i hate my bangs and other such nonsense...

so.

 i asked the girl who cut my hair

{first hair cut in a year!},

to leave me a long side bang.

uh-huh.

i look like a puppy from the 1950s.

i'm not really sure what that means, but it's what i thought of.

it's a good thing i'm not one to pitch a fit or whine about things like this.

  i do hate them, but whatever.

it's hair.

it grows.

{those forehead wrinkles, however, will just continue to get worse.  let's pretend they don't exist, m'kay?}

and now onto a question i keep getting asked:
How did the gluten free thing go and are we still on it???

answer:

awful.

and no, we're not still on it.

we did it for 8 weeks, and we {the hubs and i} did not feel any difference.

it was supposed to be beneficial for his crohn's disease, and for my

multitude of problems.

but, no, we felt no changes.

no clarity of mind, energy, weight loss,

or any of the other benefits everyone else apparently sees after a few weeks.
and, we did not feel headachey, bloated or yucky after reintroducing gluten.

i honestly wasn't sure if i was livid or relieved.

go back to carbs and regular cooking?

yes please!

no easy solution to seeing health improvement?

uhhhhh!

but i am still on my supplements, and hoping that by the time i return to the dr., that my levels will at least be getting closer to normal.

and despite my thought process earlier in this stuff,

i do believe that when finances are better, i will return to my neurologist to get an official diagnosis.

if for no other reason than my own peace of mind.

and yes, this was the nonsense part of the post;)

blessings,

mandy

the vision...

once upon a time i was a little girl.

i was the ultimate daydreamer.

i longed to grow up.

to fall in love.

to find my place in this big world.

at one time that meant being an ice cream truck driver with a mint green and pink ice cream truck.

i was about 5.

all my ice cream was to be free, just to make all the children i came upon gloriously happy.

source

what can i say?  economics has never been my strong suit.

then i wanted to be a ballerina or a super model.

christy brinkley was my favorite.

source

needless to say,

my gifts include neither poise nor killer looks.

then it was a novelist.

i still have copies of my 8 year old penmanship 'novels' about cat families romping through the woods,

and later, girls on trains in which the 1700s and 1900s were a bit muddled.

but i was only 10 or 12.

source

and then there was sitting my siblings and friends down ,

pretending i was a teacher and they were to do their lessons on slates.

i was pretty demanding.

as 8th grade came around,

teachers and peers had me almost believing i should be a journalist.

i saw vintage type press and hitchcokish headlines in a daydream bubble.

source

then it was an advertising exec. in a high powered office that included cute suit sets, spiked heels and incredible slogans for fortune 500 companies.

source

then college was around the corner.

reality had to be faced.

i looked in the mirror knowing i was not, indeed, cut out for cut throat jobs in high rises and smog and traffic.

so i resorted back to something that had always been in the back of my mind.

a teacher.

so i made my plans, applied to the best teaching university in oregon, got accepted and daydreamed some more.

the problem was, i never wanted to teach in a 'regular' school.

i have always been an old soul.

you know that 'real age test' Oprah  pushed years ago?

pretty sure at 10 i would have registered 70.

i daydreamed about teaching multiple grades in a one room school house down a dusty dirt lane.

where the kids would pick warm black berries in the heat of summer and help carry wood in to the wood stove in winter.

perhaps i watched too much anne of green gables.

nope, there can never be too much anne.

but perhaps the 1800s beckoned me a little too crazily in 1999 as a high school senior.

and perhaps not.

maybe, just maybe, God put that dream in spirit all those years ago,

with the exact purpose of preparing my homeschooling heart.

isn't it funny how He works things?

how the dream He gave my heart, that sounded a little odd years ago, now is my daily existence?

the other dream that hasn't died with the rest?

to write.

to become a novelist.

i still write,

though very infrequently.

but through this journey i'm convinced,

if God puts a passion in your heart,

a dream that doesn't burn brightly only to die quickly,

there's a reason for it.

a plan and a purpose in it.

