Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
I'm so, so sorry to report...
This is the latest from my old church regarding the little girl who fell into the swimming pool at her babysitters house:
Natalie West died early this evening in Portsmouth. About two dozen members of her family and friends gathered at the hospital to say good-bye to this precious little bundle of joy. Natalie’s body fought hard over the past few days to overcome the effects of her accidental drowning, but she is now mercifully at peace.
Prayers were lifted up for fourteen-month-old Natalie and her family all over the world – a Navy Chaplain shared with me that one church in El Salvador maintained a twenty-four hour prayer vigil. Fellow church members, friends, the U. S. Navy, and the wonderful staff at the Naval hospital have given the family continual support throughout this struggle. The family thanks you for every prayer, every note of support, and every offer of aid.
Services for Natalie are being planned and as soon as the arrangements are complete an email will be sent. Should a reception be included, Aldersgate members will be invited to share food. Several of our members are currently coordinating dinners for the West family from tomorrow, the 30th through Tuesday the 6th of November. If you would like to help with food for either a reception or these daily meals, please respond to this email (include your phone number) and your name will be shared with the coordinators.
If you go to www.caringbridge.org you can leave a message of sympathy for the family. Please note that the family has not had an opportunity to update the website since Saturday, so as of 8 p.m. this evening, the homepage message is not current.
This is such an overwhelming, heart-breaking mystery and the why’s seem incomprehensible. The 77th Psalm says “though your footprints were not seen, You led your people like a flock.” Please continue to pray for Hillary, Bryan, and Natalie’s big sister Emily and all their extended family, that they will feel the comforting presence of God, even in those moments when His footsteps are not seen.
________________________________________-
I thought I would share a video that a friend shared with me, and if any of you have a pool, your child visits a home with a pool, or if you frequent a lake or any open body of water, this seems to be an invaluable service.
Click here to see an incredible video of infant drowning survival techniques.
Click to visit the site ISR - Infant Swimming Lessons.
Natalie West died early this evening in Portsmouth. About two dozen members of her family and friends gathered at the hospital to say good-bye to this precious little bundle of joy. Natalie’s body fought hard over the past few days to overcome the effects of her accidental drowning, but she is now mercifully at peace.
Prayers were lifted up for fourteen-month-old Natalie and her family all over the world – a Navy Chaplain shared with me that one church in El Salvador maintained a twenty-four hour prayer vigil. Fellow church members, friends, the U. S. Navy, and the wonderful staff at the Naval hospital have given the family continual support throughout this struggle. The family thanks you for every prayer, every note of support, and every offer of aid.
Services for Natalie are being planned and as soon as the arrangements are complete an email will be sent. Should a reception be included, Aldersgate members will be invited to share food. Several of our members are currently coordinating dinners for the West family from tomorrow, the 30th through Tuesday the 6th of November. If you would like to help with food for either a reception or these daily meals, please respond to this email (include your phone number) and your name will be shared with the coordinators.
If you go to www.caringbridge.org you can leave a message of sympathy for the family. Please note that the family has not had an opportunity to update the website since Saturday, so as of 8 p.m. this evening, the homepage message is not current.
This is such an overwhelming, heart-breaking mystery and the why’s seem incomprehensible. The 77th Psalm says “though your footprints were not seen, You led your people like a flock.” Please continue to pray for Hillary, Bryan, and Natalie’s big sister Emily and all their extended family, that they will feel the comforting presence of God, even in those moments when His footsteps are not seen.
________________________________________-
I thought I would share a video that a friend shared with me, and if any of you have a pool, your child visits a home with a pool, or if you frequent a lake or any open body of water, this seems to be an invaluable service.
Click here to see an incredible video of infant drowning survival techniques.
Click to visit the site ISR - Infant Swimming Lessons.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Busy Busy Week
Other than all the Halloween Shananigans, we are going camping this weekend for the first time with the kids. Kurt and I used to camp often, even when I was pregnant with Brody, but after that, it just seemed like it would be such a hassle.
