Okay. Today I'm going to tell you why and how my children's clothing always looks spotless and gorgeous. I get so many comments on the lovely state of their clothing that I decided to pass some hints along! I know you all were dying of curiosity and are so envious of how I get my kids to look so, well, so fashionable and so well put together! There's nary a stain, hole, or loose seam in any of their clothing!!!
Snort, snort!!!!!
Yeah, sure. Of course I jest!
But for real, in real life, my children's clothing looks a lot better than it should for a family with 6 active kids. Truthfully, I'm.....ummm........very obsessive about their appearance, and the state of their clothing, and here's why: I have to hand down my girls's clothes. Hannah's don't get handed down to Samantha, because they are too different in shape and size, but Samantha's go to Sara's go to Kellie (you get the picture).....because we are a big family and I can't afford to be a frequent shopper at Gymboree, no matter how much I would love to be!I mean, hey, they don't exactly have a Rewards card or a frequent shopper card, huh?? Thank God the closest Gymbo store is like an hour away from here!!!!! But I digress.....
So I feel challenged to keep the clothes looking spiffy. And because we are a big family, which is something of an anomaly in this day-and-age, I know people are dissecting us under a very unkind microscope, which, thinking about this all the time, used to have me in bondage! I used to be so caught up in what those people thought of me as a mom, and having a big family! But I got over it. Remember, I'm becoming.
I'm growing up now, finally, and I care about the way my kids look because I'm genuinely joyful when they look nice. I like to make sure my girls's hair is always done. I like them to wear skirts because we believe that it's so modest and beautiful. I like them to have clean faces and no stains or rips or holes. I do this because it's my job, and because I have time and I love to do it. I'm trying to be a good steward of my gifts.
People have commented on how their hair is always done and how they're so well behaved......really!
So I want to do a commercial for you as to why my children's clothes look so good.
The first reason is that I use Tide laundry detergent. I don't care how much it costs! Some of you out there spend oodles of bucks on fancy, brand name mascara and lip gloss. Some of you love lots of expensive handbags. Some of you like to buy tons of shoes. Not me. I have a fetish for Tide. Really. And yes, my husband is giving me therapy for this idiosyncrasy. But it hasn't worked and hey, Tide is the BEST. With a capital "B". And so I remain addicted. It's okay, it's the only bottle of anything I love to knock back, and it sure does last, because I don't use as much as it says to!! I use way less. It's still the best. Tide, you are my babe!!!
I never pre-treat any kind of stain on any of our clothes. GASP!!! Yep. Your eyes didn't deceive you. I have never owned Shout, or a pre treating pen. I just use OxyClean. And here's another dirty little secret, since we are talking about dirty clothes here, people........
I wash all of our clothes in hot water. There. The cat is finally out of the proverbial bag, and I feel so much better!! I guess you know by now that I have not one bone of frugality in me! I wash with the best stuff and I use the most expensive water......
But our clothes are uber-clean. Nary a stain. None. Not even mustard! My babe (Tide) gets it alllll out. Chocolate. Berry stains. Mold. Mustard. BBQ sauce and ketchup. Coupled with the expensive temperature of water, it's all a no brainer for Tide.
And my kids don't have play clothes. I know. I don't know if you can handle another secret from me!!!! I don't know if you want to be friends with my anymore!! But my kids play, eat, and do schoolwork, go to church, weddings, and do chores in the same clothes. And they stay clean because of that big orange bottle that I love!
Now, quit being frugal with your gross laundry stuff that you really aren't satisfied with, deep down in your heart, and go out and buy you some serious Tide!!! Kiss dingy, discolored, wrinkly, gross smelling, dirty clothes goodbye!
There! Don't you feel much better???
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
spring poetry
Here's a poem I found in a binder I'd not been using. The binder is some years old, and I think the poem is at least more than two years old. I've reclaimed the binder, and reclaimed the poem too!
Petals dance
from the cherry trees
like so many
tiny white butterflies,
fluttering to the ground
in a cascade of
snow colored wings.
Lacy cotton clouds
glide leisurely across
a robin's egg sky.....
and wind chimes laugh
their music
over a teasing wind.
The baritone hum
of the lawnmower,
the merry chatter of birds
calling to each other......
my eyes and ears feast
on the glorious
song and dance
of spring.
all words copyright 2005 by leeswords. reproducing any or all of these words prohibited unless by express permission from author. if you like what you read, please ask to post it, don't steal it!
Petals dance
from the cherry trees
like so many
tiny white butterflies,
fluttering to the ground
in a cascade of
snow colored wings.
Lacy cotton clouds
glide leisurely across
a robin's egg sky.....
and wind chimes laugh
their music
over a teasing wind.
