Birthday today...almost forgot...

For the record, it is Poochie's birthday. Since Poochie already treated herself I was not much in to mood to pile on the puppy treats and goodies. Now my boys kinda think I am mean. Poochie thinks I am mean. (Actually I don't think she "gets" the birthday thing. She just knows she's in trouble. I never got the whole pets are like people thing. ) So we will just say "Yay! Poochie's five!!" and leave it at that. Exciting, I know.

Although I will say PetSmart sent her a birthday card with a nice coupon for a toy though, so we will add that to the next outing list. She still has her toy from last year. Gotta say she takes care of toys!

Happy Birthday Poochie-Poo!!

Stay out of the snackies I have to put on the table for the company tonight!!!

2006

Self-examination
Searching
Lessons
Revelation
Wisdom
Challenges
Changes
Growth
Struggles
Surprises
Triumphs
Conflict
Controversy
Restoration
Gifts
Mercy
Grace
Blessings

As 2006 ends...

The year ended with the dog eating part of the gingerbread house and one cat deciding it was a good idea and sampling one of the gingerbread trees. Then the dog ate a loaf of bread and part of the paper wrapping. The dog has had her freedom revoked for when we leave the house. My psychologist friend says poochie is “acting out.” Well….Yeah???!!!!!! But with two boys ready to act out, I don’t have time to psychoanalyze the dog. She gets locked in the kennel when I leave. No brainer.

The year ended with haircuts—finding young men under the mops that had accrued. Boys hadn’t had haircuts for three (!!!) months. There was a good reason—because the year ended with Roo’s completing 10 Nutcrackers and Boo getting to watch twice. —but ahhhhhhhh…I love it when they look like gentlemen.

The year ended with too many goodies (the ones left alone by the dog) in the house and heartburn. Oh my, the heartburn. The year ended with more electronics and Transformer toys. There were also some old-fashioned games and arts and crafts.

The year ended with traveling to the grandparents for a less than 24 hour visit, with four hours of travel there and four back. My mother is still fighting cancer, my mil struggling with her issues and the frustration with what each of those mean.

Many activities were not accomplished and a lot of housework piled up. The year ended with a feeling of dissatisfaction that the whole point of Christmas and Hanukkah had been missed and that it was all my fault. There was the awareness that I have come in a circle with my beliefs and the confusion that comes with that.

The year ended with gratefulness that the LORD allowed me to go through all of this because it is certain all of these and more have molded me and hopefully pointed me more in the direction that I should be going.

Some of my favorite decorations are stitched with the word “JOY.” I had left them out all of 2006 hoping they would focus my attention to Him and the joy that only He provides. I need a lot more work. So I am dedicating 2007 to finding joy.

Joy to the world! Joy comes in the morning! Count it all joy…you see where I am going?

Who I am to begin with.

I am a believer trying to sort out the issues of obedience, dying to self and loving others. I am trying to learn submission with confidence and what Scripture says and shows about parenting. I want to find joy in all things. I believe it is a truth the there is joy in all things and a mindset to allow yourself to see it. Joy is my goal for 2007. I want to trade my sorrows.

I am a wife to a good man who is my friend. We have hammered on things for fourteen years and are still working. We believe our only option is to make our marriage the best it can be. If anyone would want to know why I put up with his “things” the easy answer is that he has always put up with mine.

I am a mother to two young sons. They are blessings and smart, talented, and handsome. And if someone thinks I might be biased…well, YEAH!! We are eclectic homeschoolers. I sometimes use workbooks and sometimes unschool. Sometimes there are areas in between. We don’t fit a mold very well.

I write like I talk, lots of punctuation, intentional misspellings, and CAPS!!! You can’t see me waving my hands around or hear my voice so that is my attempt at internet body language.

I am conservative, traditional legalist, an open-minded, freedom loving liberal, housed in a libertarian body. I don’t like blanket statements or stereotypes, but I do believe that right is right and wrong is wrong. But I am not your Holy Spirit—and no one else is mine. So that is clear as mud.

I believe I use the word “I” too often and would like to see it uncapitalized. Like “you” and “he” and “she.” “i.” I think every Bible should capitalize every name of the Father, Son and Spirit and all referring pronouns.