ix-Nay on the World's Finest Chocolate-ay

Yuck.

Abby's Best Friend

18,000 words...

Well... they aren't necessarily all good 18000 words but I'm writing.

50000 is the goal and then obviously I'll go back and cut the hell out of it and build it back up and cut it down and etc, etc.

Just thought I'd share.

Superior Genetics

Well, I've finally done something I've been procrastinating and worrying about for at least eight years (probably more like ten). I went to the dentist.

And after all the burnt fudge and salsa I have subjected my teeth to, I had no cavities or problems. Just needed a serious cleaning obviously.

Thank you God, and please, please let our children get my strength of teeth - even if they are crooked. I don't know which is worse. Maybe our children will be super-teeth-children with Steve's perfectly straight teeth gene and my astoundingly strong teeth gene fused.

Godzilla?

Attack of the Japanese Tourists On Coronado Island...

This was the scene early Thanksgiving Day morning right before a large group of Japanese Tourists descended on this unsuspecting, if slightly suspicious, little American girl. Perhaps she sensed in the air what was about to happen.

Behind her, while playing the annual family football game in the park, the little girl's Aunt Samantha noticed a tourist taking an unsolicited picture of her niece. Worried, she quickly waved to the child's mother. The mother, always one for trying to make nice, smiled and insisted it wasn't a problem.

Emboldened by the mother's wide smile, the Japanese man waved inched closer, waving to the little girl while six of his friends started taking pictures. The girl waved back as kindly as she could while her spidey sense tingled.

Sure enough the kind Japanese man's friends were less sensitive of the little American girl's carefully instilled cautious nature. One by one three of these friends came up to have their picture taken next to the little girl. One literally tried to pull her toward them while the baby's mother shook her head and pulled back. Another picked her up to sit on his knee while the girl's mother kept the smile plastered on her face so as not to freak out her child, but pulled her daughter back against her securely, smiling and waving at the crazy tourists.

As fast as they had come, the jovial, if pushy Japanese tourists were gone, most likely mumbling and rolling their eyes at the three year old's refusal to hug them and pose for pictures. The American girl was unphased by the incident. The child's mother was never in distress as the wise assortment of uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents were just a few feet away.

In case you haven't guessed... that little girl's name was Abby.





p.s.
Does anyone know the Japanese words for, "She's shy, back off?"

Thanksgiving... Hardly noticed it came and went... something missing... I think I miss my family's Thanksgiving... except it wouldn't end up the way I would want it - which is ... I dunno... I think where I had no responsibility except to sit around and eat. Course I would have responsibility now Just a grass greener moment, I think. No worries.

Thanksgiving... remembering the plagues

So, I was walking through my house on the way to put Abby's heater on (it's already cold in this well built old house) and realized I hadn't put away a spoon from this muffin which made me remember when we first moved in how the very foundation of this house used to be infested with ants.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd thank God for all the plagues that He has already helped us through in this house...

1. Thieves
2. Electricity
3. Dust
4. Ants
5. Fleas
6. Water Leaks
7. Rain Torrents
8. Ugly Sunroom
9. Debris and Trash
10. Freezing Cold (course that is coming back)
11. Sweltering Heat (that's also coming back)
12. Asbestos

All these things are behind us. That should bring peace. Well... at least gratefulness.

Reunited and it Feels so Good...

It's been a while. They were sentimental. I had a camera. What was I supposed to do?

It's Fall!

Abby's loving the leaves.

Is That a Bowl of Sand on Your Head...

Or are you just happy to see me?


Abby has a little boy friend (a friend that is a boy people) at school who has been asking her to help him cook in the little play house in the play ground. They fill a bowl with sand and talk about the ingredients and then Henry dumps the bucket of sand over his own head while Abby giggles madly. After ten times or so, my sweet innocent girl suggests they start cooking with mud. The same pattern repeats.

Thank you God for...

Crazy Family members who spend two hours taking silly pictures with Abby while babysitting...


You'll see Abby has now developed a "SUPERHERO!!" Pose (it's comic book style you see)





Well that is how the yelling of the "SUPERHERO!" while punching out their arms in true Superman fashion started - but then it bled into other effects...








This is Abby's "Scarey" face






It just really does warm a parent's heart when we come home and realize Abby's had a much better time with her babysitters than she would have had with us...






Of course these are only five of eighty or so they took.

Too Much Information: Canker Sores

Fascinating. I can now pinpoint a twenty minute period of stress last night to giving me a canker sore.

I first noticed the correlation between stress and canker sores for me when we went to Oregon for Steve's Grandma's funeral. I have no idea what made that time/trip so incredibly stressful, but I was freaking out. I developed like four canker sores and could barely open my mouth because of the pain.

Apparently, after that, it just got easy for my body to decide that is where it should get back at me for stressing out. Because the trigger this time was simply worry that I wouldn't have enough time to get Abby ready to go get babysat at Megan & Bryan's and myself ready for the 'Bobby' screening.

