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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Happy Birthday Jesse!

Happy 38th Birthday to my amazing, loving husband!  I love you so very much and I'm so blessed and privileged to have such a strong man of God in my life and our kids lives.  You are such an amzing father and nothing makes me happier than to see you pour your love on them.    I would not be the woman that I am today without your help molding me, pushing me and loving me over the past 12 years!
 I was sitting here this morning thinking about Jesse's birthday, I was overcome with how many lives he has touched in his 38 years.  I thought how awesome it would be for me to just share with you a little about Jesse and what makes him so very special.  So, here is a little of his amazing testimony:

"I was born in Cicero Illinois September 30, 1972.  My father was a pretty violent guy and was murdered when I was 2 years old.  I grew up in a very dysfunctional home but was fortunate to have a mother who loved me very much.  At the age of 18 I was the first of my family to graduate high school.  From their I received a college scholarship to play division I baseball at Northern Illinois University.  I had some good success in college but found myself falling into the traps that many in my family had.  I was drinking regularly, experimenting with drugs, and indulging in very unhealthy premarital relationships.  As college wrapped up I was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and was excited to pursue a life as a professional athlete.  As I entered into what many would call a dream opportunity I found myself participating in nightmarish behaviors.  I sunk deeper and deeper into a life of despair.  At this time a number of incredible things occurred.  One, I was reunited with my brother Mike.  When we had last seen each other 5  or so years earlier he was a drunk violent guy.  Now he was what he called "a born again Christian".  I was floored by the change but thought he was a bit crazy.  Next I met another Christian on the Brewers who was all over me about Jesus and the Gospel.  Finally, I sustained a knee injury.  My injury gave me a lot of time to reflect and when I was at my darkest time in the off-season my Christian buddy from the Brewers called me and said that he had inured the same knee and was rehabbing in Arizona.  I was floored by his call and even more floored when he invited me to come rehab with him.  There he took me to Bible studies and got me involved in the baseball ministry.  This still was not for me and then a final amazing thing happened.  A old high-school friend called and asked me to come visit.  When I arrived she told me she was a Christian!  Wow...I couldn't get away from these people.  I spent the night at her house, on the couch of course, and the next day she MADE me go to church with her.  It was there that I was introduced to the saving grace of Jesus and my life was forever changed.  Because of his sacrifice, my life's direction took an about face.  Baseball ended, and a new life began.  I have since met the love of my life, have 3 beautiful kids, and am blessed to be living for the King."

Even though Jesse's birthday is September 30th his true "birth" day was January 12, 1997 because that is the day he became a New Creation!  I want to share just a few snippets from some of the people that Jesse has touched over his life span.

"Your witness, encouragement, and living by example have impacted me in such a positive way"
"Thanks for your friendship, guidance, and love and know that you have had a profound influence on me."
"On a daily basis I have situations that need someone like you to remind me of the Christian answer to give or the Christ like way to act.  You brought me closer to the Lord and I can never thank you enough."
"You came into our lives when we definitely needed Christian leadership."
"It is an honor for me to speak about the impact Jesse has had on my life.  In a sentence, he, other than Jesus, is solely responsible for me coming to know Christ."
"One thing I love is that you are bold about your faith."
"He has always made me a better man, a better husband, a better father and a better Christian, by his example."
"Your steadfast love for Christ is and will always be an inspiration to everyone that meets you."
"I remember you giving me your testimony and you said, "I can't believe He saved me! He saved ME!" A truer statement was never said."
"Your Godly like character and steadfastness when things are good or when troubles come has been a blessing to me."
"It is fantastic to see someone who lives faithful to his God, his family, and his friends."
"You were the first to introduce me to Christ."

