My parents live in St. Michaels, Maryland. It is a lovely, quaint old village on the Chesapeake Bay full of retirees and other wealthy-types. They have a wonderful maritime museum that my kids love, complete with a lived-in lighthouse, and lots of antique shops and other high-end boutique-ey stores. It's a great place for a weekend getaway with bed and breakfasts and quiet inns. And of course there's Justine's, with the best homemade ice cream you've ever had. For years my youngest son begged to go to the maritime museum every time we visited, then my dad figured out that Elijah thought Justine's was part of it. No wonder they were so interested in the maritime history of the Chesapeake!

Anyway, I said all that to bear this bit of very bad news: Michael Jackson has reportedly bought an estate in St. Michaels. You can read the basics here. I wrote my parents an e-mail today telling them to run for their lives before the madness invades their lovely little corner of the world. It's really sad though, seriously. Doesn't the King of Pedophiles understand or care that everywhere he goes is changed for the worse?

Be thankful ~

Karen

I was reading fast and furious this morning trying to catch up on my Bible reading - I was about 20 chapters behind - when I read this verse: "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." Ps. 68:19. How about that?? Daily. Loadeth. Benefits. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Be thankful ~

Karen

So I just woke up and had the most bizarre dream and I just had to share it with you:

In my dream, I had to scale a wall to get a handicapped child out of a car seat which was strapped to the top of the wall, and get her back down without dropping her. When I got to the bottom, there were a bunch of adults sitting around this pit-type thing which was filled with chocolate. In the chocolate-filled pit were three animals that looked like ferrets. The adults were throwing chunks of food in there, like strawberries, bananas, and pound cake, and the animals would roll the food around in chocolate so it would be coated, then hand it out to the adults, without eating it. Each animal had a number of a NASCAR driver. There was 24 (Jeff Gordon), 48 (Jimmie Johnson), and one other that I can't remember. I was cheering for 48 (no surprise there). One of the adults was our song leader/choir director.

So who wants to take a stab at analyzing THAT???

Be thankful ~

Karen

100 Things

Inspired by chickadee, who beat her sunflower seed addiction, and Brandy, who didn't throw the grenade far enough, here are 100 things you might or might not want to know about me:



1. I'm the only girl in my family

2. I have three brothers

3. I'm a dog lover

4. I currently have a Yorkie and a Bulldog

5. I have five children

6. I gave birth to the last three at home

7. I love French Vanilla ice cream with crushed Butterfingers

8. I don't like watching TV

9. I love crossword puzzles

10. I have visited all 48 contiguous states

11. I have a 6'4" son, even though my husband and I are only 5'6"

12. I have sung in Coventry Cathedral in Coventry, England, and Cardiff

Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales

13. I graduated from college Cum Laude

14. I don't much like beef, other than an occasional steak

15. I grew up a block from the beach in New Jersey

16. I suddenly gained 10 pounds when I turned 40, and haven't been able to

lose it

17. I've never broken a bone

18. I once sang in a bar in Richmond, Virginia

19. I make a mean cheesecake

20. I can't believe I'm only on # 20

21. In 28 years of driving I've only gotten one speeding ticket

22. I have restless leg syndrome and a heart arrhythmia

23. I color my hair to cover the gray

24. I don't usually like toddlers, but love teenagers

25. Every time I fly, my plane is very late, or missed completely

26. Every time I go camping it rains

27. I enjoy cutting the grass

28. I took 10 years of piano lessons and don't play very well

29. I took 7 years of German and can't say anything other than "Sprechen sie

Deutsch?"

