Fun Times With the Fam

Coffee Talk

As you can see by the picture to the left and my blog title, coffee is something that I really enjoy. Over the years, I have "matured" in my coffee drinking. Instead of having a drop of coffee in my cup of cream and sugar, I now have a mostly full cup of coffee with some added cream and sugar. I don't know that I'll ever progress to drinking it black, but that's okay with me. A cup of coffee, no matter what time of day, seems to bring me such comfort. Yes, I really do like the taste of it, but mostly I like what a cup of coffee means to me. Let me explain.

When I think of sitting down to a great cup of coffee, I usually prefer to share that experience with someone else. Although I usually have my morning coffee by myself, I love to talk with others while holding that steaming cup of goodness. I can't tell you how many times in the last several months I have met with a friend at a coffee shop, or brewed a fresh pot at home for myself and someone dear to me. I love these times where it's "just us" sharing stories and laughter. At times it's just a chance to get to know someone better, or sometimes it includes sharing deep heartaches and burdens, lifting each other up in prayer. Even more so than the coffee, these sharing times are especially dear to me. These women, these friends, are especially dear to me.

Knowing that these women desire to hear what's on my heart, they draw me into a place of security, trust, comfort, and complete joy. These dear ones truly listen with a sensitive and reassuring ear and know that I will be there for them, when they need a soft place to fall. I love the fact that no matter what I am talking about, they have something to say about it too. I never get a grunt or a disinterested "hmm" or "uh huh." I have heard that women use around 2 or 3 times as many words as men in an average day. So I understand that's just a difference between the "hers" and the "hims!" But I must say, it is wonderful to communicate with someone who likes to use as many words as I do! One of my most favorite places to be is in a conversation that has lasted hours and feels as though it could go on for hours more.....in a good way, that is :) I love the freedom of sharing anything and everything. And I love being the one they share anything and everything with....back. Ya know? Is this confusing? Well, this is coming from a woman, so you can expect it to be lengthy!

Okay, well these were my thoughts for the day. Nothing too thrilling or blog-worthy, really. But these are my thoughts, nonetheless!

Lord, thank you for the wonderful things you've given me in this life. You've given me wonderful things like taste-buds, so I can enjoy amazing flavors....like coffee! And thank you so much for my friends. They are gifts that I never tire of. Friends really are the gifts that keep on giving! I don't deserve them, but am extremely grateful for what they add to my life. Thank you God! And just so ya know, I've been sipping away at my coffee while I've been blogging, so thanks for joining me in this "coffee talk!" (sorry it's been a little one-sided)

Well, I should be signing out....time for a refill!

We're Getting OLDer!!

It's so sad, but true. The inevitable is taking place.....my husband and I are getting older! How do I know this? There are many tell-tale signs. I'll list just a few of them.

• My babies aren't babies anymore! My youngest children are turning 4 tomorrow. As they continue growing in height and knowledge, I no longer have a "little one" to make me feel better about my other children getting older. I can't say, "Well, so and so might be getting older, but at least I still have _____!" Moms, you understand, don't you? Most of me absolutely loves this new stage of motherhood (no diapers, sippy cups, pacifiers, naps....no, wait, I still want the nap part). But, part of me yearns for the newness and sweetness of having a newborn. (Right Missy?!?) Then, I remember the sleepless nights, the showerless days, my attire always being decorated with spit-up.....that pretty much cures me of that! Anyway! My point....I no longer have a baby in the house.


• Several times within the past month, I have forgotten how old I am. I have actually had to stop and do the math. I can remember the year I was born and I can usually remember what year it presently is, so then I figure it out. Oh, when I have given my age, I think I'm a year older than I actually am! If I got my age wrong, I could at least think I was still in my 20's, ya know? Ridicuolous! (I can't believe I am publicly admitting this!)


• For me, this one is the clencher! Here it goes....I listen to talk radio...on purpose. Yikes! When I start up our minivan everyday, I hear talking about the upcoming election, not the newest song to top the charts. My ipod has plenty of music on it, but most of the song choices would prove that I am aging. The kids in our youth group make fun of the music on my husband's ipod, and he has a lot of the same songs I do! As a child, I remember listening to "boring talk radio" that my parents had playing in the car. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to listen to that. It had no beat! And now, I would rather hear AM radio or a podcast probably 85% of the time. Wow...gettin' old.


