Sweet Home Oklahoma!

Reflections

Early Wednesday morning I received a call from my youngest brother that my Aunt Maxine(we call her Mappy!) had passed away at the age of 87.

I taught my classes, ran many errands and focused on figuring out a way to get home for the funeral.

Later, that night I talked to my oldest little brother, Max, and we reflected on her and her husband's life (he passed away last Nov) and the nonsense of the years we had together.

What's funny is, this was our great aunt. My grandma's sister on my dad's side. She was such a stinker!! She was the first one to cut up with you-she usually brought it on actually!! We road thousands of miles across country with her, her husband, other great aunts and my grandma (once my great grandma was along at the age of 91). There were no seat belt laws at the time so my brother and I would sit on this big round port-a-potty thing in between the front seats of her conversion van.

They had a cabin at the lake that we went to all summer. I remember us loading on to the boat with Granny (the 91 year old great grandma) bungie corded in her wheelchair behind Mappy's seat (that's an Okie redneck family for you!). She was all secured so that when we said "Gun it!" Map really would and all us kids thought that was so cool.

I could go on and on.

Then I'm up at 4:00 in the morning on Friday. Haven't been asleep since 1:00 a.m. I'm thinking about one thing after another in prep for our trip home. The things I forgot to do, like make a deposit at the bank. Oh, the money that cost over the years!!!

Then I switched to thoughts of Paige's acheivement day at school Thursday. A celebration of her year at school. Oh, how far she has come since the crying and separation anxiety we were facing in the fall. She now is crying because she has to leave her teachers for the summer.

Those of you that know Paige well know that she has a lot of the same characteristics I described about my wonderful great-aunt. Paige will be the first to make you laugh in any situation. She is so much fun and I am so blessed to be her mom.

I am thankful that my kids got the chance to know my aunt. She was a great lady and I am blessed to have spent 35 super years with her.

Ummmm...9-1-1?

I came in from working in the yard tonight and this is what I found:

It kinda freaked me out so I thought- call 911? First, I thought I would see what was up.

I discovered we have four baby birds living under our deck and mama bird had come in to feed them. I laid down on my belly and looked between the crack (of the deck) and there they were. It was a beautiful illustration of the Sunday School lesson I taught a few weeks ago to my 3's. We learned about how God provides food and water for the birds and flowers and we should know that God will take care of us too.

Later, I told Paige about our discovery and low and behold. This is how I found her a few minutes later.

What the Heck????

Some ding dong is posting comments on my blog listing several websites that appear to be in Russian. So, I am moderating comments for awhile.

What is with people????

I'm supposed to be camping right now. I'm supposed to be setting up my tent and finding the stuff we left in it from the previous camping season. I'm supposed to be listening to my kids gathering kindling to start a fire. I am supposed to be grumping about the campers at the next site who aren't watching their kids and who have their music too loud. I'm supposed to be looking forward to pudgie pies and monkey bread that only Mindy can make.

Where am I?
Home.

Why?
Grant's injured ankle and the process of events that followed his diagnosis.

How does that make me feel?
Sucky!

Where are my camping buddies?
On their way to camp anyway.

How does that make me feel?
jealous

It sucked me in!!!

Laugh if you want but I am a Dancing with the Stars fan. Go Joey!! Go Apollo!! But at the conclusion of tonight's episode after the kids were all tucked in bed and Kurtis was snuggled up with his XBOX I came back into the living room where the TV was still on.

It was The Bachelor.

What a stupid excuse for a show!!! Here is this guy who they call a "gentleman" through this whole show who is choosing between these two half-brained-low-self-esteemed gals who proceed to each make out with him and meet his parents to which he admits "he just can't choose between them". OMG!!!! To quote my IMing adolescent. WTH!

Giggle here!!! Giggle there!!! Everywhere a giggle-giggle!!

Both girls giggle their way into his heart. This is so ridiculous.

Yet, I watch. Still. I have to know who he chooses after all.

Now, here's the thing. Each girl knows there is another girl. So they make their last attempt for his heart. This is so dumb. Still watching though. Yet neither is confident enough to pledge their undying love to him. Oh but wait....a gift from one of them and she does pledge her love. How beautiful!!! She loves him!! and HE LOVES HER!!! Even though he is going to make out with the other girl after the commercial break. He is, after all, a gentleman!!! He can't leave the other girl out. It might hurt her feelings. Oh yeah...still watching.