The baritone hum
of the lawnmower,
the merry chatter of birds
calling to each other......
my eyes and ears feast
on the glorious
song and dance
of spring.
all words copyright 2005 by leeswords. reproducing any or all of these words prohibited unless by express permission from author. if you like what you read, please ask to post it, don't steal it!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Straight hair
Just for fun, here's a pic of me wearing my hair straight. It was a good hair day that day. Wait, does that sound boastful? Sorry, but when good hair days don't happen every day, ya gotta take 'em when they happen!!!! It sure looks like I have more hair than I really do!!
I was taking a picture on my MacBook for my Homeschool Lounge page and decided to save it, for some unknown reason. My husband said I should have taken the picture on his iMac because it would have been a better picture, but I was on the MacBook that day, so I didn't....*sigh*....oh well!
It's the only one of few pictures of me that doesn't look like I'm a bag lady or I'm about to murder someone in cold blood.......
Thank God for the small blessings of good hair days, my daughter's blended mochas and MacBooks!!!!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Songs that remind me of Dave
Gayle over at Life With My Crew had a great idea for a post, and I'm stealing it...actually I think it was Cindy who started it!!!!
I'm going to tell all you gals what songs remind me of my husband....but I can't say they're 80's songs.
Let me explain. I met my husband when I was 15, in 1988, so the era was almost over, and we courted in the 90's. I have lots of songs that I love from that era.....but let me caution you: A lot of my songs are going to be by Celine. She was my all time, hands-down, #1 favorite ever. You know how Cindy feels about her pretend BFF, well, that's the way I used to feel about Celine! So brace yourself, all of you Celine-haters!
The first song I love that reminds me of my man is "Seduces Me". A friend of mine once told me that that song was indecent and I shouldn't be listening to it. What??!! What's wrong with listening to a song that makes me think of my hottie husband over and over?? Maybe it was not good for her to listen to it. I love the words, they're so eloquent and beautiful:
Everything you are,
everything you'll be,
touches the current of love
that is so deep in me.
Every sigh in the night,
every tear that you cry,
seduces me.
All that I am,
all that I'll be
means nothing at all,
if you can't be with me.
Your most innocent kiss,
or your sweetest caress
seduces me.
I don't care about tomorrow.
I've given up on yesterday.
Here and now is all that matters.
Right here with you is where I'll stay.
Everything in this world,
every voice in the night,
every little thing of beauty
comes shining through in your eyes.
And all that is you
becomes part of me too,
cause all you do seduces me.
And if I should die tomorrow,
I'd go down with a smile on my face.
I'd thank God I'd ever known you.
I'd fall down on my knees
for the life we've made.
I know I'm wordy, and some even say poetic, but in a million years, I could never come up with words better than that to express exactly what he means to me. We're intertwined, he and I, and I've forgotten where I stop and he begins. I love that feeling, and even after almost 15 years, his kisses still have the power to make my knees turn to jelly and my tummy turn upside down!
So that song is so perfect for us, and the Spanish guitar is so beautiful, it brings tears to my eyes.
There are not a whole lot of singers out there who captivate me the way Celine did. Imagine the impact she'd have singing for the Lord!!
That's the first song for me and my man. I'll post more songs later.
I'm going to tell all you gals what songs remind me of my husband....but I can't say they're 80's songs.
Let me explain. I met my husband when I was 15, in 1988, so the era was almost over, and we courted in the 90's. I have lots of songs that I love from that era.....but let me caution you: A lot of my songs are going to be by Celine. She was my all time, hands-down, #1 favorite ever. You know how Cindy feels about her pretend BFF, well, that's the way I used to feel about Celine! So brace yourself, all of you Celine-haters!
The first song I love that reminds me of my man is "Seduces Me". A friend of mine once told me that that song was indecent and I shouldn't be listening to it. What??!! What's wrong with listening to a song that makes me think of my hottie husband over and over?? Maybe it was not good for her to listen to it. I love the words, they're so eloquent and beautiful:
Everything you are,
everything you'll be,
touches the current of love
that is so deep in me.
Every sigh in the night,
every tear that you cry,
seduces me.
All that I am,
all that I'll be
means nothing at all,
if you can't be with me.
Your most innocent kiss,
or your sweetest caress
seduces me.
I don't care about tomorrow.
I've given up on yesterday.
Here and now is all that matters.
Right here with you is where I'll stay.
Everything in this world,
every voice in the night,
every little thing of beauty
comes shining through in your eyes.
And all that is you
becomes part of me too,
cause all you do seduces me.
And if I should die tomorrow,
I'd go down with a smile on my face.
I'd thank God I'd ever known you.
I'd fall down on my knees
for the life we've made.
