Merry Merry Christmas!

May your home be filled with LOVE

May your heart be filled with PEACE

May your holiday be filled with JOY


Blessings unlimited to you all in 2012!

With all my heart -
Michelle

12 days of Christmas....down to only 3....but.."It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

well that is if you don't mind 80 degree weather :) lol

We have been playing a game with one of our neighbors this Holiday Season.
Only thing is - it's an anonymous surprise each day.....I printed up tags for each of the 12 days of christmas and have sent the boys across the street each evening (super secret stuff here!! :) to place another gift on her porch (or other fun places)
It went something like this-

1st day instead of a partridge in a pear tree - a can of pears :)
2nd day a pack of turtles (candy) and a bar of dove soap (get it? turtle doves lol)
3rd day the note said we couldn't find french hens - so we sent a can of "american hen" chicken soup
4th day was a phone note pad (since the calling birds couldn't leave a message)
5th day can of pineapple rings (golden rings)
6th day 1/2 dozen eggs (left behind by the 6 geese a laying)
7th day bubble bath for her 7 swans a swimming to swim in
8th day chocolate milk (the eight maids a milking must have been milking chocolate cows)

We are now HERE**
9th day the note says the 9 ladies dancing had to hobble back home so they used canes that looked a lot like these: and has 9 candy canes attached
10th day the "lords a leaping" evidently hurt themselves and left ibuprofin for pain managment :)
11th day - bubble pipe (pipers piping you know)
12th day - the note says "the drummers drummed up a plate of holiday cookies and we hope you have a "rockin" new year!" this is when the boys will show up at her door with a plate of cookies and get a kick out of "THE BIG REVEAL" :)
You know...I think she knows just who's up to this holiday fun - but she's being such a good sport with the kids who are SO very excited :)
We also have had wonderful talks about how we can be kind to neighbors, show them love and how we could help them (she lost her husband this year)my boys have brainstormed and decided they can help carry groceries, rake the yards etc.
I am so pleased with how this has turned out.
I told you in the last post it really wasn't feeling like Christmas at all around our house - we realized maybe it was because we were so focused on US that we were missing the real meaning......Yes we were sick...but the sickness is going to (trying to) pass.
Once we all (MAINLY ME) stepped back and began to look out of our little cave (home full of sickies)
we realized that each time we made someone smile - even with just a kind word or deed - it was truly "beginning to look a LOT like Christmas!"
Merry Christmas dear ones!
May you each be truly blessed in 2012!
WITH ALL MY HEART -
M

anyone still out there?

Just a quick note to say hello and thank you for not deleting me.
We are going on almost 6 weeks of sick kiddos at our house. We can't seem to beat it.
We are all sleep deprived.........the house is NOT feeling "Holiday Festive"
Everyone is snippy and crabby and.....well sick.
I felt certain that I'd jump on here and everyone of you would have left thinking "what a total flake - she has a blog and NEVER posts anything"
or worse...now you'll think
"all she does is complain"
Really - I'll be better soon
Please God...let us be better soon!
:)
M

for us....the economy = beans and rice!! :) How 'bout you?

Well - the economy. Hmmmmmmmm. BLAH!

How are you doing?

Are you preparing for tough(er) times? Are you already prepared?
Do you store up extras? Shop sales?
I was extreem couponing for awhile - but they never have coupons for what we REALLY need - fruit, veggies, meats etc...usually it's on extra stuff that we can do without.

Lately I have been PINCHING pennys and have been making all our breakfasts/lunches ahead on the weekend.
Last weekend I made 2 doz egg burritos.
4 doz blueberry muffins
20 twice baked potatoes
24 mini pot-pies
12 cheese & bacon biscuits
24 cheese cornbread muffins (to go with soup cause...well they're DRY! cough sputter!)
:)
24 fruit and yougart roll ups (which I thought would NOT go over - but evidently the little ones LOVE them!)
Waffles and pancakes (to pop into the toaster in the mornings)
and...... I think that's about it.
This weekend I'm hoping to make up some apple cider carmel muffins (YUM!)
and go shopping for a few thermos containers so the guys can take soup or beans & rice to work.

I haven't gotten to where I make dinners ahead of time....but I can't tell you HOW lovely it is to just go to the freezer in the morning and not be RUSHED or feeling guilty for having cold cereal AGAIN and wishing I could be a better mom. (that mom guilt is something else huh?!)

Do you cook ahead? Buy in bulk?
Have any great ideas?

Ya know....I was so proud of myself - I had pre-bought about 25 pounds of rice (because it was on sale!!) and then last night I noticed it has meal bugs in all of it. :*( WAAAHHHHH!!! Some days I feel like I'm moving backwards on family preparedness stuff!

I look forward to hearing about your ideas!

With all my heart -
Michelle

Legacy and a bit of sugar free candy too!

