Monday, November 24, 2008

SO far behind

I'm WAY behind on my blogging. I'm WAY behind on reading my blogs. I'm WAY behind in general.

I was sick. Then, Cassie was sick. Now, Mark, Conrey, and my Auntie (who is here visiting) are sick. No fun.

SO, when I'm done taking care of sick people, I'll blog more.

No news on the house. No news on anything, really.

The End.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Thank You

I just thought that this was an amazing way to send some cheer to the soldiers during the holiday season. Xerox is a great company in my book for doing this (we'll ask my brother, Dustin, for his opinion of the company at a later date) for our brave men and women who are sacrificing much for our freedom. May God Bless them, their families, and our country!

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them. This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time to do this and to pass this website on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's. Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Updates all around

Updates...where to start? Let's start with the house. No news is......good news or bad news? I'm not sure. We had a showing Thursday (the toilet people), a showing today, and a realtor preview today. I WILL update when I know anything.

Cassie: When last we left little Cassie, we were in the trenches...not having a ton of success with the potty training. Today, we find our little one going dry all day, even out in public at the mall and a bridal salon. We find her pottying and pee-peeing on the potty every time she needs to relieve herself. She's doing, well, splendidly.

Conrey: We now have TWO teeth. He got the first one on Nov. 7 on the way to Olathe and the second one on the 13th. Yes, it's been rough. They are the 2 bottom ones and it is pretty cute. We are now eating cereal and a jar of baby food 2 times a day. He has not slowed down on nursing at all...still every 2 hours. The food is between 2 nursings; 1 in the morning and 1 in the late afternoon or evening. He is over 20 lbs and we recently switched him to the next carseat (still facing backwards) because he was too heavy for the infant carrier. We haven't been to a restaurant yet and don't really know what we're going to do, as he cannot sit unsupported yet. We'll see.

I got my Christmas cards that I ordered from www.makemeanewcreation.com and I LOVE them! They are sooo cute and exactly what I wanted! YAHOO! If you haven't looked at their website yet, check it out. I was definitely not disappointed 1 bit!

Well, that's my update. Hope you all have a good day!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Shout out and Update

First and foremost, a very happy birthday shout out to my sister-in-law, Laura. Go check her out at http://thisthatandawholelotoffood.blogspot.com! Hope you have a GREAT birthday! I'll call you later!

I wanted to update you all on the house situation. First of all, thanks for the prayers. Secondly, the buyers really like our house and have only 1...only ONE issue with it...are you ready for this? Toilets. This couple is Asian and I guess in their culture, a toilet cannot have it's back to the front door of the home. They have an issue with the basement bathroom, as the back of the toilet is to the front door. WHAT? If anyone understands this, please explain. In my limited knowledge, I am thinking it might have something to do with Feng Shui (however you spell that) or something. So, we'll see if they can get past that or not. If they decide that it's workable, they want to look again and then make an offer...they like it THAT much.

Keep those prayers coming! :)

Thursday, November 13, 2008

CALLING ALL PRAY-ERS!

OK, ladies! Here's the deal: We had a showing today. We have one scheduled for Saturday, as well. We hadn't had a showing in 4 weeks. It gets better, though...

The people that looked today really liked the house, asked for the Seller's Disclosure, and asked for a SECOND SHOWING! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I need your prayers, people! Please, please, please pray for them to make a reasonable offer. Along with your prayers, however, please pray that if they don't, we'll be at peace knowing that God has plans in mind and that it will sell sometime in the near future if these aren't the ones. This is the FIRST request for Seller's Disclosure and 2nd showing after like 20 showings all saying, "Great home, the seller had nothing negative to say, etc. but it's not the one for them." Someone finally could picture themselves living there. We just pray that it all comes to fruition, as we're really ready to get our own place and be a single family again!

Thanks so much for your prayers, in advance. I'll keep you 'posted' on the situation! Pun intended.

Friday, November 7, 2008

ALPHABET SOUP M and N

I needed to be mindless today. I don't have anything brilliant or exciting to talk about, so I thought I would talk about the subject I know best...ME! :) So, here are the things I love for 'M' and 'N.' Notice that I'm even too lazy to go find my little icon. Yeah...it's that kind of day...

M:
MOMMY: I love to hear that word. There is nothing better than to hear Cassie say, "Mommy, I love you!"

MENUS: This might seem weird. I love menus at restaurants and I love making menus. I love sitting down at a restaurant with a plethora of options...do I want steak, chicken, salmon? Do I want broccoli, mashed potatoes, or fries? I can pick whatever suits my fancy. I love making a month-long menu, though this doesn't happen often. There is nothing like looking at your menu and saying, "Tonight I'm having _______. At the start of the month I got everything I needed, so I just have to go in and cook it." Fabulous!

MAKE UP: This might be a surprise, as I often wear little make-up. Other times, I wear more. I never wear foundation and very, very rarely powder. There is something VERY tempting, however, about eye shadows, blushes, bronzers, lip glosses, etc. I have to rush past the make up department when I'm in stores, because I'll inevitably find something that I "need."

MUSIC: Music has always been a huge part of my life. I have always performed (well, until I got married, that is...). I have always loved to sing. I have played at least 8 different instruments that I can think of off of the top of my head. I love music. You might find it interesting, however, that there is typically not music playing in my car. Unless I'm driving on a long trip by myself, the radio is off. If I'm driving long distance by myself, then I need the music to keep me going. By contrast, Mark turns the radio on first thing when he gets in my car. I don't mind his music playing...I just prefer to not have music playing when I'm driving in town and trying to concentrate.

