Israel, Pizza and Daddy's Home!

I don't think E slept much last night. She was too excited. I thought it was a little odd to be so excited about a Geography Fair until we got to school this morning and one Mom told me her son slept in his costume last night. So, yay ... go Geography!

We got to school bright and early to set up E's table.

Then, the teachers called the 2nd graders to the middle of the gym to invite Jesus to be with us that morning. Ahhhh .... how I love this school! It is such a special, special place.

When the first class walked into the gym, I thought E was going to pass out. Or jump through the roof.

I was so proud of her. She took her part very seriously and carefully explained her country. Even the part when she told every.single.person that her Mama wouldn't make unleavened bread from scratch so she had to bring pita bread which really wasn't exactly what you would find in Israel because pita bread has a hint of yeast in it and unleavened bread doesn't and although it would have been great to have aunthentic unleavened bread this was really the best she could do.

She sold me out.

How many people in that gym would have known that wasn't unleavened bread?

And by the way, Mama had great intentions until after dinner last night. She still had to pack lunches, do laundry, bathe both girls and wash dishes. Pita bread suddenly became the way to go.

We didn't share that same opinion. To my defense, I did dust it with cinnamon, toast it and had honey to dip it in.

Hey, look who stopped by E's table? O's class. Look at her eyeing that pita bread. She doesn't care if it's authentic or not. That's my girl!

It all worked out.

I slipped out early to join O's class on a field trip to a local pizza restaurant where each child made his/her own pizza.

She made me one as well. I can't post a picture because I inhaled it quickly. Yummy!

We had a great day at school! Now, we're home early and anxiously awaiting for Eric to walk through the door. He's home from Texas! Yeehaw!

Geography Fair

Tomorrow is the big 'project day' for E .... the Geography Fair. The second grade class is presenting different countries. E chose Israel.

She said, "Mom, I'm cannot wait until tomorrow!! I have been waiting on this day since FIRST GRADE!!"

I'm pretty sure I didn't get that excited over projects when I was in school.

Anyway, this one is a big deal for her. The rest of the school will tour the gym and ask her questions about Israel. She gets to wear a costume and serve food from that country.

She has practiced 457 times since we walked in the door at 3:00.

My girl knows Israel.

And O is filming her with a D*ra Camcorder.

Which turned into a high level of drama.

E: "O, you can stop doing that now. I'm trying to concentrate."

O: "E, you should be happy I'm doing this for you. I'm not charging you ONE DIME to film you!"

E: "Why would I pay you to do that when all I see when I look at that camera is a picture of D*ra??"

No comment.

A Steady Paycheck

I have a love/hate relationship with Thursdays. I love them because I know we are so close to the end of the week which makes me start to exhale a little. It's my last day of work for the week. And lately, Thursdays have meant Eric will be home the next day, so the girls and I are particularly happy.

Hate is a strong word (a mean word, E says), so I guess it's not applicable to how I feel. But, I dislike Thursday mornings very much. I'm usually worn out from our week (especially if Eric has been out of town) and 5:30 in the morning is a terrible nuisance. (Actually 5:30 any morning of the week is a terrible nuisance). My house is normally showing signs of neglect from the week and the laundry is piled high again. It's also the day I have car duty at school. That isn't half as bad now that we have warmer weather, but this winter was brutal.

I'm not sure why I just wrote all that except that maybe my kids will want to read this one day and wonder why their Mama was loopy on Thursdays.

** Your comments/emails to my post yesterday made me feel strangely validated. Empowered. Turns out, many of you are crazy, too. Ha! Meredith, you're right. My brother should never read the comments.

** Speaking of my brother, I got a few emails about his job. Yes, he is a DJ for a country radio station here - excuse me, radio host - he corrected me yesterday. He has a morning show on the Blue Grass station and has a mid-day show on the country station. Which is funny to me since he never liked country music growing up. But, he does like getting paid, so he's developing a strong love for it :)

How does he get paid? I'm so glad you asked!! I've been dying to share this with you.

