of in the first place, she quite collectively put her brush away, zipped it closed, gave a "Hurumph" and looked at us as if to say, "Are we done here, yet?"  Even the Dr. laughed out loud!  Have no doubt the phrase "breaking the ice" was coined after a child!

* Our church held its Spring Revival earlier this week.

 

It turned out to be a Revival like no other.  Our Lord, Jesus Christ, saw fit to work through our visiting pastor, Dr. Phil Hoskins, and answer part of my most fervent prayers: mySamuelson made the most important choice of his life.  Visit my "Wordless Wednesday" post, A Roman road... A perfect choice... for the entire story.

* mySamuelson had a pretty eventful week, for on top of ensuring his destiny, he was accompanied by his paternal grandmother, Grandmaw Janice, and the kids' adopted, resident Granny, Granny Carolyn, to a special school play called "Fixin' the Fence".  The High School Seniors and teachers put it together along with a tea and autograph signing party that immediately followed the performance.

On the way out the door...

 

* Two of our 37 incubated eggs hatched Sunday afternoon!  Was sitting here at my desk in the office, blogging away of course!  Suddenly, I hear a, "Kerthump!"  I looked around for a fallen comrade, Miss Gracie's one-paw-on-the-rocker-one-paw-off-kitten and its senseless antics...  The quick visual scan revealed notta.  I glanced over at the incubator sitting on my Hope Chest and thought, "Hmmmm... not supposed to hatch until tomorrow, but just in case..."  I sauntered over there, saw this...

and all heck broke loose as I screamed for my camera and the kids and they screamed for Dad, which all resulted in senseless, frantic sprints and panic-laced garble.  Moments to never forget!

That's the good news.  Have come to realize there's always some type of bad news that leeches itself to the good.  {Aside: Thanks alot Adam & Eve!}  Neither chick lived. :(  The first chick was flourishing until the second one arrived on the scene.  Other than a small hole the second one managed to peck out, he/she couldn't break free, so as researchers suggest, I assisted.

There are a number of probable reasons to explain why the chick was sickly from the beginning.  Anything from a "bad egg" to inadequate humidity (that was hard to maintain) could have caused it.  Not realizing that its body would be spreading bacteria as it died, I didn't remove the other chick.  In all likelihood, this was the healthy chick's cod (cause of death).  mySamuelson, as my sensitive child, took it hard.  While we don't want to shield him from the oftentimes grim reality of life (though only allowing that which he is developmentally prepared for to hit him), we also want to help him lay claim to Christ's promise to all of His children in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Thus, the day after the healthy chick passed, Sugar found some baby chicks for sale and brought home 6. :)  

Regardless of the sad outcome of our first incubation experience, mySamuelson summed it all up quite matter-of-factly with his repeated proclamations that, "Well, I guess I'm a grandpa now!"

Not wanting to leave you with the "bad" in mind, and to accompany that chuckle mySamuelson's quote surely brought about, below are some pics of the first few minutes following the discovery of the chicks birth... Definitely breeds warm fuzzies. :) 

Wordless Wednesday: A Roman road... A perfect choice...

Happy Ecstatic Overjoyed Delirious Humbled practically speechless ;) but surely BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF & MEASURE is the mother who watches on as her one and only son makes the most important choice of his life.  What can be considered the only "perfect" choice man can make.  The one choice that will determine his destiny...

mySamuelson asked Christ into his heart on the second night of our church's Spring Revival, April 26th.  During the Invitation, I heard soft whispers in the pew beside me and took a peek; God forgive me. ;)  mySamuelson had his head bowed, eyes squeezed tightly shut with mouth moving.  In reading his lips, I quickly realized he was walking that Roman Road to Calvary!

"Oh, happy day!  Oh, happy day!  When Jesus washed, my sins away!"
(in a singing voice laced with tears)

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4

*The picture above captured mySamuelson's first ever trip to the alter to pray a few months back.

Post It Note Tuesday: Laundry Overload

To join in this rabid fun...

                                                   

"And the awards go to...Mommy Wemmick!" HUH???

When I received notice, from my new (& FABULOUS I might add!) friends-in-training, Julie at The Peanut Gallery...Exit Here and Misty at Miss Fit, "HUH???" was exactly the expression of the moment.

"Me?"

 (in disbelieving shock)

You've probably already figured out these are my first.

Sweet Friend Award

Honest Abe Award

Put the two together and you get an "honest, sweet friend".

What a most humbling, beautiful sentiment.

 

A big part of me wants to scream out, "But I'm not worthy!"

They might not know that.

And you might not realize it.

But God does.

And as His willing servant, I know these accolades rightly belong to him.

For it is His Spirit, in me, which is shining forth.
After all, every good and noble thing comes down from the Heavenly Father.

Separate from Him, I am completely, utterly lost.

I'm not a very nice person.

Actually, I can be quite impatient, judgmental, irate, temperamental, discriminating, controlling...basically all things BAD.

Ahhhhh...but GLORY BE TO GOD for sending His one and only Son to save me from myself!

In lieu of this, I believe some recognition is deserving of the two special ladies who recognized Christ's handiwork in the life of one of their sister's. 

Thank you.

I believe this to be the start of two wonderful friendships. :)

For the Happy 101 Award, I've been instructed to list 10 things that make me happy.

1)  "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." Psalm 98:4. Whether it be singing (which the dogs love to join me in), playing handbells or calling out to Him in prayer, happy am I when praising and worshiping my Savior!

2)  The homestead clean and organized.

3)  A good book  The genre's not particularly important: can be a devotional, documentary, various fiction, bible study, etc.  As long as it's rich in plot and characterization, I'm in it!

