Happy Anniversary!

Hey, Grandma Paula and Papa Doug:

HAPPY SEVENTEENTH ANNIVERSARY

from the Vikings!
XOXOXOX

Plan A...B...C...D...oh, nevermind!

It was one of "those" days:

Change of plans for DaGrandparents meant I lost my mommy time and spent the day with the Vikings. Hardly a tragedy but a little disappointing (for them AND for me! LOL) to be honest.

Got my errands done (with Vikings in tow so it could twice as long) but got NONE of my "wish list" of fun catch-up activities done.

Dinner late and a little over done.

Tried to start a new fun "date night" tradition with the Vikings tonight, starting with Pojke. As a result, Flicka melted down since she wasn't included.

Then, Pojke refused to come with me, blew a fit on the front porch, and he insisted he wanted Daddy and Flicka.

Finally got him out to the van...to find a flat tire. *sigh*

Then, I got to clean up all the dog p**p in the yard (thanks to our four-legged house guest) and the Vikings could play in the yard.

All turned out fine obviously. DaHubby plugged the tire. Nothing on my to-do list (other than the laundry) was technically a "must." But, as a self-professed control nut, it just grinds me! LOL

Good note? DaHubby came home early while Vikings were napping (a DOUBLE blessing! *wink*) The tire is fixed without any cost. And, we all heading to our first homeschool conference 45 minutes away tomorrow! LOL

So, I'll be up late finishing the laundry and packing a picnic/brown bag lunch for our "road trip" tomorrow!

Actually, Plan E, F, and G weren't so bad after all!

A little time...

My in-laws are taking both Vikings for a couple hours today so I'm all hyper-motivated to get some stuff done around the house. Then, DaHubby is due home from work around 2pm then the Vikings around 3pm...so I'm off for some momma-only time! Wa-hoo!

Another 7 things

Jessie at Overflow of a Forgiven Soul tagged me this week for a "7 Things" meme saying I'm "spunky"! I wonder what THAT could mean? *wink*

The Rules: 1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And, since I try to pick a "theme" of sorts for these to help me come up with all seven, this meme's theme is my wedding! LOL

My 7 Things:

1. DaHubby and I had a courtship, engagement, and wedding based on "fives": we met on 5/25/00, five weeks later he proposed, five weeks after that I had quit my job and was moving to the other side of the state to be near him, and we were married on 5/5/01 with only 50 guests!

2. A bagpiper "played me" down the aisle!

3. Instead of a unity candle, we exchanged tartans: my family's background is part of the Clan Hamilton and DaHubby's mom's side is connected to the Clan Gordon. I "gave up" my Hamilton sash and then DaHubby pinned the Gordon sash on me.

4. We were married under a cedar arch DaHubby built just for the occasion that then stood in our first backyard and followed us to our current one as well.

5. DaHubby's dad, DaGrandpa, married us. He's that tiny, little guy behind us in the photo above. Don't let his size fool ya! He used to be a boxer...in the Navy!

6. Being new to the area, I planned our wedding for the first Saturday in May...which happens to be the same weekend as a large local festival around here which includes a parade. The main drag out of the local "downtown" passed right by the old-mansion-turned-restaurant that we had chosen. In the middle of the vows, it occurred to everyone that the parade was complete because...everyone that passed by honked at us! LOL

7. The dance with my daddy after the ceremony was the first and only time I've danced with him.7 People I'm Tagging:

Most of my immediate bloggy circle generally don't do many of these but I will tag them nonetheless (LOL) and leave their response up to them.

1. Anita (she'll have to come out of hiding to tell us she's OK)
2. Debbie (maybe she'll show us her favorite seven teacups! *wink*)
3. Lisa (who can probably name the seven best deals she's gotten this week)
4. GiBee (who will probably give seven home remedies for flu and/or toddler ear infections)
5. Christina (I want to make sure she's survived the midwest winter)
6. Sara (who'll need something to do when she comes off her bloggy break LOL)
and
7. Pam (who could easily list seven ways God's blessed her during the last two weeks during her hubby's hospitalization)

Thursday Thanks Tank

In honor of Pam and the ladies of Thankful Thursday:

This week, it's all about good health...

Thank you, Lord, for our good health...our church attendance is down again and again as some families continue to pass around and battle colds and flu.

Thank you, Lord, that DaHubby's sister, Peggy, is gaining health and strength so much so that her doctors are considering letting her come home for a few weeks to get more strength back before the bone marrow transplant.

Thank you, Lord, for the Christian pediatrics practice we use. From the office staff to the nurses to our wonderful pediatrician, all are awesome, sincere, kind, friendly, and knowledgeable.

Thank you, Lord, that Dr. M could squeeze Pojke in her busy schedule to easy my mind when I found some worrisome swelling in Pojke's diaper region. And, I praise You that it appears to be nothing.

Thank you, Lord, that Pam's hubby is finally safely home from the hospital after treatment for a serious infection.

Thank you, Lord, that GiBee and her baby boy are also on the mend after an awful flu for her and multiple ear infections for her son.

And, thank you, Lord, that You held my hand through my two-hour dentist appointment Monday. I haven't prayed that hard in a long time (LOL). As fear and anxiety gripped me, as the tears flowed, thank you for an awesome and understanding dentist and staff who comforted me, explained everything, and took wonderful care of me while never once making me feel silly. Finally, guide me throught the follow-ups, repercussions, and additional decisions.

