ARCTIC BLAST

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...the weather guys are calling it an Arctic Blast. It has been snowing here off and on for over a week. The first large accumulation was on Saturday, Dec 20th, when it snowed for 14 hours straight! Then on Sunday, we got a little more snow and about 3/8ths inch of sleet. We measured the total snowfall last night (Sunday night) at 9 1/2 inches. After a few hours of shoveling and getting the driveway and the car cleared off, and chains on and ready for this morning, we awoke to more snowfall...almost 7 inches fell overnight for a grand total of just over 16 1/2 inches. Record breaking snowfall! So once again we got the shovels and plowed the walkway to the driveway and cleared the snow off the car so Brian could go to work this morning. I even have had to clear a path out the back door and clear a spot for the dog to go potty :) Weather reporters are predicting snow through the 25th...Looks like a white Christmas this year! (Laugh)

ONLY 9 Months Away!

Life has kept me busy! The girls are officially seniors and I am officially old I guess. The countdown has begun...how many days until they move out...according to them, about 9 months! Not sure how I feel about that yet...that answer will be revealed in about 10 months :)

So I started a facebook page awhile ago, and now have 15 friends. I'm still not sure what the purpose of the website is, unless it's just supposed to help you waste time. If you're ever on facebook, give me a "poke"...whatever that is.

This school year should prove interesting and full of great experiences for all of us. I'm looking forward to seeing what decisions the girls make about college. I'm so proud of the young women they have become (nothing like me when I was 17--thank God!).

Even though I haven't blogged in quite awhile, I really don't have a lot to write. Tune in to see if I survive senior year with twin daughters!...and pray for me:) (Laugh)

I am Proud of My Kids!

My kids are the best kids in the world. People have often told me that teenagers are difficult and are cause for much worry, heartache, and grief to parents. I believe the exact opposite! I think parents are the source of the grief and heartache! My teens are just who I raised them to be...respectful, loving, kind, and wonderful! I think it's important to listen to my kids without judgement and tell them often that I am proud of them (not their achievements), and to love them unconditionally. They deserve my respect for their decisions and privacy. Most importantly, I try not to manipulate my kids! My kids rock! Check out my Picasa Web Album (My Kids Rock) and you will see how awesome they are for yourself...it's so obvious how much they love life! (Love)

The Winner of American Idol

Okay, this did happen a few weeks ago, but it took me a while to face the facts that David Cook is The 2008 AI...he's good, but it really should have been my Michael! I'm sure we will see a few of this year's contestants make it big...there was a lot of talent! (Live)

Click Here to check him out on Ellen

Michael Johns appears on Ellen

Michael is hot!
Too bad he's not on AI anymore.

Click the picture and watch him sing a U2 Song. (Oh, and Carly is singing with him.) Enjoy! (Love)

This is Hillarious...

Japanese Train Push. Click on picture to view a hillarious video!

I saw this on Ellen today and had to find it on-line. Did I already say it's hillarious? (Laugh)

Michael Johns was sent home! What the heck?

I started watching American Idol (AI) this season with my girls (and Bri). We watched all the auditions and had some great laughs. I immediately liked Michael Johns during the auditions and picked him as my favorite to win AI. Aside from having the most talent, he is Australian which means he has an awesome accent, oh and then there's the fact that he's good looking! He made it to the top eight...but tonight to the surprise of the entire world, he was sent home. He had the least viewer votes. What the heck?

Even though he lost on AI, I believe he will be a rock star some day soon. He has a great voice, a great look and wow...did I say he looks hot?!

Okay, even though I'm bummed because I won't get to watch him on AI, I know the world will see him on a much bigger stage soon.

Now...let's see who the dumb viewer voters push through to the end. (Laugh)

I joined Mamasource...

I was invited to join Mamasource.com but didn't know anything about it. Turns out it's a cool website for moms. I wish I had access to this when I was a mom of young kids. Basically it's a website for moms to get info and advice about being a mom. If you have time check it out...it's free.

One of the questions I answered in my profile was: The Hardest Thing For Me About Being A Mom Is... (I thought it was a good question and a good answer :0), so I included it here):

What's not hard? Like marriage, children are work. But I believe some work is enjoyable, like raising my kids. I have always tried to view my role as a mom as one who is preparing my kids for life as adults. It's a scary world out there and if I don't prepare them to go out into that scary world, then all I will do is worry and they will not be prepared to live.
Instead, I have talked to and taught my kids about the world they would someday be thrust into. I've given them learning experiences and opportunities for failure, so that they can learn, at a small cost, the importance of self awareness and responsibility. I've taught them life skills at an early age so that they could practice and sharpen these skills now, so that when they are alone, these things will come easy and they can focus on those things which are difficult.
Letting my fourth-grade son go without lunch because he left his lunch bag sitting on the counter-that's hard. Or letting my 10th-grade daughter worry about a poor grade because she is too afraid or shy to talk to the teacher about a missing assignmnet that she already turned in-that's hard. Sending my 16-year old twins on a church mission trip to Mexico-that's hard. But if I remember that these children do not belong to me, but to God, and my job is to teach them to live, then it's a lot easier. And if I know I've done my job when they are toddlers and small children, I am more confident they will know what to do in the world without me. (Live)

Springtime is Here!