He does make actual money, but as it turns out, he has fans now. Ha! And his fans like to pay him with these ....

That's a case full of eggs.

I'm still stumped as to why he wouldn't pose for a picture holding this box???? It is payment, after all. Although, if it were me, John Patrick, I would have paid you with a chicken. So, you would have a steady paycheck. hahahahaha.

Oh, I crack myself up.

Yes, he has hit the big time. I will sell his autographs on E-bay soon.

4 Alarms really are excessive

This week is a little different from last. (If you don't know about the roller coaster I was on last week, you should read this first or you will be lost.)

I keep telling people I'm feeling a better about things. That I'm more calm. But, when I think about that honestly, I realize how much I worry about things in general. Truthfully, that's hard for me to admit because I've never considered myself that type of person.

I don't freak out if my kids get hurt.
I don't worry about Eric coming home late.
I don't worry about people liking me or looking at me wrong.
I'm not afraid to try new things.
I enjoy watching my girls take risks and test their boundaries.

But, as I was trying to go to sleep last night, I thought about how much I do worry. I have insomnia. Period.

I worry about whether I was a good Mom that day. Whether or not E and O are happy. Do they need anything? I also worry about things completely out of my control. I check to make sure the garage door is down no less than 3 times before I go to bed. I check to make sure the doors and windows are locked .... and then I check again! I run through scenarios over and over until I 'accidentally' fall asleep. If I wake in the middle of night, I start the process all over, so I rarely go back to sleep.

I'm always tired.
My little brother is with me again this week. I'm grateful he's here. And I believe he's learning a lot. I like to think I'm teaching him a little about marriage ..... how to respect that person you're living with. You know, things he will need to know if and when he ever does get married. (Not looking good at this point :)

For instance ..... he sets his cell phone alarm to wake him each morning. With 4 different LOUD alarms that go off in 20 minute intervals FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF!!!

My house is very open, so you can hear a pin drop in a room across the house. Or, at least I can. But, I guess I'm listening for it. BECAUSE I'M AWAKE. Except for when I fall asleep in the early morning hours and wake to FOUR ALARMS!

"It's all about sacrifices", he told me last week.

Hmmmmm ....

John Patrick is a DJ for a local radio station (not sure they are still called DJs). Anyway, he drove the station van home last night. A van covered in bright advertisements for the station.

So, as I was trying to go to sleep, I remembered we now have a suspicious van in the driveway.

So, I text him ....

"Hey, I just thought of something ... police may come tonight because station van is in the driveway and not on the list."

I hear LOUD BEEPS that he is receiving my text downstairs.

He replies, "yep because burglars are likely to break into brightly marked radio vehicles".

I'm suddenly aggravated that his phone is so loud, I can hear it upstairs. I'm thinking of the inevitable FOUR ALARMS in a few short hours. So I reply ...

"You never know. It's a van. Also, you may want to put your phone on 'alarm only'. That way texts won't wake you but alarm still goes off." (secretly hoping it won't!)

I hear LOUD BEEPS again that he is receiving my text DOWNSTAIRS.

He answers, "Don't know how. If beeps really bother you, you should stop texting me."

I send this back: "these are just small details we are going to have to work out if we're going to spend time together ... coffee, vehicles, fans, cell phones ... just like a marriage."

LOUD BEEPS - ugh!

The last text of the night from him: "If you're keeping score, tally another point on the list of reasons why I shouldn't get married".

It occurred to me, I could be turning him off to marriage completely. Because I AM CRAZY! Then, I remembered that a girl doesn't show that side of herself until way after the honeymoon. At least I didn't.

I remember the awakening Eric got when we had only been married a matter of weeks and I woke him up screaming "wake up! get up! hurry!"

He shot out of bed thinking we were being robbed. "What? What? What's wrong?", he asked, barely able to open his eyes.

I cry, "The bottom sheet has come off the corner of the bed!! We have to make it up NOW!!".

Yes, it was an awakening. I think he was in shock.

I don't know. Maybe I have a problem.

23 more days of school ....

