The goods

Here is my masterpiece.

I made water, trees, bushes and signed my name entirely too big.

I still love it.

I can paint!

I have a dear friend, April who is an artist. She made a darling measuring stick for Zoe's room. It's the first thing you see when you walk into her room. It's safe to say I love it completely. I would pay any amount to have April to my home to paint her goodness everywhere.

She and her husband Andrew (who is a very talented musician) were in town this weekend for some fellowship with friends.

Additionally, April taught a painting class. While I can barely draw stick figures, both April and Andrew assured me that I could learn. Because I don't like to go to these types of new adventures alone, I bribed my mom into doing it with me.

I'll be darned. We can paint. I was totally impressed with both of our pieces. Actually, I'm going to take my 50% off coupon from Michaels and get the picture framed.

Thank you April and Andrew. You both have ministered to my soul in ways that I cannot thank you enough.

April, major points to you for teaching me to paint. I only wished I lived in Nashville so I could be your constant student.

We are Jumpers

The YMCA has gymnastics classes for toddlers. There was originally some confusion as to which class we should be in.

The website said we should be in the Gymagine class. Apparently they work on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor. While I have no doubt Zoe will be a gymnastic prodigy, this class is a mommy/me class. I can't even play Twister without losing much needed oxygen. There is no way I can do the vault or the uneven bars.

Just the thought gives me flashbacks to high school P.E. It's not pretty.

Fortunately, because God really loves me, we are indeed supposed to be in the Jumpers class. That means intro to gymnastics and perhaps working on Zoe's sommersaults.

We start next Thursday. Because N is done with this quarter, he will get to watch and document the night for years of black mail against me.

When the moon hits your eye like a big piece of metal...

N got home Wednesday night and complained that his eye was a bit sore. When he rubbed it he thought he had something in it. Like an eyelash.

He put his eye under the faucet to flush whatever it was out.

This morning it was still hurting. Not to mention a little swollen and bright red.

Not to appear like a wuss, he went to school tonight ready to learn more about metal.

Then he called me about 45 minutes into his class. He couldn't see and his eye was incredibly painful. He was thinking about coming home. His teacher said he could do his final on Saturday. Oh and could I pull the lids of his eye back and flush it out with some saline solution?

Like the caring wife that I am, I told him to go to the minor ER because there is no way I would be able to pull any lids open and flush anything. The thought made me vomit a little in my mouth.

The official diagnosis from the medical professionals who can pull lids and flush stuff was a piece of metal ground into his cornea.

But wait, if that wasn't bad enough, there was also a rust ring. On his cornea. Which they had to scrape out. With a buffing like tool.

With his eyes open, but numb.

Apparently when the moon hits your eye like a big piece of metal that's rusty.

You want me to put my right foot where?

For Christmas E got the game of Twister. In pink. She's been dying to try it out.

After a couple months of good, solid stretching, N and I decided to try our skills. Apparently neither of us are that limber.

We both suffer from heat exhaustion after putting our left foot on green, right foot on pink and doing some downward facing dog move from yoga to put our right hand on purple. I'm still a little lightheaded from all the downward facing.

D & E decided to start the game in jeans and I in a sweater. Apparently jeans are a bad idea. Not much movement in them. I won the first round. Although I have to say I don't remember much due to the lack of oxygen from having my head pointed toward the floor and waiting for N to SPIN. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SPIN FASTER!

It feels like an eternity when you are losing precious oxygen to wait to hear the next place you have to put your left foot.

Fortunately we got the hang of it. Squatting is essential in the game. Even Zoe got in on the action. Although she's still working on learning her colors and her left from her right. She was more of an obstacle than a player. Fortunately she didn't get squished.

She did make up her own moves. Apparently the newest thing in Twister is to put your forehead on a color now.

The good news is you can also put your knees on the ground and pass out.

Woozle Sleuthing

In one of the Tigger and Pooh episodes they go sleuthing for Woozles. We've seen this episode many times. Each time Zoe will bring us a net.

It wasn't until this weekend that N figured out what she was doing. Apparently our house is infested with woozles. Zoe needed help finding them all.

Here she is with daddy on the hunt.


They were successful. They caught me. Apparently I'm the oldest woozle known to man.

They were so proud.

Our little Keiki

This past week I've been cleaning out Zoe's closet to make room for all the new, summer clothes.

I found a dress I forgot we had.

Awhile ago we took a trip to O'ahu for Christmas with N's family. Aunt Mer bought a dress for Zoe because it matched the colors of her nursery.

At the time Zoe looked like this.

The dress was a size 4 and I knew it would be perfect for a summer many years down the road.

Fast forward to this past Sunday. She's big enough to wear the dress. It's just a little too cold for sleeveless.

Thank you Aunt Mer for the beautiful dress. She was a total hit with the nursery crowd.

