Friends, Food, Fish, and Fones

My phone must be on strike.  Or vacation.  Or gone to see Eclipse.  It is no longer sensing my finger sliding to unlock!  So unfair.  I have a life to live, and Facebook to check! : )
I can't: answer my phone when it rings.
I can't: scroll to find people's phone numbers that are only stored in my phone.
I can't: make calls.
I can't: read my mail.
I can't: read text messages. (not that I get that many anyway.)
I can't: call people back who call me-I don't know their phone numbers!
I can't: (isn't this fun?) listen to my voicemail.
Ok, I'm done, you get the idea.  I'm not happy about it, but I have to be patient.  I can get my glass/digitizer replaced (again) tomorrow, when the guy gets back into town who can change it out.  It's very mysterious that the glass isn't broken, but it's still not working..is that similar to planned obsolescence (by Apple so I have to buy the iPhone 4) (by the fix-it-glass-man)?  Either way, I've learned it is not fun to not have a phone.  I can remember driving off in any direction (for hours) with no phone, but now a trip to Fayetteville with three kids and no phone scares me!  I know, Planned Dependence.


I had a great day today!  We stayed home for the morning, cleaned up rooms, vacuumed (why do I enjoy this so much?), and it felt good.  I love walking around a clean house.  Ahh...I'm sorry I'm strange, but I love clean, and I love to do it.  Weirder, I know.  I even cleaned toilets.  Yep, really.  We cleaned Mary Claire's fishbowl.  Threw away growing potatoes (they are not supposed to grow in a closet!).  Then had some lunch, and went to Sandra's to let the kids play!  (I think we say we are letting the kids play, but it's just as much for us!) We got to look at the new Stampin Up! catalog, and play with her digital scrapbooking software, the kids played games, played in the water-inventing new games, sliding, then having sno cones!  The weather was so nice-we didn't have that crazy heat like we usually do-it was actually breezy and perfect!  Ahh..summer. and no school. : )
Then we ran by to get some pulled pork for sandwiches (at Sonny's BBQ-which I think he sold, BTW.  He was no where to be found, the pig with Mardi Gras beads was gone, and they barely spoke English!)  So, we had dinner and Ches left to take Clay to boy scout camp, early!  I don't know how we pulled it off, but he left by 4:40!  Crazy-I thought they'd be late.
Anyway, a nice laundry-folding evening, partnered with some swimming, baths, some Judy Moody and LeapPad.. but we have got to work on bedtime.  We are getting later and later.  It was ten before we got them to bed!  I feel like a bad parent-that's crazy late, and they sure don't sleep any later!
I have no fascinating pictures for you, but I do have an iPhone picture I took on Tuesday at Chick-fil-a that I haven't shared (forced on you!) heehee:

It makes me laugh!  Ethan is the only one who would put his head in the cow "hole" to get his picture taken.  The older ones told me no.  Can you believe it?  I mean, isn't it fun to put your head in a hole and take a picture?  What really makes me laugh, is his mouth is full of chicken (and he didn't want to wait till he finished chewing!), and Clay is peeking through!  Ethan wasn't tall enough (to be a cow), so Clay had to give him a boost.  Sweet brothers.


I'm thankful for patience (that I may have a working phone again..) and for friends and food and for sweet boys willing to pose for pictures!


Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1

Broken Glass

A life is a series of one lifetime lived after another, a day at a time.  Whew.
Another great VBS today-and Mary Claire has remembered her Bible verses every day!  Yay!  I just asked her the one for tomorrow-and she already knows it: I will study His teachings, and follow in His footprints.  I looked it up, and don't know where it's from.  Now I really want to know!  It's on her little bracelet, so I'll tell you tomorrow.  : )
I had a really rough day.  I think it was my 9th day without Lexapro or something.  I cried and was pathetic, and I just couldn't deal with it.  It's like having a child that keeps whining about one thing, and you just want to tell them to move the whining to their room for a while.  I wanted to put it back in the closet for a while.  And it worked.  I took one right before I picked up the kids, and it took a couple hours, but...better.  Less crying is always good.  Maybe I'm not ready yet to get off?  I mean, is there ever a right time?
Ethan and I went to pick up the kids then met Ches for lunch, then I took them all to the Fayetteville library-leaps and bounds ahead of Springdale's!  They have a good section of parenting books, and I got one on Left-Handed kids.  I haven't read it yet, but it talks about when it develops, and why (in utero).
Then, we got stopped in traffic for twenty minutes on the way home- i think it was construction or something.  We saw lots of trucks picking up the cones and signs telling us to merge left.  ??  I'm just glad we got out of it halfway home-it could have been worse! 

