Moved

I'm sitting here pretty emotional, and since I posted earlier that I didn't know what to blog I figured I'd make up for that.

I flipped on the tv this afternoon and was shocked to see my former Weight Watchers teacher (who just sent me a card telling me that her arms were open to welcome me back...I haven't been since Thanksgiving) on Oprah.

I quickly understood why. Her son was Jason Ray, the Chapel Hill mascot who was killed when a car hit him as he walked along the side of a road in New Jersey at a game. He went to First Assembly as a kid and my mom remembers when he was in kindergarten there. His death made major headline news here. Charlotte had talked about Jason often during our meetings and recently did an ESPN special about him. She would ask if anyone saw it and how did they think it went. She continuously commented on how something really good came out of something really bad. Jason was an organ donor and the ripple effect of that was huge. That's why ESPN and Oprah took notice. His organs went to save at least 3 other people and inspired others to become donors. One family came who lost a son 2 weeks after Jason's death. He was inspired by Jason's story, convinced his brother to become a donor and was a donor himself.

I think what I'm most moved by is the faith of Charlotte, her husband Emmitt, their son Jason, and several of the organ recipients and family that Jason inspired. If you heard what they said about their loss and gain, you heard something close to the gospel. They spoke about eternal life, their Heavenly Father, and their gratefulness for His goodness to them. You just don't hear that on Oprah everyday and it gives testimony to our amazing Father. His grace in the midst of great pain and tragedy, that He's for us and His children He's already taken home. His great wisdom even in young, shocking, seemingly untimely death....and our great hope because of that. His good plan. His right rule.

It gives me comfort and faith to watch people grieve such tremendous loss (one of my worst fears) under the sweet grace and sustaining hope that God provides in that moment. He makes it possible for me to lose my son at the age of 21 and still have great reason for hope, peace and joy in the God who is for us and the glorious future we have.

You can read about their story here. Click on "Ray of Hope."

Are we dull?

I guess there just hasn't really been anything I want to post about. I think I'm in the post-Christmas winter slump. You know, gray skies, cold temps that keep me indoors a lot, doing the day-to-day thing. Not bad. Just not great writing material. I get up, get dressed, make coffee, try my best at a quiet time, get Isaiah up, chase him around most of the day, read some, surf the web some, clean some, cook some, talk with friends some, walk some, wait for Josh to get home, eat dinner, get Isaiah bathed and in the bed, crash.

I remember feeling this way big time as a teacher. It was the thought that made my stomach drop...what am I going to do with these kids until May?!? I'm feeling that a little with work now. Christmas program is over...now I have to actually plan. And don't get me wrong...there's plenty going on and lots of big decisions coming up for us. Things are just fairly "January-ish."

But then I have moments like I just had when my sweet husband comes up to me holding an empty cereal bag and asking me if I want to eat the crumbs leftover from the frosted shredded wheat because it was probably at least 7 or 8 squares worth and he just wanted to consider me (but to not make fun of him...so I'm not, of course :).

It's funny how seasons affect me. I'm really looking forward to spring.

The thorn in my flesh....

our disgusting problem

(the white stuff is powder that's supposed to lift out stains...yeah right)

The culprit

Since Thankgiving we have been greeted with "presents" from Max at least once a week. It is absolutely driving me mad. We have honestly considered finding another family for him, but, of course we definitely don't want to do that. He's been ours since the very beginning of our marriage.

HOWEVER, this has to change!!! It's completely ridiculous! When the weather is ok he spends most of the day outside, gets plenty, of love (though less attention since Isaiah's come along), goes out to do his business multiple times during the day, has completed 2 training classes, etc. Why is this still a problem?!?

Now, we're looking into ripping out the carpet and installing laminate so we can sell the house. I am furious we're at this point. I have tried soap and water, vinegar, Spot Shot, Resolve for Pet Stains, Urine Gone, powder from Carpet Dry Clean and steam cleaning. So, if you have a magic solution for getting urine out of carpet, training a dog who knows better, or cheap/good laminate solution....I'm all ears!

UGH!!!

E-I-O

Here is Isaiah singing his favorite song. Please our house cleaner who's singing and apparently can't bark in tune.
(we don't have a house cleaner.)

E-I-O

Here's Isaiah singing his favorite song. Please ignore the lady singing...she's our house cleaner and apparently can't bark in tune.

(we don't have a house cleaner.)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

I've been bad. I know. I'm sorry if you've been checking. :(

So, here's what we've been up to lately:

We are back to normal after the holidays which means work, de-cluttering the house, training an almost 18 mo old, hanging out with people in our care group, walking at the mall with my friend Kristen and her daughter Lily, getting the house ready to sell (finally!), catching up on reading, establishing better routines, concentrating more efforts into our date nights, and trying to plan a much needed getaway...just the two of us (we haven't done that yet as parents).

This time of year always brings a fresh resolve to be more organized and clean...among other things. So, I've gone back to my Keep-It-Clean plan from Real Simple which has served me well in the past (ok, today was the first day back on it but my bathrooms are sparkly!)

I've also been cleaning out closets so that prospective buyers can actually see that they have custom shelving. 2 down, 3 more to go. I absolutely could not believe what all we put in one little boy's closet!

And with all good domestication efforts, there should be efficient meal planning...gosh, I even sound more domestic, don't I? Well, I'm bad at this. So bad, dinner deciding time is the most stressful part of my day. This time starts the second Josh walks in the door and I say, "What do you want for supper?" and he says, "I don't know, babe. Whatever's easiest. I just don't want it to be stressful for you." So bad that when I asked him recently, at the prompting of a great discussion with other ladies, how I could grow in one area of helping him at home, he requested that I simply plan out our meals so I won't get stressed.


***Update: Apon reading what I was typing, I realized that raw chicken was waiting in the kitchen, as was my slightly famished husband. I won't tell you what time it was. We had a good chuckle.


Anyway, I've been planning meals and trying new recipes...mainly soup...from the Better Homes and Gardens website. A few we didn't like so if you have any good ones, send 'em my way!


I finally finished a book (!!!) that I've been reading for awhile. It was "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman. Excellent! I see my future self needed to reread it often. I'm also finishing up "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. This book has gone to my soul in a striking, passionate, painful, joyful way. I simply could not suggest a man-written book more worth your time (in my opinion).

I'm also trying (often unsuccessfully) to greet the day before Isaiah, leaving myself enough time to get ready for the day, fix a cup of coffee and spent tine with the Lord before I go get him out of his bed at 8:00am. I'm still going through the Psalms and that has been really good.

So there you have it. I plan to do better on my posting now that the daunting task of catching up is over....I suppose that 's a little dramatic. I will leave you with pictures of Isaiah, who's hair looks like this now at any given moment. He's a wild man!