tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58638917011145705232024-03-21T12:19:06.627-07:00To live would be an awfully big adventure...Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-48196642507113460362010-01-26T16:51:00.000-08:002010-01-26T17:01:21.700-08:00$Is my son a liberal?<br /><br />T just informed me that when he grows up, he wants to be a sailor that looks for sunken treasure. When he finds a huge treasure, he will have enough money to become president. When he is president, he is going to make a law that his Dad and I don't have to pay taxes. In addition, we will get a paycheck from the government for at least $1 million dollars per year.<br /><br />He might be on to something. I think I might actually be able to better spend the bail-out money, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">and</span> keep track of where it went.Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-55559471235845133762010-01-07T21:04:00.000-08:002010-01-07T23:22:47.626-08:00Snow day...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5hr3sdlfgbJglzw3pkyqhjBE1G73l60HZxDz9i5om-cVAVbFigt_C9WZ76TKwMHkM-RQaMdgbkXHgUJJ8Ni8LGMnOrrxQwa7YBoRiXn23sI-pYdMRKb9S3zpiwexlk1I-PuslF_rL11_/s1600-h/IMG_6282.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5hr3sdlfgbJglzw3pkyqhjBE1G73l60HZxDz9i5om-cVAVbFigt_C9WZ76TKwMHkM-RQaMdgbkXHgUJJ8Ni8LGMnOrrxQwa7YBoRiXn23sI-pYdMRKb9S3zpiwexlk1I-PuslF_rL11_/s320/IMG_6282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424263085730677090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiTJJi6bL24LKYmGGlPYdwg0ohmZjRwiCd5YjhM5mXfrvhyphenhyphenmWZdMsNK8sb_nZGaTNz76rvIKIpF7xGNRQBnw6HKRiyHz6j0yFY9DTgGSa_4FCidB87KFvHI2RCnbAH4nHUOooO5oESHCx/s1600-h/IMG_6260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiTJJi6bL24LKYmGGlPYdwg0ohmZjRwiCd5YjhM5mXfrvhyphenhyphenmWZdMsNK8sb_nZGaTNz76rvIKIpF7xGNRQBnw6HKRiyHz6j0yFY9DTgGSa_4FCidB87KFvHI2RCnbAH4nHUOooO5oESHCx/s320/IMG_6260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424258696436553346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvlpKRfUKoMo9WsSxX2129jy7j7iTU71Cdc2Upotxl-BkxiYZ2ejchi9Qy9qYR7OkCIDo3efDM4HuJO7U8nEFPb71ZM8dWifUnY6BVAyix8WbvRaGxuR9n5j5lu3hcGXyQmyQQM7f6btC/s1600-h/IMG_6285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvlpKRfUKoMo9WsSxX2129jy7j7iTU71Cdc2Upotxl-BkxiYZ2ejchi9Qy9qYR7OkCIDo3efDM4HuJO7U8nEFPb71ZM8dWifUnY6BVAyix8WbvRaGxuR9n5j5lu3hcGXyQmyQQM7f6btC/s320/IMG_6285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424242794179999170" border="0" /></a>As you can see, it actually snowed some today. I know that you can't tell, but the kids were so excited! I'm sure some of you are snickering at the "snow", well, that or the fact that my children are wearing cotton gloves and crocs ;) We aim to be very prepared in the Bryan home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigGczSAGvigTf_pPTvPmJ9PX-6t73tMYwdEycD5nR4RiyDoFvPxF5gRxU3WL8crg5jaff66J7vVhS-KqZXbR1gzBHwSbe-atcoSPZQca8oQdqgSpLlw1WbFaqJSkGjIJcslzoTfmScvxP/s1600-h/IMG_6278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigGczSAGvigTf_pPTvPmJ9PX-6t73tMYwdEycD5nR4RiyDoFvPxF5gRxU3WL8crg5jaff66J7vVhS-KqZXbR1gzBHwSbe-atcoSPZQca8oQdqgSpLlw1WbFaqJSkGjIJcslzoTfmScvxP/s320/IMG_6278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424242787133204770" border="0" /></a> Ah! Yes, these <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">are</span> the first pics of our home! Welcome!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysKsGVlIzhv_q7tK-ErUfbEccPrMtIHOUbI6ue089FbUIovkp5zbaxuHElhiDsSonzKXrAWSqiCg3Yr-o9JuJf1bovQ6ArxvfOswZ4NDw7-1m2wFhvihvFiqjIdY6cayyAXw3qOuZDmA/s1600-h/IMG_6283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysKsGVlIzhv_q7tK-ErUfbEccPrMtIHOUbI6ue089FbUIovkp5zbaxuHElhiDsSonzKXrAWSqiCg3Yr-o9JuJf1bovQ6ArxvfOswZ4NDw7-1m2wFhvihvFiqjIdY6cayyAXw3qOuZDmA/s320/IMG_6283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424238721329442978" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:100%;">We have so many tall twisted oak trees it makes for a great imaginary land for the kids to play in. Our yard backs up to land that has been posted as a wild life refuge - plenty of romping/exploring space. I hope to do a complete thrifty makeover of the little playhouse for Lacy in the spring.