He was in the first flight that broke the sound barrier. He also mapped out how to bomb those "commies" in Russia.
She had 6 babies on an enormous farm up north. They had to walk through FEET of snow to milk the cows in the barn.
He was part of a jazz band and he had to prop up his cello on the running board of the car by holding it outside the window in the freezing cold - in upstate New York.
She grew up cooking stuffed cabbages with her grandmother - and made potato dumplings (and she gifted me with the family recipe...now one of OUR family favorite recipes).
He worked in Georgia for YEARS and YEARS. Then delivered "meals on wheels" for 18 more years. but he doesn't remember it. his wife alone has the memories now. he is quiet and confused looking but has a wonderful smile even though (as his wife says kindly)"he is a bit foggy God love him..."
Today is our Senior Center Fall Festival Party.
There is sugar free candy!
There is "Abbot and Costello meet the Mummy" in black and white on DVD.
There are corny jokes printed out to laugh about.
There are wonderful stories and full lives and gentle hands that are often cold and a bit shakey - but full of love. My 11 and 7 year old are helping to decorate and greet and share the love.

We are a partying bunch!
I wouldn't miss it for the world.


linking up at "Just Write" over at EO

Swimming home

Just write - the fifth

Piled into the car... we all drove around looking for home. a new home. a new to us home. not one to buy (I wish!)....just perhaps a new one to rent.
Exhausted from treading water, we do this every six months or so. dream different dreams. dreams where we aren't scraping to get by. dreams where my entire months paycheck does NOT go only to rent and utilities. then it's gone. till next month when i have it again for 1/2 a day.
so we drove. and scanned the newspapers. and searched for "for rent" signs like a treasure hunt. visualizing each place as ours...playing every scenario over in our heads...and outloud...perhaps a second job...maybe more room to run? but...when would we run if we're always working? :( Maybe it's time to get an RV? we can jam into small places!....but where would we park it? Lot rent is almost as much as our small home we live in now...
Do we move further away from work?...only to pay in gasoline what we were paying in rent?
All good questions.
All with no good answers.
After an entire day of looking we returned..
home.
Thankful that we have a home to return to.
Thankful that I have a job that pays for that home.
Thankful that we can still dream and hope and plan....
Thankful that God is in control....
Prayerful that we do the right thing when the time for change comes...
Refreshed by having new plans and goals....we plunge back in to tread water for awhile longer.
Thankful that we know how to swim.


Linking up for week 5 of Just write.

Just write - the fourth -I'mperfect

I'mperfect. miss-spelling totally intended.

Last night, as I lay in bed with grandbaby girl on one side and baby boy on the other....my husband came in and laughed because the only way for him to fit was across the foot of the bed.so he did. We both smiled at each other because it was so imperfect and yet so very perfect.

Our evening routine consists of dinner, bath, fresh pajamas, baba for one...sippie for other....and songs. lots and lots of songs.
As I lay there last night.....both little ones held my hands. grandbaby girl on one side and baby boy on the other. their little fingers softly tracing my fingers. how huge my hands must feel to them. their hands so soft and new still.
I remembered a time...oh so many years ago. The first time i held hands with a boy. He was a rough and tough football player....he was the ripe old age of 16. I was 15 and life was still soft and new. We had gone to the city...an hour away...and we held hands the whole way...our fingers softly traced each others...love was soft and new.
Time flys forward 26 years.
Im surrounded by love. sprawled out in every direction. with babas and sippies, and a rough and tough football coach...same boy turned man. now he's the ripe old age of 42.
As a tear slips down my face, i think....this is where we've always been headed. In my heart I KNOW it. Those first feelings of love so many years ago.Those electrical tingles.... That love was a force that has never stopped energizing my world. That love now will continue into a whole new generation of love. and on. and on. and on.
As I gently placed each little one into their own bed....we turned and fluffed pillows and straightened quilts. Once again just us. I reached for his hand. and it's familiar warmth perfectly matched the love in my heart.



Linking up over at: Just Write at the "EO"

Just write - the third

I sit at my keyboard wondering how the typing has gotten so loud in the last hour or so.
one word.


MIGRAINE

my teeth ache
my eyes ache
it makes me nauseaous to swallow or breathe or move.

my mind feels like molasses...I try to remember all the things I'm supposed to be doing.
coffee may help. then again...it may not.
bc powders usually help...do I have any with me?
where is my purse?
why is my purse so difficult to find anything in?
i should clean it out.
i should clean out my car and house too...but it won't happen today that's for sure...
how do some women "do it all" ??
i wonder if they get migraines - those perfect super women...the organized happy "I love to clean the house" types.
do they have days like this?
the "hey it's cereal for breakfast..and maybe cereal again for dinner!" kind of days
(as long as said cereal bag doesn't crinkle so loudly?)
how long till my break is over....?
maybe I could sleep for 10 minutes...would I feel better or would it only make me that "I just tried to sleep for 10 minutes and now I feel MUCH worse" kind of crabby?
probably.
maybe.
perhaps.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


linking up at Just write

Please pray

My grand babies had what they're calling an "accident".
They were unattended (babysitters were evidently sleeping or passed out)and they somehow managed to pull a dresser over ontop of themselves (HUGE 6' solid wood dresser)
the older one (2) only had a bloody lip and a huge bump on her head (no concussion)
The younger (9mo) has 4 broken ribs and contusions on her lungs with some air behind her lung.
She is in ICU
Please pray for her.
Please pray for me. I need either prayer or bail money (just kidding of course)
I AM furious.
Thank you in advance for your prayers for Jazmine :(

