at the waters edge

We have almost completed the water challenge--
and thank you for being patient with the
missed posts here and there

We will end the challenge on Christmas Eve
so Christmas Day all will be back to normal
as far as our lives and how we use water

but I hope that  our thinking will not be back to normal

I hope our thoughts seek and take on a new normal

I hope water takes on its own life
in our minds

That each time we use water we view it differently

and gratefully

But I hope our thoughts
turn
to words
and our words
turn to
actions

and I hope it doesn't end there

I hope our actions
turn into habits
and our habits turn
into our new character
and
then
it turns into
our destiny

I hope we (and I am meaning "I" here )  get
risky
get
bold
get
busy

Tomorrow's challenge is to
get to the water's edge,

and dive in!

Every time you drink a glass of water
P-R-A-Y
Pray for the thirsty

When you shower, brush your teeth, use the restroom
T-H-I-N-K
Think of Africa, Bolivia, Any where without

Any time you use water tomorrow
A-C-T
Act on behalf of those in need

 Give something                                     
Sell something

DO SOMETHING

Sunday Funday

linking up for Sunday Funday

3 times

The water challenge is winding down and Christmas is gearing up.

My challenge and hope in giving up something water related everyday
was so that we would consider how
fortunate we are to have a basic need
like water
met.

I hope awareness was also brought to how dependant we are
on water , and how difficult it would
be to go without it
for a single act i.e. cooking, showering. washing
or even a single day

As Christmas consumes our thoughts
I hope we as Americans
will not buy into all that we "need"
and realize that we have what we need.

I'm not pointing fingers

I'm looking in a mirror

I have everything I need

and most everything of what I want

 ( Mr. Rodgers says I'm low maintenance materialistically.  A corona, sunset  and family and I'm good --emotionally , well that is a different tale)

So this season our family has decided to skip the big gifts

We are headed to a cabin of a friend in NC for TIME together

No cell phone coverage (hadn't broke that news to the youngin's yet)

No cable

No Internet (wait for the scream  around the 23rd)

Just US.

 

Happy Mouth heads to college next year ,

and our family life will be different.

It all went too fast and

 I am not dealing with it pitifully well.

But that is a whole nother story.

Now we will spend money ,

 its true, on things we want.

But we are systematically trying to wean ourselves from our current reality of MORE

 that we foolishly bought into.

To some our standard of living might seem modest. 

While we live next to the Joneses, we could care less about keeping up with them.

Much less socializing with them.

But we like everyone. spend our money where we want to.

And we are fortunate enough to have money  to do that -Above our needs.

But we are scaling back. 

We simply  do not need.

And it is a wonderful place to be.

I hope that my heart will continue to grow in ways that are pleasing to God.

I hope the girl in the mirror ( and no Michael Jackson lyrics please)

 looks way deeper into the reflection

I hope she sees needs that are yet unmet,

and then I hope she moves her feet-

away from the mirror

and towards meeting those needs.

Dig Deep Give Well has made a huge impact on our family.

Rollercoaster is planning on going next summer to Africa  as well.

We have plans to put in 5 wells next summer.

I hope you will join us in giving a basic need to so many,  and I hope you will consider giving it out of your wants.

That you will trade your wants for an other's needs.

And that each time we look in the mirror our reflection will look a lot more like Jesus than us.

I hope that like the Grinch who stole Christmas

that God will make my heart grow too big big to be contained .

And they will say in

"Wantville" that   her heart grew

three sizes that day.

ALL DAY FAST FROM WATER

Today is the all day fast from water

Nothing to drink adn no using any water at all

I think we will all be surprised (and thirsty) at the things we have to let go of today

What it Means

tomorrow's challenge:

take the hardest challenge of the past challenges and repeat it

but also please share it

if you have done the water challenges:
 all of them , a few or even one

drop me a comment and let me know what you did
and how it went

and
what it
meant.


and what it CAN mean.



water challenge

Recovering from the sickness which now seems to be manifested in my eyes only.

Oh well

Tomorrowas challenge is simple:
NO botteld water

Just drink straight out of the tap
Fill any cup or bottle out of the tap

and know that your unfiltered tap water is
extrememly safe
and cleaner than 95% of the world's access of water
(especially if you live in the U.S or Europe)

Heres to tap Water!!!

so sorry

I'm so sorry I have missed a few challenges.

I have been sick,
not just under the weather
or yuk icky sick

but really increasingly sick.

And yesterday it all reared its ugly head-



in a mutant dragon like fashion!

an accurate picture of the germ attacking me!!

So I am truly sorry for the delay. 

As I type this it is Saturday at 3:00 in the afternoon.

I have been vertical for about 30 total minuted since last night.

I have been drinking tons of water, keeping it by my bed

 sipping it between hacks and gags.

As much as I am drinking why I am still dry as a bone?


Where in the world is my body taking it?


As sick as I am, I'm totally grateful

I'm in a warm bed

with cool water at my side

and a Walgreens down the corner.

I will recover from this illness,

I will be myself again in a few days
and I all will be back to normal.

It's just a wicked cold/infection of some sort.

If I didn't  have water  my outlook would be different

It could lead to a much worse condition and possibly catching
another type of infection.

But at the very least it would prolong the illness without a doubt.

So today's post is not so much about what water product to give up
but about thinking and dwelling on
ALL that we have

simply available 

and being grateful.