one day maybe i'll be a published author.

or that dream will turn into something else i can't even think of yet,

because it's not my season.

but here i am.

teaching and writing.

i almost feel like i'm 12;)

is there a dream in your heart that has always been there?

that perhaps God intends for more than just a dream? 

and don't worry.

i promise not to come by in my green and pink ice cream truck in run way clothes any time soon.

blessings,

mandy

my health { or lack thereof }

ah shucks.

i really wanted to avoid this,

but let's just spew it all out at once and be done with it shall we?

family, friends, and long term readers will remember that i had a an MRI almost a year ago.

the results were a little strange, but not alarming.

It was my second MRI, and it had confirmed that i had an enlarged trigeminal nerve on one side, and excess fluid.

there was no cause for it that they could find.

the thing is, for  a little over the last 4 years,

there has been concern regarding multiple sclerosis.

yep, i've spent years with that in the back of my mind, that i could be walking along with ms, prediagnosis, and nobody understands how crappy i feel except for my husband and mom, and a handful of close friends.

well, here we are,

i have now seen a naturopath who is looking seriously into all my 'issues'.

what has he found?

welp.

what hasn't he found is a better question.

while he does not make diagnosis, or distinctly believe in receiving them, he basically told me that if i continue on the path i'm on with my body, that i will have full blown MS within 5 years, 10 at best.

he has encouraged me not to seek further diagnosis.

he says he can, with my hard work, reverse the effects that this disease is attempting to conquer me with.

my medical dr.,

a casual friend, has also been very concerned for me over the last year. and believed that we needed to keep ms as the focus of investigation.

i have decided to skip the diagnosis part, the western medicine part, and jump straight to keeping my body as healthy as i can without outside medication, etc.

if, in the future, what i am doing is not enough, and i do in fact see it worsening, i will then go that avenue...

but i am hoping and praying to kick it now while in the early years!

so aside from that,

i have some other junkiness happening.

blood work:

the good doc told me to go home and take 20 vitamin d pills.

seriously, i am that deficient,

and that's taking one multi and another vit. d everyday!

also?

i have hypothyroid problems,

adrenal problems,

pretty bad anemia,

a high white blood cell count, a low red blood cell count,

significant dehydration issues.

and and and.

i can't even keep it all straight.

he ordered more blood work,

to see if it is all consistent.

long story short...

i now am confirmed, feel validated in my exhaustion, inability to loose weight, aching joints, and all the issues that come with ms.

my autoimmune system is in complete melt down,

and in turn i am taking on a gluten free diet along with many other things.

i will know more when i speak to the doctor next, with the result of the next round of blood testing.

thanks for reading this far,

it was a much easier way to answer questions people were asking than calling and explaining to all.

now you all see why i hadn't shared this, even years ago when people were curious!

with God's grace and mercy,

i am looking forward to a much healthier 2012!

blessings,

mandy

Currently...

lemonade makin mama ,

miss sasha, had a fun post the other day, and asked others to join in!

Currently loving...

the rain.  call me crazy, but it gives a break to the freezing days with the cloud cover.  i love walks in the rain, so refreshing!  Winter has finally ceased it's Fallish feel and given in.

Currently reading... .

The Count Of Monte Cristo

Currently waiting for...

a doctor's appointment on Monday.  kind of holding my breath for what changes are needing to be

made in my life to help my health.

Currently excited about...

an upcoming family trip to Portland<3

Currently missing...

my energy.  have you seen it?  would you send it back if you do?

Currently trying...

to get more organized.  actually implementing my household binder that i always get a start on, then drop...

Currently working at...  

implementing healthier alternatives in our diets.

scheduling better.

Currently enjoying...

my children's funny antics.  watching them do karate on each other last night. a nice, friendly game of chuck the ball at each other.  you know, all those family togetherness type of things;)

Currently snacking on... .

lemon water.

Currently using... .  

 lots and lots of coconut oil.  too much!  it goes fast!

