Sister Fay brought the rain.....

A few weeks ago, our town was flooded by Hurricane Fay. It rained and it rained and then it rained some more. The bands of rain started Friday and continued on through late Saturday. We stayed indoors and watched movies and read books. Luckily, we had power throughout the storm, unlike others in town. We had lots of tree limbs down and a tree in our side yard couldn't take the saturation and is now leaning in the power lines. Late Saturday night, I received a call from a friend saying that church was cancelled. Wow, church, cancelled? I immediately flipped to the Weather Channel. Clips of Mike Seidel standing in water, people in boats floating down streets, and gas stations underwater immediately caused me to be very thankful that we had been spared any damage.

Fast forward to Sunday evening. We were going to play Mexican Train with neighbors but my trip to Wal-Mart took way longer than expected. (I decided to go to one closest to our house, which also happened to be the one that all the college students were buying their dorm room supplies at!) I digress.....I got home and made dinner. By this time, it is pouring down rain again. We decide to nix the game idea. Michael grabs an umbrella and heads outside to see if there is any damage. I was sitting in the living room and hear, "Jacob, go look in the garage to see if there is water in there." I immediately jump up, open the door to the garage and see this....2 inches of standing water.

Now, those of you who know me, know that our garage is not used to house our vehicles, but rather to house our junk. Boxes of things we packed up before moving in almost 3 years ago. Before you go thinking, what is wrong with them.....I admit it, I have a disease that so far has been incurable. It's called procrastination. I think I also have a twinge of laziness. Those two do not make a good combination.

However, when forced to take action, we are great! Michael, Jacob and our neighbor quickly sprang into action with push brooms. They pushed the water out of the driveway which immediately caused the water in the garage to recede. On Monday, Michael came home early and emptied the garage and reorganized. We went through boxes and founds LOTS of things for either a garage sale or Goodwill.

Life is an adventure, isn't it?

The Most Random Quiz

I am an Echinacea What Flower Are You?

"You are a health conscious person, both your health and the health of others. You know all about the health benefits and dangers of the world around you."

This was a perfectly random quiz. While I want to be healthy and know what to do, when to do it and why I should do it....I eat more than I should and move less than I should. However, I don't smoke, drink or do drugs....so maybe I am healthy. I brush my teeth, at least once a day and floss when I have corn stuck in my teeth or on Monday's when I'm have every intention of flossing every day.

Let me know what flower you are and if you agree with the description.

32303

Have you seen that 90210 has been revived? I still remember sitting in Home Ec, in 9th grade, and EVERYONE was talking about the show they watched last night. I had not seen it; I wasn't allowed to watch television during school nights. Lucky for me, 90210 came on a night that my parents had bible study, at someone else's house. I would 'sneak' and watch it while they were out. I had a little black and white tv in my room, one with rabbit ears and no remote. WOW, that sounds ancient, doesn't it?

The show had no redeeming qualities, yet I loved it and looked forward to it. Eventually, I appealed to my mom - promising I would only watch that one show and assured her I would have my homework done before watching the show. It worked, she agreed. Actually, she knew I was watching it while they were out.

I must say, Boca Raton was a little like 90210. Classmates drove BMW's and Mustangs to school. The obsession with money, fashion, dating, sports was extremely prevalent, but maybe that was the same for lots of other high schools. Fortunately, I stayed out of that crowd. Thankfully I had friends like Melissa (I'd link her blog....but unfortunately, she has quick her blogging addition ºÜº) and Kristie. We enjoyed things that were considered 'right' but still fun.

Since Hannah and Jacob are both in middle school, I am reminded of my years in grades 6-8. Time has flown by and I expect it to continue. Before I know it, Hannah will be a 9th grader. I cannot imagine her watching a show like 90210 now. As much as parents complain about Disney shows...like Hannah Montana and the like, I think I'll take that over Beverly Hills anyday. Hopefully, 32303 is nothing like 90210.

Happy Birthday Mom

I love you!

Grocery Bags

Totally random....I know.

What kind of grocery bags do you use? Are you a 'green' shopper and bring your own bags to the market? I've thought about purchasing some Publix reusable bags, but then talk myself out of it. I've thought of crocheting a few market bags, but then realize I really don't have the desire, nor the time, to make.

I used to get paper bags. I thought more could be packed into them. Plus, they were perfect scrap catchers when I had monthly crops at my house. Now, I chose plastic, when asked. I line bathroom garbage cans with them. I have one hanging in my van to collect travel trash. Jacob uses them to dump kitty litter in. Years ago, I would put stinky diapers in them. (Thought: is there any other kind of diaper than a stinky one?)

A while ago, I purchased a bag holder/dispenser at IKEA. It is sitting in my garage, not hung on the wall, as it should be, and is....umm....empty. Instead, I have a HUGE commerical size garbage bag full of plastic bags. I have grand ideas of bringing them up to Publix to recycle. Although, I heard that the bags need to be individual and not inside each other. (This probably isn't true....but a good excuse, nonetheless).