30. I secretly envy my very musically talented kids

31. I worked out a deal with my orthodontist where he's doing my last two kids

for half price

32. I'm trying to get the same deal from my oral surgeon (for wisdom teeth)

33. My grocery budget when I was first married was $75 every two weeks

34. I remember gas being 23 cents a gallon

35. I graduated high school in 1979, and college in 1983

36. I don't laugh at the commercials everybody else laughs at. I just don't get

them

37. I have a rattlesnake rattle in my jewelry box (I'll tell that story sometime)

38. My parents are friends with an Apollo 9 astronaut - Rusty Schweikart - they

went to high school with him

39. I have a facebook and a myspace

40. My kids had to set them up for me

41. I need to go pick Leah up from work, so I'll save this and finish later
42. OK, I'm back. I have worn glasses since 6th grade
43. I am a grammar fanatic
44. And a spelling freak
45. And I do algebra for fun
46. I've always hated history
47. In my 23 years of marriage we have moved 17 times. I'm serious.
48. I have sent four children on long-term missions trips
49. I have two kids in college at the same time. No financial aid.
50. The day I got married, the photographer got a picture of me sitting on a
stool with my dog in my lap. Yes, on the wedding dress. I thought my
mother would faint.
51. It was 105 degrees the day I got married and there was no air conditioning
in the church building
52. And we had an outdoor reception
53. I don't want breakfast until about 2 hours after I get up
54. I recently got in touch with an old friend from high school and found out
she lives in a city where I lived for 7 years and neither of us knew it
55. I have two bluebird boxes in my yard, and have had two broods raised
already this year
56. I love the show "What Not to Wear" on TLC
57. If given a choice I would drive a truck, but they don't fit all my kids
58. I love Agatha Christie books
59. And John Grisham's lawyer stories
60. I read the paper every day
61. I have climbed a pretty big mountain
62. And got within about 50 yards of a golden eagle
63. I know how to fly fish
64. And deep sea fish - my dad owned a commercial fishing boat in NJ
65. I worked as a waitress through college
66. I have sat in the balcony during a session of the House of Representatives
67. I served Charlie Daniels at the restaurant I worked at
68. I've been nervous swimming in the ocean ever since I saw JAWS
69. I hate clothes shopping
70. I have bunions on my feet
71. And an occasional plantar wart
72. Both of my parents were teachers, and they approve of homeschooling
73. My family built a house from scratch in 2003-2004
74. I never want to build a house again
75. We have lots of Pileated Woodpeckers where we live
76. I have picked three of the last four vehicles we own and they're all great
77. I'm a night owl
78. My degree is in finance
79. I have no idea why I majored in that
80. I have never had a manicure or pedicure
81. I'm afraid I'll get some dread disease from the unclean tools
82. We heat our house with wood and it's very messy. But very warm.
83. I like liver and onions
84. Can't stand mushrooms
85. Or bell peppers
86. I'm grasping at straws now, but tonight when I should be sleeping I'll
think of 400 more things I could have written that are way more
interesting than the drivel I'm filling this space with now.
87. I always want to be the driver
88. I love old, comfy flip-flops
89. I need a new mattress
90. On Wed. nights at church two other ladies and I cook dinner for 40-50
teens
91. My dream vacation would be on any beach
92. I'm sick of hearing about Paris Hilton
93. I have to work at not being critical of people
94. I have a 4x5 foot piece of bare sheetrock in my living room
95. I love daffodils and tulips

And now for five serious details:

96. I have a baby in heaven
97. I don't make friends easily but wish I could
98. I miss my married daughter terribly
99. We took Tim (a friend) to the airport yesterday, on his way to the middle
east to protect our country. He looks awesome in his uniform, but he's
way too young for this. He works in EOD (explosive ordnance disposal - he
defuses bombs).
100. I dread when my last kid finishes high school. I have no idea what I will
do with myself. Any ideas?

That was harder than I thought it would be. If you get inspired and decide to share 100 things, leave me a note so I can come read about you.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Could you be the Wife of the Year?

Yesterday I got a call from an old friend, Marty. We met Marty and her husband John when we were all stationed in Memphis, TN together 15 years ago. They actually lived with us for a couple of months, then we went different directions. We're all out of the Navy now, and John and Marty live in Iowa with their two sons. So Marty called just to say hi yesterday, and told me that back in April, John had fallen (she didn't say how) and broken BOTH arms. He was in casts past his elbows, so he couldn't bend his arms. Can you picture this? He can't feed himself. He can't scratch his nose. He can't brush his teeth. He can't pull his own pants up! Now Marty is the queen of the sarcastic comeback, so I wondered how all this went. But as she talked describing their last few months, I was awestruck at what an incredible example of a help meet she is. John would get understandably frustrated - what man wouldn't? - and she could easily have been offended when he snapped at her. At one point, he fussed that she was pulling his pants up like a girl, and she said, "Hello, I AM a girl," but then asked how she should do it differently next time. She was consistently understanding about his predicament, how humbling it must be for a man, and she totally rose to the challenge. Her great character shone through. Their difficulties are not over - he has had one surgery already and may have more problems related to the original breaks - but I have no doubt Marty will continue to be the woman God expects her to be. She gets my vote.

Be thankful ~

Karen

FYI

Just in case you didn't know. . . today was National Flip-flop Day. I found that out quite by accident. See, there was this booth in front of Lowe's and they were giving free "slushies" to everyone who was wearing flip-flops. And I qualified, even though my flip-flops have a big Pete-bite taken out of the toe area. So why don't I replace them, since they're only $2.50 a pair, you ask? I don't know. They're homey and comfortable, and they remind me that I am unconditionally loved by my big, stupid bulldog. Who else would put his mouth on my shoe?

