Weekend Recap

The boys and I headed to the Mountains this weekend. We had this weekend planned a long time ago, and had invited some friends to join us with their children who are both good friends with our kids. So much for advanced planning. Dan, as you know, is in Oklahoma City, and our friends came up sick (the mom) so it was a bust. I thought why not still just go. Just getting away from our house would be a "forced" relaxation time. No chores, beautiful scenery, no computer, no tv. I did end up inviting one of the boys babysitters, Melissa to join us. We had a nice time. Lots of relaxing. We've got family "connections" with a cabin in Silverthorn Colorado with some of Dan's cousins. It's a wonderful little A-frame with gorgeous views of Buffalo Mountain. (AKA Steffen mountain - since you do not become an "official" Steffen until you climb the family mountain) I've not done it - maybe this summer??? (BTW, Steffen is Dan's mom's maiden name) We've enjoyed the "cabin" enough that I know how to open and close the house up. What a great retreat - 2 hours door to door. We played Chess, Checkers, Uno, Sorry, Trouble, 3 puzzles, 13rounds of Mexican Train dominoes, solitare, mastermind.....great fun.
We miss Daddy, but we're doing well. The weekend away certainly helped. It's amazing how the kids really do step up to the plate and be helpful and "big boys" when daddy is gone.
We'll know more in the next few days if this job situation will really be worth it. They have been submitting several roof bids already, and they did get one job already. NOt bad for three days work? THey should know more about the other bids this week. In the meantime, Dan will climb many more ladders in the next week. In the meantime, we just pray this other job opportunity here in the Springs pans out.
I've got lots of cleaning and organizing on my calendar for this week.
I hope to get another thoughtful post planned this week. For now, I'm just enjoying the mush brain. Good night.

Gainful (??) employment

As promised, here's the latest on Dan's employment situation.
Our contractor for our Kitchen/room addition has a brother in town who owns a pretty sizable roofing company. They actually put on our new roof as well. Business is slow here, but Oklahoma City just experienced a pretty horrific tornado, followed by a huge hail storm. They are moving a temporary operation out there. They need salesmen to fill out all the insurance work etc. Dan will get a commission on each roof they do. This could be a pretty lucrative, temporary job situation. We hope it will only be 30-60 days. We'll see how it goes. They drive to OK tomorrow am. This came up pretty suddenly, so we've been scrambling over here to get him ready to go and get all the stuff he will need. It will be a family sacrifice, but one I think we can handle for this short time, if it does indeed pan out to be something financially beneficial.
In the mean time, he does have an application in at a pretty solid lead here in town. The pay is not so great, but it is solid work, with potential and with Benefits. SO....that is on our horizon as well. (We're told they are hiring in March) Obviously we'd like this one if everything lines out properly. OC is only a 10 hour drive or a very short flight if he needs to rush back here for an interview.
Please pray for my man. None of these opportunities are "perfect" and both are with family sacrifice.
Please pray for my husbands wife and his children. (that would be ME, Steffen and Ryan) I'm not afraid of this challenge - I'm pretty independent and can handle the task at hand. HOWEVER, my little sinners that I'm in charge of...they could put me over the edge. :-) Just kidding. Do pray that they not get too squirlley (sp?) with daddy gone. Play dates would be a welcome thing in the coming days.
Dan is planning on coming back home NEXT weekend, as we have plans to host the main course for Ambassadors progressive dinner. Then, if he's still diggin' the OC job (read: he's making awesome $), we hope he'll just stay in OC until spring break and meet us in Phoenix, where the boys and I are planning on visiting my mom.
Pray that this local job DOES come through, and go ahead and pray that they offer him a little more money than what the job posted.
That's all I know. It could get interesting over here.

TItus 2:4

As I mentioned earlier, a friend and I are working our way through the book Feminine Appeal. The gist is we look at Titus 2:4 and there are 7 areas we, as married gals, need to be "trained" in. One of the authors questions was to ask our HUSBANDS which of the seven, if he could choose, would he have us work on. It's a pretty vulnerable place to be. And, as I suspected, Dan's answer was very different than what I would have thought he would have said. In fact, it got a "wow" response from me. To honor his/our privacy I won't share our conversation. However, it did provoke a very good, God Centered conversation. One I'd really encourage all of you to have with your spouse. I will share, that he was a bit reluctant to share his heart, for fear it'd hurt me. But, since I asked, and he had confidence that since I DID solicit his thoughts on this, it would be safe for him to share. EEK. Really, it wasn't so bad. I was surprised, but I feel better equipped to be sure we are going down the same path in this journey, this side of heaven. So now, as I continue with this study, I'll ask God for help in the areas I didn't think I needed help!!! :) Humility at its finest.
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Steffen finally lost his FIRST tooth today! I was threatening to take him to the Dentist tomorrow if he did not get that tooth out before then. (it's been hanging there). As I mentioned, his permanent teeth have already popped through, behind the baby teeth, so he finally has the "hole" that hopefully his permanent tooth will slide into. Sort of strange, he really doesn't have a space there, since the permanent tooth is already in.
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There is a little nugget I can report on tomorrow on Dan's employment. Nothing TOO exciting, certainly something temporary, but he has to talk to the owner of this company before I share too much. It will be a sacrafice to the family for the interim, so please pray for us. I'll let you know more tomorrow.

