Sometimes God Doesn't Give Us a Choice

I believe God gave all of us free will. He has laid out a perfect plan for us to lead a fulfilling bountiful life and we go along and choice by choice either steer towards that perfection or away from it.

I have been watching my diet since January. I make choices considering what I eat or don't multiple times a day. Yesterday I found myself at Safeway for a milk and banana run. Something (I can only describe it as supernatural) pulled me towards the freezer section. And there I saw it.

Ice Cream

Ben and Jerry's

Toffee

AND

Coffee

I have come to learn in my almost 31 years of life that sometime God doesn't offer a choice. Sometimes our hands are tied and we have to humbly submit to Him over the gift of frozen caffeine with buttery caramel crunchy candy.

Today again I heard the voice of God when I was reminded by Abby that Java Crew was giving away FREE coffee. And again I was given no choice but to load the twins into the car and have them miss their morning nap while I waited in line to receive my demanded blessing. It's hard being a servant.

Seriously my hands were tied. What would you have done? Ignored God? Followed the diet over our savior? Well, I am just not that kind of Christian.

Now just for fun, lets see what A Coffee Toffee ice cream and A Carmel Silk latte look like making out......

What a baby they would make.

Little Man

I know what your thinking, "Poor Becca is so busy with mothering those three young kids, and spending every free second packing and doesn't have time to blog."
Well, your partly right. I do my share of mothering but packing....not so much. We do have some things packed in boxes, neatly placed in the basement with their moving location written with a black Sharpie on the lid. But if I am being honest I am not on target for that stress free move that I have visualized in my head, (So much for "The Secret"). I tend to get overwhelmed easily and then retreat to my place on the couch with my lap top and read blogs and suck my thumb. It would be easy if I just threw all our junk in boxes and called it good but I really want to sort and purge and be mindful of what is useful and what is destined for the shelves of Good Will. So that takes time and quite and a clear head and lots and lots of coffee. Besides we've had some really sunny days lately that have given us glimpses of the promise of spring. So we've gotten the kids out to play and even took a trip to Silver Falls.

I have to take a pause from this post to tell you about a brief yet scary conversation I had with the gentleman walking behind me down the trail to the falls. I was pushing the twins in the stroller, (Really I DO NOT recommend this form of transportation down a steep, windy trail that can plummet to ones death.) when the man behind me starting asking me a brilliant line of questions that ultimately had me wondering if he had ever read a book in his life.
It went exactly like this-
Older Ignorant Man: Those twins you got up there?
Me: Yes
OIM: Were they born at the same time?
Me: Yes
OIM: I had twin sisters.
Me: That's nice. These are boy/girl twins.
OIM: Oh! That's weird. I've never heard of that happening before.
Me: (Silence)

I also took the twins in for their 18 month well baby check up. Here are the stats:
Jabe
Length: 31.5 inches
Weight: 20 lbs 5 oz

Phoebe:
Length: 33.25 inches
Weight: 23 lbs

Jabe is underweight according to the weight chart. The ironic part is that Jabe eats a lot! More than Phoebe. And a very balanced diet. So the doctor thinks that Jabe isn't digesting food properly. Jabe poops about four or five times daily. So Doc feels like the food is just going right though him and not absorbing all the calories and vitamins. He thinks that Jabes diet of whole wheat, verity of fruits, vegetables, meats are just too complex for him to digest. So he wants me to go to a very simple, easy diet of white rice, white bread, noodles, yogurt, cheese, whole milk, apples, bananas and other plain foods to help him to relearn how to digest. Then a weight check in three months. It's really hard for me to wrap my brain around this. I love that the twins eat anything and everything I give them. I have worked really hard to eliminate all white breads and processed food so to add some of that back is strange. I worry that I might get him addicted to carbs or that I might create issues have Jabe and Phoebe eat different meals. I still have lots of questions about it and need to email the nurse to get a little guidance. If I had to guess looking at the weight chart I would have to say Jabe is like -5%. He just fits into 18 months clothes and will be turning 20 months next week. So he's little but so darn cute!

