It was SO Yummy and then it Made Me Sick

I have some favorite treats, foods, snacks, etc. Well, lots of favorites, in all honesty. But there are a few that I haven't learned to control myself over. You know "Once you pop the fun don't stop!" You really can't eat just ONE potatoe chip, I dare you, see if you can do it. Half a cup of popcorn is a serving size! HA, yeah right! M&M's: I think it's something about the size, the damage just seems like it would never come with sweet chocolate so small. Smarties: I can consume more than half my weight of these things, without even noticing until my tongue starts to tingle and my head starts to throb.

I do not know how NOT to consume TOO MUCH of these
I start eating them and the compulsion takes over...

I have no will (well, I exercise no will),

No restraint (ahem, I exercise no restraint)

No thought except for the joy the taste of this overly salty, chocolatey, sugary, morsel of manna gives me in THIS instant! Sigh, Bliss.

Until about 30 minutes later when the Law of Diminishing Returns has proved its point and I feel sick, oh so very sick...
and yet, I do this repeatedly! The title of the book I'm currently reading is flashing very bright neon in my head
"PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL!"
I also now have a new found understanding for the bugs that fly in to the window over and over and over again. This Time! This Time! This Time! This Time!

Two of My New Favorite Things

1) Designing and Making my kids Halloween CoStUmEs!

2) Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcakes

One of the most exciting things to me about becoming a parent was the reality of making my kids' Halloween costumes! My mom always made mine and my brothers, until we were big enough to assemble our own, or stop Trick or Treating (WHAT? Um yeah, didn't happen at my house...I stopped Trick or Treating because I got married and not before that). I enjoy sewing and Halloween costumes has always been something for me to look forward to. This year my kids are big enough and I decided (because they are not yet big enough to have opinions on costumes, I can dictate) that they would be a Pirate Cap'n and his Scallywag!

Check it out, they turned out AwEsOmE and I am so proud!

In keeping with our pirate festivities Brendan designed our Pumpkin!

A friend of mine bakes cakes and cupcakes for fun and to share. She's ridiculously talented at this and I don't know where she gets her ideas, but they rock! We often sample her yummy goodness of a talent at our bookclub (its a medical student wives group, some are students some the wives of students, we get together exploring Christian literature and making efforts to become better Christian wives--this bookclub is actually another one of my favorite things). Her Spaghetti and Meatball cupcakes are my absolute favorite! They are yummy but they taste ALL the better because they are so StInKiN' CUTE!!

Yep, it's a cupcake!

That's frosting with a chocolatey ball covered with strawberry sauce! AmAzInG! She loves me and made them especially for me for our Fall Party this weekend! I'm so Happy!

Ahh, from the mouth of Sweet Babes

For Family Home Evening tonight we used John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you." We sang As I have Love You(the primary song) and learned the actions and then we colored/drew pictures showing how we can show love for others. The Elephant was having a wonderful time scribbling, he really is quite good at coloring! It's quite fun! And this evening as he is ordering his scribbles and trying to trace a heart I drew for him he says to me, "WOOK! I do dis because...because...I love Jesus!"

Yeah for FHE lessons that hit home!



Oh, and The Giraffe broke his leg recently, well, four weeks ago. The cast comes off on Thursday...and yeah...I'm just now posting pictures. Blogging is obviously on my backburner...

What My Cereal Box Tells Me...

Breakfast is pretty simple at my house. I'm a cold cereal kind of girl and I actually prefer cereal to most everything else for breakfast. And my kids like it too.
This morning, while pouring a bowl of my favorite cereal (Millville's Honey Crunch 'n Oats--it is the absolute best AND $1.49 for 14.5 oz at ALDI)

I noticed the back, "Food for Thought: Trivial Information for the Breakfast Table." As a kid I LOVED to read the back and sides of the cereal boxes. As an adult, most of the boxes are pretty lame these days. HOWEVER, today I learned something intriguing! SO, as my husband would say, "So this is interesting..." my cereal box tells me,

"The largest living organism ever found is a honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae. It covers 3.4 square miles of land in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, and it's still growing."