MOON: I'm like a kid. There is something that thrills me and intrigues me about the moon. I love to find it in the night sky and I love to watch it change for night to night.

MORNINGS WITH MY KIDDOS: I am NOT a morning person. There are 2 little reasons that make my morning worth facing: Cassie and Conrey. There is nothing sweeter than a little one in the morning. They always want to cuddle and are so smiley. I LOVE it!

MANICOTTI: One of my favorite Italian dishes. I LOVE a good manicotti with the perfect ratio of pasta, cheeses, and sauce. YUM!

N:
NACHOS: I LOVE nachos! I love the kind you get at a circus, fair, ballgame, etc. I love just chips with shredded cheese that you melt (with garlic salt...yum!). I love nachos.

NICKELODEON: I grew up as a product of Nickelodeon. I loved all of the shows. I loved the fact that there was always a channel with shows for me to watch. I loved people getting slimed.

NECKLACES: I love wearing necklaces, though I rarely do any more. I have had too many broken in these early stages of motherhood that I have retired them for the time being. I just always feel like the right necklace completes an outfit and makes me feel finished.


Well, I have wracked my brain and cannot come up with any other 'Ns.' If I come up with any more, I'll add, but for now, that's my list. :)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

8000 Words

[EDIT] I have uploaded this complete collection onto my facebook. If we're not facebook friends, you can shoot me an email at chesmnisteruy@hotmail.com and we'll become facebook friends, or you can search for me and add me!

If a picture is worth 1000 words, here are 8000 for you.

These are Conrey's 5-month pics





These are our Christmas pics








Tuesday, November 4, 2008

This, that, and a really long name!

I have been frequenting a fun blog with really, REALLY cute kids recently. Ok, ok...they're my neices and nephew. My sister-in-law, Laura, has recently started a blog that can be found at: http://thisthatandawholelotoffood.blogspot.com. It is primarily a culinary blog, as she shares my secret wish to be a professional chef. :) She does a great job of journaling her cooking process and end result, as well as critiques from a few honest critics...her 3 kids. If you like recipes, food, cooking, or cute kids, check her out!

Also, don't forget about this website: www.makemeanewcreation.com where you can get some really cute, fresh Christmas cards made! I found out something that REALLY excited me...I'm not sure if I've posted this yet or not, but they will address, stamp, and even lick the envelopes FOR YOU and then mail them out for a small additional charge per card.

Finally, if you haven't joined the rage that is Counter(POP)Culture, be sure to visit: http://counterpopculture.blogspot.com to check that out.

Happy Blogging!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Where is "home?"

I'm so confused.

Cassie is too.

We are all currently asking the same question: "Where is 'home'?"

We've gone back and forth between here and our house in Olathe. We go "home" to our house, but we come "home" to Wichita.

The question becomes even more confusing when you add in "Home is where the heart is" and furthermore "For where your treasures are, there your heart will be also." As for our "treasures," our worldly treasures are at our house. Our family is all together, so that is what matters. We are all safe and healthy. However, I'm not sure where my heart is at the moment.

Is it where I feel I belong? Is it where I feel comfortable? Is it where I feel at peace? Is it where I feel settled? Is it where I feel like a stranger? Is it where I feel like an intruder? Is it where I feel uneasy?

Here is the problem with that list: I feel ALL of those things in both places. ALL of them. I feel that I belong in Olathe, yet I feel that THIS is where I belong. I feel comfortable living in MY home and surrounded by MY stuff, yet living in the home of my childhood certainly brings back the comfort that only that can provide. I feel like an intruder in both places. I have detached from our home where I feel like it no longer "fits." I feel like I'm in someone else's home as a house sitter or something. I feel like an intruder here because I don't have a place for my things...I don't have the freedom to do anything my way...I can't just be a family with my husband and my children.

*SIGH* It is SOOO hard right now. I wouldn't say that I'm depressed as much as confused...bewildered...overwhelmed. I cannot see any end in sight and I'm not sure where to go from here.

We are once again and forever waiting. The ONLY thing getting me through is that I know that I am waiting on God...on His perfect timing. I know that at the end of this waiting, if I am faithful, will be blessings beyond measure. My cup already overflows with His blessings. So, I will try to be patient and wait on the Lord faithfully...not for the promise of blessing, but because I rest in His hope and I know that His ways are above my ways and He sees the grand scheme and picture. I know that He has plans to lift me up, to prosper me...not to harm me. I know that in His infinite wisdom and love, He will hold us up, encourage us, strengthen us, and lead us to the perfect place He wants us to be at the perfect time that He has selected.

See...I knew the answers all along. I just need you all to read this and let me walk through it to find them, embrace them, and hold to them.

I have been doing a Bible study lately that has actually gotten me INTO the Bible. I don't want to be unfair or unkind, but it is an extremely frustrating study at times where I have trouble figuring the author out. However, it has me in the Word and that is what has been long missing from my relationship with God. That is what has tripped me up when I couldn't make it through. That is why now, the promises of the Bible roll off of my fingers like rain. They have been hidden in my heart, but they are now revived and free to once again shape my attitude, my mind, my heart.

I really can't tell you the last time I actually studied the Bible. I'm glad to be home to it.

There's my answer. I typed it without even realizing what was flowing from my fingertips. God...that's where my home is. Where He reigns and He is free and He is alive!