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Honestly, we've done so much renovation work lately that I sometimes have to remind myself of what I love about our little piece of the American Dream. We <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">have</span> finished a ton of projects and I can't wait to post pictures, but for now, I will leave you with... drum roll, please... the hallway!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4xwTK3aiz2SYBV72B7643gxJDx33xhut3oOKEaFAVCy0ED2AJRn3MVDb6RxY5etQe84Q1t40_uMmZHIKB2R9d8eQHdfQgcQWrxfFmo3rU0EW5Mcg08Am6rzoGFfi9xRYLTzXZ9P6L6no/s1600-h/IMG_6306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4xwTK3aiz2SYBV72B7643gxJDx33xhut3oOKEaFAVCy0ED2AJRn3MVDb6RxY5etQe84Q1t40_uMmZHIKB2R9d8eQHdfQgcQWrxfFmo3rU0EW5Mcg08Am6rzoGFfi9xRYLTzXZ9P6L6no/s320/IMG_6306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424249596117165186" border="0" /></a>Now, don't knock the hallway. When we first started, this baby was covered in layers (yes, layers) of wall paper and paint. I spent over 18 hours scraping the walls after I found out that neither the steamer nor chemicals would remove the hallway's second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh skin. It was about the most frazzling job I've ever undertaken. Millimeter by millimeter, centimeter by agonizing centimeter... Over and over in my mind I repeated, "How <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">do</span> you eat an elephant? One bite at.. a... time." Yes, with all of the mind-frying scraping, I actually started answering myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV04456ISSq2WwyyKE2zd2xTx20BUKUiIi6WoupRg3uQrB3WgnLEiiuMQzbYaN8HNEtp-4IccJUyzPhW5NgMqEndSzRtyjNwnyOVGmQ_7zH6INA_JEgvhdGsBwMZQpf2amIfionGNOk5QJ/s1600-h/IMG_6309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV04456ISSq2WwyyKE2zd2xTx20BUKUiIi6WoupRg3uQrB3WgnLEiiuMQzbYaN8HNEtp-4IccJUyzPhW5NgMqEndSzRtyjNwnyOVGmQ_7zH6INA_JEgvhdGsBwMZQpf2amIfionGNOk5QJ/s320/IMG_6309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424254511228068306" border="0" /></a>After the layers of "pain-in-the-wazoo" were removed, I washed down, sanded, wiped down, skimmed, sanded, wiped down, primed, and painted the walls in a latte brown. We were replacing the hollow core doors with solid wood sound-muffling doors when I decided that I didn't want the hall to look like Alice in Wonderland anymore. Alice in Wonderland creeps me out a bit :) Our little hall has 9 doors: 3 bedroom, 4 closets and a bathroom. I made 3 curtains out of drop cloths and stitch witchery, and Michael hung a regular curtain rod over the two closet doors on the right. Linen closet doors, lovin' it!<br /><br />A much needed reminder...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLX1VfoMwYA-HOTPlHzITwff1668RYh3rmGpgP3qz1ktcOcjtKip5Tri7fdwduT4D9San9GTj9VSr9OHLkKGJY-wvCOdGV0kYCjfRj84QH9FJ-NLCW3nsz511UpBBLKyGBb1XnJ8UFEHl/s1600-h/IMG_6310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLX1VfoMwYA-HOTPlHzITwff1668RYh3rmGpgP3qz1ktcOcjtKip5Tri7fdwduT4D9San9GTj9VSr9OHLkKGJY-wvCOdGV0kYCjfRj84QH9FJ-NLCW3nsz511UpBBLKyGBb1XnJ8UFEHl/s320/IMG_6310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424259737654434546" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know why, but the ceiling looks crooked in these pictures. Thankfully, it's not :) I'll post more pictures when I finally put away all of the Christmas decorations. T.T.F.N.Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-31221072461387088582009-02-16T07:41:00.000-08:002010-01-08T06:22:26.087-08:00Sightings...In the summer of 1992, I went on my first Choir Tour. We went to Chicago and did Backyard Bible Classes with underprivileged inner-city children. It was an amazing, eye-opening experience for a spoiled 14 year old.