Mawh!

Pop Quiz

I am bad at taking multiple choice tests. They make me really nervous. I have to read the question very carefully then read all the possible right answers a few times over before I feel like I kinda understand what they are looking for. Then one by one I try to eliminate the wrong answers. Problem is that I can make an excuse of how each choice could work given the right circumstances. Then I just get really upset that this test will only let me choose one answer when clearly all of them could be correct. This indecisiveness has gotten me into a lot of trouble and really, really poor (shockingly poor) SAT scores. In college, (Yes somehow they still let me in. On account of my charm and money,) I was told that when taking a multiple choice test that my first answer was most likely the right answer. Today sadly that was not the case.
Last night Matt came home from a poker party with a sack of quarters. He gave them to Tobin to fill is sadly underweight piggy bank. Matt also suggested that maybe he would like to consider taking a few quarters to give to the church the next morning. We reminded him about what offering means and how our church helps other families in need. In the morning during our typical rush to get out the door to church on time, Tobin remembers that he wants to bring an offering. He sticks his hand in the quarter bag and grabs and many quarters his four year old hand can muster. Something holds me back from speaking my first thought. I almost said, "Tobin you don't have to bring that many quarters. Just bring a few and you can spend the rest. This is your money to spend on whatever you want." WHAT!!!!!! I immediately scolded myself. Here my child was being selfless and demonstrating generosity and I was almost about to teach him to be stingy, to look out for number one.....And what could those extra quarters bought Tobin? Maybe he’d buy a new train to add to his already ridiculous collection. Or some candy or a few grab bags of crap at the dollar store. I was about to limit him so he could buy a new train. WHAT? Then I wondered how many times has my jaded adult ways stiffened his potential? How many times do I step in and tell him a better way to fold this or tell him to color in the lines? Today I am glad that I filtered my first thought and realized my first answer was the wrong answer. Today I was so happy that Tobin was the teacher and I was the student.

Stay tuned to my adventures in parenting. Besides the valuable lesson of being greedy, what will I teach my son next?
A. It's annoying for you to say, please and thank you every time.
B. We don't need to pray just because we can't find the missing gingerbread man from Candy Land.
C. You just peed so you don't really need to wash your hands this time.
D. You have to take two more bits of your french fries or no dessert.

Going Once, .....Going Twice.......

Many of you have asked about how the sale of our house has been going. So to appease the angry mob I'd thought I'd give you an update.

Matt and I decided to take a "stab" at trying to sell our house ourselves. With his parents and brother being in the business we knew we had their professional advice at our disposal so it made the challenge less daunting. We've had the house on the market for almost five months. During that time we've had a steady flow of interest. We entered the selling market at a BAD time. Times are rough in the real estate market here and it's winter (not the pretty snow white winters you all might be experiencing but our cold, wet, gloomy winters the NW brings.) We also have a major construction project going on next to our house. In the end it will really beautify our neighborhood but right now it looks like an ugly newborn baby (Not your baby, Your newborn was the most beautiful baby. But you know the ones I am talking about......) Matt has done a great job as a tour guide. He gives them all the facts and numbers about the house that I would surely mess up. "Gas or Electric heat? Well I'm not sure. I can tell you that I push this button when I want the house warmer and I push this button when I want the house cold. Any other questions I can answer for you?"

The first perspective buyer was a hard one for me. To have this woman looking in my cupboards and closets trying to see if she wanted to buy my home was a bit much. I had to fight my urges to have Tobin make ghost noises from the attic, while reassuring her that they were friendly spirits and as long as you didn't move the furniture no harm would come to her. I didn't tell her any fibs. BUT I did cry.....in front of her......Matt was comforting but not pleased.

Another looker that showed interested was the. oldest. man. I. have. ever. seen. alive. He shuffled in and Tobin automatically asked him why he walked so slow and why he had hair in his ears. Thankfully he was completely deaf and gave him a yellowed tooth nod and smile. With talking to him more I almost choked on my morning bourbon when he told me he was looking for a new home for him and his MOTHER!!!!! (I refrained from asking if his mother resided in a urn located on his mantle. )

We've had lots of lookers tell us that they want to make an offer and then they disappear off the face of the earth. We did have one offer but it was way low and we just were not that desperate.