The skeptic that I am said, "Yeah, right" as I envisioned a gigantic mushroom that looked like it walked out of "Honey, I Blew Up the Baby." So I googled it and this is what I found,

HUMUNGUS FUNGUS: To go into the forest where this giant makes its home you would not look at it and see a huge, looming mushroom. Armillaria grows and spreads primarily underground and the sheer bulk of this organism lies in the earth, out of sight. Occasionally, during the fall season, this specimen will send up golden-colored "honey mushrooms" (see photo, above left) that are the visible evidence of its hulking mass beneath. Scientists have not yet begun to attempt to estimate the weight of this specimen of Armillaria.

Is that not crazy! and the mushrooms themselves ARE huge check it out:


I'm going to have to start reading the cereal boxes more often!

An Announcement

So I...

BBBBLLLLEEEHHHHHH

Have an announcment,

Hang on, I think I'm gonna...

BBBBLLLLEEEHHHHHH

We're...

BBBBLLLLEEEHHHHHH

expecting another baby!

(attempting smile and...BBBBLLLLEEEHHHHHH)

I'm 9 weeks on Monday and until this past week I felt pretty good.

But this is what pregnancy sounds like, feels like, taste like, and we wont even go into what it smells like! BBBBLLLLEEEHHHHH!

:)

Nobody

It's the nobodies in this world that make life worthwhile. The silent heroes that go about their common lives, in their common ways, harboring extraordinary skills and talents that are belittled and overlooked because they are "common," it is these heroes that bring about all the greatness we have to see in our world.

It is because they are common, because they are nobodies, because they really are just like us, that their triumphs move us so completely and allow us to participate in the joy of their success. They wouldn't be nobodies, nor would they be heroes, if they were aspiring to the triumphs they obtain.

God Bless the Nobodies, they're what keep the rest of us going.

Passion for Patriotism

Freedom. Liberty. The opportunity to choose. The RIGHT to choose.

My liberties and freedoms are something I think about multiple times each week. The privileges I enjoy simply by living in the United States of America, are blessings I reflect on and contemplate often. I'm daily reminded of the blessing that it is to call myself an American.

When I think of America, I think of the ability to choose. I think of myself as a 22 year old WOMAN and the opportunities that I have. I have voted in 2 presidential elections and a number of local and state elections. I have the power and opportunity to influence change and legislation by writing my Congressman and voting. Simply the fact that I'm a woman and I CAN VOTE is significant in this world. I CAN VOTE, so I DO. I think of my opportunity to obtain a secondary education, a college education, and the encouragement I receive to continually educate myself. I think of the CHOICE I made to stay home with my children. I think of the opportunity to choose who I worship and how I worship. I think of my right to inform my self and develope opinions and SHARE opinions. I'm grateful to live in a country where individual thought and purpose is encouraged and promoted. It allows us to thrive, progress, and develop talents and abilities, that are stifled and strangled by many governments around the world.

When I think of America, I think of the cost to give me the above pleasures. I think of some 200,000 farmers and shopkeepers armed with muskets, who took on the TOP MILITARY in the WORLD. AND THEY WON! By the grace and guidance of God the Father those barefooted poor soldiers with inadeqaute food, clothing, lodgings, military leadership (they had leadership, and it was pretty good, but inexperienced ESPECIALLY by comparison, their just wasn't enough expertise to go around) won our freedom at the tip of the sword and the end of musket. The fog at Trenton, the battle at McHenry...coincidence? Not so, for "Our God is marching on..."
I had family who fought in the Revolutionary War. Family members of the Sons of Liberty. Family who understood the dier need, the ABSOLUTE necessity that FREEDOM IS! And that it is COMPLETELY WORTH DEFENDING WITH OUR LIVES. When people don't think it's worth fighting for, that complacency allows men like Napoleon, Hitler, and Stallin to be the powermongers they were. Indifference causes the greatest aches and the deepest wounds, and the most damage-physical and mental.