<br /><br />Before we were sent off on our tour bus, our pastor gave the 40-something of us a challenge he called "Sightings of the King." We each kept a journal and were asked to write about times when we saw the Lord working. It could be as little as a small act of kindness being performed, to something as life-changing as someone receiving Christ. It was a way for us to be continually reminded that God is at work all around us. It is, after all, so easy to get caught up in what is going on around us (life) that we "forget" that He is here, He is real, He IS...<br /><br />This whole after-law-school-life has not been at all what I imagined. I have had to fight disappointment, loneliness and the ever-present feeling of being completely and utterly overwhelmed. At times (more often than I would care to admit), I have given into these feelings and cried and complained and acted out in anger and frustration. I know, I know, pathetic, huh? Thankfully, I have a merciful Father and He has graciously let me pitch my fits (sometimes with painful consequences) and yet still He loves me and shows me time and again that He hasn't forgotten us and that He has a perfect plan for our lives.<br /><br />Sighting of the King... Just yesterday morning on the way to church, Michael commented that he needs to visit a dermatologist. My first response was fear. How much is that going to cost? Our deductible is $250 and that's A LOT of money for us right now. Miracle of miracles, instead of freaking out, I just took a deep breath and said, "O.K. I'll call about it tomorrow." We got to church, took the children to their classes and went to our class. Long story short, we sat right behind none other than a dermatologist PA (Coincidence? I don't think so!). He told Michael to call his office and tell the nurse that he wanted to see Michael A.S.A.P. - otherwise, he would have to wait 2 months to be seen. Now, I don't know how much this whole thing is going to be, but I do know that God ordered our steps so that we would meet this Dr. in our Sunday School class on the very morning Michael mentioned the need. I saw the Lord's hand in our lives yesterday morning and I'm not afraid (oh wonderful feeling!) because I know that He is going to take care of the rest. Praise the Lord for His peace!<br /><br />To some, this may not be a big deal, but to me I heard loud and clear that I am not forgotten and that it really is going to be o.k. It was just enough encouragement for me to look forward to today and keep my eyes open for the next sighting of the King.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tnMACteXINxUf8gjBcF08z3eX0PWx9WC2qQoEQRlsJEOR-Vt9otGJ_nuZBa7DzlcEqmiF3NpcosgR_jtvU7lrIP2dk-TLoT3oP3cxSqnFY0E_GQCzKpWAR2raGPUVKJWzEfM773FMWg7/s1600-h/IMG_0554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tnMACteXINxUf8gjBcF08z3eX0PWx9WC2qQoEQRlsJEOR-Vt9otGJ_nuZBa7DzlcEqmiF3NpcosgR_jtvU7lrIP2dk-TLoT3oP3cxSqnFY0E_GQCzKpWAR2raGPUVKJWzEfM773FMWg7/s320/IMG_0554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303434696837928178" border="0" /></a>Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-39832165917171993962008-12-04T08:32:00.000-08:002008-12-04T08:35:15.707-08:00Still playing with pictures...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXFAB8nRJmyd_nFt0OSEx9dhxxJKbxync0Yvgxel_Qpvl5rmGza5hyphenhyphenfopjOq4Ubl_6L1jEgsAINqFMW7YehUA8UwEBiWQswij6DsLMpZMR5iKJOs11NuVqMgcfdNamqBQBAPEitLeE25t/s1600-h/SANY0834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXFAB8nRJmyd_nFt0OSEx9dhxxJKbxync0Yvgxel_Qpvl5rmGza5hyphenhyphenfopjOq4Ubl_6L1jEgsAINqFMW7YehUA8UwEBiWQswij6DsLMpZMR5iKJOs11NuVqMgcfdNamqBQBAPEitLeE25t/s320/SANY0834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275972541928230578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclvbYx3zkRqSXYhaFI38ITY6dXCQdDKlUBHr2yI56a5XLFfZZV94vgiqhJqpsSmmuJv9NwZ76kIbGaWA4nm7NK8O2qkxRDBJNqAcHHmqBOkarPb0bdCZCECfBUAUWDHLkprU54tOS4sEm/s1600-h/SANY0833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclvbYx3zkRqSXYhaFI38ITY6dXCQdDKlUBHr2yI56a5XLFfZZV94vgiqhJqpsSmmuJv9NwZ76kIbGaWA4nm7NK8O2qkxRDBJNqAcHHmqBOkarPb0bdCZCECfBUAUWDHLkprU54tOS4sEm/s320/SANY0833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275971533478864930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWUCFvrY-gcSEyfpv1F-qFp_1ofeefTqjtdWFTGI7iS84XWyZ95HCeOeJ5OVSfAd42Zj719xCKF99G9gBrCcA8Ots4rGbLFy1p4g4AyQxjQMpZR8E_LvN8NK-3NSPQ9qLhLwMPtecSwSd/s1600-h/SANY0832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWUCFvrY-gcSEyfpv1F-qFp_1ofeefTqjtdWFTGI7iS84XWyZ95HCeOeJ5OVSfAd42Zj719xCKF99G9gBrCcA8Ots4rGbLFy1p4g4AyQxjQMpZR8E_LvN8NK-3NSPQ9qLhLwMPtecSwSd/s320/SANY0832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275971180287241106" border="0" /></a>Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-68462795924588693672008-12-03T21:14:00.001-08:002008-12-03T21:22:22.215-08:00Well, what do you know... it worked!