It's me!!! I'm here!!!

Well folks, I'm here in Vegas! Woo hoo!

The flights went well...I slept from GR to MSP...and again from MSP to Vegas. I was REALLY wired when I got here. I shared a room with my 19 month old niece, the ever lovely Ella-Bella. Bright and early at 7am on Wednesday morning we were all up...and boy is she a cutie pie!

Wednesday Shell took the day off work so we chilled with Homeo and the E-B. We had a fan-TAB-ulous dinner at Rosemary's Restaurant: Wednesday night = Ladies Night. Everything a lady orders is 50% off. Big Guy bought the meal. The Birthday Girl (Shell's ex-roomie) joined us. We ate all we could handle and brought leftovers home to the babysitter. It was fab.

Today was a bit crazier. Shampooing carpets...Bible studies...toddlers fighting over toys. And then, to make matters worse, we prepped ourselves all day for a night in the jacuzzi only to find out it has bad oxygen levels (or something). We couldn't get in :( Booger.

And so here I am, sitting in Homeo's living room, typing on Shell's computer, missing my honey in TC and wanting to shoot myself for getting so involved in Facebook (but LOVING the connections I'm making!!).

Okay, so I want to let you know that I can't tell you everything that's going on because it involves my family, my friends and two crazy kitties, but let me tell you this: I cannot thank God enough for the wonderful husband I have (yes, I know...that sentence is grammatically incorrect). Even when he brings me five dirty dishes after I've already drained the dishwater...or when I'm sick in bed with bronchitis and he asks if I want to go to the movies...he's awesome, and I love 'im.

I'm headin' out now...I don't promise pictures right now, but I will at least post some when I get home. Later!

From Ella

;jffjjfo ,,,,, hVGq zx

Sowing & Reaping

[DISCLAIMER: This blog in no way 'guarantees' reaping, nor will I address the issue of the attitude behind giving. However, if you have been giving to the church in order to receive and NOT because you want to help further God's kingdom, I suggest reading 2 Corinthians chapter 9]

Some of you out there have heard of sowing & reaping from a Biblical standpoint. Others of you may believe in karma (which is based on the Biblical teaching). For those of you who are clueless, let me fill you in:

You reap what you sow.

Are you angry and verbally abusive toward others? Be the bigger man - show patience and love. You'll see it come back to you. [Besides, have you ever noticed that the people you yell at tend to yell back at you? Reaping what you're sowing!]

Have you ever noticed those really, really nice people who can get anyone to do anything for them with a smile and a kind word? The smiles and kindness they sow into other people's live are being returned to them.

But here's the more challenging question, the sowing with which people struggle...the financial sowing. Is it possible to give away money and receive it back? Well, let me try to explain.

2 Corinthians 9:6 [New Living Translation]
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

Now, this entire chapter is about giving, especially financially. I am not going to debate the amount if money people should give, but I will share my experiences with sowing and reaping.

First, my husband and I tithe everyweek (that is, we give a percentage of our income back to the God...I believe a tithe to begin at 10% of your income, though God may move you to give more). Now, bills pile up and things happen and it can become VERY easy to forget to write that check, so I made it easy: Our tithe check is the FIRST check we write as soon as we receive our paychecks. (It's also a Biblical principle to give God your 'first fruit' and not your leftovers, so we want to honor that). How does it work to pay our bills then? It truly is a miracle.

When Matt went through chemotherapy we received disability checks...for half the amount of what he normally made. Regardless, we wrote out our tithe check every two weeks, giving much needed money back to God. How did it work out? I ended up with a long-term subbing job, then all of my other days filled up, then a friend paid me to help him at work one weekend. I went from subbing 2-3 days a week for the 06-07 school year to subbing 4-5 days a week this year. My long-term job bumped me into a higher pay scale, so anytime I sub for that teacher I make $4 more an hour. Through the entire time Matt was off work we NEVER missed a payment, we never went without and we didn't go into debt.

Now, that's great, but I know some people wouldn't exactly consider more work an answer to prayer. Well, I'd like to give you another example:

Last month on top of our tithe Matt & I gave a substantial amount of money to our church to help build a church building in Equador for a pastor with whom we are partnering and supporting. This amount of money was not in our budget, nor was it readily available. However, we knew how much God wanted us to give, and we did. Here's what happened:

- We had "utility" problems at home. The service guy came. His time and help was costing $75 for the visit and $25/15 minutes. He left us with a bunch of advice on how to fix the problem, as it was quite simple, and noted on his form "husband fixed before I arrived". We were never charged.
- We've been selling things on eBay - the play to go buy things at auction for less than you would pay in the store. Yeah...we sold two nicely priced items for TWICE their face value!! I ask - why would anyone pay $60 for something the could buy for $30 someplace else??? I have no idea...except that we are reaping.
- Some of our electronics need to be replaced. Matt & I have been saving Coke points for months, but they haven't really had anything we need. Last week we picked up a new alarm clock for Matt (and he can dock his iPod...which he got for Christmas); we got a a new universal remote; we got a new CD player. All for free...all to replace things in our house which are breaking/need repair.

It may not seem like a lot to most people, but when Matt and I look at the money we saved/earned over the past 2-3 weeks...its double what we put into that offering plate. Wow.

So I encourage you - if you want to bless God with your money, if you want to bless His work and His kingdom, but you can't ever find the extra cash - GIVE FIRST! You can't really afford not to :)

Are you out there?

So in my last 492 posts I've only received 3 comments. Have I become so outdated? Am I no longer entertaining? Do I BORE you?? Are you looking for pictures (cuz really...I'm getting fat over the winter...nothing else is changing!)? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY POSTS?!? I don't do sex and violence, so don't ask. Okay, so I pushed my sister down the stairs once, but that was a long time ago.

I'm going to eat pita chips and hummus...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Okay, okay...I know I'm a day late, but when you hear what I have to say, you'll see the appropriateness of it.

I like the idea behind Valentine's Day - showing love - but I don't like the hype and importance of it. I mean, just because I don't get a candy rose from a kid in school doesn't mean no one loves me...its just means my friends are broke ;)

For a few years now my family has participated in a WONDERFUL, cost-saving expression of love: 50% off Valentine candy on Feb. 15th. That's right folks: tonight my honey and I are hittin' the supermarket ... I can show him TWICE the love for the same amount of money. Doesn't that make more sense?? Is it really love to squander your savings on a temporary chocolate induced coma that will haunt your waistband for days? Far better, I say, to get dinner AND candy on the day after (your waistband is never happy...why try to appease it now??).

So I'm letting you know that I love you...and if I lived closer I would spoil YOU with cheap candy too!! :)

Captain Computer saves the day!

I'm taking a minute to give props to my man Captain Computer. I have been without my desktop 'puter for a while now...almost six weeks. I DO have my laptop, but it find it VERY difficult (and distracting) to write with it. I don't know why, but that's just the way it is. I like my computer at my desk with my ergonomic keyboard. The laptop just isn't cutting it.

Another mild inconvenience is timing. I usually feel the most motivated right around 6pm...when Matt is coming home and wants to cruise the internet for a while. Okay, perhaps I need to suck it up, but sometimes you really just do get the inspiration and ... your husband is looking up Mother Earth News on eBay.

Well, Captain Computer nad I have been trying to coordinate a meeting for 2-3 weeks now. I get up at 5:30 am and try to be in bed by 9pm. I hang around in my house all winter to avoid exposure. I like weekends at home, when I can clean, study, worship or work in my jammies. C.C. goes to bed around 2-4 am, and I have no idea how late he sleeps. He walks around in 15 degree weather in a t-shirt and vest...no coat. He spends his weekends driving around the frozen wasteland of Northern Michigan in search of snowmobile and ski adventures. As you might have noticed, our schedules do NOT match. But...

We did it! Yesterday we managed to find four hours of free time when he came over and I was here and now my computer works!!

Thank you Captain Computer! You're my hero!!!

Snow way!!!

Yes way!!!

Today in Winchestertonfieldville (that's Northern Michigan) the weather has been intense. I didn't have to go any where (a severe case of kick-my-#&$ bronchitis has me laid up in bed...still), but I thought I'd listen to the news at 6:00 am, as my honey was off to work. Turns out every college, high school, middle school, elementary school, day care and alternative education site from Mackinaw to Scottville (and probably south...my radio coverage is only that far) was closed.

