My Birthday!

Today is my birthday! I am another year older and hopefully a bit wiser. Even on matters of fire safety. ;o)

In honor of my birthday, I am hoping I might be able to make a little gifty request of y'all, in the way of delurking and introducing yourselves! I would love to know more about my lovely readers--those who comment frequently, sparingly, or not at all. Share a little bit about yourself, a zany little fact or hobby, whatever you feel like typing up. I'll be looking forward to reading your comments. :D

Peapod and I are taking a brief break from our water damage clean up duties to enjoy some flourless chocolate cake (sans candles, which are evil e-v-i-l objects I will never touch again!) & some roasted lamb with loved ones later on today. Wishing y'all a fun-filled day!

P.S. There is another little milestone we are celebrating today: five months of deployment time whittled away! We are nearly to the halfway mark!! Sean will (God willing and Army letting) be home on R&R not too long from now. Well, "not too long" in military wife time, the rest of you would probably think the countdown until that happy time is still very L-O-N-G. :P

Here We Go Unpacking

After a delay due to the weather, the moving truck will be arriving with our "stuff" by the end of the week, so Miss Peapod and I are off to unpack for the zillionth time in our lives...or so it feels. ;o) We spent the last few days in our new place, camping out on air mattresses, so we could have the proper moving-in experience of bare furnishings and "in the middle of moving food" while I worked on lining the shelves and all of that fun stuff. We have lots of work ahead of us and do not yet have internet service at our new home, so I will be absent from Blog Land for a little while. Anyone care to teleport here and help? I'll pay you in jam and pickles. :P

A little birdy told me that the "moving fairies" have left Peapod a little surprise of the fishy variety and some pink gingham curtains for her new room. Let's hope these little fishies fare better than Piggy did...;o)

I will likely be back before New Years Eve, but just in case, let me offer many wishes for a happy, healthy new year, full of many blessings and much wisdom from our glorious Creator, for each and every one of you, during 2009. :D

Shhhh! (Or The Right To Not Incriminate Yourself)

The United States Constitution offers 'we the people' many important rights, among them being the right to remain silent and not incriminate ourselves when speaking with the police or other "government agents."

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Oftentimes this right is thought to be a tool of manipulation for the guilty, where they can hide behind their attorneys and silence to receive deals and keep themselves out of trouble, however, this is not at all what this right was established for. The right to remain silent was established to protect the innocent from being incriminated by their own mouths. When we talk to the police or other government officials, everything we say CAN and WILL be used against us during the course of the evidence/information collecting duties, and also in a court of law, should the situation culminate in such.

The most innocent of statements can be misunderstood, or at times outright twisted, to mean something very different than we intended. When we are nervous, as most folks would be when talking with the police, we can omit details or go too far in proclaiming our innocence, resulting in our character being damaged and used against us in court. People can also be made to confess when they have not committed a crime, spending years in jail until they are exonerated for such a dreadful mistake. Invoking your right to remain silent and to speak with the counsel of an attorney can prevent much heartache if the police, CPS, or other such officials ever come to your front door.

The need to invoke this most precious right may seem far fetched but as I now know from personal experience ;o), strange happenings can occur in life and if we don't understand our rights we are going to lose out. Government agents are not involved in such situations to be our friends or tell us off our rights, they are there to investigate a suspected crime and will be looking at everything--from the words we utter, to the body language we have, to the books on our shelves, to the three dirty dishes in our sinks--in this light. That is their job, that is their responsibility. It is, therefore, our responsibility as citizens to understand our rights and watch out for ourselves, to be our own advocates and our own "friends." Rights cannot be had without responsibility.

Sean came across this excellent video this week, featuring a lecture by an attorney and a police officer, discussing in depth the reasoning behind our fifth amendment rights and why we must utilize these rights if such an unfortunate opportunity ever arises. The video is two parts, both of which run for about thirty minutes, so a bit on the longer side. The information contained in the video is well worth making the time to watch both parts in full, though, and will certainly teach you a lot. Let me tell you, I wish I had watched these videos before the events that led to my Great Escape last month. Ah well, live and learn & pass on the wisdom! ;o)

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
~Proverbs 17:28

You Might Be An Army Wife If...

