tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336018442024-03-06T23:30:57.318-05:00Everyday StoriesThese are the everyday stories of my life,
which include a wonderful husband and our four sonsJanellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.comBlogger821125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-71915869455311832952020-06-05T15:05:00.000-04:002020-06-05T15:05:06.781-04:00PriviledgeWe're hearing a lot about White Privilege these days. I never really heard of it until probably a few years ago and never thought too much of it as I didn't feel privileged. But it's bubbled up and we've been having a lot of discussions at home with our boys. Wanting to help guide their thoughts and opinions into one that reflects Christ I've been thinking about it a lot and reading a lot about it and what it means to other people.<br />
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What I have determined is that privilege is something like grace. You don't earn it, it's given and you can't give it back. There are lots of privileges in this world. Here are some I have thought of and what they mean to me (currently), I am ever evolving my opinions on everything!<br />
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Male Privilege: men have it, women don't<br />What it means in the world for those who don't have it: women will always park under a lamppost, have keys and phone out with 911 at the ready in a "shady" location, they will check the back seat, lock the doors as soon as possible<br />
What it means in my house: I am the first one to ask for a break when we carry a couch or dresser<br />
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Parents still married privilege: some kids have it, some don't<br />What it means in the world for those who don't have it: shuffling back and forth between houses, remembering which parent they will be with at a holiday or particular time, lack of consistency, and often lack of funds<br />
What it means in my house: kids don't get away with Jack, we are a united front, ALL. THE. TIME.<br />
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Small Community Privilege: small towns have it, big towns don't<br />
What it means in the world for those who don't have it: can feel alone, feel like no one has your back, you are one in many<br />
What it means in my house: everyone in town knows us/their parents, everyone knows what car we/the kids drive, everyone knows the behavior we expect from our boys, we are held accountable by our community, our community supports us<br />
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Middle Class Privilege: most people in America have it, some don't<br />
What it means in the world for those who don't have it: might not know where your next meal is coming from, won't have all the "things" that the other kids/people have<br />
What it means in my house: we go on vacation as a family every year, kids and adults get spirit wear when they play a sport, they get to go on optional ($$) field trips with school, we get to go out to dinner once a month or so, we never have to worry if the utilities are being turned off<br />
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American Privilege: Americans have it, other people don't<br />
What it means in the world for those who don't have it: not as many choices or freedoms, not a culturally diverse, etc.<br />
What it means in my house: we honor those who served in the past to free us from oppressors, we honor those who serve us now to keep us from oppression and keep us safe, we can start a business, go to whatever church we want<br />
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White Privilege: white people have it, other people don't<br />
What it means in the world for those who don't have it: get looked at second, second choice, feel/treated inferior<br />
What it means in my house: I don't have an answer for this<br />
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My boys have all of the above! They are privileged for sure! But they didn't earn any of these things. We are quick to remind them they are in the Middle Class because Tim and I work hard and take on extra jobs and start businesses; they are fairly big fish in a small pond because we chose to raise them here, they are blessed their parents work hard at their marriage <b>EVERY DAY</b> to stay in love and together, and the other privileges they were born into and have no bearing on anything they did so they can't brag about it-it's how God saw a plan for their life so they better work it well.<br />
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Thus, my next line of thought becomes, when a group is not the same-meaning some have a privilege and some don't; what is our obligation to make everyone have the same privilege?<br />
Can that happen? [I don't think so]<br />
<i>Should </i>that happen? [This is what I am pondering]<br />
Or did God give us all a different position in life for a purpose? Think of Queen Esther in Veggie Tales, as Cousin Mordecai said, Esther was Queen, "For such a time as this..."<br />
