Ok, so I lied... Sue me...

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I didn't keep up with the whole Sanctity of Life thingy. Sorry about that. Been crazy. My mother came in last week and then started the traveling. We visited my grandmother, whom I have not seen since I don't know when. She had not nice things to say about Andrew when she first met him and, well, I took offense to that, so didn't try to visit her. Plus we lived 8 hours away. But then I heard that she was in the hospital in the ICU, on a ventilator, I felt that I needed to see her. She had either bronchitis or pneumonia. Since my mom was already coming up we all just went to visit her. She has never met Nadia. She proceeds to kiss her on the lips! ARG! She's full-blooded Russian and is a very touchy, huggy, kissy person. They kiss everyone!! Anyway. We visited her. My mother was spoon feeding her. She doesn't want to eat. I don't like hospitals and was feeling queasy and lightheaded anyway. It was after lunch, we hadn't eaten and well I was not doing well.
We then went to my brother's house to try to pack up my stuff (from years ago) and my parents stuff (again from years ago). It was a very tense time. One thing I've learned and loved about my home with Andrew is that we are very open about everything. We may have a lot of disagreements, but we talk aobut everything! In my family of origin we don't talk about anything. And it hangs. Like a thick, dark thunder cloud waiting to drop. And it did. Several times. So we left when we could, and then Saturday night Nadia gets the stomach flu. Ew. Not sick for long, but long enough to be disturbed and upset by it. We watched more Veggietales than I'd like to count on Sunday just to keep her busy. I ended up getting sick with a severe cold on Monday, that had me out on the couch all day. If you all know me, you know that I don't sit for long. Well I was sitting. I was so weak I didn't even have the energy to hold up a magazine (Taste of Home, if you care to know.)
Then today I was up at 5am to take my mom back to the airport. That was the start of a fiasco that I'd rather not go into. Lets just say my mother is still at the airport at a hotel and leaves tomorrow. Oy.
I had a dr's appt today that went well.
Andrew is getting sick with the same cold. It's not a flu. I don't think. I'll have to look that up.

And I have a secret.....

I'll share next week.

Choose Life

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This sunday is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and all next week is observance of it. We often think of just the wee babes in womb when we think of this. But Life affects all of us. In honor of Life, the gift that God has given all of us (and because my brain is on furlough at the moment) I am going to be posting pictures of people celebrating life!

The first and foremost (and the cutest!)

My daughter! These were taken 6weeks and 12 weeks respectively, a few years ago. In the first one, we could already see her heartbeat. It was amazing.
And our pious little one here:

Some interesting information on the first trimester, which probably all of you know, because you've all had babies before! But it's fun to read about anyway. These little souls that God chooses to bless us with. To think, He allows us the blessing of growing these little people. To know life is in you. Changes how you live your life.

Broken...Again

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Only it hurts worse this time. The fear and treachery are worse this time. I can't believe it happened again. Surprisingly I am not angry. I have never been angry about this. For that I am grateful and shocked.
If I am being vague it's for a reason. I do not feel at liberty to divulge any information other than this. I am so hurt. Only one other person knows about this, thank God for that. I cannot share it with anyone else. And how can I keep this pain to myself? If I keep going I'll say too much.
Please pray. I hesitate in sharing even this.

I changed my mind.....

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But I can, right? I mean it's a womans' prerogative. And I am just sure I spelled that word wrong, looks more like pirogies. I spelled that one wrong too. That, my friends, is why I rely heavily on spell check. I am sure my former boss is cringing right now. You see, I used to work for an Editor. I would look for grammatical errors and spelling errors in publications. Not all, but a few. Fewwwww, glad THAT secret is out. Anyway. Sorry Rachel! But I gained a great friend, even if I couldn't spell. Inherited that from Dad.
ANYWAY.....
I decided to make this. Andrew really likes it, I actually get conversation about it, more than a passing glance. And it will use scraps! And scraps I have! Let me tell you what! And I don't have to think anymore than dark and light colors, none of this matching stuff. I'm not real good at that. I have a tendency to think "does everyone else think that looks nice?" When really I need to think "do I like that?" I think too much about what others think. Anyway, now that I've said that, what do you think?
BTW, tonight Andrew had a board meeting, so I got to put Nadia to bed. The only thing coming out of her mouth tonight were sweet kisses on my cheeks. She does things like this just to remind me that she's still there, but sort of on hold for a bit.
Then she got out of bed and got her toenail bent back in the door. Poor girl. She just can't get a break. I heard the door opening and went right to the door. Well when she saw me, she shut the door again "I'm not really out of bed, mama...." Yeah right, wasn't born yesterday kid. So I open the door, well her foot was behind it. And while an adult would have a toe big enough to stop the door, Nadia's toe is juuuuust small enough to fit under. But the toenail does not. Yes, folks, her toenail actually bent up. I don't know if it broke off or anything, but I got some ice, put it on her while holding her in the rocking chair. She didn't cry much, just sort of said "ow, my toe is in the door!" She's very intuitive. Only kinda whimpered. I used it as a teaching moment. Then I got a "bob" band aid, put it on and then put a sock over it. She liked the band aid. I didn't want to spend too much over it, as she had settled down. Oh and I gave her a pain reliever, as I'm sure, if it doesn't hurt now, will hurt like heck later. If I was still breastfeeding, I would've shot it full of breastmilk. But, alas, they are as deflated as the day is long. Doesn't help that I've lost weight. I don't think they've ever been this small, or flat, or droopy. But yet, a D cup is still considered a bit on the large side, is it not? I wonder how big I was before? Oh, the wonders of breastfeeding. Breast enhancement, the Natural Natural way! No drugs, surgery, pills, creams or exercises needed! Of course there is that whole nine months of pregnancy and then, don't forget the part about LABOR. They don't call it that for nothing, let me tell you what! 20 hours from start to finish. Now I'm just hoping for 12 hours. That would be grand! Labor, hah! They should make up a word that isn't used by men to describe working in a coal mine, or on a farm, or in a logging camp. That's not labor. Put a man with a 30lb pack on the front of him on a hospital gurney and tell him to breath unnaturally for 20 some hours, while having all sorts of strangers examine areas of you meant for your spouse and then push that pack out his nose while having everyone around you shouting for you to push. "WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M DOING HERE? HAVING A TEA PARTY?" I can see the draw for home births. And if we weren't in a parsonage and weren't 30 mins away from a hospital, I'd do it!
Oh my goodness! I digress! I guess!
Forgive the rambling. Hope you enjoyed it. Now I am going to go rummage around for chocolate.