Do any of you have "home verses"?

I've been wanting to put some verses on my wall (like Upper Case Living type thing). I've wanted to do it before the big remodel. I just never came up with the verse I wanted. How about you? Do you have scripture on your walls? Either in vinyl or framed art? I'd like something for my new "sun" room, that has beautiful views of Pikes Peak. (mtns declare your glory??) I also want one down in our guest room (Adam's room). Down there it doesn't necessarily need to be scripture. I'd like a good family quote/verse as well. Anyone? I'll probably put a "create" type thing in my area in the basement where I do my scrapbooking, stamping, crafting.
Have any of you used Upper Case Living? Like it? No? I just got my hands on a catalog (finally, been wanting one for a long time) I know Stampin' Up has wall art now. Way back when I searched on the internet and found a company where you can basically design your own - little pricy.
Anyway, I'm soliciting ideas.
During our remodle, we had to put in a significant steel beam where our old coat closet was holding up the upstairs :) I wanted to put a verse on that beam before we covered it....never happened.
Perhaps you don't have wall art, but do you have a family verse? I've heard of people doing that. Love that idea. We don't....yet. What are your family verses?

New Years resolutions

Do any of you make New Year resolutions? Many people I know don't. Hate them. It defeats them. I understand that. I, however, do. Call them goals if you like that better.
One I have for 2009 is to downsize. Of course our circumstances dictated this one for me. I open my linen closet in our master bath, and it's appalling. Gluttony at its finest. How many lotions, hair products, makeup etc. etc. does one gal need? Really. I'm not even one that really messes with all that stuff much! (since leaving the work force). I've tried almost every "rough heels" remedy known to man. I've GOTTA get stocked up on those Bath and Body Works sales. It goes on and on. With 2009 being the year Dan will get a "regular" job (we've been self employed for the last two years), we really need to tighten up the spending. So I resolved to NOT go to ONE at home party (stamping, beauty control, jewelry, candles) this year. (I have a whole closet filled with candles) I'm using what I've got, no more adding to my collection, no matter how great the sale. (oooooh, but my friend Sheila practically GIVES away her Lia Sophia jewelry....) That's my challenge. I do make an exception for the stamp club I belong to. I am saving my weekly allowance to meet my minimum purchases there. This is girly therapy for me, and it's only once a month, AND I resolve to only spend my minimum.
It's only February and I've been soooo tempted already. This is going to be hard.
How can I pray for you? What changes are you trying to make in 2009? Would you like to join me in my quest to "use what you've got" in 2009? I'll check in now and again to see how y'all are doing. Accountability IS effective.

NOTE: Steffen still has a fever. Thank you Lord for my wonderful husband. I am still making my date with a friend for coffee this morning. :-)

Another sick child....

Steffen crawled into our bed this morning with a fever. You've GOT to be kidding me. Doesn't God understand that today is Monday, a day both children go to school and I get to do what I want? Last week Ryan missed all three days of his Pre-school due to illness. For certain, my sinful, ungrateful heart is being exposed here. All I wanted in life was to become a mom, and here I am, a mom right in the thick of it, and I want ME TIME!!! Sigh. God certainly knew what a job it is, and it's not for the fickle. He gave us two children, instead of the 10 I wanted. I still admire those women who handle motherhood with such grace, and enjoy it to the fullest. I try to have these women in my life, you inspire me. You humble me. You remind me of this higher calling. Without knowing it, you sharpen me back to what I've been called to be. So thank you. So, I'll keep this post short and go love on my sick child.

No real big thoughts today.....

We've got the cold bug running through our house. Ryan is getting over a cold that kept him from school ALL last week, and Dan has come down with it, keeping him home from church today. It was a good day to just cuddle in by the fire, which is exactly what we did. I enjoy the warmer temperatures, but for goodness sakes, it's early February - I"m not ready for spring yet! I've got many more fires to burn in my gorgeous new fireplace!
I generally try to not "work" on Sundays, try to keep it low key, unplugged, unstressed. I wasn't too successful today. While Dan napped on and off all day, I decided it was a good day to organize, file our business paperwork. I hadn't done it all year, so you can imagine... It feels so good to get that done.
Dan asked me this evening about what to wear on an interview. (suit vs. sport coat, vs. shirt and tie etc.) I asked did I miss something? Does he have an interview this week? He said no, he just had a feeling he would this week. It may seem like an odd thing to say, but when my husband gets these "feelings" I generally take pause. When we were diagnosed (or I was) with "Premature Ovarian Failure" (early menopause) right after we got married, and all my hormone levels indicated that we would not be able to conceive, Dan had the "feeling" that we'd have children. He was very delicate to not really go on and on about it. But he just had this "peace". Of course God made good on that Peace, didn't He.
So, my husband has a "feeling" he's going on an interview this week. So we should pray, shall we?