Global Food Crisis Day

I'm one of those people that when the radio stations go into pledge drive mode, I listen to another station that week. I know that's probably really wrong to admit, but it's a whole week of "we need your money" and it gets on my nerves.

This morning you can imagine my delight when it was another pledge drive. I almost changed the channel until I heard the words "1 dies every 7 seconds." That totally got me curious as to what they were talking about. What dies and why?

Well it's Global Food Crisis Day. While I know there is hunger in many parts of the world, that statistic totally threw me. As I listened, I was totally thrown by the other statistics.

300 million children will go to bed hungry. Of those 25,000 won't wake up tomorrow because of malnutrition. Parents have to pick which of their children will eat when they have food.

I cannot even fathom looking at any of my children and saying, "I'm sorry, but you can't eat today." Then to go to bed, pray that they survive through the night and that tomorrow might bring food.

We are in an international crisis. People who used to afford food no longer can. The cost of rice has doubled in the last year. For families who spent 80% of their income on rice, just to eat, now cannot afford it at all.

Yet I can go to any number of grocery stores and buy that food without problem. I can also give up 3 lattes a month and feed a child.

If you are interested, you can go to Compassion International and feed a child for a month for $13. It can be a one-time contribution.

You can help some parent not have to pick which child will eat today.

"Help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you" (Joshua 1:14-15, niv).

A brief introduction

Old Man Winter, meet spring.

You two really don't have anything in common. However, since you insist on visiting AGAIN, I figure you should know how it works.

When we "spring ahead" that means it's time for you to leave and spring to visit. I don't mean to be rude, but 6 inches in my yard isn't really leaving. It's more along the lines of nestling in, getting cozy, kicking your feet up and sipping hot cocoa.

You see, I'm ready to get out in the yard (which you just covered completely), do a little gardening and finally be able to see my grass.

I only have room for one of you at a time. I think after leaving about 80 inches during your stay is plenty.

Trot along. Take the fresh stuff with ya. Let the sun come out, the tulips come up and the new season start.

Because getting a certain 2 year old in all her snow gear to go help me shovel is quite time consuming. Then trying to bribe her with cookies to get her to come back in the house without alligator tears. Well, that's near impossible.

Mimi & Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

For months Zoe has been saying "dad." It's never quiet. No matter where she is, she yells for him. He could be sitting next to her on the couch and she'll still yell his name. It's become a running joke in our house.

She will yell for him to come look at her, play with her, to show him how cute she looks. She wants to share every moment with him.

It melts my heart and N's.

For awhile she'd say "mom" but then it totally stopped when she started yelling for dad.

Until this weekend. She can't totally say "mommy" so I'm now "mimi." Yesterday she was running through the house yelling for me.

Because she needed a diaper change.

Apparently I'm the caretaker and N's the playmate. I think they plot about the dirty diapers on Fridays while I'm at work.

Ready to worship

N and his worship team buddy are totally ready to rock the service tomorrow.

An hour early.

And with a stocking cap.

But your virtual age is only 45

Today is a special day in our family. It's my mom's birthday. Typically she hates her birthday because she's a beige person. She likes to blend in and not be noticed.

In preparation of a low-key celebration, Zoe and I decided to make grandma some yard ornaments. My mom has a major deer problem, so flowers don't really work for her. Zoe and I decided grandma still needed flowers, just wooden ones that the deer won't eat.

That means we had a painting project. With a 2 year old. I'm very proud to say Zoe is a natural. She only got paint on the box we used as a table and on the wooden flowers. My kitchen and my shirt are totally fine.

I have to share what I did because I thought it was pretty clever. I taped the wooden flowers to an upside down, paper bowl. Taped the bowl to an old box. Then taped the paper bowl with the paint inside to the same box. That way nothing would move while Zoe painted and if it did, it would just be on a box that was slated to go to the dump anyway. Clever, no?

I'm getting off subject. Here are some pictures of our very own Picasso in action.

The pre-painting. Or drumming in her very own band.

She is totally serious. Look at that attention to detail!


The finished product!

Grandma LOVED them. They were her favorite gift ever. I think Zoe might have grandma wrapped around her little finger!

My mom is one of the most amazing women I know. She raised me by herself, worked full-time, was head of the PTA, head of the Camp Fire Association, my Camp Fire leader, an AWANA leader, co-director of the singles group at our church and managed to get dinner on the table each night and spend quality time with me. She single-handedly put me through college. Even though she works two jobs, she still manages to take care of Zoe and set aside time for quilting with me.

She is my compass for so many things. She taught me how to be a mom, showed me what kind of relationship I want with my daughter, showed me in a real way what it means to be a Godly woman and how to find the blessings in each day.

Her life hasn't ever been easy, but her attitude would never let you know that some days are a struggle.

She taught me how to love and how to freely show it. I am forever grateful that God gave me her. She is not only my mother, but my friend.