************EDITED******************** TO ADD NEW NEWS!
Emergency surgery was done yesterday to put in a 2" tube through her back to drain excess fluid that had built up around the lungs.
She will be in ICU for this week and then will go into a regular hospital room for a few more weeks of observation.
She is receiving morphine for pain and is not allowed to be held (!!)as a baby that's all she wants!! :(
Please keep up in your prayers!

this too....

i wake after a long night of cuddling and calming and singing and baby tylenol doses. i wake to find that sleeping (little) and holding (lots) have left my nerves pinched in my neck and looking left is not an option (at least for today). pinched nerves and raw nerves may be the order of the day. i am at work (a blessing that does not feel like a blessing today)i want to be home with my little sickie boy. i can hear the traffic behind my head outside my office window and i am longing to be in one of those vehicles. headed north. headed home.
i will be - soon. i know that the saying "this too shall pass" is not only about the sickness, but also about the "mama anxiety" that comes along with it. i will take my coffee break and slowly sip my morning energy..begin to focus on the beauty of the day. the joy that comes in the morning. the blessings that we must be thankful for even when we don't want to be. i will feel the sun's rays beaming in my office window and give thanks. i guess if i can't look left - at least i can keep "looking up" :)


i'm linking up today over at: http://extraordinary-ordinary.net/

The Clock

The ticking of the clock on the wall is only really there when I choose to hear it. Although it is always in the background, it only annoys me when I allow it to. Oftentimes I just ignore it. Pushing it back behind the constant hum of the cars rolling by outside my office window. Behind the click clack of my typing.
The typing feels good on my early morning fingers and I wonder if I too will have to deal with arthritis as my mama does. aging sucks. and yet i would not go back even if i could.
The ticking of yet another clock is in my mind.
I am 41 and I am sad. I have been sad for too long. For no reason.over every reason.
My life is good. My family is wonderful. My tears still flow.
3 months since the loss. I should be fine.Postpartum doesn't happen after only 3 months of pregnancy right? who knows. time clicks on.
each non-pregnant month brings me more selective hearing on the ticking. Some days i hear it. some days i ignore it. above all else I try not to think the "where would I be now if only" thoughts.....how far along...too sad...just re-focus on some hum or click clack to distract.
The clock on the wall reminds me that my break time is over. I must get back to work. Back to "reality". To deal with the day at hand. Schedules, meetings, stuff to file away.
How ironic that both clocks remind me of the exact same thing.
tick

tick

tick

tick

tick

tick






The above was written to link up with "Just write" over at The Extraordinary Ordinary

Why don't you join us? I think it would be lovely!
See ya over at "The EO" :)


With all my heart ~
Michelle

"letter from Mom"

To my children -
I am your parent 1st. Your friend 2nd. I will stalk you, flip out on you, lecture you, drive you insane , be your worst nightmare & hunt you down like a bloodhound when I haven’t heard from you for too long because I LOVE YOU.
When you understand that, I’ll know that you are a responsible adult.
You will NEVER find someone who loves, cares &
worries about you more than I do!
If you don’t hate me at least once in your life - I am not doing my job properly.
Love, Mom


Just to make you smile on Wednesday!
~With all my heart!
Michelle

Who is this mom?! OH hey! It's me!

Well - I have to tell you - I have changed over the many years of parenting!

I'm sure some for the better and some for the worse....but I HAVE changed!


I'm no longer the first time mother who carries the diaper bag containing half of a baby super store! (6 outfits...200 diapers...lotion, wash, tylenol, thermometer, baby hair brush - even though baby is bald as a cue ball) etc. etc. etc....

I no longer (although maybe I never did...) feel that each new baby requires a new stroller....walker...bouncer...play pen...

I also no longer think that "bigger is better" when it comes to baby gear (eegads try fitting all that gear into a trunk!- each outing becomes a major move!)

But I have also gone the other way in my parenting....
After reading several articles (including one over at Strollerderby this morning) about how DANGEROUS it is for toddlers to be facing forwards in their car seats....(#1 reason for toddler fatalities is car accidents!!) my baby and grand babies will be facing backwards till they're 13 or so! (lol okay maybe only 4)

When I go to the store and see a sale on toddler meds (tylenol, teething gel...both "regular" or homeopathic) I STOCK UP!! seriously! No matter what - you WILL need these items sooner or later and it's bad (I MEAN BAD!) to find yourself at 3 am with a feverish baby and NO meds!

I have also learned to pre-stock on small sale items like birthday gifts (oy! I can't tell you how many times we had to put a $5 bill in an envelope because one of the kids "surprised" us with yet another birthday party to go to LAST MINUTE!)