THEN...for the first time EVER in my life...I actually got to listen to the Emergency Broadcast Network as it interrupted the news for EMERGENCY INFORMATION!!! Let me tell you, after 30 years of training, having to listen to those ANNOYING beeps and then being told 'If this had been a real emergency...', I was prepared!! Today the Michigan State Police AND the Michigan Department of Transportation issued warnings for ALL vehicles to be off the road. Whoa! Since my man works for American Waste, and since they drive garbage trucks and semi-trucks, he worked around the shop from 6am-12pm, then came home, because they couldn't haul anymore recycling to the center! Wow...his first snow day at American Waste :)

So anyway, apparently there were 50 mph whiteouts and crazy drifts (Matt said there was 1" of snow on one side of my car and a 12" drift on the other!). Not much was happening here in Northern Michigan. Not that I would know. I'm still in bed. Hacking. Do you have any idea how many muscles you have between your boobs and your belly button?? You'll never know until you cough incessantly for three days. Then they get sore.

Okay, that's enough. I'm getting loopy. It's time for a nap. Again. Till then...stay warm!! (It's finally 5 degrees at my house!!! It was -1 earlier...with -21 wind chill. Alright, I know I said I was done, but Matt just came in pouting. He's trying to get to the store, but everything is frozen shut! He tried pouring boiling water over the doorhandle and lock, but its freezing so quickly it won't work!! Poor baby :( Okay...I think it's funny, hee, hee).

Nappy time!

Hee, hee, hee

Here are the promised pix...enjoy!

Late Christmas Photos

Okay, okay...I know its been a month, but I've been busy...and sick (full blown bronchitis...yuck). So anyway, months ago my sister donated my camera battery charger, not knowing what it was. Because of that I am limited in my photo-taking excursions. I only got four pictures for Christmas 2007. Two are smores pictures (I know you've already seen some, sorry). The other two are quite comical: Ella wrapped four times in a scarf and Cammie & Mitch...as unseen by most people (heh, heh)...oops. The computer isn't letting me upload anymore today. I'll try again later.

The Man of My Dreams

Those of you who know me well know that humor is my safety-net. I like to take any situation and find the humor in it. Why? Because I have hyper-active tear ducts, so if I don't laugh I'll probably cry.

This was very much the case when Matt was recovering from surgery and chemo over the past few months. On more than one occassion I could be heard muttering, "I hope you're taking notes. Some day I'm gonna be pregnant and I'll expect the same from you."

Let me first say: I AM NOT PREGNANT.

However, I am slightly ill. Flu-like stuff: achy body, sore throat, tender ear, chunky boogers (I threw that in for Erica, who often says "I can't believe you said that!"...heh, heh...I said it). I feel like I've run a marathon, been hit by a truck and then had every remaining ounce of energy drained from my body and converted into the swelling in my neck (seriously...I feel like a linebacker right now). It's been a miserable few days.

In the midst of my misery I called my adorable hubby, a man I hadn't seen in days, and I actually started crying on the phone (see paragraph one) because its hard to been funny when your head is working against you. This lovely, thoughtful man pushed aside his plans for Friday night and Saturday morning, drove through a blizzard and showed up in CL, MI to stay the night with me and help me with five kids...even though he knows nothing about kids. Awwww.

He brought me water and Tylenol. He massaged my head. He put a hot-water bottle in the bed to warm it up for me. And in the morning, he kept an eye on the kids, even going so far as to pick up little baby HHC...without being asked (part of a Baby Relocation Program, to keep kids off of stools in the kitchen and put them in safer places...like the toy room).

He left CL a little before me to get the house ready for my return. When I came home he was already doing laundry. In the freezer was a WeightWatchers SmartOne meal, because he knows I need to watch what I eat, but he didn't want me trying to cook. On the bed were two cases of Izze sparkling fruit juice, a luxury we just don't often buy. He put my slippers on my feet, made sure I had my robe and has kept my water glass full for two days. Say it with me...awwwww!!

This is the man of my dreams. I love him so much. I just wanted to brag about him for a little while :)

Day 4-5...its a long story.

First off, let me say that #5 (1.5 yrs old) ate more for breakfast on Friday than did #3 (7 years old). Just to start things off...

Okay, I slacked, but there's a really good reason: late Thursday night I became ill. I could barely sleep (sore throat kickin' in) and #4 & #5 alternated every 2 hours crying. Rough night.

I wasn't feel so hot Friday morning, but I woke up #1 and was trudging through with my brain in a cloud. #1 volunteered to go start my car for me to warm it up, then came in and asked if I was sure he had school. Heck, I wasn't sure of ANYTHING at that point, excepted my mind was mush and my throat was swollen. So we turned on the TV and, sure enough, no one had school in about three different counties. So all five kidlets stayed home with me while I tried not to infect anyone. I did the best I could.

I did make every French Toast on Friday, however, and that went over well (#5 - 3 pieces of French toast and a can of pears...whoa). I let the kids stay in PJ's and goof off until noon. Then we had lunch and I put them to work. Well, I had a small list, so they only really worked for a couple of hours. Unfortunately for the parents who would have liked for me to stimulate their childrens' minds and encourage them in their weekly chores, I was whipped. By two in the afternoon I was beaten. I retreated to the couch and moved as little as possible. The kids were fantastic. They played very well together, and anytime there was screaming I told them to figure it out. Low and behold, they did.

Well, I was supposed to take the kids to church in TC on Friday night, but with the nasty weather and my icky throat there was no point to making the trek to help out on the worship team if I couldn't actually sing. And at the rate I was falling, I didn't think I'd make it back. It was a good decision.

I called for pizza at 4:10 pm. The pizza place is 3 blocks from the house. I asked them to deliver. They didn't start delivering until 5pm. I told the kids dinner would arrive at 5:05pm. It was that bad. And then I called my honey; my soft-haired, blue-eyed, dimple-cheeked honey. I was a mess. A few hours later, he arrived to give me a hand.

By 7pm I was pretty sure I was running a fever. I was popping Tylenol like they were Tic-Tacs and hudled under an electric blanket. I let the kids watch a movie about cheerleaders (#2 & #3 are taking a pom-pom dance class) before going to bed. #4 wouldn't leave me. By this point she'd decided I was okay and deserved the honor of having her share a bed with me. I did my best to dissuade her, but she would have none of it. Being very careful to avoid anything that might transfer germs (but also realizing that anything that was gonna be transfered had already moved by now) I let #4 cuddle. And boy does she cuddle!!

So, anyway, honey-man stayed the night. #4 & #5 slept STRAIGHT through the night, so I got some decent rest. I was at the house until about 3pm, at which time I was sent home by the parentals. I didn't really do much on Saturday either. The kids and I cleaned as best we could, but when you're home, and basically inside, for two days forts get built, dolls get moved...the house becomes a toy. And thanks to the football-player sized neck and painfully tender right ear, I didn't really care anymore (sorry mom and dad!).

So there you have it. Sheer craziness. And to really make me look lame...because I've been recovering on the couch, venturing up only to use the rest room and get a snack, the Christmas tree is STILL up. This was our designated weekend to take it down. Dang it. So I've make an executive decision...

I hope you can all stop by on Feb. 14th this year - VALENTINE'S DAY!! See our house, with it's festive red lights, heart-shaped paper decorations...and our very first Valentine's Tree!!!

Day 3 - Settling In

Well, with Sha-nay-nay here things have gone really smoothly...mostly because I don't have to haul ALL of the kids around anytime I want to go someplace.

Got kids #1-3 off to school easily. #4 & 5 were GREAT. They played so well; #5 took a good nap; we all went GROCERY SHOPPING!!! Yeah. Went in to Glen's. We at a can of Pringles, tried the blueberry pie samples and bought Go-Gurt. It was a good trip.

Sha-nay-nay spent the evening at home while I shuttled: pick up #2 from dance; 45 min. later drop of #3 to dance; 45 min. later pick up #3 with #2 and take them to Awana, which starts in 15 min; 75 min. later pick them up from Awana, come home for a snack and then to bed! All the while #4-5 are at home getting ready for bed and #1 is getting a ride home from the bball game.

The big news for Day 3 is food. How much food can one 1.5 yr. old and one 3 yr. old child eat? A lot. Scrambled cheeses eggs, toast and cereal for breakfast. Plus water. Grilled cheese for lunch. A banana. Pringles at the store. Go-gurt at home. A can of peaches. A plate (or two bowls) of spaghetti. Ice cream. Pretzel rods. A peanut butter sandwich. And THEN...#4 comes down @ 10pm with a "tummy ache". She's so hungry she eats some soup.