Usually I am not a fan of cheesy email forwards such as this one, but quite a few giggles escaped my mouth as I read this, so I thought I would share this with y'all, to lighten up the mood here a bit. :P

Also, on a bit of a different note, there's a new poll on my sidebar. :o)

You Might Be An Army Wife If...

*you can unpack a house and have everything in place in 48 hours

*you've changed more oil and mowed more lawns than your husband because he's never there to do it himself

*you know that it's normal to light shoe polish on fire and that the best way to spit-shine boots is with cotton balls

*you only write in pencil because EVERYTHING is subject to change

*you need a translator to talk to your civilian friends, only! because they have no idea what DFAS, AER, TDY, ACS, NPD, PCS, and ETS mean

*you know your husband's SSN by heart but can hardly remember your own

*you have a larger selection of curtains than Wal-Mart does

*you can remember where you kept the Scotch tape in your last house, but unfortunately, not in this one

*you mark time in duty stations, not years

*you refer to friends not only by name but by the state that they live in

*you know that "back home" doesn't mean at the house you live in now

*you tear up when you hear "Proud to Be An American," even though you've heard it 50 times by now

*you know that a 2 month separation IS short, no matter what your civilian friends say

*you know better than to go to the PX or commissary between 11:30 and 1:30 unless it's a life or death emergency (or, may I add, on the 1st or the 15th! ;o))

*you show your military ID to the greeter at Wal-Mart

*you have enough camouflage in your house to wallpaper the White House

*you don't have to think about what time 21:30 is

*you start ripping open MREs and looking for the M&Ms when you run out of Halloween candy

*it only cost you $25 to have a child

*you find that a large number of your clothes and household items are olive drab or loam, even though you never planned it that way

*you've learned to sleep through the sounds of tanks, planes, helicopters and artillery simulators

*you can hate military life but be terrified to leave it all in the same breath

Scented Pinecones

I love decorating with bits of nature around my home. From pinecones to acorns to bare little branches and crunchy fall leaves, there are so many bits of beauty to be found on an afternoon nature walk. In anticipation of "officially" moving into our new home this weekend, as our household goods will be here at last, we've been busy working on some yummy scented pinecones to spice up our living room.

This project is simple, frugal, and can make a nice gift for others. :o)

Venture out into the woods (or the craft store) to gather up a big bag full of pinecones. If your pinecones are found in nature, you will want to soak them in vinegar and water for a few hours to clean and disinfect. Then, place the wet pinecones in a 250 degree oven until they are open and plump, usually about two hours.

As you are preparing your pinecones for crafting, you will want to gather the following:

*paintbrush
*your favorite dried culinary spices (I am a fan of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger myself.)
*white craft glue

In a bowl, mix together one part water and one part glue, to make a thin spreadable glue. Brush this glue onto prepared pinecone and then roll into spice mixture, to coat entire pinecone. Allow your craft to dry and use as you choose. These pinecones are great displayed in a pretty bowl, decorated with a bow to make a package topper, or used as part of another craft project of some kind. Very pretty and smells delicious! :o)

Picture Credit

Gracious Words For Hard Times

TK asked a question on my recent fertility issues post that is a very important one and an issue I have struggled with myself.

Do you have any suggestions as to responses to these thoughtless questions? My husband and I are in this situation and our families always ask this kind of thing. It is extremely painful, and I never know what to say, so I just sit there, paralyzed in heartbreak, and trying not to break down. My family is very persistent and changing the subject rarely works. I don't want to be unkind back, I just want them to stop asking. We don't want to tell them that we have been trying for a really long time, and that we are devastated by our probable infertility, as this would only invite several thousand more comments and insensitive questions.

There is no one right way to handle such questions and sadly no perfect way to make such inquiries stop, but there are ways to hopefully alleviate some of the pain that comes from such a situation.

