21

 

Last weekend

was super

busy.

On Thursday afternoon Brian was called in to shovel snow at Grand Prairie. Rather than staying a wintery night all by myself at home, I decided to stay the night at my parent’s. Anni and I stayed up fairly late watching Beauty and the Beast. This didn’t phase me too much because I knew I had the day off the next day and could sleep in. Has it really been that long since I’ve moved out that I could so easily forget how early my family wakes up? Yep, 4:30 in the morning Ryan turns all the lights on in the living room where I had crashed and begins his day. FOUR THIRTY!!!!! Boy was I ticked. I spent that entire morning helping Mom clean and prepare for potluck the next day. At 10 a.m. Brian called to tell me he was done shoveling (that was 10 hours of working) and would be going over to Megan’s apartment to sleep a little. I agreed to meet him there in time for lunch with Megan and Donna. After lunch, Brian was in no condition to be driving home, so we left my car with plans for my family to bring it out to Roanoke on Sunday when they came to church. I was anxious to get home, for today was the day I was planning on preparing for potluck at our house. Quite the coincidence that Mom and I both offered to host on the same day. Upon arriving at home Brian fell into a very deep sleep. I napped for a quick 15 mins and then got to work. By 8:00 I felt satisfied and went to join Brian in bed (he’d been asleep since 2:30), however, he woke up and was ready to get up. I was exausted, but also missed him quite a bit, so we stayed up and watched T.V. together. What a long day. From 4:30 am until 11 I was up and working hard for most of it.

Saturday was no less busy. At 9:00 we were all at Megan’s helping her to move into her new apartment. She had decided to live with a room mate and, boy, was I glad she did! Tasha, her room mate, is my twin for decorating styles and a super sweet person. We just hit it off, much to Brian’s dismay as he was already annoyed at my excitement for rustic, old furniture and now he got to here about it from two voices. We had lunch at Wildberries and then Brian and I came straight home to set up the table and begin cooking for potluck.

Potluck went really well. There were three other couples: Sam and Seth Keiser, Tim and Brittany Schwind, and Fred and Jodi Leman, and all brought wonderful food. And, of course, we had to play a competitive game of “Battle of the Sexes”. Girls won. It was another late night, though.

Sunday. The day of rest. I grudgingly opened my eyes at 8:00 that morning feeling just as tired as I was when I went to bed not too many hours ago. The plans for the day included church, where my family would be joining us for afternoon service, hanging out at our house after church, and then dinner to celebrate my birthday later. I felt heavy and tired as I pictured another day of very little rest/down time. Then we got a call from my Mom saying Dad is feeling really terribly sick and that they may not be coming. All of the sudden all of the memories of Dad’s health problems rushed through my head and the thought of it all coming back hit me like a wave and I broke down. At the exact time it was time to leave for church I began crying and could not stop for another hour. I kept saying to Brian, “I’m sure I’m just tired, there’s no reason for me to keep crying like this.” as he tried to comfort me. We ended up making it in time for second service. The rest of the day really was fun. I don’t know what was up with the morning.

Which brings me to today. Tuesday the 26th of February. My Birthday.

The best thing that happed today was Brian getting up before me to make me coffee and breakfast in bead. It was wonderful!!! He made scrambled eggs and toast. I love him so much.

The rest of the day has been going down hill since. You probably know about winter storm Rocky that hit central Illinois with a wet fury. When I looked outside this morning I was just about sure I’d get a snow day for my birthday. I mean, it was nasty out. But, no, all my schools for the day were open. So, I braved the slush and ice and the 30 min drive to work took 1 hour. I got there only to find that most of my kids were absent today. This means doing paperwork and killing time by reading journal articles for loooong hours. When the snow got really heavy around 2:00 I threw in the towel. No sense in getting stuck in Bloomington trying to kill time. The drive home was slow. We are supposed to go to a Jr. High Boys Camp meeting tonight (another birthday present), but I really don’t feel like going back out to Bloomington. Oh, guess what also. Brian has been shoveling snow all day at Grand Prairie and doesn’t expect to be home till late. So, it’s going to be a lonely birthday evening for this girl.

