Because who doesn't love free stuff???

I am a walking survivor.

I walk, and I survive.

The arthritis & rheumatoid and the bad knees are a killer.

But I will continue because...I don't know why.

Now training for the Philly 1/2 marathon in Sept.

And I hate it.

Why can't I be one of those people who love it? Who talk about it all the time? Who get a cool rush over it?

Why do I have to be the one who groans as I get on the treadmill? Who tries to think of ANYTHING not to get on the treadmill? Is that my little toe that hurts today? Should I chance it and make it worse?

But then I get on and go.

Even with a broken little toe.

ANYWAY, whine session over.

Temporarily.

DC Rainmaker is giving this away and it is something to behold. I could get real excited about exercising with this thing!!

So go over and check it out.

Because who doesn't love free stuff????

This weekend...

PRAISE GOD Becky not only has the This Weekend I... thing going, but she has wonderful news too! So go over there and rejoice!



~friday night, I accompanied my son on the bus. He is the bus driver as well as general help out where they need him guy, and has been with this ministry for a few years. It was my first time, and it was great. Samuel came too. :)

~ had a cookie for breakfast.

~ went to an OLD friend's childhood home to see her after not seeing her for 8 years. She moved to CA 15 years ago.

~ had watermelon punch. A California thing??

~ went to church and FROZE. The AC was too high.

~ went to Ikea.

~ watched the GreenBay/Giants game from 2008 on one of my NFL Films dvds. I am missing football.

~ was so glad to hear training camp started.

~ watched the Psych we missed last week.

~ agreed to be the WMU director at our church. I am so not the person to do it, but I will do my best. And missions is my heartbeat.

~ thanked GOD that my daughter and son-in-love moved into their new apartment. They had to be out on Saturday, and they had not yet found a place. GOD came in last minute. As HE is so famous in doing. lol.

~ talked to my cousin. I haven't talked to her in TOO long. Yes, she is 18 minutes away, but she has been working too much. And that's no real excuse for my part. My bad.

~ cleaned out the school book shelf for next year.

It was a good weekend. It even rained a little! And boy do we need the rain. Life is good, and GOD, truly is great.

Last night, my husband and I decided to go someplace where we used to take our older children ALL THE TIME. First time we went was about 19 years ago.

Jerusalem Pizza.

Blast from the past. We haven't been there in so long Samuel who is 11 3/4 doesn't remember ever being there. It looks EXACTLY the same. With it's posters of The Sabras and The Israeli tourists, cab drivers, and maps of the Holy Land all over.

Jerusalem Pizza is in the lovely town of Highland Park. If we could afford it I would move there in a heart beat. It is such a family town and the houses are not big houses, but there is not one house that looks the same in the whole town. They are so neat and unusual.

It is mostly conservative Jews in the town, and the whole town shuts down Friday at sunset until Sunday. You see everyone walking on Saturday, regardless of the weather. And since they can only walk a little over a mile or it would be working, there are quite a few synagogues all over town. We also figured the taxes are probably low because 80% of the kids go to Jewish Day School or are homeschooled.

Anyway, back to the pizza place. I was raised to know more about the Jewish faith then my Catholic heritage. I almost converted at 15 because it was all I knew. SO the first time John ordered pizza, he went to the guy (in his kippah) ( the guy, not John) ( though John has his share of kippahs from having to go to synagogue for weddings/bar mitzvahs/funerals) and said " I would like to order a pepperoni pizza please."

I forgot I married an irishman who had never been around Jewish people.

I walked away and made believe I didn't know this ding-a-ling. Who would order such a thing. From a Jew. In a Kosher eatery.

I was young and stupid for not standing by my man.

I have apologized repeatedly for not instructing him and leaving him for dumb.

Now he knows the faith, customs & traditions better.

We remembered why we used to go there all the time.

And we will be back soon.


And I stand by my man much better now. :)

I leave you with this picture. My oldest child playing with my youngest child. I heard her cracking up outside. And This is what I found.

20

Do you remember 20 years ago?

20 years ago, I was wearing the size pants I want to wear now.

20 years ago, I was still a young wife, idealistic and energized.

20 years ago, I was the mother of 2, and no more children in sight, medically, not emotionally or spiritually.

20 years ago, I was so cool, driving my Jeep Wrangler around life.

20 years ago, the 90's style started, much to our embarrasment.

20 years ago, Margaret Thatcher, the first female PM of the UK resigned after 11 years.

20 years ago, yuppi-dom was in full swing. :P

20 years ago, my husband started surfing.

20 years ago, the First Desert War was going on.

20 years ago, Jim Henson died.

20 years ago, John Gotti was arrested!!

20 years ago, we moved to a new town.

20 years ago,




homeschooling came into my life.

20 years!! How is that possible??

And part of me thinks that is cool. Then I remember that Elly-bug is 3.

Which is at least 15 more years of this.

15 years.

Mercy.

My Son the Nerd

My son started Apple camp today. At the Apple store.

We have tried to get him in for years, and they filled up so quickly. Now I know why.

THEY ONLY ACCEPT 6 KIDS!!!



My husband was slightly disturbed by this. He is not sure about the nerd factor. I told him I like nerds. They are so much more nicer then the 'cool' kids.

True story.

Anyway, he fit right in.

Then made it worse by admitting his favorite movies were documentaries. Then even the nerds looked at him funny.

My son the nerd.

This Weekend I...

Becky...always keeping us faithful.

:)



~ did laundry

~ ironed

~ went to BJs wiht just Elly

~ couldn't believe how peaceful that was, not that I don't enjoy my 11 year old, just he asks for EVERYTHING

~ went to the mall, just to get my Vera fix. They have a WHOLE Vera Store. Love the new patterns.

~ bought 100s of dollars worth of stuff at the Vera store. In my head.

~ didn't spend a dime in real life.

~ watched 12 baptisms at our church service. Since we average about 125 people at church, this was a glorious moment.

~ remembered any baptism is a glorious moment for us baptist

~ Went to a friend's house. Since her back was bothering her, I cooked & bought over everything.

~ stayed indoors for the most part.

WHY did you agree??????

It has been a week of surviving.

I am surviving trying to get my house in order. IT has not worked out as well as I have hoped.

My oldest son asked if he could move in with us for 2 -3 weeks before he moves to Vermont this August. As though we would say no. Duh.

So, I got this hair-brained idea, and told him," Since you are moving in with us rent free for a couple of weeks, you have to do something for me."

He gave me that " Oh no" look. And amazingly enough he agreed before I told him what that would be.

" We will clean out the attic & basement."

" We will either rent a dumpster or make loads of trips to the dump."

" We will organize this house to the point of ridiculous."

You know what he said when I tried to scare him with this???



"Okay."



OKAY??!!??!!

You are suppose to argue and complain. You are suppose to tell me how this is unfair, and you are working like a dog to save money for your move. You are suppose to tell me how you want to spend time with your little brother and sister, with your friends, with your grandparents, with your mentors before you move 7 hours away. You are suppose to tell me how I should be enjoying you and let you rest. You are suppose to get upset with me. You are suppose to give me the lecture you have heard all your life about not letting things get out of hand.

You are suppose to talk me out of it.


:::sigh:::

Now I am committed.

Darn.

So I am starting this process.

Pray for me. I have a hard time letting go of things. I get the "maybe we will need this for something at one point in life" mentality from both my parents. They have a very neat house, it is big and it is neat, and their closets are so FULL, in a neat and organized way. But you can't even put a piece of paper in there because there is NO ROOM.

So, dear son, we will do this. And I will be thankful in the end. And I will enjoy working with you. I think.

And I will miss you when you go.