First and foremost, asking God for the grace needed to handle the pain of infertility and all of the issues that arise is very importantly. Ultimately the only person we can control is ourself and arming ourself with God's love, grace, and His strength as armor over our heart can be very beneficial. I sincerely doubt there is ever a day for any of us where the thoughtless or unkind words of another will not hurt, but a point can be reached where hurt is in the place of what was once devastation. Keep a few favorite verses, ones of hope and healing, tucked safely inside your mind, at the ready whenever you so badly need this godly encouragement. I cannot tell you how helpful my specially chosen verses have been after being stung by poorly chosen words.

When it comes to handling the words of others, different situations call for different approaches. Being as honest as possible is always important, but at the same time, there is nothing wrong with protecting your privacy. Nicely letting people know that you would prefer not to discuss such a sensitive subject is one way to handle any uncomfortable moment with grace. I have had some success simply stating that we are waiting on God's time for a child or saying "I'm not sure" when asked if/whens of future children joining the family. Usually nothing more will be asked after this, but there unfortunately been a few times when the issue was pressed further. During these unfortunate moments, I have nicely but firmly stated this is a private/hurtful subject and one that I am absolutely not comfortable discussing openly at this time. This blunt approach might seem harsh to some, but when somebody is really insistent, this kind but tough response can avoid much hurt & upset for all parties involved.

The "bean dip approach" is another route that can be taken and has been especially helpful to me for all sorts of questions in social settings that involved family or others I see frequently and do not wish to offend. If someone starts to venture into territory I am not comfortable discussing, I will gently try to change the subject to something else, usually asking the person something about themselves, as most people are more than happy to discuss that subject and will typically move on from the hurtful territory they were venturing into. For those people whom I know will "go there" I always try to be sure I take lead in conversations with them, inquiring about them and their families and then striving to make an exit before opportunity might come up to ask me "the questions"

In the case of family, if there is a compassionate family member with whom you or your husband are particularly close and would be a person who would understand the grief you are feeling, sitting down with this family member and enlisting their help in stopping the questions from everyone else may prove helpful. Be honest with them about the pain you are experiencing and how deeply you are hurt when you are rudely questioned about such an intimate topic as your fertility. I have used this approach once or twice myself and was always very thankful to have looked around for help. This burden is not one you need to carry alone, especially if there might be someone willing to held lift some of your load.

Admittedly I have not had to deal with the great insistence that TK has described, and my words may not offer much comfort or wisdom, but I am *praying* that someone else reading this post, who has walked this road herself, may be able to provide some encouragement, blessing, and helpful advice on handling less than gracious questions from persistent family members. :o(

Fertility Issues Are...

Fertility issues of all kinds are a terrible reality to be living through anytime of year, but during the holiday season the grief felt can be especially great. Family gatherings allow assumptions to be made, advice offered, and rude questions to be asked. These celebrations are also a time that can feel like salt in the wounds of people who have had any sort of loss, the ambiguous loss of infertility and miscarriage included. The Thanksgiving turkey that tastes so good may be marking the painful anniversary of another turkey day without a little one in a couple's arms. The seasonal decorations in the mall or lighting of the Menorah may be drudging up thoughts of what could have been, the list of New Years resolutions full of pained hope for the new year: to get healthy, lose weight, and welcome the precious child who is so badly longed for.

Fertility issues are so many bits of pain:

*not sharing with family members about your health, for fear of getting their hopes up and being a disappointment to everyone.

*being called selfish for having been married "too long" to not yet have children.

*being asked embarrassing questions about your love life and receiving "tips" from those who feel they have special insight into why a child has not yet been conceived.

*the stab in your heart upon receiving a monthly update email from Enfamil, for your "five month old baby" --the one you miscarried last year.

*being berated for the selfishness of having a "lonely only" or being called a "hobbyist mother" as if these unfortunate circumstances were your choice or doing.

*not sharing about a pregnancy until baby is past the point of viability, as you've already learn that embarrassing lesson last time around.