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<br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-53063394153744132002020-05-22T09:54:00.004-04:002020-05-22T09:57:39.039-04:00Power Grab<div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;">
"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."</div>
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— Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.</div>
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I have been in a funk lately. I think it's non-interaction with other humans. I'm not good reaching out on the phone. I haven't seen many people in person. I think I need to read <i>Atlas Shrugged </i>again, it tends to center me on the business side of my personality. And bonus, I can't read it in a short period of time, it takes me awhile.</div>
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Maybe it's because Eli is graduating and we can't have the things that I've been looking forward to to commemorate this milestone. I need to jump in another Bible study too. And clean my house. And make dinner, always the making dinner!</div>
Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-54385094974913795002020-04-09T14:51:00.000-04:002020-04-09T14:56:52.175-04:00DirectiveEvery day, a new "directive" from the government pushes our small business closer and closer to falling into the pit of despair.<br />
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I refuse to be pushed over the edge into despair by people who don't understand business, much less my industry or my business in particular. If we make a bad decision and fail, that's on us. I refuse to be shamed for wanting my business succeed and making decisions to ensure it's going concern. I refuse to be shamed by a welfare state and mentality. I refuse to give up on capitalism.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-56484826821967239552020-04-09T14:41:00.003-04:002020-04-09T14:42:51.065-04:00I haven't fallen off the face of the EarthI haven't posted in what, five years? The boys are of an age that I'm not comfortable telling their stories, so I pretty well quit blogging. They are where most of my stories come from!<br />
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However, I need an outlet. I work for our business at home, so no co-workers. Well, with no school for the foreseeable future, I have all of the boys :) I started a facebook post but decided, I really just needed to get it out, not for people to see it. And since no one really reads this blog, it's fine here!Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-86176911083885109972015-04-01T10:11:00.000-04:002015-04-01T10:11:10.267-04:00Born With ItI believe we are all born with certain tendencies. After giving birth to four boys who have the same parents and live in the same house, I can see some things they are born with. I have one boy who talks incessantly and one you have to pull information out of. Why is that? Nature and nurture are the same for these boys. I believe it is the way the genes shook out this time-they were born that way. Does it make one boy better than the other? I don't believe so. Does it make one boy right and one boy wrong? I don't believe so.<br />
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Do I hold both boys to the same standards in our home? Yes I do. Do I expect to be answered <i>every </i>time I address them? Yes, whether you are the boy who likes to talk or the one who doesn't like to talk. If I speak to you, you respond. Regardless of the tendency you were born with, that is irrelevant, you are expected to live up to the standard. Just like I hold them both to the standard of not talking just to hear their own voice or talking over people. </div>
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Now is one of those things easier to comply with for each boy? Yes, they are. </div>
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Do the standards change based on what is easier for an individual boy? No, it does not.</div>
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Are standards universal? Yes, they are.</div>
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As you can see, I believe a person has the responsibility to control their own actions regardless of the tendencies they have, or "were born with" if you will.</div>
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Then comes the issue of standards. I get mine from the Bible. Where do you get yours? </div>
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There are those who have a different belief system or some other framework for standards, and I do not deny them that right. In my belief system God gives us free will. Free will to make both right and wrong choices, free will to adhere to a different system of beliefs and set of standards. But it does not take away my right to my beliefs and standards because someone else thinks them wrong.</div>
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<br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-4511688191428523452015-02-05T11:11:00.001-05:002015-02-05T11:11:07.759-05:00SoapMy mom went to my Grandma's for a week to help her clean out and organize her sewing room, among other things. At 81 my Grandma is slowing down on the sewing and knows it is time to cull through some of her accumulated material and stuff. When my mom came back she had a bag of things for me and my sister from my Grandma's purge. One of the things for us was a new bar of Irish Spring soap. Not what we generally use, but as Flylady says "soap is soap" so it made it up to the shower in the soap holder. I didn't think anything more about it.<br />
