LensCrafters

I knew it was coming. I've been in denial for awhile now, I just didn't want to admit it was happening. I wanted to believe that all would be fine, and it was just a snafu that would go away. But it didn't. It stuck, it lingered, it even got worse. And now.....



I have glasses. Sigh, it is one of the first signs of getting old I think. I was forced into making an appointment gently reminded by my husband that I can't see, and the year is almost over, so we should use the money in our vision insurance account...so I made an appointment. I woke up with 2 eyes, and $800 later I left LensCrafters with 4. No more denial. My second pair will be here in a week. My eyes used to be free---$800?! Thank goodness for insurance...just wish that the reimbursement would come sooner than it will!

Give Thanks

I have started and stopped so many posts...that this time I think I will try to keep it simple.

After all, it is none of my business if people out there are coveting material things, and say I LOVE my _____(fill in the blank with a pricey object). It is none of my business if people are getting carried away with buying stuff just to have more stuff. And really it is none of my business if people out there have no problem contributing to the $450,000,000,000 spent during the Advent season. It is none of my business, so I won't spend anymore than a paragraph of my post sharing my opinion on it. There. Done.

But I will talk about how grateful I am for Thanksgiving Days spent with my husband's fabulous family. I have a date to make a quilt with his Aunt Linda thanks to our day of Thanks. Yep, she and I are going to quilt while B cuts wood with his uncle and the boys ride around on the gators. They have a stunning home out in the country and she has an amazing room dedicated to her quilting! I have goosebumps just thinking about how awesome my first quilt will be! This was just one of the many conversations I was able to have with his family that will bring me even closer than I am to some of his extended family members. The boys played and played, until Christian crashed with a tummy ache. I am grateful that it didn't lead to more than just that.

I will also talk about how grateful I am for another beautiful Christmas tree. We tried to cut one down at a tree farm this year, but did not like any of the trees we saw, so we ended up at old faithful--Todd Whiting in the Crossroads parking lot. Our tree is smaller than we've had in past years, but we did that on purpose so that we wouldn't spend as much on a tree as we have in the past. This year we spent about $25 less than we have in the past, for a smaller tree. Now, for the first time EVER we have too many ornaments! It is a good problem to have!

I will also mention how grateful I am to be married to my husband. He is an amazing man who is genuine and full of integrity. He is loving and kind and strong and brave. I love to look at his face, and when I stop to think about where my life could be, I am all that more grateful for him. I am blessed to be his wife, to share life with someone who thinks like me and values the same things as me. I am blessed to have someone love me unconditionally and who is not looking me to make a mistake, because I inevitably will. Instead, he supports me and encourages me to be a better person. Thank you God for bringing us together.

I could never do a post about my gratitude without mentioning my boys. They are beautiful and smart and honest and kind. I could not have envisioned more creative and charismatic boys if I had tried. They are learning that life is not about have the latest new toy, or the newest invention. They are learning that old school ways may actually have some real merit. In a time where "stuff" and consumerism is so prevelant, I am proud that they are beginning to see through it, and I pray that with God's help and wisdom, they will not fall prey to it the way others have. And during this Christmas season, that is something that weighs heavy on our minds as we try to teach them that this season is about Christ and what HE means to us, and not how much we can get under the tree.

Of course, no post about the blessings in my life would be complete w/o mention of my friends and family. I am speechless sometimes when I think about the men and women who surround me with their love and support. Their wisdom far exceeds my own and they have shown me that I am stronger, and more capable than I had ever known. I have never in my life had as many people believe in me, and help me to succeed as I do right now.

Indeed, to finish a post on gratitude I must give all thanks and praise to God our Father. I have learned to look to Him when I am weak, and I have learned to praise Him when I am strong. I am not one who is good at paraphrasing the Bible, but I have so many verses that come to mind when I think of my relationship with Him. And the first to enter my mind is "The Lord Liveth, and blessed be my Rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted." Psalms 18:46 This is of course a song too, and I now have it in my head and will sing it to sleep...maybe not? "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." Psalms 95:1

My subbing position is over, which means I will have more time to blog! Who knows, I may even get back to regular blogging! I'll probably be able to catch up with my picture posting, I'll bring you up to speed on what has been going on, and I'll even post some pictures from our OH SO busy weekend! I'll probably even be able to answer some of the many questions I have been getting lately! I'll have to do another Q&A, so if you have any questions please, leave one in the comments or send it to my email, and maybe I'll add it to the future post!

Out Voted

October 23rd. Does this date ring a bell? Well, for some of you this date may mean nothing, but to those of us in the SE area of the freezing tundra it meant this....





Yep, in no time hundreds several inches fell and covered the ground. Enough fell that the boys were able to create this snowman. In the time that it took for me to take the picture, go into the house and look out the window...this had happened.


Poor snowman...never saw it comin'. The snow was gone by the next day, it melted and all traces of our snowman were melted into the storm drains. Remember how I said that I was like a snowman melting fast. Much like this snowman, my resolve has been destroyed, only I did see it coming. I was helpless to stop it.

I'd like to introduce you to our newest family member.



Yoshi. Yoshi the YoChon. He is fabulous. I really didn't want a dog. In fact, we got 2 cats in my attempt to NOT get a dog. And now, it has backfired, because now we have 2 cats and a dog. If I hadn't tried to stop it we would be 2 cats short. I love them now. Sigh... he really is fabulous though. And the cats don't hate him so that is a plus. Welcome to the family Yosh. We're glad to have you and your cuddles and kisses and charming personality. You won me over at first lick, and already you fit right in. Sigh...now to wrap my mind around 3 pets...

