Reformation Day

I really really don't like Halloween. I don't want to celebrate it and I don't want to celebrate in reaction to it. I don't have nay traditions to pass down and havent decided exactly what my ideal is...My husband was able to pick up an "extra" shift which is good but made for an extra long day for me:)

I have NEVER carved a pumpkin. My dear friend, Jane, decided to show us how. She got pumpkins for everyone, tons of supplies and made a HUGE pot of chili (and cornbread and honey/butter)



I was all excited for Gabriel, being his first pumpkin carving and all. Then I relaized, with a little help, that it would be a first for me and ALL five of my children.


Nate wasn't too sure about it all. But had a GREAT time once he let himself:)





Erin blew me out of the park with her carving of something profound..IN JAPANESE!!




Luke discovered that if you stuck your head way down in the "pumpkin guts bucket and screamed that IT ECHOED!!


Here is the conspiring that led to an Awesome "G" pumpkin.







Here are the works of the day...they look good...



AND SOOOO good all lit up. Apparently, pumpkin carving is very forgiving.

Got Diapers? Great Deal

Yes. I use cloth but not ALL the time. I was sick last week and in bed. I didnt wash diapers like I meant to and then it rained. BUT I had disposables on hand for just such an occasion:)

I came across this deal today on a great blog and hoped it could bless someone...

Amazon has a great deal right now for Seventh generation diapers using subscribe and save (you can get 4 packs for $23.00)

Go here:

and click on the link to to “Your Coupon Book” (just under the product description). That will take you to some coupons, including one for $4 off. Once you click on that coupon, you’ll be back to choose your size. Pick your size, then select purchase via Subscribe & Save, which will give you free shipping and another 15% off. Then at checkout, apply coupon code 7GENIOO9 for another 15% off.

The end result is diapers to your door for about 40% off (15% coupon + 15% Subscribe & Save + about 10% from your coupon book). Good time to stock up for your little one and rainy days:)

Activism and my Current Calling

I did a lot of activism and volunteer work before children. In college I volunteered as a counselor at a Crisis Pregnancy Center. I then became a "sidewalk counselor" in front of Planned Parenthood. We were pretty organized and each took one day to stand and pray and be available. I saved money and took summer school classes and was there 5 days a week. (I think many people thought I was their assigned person that day..I never thoguth much of it. I didn't need the recognition. I was doing what I was supposed to) I then became the Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Center. I also did some small stuff with Operation Rescue. I later brought the ACLJ to Santa Barbara to fight an un-constitutional city ordinance. We did win.

Why did I just tell you all that? Do I think I'm cool because of it? NO. I AM feeling pretty "uncool" now. My heart is still there, praying, helping reaching out. But most days I am: home, in my pajamas, teaching children to read, discussing theology, doing dishes, laundry, changing diapers....I no longer reach out of my four walls.

>
(don't think that is really me? maybe not..but mess up the hair, add pajama pants, tone down the dinner a bit, its getting closer:)
I have done some work with the Crisis Pregnancy Center here but not as Id like to. My children have raised money and walked in the yearly Walk For Life. I helped with a parenting class. We aren't really involved. There is no time in this season and I'm feeling shallow and silly for it. I didn't look for recognition a few years ago. Why all of a sudden? I guess we were promised that our children would "rise" and call us blessed not that we'd look "cool" in the formative years :)I'm not very outwardly motivated. I just want ME to know that I am doing what I should be.

One of my favorite blogs is Resolved 2 Worship


Alyssa is an amazing Christian, wife, and mom--I am so inspired by her days. She pours all she is into raising and training her children and is such an inspiration to me.

She has been getting flack for not being more politically involved and not doing "more" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I think by raising these boys:

In the fear and admonition of the Lord, teaching then right from wrong, teaching them of a mothers love and respect for those smaller and weaker that she is doing far more for our country and its future than anything I could come up with.