*being constantly asked about when you will make someone a grandparent for the first time or when a sibling will be joining the family, as if you are somehow causing the problem and have control over the situation.

*crying every month as yet another Big Fat NEGATIVE result comes on a pregnancy test, the 36th you've received in three years time.

*having "radar" & zeroing in on every pregnant woman when you are out & about or having tunnel vision towards every baby who would have been old as your should be right now.

*feeling like a failure as a wife, as a daughter, as a sister, as a mother, for not producing the baby that would add another generation to the family and/or a sibling for the child/ren you already have.

*sobbing on the bathroom floor at a friends baby shower because shes pregnant on the first try after you've tried everything and have yet to become a mom.

*being told you'll never conceive and knowing you can never afford to adopt, all while millions of babies are unloved this very evening.

*feeling nasty self righteousness and great devastation and anger when the news reports of someone who drowned their baby in the toilet or you think of the millions of baby's aborted each year, wondering why God couldn't give one of these babies to you, for you'd love him/her with all your heart and would never kill such a precious gift.

*another anniversary with a "fun" childless vacation when you want nothing more than a little newborn's cry waking you up every morning, before the crack of dawn.

*feeling as if you are the barren sister in a fertility cult, as everyone around you is expecting or just had a baby.

*dreading "the question" when it comes up everywhere, even during small talk with a stranger in a doctors waiting room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This time of the year is supposed to be season of giving, a season of light. Let us bring this light and goodness to the conversations we share with our loved ones and even strangers with whom we have opportunity to share a few words. We never know what another might be going through, what pain an innocent question might bring, or what a gift might be given by not "going there." Let's place ourselves in another's shoe, speak prayers--between us and God--for those we care about who might be struggling, and choose our words wisely and with the utmost of compassion. Sometimes what we do not say can be a far better gift than any advice we can give or words we could offer.

Recycled Snowman Village

For several weeks now, Peapod has been working on designing what is supposed to be a snowman village, out of recyclables and items found in the pantry. Those pretty little wintry villages seen at collectible stores have always been something I would love to own, to decorate my home with, but are a possession that just doesn't make much sense at this point in time. Rather than sulk about my lack of a snowman village, a moment of creativity hit me over my head upon looking at an empty orange juice carton and seeing the possibilities that could come from this humble little object.

I usually save any items that could be used in crafts or other projects, dedicating an entire shelf in Peapod's art closet for such lovely little treasures. From yogurt containers to egg cartons to old socks, there seems to be a second life for nearly everything once you take the time to brainstorm, with juice cartons and cereal boxes not being an exception to this rule. :o)

As soon as this idea entered my head I got brainstorming,looking all around to see what might be able to be used for this fun little Peapod project. We gathered up all of our supplies and got to work. The buildings of our snowman village is made out of different sized juice cartons, paper towel tubes, and cereal boxes, rescued from my parent's recycling bin. Glitter, pom-poms, construction paper & magazine pages, sugar cubes, coconut flakes, gun drops, pipe cleaners, and a bit of paint and glue are just some of the "decor" that is helping this village take shape.

The biggest carton has become snowman city hall, a smaller juice carton is the post office. There is also a little library, doctor's office, and general store, along with some trees, lamp posts, and a foil ice skating pond. Our town will be experiencing a snowfall of coconut flakes just as soon as the pieces arrive to their eventual home on the mantle and gumdrop trees will be dotting the lovely landscape. I promise a picture whenever my camera cord eventually arrives.

As delighted as Peapod has been with this project, it seems she is more than a bit disappointed when I call our town a snowman village as she had something quite different in mind. Can you guess what place she has decided this recycled town is?

Can you?? Can you??



I will give you one guess. The place starts with the letter "K" ;o)



Why, Kuwait, of course!

