Unexpected Date Night July 30, 2008

Jake and I had about the best date night we’ve had in long time and it was totally unexpected.  We were both invited to a 70th birthday party over in central Oregon for a grandma of one of my good friends.  We’ve been friends forever.  Her grandma lives very close to Smith Rock.

We needed a place to stay.  As I started looking at motels I decided I did not want to fork over the money to stay at one.  So my sister’s cheap stay at an RV park got me thinking.  Why not pitch a tent somewhere?  We have a little 2 man tent we have not used since we’ve had kids, about 9 years now. 

We ended up finding a little camping spot within walking distance to Smith Rock and about a 2 second drive to grandmas!  So we went to the birthday party then hung out at grandma’s till about 9pm or so.  Then just before it got dark we went back to our tent — just the 2 of us.

We sat under the stars and talked, prayed and watched falling stars all while the towering rock spires looked down on us.  It was the first time in a long time I’ve got to see the stars and I was SO thankful.  We went to bed around 11 and woke up at 5:30 and began walking the trails around Smith Rock at 6:30.  It was so peaceful and even romantic!!  And we didn’t even realize what a treat we’d be getting when we went up.  It was the kind of date reminiscent of the kind of dates couples have before kids.  When you do things like sleep in 2 man tents and bring nothing but a little bit of snacks and one change of clothes.  Thank you Lord!

Games To Play While On 12 Hour Road Trip July 25, 2008

Take turns, each person naming a different kind of cheese, if stumped your gone.  (I won)

Take turns, each person naming a different country, same same.  (I won)

Take turns, each person naming a different state, yada yada.  (I won)

Sing Row Row Row Your Boat in rounds.

Using the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat pick animal sound and sing it in rounds.  Ruff Ruff Ruff, Bock Bock Bock  (warning: may cause laugh attack especially if performed 10 hours into the trip.)

Change words to Row Row Your Boat.  For example:  Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream, throw daddy over board and listen to him scream.  Five days later, floating down the Deleware, chewing on his underwear, wish he had another pair.  Ten days later, bitten by a polar bear, that’s why the polar bear died.   (Continue to sing song changing the name of who gets thrown over board)

Do cartoon impressions.

Do impressions of family members and everybody has to guess who it is.

Do Jim Gaffigan’s “Hot Pockets” and SNL’s “More Cow Bell” impressions. Somehow instead of cowbell it got turned into ‘finger snap’.  ”I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is more finger snap!”  Ok so after 500 miles it’s funny–trust me.

Randomly throughout the trip blurt out, “diarrhea pockets” or “Did I eat that or rub it on my face?”  This only works if those in the vehicle are familiar with Jim Gaffigan.  If so it’ll bring a laugh every time followed by everyone quoting every line they know from the hot pockets skit.

Turn on the radio and magically Alan Jackson’s “GoodTime” will be playing every time…and when it is sing it good and sing it LOUD!  

Sing Christmas songs.  If someone in the car plays the drums have them play drums on the dash board — sounds cool!

Sing Opera

(While driving through the gorge games may have to cease while looking for mountain goats and/or while mommy has to keep her eyes fixed on the road and pray without ceasing because she’s freaked out by the wind gusts and keeps picturing the truck flying off into the Columbia river…uh…I’m just saying)

So yah that what we did, 5 of us in the truck, on our way from Montana back to Oregon Tuesday.  Good times!!

I’ve Been Tagged! July 24, 2008

So my friend Angie tagged me. Here goes nothin’!

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading? I’ve read since I was little.

2. What are some books you read as a child? I read the Sweet Valley High series and lots of Disney books.

3. What is your favorite genre? I don’t have a specific genre…I like fiction, non-fiction but typically it’s always Christian stuff. Mostly I like inspirational things and I’ve got that from all sorts of sources.

4. Do you have a favorite novel? Yes! The Heathersleigh Series by Michael Phillips.

5. Where do you usually read? Out on my porch swing or on the couch usually.

6. When do you usually read?  During the day while the kids are playing.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?  Yah pretty much.

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?  Fiction I devour and it takes me a day or two to read a book and non fiction I tend to chew on and it takes me lots longer to finish.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? I tend to buy them. 

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy?  Yes.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?  I don’t remember them off hand right now but we’ve had fun reading books together and liked many of them.

12. What are you reading now? Desiring God by John Piper

13. Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list? Sort of, in my head.

14. What’s next? Not sure, but I’m thinking a John Eldredge book.

That was fun! Ok, I tag tamra and brandi because they don’t blog too much so maybe this will kick them in the butt…I guess that assumes they are reading this.