But I really want everyone to be able to have the simple gift of water.

And more than that :
 To let them know that they are loved .

Loved by God Almighty.

How will they know?

We will show them.

Friday Water challenge

Fridays challenge is really a think through more than anything else

But imagine getting a simple scrape or cut

And then imagine having either no water to wash it off with

or having to wash it with diseased ridden filthy water.

Gross?

Scary?

Yeah I know eww!!

Anyway if you get or bump or bruise or your child does
think on these things
or even take the challenge and don't wash it off

See what it looks like the day after not washing it off-  definitely gonna be worse off

Leftover

So today was filled with leftovers:

Literally:

Leftover Food, Leftover Time, and Leftover Lists!!!

I thought I was productive until I flipped the paper over and saw the rest  of the list!!!

Oh well.

We cooked nothing today. 
We used the good ole microwave and reheated a few things
(that didn't take water to cook the first time)

I had leftover hummus, croutons, chips, salsa, a graham cracker , some celery and a glass of milk!!

Now that's a leftover meal.



It did NOT look like this!

 I'm not even sure what the kids had.



We all ate in shifts
, and no one ate at the table b/c I can't even see it!!

We have a wee bit of decluttering to do!!!

So random eating in various locations does not exactly equal the" little house on the prairie" moment
but I thank God its not the Simpsons!

So bellies full we are off to bed -
Another day beckons and I need the energy for the "leftovers" on the LIST!!

Tomorrow's challenge is this :  NO cleaning that requires water!!

Yeah you're off the hook- 

if anyone questions you tell 'em  Bamamama put you on a water challenge and your staying true!!!

Not buying in?

Well I'll leave you  with a favorite quote from one of the funniest women in history:

My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance. ~Erma Bombeck

A watched pot never boils

tomorrow's challenge is simple:

Don't do any cooking that requires water.

No boiling the spaghetti

You can't even watch the pot- and ensure it won't boil.

No rice, No hard boiled eggs...

you get the picture

Time to Move

Oops I failed to post Day 7 which would have been Saturday
and then I failed to post the challenge for today!!
I am so sorry!!!
My only explanation is that I had a terrific weekend!!!!
My family and I had loads of fun!!
Mr. Rogers and I actually cooked together
and no one was injured!
We did the Once a Month Cooking Plan
But we only prepared one week.
Needless to say He chopped, I baked

He stirred, I spiced
and now we have 7 meals frozen and ready to
whip out when the holiday season gets busy!!

Rollercoaster and I went to MamaRiceCake's house for craft night on Saturday
and had a blast.



Forrest went to basketball camp, had a friend over and was good and grumpy
for it on the way to church.
Alas, Happy Mouth is on restriction (nothing like senior year to slack off) and
we made her run all our errands for us since she couldn't go anywhere else!
She whined about what unfair parents we are, a pure sign we are doing something right!!
Anyway back on track. I did manage to not shower today
so I am calling that a score for a waterless challenge!

Tomorrow will be Day 9 and the challenge is this:

Do not wash your face all day.

This one is a bit dear to my heart for a good reason
My friend Lisa Brodie, that started Dig Deep Give Well with her husband Curtis,
 was so moved by something she saw while on medical mission in Africa about 5 years ago.

There was a young girl about 7 who had a baby on her back in a sling.
Not uncommon for this culture,
 as young girls are put in charge of younger siblings while the motherss work the fields.

The baby had a runny nose and eyes, due to a simple cold,
 and flies were all over her as the congestion was pouring out of her .

Lisa asked a doctor nearby why they didn't clean the baby.

The doctor's reply is what moved my friend to ACTION.

He said" There is no clean water for even the simple act of washing this child's face off.
 Over 80% of what we are treating in this village could be prevented if there was access to clean water."

This resignated in Lisa's heart and she let it lead her to MOVE.
My prayer is that we allow God to stir our hearts to beat so quickly that it results in the ultimate blood flow to our FEET!

As you feel a bit "icky" today  remember that all we are really doing is postponing   our water events.

We will eventually turn on our faucets and receive clean water.

Think today of those little ones who not.

But do not stop there-  let your thoughts bear fruit
May they consume us until everyone receives.



DDGW 2010



Day 6

Tomorrow is going to be a big one for many
So let me just write it and then
back away as quickly as possible
from this blog 

and dodge the outbursts and
flying debris

okay here goes
Friday December 2, 2012 water Challenge is:

NO COFFEE

Day 5

Today was interesting.
 My hands are drying out from all the
Hand sanitizer I used!!!

I had to pick a day that I was teaching preschool>
Oh well so much for planning.

Anyway tomorrows challenge is pretty simple

Don't wash any clothes or dishes.



That's really not me!

 I'm taking it at a free pass to lay off the laundry.



Okay this could be me


Let em know if you have chosen something different
and what it meant to you.

I would love to hear your stories!!!


Photo courtesy of anntaitor.com

1 in 4

I did not fail today. I didn't have a coke or tea!!
Tomorrow's assignment is--- and I know this is going to gross everyone out

but try to think of the immunity building opportunities!!

Here goes:
Do not wash your hands for an entire day.

Grossing you out?

Think you might pick up a germ or two?

Afraid you might get sick?

You might ,

But is probably will not be deadly.

In Africa it very well is.

1 out of 4 deaths, under the age of 5 worldwide are  due to

Water Related Disease.