Currently wearing...

a pink tank top and nike comfy sweatpants.

but i am wearing a bra.

i should get props for that.

Currently planning...

weekly menu.

(which i will once again start posting in the side margin since some have asked!)

Currently singing...

"I just wanna be the only girl...you love all your liiife liiife liiiii Ife..."

Currently needing... 

a house keeper. sleep. to loose weight. patience.

take your pick.

Currently learning...

that the Lord's timing is always better than our own.

that His plan is perfect.

well, duh.  apparently i'm a slow learner...

Currently listening to...

angelina ballerina.

and the dryer.

and a tad bit of whining from 'starving' children that had lunch 40 minutes ago.

Currently wishing...

that i could have the self discipline to get all things done correctly, in time, in order, etc.

Currently doing...

another 5 loads of laundry.

going to try to work in a little scrapbooking later (it's been forever!)

Currently praying for...

our current situation.

i will share more next week,

but our family has many changes taking place! exciting, terrifying and good.

Currently dreaming of...

jetting off and spending a month in the UK.

walking through green fields in England, ambling along cobblestone streets in Ireland, and climbing castle steps in Scotland...ahhhh.

one day.

what are you doing currently?

blessings,

mandy

the good, the bad, and the ugly...

 

i am the mom that says she'll blog 3x a week and then a month goes by.

oops.

i am the mom that doesn't flinch when her kids decide they need marker tattoos and end up scribbled head to toe in neon green.

i am the mom that freaks out when shoes get left hither and yon when there are no less than 3 shoe buckets on the premises.

i am the mom that screams at her children to be quiet because i am trying to read a book about being being a more present mom.

i am the mom that spends extra money we don't have to buy organic milk and eggs at the grocery store, only to hit up Mc D's on the way home because there is NO way i'm cooking lunch after shopping.

i am the mom who will sweep and do dishes 5x a day.

but not fold the 5 piles of laundry sitting in my living room.

i am the mom who sees nothing wrong whatsoever with still needing to sleep with a 3year old monkey to get him to sleep.

i am the mom that would love to get a breast lift and lypo,

but would not get my stretch marks removed, believing they are part of a very special story.

i am also the mom against plastic surgery.

i am the mom that will remind my kids how essential modesty is,

then walk by and grab my husband.

i am the mom that fasts for her children in prayer, then realizes there are mint kisses in the pantry, and thinks God will overlook fasting for the sake of mint kisses.

i am the mom who has amazing ideas and intentions,

but lacks the follow through on 90%.

i am the mom whose children would never talk that way,

whose children now constantly use such language as idiot and shut up.

i am the mom who doesn't balk at crayon on the walls or new white furniture, but cried like a baby at the first "i hate you!"

i am the mom who has now grown accustomed to those i hate yous and simply says "well i love you"

i am the mom who has nursed four babies,

co-slept with those babies,

and never let them cry it out.

i am the mom who doesn't believe in having huge birthday parties every year.

i am the mom who too often says one thing and does another.

i am the mom that once stood on my front porch, baby on a boob, phone to the ear, while shooting at a deer with a bebe gun in our veggie garden.

and i'm the mom who didn't think that was weird til i retold the story.

i am the mom that went through thinking two of her babies had cancer/tumors,

and rejoiced when they did not.

i am the mom who thinks it's perfectly acceptable to bribe your kids

(God bribed Moses to the promised land with milk and honey right?)

i am also the mom that second guesses everything she does and feels guilt about nearly all of it.

i'm the mom who never left her kids, even to run to the grocery store by myself.

so now i'm the mom that feels weird having bunco or a girl's day out every month.

i'm the mom who never once considered working outside the home, regardless of financial situations.

i'm the mom who likes to get all dolled up.

and wear a pony tail and yoga pants the other 5 days.

i'm a mom who plays her music so loud in the car, i fear for my children's ear drums when i get back in the car and realize how loud it was.

i am the mom who sings off key, ridiculous songs to annoy my kids.

i'm the mom who sometimes 'fights' the fit by throwing myself on the floor and screaming too.

i'm the mom with cracker crumbs in the van, the couch cushions and in my cleavage.

i'm the mom that knows how very blessed i am to have 4 little loveys.

i am the mom blessed to have such an easy time getting pregnant and easy pregnancies.

i'm the mom who was quiet and graceful through all my labors.