Then, I got out of the van and dropped my phone.  It certainly changed the course of my day.  I went in, and started making calls and checking online for service.  I found out that you only have 90 days of coverage.  Even if you have the AppleCare plan (extended insurance), it still doesn't cover accidental or intentional glass breakage.  AT&T didn't used to have insurance available for the iPhone, but they don now-for $13.99 a month!  I didn't have that option when I got mine last September.  So.. onto the next options.  I could get a refurbished phone for $249, get a new 3GS 16gig for $349 or a 3GS 32Gig for $399.  Umm-no thanks!  So I explored other options.  My phone was still working great-it was just my glass!  If I'd thought it would make it, I would have let it go a few days, but already when I wiped my finger across it, it was losing chunks!  Dangerous.
I found a guy locally (Paul) on craigslist.com that would change out the glass for $50.  It totally seemed worth a gamble to get it fixed for only $50.  Since my next best option was $250!
I got totally nervous.  I had Ches and the kids go with me, just in case.  My plan was to have Ches go with me to the door (an apartment complex), to be safe.  Then I thought-what if they kidnap us both and the kids are out waiting in the car?  I called my mom and gave her the guy's address-so she could give it to the police in the event of our kidnapping.  She ended up staying on the phone with me while I gave the man my phone (minus the sim card!).  I only had $49, so we ran to Wal-Mart to get Zyrtec and more cash!
By the time we got back, he was done!  It was so fast, and it looked good!  I have to say I was so happy! : )  It was perfect.  I put my sim card back in, and it worked great.  It totally turned my day around to have if fixed!  Ahh..a bad thing made me stop and think, and appreciate the good.  I'm pretty sure that's why He allows the bad to happen.
I'm thankful for honest people who can perform much-needed services.  I'm thankful for warm little-kid hugs.  I'm thankful for not getting kidnapped.  I'm thankful Ches changed his plans to go with me.  What a life! : )

Road Trip!

Update: We are now on boring old Highway 69/75 headed south to Dallas (to avoid the nasty weather headed home). We checked the kids out of school, and have been running from ice ever since. We are finally in the clear, but it was much like last year! We kept an eye on the weather, with Mom’s help (see below), as our teensy iPhones are too tiny to read. Yes, Ches is already requesting an iPad! ‘I could be working!’ ‘I could be checking the weather!’ ‘I could …’ He thinks he needs every new iToy. And he can’t wait for the second, much better version with the bugs worked out. Nope, have to have the First. When we get it, I’ll let you know all about it. If I ever get to touch it.

Well. I have been given the okay to talk about my mom now. There is a whole world of possibilities open to me! I’ll try to keep it mostly positive, and somewhat wholesome. Heh heh.

She is constantly censoring my pictorial (more this) and editorial (little less this) content. But now you can know her kinda like I know her.

We’ve been talking on the phone for four hours on and off. She slept in (because Dad didn’t wake her!), and yes, I explained she could purchase (and set) an alarm for herself if she got good and ready. Or she could use the one on her fancy little phone. She sure knows how to set her calendar alarms (even better than me!). So, I cannot let her blame Dad for her sleeping in. Anyway, she hadn’t had breakfast, and we were eating chips in the car, so she had some chips (are chips at three breakfast or lunch?). She’s been guiding us through the weather-as the iPhone isn’t helping so much. We have GPS in the van (but without weather), and we have weather on the iPhone, but without the map. If you are creative, have computer experience, I want you to merge the two and invent a GPS with weather!! Brother? That’s you!

We just crossed into Texas, so we’ve made some progress. Both physically and mentally. The kids have finally settled in (three hours in at least?), and are calmer. Ethan is asleep, Mary Claire is listening to music I just put on an SD card for her DSi (I found a new SD card reader/writer on Ebay for $3.99!! I feel like I just got the best buy of the century! I was prepared for $50!), Clay finished watching a movie and is playing DSi now. The first two hours were full of ravenous children (they ate their lunch box lunches in the car, then had McDonald’s, then were still hungry, ahhhhh!), and noise, and movie complaints. I’d forgotten all about road trips (or my Mom-mind blocked out the pain!)

I remember taking road trips when I was young. We would go to Rod Runs (yeah, maybe you can google them? They were like car shows for pre-1949 cars where we played games, ate together, had dances or bands at night, etc.), and all the way there we listened to what Dad liked: Eagles, Hall & Oates, and lots of country. I think we all learned the words to every song, and sang them at the top of our lungs (as we didn’t have a/c, so the windows were down-kinda like my first blow-out). I don’t remember taking stuff to do. We just knew it’d be hours (well, the longest trip ever was only like 4 or 5 hours) of nothing. We didn’t complain (that I remember…), and didn’t even have movies, games, or anything to entertain us besides the number of phone poles! : ) Still good memories. Wonder if they compare to all the iPhones, DSi’s, DVD players, ha!

