Mommy Brain

The Blizzard by Betty Ren Wright
The First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George
If Only I Had a Green Nose by Max Lucado
Escape From the Island of Aquarius by Frank Peretti
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch by Donald Sobol
Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny by Bill Grossman
The Mole Family’s Christmas by Russell Hoban
Who Invited You? by Candace Fleming
Twelve Snails to One Lizard by Susan Hightower
Good Morning, River by Lisa Westberg Peters
Chester the Worldly Pig by Bill Peet
How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head by Bill Peet
When the Fly Flew In by Lisa Westberg Peters
A Pocketful of Cricket by Rebecca Caudill
Countdown to Christmas by Bill Peet
Blueberries for the Queen by Katherine Paterson
Sweet Strawberries by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
We’re Making Breakfast For Mother by Shirley Neitzel
Hot Air by Marjorie Priceman
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin! by Lloyd Moss
The First Christmas by Nonny Hogrogian

Andrea tagged me for the “Seven Sevens” meme, so here goes:

1. Seven things to do before I die:

- See my kids grown and happy and serving God
- Re-connect with my best friend from high school, Fran
- Write a book
- Get down to a healthy weight
- Travel the US with my husband
- Visit Ireland, England, and Scotland
- Grow old with my husband

2. Seven things I cannot do:

- snap my fingers
- wiggle my ears
- knit
- eat peas
- eat liver
- stop singing
- stop reading

3. Seven things that attract me to my husband:

- the smiley look he gets in his eyes when I say or do something funny
- his integrity
- his love for our kids
- the fact that he loves me unconditionally
- that he knows and tells people (like his mother, when she suggested I get a job to help financially) that I work even though I don’t have a “job”
- the fact that he tolerates my book and movie addictions
- I’ll keep this one to myself. ~grin~

4. Seven things I say most often:

- You just did what?
- Hurry up, we need to leave!
- I love you.
- Hold on a minute.
- I’ll be right there.
- You can play on the computer after you finish your schoolwork.
- Story time!

5. Seven books (or series) I love: (only seven?)

- the Bible - especially my New Living Translation
- the Anne of Green Gables series
- the Mitford series by Jan Karon
- the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers
- The Church Ladies by Lisa Samson
- Trinity by Leon Uris
- the Little House series

6. Seven movies I watch over and over again (or would watch over and over if I had the time):

- Sleepless in Seattle
- While You Were Sleeping
- Band of Brothers - this because Kevin watches it over and over again…
- White Christmas
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Dennis the Menace - makes me laugh every time
- Follow Me Boys

7. Seven people I want to join in, too:

Forgive my poor memory, but I can’t recall who has done this already. If you have, ignore me.

Randi, Sparrow, Karen, Amy, Laney, Andrea, and Pearl.

here.

Hat tip: Amazing Grace-land.

Since we’re getting toward the end of the year, I thought I’d do a yearly wrap-up of the reading material the kids and I have enjoyed this year. I’d include books my husband has enjoyed, but I know his response would be, “Who can remember back that far?” Here are the books we’ve loved in 2005:

Read-Aloud Picture Books

Read-Aloud Chapter Books

Fiction

Non-fiction

Christian

I don’t post Amazon links in order to get rich - as evidenced by my Amazon Associates account that has so far accumulated a whopping $6.46. But it doesn’t hurt, right? Maybe in another ten or twelve months I’ll have the minimum amount for a gift certificate - $10! Thank you to any of you who have purchased using my links. It is appreciated.

Spunky has announced the first annual Homeschool Blog Awards! Tons of great categories, so click on over and nominate your favorites.

Tenniel has announced the What Makes a Homeschooler a Homeschooler Symposium, and is asking for related posts. Click over to see the guidelines.

And the question: Kevin has drawn my sister Debra’s name for Christmas. (No worries, she doesn’t read my blog.) She loves to quilt and to knit, and I was wondering if any of you knitters or quilters know of a great online specialty shop that offers gift certificates. If you can help, please leave a comment or e-mail me with the link on the sidebar.

Thanks!

…my Dad reading Psalm 103 aloud while the kids squirmed. Thank God we have kids healthy enough to squirm!

…not measuring anything I ate all day long!

…enough willpower to resist that second piece of pie (and to go back to counting points the next day)!

…a husband who took the two youngest - and crankiest - home for a nap while I watched Denver beat Dallas with my dad.

…the oldest two putting together a jigsaw puzzle with Grandmama.

And the day after…

…decorating for Christmas with our favorite Christmas CD playing.

…going back to Mom and Dad’s to spend the day with my little sis.

…watching The Shop Around the Corner and Going My Way.

…Mom and I beating my sister, Marni, and her husband, Hans, at Cranium.

…Marni beating us at UpWords.