Commercial break........yip, made out with the other one........ in the ocean......in Hawaii.

Can you imagine? I mean really? I just don't get it!! Seriously!!!

Hey Dad, how'd you meet mom?
Well you see son...we met on a reality TV show. Wanna see a clip? This is the girl that I made out with before I asked your mom to marry me. And, yes...I told her I loved her but really it was just for TV ratings. I really never loved her...I just kissed her (and whatever else!) alot. But, you know...I REALLY loved your mom when I told her I loved her...I meant that.

I swear I'm going to turn this show off!!

As soon as I know who he picked.

A Work of Art

Grant cooking his first ever cheesecake with out the help of Zac the professional chef.












The finished product


UMMMMM was it good!!!!

Don't hate me because I'm talented

I got Dance Dance Revolution for Mother's Day. I just got it yesterday but I think I'm getting pretty good.

Anyway, this is me playing DDR but I didn't want to show my face just in case someone saw it and recognized me and wanted me to do a guest spot on Letterman or something.

That would have been very embarrassing.


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Handbag (handbag?) Tag

Only for my dear friend Mindy who tagged me would I actually do this. Now, I tag Libby! Go ahead show us your Prada!

I'm a purse nut. I love them!!! I love BIG ONES!! I love leather ones. I love fun ones. But right now my budget allows them to come from Target. Which is where I picked up this little number.
Oh yeah, it's big. Huge really. I can shove anything in this thing. This was a slow day so I didn't have near as much in it. I wonder why my arthritis flares up after a long day carrying this thing.

This is the inside:

The contents:

• many misc receipts
• change that Mindy gave me for the kids to take to the penny drive because Evy didn't want them and I forgot to give them.
• my pink wallet (so not me but it was free)
• Costco card-don't leave home without it
• emergency sewing kit
• my new favorite thing-York mints
• two checkbooks for two different bank accounts
• a notepad
• a Los Tres Amigos kid menu that I wrote my grocery list on while eating lunch at Los Tres.
• cell phone
• 4 Weetopia volunteer tags that I forget to leave on the teacher table at church
• 4 pens
• Chronicles of Narnia chapstick
• tweezers
• an envelope of wax for my kids braces
• empty eyeglasses case (why?-don't know!)
• 4 different prescription meds (for what?-not tellin!)
• 2 OTC meds for motion sickness (left over from
• Christmas travel) and ibuprofen
• And here it is empty.

I have now completed my Handbag (handbag?) Tag.

You're it Lib!

CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!!!

I am so sick of the "can I syndrome!"

No, you can't do anything. At all. EVER!!!!!!!

Just sit still and don't talk or look at each other or me or anybody else!

You can't play outside! You can't go to some person's house that I don't even know! You can't use the phone or computer! You can't wear my clothes. You can not drink my Diet Coke! You can't make a fort! You can't have people spend the night!!

What can you do? OH!!! I'll tell you what YOU CAN do!!!

You can fold laundry. You can clean your room. You can mow the grass. You can read a book. You can unload the dishwasher. You can dust the living room. You can
read your Bible. You can take the dog for a walk. You can mop the floor.

Why is this so hard!!!!

These are the days I miss right here!

What does your 83 year old grandma do in her spare time?

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Mom's Easter Visit

Happy Birthday Mindy!!

Misty gives me the funnest ideas!!!

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Lunch anyone?

Yesterday I was on my way to school to go to music class with Paige when I called Kurtis and asked him if he would like to do lunch. He told me he was too busy but thanks anyway.

No biggie.

After music class I asked Paige if she would like me to take her to lunch and then bring her back to school. She said she would like to do it another day because they were celebrating two class mates' birthdays during lunch and she didn't want to miss the treats.

No biggie.

On my way out of school I stopped by Grant's room and noticed they were just cleaning up from lunch.

No biggie.

I didn't feel I could take the rejection of one more person so I didn't make the hike out to the middle school to see if Abi wanted to do lunch and just went on with my day.