She has been entrusted with the care, training and discipleship of four boys and three girls. Wow huh? Most recently their beautiful family was blessed with this newcomer:




Alyssa's calling seems so clear to me...SOOO..does that mean that I too should focus on my current calling and not beat myself up over all that I am "not" doing? Hmm.. I am so not cool like she is, I don't do half of what she does...then again maybe I do. That isn't really the point is it?

Sooo...Im pondering this and realize that we need to pick up my sons' eyeglasses a half hour away and that we need gas. We race out the door and to the gas station. Im balancing our checkbook in my head and figuring out how much gas I need and can get. I apologize to the older gentleman in line behind us because I am taking far too long. He steps out of the vehicle and comes up to me. He reads the bumper stickers "It is a poverty to decide that someone should die so that you can live as you wish-Mother and "Some Choices Are Wrong" on our 10 year old mini-van.

He asks, "are you pro-life?" We talked for awhile. He raised 4 sons and now has many many grandchildren. We talked about how blessed he is. He is Catholic. I am a reformed Presbyterian. We found common ground and were a blessing to each other. I realized in talking to him that this is where my "activism" and convictions match up with my walk. Where the rubber meets the road so to speak. I am not going beyond my four walls. But what I am doing in those four walls will impact the world. I am raising 5 children to know Christ. We are feeding, clothing and sheltering them on less that $1,800 a month (and much much Godly generosity and Grace) that isn't convenient or selling out. That is the Current Calling of my heart and life. Glamorous or not:)

Good Deals on Good Reading:)

Fall has finally arrived. I am daydreaming about curling up under a handmade afghan with a cup of tea and a good book. But, there are dirty diapers and screaming toddlers and deadlines and children wanting my computer. Today's blessing is not alone time but a houseful of activity and love. No, there will be no alone reading on this rainy day:) BUT I found some great deals in case those days do come:)


Vision Forum has some offers that end tomorrow. There is a book and DVD, free for shipping (between $2 and $4 depending on where you are)

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

enter coupon: PHDGFREE


The League of Grateful Sons (DVD)

enter coupon: LOGSFREE

You can enter both but will need to place two seperate orders.





also for the young men in your lives..
BOYS LIFE, for $4.50 today only


Today only you, you can get it here:

enter REFCENTS15 as a coupon and get another 15% off...comes to $4.50

All About Us

All About Us

This is fun. All about US. As in him and her. I was tagged by Allie at Monkeys on the Bed. She is an amazing gal and such an inspiration to me :) (She made my blog button too)

What are your middle names?
His is Alexander, mine is Rose (after my maternal grandmother and I found out recently my Paternal great grandmother too)


How long have you been together?
We started officially dating November of 1994.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We were friends for about two years. Honestly friends. Close friends. We attended a few bible studies together each week and got to really know each other.

Who asked who out?
Josh instigated once we both really saw what was happening. It was scary though to rsk the friendship that we had but we both knew this was it.

Who made the first move?
Josh did.

How old are each of you?
me-37
him-37 he is actually 5 months older than me:)


Did you go to the same school?
not the same school but in the same town :)

Are you from the same home town?
No. I went to college where he was born and raised.

Who is the smartest?
DEFINITELY him but we balance each other really well :)

Who majored in what?
I have a degree in English. He left college and got more technical and licence driven in his studies.

Who is the most sensitive?
He is a really nice guy. Me not so much. But when it comes to stuff like letting the baby cry..he is much tougher.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We don't. When we do I really want the money to count so it usually someplace REALLY REALLY cool.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
The Sierra Nevada Mountains. Havent gotten much traveling in.


Who has the worst temper?
Im Irish and Italian. I have a hot temper at the drop of a hat. I get worked up over anything and everything. he is very mellow, very even keeled. BUT when he does get angry--he means it.



How many children do you want?
We both love babies. Love children. We have never felt "done" but now with five we are content and feeling done. It is kind of a strange feeling. We shall see :)


Who does the cooking?
Im here and I cook but he is much better at it. I am the baker too. I dont bake often but when there is baking it is me. Although I think I usually call him in to check everything :)


Who is more social?
Josh is very social but takes FOREVER to warm up. I am a little too extroverted and open and a chatter box.