Update to the Update: Here (Lewisville, Texas), in hotel, had dinner, and kids are swimming happily, we’ve already been locked out of our room, and lost a phone (but found it). Ah, just like home.

I'll Fly Away

I've had emotional days. Maybe the tremendous stress, maybe that return of my big fat circle (period). Maybe emotional bubbles rising to the top. I'm a big ol' shaken up Coke bottle. I'm working through it. I can see sunshine through it all, so it's all good.

I found a new song today (or rediscovered an old one). It brings tears and joy to my heart. All at the same time. (It's down below on my playlist, at number 84, if you want to share in my tear-fest.) I think it's the memories pulled up by hearing it-memories of childhood hearing it at church, memories of my mom singing it in the car, the memory of it at my grandmother's funeral last year on my birthday. Just thinking about the sweet angels who've left our company much too soon. Hallelujah that they are rejoicing and singing at the feet of Jesus.
: ) We'll be there one day.

I've joined the ranks of a few million others as I bought an iPhone last week. It was the usual learning curve: first, you aren't sure you even like it, then figure out how to use it, and it grows on you..finally, you are downloading applications like there's no tomorrow. "There's an app for that!" is their slogan, and they are not joking. You can't even just "shop", you have to know what you are looking for to find one. I found some that are for making grocery lists, and they remember the order you check off things, and order them by store, so they'll be in the right order next time you shop there. I found one to use to look up carb counts for foods (but found out Ches had already bought it!), games for the kids to play-even practice drawing letters, a flashlight, level, famous quotes, books that are stored on your phone, just amazing things. I'm still learning, but at least I can make and receive calls. It's a start.

I also added service back to my old phone. I am keeping it to share our minutes and send with the kids when they are away from us. I haven't told them it's theirs, but it's available. When Mary Claire is away from us, it really scares me, and I need her to be able to contact me as soon as possible. I want her to have confidence alone, and know I'm only a phone call away. She's done extremely well, but you never know. I can't let my guard down. And I've learned I can't do it all and be everywhere at once.

I didn't listen to a sweet friend who told me their mistake after they miscarried. I was _______ (insert polite word for stupid). I am taking dinner to a family that just had a baby last week. I've worked on it all morning, and I know they need help (a baby does zap your energy, and it's their third), and so many people prepared meals for me, and I absolutely loved not having to worry about dinner on those days. So I put my name on the list. I just wonder if it was not a good idea. I'm digitizing the baby's name to monogram a blanket and cloth diaper for a gift. I just can't go make it. Maybe I'm just tired or lazy. I'll do it.

I had started an art piece (part acrylic, part collage-scrapbook-y looking) for the Silent Auction this weekend, but I don't know if I'll finish it either. (What's with me?) I wasn't happy with it so far, so I just took a break. I might finish it, but I have to add more. I think I was partly making it for me-big J (for Jones), and scripture to fit around the J (with the J for Jesus), and I thought I'd auction off a custom one for the winner, but then I thought I'd just auction this one, and make me another one...or I'd be sure I win the auction, and the church would get the money. See? I'm even confused writing about it! I am just in slow motion.

We are going to get our flu shots/flu mist this evening (it's our plan). We've called all over looking for the flumist, and found it at our kids' pediatric office. We'll make Ethan an appointment, and we'll get it too while we're there. Clay and Mary Claire are scheduled to get it at school on November 9th, but I don't know if it'll be soon enough, and I'm willing to pay for them to get the flumist this year. It has all three of the flu strains, and the vaccine only has the one they expect to be the worst for his year. It's also good for a year rather than 3 months. I want to get it when I'm not pregnant since I'm, number one, fearful of needles, and number two, have fears of anything coming into my body if I'm pregnant. I still won't give up the toxoplasmosis thing. I'm trying to let it go, really.

Today, hug your sweeties, then let them fly away : )

Could words really fail me?

I’ve finally gotten a few minutes (or 3 hours, whichever you look at it) to write a little. We are headed to DC now. We are getting ready to cross the Delaware state line on Hwy 295 (if you are mapping out little tour…).

Thursday, Ocean City, NJ
It rained on the drive to Ocean City, and Clay whined most of the way to the beach. He was so upset that the weather would ruin our trip. When we were stopped in traffic on the Expressway (ironic, huh?), we got to see the wildflowers growing in the medians and shoulders. They value flowers more than we do in Arkansas. Anyway, we prayed to be optimistic (and the kids prayed for the rain to stop). We drove to Ches’ Aunt Rita’s beach house (on Asbury and 14th, two blocks from the beach-just perfect). We had some lunch (Taylor Pork sandwiches), and hung out on the porch. Karen’s husband, Joe, played the guitar for us and we sang along. He plays by ear, so if we told him a song, he played along with our singing. He taught us some songs (he’s from the Philippines, and knows tons of Elvis!) and some of the old hymns and songs (like 16 tons and Michael, Row the Boat Ashore), and even humored me with Takin’ It Easy by the Eagles, one of my favorites.