I'm still the mama who asks everyone to use hand-sanitizer before holding my babies for the first few months (sorry - can't let that "germ" thing go :0)lol

But I'm also the mama who doesn't mind if the 7 year old holds the sleeping baby while I quickly do up a load of dishes (my boys are going to be QUITE the catch for some lucky ladies down the road a bit! - they are all SO WONDERFUL with babies - and they all have tons of experience!)

So...that's just a few changes I thought about this morning...

No - I don't worry about each and every little "phase" they go through anymore....I am well aware that "this too shall pass"....but I do monitor the sugar and "junk food" a LOT harder than I did years ago....

I HOPE with age comes wisdom.....I'd hate to think after ALL the lessons I've learned (most of them THE HARD WAY!)I hadn't truly LEARNED anything at all :)
How about you- how have you changed?

Are you more strict or more lenient on things?
I can't wait to hear!
With all my heart!~
Michelle

Can you hear me now?

He's "calling his daddy and sissy" (at least he nods his head yes if asked!) lol
If you ask if he's talking to anyone else...he says "no no no"
toddler talk ALWAYS contains the word "NO" :0)

Maybe he's telling them about how safe and sound he is in his car seat in our new HUGE blessing - a (new to us) Yukon.
There are SO very few vehicles that seat 8.
What a BLESSING STRAIGHT FROM GOD that we have one now that can fit 3 car seats (so the grandbabies can go places with us too!)

It's so very wonderful (even though...yes we will be making payments on a 2001 forever....I'm just so happy that everyone has their own seatbelt!!)
PRAISING GOD FOR THE BLESSING OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS MUCH NEEDED ITEM FOR OUR FAMILY!!

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO READ THIS BLOG...PLEASE PRAY ABOUT SOMETHING....OUR GRANDBABIES ARE IN A VERY ODD LIFESTYLE RIGHT NOW. THEIR MAMA HAS YET ANOTHER NEW BOYFRIEND WHO IS BAD NEWS. :( WE'RE NOT SURE HOW TO APPROACH THE SITUATION...BUT IT ISN'T GOOD!! THANK YOU!!

We have a busy weekend coming up - First football game (4 hours away!) but..hey...we LOVE driving now that we all ride "instyle" lol
Have a blessed week (in case it gets crazy and I don't get to post again till next week!)

Much love to you all!
With all my heart~
Michelle

It's that time of year again! FOOTBALL seems to dominate our life right now. Practice, meal planning, scheduling weekends etc.
Ranger was SO excited to show off his black eye from practice (um...yeah that's a boy thing...as a mom I was NOT so thrilled!)











Even Malachi is in the mood for Football! :) Actually at 19 months he just likes to get his way (all the time) and cried and cried when we took the shoulder pads off him...so he had them on for quite a while! :) lol

So - do you have kiddos in sports!? (Is it just me or do they take up a LOT of time and money?!)
Are you TOO running in 100 different directions?
:)Whew! I'm exhausted and it's not even me out on the field! :)

Have a blessed Thursday gang!!
With all my heart - Michelle!

Happy Birthday to my "baby" girl!

Well - she's 20 today. Not much of a baby anymore I'm afraid. I am excited to say that she just started College after saving $$ for a year. She is going into law enforcement. (Nothing a big sister isn't used to that's for sure!:)
All day long I posted baby pics on facebook and "tagged" the photos so all her friends could see :)
Time flys. I don't care for that one little bit! :*(

So...mom's out there (dad's too if you're reading this...) what one piece of advice would you give to her on her BIG 20th birthday? :)

I look forward to seeing your comments!
Blessings and love to you all -
With all my heart -
Michelle

Whew it's Wednesday!

HA HA HA! Right on schedule - it's "Whew it's Wednesday"....which means....which means...(well I'll be honest I'm not sure what it means other than its two days before pay day and that always means everything seems to get paid for with change :) lol
How about a picture? or two?








these are the two girls left - the two puppies we are looking for homes for :) ain't they cute?














Here we go with this again! Ranger's so excited to be back in football - he has worked out NON-STOP all year getting ready - he is in TOP form and I can't wait to go out and scream like a wild mama!



well August is our SUPER BUSY BIRTHDAY MONTH! OUR OLDEST "BABY" DAVID WILL BE 24 THIS MONTH!



MY DAUGHTER WILL BE 20!! (RANGER WILL BE 17 NEXT MONTH)


AND REMINGTON WILL BE 11! WOW WHERE DOES TIME GO SO QUICKLY???

Maybe it should be "wise wednesday" or "wild wednesday" lol we shall see!

~with all my heart
Michelle

So much to say....nothing much to say....

