There are packers in our house this morning.  Strangers sorting through our carefully gathered treasures.  They quickly wrap them in brown paper and place them in boxes. It would take me hours and days to do this same work because these things are my own.  They are a part of our life here, and it’s strange to watch it be so swiftly dismantled by people whose names I’ve already forgotten.  Tape. Wrap. Box. Label.  Move on. With breath-taking speed our... Read more

I wrote that I didn’t want to whine any more about moving and I’m a little surprised by the number of you who replied, “JUST SAY IT!”  You people are a bit masochistic I think, but here’s a run down of my morning so far: Morning sickness Spent 20 minutes searching for the answer to the timeless question “Why does my nose fill up with snot when I puke?”  Dr Google doesn’t know.  It’ll have to just remain a mystery.... Read more

The countdown to the move continues.  (5 days!!!!!!!!!!)  I haven’t written much because I’m tired of whining in public about moving, and that’s all it would be….griping about the stress of moving.  Then yesterday, I heard a story that made me so grateful for where we are.  A friend of mine met a family that has been “camping” at the lake with their 4 children for the last few months.  Here I am complaining about going from one beautiful home... Read more

The packers arrive at our house one week from today.  I’m surprisingly calm as we’re entering the home stretch.  My military friends (who move a lot, that’s why I asked their advice) have a repeating litany of ziplock bags and plastic bins.  Put all the clothes, except what you need for the traveling days, in plastic bins.  Put anything you want to stay together, such as the contents of your kitchen junk drawer, in baggies.  They’ve all waxed rhapsodic about... Read more

I’ve been too busy to post this week, you’ll see why. ****************************************** The kids got a stomach bug this week.  They’ve taken turns puking since Tuesday night.  I really hate puke, especially milk puke. ******************************************** Worse than cleaning after the kids was when it hit me.  The only thing worse that cleaning up sick is having to clean up after yourself.  There are days when I hate being the grown-up. ****************************************** I joined the ranks of elite Catholic nerd-dom this... Read more

I took part in an interesting and enlightening chat on facebook tonight.  A childhood friend of mine and I were discussing life and people.  Well, one talked and the other listened. The “talker” said that she has a spouse she loves and a family she adores and yet they hesitate at times to be seen together in public.  The whole family’s being together opens them up for stares, whispers and rude comments.  She has been screamed at more than once... Read more

It’s Mother’s Day, and I was going to write about my mother….but this isn’t about her.It isn’t about my “volunteer” mom, my mother-in-law or any of my grandmothers.  It’s about the hero who wasn’t a part of our family.  The woman whose courage and strength leave me in awe.  She is my hero, and I don’t even know her name. My father was adopted.  He was the child of a romantic fling between a young 20-something woman and a saxophone... Read more

The other day I overheard a conversation between my husband and a friend of his.  The Computer Guy had just told him about #7 when his friend responded with the ever popular, “Don’t you know what causes that?” My sweet husband blandly retorted, “Yeah, and I keep knocking her off, but she keeps climbing back on.” Are you kidding me?  That’s our response?  “I’m so hot my wife couldn’t help herself?”  Really? I don’t know whether to hide my face... Read more

I went shopping with my mother-in-law last weekend.  When I purchased a rhinestone encrusted lizard ring (I’ll post a pic later today), she smiled and said, “I know why God put you in this family.  You’re here to save us from beige.”  Awwwww……Don’t you love it? ******************************************** The Computer Guy and I went to my midwife appointment yesterday and saw #7 taking a siesta.  Not a lot of activity at first, then I coughed and woke the little guy up. ... Read more

My sweet mother in law and I went to the Senior Art Show at the University of Oklahoma over the weekend. Her niece is graduating with a degree in graphic design, so we went to see her stuff. (It was amazing!) Her niece told us that the fine art students were having their show on the 2nd floor if we wanted to check it out, and we did.  I have to admit that I LOVE art.  Love it.  I studied... Read more