....Actually only 20 more days for O and myself, but E doesn't like to hear that. I'm telling you, E is more than ready for 2nd grade to be over. When I walked her to her classroom this morning, she actually cried like it was the first day of school. "Hang in there and finish strong", I reminded her. I've said that a gazillion times over the past week. E is a straight-A student, but she is burned out.

As well as she does in school, you would think she would love it more. All last summer, when anyone would mention school, she would cringe. She doesn't like the schedule. She doesn't like the rigorous work. Yet, she never fails to give her absolute best.

I couldn't be more proud of her. But, my sweet girl is due for some lounge around, do-nothing time.

O, on the other hand, is wondering how her friends are going to make it without her all summer. "They will miss me terribly", she says.
Ofcourse they will.

Where did the weekend go?

I don't know many people that would complain about a weekend being too long. Certainly not me. This one flew by, but was good.

I was able to go to the Beth Moore Simulcast yesterday. I wasn't sure I would go since Eric had been traveling all week, but I knew I needed to. I needed 'a word' and I got it, ofcourse. God is putting so many things together in my daily quiet time and sermons and conversations and for that, I am thankful. I need so much to be in sync with what He wants for me. So, I'm listening. I'm in the 'waiting room' in several different areas of my life .... expecting God to show me the path He wants. It's hard waiting on Him.

One of the sweetest things that happened while I was at the Simulcast was something happening at home. Eric and E finished the majority of her geography project. Give the Lord some praise! When he told me that on the phone, I cried. I have been so rattled with everything, a project was stressing me out (and her too). When I walked in the door, she was so thrilled to show me what she had done.

So, I got back together with Eric. Ha!

Maybe my love language is acts of service. Reporting suspicious cars, helping with school projects. Hmmmm .... we may be on to something :)

My friend Leslie asked me the other day if breaking up with Eric works because she was going to try it on her husband. I told her 'not really - because he rarely knows we've broken up to start with'. haha. It's all in my crazy mind! I thought I'd better throw that out there because so many of my friends were worried about him when he got home. Come to think of it, isn't that odd? Not worried about me. Worried about him. Hmmmm....

Anyway, my anxiety level is considerably lower than last week. I am trying my best to pray through any fear and believe God to take care of me and my family. I think He gets how fearful we can become. He provides enough scripture to combat it, doesn't He? :)

Today, we had 2 wonderful services at church with messages I needed so much. I particularly enjoyed tonight on Hebrews 12. It gave me the motivation I need to start off this week on the right foot - with Jesus - knowing that any other way will be a disaster. I go to the greatest church, by the way. I guess everyone should feel that way, but it's certainly true for me. Also, this morning's service was even sweeter with my firstborn singing a solo. In my opinion, she sings like an angel! :)

How did I get so blessed?

A List

Not "A" List .... but, a list. Please know what I mean.

** I may have mentioned a time or twenty that Eric has been out of town this week. He just called to tell me he is boarding his plane to come home. I'm not sure whether to go straight to sleep once he gets here or chain the doors shut so he can't get out. I may do both.

** I'm thrilled he is going to get home in time to surprise E at school before pick-up. She is going to flip! She has missed her daddy soooo much this week. Not sure why - maybe she senses her Mom is insane. It's possible I haven't hid it so well this week.

** I failed to mention while we were at the beach, I was able to see this friend. Not nearly long enough, though! Hopefully, we'll work it out again soon.

** Also, on Tuesday I met up with this friend and had lunch. We took O and her youngest cutie pie to the park. Remember when I originally met both friends here? Now, Amy has moved 2 streets over from me and I am thrilled. It has taken awhile to work out our schedules, but we finally did it. And we have plans soon to get our families together. Can't wait, Amy!

** I am reading this book. I thought I had bought the bible study, but realized I had the book instead. It is sooo good and just may be our Fall Bible Study. I need to discern God's voice on several things right now and am finding it difficult. I love how Priscilla uses simple analogies to relate to God's Word. By the way, did you know Priscilla has a blog? It is wonderful. Follow it here.