All this is not to put Jesse up on a petal stool.  He knows he is not perfect (well maybe he doesn't know, but I do...kidding).  The difference is that he strives daily to live a life after God's heart.  When he stumbles, he gets up and keeps going. He's not scared or ashamed to share what God has done for him.  He is just trying to do what we all should be doing....sharing the gospel of Christ!
So to celebrate Jesse's birthday today, share your love for God with someone.  And if you don't know God, today is a great day to get to know Him.....He's waiting with arms wide open!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Attack of the Hummingbird

The other night Jesse and the Red's were out side playing and left the garage door open.  It had gotten dark so Jesse was trying his best to corral the Red's inside.  He got them both in the garage and was just about to shut the garage door when I spotted two hummingbirds trapped inside the garage.  I yelled out for him to stop so we could try and get these things outside.  I decided the best idea was to get the Red's inside because they were yelling so loud at the hummingbirds and scaring them to death....not to mention Belle jumping around trying to snag one out of the air.
I manage to get Andrew inside and we were working on getting Belle and Eli in when Jesse grabs a broom.  Jesse then starts to tap on the railings for the garage door trying to scare the birds down.  Eli had just about made it to the landing of the top of the stairs when all of a sudden the hummingbirds start flying toward the door.  I knew what a nightmare it would be trying to get these birds out of the house so I made the quick decision to shut the door.  What I didn't factor in was how much Eli was going to freak out because of this tiny little bird.
All of a sudden I hear this loud deafening scream...AHHHH, AH, AH, AH, AH!!!!!!!  So I open the door and Eli is standing there hands full of his toys, hands clinched tight around them, tears streaming, and eyes closed screaming as loud as he could.  I looked at him and asked, "Eli, what's wrong with you?".  He replies: "THE BIRDS ARE GOING TO GET ME...SOB, SOB, SOB!!!".
Yes, the hummingbirds were going to attack Eli.......hummingbirds....the smallest birds on the planet......yep......that's what induced so much fear that caused a major freak out for Eli!
As I am dealing with him I happened to look up in the hall way and see that one of the hummingbirds managed it's way inside our house and now we had to make sure it didn't get out of the hallway.  Eli looked up and saw the dangerous man eating bird, dropped everything in his hands and ran away as fast as he could screaming like something was going to get him.

Laughing, I called Jesse inside because he was still trying to get the other bird out of the garage.  He grabbed his fishing net and we were able to successfully extract the bird.
Whew, another life saved at the Richardson household!
Unfortunately, Eli will be forever scarred by a......HUMMINGBIRD!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Handsy Andrew

Today, while waiting in carpool line, one of the teacher's came up to me and said, "I need to talk to you about something".  With that I let out a huge *SIGH* and say "Oh, No".  She says, "oh no it's not bad, I just need to ask you to talk with Andrew.   He is such a loving kid and every time he passes by me in the hallway he pats my bottom.  I don't know if he is aiming for my back and is just too short or what, but some might think it's a little inappropriate".
I apologize again and again, and tell her that in fact he is aiming for her bottom.  It's his new thing...I have corrected him at home for this a few times.  But then I added, "I bet it makes for an interesting day to be felt up by a 6 year old" least she laughed.
I can just imagine Andrew walking down the hall and patting this teacher on the rear every time he sees her....what can I say they boy has game and takes completely after his daddy!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Back in February I told you guys of a conversation I had with the Red's about heaven.  I don't know why I am always the one who gets stuck with the heaven conversations, but somehow they seek me out.
Last night I was reading the Red's a Bible story. It was the parable Jesus told about the fisherman's net (Matthew 13:47-49).  It says that the fisherman fished where there were many types of fish and then they kept the good fish and tossed out the bad fish.  It goes on to say that the fisherman's net is like God's kingdom, everyone wants to be part of His kingdom but the angels will come and separate the godly people from the ungodly people.
As soon as I read that last part Andrew perks  up ready to fire questions away, and I felt a knot in my stomach.  Jesse is so much better at handling the Red's crazy questions than I am.  I get a blank stare on my face and search deep for the "right" answers to tell them.
So Andrew says "what's ungodly people?"
I tried to explain the best I could by saying "well, it's those who have not asked Jesus into their hearts to live forever, and those who choose not to live like Jesus everyday".
Eli says "yeah, like hitting people"
Andrew: "or bullying"
Me:  "okay, sure"
I continued reading the story, but I soon realized that our conversation would continue after I read these words: "The godly people will live in heaven with me forever".
Then I knew where their little minds were headed and I knew where the questions would aim and sure enough I was right.
Andrew: "I want to go to heaven tomorrow"
Eli starts to tear up and says with a wail "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN".....and the tears started flowing.