(if you can be graceful spread full eagle with sweat dripping down your face).

i am the mom who gives way too many lectures and gets drawn into the arguments.

i am the mom who is usually patient and kind during potty accidents, broken things and owies.

but i'm the mom who yells for everyone to just stop yelling.

i'm the mom who has forgotten to shut public restroom doors because i just forgot they shut.

i'm the mom who loves my monkeys unconditionally.

i'm the mom trusting God to help me enjoy this beautiful and crazy ride i'm on.

Dear Me...

i was reminded today of a post i was going to write along time ago and never did.

(actually , it was originally a scrapbook page).

the idea came from mr. brad paisley, who(m?) , in between singing ridiculousness, actually gets some gems in there.

remember Letter To Me ?

so here i go:

Dear Mandy @ 17:

don't compare yourself to all your skinny minny friends.

you are skinny. you just have the curves !you look dang good, enjoy it!

in fact, wear a bikini at least once.  it's your last shot.

when aubrey says "i have a great idea, " be slightly concerned.

on second thought, this never changes, even @ 30 years old...

I am proud of you being a light to your peers.

you may just want to be a little less harshly confrontationtal with them.

share Jesus now with those you love...it doesn't get easier.

spend more time with your high school friends than with the older ones.

you don't have to be in sharis/dennys/dutch bros. every night, all night.

if you miss something, it wasn't important anyways.

the guy you fall hard for, well, he's not right for you.  be his friend. he needs it.

and whatever you do, do not take a guy you are seeing homemade brownies while he's on a date with another girl! (true story. and yes, i was an idiot)

please remember that while your mind is pure and naive, the boys you are around are not!  don't make it more difficult for them by unknowingly being a tease.

and that hard to swallow advice from church staff regarding dressing modestly?  they aren't picking on you for your shape like you think they are.  chew on it, don't spit it right out.  they are trying to protect you.

Crystal will still be one of your best friends in a decade +.  nourish that relationship even more.

instead of watching MTV or hanging with your friends, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

you really will wish you had paid more attention (especially History!).

 on that note, everything you hear on LOVELINE is so not how it should be.

don't let jess talk you into singing shania twain at the moose lodge.  it's painful for everyone involved.

don't down play your intelligence.   and i know it is hard, but don't care so much about what they think.

it's okay to let go of the past.  it's okay not to be consumed by the family issues.  you don't have to wallow in it.  it has not defined you.

your Hill grandparents won't be here very long.  talk to them.

for heaven's sakes give your lungs a break from your older smoking friends, and refuse to sit with them in the smoking section.  you'll be okay in non -smoking, and all you'll miss is toxicity.

you should make Pat take you to prom.  he's the rightful date.  and just laugh when you are nominated prom princess, it's an honor...not embarrassing. (even if raech totally talked everyone into it).

don't get your feelings hurt so easily.  toughen up.

stop wasting your time on boys that you know, deep down, you don't even really like.

and don't write that letter to the one you do really like.  it's not nice, even with good intentions.

be a better big sister.  and aunt.

do not pitch a fit over your first car.  appreciate your mom and what she's doing.  you should be spanked and grounded and all sorts of punished.

if april invites you up to college, and you go to a party, don't wear aubrey's good butt jeans.( actually, it was nice to be hit on so much, i can't lie.)  but don't go in some guys bedroom because he wants to talk.  yes, all he does is talk, but it's still stupid of you to not see the danger involved!

rethink some of your formal wear choices.

learn to like exercise now.  invest in a good sports bra and don't let them bother you!

clean your car.  and your room.  and how can you sleep without sheets on the bed?!