Matt and I talked last week about whether or not we should turn to a Realtor. We decided that we would give it till February. We prayed about it and asked God to make it clear to us whether or not we should list it or not. The very next day, Matt got a call from a couple in town from Oklahoma. This Friday we showed the house to them and they loved it. They flew here to make an offer on a house across the street. They were very disappointed in how much work needed to be done to it and were about to fly back home when they saw our cute little house. Called us and saw the house. My kids were completely charming. Tobin even called the guy, "grandpa!" He lit up! Long story short, they made an offer the next morning. It was just a little under what we were hoping to get out of the house so we countered and they accepted!!!! We have a buyer.

Now let the packing begin.

Inside My Hot Date

I've been excited all week for my hot date tonight. Matt suggested it and I of course never turn down special alone time. After church I reapplied my makeup and even put on his favorite perfume. Here is a picture of me and my date.


We went to see a live production of Peter Pan. Sorry for the poor-quality-self -taken photo of us. I had to take it quickly to avoid any felony convictions if caught using flash photography in the theater. In case you didn't get the memo: I am soooo dangerous.

This wasn't my first time seeing Tink and the Darlings. When I was ten or eleven my Aunt Trudy took me to see this play in Portland. It was a cornerstone event in my development for a few reasons. One, I felt so special to have my Aunt spend (what seemed like to me)an extravagant amount of money on me. This welfare child felt completely, lavishly spoiled. Two, I was bitten by the acting bug. It all looked so magical. Not so much the flying and fairies but the way these actors could hold my attention and create such a honest joyous emotion for me.

Fast forward to today. I didn't see much of the play. Instead I just watched my son see magic for the first time. He was hooked from the moment the curtain rose. He loved being able to clap exuberantly after a musical number. He laughed out loud with the audience and yelled out in a quite theater that he believed in fairies when Peter rhetorically asked. Tonight when I tucked him into bed he Thanked me for taking him to see Captain Hook. And he prayed for the actors and told me how pretty he thought Wendy Lady and Peter Pan were (couldn't fool him that Peter was played by a woman). For a moment today I wished there was a Neverland. I wished this boy would never grow up.
A P.S.
If you haven't seen a Finding Neverland.....you MUST rent it.

Christmas 2007 Though Pictures

Remember when I wrote this post all smug that I got my tree up right after Thanksgiving and you all were shaking your heads in wonder of my awesomeness? Well do I have news for you. That lovely tree and all the trimmings are STILL up. My tree is so dead that if you concentrate enough energy staring at a branch....needles start falling off. My plan is to just have it decompose right here in the living room.

Moving on to my review.
I love taking pictures. But one of the last things I think about during a big loud event is hiding behind my lends taking pictures. This year I tried. I really did. I reviewed them tonight and couldn't believe how few I got. But I thought I'd share some with y'all. The following are in no apparent order but are all from this year and I am pretty sure I know all of these people.

This first group is my attempt (When will I learn?) at the grand kids with their Christmas coordinating outfits. It started out promising but once Maisie was about to abandon all Christmas cheer.




I love Tobin's look on his face in this one. It's like, "mom, you've got to give up on this pretending we are a happy family bit......and lets get to the presents."



Nothing says Happy Birthday Jesus then blind folding kids and giving them a stick to beat the head of a scary clown in. Can I get an Amen?



That's right folks, our family can't get enough of pinatas. We always fight over who will get the rights to the America's Funnest Video prize WHEN something goes wrong.I was so mad when I saw this pornographic picture that my husband took of me. Then I found out my bother was behind the camera and I choked on my egg nog. (Warning staring too long may cause blindness.)
Some of the people who made my Christmas merry: My sister Bethy and my sister-in-law Dorinda.
My pregnant cousin Katie hold my lovely Phoebe.
Phoebe wishing she was out of the silk dress and into her pajamas. Phoebe with Auntie Beth. She just wanted to show you her long lashes.