Well, we have decided to give it a shot, so here is my question...
anybody know any good recipes that you can cook over an open campfire? I would love to make something really surprising and something kid-friendly.
:)
Well, we have decided to give it a shot, so here is my question...
anybody know any good recipes that you can cook over an open campfire? I would love to make something really surprising and something kid-friendly.
:)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Prayers Needed
This is a message from our old church. Please pray for this family...
Please keep 14-month-old Natalie West in your prayers. Natalie fell into the swimming pool at her baby-sitter’s home yesterday and is currently in critical but stable condition at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. It is unknown how long she was in the water and the physicians are being extremely cautious in making any predictions about her recovery.
Natalie’s mother, Hillary, is appreciative of every prayer lifted on Natalie’s behalf and I know God is calming her heart in the midst of her anguish.
Natalie’s father Bryan is flying home from Iraq where he has been deployed. Friends of the family are caring for Natalie’s older sister, Emily.
Please keep the entire family in your prayers for healing, for travel mercies, and for strength and faith during this critical time.
Please keep 14-month-old Natalie West in your prayers. Natalie fell into the swimming pool at her baby-sitter’s home yesterday and is currently in critical but stable condition at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. It is unknown how long she was in the water and the physicians are being extremely cautious in making any predictions about her recovery.
Natalie’s mother, Hillary, is appreciative of every prayer lifted on Natalie’s behalf and I know God is calming her heart in the midst of her anguish.
Natalie’s father Bryan is flying home from Iraq where he has been deployed. Friends of the family are caring for Natalie’s older sister, Emily.
Please keep the entire family in your prayers for healing, for travel mercies, and for strength and faith during this critical time.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
What a difference a year can make
Okay, so normally I don't post photos of myself. First off, I am nowhere near as cute as my kids, but secondly, my looks change so drastically from one year to the next that I am not quite sure what I look like, but these photos were so amazing to me that I had to share.
As my self esteem rises and falls, I can definitely see how that is reflected in how I look. I am on an upswing right now. :) I seem to be coming back around to what I used to look like through high school and on and off in college.
Last year at this same time, we had our team photos taken. We went again today... look at the difference in what I look like in ONE YEAR. I have lost some of the weight from my last pregnancy, grown out the locks, and returned to my blond identity (which actually isn't my natural color anymore. believe it or not, the brown is!)
Crazy. Poor Kurt, it must be impossible for him to keep up! And God Bless him for loving me through all my chameleon ways! :)
Now
Last October
As my self esteem rises and falls, I can definitely see how that is reflected in how I look. I am on an upswing right now. :) I seem to be coming back around to what I used to look like through high school and on and off in college.
Last year at this same time, we had our team photos taken. We went again today... look at the difference in what I look like in ONE YEAR. I have lost some of the weight from my last pregnancy, grown out the locks, and returned to my blond identity (which actually isn't my natural color anymore. believe it or not, the brown is!)
Crazy. Poor Kurt, it must be impossible for him to keep up! And God Bless him for loving me through all my chameleon ways! :)
Now
Last October
Monday, October 22, 2007
no more myspace
Okay, so after only having a myspace account for less than a week, I cancelled my account. I had received requests for people to add me as their friend for lewd and disgusting reasons.
Also, I had people sending me completely inappropriate comments about how good I looked, etc...
So... I don't need that in my life.
moving on....
although, if any of you normal friends out there would like to tell me how good I look. that is always welcome. ;)
Also, I had people sending me completely inappropriate comments about how good I looked, etc...
So... I don't need that in my life.
moving on....
although, if any of you normal friends out there would like to tell me how good I look. that is always welcome. ;)
A Gazillion Photos!
What an awesome weekend! A very, very dear friend of mine, Charlotte Geary, came to visit for a couple of days. While she was here, she shot some family photos for me and my whole family (my parents... my sister... etc...)
While she was here, we talked (and laughed A LOT) about friends and the people that really know who you are. Charlotte has been one of my greatest friends and I am sure we will always be friends. Whenever we see each other, we fall right back into our friendship and there is usually a lot of giggling and reminiscing.
