Sticky door handles and Sour Dispositions

What is it about having kids that makes you immune to certain things, that before having children, might have mortified you? With my big family, I often compare our home to a frat house, With that in mind, there are a few pitfalls of parenting that I would like to share with anyone who will care to listen. Prepare yourself, this is not for the faint of heart. You've been warned. Mothering is not as glamorous as I make it look.

Why does every door handle in the house suddenly have it's own texture when children appear? I don't know what it is, but they seem to have a magnetic power to anything sticky, or crust filled. I don't know about you, but the thought of a door knob that was easy to grab, but hard to let go of, would have made me toss my cookies before I had children.

Yesterday, I hung out with one of my very best friends, and her daughter brought me a present. She handed me a booger. And if you know me at all, you know that this is my very worst fear. I really handled myself well, and actually laughed. It wasn't nearly as gross as it sounds. (okay, yes it was, but I didn't fall on the floor into the fetal position.)

I'm sorry to say this as well, but I can pretty much change a diaper in about 15 seconds, and I don't really freak out if some diaper contents get on me. I'm not saying I enjoy it, but you know it happens, and I can deal with it. (Actually, i'd prefer that over boogers, but I digress...)

And it's not just gross stuff like that, after you've had three children pounding on the table shouting "bring us our food, bring us our food", yelling doesn't bother me as much either. I can ignore a tantrum induced screaming fit up to about a 2 inch range.

But, with all the new trials and booger laden objects that I deal with in my life, I have to say, I would much rather live in my frat house, than in any other house in the world.

The Thanksgivings of my childhood

As I prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday to come, I can't help but reflect on turkey days gone by. I remember what it was like going to my grandparents house for Thanksgiving every year. My sister and I would fight over a shirt for forty five minutes before we'd leave the house, and then whomever the victor was would prance around in said shirt, and we'd be on our way. Mom, in the passenger seat holding her annual seven layer salad, Dad driving, completely annoyed because my sister and I had made the last hour and a half miserable with our shrieking. But by the time we got to Grandma's house, he'd be better (mostly because he knew my sister and I would be out of his hair for a little while, and hey, who could blame him, we were pains in the butt). When we would arrive, we'd see Grandma at the stove cooking something up, most likely a ham, (I don't ever remember having turkey, always ham.) Grandpa sitting in his chair, making some "Grandpa joke" about how tall we'd gotten or how old our dad looked. Dinner always had 3 main staples, Ham, Mashed potatoes and gravy, and "the green stuff". Jello salad, in variations mind you, but it was always there, and my sister loved it every year. She'd have a massive pile of it on her plate, and on her face. And we always washed our dinner down with the Fresca. I don't know if you know this but Fresca is apparently the official brand of soda for the association of Grandparents. It was also a staple at all Holiday dinners. (Imagine gym socks and lime juice.)

Most of the details of the holidays are vague, but
mostly what I remember is seeing my family get together and laugh. I just always remember a sense of comfort and familiarity that doesn't happen often now that I have to be a responsible adult. I hope that I can provide that same feeling for my children every year like my family did. And that we always remember that we have so much to be thankful for throughout the year, and not just for this few weeks in the winter when the chill in the air reminds us that it's the Holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving.

See something new?

If you haven't noticed, I have posted a poll on my page, so I can get a feel for what the readers or "reader" would like to hear me go on and on about. So, if you have time, or care at all about me, please vote on my poll. :) Thanks

10 goals for 10 years

If you had to make a set of goals for yourself over the next ten years, what would they be? Can you get that specific, or are you like me, and are having trouble planning out the next hour? I tried and here is what I've come up with.

1. Lose 20lbs. (Yes, I realize this is vain, and trite, but it's definitely my number
1 by far.)

2. Be at least 3/4 of the way done towards my education for my career goal of
Christian Family and Marriage counseling.

3. Become a less stressed out mom. I tend to go overboard sometimes about things that
don't really matter in the long run.

4. Be a more patient wife. That's pretty self explanatory.

5. Become a more outgoing evangelist. By ten years time, I hope that I will be able
to share the truth more openly, and have this ministry in my life well under way.

6. To have traveled to a vacation destination outside of family members residences.

7. To have reached a point where wanting more does not include a 5 bedroom house. (whatever that might mean..)

8. To have lots of my photographs put on display somewhere, be it other peoples houses, or a different venue.

9. To be known for my humor, because I think I really am that funny.

10. Last but not least, I hope to be just more content with where I am, regardless of my situation. I tend to really have a hard time with that one.

Mr. Baxter

Yesterday was my husband's 28th birthday, I just wanted to take a minute and write a few things many people might not know about him in honor of his special day.