Week Five Completed. July 18, 2008

I finished week five of my “Couch-to-5K” running plan.  This week ended with running 20 minutes with no walking breaks.  I was nervous when I went into the gym.  When I first got on the treadmill I was doing my “brisk 5 minute walk” for warm-up.  I went to tighten my pony tail and when I brought my arms down I caught my ear phone cord and ripped it out of my ear.  Well the little plastic part flew off and I looked around and couldn’t find it.  I couldn’t stick it in my ear without that part.  So I sat it down and thought, “great I have to run my first 20 minutes with no music.”  But I tried once again and found the little piece behind me.  Then I nearly tripped getting back on the tread mill.  This was starting out great.

But finally my 5 minutes were up and I began to run (…more like slow jog but don’t tell anyone…)  So about at 9 minutes left I was tired and my legs were sore but I kept going.  I wasn’t winded but I was hot and sweating really bad and my legs hurt.  But I reminded myself no one is paying attention to my super red face so keep going.  

Anyways I did it and was happy.  

Yesterday I ran outside which I liked.  I did ok.  I was wondering how it would be compared to the tread mill and it wasn’t too much different.  I just can’t run in the heat which I didn’t it was around 8 or so and there was a nice breeze.  I over heat in the a/c gym I can’t imagine running in the heat.  I was thinking if I do run a real 5K I’ll need to do it in cool weather.  

So in other news…my sis moves tomorrow.  Weird!!  Sad!!  And that’s all I’ll say.  Me loves you Tam.  At least I get to have a road trip with you.  Maybe by the end of it we’ll be so sick of eachother it’ll be easy to say good bye??  Nah, probably not.  Well we won’t say good bye, we’ll say see ya later or better yet, “see ya online”…

Week 5 and a Good Dinner July 15, 2008

So tomorrow I start week 5 of my running plan.  My shoulder pain is gone.  That was strange.  One night it was so bad I couldn’t use my arm the next day it was as if nothing happened.  My shins aren’t hurting and neither is my knee.  So we’ll see what this week brings.  

Tonight we had dinner with an older couple from our new church.  It was such a blessing.  They made a delicious meal.  We had great wisdom filled, God glorifying conversation.  They have grand kids so their home had a room with toys and a Nintendo that kept our kids very happy.  They shared their hearts and how they have a heart to minister to young couples and told us about things God’s done in their lives.  They were kind and gentle and comfortable to be around.  They prayed for us before we left.  I’ll say it again, it was a blessing.

It was so hard for me to come to Monmouth and change churches even knowing it was God’s will.  During the pain I knew God’s plan would be for my good and be joyful but I tended to focus more on what I was giving up rather than what I was getting.  Now I’m sitting here at my computer with a content smile and tears brimming because God’s so merciful and loving.  He’s filling me with joy in this place that I just didn’t really want to be in.  

He’s so merciful to this sinner.  So merciful.  So good.  So sweet.

Running Update July 11, 2008

So ok I had that bad day of running where my left knee was killing me afterwards.  Well it was hurting pretty bad and swelled up a tiny bit.  I figured I wouldn’t be running for a bit and would do different, low impact, type things and build up some quad muscles…

Then the next day my left shoulder was killing me (still is).  I thought at first it was sore muscles from running different the day before.  Because when I ran the day my knee was sore I was running all awkward to find a comfortable way of running.  Well as the day and then the next day I wore on I realized that I think I may have pulled something(s) inside my shoulder because I can’t relax my shoulder and it hurts to pull things and lift my arm… not sure what I did but I don’t think it’s too serious just needs some rest.

So yesterday I just did a different machine with high resistance to build up my legs. 

Today I went in and did the same type of machine.  I was discouraged because it wasn’t as fun and I didn’t want to give up running.  So I did this machine and pretty high resistance (for me anyways) and 20 minutes into my legs were fatigued…

…so I went on the treadmill.  I thought oh I’ll just test out my legs and see how they’re doing.  I walk for about 3 minutes and then start running at my normal speed.  And it hurt.  Dang!  So I take the speed down .3 notches…and I ran for 15 minutes straight with no pain…(which is the longest I’ve ran so far in this running plan(not ever though let’s just make that clear right now ha ha I haven’t always been this out of shape))

I let my legs do their own stride and what was comfortable…and off I went.  I was so energized because I thought maybe I can keep going after all.  I’m still not going to run 2 days in a row for awhile.  I will continue to do some lower impact stuff and try to build up my leg muscles. 

I am so excited!!!!  My shoulder is still hurting me but it doesn’t hurt when I run.  I’m hoping it will heal itself in time. 

Adios peeps.

The 4th, Rotten Grass Update, and More July 9, 2008

So I’ll start with the rotten grass.  It’s gone!  My husband got rid of it on Saturday so no more worries about my dog eating it.  Phew.

This past weekend was busy busy but fun fun.  We spent 2 days of the 3 day weekend with our new church family which was Friday and Sunday.  Well we spent the majority of the day with them those days.  Talk about crash course in getting to know your church fam.  It was a very good thing though.  I plan to post a little more about that on my other blog.

