Strep

So I've managed to get strep throat again. I don't ever remember having strep throat as a child. I got it for the first time (again, that I can remember) last year. It was horrible. I was fairly certain that I had the flu until it was determined that the two children who were sick with me had strep. I got on the antibiotics and had an amazingly quick recovery from the "flu". This round started out with a stomach ache, but I immediately recognized the strep symptoms when the aching, fever and sore tonsils started. It has even spread around to the back of my left cheek and gum which, I have to say, is not pleasant. But I'm on the antibiotics and awaiting the quick recovery to take place. I think God allows me to experience strep once a year so that I will be more compassionate on my kids when they get sick. I tend to be a tough love kind of mom, but when I'm reminded at how horrible this feels I tend to soften it up a bit when they get sick.

Speaking of sick children, I will get to the point of this post. There has been much discussion around the house the last day or two in regards to strep since I have it. (The kids don't have it right now so either some phantom infected me or there is a carrier in our midst...) It has been very funny to listen to the children share their "war stories" of past strep infections. "I remember when I had strep...." "Remember when I threw up the last time..." Probably the best took place this evening when John decided that his little brother needed some education.
John (in a very matter of fact, tough sounding voice): "Nathan, I had strep a lot so I had to have my tonsils taken out. So they cut open my tonsils, took the pliers and yanked them out. So now I don't get strep anymore. Nathan, did you hear me? They took them out with the pliers." Nathan, looking a little nervous because he still has his tonsils, immediately ran from the bathroom. A little later, he chastised me for kissing him goodnight. He's fairly convinced I gave him strep in that kiss on the cheek and I could see his little mind envisioning the pliers that were going to yank his out. Poor guy...

Recent Horn Herd Happenings

I was going to post some pictures, but I figured if I waited until I took the time to get the pictures loaded on my computer the blog post wouldn't happen. So this lover of bullet points will summarize the last few days without pictures...

• Joe and I got to visit family this last weekend. Not blood family, but spiritual family. We headed back across the Mississippi to our old home church in Iowa. What a blessing it was for Joe to get to speak at their annual Wild Game Feast. It was an event he had organized for the years that we lived there. I'm not sure how many were there celebrating wild game and hunting (around 350-400), but Joe got word today that over 40 people indicate that they wanted to know more about Jesus. Praise the Lord! Visits like this last weekend make me long for eternity. I have once in a lifetime kind of friendships that are there and one day we will be together forever in glory.
• A public THANK YOU to Bob and Diane for hanging out with our kids while Joe & I were gone. The kids had a blast!
• Last weekend the daughter of a couple in our church was murdered by her estranged husband. I stood by and watched my husband comfort this community, the family and help them bury their daughter. I am so proud of him. He allows God to use him in such mighty and sometimes difficult ways.
• There is still snow here...shocking I know since we got close to 20 inches last week. They are calling for 40 degrees this weekend and call me a skeptic for not believing them. The kids are working on a tunnel in the backyard. Well, John, Ashley and Nathan are working on a tunnel. Sara made a lounge chair out of the snow and is an observant.
• I have some artisan bread in the oven. I tried my first loaf yesterday and it got a little overdone. I was inspired by the delicious sourdough bread I had for breakfast in Iowa on Saturday. Our former pastor has become a bread connoisseur.
• My favorite superbowl commercial was the darth vader one for Volkswagon. I could totally envision Nathan wearing the suit....so funny it makes me laugh again just thinking about the commercial

Things that have made me laugh recently:

John yesterday morning at the breakfast table "Mom, what did the shark eat for breakfast? Answer: Captain Crunch"
Nathan yesterday in the car: "It is burrrrrito outside mom!" He's been reading a little too much of Skippy Jon lately.

The blessings of a blizzard

I was sitting in front of my fireplace, listening to the wind howl and studying my Sunday school lesson for Sunday. I came across this quote:

"The problem we face today needs very little time for its statement. Our lives in a modern city grow too complex and overcrowded. Even the necessary obligations which we feel we must meet grow like Jack's beanstalk, and before we know it we are bowed down with burdens, crushed under committees, strained, breathless, and hurried, panting through a never ending program of appointments." Thomas R. Kelly, A Testament of Devotion (Harper & Row, 1941)

Sometimes it takes an act of nature to force us to STOP and breathe. I think it is a reason that we like and enjoy snow days...when we can look outside and not see a single car on the road. And we feel the freedom to just sit, interact with others and catch our breath. May God teach us through these moments that we can have this freedom outside of a blizzard.

The blizzard is coming

Here's what is planned for our snow day today (and possibly the next day as well)...

