Saturday, June 30, 2007

Dead Car.

And...the car is dead. It needs a new engine, or something like that. I sort of stopped paying attention after the words "Yeah, I need to talk to you about your car. This sound right here (*bad bad bad knocking noise comes from engine*) is bad...". All I know is insurance will cover it, and it will all be okay. At least that's what Tucker kept telling me last night!

Anyway. It's going to take about a week to fix it/replace it, and honestly, if this was going to happen, it couldn't have happened at a better time. We're leaving tomorrow, and won't need the car for this week. Steven and Jen have very very graciously loaned us their second car until tomorrow (As well as giving us an adorable sleeping bag for Rory. That saved us some money!), and so today I can focus on getting what we need and packing!

I'm not much good at the whole packing-for-a-trip thing. I always forget something incredibly important, and have to make a midnight run to some random drug store that's open 24 hours. Seriously, every time we go away and get to our destination, Tucker makes note of the closest store. Hopefully this time I won't. It's going to be a bit more difficult to make that run with 20+ people in tow. Not to mention a bit more embarrassing...

Well, we're off tomorrow! I'm nervous about how my children will do (We've never gone away for this long with them.), and excited to see the students grow and be challenged in their faith! Big things are coming, and I'm so thrilled to be a part of them! See you all in a week!

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Worry and Joy.




So we're getting ready to leave for Chesapeake VA on Sunday. We're bringing about 20 students. I'm so excited for this trip! We have an amazing group of people going (I adore our students and am looking forward to the fun and bonding!), and we're going to be working with a great church. Tally Wilgis is the pastor. Cool guy. I've only met him once. I was hugely pregnant and not quite myself, so I didn't really get to know him. He came up to PA to be a friend and crying shoulder for my husband and our worship pastor, Steve, while our church was hurting. I admire him for that alone. Oh, and he broke my kitchen chair. Which was totally fine because I desperately wanted new ones, and now I (Finally!) had a reason to go and buy them. Also, we froze him to death. No heat in the room he stayed in. I still feel awful about that! So yeah. Sorry, and thanks for the new chairs, Tally!

Anyway. We're headed down there to help out their children's ministry. We're meeting up with another group of students from their sister church in Texas, and sort of joining together to help build up a great tool for Christ to use. Like I said, I'm totally pumped about this trip.

However, everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong. I'm overloaded at the church with work that needs to be done. So is Tucker. The stress is getting to us. We're combining services for the summer, which is going to be amazing, but that means that my schedule for the nursery and preschool needs to be redone. Before I leave. On Sunday (Or "Suday"...). Tonight, we had a terrific rainstorm. My husband left for worship practice, went through a "puddle", and the car died. Not sure why, but we're guessing something got wet that really, really shouldn't have. So now I'm stressed about that.

I put the kids to bed, Tate first, Rory second. I read her a book, and laid down with her to pray. Let me tell you, she's adorable when she prays. She lists everything she loves (Everything. Favorite clothes, toys, people...) and prays for each one. "Gank you Jesus for my GoGo (Diego). Gank you Jesus for my shirt. Gank you Jesus for my Tates." As I lay there listening to my two year thank Jesus for all of her "Loves", I realized how easily I've been distracted. I forget there's a powerful spiritual war going on, and I lose sight of the big picture. I let myself be pulled from ministry into worry. I realize that, as strange as this may sound to my non-Christian friends, Satan is doing everything possible to suck the joy out of me. And I'm letting him.

No more.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Potty Time.


Yeah, so. Maybe not a big deal to all of you out there, but this is a HUGE deal for our little family.

Rory pooped on the potty. (Honestly, I did try to find a way to word that in a way that wasn't so...graphic. But I couldn't. So there it is.)

I'm so excited I could cry! Our Big Girl is now doing grown-up things like helping Daddy do the dishes, and helping Mommy feed Tate. She also proudly sports a nice pair of Curious George underwear. Rock on.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Dora? Diego? Sure.


Tucker and I discovered something recently. Rory will wear/eat/do anything if she thinks it has something to do with Dora or Diego.

She has a pair of green shorts that she hated until we called them "Diego Shorts". They are now the only pair she ever wants to wear. She won't eat yogurt. How about "Dora Yogurt"? Why yes! She loves Dora Yogurt and eats it all up. No bath tonight? A "Dora Bath" sounds like fun! If we ever happen to get tired of good old Dora and Diego, it can be a "Baby Jaguar" or "Boots" object. They work just as well.

I'm starting to think our two year old may watch too much TV...

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Blueberries and Laundry.



This story just needs some explaining of how busy I've been. I have been so busy that laundry hasn't been done in at least a week. I know it's been at least that long because I'm down to the I-don't-really-like-but-still-keep-for-some-unknown-reason shirts and the pre-pregnancy stuff that isn't even close to fitting me yet (I'm still not sure why I've pulled it all out of the basement storage. Maybe I thought it would inspire me to lose this last 15 pounds or so? Well, silly me. It's just sort of depressing.). Rory is wearing skirts since she's out of clean shorts, and poor Tate's left with just onesies. Tucker's still asking me where his clothes are. He actually did a load the other day just so he could have some clean boxers (Now, he does do laundry. It's not all on me, even though I'm the one at home the most. He's actually quite good at doing it. In fact, he always carries the baskets upstairs and helps me fold. And he's the only one who puts the laundry away. I could live out of that basket on the floor for weeks. However, he's been just as busy as I have been. Our housework has been a bit neglected.). I'm usually right on top of getting this done. Usually. But this week, I really needed to do some clothes washing.

Anyway. I learned something yesterday. Tate loves blueberries. He loves them so much, he sticks out his tongue and makes that happy baby "pffffft" sound. When he makes this happy little sound, whatever is in his mouth comes out. Usually that's fine. I laugh, snap pictures, and wipe myself off.

Last night, we had plans. I had trouble finding something to wear, and was just feeling tense about all that's going on in my life. Honestly? Picking out what to wear isn't my top priority. I amazingly found a shirt that (1) fit, and (2) was clean. Hurray! It was, however, white. Now listen, I make a general rule that during the first few months of my children's lives, I don't wear white. Honestly, I don't wear any light color. Dangerous stuff, that is. No matter how careful you are it. will. get. dirty.

So back to the blueberries. Tate loves 'em. Happy baby noises, purpleish spray everywhere. I panic (This is it people. My last clean fitting shirt.), check myself, and am relieved to find that no blueberry had made it onto me and my clean, fitting shirt. I wipe off the kid, clean his tray, and pick him up. He goes into the exersaucer, and I run upstairs to put on some makeup before going out. Walk into the bathroom, turn on the light, look into the mirror, and...a chubby purple hand print on my chest.

Now. I have learned something about getting blueberry out of clothing. Baby wipes do not take that out. No they do not. They smear it around a bit. Washcloth and soap? Nope. I'm thinking one of those bleach pen thingys would work, but I'm too cheap to buy one. Anyway, know what does work? Cold water and a good rubbing with some Shout spray. However, this also makes the shirt unwearable.

I did find another shirt. Not as nice fitting, and there was a spot of something baby produced on it, also white, but overall, it worked fine. We went out, our evening was lovely, and I'm now sitting home tonight listening to the washing machine swish and the dryer hum.

Life is busy right now...but at least the family will have something clean to wear tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Blogging.

I can't believe I'm about to do this! If you know me personally, you'll know that I'm not a very open person. I guard my heart, and often keep my thoughts to myself. However, a very dear friend encouraged me to start a blog. To share with you all what was on my mind and in my heart. So here goes. Enjoy!