To bring this alive: 

Take a look at the picture of the children above

There are 8

1 out of 4 can die--  that is 2 children gone from the 8

1 out of 4 are dying.

So what does not washing your hands tomorrow have to do with this;

and how could it possibly help save anyone?

YOU can help

YOU can change statistics

YOU can change history

I hope by giving up something water related each day

it will cause you to be mindful

and grateful.

Mindful of another's plight

and grateful enough to give.

Give your prayers, give your time , give your money.

Dig Deep Give Well is just

one organization that builds wells in rural Africa.

It has made a difference already in over 5,000 peoples lives.

Check out the web page for facts,solutions and opportunities.

 (http://www.digdeepgivewell.org/)

Pray with us

Come to Africa with us

Inspire your community, school, place of worship to be the solution for the 1 in 4.



No dice on ice

okay  I messed up
I am all into the water challenge and yet in the midst of my day
I had to do a chick fa la drive thru

all in between  school, tutoring and b-ball practice
I somehow forgot to eat ..........
and I swear I was going to pass out or eat my own liver if I didn't
get some food.

so after getting my kids meal with lemonade I realize
that my drink has ice in it and I am a loser

Hope you were more successful.

Anyway I am way tired
Mr. Rogers is out of town for his yearly hunting camp

when the girls turned 13, 10 and 6  he felt the need to relieve a little stress
and hunting was the only legal killing he could do. 
But that's another story

Anyway  I'm turning in early tonight

Tomorrows challenge is this:
No sodas, pop, cokes  whatever you call em'

They all need water to make them  and they are off the list for tomorrow

and remember why we are doing it and think of those who dont have the same choices

and I let it make you act on thier behalf.

let me know if you did better on the ice gig

One Down 29 to GO

okay y'all I am headed to bed and I will NOT
get my customary glass of cold water
I was so one of those kids who asked "for a cup of water" about 3 times and drove my parents crazy.

I am opting not to brush my teeth
I already feel fuzzy.....

I will go to bed thirsty and wake up thirsty

BY no means do I mean to suggest that I am
as thirsty as those in Africa or other parts of the world that lack clean water.

I am just trying to get closer to their situation than I was before.
And I hope you will to so that
together things can change.



I will probably really notice the thirst as I wake throughout the night.

I keep a glass of water by my bed and drink out for it when I get dry.
I'm pretty sure I do it in my sleep.

But not tonight.

That being said, the water challenge for tomorrow is :  (drum roll please)

Do not use any ICE. 

Yes ice, that would be frozen water. :)

So no ice in the teas which might just mean no ice tea

Hang in there my Southern Sisters!!!

See you tomorrow

Water Challenge Day One

Today we made it back home to Sweet Home Alabama.

It's always good to see family but oh how sweet it is to be home.......

Tomorrow we are going to decorate for Christmas .
I love this part of Christmas....
everyone else .....
well not as much.

So looks like tomorrow will contain a bit of Forced Family Fun
or the triple "F" as we refer to it at times

But it also start the 30 day water challenge.

So to start things off I will make it simple.

In the a.m. I will brush my teeth
S-L-O-W-L-Y  

and I will think about how easy it is to get it straight out of the faucet.

I will be glad it is cold and doubly glad it is clean.

But at night the challenge for me and you will be this:

Pretend that after your evening meal you have NO available water.

So that means no sleepy time tea for me,
or chocolate milk for the kids (it it takes water to make it -its off limits)

and (brace yourself for the grossness)
NO BRUSHING MY TEETH.

Now I have crashed out of exhaustion before with out  polishing the pearls,
but this time I am going to do it because "I will have no water."

Now you and I both know we do- but I am going to act  like I don't and dwell on that a bit.

I am sure it will start to bother me
and in the morning when my smile is covered with the velvet funk
I (along with others) are going to notice.

So there is Sundays challenge : NO WATER RELATED ANYTHING AFTER DINNER

I'll let you know how it goes
I plan to greet Mr. Rogers with some love first thing in the morning
I am sure we will be equally "freshtastic!!"

How did you start your day?

How do you use water?

Did you wake up and use the restroom?

Did you drink a glass of clean water form the faucet first thing this morning?

Did you make coffee?

Did you brush your teeth?

I did all of the above,

and I couldn't have done it with out WATER.

And I got to do it with CLEAN water. NO dirt , no plants, no animal feces
didn't have to share it with the fishes.

Just some food .....
 water for thought as you about your day today

Waterless Days

 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Everyone is in the mood to be thankful,
to remember all they have been blessed with
 and all that God has done for them, especially this past year.

We all think of the basics:
 family,   friends,   jobs,
homes,  food on the table,
clean water to drink,
access to medical care,
freedom..........
and on  and on.

And then it is as if Friday brings out the dark beasts
 of complaining,
short sightedness,
greed and negativism
that we allow the other 364 days of the year.

Know wonder they call it Black Friday!!!

But here is what God has laid on my heart  :

The Water Challenge.

We as a family are involved in providing wells in Tanzania.(www.digdeepgivewell.com)

Happy Mouth recently went to Africa
this summer to help provide a well in the village of Ndevesi .
Don't bother trying to find it on google earth
 it doesn't show up!!-now that's "remote" !!

And yes I need to blog and provide more pictures (senior year is killing me!!)
So here it is the challenge and I hope you will join me:

• Everyday I will be blogging on water.
• I have listed everyday things that we do with water.
• Each day I will and challenge you to give up one aspect of water and

DO WITHOUT.

