Fall Into Reading 2010~Weekly Question #1

This is a quote from www.callapidderdays.com
"I mentioned in the Fall Into Reading 2010 launch post that every Tuesday this fall, I will post a question about reading. Why am I doing this? Well, for one thing, I love reading and talking about reading with others. And for another, I thought it would be a great way to keep Fall Into Reading participants connected throughout the course of the challenge.

So without further ado, here’s your first question, and my answer.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to your reading? What prevents you from reading as much as you’d like?
Oh dear...why DON'T I read as much as I would like to? Hmmmm....good question. I read the comments already on the post and while I do spend more time than necessary on the computer, I still have time to read. While others claimed not being able to shut out the background noise to concentrate of the book...but I have the opposite problem when I read. I can't shut out the book to hear what's going on around me in real life : )
At this exact moment in my world, I AM reading as much as I would like. Dan is out of town and after the boys head to bed, my time is my own. So I can read, gab on the phone, scrapbook, blog or just hang out on Facebook without concern of shortchanging the hubby. In my 'normal' life though, I don't have much time to read for extended periods of time. So I read for 5 minutes here and there, or a chapter or two as a break from physical chores around the house. It may not be much, but little bits of time, used wisely can certainly add up.
What it all boils down to in the long run is whether I MAKE time to read or not. Sometimes, I'd rather stare at FB and feel like someone is on the other side of the screen. Sometimes, I'd rather go to bed early, visit with hubby, play with the boys or try to 'get ahead' on the chores around the house and reading takes a backseat in priority. But, for the time being, with some extra time to read at night...I'm going to take full advantage of the chance to read as much as I would like. What great timing : )

Consider Yourself Tagged!!

I've been tagged!! My pal over at MishMash Maggie asked her friends to answer these 8 questions. and so without further ado, I shall answer them : )
My Eight Questions...

1. What is your favorite Bible verse? How did it become your favorite? (If you don’t have a single favorite, please share one of your faves.) I love, Love, LOVE all the verses that start with, "...and it came to pass...." Keeps me focused on the fact that time is short, misery and hardship don't last forever and that we should be about the Master's business instead of arguing about the color of the pews or where the choir should stand. I also LOVE the verse in Psalms that reads, "Be still and know that I am God." How often in our hustle and bustle of life, do we rush right past God while talking on the phone, texting a friend, scheduling a meeting, picking up and dropping off the kids, dry-cleaning or dinner and trying to stay caught up on the laundry. OOPS...guilty!

2. What is currently on your nightstand? I dump my heart and brain on my nightstand... what's on yours?? I don't have a nightstand, but on my bookshelf headboard, there are the 43 books I've read since moving into this house in the end of June, plus 2 Bibles, a Concordance, 3 candles, lip balm, a phone book, Dan's notes from the Men's Seminar 2 weeks ago, a picture of my handsome hubby and one of my best friend, one of the family and of course, the alarm clock. Oh, and 3 elastic hair ties, a barrette, a matchbox car and a candy bar wrapper. And a monkey shaped lamp...It's cute, I swear! Hmmm, I don't even know WHAT that implies about me. Can I just go back to saying I don't have a nightstand?? ; )

3. What place have you not traveled to but would like to? Why? Oh, the choices! I'd like to visit Australia someday, and Hawaii, and take an Alaskan cruise, but I'd really like to take a trip to a resort area of Mexico because I've been to Mexico four times on mission trips and only saw the ugly/poor/sad things about it. I want to see the pretty side.

4. What is your favorite snack? Just about anything covered in salt will do, but my all time fave snack is mini pretzel twists and french onion dip with a huge glass of sweet iced tea.

5. Why motivates you to blog? A need to share myself, my family and my creativity with others. It started out as simply a way to keep my family in IL posted on our life here in NM, and now, I just can't STOP...ha ha ha!

6. Which person from the Bible (besides Jesus) are you most looking forward to meeting? Well, today, since I recently read a book called "A Woman Named Damaris" by Janette Oke, I'd like to meet Damaris that was mentioned BY NAME in Acts. Why was she singled out? What did she do? Why didn't they tell her story, just saying her name and moving on. What is her story....inquiring minds want to know!

