Granny and Popeye Mean FUN FUN FUN!!

Exploring Rock Formations

My In laws...... Still in Love

Granny and her snacks!!

Granny brought Super Catman "Puma Kola"

Rare Shot of My Husband with His Brother "Chet"

Moonbeam, Mother in law and I

Another fun In laws Shot

Moonbeam with Granny Exploring in the Secret Rock Formations

Check it Out!! Par'te!! My (Hero) and (Wonderful) Husband fixed the hot tub - Hooray!! She's up and running as of today :-)

Sock Fashion Expert and Grandparents on a Stroll

My Husband, Part of the "Nail Painting Party"..........

Allot Going on Here!! Notice my husband COLORING!! Granny Painting Nails....

Even More Going On Here!

Family Pac-Man Competition :-)

My Bro-In-Law Shows Up!!

Here's a pile of fun pics from my in laws visit thus far :-) They arrived on Monday. Even my brother in law showed up to celebrate!! Its been a busy but fun couple of days.

My mind seems to be overflowing. I've been cooking, hanging out with family, working, and also getting ready to renew my ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification. That takes a lot of preparation, and I had to go to a prep class for it just the other day. Besides all that thoughts of HAWAII seem to be getting the better of me. Let me explain that one :0) Not all that long ago, I was listening to my friends planning trips to Alaska. Just listening to them I realized that I wasn't doing a lot of planning or dreaming about anything. Then my friend KBT put up this Kris Valotton Quote on FB : "When your memories are greater than your dreams, you are already beginning to die." I got to thinking about that one!! So long story, short, I'm thinking about doing some travel nursing. My husband always wanted to see Alaska, and I always wanted to see Hawaii, so who knows? Maybe I'll be blogging from some far away, exotic place in the time to come!! Time will tell. Regardless, I'm having fun dreaming anyway ;-) What kind of things do you dream about? If you're not dreaming about something special, then you'd better get that ol' thinker busy ;-) Start it out by leaving me a comment and I bet it will be just enough to get the wheels of your imagination turning!!

The Hot Tub

I am about to reveal to you in chronological order the perilous journey upon which I have embarked. Yes, it has been a real "Pilgrims Progress". Here it is - The Victory - The Agony - The Drama - Its all here in my story "The Hot Tub"..............

For as l o n g as I can remember, I always wanted a Hot Tub. Every so often some lucky person would brag about theirs and I would think to myself that "some day" it would happen. I'll never forget the other nurses stories of how some of them get off from work and go sit outside while its snowing and relax their muscles after a long, hard day. I just imagine myself looking over the hill top at the sky and doing the same thing. Year after year, these hopes never materialized until one day we bought a house with a Jacuzzi tub. It was Ecstasy - especially after a hard day of snow boarding. That didn't last long, as we sold the place in only a couple of years and I was hot tubless again. In fact, our current home for the past 8 years hasn't even had a bath tub. When I want to take a bath, I put a big plastic container in the shower (for real)....... Anyway, a hot tub always found its way into my fantasies.
Amazingly, one day, on a lark, my husband and I headed to the big city to check out a few ads from Craigslist. Namely, a four wheeler and hot tub. Here is my journal beginning with that day :
October 8th - Trip to Spokane. A seemingly "nice guy" sells me a hot tub out of the back of his truck. I talk him down to $150 feeling like a rather smooth dealer. He leaps under his truck to catch a frog shocking us all........ On the way home, we pick up a "starter kit" for swimming pools and hot tubs from Wal mart $25. I keep eyeing my hot tub out the rear view mirror feeling like it is almost too good to be true......
October 9th - I Look out the window at the hot tub in the back of our trailer.
October 10th - Super Catman's Party. I Look out the window at the hot tub in the back of our trailer. One of our friends suggests we invite him over when its all hooked up "so he can pee in it".
October 11th - My husband gets the hot tub out of the back of our trailer ingeniously. I clean it out thoroughly. Amazingly, he puts industrial wheels on it so he can push it in the basement using man power and a 4-wheeler. I get excited and begin looking around for my swimming suit. Then he explains that it will not be ready to use yet. He fills it with water cautiously. It doesn't leak!! Hooray!!
October 11th - Continued : He begins taking the side paneling off. Suddenly hordes of Hornets, Bees, Stink Bugs, and other unidentifiable creepy crawlies begin emerging! My husband assigns I and a couple other kids the job of killing the insects before they fully awaken. He removes several nests from the deep dark tubey places.......... Eeewww!!!
October 12th - I Look in the basement at the hot tub filled with water. We stop at the store for hot tub parts, but miss closing time by 15 minutes!
October 13th - I Look in the basement at the hot tub filled with water.
October 14th - I Look in the basement at the hot tub filled with water.
October 15th - My husband does some work on the hot tub. I begin eyeing my swimming suit. He comes up to announce that it needs a new heater, air blower, and filter. We notice on line that the hot tub parts cost more than the hot tub did. I begin to wonder if that "Nice Guy" was just using it as a home for his pet frog. I decide to begin documenting progress in an attempt to laugh rather than cry :-) Stay tuned to read about the exciting conclusion.........
October 16th - I am guessing I will be looking in the basement at the hot tub filled with water - lol!! At least the 4-wheeler runs ;-)