Who is the neat-freak?
That is sooo easy. Josh. Left alone, Id probably be a slob.

Who is the most stubborn?
We are both incredibly so and a lot of things really really matter to us. Theology, morality, health...we have yet to actually disagree but it would be really ugly and I dont know who Id put my money on.

Who wakes up earlier?
Definitely him. He gets up for work by 4:30. He is naturally up WAY before me. I have been known to sleep until 3 pm if let be.

Where was your first date?
I dont know the "when" exactly. Sometime after November 1994 :) We went to some Italian restaurant and it was soooo awkward. We had known each other forever and eaten out together a million times but now it was all clumsy.


Who has the bigger family?
He does. Two sisters, parents still married, cousins, aunts/uncles. Grandparents.
I have zilch. My parents never married. My mom died when I was 9. My grandmother when I was 7. (I do have a sister I have met)

Do you get flowers often?
He used to pick wild flowers for me.

How do you spend the holidays?
That we are still figuring out.

Who is more jealous?
Remember how I got worked up over every little thing while he is so even keeled? We trust each other totally but I'll turn on a game for him and then keep hitting guide because I want his attention. Yeah, poor guy.

How long did it take to get serious?
We wer friends for those two years and then once we were dating we knew we were getting married. Scary stuff.


Who eats more?
I'm sure I do.

What do you do for a living?
I keep us all alive but dont make a living :)
He works as an EKG tech.

Who does the laundry?
Me. (Not much folding here either Allie :)

Who’s better with the computer?
In theory I do more but only because I have played around more. He actually knows the whys and hows. I dont know much.


Who drives when you are together?
Him. I get lost SOOO easily and really dont care who drives.

What is your song?
We dont have one. But when I was in labor with our fourth child, josh was doing Karaoke to Pat Benetar. SO SO SO funny. I will never here her songs the same again.


I tag:
Rachelle
Wendy
Corrine
Allison
If and when you do get a chance to answer, could you comment and let me know :)

Shoving my foot in my mouth/An opportunity for Grace

People comment here that I am ao "real." I am. To a fault. In the real world it causes so many problems. I had a friendship end recently because I "was just too honest." I didnt say anything bad about my friend but she thought that maybe I had. I am stil crying over that atleast daily. It has been 16 months.

Today I decided to type out a quick message on facebook. I was trying to encourage a friend who had just become a step-mom to adult children. I tried to say that people dont like change and families are werid about people being "added in." I said it very poorly, gave an example from my life and then hit reply all and sent the message to a bunch of people and my sister in law too. I sent my sister in law a message right away trying to explain and sent out a "please disregard previous email." I wnat ot fix this but I think IM just making it worse. I screwed up. I hope I ahvent hurt anyone but I cant take it back once I stupidly let it out there.....


It's cute when this baby does it. Not at all when I do, yet I do. I now feel the need to call everyone and tell them that I screwed up. Why? Isn't that desire to tell to much what got me into this?

I haven't had breakfast or lunch yet and my daughter is waiting to do Math with me. but here I am in tears over the keyboard again.

Book Case Treasures

First off, we have a few things to get out of the way:

Yes there are a lot of bookcases in here.

We have WAY outgrown our home. We have one room to live in. It has four walls: three have doorways or walkways, one has windows and three have bookcases. Bookcases are our friends.

The bookcases are cheap, dont match, need to be smooshed together in places and there are people everywhere. Even when Im trying to take pictures.

I dust, I decorate, I clean these babies way too often and there are ALWAYS treasures waiting for me, like these today:

WHY? How does it happen? How do things get behind books? On top of books? Where do all the "extra" books come from that appear in stacks?

Does this happen to anyone else?

Snow White!

Snow White came out of Disney's vault!!

AND I found a good deal!! Go to Amazon:

and type in coupon code: snowhite and get $10.00 off instantly!
You can then get free super saver shipping if you spend a total of 25 :)