Top ten signs that you had the flu...

Yep, I had the flu and am still in recovery mode. Well, I didn't go get a blood test done or anything so I'm can't definitively say that it was technically "the influenza". But if it wasn't "the flu" then they should change the definition of what "the flu" actually is because what I had should definitely be classified as "the flu"! So here are what I deem the top ten signs that you have "the flu" (in no particular order):

• Even though your hips are killing you, you don't want to turn over in bed because you know that you will freeze to death because the other sheets will be cold.
• You go through 5 t-shirts in one night because the fever keeps breaking and then coming back.
• You know that the toilet seat must have been set outside in the 20 degree snow because it really feels that cold!
• You are tempted to blog at 2am because you are convinced that maybe that will take your mind off of how horrible you feel.
• You start thinking about all the phone calls that your husband should be making when (not if) he takes you to the hospital.
• You wonder why the electric throw blanket that you always think is waaay too hot feels not hot enough when it is set on high--it must be broken.
• You never realized that there were muscles in your pinky toes that could ache.
• You need your husband and you call him on your cell phone even though you are in bed and he is just down the hall in the kitchen.
• You didn't realize that death was going to be so painful because you are convinced that you are going to die.
• And you know that Monday existed, but other then vague recollections like you get from a bad nightmare, you really don't remember much.

John World

John spends much of his time in a different universe. We affectionately call it "John World". I've never been to John world, but from what I can tell it is full of cowboys & indians, race cars, submarines & sharks, dinosaurs, wild animals to hunt, guns, bows and arrows, houses made of Lincoln Logs and robots made of Tinker Toys. There is only one problem with John World. When John is in John World communication with earth somewhat diminishes. In fact, if you didn't know that John World existed you might think that John had gone deaf. So this last week we've been working on an effective communication system between earth and John World. It seems to be working with only a little bit of static. All I know is that John World seems like a really cool place and I'd like to visit sometime.

I know it's true...Ashley told me

We have a breakfast bar in our house. According to John it is called a breakfast bar because there are "bars" on the "bar" stools that sit at the breakfast bar (the support bars at the bottom of the stools). We had a five minute "discussion" (aka argument) concerning it because of John's statement "I know it's true...Ashley told me." I'm not sure what it says of me as a mother that my son trusts his older sister, who happens to me 6 (okay, almost 7), more than me.

Happy New Year!

Yes, I am slightly late sending my New Year's greetings. My kids didn't go back to school until today, so my "real" 2009 didn't start until today. Until today I was still on 2008 Christmas vacation. I was going to end my 2008 Christmas vacation on Sunday, but then I got the stomach flu (courteous the Snow side via John). So I decided to delay the official start until I felt better which happened to be the same day the kids went back to school.

On New Year's Day as we were traveling back through the woods and over the river from Grandmother's house, Joe asked me what I had planned for 2009. I said what I normally say when Joe asks me such questions. "I have no idea." Joe is a verbal thinking. He talks while he thinks. I am a silent thinker. I don't talk while I think. And so while I haven't talked about it in the last 6 days (and I'm sure he is shocked that I even remember that he asked the question), I have thought about it. Maybe it would be good to set some "goals" for 2009. I would call them resolutions, but I'm more of a "goal" person than I am a "resolution" person. Strange as it may sound, I am more likely to accomplish it if I set a "goal" than I am if I make a "resolution". Now, in order to be encouraging to myself, I have learned to always set at least some goals that are very easy to attain. So, while you may chuckle to yourself about some of my goals, just remember that I am accomplishing something. Here are some that I thought I'd share with you:

• Read through the Bible in one year...I'm pretty sure that between college (OT & NT surveys) and years of reading my Bible that I've read all of it. But I would like to just once read it all in a year. I've already got a head start on this goal as I actually started reading through the Bible in December.
• Live healthier...okay, let's just be honest I'm going on a diet and I'm going to start exercising again. The goal is healthy living but I would be sorely disappointed if I didn't lose weight.
• Take the kids to see Yellowstone this summer...well, I guess I should say "take Joe" as well since he has never been either.
• Get my blog printed into book form...I found some software that will do this.
• Make my bed everyday...I don't think I've done this since I lived at home. I came to a realization last month that it probably is unreasonable for me to ask my kids to make their beds everyday if I don't make my bed everyday.
• Submit an article to be published..YIKES! I can't believe I put that into print so that someone can actually hold me accountable! I've wanted to do this for awhile and have some ideas.
• Get satellite TV...yea! This one will be easy since it is already ordered. We are just waiting for them to install it. We will go from a whopping 6 channels to over 40. Now we will have 40 channels to flip through before we determine that there is nothing on TV.
• Read some brain stretching material. Joe got me Paradise Lost for Christmas so I will start there. If I get through it, it will be one of the only books that I have read that Joe has not read.
• My last goal is pretty much out of my control, but I would trade in not accomplishing any of my other goals in order to see just this one accomplished. I want my neighbor to find Jesus and experience His love, forgiveness, and peace.

May this year bring you blessing upon blessing from our loving Heavenly Father.

Christmas at the Horns

Well, we have arrived home at this point. I've been trying to gather all my scrambled thoughts and so the blogging has taken a backseat. After we left the Snow Christmas celebration we headed south (not real far south, mind you) for the Horn Christmas celebration. I would share a few photos with you of our celebration, but in the New Year excitement I forgot my camera at the Horns (the Indiana Horns, that is). So, I'm afraid, you will have to use your imagination. It was days filled with food, movies, lots of wrapping paper, sharing in our nephew/cousin's first Christmas, skyping with the Uncle, Aunt, and neice/cousin overseas, lots of doing nothing and ringing in 2009. I almost made it this year--I stayed up until 11:30. I just couldn't do it the last 30 minutes--lame, I know.

hangin' with the cousins

It was the first time in three years that everyone on my side (my sister, me, parents, spouses & kids) were all together. What an awesome weekend! Here are some glimpses of the cousins hanging out together.Grandpa got the older three boys remote control cars for Christmas.Snack time!

Races in Grandpa's yard--and yes, Nathan did just take down his little cousin Hannah

And, alas, (or maybe not alas in your case) my computer battery is quickly dying so I must wait to post more later.

Tree climbing at Grandmas in December

Check it out--December 27th and no coats--and no, my parents do not live in Florida!

Christmas Favorites

Here are some shots of the favorite 2008 Christmas gifts:The new rocker in the family. His guitar has pretty much been attached to his hip since he got it

Ashley: new shirt, new jeans, new Webkinz (Jessica), and, if you look really closely, new fingernail polish

There's a new sheriff in town. He's not real fond of the caps but likes the badge, holster and guns. He's also very fond of his new bow and arrow.

new shirt, new jeans, new Webkinz (Lovely) and again, if you look really closely, new fingernail polish.

Christmas isn't over for them yet though! We are headed for the Horn side tomorrow.

Holiday Happenings

So I realized it has been a couple of days since I posted. We've been in the midst of holiday happenings which have included:

• the best Christmas day ever...it gets better and better as the kids get older. Just wait until you see the pictures of the new rocker in the family. We also made cupcakes with our new cupcake maker and all got addicted to Webkins.
• traveling to Indiana in the rain and making a record number of stops ("I really have to go this time mom! I didn't have to when we stopped for so and so.") This actually was a monumental trip. It is the first time in 8 years that we have traveled without diapers and wipes. Now that, my friends, is a milestone.
• hanging out with the Snow family..all together for the first time in three years. I'm afraid our children are corrupting their cousins--a lot of new maybe not so good tricks (some involving cap guns)
• it was in the 60s here today...WOW!--lots of Christmas frisbee and tree climbing

and now it is time for another game of Settlers of Catan. I'm determined to win at least once and maybe could if they told me all the rules before the game started (no, I'm not competitive at all). Just thought I'd give you a quick update. Look forward to lots and lots and lots of pictures (probably a lot more than you care to see.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE HORNS!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16