But wait!!! There's more. They wake up almost TWO HOURS early this morning...hungry. They each have a bowl of oatmeal. #5 also adds a banana and a bowl of spaghetti. #4 has a glass of chocolate milk and a pretzel rod. And it's not even 11 am yet. Yes, I know...I spilled into Day 4, but it's the only way to make my point. I'll tell you more later!!

Day 2 - Reinforcements Arrive

Sha-nay-nay arrived Tues. afternoon - phew! There wasn't much going on when she go here. #5 was napping and #4 was watching a movie. However, within the hour the troops began to come home. #2 & #3 came home by bus, and I got #1 from practice. Dinner was a lesson in organized chaos, but the chores got done, house was cleaned and homework finished in time for ice cream. We even got #2-5 into bed (and asleep!) by 9:15...yeah! We beat the mark from the first night! So #1 can stay up until 9:30 anyway...he doesn't count.

Anyway, all went well. Everyone made it to school on time and #5 managed a nice 3 hour nap from 12-3 pm. A great day!

More news on Day 3...

Mother of Five???

Well, I'm used to being around kids all day,I'm a substitute teacher, but living with them?? I am currently embarked on a most courageous adventure: I am babysitting my friends' five (yes FIVE) children for five days. The range from 1.5-13 years old, attend two different schools in two different towns, participate in 4 different dance classes, basketball and Awanas. And they are under my care (gulp).

So far things have gone really well. I've only been here one day, but I got all of the kids into bed (and asleep!) by 9:40 pm (they are late-nite children by nature). Its now my time to kick back and relax at the puter...until 6am...which is coming quickly...and I'm tired.

Well, this has been fun, but as the temporary-single-parent-of-five, I'm blowing outta here. My friend Sha-nay-nay will be here Wed/Thur to help out, so I can update you then.

Till then...please keep praying!!! :)

Merry Christmas!

Hello to my faithful followers!! You've been VERY good this year - congratulations!!

Okay, whatever. So, I'm at my parents' house with the VB side of the family. It's been a GREAT time! I was in Winchestertonfieldville with my hubby's fam until Thursday, and now I'm here. LOTS of people to see! My brother and sister-in-law from NYC (anvil makers) and my aunts, nieces and sisters down at the 'rents. LOTS of people. I like my cozy house with hubby and two cats. It's CRAZY to enter a house with 7-9 adults, plus kids, presents and too much snow :)

I'm going to try to take some pictures and post them later this week, but I didn't want anyone to think I'd dropped off the face of the earth. I'm still here...making anvils.

Many blessings!!!

Count down...

'Til Christmas? No. 'Til presents? Try again. 'Til...family time? DING! DING! DING! Tell 'em what they won Bob!

Well, you will receive a brand new, used, slightly damaged but reconstructed car, complete with faulty...no, wait. What? Oh sorry, wrong game show.

Anyway, in ONE WEEK I'll get to see my brother and sister-in-law from NYC - yeah! And THEN...I'm so excited...my nieces!! All the way from PA and NV, Ella and Sarah Gabel! They are too cute, too funny...ahhh :) I'm so excited!

Oh, I'm pretty sure my sisters and aunts will be there too. I mean, I guess my sister has to come with her daughters. Whatever.

TEN MORE DAYS!!!

Christmas Decorations!!

Here it is! My first real out-of-my-parent's-house Christmas tree! I had a fake tree before I got married, but now I have a hubby with lot a saw and tree stand :) Isn't it pretty??

And this is my teeny-tiny nativity set. Yes...we have it set up on top of the water cooler!!

My Sister's Magic Fingers

This is the story of a scarf. It's not any ol' scarf either. It is the scarf that, as my brother-in-law says, makes 5 year-old girls everywhere jealous. Here is it's tale.

It all starts with a different scarf. Blue, gray and black, hand knit by my sister. It's wonderful. I wear it all of the time. My friend Sha-nay-nay sees it and LOVES it! She's been looking for one just like it all winter! Where can she get one?!? Being the self-less, considerate, humble person that I am, I give her mine. When I leave Sha-nay-nay's house I call my sister in the car:

"I need a new scarf. I'd like it to be colorful and unique."

Sister with the magic fingers is on the case. She calls me before Christmas to tell me its done. It'll be under the tree. But...it's something she's never done before. In fact, it's kinda wild. Honestly, she's not sure about it, so if I don't like it all I have to do is tell her and she'll pull the stitches and make a new one. Sounds good to me.

Christmas Eve. I open the box. I pull out 7'6" of bold, twisty rainbow scarf. I'm scared. It looks like someone may have taken round pot holders and strung them together. Turquois and red? Raspberry and orange? The colors astound. I look at my sister with the magic fingers.

"I'm not sure about..."

"What?!? You want me to take it apart?? Do you know how long that took me to make?!?!"

"It's perfect."

Mid-January arrives. The scarf has been sitting in my house. Not even the cats go near it. But it's a gift. I must wear it, at least once, even if the spirling yarn exposes my neck to the elements. I put it on and go to the grocery store. My neck is surprisingly warm. The cashier admires my scarf. I decide to try it for a while. By the end of the winter I have received quite a few compliments.

October 2007 I read on-line that long, skinny scarves are out. Chunky, bulky scarves are in. Whatever.

November 2007 I pull out the winter wear. I grab my scarf. I cannot go into public without at least one person asking about my scarf, wondering how I made it or where I bought it. I am running errands and Christmas shopping with my husband. At Wal-mart I see the librarian who assisted me less than an hour before at the library. I say hello. She replies:

"Where's your scarf??" (In the cart, for those of you wondering)

In Target a woman approaches me:

"You were at Wal-mart earlier today, weren't you? I remember the scarf."

My desire in life has been that people would remember me for my love of God, for my humor and for my heart. I fear now that I will be remembered for my scarf.

Sam's Disappointment

I love Sam's Club. Matt and I go there to walk around, sample food and occassionally grab some food at the cafe, which we then eat while sitting on the display furniture (they have some REALLY comfy chairs!!). We like it there.

Unfortunately, not all departments are created equally. Take, for instance, the tire department. They have good prices on tires, decent prices on tire installation, but horrible...HORRIBLE service, at least in Winchestertonfieldville.

Last year Matt & I arrived at 6pm, immediately after he got out of work, to have his snow tires put on. It takes 45 minutes. They're open until 7pm. All is well...we thought. We go to the service counter and are informed that there must be at least two mechanics in the shop to do the work. There are two guys there. However, one guy has to leave at 6:30, so they can't take us. Did they tell us this when we called and asked how late they're open? No. Was there a sign posted anywhere saying they were closing early? No. What did the manager have to say about it? "Welll, they need two guys working, so they can't do it tonight." Apparently not one other mechanic in their entire employment was available to work that day, so they decided to close early, tell no one and the administration was fine with it. Okay...maybe it was a fluke.

Fast forward to Winter 2007: we go in at 5pm to get tires changed. We are informed that they stopped taking new customers at 3pm because they are already booked until 7pm. Completely understandable. The man gives us some hints: first, come when it's not snowing or when the forecast for the next day is clear (people aren't thinking about tires until it's snowing or they predict snow) and second, get in line by 6:30 am. When they expect snow there will be 20 people in line when they open the doors at 7am. Wow! Thanks for the help buddy...that's great to know! So on Saturday, December 1st...our day off, a day of rest, a time to relax...we get up at 5:30 am to be in line at 6:30 am. Matt is the 5th person in line!! The doors open, the man looks up and says, "Do you have a business membership? Anyone with a business membership goes to the front of the line until 8am." WHAT?!? Did anyone tell us that?? No. Is it POSTED anywhere?? No. By 7:15 am Matt is now the 15th person in line!!! The response that we get..."Well, we have to serve business members first". Nice to know. At 7:15 we left Sam's Club...and went to Belle Tire. At Belle Tire they opened the doors early so we could wait inside, out of the cold, and took EVERYONE on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The moral of this story (as I always like to have a moral): Buy yourself an extra set of rims if you are going to change your tires seasonally. You can have the tire shop mount the tires for you and then swap them yourself, in your driveway, whenever you want (because, even though the guys at Belle Tire were patient, helpful and very kind, it still took until after 1pm for them to get the tires done).