I tried my best to console him and reassure him that heaven is the best of the best.  It is more beautiful than we could ever imagine.
Andrew chimes in with: "yeah Eli, it will have all kinds of toy stores and you don't have to pay any money and you can get whatever you want....right mom?"
Me:  " is more awesome than we can ever think"
Andrew:  "and all my girlfriends will be there"

This is where I start stumbling around
Me:  "um...sure"
Eli:  "but it won't have food and drink"
Me:  "Eli, you won't need food and drink there"
Eli:  "but I will get hungry and thirsty"
I begin looking for my exit because I see there is NO END IN SIGHT!!!!

Eli:  "what about my teacher, will she be there"
Eli:  "what about my girlfriend Macy"
Eli:  "what about Gus and Belle"
Eli:  "what about our house"
I wanted so badly just to say yes to all these questions and tell them not to worry.  That it would be a long time before we got to go to heaven, but I knew better.  We are not promised tomorrow.
I can't say that Eli was just as fired up as Andrew, but he did calm down.
After a few more questions I told them it was time to pray (and boy, did I need to pray at this point)!  It still amazes me how fired up Andrew gets about heaven at such a young age.  At the same time my heart ached with the thought of ever loosing him (or any of them).  I had to retire myself to prayer and remind myself that even though I love these kids more than I can stand that God loves them even more and they are His first!
I found it a bit strange that Andrew (a 6 year old) would teach me a lesson.  We should ALL be just as excited about heaven as he is.  Isn't that what it's all about!

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Reds Strike Again!

Many of you have read about the debacle concerning our TV.  For those of you who have no clue on what I'm referring to here is  a brief recap:
Our TV for the basement that we bought last October just quit working one day.  We called the company and after being yanked around for a month they finally shipped a new one out to us.  It took another two weeks for the thing to be delivered, for a grand total of 6 weeks of no TV for the "man cave" (and that is all inclusive of Jesse and The Red's).  So we now have had the TV back for around two weeks and this is where my story begins:
Jesse is very protective of "his" TV.  He babies the thing, dust it, and wipes the screen off carefully.  I have also found him down stairs a couple of times with his arms wrapped around it whispering sweet nothings into the speaker =]

The other day I was gone and the Red's were in the basement playing.  It was late when I returned so Jesse had just put the Red's to bed.  When I walked in, Jesse decided to head downstairs to  his "man cave" and watch some hunting shows.  He was only gone a minute when he returned upstairs holding this in his hands:
Yes, a bottle of carpet spot remover.  He had taken it downstairs a few nights before because Belle The Wonder Dog had thrown up on the carpet. So instead of bringing it up when he was finished he sat it on a shelf beside the TV.  I can tell you from experience that you never, NEVER leave anything lying around in arms reach or climbing reach of The Red's.  Jesse however had forgotten this small detail.
He had this disturbed look on his face and so I asked what was wrong.  He says to me through gritted teeth "YOUR boys sprayed this on MY TV".  Now wait just a minute solider boy....back up.....who's boys and who's TV?  Now who left the spot remover spray downstairs next to the TV?  Oh that's right, JESSE!  So how did it become my fault?  I just let him be, because I knew he was upset.  I asked how bad and if the TV still worked and he replied "I don't know".  So he headed downstairs to clean up the TV and make sure it isn't ruined.
I in the mean time head to the Red's room to find out what happened.  As I popped my head in I can hear them carrying on a conversation between themselves.  Apparently they overheard Jesse and I talking.  So I interrupt and say "boys, did you guys spray the TV with that carpet spray?".  Andrew answers "yes, but we were trying to get the magic school bus to appear, and it didn't, so I guess that wasn't the magic school bus spray".  WHAT?????????  I didn't even try to engage that conversation because I was too lost!
By the way, the TV was fine.......and Jesse's face color returned to normal.....and the spot remover, well it got thrown in the garbage.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

100th Post....My Most Embarrassing Moment!

Alright you guys, since it is my 100th post and you all have stuck with me thus far....and I am entirely too hard on my husband (can't help he gives good material), I thought I would share my MOST embarrassing moment!  Trust me, my hands are sweating just typing this right now.  It's only because I love you all so much, and I think that you deserve a good laugh even if it is at my expense!
So without further ado: MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT!
I can't believe I'm doing this!