All of the blessings I have in my life I would peg to the God-guided success of the Revolutionary War and our Independence as a country. We are a nation, a country priviledged, set apart, and consecrated for His Work. I take glory in His wisdom and pleasure in blessing His Children, with such a country.


~~~

IF you haven't read the Declaration of Independence, read it! If you haven't read our nation's Constitution, READ IT! You are priviledged, KNOW WHY!

I feel...

Exhausted.

Behind.

Late.

Slow.

Lazy...or exhausted, not sure these two are distinguishable.

Lonely.

Distanced.

Slightly ill.

Sweaty.

Behind...

And slightly hesitant...

Perhaps a little dominated...

Deliberating.

Decided.

Resolved.

Capable.

Determined.

I'm going to clean my kitchen now. Tomorrow, I'll be glad I took the time today.

Brendan's Kenya Pics

This weekend a group of Brendan's colleagues traveled south to Lake Nakuru.

It is an absolutely beautiful area, famous for its flamingo habitat...

(more than 1.3 million)...

and rhinoceros population.

On the way into the park there were a great deal of zebra

and antelope.

Brendan was also delighted to see some baboons.

He got some great photos of a baby baboon on an acrobatic adventure.

It was such a nice weekend to relax and take in the beauty of Kenya.

Oh, the ironies! or conincidences? or disappointments?

So, as part of my spring cleaning, today I washed/scrubbed the windows.

Inside and outside.

And it's raining...

The worst part is, while scrubbing a particularly dirty spot on the laundry room window, I had this thought:

"Well at least I'm not washing the cars, because then it would rain."

Curse the monkeys! I jinxed myself.

What is it about ironies that makes them funny, but not?

According to Wikipedia,

Irony (from the Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía, meaning hypocrisy, deception, or feigned ignorance) is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an incongruity or discordance between what one says or does and what one means or what is generally understood. Irony is a mode of expression that calls attention to the character's knowledge and that of the audience.

"There is some argument about what qualifies as ironic, but all senses of irony revolve around the perceived notion of an incongruity between what is said and what is meant, or between an understanding or expectation of a reality and what actually happens, "when the literal truth is in direct discordance to the perceived truth.

"Henry Watson Fowler, in The King's English, says “any definition of irony - though hundreds might be given, and very few of them would be accepted - must include this, that the surface meaning and the underlying meaning of what is said are not the same.

"The word 'ironic' is sometimes used as a synonym for incongruous or coincidental in situations where there is no “double audience,” and no contradiction between the ostensible and true meaning of the words.

"The American Heritage Dictionary’s usage panel found it unacceptable to use the word ironic to describe mere unfortunate coincidences or surprising disappointments that “suggest no particular lessons about human vanity or folly.”

Maybe that's why ironies seem funny, because they aren't really ironic or at least we can't decide whether or not they should be ironic. So the irony of irony, as it is commonly used, is that ironic is not a accurate term--potentially. Situational ironies that have been deemed as ironic, (again according to Wikipedia) are not actually ironic. Rather, situational ironies could be more appropriately deemed incongruous or coincidental--"unfortunate coincidences" or "surprising disappointments."

Wikipedia discusses a wide range or different kinds of ironies but apparently my understand of the word and its application to "unfortunate coincidences" is, in and of itself, an "unfortunate coincidence" and not suitable to be defined as ironic. Ironically, enough. ;)

So, rather than exclaiming, "How ironic?!" I shall exclaim, "What an unfortunate coincident!"

How surprisingly disappointing it is that I never correctly understood that proper usage of the term ironic.

All the Adventures

We've had a great deal going on as we've desperately tried to diminish our "Indy Places to Visit List." So here is a streamline of what we have done via pictures:

Indianapolis Union Station--Now Crowne Plaza Hotel

They're hotel rooms!



The Eiteljorg Museum

Cutest bandits I ever saw!



Monument Circle

Knee-high to a Pigeon!

" relaxing all cool..."

The Civil War Museum/Memorial