I also went up Asbury with Karen and Suzanne (Ches’ Aunts) to some of the cute shops. There were 3 Ta-Da!s (resort clothing, jewelry, shoes, etc.), a chocolate shop, a jewelry shop, doll shop, decorating shop (this and the jewelry shop were my favorite!)… There were more, but we headed back to help with dinner. Clay was too busy having so much fun with his cousins-running from room to room playing chase, computers, videos, etc. He stayed behind, but Mary Claire went with me. Ches and Ethan hung out and went for a walk.

We had margaritas, more singing, chips and salsa, and then people started arriving. I didn’t know that there’d be so many! A lot of Ches’ family goes to the beach on the same week or two, and they are together on the beach, then together every night for dinner. They take turns at different beach houses, which is just genius. So, we had a great Mexican dinner, then we walked down to the beach as the sky finally cleared up. They just HAD to see the sand and beach! I got a few good pictures of the sunset and the kids playing in the sand. Ethan wouldn’t leave!! : ( We promised to come back the next day.

When we got back, there was a great game of Scrabble going on the porch, and of course, I went around to each player to help. And I did! It was great. Around 10 or 10:30, we gathered up the playing (but tired;) kids, and headed back to our hotel. It was about an hour’s drive, so the kids passed out in the car! We carried them in, and put them straight to bed.

Friday, Ocean Citiy, NJ
Again, we bathed everyone, packed swimsuits, picture clothes, and back to the shore! It was finally a beautiful, sunny day, and because of yesterday, the kids knew to appreciate today!! They were finally thankful. : )

We had lunch then changed into picture clothes. I knew there’d be no time in the evening to take pictures, and by then we’d be all dirty and not so cute. We met some more family at the beach, took our pictures (they helped!), and went back to change. I don’t even think we were there 20 minutes! The kids just wanted to swim and play in the sand, so it was heading south quickly.

Beach Time!
We played all afternoon in the waves (the tide was high!), the sand (and sand puddles), under the pier, and Ethan ran all over (big surprise!). He ran to other people’s sand castles/piles/holes, ran across other people’s territory, chased the seagulls, tried out other shovels, ran into the waves-scary, and only ran off once. Ches was gone to take Clay to the bathroom, and I was trying to get Mary Claire’s pump plugged back in (there was sand in it!). We were all busy trying to rinse out the site, and Ethan ran off-even with about 8-10 people around. Danger Boy we still call him. A stranger came up and asked us if he was ours. He’d ran off with a bucket in each hand, headed south on the beach! I ran after him, and carried him back. Thank God for other moms at the beach.

One heart attack later (and one coming on), we left. If I couldn’t get her pump to plug back in, we were quickly heading back to our hotel to change her site!! : O After the outdoor showers for everyone (and an intense headache), I got her pump in. It wasn’t tight, but it’d work. Next was medicating me, and feeding the ravenous lions. They ate everything in sight! Ches went to get more food and drinks, and they kept eating! Dinner was later tonight-around 6:30 or 7 (you lose time at the beach). We had spaghetti, salad, tons of parmesan (especially for our little cheese lover!), and French bread-just what we needed. Everyone else was planning to head down to the Boardwalk for a night out. We knew we were headed to DC in the am, so we left early-by 8:30.

Wednesday, Washington, D.C.
Here we are. Today. Currently chaos. We are traveling to DC. We’ve already been through Delaware and now Maryland. The kids are going crazy in a vehicle with no tv/video. Or should I say I’m going crazy? We pulled over for a Performance bike store and Ches got a new helmet. We stopped to eat at Olive Garden when no one was very hungry, and it took way too long. Now the kids are fighting, jealous, noisy, etc. Mary Claire is jealous that Clay’s seat will lean back, and that he got to play with games on Ches’ iPhone (even though she was busy coloring). Ethan has a broken pacifier that he chewed a hole in, and we had to pull over to get his blanket from a suitcase (I washed it yesterday and was trying to preserve the Clean Moment).
I’ve now (thank God for me) found a Christian radio station (the first), and yelled at the kids to be quiet/time out for 10 minutes (but not exactly in that order). I must get at least 10 minutes to restore my sanity!

Words are beginning to fail me. (Yes, surprising.) We are now navigating through lots of 95’s looking for 295 towards Baltimore. Confusing, and requiring my brain power, as I am our GPS (almost as good).

Prayers Needed:

Patient kids (and heck, patient parents too!)
Safe passage
Enriching museums
Words to Come (especially the right verses at the right times so as to soothe me)