Josie Jo

I couldn't resist putting this picture up... what a ham-bone! (Taken with my cell phone today.)

Losing Control

I have control issues. There. I said it. I'm not in denial about it anymore. It's something I struggle with all the time.

God's been stretching me a lot in this area, even in the last two days!! 

A while back, we went to Woodland, and forgot to put the chickens back in their pen before leaving. They wandered around. They even crossed the road! Why did the chickens cross the road? I don't know, and frankly I wish they hadn't.

I received a phone call from our neighbor two doors down, Davidjohn. He told me that the woman that lives across the street (who doesn't talk to anyone) saw the chickens in her yard and wondered if they were his. He told her they were ours, and by the time he went to get his shoes to help shoo them back to our yard, they had already come back into the Weck's front garden next door. 

Incident resolved.

Problem solved.

Or so we thought. The lady called the City! We got a notice in our mail yesterday that told us we needed to keep our chickens on our property and that they were being a public nuisance. My temper flared. I got a little... huh, hum... pissed off. Why can't we all act like adults and talk to each other?? Then, to pour a little salsa on the wound, Ray told me that Erik had also expressed to him that the chickens had been digging in their front garden too much, and it was becoming a problem. Oy. I went to bed more than a little steamed. I had to pray to calm myself down to sleep. 

I have lots of arguments in my defense. They sound petty and stupid when I say them, so I'll keep it to this: I feel betrayed, angry, hurt, and sad. Having these animals is something that my family enjoys, and they've given me so much joy. Who woulda thought? They lay blue eggs, they run around flapping their wings at each other, and they peck and scratch at the ground. 

They're simple. 

When I watch them, they calm me down.  

But they're inconvenient for everyone else. I guess it's my sense of honor. I feel like a Klingon sometimes. Don't wound me, or my honor will be forever bruised.

As for Control Issue #2... It's even more crazy to admit. This weekend, our church is having a wonderful and exciting Women's Retreat. There's been tons of planning and lots of emails and phone calls flying about. All forty+ women are looking forward to it. However, because of certain illnesses and such, the duty of "leading" singing at the retreat during the campfire portion was left to me. There's been a lot of miscommunication on my end, and I assumed there would be some leadership roles that that I would need to fill. It made me feel important. These things that I thought were mine to control were done without my knowledge and plans were made. Today, I found this all out.

It's REALLY dumb, but I was mad again. Then I realized that it wasn't something that was asked of me. There was no one saying, "Could you do this for the retreat, Ruth?" I just assumed EVERYTHING. 

Double Oy. 

There went the honor again. Right out the bloomin' airlock.

What a control freak I've been!! 

My prayer for the weekend, and for the rest of my life, is that I can keep turning that darn control back over to the CREATOR OF THE WORLD. Perhaps He has a better grasp on what this chaotic little heart needs.

Jacob Du-du?

Mikayla was telling me her favorite cartoons on the way to school this morning. Among the list was Backyardigans, Horseland, and Jacob Two-Two, a Qubo show that she's only able to see at Grandma and Grandpa's house. She was singing the end of the Backyardigans theme song, "Meet you next time when we're back, with our friends, the Backyardigans...", when suddenly she switched over to Jacob Two-Two. The way it's said in the theme song is hard to describe, but Mikayla likes to mimic it because it's kinda sassy.

Immediately, she was trying to get Josette to say it.

Josette's imitation was Doo-doo, Du-du, which had all of the right inflections in the right places, but was somehow the funniest thing Mikayla had ever heard. She even said so.

I have to admit, it WAS pretty darn cute.

So, the ENTIRE way to school, Mikayla would repeat it, and Josette would try to copy her. Mikayla would then crack up, and so the cycle would begin again.

Of course, now it's completely stuck in my head. :)

Fohget About It!

So, as you well know, we are getting beautiful blue eggs from our backyard pets. Yesterday, however, while at the grocery store, I wavered on whether to buy a dozen brown ones for back-up, in case we used them all up before they could be replaced...

While debating this conundrum, Mikayla said, "MOM, we don't need eggs! Remember!? We have chickens giving us eggs!" I then asked her whether she thought that would be enough, to which she replied, "Of course they will! Don't worry so much!!"

Why do we stress over stuff? I think Mikayla's got the right idea.

So Worth It

After the girls go to bed, there's always the inevitable holding of our breath... will one (or both) get up again for that drink of water, potty break, or because their clothes are making them uncomfortable? Well, tonight was the last of the list, and because they were too hot, I had to rummage through the HUGE floordrobe pile of clean clothes for two short-sleeve tops. 

Annoying, yes?

Well, I have to admit, it was at first, but you see, I lost my favorite hair band the other day, and for several mornings, I've lamented the fact that I couldn't find it. As you've probably guessed, I found it, right as I was finding the second shirt for the girls. 

Ahhh... the little things. Truly, it made them getting up TOTALLY worth it. 

Watching Dora

{arriba!}

{frowning at Swiper the Fox}

Whether they're dressed up for Halloween or not, one thing is true of our little girls. They are cute.

Success

{receiving her award}

{principal sean mcmillan}

Mikayla won an award today at her school's first assembly of the year. I can't remember if I've ever been to a school assembly before, and the children of all the grades were really well-behaved. Even the principal was impressed with how well they filed in and sat quietly. A few children from each of the grades K-5 were being chosen for their outstanding Hard Work and Enthusiasm. Can you guess which one of the two awards Mikayla won? You probably guessed correctly if you know her at all.

ENTHUSIASM.

She exudes it.

I'm so incredibly proud of her!! She was so excited! It's such an honor to see her be noticed for something positive, so early in the year. (Let's hope it stays positive!) :)