No biggie.

On the way home I called Kurtis and told him about how Paige blew me off for lunch. He laughed and we joked together about how our kids don't want to do that kind of stuff with us much anymore.

Last night, I was making lunches and here is how it all became a biggie!!:

Kurtis: I don't need a lunch tomorrow.
Jacki: Oh, OK, do you have a meeting.
Kurtis: No, Jay and I went to get PIZZA today!!!!
Jacki: OH!!!!!!!! I thought you were to busy to have lunch today?????
Kurtis: Well, I was but Jay kept bugging me and I just had an ol' salami sandwich so I decided I could take a few minutes to have a little pizza with Jay!!!
Jacki: Man!!! I was blown off for lunch twice today.
Kurtis: Yeah, I didn't want to remind you of that.

Isn't he thoughtful not to rub it in?????BIGGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Misty for the cool idea!!!

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All Grown Up and No Place to Go...maybe!

I've shared with a number of you how Abi was invited to her first boy/girl middle school birthday party. It is scheduled for tomorrow night.

She got the invite on Tuesday and all week we have been trying to make a decision on whether or not she could go. It is not that I didn't trust her but I don't know these people who want to be entrusted to my daughter's social development and have the potential to scar her for life. No pressure!!

After seeking the council of many of my wiser and more distant from the immediate concequences of this decsion, we decided to let her go.

Secretly, we are both praying that something will happen and she can't go.

Last night, it happened!!! She has a FEVER!!!!

She immediately asks me if she will still be able to go to the party and I said that we would have to see how she was feeling tonight and in the morning but if she had a fever tonight at 6:00 she wouldn't be able to go because she will have had a fever with in the last 24 hours. She understood but was understandibly dissapointed.

Is it wrong that I am enjoying my daughter's sickness in such a way and that I am secretly hoping that at 6:00 tonight she still has a fever???

Oh, I miss the days when she just kept me up all night crying!!!!! At least that won't scar her for life!!

Grant has skills

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Phone Free Day!

We declared yesterday phone free day at our house. It rocked!!!

I turned the ringers off, muted the answering machine and let the sucker ring. Awesome!!!

After a rough week on the kids I decided it was best to have no friends and no phone interrupting our day together yesterday. Grant shot aliens in his new 360 game, Paige and I read a book "The Tiger Rising" together and then took an hour long nap. We got up and watched "Lady in the Water" together (two thumbs WAY up for that one), Abi babysat and played "Sims" on the computer.

When Kurtis got home we had dinner and played "Bunco". Then we watched a little "I Shouldn't be Alive" on Discovery Channel.

It was the most relaxing day we have ever had.

Proud of my People

Things I have learned living in Oklahoma
1. Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air
2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Oklahoma.
3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Oklahoma plus a couple no one's seen before.
4. If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
5. Onced and twiced are words.
6. It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.
7. Fire ants consider your flesh as a picnic.
8. People actually grow and eat okra.
9. Fixinto is one word.
10. There is no such thing as "lunch". There is only dinner and then there is supper.
11. Ice tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar!
12. Backards and forwards means "I know everything about you."
13. 'Jeet?' is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
14. You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until
you' re done or it's too dark to see.
15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM OKLAHOMA IF:
1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
3. You use "fix" as a verb. Example: "I'm fixing to go to the store".
4. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable,grain, insect or animal.
5. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
6. You know what a "DAWG" is.
7. You carry jumper cables in your pickup...for your OWN pickup.
8. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.
9. The local papers cover national and international news on one page but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.
10. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
11. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm".
12. You know all four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.
13. You know whether another okie is from, north or south as soon as they>open their mouth.
14. Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as "goin' Wal-martin" .
15. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good pinto-bean>weather.
16. A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop. it's a Coke,>regardless of brand or flavor.>>Example: "What kinda coke you want?"
17. Fried catfish is the other white meat.
18. We don't need no stinking driver's ed....if our mama says we can drive, we can drive.
19. You understand these jokes and forward them to your friends from Oklahoma (and those who just wish they were). (I think it has to be worse if you put it on your blog!)

Not EVERYONE can be an okie, it's an art form and a gift from God!

Help I'm laughing and I can't shut up!

