Today I am Thankful for...

• a warm, dry house
• fun and creative hobbies
• children who ask to pray for their Daddy
• 75% Fat free sharp chedder cheese by Cabot Cheese! Yum!!!!
• a loving Saviour who makes Himself known to me even when I am cleaning house
• snaggle toothed grins!

That is my list for today.

New Haircut and New Smile!

I am posting these together although they did not happen on the same day. On Friday I went to my amazing and very sweet hairdresser and got my "old" haircut back. I had been trying to grow out the front and be groovy but it just wasn't working. In our family, my baby sister got the groovy gene- I did not. I am OK with that- I embrace my "Nerdness"! Baby Sister can put together a knockout ensemble and wear funky vintage jewelry and everyone thinks it is very cool. I try to wear the same thing and people mutter and shake their heads. So I went back to my reliable Mom haircut and I am happy with it. It is comfortable and very "me". I'm a yoga pants, soft tee shirt kinda gal. I don't MIND getting dressed up I just have to have someone help me (please see, "My husband is a Fashionista" article).

On another and more exciting note, Bailey Rose lost another!!!! tooth! She was helping me at church in the toddler room today (Sunday) and was playing on the floor with a little girl. Seems that the little girl did something that resembled a head butt (she is a very sweet little girl) and the tooth got looser and Bailey Rose came back from the bathroom with one less tooth. So cute! Now we are asking her to pronounce all kinds of words that trip up her tongue and lack of teeth.

Today I am Thankful...

• A wonderful spiritual family made up of wild and crazy Christian women in my Bible study
• My Little Sister and her humor that keeps me laughing
• Blackberries... can you believe it? It keeps me in touch with my long, lost husband!
• Candy Corn and popcorn- TOGETHER!!!!! What? It's only 4 pts!
• Children that pray

That's my list today....

Today I am Thankful...

Today I am thankful for:

• My kids happily playing together
• My Husband had a day of safe travel
• I have a warm, dry house with electricity
• I have TWO good books to read tonight!
• I live in a free country where I can freely attend worship at the house of the Lord Jesus without suffering persecution (We are going to church tonight!)
• My Super Cool Sister that takes wonderful care of my (sometimes) weary spirit
• My Earthly Father and my Heavenly Father
• My crazy momma who taught me to be Brave

That is my list today.....

My Husband... the Shopper and Fashionista

So Michael got to come home for a little over 36 hours. He is still working the hurricane in TX. When he got to come home early on Sunday, we were Tickled!!!! During the day on Tuesday, we dropped the kids at school, came home and got ready for the day (details censored) and then went shopping!!!! Yes! I said Shopping! How great is THAT!?! My husband is home, has a day off and took me shopping! Glory Hallelujah! We went to Target, where he helped me pick out a dress. Then off to Toys R Us to purchase a Speed Racer Halloween costume (for Ike) and then down to the River Market! This is SO MUCH FUN! When you come to visit I will take you. We bought fresh veggies (Michael's favorite) and then walked all the way down Main Street to the Community Bakery. We had lunch there and it was delicious! I had a grilled veggie panini and Michael had a bread bowl of veggie soup. Aren't we Metropolitian? The walk was well over a mile so we treated ourselves to some snacks from the dessert case. Of all the things I could choose from, I got a snickerdoodle- my favorite! Then we walked back to the car and stopped by a little equal trade store and I got a rockin pair of earrings. 10$ bucks! Michael had to leave again this am but our little and precious time together on his short stay home was so fun. We are all learning to cherish our family much more through all this. God teaches us at the funniest times, doesn't He? Off to grab the kids from school! Have a great day!

Another One Bites the Dust!

Well, the tooth saga continues at the Penderosa. Early on Monday morning (hence the sleepy face!) BaileyRose pulled out her second tooth! Check out that Big Gap! This child took her own sweet time in pulling this tooth. So much so that, when she pulled it, it didn't even bleed! I'm not sure HOW it was hangin in there. But it did and then it didn't. So now she is working on the one beside it. I am soooo looking forward to the "neighbor" tooth coming out! How Cute will that be?

