William quotes...

I was tucking William in last night. Getting him to bed can be such a pain sometimes. So last night I just lay in bed with him until he fell asleep. Before he did, we had the following conversation:

William: (stretching arms out) Can we hug each other while we sleep?
Me: (how can I say no to that) Sure. (big hug) It's too bad we have to get up early tomorrow so you can go to daycare and I can go to the office.
William: You're just picking on me about daycare.
Me: No. I'm teasing you. You aren't going to daycare and I'm not going to the office. And you wouldn't even be in daycare anymore, you'd be in kindergarten. But we do kindergarten at the kitchen table. How cool is that? What a blessing!
William: That's the bestest blessing I ever had!

Then this morning, as usual, his mouth woke up before his brain. Yesterday he'd been playing with his chess set and he lost one of the black pawns. The first words out of his mouth as he stumbled into the livingroom this morning were:

William: I'm gonna see if that tricky pawn is back in it's box. That tricky pawn that was missing.
Me: You think it crawled back in the box?
William: I think it grew legs and walked away yesterday and crawled back in the box while we were sleeping.

If IQ stood for Imagination Quotient, he'd be off the charts. :)

I had a tiny epiphany this evening. We had just finished having delicious grilled bacon cheeseburgers. The boys were giggling in the bedroom where they have created a castle with all kinds of secret passageways out of some boxes. Crystal and Jonathan were talking smack to each other at the the iMac. I was playing some David Lanz on the piano. And the thought occurred to me that with everything that's going on, I really need to enjoy these moments. The simple pleasures of life. Family, music, good food. How many of our brethren tonight are eating fast food and spending their Sabbath in a hotel, hoping that they'll have a house to go back to next week? How much longer before there isn't enough food, and we can't feel safe in our own houses? It's very exciting, and yet very sobering to see how prophecy is speeding up. All of my life I've heard of what is to come, but I guess I got kind of numb to the reality of it. We're not in the tribulation yet, but every day more of the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. I really need to redeem the time--to prepare for Christ's return, to finish the Work, to raise a Godly son and just to enjoy the abundant life that God has blessed me with.

Dueling bloggers...

Crystal is currently trying to blog (on her new iMac, big whoopdedoo), but is being slowed down by spell-checking which I skip. So I'm typing furiously...because I'm inherently competitive. And here's a contest. Of course she doesn't know we're racing, so it's not really fair. But competitiveness isn't about fairness, now is it?

My favorite recent quotes:

William: Mom, I saw Copper's pee-pee system. (Copper's got a bit of a problem keeping his plumbing where it belongs. Crystal says this means he's happy. Go figure.)

Me: William, do you need to ask Jarek to slice your buns off? That's not very nice, is it?

Me: What do you guys play with the legos?
William: You are so stinky and selfish!
Jarek: And then we hit them with a toy.
William: Then we beat them up.
Crystal: Can we really hit girls?
Jarek: No. Just lego girls.
Both boys: Let's go beat the girls up. (something tells me I shouldn't be laughing at this....)

Drat...Crystal beat me.

I guess I can stop now then.

Warning: Long, boring post ahead.

In keeping with the title of my blog, I should probably give some news from time to time. The thing about news is that it's really about perceptions. And perceptions are about emotions and reactions and how I really feel and all that good stuff I try my best to keep from public view. Not that this blog is that publicly viewed (hi Crystal and Jonathan). But still...I tried keeping a diary-type blog in which to vent and say what I really feel in the honest belief that no one else could see it, but I didn't actually set it up right, and Jonathan and Crystal enjoyed it immensely, but I felt really bad. I mean, I named names and wrote all the things that were in my head but really shouldn't have been...and then put it on a blog (yeah...I'm a genius). While I admire Charles' ability to completely bare his soul on his blog, however infrequently, I'm afraid of the repercussions of saying what I really think about people...you know...on the off chance that someone cares. That said...