..the first good snowfall of the season. The kids played outside for at least an hour and came in soaking wet, but happy.

…heading to the pool in the evening to work off some of those holiday calories.

…Josiah so sleepy he drifts off while watching Christmas cartoons.

…Kevin putting the kids to bed while I catch up on some blogging.

…being so sleepy I drift off while watching Monk with Kevin.

…NOT going shopping.

…to be thankful for: White Christmas - as sung by Bing Crosby.

I’m thankful for a husband who will drive 2 1/2 hours with four kids so that I can go see a movie with my sister while he spends four hours watching the kids and fixing my grandmother’s computer. A husband who, even though he prefers to see movies at home on DVD, will send me off to the movies with my parents for that “theatre experience.” A husband who goes off to work every morning, no matter how tired, and who is grateful to have a job. I’m thankful for a husband who tells me he loves me every day.

I’m thankful for a daughter who likes to watch “girl” movies with me. A daughter who loves to read and lets her mom help her pick good books. A daughter who loves Jesus with all her heart. A daughter who sings and hums her way through the day. I’m thankful for a daughter who loves me.

I’m thankful for Noah, a son who looks at me with eyes full of love and gives me his special smile. A son who likes to help his baby brother. A son who likes to use his muscles to help Mom unload the groceries and to bring the empty garbage can up from the street. A son who wants to go to Iraq and tell all the “bad guys” that they just need to love Jesus. I’m thankful for a son who loves me.

I’m thankful for Jonathan, a son who is full of energy and life. A son who likes to give me hugs and kisses. A son who wants to do what’s right and is sorry when he doesn’t. A son who is proud to let everyone know he’s a Christian. I’m thankful for a son who loves me.

I’m thankful for Josiah, a son who loves to laugh. A son who still likes to cuddle up beside me at night. A son who will run up to me just to say, “Mommy, I love you.” A son who looks forward to things with delight and enjoys every day. I’m thankful for a son who loves me.

I’m thankful for my God, who loves me fiercely. I’m thankful for His grace, which gives me everything I need to live the way He wants me to. I’m thankful that He created joy, and that I can worship Him as I enjoy the people and things He has blessed me with. I’m thankful for a God who is faithful, no matter the circumstance. I’m thankful for a God who loves me.

….if LeapPad cartridges will still work after being run through the washing machine? Aaargh…

We’re taking this week off of school, which means I should have more time to blog, right? Not so. Today we’ve already been to the dentist to have two baby teeth extracted. Tomorrow we go in for the kids’ second flu shot and then hit the grocery store. Am I crazy to think it will be less crowded on Tuesday than the day before Thanksgiving? Wednesday is baking. And somewhere in there, I have to find time to drop off the baby afghan I (finally!) finished and clean the house. And I’m still exhausted from our busy weekend. I need a nap!

Our weekend was a lot of fun. We left around 9 a.m. for my sister’s house. It takes 2 1/2 hours to get there, and the kids were great on the way down. We played some car games and listened to “Daddy’s music” - which the kids love. This time it was Hall and Oates and the Bee Gees. Kevin dropped me and Josiah off at my sister’s and then headed to my Grammy’s to de-spyware and de-adware her computer. She thinks he’s amazing. My sister’s husband Hans watched Josiah and their two guys while Marni and I went to the movie. Walk the Line was an outstanding movie and I’d like to put in my prediction right now: Joaquin Phoenix will win an Oscar. Possibly Reese Witherspoon, too. Josiah was having so much fun playing with his cousin Peter that when we walked in the door after the movie he took one look at me and said, “Aw, Mom, I don’t wanna go yet!”

After Kevin came and picked us up we headed to Chuck E. Cheese’s for dinner and let the kids play for a couple hours. I chose the soundtrack for the drive home - Billy Joel this time. We didn’t get home until almost 9 p.m. We were all ready to crash.

Sunday we went to church, watched the Seahawks game (which they barely won), ate dinner, and then went swimming at the pool.

The kids are all looking forward to Thanksgiving - and so am I. (I am NOT counting Weight Watchers points on Thanksgiving Day.) Friday we will put up our Christmas tree and decorate the house. Kevin has both Thursday and Friday off, so it makes for a nice holiday weekend. Sunday afternoon we have a birthday party for Noah’s best friend, Daniel.

I plan to check in later to post a list of things I’m thankful for. I hope all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving! (Except for Ron and Andrea, who are Canadian and already celebrated. To you two I say, “Have a good week!”)

(On a side note, I’ve done some paring down of my blogroll. This is not for any other reason than I don’t have enough time in the day to read them all, and some of my interests have changed. The blogroll now reflects the ones I check daily. I may have another list for the ones I pop into on a less regular basis, but I don’t have time to do it right now.)