On the 4th we went to our little town parade, just the 4 of us.  The kids brought their baskets and filled them with lots of teeth rotting candy.  (And I’ve found as they’re getting older it’s harder to steal their candy.  They do share a little though.)   We also had this fighter get fly right over Main Street too right before the parade started.  That was super cool because it was very low.  It was so low I was thinking…uh is this ok?? are bombs going to be dropped soon??  Are we going to live through this…  My daughter was terrified for a brief second and my husband was all ….dude, that was soo cool, that made my whole day dude….  just kidding he didn’t really say “dude” 

So then we spend the rest of the day over at a friends house where we bbq’d, swam, jumped on the trampoline and talked and then roasted marshmallow’s around the campfire.  The town fire works started around 10 but we could barely see them.  But the kids who didn’t seem to mind had a bunch of glow sticks and they started jumping on the trampoline in the dark and that became our entertainment for the next 45 minutes.

So that was our 4th.  

Boring post.  Ok so I’ll just cut it short there.  Except I will say today I started week 4 of my running plan.  My shins are back to normal but my left knee is killing me.  I had surgery on this knee back when I was 18 and it’s not liking my new life style.  So I may have to side line running for a bit and do some strength training and some lower impact exercising and drop a good 15 lbs… well I hope to run sooner than that.  I may test my knee each week and see how it is.  But today after my workout I wanted to cry.  Probably mostly out of frustration because I’m enjoying running but today I had to concentrate so hard to find a stride that didn’t hurt.

So…we’ll see.

Have a great week peeps (ha ha i accidently type “pees” at first)…

Pick On Someone Your Own Size July 4, 2008

Right now my husband is faking our dog out by “throwing” popcorn but not really throwing it.  My dog is currently searching for the popcorn that isn’t there.  Poor thing.  My husband is laughing and throwing, laughing and throwing  Oh, he just threw an actual piece.  I think that was a pity piece.  Sort of felt sorry for the pup.

So… yah… iced my shins tonight.  Neat.

Rotten Grass Update July 2, 2008

***warning:  not for those easily grossed out or currently eating or feeling sick to their stomach***

So since it’s ten till one a.m. I have 10 minutes till bedtime so I thought, “why not blog?”

So our dog who ate the rotten, composted grass…

well this morning I let him out to potty but I couldn’t keep an eye on him but I thought…oh I’ll check on him it a bit…you know because I didn’t want him eating from the pile of compost formally known as grass shavings…

oops I forgot about him during my hustle bustle of a morning….

So about 15-20 minutes I look outside.  He’s not by the pile, rather he’s over to the side of the yard with his nose in the grass…he’s licking it I think…

well then next to where he’s licking is this ginormous pile of black mystery stuff…which I conclude is either digested, puked up or pooped up, compost-formally-known-as-grass-shavings-rotten stuff…

So then I’m thinking what is he licking???

I dont’ EVEN want to know…I yell at him to get his butt over here and get in the house you sick nasty disgusting dog you…uh…and then he comes in and i put him in his crate because I don’t want his tongue or any part of his stubby little big body coming near me…

So later I go check out the piles.  The ginormous one, well I still can’t figure out if it was pooped out or puked out, but it’s very similiar in texture and color and substance to the compost pile… the second pile was…oh what a sweet dog I have… a smaller version of the first pile.  So he was basically re-eating whatever just came out of him that was originally– pre-digestion –already rotten, decaying, nastified grass (this pile of old grass shavings is black by the way…no green grass color in sight…

That’s my boy!

July!! And Hovering Kids… July 2, 2008

July is a grrreat month.  This month we’ll celebrate my 32nd birthday and my son’s 8th birthday. 

 

oh yes … uh my kids are hovering around me and watching my every finger stroke.  Kenna’s begging me to play writing…which is just playing on the computer word program.  Caedmon is reading everything I type.

Kenna would like to write a letter to Maddie her cousin.  What do you want to say Kenna?

What is your um July gonna be like?  What is your favorite color?  What is your favorite food?

Now Caed would like to tell the world what he wants for his birthday.

Well, uh (giggle) any kind Lego set you want to buy me but it has to be Star Wars or Indiana Jones but if you don’t what Indiana Jones is just buy me Star Wars.  And if you don’t know what Star Wars is just buy me Indiana Jones.  So, uh, if you don’t know what Star Wars or Indiana Jones just buy me anything you can find for me, like toys or any other things.  And, let me think, (giggle) uh, or just any other Lego set you can find but it has to be what I like, just get what you think I would like too, and that’s all.

(enter many giggles because mommy just typed something funny and then deleted it)

“Can I play writing now”–Kenna. and “Now can I play daddy’s computer?”–Caed

“Please can I now?”  (giggle) — Caed

“Mommy! I want to play!”  (whining) “I! Want! To! Play!”  (yelling) “I! Want! To! Play!  “Mom this is not a joke!”

Mommy don’t type this mom…MOM!!!  MOmmy I really do want to play writing so listen to me…

—ok must go now–  Yes Sis, Kenna I will obey you now!