The date was June 13th, 2004 and I was in the hospital in labor with Andrew!  My water had broken the night before at a mere 30 weeks.  After a long night of an ambulance ride and emotions running high the doctors tell us that we would have a baby that day.  An epidural was given and this is where my story begins.
As a "first timer" you have no idea what to expect.  My biggest fear was pooping on the delivery table....and what I've gathered from most of my friends it was their fear also.  I was told that with an epidural I wouldn't know exactly where I was pushing and this freaked me out more than you could imagine.
After the epidural kicked in the nurses began coming in to do the random "checks" to see how I was progressing.  We had been up all night and worried sick because Andrew was going to be so pre-mature so Jesse and I were a bit loopy.  Usually, when the nurse comes in the family/friends vacate to ensure privacy....but who are we kidding....If you've given birth you know that privacy gets thrown out the window early and everybody in God's country gets to see you in all your glory.
My luck....I ended up with a nurse that knew my family, had gone to church with my family and even high school with my brother.  This was all well and good until it was time for the "check".  How uncomfortable you feel already having a complete stranger "check" you, but a friend.....way more uncomfortable than I liked!
Since she was a friend she would come in and chat with the family.  When it came time for my next "check" my family rose to leave and she says: "it's okay, you can stay".....I agreed to my mother, sister-in-law, a girl friend and Jesse to stay...but the boys had to go.  I don't think my brother or father would have stayed anyways, but I didn't give them the opportunity....we are close...but not that close!
As privately as she could, she lifted the sheet and started to "check".  The conversation around the room was still very much alive and my epidural was...well..working!  Again, let me state.....with an epidural you cannot feel anything.....nothing...nada!  You have no idea what's going on down there and when you have someone pushing on things you can't help your body out by doing things that you would normally clinch.
So she begins checking and pushing and out comes this "PPRRRTT" (that would be a pooting sound).  Not just a little quite poot...not at all...this would be a loud, interrupt the conversation of the room poot.  I was mortified, and to make matters worse Jesse is standing beside me half delirious himself and you know how tickled you get when you are overly tired.  So he begins calling me out on what had happened.  He says "Joy Richardson, did you just do that?" as he falls over himself snot laughing.  With him laughing so hard, my sister-in-law laughing, my mother laughing, my friend laughing....and yes the nurse/friend laughing, I start laughing.  The only problem is that I am still numb from my epidural so I still can't CLINCH!  So with every laugh there is a  "PRT", "PRT", "PRT", "PRT"...HAHAHHAHAHAA, "PRT", "PRT", "PRT", "PRT"...HA HA HA..."PRT", "PRT", "PRT". You get the picture.  And every time this happened the room roared with laughter.  Mortified does not explain how I felt....beet red does not describe the color of my face!!!!!!
So there you have it....My pooting labor story......I hope you relished in my embarrassment today!  There have been many other times (like everyday) that I make a fool of myself so I'm sure I'll have more you all later.  As for now, I'm done!!!!
Thanks again for continuing to read my stories!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Cub Scouts.....The New Adventure

Well It's official, Andrew is now a card carrying member of the Cub Scouts and he is fired up!  Only problem is he doesn't understand why they can't go camping at every meeting.
Yesterday was the first official meeting with their uniforms.  Jesse informed me of this small detail the day of the meeting (ARG)!  So off I went to the Boy Scout store to pick up his uniform.  What Jesse also neglected to tell me is that there were 5 patches (FIVE) that had to be sewn onto this uniform.....guess who doesn't sew?
I know you all think I am a domestic goddess, and I try my best to live up to your expectations:

To my defense...this picture was taken after giving birth to Eli...I was still in the hospital and Jesse was extremely mean to pull the camera on me. I was so drugged up that I couldn't see straight. There you have it.....your domestic goddess! This was as small as I could possibly get this photo...I'm dying right now! The lengths I go to for you guys! Now forget you ever saw this : )