My life's been no bed of roses for the past 5 years or so. Being a single parent is no fun. I discovered that, contrary to what it may have seemed like when I was in college, there are much worse things than being single and having no prospect of changing that. For example, being in a bad marriage....much worse. And raising a kid on your own is no picnic. My family is so helpful, that's true, but when it all comes down to it, it's on me. The absolute worst thing is not being able to be there for him. I'm so thankful for my mom and my sister and the times that they've kept him while I work. But I also hate that, during those times, they have been the "mommy" figure in his life, and I've been more of a daddy. Having a wonderful, loving, imaginative little boy, and then only getting to spend 3 hrs a day with him...and spending those 3 hrs feeding him breakfast, getting him dressed, feeding him dinner, bathing him and putting him to bed...is torture. So I've kind of felt like I've been in the twilight zone for several years. I went from having my whole future out in front of me and having a plan for my life, to just basically surviving from day to day. And living with my family, which basically makes me feel like a loser. And having no idea what to do next and how to fix the whole mess.

And that's why I'm so excited right now. I'm still living with family, but I have HOPE of maybe actually someday being an adult...having a house, and a car and taking care of my son without impersonating a sponge. Basically the biggest news in the life of me and William is that we are so happy and thankful right now. I'm working from home and homeschooling and getting to spend so much time with William! He's such a cool kid (ok...so he also has some infuriatingly annoying habits) and it's a huge blessing not to drop him off with anyone. I'm actually the one raising him right now...not a daycare, not my sister, not my mother...I love it. So does William. :P I don't actually have full-time work at this point, but having been fully unemployed before, being partially employed is not so bad. I still have to sponge, but I can also buy new underwear without borrowing money. And there are prospects. For the first time since William and I struck out on our own, I can see how I could make a living from home. When I found out we were moving from Charlotte, I made the determination that I was going to be a mommy first and a breadwinner second. And I'm leaving the breadwinning in God's hands. I'm asking him to provide me with a way to provide for William and myself from home. And I believe that He will.

Newsflash--Right now, life is GOOD!

Michelle says:
I'm chanting silently to myself "OpenOffice is not the devil, OpenOffice is not the devil"
Michelle says:
but it's not working
Michelle says:
how do I change the font color
Michelle says:
it suddenly decided that I should type in maroon
cbelle says:
lol
cbelle says:
maybe you should
Michelle says:
and now it won't let me go back to black
cbelle says:
open office is not the devil
Michelle says:
I see the button that in NORMAL word processors provides you with a pallet to choose from
Michelle says:
but in this one (the devil word processor, that is) it only provides you with the means to make other random chunks of your text a hideous color
cbelle saysa:
well- mine is on the Tool Bar
cbelle says:
well- there's got to be a way to put it up on your tool bar, too
cbelle says:
i'll look around
Michelle says:
I have the A on my tool bar
Michelle says:
but when I click on it it says "Font Color"
Michelle says:
and that's it
cbelle says:
?
cbelle says:
do you have an old version or something?
Michelle says:
it doesn't give me colors to choose from
Michelle says:
I would hope not, since I only downloaded it last week
cbelle says:
oh
cbelle says:
click on it & kinda drag down at the same time
Michelle says:
great
Michelle says:
now I turned it blue
cbelle says:
click on the arrow right beside it
cbelle says:
and drag down a hair
Michelle says:
ok...the draggy thing worked
cbelle says:
good
cbelle says:
anything else?
Michelle says:
yes
Michelle says:
one more thing
Michelle says:
Open Office is the devil
cbelle says:
NO IT'S NOT
Michelle says:
good and evil mixed you know...it's free, but it sucks
cbelle says:
you just don't like it b/c it looks different
Michelle says:
no...I don't like it b/c it doesn't do what I want it to do
Michelle says:
for example...it keeps bulleting everything
cbelle says:
you have to be SMARTER than the program
Michelle says:
and it won't stop
Michelle says:
see...that's the thing
Michelle says:
I don't want to be smarter than the program...I want it to be smarter than me so I don't have work so hard.
Michelle says:
If I wanted to be smarter than the program, I'd use a typewriter.