** I recently found this site and could become obsessed. I love it. Not all of you will agree. For instance, I'm not sure some of my friends can read, so they won't like it. Ha! But, I think it's a treasure. I found it through this blog.

** Speaking of reading, E is on a roll. She has read four chapter books this week. She finished Anne of Green Gables over the weekend. We checked the movie out at the library and she watched it Monday and Tuesday night. She said, "Mom, reading the book first really does make the movie better". See there, KTB. It's true.

** I finally joined Facebook. I said I never would and, well .... then I did. I have my reasons. But, I still don't get it, really. What is cool is connecting with people I truly admired and loved (former co-workers, neighbors). The whole 'friend request' thing is odd, too. Do I really want to connect with someone I didn't care for 20 years ago? Should I be offended when someone I know well ignores my friendship? See, these are pressing issues - ha!

But, none to lose sleep over. There are worse things to be concerned about.

Like guns and taking the right amount of medication. Serious things.

What a stressful week!

Both of my girls are finally tucked into bed and I'm sitting on the sofa with a Diet Mt. Dew and 2 Peppermint Patties. I gave up soft drinks months ago, but have cheated a little over the past couple of weeks. This week sent me into full desperation and so I bought a 6 pack of Diet Mt. Dew.

I won't sugar-coat it. I'm glad to see this week on its way out. I haven't slept in over a week, E and I are only about 1/8 of the way finished with her geography project (it's a doozy!) and I'm concerned about spending too much time with my brother ;) ha. See, I'm making progress. I didn't call him little.

Truthfully, he has been a great help. I'm just a certifiable basket-case who doesn't think all the artillery in the world can ease my mind. And I hate that. I'm not normally this rattled about things.

Thanks for all your comments and emails about a security system. Here's the scoop .... I have one.

Told ya ... certifiable.

The truth is, I'm being a big fat baby this week and wanting my husband home with me. I am so very thankful for his job, but there are weeks I just really want him here to do life with us. This was one of those weeks.

Okay, enough complaining.

To keep up my lunatic image I seem to be projecting as of late, I'll tell you that I went to take a Tylenol PM about 2 hours ago.

I now think I remember doing that 2 other times tonight.

Too early to tell. I could be drooling in a few minutes.

Goodnight.

Cops and Robbers

I'm getting ready to dive into the dark hole that used to be my kid's bedrooms. They are in serious need of attention. I just don't get it. I think I would look forward to cleaning them more if I didn't know within 24 hours, both will look like I haven't touched them. Sigh.

I mentioned in my last post that someone tried to break into my neighbor's house last week. I'm not sure how the rest of the neighborhood feels, but I have been terrified. And I hate that I am. I know, I know. I need to pray and trust God that we are protected, but honestly, I'm having a hard time accepting that. I have to get a grip.

How about a story ...

Eric knew he would be going out of town for a few days after we got the news about the attempted break-in. So, he took some precautions. I'll leave off most of the details. Let's just say I found myself learning to shoot a gun Friday night. I had never even touched a gun. Picture that.

Okay, moving on...

He also called our local Sheriffs dept. and explained the situation. The deputy asked him what cars should always be in our driveway, so if there was ever any different ones during the night, they would know to be suspicious.

You should keep that last sentence in mind throughout the rest of this post. Because Eric didn't think it was necessary to do that. Not sure why.

We agreed my little brother would stay the week with me to ease my mind a little. Yes, I said 'little brother', but you should know he is 26. See ... that's him on the right. Big brother. Little brother. Makes sense to me.

Not exactly little. I can't help it. It's just how I describe him.

Maybe I won't anymore. Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I have gotten very little sleep since last Wednesday. There isn't enough Tylenol PM to ease my anxiety! So, Monday night I was going over all types of scenarios with John Patrick. I planned to sleep with E and he would take my bed. I would take the gun with me. (You have no idea how puzzling that is for me. We are not gun people. It's just unnerving to me). But, I had it.