Merry Miner Men, Boy's Birthday Bash and Big Bear

Super Catman "Catches Some Air"

Archer Helps Out "Bellenstein Bunny" - Aren't her training wheels cute?

See The Hill Archer Climbed and Crashed on ?!?

Sock Fashion Expert Tries Out Her Big Bro's Ride

A Happy Birthday Boy

" Octopus with Seaweed" for dinner

Then Cake and Ice CreamArt Dog Bagged this Bear Last Week - it was deep in the mountains feeding on a big ol' Buck!

It was an interesting way to watch a significant piece of history happen, working at the hospital, as every eye was on the rescue of miners in Chile. Each room, every television, all hearts were with them. Whether it was a few employees observing a clip from the waiting room t.v., or patients and families gathered together in private rooms, the world celebrated with tears of joy as each man cheated death. Being up all night working, I got to hear continual updates both from all the televisions, patients and co-workers. It was a day to remember and worthy of the world's celebration. That morning, I made sure my kids would research the event and write about it as part of their lesson plan.............
Here's a little about Super Catman's "motorcycle birthday party" from Sunday -
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I shouldn't be up at 1am blogging, but I am. To tell you the truth, I've kind of missed these impromptu meetings. You know, the kind where I feel my creative energies stirring, and I can actually gain access to the lap top without something else vying for my attention.
Today was Super Catman's "Motorcycle Birthday Party". It was a full day including church in the morning, motorcycle riding with friends in the afternoon and a dinner party of "Octopus on Seaweed" followed by cake and ice cream for dessert. I hope it was everything Super Catman hoped for and more :-)
He'd been planning on the riding party for a while, and didn't want to let "the girls" show him up, namely Elasta Woman's elder two. The kids enjoyed a wild day tooling around the nearby gravel pit. It was quite a sight. All of my kids, except for Moonbeam, Elasta Woman's, Our husbands all driving around climbing hills, doing jumps and trying out each others rides. Every where you looked somebody was doing some thing to watch. Of course Super Catman took center stage with his jumps and rightfully so. He wanted to make sure I saw him each time too. Elasta Woman's girls were pretty impressive as well. They sported their new rides proudly. "Bellenstein Bunny's" ride had training wheels on it making it especially cute to watch. "The Archer" and "Matthew" climbed a huge hill scaring us all. When Archer got to the top he was going so fast that he and the motorcycle both flew up and flipped over tumbling in circles. Archer got up throwing his arms in the air to show everybody he was okay, but my heart was in my throat. Later on, he admitted to hurting his wrist which I wrapped. My husband was pretty happy with playing around on our new 4-wheeler too. On a lark, Friday, after looking on Craigs list, we took a trip to a faraway city and came home with it and a hot tub! The whole riding event was a lot of fun and I felt sure that God was blessing it especially - Nobody got any serious injuries, Nobody had any major break ups or downs, and it was supposed to be a 90% chance of rain which God was gracious enough to hold back on the down pour till we got home. As far as I'm concerned, I call that God Smiling :-)
Part of me felt a little bad about not inviting every local boy around - Super Catman would have loved them all there - but I don't think any of us could have handled the stress. It was a nice group and I enjoyed it more than I would have moderating a passel of rambunctious lads. So after the riding part of the day, just one other family came by for dinner. As previously learned, I cut hot dogs lengthwise 2/3 of the way up into 8 "tentacles". When boiled, the strips curled up and octopuses emerged. Then I added green food coloring to Top Ramon - wha la! Octopus on seaweed for each party going kiddo. The adults had chili dogs (tentacles not included). Sock Fashion Expert baked a scrumptious chocolate and peanut butter cake along with a white ice cream cake. It was all decadent and delicious.
The craziest part of the day happened at the gravel pit. All these years, nobody has ever once encouraged me to drive a motorcycle. Here we are with friends around and out of the blue Sock Fashion Expert INSISTS I climb on her ride! I panicked. "Would I do something stupid?" I told her I hadn't driven one since I was 21, but she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Awkwardly, and ever so gingerly I climbed on. It died. Then I had to start it. I was beginning to draw a crowd. The pressure was really on. I could feel beads of sweat forming on my brow. Kick starting a motorcycle with all eyes on me felt like I was up in front of a class room attempting to solve an algebraic equation. Anyway, though I was sweating bullets, it eventually started and I took off heading as far away from any attention as I possibly could. Then it dawned on me that if I went too far away they would come looking for me. I tried to turn it around. It died. Oh Moan. I got it started again. Sure enough, a search party was coming to check on me. Embarrassing. Well, anyway, getting over how embarrassed I am of being a lame rider, driving it was actually kinda, well, fun.
Since I was totally out of my comfort zone today, I was thinking maybe some of you could tell me what new and crazy things you've tried lately. Come on, I have a lot more humiliating stories to tell - throw me a bone ;-)

