Lord, That I May See

Photo Credit Having kids has spoiled the pleasure I used to take in alot of little things. It has spoiled swimming -- who can swim when they've kids to keep from drowing? It has spoiled jewelry.  I usually skip it now because it gets tugged or bitten and I get pinched or choked. It has spoiled fingernail polish.  I have no time to sit and let it dry  (plus I've got too many dishes to do). It has spoiled showers.  I either have a little person under my feet crying about soap in her eyes or I'm rushing through my shower hoping the movie won't be over yet. It has spoiled paying attention at Mass It has spoiled sleeping. (I could go on and on . . .: ) It has spoiled thunderstorms too. I love summer thunderstorms.  I love the crackle in the air, the fresh, wild smell.  I love the cosy feeling of my house, the powerful rolling of the thunderclaps outside.  As a teenager, when the thunderclouds would be moving away, I would run o...

1.  Happily and thankfully, we now have a house to move to.  We have exactly one month left till we can move in.  We are relieved and grateful to have found someone willing to rent to a self-employed owner of a construction company -- which apparently is a liability not negated by our good credit. :P We are also thankful for the house's good location, its large backyard See? :) and its lower than average rent.  There are some cons to the situation, as there are to any, but we are blessed and staying (hopefully! :)optimistic. 2.  Annnnd, I have packed only about 12 boxes so far . . .  today I tried packing the coat closet during Sunshine's morning nap.  That ultimately turned into a "let's obsess about the packing tape" and "lets fight over which color coat hanger we get to put into the box" session that woke up the baby.   I gave up 2/3 of the way through the dinky little closet. *Sigh*  This is gonna b...

#1.   So, first in my thoughts these days is always the looming moving day and the non-existance of a house to move to.   We found a house that we liked alot in a good location and . . . well, it was pretty much perfect for us.  I knew the minute I walked in that I wanted it.  Then, despite novenas, our rental application was rejected today after a week and half of waiting.  Maybe I should have know it was too good to be true. :(   We seem to be somewhat of a risk for owners because we are self-employed and in construction.  I am trying not be to down about it.  God must have a better place for us, right? #2.   Speaking of God, does He actually know what he is doing?   Sometimes it really seems like how could he possibly know all the little details of things that you need/want. And really, lets face it, some things that happen in your life really are pretty awful and the "up-side" is very hard to find....

My girls (I hate to admit) are really into joking about bodily waste products (ahem!).  Since I figure that trying to get them to quit is bound to be a lost cause, I let them say and laugh about whatever they want, but they must go into the bathroom and do it -- the appropriate place for talking about bodily functions. One day after dinner, Rosebud got down from her chair, climbed into my lap, put her little arms around me, looked at me sweetly and asked, "Now can I go laugh about poo-poo??"

Here is some work that has been on the girls' shelves recently.  I got this idea for squeezing water from a garlic press from The Wonder Years .  (Follow the link to see how she does it.)   I had a difficult time finding a garlic press that I felt could be managed by little hands.  This one I finally found at Safeway. USING A SIEVE This is another work idea from Amy.  The girls absolutely love this work and it has kept them interested for a good long time. For three straight days Rosebud tumbled half awake out of bed in the morning already asking to do this work. ;)  The child pours the barley into the flour (my cornmeal didn't sift through as well as the flour when I did my test run -- which you should always do, by the way! :) and stirs it together with the scoop.  Then the scoop is used to place the mixture into the sifter and the child taps the sifter against her hand (or the side of the bowl) to separate the two ingredient...