This will continue until Christmas Day
 and for extra measure of compassion
 I have thrown in a complete water fast day on the 15th of December.
(click on the link for instructions)

The challenge will start on Sunday November 27th  and end on Christmas day- 

30 waterless days

I hope you will join me

I realize I have 3 followers but if you ll re post

 then together we can bring more awareness

of Africa's water crisis and cultivate of  attitude of gratefulness

 instead of taking for granted the basic blessings of God,

 that here in America and other developed countries we have everyday.

Tomorrow I will post the "ways of water" 

(all the ways we use it)

and challenge you to pick a different one everyday to give up.

 And please let me know what you did and how it went!!!

Until then- enjoy your Thanksgiving ,

 undoubtedly made with water, and

celebrate the enormously costly gift of Living Water through Jesus!!

The Speech

okay  this post is politically incorrect
I'm just going to warn you from the start

Let me take you to a familiar scene in my home
perhaps in your home too

It could be 6:30 in the morning in a rush to school
or
it could be 11:30 at night after I have gone to be
or even
a text in the middle of the day, or a request the moment they have laid eyes on me

it is the inevitable

"hey mom  where is my_______________
or "hey mom do you have my______________

or my favorite "hey mom I need______________________

you can add whatever you want here in the blanks .

It really doesn't matter. 
the need, item or request is immaterial

and just once - just one time

I am going to lose it
and say what I really want to

I have imagined this scenario in my mind several times

I refer to it as : (here comes the un PC part)

"Let me just pull that out of my butt"  speech

(and depending on the intensity of the mood I may substitute a word or two)

Now you may be thinking "How trashy"  but just here the speech

and   then ponder how you can use it.

It goes a little like this;

Child 1, 2 or 3 (doesn't matter) says one of the above fill in the blank statements/questions
This being the 50th such utterance

I slowly turn around...................
Left eye twitching,  lip curling a bit
Eyes ablaze with thrusting daggers

and I begin

"Why of course sweetheart  Let me just pull this out of my butt.

I know exactly where your shirt, homework, shoes, keys, pen, curling iron, drink is.
It is right here - let me just pull it out of my butt

Can I get you something to eat even though I'm in the middle of cleaning up cat poop?
 why of course darling , have a 3 course meal , ill just whip it up out of my butt

Whatever you need , whatever you lost   I have it  yes and in an instant too.
(I'm starting to sound like an infomercial!)

Whatever your desire, I have it here
let me just  PULL IT OUT OF MY BUTT.

No wonder the dang thing is so big, its a storage area! 
 Whoo knew?"

Okay  , There I said it (at least on the blog)
at this point if I really did do this

My kids would look at me like I had lost it , and they wouldn't be far of.

Happy Mouth would only laugh at me and continue to state her requests.

Rollercoaster (who is about to be renamed -stay tuned) would just be mad
especially if I slipped and used a synonym.

and Forrest would just be grossed out.

But there you have it .
  It has yet to happen

but when it does I'll let you know

I just post  "Politically Incorrect"
and you'll know.

One in a million, one of a kind

Okay I love the fact that each of my girls has her own unique personality.


Sometimes I look at them together and think
 " How did these all come from the same womb?"
 (And I might add here the same loins of the father)

People often remark to me on how different they each are,
not just in looks but also in personality.

The oldest we know and have heard about often
(hey what can I say Happy Mouth provides me with plenty of material)

But Rollercoaster who has become a freshman this year is bit more of a Closed book
 with ever-changing covers.
 Once you think you have a clue-- BAM!!
 She has changed her ways (or her mood) again.

She recently has been a bit more of a mystery than usual.

And as an A+ neurotic mother
 I worry     prepare.

......about peer pressure,

about friends (who they are or lack of)

Worry  Prepare just to worry prepare.
 (It’s my job.   I mean 97% of what I worry  prepare for never happens
 --so it must be working right?)

Just stay with me here…..

There is a project at school against drunk driving since homecoming is coming up.

So Rollercoaster volunteers to

Get this…………………..

Get taken by the Grim Reaper!

Yes none other  than THE Grim Reaper, you know the death caller.

She is one out of 30 that can be taken by drunk driving.

Sobering thought. No pun intended.


The cause is good.
To have awareness about NOT screwing up your or someone else’s life
by being stupid and drinking on homecoming weekend.



So here is how it works

The school has 1 in 30 kids volunteer for this project.
 Rollercoaster of course jumps right in.

The Grim Reaper appears at the student’s door, says nothing
but holds up a sign with their name on it.

The student then gets up and follows the Reaper,
puts on  a black shirt that says

“Is it worth it?"

on the front.

And 1 in 30 on the back.

They wear THIS SHIRT ALL DAY and are not allowed to speak to anyone
 the rest of the day b/c hypothetically they don’t exist anymore.
This does give me shivers. It should you too.

The reality is horrific. http://www.car-accident-advice.com/statistics-of-teen-drunk-driving.html

Rollercoaster comes home and explains the scenario to me after school and exclaims

“It was awesome the Grimm Reaper came and had my name on a sign.

 I left, put my shirt on and didn’t talk to anyone all day.!!!!"It was Awesome!!!”


Awesome?
Really not being able to talk to anyone all day?