Mindy and I have been working on our lean and toned bodies by attending a yoga class once a week (this week it was actually twice!).

Anyway, this last week I thought we were going to get kicked out. It all started with a yoga squat that went to this move

Then, we were to extend it to this:

That's when things got tricky! Mindy makes her "move" and lands with a head bonk to the hard wood floor. It was so funny that Mindy and I began laughing hysterically. Seriously, we couldn't stop!!! It was one of those awkward moments you have at a funeral or in church when you are uncontrollably laughing at the worst time ever!! This lasted for like 2 minutes or so and we missed the next several moves.

But to brag on my pal, I must say that she was the only one in the class to complete the move (even after the head injury). Way to go Min!!

How Pathetic

How pathetic is my life that when my husband starts discussing Valentine's Day I ask him to just pay off my library fines????

Gotta work on this...

Yesterday at "Joy Luck" we were talking about what our kids thought we loved most. I asked my kids for their top five. Here is what they thought was most important to me...

Grant-
1. Him
2. Abi
3. Paige
4. Dad
5. God

Abi-
1. Her
2. Grant
3. Paige
4. Dad
5. OU Football

Paige-
1. all the kids in the family
2. Daddy
3. God
4. Nana (my mom)
5. PaPa Bus (my grandpa)

I'm glad they all thought they were most important but I think I might need to work on the God thing!!!

Two Thumbs WAY Down!!

For Happily N'Ever After.

I lived happily EVER after when the stupid movie was over. This is the dumbest movie ever and not only did I waste $30 taking my family to see this ridiculous tale but 2 hours of my life I can never get back.

So if your kids are begging you to take them to see this waste of film and ink please take them to see Charlotte's Web or rent Finding Nemo for the 100th time. You will enjoy it more.

When it is like this, you just gotta laugh

Here is how my day was yesterday...

Woke up to Paige puking all over the house. Literally!! At last count I have 3 puke stains on my carpet.

The dog found dirty (and I do mean DIRTY!) underwear in the laundry room floor and proceded to run all over the house with it in her mouth.

Had to pick Grant up from school with a sprained ankle.

Got a call from middle school camp where Abi had fallen and sprained her wrist.

Kurtis put together the exercise bike we purchased Sunday after church only to find that the very last thing you put on (the computer part) doesn't work.

I have 3 classes to teach today but have 2 kids puking now. Add Grant to the list.

Grant and Paige will both miss an orthodontist appointment today because of puking.

Because of puking, I have a ton of laundry to do. Or throw away which ever I decide.

At 10:00 last night Kurtis tells me he has a meeting in Warren and his pants need to be ironed.

Yesterday, it was my turn to cook supper for the family down the street who had a death in the family. Their 6 week old baby passed away last week. So, in the grand scheme of things my day could have been much worse and I choose to be thankful for puking kids with sprained limbs.

Merry Chistmas Y'all!!

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A Few of my Favorite Things...

A Christmas Party every night of the weekend.
Having a sick kid snuggle you for hours (however, missing above mentioned parties-not my favorite thing.)
My Christmas Tree.
Packing to go home for Christmas.
Sugar cookies with icing.
Planning my daughters school Christmas party.
My dog.
Monday night TV night with Kurtis.
Finishing a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle we worked on while Paige was sick.
Candy canes.
Candy canes in hot chocolate.
Candy canes on chocolate cake.
My kids.
Reading a good book by the fireplace wrapped up in a blankie with the Christmas tree glowing.
OU in a BCS bowl.

Just felt the need to share. Enjoy your favorite things this season.

It just doesn't get any better than this

The past couple of days I have just been down. I've made silly mistakes resulting in closing the garage door on my car, loosing my driver's license, burning pancakes I made for dinner, forgetting I made plans with friends and having to cancel a sleepover for Abi...the list could go on but I'll stop here!

Last night was the kids school Christmas...oops!...sorry...Holiday Concert. They were so excited. I was excited. I had purchased new shoes for Grant that I thought were so cool. I just new he was going to love them. I knew he was going to embrace me and say, "Mom, you are so cool! Thanks so much!"

Didn't happen.

