Here I am! PM post

It's become increasingly difficult to post in the morning like I was. I know it's going to get even tougher when school starts in 3 weeks. So, I'm going to try alternative posting times. :) Joel just picked up the older 3 to run some errands and I just put Samantha in bed, so I'm all alone. Delightful.

The last week has been busy. I did manage to finish my KI Memories album. Yeah! I did a big chunk of it on Sunday, a few more on Monday afternoon and then stayed up till, no joke, 3 a.m. getting it all wrapped up. Then Tuesday I printed all my scans out and labeled them, decided that I didn't like one of the pages in the album so I redid it, and then mailed it all out Priority Mail yesterday afternoon. I did it! YEAH! And I must say, my album rocks. I am very excited about it. The design and the topic were a blast and I really enjoyed making it. So, even if I don't win, I am very proud of my work. But I'd still like to win.... ;)

MOPS retreat was Friday night and was extremely encouraging and uplifting. I had been feeling really down about leading another year and this retreat really perked me up. Fresh ideas are always good. We have added quite a few new members to the team this year and their excitement is definitely rubbing off.

And you know what, I've decided that I definitely say the word 'definitely' too much. I've had to stop myself from writing 'definitely' 5 times in this post so far. Luckily, I've managed to control myself thus far, but it's definitely a word I need to definitely weed out of my vocabulary. Definitely.

Most assuredly (see, replacement word), this has been a good week. I have been getting into the Word when I can, and it has helped. I have also been working on one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Two, actually, when I think about it. I am trying to be kind and to be patient. I don't know what it is, but I have found myself being a bit snotty lately, especially to my kids. I know a lot of it is stress-related, but that is NO EXCUSE. What's worse is I've seen my bad attitude mirroring itself in my children, especially Rebekah. Well, that has to stop. I love my kids and I need to treat them like I love them, right? So throughout the day I have been praying for God to help me to be kind and patient. Whenever I've been faced with a tough situation, I haven't yelled (which I have been doing too much of lately) but instead prayed a quick prayer for help, taken a deep breath and calmly dealt with my kids. It's just been one day, but I can definit... certainly (thank you thesaurus!) see improvement already.

Oh, it looks like we have adopted a new cat. Actually, it's adopted us. Joel found it in the garage last week. It's a juvenile, most defin... assuredly, and a female (we think). We posted a FOUND sign, but still no callers. She's too friendly and too well-fed to have been a stray, but who knows. We live in the boonies, so I can't imagine she's traveled here from too far. But then, if that movie Homeard Bound has any truth to it about pets traveling cross-country, who knows? But we may have ourselves ANOTHER cat. This one is staying OUTSIDE.

Joel was called by the Spokesman Review, one of the local papers, to be interviewed last week. He had a story published in Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker's Soul and they wanted to interview him about. Cool, huh? It was in the paper on Sunday, which we didn't know until today and haven't see yet. I thought it was pretty neat though. I know he's very proud to now be a PUBLISHED writer. If he could do anything for a living, writing would be it. Hopefully someday. :) He's really good.

Well, that's all the news for now. New profile pic up on the left. Joel took that of me today. Can you tell he was standing ON the table to do it? ;)

Comments

[Lisa]

I am a firm, firm believer that our kitties find us, not the other way around. They come into our lives for a reason. My kitty saved my son's life and I'd do anything for her. Enjoy your new kitty! Post pictures!

I cannot believe school is about to start again. We've done most of our shopping (see my blog)... WHERE did the summer go?!

[Mary Ellen]

Hi Sheila--Glad you worked out a way to post!I've been wondering what you are up to--figured you were madly working on your KI Album. Now that the deadline has passed, can you share what you did it on?
I was thinking/praying about you this week when I had quiet time. It is really hard when you have really little ones...the only way I could ever manage it was by getting up early, but then my kids slept til 7 or so...
Now I get up at 6--5:30 when I start walking again--and my kids don't get up til 8:30-9 so I can make time...it's the darned PEAing that's gettin me sucked in! I think I have to discipline myself to 3xwk or something like that!
Wow--so neat to see that you picked some *fruit* to work on...my thing is kindness too...I'm just really in a hurry so much of the time, which makes for impatience and snapping at the kids..s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n is my motto right now..helps me a LOT. I did the BEST Bible Study on the Fruit of the Spirit onlin with Beth Moore...it was AWESOME--blessed me so much. A work-at-your-own-pace kind of thing. Let me know if you are interested in checking it out, and I can give you the website. (yeah like I have time right now :) I can hear you saying!)

So you have a kitty...we don't do kittys here...I am WAY allergic, but I am working on getting a dog!

Nice to hear from you!
Take Care
Mary Ellen

[Kim]

You will have to put a copy of your hubby's article here, for all of us to enjoy!

So glad that you are feeling rejuvenated regarding MOPS. Your ladies are touching women's lives. Just be available and an encouragement to them. Let God do the rest. This task is too big for us! Don't you agree.

Got my 20D today, came Priority, bought it off eBay and took it to a Spokane Indian's game. Boy does it have a good shot. Love how it picks up light. I need to get another lens and Adobe Elements and then I will be set for awhile. Planning on taking a class or two on photography, I've gotten too set in my ways I think.

Look forward to hearing from you and... love the new photo on the home page.

Kim