• I cannot sit on my knees for more than a few minutes without needing assistance in getting up. The other day I needed to check a few things on the internet and the chair I usually sit in was being used for something else. No problem, I don't need a chair! I just knelt in front of the desk, quickly finishing the tasks at hand. I don't think I was online more than 10 minutes. As I logged off and attempted to stand up, nothing happened! My knees were so stiff, I could hardly move them! I had to sit all the way down on my backside, kind of roll over and then pull myself up with the help of the nearby end table. I couldn't believe it! Mom, you were right! I never should've chuckled (all in good humor, of course!) when you got yourself into a "situation" because now I'm there myself! It's quite humbling, to say the least :) I actually had a good laugh over it, after the humiliation wore off.

So there ya have it! Now that it's all out in the open, I pretty much feel even older! I thought confession was good for the soul?!? Oh well!

As often as I am reminded that time is not slowing down, I do see benefits of getting older. Maybe I'll have to post those sometime too. Although, I might have to think a little harder about those points :) Oh, and honey, sorry I had to include you in this topic, but you are a year and a half older than me!!! Ya know what? I feel much better now! Thanks hon! And I have to add, there's no one I'd rather grow old and feeble with, than you! Someday we'll be reminding each other to put our teeth in, and to put our Depends on!

Alright, overall I do think you're only as old as you feel. It's a state of mind, right? But I have to say, when you're stuck on the floor, knees in pain, you feel pretty darn old!

A Day in the Life...

Oh my, where do I begin? This has been one of those days that has seemingly lasted forever, and those days usually aren't good ones. However, they are usually memorable!

I woke up this morning to the crying of one of the twins. Wait, actually let me preface that with this: Last night I got out of bed 7 times to tend to the needs of my 3 year old twins. (Who knew someone could actually pee four times throughout one night?) Okay, back to the story. After a rather sleepless night, I awoke to Gracie crying in her bed. I knew right away what the problem was. She has been battling a fever/cough/congestion for 5 days now and pretty much feels miserable. As I was tending to Grace, I was informed by Lyndsey that Hannah and Emmy were both coughing and burning up as well. As I imagined my day tending to 3 children with the flu, I was tempted to crawl back into bed and hope it was all just a bad dream. No such luck!

I have no problem caring for my kids when they're sick. I wouldn't give anyone else that privilege. Really. I take pride in the fact that Mommy is the one who brings them comfort and care. But I hate seeing my girls uncomfortable and just generally feeling yucky! My heart aches for them. So as I continue this story, please keep these things in mind.

Since Gracie's fever has lasted so many days and isn't going away, I decided she should see a doctor today. The visit went fine. My husband worked from home a couple hours so I didn't have to drag the other 2 girls with me. Less is always better in a doctor's office :) (Thanks honey!) After dropping off the prescription at the pharmacy, I returned home and put my little ones down for a nap. Aagghh! All was good...for a little while. When I went upstairs to wake the twins, I found Grace sleeping and Emily drawing a "mural" on her bedroom wall with crayon. I didn't even know she had crayons in her room! This is when I had to remind myself to take deep breaths and stay calm. Fortunately, the crayon came off relatively easy. Just as I was finishing cleaning, Grace was tugging on my arm. I turned around to find that she was wet from her waist down. Yep, she had a little accident during her nap. What I found somewhat exasperating though, was that she started "going" while still in bed, and continued going while she walked across the room to me. The trail she left was rather evident. Guess she really had to go! So after washing her bedding, cleaning the carpet and her clothes (and Grace), I suddenly remembered I needed to check the mail. (We have been expecting something important to arrive.)

I dashed across the street to see if the mail had arrived. What I was hoping to see wasn't there. Oh well. A neighbor was also checking their mail so we chatted a few minutes and then I headed back to the house. Upon opening our front door, I encountered the bare backside of Gracie. Hmm, that was peculiar. Cute, but peculiar :) But occasionally she changes her clothes throughout the day so I told her to find her clothes and please put them on. I didn't think too much more about that.

The rest of the afternoon went by rather uneventfully, thank goodness. I prepared dinner and the girls and I sat down to eat. Adam has very busy Wednesdays at work and doesn't usually come home until 9:30ish at night, so it was just me and the girls. Surprisingly, dinner went quite uneventfully as well. As I was cleaning up the kitchen I heard Emily call for me from the bathroom. The sound I heard next was unmistakable. Let's just say, Emily's eaten dinner was now decorating various parts of the bathroom. Sigh. At least she was in the right room for it to happen. Poor thing. Needless to say, I had more cleaning to do. Oh, and as I went to put a washcloth under the faucet, I found Gracie's missing undies in the bathroom sink. I won't say anything other than they were "dirty." Not wet this time, just "dirty." You know what I mean. Another time to take some deep breaths.....