Computers...modern miracle or mental health menace? You decide.

So, I bought a nice new laptop with my tax return this year in hopes of someday using it to make a living from home. Now that I'm actually in the position of making a living from home using said laptop...it's NOT WORKING!!! Well, it's mostly working. The wireless internet part of it isn't working. Which means I'm on a leash in this little front room, while all the fun exciting things are happening in the back of the house.



I guess I should be thankful that at least my monitor is working, which is more than Jonathan can say. And I can still work...which is good. So basically I'm just being a big baby. But really, is it too much to ask that a $2000 piece of technology be fully functional for longer than 6 months after the date of purchase???

End of whine.

All about moving...

Not.

I'm tired of moving. So I don't want to talk about it. I want to talk about football. The original football. What we yanks call soccer. On Sunday I was lamenting to myself the lack of people I know who'll talk soccer with me. Then I figured since I was already talking to myself, I might as well talk to myself about soccer.

With the World Cup coming up next summer in Germany, there's lots happening with US soccer. So far so good with qualifying. We're pretty much a lock to qualify. Next up is Mexico, the only team that's beaten us so far in qualifying...but that was in Mexico and this game is in the US of A. Different story. (I hope.) One of the really cool things happening in US soccer is the re-imemergence of Bobby Convey. He was the Freddy Adu before Freddy Adu. He went pro at 16 (also drafted by DC United, ironically enough), but at that time, no one cared. For one thing, he didn't bring down nearly the salary Freddy got as of last year.

Anyway...last year Bobby got transferred to an English team that is competing for promotion to the premiership. He did absolutely abysmally there. Just rotten. He had a hamstring injury when the move happened, and then he got a few national team call-ups, and just never got into the swing of things over there. But this spring, he was able to do the full pre-season in Reading and it has made all the difference in the world. His confidence is back. His speed is back. He's crossing like a magician and he's got his scoring touch back as of 2 goals this past weekend. This is good news because Convey is a natural left-footed player, so he provides a balance to their attack. Lately we've been kind of in a down the center rut on offense because Landon Donovan's playing in the middle. He's been having a great year, but really needs support when the world cup comes.

Oh and Taylor Twellman and Clint Dempsey are a couple of good additions to the national team camp. Twellman is money in front of the goal. He's a little bitty guy, but he out-jumps, out-hustles, out-works the defenders and makes some really awesome goals. Dempsey's called the Texas Tornado (he's from Nacogdoches) and it's a really appropriate nickname. He's everwhere. He's fearless. And he's dangerous. He'll get the ball or die trying...or kill trying...doesn't really matter to him. Last year he got his jaw broken when he dived to head a ball at the same time someone went to kick the ball. He stayed in the game. He played the next game a week later. It wasn't until 12 days later when they even found out his jaw was broken. Then he missed a lot of time, but still came back and produced enough to when the rookie of the year award.

So...American soccer is pretty exciting right now. Sadly, I'm the only person I know who cares.

William said...

Every Friday night I allow William to sleep all night in my bed. This is a big deal for him, since he wants to sleep in my bed all night every night. He calls this tradition "Sabbath night snuggles." Tonight my dad told him, "There's a new rule in this house. From now on there will be no more snuggling on Sabbath nights." William came running to me with a scandalized and worried look on his face. I said, "Can Papa do that?!?" William went running back to Papa, placed his fists on his hips and said, "You can't make that rule! You're not in charge of our snuggles!" :p The boy likes his snuggles....

--------------------

William: Girls scream and boys don't.
Me: Yep. What do boys do?
William: Pretend they're dinosaurs.

Ok....so long time, no blog. But really, what's to blog. I'm really tired and busy and I'm getting ready to move. Now you're officially updated.