don't let the fear of not being good enough hold you back from things you really want to do.

 don't worry, you'll find love sooner than you think.  and with a guy you'd never even dream of loving you back.

actually do a senior project.  don't fake the whole thing.

don't worry about loosing touch with everyone...this new thing called facebook will make it impossible to not see everyone again;)

stick with the speech team.  don't let the winning right off the bat set you off the rest of high school.

and don't forget the most important part of your state mock trial role.

you are pleasing the Lord.  stay walking with Him.  don't let anything other than His love define you.

don't steal signs from the forest service. or cones from the city. etc.  what you thought was a harmless prank could have gotten you into lots of trouble. (once again, we'll go back to the 'aubrey' lesson ...)

God Bless,

Mandy

and P.S. don't worry...these are NOWHERE near the best years of your life...

my mri...

well i'm back from my post-MRI apt.

the Dr. said they can see nothing that is too concerning.

my left trigenoral (?) nerve is enlarged, and has excess fluid around it,

however they can not see a cause (such as a tumor).

he is sending it off to the neurologist to compare with my previous MRI.

they are also running some blood work.

while I appreciate all the prayers i received,

please don't stop!

Brynna's MRI is next Thursday,

and i have been warned to not expect that one to turn out quite as well.

but I am still trusting in the Lord, and appreciate you all,

family, friends, and blogger pals.

God Bless,

mandy

Rain...

while 90 % of people complain of the rain...

i don't.

i love the rain.

oh, i love the sunshine too.

but there is something about a rainfall that refreshes a weary spirit.

that washes away hurt and sorrow and complacency.

i feel rejuvenated after a rain shower.

like God's grace truly has rained down upon me.

indeed it has.

so i welcome spring with open arms.

the birds chattering away in their tree top refuges.

the daffodils lazily turning bright faces towards the sun.

the smell of rain in the air.

because there is always that ray of sunshine squirming it's way through.

and that makes it all the sweeter.

God Bless,

Mandy

Sometimes...

there is simply a time when you realize change has set in.
needed change.

because YOU had unintentionally changed.

that you wake up and know that the world tilted back the way it once was.

that the couple years you felt lost, overwhelmed, and kinda like rolled up socks that fell short of the laundry basket...

are dissolving away faster than the ice cream my husband complains I leave out on counter.

i'm feelin' it.

centered again.

back on the Mandy path.

the who i am breaking through the who i became that was a bad version of me.

grumpy mom,

impatient,

forgetting to be joyful.

scratch that.

i think i've always been and always will be impatient.

but that's okay.

cuz it's me.

right down to the opening the mail before i get in the front door,

or eating a slice of pizza in the car out of the box because you just aren't waiting til you get home.

i'm finally starting to enjoy me again.

and it's feeling great.

God Bless,

Mandy

100 Things About Me...

Okay, so I passed my one year blogging anniversary and still don't have this done!!

Almost there!

81.
One of my favorite smells is wet, hot pavement.
Seriously.
You think I'm weird, just remember next summer to smell it and you'll get it.


82.
I'm kind of an anti-perfectionist, perfectionist.
I fight against my perfectionistic tendencies to the point where I purposely make it imperfect.

Did that make any sense at all?

83.
I have a horrid short term memory.
I can ask you something and 2 hours later ask the exact same thing because I forgot I already asked or forgot your answer.

84.
I love trains, old planes, old cars.
Old modes of transportation are iconic to an era,
and since I like old things, well , there ya go.

85.
I am fascinated by all things Irish/Scottish.
If I had the attention span I would study the cultures more but my brain is on malfunction mode from children.

86.
I am an 'old soul'.
Even as a kid I would rather have had conversations with adults.
Even now almost all my friends are older than me.
I've always been mature for my age and very grounded.
I don't think there was one person who knew me well that was concerned when I chose to marry at 19.