I want to be called "the bomb"....

A few months back, I was introducing myself to the dad of one of Ryans pre-school friends. I know his (the father) parents from our church. As I was introducing myself, and told him I was in Women's Bible Study with his mom, his response was, "my mom, isn't she the greatest, she's the bomb". I know his mother, and yes, she is the bomb. So I guess when I grow old, I don't want my kids to call me beloved, I want to be called "the bomb". No one can accuse me of not being relevant to our culture.
You know (my Wisconsin accent coming through here), it was one of those moments in life, pretty obscure on the surface, but it has REALLY stuck with me. Here is a grown man, with children of his own, and he calls his mom the bomb. Oh, how I want that from my sons. I really need to tell Sue, my friend this. She may not find it as pleasing as beloved, but I think she'll get the point.
I'm not driven to have my children adore me, or seek their approval, but I do want to raise boys that honor their mother. I think those boys are the ones that make the finest husbands and fathers. It starts right now, when Steffen's attitude is quite sassy and irreverent towards me. I'm caught in the quandary to disipline him or is this task for his father? I think the latter. It not only shows that his attitude will NOT BE TOLERATED towards his mother, but also that his mother's husband does not take too kindly to anyone speaking to his wife that way. Get the distinction? Right now we have the luxury/burden of having Dan home all day long, so he's right there in the thick of it, often hearing the exchange by his 7 year old son. I so often just want to whip him (Steffen, not Dan) across the room when he responds to me in such a manner - "the unmitiaged gall" (quote from the Grinch - a favorite in our home)....how dare he speak to me that way. It sends me into orbit every single time, yet I know we've allowed it to get to this point, and it has to stop, or we have a long road in front of us.
Thoughts? What has been your experience, and how did you deal with it? Poorly?

I learned something today....

I'm going through the book, Feminine Appeal, by Carolyn Mahaney (link to the right) and so far it's been very good. You should see my pages - very very marked up. Sorry, I cannot lend this one out. She's going through 7 virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother, as stated in Titus 2. I'm actually going through this with a friend who also desires to work on her role, in particular, as a Godly wife. I believe "getting this right" is so key to every other aspect of a woman's life (if your married, that is), right behind our relationship with our Lord, and knowing who He is and who I am in Him. Anyway, the first virtue deals with our husbands, and how we are to love him. Oh no, not yet ANOTHER lesson on submission, and men are from mars type lesson. Not that these things are not important, but I'm feeling a bit saturated on these points and yet still struggle with being the kind of Wife God has called me to be. Onto my interesting discovery from my reading the other day.
She, the author, talks about that Paul uses phileo rather than agape to describe the kind of love we are to have for our husbands, here in Titus 2:4. Phileo the love between very close friends: tender, affectionate, passionate kind of love. It emphasizes enjoyment and respect in a relationship. Agape refers to a self-sacrificing love. She goes on to pontificate on why she thinks Paul uses this love word - good stuff - get the book. However, if that was not interesting enough, she goes on to say that "in commands specifically related to wives, agape is never used." Does that strike you like it hit me? Really?? No agape love commandments for us wives? (she does say that does not release us from this kind of love, for certain, however her comment that phileo is the type love always used in commandments to wives.) Now for my Bible scholars out there, I would like to verify this, in my free time. But did you know that???? And in turn, with commandments to HUSBANDS, agape is always used. I liked her theories on why this is, what are your thoughts? One thing she mentioned, which resounded true for me in my life, women are very capable of agape love (sacrificial love) all the time. We can continue to clean, cook, buy groceries for our husbands when our tender feelings have subsided, or using her words: "when he is a true and unvarnished jerk." (of course that would not be any of OUR husbands) But that is so true. We can serve till the cows come home, and yet not feel tender love towards our husbands. Do you think God (Paul) knew that about women? We (us wives) don't struggle with agape love. Thoughts? Comments???

Randomness.....

I did get the boys and my flights booked for Spring break. That's always exciting. What a blessing to be able to travel to AZ in March with little cost. We cannot book Dan's because HOPEFULLY he'll have a job and would not be able to join us. I'll save my heart thoughts on that whole job thing another post. He is in Elgin, celebrating his dad's 88th birthday. I am so thankful that he is able to do this. They are a special family.

Isn't this just the cutest Picture? At least SOMEONE in our family had no problems making great friends. This is Ryan's Best Buds from his Pre-K. Noelle, Cade and Owen. These friends are a riot. All the parents are good folk too. Unfortunately for us, they all will go to TCA Central, whereas Ryan will go to TCA East. We'll have to try hard to keep up with the friendships.

Steffen is about to lose his first tooth. He's got "shark teeth". A condition where his permanent teeth have already come through BEHIND his baby teeth. I'm told this is common.