My sweetie pie niece Mariko.
My pretty momma Sharon with Jabe wanted down to run.
Cousins Mariko and Phoebe with their new aprons. Both of them seem to be a little perturb we are pushing stereotypical domestic responsibilities on them.

Babies first Christmas. Josh and Jack.
My little sister lookin oh so sexy.
Cousin Eric, I am cutting you off and give me my baby back.


And Phoebe says it all here. . . "I WANT MORE PRESENTS!"
And just in case you thought this post wasn't long enough.......I leave you when my child interrupting Christmas dinner so he could perform.

Ruby Part Two

The Details. God is Divine. This little thing is pure perfection wrapped up in a receiving blanket. I had the best afternoon, picture perfect really. My mom took my kids and I went to visit little Ruby. I made sure that I got a Starbucks so that I could imprint my coffee breath on my new niece so when she smells coffee she thinks of me. After I went a little camera crazy on the baby (nothing like flash photography to welcome you to the world). Mikey stepped out to grab some lunch and things from home. We darken the room and Stef got a little nap. I got to sit in a corner, rocking this jewel and read my book. ( I really didn't read much.....more like a sentence here then a long gaze so on and so forth. ) What a lovely creature.

Here's the stats:
Ruby Garland
Born: January 3rd, 2008@ 8:06 am
6 lbs 14 oz 20 1/2 inches long

Today the world became a better place.

Love, Auntie

Ruby

Ruby ( ru.by) [roo-bee] 1. a precious red gem 2. a baby girl born to Mike and Stefanie this morning!

Leave a well wish to Stefanie's blog. I'm on my way to the hospital for to get a little look at this new gem myself. Details and pictures to come. (hint: rumor has it that she has lots of dark curly hair)

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Usually I wrap all my gifts with coordinating paper, ribbon and tag. It brings me joy to bring in a bundle of beautifully packaged surprised to enhance the cheep crap thoughtful gift to my recipient. Last year I found this great black toile paper and used a red plaid thin ribbon with a sprig of winter berries for garnish. Really adorable. This year I did something different. I have been affected by the "Go Green" campaign that has infiltrated our media. And personally as a Christian, I feel a real calling to take care of this little blue planet God has given us. I have some limits to my commitment to this clean up our world movement. I mean I still have my heat at a comfortable level, I don't reuse my zip lock bags, and I refuse not to flush my toilet when needed but I do want to make some changes. So this year I wrapped the presents in reusable grocery bags from Pier One. To make them festive I tied a simple bow with a candy cane and recycled this years Christmas cards to make gift tags. When I ran out of grocery bags, I wondered down to the basement and used up some of my years past wrapping paper. It felt good to get rid of a few rolls of dusty paper.
Happy Christmas to ya'll. Maybe next time you'll see me I'll be sporting some Birkenstocks and have hairy pits. One can only hope.

Things That Make My Heart Flutter

Phoebe's overbite

Playing in the snow

Matching sweaters on sale at Gymboree

Little boy's eating donuts with morning hair
AND........after much grief I went back to the mall to personally look for the lost boot. I went back to all stores in question and again had the pleasure of speaking to anyone wearing a name tag that I thought could help me. Rejected and discouraged one employee told me that they had been neglecting cleaning under the aisles. Sooo with my purse flung over one shoulder and balancing my coffee in my palm, I got on my knees and crawled on dirty carpet looking (like a fool) for the lost boot. I went down an aisle that I was drawn like the mother-ship calling me home. To a row of little boy suites. Parted them. Looked down. And call me a monkey's uncle..... there she was.......A little black boot, with a tiny little bow. I could have swore that I heard it cry out "Mommy, you found me!" I of course hugged her then scolded her for wondering off. I then paraded my boot like a trophy and told my Christmas Miracle to anyone who would listen. Thank you for your prayers. God really does care about the little things too.