7. What brings out the best in you... what brings out the worst? People (teenage boys especially) in need of mothering bring out the best in me. I go right into high gear and feed them. Not just their bellies, but their hearts, and their souls. Moving brings out the worst. All the disorganization, the not knowing where anything is, the complete destruction of our routine, balance and lifestyle just does NOT work for me. I better DIE in this house!

8. What characteristic of God are you the most grateful for? Oh my...that's a toughie! I suppose His sovereignty, that allows us to trust when all seems lost and we can't see where we are going. Knowing that He is in control when I am obviously NOT, is a comforting thought. Of course, His love which sent Jesus to the cross, can't be overlooked either. It's what allows us the opportunity to have a relationship with Him.
Thanks, this was fun. Can't wait to read other's answers!! ~K~

Let's keep this going! I'm going to post MY 8 Questions. Please answer them on your blog and post a link to that page as a comment here. This is going to be FUN!
My 8 Questions
1 What is in your CD player (or on your iPod) right now? Why do you like it?
2 Tell me about your childhood in 3 words, your teenage life in 3 sentences and your adult life in less than a paragraph. Be succinct : )
3 How did you meet your spouse, or best friend?
4 How has blogging changed your life? It doesn't have to be PROFOUND
5 What is your favorite Bible story and why?
6 How would someone else describe you in less than 5 words?
7 If you were stranded on an island, what 4 things would you take with you and why? Assuming that food, water and basic shelter was somehow provided.
8 How did we meet and why are we friends?

ENJOY!! This is gonna be great! Thanks MishMash Maggie for getting this started!!
Blessings,
~K~

Catchin' Up with Us MeYeR's

Watched the Harvest Moon come up from Behind the Organ Mountains last night....completely amazing! Never seen anything like it.

Oh my goodness, I LOVE the Organ Mountains. All I did to get this was walk one block down the road, so that the church wasn't in the picture. It's no wonder Dan never wants to live anywhere but right here : )

Catchin' the MeYeR's might be a better title for this week's update. Seems like we were on the run and scattered to the four winds this week. It's official...I've become a soccer mom, err~ more like a TaeKwonDo observer, Gymnastics dropper offer and picker upper, TumbleBugs supervisor, Sam's club trip making concession stand refiller, airport shuttle runner, take an extra kid along-er Mama...LOL! Phew...I don't know who made up the term "at home' mom, but it obviously wasn't a mom : ) It's a good thing that I 'stay home' so I have TIME to do all those things. Thank you Lord, for the blessing of being able to be at home with my boys. Dan left Monday morning for a work trip to Washington state for an undetermined length...probably 2-3 weeks. *sigh* I sure do miss him, and so do the boys. However, I'm so grateful that he has the chance to do this, and that his work ethic is so good that someone would call him from 5 states away because he wants DAN, not just anyone that can handle a torch. I'm glad that the Lord provided the job, at just the right time.

~Anywho, here at home with the junior set of the Man Crew...we've been busy finding things to do that DON'T involve the TV. When Dave Roever was at our church 2 weeks ago, he challenged the kids to spend 30 days without TV, video games, texting or MP3 players. The boys weren't thrilled but agreed to try it out. So far, so good. They've complained about being bored more often, but generally find something to occupy themselves with before they are even done complaining. I'm glad to have quieter evenings, nice chats and game playing instead of just vegging out in front of the tube. The boys will even begrudgingly admit that it hasn't been as bad as they thought. So...it's progress and I'll take it!

~David is working really hard and is close to mastering a DOUBLE Front flip...as in two full rotations before landing. I'm amazed at his talent, his dedication and his continued enjoyment of his sport. Going down the tumble track at gym. I've seen him do a roundoff, backflip with a full twist, a whipback, another back with a full twist and then a frontflip with a 1/2 twist...all in one tumble pass. ZOIKS!! He learned how to do gainer backflips this week as well. He even said the other day that he thinks he would like to be a gymnastics coach once he's an adult.