LOL! Yes, it seems her world revolves around Kuwait, even at art & craft time. :P



This project was tons of fun and likely one I will do again with Peapod next year. For fun & frugal craft making with your little ones, give everything a second look before you throw it out. The sock without any partner may make a wonderful puppet with just a wee bit of glue or sewing. An egg carton can be used to sprout seeds for a little one's kitchen garden or can be turned into a fleet or turtle friends. A cereal box can become a car or boat or even a train. A paper towel tube can be paired with some masking tape, paint, and dried beans to make a fun little instrument. An oatmeal container can become a drum or gift box. The possibilities are endless, so don't let good art supplies go to waste! :o)

Picture Credit

Bowling,Toddler Style

My sister, Lindsay, is a former youth bowling state champion and is eagerly anticipating the day she can groom Peapod for the future trophy errr I mean bring Peapod bumper bowling for the first time. :P Although Peapod is still a little ways from this exciting adventure, we are starting her young with toddler bowling at home. What a fun little activity this is, and so simple to prepare! We especially enjoy this on rainy or super cold days, when even a brief time of outdoor play cannot be enjoyed.

You will need to gather:

*Five or so two liter pop bottles or quart size plastic milk jugs
*small ball to serve as bowling ball

1. Choose an area in your home with non-carpeted floor and clear away any furniture or objects that might make the area unsafe.

2. Set up your "pins" in an orderly bowling style fashion, perhaps marking the floor with some masking tape to allow a little one to help re-set the pins, if they are interested. :o)

3. Roll the ball and knock down the pins.

This activity is so crazy simple that I am ashamed to admit I did not think of it until I was reading the oh-so-fun filled Toddlers Busy Book last winter. :P

Wishing your littles a perfect 300 game! :D

Picture Credit

A Charity Flowing Life

In the Bible, time and time again, we are admonished to give to others from the blessings God has loaned to us. If we earn money, if we grow food or are blessed with a harvest, if we have a way to teach a man to fish, these blessings came not from our own power, but were given to us by God. They are not ours to hold with greedy, closed hands, to give with a begrudging heart, or to protect for self-centered reasons, but they are God's gifts to us, to satisfy our needs and to then pass on to others, so they too can simply live.

The many commandments about giving to those in need makes it clear that God takes these commands very seriously. Proverbs 21:13 even goes as far to warn us that should we let a cry from the poor fall on deaf ears, so too will our cries!! If God takes acts of charity so very seriously, why don't we? If charity begins at home, why aren't we imparting a rich legacy of giving, compassion, and care to our children? Why do we complain about the government stepping in when we--as a group--have never done anything to prevent this? Why aren't we stepping up in great numbers to stop the increasing need for food programs and the like right now? When we complain about taxation of money that is not rightfully "ours" per God's economy are we doing so because we are truly grieved we can't give this money to a good cause or because we want to obtain more material possessions & luxuries to hoard here on earth? All of these questions are very important to consider, to earnestly and honestly search for the answers for, deep within our hearts.

The Jewish faith has provided us with a beautiful example of charity gone right, giving that is part of the flow of life, and not something special, reserved for one season of the year or for when we feel like giving. One of my favorite ideals when it comes to giving, and a tool that has taught me a lot on this subject is the Jewish idea of tzedakah, including the levels of charity, which are as follows:

The levels of charity, from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:

1. Giving begrudgingly
2. Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3. Giving after being asked
4. Giving before being asked
5. Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6. Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7. Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8. Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant
Taken from here.

As Sean and I have pondered thoughts on Jewish charity over several years, we have went over our life with a fine tooth comb, hoping & praying to weed out the selfish little attitudes that are hiding, here and there. So many times it would be much easier to look away from the hungry person in the park, rather than handing them the snack in my backpack. Saying no to the person asking if I could spare the bus fare for the bus we are both to be boarding right then, is sometimes so tempting--maybe I would rather buy a cookie with that $1.50 instead?! But then reality slaps me on the face again, and I remember with tears in my eyes and humility in my heart, how many times I myself was on the receiving end of generosity, truly by the grace of God, and the sinfulness of my thinking stings and shames me as it absolutely should.