87.
I am not good at self-motivation and procrastinate horribly.
This is a fancy way of saying I'm lazy.

88.
I don't write in paragraphs.


89.
I am very transparent.
I don't do fake.
I can't really hide my emotions, or pretend to like someone if I don't.
I'm not ever mean, everyone deserves kindness, I just can't be fakey.
And I'm not a good liar at all.

90.
I'm kind of anti -feminism.
I am old fashioned and proud of it.
Biblical standards are as true today as a thousand years ago.
And I pretty much see little grey in the world.
Somethings right or it's wrong.
It's good or it's bad.
It's black or it's white.
I have very little room for relativity in my head.
It's okay if you disagree:),
just filling you in on me!

91.
I think Jimmy Stewart was the greatest actor of all times.
And his personal life was just as genuine as his acting.
My other favs are:
Actors:
Bogart and Carey Grant , John Wayne and Charlton Heston from the old school,
Sean Connery, Robet Duvall, Gerard Butler, Tommy Lee Jones,
Steve Carrell, Anthony Hopkins, James Garner, Clint Eastwood, Collin Firth and Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, from 'our' time.

Actresses:
then:
Bergman, Katherine Hepburn, Debra Kerr , Maureen O'Hara, Jean Arthur .
now:
Reece Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Garner( I just like the Jennifers okay, I don't think they possess the talent as some others though), Sandra Bullock, Judy Dench,  Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane and Rachel McAdams.
 

That probably should have gone in it's own post but really, I'm reaching here at the final stretch for 100.

92.
I'm not a good sleeper.
I LOVE sleep,
 but I wake up at least once an hour.
I sleep lightly and miserably.

93.
I'm not passionate about coffee either way like most people.
Sometimes I drink it, sometimes I don't.
I love a good $4.00 coffee.
But at home?
Eh.
Not really crucial. If I make it, I usually put chocolate milk in it.
I could live with it or live without it.

94.
I am low maintenance.
My nails are short and ugly.
My hair is done in about 2 minutes, and a good day would be when I actually blow dry it (about once a month).
I like make up but,
the only girly thing I can't leave the house without is mascara.
And I hate lipstick.

95.
I think the best part of my day is when the bra comes off!


96.
I don't know if I ever wear matching socks.
And sometimes they're even my hubbys or sons.
And I can't stand to have 'closed in' feet in warm weather


97.
I really want to learn to sew.
On the sewing machine my Honey got me 2 Christmases ago.

98.
When I'm not 30 lbs overweight like I am now, I have tiny fingers.
My wedding band is as size 4.75

99.
I hate brown and black or brown and grey together.



100.
I am trying to live my life for Jesus, failing miserably, but He loves me anyway.

There you have it!! 100 things you probably would have been happy to never read about me!!

I hope you have a blessed day, Mandy

A Homemaker

Why is it that that word strikes outrage in so many women?

I still remember back years ago after my first Monkey was born talking to a male friend from high school I had run into.

He asked if I was still working at the Health club.

YES, I had worked in a health club.

When you are done laughing I'll continue...

I don't think you needed to laugh THAT much!

At least I gave you an ab work out right?

 I told him that I was a stay at home mom now.

Him: "So you don't work at all?"

me: using willpower not to strangle him

Him: "Your husband's okay with that. That you stay home and do nothing?"

Wow!

 The privilege and honor of raising our children and being a homemaker is something to be looked down upon?

I think not!

And I think a lot more people are finally waking up to it and what it truly means.

I  am glad so much respect is beginning to be given to those of us who make the choice to stay home and raise our families and keep our homes.

I've seen the switch occur oh so subtly over the last 9 years when I say that I am a homemaker.

More women tell me they wish they were able to do so as well.

More men say "that's great."

Do I judge women who HAVE to work outside the home?

Not at all.

But I do judge a culture that has become so hostile and UNfamily friendly for making it essential for so many moms to HAVE to.

We have made large sacrifices in lifestyle so that I could stay home.

We don't drive nice cars, or have a big fancy house.

We go out to eat about once every 6 months at an actual restaurant.