Ever have SO many ideas about blog posts - but then you mentally check each one off in your head as "no one wants to hear about that!".......me too!
I am searching for "meaning" on this blog. There aren't many comments and that made me think there weren't many views...then I got a chance to check out my stats! There ARE people out there reading!
So then I worry - "Is what I am saying RIGHT for this blog?" I mean...really who cares to hear about our gang other than family members who HAVE to read the updates? :)
There are such wonderful blogs out there -CRAFT blogs - THRIFT blogs - GREEN blogs - PRAYER blogs....what am I? What is this blog?
(since I try so hard to do it all!!) maybe I could say Monday is my favorite recipe I've run across lately...Tuesday is "Thrifty Tuesday"....Wednesday is "Whew it's Wednesday" lol - (I couldn't think of a snappy idea for wednesday) Thankful Thursday and Family Friday?! I'll provide the links to other blogs that probably do these ideas all the time and do them FABULOUSLY!! What do you think? I hate to think I'm wasting anyones time. I can't promise I'll always be chipper and upbeat....I will promise to be REAL though!

I'm open to ideas :)
p.s. I won "best speaker" for my speech last night :) yippie!

Next Tuesday I have to (well..get to..)give my Toastmasters speech #2 - Now I'm sure there are typos, but since I'll be trying HARD to memorize it....I just cut and pasted it here.
Hope it makes you smile!






I describe myself as a wife of one, mother of six and "mema" of two perfect grandbaby girls.If there is anything I have learned in 24 years of parenting it's this:They are up to something.


Today I'm going to explain why it is MOST important for you to remember this ONE sentence at all times. Now maybe you say "well I'm not a parent!" That doesn't matter I assure you. At some time you will find yourself “in charge” of children - be it in a family setting, being an aunt or uncle...or in an emergency babysitter setting when your friends call you begging.
You may think to yourself - they're darling - they're innocent - they couldn’t possibly be up to anything

I'm here to show you differently.

There are four main times when you should be concerned. Really only four

Numer one when they're noisy - Say they are in the back yard - they sound like they are having a fabulous time they probably are! - This should immediatly tip you off that a sibling is tied to something.
No one has THAT great a time without involving torture. Please proceed quickly but with caution to assist that situation.

Number two - when they use their “normal” voices. You know the child who nonchalantly walks through the living room and says “Hey mom whatcha doing?!” while you are on the computer - I mean doing something important?! That child is a spy!
That child has been sent to find out *Where you are *what you’re doing and * how long it looks like you’ll stay busy and blissfully unaware of the madness that is happening somewhere else in the household!
Normal voices are also the ones used at the dinner table full of family and friends for your little darling to pipe up with “I helped make the salad while mom was yelling at dad for inviting people over!” or Heaven forbid “Where DO babies come from?”. The thing to remember about NORMAL is :THEY’RE UP TO SOMETHING!

Number three Whispers. Whispers are not a good sign. Whispers in “happy sibling times” are used to tell that HORRIBLY dirty joke the kid down the street told them. (Oh don’t worry your youngest won’t understand it...but they WILL amazingly memorize it and repeat it back in “normal” voice at some opportune time such as Sunday School or that dinner table scenario we just talked about!)
Whispers in “ugly sibling times” are reserved for statements like “just you wait till mom and dad aren’t home” or “when sis leaves I’m gonna brush the dogs teeth with HER toothbrush!”. Whispers can only mean one thing. THEY’RE UP TO SOMETHING!

Number four - oh last but not least - number four. SILENCE. ( P A U S E ) SCARY!
Silence is a lack of sound….NOT a lack of TROUBLE!! I happen to know that Silence is employed when making “snow” in their rooms with the restaurant sized container of Garlic powder. Silence apparently is required when seeing how many matchbox cars can fit into a toilet. Silence is the only sound you hear just before checking on your precious toddler who is supposedly napping in their darling nursery you painstakingly decorated - only to find that they have removed their diaper and are re-decorating with the contents.
Silence is that chill down many a parents spine when they suddenly realize - THERE IS NO NOISE….THEY’RE UP. TO. SOMETHING.

Now we all know time flies. They go from infants to toddlers, toddlers to tweens, tweens to twentys and you think “ahhhh those days are all behind me!” You let down your guard. You forget! Then one day they bring your perfect little grand children over and while you are doling out kisses and cookies, your adult child will say “hey mom...what are you doing ?”

YOU WILL NOT EVEN SEE IT COMING! THEN AS YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO WAVE GOODBYE WITH A GRAND BABY IN EACH ARM - YOU WILL REMEMBER..THEY WERE USING THEIR NORMAL VOICES…..THEY ARE ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING!

i'm here...i'm just not all here.....

Well gang it's been almost a month.
It's been a crazy, busy, sad month.
We were excitedly looking forward to announcing baby #7 on 4th of July.
I always wait till 12 weeks - after having 2 miscarriages, I always wait.
At 11 weeks I woke up to a bit of pain, by the end of the day it was "all over but the crying". This was at the time my hubby and daughter were both out of the country and it was more than a little hard to go through with only my boys - My older son ran interference and kept the littles all busy - It was sweet of him..He's going to be a great MAN!
So I quit everything. I even cut my hair shorter in an attempt to find "me" again.