"Lambzilla" The Movie!

The Kids Put on a "Home Sci Fi" Movie with Nana and Papa. Here is "Lambzilla"! Along with some of the other movie characters.............




As you can see Mom and Dad really got into their characters and had fun with the kids ;-)

We went on a lot of hikes together................

Mom and Dad left headed home just a little over a week ago. It was such a fun visit! Since then, I've been caught up in a plethora of activities including work, a wedding, home school, continuing education, kids, canning, a big ol' birthday bash, a trip to the big city, etc. etc.

I took a rare moment out in the kayak on the river today just to enjoy the beautiful day. A carpet of leaves crunched beneath my shoes as I drug her across our neighbors yard to the river. The sun was shining and it was warm enough for shorts and a tank top (which is rare for this time of year). The water was crystal clear and reflected the ever towering trees along the banks. I had just 30 minutes before I had to get ready for my shift, but it was a serene window of escape that felt like eternity.

After that, I think I drove my husband batty wanting to leave early so he could get parts for my new toy but not being ready. Of course we missed the store we needed to get to by an obscure 15 minute window. How does he ever put up with it?! He has to leave early because I want him to, then I'm not ready. Its a much longer story but I will incriminate my self no further ;-)

My First Give Away!

I love looking at furniture! This Ottoman Coffee Table caught my eye right away :-) There are many to chose from.....

CSN Stores has agreed to give one lucky person a $45 Gift Certificate toward the purchase of any of their great products at CSN's over 200 online stores!

I'm thinking about buying this Hiking Back Pack! Again, lots of choices......

Mmmm..... Or I could stay warm and cozy with an Electric Blanket this winter!

Its hard to chose with all the items they have available! All you have to do is go to their site and chose an item that you think you would like. Comment on my blog and tell me what you would chose if you won!

* If you are a follower or are planning to follow my blog, you may enter an extra comment for double the chance to win! Happy Shopping :-)

** For 3 chances to win mention my give away on your blog and link it back to my give away!!

According to CSN stores this give away is available to USA and Canada only

Also, a HUGE THANK YOU to Blessedmom's Simple Home who had this same kind of give away in August, of whose I won!!

*This Give away closes on November 3, 2010

Caption Please.....

Maybe you can help me think of a good caption for this one :-) Its Moonbeam with her Papa....

Right A Wrong :-)