(and for us that means an Applebees or  Chinese)

But you know what?

We are content.

We're learning (still) to budget and make-do.

No credit cards.

Attempting the cash only system.

(I'll share more on that later)

Is it easy?

Heck no!

Is it worth it to be able to stay home with my kids and not driving us into debt for it?

YES!

(shots from yesterday Monkey 3)

I take great pride in being a stay at home mom, a homemaker, and yes, even a housewife!

Is there a greater calling in all of life?

I mold PEOPLE everyday.
That's pretty big.

I create an environment of comfort and love.

I make meals from scratch and get to see my family enjoy wholesome food rather than canned, frozen or boxed foods.

 

I make our house a home.

We all get our beginnings from our home, shouldn't we be striving to make it an amazing start?

I absolutely love decorating, making schedules/plans,

cooking yummy healthy meals, and creating traditions for my family.

Yes I hate the laundry.

And I'm pretty sure my floor looks like I never sweep.

BUT.

I love this job.

It is a calling higher than what I could have ever asked.

Yes it is underrated and under appreciated, but I know I am doing big things for the Kingdom.

  And you know what, if I had the opportunity when the kids are all in school to still be a homemaker I would.

Not because I'm lazy, but because I don't see how another job could possibly be as fulfilling as creating a home for my family.

God Bless,

Mandy

Linking up with:

Get Away

No I'm not telling you to get away.

I'm not that mean.

well sometimes.

But not now.

No this post is about my first ever get away with the girls weekend.

I invited 2 sweetie gals, Keri and Sandi for a little trip.

We left on a Sat morn and drove up to Eugene for some good ol shopping.

I can't remember the last time I went shopping just for me with out kiddos attatched!!!

Then we headed over to beautiful Florence for a night of small town down shopping and good eatin'.

Oh the eatin'.

Florence is known for sand dunes.

So...what'd ya get when you put 3 over-worked-I'm-gonna-loose-it-if-I-don't-escape-these-little-blessings-please-God-just-for-a-night-mama's near sand dunes???

Let me show ya...

not tellin'

   

  Ya that's right.

We get rid of our kids and go act like em.

Considering sueing Fred Meyer cause those 'sand discs' are a load of poo.

I think they need to be waxed first.

And I guess I shouldn't sue em seems how we used the sand dunes right off the Freddy's parking lot.

Ya that's right, we're lazy.

No hiking out for us, a good old walk out the freddys parking lot and up that hill (inhale, exhale) was enough for us.

It was a great time of friendship and laughter and hope to make it a yearly tradition.  Anyone else want to join us??

Bet I can beat you down the dune:)!

God Bless,
Mandy

30 Things To Do Before I'm 30

Okay, here we go... I go this idea from a blog I read often called Whatever...where in turn I think she borrowed the idea from a blog she reads (and probably so on and so forth)

  I actually have this as a scrapbooking layout but for the purpose of having it here it is in list form.  I'm gonna be updating it when I complete each one:)  Keep in mind that I wrote this back in Jan.

1. learn and get external flash

2.plant an old fashioned flower garden

3.join a fun mom's group

i joined a bunco group, what a blast:)

4.finish writing my book

5.establish 'family night devotions'

6.join a church family

7.go to a big flea market/junk show

8.do a Beth Moore Bible study

9.paint the house

10. share my faith with unbelievers

11. finish the Outlander series

12. fit into my favorite size 8 jeans

13.refurbish some furniture

14.form our house rules and binder

15.  have a diaper free house

16. go to the auction house with Aubrey

17. start using coupons

18. give up sugary drinks

19. prioritize my time wisely

20. Make a bosom friend

21. sew something

22.  read 3 classic novels

23. feel good about who I am

24. spend a whole day with Didit

25. do family pictures @ the beach

26. have a big 4th of July or summer party here

27. get to the Dr for a check up

28.take a weekend trip with Honey

29.study something I haven't learned

30. watch Passion of the Christ and Schindler's List

now as you can see some of these are general, some specific. 