Two Years

November 26, 2005 - 10:30 am

Karin Van Buren weds Matt Beery

Wow. Two years. That's it?? I'm trying to remember what I did for the first 27 years of my life. It feels like Matt has always been there. Weird. And cool :)

What a crazy two years...and what a potentially bizarre third year we might experience. Let's look at the timeline of the life of Matt & Karin Beery:

Nov. 05 - Married
Apr. 06 - Both start new jobs
June 06 - Move to Acme
Aug. 06 - K quits job
Aug. 23, 2006 - M diagnosed with cancer
Sept. 06 - M has surgery
Oct. 06 - M body returns to normal
Feb. 07 - M AFP counts go up
Jun. 07 - AFP counts still climbing; consult with Dr. @ IU
Jul. 07 - Schedule M surgery @ IU
Aug. 07 - Surgery cancelled; chemotherapy scheduled
Sept.-Nov. 07 - Chemo
Nov. 26, 2007 - 2nd Anniversary

Our lives have been CONSUMED by Matt's diagnosis. We met and wed in eight months; we spent nine months married before the cancer. We'd only even known each other for 17 months...and have spent the past 14 months dealing with this. So what will year #3 bring??

A life without cancer :)
BOTH of us working regularly, with no hospital bills, and a chance to catch up financially :)
Rest :)
I don't know...

For those of you who've known Matt longer than me, this will be the first time that I will actually live with THE Matt Beery. Not Matt Beery the newly wed, Matt Beery the new-man-to-the-workforce, or Matt Beery the cancer patient. I will get to live with and love the Matt Beery everyone has known for years. I'm looking forward to it all :)

Kitties...

Otay...This is what happens to your cat when you don't clip her claws regularly: she gets them stuck in the webbing on the stereo speaker.


And THIS is what happens when you surprise the kitties with a BIG can of Turkey in Gravy for Thanksgiving...kitty coma:

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is what I woke up to on Thanksgiving...isn't it something??

Re: Pictures

See www.mattsmiracle.blogspot.com to understand why you will never see pictures of us again. I'm frustrated.

The Human Body

It's pretty amazing, isn't it? All of the layers of protection and support, to keep itself safe and healthy. I'm in awe. Like when you sprain an ankle and it instantly swells to protect the joint, or when your cuts bleeds and clot to flush out infection and then seal itself off. Wow. But here's one I don't understand...

So, over the years I've gotten into some bad sitting habits. I'm working on correcting these as I've gotten used to swiveling my hips, which actually causes my left leg to appear 1" shorter than my right. However, by paying attention to my posture (and a few minor adjustments) I've been doing well. Pat myself on the back...way to go!!

This past week I've been subbing in a high school (Winchestertonfieldville High) and walking a TON. I drive to and from work, but nothing big. I rarely find myself sitting until just before I got to bed. My hips should be good, right? Sure, you just keep telling yourself that...

Yesterday Matt and I drove for 1.75 hours to visit my parents. In desperate need of a shower, I waited until we arrived to forgoe the rust-heavy, hair destroying hard water at my place to enjoy the silky, softness of my folks' water. Everything was great. I cleaned, dried, fixed my hair, got dressed...then proceeded down the stairs to the rest of the house. Half-way down (eight steps to be exact) the hip starts up. I try to ignore it. I descend one more flight of stairs to the guy-paradise (50" high-def, plasma flat screen with Bose surround sound) and stop. I'm not in awe of the wonder of HDTV (college game day, after all). I'm in pain. Crazy, tight pain.

My left hip quit. Yep. That's right. I have some ability to move my leg forward and backward, but any side-to-side or swivel action is kaput. Have you ever noticed how much your hips swivel to help you get around each day? Me neither!!! Trust me, its a lot. Anyway, my hip hates me now. It doesn't want to move. It hurts. It's tender. And its uncooperative. Here are some hip-heavy activities that you might now about:

-Getting in and out of a car
-Getting into bed
-Changing directions while walking
-Rolling over in bed
-Adjusting your position while sitting

And I'm sure there's more...I'm trying to move as little as possible today. Hopefully I won't discover any other painful movements.

The lesson for today?? Stop taking showers. It hurts your hip ;)

Yawn and Stretch

Wow...you'd think by my blog that its been a slow couple of months. Quite the opposite actually. With Matt not working I am now the sole provider for the household. Possibly not a bad gig if I worked full time, but trying to bring in a full-time paycheck on a part-time work schedule calls for some creative accounting.

I can't wait for Matt to be able to work again. He's not happy staying at home, and I'm not happy having to work so much. Part of the beauty of me subbing part-time is that I can then take a day off every week to grocery shop, do laundry, clean the bathroom...you know. Plus, since my work day is usually only 6-7 hours I have taken on the role of cook as well. Now I don't mind any of this at all. Its kind of the best of both worlds: being a wife but also a working woman. I like it.

However, with Matt out of commission I find myself working nearly every day (I took today off, but I was working on my book...different job, same problem). With that in mind, I now have to figure out when to grocery shop, do laundry, clean the bathroom...you know. It builds up pretty quickly. And, on top of that, I have Matt. All housework stops for Matt. If you don't like clutter, please don't visit me because I have sacrificed my house to make my husband comfortable. It's the least I can do, and I won't settle for less.

This being said, I'm doing as much as I can as fast as I can. AND...my book is almost done! Woo hoo! Bust out the sparkling cider! I'd give you an update, but you can read that at www.therehastobeabeginning.blogspot.com (I don't like to repeat myself. I don't like to repeat myself.)

In other area news, I found a decomposing mouse trapped in a vase under the sink today. Massive ick.

I think that's it for now. I'm really anxious to get back to my story. I'd like to finish it tomorrow! Yipee!!

Tribute to Matt

My sister created a nice tribute to my cancer-fightin' hubby. You can see it at www.thegabelfamily.blogspot.com

(And check out the 2 foot, 15 month othe cutie while you're at it!)

Can't think of a creative title...

I figure it's time to post something. I haven't actually written anything meaningful in...well, let's be honest: none of my posts are particularly meaningful :) I usually just shoot for entertaining!

Life (as always) is busy. I'm back to school teaching (I'm a sub...and I love it...I really, really do). It's not full-time, but it's helping out financially. I'm also working on my book (chit-lit...Christian romance novel...nothing spectacular, but it's mine). Matt is still hairy (ah yes...see Matt's Miracle blog if you don't understand that statement); my nieces are still adorable (see Growing Up Gabel blog for those money shots); my dad is still bald (you just have to trust me on that one).

I sit a lot. I type a lot. It's giving me writer's butt. I'm not concerned about block...I always have enough junk running through my brain to make up something. This butt, however...I'm pretty sure its trying to spread to cover the ENTIRE chair. I'm re-evaluating my diet (okay...I'm an emotional eater. YES...I ate six Dunkin Donuts one day when Matt was in the hospital...sue me). I've also bought a rebounder (aka mini-trampoline). The idea of bouncing in my living room for 30 minutes is really quite appealing to me...I think that's because I'm pretty sure I can do it while reading a book. ANYTHING I can do while reading a book holds tremendous fascination for me. Plus, the bouncing is good for your lymphatic system and, let's be honest here...who isn't out there trying to stimulate their lymphatic system??

My cats are still crazy (I have proof). My dog...is still nonexistent (but in my head he's a hollow-boned medium sized dog that stands tall, only weighs about ten pounds, only barks when I command using ESP, scoops his own poop and makes blueberry pancakes for me every morning...I LOVE this dog). My house is still about 1,000 sq. ft. too small for the stuff that Matt & I own, but he is working on getting rid of things - whee!!!

Okay, I'm spent. I've been online for 90 min. and need to get to work. Midgie says hello.

Prayers for Randy

Hello dear friends...

Another wonderful name to add to your prayer list...our pastor Randy. Earlier this week after finishing re-roofing the church, his ladder slipped and he fell 25 feet onto the cement. He suffered a broken nose, wrist and kneecap. The doctors have said its a miracle he's alive, as well as not having any internal injuries or head trauma.

He has a 6-8 week road to recovery right now. Please keep him and his wife, Darla, in your prayers. Thanks!

(Matt's doing well! Tired, but well. The hospital staff can even get him to change his undies everyday! Wow!!)