And there is this cloud of fear. Our Bible Study was studying Romans 9 and 10? last week and it was the chapter Paul was talking about fairness and who are we to say to God how things should work for our lives. The terminology was who are we are all made by the same Potter with the same clay - who are we to complain if some of us are made as ashtrays and others for art or some such thing. I'm not clear if the main point was the whole predestination/choice thing - i.e. if He knows what people are going to chose not to accept him and therefore go to Hell - why would God bother to let them into the world in the first place - i.e. they really don't have a choice they are going to Hell...

OR if it was more like the whole concept that as Christians the only thing we're promised is salvation - not an easy life.

So... the fear crept in... what if Steve doesn't succeed in this venture? We're already on the cusp. If something doesn't happen early next year, that's it... we don't have any more reserves, we can't take out any more loans.

I know he would do anything to support us. But what is he supposed to do?

When thinking about this, there is no question in my mind (NONE) that this is what he is supposed to be doing with his career. So what the hell is God's plan for us if what he is supposed to be doing doesn't work?

Great things are happening in his partner's career and it wouldn't be a betrayal for him to need to concentrate on what he is doing. There is no indication of that yet, but... we have to be prepared for that.

Since January, when we got hit with all the leaks, we've been just waiting... just feeling like 'ok, it can't get worse than this... nothing else can go wrong... we just need to be patient and faithful and God is just preparing us for great things'

And now... when it feels like we are hugely thankful for our health... but otherwise everything else seems to be at a boiling point.

In every down time God refines us. I know that, I can testify to that. What discourages me is that - what if the refining process is our entire lives? Like Steve having to suffer in a dead job his whole life just so we can get by? (ok considering family stuff that's probably ridiculous - but we don't want someone we love to pass away to be the thing that changes the pendulum swing in our lives!)

And what am I really prepared to do? I've talked about not having a second baby until we're in a more stable place as a precaution. But now, I think I need to be serious about it.

I don't want to go back to work. But I don't want to add to Steve's pressure if that is what it comes down to.

So now it's all up to God. Where do we go from here?

This whole stepping out for Steve's career thing... I can't imagine life before it. I can't believe he suffered in Sales for five... six? years. I don't question the decision. But geez, I'd like a break.

The question becomes was the house a mistake? Uh... well... yet to be determined. I don't want to think about it because it's done.

I don't think it was a totally irresponsible move... I don't think it was. So I don't think it is the lesson God wants me to learn.

So as not to leave God feeling like I'm ungrateful... I am so thankful for:
My beautiful girl and her wonderful personality
For her words (she told me today getting up from the couch was 'unahcemtable')
For how well she's doing potty training. We're there at home... it's just outside that is hard.
For the lack of drama in our families right now
For Steve being honest about his worries
For this amazing house
For the weather not turning freezing yet
For operation learn how to love cat again working great
For MS giving me maid service every other week
For our health
For our marriage
For our friends
For our families
For loving us even though we are down because we don't see the whole picture
For chocolate shakes
For Scrubs because it makes us laugh
For our Godson Wesley because Abby suggests we go see him every other day
For our Goddaughter Julia because she is giving Abby ideas (tonight she pointed to my tummy and asked "Is there anyone in there yet?" I said "Nope, not yet." And she asked "What will her name be when she's in there?" and I said "I don't know." and Abby said, "I think her name is Julia.")
For my mom always willing to be there and always willing to clean a garage
For friends who make me laugh
For the canker sore wash that really works
For romance on tv

ENGLAND memory...

Abby and I resting against the Temple of Appollo - most prominently featured in the movie Pride and Prejudice 2005

I am so glad we made the trek to see this. We weren't going to because our hosts in England were burdened down with planning and couldn't join us. But we made the effort and the national park where it is located - Stourhead - was beyond worth it. It was beautiful... beautiful and eerie and awesome.

Abby's New Crush

She loves everything "Nightmare Before Christmas" and knows a lot of the songs, but Jack... Jack she loves.

My mom got her little dolls of Jack and Sally and Abby was thrilled. But when it was time to go home she wanted Jack to accompany her and Sally was not allowed.

The only problem so far with this new obsession is that now she thinks all the holidays are readily accessible places. She has been wanting to go to "Easter" for a week.

A Little Throw - Back to that Bastardly month October...

My Daughter decorated her own pumpkin at school:



Now that is one flamboyant Pumpkin.

Life Changing Diagnosis

Ok... here it is.

I think I am a "Supertaster" someone with more tastebuds than the normal person. I first heard about this on Oprah (yeah yeah I know, everyone shut up) and it could mean the redemption of my entire crazy eating life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertaster

an excerpt: As a whole, supertasters are less likely to enjoy and thus consume certain foods, although individual supertasters can certainly enjoy and consume these foods. Documented examples for either preference or consumption include:
Alcoholic beverages
Brussels sprouts
cabbage
Coffee
grapefruit juice
green tea
kale
spinach
soy products

I can honestly say that I have tried and do not like ANY of the things on that list.

Dr. Oz from Oprah... a DOCTOR people... said that if you are a supertaster you simply have to be taking a multi-vitamin because you're never going to like fruits and vegetables enough to be able to consume the right amount.

I am probably not the super highest supertaster on the planet - but I think that this could have some serious root! It would mean I'm not just crazy and stubborn and rudely picky.

I'll let you know what the self-test confirms.

November

If I post in November, will that push October out from the first page?

Cuz I'd like to do that. I'm sick of October.