Return to civilization

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We are back. Boo. But that means we had a great time! We stayed in a very nice cabin, ate lots of food and slept. It was nice. We did nothing. It was very nice. Nadia did great for Andrew's parents, but WOW did she make up for it as soon as we got back. Andrew was trying to get her ready for bed and she was upset over wanting a toy or something in the living room that Andrew wouldn't let her have, it was time for bed. She got so upset, she threw up her dinner all over the bathroom floor. WHERE HAS MY SWEET BABY GONE? Andrew and I are seriously wondering what is going on. Is it just the terrible two's? I mean, good grief. However, it was sort of a good thing, though, because she knows that throwing a temper tantrum like that gets her nowhere and that throwing a temper tantrum makes her throw up. She's never really done that before, throw up that is.
How is the 30 day challenge going? Well, good and not good. Somedays I forget to read it! And then I will forget, on days that I do read it, to tell him the thing I'm supposed to tell him! So, since I read it in the morning, I am going to write the thing on a piece of stationery and put it at his breakfast plate. But I think I am getting better at not saying things that are negative. Although, I think it is coming off as the silent treatment. My thought is, when we are having a disagreement, instead of saying the things that are non-productive not to say anything. I will have to somehow explain this to him. I think he will understand.
It is extremely warm here for the season. Mid 60's. Usually we'd be in the low 20's. Lots of walks today, this weather will not last.
I am putting together another project for myself. I am vest-ed out. But we do need a nicer blanket for our bed. The one we have has pulls and all those little wear balls all over it. So I am going to make this. I hope I can put it together ok. Looks easy enough and maybe, just maybe I can make it from the scraps in my bags. Ugh, you should see my scrap bags! Although, after having looked at it I think I will tone down the colors. Might be a bit too colorful for Andrew. You know, him being a guy and all. But it is easy!
Well time for breakfast!

5 Years Ago....

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I forever changed my life and married my blessing, my beloved.........





I am a blessed wife. Happy Anniversary Andrew!

The Good Wife's Guide

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I am sure some of you have seen this list of suggestions from Housekeeping Monthly, 13 May 1955, but it's worth repeating. My MIL handed this to me before Andrew and I got married, tongue-in-cheek, so to speak. She said that she was not in any way implying that I do these things, she just thought it might be good for a laugh. Surprisingly I do a lot of these things, others, well, I question who wrote this in the first place. I am not a militant feminist, I am not even a feminist. In fact, you might call me a grassroots feminist, in that, I believe there is a calling for all women to go back to the way God created us to be. And that is, feminine. I will post a few links to what I mean.
Anyway, here for your enjoyment...

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

• Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

• Be happy to see him.

• Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

• Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

• Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

• Don't greet him with complaints or problems.

• Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A book I read before I got married was The Power of Feminity by Michelle Mckinney Hammond.
This is what got me started on the return to the true feminine. It opened my eyes to the destruction of the feminist movement. Granted, there are women who are oppressed, even today, and that is wrong. But those men are not following the biblical standard for masculinity. Anyway. I also want to refer you to a wonderful author whom I haven't been able to get on the radio since moving. Nancy Leigh DeMoss. She is a single, powerful speaker, author and theologian. I have grown and been convicted many times since listening to her.

Now about the 30-Day Challenge. How is it going? Today is the first day, it's going ok. I only said one thing that I was convicted of, before it came out of my mouth. But it came out anyway. Ugh. That frustrates me. I don't know why I do it. I see that line in my head and think "I'd better not say that," and out it comes. It wasn't really bad, but it was negative and didn't need to be said. I love praying for people when I know what to pray for, so these written out prayers are nice. I'll update tomorrow.

Gee, what are you going to do? I've updated my blog so many times this week. I'll bet you are dizzy now. Well enjoy!