Some of our Adventures didn't require us to leave!

And this is just cute

*Glorious*

Isaiah 11: 10

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."

I get 4 things out of this verse:

1) Truth will be rooted in that day and time (the Millennium)

2) We can seek, find, and cling to the truth

3) By doing so we will gloriously find and feel--joy, peace, and truth.

4) It will be glorious

Comforting, no? I think it sounds worth working for...

The Giraffe, in the Living Room, with the Hotwheels

After dinner I was wrestling with my babies in the living room while Brendan finished the dishes. Wrestling is something that occurs with some frequency at my house. Really all that happens is that I lay on the floor and let the babies climb all over me, amid shrieks and giggles.

This evening The Giraffe decided that he could not possibly relinquish his hold on his yellow Hotwheels. Now, in all fairness, it is likely that had he put it down he would have been forfeiting his chance to play with it for the rest of the evening. Yes, I think it highly probable that this was a learned behavior via trial and error.

At some point in our wrestling, I got pummeled in the mouth by his Hotwheels car. For those of you with experience in brutal behavior, you know that lip-shots hurt because there is something hard and potentially sharp on both sides. No blood, just a fat lip, but that ended our wrestling match making the score Mommy 0 , babies 1, 749,261. Be it known, not all of those matches ended in violence. Most end because Mommy gets tired of it and forfeits.

Now we get to my favorite part, and really the only reason the story is worth telling. I don't make it a habit of telling people my 2 and 1 year old boys can whip me without having something to show for it. Probably twenty minutes after we'd broken up the match and I'd settled on the couch with a book The Elephant came around the couch and picked up The Murder Weapon,

"Mommy, this car...bonked your face?" he asked me concernedly.
Smile..."Yes, baby, that car bonked Mommy's face."
"On your yip?"
Smile widens..."Yes, on my yip."
"Oh."
"Will you kiss it better for me?"
Noding "Mmm-hmm...mmwaa...all better."
"Thank you, love."

And you know what the best part is, it really did make me feel better! It's like magic, lovey kisses really do make your hurts better! Maybe we could market this somehow!?

Mommy Pep-Talk

I can remember my Dad hollering up the stairs at one of us (there were 6, 2 boys, me, and 3 more boys--and I breed boys...shocker) he hollered, "Next time you want to yell at someone, look in the mirror and scream SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" It's funny now and it was funny then, which means I was not the intended recipient of said instructions. Now though, I think I might rather alter the method.

You know how some days the motivation to do whatever, whenever has been completely misplaced. Or it kicked you out of bed that morning and said, "You do it today, I'm staying here" and then giggled while you stumbled around dazed. Those/these are the days I'm thinking I might try and re-apply my Dad's method--whit style.

I think I'll try standing, in front of the mirror, on the balls of my feet with my dukes up. Right foot in front (or left, however you'd snowboard--goofy or regular) and shifting my weight back and forth (the Boxer Shuffle, give it a bit of a bounce). Hands up in front of my face (you use them to block). I can't do this quietly, so, "Ha, ha, Ha, ha, Ha, ha" just letting out a little breath, not much sound...for now. I'll work it up for a minute or so, thinking about the locker room prep before the game (or my brothers rugby games, when the "turn it in" it's quiet for a second as they group...) Then I'll start yelling, "I CAN DO HARD THINGS! AND I CAN FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! (Now grimace at the mirror! Show you your BRING IT ON face! Make your reflection squeal like a girl!) AAAAAHHHHH!!! I AM WIFE! I AM MOMMY! I AM WOMAN!! BRING IT ON WORLD! BRING IT! I'LL TAKE TO YOU THE CURB! COME ON! (now flex during this last yell) AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

A few practice shots: jab, jab, cross---jab, jab, cross---jab, cross, hook, upper, jab, cross, hook, upper.... BRING IT! HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT! (a little electric slide...Fire Away!) Ha, ha, Ha, ha, Ha, ha...(it's the cool down) then I'll relax my dukes, say, "Let's do this thing," turn out the bathroom light, and start my day.

Thanks Dad, I feel better already.

Love ya,

whit

Censoring: Take Two