That's what I'm thankful for this week...what about you?

Are you a potato or a peach?

From one of the books I'm reading for Katrina's Spring Reading Thing...

From Healing Damaged Emotions by David A. Seamands, the chapter on healing one's low self-esteem, which has struck me like a two by four to the head:

"If this kind of low self-esteem has been programmed into a person, it is difficult, and in some cases impossible, for that person to feel beloved of God, accepted by Him, and of worth to Him in His kingdom and service. A great many seemingly spiritual struggles are not spiritual at all in their origin...

"That was the case with Shirley...

"Shirley had been given many good things by her parents in their rural home - security, hard work, discipline, strong Christian commitment, and high standard of morality....but gradually Shirley and I (her pastor/counselor) began to see that though her parents had done their best, they'd gone at it the wrong way, by giving compliments that made comparisons or set conditions.

"You're so nice when...I hope you'll never be like that girl down the road...that's fine but...we love you when...if...but...

"You know how some girls during adolescence go through an "ugly duckling" stage. Shirley was one of these, and her dad tried to help her accept herself. He really did love her, but again and again he said to her, "You know, you just can't make a peach out of a potato." While he thought he was helping her, he was really scarring and cutting at the very heart of her self-esteem. She grew up with a potato self (concept), thinking of herself as misshapen, ugly, as something that grew under the ground."

After much counseling, Shirley began to realize how that self image affected everything in her life. Her relationships with those closest around her were seen through "potato glasses." And, of course, how could she believe God loved her if He had made her a potato?

Dr. Seamands describes how he went out of his way to "reprogram" her self-image. He called her "God's peach" or "my peach." And, when she truly discovered and truly believed she was a daughter of God, she let His love and grace pour in and wash away all those potato feelings and potato images.

He goes on to describe that the change in Shirley was one of the most remarkable he's ever seen...her actual appearance changed, she began caring more for herself, became more attractive to be around, and began to relate better to people.

My name is Beth and I am a potato.

I've never sought out to learn appropriate boundaries and limits in my life and have come to see myself the way it seemed everyone else did. My self-concept has been garnered from others. In addition, I never learned to internalize my inherent value so, as a result, I stuffed down my feelings and needs to be "the good girl" or maybe more appropriately "the compliant girl." I never really knew what *I* wanted and was just going through the motions of what I thought I was supposed to be doing.

As I look back, it has affected every. single. relationship I've had and am having. It wasn't until recently that I realized that I could be angry, state my opinion, whatever without the fear of someone being so mad they'd leave me...or if they DID leave that I'd still be OK.

This not only affected my relationship with others but I'm now convinced that it is a very big part of my continued failure to lose weight and keep it off. I eat when stressed, I eat when sad, I eat when angry, I eat whenever my emotions threaten to "lose control." I have the discipline to do it for a while but eventually I lose resolve, something comes up that's more important than me working out, me being able to buy healthier food, me being accountable to a weight loss group.

I've had some of those close to me say that they love me more than anything, that I'm beautiful in their eyes no matter what but I've always discounted their words because it doesn't match what I see from inside.

So, what does that say about my relationship with God? I am to be precious, loved, honored, treasured, adored, rescued, and saved. Sadly, I rarely feel that way.

As I enter my 40's with my eyes searching, my ears listening, my mind growing, and my heart battered but ready, can I hear the "inner peach" that God intended for me to be?

So, what are you? Someone's potato or God's peach?

A good season and good reason for potholes

The following list originally published here.

The top signs you're driving on Michigan roads:

14. Geologists thought they discovered a fissure in the Earth's crust on I-75. A quick call to the Department of Transportation cleared up the confusion and a road crew was dispatched immediately.

13. Urban Jeep owners have a new extreme driving sport: "On-roading."

12. Imported Canadian garbage is used to fill the biggest potholes.

11. You see "Men at Work" signs but the freeway is deserted, nor is this the Land Down Under.

10. The people up ahead are slaloming between the orange barrels. (My cousin actually did this in Grand Rapids, MI)

9. You see laid off auto workers beside the road with signs that read, "will fill potholes for food."

8. Instead of seeing signs that read "Road Construction, Next 3 Miles," you see signs that say, "No Construction, Next 3 Miles." (As a minor note, this one is sad, but true)

7. You see construction crews building bridges over potholes instead of filling them.

6. Michigan's gravel roads are smoother than its paved ones. (Also sad but true)

5. Your shocks last only 500 miles.

4. Police don't go on high-speed chases, fearing they might suffer a blow-out.

3. Some citizens start putting man-hole covers on the biggest potholes.

2. You never know there's a pothole in the road until you've driven out of it.

1. The welcome sign for Michigan over the freeway says "Welcome to Michigan! (bump)"

And, on that note...a silver lining. Heard this on our local Christian music station the other day. A school-aged girl called in for a request but also shared that someone told her that every time she's in a vehicle that hits a pothole, use it as a reminder to pray for someone

And, the DJ's joke in response: well, at least here in Michigan we'd be fulfilling 1 Thessalonians 5:17 since we'd be praying without ceasing! *wink*