She and I were in the Annandale High School colorguard together (we were co-captains). We double-dated for a whole year with our boyfriends (which in high school is no small feat!). We stayed friends through college. She was at my bachelorette weekend. We were officemates together (where we can belt out a MEAN Moulin Rouge song at 2am, while riding scooters and pogo sticks). And now, even though we have both moved away from Northern Virginia, she is one of my friends that probably knows me best, because she knows who I have been, who I am now, and will know who I become.
It is a joy to have friends like Charlotte! :o)
Thanks for a wonderful weekend Char, and I can't wait to see some of the photos! I am sure they will be stunning!
If you would like to see Charlotte's work, her link is that right side of my blog. Her photography is incredible.
While she was here, we talked (and laughed A LOT) about friends and the people that really know who you are. Charlotte has been one of my greatest friends and I am sure we will always be friends. Whenever we see each other, we fall right back into our friendship and there is usually a lot of giggling and reminiscing.
She and I were in the Annandale High School colorguard together (we were co-captains). We double-dated for a whole year with our boyfriends (which in high school is no small feat!). We stayed friends through college. She was at my bachelorette weekend. We were officemates together (where we can belt out a MEAN Moulin Rouge song at 2am, while riding scooters and pogo sticks). And now, even though we have both moved away from Northern Virginia, she is one of my friends that probably knows me best, because she knows who I have been, who I am now, and will know who I become.
It is a joy to have friends like Charlotte! :o)
Thanks for a wonderful weekend Char, and I can't wait to see some of the photos! I am sure they will be stunning!
If you would like to see Charlotte's work, her link is that right side of my blog. Her photography is incredible.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Pantry Update
You all should be so proud! I am working through the pantry and have made dinner every night WITHOUT going to buy anything new!
I am determined to get it down to what we actually eat.
I am determined to get it down to what we actually eat.
You all have been holding out on me!
Okay, so being a WAHM (work-at-home-mom) has, on occasion, made me feel completely disconnected from the world. Kurt will come home from work and ask me if I have heard about some big news story (and I mean BIG) and I will have no idea that anything had happened. On top of that, other than my really close friends and the occasional comment on this blog, I am sort of disconnected from my old friends.
Well...
Thank God for Tony, because he invited me into FaceBook tonight. I am sure this is something everyone has known about for ages, but in my world, if it doesn't have to do with Curious George, Blues Clues, or Hot Wheels, I don't know it exists. As I started searching around, I saw ALL THESE OLD AND DEAR FRIENDS... from high school, from college, drum corps, performing groups, and from EVERY job that I have had!
Then, because it has been so long since I had chatted with so many of those people, I felt silly sending them a friend request. So I didn't. Which leaves me with this question...
What is the protocol there? Are you supposed to write a message to go along with your request, or do you just hit the friend request and wait to hear back!
Well, thanks so much Tony for looking out for my well being! I am starting to feel like my old self again, a little at a time!
:)
And in case anyone is interested, this is my facebook profile (you may have to sign up, and you should. it is way cool):
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=655668710
Well...
Thank God for Tony, because he invited me into FaceBook tonight. I am sure this is something everyone has known about for ages, but in my world, if it doesn't have to do with Curious George, Blues Clues, or Hot Wheels, I don't know it exists. As I started searching around, I saw ALL THESE OLD AND DEAR FRIENDS... from high school, from college, drum corps, performing groups, and from EVERY job that I have had!
Then, because it has been so long since I had chatted with so many of those people, I felt silly sending them a friend request. So I didn't. Which leaves me with this question...
What is the protocol there? Are you supposed to write a message to go along with your request, or do you just hit the friend request and wait to hear back!
Well, thanks so much Tony for looking out for my well being! I am starting to feel like my old self again, a little at a time!
:)
And in case anyone is interested, this is my facebook profile (you may have to sign up, and you should. it is way cool):
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=655668710
Friday, October 19, 2007
Need a pick-me-up?
