B-O-R-E-D

It's one of those solo weeks for me. If you know me at all, you'll know what I mean. At any rate, I have extra time on my hands, and believe it or not, I'm BORED.

Can you believe that? I hardly can. I can't remember the last time I was bored. Oh! Now I do, it was the time we moved to the East Coast and lived in Extended Stay for 6 weeks. I had an almost 2 year old Scoot, a 7 month pregnant belly and NO CAR. I was bored to tears, truly.

This is different. I have a car, and three kids, and a whole entire house. I should be coming up with something fun to do while I'm in this lingering season.

Ok. I'm really sorry. I'm complaining about being bored. It's mean. It's nothing to complain about. So I won't say it again.

So I have time to fill.

I've finished a blanket I've been working and started another, blue for an old friend's long-awaited baby boy. I've finished "Voice in the Wind," at long last. If you haven't picked up the first book of the Mark of the Lion series, I highly recommend it. I even worked on my Christmas Card Scrapbook, I'm done through 2007, I think. I just need to find one of those great little 40% coupons for Michael's, and go get another scrapbook for 2008. I don't want to paint, I do want a distracting project.

One of my old favorites is one I was just reminded of....decluttering.

I should be the queen of decluttering. I have done it semi annually for years and years. Somehow in the last year or two I've gotten lazy, or hoardish (I'm afraid it's lazyness) and haven't done it a bit. So I'm kind of excited to get this party started. Watch me work!

Hoopsters

Scoot and Critter are both signed up for basketball this year, it's our first year and other than the chaos of four games happening at the same time in one building on Saturday mornings, we just love it. So I have a little show for you, my little hot shots;

My sister's Wedding

Simple Pleasures in a week

A good hard run,
lingering in bed,
a long hot bath,
cup of hot tea (licorice spice is nice),
a favorite book,
a cozy quilt,
a look in the Psalms,
a quiet hike,
rain and soup,
a chattery play date,
holding a baby,
a good beer,
some mindless tv time,
my favorite pillow,
stormy nights,
yummy lotion,
fresh flowers,
unexpected company (a lost act)
warm slippers,
stretched out in the sun,
the last load of laundry,
a long walk with a friend,
a read of a friend's blog,
a long letter (a lost art),
date night,
clean bathrooms,
dark chocolate,
waking to a little one curled up next to me,
quiet knit on the couch,
scented candles,
dried flowers,
stacks of books,
clean counters,
banana bread,
long phone chat with a sister or friend,
clean socks,
chocolate chip cookies.

How about you, friend? What's your pleasure?

I am amazingly blessed.

For Today

For Today...

Outside my window... The darkness reigns still, the snow is icy-melting on the ground.
I am thinking...that I really should finish my Bible Study before I head over there in a couple of hours.
I am thankful for...for an incredible friendship with my husband.
From the learning rooms...learning about Abraham and his descendants, studying weather, fables, all that fun stuff. Scoot has his first "Reader's Theater" today, doing part of a MLK reading. I am learning to rest in the Lord (see next post).
From the kitchen...Let's be literal. The trash needs to go out, there is a fresh dinosaur model. Christmas card albums I was working on last night, oh, and my son. He really, really, really wants to watch TV. I'm holding out.
I am wearing...my jammies. Excuse me.
I am creating...three blankets, Christmas card scrapbooks, another cute corner in the house, time to do this blog.
I am going...to reserve the next book in my series- before I finish this one.
I am reading...still Francine Rivers, good thing it's long read. AMAZING book. Voice in the Wind, I think. I'm terrible with titles.
I am hoping...the roads won't be too icy today, and that today will go smoothly. I'm caring for a little one that doesn't know us at all.
I am hearing...scissors. Critter has a project going.
Around the house...Peanut sleeps, other boys project at the kitchen table. Laundry in process, floors need sweeping and the bathrooms need cleaning.
One of my favorite things...feelinga little boy snuggle in with me at night.
A few plans for the rest of the week: meeting with a friend or two, going to bed a bit earlier than I have been, basketball practice's and games, worship practice, maybe a fun outing this weekend, hopefully lots of reading and a peaceful week.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My sweet auntie collects heart shaped rocks. I'm collecting nature's hearts too, see...












Visit the http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ to share yours

When in process...

"Does God care whether you work at McDonald's or Burger King?"

My pastor asked us this question awhile back. His answer was that God probably doesn't really care. Believers tend to over-spiritualize these things, I actually knew someone who would pray about what to wear each day. That's just plain silly. We wonder what God thinks about our circumstances, our choices. Wondering is good, but not because His Will entails direction for each detail of our lives.

We've been in the midst of doing some decision making, and I guess I have to agree with Pastor Curtis. After all the pros and cons are listed, I think the choice is really up to us. We know that God is with us no matter what we choose. However...