I finally fell asleep after a long time trying and woke only minutes later to John Patrick standing over me and whispering, "Deidre, give me the gun. Someone is standing in the driveway".

Gun? What gun? In the driveway?

I started to cry. This is it. Jesus, take me home.

My phone started ringing downstairs and I start running around crazily. What on earth is going on? I ran into several rooms, looking for my robe. Why? Because you want to be properly dressed for a burglar. I made a quick note that JP had on his tennis shoes. When did he have time for that?

I cried some more and was sure I had a heart attack. I finally decided to look out the window. I noticed a car with headlights on behind JP's car.

It crossed my mind instantly that the car was probably a Sheriff's deputy and they were suspicious of JP's car.

It was at this moment I broke up with Eric. Possibly for good this time.

I turned on the porch light to see if he would get out of his car. He did. He walked towards the house as I opened the door. JP and I standing there in our pajamas.

"Good evening, Ma'am. Your husband called and told us to watch your home while he was away (he's saying this as he's looking at JP).

I blurted out, "This is my little brother. That's his car".

He looks at me, looks at JP, looks at me, looks at JP.

I realize how this looks. My 'little' brother (wink wink).

I was mortified.

"Ma'am, if your 'brother' is going to stay every night while your husband is away, you may want to call the office and report his car or this is going to happen every night".

Oh, yes. This is so much fun. Let's do it again!

I shut the door. Wishing I had the gun (that I left upstairs!) so I could shoot one of us. How embarrassing!!!!

I sent a quick text to Eric hitting the keys so hard my phone should have burst into flames. He sent me one back yesterday afternoon telling me he had added JP's car to the list.

We're still not back together. I'm not over it yet.

And I still haven't slept. We are crazy people, I tell you! Crazy people who are armed, but don't have sense enough to atleast pick it up.

Friday Stuff

I have decided to post because I'm tired of the nasty emails asking, "When are you going to post?" Ha! Only 2 emails. You know who you are.

The truth is I hate to post the same old thing "I'm so busy", "I have a migraine", "I'm so busy". Because isn't everyone? There has been plenty going on around here that is post-worthy, but once my girls are tucked into bed, I have a choice to blog or sleep. I've been choosing sleep. And honestly, I need to be choosing 'clean the house', but I don't want to.

So, let me just post a few things swirling around in this brain of mine ...

** Someone tried to break into my neighbor's house a few nights ago. That information is rocking my world. Ugh!!

** I had my preschool class by myself yesterday and had a blast! I'm really going to miss these sweet kids. Only six more weeks of school!

** On the flipside - yay! ONLY SIX MORE WEEKS OF SCHOOL! I am more than ready to be out with my girls. I think if someone asks me to be somewhere by a certain time in June, I may burst into tears.

** E is working on a school project on Israel. I ordered her a flag for a few bucks thinking it was very small. We got it in the mail yesterday. Ummmm ... not small. She could use it as a bedspread. Now .... what to do with a flag of Israel after the Geography Fair? Hmmm....

** I have never been one to love digging in a flower garden. I would plant a few flowers and leave it. But, this year I am obsessed. I've been shopping around ... getting the best prices .. for weeks. What on earth? I'm an official grown up.

** I had my hair cut shorter a few weeks ago and now want to glue it back on. I'm never satisfied.

** Eric and I just read this book while we were at the beach. It's short and sweet and makes me want to write a letter to Eric every week. This week would read ... "Hey, it's me. I will love you forever if you finish the laundry for me ... and clean out the guinea pig cage ... and clean the shower ... and finish the yardwork ... and buy me a new vacuum cleaner. xoxo, Deidre" Wouldn't it be letters like that he would cherish forever when I'm gone?

** I hate that I have to use spell check on the word 'vacuum'. I consider myself a great speller (hi Rita!! :) but I cannot ever remember how to spell that word.

Okay, if you're still reading, have a great weekend. A new, riveting post coming soon ...

Okay, maybe it's time to post something ...

I don't have much time, so I'll just post some pictures from the last week.