Why would a theater only show Pride and Prejudice for one week? Most big theaters would hold it for at least two or three weeks, but not the theater in C’oeur d’Alene, Idaho. Nope, one week is enough. Which makes me really mad.

I’m going down to Rathdrum, a town near Coeur d’Alene, to visit my sister Marni tomorrow. She has free tickets for a particular theater, and we have been planning to see Pride and Prejudice for a couple months now. Then she calls me on Wednesday and tells me that they took it off after the first week. I guess not many people in that area wanted to see it. I’m not going to make any Idaho jokes, though. Honest. So we decide to see Dreamer instead.

Then I talk to her this morning. Dreamer is no longer playing. We’re going to see Walk the Line. Which I’m sure is a really good movie. I’ve even read great reviews for it over at Mind and Media and Christianity Today. But it still feels like a third choice.

Oh, well, we’ll have fun anyway. Kevin and the kids are driving down, too. They’ll drop me off at Marni’s and then head over to my grandma’s so Kevin can fix her computer, which has been giving her problems. Then they’ll head back to Marni’s so Kevin can visit with her husband, Hans, and the kids can play with their cousins. After I get back from the movies we’re going to take the kids to dinner. Probably at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Can’t forget my earplugs.

Sunday is church and the Seahawks game. Those are my plans for the weekend. How about you?

For those of you interested in such things, I’ve updated everyone’s reading lists on the sidebar. Finally.

Christianity Today has another great article about the Harry Potter series.

I taught my last Bible study yesterday. We have a week off for Thanksgiving, and when we come back we start our new topic with a new teacher. I am glad that the responsibility is over, just in time to help plan the program and lead the music for our ladies’ Christmas Tea December 4th.

I know I’ve already gone on and on about how wonderful Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven is. I’m not going to bore you by re-hashing it, but I thought I’d share what I’ve taken away from this study.

First of all, we can never stop examining what we believe in the light of Scripture. I am continually amazed as I read the Word how wrongly I was taught on some subjects. I’m sure part of this is due to the fact that I was raised in two very strong - and completely opposite - denominations. I know that many of the things I was taught were based on denominational tenets, and not necessarily what the Bible teaches. I’m also surprised as I read certain verses that I’ve heard quoted over and over again to find that they are often taken out of context. We must make sure that we are in the Word. That is the only way we will be sure our beliefs are biblical and not denominational. (I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with denominations, only that we need to believe what the Bible says, not what people say the Bible says.)

I realize now that this life is not my real life. It feels real, in the sense that I can touch, taste, smell, hear, and see it. But I was created for a different life. Mr. Alcorn says that rather than calling the part after death the “afterlife,” Christians should call this life the “before-life.” I’ve always been taught that the Bible doesn’t say much about heaven, so we’ll have to wait until we get there to know what it’s going to be like. But that is wrong! The Bible gives us many scriptures that point to what Heaven will be like, and we’ve either super-spiritualized them and deprived them of their tangible meanings, or we’ve decided that all of those scriptures must be figurative. The book is worth it’s price for Appendix A: Christoplatonism’s False Assumptions alone. Mr. Alcorn shows how Plato’s belief that anything to do with our bodies or the earth were inherently sinful, and to truly be holy we must aspire to a purely spiritual state, crept into the church and robbed much of the Bible’s teachings about Heaven of their true meaning. “A New Earth couldn’t really mean a new earth because the earth is evil and corrupt.” We forget that God created this Earth and called it good. It was later that sin occurred and brought death. But is Satan so powerful that he could completely nullify God’s creation? All through time God has been slowly but surely bringing His plan back to His original design. Redemption, not only of those who believe in Jesus, but of the earth itself, His beautiful creation.

At this point many of you are probably thinking what I’m stating is not biblical. But it is. This book is not Mr. Alcorn’s opinions about Heaven, it’s an in-depth, inductive Bible study of what the Bible says about Heaven. If you don’t believe me, I challenge you to get this book and read it.

I’ll stop now before this turns into a novel-length post. The last thing that I want to share is how in Heaven God will redeem the things we missed out on here in this life. I don’t need to fret the lack of time to visit with my sisters because they live so far away. In Heaven, there will be no end to time. I don’t need to be disappointed that I’ve yet to visit Ireland, England, and Scotland. On the New Earth I’ll be able to do that. God will redeem all of the parts of culture that glorify Him, so I will be seeing the best of Ireland - the parts that glorify and honor God, without any of the evil or sin. Again, many of you probably think I’m crazy to talk this way. It’s in the Bible! (If any of you are interested, I have all of my lessons, with scriptures and excerpts from the book, saved on my computer in Word documents. E-mail me with the link on my sidebar and I’ll be happy to send them to you.)

