The Cabbage Patch

7 Quick Takes Friday (volume 74)

 

 

~1~

This has been a tough week for me.  Lots going on in lots of different areas of my life.  One particular area makes me very, very sad.  A messageboard that has been a source of inspiration and comfort for the past 5 years has reached a point of no return (that's my opinion, anyway).  I don't know if it's going to recover.  It's really, really sad.  I have my own thoughts and feelings about all that's been going on and the handling of things but I won't get into it here.  I'm still trying to decide if I'll get into there.  Regardless, it just makes me sad.  

~2~

I was feeling quite lazy today and so decided we'd go out to eat.  I had a horrible dining experience.  We went out to Cheddar's.  In the past, we have had decent dinners there.  Sometimes it's bit too salty, but otherwise, it's been fine.  Tonight my meal came way undercooked.  I sent it back and it took forever to get back.  My server said the manager would come out to talk to me.  I never did get to speak to one unless it was the woman who finally brought out my meal.  She just asked if it was cooked enough this time and then left.  

Not a BIG deal, but then the server took forever to come back.  We were there 20 minutes longer than we should have.  The food ended up being not worth the wait.  I was so aggravated!

~3~

So, if you are alone with no other sound because you've turned the TV off and the children are asleep, you should really turn the sound down on your computer so when the owls start screeching, you don't lose 10 years off your life (how's that for a run-on?).  I'm just saying.  

~4~

I'm going shopping this Saturday.  I'm debating whether to leave after Pumpkin's ballet class or after Sister's.  I have lots of places to visit once I get down to Austin so I might have Sister make up her class on Monday.  We'll see.  I think I found a dress but when I went back to the website, it was not there.  It was only two days ago that I saw it.  Hopefully the store will have it in stock.  

~5~

I'm also on the hunt for an entertainment center that has bookcases on the ends with doors.  However, I don't want glass doors because I want to be able to hide books in there.  My children are not always neat and I can't handle one more thing to straighten.  I'm looking into this which is affordable but I need to check if it's sturdy.  I also need some bookcases for the children's rooms.  They are overrun with books.  

~6~

I can't believe Lent is almost over.  Spiritually, I feel pretty dry.  I need to do something about it.  I need a book to study.  Any suggestions?  Something not too difficult.

~7~

I thought I'd been doing pretty well during this deployment but I think I've hit a wall.  I need to climb over it but can't seem to figure out how.  

Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

A New Board

For a while now, I've enjoyed reading about what Elizabeth Foss, author of Real Learning, does in her home.  She provides booklists and ideas for a gentle approach to home education in the home.  Now, she is providing a forum for us to encourage one another in this endeavor.

Democrat Legislator Called Baby Killer

Isn't this what Bart Stupak became?  A baby killer?  I'm so disappointed that he caved.  It's not that I'm against healthcare for everyone although my ideas and the government's ideas are vastly different.  It's that I wanted it to contain very specific language against federal funding for abortion AND for conscience clauses for healthcare workers.

And, why is it that pro-choice people do not like to be called pro-abortion, but the CNN article I linked to called pro-life people anti-abortion.  Let me guess where CNN falls.

I'm very, very sad today about what has happened.  

St. Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil...

Piano Recital--For Ben

Here's Brother playing Persian March.  He had trouble with this piece.  Listen at the end.  He finishes, sits there and says, "Applause."  Classic Brother.

Sister played two songs, Minuet, Opus 68, No. 2 by Edvard Grieg and Gavotte by Wolfgang Mozart

Now, Honey playing Surprise Symphony by Joseph Haydn.

7 Quick Takes Friday (volume 73)

~1~

 We went to get the girls' ears pierced this morning.  There weren't two people at the jewelry counter to do it so we had to come back.  The girls were disappointed, but once their ears were pierced, they forgot all about the wait they had.  Pumpkin cried right after they pierced them.  Poor thing.  Her heart was beating quite fast.  The other girls did their best to make her feel better by gushing over her ears.  Honey yelled, "Ouch!" but was otherwise fine.  Sister said, "That didn't hurt." which is NOT what I was expecting from her.  She has a reputation at the pediatric clinic because she cried and screamed so loudly when they were flushing her ears out a few years ago.

~2~

Brother said to me, "Am I not the right child for you?".  I've been too hard on him.  I've got to step back and figure things out.  My heart is broken.  I really want him to be happy.  I'm not trying to make him "normal" but I need him to not be too impulsive.  Sigh.

~3~

I have to buy a dress.  I hate dress shopping.  I can never find anything I like that fits well and looks good.  What kind of dress should I get for a wedding that starts at 5:30pm?  And, it's outdoors in Williamsburg, VA.  I need to get clothes for the kids too.  

