Feelings

I feel like being alone with no questions, no "can I have some water?" and no listening to fussing from tired and sick children. I feel like giving someone at Caleb's work a piece of my mind. Maybe that will get the message across that I'm tired of him working long hours and on weekends. I know I sound ungrateful. I should be thankful that he has a job and that he's working hard to support his family. But I'm not feeling thankful today.

I'm feeling annoyed, saddened, and tired of all the baggage that people bring to the table about my pastor. Don't people have lives? Don't they have something better to do than post junk on facebook? Don't I have something better to do than read it all? I'm done reading about it.

I'm feeling sad that a friend's little baby is in the hospital. Praise God things the surgery went well but it's beyond hard to watch your little child in pain. Pray for a full recovery and that everyone can return home soon.

"My Grace is Sufficient" for every situation. I do believe that, but honestly I don't "feel" it all the time. Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands in the air and saying "just come back now! I'm ready for heaven!" And I doubt He wants us to be comfortable here anyways. We need to be reminded that this is not our home. I am reminded today.

Adventures

On the way home from the chiropractor today, I decided to stop at the grocery store just to get ketchup for our hamburgers tonight. How can one possibily eat hamburgers without ketchup??! It was lunchtime. All three kids were hungry, so was pregnant mom, and mom was too tired to think about preparing lunch for all three hungry kids later. So we decided to eat some food in the dining area of the store for our lunch. Our table was next to a bunch of firemen; also eating their food. We were there, eating our yogurt happily and then my three-year-old starts yelling totally out of the blue. "I'm going pee!!! Oh NO!! My chair is wet! It's in my shoes!!". I grabbed my kids, left our cart of food, and ran to the bathroom while the guys all watched in silence.

So the ketchup adventure took over an hour. In times like these, you can only laugh and pray that God teaches you to put the Holy Spirit in control of your days. We got home and decided to play in the water while the spring sun heated our backyard to 90 degrees. By the time I helped the kids out of their clothes and into their swimsuits, cleaned a one-year-old poopy butt, and calmed a child after being sprayed by her older sister, I felt like collapsing. And that is what I'll do now while the kids are sleeping.

More about my life

The past few weeks have been nutsish. Caleb has been working like a horse (which is a blessing) and I'm reminded daily that I married a hard-working-hunk-of-a-man. My children are continually growing and learning the finer lessons of life. The woman of the house is trying to do her motherly and wifely duties while building my business. God is good. SO good and faithful. I feel like I need to be reminded to keep my priorities strait quite frequently lately.

But anyways, onto more exciting news. Caleb and I took our first vacation since our wedding. Two free tickets to Aruba! Who would pass that up! We stayed in the "natives" part of the island, far from the resort folk. We ate local food, talked to local people while we rode in PACKED bus vans, and did activities that pregnant woman are allowed to do. You will see from the pictures that we delighted in each other the whole time :)

out as a family

We went to BJs wholesale food store yesterday to purchase ingredients for my two-week-menu-plan. I usually like going alone, with just me so I can think and maybe stay on the budget that my husband so carefully plans. But the thought of leaving them all brought a missingness feeling to my soul. So, away we all went. While the rest of Richmond sang songs in church services.

When we got there, Caleb took the three little ones in one large cart, along with a filled box of Teddy Grams. They traveled thru the isles while I shopped, eating every last one. I checked out while my family wondered about. As I began to pay for our food, they joined me and that's when I heard a voice to my left shoulder. It was an ugly voice with a very annoying tone. "my, you sure make things complicated...But it's cute to have them all in one cart like that..." that is all I heard from his nasty face as he looked at my family. I usually try to say something kind in return but I was in no mood. Instead of saying what I really wanted to say ("I'm going to make your sorry excuse for a face even more complicated then it already is if you say another word. I would rather have my complicated life then yours any day...") I ignored his words and walked away.

So now you know. I don't always have loving thoughts towards those that look about with dumb comments. There are many moments that I'm not prepared to or don't feel like shining Christ's light. I learn from this and pray that I will have something wise to say next time.

Be Still

It has been a time of being still. Never leaving the house while fighting viruses that seem to be waging war in my home.  It started over a week ago with me. Coughs, aches, pains, tissues, tears from all the coughs, exhaustion. Then it was the kids. All of them. Fevers, coughs, and more tissues. The man of the home is well. We call him the horse because he is rarely sick. The poor fellow stayed home from work three days in a row to care for everyone else. When he went back yesterday, I thought it fitting to make him some pies. To say thank you and all.

Before the sicknesses began, I redid the dining room. I shall post pictures soon. Caleb blames it all on being pregnant. He is probably right.

Tomorrow is Caleb's birthday. 29!

We have two round trip tickets to use anywhere in the world that Airtran goes. We want to go somewhere before #4 comes. Any idea??!!

Random Rants

I am amazed at how undependable people are in general. Myself included. People busy themselves with an array of junk that distract them from other stuff that maybe should be more important. When I put all my hopes in people, I'm always let down. We are all flawed.

I LOVE that I can be home all the time. My goal is to only fill the gas tank up once per month ($100) and I really think it's possible. I'm thinking that I will go out every other week for food, once a week for bible study/social gatherings and then once for church. I'm not going to be legalistic by any means but I think it's realistic with my love-to-be-home nature.

Today I am trying to make Babkah. I've never heard of it before not but it looks really cool. You should try it too.

My credit cards are all cut up. I love cash.

I just started using mineral makeup. I'm never....I mean NEVER going back! Easy, natural, looks good...what's not to love?

My husband was grumpy last night. When I asked him why, he said that he wanted to buy me the Bosch mixer that I want but there is a bill that needs paying instead. He's a great guy.

Perhaps a nonboring post

My husband informed me last night that my blog is downright boring. When I told him I haven't thought about blogging these days, he said I should just delete it then. I'll take that to mean that he (and his coworkers mind you) enjoy regular posts about my momhood life.

So as most of you know, we're expecting our 4th child. A part of me is just crazed that we're at 4! I was one of four and I (and lost of others) thought that was a lot! Another part of me is so excited. All of me knows that this child was planned from the beginning of time. My flesh is tired at times but I am renewed by grace everyday.

I have been working on my new Norwex business lately. I have dreams that I will help reach the city with this wonderful stuff. My husband is extremely supportive of it and there is no way I could do it without him. We hope to be debt free in three years, even when seasons of bills seem to come and come. God is faithful and we are trying to obey.

Caleb passed his PE test. This means he is a professional engineer and can legally design structures or a lot relating to structures for you. Give him a call if you're interested. He's a smart one. He received a gym membership for Christmas from me this year. I want him to have muscles.

I kids are just wonderful. Emarie is daily displaying her big sibling abilities with tender lovings. She loves to rock her sister when Claire is sad or tired and she loves to wrestle with her little bud brother. Claire loves her family and reminds me of that everyday. When she says "I love you mommy", she always adds "and I really love my daddy too". Elliott is toddling around here at fast speeds. He tries to copy the words we say and the steps that we take. It is so fun to see him grow and learn.

Christmas is past but we continue to celebrate around here. Caleb's siblings and their families are coming here this weekend to have our annual Lange sibling party. Let the festivities begin!