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A few days later Eli and I had the following conversation:<br />
<i>Eli: That bar of new soap in the shower? We should take it out.</i><br />
Me: Why?<br />
<i>Well it's hand soap.</i><br />
Why do you say that?<br />
<i>It's in a bar. It's not gooey.</i><br />
Well it's soap, not shower gel.<br />
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Blank stare.<br />
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Do you realize that shower gel had to be invented? Like when I was a kid we only had soap in a bar, and someone thought it'd be a good idea to make it gooey like shampoo, but before that, always a bar of soap to get clean.<br />
<i>Ohhhh. </i>As he slowly raises his chin in understanding.<br />
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Mercy. Am I that old? My child doesn't know about bar soap. Have I failed him?!?<br />
<br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-11805985645497756962015-01-20T19:52:00.000-05:002015-01-20T19:52:09.304-05:00Sneeze"Mom? Why do we shut our eyes when we sneeze?" Eli asked.<br />
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"To keep your eyes from flying out," I replied, without missing a beat.<br />
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"Really?!?" he almost yelled as his eyes flew open wide.<br />
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I just smirked and shrugged with raised eyebrows.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-48890825606687387052014-12-15T09:35:00.002-05:002015-01-20T19:53:35.483-05:00What's in a nose?Let me set the stage. We were sitting in church. My mother-in-law's new church to watch the Christmas program.<br />
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Jesse was sitting beside me and I saw him pick his nose-I hate that, but I chose to ignore it. A little bit later I see him pick his nose again so I leaned over and say to him quietly, "Do you need a tissue? I'd rather not see you pick your nose."<br />
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He looks up at me and as he pulls his finger out of his mouth he says, "Well, it's just that I didn't have much breakfast!" as his voice was quickly turning into a whine.<br />
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I frowned at him and whispered, "What does breakfast have to do with picking your nose?"<br />
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He frowns back at me and whispers back, "It's just that I'm hungry and there's nothing else to eat."<br />
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I just looked at him, puzzled. Then my eyes flew open in surprise and disgust as I realize what he's talking about. He's talking about eating his boogers.<br />
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As soon as my eyes go wide Jesse realized what he has really said and he opens his mouth tall in an effort to not smile as he waits to see what I'm going to do. Then since he can't hold back his snicker he starts to cover his face with his hands, all the while watching me to see what my reaction will be.<br />
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I can't hold it in, I turn away from him as I start to shake with laughter and the harder I try to hold it in the harder I laugh. You know how that is, the more you try to stop the more funny it becomes until you just can't control it. Pretty soon I was wiping tears from my eyes. Jesse was laughing just as hard beside me. Then all the other boys (and husband) were wanting in on the joke, but I couldn't even talk.<br />
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That Jesse.<br />
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And note to self: feed the boys more breakfast.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-70051900045086009752014-10-02T10:38:00.000-04:002014-10-14T10:46:30.512-04:00On Getting MarriedI have not been good about blogging this year in 2014 as my life has been crazy busy, even by my standards. But that season is almost over and while we have chosen to be involved in a lot of activities and business ventures, we are working to find a new "normal" once again and I shall be back to blogging with some regularity. I think. I hope.<br />
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Some stories must be shared so I don't forget them though. This is one. Jesse, my Jesse. That kid is a piece of work.<br />
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A conversation between Jesse and me:<br />
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Jesse: Yuck-you and dad doing the smoochy-smooch.<br />
Me: Oh someday you'll get married and do the "smoochy-smooch" with your wife too!<br />
Jesse: No I won't. I'm not going to get married.<br />
Me: Well, maybe someday, but not anytime soon. You need to be a grown up and find the right girl.<br />