Alright, I confess, I’m feeling a little sorry for myself. It could be way worse and I’m thankful for what I have.

Bet you’ve never seen a blog post with Chapters before

 

It usually takes a conversation with Judy to get me inspired to get back into blogging. Lately, I just haven’t wanted to do it. However, on this lovely, quiet Friday morning as I sip hot coffee and enjoy the warm sunrays coming through our kitchen’s patio door and reminisce on the past few months, writing it down feels like a good thing to do.

Chapter 1

Big Decisions

This winter, more than ever I believe, I have been feeling the “winter blahs”, as Karin would call them. Maybe it’s the frigid cold and no beautiful snow, maybe it’s the monotonous routine our lives have fallen into (some may call it relaxing, but I personally am ready for some excitement. I may eat those words later), or for whatever reason, it’s been difficult to get too happy about much now a days. Not that I’m depressed, just not jubilantly rejoicing….which isn’t weird for most people, but as that is my default setting, it is for me. Anyway, to put a little stress on our lives, both Brian and I have found ourselves in a position of needing to make some huge decisions.

1. TCSEA, the company I’m working for has recently added two new school districts to service: El Paso and Gridley. This is great news for me as they are a much shorter drive than I am doing now which means more time at home and more money for mileage. As the PT staff is spread extremely thin trying to cover the 3 (technically 5) counties, we need to add hours somewhere. Which leaves me with a big choice: either I can go to full time and use that extra day to cover El Paso/Gridley, or stay at part time and they will hire another PTA. You can imagine there are many pros and cons to both decisions and I am having the hardest time with it all. The deadline is Spring Break to decide.

2. As Brian has now graduated, we are starting work on finding a P.E. teaching job, and substitute teaching. He is currently working for my Dad. Well, lately Brian hasn’t been so sure about teaching at all. I don’t blame him for feeling anxious about it either. He hasn’t been in a classroom for a long time (I think he would be fine), and the amount of openings is depressing. There just isn’t much out there and there is definitely some fear of rejection. Now, I don’t agree that he should just give up on teaching all together, but maybe we won’t expect much to happen in the near future. I think the plan for now is for him to cont. to work for Dad and on the side keep an eye out for P.E. teaching opportunities. It may be that he will have to go back to school to get his health and drivers ed endorsements. So,  I guess this is less of a decision that needs to be made and more of a scary future situation.

3. Hungarian Handyman or Lawnscapes? Lawnscapes is the landscaping company that Brian has worked for for four years now. He is extremely loyal to them and enjoys the work, however, in those four years he has only gotten one 50 cent raise. Now as he is working for Dad, he isn’t sure what to do in the summer when Lawnscapes opens up. He likes working with Hungarian Handyman and the pay is a little better, but there is more driving and he doesn’t want to let down Lawnscapes. Oh what to do.

Chapter 2

Being a Housewife

I don’t know if I fall in the category of being a housewife because I work, but I think it should count because I do take care of this house. I don’t know.

Anyway, here is my routine and how I’ve played this role. Fridays are my big cleaning/organizing day. In the morning after seeing Brian off to work, I usually sit down with a recipe book, pad of paper, and a pen and plan our meals for the week and create a grocery list. Four dinner type meals and one breakfast, plus whatever extra fun snack recipes I want to try usually gets us through the week with some nights for leftovers or eating out. I really like doing this because I know that everything I buy at the grocery store will be used that week. I don’t mean to brag, but I basically never find wasted food in our fridge or pantry. It is also fun because, rather than picking recipes based on what I have on hand, I can feel free to chose any recipe in the book and pick up whatever ingredients I don’t have at the store. Some recipes that I’ve tried out lately that I probably would never have dreamed of doing before would be: California Cheese Soup, Chickenetti (chicken spaghetti), Tropical Tuna Melts, Mexican French bread, and Blintz Pancakes etc. I haven’t had any hug flops when it comes to cooking yet (knock-on-wood) other than making too much. I haven’t made too little; that would be risky business when it comes to Brian’s appetite :-)