This Is Me

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Pinstripe Cavalier

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Strawberry Cheesecake Peanut Butter

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
K-Bee

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Blue Kitty

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Victoria Ludington

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Beeka

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Green Milkshake

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Walter Russel

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Red Skittles

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Marie Albert

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Reed Richmond

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Christmas Daisy

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Banana Hoody

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Cereal Weeping Willow

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
The Reading Rainbow Tour

Peanuts

You are Sally Brown. You may not be the most ambitious person, but life isn't supposed to be hard! You are relaxed and easy-going, but you can hold your ground when you want, too.

Who are you?

In Appetite Only

So I found out that yet another friend of mine is preggers. One more bun, one more oven. Not in mine, thank you very much. However, its been determined that I EAT as if I might pop one out. I've been eating like this since I was in high school, so there really is no baby scare, but it has become obvious that my particular cup of tea is not anyone else's. Here are some examples of my standard fare...sans baby:

1. French fries dipped in ice cream
2. Potato chips dipped in ice cream
3. Tortilla/butterscotch pudding roll-up
4. Carrots dipped in peanut butter
5. Toasted coleslaw sandwich
6. Peanut butter & banana sandwich (not that unusual, but it makes some people cringe)
7. Grilled cheese sandwich...with one thick layer of horseradish
And the most recent meal (DISCLAIMER: After a rough week this was my comfort food binge)...
8. Beer, donuts and Slim Jims

I'm not making this up. I love these foods. I'm willing to try almost anything. (I've tried Miracle Whip and peanut butter cups on white bread...not good). My next experiment is going to be the Stephanie Plum peanut butter and green olive sandwich, with potato chips for extra crunch.

Now, I'm not looking for something disgusting, but if you have a favorite PMS combo, or if you've heard of something odd and don't want to try it yourself, lemme know!!! I'll give it a whirl!! (Except sardines...I don't do sardines)

Time for a Change

Hey folks - I logged on with a heavy heart. Life's been rough. Matt's having surgery next week. I haven't started working yet. It could take years before anyone wants to publish my writings. I'm discovering that I know a lot of people with very low standards of integrity. Okay, I got that out of my system.

I can't actually tell you what's happened in the last ninety seconds, but I've changed my mind. I'm ready for a change...again. I need a change...again. I've been having a pity-party...and I HATE that. I don't like pity-parties...especially when they aren't mine. I know, I'm a hypocrite: let me have my party, but get out of yours!!! So anyway, instead of whining I've decided to get my head out of my butt and get going. Here's what I need to do, because I've always wanted to and have never gotten around to it:

1. Learn to drive a stick (I know...I know...)
2. Learn to shoot a gun
3. Get to a size 12 (realistic goal)
4. Write the book that I want to write...not the one that I think I should write
5. Stop whining...start trying (I know, pretty general, but applicable)
6. Record my music

That's all I can think of right now. I drank 1/2 gallon of water this morning and have to pee so bad that I can hardly concentrate. If I come up with anything else that I want to do I will put it up here so you can keep me accountable (aka harrassing me).

Later!

NO MORE RESEARCH!!

I've finished my first book. Well, I finished the first rough draft. There are still many more hours to commit to this project. I don't want to go about my first effort completely half-cocked. I'm just glad to have the bulk of it on paper and out of my head. Yipee!!

And now...off to the world wide web for some help on getting in published. Wow! What's the hardest part of writing a book? Not much. How about getting it published. My GOD its insane!! I literally have a 3" book at my house filled with publishers of everything you can imagine, plus agent listings and contests to enter. I've started researching a lot of publishing houses, trying to figure out the best route to take. In my journies I've discovered some very important tips:

1) It's best if I have some sort of writing experience. I need to enter some contests. Now I have to start researching contests...
2) Agents & Publishers alone want you to have a basic understanding of what they respresent and what they've done. Best way to do that? Read...and read...and read...and read. I currently have a book list of over fifty books that I need to puruse. I got a few out of the library yesterday. Good thing for me I can read a 250 page novel in about 3 hours :) I can get a couple of books down a day.
3) You need to get your stuff out there...to as many places as possible. So you need to study up on everyone and be prepared to write queries...and write...and write...and write.

At this stage of the game, the story is on the back burner, which is actually really good for me. I'm going to keep researching (I'm even writing book reports for myself so I won't forget what each author/publisher/agent is all about...it's going to be too each to get everything confused!). When I finally get a chance to go back to the book I'll have fresh eyes and, hopefully, a better understanding of the how to develop things.

Until then...I should have posted this on my story blog...but I think it got shut down :( I'll try again later.

Matthew updates

Currently available here: Matt

Continued Personal Growth

Over the past few years I've noticed many changes in my life as I continue to age and mature (notice I list those exclusively...for a reason). You may remember a previous post about my new found love of hot dogs (ew...I know. I'm not proud). As I've had Matt in my life I've been exposed to many new aspects of life too. For instance - Smokey and the Bandit...Seasons 1-4 of the Dukes of Hazard...off roading. Most recently I've found myself fascinated with cars, but not just any cars: muscle cars. I'm all about my Ford Mustang GTs and the Chevy Camaro. Hmmm...sweet. And now...I can't believe I'm about to say this...I find myself intrigued, even remotely enjoying (gulp) NASCAR. Ew. Ick. Oy.

What does Matt have to say about this? "Honey...you're becoming more Christ-like!"

Hmmm. That's a matter of opinion :)

He did it!!

I actually got Matt to post 8 things from being tagged! Mind you he won't tag anyone, because he doesn't know anyone with a blog, but he answered the questions! Take a peek...http://www.mattsmiracle.blogspot.com

Chalk It Up to Experience

There are certain things in this life that we should never have to experience: a third cancer diagnosis or losing someone to a drunk driver. I pray that none of you reading this will undure such tragedies. I also pray that you will never experience what I am about to describe...may God be merciful to you all.

In early June my husband and I took the kids (Midgie and Bucket...cats...see previous posts) to my parents' house with us. We let them free roam the car, as they like to cuddle. On our way home we left at 4:45 am to take Matt straight to work at 6:00 am. As it was early, Matt drove and I leaned back to sleep. Midgie was really having a hard time, but she usually calms down. She was climbing up and down my midsection, not unusual, as I tried to sleep. After a minute or so she farted...something nasty. As I sat up to throw her in the back seat I screamed. Not fart...poop...on my chest.

Matt reacted by shoving her to the floor. She hadn't finished her poo poo yet, so it smeared along the car door and dashboard. I am still screaming. I manage to pull my shirt off and dispose of it along the highway (yes...I littered). Matt held Midgie while I ... wiped her a%# to get the stuff off. Then I wiped my hands...and the door...and the dashboard...and my purse. Needless to say, when I called Matt's boss to tell him why Matt would be late to work, he laughed pretty hard.

Fast forward: July 24th. No more cats pooping on me. This time, the kids are sharing a cage. I put 'em in the back seat and head out. Not twenty minutes from home I smell it...cat fart. Ten minutes later its still lingering. Panicked, I pull over and look into the carrier...where two cats are covered in cat poop. I'll spare you the details...just know that I successfully kept the poo off my clothes and the car fabric (I won't tell you how). I'm contemplating how to transport the cats in the future, since they obviously can't be trusted to wander the car OR travel in a carrier, when I smell it again. This time, the cats are crying. For the second time in one day, the third time in less than two months, I am on the side of the road, repressing my gag reflex as I find myself up to my elbows in feline feces. I am sick of poop.

My cats are still at my parents house now. My folks don't want to keep the cats. I don't think I own enough paper towels to transport them again. I'm considering cutting holes in some Pampers to pull their tails through...I can't do the poop thing again.

And so I pray that you will spared such an experience, that your travels will be easier than mine and your pets far less smelly.

I've been tagged...

and not by the DNR. I was tagged by CCG...my sister. Okay, lemme post the rules and we'll see what I can do:

The Rules: “Each person posts the rules before their list, then they list 8 things about themselves. At the end of the post, that person tags and links to 8 other people and then visits those peoples’ sites and comments letting them know that they have been tagged, and to come read the post, so they know what they have to do.”

Okay, first of all: I don't know how to do the links...I guess I'll give it a whirl. Secondly, I regularly check four blogs...three of which are owned by our very own Camille! I'll do what I can. And now, for eith thing you may not know about me:

1. I'm seriously considering vegetarianism...but I like turkey bacon. I've LOVED the health benefits of cutting out the meat and avoid it now at all costs. Unless its turkey bacon...yum.