Someday... (in case your wondering about Take One)

Among the things I recognize/realize too late/state deliberately/ that I say, I hope to one day no longer discover the things I say by listening to my two-year old repeat them...

I don't swear like my mom does, like her mom does... mostly it's just the habitual phrases that The Elephant chants...while I cringe...thinking "oh, I really do say that don't I!"

"Crraap."

"Cwwwaapp!" Echo, echo, echo...

Dear Othello, c/o William Shakespeare,

I thought I'd take a moment and tell you what I think of you. Ahem.

I think it would probably suffice to say that I agree with Emilia that you are a "jealous dolt" but I just have too many other words to share.

I should tell you that I feel sorry for you. Very sorry. If I were so pathetic, I would have "...took by th' throat the circumcised dog/And smote him, thus," too. You loved her! You LOVED HER! And you never even bothered to launch your own investigation to verify the pack of insinuations, twisted truths, and outright lies that the scum, Iago, fed to you. You acted like you were a starving pig and begged for more! How dare you take such base words at their face value without even talking to Desdemona! Stupid and rash, how did you get to be a war hero anyway. You obviously don't know how to think for yourself, masticating each slight Iago gave you with ravenous fervor that would have made a dog sick. In a matter of minutes Iago had completely unraveled your trust in Desdemona (or perhaps that was missing to begin with, eh?) and riddled your mind with a passionate jealousy that consumed every ascpect of what once alluded to a good, noble man! As a military hero, and a man highly susceptible to the opinions and ideas of others, you're success must have been sheer luck! Or perhaps you were a puppet? Someone appointed because you were easy to manipulate--weak--and thereby, the puppeteer could acheive their own means--just like the vengeful Iago. For man of such might stature, you are weak, displicably so--"like chaff in the whirldwind" you were tossed about and destroyed. You are the greatest disappointment in a suggested noble and heroic man. Pah! Except for maybe King Lear.

Othello, you make me sick. Next round, buck up and be a man! Think a little bit for yourself, make sure you have legit sources (you'd make a miserable historian) And talk to your wife! She might tell you a thing or two. Especially being that her love was so true to you that in her dying breath she doesn't sell you out! You traitor.

-whitney

P.S. Mr. Shakespeare, I think you are a brilliant writer. I can appreciate your talent. Your comedies are truly enjoyable. You're tragedies suck.

A Few Things I'd Miss...

Lately I've been thinking over my "I'm Grateful For" List and in an attempt to get everything (ha!) I started looking at it backwards. Now, I've attached as an earmark, the "I'm Grateful For it because I'd Miss it if it were Gone" List. So...just a few as I've just started...

Screaming wars at meal time

The neatly arranged piles in my office (all over my office! My Dad does this too and I know it makes my Mom crazy! I've seen piles of language notes in Khazak, Russian, Uzbeck, Spanish..., piles of bills, piles of "to do's" all sorts of piles that reproduce at an alarming rate (think rabbits). I had it growing up so while I was accustomed to the piles when I got married it's just one more thing to trip over. But my office would a little too neat and orderly if they weren't here, apart from the fact that that would also mean both my husband and my dad were no longer around.

The post it note in the middle of the hall

Dippy Sauce

The laughs and squeals, long past bedtime, from the room down the hall

Twinkling fingers

Long conversations of which I understand nothing but "Water....crashed!...it was funny"

Dishes stacked on the counter (instead of the empty sink or empty dishwasher)

Not having to clean my bathrooms (not that we dont do it! But it's a chore Brendan took over when I could no longer bend over to scrub the shower and he's kept it ever since)

A legit excuse to slide down slides at the playground

Going to parks and playgrounds!

One sided arguments (but not so much the "Are you done yet?" look on his face)

The Patience

The Laughter

"So this is interesting..." conversations

Tomorrow...

The Pres

Okay so I totally spaced putting this up! Thanks Jill for the Reminder! Some of you will know what this is, if you don't...just don't ask... It was our Nov Home, Family, Personal Enrichment night and that's my ward's Relief Society Presidency...

