# 8 - Peek-a-boo

The other night as Joe was having a little computer time, I noticed something very funny!
Can you see her?
Katie's baby, which she named Loralei.... was watching Joe play.
He didn't notice her until I mentioned how creepy it was....
she looks like she is having a GREAT time....don't ya think?

I don't know which one of my daughters placed the baby there, or how she got right in the exact right position to look like she was watching the computer, but... it was silly!

365 Days of pictures!

So, my friend Kristin got challenged to post a picture everyday for a year.
It thought that would be fun and cool, and right up my alley...
so, even though I was not directly challenged, I am going to pretend I was!
Here is my 1st picture's of the year....let's all pretend I got this awesome idea before 2011, so... this picture is actually my 7th picture....wink wink!!!!

My little sister gave these awesome Tinkerbell shoes to Katie yesterday.
On the way home from Lindsay's house, Katie asks me if we have a Tinkerbell dress.
I reply, "Yes, Katie.... we have Tinkerbell dress. It is in the dress-ups.
"Really, Mommy!!!! I didn't know that!"
I don't think that girl has ever worn this Tinkerbell dress.... but now that she has the shoes... it's a whole other story!

She played in this outfit for hours...
She kept looking in the mirror...she knew she looked good!

Sometimes, the outfit really is "all about the shoes"!

Opera Company of Philadelphia "Hallelujah!" Random Act of Culture

As I watched this...the 1st time, I though tI was welling up with tears
because this HOLY song was binging sung in a mall....
That wasn't the reason at all!
The spirit....it's always about the spirit! I felt the spirit TESTIFY that
Jesus Christ is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Wonderful, Counselor,
The Prince of Peace, The Everlasting Father! HALLELUJAH!
I will praise Him for Ever and Ever!!!


I wish I could have been a spectator at this awe inspiring event! I would have
been singing my little heart out! What an awesome "Random Display of Culture"!

To all mothers...LISTEN UP!

I got this story via e-mail from my own mother. It touched me so much... I wanted it on my blog. The spirit I felt while reading it is worth sharing!... so read it ladies.... it's worth the 5 minutes!

Invisible Mother.....

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it t o me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become. At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

What to post.....

I have been a lose for words lately....believe me....I still have idiotic thought and words all the time. I just can't seem to remember any of them lately.

Instead of rambling...Here's what is going on with me right now....
Every Monday morning, Emily has gymnastics at the REC center. SO, I get to exercise...I run.
Every Tuesday morning, Katie has gymnastics....more running for me.
Every Wednesday night Maggie has gymnastics....yep more running.
(Don't worry... Lilli has an activity too, she's just on break from soccer.... she starts again in January with indoor)
I was feeling great, getting strong....and starting to stop dreading the exercise. Then last week.... as I was just about through with my run (about 2.5 miles), my toes on my right foot started going numb. I went the rest of the week with very sore toes.
I thought I would try again on Monday morning, but again....by the last 2 laps of my run, numb toes.
I went to the Chiropractor on Wednesday, he adjusted me, but advised me to take it easy the rest of the week. Which means, I haven't done any exercise this week....I am crabby, lazy, even sick feeling. I have no motivation, and I have eaten really terrible....thanks to the awesome Christmas chocolates that are already covering the grocery store shelves!
I can't win! I hope to do the Elliptical machine next week, so hopefully I will feel better soon.

Hives, HIVES! Everywhere...

But not a single BEE!!!

Ok... these pictures don't do it justice... but here ya go!
These were yesterday morning...Monday.

right chin....

Left Chin...
yesterday morning, after a bath.... not even a teeny bit better!

right arm...

left arm.


Today...Tuesday, WORSE!!!!
Thighs...
(I was wearing a swimming suit...Maggie took the picture)

Back Thigh! UGH!!!!

Funny thing about this shot...I asked Maggie to take a picture of the back of my legs,
and she said..."Why? They aren't THAT bad! OH MY GOODNESS!!!
I changed my mind... they ARE BAD!"

Even my poor ear lobe and my scalp have them...even my fingers and knuckles.
I am going to go get some "knock me on my butt" allergy meds today!
Hopefully that will make my tomorrow a better day!

Some Fun Conversations from Oregon

On our trip to Oregon...we had some pretty funny car memories.

Here are a few...

Mile 39- Lilli... "We're in Oregon? That was easy!"

Mile 155- Maggie... "We're NOT at the Hotel yet...." not a question,

sort of an out of nowhere ramble statement.

Mile 200- Mom..."Next stop, a pretty waterfall!" Katie...."Can I go too?"

The pretty waterfall... and Katie came too!

Mile 500- Emily... "I wanna see a Pink Jeep Beep!"

30 sec. later ..."Mom, did you see a Pink Jeep Beep yet?"
Has anyone EVER seen a pink Jeep?

Depot Bay

Bonneville Fish Hatchery, on the way back home!

At a McDonald's before the Museum....
Maggie..."Why do they keep saying...'#44, your shower is ready.'?"
Joe... "Because this is a Truck Stop, and the Truckers can take showers here."
Lacey... "Are the showers free?"
Joe..."No, they pay for them."
Lacey..." So do they pay for the length of shower?"
Joe... "No, I think it is just one price, and they take as long as they need."
Lilli... "They will need a really long time to wash a whole truck!"

Maryhill Museum steps

Our family inside an art family

Soda Addicts
Maggie..."Can I have some more soda?"

Emily..."Me too!"

Lilli..."Me too!"

Katie..."Me FIRST!"

Emily..."Don't CHUG it ALL!!! Leave some for me! AND leave some for ME!"

Watching Wizard of OZ... about 2 hours left till home

in regards to the Wicked Witch

Katie..."I don't like that Lady!"

Maggie..."I was the Wicked Witch for Christmas."

Much laughter ensues.....

Maggie..."I MEAN... for HALLOWEEN!"

We had a great time, and have so many great memories!