Thank you for understanding. I felt bad walking away from the blogging because - Hey, you don't HAVE to come here and read my ramblings, but you do. and I really do appreciate it.
Thank you for the words of love and encouragment.
Today I opened my email and saw that Adventures in Babywearing had a new blog. I have a set pattern that I seem to have gotten into - open the local news online tab, open email and open "AiB" first - Steph always has something to make me smile or think deep thoughts about.
I was half way through the sentence when I saw that I won something :) What a lovely surprise. I look forward to sending my momma some love!
Thanks Steph!


So gang, I'm here. I'll be jotting down some blog ideas. But to be honest, my head is still in a bit of a cloud. I still feel totally de-railed! (you know...when you KNOW which way you're headed...and suddenly you're NOT?!)
I appreciate you bloggy-friends I really do!
Thanks for not giving up on me!

With a healing heart~
Michelle

Farewell

I am done for awhile.
I have forgotten how to breathe.
I have forgotten why. to. bother.
I am raging against the universe -
what was once perfect and beautiful - is gone.
and so am I.
till next time -
with only pieces of my heart -
Michelle

My other half of my heart (my hubby) - and one of my "babies" (my almost 20 year old daughter) are here this week.
Dominican Republic.








putting a roof on one of these churches and planning for the future of building more....




Let me tell you JUNE is NOT a fun month weather-wise in D.R.! To say it's humid would be a huge understatement!
Please keep them in your prayers!

My 17 year old son and the littles and I all miss them terribly - but we're holding down the fort and keeping it all running smoothly! :)

Have a blessed weekend!
With all my heart -
Michelle

WHERE I'M FROM

Linking up with Steph over at Adventures in Babywearing...

Where I’m from
I am from the islands – nestled in blue waters, from grapenuts and peanutbutter toast for breakfast.

I am from many houses, always moving – the beginnings of my gypsy soul.

I am from the hibiscus flowers , and the mini bouquets that I made Barbie hold for her endless weddings to Ken & GI Joe.

From the Belgian shepherd “Lady” who patiently wore baby bonnets and was always my trusty side kick – pulling me on my roller skates.

I am from singing little ones to sleep and sharp sense of humors, from “Meahmeah”, “Nana”, Hellman’s and Phoenix’s.

I am from the family oriented and the family proud. Grudge holders and givers. Country music and Classical. Watching “Papa’s” shuck oysters, plant gardens or paint watercolors that would win awards.

From “Sweet dreams Honey Bunch” and “Mares eat oats” and “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam”.

From dolls and stuffed animals ALWAYS in family groups, “boo boo no nose kitty”, from unicorns and rainbows and stickers. Mary Janes, breakfasts with Santa and balloons from Buster Brown shoe store.

I am from hearing coffee grinding early in the morning and then the smell of fresh coffee brewing shortly there after.

I am from both rushed Sunday mornings at Church and peaceful Sunday mornings at home. Swimming in the canal or playing outside riding bikes “till the streetlights came on”.

I'm from Hawaii, St. Petersburg, Paradise, sugar free, vegetarian “hippy” child with the weird lunches containing no bread.

From the “self employed” and the fear that came with trying to explain that.

From the family picnics where someone always passed out, the Thanksgivings where someone always argued, and the swimming pool that you had to stay outside all.day.long. always trying to “dry off” so you could go inside….inevitably forgetting and jumping back in….starting the endless cycle over again.

I am from those who never went grey but went blonde instead, from those who love to read out loud, from rich one day and dirt poor the next. From “this side of the family doesn’t talk to that side of the family”.

I am from all of this and more. A little girl who dreamed big dreams. Who had NO clue what life would hold - beyond “Puff the magic dragon” and “Xanadu”...but felt certain that since she could sing them both - she would be okay. She IS okay :)




You too can tell us where you're from - here is the template -
Make sure to link up and tell me in the comments if you get the chance to take that stroll down memory lane ;)

Have a blessed day!
With all my heart- Michelle

Gardening tastes good!

I was busy working to conquer my black thumb the other day out in the garden area.....I noticed Malachi was quiet (never a really good sign unless they're sleeping)
So I asked him..."Snapper, what are you doing?" This is what he was doing....
eating dirt! He turned around, stuck out his tongue (covered with mud) and said "eewww"
(so of course I had to snap a pic with my cell phone)
But...funny thing is..he went back for seconds! Before I could get him away from the bag of "miracle grow" he had another handful in his mouth! YUCK!
Hmmmm wonder if he'll "miracle grow" and now be my kid who is 7' tall?
lol

(well so much for wordless Wednesday...just had to tell you the story behind this one :)
ewwwwww!