It does cut off at the end, sorry, our camera ran out of batteries. But the best part is the beginning anyway!

Introducing...The Pres



Ami, I'm going to grow up one day and be JUST LIKE YOU!

My Treasures

At some point in every day I get these little reminders of how much fun I'm having and how wonderful it is to be blessed with children. You don't really understand humor until you have a 2 year old (or an almost 2 year old). Children will always surprise you!

I love these reminders! They make each day so worth it. I now understand why life is made up of 'moments' rather than 'events.' Today's 'moment' was this:


I heard The Elephant complaining from the other room. He likes to draw on the ads while I arrange our menu and grocery list. I had finished and left him to continue his coloring. When I came back after hearing his complaints, he had a pink pencil (that he had ABSOLUTELY insisted on)in one had and a pen in the other and the most distraught expression on his face. Apparently he was having trouble keeping the paper from sliding off the counter, but all I could do was laugh at my head band newly perched atop his head! It was such an unexpected contrast! I fixed the problem and then went to get my camera wishing I could have captured the initial expression. He was so comically angry!

Kids are so unintentionally adorable!

More sweet treasures...

"Mommy Aa-pull!"

"Copper, you're my very best friend..."

Treasures!

Censoring

I'm determined, before I die, to stop saying stupid things (hoping that imminent death comes after my great grandchildren are raised). Someday I'll think long and hard enough about the things I'm saying, prior to their debut, that I'll catch the words that will embarrass me or hurt someone (thereby, also embarrassing me...). You know the embarrassments that really aren't funny. The ones that make you want to crawl into a hole and die months (years...) after you've said them.

Someday...

Meanwhile I look utterly ridiculous in my own eyes for the stupid things I say and I'm getting really good at apologies.

The Tired Wife Perspective

Tonight, two things I detest became more pronounced than usual (I think due to a lack of sleep and the pain from a sore on my arm that wont go away...). I do not like bath-time. At least not when I have to do it by myself. My kids love bath-time! But who doesn't love splashy in warm water with toys in the buff? And why is it always that the kids love the things their parents loath? The screaming, splashing, the sibling wars, the partial-soaking (I want to be wet or dry, not a soppy mixture of both, yuck), and the constant fear of a 9-month old--who wont stay seated, but can't stand very well-- slipping, rendering himself unconscious, and drowning while the 22 month old sits on him. I told Brendan when he got home that its his job, I'm not doing it anymore. This summer, while Brendan is in Kenya, I'll just have dirty children.

Mostly, however, I detest the thing(s) that takes my husband away in the evening. I'm told the whole doctor thing has a good pay-off but I'll believe it when I see it. This evening my little tired self is not convinced that medical school is really worth the beating. I'll bet to the typical med-student (who thinks it's weird to be married already and insane to be deliberately reproducing, not to mention the fact that the wife doesn't contribute to society in a way deemed appropriate or legitimate) can directly withstand a lot more than I am willing to indirectly withstand. Kudos to him (yes, and her).

Meanwhile, grin and bear it. Hurrah for the year and 1/2 left! And then Residency!

When does that pay-off kick in...

Again, not convinced it's real.

Israel vs. the Palestines

So I just caught up on the recent Israeli/Palestinian events and I'm torn between outrage and sorrow for the injustices. I've been finding many things that tear me in these directions lately and it has required, on occasion, conscious effort to get past the outrage and into the sorrow--which leads me to prayer rather than rampages.

This is yesterday's article in the NY Times, here. The UN is debating whether or not to quantify recent events as war crimes. At this point in my research, I would say they are. I agree with Lisa Schirch in her article I found at worldpress.org.

I thought of the situation today as I tried to convince my young children to share and play nice. I imagine that's similar to how the UN feels sometimes. Times like these strengthen my fervor that Christ brings peace. Peace, for which I am ever so grateful. Meanwhile, I pray for that peace and the coming of our Lord and I try harder to maintain the peace in my small corner of the world.