But some categories I fall short in....sewing is one of them.  I took home economics in high school and had to make a dress, but after that I retired my fingers from thimbles.
What I am good at though is out sourcing...ah tailor!
When we arrived at the store and we were givien the handful of things we needed we were also given the opportunity to buy the official boy scout pants.  Let me just tell you about these pants.....they are huge....made for mammoth children.....not my runts!  I bought the size he is currently in and headed home.
I made a quick stopped by the tailor and begged...yes begged them to sew on these 5 (FIVE) patches for me.  They agreed because they are awesome, and I was on my way.  I picked the shirt up a few hours later and then proceeded to dress Andrew in his attire.  I put the pants on Andrew and made the quick decision to unzip them at the knees (they are the two part pants/shorts). The Pants were huge, like 3 sizes too big.  Only when I unzipped them to make them shorts it looked like he was wearing pants...HUH!
So I sent my cute little tiger cub to his first official uniform wearing meeting looking like a Gangsta' least his underwear wasn't showing (maybe because I had his belt so tight he couldn't sit down).
Check out those shorts, and yes that is Rudolf in the background!

I wonder if they provide a class for sewing on patches for rookie moms.....

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

I think I've said too many times what a hunter my husband is.  To be a good hunter you have to have good camo.  You must blend into your surroundings, you must look and smell like Mother Earth:

You must paint your face:

You must practice painting your face with your wives purifying facial mud mask:
You cannot hunt ducks without cleansing first ; )
He had to know this was going to make it to the blog.......I don't know what was funnier:  watching him put it on, or watching him try not to laugh because it dried so tight on his face!  Just thought you guys would enjoy!  Even with his tough guy face he still looks comical!  LOVE YOU JESSE!

Duck Commander eat your heart out!

Monday, September 13, 2010

I want to tell this story, but I want to say first that this was just a JOKE! The Red's were not serious, they were just being funny little boys. Please do not look down upon us as bad parents (or bad mother for sharing).

Here lately The Red's have been all about punching.  I'm not talking about for real mad punching, I'm talking about the playful wrestling punches.  They run around punching their Dad, punching Grandman, and of course punching each other.......again let me say, "all in a playful manor".  I have no idea what sparked this interest, but they think it's the funniest thing ever.
The other night we were getting the boys into bed and getting ready to say our prayers.  As always Jesse opens the floor to the Red's and offers them a chance to say what they want to pray for.  Sometimes we get some really crazy answers from these silly guys and this time had to be the strangest answer yet.  Here's how the conversation went down:
Jesse: "boys, what would you like to pray for tonight?"
Andrew: "I want to pray that I can punch Jesus"  (please keep in mind he is 6 and being SILLY)
Jesse got a shocked look on his face but before he could answer Eli chimed in.
Eli: "I want to pray to punch Jesus too"
They both giggled and squirmed around thinking how silly they were
Jesse:  "Andrew, that has to be the meanest thing I've ever heard you say"
The reality of what they said kicked in and Andrew starts doing back strokes
Andrew: "UM, I think that I want to pray that Jesus forgets that I ever said that"
Eli:  "Yea, me too"
Good choice boys!!!!  But just for extra measure we read them the story of Sodom and Gomorrah......  ; )  I'm kidding!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Just wanted to send out a quick "Thank You" to all of you guys that take time out of your life to read my blog.  I have had so many of you send me messages of how much you enjoy reading about The Red's and Sissy Lou.  It is quite humbling to read your comments and messages on stuff that I write.  I'll try to keep things interesting and encourage my kiddos to keep it real so I can have more things to write about (hopefully not anymore dumping stories).  If things get too boring around here I can always skip to Jesse stories or worst of all my embarrassing stories (but that's only when I'm desperate).  : )  Thank you all for your encouraging words and cheering me on!  I love every one of you and I am so thankful that you stopped by the Sarge's post!
So stayed tuned for more installments of The Sarge of 4..........