Have a beautiful day!
~ With all my heart!
Michelle

With a landscaping business, the guys are often the recipients of bountiful blessings of fruit!! Homeowners who tire quickly of TONS of mangos - bring out the boxes and load 'em up!
SO....this past weekend I stood at the sink and peeled...and peeled...and peeled...and cut...and diced....and then stirred...and stirred....(and well you get the picture)
TA DA! Mango Strawberry preserves!
Now with this batch I skipped the sugar (aren't you proud of me?)and used apple juice instead.
It turned out FABULOUS!
I wound up with 3 quarts.....8 pints and 8 mini pints (those cute little jelly jars)
One of the pints we ate straight out of the jar :) YUM!
What a blessing it will be to have a taste of tropical summer even when the mango's are gone!

OH.....my garden is GROWING! Now those of you who have been here awhile following my blog will know what a super HUGE deal this is!
So...I have to beam with pride over my babies all growing green and lush......
I have 8 cucumber plants
5 squash (yellow crookneck)
6 pots of onions
1 large rubbermaid of rhubarb plants
2 HUGE tomato plants
10 smaller tomato plants
1 large pot of spinach
1 large pot of mint
1 large pot of lemon balm

I can't tell you what a thrill it is...I PRAYED big time that I could overcome my black thumb!!! I have read everything I could get my hands on...I water...I talk to them... :)
So...next up....I am going to grow potatoes and sweet potatoes vertically! - it looks easy peasy....circle up wire around some posts...plant the plants...add dirt and mulch as they grow....getting higher and higher...then by the time the plants reach the top of the wire....they are happy and green..then they die off - you tip the pillars over and harvest the potatoes! YAY!
I'll keep ya updated!



Well - off and running!
~With all my heart - thanks for visiting!
Michelle

Wordless (kinda) wednesday surprise!

SURPRISE!!! "TRIPLETS" LOL
TWO GIRLS AND ONE BOY
THE MAMA'S NAME IS "BABY" SO...THIS
IS BABY AND HER BABIES :)
BOSTON TERRIERS ARE JUST WONDERFUL
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THESE NEW ADDITIONS
(FOR A FEW MONTHS AT LEAST)
IF I'M NOT CAREFUL MY KIDS WILL HAVE THEM NAMED
AND WE'LL BE KEEPING THEM.
(NO....WE CAN'T!...SERIOUSLY...I MEAN IT....)
:)
So....it's a "sorta" wordless wednesday LOL

~With all my heart
Michelle

FOREVER

Today I was thinking back on what may very well be one of the greatest love stories I have ever heard.
Now this isn't one of those flowers and candy type of love stories. This was one that I will never forget.

When we lived up north (well we lived in the "deep south" whereas now we live in the "far south") we had a friend (Terry)whose parents had been married for many many years (50+) They were a farming family and all the family homes were built with only an acre or so between them. When we knew Terry, his father had been moved to a nursing home, but someone always took his mother over every day to see him.

We received a heartbreaking call from Terry one summer morning around 5am. He said that his mother had gotten up to get a drink of water in the middle of the night and had sat down in her chair and died. It was a peaceful passing, but the family had always expected his father to be the "first to go".
We said we would come right over. Their home was an hour from ours. When we were up and dressed we headed that way. We got there, but they were crying so hard that we could not understand what they were saying. After almost another hour of comforting -this was the story.....
At 6 am the nursing home had called. The night nurse had noticed the light on in Terry's father's room around 5am. When she went in he was completely dressed and sitting on the edge of his bed. When she asked him what he was doing, he had replied "I've got to go - I'm supposed to meet her in the parking lot" She assumed he was confused and asked him to go back to bed. At 5:30am she had gone back to check on him and he had peacefully died laying on his bed - fully dressed - ready to go meet her.
We laughed and cried through the story as we all imagined her teasing him for making her wait.....
I can just see a farmers wife lovingly waiting on him to "catch up" and not wanting to go anywhere without him. The beauty of their love continuing on into eternity.

What better love than eternal love?!

This is a true story. I hope it blesses your heart.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Don't forget to tell your loved ones how very special they are to you!
The greatest of these is LOVE. ICor 13:13

With all my heart~
Michelle

A MOM VIDEO

A TRIBUTE TO MOMS HERE

FOR EACH VIEW IN THE MONTH OF MAY - THEY WILL DONATE 6 CENTS TO EVERYMOTHERCOUNTS.ORG
A GROUP SUPPORTING GLOBAL MATERNAL HEALTH.

THE JUBILEE PROJECT MADE THIS VIDEO TO HONOR MOMS :)
ENJOY!

P.S YA MIGHT WANT TO GRAB A TISSUE FIRST :)
M

The best birthday EVER

I labeled this photo "The greater wall" in my computer!
This is what I came home to after hubby took me out for a movie (surprise)
in the middle of the afternoon!
OH and there were balloons, and a delicious dinner, and flowers (big sunflowers) and a HUGE chocolate cake...and a potted flower and...CANDY CANDY AND OREOS :)
all my favorites - jelly beans, twizlers, mike & Ikes
I can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful surprise it was.
My favorite of course was the wall of pictures. I know it's a bit blurry but it says "all because two people fell in love" in the middle and then it is Jam-packed with photos. Each kid and grand baby got an 8x10 mixed in with a ton of little ones.
I cried.
This to me was the ultimate mom gift! It was perfect. I will NEVER forget it!
Now each evening when I'm drifting off to sleep and each morning when I'm waking up....I see all my babies...all the love...the only important legacy I may ever leave behind. :)


With all my heart -
Michelle

FOTO FRIDAY LINK UP

The foto friday challenge this week was "beauty in the ugly"
I picked out two of my photos from our trip to the Dominican Republic.