Baxter is allergic to all fresh fruit. His lips swell up, and his throat gets itchy if he eats any unprocessed fruit. Once it's been processed, or canned, it's fine. He's also allergic to every tree in Missouri.

Baxter was an eagle scout in high school. He went backpacking in the mountains at Philemont. He's a real outdoorsy guy, and loves to go camping, though we rarely can.

Baxter completed his undergraduate degree in 3 years. All the while getting married and having a baby. He's incredibly smart. :)

Our garage is FULL of tools. We are the neighborhood tool shop. Baxter is Mr. Fix It. He enjoys getting down and looking at how things work and putting things back together.

Baxter has accent assimilation. Anytime he is around anyone with a different accent, he takes it on, and speaks in that accent. It is especially noticeable with a spanish accent. I guess he figures if he can't speak the language, he can just try to sound like he can.

Baxter participated in civil war re-enactments. He has lots of great stories to tell of his comrades of the confederacy.

Most of all though, he is an AMAZING father, and husband and I couldn't have asked for more. God has truly blessed our family with this awesome man of God.

Happy Birthday, Baxi.

Good Neighbors

Do you know the names of your neighbors? Do you give an obligatory wave as you head out or home from work? Do you have get togethers, share lives? How have things changed in communities since the good old days when people used to use a neighborhood as an excuse to make friends. I can say with confidence that in our house, we really enjoy getting back to that feeling of community with our neighbors. Our house is about 5 feet away from the house next door, and recently, each evening, our families open up the windows and blinds and our kids talk through the screens, and my mommy counterpart across the alley, talk about what's going on in our lives. We share stories, and laughs, and fears. It's something that can't be substituted for a head nod or just a daily "hello". I understand that some people can't do this, and don't live in an area where it is possible, but think of the idea as a whole. It's more than being simply neighbors, it's plain neighborly.

What I did this weekend

I had a wonderful weekend with my sister, her husband, and my mom this weekend. A rundown of some things that make me happy.

1. I got cute new boots. Always love retail therapy.
2. I got to see beautiful colors of fall, and trees, people. There are actual trees there. Not baby trees in the subdivision, actual mature tress, but I digress...
3. The Hogs won. Can you say Darren McFadden, and Felix Jones? I love it!
4. I got to hang out with my baby sister on her birthday! I hardly ever get to goof off with her anymore so it was great.
5. I met up with a certain best friend at Chile's on our way out of town, she shall remain nameless for unknown reasons.
6. I got to rejuvenate as a person, and got a "mommy break". I'm ready to get back in the game with the girls now. yayyyy!
7. I got to see my hilarious brother in law in action. That man cracks me up. Really.
8. I got to come home to my husband. :)
9. My mom rocks because she puts up with a lot from me. I'm quite the pain in the butt.
10. I can't believe you read all of this. I hope it was worth it.

Here's to a great weekend.

Full Circle

I guess it's time to update everyone on our most recent exciting news. After a wonderful and refreshing interview process, Baxter is officially the youth pastor of Collin Creek Church in Plano, TX. We are so excited for what God is going to use us for there, and what we will learn and how we will grow in this process. This church is already beginning to feel like home, and we are so happy about the next step in the journey!

A kinder, gentler, muslim culture.

I am so glad to be a woman in a culture where women are valued and cherished. I can't imagine being brought up in a place where things like this are accepted and practiced.



Move over, Dr. Phil, there's a new relationship expert in town.

He's Saudi author and cleric, "Dr." Muhammad Al-'Arifi, who in a remarkable segment broadcast on Saudi and Kuwaiti television in September, counseled young Muslim men on how to treat their wives.

"Admonish them – once, twice, three times, four times, ten times," he advised. "If this doesn't help, refuse to share their beds."

And if that doesn't work?

"Beat them," one of his three young advisees responded.

"That's right," Al-'Arifi said.

Click here to view the segment at MEMRITV.org

He goes on to calmly explain to the young men that hitting their future wives in the face is a no-no.

"Beating in the face is forbidden, even when it comes to animals," he explained. "Even if you want your camel or donkey to start walking, you are not allowed to beat it in the face. If this is true for animals, it is all the more true when it comes to humans. So beatings should be light and not in the face."

His final words of wisdom?

"Woman, it has gone too far. I can't bear it anymore," he tells the men to tell their wives. "If he beats her, the beatings must be light and must not make her face ugly.

"He must beat her where it will not leave marks. He should not beat her on the hand... He should beat her in some places where it will not cause any damage. He should not beat her like he would beat an animal or a child -- slapping them right and left.

"Unfortunately, many husbands beat their wives only when they get mad, and when they start beating, it as if they are punching a wall – they beat with their hands, right and left, and sometimes use their feet. Brother, it is a human being you are beating. This is forbidden. He must not do this."

Take that, Match.com!