Shout Out

A shout out to Jana Avison who did this gorgeous header for me. I'm too lame to figure it out and Jana not only did it for me, but then revised it after I asked her to.

How awesome is that?

Thanks Jana!

Questions

Is there anything more annoying than an almost 5 year old who has just learned the repeat-everything-you-say game? "Stop doing that". "Stop doing that." "I mean it". "I mean it". "You're a knucklehead". "You're a knucklehead".

Is there anything better than 49 cent tacos from Del Taco?


Do you really not know what you've got 'til its gone, as Cinderella suggests?

If the Beavers were going to the National Championship game would Bentley's name a martini after them or do they have a Duck bias just like the Statesman Journal does?


Why do my kids ignore me when I tell them to do something but won't leave me alone in the middle of the night?


Speaking of the middle of the night, why do they come to my side of the bed to tell me they need water instead of Jeff's side?


Why hasn't Mitchell tracked me down yet?


Why do my favorite shows take such a long break during the holidays AND in the Spring?

How's this new daycare thing going to work?

What's 2011 going to bring? Will there be more joy than disappointment?

Why do I mistake silence for criticism?

Is Ella ever going to give me some decent dirt next Spring?

What's with my reoccuring dreams about celebrities?

Are my women's retreat dramas going to be a flop?

If I wish hard enough and believe deep enough will the laundry fairy start coming?

What are your questions lately?

Is This Heaven?

Right now I am at the Broadway Coffee House and there are no children clamoring around my legs. There are no dishes in the sink threatening to fall over. There is no laundry piled on the couch giving me glances and daring me to go one more day without putting it away. There isn't a dinner waiting to be made? There's aren't 2 sets of pre-schooler eyes looking at me like I am the anti-christ because I just had the audacity to serve them something that does start with macaroni and end in cheese.

Is This Heaven?

I'm pretty certain it isn't Heaven. The headache I've had for 2 days is still pounding away letting me know of its presence and although I have never read it with my own 2 eyes I am pretty sure somewhere in the Bible it says there are no headaches in Heaven. There are no bladder infections either. Another indicator I am still on Earth.

I'm waiting for a programming meeting to begin; well actually I'm waiting for my programming team members to get here so that the meeting can begin. They are late. I am thankful. I'm just going to sit here with Ruby and soak up the delicious coffee aromas and listen to the weird coffee house music playing.

What is the deal with weird coffee house music?

And the Best Bestie Is...

Last week, as part being-funny on Facebook and part begging-serious I posted as my status update that the title of Best Bestie was up for grabs to the first person who brought me a Diet Coke.

About one hour later my doorbell rang and who was at my door but my friend Janet AND she was holding 2 Diet Cokes! Now not only was Janet holding 2 Diet Cokes she was in her fire fighter uniform and DRIVING A FIRE TRUCK!

Janet gave the kids stickers and trading cards and let them check out the truck. The only thing that could have made the visit any better was if Janet could have stayed and had a DC with me. Alas, she had to go check hydrants in my neighborhood so she dropped and ran (after posing for pictures).

Seriously, how stinking great is Janet? You are all pretty jealous, aren't you?

So without further adieu... I hereby name Janet as Best Bestie. She will furthermore be known as Best Bestie and enjoy all rights and privileges due to that title.

I can't think of a thing to write about. Not one single thing.

We are home from Montana and I feel all lazy and sloth-like. The kids are in bed and I just want to curl up next to Hot Jeff and read a book and enjoy the feeling of my own bed, my soft sheets and my fat cat lying next to me. Oh, the sweet pleasures of being home.

The kids were amazing on the ride home. It took us just under 16 hours to get home which is so much better than the 18 it took to get out there. We stopped so many times on the way there because of my dysfuntional kidneys and stented bladder. My husband is a saint and didn't make me pee in the container I had brought along even once. He never rolled his eyes when I said I needed to stop and he even encouraged me to drink lots of water as it would aide in my recovery. I adore that man and his endless patience and kindness.

Today was a great day of unwinding, getting the house back in order and catching up on emails and grocery shopping. Now that I'm home I'm hoping my brain will move from not blogging to blogging and once again I will lie awake writing posts in my head and arguing with myself about what to write about next.

I may have to use a prompt tomorrow...I'm just warning you. I saved all the ones from last time I was in a funk so I'm armed!