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-rEsctYCIrJDz8CNRW_IbAqypKQlYipB8aIZqE0vCC0V-XIe2Zm6LFuxo0Uoa6fhSEhZIqMCEY8VXhgTIinsWDjF2OWcScV7AoBHw9TR82CZGCpLyMyoxT8lQhExbsabLaXXvi2QFdgW/s1600-h/102_3965.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-rEsctYCIrJDz8CNRW_IbAqypKQlYipB8aIZqE0vCC0V-XIe2Zm6LFuxo0Uoa6fhSEhZIqMCEY8VXhgTIinsWDjF2OWcScV7AoBHw9TR82CZGCpLyMyoxT8lQhExbsabLaXXvi2QFdgW/s320/102_3965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275799126387918450" border="0" /></a>Here's my first attempt to upload pictures... I hope this works. It's really late and I was playing around with effects on I-Photo, too. I noticed that when you enlarge the picture, we appear to be disintegrating. Not a pleasant thought. It's way too late! This was too many new things to be trying at once... :)Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-47978706928924589122008-12-03T16:46:00.000-08:002008-12-03T20:29:55.193-08:00Toothy PerspectiveThe children were snuggled down watching a movie when Lacy crept into the kitchen with her right hand over her mouth. I knew something was wrong when I saw the tears dancing on the edges of her eyelids. She blinked, and opening her eyes as wide as she could, she whispered, "Mama, I think I have a loose tooth." I knelt down and wiggled the little white rectangle. "Yep, it's loose alright." I smiled, and she screamed - not exactly the reaction I was expecting. Thomas came in the room and said, "Lacy, that's cool! When you lose your teeth, you can do this." He stuck his bottom lip behind his two new front teeth - the teeth on either side missing at the current time - and made a rabbit face at her. She screamed louder and tears flowing she wailed, "I don't want it to go away! I don't want it to be lost forever!" I knelt down and held my sobbing "little bug". In true Isaac fashion, Isaac hunched his shoulders over and stomped down the hallway yelling, "It's not fair! I want to lose one of my teeth!!!" Lacy is now looking in the mirror, wiggling her tooth, and crying still.Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-61451350042030499732008-12-02T10:12:00.000-08:002008-12-03T21:27:41.032-08:00I love you...One of my favorite children's books is "<span style="font-style: italic;">Guess How Much I Love You"</span>. Not wanting to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it, it is about a baby rabbit and mother rabbit expressing just how big their love is for one another. In our home, we've used a quote from one of our favorite movies, "I love you <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">to infinity and beyond</span>." When Thomas was about 4, he began to say, "I love you to infinity and beyond and back again." When he got a little older, he added, "I love you to infinity and beyond and back again for infinity." Just yesterday, I scooped up Isaac (all 51 pounds of him) and cradled him like a baby. I twirled around and kissed his cheek and said, "I love you, Isaac." He smiled up at me (showing his dimples) and said, "I love you to infinity..." he stopped, "I love you a million..." he stopped again, "I love you all the numbers in the world." He kissed me and finished, "And all the letters, too."Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-27857181337802372192008-11-20T06:48:00.001-08:002008-12-03T20:47:58.819-08:00Thankful...Blogging is, to me, a risky business. Anytime you put words down for others to read, you run the risk of having someone misinterpret your feelings or emotions. When spilling my guts out here, I don't ever want to sound like I am whining or ungrateful. I hope that whoever reads this will give me the grace to vent, misspell, goof on my punctuation and just be me. While these past 6 months have been amazingly trying, I know that I have so much for which to be thankful. I think it's a very good thing to remind myself of what I <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">have</span> - especially in the midst of hard times. As someone once said, "You don't become discontent until you start focusing on what you <span style="font-style: italic;">don't </span>have."