A few weeks ago B&B put up the Christmas lights.


I tried to help. So did Christian.



I can't wait to finish with the rest of our outdoors decorations so that I can get started inside! The holiday season is upon us, and I am getting pretty giddy!

The one with the pavers

Today we went to the Soldier's Field Memorial to see something that was pretty awesome. Have you ever taken the chance to think of what the word 'awesome' means?

–adjective
1.
inspiring awe: an awesome sight.
2.
showing or characterized by awe.
3.
Slang. very impressive: That new white convertible is totally awesome.
4.
Expressing awe: stood in awesome silence before the ancient ruins.


Yep, we did that today. I was proud to show the boys the memorial today.

Not only is my dad memorialized on the pavers, but his parents, his twin brother, younger brother, sister in law and a cousin, and uncle are too.


And on my mother's side of the family my grandfather (who passed away last year) was added to the pavers recently too. Such pride. And the boys were pretty excited to see that too. Awesome.

Beauty is only skin deep

Or is it - true beauty lies within?

Can it be both?

My post really has nothing to do with that phrase, but I've been thinking about that lately, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

To be honest, I have had so much to say, and so little to say the last week that I have not written at all. I have found God's Grace has touched sweet Stellan. Oh that boy truly is a miracle. Please head over to MckMama's blog sometime. Catch up on the SVT FREE boy. Yes. It's true. He is healed, and saved. God's amazing Grace.

I've been busy with meetings with PPT. I enjoy the people in these meetings. Thank goodness, because I sure spend alot of time with them! Our Auction fundraiser raised nearly $24,000 this year! Awesome job to those who helped make it such a success. These year's goal is to reach out to those who do not assist with auction day, or contributed to the bake sale and thought they were done. They're not. And our focus now is to help them understand the role of our fundraiser, and remind them that they too are apart of the school, and it is their children we are working so hard to raise the money for! Sigh, it won't be easy. And unfortunately for us, that means more meetings and more work. But hopefully that will mean more hands in the future! Many hands make light work right?

I've also been puppy shopping. Yes, I said puppy shopping. The boys really, really, REALLY want a dog. And I am caving. Like a snowfort on a sunny day. I'm melting fast. Especially when I look at their little puppy faces online.

And working. My 6 weeks over halfway over, and hopefully I'll be able to keep up with my blog a little better when I'm done subbing. However, I am loving it! The students have warmed up to me, and I've got such a wonderful support group in the staff. I am able to talk with each of the boys' teachers (outside of their homeroom teachers), and have been able to form new friendships with some of the staff that I haven't known as well. In addition I get hugs nearly every day from some of the younger kids, I'm able to see how much (if anything) the boys eat at lunch, and I am getting paid to do all this. That is still crazy to me. This has been such a blessing indeed.

We've celebrated some birthdays, I've worked at the store, made lefse, B had a small surgery, visited the inlaws, rejoiced new births, and stood in awe of God's grace over Stellan...all in all it has been a fantastic couple weeks. Thank you to those of you who check so regularily to see if I've posted. I'm working on keeping a fresh page for you in the next couple weeks. Bear with me....

Maybe watch Food Inc when you get a chance. Yikes.

Organic.
Local.
Read labels.
Don't get caught up in coupons just to save a buck. Look at ingredients.
Not just in food.
Work in progress.
Always learning and growing.

Thursday thoughts

Bullet point thoughts for today

• I have a fantastic network through church. Supportive, interesting, enjoyable and welcoming. The couples and families we have met and come to call as friends are amazing people. Each in their own individual ways.


• Wood burning fireplaces make beautiful fires.


• H1N1 is a bummer. Sick kids when I have full time work = stuck at home mommy doing laundry on a beautiful day...well, I guess it isn't all bad!


• Woodpeckers can grow to the size of a small(ish) cat. And one lives in our backyard. So far it is elusive to the camera...but we'll capture him and show him someday.


• Legos make cool McDonalds cheeseburgers, and McDonalds delivery cars.

I applied for a job, and interviewed for it, and was all but told that I had said position. I prayed before the interview that the Lord would guide the committee in their decision. I prayed that I would know if this position was one that would be a good fit for my family. I truly believed that it was. I really really wanted this job. I wanted it so bad that I believed it was mine...and then last week, they went with another candidate. I was crushed. I was hurt, and I was angry. And for a short while I was even angry with God. Didn't I pray? I was more than qualified...I was perfect for the job! Didn't I ask for wisdom and peace to accept whatever decision they made? So why does it hurt so much? Why do I feel so betrayed?

Because I wanted it.

Lesson learned? What we want, and what is best for us is not always the same thing. He is absolutely all knowing, and He knows that while I wanted this job, it must not have been the right fit for my family. He knows that the right position is out there somewhere, and with His help, and by trusting in Him, I know I will find it. Or it will find me. Whatever the case, I know that while things that seem right, and on paper might even seem perfect aren't always the best choice. The boys are learning that. They are learning that just because they "think" they want something...it doesn't always mean that it is what is best for them. Even when they are getting conflicting opinions and inconsistant information. Thank God they are learning to turn to Him and trust in Him too. That is the best lesson of all.