Well, the girls' bed time is just about here, and I must say.....yippee!!! They have been watching a movie while I've been writing this post. No one has puked, peed, or otherwise during this time.

So I end my post with this thought: Yes, I look forward to a new day tomorrow. But mostly my thought is this: I love my girls so much! God has given me strength to get through this crazy day. And as hectic as it was, I realize that I am still extremely blessed to be their Mom. I fail so many times in my reactions to them. I fail in the amount of time I give them. I fail in showing them patience. And as much as I love to be the one they come to for comfort and reassurance, God is the only One who will never let them down. He is the One who meets their needs perfectly. He is the One who created them and loves them unconditionally every time, all the time. They, as I, can depend on Him for all they need.

Thank you Lord for these 4 amazing gifts you have given to me. Help me to be the Mom they need me to be; the Mom that continually points them to You.

A New Year, A New Look

2008. When I was a kid, I figured we'd have flying cars by the year 2008....or certainly by 2010! I'm finding the older I get, the faster the years go by. I sometimes wish they'd start slowing down a little bit. I'm reminded to take each day, each moment and treasure it. I certainly don't take advantage of every moment like I should, but watching my children certainly helps me remember to savor "normalcy" a little more often. I absolutely delighted in watching my girls open their gifts Christmas morning. I loved watching them unwrap "just what they wanted." Seeing their excitement in giving gifts to me and their Daddy was very heart warming as well.

Seeing snow isn't too common since moving to Oregon, but when the snow does fall, they rush to the window and watch the white flakes with wonder and smiling faces. Usually I start thinking about how cold it is outside when I see snow covering the grass. Sometimes it's good to be child-like!

Well, with the new year has come a new look.....a new look for me, that is. After being a blond for most of my life, I am now a brunette. Shocking, I know! The last few years I have had more and more trouble covering up my dark brown roots coming in. If I didn't keep up on it, I started to get a dark "ring" around the top of my head. Not a good thing! So, the other day I decided to stop fighting it, and just give in to my "au naturale" color. (Sigh) When I came home from the salon, I heard several gasps from my family....not really a good thing either. Of course my husband assured me he liked it (smart move, dear) but it was such a drastic change, I knew they were having a hard time embracing my "new" self. I've had it brown a few days now, and can say that I honestly do like it now. I don't regret my decision to go darker; I was definitely ready for a change.

Oh, and another thing, I'm pretty sure brunettes have just as much fun as blonds! And I have also been told by all 4 of my girls that I am very pretty with my new hair (their words, not mine) so I think I've switched to the dark side for good!!!

Happy New Year family and friends!

P.S. Pictures are coming later

Savoring Christmas Memories

Singing for the King!

Tuesday night was the Christmas program for our 3 youngest girls. It was a first time performance for all three. I must say, I was nervous for the twins. They do not like a lot of attention drawn to themselves publicly. And obviously singing Christmas songs on stage in front of 1300 people is just asking for attention! I was actually quite pleased that Grace and Emmy even stood on stage. Gracie had a little trouble beforehand because her Daddy dropped her off and left without giving her the standard kiss and hug. Not good! Eventually she calmed down and made her first debut on stage with the rest of the preschoolers. I think the 3 yr olds were on stage maybe 15 minutes or so and the twins didn't open their mouths in song even once! It was actually quite amusing watching them stand there somewhat shell shocked :) I was just glad they didn't scream, puke, or run off stage. They stood there stiffly and silently through the whole performance. I was still so proud!

Hannah Boo, on the other hand, rocked out the house!!! This was, like I said, her first performance of any kind, and she did fabulously! She sang her little heart out and knew every motion and every word. Adam and I chuckled as we watched her bob and sway to every song. She had the beat! Hannah definitely enjoyed herself up there. My heart soared with pride.

But whether singing out loud, or not so loud (or not at all!), I knew that this was a time in which children were remembering who they were celebrating. The One that came and was born to save us from our sins. The One that came to give us hope. The One that came so we could have life more abundantly. And as we celebrate Jesus' birth we also need to remember that it's also because of His death and resurrection that we can have eternal life. Because of God's immense love for us, He gave His Son. How much love does that require? Love beyond my comprehension! But I am so grateful for it! Sadly, I sometimes take that love for granted all too often. But my Heavenly Father is still there, holding His outstretched arms to me, always welcoming me back. God, you're love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy are so wonderful beyond words! I need to remember that those gifts are mine every day....every season. So yes, the birth of that little baby gives me much reason to celebrate! Thank you Lord!