He wanted different shoes. Not just different shoes but shoes that were two sizes too big so that they would slip off when you walk. I returned the above mentioned shoes and took him to buy the ones he wanted. I was not going to allow him to buy shoes that slip off when he walked no matter how many times he told me that he could skateboard better in them.

I thought to myself, what happened to the days when I could go to WalMart and buy the Barney shoes or the light ups and my kids wore them out. What happened to my sweet little boy who thought his mom was cool.

Now, to the good part.

So we go to the concert. The kids were cute. All of them were so excited and just full of fun. Paige's class sang "Rudolph" and Grant's sang "Jingle Bell Rock".
The finale was the best though. The entire school came out and sang "Light the Candles" then they lit the candles! It was beautiful. They thought it was cool and I thought it was cool and what was really cool is that for those couple of minutes I thought shoes don't really matter because life just doesn't get any better than this.


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It's Christmas Time in our Kitchen

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Ode to Antibiotics

Yesterday, I wanted to die
All I wanted to do was lie
On the couch covered with covers
And wish that I could snuggle my lover.

Oklahoma beat Oklahoma State
and that was very great
But I still had a headache, sore throat and fever
And missed being with friends for a dinner date.

I gave up and went to urgent care
The nice Indian doctor was there.
He gave me antibiotics and said go rest
It will make your strep throat better at best.

So I took the nice Indian doctor's advice
and I rested and drank water filled with ice.
My husband bought me ice cream and soup
And I think now I am half way recouped.

The End.

I am truly greatful...

• For the wonderful husband and children God has given me
• That the kids have had a fairly smooth transition into public school
• That the kids are in public school
• That in just 4 weeks I will be in Oklahoma
• my husband still has a job with GM
• I don't have to work full time
• I have such wonderful friends that encourage me
• I have an awesome church
• God loves me even on my worst day
• Jesus makes it possible for me to be with Him forever
• OU has another chance at a BCS Bowl even after we were completely robbed of a win over Oregon and that I can still beat Jayson at our bet

Abi turns 12!!

Abi had a bitter sweet birthday this year. She turned the big 1-2! She got all kinds of wonderful presents and she got to eat at Famous Dave's.

But on that same day her great-great uncle who she shares a birthday with passed away at the age of 93. They had a special connection since they share a birthday and Uncle Hassel enjoyed giving her a porcelain doll every year on her birthday to mark the milestone she had reached.

Our dolls will stay at 11 for awhile. We are told that shortly before his hospital stay my uncle told my grandma that the doll for this year was in his bedroom and to make sure Abi got it. Although it hasn't been found yet we know where Hass is today and we can't wait to see him again.

Never tell a lie...

Tonight I very nicely asked Grant to accompany Paige to take Mia (the dog) out to potty. I expected the gentle natured Grant to relish the opportunity to help his mother who sat down for the first time to snuggle her ailing 12-year old daughter.

He proceeded to throw a fit. Stomping all through the house, scooping up the dog (like she could help it she had to pee!) with fury and slamming the door shut behind him.

When he came back into the house I explained to him that he had just earned a free pass to his bedroom where he could spend the rest of the night.

After the wailing of "No one likes me", "Everybody is mean to me!" I went to talk to him.

I said, "Grant, I love you very much but I do not like it when you throw fits." He replied, "Then you don't like me." I countered, "See Grant, it is kinda like when I ask you to do something you don't want to do and you think 'I still like my mom but I don't like what I have to do right now!,' Is that how you feel sometimes G?"

He said, "No, when you ask me to do something I don't like-I don't like you either."

I had to laugh out loud.

Then he said, "Mom, you told me to never lie!"

I guess I should be thankful he is so honest!

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head

I think we saw the sun for about 10 minutes during Maw Maw and Paw Paw's visit. Hince the theme for this slideshow...raindrops.




Create Your Own!

Things I Never Thought I Would See in October...

A snowstorm!





And the Detroit Tigers 2 wins away from the World Series!!! Go Tigers!!

Dinner To-Go

Last night after taking mom to the airport we stopped at Famous Dave's BBQ in Novi. While eating, Paige noticed those cute little advertisements they put on the table. Cute...colorful...fun looking.

