Site Title

recent posts

about

  • Getting on Track

    I've not been blogging much lately.  Actually, I feel like I've not been very productive at all lately.  I should clarify that.  I was not very productive or not as productive as I would have liked during the pregnancy and well, the last few weeks have been difficult.  I'm trying to get back on my feet.  Losing the baby really did me in and I'm trying to dig myself out.  I'm not one to express my sorrow but it's been coming out in ways I wish it wouldn't.  Just ask my husband.  So, I'm on another type of journey.  One where I'll find peace.  One where I learn to accept and trust in God's will whatever it may be.  The control freak in me makes that very hard and it goes against my very nature.  It's a constant struggle–minute by minute.  Any prayers would be appreciated.

    I have plans.  My mother-in-law is coming in a couple of hours.  We always enjoy our visits.  The children love her and clamor for her attention.  She also spoils them rotten as only grandmothers are allowed.  For Lent, I'm going to purge.  I'm going to get rid of all the baby stuff I've been saving.  I'm going to get rid of all the clothes I've been saving up to Pumpkin's size.  I'm going to dismantle the crib and make room in my bedroom.  It's not that I need the space, but I need to move the empty daily reminder.  I'm going to clean and organize my life in a way that's not been done in a long time. 

    Then I'm going to have a big garage sale.  I'll give my local friends first dibs on everything. 

    Will it make me sad?  Of course, it makes me teary eyed just typing it up.  I've not necessarily given up on having more children, but I need to simplify my life a little more and having less stuff will help.  I don't do drastic as I am such a pack rat and it goes against my very nature to get rid of things.

    What else?  Spiritually, I need to pray more and more often.  It's always been quite a struggle for me to pray.  I've always needed to be so self-sufficient that it's been hard to lean on anyone much less God.  It always sounds so simple; why is it so hard?

    There are more, but how much more could I bore you about the plan to improve myself?  Happy Thursday, everyone.

    Oh, if you could all pray for my husband.  Once again, he's up for a PCS (permanent change of station).  He has been requested by name by an organization here but that does not mean that he will be given that job (even though it would benefit everyone and save the Army paying for a move).  Also, his promotion board meets beginning on the 18th.  It's nervewracking to say the least.   

  • Small Successes Week 4

    Small-success 

    I didn't get around to doing this last week.  I'm going to try to do this each week because I really need to focus on the positive. 

    1.  I finished a couple of baby hats for presents.  Needless to say, I had not been able to pick these knitting projects up.

    2.  I started our tax return.

    3.  I cleaned the upstairs bathroom. 

    Not a lot of stuff; just enough.  Go to Faith and Family for more. 

  • Green…

    with envy, that is.  Four of the loveliest ladies meeting in one place–I am so jealous.  I can take comfort in that one of those ladies lives close enough that we will eventually meet. 

    So, there is an opportunity to meet a whole bunch of lovely ladies, but it's in Pennsylvania.  I haven't given up on the idea, but in this economy, I need to really think about my priorities.  I just wish the gas prices hadn't been so high last year; it really did us in.  Having said all that, it would be so nice to be there.  The area is beautiful, the hostess charming and lovely.  Sigh.

  • The Good

    One of the good things that has come out of my miscarriage has to do with Brother.  I can't explain it so I'll just give a couple of examples.

    A few days after we buried Mark, Brother expressed concern when the weather turned cold.  He worried that Mark would be cold out there in the rosary garden (sob!).  I explained that the box was lined and would keep him warm.  Then I explained that Mark's body was there but that he (his soul) was really in heaven with God.  This satisfied him.

    Tonight, as I was looking through Brother's baptism photos (torturing myself along the way), Brother asked me, "Who feels sad about the baby?"  His eyes filled with tears and he cried. 

    He feels and he can express it.  He loved Mark Edward and misses him.  We cried together.

  • Please Pray

    Amy Welborn's husband, Michael Dubruiel, passed away this morning very suddenly. 

  • You Know…

    …it's been a while since you washed the kitchen floor when your forearms are sore from scrubbing it.  Very sore.

  • Financial Lesson

    ht:  Stef

  • Small Successes

    Small-success 

    1.  Getting up every morning, taking a shower and tackling the day.  This is good because my inclination is to hide in bed all day.  I'm fighting that desire every single day.  I don't want to do anything so instead I've been working hard to clean, de-clutter, and do the every day things necessary to run the house.

    2.  Read aloud to children during lunch.

    3.  I haven't cried today. 

  • Stimulus? Not Really

    This article by the Wall Street Journal breaks down where the dollars are going.  It's not really going to stimulate the economy based on what I read.  I've been leery of this whole thing from the get-go and it seems I have every reason to be. 

    It is an opinion piece, but I don't believe the figures are wrong.

    h/t:  Alice

  • The Year of the Ox

    Happy New Year!!  Today starts the new year on the Chinese Lunar calendar.  We had a feast of sorts yesterday at my mom's house.  She's an awesome cook.

    IMG_0126 This is a fish dish that is dredged in flour and then dipped in egg whites.  It is fried in a bit of oil.  It's pretty healthy regardless of the frying part. 

    Then we have the beef version of this.  Usually, there are also many variations of this using different vegetables.  Also, you can have pancake type dishes.IMG_0127

     

    This dish is called jap-chae (not pronounced with that strong "j" but a softer one). 

    IMG_0139 

    And, our main course:  mandoo gook aka dumpling soup.

    IMG_0141 

    This is a labor intensive soup.  Everything was made from scratch from the dumpling wrapper to the broth.  My mom is an awesome cook.