Giving charity, in any form, is a very humbling experience, that is for sure, and also one that preserves the dignity of the one being given to. I can't help but wonder if that is why these acts are so important to God. For in giving bits of ourselves, we not only help those in need, but we help ourselves. We come to realize that "Wow! That was me just a few years ago!" or "This could happen to me." Our paths cross with those we may have never spoken with otherwise, when we volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank. We wind up hand in hand with people who we might think to be "lesser" than us and suddenly have opportunity to realize that none of us are all that different, we really are the same. Maybe this is why giving charity is so difficult to so many of us? Maybe it's not the letting go of possessions that scares us, though greed might be nicer to admit to than such a deep down fear of confronting the ugly side of life. Perhaps it is being knocked off our pedestals, facing harsh facts of life, and suddenly seeing the less fortunate as what we all are: God's beloved children, worthy of basic human dignity, even if some of us are lost or wandering.

As we venture through the season of Toys-4-Tots drop boxes and Salvation Army ringers, let us learn to give freely, with joyful & humble hearts, and the knowledge that whatever we give--be it time, money, food, or material goods--our gifts are about far more than what seem, for us and the recipients. They are about being part of God's economic design for this world, which is a beautiful thing like no other.

Picture Credit

Feeding the "Burts"

I have not had much progress to share on the "no-spend" front as the need to hire an attorney, move everything we own across the country, and find a new place to live in has been much more "how to spend every little penny you worked so hard to save for several years" than "no spend." haha. Even still, I have thankfully not had to spend hardly a penny on anything else, thanks to the generosity I shared with y'all before and also due to a purchase of craft supplies and some other goodies for Peapod, from the Bank of Mom & Dad, ever so eager to spoil their first grandbaby. ;o)

One activity she and I have been enjoying is feeding the "burts" (as Peapod calls them) every afternoon, after naptime. We began this little venture with simple bird seed, but then came across a fun little activity in a favorite book, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert, borrowed from the library. These birdfeeders area really simple to make and most of the items you likely already have. A huge bag of birdseed can be purchased for a dollar or two at the grocery store and can then be enjoyed for weeks to come, feeding our feathery friends on this chilly days. Brrr.

To make a simple toddler friendly birdfeeder, you will need:

several slices of bread (any kind will do)
some yarn or string
an eggwhite
bird seed
cookie cutters

1.Using the cookie cutter of your choice, make a cut out from the bread slices. Punch out a little hole for the string to be thread through when the project is complete.

2. Next, brush each bread cutout with enough eggwhite to cover the entire surface.

3. Sprinkle birdseed onto bread.

4. For the patient, you can set aside the bird feeder for several days until it has dried. But as this project needs to be toddler friendly and we all know patience isn't their virtue ;o), place your birdfeeder on a parchment lined baking sheet and baked for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until dried.

5. Add your string and head outside to find a good place to hang your birdfeeder and get ready to watch the "burts" enjoy their treat.

Happy "Burt" Watching my friends!!

Picture Credit

Upkeeping

I hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving holiday. Peapod & I enjoyed a scrumptious meal with my family and she was just spoiled with attention by all, but her second cousins in particular. Several of you were so very kind to ask about Sean's Thanksgiving, which did include a yummy turkey dinner in the sandy desert of Kuwait. :o)

Our household goods were f-i-n-a-l-l-y picked up in Washington this past weekend and are in en route to me right now. I was told the time frame of their arrival could be anywhere from 14-30 days, so let's hope it's closer to fourteen! I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to having more than three outfits and having a proper purse, rather than the soft piece of carry-on luggage I have been using. I'm trying to start a new trend I tell you--carry-on luggage purses and tennis shoes with dresses. Anyone care to join me?! ;o)

This week I am hoping to share some of the fun no-spend craft projects Peapod and I have been working on, in addition to updating my blogroll, doing some other blog upkeep activities, and answering my bursting inbox full of emails.

Wishing everyone a lovely first December week! Can y'all believe we are already in the last days of 2008?! Madness! :D