Bittersweet Update

Alas! Our phone is out again. This is somewhat frustrating, yet rather pleasant. In the few short hours our phone did work, it rang just about non-stop. (ok, slight exaggeration) These calls came while my youngest baby was crying VERY loudly because she was sick to her stomach. So, although it is wonderful to hear from a beloved friend or family member, I welcome the peace and quiet of "no phone" today. If you do call, you can leave a message because somehow our voicemail does work. I will use my cell to check messages throughout the day. However, please don't try to reach me on my cell, since I don't get reception in the house and will have to run outside to answer the phone. This gets old after awhile, especially with 2 sick babies. Which brings me to yet another update/warning. We are UNCLEAN!!Those of you with sensitive immune systems (and you know who you are) best avoid our quaint little cottage until the quarantine has been lifted. Merry Almost Christmas!

P.S. Now the phone is working and the voicemail isn't so.....good luck to ya!

Today's Summary

When an infant vomits, there's really nothing you can do but aim it away from you and hope it doesn't hit another child.

Today...

Today can be summed up in 4 words:

"Diarrhea in the tub."

Need I say more?

Mississippi Girl!

Well, it may be a long way to Star, Mississippi for Faith Hill, but for me it's just a drive down the road. And now, I can make that drive legally, (as long as I'm not in my van) because I FINALLY got my Mississippi driver's license. Yay me! It only took me...ummmmm 2 years? Yes, 2 years and 2 months. Unfortunately, I had to surrender my Texas driver's license to get my Mississippi one. Sad. I love Texas. I loved living there and now I love being from there. Although I was born up north, when I'm asked where I'm from, I always answer, proudly, "Texas!" And I liked having a Texas DL to back that up. Now, I have nothing. But hey, Mississippi is good. It's very good, actually. I live in the woods here, on a lake. In Texas, I lived in Dallas.....YUCKY!!!! Actually, it was Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, but still.....yucky. When I lived in Texas, we had to drive 8 hours (at least) to get to Aunt Sue's for Christmas or to Kevin's for Thanksgiving. Now I drive across the lake...1 minute, baby! Plus, I love Small Town USA. I grew up in a small town...it's not too small anymore, though. Florence is small. It's rural. It's awesome. Florence is also closer to Nashville and The Smokey Mountains, my very favorite vacation places. While living in the very great state of Texas, one of my favorite commericals on the radio said, "I'd rather be a fence post in Texas than the King of Tennessee". Well, I do like Tennessee. And I still love Texas. But I must say that I would rather be a fence post in Florence than the King of Dallas. Yucky!

So, How Was Your Day??

I hope everyone had a good day today. But just in case someone didn't have a good day and needs a laugh, let me tell you about my day. My first mistake actually took place last night when stayed up past midnight reading, knowing I would have to get up at 5:30. pfh! Needless to say, I got up late. After my sweet husband brought me coffee in bed, I dragged my sorry self up and into the living room. I don't really remember how the morning went, so I guess nothing terrible happened. Some time in the late morning my mother in law called and asked if she could pick up Wyatt H from school and take the older 3 kiddos to the movies. Sure! Except she's not on the "ok to pick my child" list since she lives in Petal. So, on my way to run my errands, I stop by the school to give her security clearance. After that I'm off to get my Mississippi driver's license...finally. Except I when I get to where I thought I was supposed to go, I find that the office has been moved. I'm told by a man in the parking lot that I need to go to Whitfield. (no surprise there!) He says the office I want is somewhere near the correctional facility. Ok, so I'm off towards Brandon. Except I miss the exit for 20 and somehow end up going back towards Florence on 49S. (still not sure how that happened) Anyway, I check the time and decide since I have to back home within an hour, I would skip Whitfield and just get my haircut. Well the first place I go to can't fit me in till 2:00. Not good. So off I go to another place. This place had no wait, which should have been warning number 1. But no, not for me. "Just a bob, same length all the way around", I tell the hairdresser. She got started and I kept watch to make sure she didn't go Scissorhands on me. All looked fine. Of course, I don't have eyes in the back of my head, and that is where I needed them today. Apparently, "same length all around" means "just hack away" to the hairdresser. All I will say is that I had to take matters into my own hands when I got home, and strangely enough, I did make some improvements. At this point my headache returns, so I take some medicine and make some coffee. I decide I will blog a bit to take my mind off what used to be my hair. First I checked my email. I then unsuccessfully try to post a simple logo on my blog. I try this many times in several different ways before I send up a signal for help from a trustworthy friend. I confess to her that I am somewhat computer challenged, and as if to drive the point home, I send the email off to not only her but my entire yahoo homeschool group. At least 50 people. She graciously offers to help me so I email her my password. Her and the 50 other people in my yahoo homeschool group. Because why would you only want to make that mistake once? Shortly after that little trick, my son came to me crying and asked me to pray for his hurt nose. "Now this I can handle", I think to myself. I then proceed to Thank God for Sammy and ask Him to heal Sammy's nose. Except Ben is the child in pain. Now he's also offended. Thankfully my husband is on his way home now so it won't be long before I get into bed before I make another brilliant move. My sister in law invited me to a spa party tonight, and I sure could use it. But considering my track record today, the last thing I need to be doing is driving across a lake to her house.

The Mist and All by Dixie Willson

I like the fall,
The mist and all.
I like the night owl's
Lonely call-
And wailing sound
Of wind around.

I like the gray
November day,
And bare dead boughs
That coldly sway
Against my pane.
I like the rain.

I like to sit
And laugh at it-
And tend
My cozy fire a bit.
I like the fall-
The mist and all.

Jeremy Lee Roberts

A year ago today, my husband's youngest brother passed away. He was only 26 years old. We all miss him terribly. Here are some photos of Jeremy. Please be in prayer for his parents and siblings today.

Here is Jeremy and my father-in-law at our wedding.



This was taken about 5 years ago. Jeremy is wearing his favorite Abercrombie sweatshirt.


Here is Jeremy (and siblings and Dad) in younger days.

Too Much of A Good Thing??

Can you read to your children too much? Well, a few days ago I would have answered "NO!" very confidently. Now, I have to wonder. This morning, my 2 year old son was making a puzzle. He apparently came to a difficult piece and asked for help, saying, "Help me, help me, I cried!" Hmmmmmmmmm....

What's up with THAT?

Lately I've been making alot of beaded jewelry. I've really enjoyed it, although I am concerned by one little oddity. I often times am tempted to taste my creations. I recently made a pink and white bracelet that reminded me very much of cream savers candy. In fact, it looks so good, I've decided I need to buy it and keep it for myself. Last night I made one with beads that look like Root Beer Barrells, and last week I made a very juicy looking orange bracelet. I think I need help.

FALL BAAAA-AAACK!!!!!

Yay!!! Yet another wonderful thing about Fall....the end of daylight savings time. My second favorite night of the year. Don't forget to set your clocks back AFTER the kids go to bed tonight. HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

Kicking off Christmas

Yes, I know, it's still a little early to be doing Christmas activities. We've still got a month and a half to go, right? Well, if you're anything like us, you know that it's really never too early to start thinking about Christmas. One of the things I've been thinking about is what to put in my Operation Christmas Child shoebox this year. This is only our second year participating in this project and we just LOVE it! You bascially fill a shoe box with toys and bring it to a drop off point in your area. The fine folks at Samaritans Purse take it from there, and your package makes its way to a child that otherwise wouldn't be getting anything for Christmas. BUT, next week is your last week to get your filled box to a drop off point. So, what are you waiting for???

Autumn by Emily Dickinson

The mourns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.