My Projects

I am trying to keep busy. It is not so hard. It IS kinda messy. So here is the plan. I am finishing up a shipment of bows, assembling my Christmas cards and cleaning out that little space beside my fridge. That last one takes some doin', lemme tell ya. That's tonight. Today, I walked three miles, took a friend to the airport, did some shopping at Michael's (they have Crikut stuff on sale!), came home and did up the rest of the laundry, returned emails (Girl Scouts, Life Groups, BaileyRose's teacher), picked up a friend's little boy that I watched this afternoon/evening (The airport friend's child), picked up my Own children, made crescent rolls for teacher's treat at school, helped with homework and made dinner for various children that were around my house (some I gave birth to, some I did not...). Bills got paid and movies got returned. Tomorrow I plan to make LOTS of cookies for my hubby and his buddies in TX and for the WatchDog dad meeting at school. It helps to stay busy at night so that I don't hear the quiet. My mom says I have always been pitiful whenever I don't have friends to play with but really it's that one voice I don't hear. Being sad is not something I am familiar with and I am not so good at it so I am gonna try something else. I DID hear from Michael a little tonight. He loaded trucks all day and is tired. The power is slowly coming back on here and there. Even people in Ohio were affected by this storm. Michael said they had some guys contracted out of Ohio and they are still cleaning up the mess there. Far out.
So tomorrow will be one day closer to Michael being home. We will probably strangle one another when we have to learn to live together again! HA! It's a risk I am willing to take. Good Night.

We Love ya Daddy!

Well, this one is actually for Daddy down in TX. He came in town for 36 hours and left out on Saturday after lunch. The conditions in Texas are much worse than he saw in Louisiana with Gustav. We went to church this morning and asked a friend to take a quick pic to send to him. The utility guys/gals are working around the clock in less than great conditions. Michael is staying at the hotel even though they have no power (ie: air conditioning, TV). So after they work a 12-16 hour day, they go back and crash in a tiny and muggy hotel room. I feel so blessed to have a dry house with lights! Even here there are many families with no power. And restoration is slow because the crews are all in TX/LA.

While Michael is gone for this storm I have decided to be more productive than I was for the last storm. I have started working on my Christmas cards and am transfering my pictures from our desktop to our laptop/CD. After we transfer all the pics I will get rid of that dinasour of a desktop and Bailey Rose will have a much bigger workspace on her desk. I also have plans for my "Secret Corner of Shame". This little corner of the countertop collects clutter and such and should really be more organized. Perhaps I will do the junk drawer as well. So, more productivity and less pouting! Such a plan! Please pray for our dear work crews working so hard in the areas effected by the recent storms. God bless and goodnight.

CHEESE!!! Swiss cheese, that is....

My Girl FINALLY lost her first tooth! Right before church tonight we wiggled Bailey's LONG loose tooth. It was sooo ready. But she had to be the one to pull it. No One Else! And truth be told, she didn't really pull it but kind of "bent" it out. First to the front and then the other way. She got that sucker out as little brother Isaac and I watched on, holding our breath and holding hands. When it came out we all started to scream and jump up and down in the bathroom! "It didn't even hurt! It didn't even hurt!" Isaac kept telling her he was so proud and she was so brave. NOT! That girl squalled and balled like a baby! But the tooth is out and at this very moment is under her pillow with a note to the Tooth Fairy. Whew! FINALLY!

I'm Here to Help

Well, I am on my way to bed. But before I go, I thought I would share a little experience I had this morning at Northside Elementary.
I volunteer as a teacher's helper in BaileyRose's class. My day to work is Monday morning from 8 to 9. So, after I deposited the kids to their room, I went off to check the volunteer box in the workroom. Even at 8:03 I was too late! There, poised at both copiers and at the work table were Mommies in full blown "volunteerism" (is that a word?). I smiled at everyone and made my way to Mrs Robbins red tote box. My instructions said to make "25 copies of each". The box was full. I was not About to ask if any one of the Mommies was finished at Their Copier. This is a major faux pax amoung the volunteers. Step away from the copier!
I casually talked to the Mommy at the worktable while she cut out laminated pumpkins. I chatted with the secretary as she breezed back and forth between the front office and the teacher's lounge. I carefully watched the copier status.
Finally! The risograph was open. I stood up from my stool and discretly shuffled to the machine. You see, apparently, once you use a copier- it's yours for as long as you have copies to make. This Nikon was MINE!
I finished up my copies- I even made a couple of transparencies- and left just as the 9 am shift was making their way into the workroom. As I stacked up the last of my paperwork, a new face smiled at me as she clutched her teacher's blue tote box. Smoothly and gratefully, she took over my spot in front of the humming machine. We exchanged a knowing look.
Next Monday, the kids will sleep in their clothes and are going to eat breakfast at school. I WILL be the first one in the workroom. "25 copies of each"? No Problem!

Do you See it?

A picture that Daddy sent us from Hammond. Do you see what I see? Keep Looking!