Be thankful ~

Karen

OK, so I gave in and re-filled the hummingbird feeder. I just can't stand the thought of those tiny things flitting around wondering where their favorite food source went. Now how come I feel such compassion for the birds while Pete drives me nuts? No kidding, he wanders from room to room checking out the trash cans. My house is a giant box of Russell Stover's chocolates to him, with a different treat in every room, all of them forbidden. We have chicken flavored bones, beef flavored bones, milk bones, even chocolate flavored bones, but does he want them? Nooooooo. Except when Spanky is chewing one. Then he steals it just to be a toy hog. *sigh*

In other news, I just came from the tire place where I spend an average of $2000 per year (seven vehicles will do that), and found out that I have not one, not two, but, yes folks, THREE screws in one tire. These are the $120 a piece tires that I put on the car last October. I'm telling you, I am the all-time number one champion of getting screws and nails in my tires. I wish I had kept track since I started driving at the age of 17. I bet I've picked up well over 70 nails in my almost-30 years of driving. When we lived in Cane Creek (TN), the Pearls' son-in-law Justin took care of our cars, and I used to give him gifts of tire plug kits because I used all the ones he had in his shop. I'm pathetic. But the guy at the tire place today says it's because of my magnetic personality. I would like to be flattered by that, but it's just so lame it makes me want to cry. So I'm buying another tire today because this one is like swiss cheese and can't be repaired. Don't you feel sorry for me? Do you think I can tell the people in the business office at my kids' university that I can't afford tuition next year because the tire people get all my money?

OK, let's talk about something positive. A few days ago an elderly lady in the church called and asked if Elijah wanted to work with a few other young men spreading mulch at her house today. She ordered 16 yards (about 8 truckloads) and needed it spread in the gardens. She said that another lady had told her that Elijah was a good worker. Now that just thrilled me, because I'm always telling my kids, "Make a good name for yourself," and Elijah obviously has. I'm a proud mama!

Hope your day is happy and you have no nails in your tires!

Be thankful ~

Karen

Buffaloes, Wisdom Teeth, and Cockroaches

I just read a beautiful post by JenIg - please go read it. I'd be a buffalo right along with her.

In other news, Leah had her wisdom teeth out this morning and is right now snoring peacefully in her bed with two ice bags tied around her face in an old stocking. She made me promise not to take any pictures, drat her. Tomorrow she should be nice and puffy-cheeked and groggy looking. I'm hoping she won't do the passing-out thing that Deb did last year when she had her wisdom teeth out. That girl couldn't get out of bed for three days without passing out. We had to make sure Mike was here at all times to drag her back to bed. And since Mike is working and Leah is almost 3 inches taller than I, I'm trying to keep her safely in bed. Me trying to carry her would not be a pretty sight.

In still other news, I am completely and totally wigged out by the sight of cockroaches, which I have very thankfully never had in my houses. However, since I hung my hummingbird feeder right outside the glass doors on my deck, I have seen two of the nasty critters on the outside of the door. I really hate to take away the birds' food source, but I absolutely refuse to let roaches come near my house. Please pray for my hummers, that they can find another feeder without too much difficulty.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Me Beauties!

I love learning new things! This week I learned how to send a picture from my cell phone to my e-mail account. Now, that might not seem like such a big deal to some of you, but for the technologically challenged, it's a genuine accomplishment. So here it is, fresh from Deb's phone to mine! It was taken at the Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, TN two weeks ago when Leah and Abbie went to visit Deb. Don't they look happy? My only regret is that I wasn't there with them.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Just a quick update - we are all working and very, very busy. 10 days of history and science left with Abbie and Elijah, then math continues through the summer.

On a fun note (not that school is not fun, but you know what I mean), our yard is alive with wildlife, some of which is driving the dogs crazy. We have a groundhog who has set up housekeeping under the pallets on which we stack our firewood. He moseys around the yard munching clover while the dogs sit at the windows and whine like my old VW's starter. So far he is too quick for them. They just can't get down the deck stairs before he slips back under his pallet of safety. The hummingbirds are back, and we have a nest of wrens in the garage. The babies have hatched and mama is in and out all day feeding them. Too cute! She gets irritable when we play ping-pong, and yesterday was dive-bombing Elijah. We also have families of bluebirds in both boxes - the ones in back I think have fledged, as I've seen no activity there for over 24 hours, and the ones in front are still egg-sitting.

And speaking of ping-pong, yesterday Elijah and I played a game that I thought would never end. The final score was 27-25, in his favor. I'm sure the neighbors wonder what we are doing in the garage with all that yelling going on.

Today I'm going to have my hair trimmed, the girls will work for a few hours, we'll do school, and then church tonight. Better get Elijah up.

Be thankful ~

Karen