I have been thinking. Does it matter if we choose McDonald's over Burger King? No, but what matters,in fact, are the matters of the heart. How do we handle the decision making process? Do we turn things over and over in our heads? Do we work all day and night to figure it out? Do we pull the weight on our own, wondering?

Or do we rest? Do we wait in faith? Do we prayerfully watch what God wants to show us?

There has to be a balance, I think. We just can't sit quietly and wait for God to hit us on the head with an answer...but we also need to lean on him.

My husband said it sweetly the other day, he said he was worrying too much- not thinking but needed to get in the Word, and rest in God again. I think this is exactly what I should be doing, think, weigh things out...then before I start to worry, run back to our Great God, who cares about these things.

Am I able to trust him in times of waiting? Can I continue to live- to be present, be faithful while I'm waiting? Can I continue to give my family and friends rich relationship while I wait, and expect God to lead me.

So this is my challenge to myself; to wait well.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Kindly, He doesn't ask us to wait alone.

So my friends...again I say;

Wait for the Lord. Be strong, take heart. Wait for the Lord. He WILL show up, he always does.

Promise fulfilled

Who would know a 4 year old would have such an incredible memory?

A year ago, Critter asked me for a critter of his own. A hamster, that's all. I wasn't about to turn a fragile little hamster over to my sweet but frisky little boy, so I put him off. "Maybe when you're five. A pet is a huge responsibility. If you help to feed and clean up after Juneau until you're five, and I can see that you're helping and responsible, you can get one when you're five." I answered. I took it for granted, his memory.

Do you know what Critter said to me as I got out of the shower earlier this week?

"Mom, you said you would get me a hamster when I turned five."

I did.

Oh, I did.

I tried and tried to weasel my way out of it. "A fish tank? You can choose your own fish..."

No go. And I just wasn't going to go back on what I told him so long ago...and crush his little dreams.

**So this is where the brave part comes in, for those of my facebook friends.**

I mustered up all my strength this morning, after many a conversation about care and feeding, cleaning, protecting this critter from our other bigger ones (cat and dog). We headed off to the pet store(s) with birthday money in hand and a mission.

Now I had done quite a bit of research, and from some experience too, I know that Guinea Pigs are better pets for little hands than hamsters. When Critter held a Guinea Pig, she crawled up and licked his neck, ear, head. He fell in love. The hamster was way too wiggly.


Lucky for me I got 50% off a cage at a local feed store too.

So we're all set. First named Fredrick, now she's called Stewart, our Guinea is all cozied up in her upstairs space, safe behind a closed door from kitty.

I'm so brave....and they're so cute.

January Hike

Photos, as promised.

Want to come?

Long unders? Check
Water bottles? Check
Snacks? Check
Three dollars to park? Check
Camera? Check
Doggie? Nope
Undershirts? Check
IPod to measure distance? Check
Boys? Check
Husband? Check
Ponytail holder? Check
Doggie? No, we can only take three wanderers on this trip.


I'm going hiking. Yes. It's January, and 50 something outside and I'm going hiking. I will follow up with pictures tonight. :)

To all my "Office" & Abba fan friends...

Meditate on This...

"All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful..."
~Psalm 25:10

Happy 5th Birthday, Little Critter

There are a series of books, the Little Critter books that happen to be our middlest sons' favorites. This is how he's adopted the Critter nickname, we often use it at home too. My sweet husband (who also loves the books) started it.

Critter turned 5 years old this week. Unbelieveable! Five years could really go by so fast?!

He started the day with a chocolate chip pancake, very fun stuff around here.

Then we celebrated Wednesday night with my family, out to pizza and cupcakes, gifts of course.

For a fun, friend birthday party we headed over to "Bouncing off the Wall" with a few friends. It was a blast.

Happy Birthday, to my sweet Middlest son, my basketball playing, rock collecting, witty, charming, faster than fast, inquisitive, snugly, sharp, bug collecting, animal loving, chattery, curly headed sweetie. Oh, we do love you!

Full Moon

Biggest Full Moon of the Year: Take 2	01.08.200p

January 8, 2009: When last month's full Moon rose over Florida, onlooker Raquel Stanton of Cocoa Beach realized that something was up.

"The Moon was stunningly gorgeous--and it looked bigger than usual!" she says. "My whole family noticed and watched in awe."

Like millions of others around the world, she had witnessed the biggest full Moon of 2008--a "perigee Moon," 14% wider and 30% brighter than lesser Moons she had seen before. "I'll never forget it."

Alert: It's about to happen again.

This Saturday night, Jan. 10th, another perigee Moon is coming. It's the biggest full Moon of 2009, almost identical to the one that impressed onlookers in Dec. 2008.

* This is taken from a NASA article

Boys say...

The other day I sat down with a pile of library books to read to the boys. The title of the book I was holding was "The Boy who Retired". "Does anyone know what retired means?" I asked? Scooter says, "I do! Extinct!"

