Monday, July 24, 2006

First Catch

Looks like we have a fisher in our family.
Jenna caught her 1st fish!


We were on a short camping trip, and Jenna must have asked fifty times to go fishing. We took some slices of bread to the pier with us, and I showed the boys how to make bread doughballs. Breadballs seem to be a sure thing for bluegill. Of course, bologna and hot dogs work great, too.

She enjoyed holding the pole in the water, and I noticed that the line started running. I yelled, "Crank it up, Jenna!" She was trying to turn that crank and I was jerking her pole, and before you know it, she was hauling her (pretty big) bluegill up on the pier.

She was laughing and so happy. I guess I didn't expect that she would be so excited about it. I took a couple of pictures, and then we tried to get the hook out of the poor thing.

The hook had gone through under the eyeball, and it was slimy and wiggly.....and those spines on the fin HURT!

All that to say, along with the panic that the fish would die before we could throw it back, I had to ask a bystander for a hand in getting the fish off the hook.
We put the fish back on the pier, and Jenna got to scoot it back into the water.

I am SO thankful someone else was there to do the fish "handling"!! Fishing is fun, but I hate live bait, touching the fish, and fileting and eating the fish.

Jenna must have re-told that fish story--in her own cute way--at LEAST 50 times!
After releasing her fish, she said, "Let's do that 'gain, 'kay?"

David ended up with a big cut from a bluegill fin. It didn't stop him from a good time and wanting to fish every chance he got!

Saturday, July 15, 2006

When God Winks--reposted

Sometimes, when distance is too great for the spoken word, a look in the eye can say more than you would think.

When I see my kids behaving exceptionally well or perhaps showing kindness to another child, if they happen to look my way our eyes will lock - even if it's momentarily - and I give them a wink, or a knowing look, or an approving smile. It's a parent's way of saying so much by saying so little.

Across a table or a crowded room, sometimes Jeff and I will catch each other's gaze. One look immediately tells the other what we're thinking:

"Did you just hear what I heard??"
"Remember when....."
"I love you"
"I still pick you"

We don't hear the audible voice of Jesus; but He is our ever-present Father.

Sometimes, don't you "see" the wink He sends your way throughout your days?

I was finishing up mowing the lawn today and I felt a couple of big raindrops. It was getting quite dark and windy.
"Jesus, could You just hold it off so I can finish this? I'm hurrying, and You know how I hate to leave a job undone."
I mowed a few more strips. A few more raindrops.
"Ooooh....Jesus, I'm almost done....just a few minutes more??"

I finished the yard, pulled the tractor into the garage, walked out, and as I fastened the door shut it ALL broke loose outside.

I didn't mind at all. In fact, I laughed right out loud. I looked up in the rain, "Thank You; I got it done!"

I feel the same way when I get a close parking space, or just something unexpectedly nice happens.

Silly?

Maybe you'd think so.
But I don't think that way at all.

I just saw God wink.
And I like it.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

STUPID DOG!

We have a 30 pound, black, cocker/lab dog.

He's really cute and friendly (except to strange men!), but he has a need for speed.

He's a Houdini contortionist when he thinks it would be great to get out of the yard and mark the neighborhood bushes.

My latest mistake was putting a tag on him with his name and my phone number on it.

Seems he got out late last night and ran a couple of blocks away. A nice man caught him and kept him in the backyard.

Only I DIDN'T KNOW THIS!!

My stupid cell phone easily turns the ringer off, and when I looked at my phone this morning....I'd missed 9 calls and 4 voice mails.

Shadow got to barking at the other dogs around the man's house and keeping everyone awake. The guy took Shadow to the police dpt. I called the police department this morning and said I was on my way.

I was almost to the station, when they called and said Shadow was enroute to the Animal Shelter.

I made a couple of calls to find out where the shelter was, and the kids and I made a positive ID on the dog.

I didn't have a signed rabies paper or city license. GRRRR!!

side rant: why is there a stinking fee for EVERYTHING!

I asked the lady what his fees would be when I picked him up tomorrow (since there is an overnight wait period with the shots)

She informed that there was a $62 fee for his impoundment, rabies fee and license, and I would have to pay for it NOW.

I said, "Is that so you'll be sure I'll actually come back to get him?"

She didn't that was funny. I did.

I made my check out, and in the memo line I wrote "stupid dog".
So now I have to drive back there again tomorrow to pick him up.

SHEEEEESSSSHHH!

I Exercised Yesterday!!

Woohoohoo!

I must be getting more coordinated with age. I rode the stationary bike AND played Tetris (GameCube!) AT THE SAME TIME!

I know all my friends are impressed.

Time just flew by; it was great.

Well, as great as exercise gets.

So I celebrated with a (small) piece of caramel nut apple pie.

No word on whether I'll be biking/gaming tonight.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

My Addiction



I've got to stop ordering the Grande size of Starbucks!
I can handle the Tall size PRETTY well, but a Grande-sized peppermint mocha nearly makes me crazy.
Well, actually, it makes the people around me crazy.

I get so fired up with energy that I can't sit still and my brain is going 100 miles an hour....and the later it is at night....the funnier everything seems!
It's my own personal, legal version of cocaine.

Proof of that is that I am posting this at 2:06 a.m. and I still have enough energy left in me to vacuum my gutters.

I can't quit typing, either.

HHHHHEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP!!!!

But it tastes so good. Extra whip-cream is nice.

Is there a 24 hour Starbucks around here?

Is there a drink limit?

Wonder what time they open.

Gotta get myself one of those fancy coffee machines for home!

Time for an intervention.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

I'm Not Sure My Boys are Really Mine

The boys look like the kids in the family pictures; but as of July 5, 2006....they look more like a couple of stray Brazilians.

How could they possibly be mine?!

I'm mostly German and I sport a celestial-type white glow about my body at all times of the year. I do get a nice farmer's tan on the lower part of my arms, and the top of my feet tan very quickly.
Other than that, I look like a direct descendent of Frosty the Snowman.

So who are these kids, and why are they calling me "Mom"?