2. I want four kids, and I have a gut feeling they will all be boys, but I'm hoping for at least one girl. If I have one girl, I want her to come first. I WILL not raise any momma-sissy girl.

3. Contrary to popular belief (Michelle), I very much enjoy fashion and LOVE clothes. However, I also love not being in debt. I don't wear bad clothing because I don't have any fashion sense...I wear them because I can't afford a new wardrobe each season.

4. I still harbor deep desires to sing the national anthem at a Red Wings game, have a role in at least one major motion picture, appear on Broadway and write a good novel.

5. I still want to get my ph.D...I just don't know what I would study.

6. I want to travel to China and Russia and do God's work.

7. Someday I will pray over people and see blind eyes opened, tumors disappear and the dead raised (that's not desire...I'm declaring that as a fact!)

8. I have an unfounded fear of lifting a toilet seat lid and finding a decapitated head in the bowl (or of forgetting to stand up on a plane and having my butt sucked in).

Okay, so who can I tag?? Dianna, umm...Matt...and I'm going to determine that Beth needs to create a blog to answer this as well...Sorry, don't have anything better than that. And now, since blogger doesn't seem to let me post comments...lemme figure out how I'm going to do this...

This post has no constant theme...

I just finished another book (three books actually, but I'm only commenting on one). It was okay. I finished it because I like to finish things that I start, but it really didn't intrigue me that much. It seemed kinda whiny; I wasn't that into it. By the end I thought I'd blog about the author and how I think she's whiny and don't really care for her writing style.

Then I went to her website.

I could have written her home page...substitute my name in anyplace you see hers. It kinda freaked me out. "I WANT TO WRITE TOO!" I'm screaming inside, but then I think..."I just don't want to write like you do." One part of me was SO excited to find a woman with whom I can relate so well...and the other part of me wonders, if she thinks she's funny (and I don't) then could I also publish books as "humorous" only to find out they...aren't? I guess its a risk that I have to face. Am I up for the challenge? Am I ready for the rejection?

I have to be ready for the rejection. One of my favorite teachers has a saying: "Do it afraid". If I'm scared of being rejected, that's normal...I have to do it anyway. In fact, I thank God for the rejection I have faced in the past, for I believe it has really strengthened me and prepared me for this venture. I spoke with a friend last night who, sadly, is currently swimming in the pain of personal rejection...one that involves her heart. I've been there. It's hard to want to pick up and go on. It's even harder to want to put yourself back into a position where you could be rejected AGAIN. But then I look at my husband :) I've never known such love, patience or adoration...and I could have missed out on all of that by being afraid of the pain of rejection. My friend: hang in there. I pray that you will allow yourself to heal, and try again.

And for me? If my friend is willing to risk her most precious of gifts, her heart, and try again then what's to stop me from worrying about some stupid ol' book?!?

Oh, and for now my "writer's blog" is going to turn into a collection of book reviews, until I have something of my own that I can put up there for reading. Just a reminder, it is: www.therehastobeabeginning.blogspot.com

Visitin' Vegas

Okay, so these are all of the pix you're going to get for right now. I've spent the past 45 min. trying to upload five different pictures, and its just not working...maybe later :( Sorry. But this is what I've got so far! Me and my girls, Sarah Nancy and Ella Grace! I can't help it that they love me...I have that hypnotic effect on kids :) Vegas was blazin' hot, packed full of stuff to do and busy, busy, busy - but it was fun too! I got to stay with the Gabels, so each morning and night for me included the kid-lets. As you'll see by later pix (I hope) there was also a lot of pool time :) And I didn't burn once! Woo hoo!

Okay, I gotta each lunch now...later!

Finally, NYC pictures!

Okay, this picture thing is really bugging me, but I'm trying!To the left, we have the theater where I would've seen Mary Poppins...if Shaina had been with me :) It used to be to the right, but now someplace floating around is a pic of the Chrysler Building dwarfing my cute-as-a-button honey (if he ever reads this he probably won't appreciate the button thing, but I don't even think he knows how to access this blog...hee, hee). Somewhere on this post (I'm not exactly sure where, the pictures just seem to pop in where ever they want to without first clearing it with me) you'll see my experience at, yummy-yummy, Rice to Riches!! And then a few photos of the fam at the wedding! More pix and posts later!

New York, New York!

So, I had my first ever trip to Manhattan last month! My brother-in-law married a peach of a gal on June 16th and the fam headed out for a few days. Though busy with wedding details all day Friday and Saturday, Matt and I did schedule some time to explore on Thursday. It was so much fun! We went everywhere, from Central Park to Wall Street to Times Square...one day is NOT enough time! My sorority sis Jen and her hubby Rob were fabulous hosts and put us up for four nights...in a 450 sq. ft. apartment! It was such a blessing to have a safe place to crash and someone familiar for suggestions and directions.

The two things I really wanted to do were go see a show (which we didn't do, but maybe next time) and go to Rice to Riches. It's a rice pudding shop that I saw in the movie Hitch...and its SOOOOOO good! (It's in Nolita, for those of you interested...North Little Italy). Anyway, here are some photos for your enjoyment!

:( I've tried four times to add pictures...I'll try again tomorrow. Sorry :(

For the record: I tried to title this, but it wouldn't let me. More quirks for blogger to figure out for me :()

Coming soon...

I've been quite the traveler recently! I've got pix to post from NYC and Vegas...but since I'm still in Vegas and my NYC pix are on my laptop in TC, you'll have to wait. But make you come back! There are some good ones :)

Uh, research??

I need to be stopped. And beaten into submission.

I started off strong! I was working on my writings, getting creative, trying to tap into that right have of my brain (which, for the left brainer, will always bug me that it controls the left side of my body).

However, not feeling confident of my skills (despite my AMAZING cheering section in Dundee, Michigan...yes, they have a Cabela's, can we move on??), I decided I needed to look into what publishers want in a book. I needed to do some research. FINE!!! I've been reading novels for the past four days - SUE ME!! I'm averaging one a day right now, and I still have time to make 3 meals a day, do laundry, clean the house, spread mulch and kill the lawn mower (don't tell Matt I said that...he doesn't like it...thinks I'm cursing myself to forever ruin lawn mowers). Seriously, it only takes me about 5 hours to read a 220 page novel...does that make me odd? Do you find me...fruity?!?

FINE!!! I'm a freak...ishly cute girl. I know. Time to pick up the computer and let the creative juices flow...basically because I've already read all of my library books...

To be a writer

First, let me say that I am VERY disappointed in the lack of response to my "Choose-your-own-adventure" episode of the Gilmore Girls. Apparently you all enjoyed the series finale. Sigh. I must continue on...

So, I've known for a while now that I need to get my butt into gear and start writing...I just don't know exactly what it IS that I'm supposed to write. I even started my own blog dedicated to my writings! And nothing has ever been posted to it; I've actually forgotten how to access it. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that I KNOW I need to start writing for a REASON.

Could someone please give me a reason??

I mean, let's be honest, some of the funniest stuff you'll read today will be on this blog (just being humble here). I've been complimented time and again on my abilities and encouraged to get out there and WRITE about something! Submit something! Make my education start to pay for itself (DISCLAIMER: If it does pay for itself I do not make any promises to any financial contributors that they will be reimbursed for educational funds...sorry dad). But where do I start? Does anyone have any ideas? What do you want to know about??

These are the things about which I have a lot to write:
- Movies
- Life in a 3-daughter family
- Life in a small town (incidentally, Winchestertonfieldville is the largest city I've ever lived in!!)
- Newly-wed status
- God
- Nothing (I could do a pretty decent column along the lines of the TV show Seinfeld - week after week about nothing)

I don't know that there's really much more to discuss. Even though I can write about those things, are any of you really out there biting your nails WAITING to hear my opinion on them?! Yeah, I didn't think so. Yet you endure...you return again and again to read my ramblings (at least my older sister does...for all I know she could be the only person reading - RIGHT ON SISTER!!)

That's my plea - let me know if you have any ideas, k? I'm really pretty good at this typing thing...it only takes me about 2.5 days to finish a post!!! (Kidding...I can usually finish in two)

Gilmore Girls...rewritten

So, late last night I was telling my hubby about the series finale to "Gilmore Girls" (a moment of reverential silence please). I admit, I haven't seen the final episode, but I've heard about it. However, I was hoping for a different ending. I got to wondering - what were YOU hoping would happen in the last show?? Here are our ideas (DISCLAIMER: Matt was slap happy, tired, and wondering where the "kitty titties" were on our male cat)

Karin: I wanted to see Loreli marry ANYONE, be happy...and get pregnant!! Really, the whole point of the series was the mother/daughter relationship. It would've been GREAT to see Rori move away and Loreli start again:)

Matt: He was hoping to see the car wash blow up and level the whole town. When I explained that the town didn't have a car wash, he thought it would be good to have the town build one first and THEN watch it blow up.