More Solomon gems...

While bringing Oreos, Mint Oreos, Mint Milanos and other assorted cookies and candies into the livingroom to eat while watching Wimbledon:

Charles: Now Andy Roddick has to win. Otherwise we'll be fat AND sad.

(He lost. Badly.)

--------------

The commentator gem: Watch that replay. Most of us humans struggle mightily to control our limbs, trunk and torso, but Federer is the very picture of synchronicity.

(I think he'd been saving that word ever since he covered the national spelling bee 2 months ago.)

Charles has sucked me into the bottomless vortex that is televised coverage of the NBA draft. It's amazing to me that people watch this....and yet, here I am watching it. And not only watching the tv coverage but also surfing ESPN's online coverage. Ok...yeah...the spell was just broken. They asked Stephen A. Smith a question. He's so annoying. I'm going to bed.

The Solomons are here!!

Some of today's gems

Charles: These stupid chocolate chips keep clogging up my straw.

--------

Papa: Brian, I can tell you're smart. How'd you get to be so smart? Do you have brains?
Brian: Sure. (taps forhead) Right here.
Papa: (taps the top of his head) What about here?
Brian: (scoffs)Nooooo. That's your hair.
Papa: If I look in this ear, can I see all the way through out that ear?
Brian: (throws head back and laughs)
Papa: Is there something in there?
Brian: Yeeeeeees. Eardrums!

I like my new clubs!

A lot!

We went to the driving range last night for about an hour and I actually got the ball to go high and far on more than one occasion. It was great! For me anyway...

Scott was absolutely creaming them... they had various markers, but I don't know the distances they were marking...anyway, Scott was landing his about half-way between the 3rd and 4th markers every time.

I hit it past the first marker several times, so maybe they start at 100 yds and go up from there by 50s? Anyway...he was killing them.

So...that was fun! And the Solomon's are coming in tonight so that'll be more fun! And I'm taking off work Wednesday and Thursday and the office is closed on Friday and Monday...so I'm going to be having a fun overdose! Yea for fun!

William said...

We're doing a YES lesson and I'm introducing the new Bible memory to him, which is the last 1/3 of the books of the Old Testament.

Me: "You've already learned the first part--Genesis through II Chronicles, and the second part--Ezra through Daniel, so you just have to learn one more part and then you'll..."

William interrupts: "Be a grown up?"

Our trip to France

So night before last, William decided that, since we now have pretend passports, we should take an imaginary trip. He was careful to reassure Papa and Grammy that we wouldn't be gone long, it was just an imaginary trip. He decided that we should go to Paris, France to see the Eiffel Tower and we should ride the Concord to get there because it's the fastest passenger plane. So we got on my bed (the Concord), after presenting our pretend passports to invisible people and took our imaginary trip to France. It was great! I even got pictures! :)

btw....how many 5 yr olds know the following: 1) there's such a thing as an Eiffel Tower, 2) it's in Paris, 3) there's such a plane as a Concord, 4) it's the fastest passenger plane, 5) it flies to Paris. Ok, so they don't fly to Paris anymore, but he associates Concords with London and Paris b/c of the news coverage when they retired them...but that brings up another one--6)that there are cities called Paris and London and 7) that you need passports to get there.

So this is what I love about homeschool. Just by talking to my son and answering his questions with real answers, not baby answers, he knows lots of stuff! Real stuff! And he knows that there's a big world out there beyond his little house, and he thinks it would be cool to go see some of it. You don't have to use a curriculum to educate your kids. Just talk to them.

William and I made passports today.