Okay, so if you are ever feeling a little stressed out about your life, go ahead and go to www.myspace.com. I think this must be the equivalent of going to an amusement park, as in you start mingling with the types of people that you may not ordinarily spend any time with.
I just saw more cussing, lude gestures, ccomplete disregard for grammar, warped sense of self, disgusting sex references, etc... than I think I have ever taken in at one time.
Don't get me wrong, I think everyone is entitled to express themselves in any way they would like. I just know my kids won't be surfing around on myspace when they are older.
Just looking at the graduates from my high school, people I even remember, made me sick to my stomach. What is happening to this world? When it is the minority to see nice photos of people talking about a nice life with a spouse and kids and a job, something is definitely wrong with our world. *sigh* Just imagine what this place was intended to be like, if it weren't for original sin.
Anyway, if you have kids that are old enough to have their own myspace account, be sure to read the profiles of the people they associate with. What a scary world.
And don't go looking for your friends from high school. It may just make you very sad. :(
But, if anyone is interested... I did create a profile... www.myspace.com/senjockton
I just saw more cussing, lude gestures, ccomplete disregard for grammar, warped sense of self, disgusting sex references, etc... than I think I have ever taken in at one time.
Don't get me wrong, I think everyone is entitled to express themselves in any way they would like. I just know my kids won't be surfing around on myspace when they are older.
Just looking at the graduates from my high school, people I even remember, made me sick to my stomach. What is happening to this world? When it is the minority to see nice photos of people talking about a nice life with a spouse and kids and a job, something is definitely wrong with our world. *sigh* Just imagine what this place was intended to be like, if it weren't for original sin.
Anyway, if you have kids that are old enough to have their own myspace account, be sure to read the profiles of the people they associate with. What a scary world.
And don't go looking for your friends from high school. It may just make you very sad. :(
But, if anyone is interested... I did create a profile... www.myspace.com/senjockton
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Confession Time
Okay. This is a little embarrassing, but I plan on writing it all out anyway. I work from home and take care of the kids each day. Most days, I do not make anything for dinner and we end up going out to get something, ordering in, or just snacking (so sad). My main excuse (other than no time)is that we don't have anything in the house to eat.
*sigh*
So, to debunk my own excuse, I decided to document everything (well, almost everything) that is in my pantry. My intention is to CLEAN OUT the pantry, not by having to throw things away because they have been there too long, but by making meals with it and actually eating the food that we have bought! Then, I would like to repopulate it with only the things we eat.
Here is the confession part... we eat out entirely too much and throw away a lot of food in our fridge/pantry because we don't eat it. How warped is that mentality? Animal dies and becomes food... I buy the food... I am lazy and don't want to fix anything... we pay MORE money to eat out... I throw out the food when it goes bad. Some times, I make dinner and we have lots of leftovers, but because I am not in the mood to have it again, we end up throwing it away. SUCH A WASTE! I can't imagine how much money we throw away, let alone animals that died and we just threw the meat out when we didn't eat it in time.