I know I'm wordy, and some even say poetic, but in a million years, I could never come up with words better than that to express exactly what he means to me. We're intertwined, he and I, and I've forgotten where I stop and he begins. I love that feeling, and even after almost 15 years, his kisses still have the power to make my knees turn to jelly and my tummy turn upside down!
So that song is so perfect for us, and the Spanish guitar is so beautiful, it brings tears to my eyes.
There are not a whole lot of singers out there who captivate me the way Celine did. Imagine the impact she'd have singing for the Lord!!
That's the first song for me and my man. I'll post more songs later.
Friday, April 4, 2008
The deal of the century!
You gals are NOT going to believe this!!!!!!
I want to tell you all why I'm so pumped, but first, a little background!
We're all huge fans of Anne of Green Gables around here. I myself have read all of the books and we also have the Focus on the Family radio drama series too, which I got on Amazon a couple of years ago, and we've all (including my almost teenage son!) have listened to the CD's a dozen times or more.
Lately I've really been wanting to get the videos for my kids to watch, and for me, so I can revisit old friends and make new memories with my kids. I've had my eye out for several months now, but wow, they were all way too expensive!!!! I'd just about lost all hope of ever having the privilege of introducing the characters from the beloved series to my children "in person".....
Until just about a half hour ago.
I went on eBay. I had gone on eBay and done a search for the videos, thinking that I would be able to afford them better than I could the DVD's. Yes, there were lots of offerings, with the DVD's going for like $50! So I looked into the videos and also found lots of offerings, and found the set on video two days ago. I saved it to watch in my eBay, and promptly forgot about it.
Today I got an email telling me that the auction had a little over two hours left on it. I was certain I wouldn't win, after all, this series is so hot, it's hard to get! So I didn't bid and, you guessed it, promptly forgot about it!
Of course, I got another email, and when I clicked over to eBay, the auction had only TWO MINUTES to go!!!! I knew my chances had been blown, and I was so sad, so sad!
Well, I bid anyway, and I purposely set my bid high so I had a fighting chance on winning......
And guess what??
I WON!!!!!!!!!!!
But the really-ridiculously-fantastic thing about this meandering post is that I WON ALL FOUR VIDEOS FOR $6!!!!!!!!! SIX DOLLARS, LADIES!!!!! EMILY, ARE YOU GETTING THIS????? WITH SHIPPING, THE TOTAL WAS A MERE $10!!!!!!!
It's the deal of the century, gals.
I'm so incredibly pumped, and you shoulda been here the last 2 minutes of the auction, as I counted down and constantly refreshed the page! We were all so excited!
And now my kids will get to see everything they've only heard about, like The Lake of Shining Waters, and the Haunted Wood, and the White Way of Delight! They'll get to know and adore Anne and Matthew, and come to respect and love Marilla. My son will get to "meet" one of his favorite characters, Miss Rachel.....They'll get to look on as Anne has her first "grown up" tea and Diana gets drunk! They'll see Anne after she dyes her hair. They'll feel the angst and attraction between Gilbert and Anne......
And I'll get to drink in the joy on their faces as they watch!
I'm thankful for eBay!!!!!
I want to tell you all why I'm so pumped, but first, a little background!
We're all huge fans of Anne of Green Gables around here. I myself have read all of the books and we also have the Focus on the Family radio drama series too, which I got on Amazon a couple of years ago, and we've all (including my almost teenage son!) have listened to the CD's a dozen times or more.
Lately I've really been wanting to get the videos for my kids to watch, and for me, so I can revisit old friends and make new memories with my kids. I've had my eye out for several months now, but wow, they were all way too expensive!!!! I'd just about lost all hope of ever having the privilege of introducing the characters from the beloved series to my children "in person".....
Until just about a half hour ago.
I went on eBay. I had gone on eBay and done a search for the videos, thinking that I would be able to afford them better than I could the DVD's. Yes, there were lots of offerings, with the DVD's going for like $50! So I looked into the videos and also found lots of offerings, and found the set on video two days ago. I saved it to watch in my eBay, and promptly forgot about it.
Today I got an email telling me that the auction had a little over two hours left on it. I was certain I wouldn't win, after all, this series is so hot, it's hard to get! So I didn't bid and, you guessed it, promptly forgot about it!
Of course, I got another email, and when I clicked over to eBay, the auction had only TWO MINUTES to go!!!! I knew my chances had been blown, and I was so sad, so sad!
Well, I bid anyway, and I purposely set my bid high so I had a fighting chance on winning......
And guess what??
I WON!!!!!!!!!!!
But the really-ridiculously-fantastic thing about this meandering post is that I WON ALL FOUR VIDEOS FOR $6!!!!!!!!! SIX DOLLARS, LADIES!!!!! EMILY, ARE YOU GETTING THIS????? WITH SHIPPING, THE TOTAL WAS A MERE $10!!!!!!!
It's the deal of the century, gals.