Cleaning: After cleaning houses for so many years, I’ve realized that everyone has their preferences on what they prioritize. Some like there bath tubs to be spotless, some are picky about mirrors, and some can’t stand a dirty floor. Dusting is my priority.  First off, I love to dust, second, I hate seeing dust on dressers, pictures frames, etc. So, while I may only mop my kitchen floor every other week, or do windows once a month, I will dust every week without fail. Otherwise it drives me crazy. That sort of goes for vacuuming or the kitchen counters/table. If you would have seen my bedroom before I was married you would have thought the same way my Mom did. “What are you going to do when you move out and have a whole house to clean? Your husband is not going to be happy with such a messy place if you keep it like your bedroom.” It is my pleasure to prove her wrong. Actually, my weaknesses are clothes on the bedroom floor and dishes. Those I have a lot of trouble keeping up with.

Over all, I love being a housewife. It’s like what Charlotte said in Pride and Prejudice, “Oh Lizzie, it is such a pleasure to run my own home!” And, as I’ve considered this career choice of going to full time or not, I’ve come to a bit of a realization that a career woman I am not. I have had awesome work weeks in which I’m busy the whole time, accomplishing great things for the kids, and being productive and advancing in relations, but if I leave my house dirty and my husband hungry, I feel like an utter failure. It does not matter how great work goes, I feel success or failure based on my accomplishments as a housewife. I know where my heart and priorities lie, however, it’s difficult to deny the extra money that would come with going full time at work. But, by going full time, I know I would compromise in house work. Any advice?

Chapter 3

Pictures!!!!!!

Going way back into the past….Below is our first Christmas tree. We waited too long and didn’t get to chop one down as is my family’s tradition. Instead, we went to a gardening center where they only had one choice in the right height. It was the wrong kind, shabby, bare in some spots, and a sad looking thing, but it was our first tree, and there’s something special about that. Anyway it smelled good and now, we can only go up from here.

We went to Gulf Shores after Christmas. Brian and I drove down with Jess and Anni and stayed in a condo with them and Karin and Rhoda and Sarah later on. I had a blast. Brian was feeling a huge need for some guy time afterwards. At least he got to do some fishing while my Dad was there.

Below is the tragic circumstance of “the one that got away”. It was a quiet day on the pier. Small whiting and sharks were the only things biting and everyone was a little bored. Suddenly, Brian hooked a big one and the fight was a long one. The monster fish took him all the way to the end of the pier, and my husband was determined. As he walked along the pier with a bent rod and a taught line, a crowd of people began to follow, excited to see what was on the other end. There is something about the mentality on the pier. No one minds their own business, because being a witness to the entire event of pulling up a fish from the depths of the gulf is being a part of the adventure. “I was there when it happened!” they will exclaim when the story is told, “I saw when he first hooked it and followed him all the way to the very end!” and, thus, the onlooker feels as if in some way, he had a hand in the victory. Brian’s story, however, did not have such a happy ending. At the very last instant when the net was being lowered to receive the fish onto the pier, the line broke and the fish got a way.

We also enjoyed playing Wally Ball, basketball and swimming at the rec center. Went to Bahama Bob’s and TCBY and lots of long walks. It was too cold to do too much on the beach, but we did get to sun bathe one day at the pool.

And below are some pictures from last weekend’s Girl’s Night at Janelle’s house. We did a lot of crazy stuff like a ping pong tournament, charades, and mattress surfing. It was a blast! I just love these girls so much.

Last but not least, last sunday we had the pleasure of going to church in Peoria with Dan and Donna. After church we hung out at my parents house.

I could write about Valentines day, potluck, Bible study, etc. But I’m going to end this loooong post here.

Hosting

 

Last night I hosted for our women’s Bible study. I loved it! I loved cleaning for it, planning snacks, the anticipation right before the ladies started showing up….I just loved hosting. I’m deffinitely going to want to host events like this. Hopefully Brian doesn’t mind.

This Bible Study has been amazing. Last night after we were done, Larissa shared an answer to prayer and we rejoiced with her, then Brenda told of the hilarious antics of one of her sons and, although she was so embarrassed of what he did, we all laughed together, Jane told us of the trouble she’s been having with her nephew who is living with her. The point is, we’re sharing all these experiences with each other. There is a bond of trust and closeness in this group and it came almost automatically. I’m just so thankful to have the mentorship and friendship that comes with it.