The ugly of course is the need. The tumble-down shacks standing in water.
The beauty is that they are THANKFUL for what they have.
THEY are THANKFUL for a "home" even if it is 7+ people living in one room.
Even if the walls are barely standing and at high tide they have up to 6" of water standing in their "home"
THEY are THANKFUL and that, my friends...is a beautiful thing.
May we all be so thankful.
May we all rejoice in what we have.

With all my heart -
Michelle

A giveaway!? How fun!

Ipad2 give away HERE

Learned about it over at Adventures in Babywearing

Wouldn't it be a lovely prize to win?! (Cause..lets face it...I won't be able to afford to BUY one any time in the near - or far- future :)
So...a giveaway is PERFECT! :)

A Giveaway!

Wonderful looking products over at Motherlove - and a giveaway over at Barefoot Childhood!


"""Their site is full of organic goodies for mamas and babies. While browsing, I was super excited to find a diaper rash balm that is compatible with all diapers...even cloth! *"""

I personally was super excited to see the extensive line of breastfeeding products available! How lovely to see natural options!!

Go check it out!
M

NO Children! (a poem)

No Children!
by Edgar Guest

No children in the house to play--
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that's been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!
No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled--
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give--
Oh, what a lonely way to live!

No children in the house! I fear
We could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love's brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.

And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we'd become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!


Special thanks to Rebecca over at Renaissance for this heart warming poem!

Pregnant mom flash mob :) TOO CUTE!

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KLP7P7NX


this is just too cute! Share it with your momma friends :)

cookie cutter kids

I could actually post hundreds of pictures proving my point that my children are cookie cutter kids - there is a point with each one of them in photos where I have to really REALLY stare at the pic to figure out which one it is :)

In this pic - the one on the right (in suspenders) is my now 23 year old.
The one on the left is my 15 month old.

Crazy how much they look alike!

:)
Happy Monday!
~With all my heart
Michelle

THE SAME ....YET DIFFERENT

Seems most of my quickie posts lately have been wordless (sorta) :0)


These pictures struck me as funny ----- they're the same yet different :) lol
Back when Snap was a little baby (boo hoo why does time fly by??) he LOVED to be held by his daddy like this ALL THE TIME. When I saw the local article about the baby sloth.....I had to laugh!

p.s it's almond milk in that "baba" NOT 7up :)



(oh well - so much for wordless)


Happy Wednesday Gang!

~With all my heart-
Michelle

SMILE it's Tuesday!

some smiley little baby faces for a Tuesday afternoon :)
Jazzy G is 4 months old already! What a cutie patootie!
Malachi is 15 months and into everything :) LOVE LOVE LOVE these babes :)

With all my heart ~
Michelle

wordless wednesday

My 7 year old said they're twins :0)
Now to keep the kids from picking them too early...that will be the trick!

It's Thankful Thursday again

Oh ........my baby boy had his very first Merry Go-Round ride a few weeks ago. At first he was NOT sure about it. Then as the music came on he started to relax. When the horse started to move up and down he looked over at me with a bit of worry in his little face. I gave him my biggest smile and patted his back -I said "Yay! You're on a merry go-round! It's okay!! I'm right here!"
















Finally when he was on it for a few seconds he looked over and gave me this smile - The wonder in his little eyes as he looked at the bright lights and the room going round in circles - filled my heart.....


I have to admit - our life has been very "MERRY GO ROUND-ISH" lately.


Seems like by the time I get to THURSDAY I am SO very ready for a weekend I think I may.
not.
make.
it.


So...Thankful Thursday helps me to look at a few things I am thankful for (and it helps me focus on the blessings...not the craziness)

Thank you for all of you who have been keeping up the prayers about our challenges lately - I will say TODDLERS are SO MUCH EASIER than ADULT CHILDREN!! Whew!! SERIOUSLY!!!



I know when I start to worry - and the room starts to spin....I will listen for God....because I know He is saying "You're on a Merry go round! It's okay! I'm right here!"

May you each be blessed beyond measure this weekend (and always!)

With all my heart ~
Michelle

THANKFUL THURSDAY POST (pics)

Okay gang...it's been one of THOSE weeks ya know...
I am EXHAUSTED totally and completely and no rest in sight...
so I am going to post pictures of things I am thankful for - in no set order....because I am on the edge - and sometimes we have to totally change our focus in order to see EVERYTHING!






Hang on...it's almost FRIDAY!!
Have a totally blessed Thursday evening!!!

~with all my heart..
Michelle