~Pat's 2nd week of TaeKwonDo classes went MUCH better this week and he even signed up to help do a demonstration at the Festival this weekend. He did really well and even got to break his first board today : ) James and Derek won a FREE month of lessons...Jodi may or may NOT thank me...LOL! He's excited about James joining his class...Derek, not so much. He is really missing Dan and in serious need of some MAN TIME...hurry home, Daddy! Pat is also actively being 'recruited' by the David's gymnastics team coaches. Dan and I have decided not to allow him to join, but it does tell us that it isn't just in our heads that the boys have talent...LOL!

Ai-YAH! Pat shows off his new skills at his Demo today.

~Derek loves, Loves, LOVES his TumbleBugs class and anxiously awaits in all week. He is desperately missing his GameBoy, but has been doing much more 'reading' this week and asking me what things say and picking letters and numbers out wherever we go. He has really enjoyed all the books my Mom read onto tapes for him especially this week and will NOT go to bed without the tape player on his bed now : )

~I am tired...I miss Dan....I should NOT be allowed to be a single parent (I stink at it) and I'm tired of being in the car all the time. BUT, I've enjoyed this week. I've been playing on the computer after the boys go to bed including finally getting back to my beloved blog that I've neglected all summer, I've chatted on the phone longer and more often this week than I probably have in the last month and have had a ball catching up with my girlfriends, I've scrapbooked, and I've READ, READ, READ! I counted earlier this week and I've read 41 books since we moved into this house in the last week of June...WOW! No new books, but that I've read that many of my own collection in the past 3 months, surprised even me. At the end of the day, though....I still miss Dan, I'm still tired and I still shouldn't be allowed to be a single parent. Dan is usually the fun one and I'm the 'fun-sucker' but with Dan gone, I'm trying to be more fun, and I'm just no good at it. I really should just stick with keeping everyone fed, healthy and on schedule and let Dan be the fun one. I knew that parenting was designed to be a 2 person gig for a reason LOL! Have I mentioned that I miss Dan and that I'm tired?? I can't remember....

~In the not so great news department this week, my maternal grandmother passed away on Thursday. She was almost 94, survived by her 6 children, 23 grandchildren and almost as many in law grandchildren, I've LOST COUNT of the great grandchildren and I think 4 great GREAT grandchildren. She loved the Lord and her family...what a legacy she leaves behind. I can't say that I wish her back...she gets to be with the Lord and with my grandfather who has been gone about 19 years now. I'm sure she was missing him. You will be missed, Grma

~In the great news department...'Shua and Lauren are celebrating their ONE YEAR anniversary today. I'm so proud of them! May the Lord continue to bless them as they grow together and towards Him.

~We have been trying to enjoy our 'local culture' more this past month...Dan and I went to the Hatch Chile Festival over Labor Day weekend for our 14th anniversary and HAD A BALL! We took the motorcycle up there (about an hour) and the weather was perfect for riding. We tasted, sipped, smelled, chatted, sampled, bought trinkets and just had a wonderful time. This weekend here in Cruces is the Whole Enchilada Festival where Cruces has the WORLD RECORD for the largest Enchilada. Why?? Who knows...but there it is : ) So we went today, and wandered about in the sun for a while, listened to Jodi sing (I put up a video on FB) Pat did his TaeKwonDo Demo and just had a good time. Not sure what odd or obscure festival or celebration is next, but bring it on. One thing I realized after we moved away from IL is that there are so many things to do there, and we had enjoyed so few of them...what a waste. Let's get out there and have some fun and soak up some of the local flavor.

James at the Whole Enchilada Festival...trying desperately NOT to get any more sun.

~OK, big shock, but this is turning out to be much longer than I had anticipated, so I guess I'll post a pic and then sign off. Got church in the morning, and the church picnic tomorrow afternoon. David is bringing a friend, and Pat is meeting a friend there. I'm going to make apple crisp....and something else. Any suggestions??

Our beautiful church where we will be enjoying said picnic. Isn't that a beautiful building?

Thanks for listening to me ramble,

~Kristy~

So Long Summer...and Good Riddance!