I like Spring (although not as much as Autumn). Spring means warmer weather is coming. Warm weather means carpi's and sandals, which means shaving my legs and pedicures. Spring brings beautiful blooms and the smell of fresh cut grass, which means my allergies perk up. Allergies mess up my sleep and make me wish I had stock in Kleenex. But still, I like Spring.

Spring is that wet stepping stone into Summer, which is why I like Spring. Although I wish Summer was longer here in Oregon, I still enjoy the few short months of long days and warm nights. I enjoy the kids home for summer vacation, hosting BBQs for friends, visits to the coast, and yes, even yard work.
I've learned to enjoy yard work because I try to keep on top of the "work" part of it so that I can enjoy the beauty of my yard. Each year we add a little something new to our yard. Last year it was Heather, Heavenly Bamboo, and some Rosemary. This year we plan to add more Heather because it's pretty and adds color even in the Autumn and Winter.

Which brings me to my favorite season (and my least favorite season). Autumn means cozy fires and time with family. It means the kids go back to school (yeah!) and the holidays are coming. But the colors of the foliage is the real reason Autumn is my favorite season.

Of course Winter has to follow Autumn. And who really looks forward to cold, dreary days? It rains all day, unless there's a day or two of snow or ice, and everything in my yard is bare. Which reminds me of a funny little joke:


God was over heard talking to St. Francis:

God: "Frank, you know all about gardens & nature. What in the world is going on down there with those humans? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracted butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles."

St. Francis: "It's the tribe that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass."

God: "Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?"

St. Francis: "Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn."

God: "The Suburbanites must be happy that the spring rains and cool weather make grass grow really fast."

St. Francis: "Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week."

God: "They cut it? Do they then bail it like hay?"

St. Francis: "Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up & put it in bags."

God: "They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?"

St. Francis: "No sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away."

God: "Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?"

St. Francis: "Yes, sir."

God: "These Suburbanites must be relieved when we slow down the growth of plants. That surely saves them a lot of work."

St. Francis: "You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it."

God: "What nonsense! At least they kept the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural circle of life."

St. Francis: "You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and have them hauled away."

God: "No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and keep the soil moist and loose?"

St. Francis: "After throwing away your leaves, they go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves."

God: "And where do they get this mulch?"

St. Francis: "They cut down trees and grind them up."

God: "Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..."

God: "Never mind I think I just heard the whole story."

Anyway, Happy Springtime! (Live)

Happy New Year ~ 2008

'Tis the season for resolutions...if you make them.

First, I must take a look back at 2007. What a year. I'm glad it's over. So much happened last year that I know I won't be able to recall it all right now...but here goes...

It all started with a stomach ache that turned into a trip to the hospital on the morning of December 31, 2006 (New Year's Eve last year). After several miserable hours in the ER, I came back home with meds and canceled our New Year's Eve Party. A week later, I went back to the ER and they finally made the correct diagnosis...surgery to remove my gall bladder Whew! That was only January!

In February I turned 40! Enough said.



(Oh, I also moved Real Estate Companies in February. After several months of looking for a new broker, I went with the most progressive/cutting edge company around, Prudential Northwest Properties.)

Everyone already knows that the RE market went soft last year, but even though work was sparse, I met and helped several great people find wonderful homes. (Here's my plug...I always appreciate your referrals, so send someone my way!)

On with the year.

Brian started a new job/career. Our new church (where we've met lots of new friends) celebrated it's One Year Anniversary. Our twin daughters turned 16 and got their driver's licenses. And our son turned 13, which made us parents of all teenagers.

Which brings us up to date...even though I'm sure I missed a few happenings.

It's 2008. A time for Resolutions, which I've never made. Maybe it's time to start.

I have several things I'd like to resolve to do or not to do. Here goes...
I want to eat healthier, drink more water & less pop, walk more and spend more time with friends. I want to pray and read my Bible more consistently, and spend more time developing the new friendships I have made with the women at my church. Finally, I want to work on my spending and budget.

What are your 2008 New Year's Resolutions? (Live)