I would curl up and die and so would Happy Mouth

Not  Rollercoaster

My shy , maybe I will speak today- maybe I won’t - child.

She was on cloud 9, hog heaven, happier than a pig in mud!!

Yep!!! She promoted a good cause and got to do it by being virtually invisible

In Rollercoaster's world that is the stuff of legends!!!

Time keeps on slippin.....

Slippin'.....
Slippin'.........
Into the future.

Thank you Steve Miller Band.

I can't believe it has been almost four months since I have blogged.!!
It's such a shame really because so many wonderful things have happened and I have truly been
spot on with the funny!!

I am going to try to write everyday about something or someone
and not worry about making it spectacular .

I truly stress over the typing part b/c I'm a "looker of the keys" when I type
and I type so fast I am extra grateful for spellcheck!!

Just for the record I have not been
sitting on my hindquarters eating bon-bons.
(which I think I am entitled to as a Trophy Wife" and all)


I have sent off one daughter to Africa - without I might add, becoming an alcoholic while waiting for her return!! 
Gotten another through middle school successfully (snaps for bamammama)

I have been attending 6 Vball games a week and a tournament
every single weekend since the August plus a few Sball tournaments on a few Sundays.

 Throw in a few 100 practices, the beginning of school for Happy Mouth,
 Rollercoaster and Forrest , and my new teaching gig 3 times a week
 and you are starting to get a glimpse of the madness.

Add a dash of travel to help my mother, 2 college visits,
surgery consultations, doctor appointments
and the addition of 2 cats and you get what  my sister and I refer to as
"self inflicted stress" or "SIS"

So here I am on November 8th-Rollercoaster's B-day!!!



Mr. Rogers and Rollercoaster

She is 15 today!!! Can't believe it !!!!! 

That is how grown up she is , but in my heart I see this:



Tomorrow I will take her to get her drivers permit.
Soon she will be driving on her own.

She is actually interested in attending Alabama Math and Science High School.

She would have to live on campus.  That would make her away from home.

This would mean 2 out of 3 of my girls would leave home at the same time!!!
This is a whole nother story- but the point is

She is growing up. They all are.

And they will keep growing...........

and I will keep loving them.

Today is a great day

I can't freeze or rewind the time

but I can do today

I can do now

and I intend to do it well before it to

slips into the future.

Happy Birthday My Sweet One!!!

Aged Cheese

I really am a blogger. I know it doesn't seem like it but I am.

I have so much rolling around in my head that I NEED to blog- or at least write.

Somewhere or on something.
Otherwise I just talk about it all and then Mr. Rogers glazes over about 2 minutes in.

My main problem is that I live in the land of
"NO TIME"

By the time I have gotten up, done the morning routine, cleaned up both me and the house, headed to preschool , loved and taught some cutie patooties, I have just enough time to run an errand then pick up Forrest, do snack homework and head to one of the 6 Vball games per week we have , then come home throw something together that resembles food , prepare for tomorrow (which if I'm lucky includes brushing my teeth)  read , pray and CRASH!!!

Whew!!  So on my rare day off I am going to Blog, I just have to much funny in me not to share.

I will ignore the dirt under my feet, the sour smell from the kitchen and the mound of laundry on the couch!!!

I don't teach on Tuesdays , but I am always thinking of the next project for school.

We are now approaching grandparents day,

A day I personally feel was invented by Hallmark to once again drain us of our money at $5.00 a card, but hey that's just me.

It is not that I don't think grandparents (and especially my kid's grandparents ) don't deserve to be recognized
I'm just more of a "love 'em well the other 364 days a year " kinda gal.

But none the less-- it is grandparents day on
 Sunday September 11th.
And to be honest I would rather think about our grandparents on Sept 11th
than watch anything on CNN.

So at school we are going to honor our grandparents with a breakfast and gifts.

The gift we are making is a place mat with a hand print tree trunk and thumbprint leaves.

Cute.
Cheesy ,but cute.

To be honest the one in the book looks,,,umm,,
well how can I put this,,.
L-A-M-E.

So as usual I feel the need to spice it up a bit!!!

Now I am a teacher who believes in process over product.

I want my kids to do the craft,
 I don't care if the eyes are in the wrong place
If that is where your child wants to put them
Go for it
You will not be receiving any teacher made products out of my classroom.

So staying true to my standards I know  it needs to be jazzed up a bit ,
 but I will not be adding to the art process.  
But I reserve the right to add a title, phrase or poem 
that will inevitably melt the heart of the receiver.

I check out grandparent quotes online at the quote garden  and come up with some great ones:

If nothing is going well, call your grandmother. ~Italian Proverb

Do you know why grandchildren are always so full of energy? They suck it out of their grandparents. ~Gene Perret

A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart. ~Author Unknown

These are all way to sweet!!!


cute I like these , but then I stumble on to a few sarcastic ones (I cant resist sarcasm)



On the seventh day God rested. His grandchildren must have been out of town. ~Gene Perret
I personally know my mother likes this one!!! we wear her out

To become a grandparent is to enjoy one of the few pleasures in life for which the consequences have already been paid.  ~Robert Brault

and this little gem:

The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy. ~Sam Levenson

Oh my goodness.
 I know my mama and my oldest have conspired against me on more than one occasion.

Truly being a grandparent has got to be all of the cool and none of the rule!!!!

Hmmm.
 I wonder if I could use that?  

