Five Question Friday

1. Do you think cursive writing is overrated? (Schools in Indiana have now voted to take teaching cursive writing out of their curriculum.)
Honestly, I have never given this 5 seconds of thought, so I don't know how I feel about cursive handwriting.

2. Do you still use a pocket calendar or notepad or do you keep your info on your smart phone?
I don't have a smart phone. Actually, I'd probably be classified as "low tech". We don't own a DVR/Tivo thing. We don't have smart phones. We still have a landline phone at home. And one of them is corded. We don't have built-in GPS systems in our cars (or phones). We don't have a Netflix account either.

I know....it's like we're dinosaurs, huh? ha ha!

Seriously, I like to keep paper records of things. I like paperwork & details. I do have a cell phone but it's only for making phone calls, sending/receiving texts (which I type on a keypad the size of 2 postage stamps---the only kind w/ the letters on the numbers so if I want to make a B, I have to press the 2 button twice) and taking blurry pictures that aren't useful to anyone.

And we're just fine with all that. To get any of those things we don't have above, it costs money. And well...we're still looking for the money tree.

3. What 3 things would you save if your house was burning down? (family & pets are already safe)
Seriously? I'd grab the computer. Lots of pictures & files that I'd like to save if possible. (By the way, anybody got a few spare thumb drives I could have? I really need to back up things again!!!)

4. Country Mouse or City Mouse, err Person?
Grew up in the country & loved it. Got married & moved into town & love that too. But I don't think you'd classify our little town as the big city. From one city limit sign to the other, it takes about 2.5 minutes to drive. Or if you really felt ambitious you could walk it. We have less than 10,000 people here. No hospitals or big stores. A few restaurants and there is talk that they might be building a hotel. But that's it. And I like it. If you threw me into a more metropolitan city, I'd die from daily panic attacks. No thank you, no sirree! Give me a little town anyday!

5. If you could pick ANY reality show to go on, which would you pick?
I'd love to be in the market for a new house & have the chance to go on House Hunters. But I want Sandra Rinamato to be my realtor (she's on a different HGTV show that we wouldn't qualify for).

Of course, Larry jokes that Michelle Duggar is my hero. I don't know that I'd qualify her as that and I'm pretty sure she'd blush & shy away from that title... but I DO think she is pretty amazing. I love her calm, quiet, patient nature with all her kids. I could certainly take some lessons in that regard. I feel like I've grown leaps & bounds in that manner since my kids have gotten a little older, but I still have a ways to go. While I don't completely agree with all the things their family does in raising their kids, I can't really name any parent who I totally & completely agree with 100%. But she's pretty awesome, so maybe I'd go on their show, too!

Summer: Day 38

Friday July 8

This morning our precious puppy dog, the 5 1/2 year old Basset Hound, went to the doggy day spa. Or at least that's what we like to call it.

You see our angel dog who is a pure delight 24/7 has a little Jekyl/Hyde thing that happens when she is bathed, when she gets a shot...or pretty much any time you try to hold her still to do anything to her. The calm, even tempered, loving, cuddly & gentle dog starts twisting her head trying to get loose from her collar, squirming a little at first, then violently thrashing. And if you don't "notice" the violent spasms of her body trying anxiously to escape your grasp, the howling, barking, growling and nipping at your hands..... well, you'll probably notice that. We tried to bathe her ourselves the first time and quickly decided to let the professionals handle from then on!

On her first trip to our vet's office for a bath & nail trim, they discovered our angel's other personality as well. Upon arriving to pick her up from her day at the "spa", they suggested that maybe next time we ought to consider allowing them to sedate her. So ever since, we have. We joke that she gets to go in, take a nap, and wake up with a mani/pedi, clean fur and a hangover. The last time we did this was back in February during one of our snow days. When we brought her home that evening, we had her inside with us and she was SO FUNNY to watch. Our sweet dog was obviously very DRUNK from the leftover anesthesia in her system. It was hilarious to watch her behavior. This time, however, she was able to go out to her cozy dog house and sleep off the drugs. So glad to have a clean doggie with short nails tonight! Oh, how she needed it!

After we dropped off Daisy at the vet's office, the kids & I went grocery shopping. We were able to return home, eat lunch & hang out for a little while before we picked Daisy up from the vet's office. She was happy to come home! She is always ready to run for the hills when they hand me the leash in the office lobby. She runs to the door, presses her nose to it & stands on "point" refusing to move til I open the door. ha ha!

And then there was tonight. I've been anticipating this event for several months!

If you've ever been to a Women of Faith conference, you know Sheila Walsh. Sheila is a beautiful woman (inside & out) who loves Jesus and speaks so eloquently about all He's done in her life. (in her most charming & cute little Scottish accent!) Several months ago, a local friend who works for a church in town posted on Facebook that he was going to bring a "big name women's speaker" to town for a one night event at his church. About 2 entries later on his Facebook wall, it says "(man's name) is now friends with Sheila Walsh". It took about 2 seconds for me to put 2 & 2 together & send him a message asking if it was Sheila who was he was planning to have come! And if so, what did I need to do to get a front row seat!! I was "IN" immediately! So ever since that day, I've been excited....and tonight from my FRONT ROW seat, literally front & center, maybe 10 ft from Sheila.....I got to hear her speak. I was not disappointed. She has such a knack for laying out the word of God, making you laugh & cry within 2 minutes of each other, and drawing you in. Amazing! Such a great night. And I'm excited now because she's coming back to town in a few months to do an all-day conference!! Yahoo!

See? Told you I was CLOSE!