We're not likely to get in trouble for that since they're not even remotely realistic in appearance. We're working our way through an art book--"Art & Activities Around the World" which is pretty much what the title would indicate. That's the first and only project we've done, but William and I are both excited about the book. Looks like fun. William was so excited about his passport that he slid it under the door of Mom and Pap's room so that Papa would find it when he got out of the shower. :)

Tulsa trip--the rest

So...I didn't do this the way I intended exactly. Here's the summary of the remaining days we spent in Tulsa. Friday we baked a lot...okay, Shirlene baked a lot, I helped some, then took a nap. Friday night was Passover. Saturday we were in OK City for the Sabbath and the Night to be Remembered. A relative of one of the members there catered the meal and it was goooood! Barbecue chicken to rival Uncle Vinyard's. And of course all of Shirlene's desserts. Sunday we were in Tulsa for the Holy Day. Monday was Monique's track meet. She can really fly! Just like her mother. :)

She did really well, getting 2nd in her individual events (high jump and 400), and first in her relays (4 X 2 and 4 X 4). Her fastest 400 on the day was a 64, which was really good considering it was a very blustery day (and the fact that she's 14). Tuesday was homeschool PE day, which was really cool. William was a little shy about getting involved, but Shirlene did a good job with it. I can see how something like that would be good for him. Wednesday we went to Build a Bear, which was fun.

Those are 3 satisfied customers. Blake and Brian took choosing the right name very seriously, asking for advice and looking through the book of names. William was absolute and swift in his decision--his brown horse was named....Brown Horse. Brown Horse the Firefighter after his clothes were purchased. :) Thursday we went house hunting in Joplin and partook of really bad Chinese food. Friday...? I don't think we had specific activities on these days. I think I spent the better part of each day playing Age of Empires while the little boys devised various squirrel traps in the back yard.

"Squirrel cake", homemade with care on the picnic table, was the means for attracting squirrels. Saturday was the last Holy Day. I did "A Path With Heart". Saturday night a bunch of people came over and we pigged out on pizza and played some games. There was some resentment over the communication skills that Shirlene and I had in Taboo which propelled us to a handy win. Sunday morning me and the big kids got up early to go golfing. Fun! :)

Monique hit the golf shot of the century! There were a lot of water hazards and there were fences that we couldn't get through. As a result, we lost a record number of balls--26 in 9 holes! But on the third hole, after both Charles and I sunk our balls in the water, Monique stepped up. After a few misses :P she hit the ball and it skipped--5 times--all the way across the water hazard before trickling up onto the grass and safety. Seriously, it was one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed.

This wasn't a small water hazard. I literally fell down laughing. Craziness. Then it was off to Sonic for some cheese sticks (yum) and a strawberry limeade (mmm...good) and a crash bash packing session before heading to the airport. Fun trip. I can't wait 'til next year. :)

Tulsa trip part 1

We got to Tulsa Thursday evening and were able to go straight to a holocaust commemoration where some of Monique's art work had been chosen as part of a student exhibit. The keynote speaker was Sir Martin Gilbert, the official biographer of Sir Winston Churchill. Very interesting! He spoke about a book he wrote called "The Righteous: the Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust." All in all it was a very cool evening.

Take me out to the ball game!

William had his first tee-ball game yesterday. It was so much fun. I start grinning just thinking about it. All these little bitty bits of humanity running around in the cutest little uniforms. And he had so much fun. I'm glad, especially after the whole gymnastics fiasco. The coach is nice. The team mom is a stereotypical New Yorker. The kids are...well four to six years old...'nough said. I'm excited that he's so excited about it. He told me first thing this morning that we're having a baseball game in the back yard today. :) Pics are now online here.
.

He's like an elephant....: )

Over a year ago, I read the Little House on the Prairie books to William. We watched the new Little House on the Prairie movie this past weekend. When it came to the part where they were about to cross the river, William said "Uh-oh."
"Do you know what's going to happen here?"
"Yeah, Jack is going to drown but not really."
He remembered so many details! From over a year ago! I asked him "What happens later?"
"Green eyes!"
In the book all Laura saw were green eyes. This kid's memory is like an elephant. I better be really nice to him, or he's gonna be quoting my rants to a therapist 45 years from now. :P