Anyway I did think of a few of my own that I'm sure just wouldn't make the cut:

For instance:
 The nut doesn't fall far from the family tree.  (hey it is a hand print tree-just sayin')
or
Oh I see where he/she gets that _______________(fill in the blank with your favorite (not) trait of the child.

Okay  just joking  .
 I love my critters that I teach, but you gotta have a sense of humour about ti all .
Otherwise you will go crazy when you tell child A not to lick child B for the 70th time that day.

Here is one that I will cross stitch and hang on my wall the day one of my girls has a child:
(okay maybe not cross stitch but I print it in pretty font and frame it)

It's such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother - that's why the world calls her grandmother. ~Author Unknown

Oh my gosh!!!  Pass the tissue!!!
Oh my  .. just give Me a minute here to collect myself. ...
*sigh* 
deep breathe
nostalgic moment....

okay I'm good.

So after much searching and seeking I believe I have found the perfect accompaniment for the place mats.
In fact I think it will get center stage, without taking an ounce of "process" out of the kids handiwork.

"One generation will praise Your works to another."  Psalms 145:4

How just like the word of God to turn cheesy into cherished.

where have I been?

Oh my goodness.  I have not blogged in almost a month!!

So much for starting that stellar following and becoming independantly wealthy via online!!

Ha!! Anyway  after getting Happy Mouth back from Africa  I was in a whirlwind

I was overwhemlmed to have her back and overjoyed to hear all about her experiences!!

I will be posting pics soon
There are over 600 and thats not even the videos!!!

She has less to unpack than what she went with
Due to the fact that she either gave away or bartered all her clothes, toiletries , sleeping bag, chair and mosqito spray!!!

She actually traded the mosquito spray for a necklace she gave me

Much appreciated but I gave her the mosquito spray so she
would NOT get Malaria!!!
I told her to file that under "things not to tell your mother about Africa!"

Anyway  I am posting this video of her speaking at her youth group.
I am so very proud of her!!!

time to pick up your daughter

I have been counting down the days until Happy Mouth comes home from Africa.

I have filled my time with intentional choices

I have had a great time with Rollercoaster and Forrest.

I have read and had extra quiet time.

I visited my family in Kentucky and laughed alot!!

I have been on my knees praying more than usual

I have taken on a few home projects.  Forrest and I painted her room.

It looks great but I was a mess afterwards.  Why walk all the way across the room for a rag when you can just use your "paint" shirt? right

Well needless to say I was spotted pretty well with white, black and neon green paint. (yes you read that correctly)  Forrest has chosen neon green above the chair rail and   wait for it....
zebra stripes below.  

Classic

I was finishing up because I needed to get Happy Mouth and the rest of the crew at 3 from the airport.

I was about to bust from the moment I got up.  So I occupied my time by obsessing over the perfect zebra stripe and cleaning Happy Mouth's room so she would have a clam and decluttered room to come home to.

The clock hits 1:30  and I hop in the shower  and I scrub  and I scrub  and I scrub 

"How the heck did the paint get in that area?" I wonder

As I am soaped  up and re shaving my legs for the third time (it seemed to get the paint off best)  Mr. Rogers invades my space and says "Babe , you ready to pick up your daughter?"

I instantly have De ja vue

These are the same words he spoke to me when I was in the shower 17 1/2 years ago.

Happy Mouth had an eventful birth.  Thinking back on it now, I really should have seen her independent spirit and attention getting antics as a sign of the future.

She was full term.  I had a pampered and healthy first pregnancy.

It was the way she came into the world that was the wave maker.
You can check that story out .here.

The point is we had to leave the hospital without Happy Mouth.
She had to be in NICU  for 5 days.

It was serioslly one of the hardest things I have ever done.
I went up twice a day, pumped milk for the nurses to give her , and prayed like crazy.

I am sensing a theme here - that girl always gets me on my knees and closer to God.
No wonder she is cut out for missions.

Anyway the call finally came and I was in the shower.
This shower was equally as long but it was because I was moving like a sloth.
Everythin still hurt.

So as I was rinsing out the cinditioner Mr. Rogers invades my space and says
"Babe ,you ready to pick up your daughter?"

I am elated that today she gets to come home!
"more than ready" I say and I hop (okay lean on him and pray not to fall) out of the shower.

I remember this moment as I am standing naked and wet in the shower of a differnet day.
Mr Rogers is waiting for my response.
"So ready" I smile .

33 minutes

After my water broke and nothing happened for 14 hours it was decided that pitocin would be used.



But not until I got hooked up for the epidural (yeah!!). I had a HMO and at the time the anesthesiologist came in and prepared your line to your spine and then would attach the Demerol through a tube later when needed.

My anesthesiologist was a man with only 3 fingers on his left hand- NO LIE
I have nothing against anyone who has a amputation I just didn't expect to see one at this moment.
As I cradle myself into the fetal position as much as my belly will allow I hear him say "relax it is very important that you don't move"

I am now trying to imagine just how I will tend to my child as a paralyzed woman.
Mr. Rogers was watching Seinfeld. He assured me it was fine the three fingers acted as a slide for insertion of the line. 3 fingers laughed at that one.


I would have smacked him except that I was trying NOT to be paralyzed.
Anyway next came the nurse with pitocin. A drip added to the IV no big deal.


Because of my slow to no progress -(1 1/2 cm) Mr. Rogers was in and out greeting people in the waiting area.

