WINDOWS!

There have been constant reminders the past few weeks of all the little things that make life so nice. 
For some reason, these reminders often come when you notice the absence of them.
1. A full nights sleep. 
2. Clean clothes.
3. Toilets that flush.
4. WINDOWS!!!

    We had a few sets of windows put in Friday.  They had to quit early due to the 60 mph winds blowing, but they were able to put 4 sets in.  The living room and dining room are done and WOW!!!
Light!  Clean! Energy-efficient!  And THEY OPEN!!!  BONUS!
Seriously!  We've had a few really beautiful days and I just wanted to open a few windows. 
Now I CAN!  They should finish up the outside stuff (windows, siding, door, porch, etc.) next week just in time for Elijah's confirmation. 
Love!!

Easter 2011

I have a problem...I think I start a lot of my posts with that line. 
Do you think that's a problem?
Anyway, my problem is my camera.  It's junk.  And I lose it quite a bit.  I can't justify getting a new one though, cause this one still takes pictures. 
Here are a few we took on Easter. 

We spent a beautiful day at Joan and Walt's house in the country. 
I love Easter.

List

1. I have been meaning to blog for the past few days, but I kept looking at my last post and thinking, "Well, that still applies."  Dreary days!
2. I have been feeling much better the past few weeks.  I think this is in large part to the loaded smoothie I've been drinking in the mornings, the vitamins I'm taking and the fact that Caleb has slept through the night in his own bed more then not lately.
3. Our house siding is at a stand-still.  The worker's son has been in the hospital the past few days so they haven't made it up here to work, which is fine.  He is a very nice guy and I know he's worried about his son, so my house can wait.
4. I love brownies.  They are oh, so good!  I only make them VERY occasionally though because my kids will beg and plead and steal until they are all gone.  It makes me crazy and then I can't even enjoy them.
5. I've been having an ongoing discussion with a guy at the coffee house about faith and God and all that jazz.  It's been interesting!  I love discussing all that stuff.
6. I really like Easter time.  I like it more when it's warm and sunny, which it hasn't been, but I'm hoping it will be.
7. I finally bought new running shoes.  I got a steal on a pair of Nike Free Runs that I've been wanting for a long time.  I love it when you wait for something and save and research and then you get something and it lives up to your expectations. 
8.  Enough ramblings...

Oh my stinkin' COLD!

Geez!  It's cold!
I'm gonna go ahead and whine about the weather for a minute.  I'm not a big fan of whiners, especially when it comes to weather, but I'm in that kind of mood so I'll indulge.
Yesterday was lovely, although quite windy, which isn't unusual for Kansas.  I had the 3 windows that are actually able to be opened open, along with our doors.  Lovely, warm air!
Then around 6:00 or so the wind started blowing COLD.  It rained, then hailed and then the sun shone again but it remained cold.
Today has been dreary, wet, cold and windy.  I have accomplished nothing today because it just makes me want to stay on the couch wrapped in a blanket.  I'm so unproductive when it's windy and cold.
Tomorrow's forecast? 
70 and sunny!
Typical spring in Kansas!

Going up!

UGH!  I wish I had a functioning camera!

Our siding is going up and the windows will be next.  It already looks so good! 

I just can't wait to throw open our windows on a beautiful day like today!

Yea!!

To have or not to have...

Have I mentioned lately that I love working in a coffee house.  It brings with it so interesting people and conversations. 
Joan and I often joke about writing a book.
And it's not just idle chitchat amongst myself and some of the regulars. 
I've most recently gotten into a conversation with one customer whom I would consider a friend, at this point, about having children and all that goes along with that.  Without giving too much information about this friend, we are debating the idea of having children as a Christian and whether that is something that we are called to do and what makes some choose to not have any at all.
It's always interesting to me to hear why people who are able to have children choose not to venture down that path. 
I try not to judge their motives or reasoning because I've probably thought many of the same thoughts myself.  The rationales range from self-proclaimed selfishness, to just not having any desire to have that experience. 
Having a child heightens the false sense that we have control over our time and efforts.  We no longer answer for only ourselves.  Our time is not our own, our resources are not our own, our efforts and choices now directly affect the course of another little person's life. 
It's big stuff.  It can be scary stuff. 
As I told my friend, though, there will be nothing else that can compare to the emotions involved in raising a child.  I truly believe if your desire is to grow as a human, as a Christian, as a citizen of this world, there is NOTHING that will do that like raising a child.  In the darkest, most frustrating and sleep-deprived moments is where you will grow the most, believe the most, trust the most. 
Will you grow anyway?
Of course, but I don't think you will touch the depths of what this life offers without experiencing some of the emotions and choices that come along with raising a child.
I held my little guy the other day while he was sleeping and thought what a gift it was.  He never stops moving or talking when he's awake.  He has kept me sleep-deprived for almost 3 years now and I would take another 3 years of it to be able to hold him for those few, quiet moments.
I am hard-pressed to find anything else in this world that can compare to that sense of peace, thankfulness and joy. 

Sweet conversation

Recently, Elijah and I had a conversation about the kind of girl he should marry. 
It started with Elijah asking me if he thought he should marry a "girly girl" or a "tomboy".  His thought was that he should marry someone kinda inbetween.  He didn't want a "bossy girl with attitude", but he still wanted someone who would cook. 
I quickly dispelled that notion that they are mutually exclusive.
So, I asked him where he felt I fell in the range of girls. 
I asked if he thought I was kinda inbetween. 
He thought for a minute, then said, "Yeah, you are.  I guess I should look to marry someone like my mom." 
I'll try to wipe the grin off my face in the next few days :)

I then asked him what the most important thing was to look for in a wife and he said, "A Christian."  Score again! :)
I also said he should marry someone who was his best friend.  Someone he could go through the roughest times with.  Someone he could talk to about anything.
He said he sometimes wonders if he already knows the girl he would marry or if he's going to meet her later.  He knows God knows, but he's just so curious.  He did mention 3 girl friends that he apparently has considered to be marriage material. 
I love it that he's thinking.  That he's looking for the "right" kind of girl.  I hope his standards hold up cause all 3 of those girls would be quite the catch! :)

Whole lot of nothing

That's what my blood work told me. 
I'm normal.  Middle of the road on nearly everything.  Not anemic, no hypothyroid. 
So now I have to decide if I want to pursue other possibilities.  As of right now, I don't think I'm going to.  My thought is that I'm vitamin-deficient across the board.  Stress, depression, etc all cause your body to not absorb nutrients like it should.  I'm thinking I've been both for the past 3 + months.  It was a tough winter.  So, I'm going to be loading up on all things good and healthy, more then I do normally and see how I feel in a few weeks.