What did you want to see?

Referral

Please see the new post at www.mattsmiracle.blogspot.com
:)

Addendums

To Rebuttal:
I like guns for hunting and for the police to protect me. I'm not insinuating that really anyone should have an automatic weapon at home. Really...how fast and how many bullets do you need to kill a deer??

To Mom:
She also gets homemade chocolate truffles!!

My mom's better than your mom!!!

So say the good folks at 101.9 Sunny Country in beautiful Traverse City, MI. These fine folks have declared my mom THE BEST mom of all the entries they received for their "Mother Load" contest. And WHY did they select her?! Primarily because of her AMAZING daughter (that would be me). I mean, if it wasn't for me she wouldn't have been entered, right?? Okay, so maybe she did a few little things that made me consider writing in. In no particular order, here are some of the reasons I detailed:

-raised three daughters AND was legal guardian for her sister AND her mother (who were physically and/or mentally unable to care for themselves)
-never missed a basketball, volleyball or softball game
-never missed a band or choir performance
-never missed a play (even went to the dress rehearsals!!)
-made breakfast for us EVERY MORNING while we were in school (even on tournament days when there were extra kids in the house)
-made sure we were always on time
-volunteered for GOP and Right to Life
-never took a sick day

Wow!! The bar has been set pretty high! And since, for about eight years, she sacrificed her Mother's Day to help strike play sets I figured I would brag on her for a while...and what a pay off! Tell her what she won Bob!

Lorraine, you and one guest will receive a free overnight accommodation at the Holiday Inn on West Bay in spectacular Traverse City, MI. you will also receive a complimentary bottle of champagne at check-in, breakfast in bed the next day, a spa certificate, Mother's Day brunch for four and four movie passes to Carmike Cinemas!!

Thanks Bob.

Love you mom!!!

My rebuttal

Gosh darn that stupid blogger that won't let me respond to anyone else's blog!!!

Okay, my sister has admitted to having liberal tendencies - AND SHE HAS ACCUSED ME AS WELL!! Humphh. I need to respond.

I am a registered Republican. I will ONLY vote for a Democrat if God were to instruct me to do so. I would rather not place a vote than to vote for a Democrat. I am okay with guns (I can hear the sharp intakes and expulsions of air as my faithful readers gasp, sigh and shout profanities). I don't believe everything the government tells me (be it Democratic OR Republican). I eat well.

Here's the deal...I eat well. I don't like chemicals. I don't like additives. I don't like greed. I LOVE God!!! I can't help but look at His word and wonder why there aren't any stories about ADHD, cancer or manic-depressive disorder. There were sick people healed, demon-possessed people delivered...but no such diseases. Now I haven't suffered these ailments, but I've read about those who have. These are the things I tend to see: (EXAGGERATED FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT)

"I received chemo for cancer. I lost all of my hair, was sick for a year and a half, had horrible abdominal cramping, uncontrollable gas, acne, tooth decay and ingrown toe nails. But it was all worth!!! Now the cancer is technically 'in remission', not gone, and even though I'm physically scarred, have had vital organs removed and will never be able to smell or grow toe nails again (not to mention I'll be taking 14 various pills daily for the rest of my life) - I feel GREAT!"

Hmmmm. And then I read:

"I was diagnosed with cancer. I stopped eating humanly-altered foods and went to an organic, all-natural, the-way-God-created-it diet and the cancer is not only gone, but my hair grew back thicker and shinier, my acne cleared up and I got pregnant when the doctor said I never would!"

Does that make me liberal? No...I think 'smart' is the right word. And the true heart of the decision?

God. Yep. Stick with what He put into play and life will always work out.

Now that I think about it, I was offended at being called a liberal, but I have the cure for that. AS SOON AS THE LIBERALS FIND OUT I'M A SPIRIT-FILLED, IN-LOVE, ON-FIRE CHRISTIAN THEY'LL RUN SCREAMING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!!!

Okay, so I guess its not that bad.

Amazing Me

I'm amazing, and I can't tell you why. I'm the best sister in the world. Can't tell you why. I'm one heck of a friend. Can't tell you why. As I'm writing this I wonder...if I've done all of these great things about which I can't tell you, are they really great? Hmmm...

Michigan: The Tease Me State

I'm considering a petition to my state government to change our state slogan from The Wolverine State to The Tease Me State (hey...the "Show Me" state?!?) This is my reasoning:

Thursday - high 60's
Thursday night/Friday morning - 30's
Saturday - 70's
Saturday night - 60's
Sunday - 80's!!! (woo hoo)
Sunday night - 70's
Monday morning - 70's
Later Monday morning - 60's
Monday - 60's
Tonight's forecast - 30's!!

Okay...I challenge you to prove me wrong...

Here they are - my "adopted" kids!

Ohhhh!!! I spent spring break in Port Huron with all of my "adoptive" kids...my sorority sister's and their kidlets :) It was too much fun!! So, here they are...all my little chi-chis :) Top center we have, slightly hidden, Isabella ("Bella"), Baby Aidan ("Wubie") and Olivia ("Livi"). Yes, they are in pink water :)

Next, we have their cousins...Mr. Lars on the left and big sisters Sage & Jade on the right (go ahead...guess what they do on Friday afternoons??). I even got to go with all three of them to a gymnastics field-trip...do you know how much fun it is to pull 15-20 kids under four out from the big foam pit?! Hee, hee.

So here they are! Finally, someone cute to post on my blog!!! I'd show you their momma's, my dear, dear friends, but one doesn't like photos and the other one got photoed...behind a pile of little tykes :)

Okay...I'm outtie!

Happy...Christmas??

Okay, apparently Michigan weather has the two major Christian mile-stones confused. For Christmas in 2006 we didn't need jackets or even boots. Personally, I enjoyed it :) However, it wasn't quite normal. March was fabulous, starting to warm up and enjoying the jacket-free life-style once again. And then came Spring Break..and our WINTER STORM! What?! Oh yeah, so my little sun baby niece was outside in a short sleeve shirt and shorts...this is what it looked like here this Easter. Woo hoo...yuck.

Happy Easter!!

Easter...what does that really have to do with Christ? HAPPY RESSURRECTION DAY! GLORIOUS SALVATION! Hope y'all get to celebrate life with Christ, enjoying His love and grace toward us all.

:( No good pictures yet...I'll find something good soon! In the meantime, enjoy my baby niece Ella at www.thegabelfamily.blogspot.com

Will I Ever Grow Up?

I hope not, but for right now it might be nice. As an infant I used to go right to sleep, lulled away by the sweet words "Bed Time!". Not anymore. Actually, not for many years. As I've gotten older, I've become more stubborn. Just ask my hubby. When I get really tired I tend to talk...very, very quickly. And very, very incessantly. Even as I write this it's 10:40 pm and I'm tired. I could use a good, solid night sleep, but I'm fighting it. I don't even know why. There's no one to talk to, I've already checked every website that interests me and there's nothing good on TV. Yet here I am, typing my lil' fingers off, just for the sake of typing.

I'm going to eat pizza tomorrow, for the first time in MONTHS. I'm excited. I also get to bond with the Kellerman clan some more...it's gonna be good.

Okay, I'm outtie.

My Babies

Here they are!

My lovely little lady is Midgie...Midgie Moo Moo, or just plain Moomer for those of us who know her more intimately. For quite a while she's suffered an upper respiratory infection; however, she's feeling QUITE lively and frisky these days. In fact, she's feeling SOOOO healthy that Mommy can no longer take naps...at least not without Midgie running up and down and up and down and up and down Mommy's legs, arms, head...you get the picture.

To the right is my big boy. This handsome fellow is Bucket: he enjoys long naps in the window, wrestling with his little sister and annoying his Momma with early morning nibbles on exposed fingers and ears. He's now weighing in at 12 lbs and is hoping to break 15 lbs by his first birthday.

Since we don't have any human kids, these will be my pictures for a while...I'll try to get some other fun stuff too!!

My new camera's here! My new camera's here!