Everything took so long that my parents actually flew in form Texas and had driven to the hospital before any real progress was made.

After about 30 minutes I start to feel all "crampy " and stuff in my low back. Over the next 10 minutes it gets worse
I ask Mr. Rogers if he will get a nurse to check for me. He shrugs a bit thinking this is a unnecessary step and says "Okay I will tell her on my way to the lobby, my mom brought me Sonny's BBQ."

I smile realizing he is out of my grasp and say "Enjoy"
Yea buddy enjoy Ill just take another round of ice chips


The nurse comes directly in and asks how I'm doing.
"Okay" I say" I was wondering if maybe it is time for the epidural medicine."

She smiles and says let me check first.
After snapping on a pair of rubber gloves she checks on my progress.
Her eyes get as big as silver dollars.

"Have you pushed at all yet?' she firmly asks
"No, am I supposed to?"

"No do not push just hang on. You are now at 8 1/2 cm but please resist the urge to push.
Okay I think and them remember my birth class and realize 81/2 is too late for an epidural.

I am now in pain and panic.

But before I can truly react an alarm i going off on the baby's monitor, the nurse is buzzing some code on the intercom and random people are coming into the room.
I ask for my husband and in 30 seconds he is flying down the hallway and standing at my head by the nurses command.

I glance towards the baby's heart monitor
It is dropping.....60.....53......44.......32......
My BP monitor is rising.....124......167.........................178.....

The lights are now dimmed and a doctor , not my doctor comes in with a team of specialist and a baby incubator.

My bed is now raised and I am almost sitting.

My head is spinning.
 I start to vomit.

Mr. Rogers is holding a cup for me to throw up in.
2 nurses climb onto my bed one on each side and lock arms.
They are push/massaging my stomach to move the baby down.


I hear no cry.

The doctor who is such a tiny woman I swear she could just crawl inside me and get the baby utters the words;

"The cord its wrapped twice"" then
"Suction, set Apgar 1"


Okay I am way dazed by this wave of violence that has just taken place but even catch the Apgar score .

One? That is like one a way form zero, which is.........


The baby is placed in an open incubator next to me while no less than 5 people works on her.

At this point Mr. Rogers is literally cupping my face and turning my head to him. He will not allow me to look.

I finally utter a cry "Why won't she cry"
I am scared to hear the answer.


A wonderful voice starts talking to me and letting me know all that is going on
:she has a tube down her throat so she will not be able to make a cry"
"she is breathing but not on her own yet."


A relax a bit and Mr. Rogers releases his grip.
I reach over to touch a finger. She is so white and so blue

I hear Apgar 7
7 yea 7 is good.

I am crying now and shaking uncontrollably.
My legs feel as if they could fall off and my nether region is on fire .

They tell me she is regaining color, that her vitals are stabilizing and they will be taking her to NICU.


They motion for Mr. Rogers and he follows.
I don't let go of his hands I beg him to stay with me.

"Ive gotta go with her , and see what needs to be done"

Of course he has to go with Happy Mouth. He has a heavy load on him right now,

there could be decisions to make ,

and diagnoses to hear and maybe even bad news to tell.

I release him and I am caught up in the shame of my selfishness


From the time the nurse came in to check on me until she was born was

33 minutes.

I can't wait

She has had the time of her life

She has laughed and danced with prescious children

She has walked miles for water

She has helped prepare a goat for slaughter

She has eaten goat intestine

She has fallen asleep while being gaurded by Massai Warriors

She has seen elephants. lions, and zebras- Oh MY!!

She has taught the Massai the tune of Sweet Home Alabama

and now  she is on her way home  and I am about to burst

I can't wait!!!

but more than all ..........................

She has worshiped a Mighty God

She has sought and found her heart deep in a land called

AFRICA.



A picture worth 1,000 words of comfort and joy

This picture is from the all girls orphanages in Tanzania .

My sweet Happy Mouth is in the middle .

This is a sweet loving picture for many reasons.

I am so glad they are there holding, loving those who long for it.

These sweet children have very little and what they did have , their parents

were taken from them.

Yet look at their faces

Smiling , Playful, Tender

Look closely at Happy Mouth (blue dress, brown braid) she

has a pair of little hands at the bottom of her braid!!

Twirling her hair. All you can see is the hands just playing with her hair.

It is so sweet.

She has a child balanced on each leg and one playing with her hair!!

But I see more...

and forgive me if it is selfish

I see my baby

Smiling

Happy

I see her and I miss her

but

I see her content

I see her joyful

and my fears

and my worries

melt away

and my prayers

are

not in vain.

God has been so faithful through

out the whole Africa adventure

and I keep praying for Him

to spiritually prepare her

for all that she will do

see and experience

and for all that He has for her.

That smile

is

God

at

work!

Good news from a distant land

I will just ler her say it.....
(the typos are related to the sleep or lack there of.....

I have no other way of putting info out there except for via facebook from an incredibly slow computer at a missiony home we were so BLESSED to stay at tonight!!!
We have hot(ish) showers :) yesterday we visited an orphanage for young girls
 i made a friend named Razeeke her name literally meaning "i have nothing"
 makes my heart ache these orphans brought tears to my eyes
 not only tears of sorrow but tears of extreme joy
 as they sang Jesus loves me in english for us
 they also taught us a song which i can not get out of my head
 it is in swahili but the english version means
 God is able therre is no one like you father.
 Today we visited an orphanage out in the bush very dry and dusty area and it is a 11 mile drive
 that took 2 hrs and 40 min because it was up a mountion and all the roads arre dirt
 we got to talk to a massi warrior who told us of his process of killing a lion
so much more has happened but because this computer is so slow
 im gonna have to wrap it up even though my mother is probley the only one reading this!
love you all pray for the windmill well to be completed in time -Ash.