One of the things I’m looking forward to in Heaven is meeting all of my online sisters and brothers in Christ. Most of you I will probably never meet face to face on this earth. But on the New Earth, there will be no limit to time and resources. I can sit down with Laney and swap stories of our wild but dear boys. I can laugh over coffee with Andrea, talking about our favorite books. I can discuss theology with Ron - and better yet, introduce him to my husband, the fellow computer nerd who loves to discuss doctrine. I can talk to Randi and hear about God’s faithfulness in her life. The list of possibilities goes on and on. I’ll meet my favorite authors and be able to tell them how God used their books to convict, encourage, and sustain me. I’ll see my grandfathers again and get to hear what they think of my children. And best of all, I’ll get to walk and talk with Jesus. To see the place He’s prepared for me and hear my new name. I’ll worship God without the barrier of sin. And I’ll live a life of joy and blessing. The fight between the flesh and the spirit will be over. I’ll no longer be able to sin, no longer feel drawn toward wickedness and iniquity. I imagine that first breath in Heaven will end with a long “Ahhhhh” of relief. Home at last.

Can you believe it’s less than two weeks until Thanksgiving? I’m finding it very hard to get in the mood. I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s crept up on me so quickly, or if it has to do with the situation at church that seems to be an ever-present cloud. The kids and I need to make some paper pilgrims and turkeys and read our Thanksgiving books - that should jump-start my holiday spirit.

Monday was my 33rd birthday and I spent it schooling the kids and then soaking in the hot tub all evening. Kevin came home from work looking like death warmed over and mumbled, “I don’t feel good.” His turn. Poor guy.

Tuesday I taught Bible study. We have one week to go, and then a break for Thanksgiving. When we come back, we start our new study and I will be done teaching. I’m happy-sad. I’ve loved teaching the ladies, and the study of this book has been life-changing, but I’ll be glad to get the four to five hours a week back that I’ve spent preparing.

Wednesday night I took Natalie and Noah to “kids club” at church while I had worship practice. Practice went fine, but I saw more “symptoms” of the turmoil at church. Less and less people are willing to step up into places of ministry, and I realized that I don’t know any of the people teaching kids club. I don’t know how long they ‘ve been coming to our church — not long, I imagine, since we rarely miss a Sunday and I don’t recognize them — and I don’t know anything about their faith or whether or not they’re rooted in the Word. Then when we came home, Natalie informed me that her teacher took out her tongue ring to show the class the hole in her tongue. I don’t want to be judgmental, and I’m not going to make any determinations about a person’s faith based on their taste in jewelry, but is there anyone out there besides me that thinks this is a little inappropriate for a class of 3rd through 5th graders? I don’t think our kids will be attending anymore.

Thursday morning we had our homeschool class. The older kids (grades 6 through 10) were going to a field to experiment with their rockets, so some of the other moms and I stayed with the younger grades and played Thanksgiving bingo and made Thanksgiving cards. I really enjoy the class every week. The teacher loves science and seems to be able to pass his enthusiasm on to the kids. Unfortunately, our state government has made some changes in the program that will take effect next year, so we won’t be participating after finishing out this year. More on that when I have time. (I hear the “I told you so”s coming ! ~grin~ )

Friday we “did school” and cleaned the house. The kids and I watched Herbie: Fully Loaded. Good family movie. It was Natalie’s turn to have a sleepover at Grandmama and Papa’s house, and they took her to see Dreamer. Then on Saturday she went to Grandmama’s oil painting class with her and came home with a pretty good painting of fall trees.

Saturday I folded laundry, made a birthday cake, and shopped for Josiah’s birthday. He turns four on Monday, but we had a party planned for tonight.

This morning I led worship at church, which has become a bittersweet experience. We’re leaning toward a decision about how to handle the situation. I’ll write more on it later - I’m not sure if anyone from church reads my blog and want to handle things properly and in person.

This afternoon the kids had “rest time” while I wrapped presents and frosted a cake and watched the Seahawks beat the Rams. The Seahawks actually have a record of 7-2 this season - it’s all very exciting for this “Washington-born-and-raised” girl.

After dinner my mom and dad and my sister Marni and her husband Hans and their two little boys Peter and Andrew came over to celebrate Josiah’s birthday - and mine, belatedly. My parents got me the book Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul and Kevin got me Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete First Season on DVD. I love that show and have been wanting it for a while, so he did good. The kids are watching Josiah’s new VeggieTales DVD and getting settled down for bed. ‘Siah had a good birthday. Hard to believe my baby is four.

It was a good week, all in all. My ankle is feeling better and I’m anxious to start swimming again. My weight loss this week was only .4 pounds, and I know it’s because I spent last weekend sitting on my butt with my ankle up, and then haven’t been exercising. Oh, well, at least I didn’t gain.

Off to watch some of my birthday present. Good night.