I don't expect you all to actually read all of this, but just to be thorough, THIS is what is in my pantry at the moment (I didn't include all the spices and coffee/teas):
SNACKS
Triscuits
Town House Crackers
Pretzel Sticks
Peanuts
Microwave Popcorn
Saltines
Yogos
Goldfish crackers
Raisins
Craisins
Caramel apple dip
Mandarin Oranges
Teddy Grahams
Oreo Cakesters
Fiber One Bars
Salsa
Chips
Orange Smoothie Mix
SIDE DISHES
Instant Brown Rice
3 Mac n Cheese
Shells n Cheese
New Potatoes
4 meat seasoning packets
3 Knorr Veggie Side dishes
5 packs of instant mashed potatoes
Suddenly Salad
Taco Shells
BREAKFAST
Instant Oatmeal
Oatmeal to Go Bars
Smart Start Cereal
Fiber One Cereal
Cap’n Crunch Cereal
Honey Nut Cheerios
Multi Grain Cheerios
Pancake Mix
Bisquick Mix
Cream of Wheat
CANS
Pineapple
Pears
Black Beans
Chili Tomatoes
Chicken & Stars Soup
Tomato Bisque Soup
Cream of Chicken Soup
Creamy Ranchero Soup
Chicken Noodle
Canned Chicken
Spaghetti Os
Baked Beans
2 cans of sweet peas
BAKING/COOKING STUFF
Sugar
Flour
Brown Sugar
Corn Meal
Corn Starch
Wheat Flour
Wheat Germ
Cocoa
Vanilla
Soda
Powder
Powdered Sugar
Chocolate Chips
Peanut Butter Chips
Splenda
Oats
Breadcrumbs
Marshmallows
2 jars natural peanut butter
PASTA
3 boxes elbow macaroni
Egg noodles
Manicotti noodles
Spaghetti
Jumbo shells
BREAD
Double Fiber
Kids White Wonder Bread
SPICES
OILS
TEAS
COFFEES
My Goal: Not buy anything else to go into this pantry until all of the items in it have been eaten. We are going to be having some WEIRD meals in the next month!
Maybe I will look through the fridge and do that next!
Wish us luck!
*sigh*
So, to debunk my own excuse, I decided to document everything (well, almost everything) that is in my pantry. My intention is to CLEAN OUT the pantry, not by having to throw things away because they have been there too long, but by making meals with it and actually eating the food that we have bought! Then, I would like to repopulate it with only the things we eat.
Here is the confession part... we eat out entirely too much and throw away a lot of food in our fridge/pantry because we don't eat it. How warped is that mentality? Animal dies and becomes food... I buy the food... I am lazy and don't want to fix anything... we pay MORE money to eat out... I throw out the food when it goes bad. Some times, I make dinner and we have lots of leftovers, but because I am not in the mood to have it again, we end up throwing it away. SUCH A WASTE! I can't imagine how much money we throw away, let alone animals that died and we just threw the meat out when we didn't eat it in time.
I don't expect you all to actually read all of this, but just to be thorough, THIS is what is in my pantry at the moment (I didn't include all the spices and coffee/teas):
SNACKS
Triscuits
Town House Crackers
Pretzel Sticks
Peanuts
Microwave Popcorn
Saltines
Yogos
Goldfish crackers
Raisins
Craisins
Caramel apple dip
Mandarin Oranges
Teddy Grahams
Oreo Cakesters
Fiber One Bars
Salsa
Chips
Orange Smoothie Mix
SIDE DISHES
Instant Brown Rice
3 Mac n Cheese
Shells n Cheese
New Potatoes
4 meat seasoning packets
3 Knorr Veggie Side dishes
5 packs of instant mashed potatoes
Suddenly Salad
Taco Shells
BREAKFAST
Instant Oatmeal
Oatmeal to Go Bars
Smart Start Cereal
Fiber One Cereal
Cap’n Crunch Cereal
Honey Nut Cheerios
Multi Grain Cheerios
Pancake Mix
Bisquick Mix
Cream of Wheat
CANS
Pineapple
Pears
Black Beans
Chili Tomatoes
Chicken & Stars Soup
Tomato Bisque Soup
Cream of Chicken Soup
Creamy Ranchero Soup
Chicken Noodle
Canned Chicken
Spaghetti Os
Baked Beans
2 cans of sweet peas
BAKING/COOKING STUFF
Sugar
Flour
Brown Sugar
Corn Meal
Corn Starch
Wheat Flour
Wheat Germ
Cocoa
Vanilla
Soda
Powder
Powdered Sugar
Chocolate Chips
Peanut Butter Chips
Splenda
Oats
Breadcrumbs
Marshmallows
2 jars natural peanut butter
PASTA
3 boxes elbow macaroni
Egg noodles
Manicotti noodles
Spaghetti
Jumbo shells
BREAD
Double Fiber
Kids White Wonder Bread
SPICES
OILS
TEAS
COFFEES
My Goal: Not buy anything else to go into this pantry until all of the items in it have been eaten. We are going to be having some WEIRD meals in the next month!