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A pause in the conversation and I think it is over.<br />
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Jesse: No, I changed my mind. I <i>am</i> going to get married.<br />
Me: Oh, okay.<br />
Jesse: Can she work?<br />
Me: You mean your wife?<br />
Jesse: Yeah, can she work? Will she get money?<br />
Me: She can work if you both decide that's what you want. And yes, if she works she'll get paid.<br />
Jesse: Oh good, 'cause I will get money faster.<br />
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Oh mercy.<br />
Can you tell we have been working on finances and learning how to save for a long-term goal? Eli & Noah both just saved enough to buy themselves ipods. The younger two do not have that much saved up. Thus they are stuck with merely playing with their DSs and my old tablet.<br />
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<br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-86479815536734227412014-06-10T12:52:00.001-04:002014-06-10T12:52:39.999-04:00SwimSimon is our little fish, always has been. He has taught himself how to swim and loves to be in the water. So this year we signed him up for swim team. <br />
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I took him to his first practice last week, and it is still pretty cold water! The kids teeth were chattering with lots of blue lips. Thankfully practice is only 45 minutes.<br />
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I watched him swim to see how he did and to see how he stacked up to the others in his age group. He's better than a couple, and a couple are better than him. I'd say he's solidly in the middle. On his first swim across the pool, in freestyle, he made it about halfway and then stopped and stood up; as practice went on he could go less and less far before needing to stop. By then end he would only do about one stroke before needing a break.<br />
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After practice was over we talked about how it went. I told him he was in the middle, some kids faster, some kids slower. Then I asked him, "So I noticed you got tired before you got all the way across the pool. What was tired? Your legs, your arms, or your lungs?"<br />
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"My arms."<br />
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I nodded, "Guess that's something you'll need to work on then."<br />
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"Mom, will doing pushups help?"<br />
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"Yes it will, that's a good idea."<br />
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"'Cause I don't want to be in the middle." Turns out that boy might just be competitive!<br />
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Later that evening we went to Eli's soccer game and as Eli's team was warming up Simon was down in the grass beside our chairs doing pushups. I think he ended up doing about 75.<br />
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The first meet is tonight and I'm super excited to see how he does in that type of environment. Good luck Simon!!Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-1426414988474306082014-05-11T08:25:00.000-04:002014-06-17T15:22:45.672-04:00Mother's DayI love to take pictures of me and each of the boys on Mother's Day. For much of the year and the pictures we have, I am behind the camera so we end up with not a lot of just me and a boy. Eli was my photographer for the three little boys; Noah took the one of Eli and I but he is just starting to learn how to work the camera so Eli and I had quite a session since I insisted my head needed to be in the picture, ha!<br />
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Then we recruited Tim to take one of all of us-we had to hunt him down since he's always working on my mom's apartment. So that picture is in the storage room of the apartment.<br />
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<br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-14702682706581414442014-05-05T13:10:00.004-04:002014-05-05T13:10:58.823-04:00ClothesEli and Noah share a room and in both of them packing for an overnight stay with friends it looked like their dressers and closet exploded. I didn't realize what they had done until they were both gone. So when they both were home again the next day, I said to them, "Before I get home tomorrow you need to have your room picked up."<br />
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Eli nodded in agreement. He knew they had left it a mess.<br />
Noah looked at me and said, "Or what?"<br />
I looked at Noah and said, "There is no 'or'."<br />
He raised his eyebrows and looked towards the floor and said quietly, "That's the worst kind!"Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-70318478000696729432014-03-24T13:14:00.000-04:002014-03-24T13:14:29.756-04:00Hard SleepersMost of my boys need to get up in the night to go to the bathroom, however Simon is such a hard sleeper he can never wake up to go. So he <em>still</em> wears pull-ups at night. Poor kid.<br />