4)  The "love look" and accompanying remarks from Sugar.  Not the "bedroom" eyes (although that can be quite nice as well!).  Am talking about the appreciation-filled stare backed up with a, "You're a good, Mom.", "You're a hard worker.", or  "I don't see how you do it.".  Ocassionally these sentiments are expressed in a card that never fails to bring tears to my eyes. 

5)  Hard work and sacrifice paying off.

6)  Encouragement

7)  My children...my children...my children.  Did I mention, all things, my children???  Yes, all.  Even the puke and backtalk.  Not to mention the sibling fights and whining. (And that's just naming a smattering!)  For it's in those challenging moments that I tend to turn more to my Lord.  How can one not cherish the person who helps you keep your eyes trained on our Savior???  And then there's the rest of the "all".  The many easy reasons "my children... my children... my children" make me happy: an out-of-the-blue hug, tinkling laughter from the girls, robust guffaws from mySamuelson, contagious excitement over a "Family Day" activity, soft-spoken & sincere prayers, "mothers r the best" note (compliments recently of mySamuelson), watching the light bulb go on, and "playing" to name but an extreme few.

8)  A "sweat-the-Devil-out-of-you" run... followed by a bubble bath with candles, soft music, #3, & #10 in this list.

9)  The great outdoors: fishing, bird watching, gardening, hiking, etc. God's handi-work is AMAZING.

10) Sugar just informed me (and can't believe I almost let it slip by), CHOCOLATE!  

 
Please take a moment to visit the following blogs that I've passed the "Sweet Friend" award along to.

Lisa at Advent's and other Fine(nell) Adventures

Kayce at Our Boy And His Cricket

Melodramommy at Melodramommy
Julie at The Peanut Gallery...Exit Here 
  Donna at Double Happiness!
{AWARD-WINNING LADIES: Don't forget to copy and paste the award on your blog, list who gave the award to you and create a link to her blog (or hyperlink), list 10 things that make you happy and pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.}  

 For the Honest Abe Award, I've been asked to share 10 honest things about myself.       

I do realize I have the right to remain silent...for I know what I say here will probably cost me a few "followers". ;)
 

1)  My father spirited my brother and I off to the backwoods of the Last Frontier (Alaska) for 3 1/2 years.  I say "spirited", for "abduction", even though theoretically that's what it was, seems more fitting in describing a "stranger" abduction.

2)  While in college, began working on a memoir of the many experiences I encountered while in Alaska (see #1 above).  Harper Collins Publishers replied (still have the letter) with interest in viewing the entire book.  I had only managed to write 6 chapters when I sent the letter of inquiry, which happened to be immediately following my graduation.  Was hired for my first teaching job shortly after graduation, with mySamuelson's pregnancy nipping at its heels.  The unfinished book has collected quite a bit of dust over the past 7 years in storage.  Perhaps one day...

3)  Wrestle daily with extreme OCD.

4)  Have been labeled "adventurous": rode in a hot air balloon, climbed a coal chute, partied in the in-field at the Kentucky Derby, deep sea fished (see recent post: Wordless Wednesday: Out of Hands), driven a dirt bike, panned for gold and was part of a high-speed pursuit police chase where the speedometer moved into that 100 mph+ nether region (YES...was part of the good guys team!)  Have to say though, it's no misnomer that as you age, you slow down.  And not unintentionally either!  I look at this incomplete (yes, there are others!) list and shake my head at myself; "What was I thinking???"  I have a deeper appreciation now for the grandmother driving 5 mph under the speed limit!

5)  I like guns.  Am a huge NRA supporter.  Just ask Julie.  My first experience with one was moose hunting with my father in Alaska.  Shot our pastor's AR-15 last year.  Too cool!  Currently working on my Concealed Weapons permit.

6)  Went into the Army immediately following High School graduation.  Took me 6 weeks to get the #%+$  OUT!  General discharge.  NOT MY CUP-OF-TEA! 

7)  After Miss Gracie was born, joined a fitness kickboxing class.  Fell in love with martial arts.  Sugar and I recently enjoyed our first MMA/UFC Event (Mixed Martial Arts/Ultimate Fighting Championship)...ringside I might add!  We had a personal interest in the main event: mySamuelson's Kempo (karate) instructor fought!  And before any of you start pointing a finger and going, "But you're a christian!  That doesn't sound very "christianly!"", keep in mind, the Apostle Paul regularly enjoyed watching feats of physical skill.  And I dare say you won't argue his salvation?  This is one of the many reasons he is my favorite Apostle!   

8)  Best surprise of my life: Punk's gender.

9)  I believe in miracles.

10) Had some trouble deciding on a major in college.  Went from wanting to be a Geologist to an FBI agent to a Psychiatrist to an Ambassodor (International Studies)...  finally settled on Teacher.     
***I just couldn't pass up sharing the following two, for they're humdingers.  And I have edited the above 10 as much as I can.  So consider the following a Bonus!
Lived through a volcanic eruption and earthquake (4 on the Ricter scale) while in Alaska (see #1 above). 

Hardworking blogs deserving of the Honest Abe Award:

Dina at 4 Lettre Words

Leah at Funny is the New Young
Me, Myself and Aphrodite at Me, Myself and Aphrodite
Carla at Writing to Distraction
Stephanie at A Pocket Full Of Buttons
{AWARD-WINNING LADIES: Don't forget to copy and paste the award on your blog, list who gave the award to you and create a link to her blog (or hyperlink), list 10 honest things about yourself and pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.}