I'm SOMEBODY! (Thanks Steve Martin)

So, I just got my brand new 7.2 mega pixel digital camera!! Whee!! Unfortunately, Matt's out of town and I can't get the cats to sit still long enough to get a good shot, so I don't have anything fun to post yet. However, I may soon introduce you to The Clampets Came to Williamsburg...just not yet. I just wanted to whet your appetite...photos coming soon!

Why do they call them "conveniences"?

Modern conveniences? I think not. As the world rolls on each day we create more and more ways to make life easier...and 400 ways in which that convenience can break down and send us plummetting beyond the dark ages.

In case you haven't met them yet, I have the most ADORABLE nieces! Sarah and Ella (see them both at www.thegabelfamily.blogspot.com). Sarah came into my life when she was four years old; now, she is growing into young womanhood and is quite social and active. I don't get to see her nearly enough, but I try to stay in touch. She is in PA with her mom, stepdad and new baby sister. I have some pictures...I should put them up.

On the other side of the country is Ella. She is the first baby. She is spoiled. She is a boonchkin. As she is the off-spring of my sister, communication is more frequent. As she is the first-born to my sister, pictures are ABOUNDING. As I am on the other side of the country, I DEMAND lots of pictures posted on-line so I can watch her grow from a distance. Did you SEE the swimming pictures?!?! Oooo....

Well, I thought it would be great to finally comment and let my brother-in-law see that people DO look at their family blog and a photo documentary of Ella's first year is more than appreciated by some of us. Yes...that's when modern conveniences stepped in to help out!

Okay...I cannot post a comment annonymously. Sure, not a problem. I'll just put my name. Wait...no name, just your account information. Do I have a blogger account? (FYI - I maintain 497,839 blogs from the same email address. I'm geting to know these people well). Well that shouldn't be a problem, let me just type in my info...verify my login? Hmmm. If I have to, I guess I'll press this icon...what? Where am I now? This account has not been activated? Maybe I messed up, lemme try this again. Ten minutes later: I KNOW THAT LOGIN IS UNAVAILABLE - IT'S MINE! I'M JUST TRYING TO LOG IN!!!

And so, no comment. Frustrated and confused that I have somehow been lost in the vast pit that is cyberspace, I rush frantically to my blog dashboard knowing full well that I posted things earlier this week and hoping I can still get back in! NO problem :) All 400,000 blogs, still up and running. Apparently the folks at google and blogger don't mind my smart-%$# blogs, they just don't want my smart-&%@ comments.

Errr. (If you're a frequent viewer you may remember that I ranted and raved about technology about a year ago too...). I'm too worked up to go on now. Okay, I'm calming down. I'm gonna leave for a while. I don't even wanna get started on the stupid pop can deposit in the state of Michigan and how everyone is more than willing to take your $1.20 per 12 pack, but they can refuse to take your cans back for any of a zillion reasons because the companies (let's call them Cepsi and Poke) can refuse to take the cans, so we're paying all kinds of money that we'll never get back because I guess they can't recycle a can with some dirt, but my husband could tell you otherwise, but I'm just rambling now...(the title all makes sense now, doesn't it?)

Matt's Miracle...take a look

Hey folks, more news on Matt's medical condition. Check it out at www.mattsmiracle.blogpsot.com

Death of a Cat Post

After 12 months of distinguished service it is with great sadness and a humble heart that I announce the untimely departure of the Cat Tree. Originally purchased for Inky and Saber Booy, they self-lessly willed the 8', multi-tiered pole to our baby girl Roo. Though Roo loved the tree, and Inky & Saber tolerated it, it was never as loved as by Midgie & Bucket. More than a scratching post, it served as a bed away from home, an excellent piece of exercise equipment as well as a toy and playmate.

The cat post will be laid to rest in the American Waste garbage tote in Westchestertonfieldville this afternoon. A small reception will follow immediately following.

What a GREAT day!!!

Wow! What a great day!!! FIRST - I JUST got my new laptop. Woo hoo!! (Homer Simpson)

For my birthday I combined birthday money, gift cards and a store credit to put towards a Sony Vaio. I was still short but my WONDERFUL, HANDSOME, COMPASSIONATE husband told me not to worry about it...he pitched in the rest of the money for my birthday!! :) (SOOOO many reasons I married that man).

And then - AS IF THE COMPUTER ISN'T ENOUGH - Matt called today to tell me about some tickets his boss gave him...TO THE RED WINGS GAME THIS SUNDAY!!! Yes, that's right! I will be going to the Wings game in TWO DAYS!! Until then, boy will I learn everything about this beauteous machine :)

I feel so competent

I've never considered myself a great driver. I mean, I drive out of necessity, for no other reason. If I could translate myself daily I would never get into a car again, but I must endure.

HOWEVER! This past week I've realized that, no matter how much I hate driving, I am by no means the worst driver in the world. Lemme tell you about my encounters with Vanity Girl and Time to Retire.

First, Vanity Girl. 2/5/07 - every school from Holland up to Central Lake, from Ludington over to Gaylord, is closed. It's 3 degrees with a wind chill 15-25 below zero; visiblity is sketchy and the roads are sheet ice because its too cold for the salt to work. I'm going to run errands and am stuck behind vanity girl. On the above day she is driving her friend across town, but she feels unpretty. She decides to put on MASCARA while DRIVING on SHEET ICE!!! But it gets better...when she's done, she puts her glasses back on. I maintain a safe 14 car-length distance...

Next, Time to Retire. 2/6/07 (My birthday, thank you very much) - schools are meeting, but its still cold as an iceberg. Pulling out of Do-It-Best hardware on Zimmerman Rd. is a cute couple, granny and gramps driving their 26' long Cadillac-Towncar-Lesabre beast of an automobile. I can barely feel my toes with the heat on in my car. They are driving down the road, single digits mind you, with their back driver side door WIDE OPEN! I took a quick peak...nothing in the backseat. Just a wide open door. I hope someone caught up with them...

It's about that time...

I don't really have anything to post, but I figured I should put something up here. It's been almost a month! On the plus side, no one is puking (yeah!). That's pretty much it...not much else to detail right now. I promise, if anything exciting happens I WILL let you know :)

Merry Christm..HUAHHHH!!!!

Merry Christmas!

I'm at my parents house this year and the place is PACKED!! We've got 8-10 adults at any given time, 2 kids and 5 cats. With only four bedrooms and two full bathrooms, its a tight squeeze. Especially this year...

We've got a few family traditions that I look forward to each year (in detail in one of my previous posts), but just to recap: opening gifts on Christmas Eve, Shrimp & Baby Back ribs...I enjoy them. However, in the recent years we've adopted a new tradition that we'd all like to elminiate as it seems to escalate with each passing year. For the last 4-5 Christmases someone is ALWAYS sick. [Please stop reading if you have a weak constitution] I'm not just talking "take two Tylenol and call me in the morning" sick; I mean crumpled on the couch, rolled in a ball, blowin' it out from both ends kind of sick. And its getting worse.

Lets review the most memorable years. I think it was 2003 and I had to share a room with Cammie. She and my mom both got sick that year. I got to share a room with her as she spent the night rocking on her bed moaning, "Oh God, oh God, oh God. I'm gonna die. Violet (her cat), Violet, I'm gonna die." That was a fun night for me. Got up the next morning and Michelle and my dad tried their hands at the Christmas Roast. Please Mom, don't get sick again.

Last year Cammie was pregnant. For three months she ate and puked up apples...Christmas was no exception.

And now we can add the great epidemic of 2006: the "It-wasn't-the-turkey Outbreak". Once again (I'm seeing a trend here) Cammie got things started; a few hours later she took out my husband, Matt. We thought it was the turkey they'd eaten. No one else had eaten it and no one else was sick - we're safe :) Yeah right. We dropped like flies: Karin, Mom, Sarah, Aunt Linda. Right now we're in a holding pattern, but there are more people coming tonight so we might be able to take a few more out with us!!!

As I thought about ways to commemorate this "happy occassion" I've decided to hand out the 2006 Puke Prizes. Here are our winners:

Fearless Leader: Cammie (thanks for getting it started)
Cutest: Sarah
Loudest: Matt (yeah, the neighbors called to thank us for sending him home)
Most Graceful: Mom
Most Honest: Aunt Linda
Biggest Pain in the A#* and Panic Freak: Michelle [yeah, the only non-sick one worth mentioning]

How your Christmas was far less eventful :)