Thursday, September 27, 2007
A clean house
Last weekend, we borrowed Jason's Dad and his pressure washer and performed a miracle on our house. After 7 years, we can finally see the yellow siding. These pictures are from the north side of the house (which no one ever sees). It is always shady on that side of the house, which is why it got so dirty, so we couldn't get really good pictures. I was truly amazed at the difference when they were done; our house looks wonderful. I did feel a little bad - after the fact - that we used so much water to clean our house when water is in short supply. Although we are not actually on any restrictions, it was still probably not the best time to do it. But once in 7 years isn't too bad, I guess.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
My Mom
Yesterday my Mom would have been 58. She has been gone for almost 25 years, and I have have spent most of my life without her. But I remember her birthdays and always look back on what I have left of her - pictures mostly. I was so young, there aren't many memories. From everything I've been told, she was an amazing woman, full of faith in God and love for her family and friends. I try to remember that and her birthday instead of the loss and grief. Even being absent from my life, she has had an amazingly large impact on me - as a mom should. I would not be the person I am today, who God wants me to be, if my life had been any different than it was and is. So, to not be to philosophical, I am exactly where God wants me to be and so is she. I look forward to the day I can see her, healed. So, anyway, this is just my way of saying I love and appreciate my mom.
I had to edit this picture to remove the large thumbprint from the corner! This is my brother Randy. I noticed in this picture the sweet look on his face. Just lost in his mommy's face. Do you see it? And she looks so happy - holding her son.
Obviously her wedding day. I think she was 18. I wore this dress on my wedding day as well.
I had to edit this picture to remove the large thumbprint from the corner! This is my brother Randy. I noticed in this picture the sweet look on his face. Just lost in his mommy's face. Do you see it? And she looks so happy - holding her son.
Obviously her wedding day. I think she was 18. I wore this dress on my wedding day as well.
I don't know when this was taken - at my Grandma Gathagan's house, I assume - maybe before mom and dad got married.
This is me, maybe a day or two old? It makes me happy that she looks so happy. This picture has taken a beating, unfortunately.
Mom and Dad - so sweet. I wish I could remember moments like this.
Me and Mom on the floor. I have no idea what the context of the picture is, but I like to imagine we were doing something fun together. I do know it was in our living room in PA.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Staying at home
So, everyone knows that all stay at home moms have loads and loads of free time and that we just sit on our couches and eat bon bons while watching soaps. Or, no, sorry, we actually talk on the phone to our other mommy friends while the kids watch Barney on TV, right?
I don't know about other at home moms, but I stay busy - all day, every day. With work, chores, all the kid things in the day, and other commitments, there's not a lot of playing time. HOWEVER, there are days when I just can't make myself do what I know I should be doing, and those are the days I guess I fit the mold of the stereotypical at home mom.
Today, for instance, I have 9 pages of shops to publish - I mean right now at this moment as I'm typing this. I have been so busy for so many days, I just wanted to take a day to do stuff I like doing. That, I have to say, is the best thing about being at home with the kids. I can take a day if I want (though to be honest, I'll have to work twice as much tomorrow to make up for it, but let's not think about that now).
I played my clarinet this morning for about 2 hours, cleaned for almost that much time and after getting Kathryn and working for a while (yes, I guess even on a play day, I can't completely ignore responsibility!), I took some pictures of a beautiful butterfly that caught my eye bringing Lucy inside.
So, maybe there is some truth to the stereotypes of the S.A.H. mom....at least on my part.
I thought these pictures turned out really well, so I wanted to share them.
I don't know about other at home moms, but I stay busy - all day, every day. With work, chores, all the kid things in the day, and other commitments, there's not a lot of playing time. HOWEVER, there are days when I just can't make myself do what I know I should be doing, and those are the days I guess I fit the mold of the stereotypical at home mom.
Today, for instance, I have 9 pages of shops to publish - I mean right now at this moment as I'm typing this. I have been so busy for so many days, I just wanted to take a day to do stuff I like doing. That, I have to say, is the best thing about being at home with the kids. I can take a day if I want (though to be honest, I'll have to work twice as much tomorrow to make up for it, but let's not think about that now).
I played my clarinet this morning for about 2 hours, cleaned for almost that much time and after getting Kathryn and working for a while (yes, I guess even on a play day, I can't completely ignore responsibility!), I took some pictures of a beautiful butterfly that caught my eye bringing Lucy inside.
So, maybe there is some truth to the stereotypes of the S.A.H. mom....at least on my part.
I thought these pictures turned out really well, so I wanted to share them.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The Awana year begins
Unfortunately, I have been a bit scatterbrained the last few weeks, and have forgotten to take my camera to the recent Awana events at church. Our slide show at the end of the year will be missing KICKOFF pictures, but hopefully no one will notice!
Thankfully, our Awana year is off to a great start, so the time I have to spend on it during the week will go from more than 10 hours (!!!!!) to maybe an hour or two a week (with the exception of theme night week once a month and store night one week every other month!!!). I can also get rid of a lot of stuff I had been storing at my house until the club year started, so we can almost completely open the front door now without hitting anything (I do still have to keep some stuff at home!)