I have not forgotten about Part Two of You Had Me at Shelves From Scrapwood. This week is getting away from me with all the festive Spring Break playdates and museum trips we've been makin'. And because I am such a dork I lay in bed trying to fall asleep writing it in my head when really I should just get my butt out of bed and write it.

But oh it is so snuggly warm under those covers.

So its coming. I promise. I know you are waiting with bated breath but we have a zoo trip with the Campbells tomorrow and Hot Jeff gets off work at 11 on Friday so I'm not promising anything before Friday night.

Lastly, thank you, thank you, thank you for your wonderful and encouraging emails regarding PYKM. I feel so blessed, honored and humbled that you would take a minute and write and encourage me. I think I may take a week or two off to get some fresh ideas and vision and then I'll start it back up again. Please pray for me during this time that God will refresh me and give me His heart for our kids. Praying for my kids is still definitely a passion of mine and as Sensei Jen Roth wrote to me it is a wonderful way to keep me in Scripture and searching God's Word for His direction and will for our kids. So thanks again for being so awesome. You are the best blog stalkers EVER!

How do bloggers write everyday? I am just amazed. Every now and then I will hit a streak and blog like wildfire but lately I just haven't been in the mood. I know, right? I like to read my own stuff more than anyone but here I am just...silent. I think it is because I've been journaling. But enough of that on to more frivolous things like, wahoo...there is a new Grey's Anatomy tonight! You know what that means: don't call me in the morning because I will not be taking your phone calls. I will be letting my children eat animal crackers for breakfast and jumping on couch cushions while I sit in the other room with ear buds in and watch Mer and Der on Ruby. Oh I do love me some Mer and Der on Ruby. I just watched the preview at abc.com and McDreamy looks soooo good in a tie under his white coat.

Emily's 2nd birthday is this month. What do you get a 2 year old who echoes and mimics everything her older brother does. I'm not sure what she is in to. Does that make me a bad mom? Samuel really like Mickey Mouse at 2; Emily seems to be in to Tinkerbell but its hard to tell. Any suggestions?

Have a Little Say In It...

Okey dokey, I've chosen some of my favorite title suggestions and made a poll on the right hand side. So get your vote on!

Thank you for all of the suggestions! I would have never come up with these wonderfully, creative and funny titles. I particularly liked Rachel's ideas of using lines I had written. Shout out to Rachel who tediously poured through old posts to get ideas! Wahoo.

As you're voting, think of the title as it encompasses the whole crazy gamut of stuff I write about and have fun voting. You can vote more than once and voting is open until 11:00 on 12.22.09 when, I'll either pick a winner or or make another poll with narrowed down choices.

You're the best!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I want you to know I am VERY thankful that you come here every day and read my stuff. It means the world to me to have an "outlet" and the fact that anybody reads it is wonderful. The fact that you enjoy it is a cherry on top.

God bless each of you and your families this day.

Love,
Jen

All the Cool Kids are Doing It

Never want to miss a post? Become a "follower" of this blog! Don't know how? Very top left hand corner (up in the tan part) click the "Follow" button. If you don't see it, hit the refresh button and it should show up.

Then, tell your friends how to be a cool kid too and have them become a follower!

Word to the wise: don't tell your mother or she'll ask you if your friends jumped off a bridge would you too?

Hey there friends. I got an email from my dear friend Janet asking me to post some information here about a friend of hers whose son has cancer. It is a horrific story and I am happy to post an excerpt from her email so that we can get as many people praying for this little baby as possible. Feel free to cut and copy her email and send to your praying friends. I hope to post updates about Tyson's condition and progress as they learn more.

With such a grateful heart for praying and caring readers... Jen

I wanted to tell you about a little boy named Tyson. He is 6 months old. On July 10th, his mother Lori (a H.S. friend of mine) took Tyson into the Dr. for his 6 months check up. At that time they discussed a hard mass in Tyson's belly that Lori thought might be from constipation. Well, in the course of that day and a trip to the ER, Tyson was then taken to Doernbecher's Pediatric Oncology Unit. He is now being treated for Hepatoblastoma that is only found in children under 4 years of age. I am told there are less than 100 cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Tyson is now undergoing a series of chemo treatments. The cancer tumor is found on/in his liver and at this point is believed to not have spread to other organs.

Lori and Steve tried to have a child and finally Tyson came into their world in January of this year. As you can imagine, this was something that never would have occurred to them since Tyson was born a very healthy baby boy. I am sending you this so that you can post this in your blog and please share so that others can pray for Tyson, Lori and Steve.