The event is fresh in my mind, though it happened many many years ago. I had taken my toddler (now 19) to a Community Easter Celebration. There were baskets of candy and toys, scads of people and wonderful looking grand prizes, namely 4 bikes. A large and a small 2 wheeler for boys drawing and for girls as well. I didn't know it, but early that morning a mother had bowed her head in prayer and asked God for her little girl to win. Her daughter was the youngest of several children and the mom didn't have the money to buy her one. Anyway, as the events of the celebration proceeded they began calling out names for the bikes. When it came time for the girls bikes the mother loudly gasped when they called her daughters name. As they made their way to the front of the auditorium the lady directing the event loudly protested as soon as they were up on the stage. "There's been some mistake - The mother put her daughters name in the wrong drawing." After standing up on stage, in front of all those people, the woman dismissed them without a second thought and drew another name. The mother put her head down, red faced pulling the confused little girl away. Sick with embarrassment for her and angry at the person directing the events, I made my way over to the mother. "I didn't put her name in the wrong drawing" she choked in a strained whisper. "I know, because I made sure of it." With that, the mother gathered up her children and left devastated at the turn of events.
Thoughts of the day plagued me well into the night. Day after day, I just couldn't get over the look on the mother and daughters faces. She was a friend of mine, and I took the event personally. Finally, I could not rest but to make things right as best I could. I approached a few people I knew and gathered up enough money for the little girl to have a brand new bike of her own. I'll never forget bringing the money over to the mothers house because she started crying and told me about how she'd prayed for her daughter to win. The event sickened me even more, but I could finally rest knowing that I'd done what I could to make things right. The mother knew somebody saw and cared enough to do something. The little girl got her bike.
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Another unforgettable event happened to me as a teenager. I was the new girl in town and we'd joined a local church. The youth group was going on a ski trip far from where we lived. We didn't have the money for me to go. Then somebody told my mom that one of the girls really wanted me to go so her dad was paying my way. That intrigued me and I kept wondering who this mystery girl was. I was excited about the trip. I had high hopes of making friends with this girl whoever she was. Though I didn't have any money to take along, I had gone baby sitting and my earnings were in the form of a $10 check made out to me.
When the day finally arrived, I noticed that the group of girls didn't talk to me at all. They didn't seem friendly. Only one boy was going, who was an obvious "problem child". Right from the get go, he started acting out and saying strange things. I felt sorry for him. He seemed really messed up. On and on I wondered who my mystery friend was.......
When we got to McDonald's, we all went up to the counter and ordered. It was then that I discovered that the youth leaders weren't going to pay for my meal. I tried to quietly let them know that I was supposed to be paid for but they didn't believe me. Finally they took my $10 check signed over to them and handed over that much cash. I was mortified. How was I going to survive eating out for days on $10? It was only the first of many many humiliating things to happen to me. After we got back in the car, one of the girls explained to me that her dad "felt sorry" for the kids who couldn't pay so he said he'd do it.
Before we got to our destination, the girls had decided that I would stay in a motel room with the youth leaders wife "since I didn't have any money". They would be pitching in for an extra room so they could stay together. This made the youth leaders wife cry because she wanted them to like her. Then the youth leader told them "no" and the girls were mad. I could see by now I was in for a couple days of misery. I kept thinking "if I could only make it to the youth conference" because I was sure somebody I knew would be there and loan me the money I needed to eat.
Each time we ate out, the girls demanded to go to expensive places and the youth leaders said "no" explaining that not everyone could afford it. Then the girls would be mad because they were suffering due to the poor of the group. Each time I would buy a small fries or dollar burger, dollar taco, whatever. Then the leaders would say something like "aren't you hungry?" I would lie and say I'd had enough. Finally one of them said they'd "loan me some money" if I ran out.
I don't remember skiing, except that it wasn't much fun for me because I didn't have any energy. When we got to the youth conference, there was nobody there that I knew. Especially not the lady I felt sure would be there. Again, the sinking feeling came and I knew that I was going to have to conserve what money I had left if I was going to eat anything at all the next day. By now I knew the girls not only didn't want to be my friend, but they didn't want me there at all.
Finally the day came when we would make the long trip home. The girls demanded time at the local mall. They asked for 4 hours, but only got two. They were real mad. One of them had several hundred dollars in her purse and she let everybody know that. Several times she passed by me with lots of bags while I aimlessly wandered around with nothing to do. I felt embarrassed that I couldn't buy anything, so instead of eating with my money, I spent my last dollar on a pair of plastic sunglasses. At least I could pretend that I found something I liked.
When it was all over, on that long ride home, I promised myself I would NEVER NEVER put myself in such a position again. I also made up my mind there was nothing my parents could ever do to get me to go back to that youth group again. The next Sunday in church, the pastor said in real fast words "sorry about the misunderstanding" and handed me back my signed over uncashed check. That was all.
That was the school year that I started hanging out with the "burn out" kids. Though they were the "wrong group" of kids, at least they had some sense of belonging and camaraderie among themselves and they were all too happy for me to join. As a teenager, I was to never again join a youth group.
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Now please don't think for a moment that I told you that story to evoke some sympathetic bone. Really, it was not all that unusual. Neither of those events were. Those kinds of things happen to people every day. They just happened to be the times they happened involving me. One individuals self absorption, can cause a world of hurt in another. People can be and are thoughtless, even mean. Some of them just don't care at all who they hurt along the way. Sad thing is that a lot of the hurting going on is right behind the walls of the church. The very place where we are supposed to be helping the hurting, we hurt them worse. Just the other day, another young woman sat down telling me her story of hurt. I see some lonely person, wishing that somebody would notice them and care. We have such a tremendous opportunity to right so very many wrongs going on today. Why not pick just one?

"Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." Galatians 6:2-3 Message Version