    Some probably sound odd, some maybe not.

Yes I AM writing a book.  I've been writing books since I knew how to write.  But I actually would like to finish this one and look into publishing

Yes Didit is a person. My grandma in fact, though she's never been grandma, just Didit.  Why?  Because every time I got hurt or something happened my mom would say "Grandma did it."  And that's how it happened, and she's been Didit ever since.

No I haven't seen either Passion or Schindler's List.  Why?  Because  I know they will emotionally exhaust me.  But sometimes that needs to be done.

And that's all folks:)

God Bless,

Mandy

happy things...

Happiness is...

a pair of new cowboy boots (60% off)

cherry blossoms

cute shoes in all colors

blooming trees

ugly chairs that I can transform into something lovely (stay tuned)

the new Flea Market Style magazine and my favorite quilt

another project...letters covered in vintage sheet music

(actually I wanted to spell out HOME or NEST but I grew impatient waiting for the store to get more 'e's in!)

Finally typing out and framing our  "House Rules"

a spoonfull (or 4) of Nutella

And  looking foreward to BUNCO night on Friday
(I'll have to take my camera along this time)!!!

Happiness IS NOT:

realizing that as I ran around taking blog pictures these two monkeys were catapulting then crushing fish crackers about the living room...

  God Bless,

Mandy

Ugh.

1. So I know I stink at this blogging thing.  I'll try to do better.  No really.  It comes right after finding time to sleep and shower.  THEN I can find the time to do this.   But I do want to update once a week...baby steps...

2. I have been working out, watching what I eat, really honest to goodness trying.  Guess how much weight I've lost already.  Drumroll please....

2lbs.  Nope not kidding.  The scale has consitistently 2 lbs. lower.  After an entire month and week of working hard.  I'm not about to give up though, I have to loose it by my 10 yr anniversary in Aug.  That's the goal!!

3.  Our poor lil kitty was really sick when I woke up yesterday.  Lethargic, dizzy, pretty much a mess.  Today when I woke up she was dead on the bathroom floor.  We had just had her fixed 2 weeks ago and from what I've read online we're assuming she died of accute kidney failure as a post reaction to the anesthesia.  I woke Monkey 1 up to tell him first, knowing he'd take it the hardest,  then told the other monkeys all together.   I'm not a big animal lover, but made me so sad to see my babies sad.  Poor lil Violet.  She'll be missed.

4.  Okay...kids...Monkey # 1:  Had a tree planting field trip last week I got to chaperone.    A wii addict.  Loving the choose your own adventure books (they just released some for younger kids).  Won't stop antagonizing Monkey #3.  Signed up for Minors Baseball.  Still has the cutest freckles you ever did see...and loves mom pointing it out constantly:).

Monkey #2: Lost another tooth,  and this is always followed by a pack of gum bought with the tooth fairy $.  The pack of gum is gone by the next day . every. single. time.

Having some problems with a girl @ school being mean, makes my heart sad.  Becoming quite the little artist.

Monkey #3:  Very first trip to the Library last week.  When he saw the flags he said, "look mom an American flag and a pirate flag." to which I said  " it's the Oregon flag."...to which he said " nuh -uh.  I know what a pirate flag is!" :)

And he remembers every dance move the backyardigans bust out. and every lyric they sing.

Monkey #4:  WILL NOT STOP NURSING!!!  He's seriously like a newborn, up every 2 hrs or so.  and he SCREAMS bloody murder which wakes the rest of the people in our house up.  So yes, then I give in and complain about it anyways.  Even lemon juice wasn't a deterent.  He takes his diaper off constantly.  He gives loves like crazy.  He makes silly faces constantly and thinks it's funny to act mad.

5.  Need a date with my husband.  Really need some time for just us.  I miss him...

God Bless,

 Mandy

anyone want some fish crackers?

momism:  you know you're a mom if you've ever had to explain what  ovaries are because you had to drag your kids to your gynocologist visit.