<br /><br />I love the story of the elderly couple who was interviewed on a morning talk show for their 75 years of marriage. The host asked the gentleman, "What do you attribute to your having stayed together for so long?" The gentleman didn't hesitate. He squeezed his wife's shoulder, oh so gently, and tenderly replied, "If the grass ever looked greener on the other side, I just watered mine more."<br /><br />'Nuf said. Here's a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">short</span> list of things I have to be thankful for...<br /><br />1 - My Abba Father. My only hope. My strength.<br /><br />2 - Michael. My soul mate, my inspiration, my life coach :), the one who reminds me to give myself and others grace, the one who reminds me to laugh, the other side of me.<br /><br />3 - Thomas, Lacy and Isaac. My ministry. When they are at eachother's throats, they force me on my face in prayer. When they play happily together, they make me laugh. When they are away from me, it scares me. When they are sick, I lose sleep. When they are hurt, I hurt. When they disobey, they break my heart. When they are sleeping - peacefully... beautifully - they make me pray that I will enjoy every second I have with them.<br /><br />4 - My family. My best girl-friend, my sis, Emily. Oh the stories we could tell. My generous parents who taught me to love God and depend on Him for everything. My kid siblings Lauren, my workout buddy, and Jacob, my only brother; they are so great with my children. My awesome grandparents who have been there for everything in my life. Michael's family who love me as one of their own.<br /><br />5 - All of my sweet friends. Their prayers, encouragement, laughter, girl's nights out, late night talks, game nights, shared meals, shared coffee, phone calls, e-mails and just being there have been such a blessing to me. My cup runs over with their love.<br /><br />6 - Living in America. Need I say more? I'm just so thankful for our freedoms and pray that my children will be able to enjoy them, too.<br /><br />7 - Music... My favorite past time. Emotions, passion, praise, prayer, memories and dreams. All this and more expressed through melodies, harmonies, rhythms and dynamics.<br /><br />8 - Health. Wow... my stretch marks, pale skin, and occasional acne outbreaks are so insignificant when I hear about what others are living with.<br /><br />9 - Exercise. One of the top 2 stress relievers. We'll leave the other one left unsaid ;)<br /><br />10 - Rain. I love a rainy day. Everything gets washed and refreshed and cleaned. I love to go to sleep while it's storming - no better sound of nature than that of heavy rain falling on a roof.<br /><br />11 - Date night. Dressing up, going out and falling in love over and over and over.<br /><br />12 - Christmas. Lights, decorations, Christmas music, nostalgia, movies (Home Alone, White Christmas...) hot cider, parties, presents, family and friends... and most importantly, Jesus' Birthday.<br /><br />13 - The future. With all the Lord has brought us through - especially this year - He has shown Himself faithful and full of grace every second of every day. To live really is a big adventure...Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-43837917630634517082008-11-19T17:17:00.000-08:002008-12-03T20:30:08.841-08:00Elsie is a boy...Before I forget, hehe, my sister's kitten is not a female :) Elsie is now officially Elliot the cat. Though I am not much of an animal person, he is a darn pretty cat.Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-13019646715194926982008-09-16T12:52:00.000-07:002008-12-03T20:26:56.303-08:00He knows...People keep asking me what our plans are. I'm a bit sick of that question because I don't have a definite answer to give them, and when I think about it too hard, it freaks me out a little. We aren't planning to live with my parents forever, but until our financial situation changes (i.e. Michael gets a job), we are going to continue here.<br /><br />When I take my fearful eyes off of the unknown future, our life is actually very blessed and even sometimes a bit comical. My mom no longer dries my clothes when the washer is done (I think I could supply someone 6 inches shorter and 20 lbs. lighter than me with an entire wardrobe of my shrunken clothing). I have been cooking in a microwave oven, electric skillet and toaster oven. When I use them at the same time (which is more often than not), I have to put the skillet on the floor to avoid blowing a fuse. It is at these times, when I am squatted down over sauteeing chicken, that I try to pretend that we are camping, or that I am an Indian squaw or a cave woman... :) Lacy asked for a kitten for her birthday and, being the animal lover that I am, I said, "No". The next day, Lauren (my little sister) found a stray kitten in the yard, adopted her, and named her Elsie... and Lacy got her kitten... kind of. We were able to purchase some couches from a consignment furniture store in Atlanta and though they are crammed down here with the bow-flex, treadmill, entertainment center, home-schooling bookcase, computer desk, table and chairs, buffet and kitchenette, it really does kind of resemble an apartment. Oops, I almost forgot, Lacy's dresser is in here, too - there isn't any more room in the children's room.<br /><br />Speaking of the children's room, it's been quite a challenge for me to entertain Lacy and Isaac when they are done homeschooling and Thomas is only half done, so I usually tell them to play in their room. Should I feel guilty about them playing in their windowless (albeit well-lit) room for 2 hours? With the conglomeration of children's toys crammed in one uni-sex room, I never know what I will find upon entering. Isaac (hot-natured as he is) has taken to layering a short sleeved tee over a long sleeved one and shouting, "I believe I can fly" while jumping off anything high enough to actually jump off of. Lacy has only played dress-up once since May (she misses her girl-friends so much) but she has taken a great liking to building with Lincoln Logs and playing G.I. Joe. Oh, and the Legos... all of the Legos. Thomas loves Legos. He and Jacob (my brother) play with them for hours! I am so thanful for the creativity they encourage, but have you ever stepped barefoot on Legos on a concrete floor in the middle of the night when you were just sneaking in to take a peek of your peacefully sleeping children?<br /><br />All in all, we're doing pretty well. I know we have so much to be thankful for. (Is it true that it is no longer incorrect English to end a sentence in a preposition?) Our car's ac has limped and lasted through the summer. Emily bought me the prettiest swimsuit ever when I desperately needed one. Everyone has been relatively healthy - no trips to the ER. Michael took the Bar. Thomas' home-school material is a huge blessing! My parents have an awesome pool that we have used almost daily. My Grandmother took us to Dollywood for a couple of days; don't knock it until you've been there - it was really fun! We've been to the Blue Ridge mountains to visit with great friends twice in the past month. And though we have absolutely no idea what's next, when I take my eyes off of what's in front of me and lift them up to heaven, I know that we're going to be o.k.Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863891701114570523.post-63759395063945398012008-09-16T11:51:00.001-07:002008-09-16T11:54:32.253-07:00Hmm...<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Hmm... Do I really want to get involved in blogging? Already, my pitiful computer skills have made me feel extremely inadequate when I was just trying to change my wallpaper. Do I need anything more in my life to magnify my failures? Hmm....</span>Alyssa Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14859555715530893302noreply@blogger.com0