Peanut has been eating a boat-load of oranges every day these days. Probably great for his immune system. This morning as he started in on his first orange he says "It's like I'm an orange-monster, right mama?" Yes- siree!

A Tidbit

I Timothy 4: 7&8 (The Message)
Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.

Peanut Says...

"Dad, you have big muscles in your oboes (elbows)"

I couldn't agree more.

Blogs? Why read them? You tell me!

I was feeling a little guilty as I sat down to catch up on all my favorite blogs. " There has to be something more productive I should be doing, right? Something more enriching to read?" But I'd just returned from a week long trek to CA, and I was missing my blog time!

So I read...and read and read. I got a heart-full.

I was thinking afterward about why. Why do I love reading blogs? My first guilt-ridden thought was that I was really needing to spend less time online, and more in person with friends. But then, I thought, let's be real. I spend a lot of time with my friends. So what's the draw to blogging? What's the draw to reading blogs?

Then I thought again about the stories I had been reading that night. Yarns spun, a million rich, real-life tales of women I love, admire, adore.

Stories of a friend caring for a sweet, God-loving mother-in-law, a new (fourth!) pregnancy, inspiration for building a beautiful, loving home, nutrition & health ideas, encouragment for spiritual growth, great adoption processes and stories of their transitions, inspiring stories of women of past, great money saving ideas, fantastic birth stories of a doula, a humorous & authentic take on parenting a toddler, a sweet running-mate who's having a surprise #5 baby, a friends faith-filled journey through chronic illness, stories of life on a hobby farm.

I love the stories. Rich, authentic, unfiltered true to life stories of women who walk through life with me. THAT is why I read blogs. I just wish they came in book form...

Why do you read blogs?

New Year's Eve and My Resolve

To celebrate the evening, the Perko family headed over to the Rammage's to enjoy a Christmas. We had lots of yummy food, fun gifts and family. Critter and Peanut both got special blankets, handmade by MaeMae. Scooter got a super soft, coveted (also handmade) pillow. Special gifts, home made ones are.

We had a fun time, cousins had fun together and Ralph struggled a bit to stay awake, already tired early in the evening. (You'll get to see photos soon...)

But it's New Years, so awhile after we returned home we hosted a last minute Eve party of our own. Some close friends, The Kuhlman's and The Braatens came over bearing snacks, drinks and of course lots of pennys for some serious (okay, not too serious) Poker. Needless to say, we had a wonderful time- staying up way too late ( I think our guests went home about 3) with the kids finding a bed or couch to crash in...that is with the exception of a certian 10 year old who was determined to stay up. A wonderful time, I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.
(I promise there are photos coming...)

Which is my segway....resolutions.

I resolve to laugh more, lots and lots this year.

If you're in need of a bit of inspiration in regard to resolutions, I highly recommend you head over to Kristin's blog (not to mention a fabulous family photo) and read an article that she posted. It's a long read, but well worth it.

I too, will resolve to make some changes, pursuits, examination this year. Many folks I've talked to think that resolutions are a silly notion, knowing fully that we won't keep them. I absolutley agree, and disagree.

It is likely that we, human as we are, will not be able to keep most any resolution if it be a commitment that we make, with the exception of an amazing crockpot woman who's accountability and determination kept her on a daily blog for A YEAR. Imagine that, I couldn't even keep up for 31 days.

I looked up the word discipline, here are the definitions;

• a field of study
• training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
• control gained by enforcing obedience
• orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior

NO WHERE, here do I see anything about perfection or perfect consistency. If a resolution is simply something that we are committing to see change in, it's a discipline, a habit change that improves our thought process, health, relationships, or just ourselves.

Resolve defined:

• to reach a firm decision about
• to progress from dissonance (lack of agreement) to consonance (harmony or agreement among components)
• clear up
• to find an answer to

....so I completely disagree that Resolutions are fruitless. Perhaps our tact is erroneous. Maybe rather than resolving "I'm going to excersize every day in 2009 for 30 minutes", our resolution should be "I'm going to examine my habits every week and see if I'm getting more healthy. We aim for perfection, not discipline or change in habits, and this is why we fail. Our lofty goals get us two weeks into the year, and then we miss a few days and feel we've failed miserably and give up entirely. Wipe out the perfection in your brain. Go for bettering yourself, that may need to change course constantly, or even the topic of betterment. Maybe one month each focusing on one new habit is enough, rather than beating ourselves over the head with laws of our "resolve."

And stepping off that soapbox, I'll be sharing with you this year the things I'm working to improve in me. Most of them, I hope will be bettering myself spiritually and relationally. I'm just 35, I have a long, long way to go.

I see too, more and more in my own life that as I walk with God, meeting Him each day and being a student of His Ways and Spirit, all things work out, the road ahead of me is made straight and I don't have to worry about the other areas in my life.

Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Psalm 37:4 (New Living Translation)

4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

More on that....

Now, to share some photos with you -in no particular order, thank you.