Why I do what I do

For Christmas Brendan gave me Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits! I know nearly every word of every song on that 2CD set. Garth Brooks' made "the twang" of country a top seller. Some of his music is also added proof that songs that are inspirational, spiritual, uplifting--of God--can be number one songs. Today, The Elephant, Giraffe, and I were jammin' out in the kitchen to Garth and a song came on that inspired an "A-Ha" Moment. The song was this:

THE CHANGE

One Hand
Reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
And they say what good have you done
By saving just this one
It's like whispering a prayer
In the fury of a storm.

(CHORUS)
And I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know that it will not change me.

I was holding The Giraffe and waltzing around the kitchen, singing at the top of my lungs (serenaded by The Giraffe). As I laughed at my baby and thought about the words of this song, I rejoiced in the understanding I have of why I do what I do. I'm home with my children so I can be the best dog-gone mother they will every know. So I can end my life knowing I gave them the very best of me. I am determined of that. After all, what else ultimately matters? Being a stay home mom is not a job for which there is any monetary and very little temporal reward. But the rewards of the spirit, the joys, the knowledge that I am living a commandment and fulfilling promises and keeping covenants and doing all I can to ensure that these precious little ones return to The One who loves them Best... NOTHING could be more Rewarding!

This hear still believes
That love and mercy still exist.
While all the hatreds rage and so many say
That Love is all but pointless in madness such as this
It's like trying to stop a fire
With the moisture from a kiss.

I do what I do to ensure that my children know that love and mercy still exist! That within the walls of our home you will feel these virtues permeate!

I do what I do because parenting is not about me, it's about them! Just like marriage is not about me, it's about my spouse!

I do what I do because The Elephant and The Giraffe deserve it, and they are so SO worth it!

And I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's stilll that same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know that it will not change me.

I've been asked why?, told that I'm crazy, and, my favorite, that I'm wasting away my life. Really? Is that how you'd explain it to my children? Is that how you explain it to yours?! That they are a waste of our lives?

I do what I do because in all reality, family is what this life is all about. At the end of my life, it will be completely irrelevant what things I've done if I let my family suffer for it!

I do what I do because I want my children to learn and grow because I raised them, not because I paid someone else to.

I do what I do because I will held accountable for God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ for what I don't do.

As long as one heart still holds on
Then hope is never really gone.
And I hear them saying you'll never change things
and not matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know that it never changes me do

I do what I do because it is unimportant to me, that the world views my choice (CHOICE!) as an action of ignorance or the result of a domineering husband (which is a ridiculous presumption).

I do what I do because social norms do not determine correct/good behavior.

I do what I do because I WANT TO and I LOVE IT.

I do what I do because it is the best job in the world.

I do what I do because I have been greatly blessed with children and I will do all I can to return the favor.

I do what I do because it is worth it.

What I do is so

This world will know
That it will not change me

Querk #1

Post-Christmas has hit my house like a hurricane. I've reverted back to my childhood--shoving stuff under the furniture and in drawers, feigning cleanliness. Amid this process, I discovered that I own a minimum of 4 world atlases, both children's and adult versions. I'm pretty sure I can think of a 5th but I haven't located it yet. This doesn't include any of the maps from my National Geographics. Craziness, eh? who owns 5 (at least) atlases!?... The history major and geography minor that's who. Next, I think I'll count the number of books that are history related...that will be an intimidating number, we own a lot of books...