Random, I know....but you were warned.....

Food Prayers....

As you may already know, we are doing a weekly family bible study. See Michael's post, if you want to know more. However, the first week the daily lessons went over spending time alone with God, how to and why. On of the days focused on prayer and had us break down The Lord's Prayer.

So, if I put together what I studied last week and then what Melissa studied this week...I should be praying for jelly sandwiches, daily. Sounds perfectly logical.....

Give us this day our daily bread and make the 9 fruit of the Holy Spirit your daily personal prayer petition (Galatians 5:22-23)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

I'm Superior, at least today.....

71 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

I am not convinced that I'm superior. However, it was fun to take. Thanks Emily for adding to your blog.

A game of tag....

First, let me start off by saying, I really have never enjoyed a game of tag. Really, what is the point? You are either running from someone or to someone. Again, what is the point? My dislike may be a direct result of my distaste of a. being hot and b. sweating. I wasn't going to take Melissa's challenge of being tagged, but after reading Melissa's and Emily's posts, I just had to join the fun. I was laughing out loud with Emily's.....your's was funny too, Melissa.

Okay, here is the mission, if you choose to accept.
First you post the rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks you possess.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are a few...um....real things about me.
1. I CANNOT stand mouth noises, especially while sitting at the table. (i.e. the sound of someone chewing with their mouth open) I was at a friend's house not too long ago and her son was eating and I had to actually fight the voices in my head that were screaming, "STOP chewing with your mouth open, you're grossing me out!"
2. I like to sit with my heels up and my toes curled under, with the weight resting on my curled toes. Is that enough description, or do I need to post a photo?
3. Speaking of feet, my feet are usually smelly. That is why I love YellowBox flip flops and Crocs, they can be thrown in the washer!
4. I pluck my eyebrows and chin hairs, yes I said chin hairs, everyday. I like it. I've never had my eyebrows waxed and don't think I will.....I enjoy plucking.
5. I'm a copy cat. Rarely do I come up with ideas of my own. I just improve on other's.
6. This is not a quirk that is ongoing, but....I gave myself a pedicure at Blizzard Beach. Well, not a full pedicure. In the lazy river, while my feet were dangling, I rotated my heels along the rough bottom. As I'm typing it, it sounds kind of gross, doesn't it. My heels are completely smooth now. I guess I left my DNA at Disney.

I am tagging some of you......here goes.....
Mom
Christy
Laura
Michael
Kimberly
Johnna

Catch up

I feel the need to catch you up with what I/we have been up to lately. Then I begin to think, do you really care? I've decided that you do, otherwise why would you be reading this, right?

The summer is almost over, the kids go back to school on Monday and I'm sad. I've convinced myself I'm sad because I won't have a child in elementary school anymore - Jacob will be in the 6th grade and is going to middle school. I don't know if that is why I'm a little sad or not, I haven't had time to be introspective. Maybe that is why I'm sad, I haven't had time. It truly seems like yesterday I was at home with 2 toddlers. While pregnant, I was told to enjoy every minute; I didn't and now I wish I had. However, it's not too late to enjoy every minute.

Last week I did just that, I enjoyed every minute. We took a quick trip to Orlando. I didn't plan every minute of every day, like I normally do. The resort we stayed at had a 75,000 sq. ft. pool area, complete with slides. My neighbor, and friend, mentioned that she would like to take her family to Orlando's waterparks. I immediately loved the idea and after a little research found that Disney has a great deal for Florida residents - year pass, after 2pm for $60/person (the regular price is $40/day). With Michael's dad living so close to Orlando, I thought that this was a good idea. We were able to sleep in, lounge at the resort pool and then head over to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. I must admit, I am not a fan of water slides, but knew the kids and Michael would love it. They were perfectly happy to let me lounge along the lazy river - so it was perfect. I didn't even take any photographs, instead of capturing memories we made memories. One day it rained and we watched movies and played games. Michael's sister, Christy, popped over for a day and we were able to stop and see Michael's dad, brothers and sister, too.

A few weeks ago, Michael, with the help of our neighbor and friend, Gregg, finished Hannah and Jacob's closets. They built shelving for the center of their closets, with poles on either side. Hannah's desk in in the middle of her closet and we slid Jacob's dresser in the center of his. All that is left is moulding and the closets will be complete. I'll have to post photos when they are complete and loaded. Hannah is especially thrilled; she has been without a closet to hang her clothes since we moved in. Actually, I think that Jacob is equally thrilled; he doesn't have to have his sister's clothes in his closet anymore.

lazy summer afternoon

Do you ever have a day where you wake up ready to get a lot accomplished only to find yourself still in your jamas at 2:30p? I did do a few things...maybe I should list them to make myself feel better......

1. brushed my teeth


2. dead-headed my sad looking hydrangeas


3. cut up a watermelon


4. made lunch


5. checked the blogs

Okay, even after typing it, I still don't feel better. Maybe I'll go take a nap and then I'll feel better! These two look like they aren't too concerned that they haven't accomplished much today.