We did make the resurrection cookies the night before Easter. O was fascinated. (and really cute in her rollers :)

Easter morning.

We took a much needed, much aniticipated trip to the beach.

My favorite people ...

O listening to the Chipmunks - preparing for her next video ...

We really didn't want to come home. We even stayed an extra day.

Now, I'm covered up with housework, laundry and school projects. (Sigh)

Easter Weekend

Celebrating Easter with our children takes a little more effort than just going to church. It's true, Easter is celebrated everyday as a believer in Christ in the way we choose to live our lives. However, with little ones, it's important to use this time to focus on what is truly important - not new dresses, shoes or egg hunts, but talking openly about why this weekend is crucial in remembering what Jesus did for us.

We've talked all week during our devotion time about Jesus' final days. We will begin tonight going through our Resurrection Eggs. Tomorrow night we will make the Resurrection Cookies.

O is particularly fascinated with talking about Jesus this year. Our church puts on a drama every year about the final days of Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection. I love watching it. O - not so much, but it never fails to offer great opportunities for questions.

I found this video of O last year. She was 3 years old and telling us her version of the Easter Story. She gets confused at times and talks about Lazarus - probably because she had just seen that in our drama. Notice how she refers to Lazarus having an operation. In the drama, Lazarus is shown briefly lying on what appears to be a cot or a stretcher while Mary and Martha are crying over his body. This may be where she thought he was getting an operation - ha!

O's Easter Story - 2009 3 yrs old from Deidre on Vimeo.

Another observation: I should NEVER talk on video. Ever.

The end.

How will you celebrate Easter?

The Bunny

My girls and I went shopping Wednesday. At the mall. Honestly, I don't think we have been to the mall since Christmas. We had a very warm week here and E needs Spring/Summer clothes. I'm having a hard time finding her nice, modest clothing - but, that's another frustrating post for another day.

Anyway, as soon as we walked into the mall, my girls spotted the Easter Bunny. Yuck! My heart sank. I contemplated leaving the mall quickly. I have a strong aversion to the Easter Bunny. It has a whole lot to do with my personal testimony about Easter.

The questions started. O mainly wanted to play there with all the mechanical chicks and bunnies. E's mind was in overdrive wondering what all of that was about.

I diverted their attention with Chick-fil-A (ofcourse), but knew I would have to talk to E about it later. There is no way she will let me off the hook.

I got into my car hours later still thinking about it. Aside from my testimony, the thought of the Easter Bunny has always creeped me out. Seriously.

Then I thought of a picture of me with the bunny when I was 3 or 4 ....

Just look at that bunny's eyes. Freaks me out. Gives me nightmares. Santa never did that.

The World According to O

O: Mom, why does every food and every vegetable have a name?"

Me: "Because if they didn't, we wouldn't know what to call them."

O: "Yes, but think about how great that would be to never have to talk about broccoli again."

**************************************************************

On the way home from church Wednesday night ....

E: (my 8 year old) "Mom, please pray for one of my friends. I really like her, but she is always bossing me around and treating me like I'm a child."

O: (4 years old) "THAT'S IT! WHO IS IT! I HAVE HAD IT! I AM HAVING A TALK WITH HER!"

She's a tough one, but with a sweet, tender heart as well. I saw that side of her this week as well ...

**************************************************************

Tuesday morning, O woke on the 'wrong side of the bed'. I was trying to be sensitive to how she felt and offered to help her get dressed. With tears rolling down her face, I said, "You know, the Bible tells us that God keeps our tears in a bottle?" She stopped crying and said, "Really, Mama? It says that?" "Yes. Psalm 56 tells us God loves you so much, He keeps your tears in a bottle".

Right on cue, E walked in O's room with her Bible and started reading the Psalm to her. O was fascinated and wanted to know how big the bottle is. (In her case that morning, VERY BIG :)

Wednesday night (a day later), she was saying her bedtime prayers. Her prayers have become much more detailed and sweet. She said, "Father you are so sweet to keep my tears in a bottle when I cry. Even when I am sad you are Good."

Melts my heart.