My word, it's been a L-O-N-G summer, hasn't it? At our house, it seemed like something bad, upsetting, horrific or traumatizing happened every week. Ugh...make that double ugh! It made me want to sing the little ditty my friend Meredith used to sing, which was adapted and tweaked from Sound of Music...."so long, farewell, good riddance and goodbye!!" So often I wanted to wish away this summer. I just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible so that we could move on to more pleasant things and just forget about the things that we so painful and challenging to us. But the more I thought about it, the more I prayed about it and pondered the issues facing us, the more I was reminded that growth doesn't come in the 'easy' times, when everything is going smoothly, life is simple and times are good. Growth comes when you have no one to depend on but God and each other, when times are tough, money is TIGHT and the car breaks down on the way to work. So, I chose to trust. Sounds simple and easy, doesn't it? I wish I could say that trusting comes easy, but it almost never does. Sometimes you just have to WILL yourself to believe that things are eventually going to be better, or easier or simpler. Or that even if they aren't, God will get you through it. That's the really hard part, is saying, "OK, Lord...you and me are in this until the end. Even if it never gets easier. Even if it never gets better. Even if this is the best that life has to offer me. I'll still trust you to take care of me." Wow, that's HARD! However, I found that if I could find the TINIEST thing to be grateful for on the worst days, then things started to look up. As I look over this long, difficult summer, I can see the hand of the Lord guiding us so easily now. Why is it so hard to see when we are in the midst of it? So...instead of focusing on the negative, I choose to look for the positive. And here are just a few of the highlights of the summer.

• Dad and Mom have been able to come for 2 extended visits...in one summer!


• Dolli and Ryan have also been able to come visit twice this summer...and even intend to come back this fall with John after he returns home from his deployment.


• We moved to a smaller, cheaper house in our first, well thought out, intentional financially wise decision...EVER! We even got a great deal on the rent since the house had/has some cosmetic issues that Dan is fixing right up. Praise God for a handy, hunky hubby!


• We added a room to said house for practically nothing since Dan got many of the materials from a remodelling job he was doing at work. That's my kind of recycling...less waste, less money spent, less trash in the dump...it's good!


• David and Patrick made the leap across the chasm that separates the adults from the kids for the first time this summer. You know, the first time you realize that you can have a serious conversation with them and they can respond intelligently, ask appropriate questions and you don't have to worry about them making a ridiculous unrelated remark, laughing about something that's not funny or changing the subject in the middle of an important conversation. That totally blew my mind! The chat ranged from evolution, to why Dan and I weren't intending to have more children, to autism and other special needs, to astronomy, family values and what the Bible says about several other topics. It was a special night indeed!


• When money was really tight this summer, 'magically' someone would invite us for dinner that week, or clean out their freezer and bring us food. Hmmm.....what a coincidence. I think NOT


• We have a gorgeous view of the mountains from the back of our house and many is the night that you will find us sitting out there, watching the reflection of the sunset on the mountains, sipping iced tea and just chatting together.


• We FINALLY found a church here. We, of course, had to find it that hard way, but that's our style. It's an Assembly of God church (yes, I heard the horrified gasp) and although they teach some things we don't believe, they are a Bible preaching, God fearing church and we've made some friends there already. Just more reason to discuss the Bible and what WE believe with the boys if they hear something they aren't sure about.


• All of the boys have started/are continuing a recreational activity...and all through the lovely world of bartering! David has decided to compete with his gymnastics team this winter, so I work at the gym on Saturdays to earn his PRICEY lessons. Pat is FINALLY in his precious martial arts class and in return for the price of his lessons, I drive the carpool both ways, every time so that his friend Ebone can take classes, too. Derek just started a TumbleBugs class on Saturdays that are 'paid' for by a weekly trip to Sam's Club to stock the concession stand. I {heart} bartering and trading for services!!


• One of my favorite "coinky-dinks" from this summer just happened last weekend. Most of you don't know this, but Dan got laid off last Thursday and we weren't really sure when he was going to be called back...probably a few weeks or more, so we really just said, 'Lord, you know that Dan needs to be working as soon as possible, so....do Your thing!' The very next day a good friend handed us $400 saying that we've been feeding him and his family for a LONG time and it was time they gave back. What a blessing!! Wait, it gets better : ) 2 days later, an old work buddy of Dan's called and said, "I'm running a job up in Washington and I need you and your welding skills. Can you be here by tomorrow night? Good money, room and board paid for...just get yourself up here. " Would you believe that the amount of money we were given on Friday paid for the ticket on Sunday with just a few cents to spare?? Who said God doesn't provide?