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We have tried a variety of things, including an alarm clock that we set for the middle of the night, but he would never hear it. So one day last week we go the bright idea to put it in bed with him. Simon thought it was a great idea-it's a Yoda Lego clock so that was fun for him. Seemed to work, he woke up.<br />
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Well last night I found the clock in the dining room. ? I have no idea.<br />
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When I went to bed I tucked Yoda into bed with Simon. So he didn't know it was going to be there. A little while later, Tim and I heard the alarm go off and immediately feet hit the floor. And I thought, "Total score! This is working!" But then the feet came to the hallway and a loud knock on our bedroom door.<br />
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"Mom?"<br />
"Yeah?"<br />"My alarm is going off."<br />
"I know. Go to the bathroom."<br />
"I can't."<br />
"Why not?"<br />
"Because it's under my bed and it's too loud."<br />
I'm cracking up at this point and I say, "It's ok, just go to the bathroom."<br />
"Ok."<br />
<br />
Footsteps to the bathroom, alarm shuts off on it's own, Simon crawls into bed, Tim and I laughed so hard I almost cried. Then I slept really well for having such a good laugh. Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-92206007461594218132013-12-05T13:14:00.000-05:002014-05-05T13:15:02.938-04:00BelieveChristmas is such a special and fleeting time in a child's life and we try to make it wonderful, if not a little magical. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes not as much. I'm chalking this up to success.<br />
<br />
Jesse was loving some Christmas festivities and looked at me and said, so only I could hear, "When I get bigger, I'm not going to believe in Santa. But I'm not big yet, so I still believe."<br />
<br />
I said, "Good!" and hugged him tight.<br />
<br />
Childhood is so fleeting!Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-12817758722331049012013-10-04T09:21:00.002-04:002013-10-04T09:21:52.979-04:00Soccer MomYou know you are a soccer mom when...<br />
<br />
You keep chairs in your trunk at all times<br />
You have an umbrella the size of Rhode Island in your car<br />
You keep blankets and sweatshirts in your trunk<br />
You have water bottles and balls rolling around your car every day<br />
Your car smells like sweaty cleats/shin guards, and you don't notice it anymore<br />
You have raccoon eyes from sitting in the sun watching so many soccer games<br />
You have a first aid kit, and use it<br />
You keep a bag of snacks/stuff to do in the car<br />
You've done homework on the sidelines with kids not playing in the game<br />
You've fed your family dinner on the sidelines of a game<br />
You could ref the game right along with the best of them<br />
You practice with your player when practice is cancelled<br />
You have a standing agreement to carpool with other parents for practice and out of town games<br />
Your voice is hoarse after an intense game<br />
Your blood pressure gets a workout when the game is close<br />
You rehash the game when it's over<br />
You are just as excited as the players are when they win<br />
You know where all the soccer fields are in a twenty mile radius<br />
You support the local concession stand, frequently<br />
You keep a stash of drinks and snacks for your turn on the snack schedule<br />
You can pick out your child by his running gait<br />
You know all the player's names, and numbers<br />
You know what color shoes each player wears<br />
You know which fields have restrooms and which only have port-a-potties<br />
You text people updates of the score <em>during</em> the game<br />
You take pictures like you're watching Real Madrid<br />
You bought a zoom lens so you could take close ups of all the action<br />
You think soccer is exciting<br />
<br />
AND<br />
<br />
You will miss these days in ten years!<br />
Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-77378957349475804902013-09-24T11:11:00.002-04:002013-09-24T11:12:00.066-04:00Soccer Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My soccer boys, 2013.</div>
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They are all playing this year. Eli & Noah are traveling teams, and Eli also plays on a select team. <br />
<br />
To date, Simon's team is undefeated.<br />
To date, Jesse is undefeated.<br />
To date, Eli's team is 6-1.<br />
To date, Noah's team is defeated.<br />
<br />
<br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-15196068956707513662013-06-27T11:12:00.004-04:002013-06-27T11:12:51.808-04:00MarriageLegal does not equal moral.<br />
<br />
Marriage is a moral institution between a man, a woman, and God. <br />
<br />
The government decided to capitalize on this bountiful institution by offering "perks" for married individuals in the form of tax incentives. To be "married" then in the eyes of the law, you are required to provide certain information (sometimes even blood testing) and pay a fee and provide the government with your change of name status so they can further track your life. This created various revenues and jobs for the government. And over time, we began to forget that marriage is not a legal institution, but a moral one. <br />