Anyway, this week seemed to fly by again. Is it really November already? I feel like time is just zooming by. It’s funny because in all my life before getting married there was always something huge to count the days for: high school graduation, college, college graduation, getting married..etc. Now there isn’t really anything with a set date. Sure there are big things in the future to look forward too, but it’s not like I can say, “In two years and four months, we’re going to buy a house.” You know what else I realized just the other day? For the entire first half of this year I said over an over that I can’t wait for life to settle down. Well, I was juggling school, the young group committee, planning a wedding, finding a job…Things were pretty crazy. Well a couple days ago, as I cozied up with a soft blanket and the Love Comes Softly books I realize that I’ve reached that point that I’d so dreamed of months earlier. Life has officially slowed down. The wedding is done, the house is all settled in, I’ve graduated, I’m done with the Young Group, I have a job. It’s all reached completion…..sigh….and I’m just so happy.

I did get sick this week on Tuesday. Not sure what it was, some kind of stomach thing. It worked out really well for me to take a half day, so I slept that entire afternoon. By the time we left to go to the Riverplex, I felt better, but absolutely famished. Brian remembered that Taco Bell was giving away free tacos because a base was stollen in the world series so we had that for dinner. (So I guess sports can be useful at times). I had the pleasure of enjoying the Sceggel’s company while watching the first game of volleyball. Our team won all three games.

Tonight we are going on a triple date with Sam and Seth Kieser and Tim and Brittany. I’m so excited! The double dates that we’ve had with Sam and Seth have been so much fun and with Tim and Brittany there this time, I expect it to be just that much more fun. I’m expecting (or hoping) that this becomes a long term tradition. The friendships we have with them are really very precious and I would love to keep them as we all experience life together.

That’s one thing I’m very thankful for, is the many young couple friends that we have. There are so many in Roanoke church that we actually started our own potluck. (not sure if I’ve written about this yet) There are 7 couples now, possibly 8 in the potluck. Fred and Jodi are organizing it and they were afraid of having too many! What a blessing!

These are just some of the things going on. Not much, but it’s my life right now.

Daniel

I just learned the coolest stuff at Bible study last night!!! I’m so excited about it. We’re going through the Beth Moore study on Daniel and last night was only our second session. Anyway, we read through Daniel 2:36-45. The story is when Nebuchadnezzer has a dream and wants the wise men to interpret it without telling them what it was, but they can’t so he threatens to kill them all. Well, Daniel saves the day and not only tells him what the dream was, but also interprets it. So, the dream was of a statue. The head was gold, the chest and arms, silver, the belly and thighs, bronze, the legs iron, and the toes, iron and clay mixed. Daniel goes on the to tell the king that the head is Neb. and his empire. Then the silver, bronze, iron, and .iron and clay are future empires. Here’s the awesome part, get ready for this. In the centuries that followed, history recorded the fulfillment of each prophecy (with the toes being the only exception). Each portion of the statue represents a world empire. The head, as Daniel explained, was Nebuchadnezzer and the Babylonian empire. Moving down to the chest and arms of silver would be the Medo-Persian empire headed by Cyrus the Great. Get this: There are two arms on either side of the body right? Well, Babylonia was bracketed by two regions known as Media and Persia. These took down Babylonia by coming at both sides and became the next world empire. A side note: read Isaiah 45:1-4, this was written 150 years before Cyrus the Great even existed!!! Onto the Bronze belly and thighs: these would be the Grecian empire, headed up by Alexander the Great. Next we have the legs of iron. You’ve probably guessed already that this is the Roman empire. So, you know how the two arms represented two things. Well the Roman empire had a great division going east and west. Now the toes are said to be a future kingdom at the end of the world.

Four parts of the statue, four world empires from Nebuchadnezzer’s time till now!!!!! This is AMAZING!!!! You know why we believe in our God? Because He says things that are going to happen before they occur and then He makes them happen. He is all powerful and awesome!!!!

I’m kind of out of time to fill you in on our lives, so I’ll try to get back to it this weekend. Just thought I’d share that. Peace.