That is the best news!!!  and I want every one to read it!!!

July 12 ? 13 ? a.m. or p.m.?

I am trying to keep up communications with mydaughter as much as possible.
With Tanzania being 8 hours ahead
 it is getting confusing.

Happy Mouth Hey Telled me this morning telling me it was 7 p.m.
 and it was dark so she was on her way to bed.

I don't think the plane ride had a whole lot of sleeping going on.

So to recap:
 She left DC at noon--  flew until midnight (our time)
which is 8 a.m Tanzania time the next day July 13th

Then 2 hours later they board a plane for Mt Kilamonjaro airport

 and arrive in Tanzania at 12:35 p.m. (T time)

So after customs check and a meal

                                                           it was time to hit the sack at 7 p.m

She was the poster child for exhaustion!!!

The Hey Tell she gave me was great

 It is so nice to hear her voice!!!

If you don't know what the Hey Hey Tell is check it out on then link.

It is kinda like a walkie talkie but uses data and wherever Wifi is , it is free.

It is saving us a bundle and its way better than a text !!!

The friend she is with above is documenting their travel on her blog

check it out at http://leahgwin.posterous.com/

Africa Day 2 continued

I received a text from Happy Mouth at 5:27 our time.
Tanzania is 8 hours ahead-so they get to tomorrow before we do.
  Hmmm I need a friend there to connect with
. I mean I could check in if I am having a bad day
 and see if tomorrow looks better!

 I think the conversation would go like this:

Me: Hey I having a rough day today. What is up there

Tanza :  Oh !  Yeah yesterday was a bit rough but I have great news!

Me: Oh yeah what ?

Tanza: I just woke up and the day is great !!!! My headache is gone, the sun is shining.
 Trust me by the time you wake up things will be A okay!

Me:  Oh good Thank you so much!!

Tanza: No problem  His mercies are new every morning - your just 8 hours away!!!

So  that was an optimists imagination at work but it couldn't hurt to have a hook up for a preview!!

First stop for the Dig Deep team  the Arusha orphanage:

Africa Day 2

Got this at 11:57 my time    Praise God She is in Africa!!!!!!

Africa Day 1

The team headed to Africa -they left Monday for DC then to Ethiopia   Happy Mouth is on the bottom row 2nd from the right.  My baby!!

Boredom

We are at the beach---the glorious beach!!!

How can one be bored?

The Iphone, cable, Internet generation will find a way:
-

That is not my problem

Who could not love the beautiful ocean and God's awesome creation?

Let me list a few of the amenities this week has to offer:

THE Ocean--- in particular  the sandy white beaches of the Gulf  of Mexico

A pool

A dock on the bayou filled with fish for catching,
and dolphin (the porpoise) for watching
and one baby hammer head for avoiding (more on that later)

Random made strawberry slushies

hair wraps
feather braids
henna tattoos

and fireworks!!!!!

so I read something once and I am going to claim it now:

"Only boring people are bored"

Don't exactly remember where I read it but I'm taking it.

so kids when y'all are bored remember this line
because
I know Happy Mouth, Rollercoaster , and Forrest are anything but

Boring!!!

Socail Settings

I have a quiet man.


I mean after all, living in an all-female household when would he get a chance to speak?

Whenever we have get together with other families if Mr. Rogers exchanges 25 words with someone he has made a new best friend.

Of course it is not as if he is going to talk or see this person unless I (the spice of the relationship) actually make a social engagement for us.



But the Fourth of July at the beach house finds

 the normally passive Mr. R is chatting it up like a school girl announcing the newest flavor of lip gloss.

What could have brought about such a change of social etiquette? (I mean besides the 3 Budweisers)?

WHY THE GRILL OF COURSE!!!

 Get a giant piece of metal

 Insert things that catch on fire

 Throw a form of gasoline on said things

 Ignite!!!........................

BAM!!! Instant male bonding!!

They gather like pigs to the troth.

One moseying up to check on the flame.

Another to offer the advice.

And yet another to inquire as to what carnivorous delight will be sacrificed tonight.

Before too long there are outburst of laughter and slaps on the back.

Beverages are shared as no man may be allowed to dehydrate over an open flame.

After all it’s the MAN CODE.

I do not claim to understand these rituals.

My man is really the only man I deal with.

Having all daughters has kept me a bit in the dark on testosterone issues.

All I know is that Mr. Rogers is now the life of the party –

Not to mention King of the Coals.

Afterwards he will slip back into his quiet mode.

I will ask him who all his “grill mates” were and he will respond with “Just some guys from the condo I guess-- nice guys”

And that is it.

That is all I will get.

And that is all there really is to it.

That will be enough social engagement for him until Labor Day.

I would starve to death on that kind of social diet.

I mean shrivel-up- and –die- lonely kind of die

Not him. He’s good

And so with the excitement all spent, I am looking forward to the fireworks!!!

Blessed Reality

I am at the Beach

For a whole week

I am planning on doing nothing

all day

 and night

at the Beach



YES!!!!!