Maybe I will look through the fridge and do that next!
Wish us luck!
Yay! Fall!
Our house is all decked out with lights and glowing ghosts and we have six new mums! It must be fall!
(I love that you can see Kurt and I in the reflection of the door. I think parents trying to get kids to smile in photos is actually more fun than the kids themselves!)
(I love that you can see Kurt and I in the reflection of the door. I think parents trying to get kids to smile in photos is actually more fun than the kids themselves!)
Friday, October 12, 2007
mmmmmm......
Now tell me, really, what kid doesn't LOVE home made chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven?
:)
In my effort to capture some childhood glee, Brody and I made cookies today. Seth helped us enjoy them.
Where has all the laughter gone?
So, as I am driving in my car yesterday, I had this very sad realization...
When I was younger, high-school/college, I remember being with my friends, doing really silly/crazy stuff, having lots of inside jokes, and laughing every time we were together. And, I don't mean just giggling, I remember laughing so hard you would cry and your stomach would hurt.
Then it hit me, I don't think I laugh everyday anymore. I smile, I am happy, I think things are funny and I laugh sometimes, but I RARELY laugh so hard that my stomach hurts.
Is this just a part of growing up? Is there just too much responsibility and too much on my ToDo list that I am not finding the great humor in things as I once did?
I am not sure if I am just in a funk, or if I have gotten too serious in this life, but I want to get back to having milk come out of my nose, getting the hiccups from giggling, and laughing with my friends and family EVERY DAY.
Any suggestions?
When I was younger, high-school/college, I remember being with my friends, doing really silly/crazy stuff, having lots of inside jokes, and laughing every time we were together. And, I don't mean just giggling, I remember laughing so hard you would cry and your stomach would hurt.
Then it hit me, I don't think I laugh everyday anymore. I smile, I am happy, I think things are funny and I laugh sometimes, but I RARELY laugh so hard that my stomach hurts.
Is this just a part of growing up? Is there just too much responsibility and too much on my ToDo list that I am not finding the great humor in things as I once did?
I am not sure if I am just in a funk, or if I have gotten too serious in this life, but I want to get back to having milk come out of my nose, getting the hiccups from giggling, and laughing with my friends and family EVERY DAY.
Any suggestions?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
School Picture Day age 3!
Today is Brody's school picture day! I took a few shots of him this morning because you never know what you are gonna get with the photo from school. Here he is this morning...
And here is his photo from last year. He looks so much older!
And here is his photo from last year. He looks so much older!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Amazing Creepy Crawlies
Okay, so I hate bugs. I hate them, but am also fascinated by them. I can get stuck looking at bugs online for entirely too long, which just happened to me. Here is a link with some INCREDIBLE bugs...
http://www.bugman123.com/Bugs/Bugs.html
http://www.bugman123.com/Bugs/Bugs.html
WHAT is THAT?
Okay, so not only do we have humongo spiders at our house, we found this flying creature on our ceiling tonight. It is about 2 inches long. We took it outside and I snapped some photos before it flew away. Anybody know what this thing is?
Friday, October 05, 2007
Sour Grapes!
Please help us out... I have a new poll on the right side of my blog. It would help us tremendously to hear your viewpoint on the matter!
Thanks! :)
Thanks! :)
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Jesus, and his old pal, Cap'n Crunch
Let me preface this by telling you that the Food Lion near my house (yes, .75 miles away) was out of Cap'n Crunch the last time we went. It didn't go over too well with Brody.
Today, in the car, I heard Brody talking to (what I thought was) himself in the back seat. When I asked him what he was saying, he told me he was praying to Jesus. I asked him what he was saying to Jesus.
Brody has prayed to Jesus that Jesus would "come down and put more Cap'n Crunch cereal in the store".
At least he is turning to the Lord when he "needs" him, huh?
;)
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
The AIG ad
Monday, October 01, 2007
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