We had our Awana kick off last week, and it was not as amazing as I had hoped. Don't get me wrong, it was great because we had a really good turnout for the first night and the most of the kids came back tonight for our first regular-schedule club meeting, so I assume they enjoyed themselves. There were just a few annoying snags that I didn't foresee - such as the consequences of the drought we are in. The grass was SO dry it popped the balloons the game director had planned several games around when they touched the ground. Game time was not as exciting, since a lot of the games just didn't work. On top of that, it was really hot - 95+, and the kids didn't want to stay out for games. Unfortunately, we don't have an indoor game space, so they just had to "suck it up" and finish their time until we were ready for the dinner.
As I said though, of the 32 that came for the kick off, 26 came back tonight for our first real Awana club meeting of the year. SO they must not have thought it was as bad as I did. I guess I will say it was marginal, and start thinking of a better plan for next year.
The kids loved the new take home bags - they get a couple of neat toys (Oriental trading company!) and I get to send home all the papers that always seem to get lost between church and home with dates, rules, etc.
Everything went really smoothly tonight, although, as always, I saw ways I can improve my part in things for next week. We have a really great team of leaders, and I can see we are going to have a great year. A lot of kids have actually already finished their entrance books and are starting on their handbooks! When leading the leader prayer meeting and dedicating the night to God tonight, I could just see that we are going to impact these kids in a positive way, and plant the seed towards their eventual relationship with Jesus as their Lord. It is humbling to have a part of that. I just want to do my best to please God and make it as easy on Him to do the watering and fertilizing as I can.
We traveled to Cary yesterday for the annual ministry conference. The host church, Colonial Baptist, was SO big, a few in my group (me included) actually got lost in the building trying to find one of the classes. We eventually found our way around, so no harm done, but it definitely made me appreciate my little church with its 12 classrooms and 2 building campus (200 person sanctuary and fellowship hall!). We had 7 people in our group, so we didn't quite make the 70% needed to earn a plaque, but it was a really good group, and I think we all got some ideas for ways to improve our methods. We were encouraged and reminded that our mission is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. We were reminded how important it is to reach a person while they are young with that gospel. I think we all came away energized and ready to get started with our kids. We also had a lot of fun on the ride there in back - with Jason driving way too fast, riding in that shaky bumpy church van. We were definitely NOT one of those church groups you see moseying down the highway, taking their time about things. We had fun and learned a lot - it's going to be a great year!
Thankfully, our Awana year is off to a great start, so the time I have to spend on it during the week will go from more than 10 hours (!!!!!) to maybe an hour or two a week (with the exception of theme night week once a month and store night one week every other month!!!). I can also get rid of a lot of stuff I had been storing at my house until the club year started, so we can almost completely open the front door now without hitting anything (I do still have to keep some stuff at home!)
We had our Awana kick off last week, and it was not as amazing as I had hoped. Don't get me wrong, it was great because we had a really good turnout for the first night and the most of the kids came back tonight for our first regular-schedule club meeting, so I assume they enjoyed themselves. There were just a few annoying snags that I didn't foresee - such as the consequences of the drought we are in. The grass was SO dry it popped the balloons the game director had planned several games around when they touched the ground. Game time was not as exciting, since a lot of the games just didn't work. On top of that, it was really hot - 95+, and the kids didn't want to stay out for games. Unfortunately, we don't have an indoor game space, so they just had to "suck it up" and finish their time until we were ready for the dinner.
As I said though, of the 32 that came for the kick off, 26 came back tonight for our first real Awana club meeting of the year. SO they must not have thought it was as bad as I did. I guess I will say it was marginal, and start thinking of a better plan for next year.
The kids loved the new take home bags - they get a couple of neat toys (Oriental trading company!) and I get to send home all the papers that always seem to get lost between church and home with dates, rules, etc.
Everything went really smoothly tonight, although, as always, I saw ways I can improve my part in things for next week. We have a really great team of leaders, and I can see we are going to have a great year. A lot of kids have actually already finished their entrance books and are starting on their handbooks! When leading the leader prayer meeting and dedicating the night to God tonight, I could just see that we are going to impact these kids in a positive way, and plant the seed towards their eventual relationship with Jesus as their Lord. It is humbling to have a part of that. I just want to do my best to please God and make it as easy on Him to do the watering and fertilizing as I can.
We traveled to Cary yesterday for the annual ministry conference. The host church, Colonial Baptist, was SO big, a few in my group (me included) actually got lost in the building trying to find one of the classes. We eventually found our way around, so no harm done, but it definitely made me appreciate my little church with its 12 classrooms and 2 building campus (200 person sanctuary and fellowship hall!). We had 7 people in our group, so we didn't quite make the 70% needed to earn a plaque, but it was a really good group, and I think we all got some ideas for ways to improve our methods. We were encouraged and reminded that our mission is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. We were reminded how important it is to reach a person while they are young with that gospel. I think we all came away energized and ready to get started with our kids. We also had a lot of fun on the ride there in back - with Jason driving way too fast, riding in that shaky bumpy church van. We were definitely NOT one of those church groups you see moseying down the highway, taking their time about things. We had fun and learned a lot - it's going to be a great year!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Purble Place
Today is a preschool teacher workday, so it is just me and Kathryn. While I was waiting for it to get late enough to make some phone calls, we played some Purble Place on the computer.
She loves this game. You have to make cakes - and make them look exactly like the picture on the screen. She likes to remind me how smart she is when she gets it exactly right.Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Kathryn's 2nd 4th birthday party
Our kids are so lucky! They get two parties every year for their birthdays (and normally a small just the 4 of us party on their actual birthday). Here are some pics from Kathryn's party.
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| Kathryn's party |
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