And it was even better because I was sitting next to one of my best friends! Love ya Tara! (oh, and don't mind me....it was 110 degrees outside & there were about 1 million women in the church auditorium, so it took a few minutes for the a/c & my naturally high body temperature to even out....thus the sweaty bangs attached to my forehead. Nice, huh?)

Time for me to catch up on my blog reading & hit the sack. God bless!

Summer: days 36-37

Wednesday July 6
Yesterday morning, we had a full schedule! At 9:25, Samuel had his annual eye doctor appointment. Good news---his eyes are healthy and his vision is 20/20! Hooray!

After his appointment, we had a short span of time before the next appointment, so we made a quick trip to CiCi's Pizza for lunch. The kids love that place. They do have good pizza, but they have some pretty weird pizzas sometimes! Really? Macaroni & Cheese pizza? Who eats that??

After lunch, we went to the orthodontist for Savannah's appointment. Her LAST orthodontist appointment! She had her braces removed (see yesterday's post for pictures). She got her retainers as well. He told her to wear them 24/7 for the first three months, then go to wearing them just at night for the rest of her life. (or you know...until she breaks or loses them like most of us ex-orthodontic patients) Hopefully she will keep up with them for a long, long time!

We ran a couple of other errands & then came home for the day.

Thursday July 7
Today I went to work at the preschool. My pre-k class and the school aged class went to a place in town with a bunch of inflatable play structures. The kids all had to bring/wear socks to climb on the play equipment, so I took some too. I figured somewhere along the way, I'd either have to climb up to save someone who got stuck & scared....or the kids would convince me to climb up & slide down with them. Fortunately, I only had one instance of a kiddo getting nervous & needing help, but he figured out how to get down before I ever got to him. I ended up at the top of the slides many, many times though. It was fun! (click the picture to blow it up....that's me 2nd from the left)



While the younger two kids & I went to school & played, Savannah babysat. The mom of those sweet girlies texted me this picture mid-day. She took them to lunch before she left for the afternoon. How sweet are these babies?! (including the cute braces-free one in the middle!)

We Want to Know Wednesday

{1}Name five of your favorite new blogs that you're reading.
That's way too hard. Do you see my blogroll on the right side of the screen? I literally scroll down that list & read *every* one that has a new post every single night. Or at least every other night. There's no way I could pick just five of them as my favorites!

{2} When you were a young child or teenager, did you have an idea of how many children you wanted and what their names would be? Did you follow through on your ideas?
I don't think I ever planned a number of children, but I always had a running list of baby names. The only one I can remember was Heather Rose. And well, that didn't happen.

{3} What is the silliest thing you fight with someone about? Could be your spouse, sibling, parents, co-worker etc.
I can't think of anything I really fight about with anyone! I'm just not a confrontational, fight it out sort of person I guess.

{4} What is your favorite scent that other's may not find very nice? ie: gasoline, sweat from your sweetie, etc.
gasoline

{5} Thoughts on Plastic Surgery? (had it? want it? regrets?)
I can't really say that I have negative feelings about it. I know too many people who've had plastic surgery after cancer or to correct a birth defect, etc. There is absolutely a useful side to plastic surgery! There are a few procedures that I'd LOVE to have if I had the money.

However.......there are definitely cases of "going overboard" all over Hollywood & around the world. So there is a limit to it!

Good bye braces!

Four years ago, Savannah looked like this. (Well...more or less. I can't find her school pic from that year---I thought I had it saved on the computer!!)

This morning, she looked like this.


And by tonight...wow! She looked like this.



I am amazed that God gave me such a beautiful child! How quickly she is growing up before my eyes!

It's funny how God provides.

A few days ago, Samuel came to me & asked if he'd still be able to go on an uncoming youth group trip. It's just a day trip to a city not far away, but we'd have to pay $50 registration for him to attend. I had already signed him up, but told the youth pastor we'd have to wait until closer to time to pay for it. So when he asked a few days ago, I told him I'd have to check the bank account & make sure we had $50 to spare. He pulled $10 out of his own pocket & said he'd like to pay for part of it himself. Honestly, I haven't checked the checkbook for the other $40 since then because I was afraid we wouldn't have it. Between the dog having to go to the vet and Samuel's eye check up today and a couple other 'extra' expenses that we don't normally have to factor into our budget, I wasn't sure if we'd be able to spare any more money.

I had not given it a whole lot of thought until today. I had really just put it out of my mind & hoped to pull the money from my paycheck on the 14th.

WELL........God had other plans.

Today we went to the eye doctor and then to Savannah's orthodontist appointment to have her braces removed (more about that later) and the church library to check out books. When we got home, there was a card in the mail. It was a blank thank you card. No return address, no signature. And folded inside it was $40.

Coincidence? I don't think so. That has someone else's fingerprints ALL OVER IT!

***If the person who sent this sweet little gift to us is reading this: THANK YOU!***

Summer: days 30-35

Oops! I forgot to post my summer day count the last few days, didn't I? Let's see if I can catch up!

June 30
I worked at the preschool. Samuel & Sarah went with me. That's all I can remember.

July 1
I went grocery shopping. Samuel & Sarah went with me. That's about all I can remember.

July 2
Hmm...I know we did something. Don't remember what, though.

July 3
Church day. That's all I can remember.

July 4
Ok, this one was just yesterday! We had friends over for a cookout--burgers & hot dogs-- then went to see fireworks, which got rained out.

July 5
Worked at the preschool, came home, hung out, cooked supper, babysat an infant for an hour or so.

Yep.......it's been a wild & crazy last few days. LOL!