(very funny email from Bestie Kim, who knows of my deep abiding love of margaritas. It never dawned on me that someone may think I wrote this but Jeff read it and thought I wrote it so now I'm putting this email disclaimer on here. Jeff says plagiarizing SPAM is nothing to mess around with . Oh Hot Jeff, you are so wise...)

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas. Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living with Margaritas. Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke.

WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

This manifesto was written by my cousin Christa; it is one of the most beautiful, moving pieces I've ever read and I couldn't wait to share it with you. With her permission, here it is:

Coffee Manifesto
by Christa Meyer Kaainoa

After my husband died, I vowed never again to drink bad coffee. And by bad, I mean any coffee inferior to the very best as determined by me. And by died, I mean killed instantly in a head on car crash at the age of 28.

My passage through the prescribed stages of grief was textbook: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and ultimately, on to the final stage of the bereaved – finding meaning in the loss. Using the unthinkable, unmanageable, unbearable experience to answer the question “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose here on earth?” One thing I learned for sure is that my purpose here on earth is NOT to drink shitty coffee.

In our first and only year of marriage, Michael and I bought canned Folgers as a way to cut costs. I was working full time, but he was still in school, and it was a stretch to make ends meet. Once he was dead, though, I asked myself, what did that get him in the end? If he had been given the luxury of a death bed to lay on in his final hours, would he have lain there, reflecting on his life and said “Now that I know I’m going to die at 28, I am so glad we drank that shitty coffee and saved $20 a month. Look at all that $20 accomplished!” Would he have turned to me, his soon-to-be widow, and implored, “Don’t forget, Christa, a penny saved is a penny earned. ”

We’ve all heard that money can’t buy happiness, but you know what? Sometimes it can. I buy happiness by the pound, in glossy white and green sachets. I consume happiness in a smooth, shiny ceramic mug. Deep, dark, fragrant happiness that wraps its arms around me in the absence of a husband to do the job. When I take that first sip of coffee each morning, I literally stop and say out loud, “I love you coffee. Thank you for being in my cup.”

Translate: I love you life, thank you for letting me live today.

Over the years, people have insinuated that I should break my addiction to the stuff. That my daily coffee ingestion is synonymous with weakness. Listen, I could die tomorrow. I mean I could REALLY die tomorrow. As my spirit slips away from the shell of my body, what, of my earthly doings, will matter? I think the only things that will truly matter are acts of love… and good coffee IS love. Good coffee is self-care and making my own happiness a priority. Good coffee represents seizing the moment; making hay while the sun still shines. It’s a celebration of the now and of the attainable.

I learned a thousand things from loving and losing Michael – many painful lessons, a few that were sweet, all of them important. My personal coffee manifesto is just one tiny piece of my life experience. It may seem trivial to some, or insignificant. But for me, it’s a beautiful secret that I generally keep to myself and enjoy by myself. It’s my decision to love myself when I can.

Today in the break room I overheard a conversation between colleagues about the merits of various bad coffees. “Such and such brand is made locally, and it’s not too bad!” “Oh yeah, have you tried Brand X? You really save by buying it in bulk and it’s alright…” I sat, listening to their conversation, keeping my personal coffee policy to myself, privately relishing the fact that when it comes to coffee at least, I will not compromise, and daily, I treat myself to the best. Watching me sip my coffee, no one would ever think to themselves, “There’s just something about the way she drinks coffee that seems so strange, so powerful…” But I know. Drinking my favorite coffee is my own, secret, special, whispered promise to myself and to the world that I will appreciate what is good in life. That I will, as they say, drink it up.

A Sign the Economy is in the Toilet...

I bought knock off mineral make up today.

Two thumbs up Cover Girl for your knock off mineral make up.

Screw you Bare Minerals for making your wonderful product so darned expensive!

The Sound of Silence

Isn't that so romantic sounding? So romantic and melancholy. I'm not heading to Montana until Saturday but have 2 very busy days ahead of me so I may not get another chance to post until after I get to Montana and then my posts will probably be few and far between.

If you think of us on Saturday morning we sure would appreciate your prayers; its always an adventure flying with 2 little ones and there's a whole new element of insanity when you're the only adult. Its an early flight and so me getting drunk on the plane won't be an option (I don't think they offer alcoholic beverages that early) and probably frowned upon.

Peace out.