<br />
It is a moral one, let us not forget it.<br />
<br />
The government is now redefining who is eligible to apply for a governmental marriage certificate, as is their right since they issue the certificates. This in NO WAY changes the moral institution of marriage. It is a moral one, don't forget.<br />
<br />
Those folks who were gay last week and living together, can now legally get married in the eyes of the law. That's great for them that they now can have the "perks" of being married under the government. They can now file for divorce and be liable for the other person's bills just like us heterosexuals.<br />
<br />
If I had known 14 years ago what I know now-I would have never applied for a marriage certificate. We would have had our same moral and religious ceremony and I would have changed my name to honor my husband and the commitment I made to him and to God. That would have been the end of it. We would have never let the government in on what is the most sacred institution we have.<br />
<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
<br />
Personally, what I don't like is calling a government certified "marriage" a marriage. I feel it is very different than the moral institution that we all think of when we hear the word marriage. <br />
<br />
To me it's like calling The Beatles and The Backstreet Boys both "bands".<br />
<br />
The Beatles wrote and performed their own music.<br />
The Backstreet Boys sing songs other people wrote.<br />
True they are both in the music business, but really, are they in the same category? Not so much. <br />
Is one better than the other? That is a personal preference.<br />
Should there be different words to describe the different kinds of "bands"? Definitely!<br />
<br />
Let's get on the ball with finding a different word for the governmental certified marriage, or maybe a different word for the moral institution we call marriage. One of them needs a new word!<br />
Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-21402976602832973922013-06-17T16:00:00.000-04:002013-06-17T16:00:03.542-04:00GraduationMy sister graduated and we had a party for her at our house. It was small, but nice. Especially nice for Mom as all of her kids were together and that almost never happens.<br />
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Fun decorations</div>
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Mom and all of her children</div>
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Grandma and four of her grandchildren</div>
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The whole clan of Mom's, plus her mom and two of her sisters. </div>
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Congratulations Olivia!</div>
Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-62067107517408350512013-06-12T10:12:00.004-04:002013-06-12T10:12:58.429-04:00Car discussionsLong time no blog, I know. I'm getting back on the blogging train. I miss it, but being a first year teacher was hectic and something had to give. It was blogging. I think I'll be able to keep up with it now that I seem to have a handle on the teaching thing. Maybe. ;) I may go back and write some posts in the times that I've skipped, just for my record keeping of our lives. <br />
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A little snippit from our ride home from church on Sunday:<br />
<br />
Jesse had a small piece of paper or sticker or something of the like. He it rolled up and stuck it in his mouth. Then he asked me if I would put his window up. He was "cigaretting" and didn't want it to blow out the window.<br />
<br />
Tim and I looked at each other and smiled.<br />
<br />
Cigaretting indeed.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-42876736804113595662013-05-17T15:45:00.000-04:002013-06-26T09:42:30.930-04:00Happy Birthday Eli!Eli's birthday was a quick affair this year compared to his big party last year for his 10th. It was a soccer tournament weekend so we were busy. In fact, we couldn't even wait for the cake to cool before icing it. It still tasted great :)<br />
<br />
This boy is ELEVEN!!!<br />
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Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-4697485308196188452013-04-23T15:49:00.000-04:002013-06-17T15:53:21.473-04:00Happy Birthday Noah!I'm not even on Pinterest, but people post stuff on facebook and I am there. So I got this idea from there for Noah's cupcakes for this birthday to take to school. Very cool, but took FOREVER, what with four different colors of icing.<br />
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And also a cake for us at home<br />
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Happy Birthay Noah!</div>
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Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-20796593436262014662013-04-10T15:42:00.000-04:002015-02-05T11:21:50.677-05:00FlowersI have enjoyed our flowers this spring<br />
