Keepin It Real.

I was weeding the front beds and happened to have my camera when I caught site of this.

Here comes Reggie. What is she carrying in her frisbee so ceremoniously? Something of great value, no doubt. But what could be prized so highly by my offspring?


Ah… here’s the answer. It’s dirt. Look at the awe on my youngest child’s face. “Oooooo…..Dort……” She whispers. The respect for dirt is learned early here at our house. It’s obvious she is enamored with the display of filth her big sister has laid before her. Hmmm… what will she do?

Oh, I know. Let’s get close to the dirt. Let’s lay in it. Let’s roll in it. Let’s become one with the dirt.

Every 2 year old should know such pride. “Yook! Dort!” As she points to her dress.

Ah, her joy knows no bounds.

“I yuv my big sistor!”

October 11, 2008. The Fam, kids, life, love. 4 comments.

What is Church?

A place to climb the ladder of spirituality?

An exclusive club of do-good-ers?

An gathering place for the elite of God?

A social hub of chatter and gossip?

What is it to you?

What is it to others?

A building where acceptance is elusive.

Where love is conditional.

Where worthiness can’t be earned.

We are the body of Christ.

We are the church.

And on so many levels,

we are failing.

August 21, 2008. god, life. 5 comments.

Our Corner Store.

This is my neighborhood’s corner store.

They have pretty good doughnuts.

And they are always good for a late nite snack of potato chips and french onion dip.

Or box of swiss cake rolls.

Or, if you run out a pantry item, they usually have it in stock… for four times it’s normal price.

And beer and cigarettes at state minimum prices.

August 15, 2008. life. 5 comments.

The Rain.

I love the rain.

How the air feels before even one drop hits.

I love to watch it cross the field behind my house, and how it chases my kids to shelter.

How it collects into puddles and then crosses my yard in a river.

The jump of thunder and lightning.

The smell that hangs in the mist.

I love it.

August 4, 2008. life, love. 1 comment.

Got a minute to waste? Read on.

Just what the doctor ordered. I have no desire to post and this meme just made it easy.
What were you doing 10 years ago?

Let’s see… 10 years ago, I was, um…. 23, that was 1998. Awwww, Alina had just turned one. We were living right down the road from where we live now. I weighed 107 pounds. I had been married for 4 years. I was suffering from daily panic attacks that made me scared to leave my house, drive a car, go to church, the movies, a restaurant… or pretty much anywhere.

Favorite Snacks

French Onion Dip and Ruffled Chips

Chocolate (Anything chocolate)

Strawberries and Blueberries with my cream cheese dip

To Do List

Clean my house.

Study the bible.

Take a class.

Start the magazine.

Take a me vacation.

Take a family vacation. (Notice the order of vacations? Not a typo.)

Jobs I Have Had

Graphic Designer

Assistant Manager of a Print Shop

Retail (usually at Christmas time)

Janitorial

Places I Have Lived

801 Newton Drive, Newton Falls 0-9 years old

607 Ophelia Street, Newton Falls 10-19 years old

1954 State Road, Champion (my mom in laws) 19-21 years old

1060 Harvard Drive, Warren 21 years old

5555 Oak Hill Drive, Champion 21-28 years old

5425 Oak Hill Drive, Champion 28-present

Bad Habits

procrastination, worry, eating too much, exercising too little, impatience

5 Random Things People May Not Know

I ignored my husband the first time we met. (I thought his friend had pretty eyes tho.)

I sang in an national singing competition.

I was playing with my pet gerbil once and swung it by the tail, until it it’s tail fell off.

When I was in 9th grade I wanted to ask Doogie Hauser to the prom.

I constantly obsess no one likes me.
CDs I would want if stranded on an island

The audio Bible, 13 Goin on 30 Soundtrack, Steve Tyrell, Hillsong

What I’d Do if I Were a Billionaire

1. Pay off Debt, mine, my parents, my sisters, my in laws and brother in laws.

2. Buy a house with enough bedrooms for my kids and a guest. (An inground pool would be nice too.)

3. Buy an ocean side vacation home big enough for my whole family. (the same listed above)
4. Make my dream God gave me come true.

5. Help at least one person start their dream.

6. Refuse to live extravagantly.

7. Donate generously our church.

8. Take my whole family on a trip to Disney. (siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins – EVERYBODY).

So. I guess that’s about all. I have completed my annual meme.

I feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment as I’m sure you can imagine.

And if you want – you’re it!

July 22, 2008. Blogging, life. 3 comments.

Summer Nights.

4 Days into July.

8 Barefoot Kids.

1 Blanket.

8 Corndogs.

2 Gyros.

1 Bucket of fries.

6 Skeeter Bites.

1 Can of Bug Repellent.

3 Trips to the Game Booth.

4 Missing Teeth of a Fair Worker.

8 Prizes.

1 Trip to Port-a-jon.

45 Minutes of Fireworks.

5 Miles of Backed Up Traffic.

And this is my favorite holiday.

July 11, 2008. Food, Summer, The Fam, kids, life, love. 3 comments.

Sugarcreek.

I took this picture in Holmes County Ohio. Right smack dab in the middle of Amish country. The next picture I stood in the same place and took a picture of the same farmhouse, only I used a fisheye lens.

An hour from my house, it’s a whole ‘nother world.

June 27, 2008. Summer, life. 2 comments.

I love.

Chipotle Burrito Bol. Chicken. Black Beans. Fresh Salsa. Cheese. Eaten with nachos, not a fork.

The sound of the girls giggling in bed at night. Even when they should be sleeping.

Cool grass under my bare feet. The kind thats soft, not pokey.

Spring peepers, the chirp of kill deer, and fire flies.

Being so inspired it’s physically hard to contain.

Bonfires. The way they make my hair and clothes smell the day after.

A Stewart’s Orange and Cream Soda.

A puppy’s sweet breath.

When someone else cleans my kitchen.

Baking cookies or decorating cakes.

How my Dad is my biggest fan.

How my God saw fit to bless me so.

June 15, 2008. god, life, love. 3 comments.

Oh, humidity… how I missed thee.

After a long hard day of sitting and sweating in the moist air of Ohio. I like to sit down and shoot some pics with my new d80. Did I mention that to anyone yet? Yeah, a d80.

I know. I know.

Here is Reggie, playing sprinkler hopscotch. In a tummy exposing tankini. Avert your eyes.

June 5, 2008. Summer, kids, life, love. 1 comment.

Behold!

Here you go folks. My D80.

It’s. Here. In. My. Hands.

Tonight.

I ran outside (in the rain.) To take a pic for you. No touch up. No photoshop. SOOC. (Straight out of camera.)

I am deliriously overwhelmed by the buttony doo daddy-ness of this glorious chunk of plastic and glass.

The manual? HUGE! The number of indicators on the LED screen? Too many to count. This is one serious camera my brothers and sisters, and I am sadly underqualified.

But come’on now people! Look at those raindrops! I was over 5 feet away from that leaf! Hello? Can I get an amen?

June 3, 2008. god, life, love. 3 comments.

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