• 600 piece world puzzle
• Uno!
• Skipbo!
• meatloaf with crock pot mac & cheese (mmmm, comfort food in the midst of the storm)
• snow ice cream...I found a recipe. Here's hoping it turns out.
• reading, reading and more reading...Joe took the kids to the library yesterday so we are all stalked up with books
• cookies...to go with the ice cream, of course.
• Wii...hmmm, which game to play first.
• movies...Groundhog Day will definitely be on the play list at some because of the timing of the storm.

And, on a sad note, lots of prayers for a tragedy in our community...town community and church community. Pray for Joe today as he travels in the blizzard to meet with a grieving family.

Tidbits of the day

I was inspired to share the following...

favorite moment of the day: having all my "chicks" back home after school

(re) learned today: the extreme blessing of friends. The grumpiness of winter had somewhat overtaken me the last few days. God has sent gentle reminders of His love for me through precious friends.

said one million and thirty-six times today: yes, you can have a snack (to Nathan...wow I am sure I'm going to be shopping for new pants for that boy in a few weeks)

frivolous thing I'm most thankful for right now: my phone

song I'm listening to right now: Beautiful Day U2

Thoughts on a Monday morning...

Joe summarized something for me in 30 seconds this morning. He said he was going to and so, just to see if he really could do it, I set the stop watch. He did with 3 seconds to spare. Yes, folks, it is possible for him to summarize. I have to admit I was rather surprised. I informed him that he had now set a standard for himself.

Nathan is currently sneaking up on our dog so he can catch her before she realizes what is upon her. That poor dog...

I am speaking at our MOPS group tonight on commitment to relationships. I have missed several MOPS meetings this year because my evening schedule has gotten a little bit nutty on Monday nights. So I'm looking forward to not only speaking, but to seeing all the moms again.

I would like to invent a bubble that I can place around my house the disinfects everyone who walks into the house. I keep hearing about so much sickness that is going around..and it isn't just one type. It is pretty much all types. We have been so blessed to have stayed healthy, but this non-germophobe is going to turn into one soon if these bugs don't leave the area soon.

They should move all NFL playoff games to Saturdays. I have a really hard time recovering on a Monday morning after having a houseful on Sunday afternoons. I certainly wouldn't trade in the fun times though. Yesterday's gathering was fairly spontaneous which made it even more fun. Ah, I guess that's why we coffee...for Monday mornings after football games.

Cookies!

Sara and Ashley are selling girl scout cookies again this year for anyone who is interested. They are $3.50/box. They also are again offering the option of buying cookies for our troops through Operation cookie share. Here are the options:

Thanks-A-Lot
Shout Outs! ..These are new so I'll give a description. "Light and crisp, these Belgian-style caramelized cookies are a sensibly sweet treat."
Lemonades
Shortbread
Thin Mints
Peanut Butter Patties
Caramel deLites
Peanut Butter Sandwich

Again this year we would be happy to ship them to you for free if you don't live near us. If you are interested, shoot me an email (hornherd@gmail.com) or just leave a comment.

Thank you!

The Birthday young man..

Saying "birthday boy" just didn't seem to fit this guy anymore. On Monday we got to party all day with John as he celebrated his 7th birthday. No school that day...yeah! Here's a bit about him....

Favorite food: pizza and tuna salad subs with olives and onions
Favorite past time: reading and legos and more reading and more legos
Favorite present: a kung fu zhu zhu pet that the girls got him (they pooled their allowance money) He also really loved his card from Grandpa and Grandma Snow (it was like the card was made for him.)
Cake: strawberry with white frosting

Happy Birthday John!

God is real

Today I am so thankful for a teacher's aid who was able to keep church and state separate and still encourage a child who wanted to know more about God by introducing her to my daughter. I am thankful for my daughter's courage and absolute boldness in the Lord and that she somehow manages to proclaim God without self-righteousness and judgment of others. Instead it creates respect for her among her peers. I am thankful for an invitation that was accepted by the new friend and a mom who was willing to bring her to a church she knew absolutely nothing about and knew no one there. I am thankful for God's word being spoken and an awareness for the first time to a child that God is real.

Things that made me happy today...

• Vision insurance! For the first time since leaving Dallas we have vision insurance and it looks like we are going to put it to good use. Ashley went to the eye doctor again today...a little over 6 months after her last visit. They moved her "3 clicks" and now she has the same prescription as me. I've got to claim this one on my side. Joe has overly perfect eyesight. My sister, me, mom and dad...not so much.
• A child who comes home from school excited! Sara came home super pumped about her homework assignment. It is a poster project on the state of South Dakota.
• Nathan took a nap! I know this is unusual for me to be excited about -- a 5 year old sleeping. But, seriously, the boy needed a nap today.

• This goofy smile John gave me when I asked him if he liked his hair that way...long and sticking out. His answer was "Yes!". I think he just doesn't want me to cut it.
• The smell of homemade bread and roast in the crockpot. Can you tell I didn't "work" at my job today. I only had Nathan all day. Mmmm, smells so good. Perfect for a snowy and very cold night like tonight.