Happy birthday mom. Sorry for all the gray hair, but according to a life expectancy test you're really only 45. You don't look a day over 36. Love you!

The Liger is my favorite animal

Zoe is learning her animal sounds. We have been working on what a lion says. When I tried to video tape her last night, she was so eager to watch herself, she quickly wanted to watch the instant replay.

I need a brake

My mom always told me (not to sound too Forrest Gump) that you have to find the blessings in each day or the day will wear you down.

Yesterday was that day. It's funny when you mention that you're struggling how God's sense of humor comes out.

It's 4 o'clock and I'm leaving work. I have a pork roast in the crock pot waiting for pulled pork sammies for dinner. I did most of my cleaning yesterday morning, so I may actually get a chance to chill out and play with Zoe longer than normal. It's looking like a great evening.

I get in my car, turn it on, call N to see how he's doing and go to back out of my spot. My car won't move. I check to make sure I've lowered the emergency brake. Yep. Hmmm...

It's been windy and there is stuff all over the roads, so maybe something is under my car. Nope.

My emergency brake is locked. My right, back tire won't move. Well, how does that happen? How do you fix that?

You call your husband, crying just a little at the thought of mechanic and towing bills and he offers to skip school and come look at it. (Blessing #1)

He brings a friend who is very car-smart to help. (Blessing #2)

They take off the drum and the pads totally crumble (I know, you're totally impressed with my knowledge of all things brake-related). If I had driven much further with the pads the way they were, my cylinder could've been totally ruined. That would cost almost as much as my car is worth to fix it. (Blessing #3)

N and his friend John go to the parts store, buy the needed stuff and fix the brake. In my work parking lot. In the dark, wet and cold. (Blessings #4, #5, #6, well there are too many to count)

I go home prior to the brake fixing to pick up Zoe and head home. Grandma has already fed her. I'm hoping that the pulled pork might still be okay after an extra 2 hours on low. From the smell in the garage I immediately know that's a negative.

Because I put the crock pot on high. I essentially made pork jerky yesterday in a crock pot. Tasty!

In the grand scheme of things, burnt, pork jerky isn't too bad. The crock pot will take a week of soaking before I can get it clean. It's a reminder of my day.

Zoe got to spend some time with daddy last night (Blessing #612). N got an extra two hours of sleep to help with his tough, new schedule (Blessing #762). I have new brakes, a husband who selflessly helps me when I need him, a daughter who loves having both her parents home in the evenings to play with, friends who will drop everything if we need help and a mom who helps with Zoe without complaint.

That's just the blessings I can see. There is a certain peace in knowing that your family and your friends are part of a team that God has surrounded you with. They encourage, support and love on you just because they can.

Sometimes it takes being stuck in one place because of a locked brake to see all those blessings that surround you everyday.

The Bad News Bares

Sometimes life is hard. I truly believe that God allows you to wade through the difficult to grow in Him. That's not something that I always like. I'm truly a Type-A person. I like my routine. I like knowing that I can depend on certain things each day.

So when God says, "it's go time," I tend to freeze up a little. By freeze up, I mean I can get pretty stubborn and a bit mean. It's my way of dealing with the growth. It's not because I doubt God or because I think I can do it better, it's because I really don't like change. Which unfortunately isn't part of God's whole, big, master plan.

N started working full time this past week. On one hand, it's a major blessing. In a time when people are being laid-off, he's getting more hours. If that's not a praise, then I don't know what is.

The only down side is he leaves the house at 4 o'clock a.m. and doesn't get home until 10 o'clock p.m. through the week because he's also going to school. That's a pretty grueling schedule. The end is in sight because his night school will eventually be done. It's just that 4 hours a sleep a night during the week right now isn't the best case scenario.

That means I'm a single parent through the week. If you've ever been around a 2 year old, you know they can be a little active and a little exhausting. Not to mention working in the financial industry that is so full of good news right now.

Instead of having Fridays evenings as a time when we can be a family, we're just plain tired. Physically and emotionally.

I have to admit, this weekend caused me to freeze a bit. It caused me to have a pity party. Which is the saddest kind of party you can have.

I had to run to the store yesterday afternoon. I may have committed a cardinal sin. I wore sweatpants to the grocery store. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to have to think. To do ONE MORE THING.

I plugged my iPod into the stereo and let the first song play. It was MercyMe's "Bring the Rain." I was singing along with the chorus, just enjoying the moment. Then the song went into the last bit of worship. I couldn't help myself from singing along, just crying.

In that instant I was reminded that God is holy. He is the Almighty. He has a plan. While we're in the middle of a hard moment in our life, He is still taking care of us. Still providing for us. He is in control of my spirit.

When I got home, a certain 2-year old came running up to me for a long hug. A certain man in my life helped put away the groceries. For one moment I knew we were in this together. The team God surrounded me with who love, encourage and support me. Despite the fact that I don't do well with change.

Or wear sweatpants to the grocery store.