She asked me what it was. I said that's a thing you can take it to go. I meant, "That is an ADVERTISEMENT which shows how you can get FAMOUS DAVE'S to go.

She let it go at that.

When we walked out of the restaurant she had the cute little ad thing with her. I said, "Paige, why did you take that from the restaurant?" She said, "You said it was a thing to take to go."

You got a point there kid.

A Great Visit!

Create Your Own!

Persuasion 101

Tonight Kurtis made his world famous snickerdoodles. Seriously, they rock! So, we were sitting around doing our family "Dirty Jobs" night when Paige asked if she could have another cookie. I said, "How many have you had?" And she replied, "Well, I had one before "Dirty Jobs" and it has probably already digested and then I had another one during "Dirty Jobs" so I've kinda just had one since the first one I already digested.

Yip, she got another cookie.

A Great Day!

Was it getting my kitchen cleaned and organized today that made it a great day?

Was it enjoying a Mint Condition from Caribou all by myself that made it a great day?

Was it spending the afternoon in the car with my husband that made it a great day?

Nope.

This is what made it a great day!!!!


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and they're OFF!!!!

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I'ma CEO!!!

CEO-Chief Everything Officer!!!

I went to www.dove.com today to get my free sample of deodorant and that is what they call stay-at-home moms. I love that!!!!

Boys and Their Toys!

Last Christmas our family Christmas present was a brand new ping-pong table from Germany. We searched long and hard for the perfect table and ended up ordering it instead of getting one like normal people from Dunham's or even Wal-Mart.

I've been excited to have the little exercise provided by the ping-pong table and enjoyed the family time when we set up our own little tourney.

Kurtis celebrated his 33rd birthday last week and got Ping-Pong for XBOX 360. Ping-pong. Virtual ping pong. When we have a real one.

I was cleaning house a little yesterday before the OU/UAB game (OU Won!) and I hear Grant and Kurtis in the basement playing their new game. I actually heard the following:

"Wow! It is just like the real thing."

I thought to myself. "Self....we OWN the real thing!" And now, we don't get the little exercise provided by the "real thing". We are simply getting virtual exercise on the XBOX.

And men say we are complicated. Whatever to that.

A New Chapter

One week from today all of the kids will attend traditional school.

It is a happy time. It is a scary time. It is an exciting time.

Through all of our homeschooling the past 7 years, I knew we were doing the right thing. Now, that they are going to school I know this is the right thing.

How do I know?

Well, every school year I ask myself and the kids if homeschooling is still the best option for our family. I also ask myself, "Why am I doing this?" This last school year my answers began to change. I always homeschooled to give my kids a great education, to be a part of that education process, to protect them from pressures of other kids and to allow them to grow and learn at their own pace. I realized I couldn't do those things effectively anymore.

The reason, though, is not so much that I had lost the passion I once had for homeschooling. I still believe it is a great educational alternative and when done correctly has great benenfits. But, I realized I had a need to control those things myself instead of leaving them to the One who controls my children much better than I ever could.

I realized that God was doing a great work in me. I am quite a control freak. I like to do things my way. I don't like to be told I am wrong and I believe I do things better than most people. I thought I was controling the lives of my children. Ha!

That was the turning point. When I realized that God has control of my children. Not me. I am here as HIS tool and not HIM. Only God can protect my kids from outside pressures. Only God can provide them with sources of great education. Only God can teach them to rely fully on Him and not their mom when they are fearful of new things. Only God loves them more than I do.

Behold the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Matt. 6:26

What a simple illustration of God's love and provision for us. He is able to guide my children. To teach them, to nurture them and protect them. It is all about Him after all and not about me.

Thank you Lord!!!

Our most excellent camping adventure

Bill and Ted had nothing on the Minneys and the Schoebs this weekend...

Did Wolfgang Puck begin like this????

Grant has a new found hobby and career path. He has decided he wants to be a chef. So he has been hangin out in the kitchen quite a bit and made Rice Krispy treats all by himself the other day and shared them with our professional chef friend Zac.

Zac, being a super nice guy, offered to spend a day teaching Grant the ropes of the kitchen. So, at 10 a.m. they began to prepare an amazing meal. We had homemade pasta, meatballs, some other things I can barely pronounce so I won't try to spell and a wonderful dessert thing. It was SO good.