All of that to say that while our summer was HOT, sticky, offensive to our pride, HOT, sometimes stinky and often stressful, irritating to our sense of propriety, HOT, filled with moving, painful losses and quite a bit of heartache, did I mention HOT....maybe it wasn't a complete loss after all. If it brings us closer to the Lord and brings him glory, then I say....bring it on. So long summer...come back soon!

~K~

Fall Into Reading 2010

It starts today...so I'm a bit late, as usual...but I'm jumping on the bandwagon and trying this out. Basically, just make a list of the books you want to read between now and December 20th and start reading. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Check out this link to http://callapidderdays.com/2010/09/fall-into-reading-2010-the-basics.html and see what the low down is. Here is my tentative list of books...

September...completed!

~Read to Derek every day

~Read to the older boys 2x a week

~Finish the Canadian West Series by Janette Oke

~A Woman After God's Own Heart

* I ended up substituting for A Woman After God's Own Heart when I realized I had lent it out and not gotten it back yet. I read the GREEN Book instead. Chock full of simple things that we can do to help the environment, and ourselves, enjoy a healthier future.

October

~Read to Derek every day

~Read to the older boys 2x a week

~Start the Left Behind Series

November

~Read to Derek every day

~Read to the older boys 2x a week

~Finish the Left Behind Series

December

~Our special Advent book to the boys each day

~Not sure what else yet, I'll have to get back to this one.

So, grab your favorite reading beverage and a cozy afghan (unless you are here in NM with me where it's still in the mid-90s) and start reading! Can't wait to see what everyone else is reading!!

Have fun,

~Kristy~

Simple Woman's Daybook~ Evening Edition

For Today...September 21, 2010

Outside my window...it is dark and the temp is finally falling into the comfortable range for sleeping. The stars are twinkling brightly around the glowing moon....the frogs are croaking, the birds are quiet and the air is still.

I am thinking...that I really should be in bed, but I just HAD to post a blog today~ LOL : )

I am thankful...that Dan arrived safe and sound in Washington. And that the Lord provided a job at just the right time.

From the learning rooms...math is still being finished up and tomorrow we are enjoying some homeschool gaming fun.

From the kitchen...Stuffed peppers was the star of tonight meal as requested by Dan and Patrick this week. Nothing else stellar coming out of the kitchen this week, just too hectic without another adult in the house to help keep a lid on things.

I am wearing...a navy knit jumper with a teal t-shirt. Bare feet, of course and my hair is in a bun after doing tonight's dinner dishes.

I am creating...this blog post, and then I'm going to create some dreams...hee hee

I am going...nowhere tomorrow, and I'm super happy about that!

I am reading...Psalms, the gospel of John, and "When Breaks the Dawn' by Janette Oke

I am hoping...that Dan enjoys his time in Washington, that I can handle everything while he's away and that he comes home safe and sound.

I am hearing...almost nothing, and it's glorious! I can hear cars passing on the distant freeway, Shadow breathing beside me and the clicking of the keyboard...that's IT

Around the house...the LR is tidy-ish, but I'm discovering more and more each day that in the same way as the mama sets the tone for the family, the kitchen sets the tone for the house. After being without hot water for 4 days, there were dishes piled everywhere and the whole house seemed cluttered and dirty. I washed those dishes and all of a sudden the rest of the house seemed just fine...isn't that strange?

A few plans for the rest of the week...running the Taxi Mama run on Thursday, homeschooling and cleaning each day, Game Night on Friday, the gym on Saturday and church on Sunday, sounds like a good week to me!

One of my favorite things...having a family to share my life. It's goooooooood!

A picture thought I am sharing with you...well, as always....so many choices. Let's see if I can narrow it down to just one...LOL! This is the sunrise from yesterday morning as we were taking Dan to the airport. I just LOVE the way the clouds look like cotton candy!

If you enjoyed this post and want to read other posts by simple women, check out the lovely Miss Peggy's site at www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com