~4~

The older 3 kids have their piano recital this Saturday at 2:30pm CST.  If you have a chance, can you say a quick prayer for a smooth recital?  All have struggled with their music but they're getting close.

~5~

I've been waiting for the bluebonnets to show up.  It hasn't yet.  It's my favorite time of the year in nature.  Nothing beats a field of bluebonnets in their peak.  Nothing.  Okay, maybe those Virginia bluebells or the foliage in the fall in New England.

~6~

I played the word CHEZ against my brother, David, for 112 points.  My poor brother.  He doesn't have a chance.  It's a lot of fun playing Words with Friends against him and the other ladies I know.  Honey really gets into it and is quite my cheerleader.  One time she said, "That'll show him."

~7~

We have a performance date for the play our homeschool group is putting together.  It's been a wild ride.  It's been wonderful watching them get what is going in the play.  A little over a month remains before they perform, "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  Shakespeare has never been so fun.

Please check out more quick takes at Conversion Diary.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,

~taken from one of my all time favorite prayers, Lorica of St. Patrick.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

7 Quick Takes Friday (volume 72)

 

~1~

I bought an iPhone last week.  It's a lot of fun to have.  The time in all the waiting rooms goes much more quickly.  I put one of my favorite songs from my college days as a ring tone.  My children think it's a funny song.  I think it's a fun song but don't listen too closely to the words.  It's "Blister in the Sun" by the Violent Femmes.  Really, don't listen to the words.  

~2~

I'm addicted to the game Words with Friends.  It's a lot of fun to play even though I'm not very good at word games.  I'm more of a numbers gal.  I'm playing with at least two different people. It's a perfect game in that I don't have to make my move right away.  I play and the other person plays whenever he or she can get to it.  It's been quite the mental exercise for me which is something I need (need to help stave off the Alzheimers, you know).  If you play, my user name is kctex.

~3~

My friend, Cecelia, came over to teach me how to make bows.  I have the basic technique down, but my bow isn't as pretty as hers.  I think I'll keep practicing but in the meantime I'm getting my special occasion bows from her.

~4~

Sister has been chosen to dance a duet at the spring performance.  It's a fast dance and I can't wait to see her perform it on stage.  I'm certain my dad will cry after that one.  He did last year after watching her group dance.  I'm very excited for her and very proud of her.  She really works hard at ballet.  It is truly her passion.

~5~

We're almost at the 3 month mark.  At times it seems the time has flown and at other times I wonder when the end will come.  I feel like such a wimp because besides a 6 month deployment 4 years ago, he's been home (not counting his various TDY trips--business trips for you civilians).  Not like Jess who has had to endure a deployment every other year for the past few years (3 deployments).  AND, she had two babies, one in each of the last two deployments.

~6~

I've been pretty good about getting on the treadmill this week.  Three times for a total of 5 miles.  My goal is to walk 2 miles each time but this morning my legs were like lead.  I did finish out the one mile.  

~7~

It's time to change our clocks this weekend.  We'll need to spring forward.  I am NOT looking forward to it.  It's always such an ordeal for me.  My children usually fare pretty well, but the spring time change is a humdinger for me.

Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Nothing to Say

Really, I don't have anything to say.  I don't know why.  I can be quite talkative.  Sigh.

My nights are spent silently reading books or watching TV.  They're pretty solitary things.  

I'm hoping for some inspiration for more things to write or talk about.  I feel badly that I'm not posting enough pictures for Ben.  That'll be on my to-do list from now on.

I Love My Suburban

There is something to be said for a bigger car.  All that debris is from the other car.  It hit us, bounced and hit us again.  The driver did not stop.  The suburban stopped him.  Sigh.  

The what-ifs are getting to me.  If that car had been bigger (we are in Texas after all and everything is bigger here), it would've been much worse.  I think the driver was traveling at around 45 mph and braked at the second before he hit us.  I'm thankful for the bumper and the trailer hitch which meant that bumper was stronger.  My children were with me as they usually are.  None of them are injured although Brother complained of some neck pain and Pumpkin just told me her waist hurt (it's her back).  I'm sure it'll be a couple of days before we figure out where all the aches are.  Thank you to everyone who has sent their prayers and cyber-hugs.  And, thank you to dear Michele for calling me.  You truly cheered me up.

Ben happened to be on Facebook and found out about the accident.  I did say right up front that we were all okay.  He's shaken up as well, but we were able to "chat" via Skype (his roommate was asleep so he didn't want to call).