I'm so incredibly pumped, and you shoulda been here the last 2 minutes of the auction, as I counted down and constantly refreshed the page! We were all so excited!
And now my kids will get to see everything they've only heard about, like The Lake of Shining Waters, and the Haunted Wood, and the White Way of Delight! They'll get to know and adore Anne and Matthew, and come to respect and love Marilla. My son will get to "meet" one of his favorite characters, Miss Rachel.....They'll get to look on as Anne has her first "grown up" tea and Diana gets drunk! They'll see Anne after she dyes her hair. They'll feel the angst and attraction between Gilbert and Anne......
And I'll get to drink in the joy on their faces as they watch!
I'm thankful for eBay!!!!!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Pray for me!
I guess my blog is more of a serious blog.
I've always been told that I lack a sense of humor.
I think I'm a thinker, a ponderer.
And it shows in my posts.
Oh, lots of funny things happen in any given day here at my house, and yes, you may find a post about them now and again.....and I do laugh, really I do...
But my overarching thoughts right now are deep and tough and given to the nether parts of my soul and heart.
And I guess my blog reflects that.
Right now, I want to rally all my friends out there across the nation.
Please pray for me!
I really want a full womb again! I want to conceive, have a positive pregnancy test, hear a heartbeat in my tummy......I want to feel those first flutterings and when I look in the mirror, I want to see that luminous glow one gets in pregnancy, as if a candle was lit within. I want to have one of those cute pregnancy ticker-count downs on my blog. I want to wear all of those great maternity clothes I packed away. I want the chance to use all of the wonderful, tiny clothes that lie hidden in the reaches of my mother's hope chest, over there by the front window, just a heartbeat away.
But......
I'm in the middle of some health issues right now......
And I'm scared to death to embrace a full womb again, even when my heart sobs just to look at other expectant moms. Even when it's really all I hope for.
The fear is very real, and ever present with me. It dogs me, follows me, sniffs at the door to my heart every day.
Ah, to live without fear! To embrace what God has for me, with abandon, without looking back over my shoulder!
I want to live in this moment, to live out loud, true to the call He has for me!
If this is what my heart, my soul, really every fiber of my being wants....
If I'm standing on the edge of the diving board, looking into the clear, crystal, refreshing waters below me........
Then why is it so hard to jump?
I've always been told that I lack a sense of humor.
I think I'm a thinker, a ponderer.
And it shows in my posts.
Oh, lots of funny things happen in any given day here at my house, and yes, you may find a post about them now and again.....and I do laugh, really I do...
But my overarching thoughts right now are deep and tough and given to the nether parts of my soul and heart.
And I guess my blog reflects that.
Right now, I want to rally all my friends out there across the nation.
Please pray for me!
I really want a full womb again! I want to conceive, have a positive pregnancy test, hear a heartbeat in my tummy......I want to feel those first flutterings and when I look in the mirror, I want to see that luminous glow one gets in pregnancy, as if a candle was lit within. I want to have one of those cute pregnancy ticker-count downs on my blog. I want to wear all of those great maternity clothes I packed away. I want the chance to use all of the wonderful, tiny clothes that lie hidden in the reaches of my mother's hope chest, over there by the front window, just a heartbeat away.
But......
I'm in the middle of some health issues right now......
And I'm scared to death to embrace a full womb again, even when my heart sobs just to look at other expectant moms. Even when it's really all I hope for.
The fear is very real, and ever present with me. It dogs me, follows me, sniffs at the door to my heart every day.
Ah, to live without fear! To embrace what God has for me, with abandon, without looking back over my shoulder!
I want to live in this moment, to live out loud, true to the call He has for me!
If this is what my heart, my soul, really every fiber of my being wants....
If I'm standing on the edge of the diving board, looking into the clear, crystal, refreshing waters below me........
Then why is it so hard to jump?
A poem
"I asked the Lord
for a bunch of fresh flowers,
but instead He gave me an ugly cactus
with many thorns.
I asked the Lord
for some beautiful butterflies,
but instead He gave me
many ugly and dreadful worms.
I was threatened.
I was disappointed.
I mourned.
But after many days,
suddenly,
I saw the cactus bloom
with many beautiful flowers,
and those worms became
beautiful butterflies,
flying in the wind.
God's way is the best way."
Chung-Ming Kao
for a bunch of fresh flowers,
but instead He gave me an ugly cactus
with many thorns.
I asked the Lord
for some beautiful butterflies,
but instead He gave me
many ugly and dreadful worms.
I was threatened.
I was disappointed.
I mourned.
But after many days,
suddenly,
I saw the cactus bloom
with many beautiful flowers,
and those worms became
beautiful butterflies,
flying in the wind.
God's way is the best way."
Chung-Ming Kao
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