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Knock out roses<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-SEeyuQyOgjSwiXz00zKVNGmJFPpyqfLQjckpC7MYqlq_cSsCf0jmhwNkv4XZS2hYjC9pcGIIvzADbJoqFeOouIzx2bdUCUixwq15TVdq_m7J2opcDyrtKQ5cafrFf6MyluI/s1600/IMG_3307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-SEeyuQyOgjSwiXz00zKVNGmJFPpyqfLQjckpC7MYqlq_cSsCf0jmhwNkv4XZS2hYjC9pcGIIvzADbJoqFeOouIzx2bdUCUixwq15TVdq_m7J2opcDyrtKQ5cafrFf6MyluI/s320/IMG_3307.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a>Vinca Vine, I just love the color.</div>
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These Bleeding Hearts are just so beautiful!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-SZgIYEI3yuqYbF6-VDwzrrcOZiQNuH5hUIpx2LXVf2vi02MKKxmPpx13jJ2WoWT2XesbCF-JjAtEmKbRshZJk8ESeWLeljxjVtUBdJJRc3_f5Q35Q3m02ysVZBNJN6yVerY/s1600/IMG_3308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-SZgIYEI3yuqYbF6-VDwzrrcOZiQNuH5hUIpx2LXVf2vi02MKKxmPpx13jJ2WoWT2XesbCF-JjAtEmKbRshZJk8ESeWLeljxjVtUBdJJRc3_f5Q35Q3m02ysVZBNJN6yVerY/s320/IMG_3308.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZGc5eqnQWaCNk39VfZ8HaMOukfUpRKYg57Vx82yo8RSik0EWhdEaUU-5OuD4YvIKbkOtQSHGNiTz7Eu5DhYjJQt8541t5OOcmZ9eUh77je2LQfSVotpXAWW-CdeVW7Wi6PeV/s1600/IMG_3309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZGc5eqnQWaCNk39VfZ8HaMOukfUpRKYg57Vx82yo8RSik0EWhdEaUU-5OuD4YvIKbkOtQSHGNiTz7Eu5DhYjJQt8541t5OOcmZ9eUh77je2LQfSVotpXAWW-CdeVW7Wi6PeV/s320/IMG_3309.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt8bntFbgtI-RMSdOEJX_T07CM_fSKX92qc8qafBNET0DWc5qRMxaDSEUeqfzyW_Qg9S9AtcbiQxbwDWRoGvq7CNkJxhb6ONoOqtTQlmdHzDDh0fvUqZ-yK0-LBqL6LAIntss/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt8bntFbgtI-RMSdOEJX_T07CM_fSKX92qc8qafBNET0DWc5qRMxaDSEUeqfzyW_Qg9S9AtcbiQxbwDWRoGvq7CNkJxhb6ONoOqtTQlmdHzDDh0fvUqZ-yK0-LBqL6LAIntss/s320/IMG_3311.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a>Daisys that my mom transplanted for me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTFYaQfy8hwtCb7x_wSVBuqaWf5yVLOHqdaQLkPkLO0DiM1z-NwAJE1HwU6wrnHlSmdxf0W2LU3SIzRje4lX1hZR-bmjmnSWKsNxpdQETDnEs04kU5eKRJfjXZllnAy5ztUt0/s1600/IMG_3312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTFYaQfy8hwtCb7x_wSVBuqaWf5yVLOHqdaQLkPkLO0DiM1z-NwAJE1HwU6wrnHlSmdxf0W2LU3SIzRje4lX1hZR-bmjmnSWKsNxpdQETDnEs04kU5eKRJfjXZllnAy5ztUt0/s320/IMG_3312.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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One of my favorite hostas.</div>
Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-38800602082581782842013-04-03T19:48:00.000-04:002013-04-03T19:48:17.819-04:00ShowerIt was Saturday morning and I hadn't picked out Jesse's clothes the night before so when he got up he came into our room.<br />
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"Mom, you didn't pick out my clothes."<br />
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"I know buddy!"<br />
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He crawled up onto the bed with me, grinning all the while. We are a real "kids sleep in their own beds" kind of family. He flopped down next to me and said, "Why do you smell like a shower?"<br />
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I laughed and said, "Cuz I took a shower last night. I like to be clean."<br />
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"Oh, it smells good."Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-80511432039289483032013-03-28T15:24:00.000-04:002013-06-17T15:32:35.457-04:00Happy Birthday Jesse!Jesse is 5 today! What is there to say? That the time has gone fast? It has, but no, I've been cherishing each day so 5 feels right. He's getting that look of a school age kid. That part is a little bitter sweet. But he's ready for some higher learning, I think. He has his own opinions these days, but then, he always seems to have. Case in point, he wanted rice crispy treats for his birthday cake instead of cake on his actual birthday.<br />
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For his party there of course were cupcakes and cake. At our house you get a friend party when you turn five. We had an angry birds party, it was a hoot.<br />
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We set up boxes that the party goers then had to throw balls at to knock down. We even had some volunteers of people wanting to be the bad piggies.</div>
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The crazy picture of the party goers. It was a success! The last 5 year old birthday party I get to plan!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdQsscKhGxEBqKnH7EDZvdZ3IwN57Yn_oTZ7B6ddck6J_vei3g7O5pIlfDhOEy5D1jdugdZ3uOeEFXpGNwz-3-zskz0_umM9UXFI62UX_qexV9b-23Ww-veNDNjOfqIcH8xi5/s1600/IMG_3036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdQsscKhGxEBqKnH7EDZvdZ3IwN57Yn_oTZ7B6ddck6J_vei3g7O5pIlfDhOEy5D1jdugdZ3uOeEFXpGNwz-3-zskz0_umM9UXFI62UX_qexV9b-23Ww-veNDNjOfqIcH8xi5/s320/IMG_3036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33601844.post-76470435733024736342013-03-20T15:23:00.000-04:002013-06-17T15:23:37.888-04:00MaskBecause I think his blue eyes are just so beautiful, and because my Grandma made him the mask.<br />
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Jesse getting ready to go outside to play!Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09361445254824779708noreply@blogger.com0