Random Happenings on Elk Bear

Not much happening here today. Actually, quite a lazy day. We went to church and came home for lunch. Later tonight we decided to make cards for Daddy.

During my "single momma experience" I have developed a new admiration for military wives. We have lots of them in our area as we live near an Air force Base. Of course we know when the soldiers go off on a deployment but what about those they leave behind? These gals are tough. So all you service gals out there- you Rock! Thank you for all that you do that no one knows about. I can't imagine living the life you live but I love you for it!

My New Brother Might be Named Noah...

It has been raining here for, well, forever! Last night at church was communion and I really wanted to attend. However, I was a little wary of the rain situation. We went to service and came right back home. I wanted to make sure we could get into our neighborhood and not get washed away! The city crews have been in our subdivision all day trying to resolve the drainage problem. Apparently the storm drain catty-corner from us wasn't draining properly and consequently our neighbors' yard CAVED IN!!! Holy Moly! So the city crews brought in lots of earth movers and big black tubes and Lots and Lots of dirt (which is now mud). I am ready for things to dry out just a little so that I can try and mow my big Fat lawn! Glory Be that grass is thick! Hope you are all staying afloat! (This picture was taken from our driveway. See our little oak tree? His name is Frankie.)

WOW! Bailey Rose is Eight!

Bailey Rose turned eight on Friday, August 29th. Impossible. I just can't believe that she is eight. I mean, how did that happen? So, on Saturday afternoon, lots of little girls filled our house and giggled and made crafts and compared cell phones. Cell phones are THE thing to have when you are eight. In all reality, they are glorified walkie-talkies. A cell phone was the big gift from Momma and Daddy. She couldn't quite grasp that the phone belonged to her. We sent her on a scavenger hunt and at the end she wound up calling her phone. Even when she found the phone, she answered it and expected to hear someone on the other end. HA! So now she is cool. I guess. If talking on the cell phone makes you cool, then I am at the head of the class!

The theme for her birthday party was Webkinz. For those of you not familar with this "world", it is a virtual world for stuffed animals with little coded tags. We made a cake to look just like the "Wheel of Wow". In Webkinz world you get to spin the Wheel of Wow each day. This cake is an Exact replica of that wheel. Yummo! This is probably the most involved cake I have ever done. Changing icing bags that many times was crazy! But it all turned out and it was delicious. WOW, another year come and gone.

I already KNOW how to do that!

I am posting this before I have my Volunteer Training this morning. Yes, I have to be trained in the art of cutting out construction paper apples and laminating wall calenders. Nevermind that I took an entire class in college on how to do all of this. And anything the class didn't cover, Girl Scouting and scrapbooking took care of! So I am hoping they have good coffee and lots of it. That will be reason enough to go. Not really, I have coffee here and it is raining outside. I wanna stay home and work on bow orders and drink my OWN coffee! Oh well, I better go get on my "real people" clothes and smooth my curls (My momma's phrase- my hair is better flat-ironed).

Hurricane Gustav Hits Home

Hurricane Gustav came ashore in Louisiana this morning but it actually hit Arkansas before that. Michael got the call last week that he would most likely be activated for restoration response for the hurricane. We did laundry, packed provisions and prepared the kids. Michael has been traveling with work for the last two weeks and we have really missed him. He planned to leave Sunday, after church. However, as Gustav quickened his pace, Michael had to leave earlier than expected. Early Sunday morning he threw his bags in the company van and came inside to say goodbye to the kids. We prayed together for safety and a quick return. They had just wrapped their brains around Daddy leaving again. When they realized that he was leaving right away, they just busted up. So, the floods of Gustav hit early. That was the first wave.
Now, anytime they hear anything on the news about the storm they ask about Michael. Where is he? (Sleeping in a warehouse) Am I sure he is safe? (No, that is what I am Praying for) When will he be home? (We have no idea) Have I talked to him lately? (Yes, thank you Lord for cell phones!) I try to keep the TV away from the weather channel. The warehouse still has phone service- for that I am thankful. And, just like the real storm, the floods have dissipated here at home. It wasn't quite as bad as we thought. But, now we are in for the long haul. The threat has passed but now we wait and assess the damage.
I must say, I am so glad that we miss Michael. The house seems almost "broken" without him. He is such a great husband and daddy. Just the other day, I was asking God to make me aware of every blessing He has placed in my path and in the world around me. My mother always says that, in tough times there is something to be learned. The lesson for me is that we are a blessed family. Blessed with one another.
So now I have learned the lesson and seen the blessing..... Now Gustav, send my sweetie home!