Zac even gave Grant this get up so that he would look the part. Now, Grant loves to tell me what I am doing wrong in the kitchen and tells me what produce to buy. Ask him about tomatoes next time you see him.

His Christmas list is complete with a GOOD set of knives, a pasta maker and a new cookbook. Doesn't every 10 year old boy want that?

Faith of a Child

All of the kids have kind of being going through the "I'm scared" stage for the last few months. Actually, not Grant as much as the girls. But a couple of months ago I opened my Bible and read to the girls the verse in Matthew that talks about the faith of a mustard seed. I showed them some mustard seed and we talked about how small the mustard seed is and how little faith we need to have to know that God will take care of us. So we prayed and asked God to help them have the faith of a mustard seed that God will protect them through the night.

It was working really well until last night. Paige was especially frightened and she came downstairs for comfort.

Here's how it went down:
Paige: I'm scared.
Me: I'm sorry to hear you are scared Paige. Do you still have your mustard seed I gave you?
Paige: No.
Me: Would you like another mustard seed to hold in your hand while you go to sleep to help you remember that God is watching over you and protecting you.
Paige: No, I want to sleep in your room.

Well, she didn't get to but I did give her the entire jar of mustard seed to take to bed with her.

When I went to check on her about 20 minutes later she had the mustard seed wrapped in both arms like it was a stuffed animal.

This morning I asked her if having the mustard seed helped her to remember to have faith that God is protecting her. She said it did but it would have helped more if she could sleep in my bed.

I'll keep trying!

Thirty-Five Smirty-Five

Yip. Yesterday was the day. I'm half-way to dead.

Actually since my grandma is well into her 80s I guess I may have a few good years left in me.

On my 35th birthday I learned I have arthritis in my hand. I already had it in my back. I'm old.

But to prove to myself I can still move I played tennis with my husband and had to do it in the 97 degree heat just to show I could.

I bought a couple of pairs of pants and yes, they have an elastic waist.

I didn't get on the scale on my birthday. And no one can make me.

Really though, I look back on the last 35 years and I can't be more thankful for my life. I have three beautiful children and a wonderful husband (who bought me great presents!). Great friends and God who loves me even on my worst day.

Brace Face

Paige got braces yesterday! Now all three of my kids are brace faces!!

Big Fish Story

Grant caught this "big boy" today on our lake. Isn't it a beauty!!!

An Okie 4th of July

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No comments on the way we speak by the way!!!!

What I did on my Summer Vacation by Jacki Minney

We made it. Two weeks with the fam in the 100+ heat and we survived. Boy, Oklahoma is a great place to be from and visit twice a year. No offense, mom, but it is too hot for me there now!!!

We had a great 4th of July out at Kurtis's parents house.


















And after that week in Oklahoma we headed to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee for a few days with Kurtis's sister and her family.

The Smokey's are absolutely beautiful and the resort we stayed at was so much fun. I'm so glad Leslie (Kurtis's sister) and Matt (her husband) have the time share and we get to mooch off of them.

There were several funny moments on the trip but I think this is my favorite:
We are sleeping soundly in our 3 bedroom condo at Fairfield Resort at 4:13 a.m. when the smoke detector begins going off. Not like the little "peep" you hear when the batteries are low but like a bull horn you hear in movies shortly before the small village is being attacked by Japenese Zeros. All NINE of us are out of bed and my bro-in-law calls the desk. They tell him, "Hmmm, we've never had that happen before!" To which my bro-in-law holds up the phone to the screaming alarm and says, "Well, it is happening now!"

After a few minutes it stops (Kurtis and Matt took the batteries out of said smoke detector) and the security people come and check it out. The next day a maintenance dude comes out and asks about our previous night's events. When Leslie and Matt fill the nice gentleman in on what had happened he replied, (and I am not making this up) "Did your ear tell you it was going off?" And he actually put his hand up to his own ear. Did he think our butts told us it was going off???

Anyway, it was quite an adventure. I am thankful for the save trip and the good times we shared with our family over the last 2 weeks.

I'm experiencing technical difficulties uploading pics but I will try again soon.