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Fence Dilemma

Most of you know by now that my husband is an avid hunter.  He hunts anything that is in season, but his main love is duck hunting.  For that reason he bought a Labrador last year for retrieving ducks/geese and doves.  We named her Belle the Wonder Dog and she loves...LOVES to retrieve!
This past year Jesse spent countless hours training Belle and she has done quite well with her training.  This is her first hunting season to try out her skills so we were all nail biting the first hunt.  You never know how a dog will do with live birds and not just decoys or bumpers.
  Last weekend was opening season for Dove and Jesse thought this was perfect for Belle's first hunt.  The first day she did alright, but still quite hadn't figured out that whole live hunt thing.  The second day she lived up to her name....Wonder Dog...Jesse was so proud and was beaming when he came home.  He said everyone was just bragging on how awesome Belle was.  The only problem she had that day was with.....a fence.  Yep, a fence, the kind that have the wooden slats:
 When a bird would fall on the opposite side of the fence Belle would burn over there just to hit the brakes when she came to this fence.  She couldn't for the life of her figure out how to get over the fence.  Jesse being the "dog whisperer" decided that the best way for Belle to learn is to show her.  So Jesse (big body) walks over to the fence and proceeds to get down on his belly and slide himself under the fence.  He said there was plenty of room from the bottom slat to the ground.  He slid as far under to his waist and when Belle saw what he was doing she shimmied right under next to him and retrieved the bird from the other side.  She then went right back under the fence with the bird and sat down next to Jesse who was still under the fence half way.
You know, some people have problems with calculations.  Like calculating the width under a fence, or calculating your body mass to said fence.  As he tried to slide backwards he realized something.....he was STUCK...oh yea, he couldn't move forward and he couldn't move backward...STUCK REAL GOOD!  His buddies were no help because they were on the ground snot laughing (as I would have been at this sight).  Jesse got tickled himself and was laughing so hard he couldn't move.  So there he was lying face down under the fence with his buddies standing around saying "Fat boy stuck in the fence"........I don't care who you are...that's funny people!  Finally after gaining his composure, and with some help, he managed to unwedge himself and slide out.  I wish, I wish, I wish I was there with the video camera that day.  Why is it that I always miss the good moments?

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Last Men Standing!

I think that someone has put a voodoo curse on my household!  We have never had so much trouble with sickness around here.  It's usually everyone else around us that gets sick and somehow we get bypassed.  Not this year though, we have been the target since school started.  A fever virus hit us first, now we are on to a stomach virus....and all I can say is yuck!  It all started Friday night:

My Mom and Dad had flown in from Birmingham to spend Labor Day weekend with us.  We picked them up from the airport on Friday evening and headed to Red Robin to eat.  Andrew had this horrible cough for a few days that was from his allergies draining.  When I had picked him up from school earlier he was coughing so hard he had gotten a nose bleed.  By the time we picked up my mom and dad he had already had 3 nose bleeds.  Right in the middle of dinner he gets into another coughing fit and his nose starts bleeding again......then he threw up....right in the middle of Red Robin and right in the middle of our dinner!  So out the door we went! This really wasn't the stomach virus that attacked Andrew, but it was just the beginning of a fun filled weekend.
Saturday Payton started having some pretty nasty runny diapers that smelled sour.  Even when she burped her breath smelled sour.  I thought it might just be her teething, so we didn't pay much attention to it.  She had so many runny diapers that it blistered her rear end and her skin would just bleed every time you wiped.  I called the doctor and they suggested I let her run "free"...yea right...diarrhea+ a 14 month old with no diaper....not happening!  I had to put her in a baking soda bath 3 times a day and let her run as "free" as possible, plus lots and lots of special cream they called in for her.  After getting up twice that night with her to change her diaper, clothes and bedding I was quite tired.
Sunday was better and the diarrhea slowed a bit.  We headed off to Water Front Park to take in a few sights.  This is my dad's favorite place to go when he visits...he just loves it.  We stopped for a milk shake and headed on down.
On the way back home I noticed my mom in the back seat with her head tilted backward and she wasn't looking so hot.  When she walked through the door of the house she started vomiting like crazy.  At first she thought it might have been the milkshake until it hit the other end too (sorry mom)!  That whole night she was up sick from both ends. We then began to think that Payton did have a virus and had now given it to my mom.
Lysol was our weapon of choice and Jesse sprayed the whole house...which made the virus angry and it attacked with more vigor!
Monday was a little better until supper time when it began to hit my dad.  Although he swears he wasn't sick, we all like to agree other wise.  He had chills and was dizzy which was part of what my mom had.  Maybe he didn't get the full blown virus...who knows....but he got a  little taste of it.
Yesterday was Tuesday and it was Eli's 5th birthday.  Everyone was feeling better and mom and dad left to go back home.  Around 2:00 Jesse called and said he wasn't feeling that great.  Jesse is the world's worst hypochondriac....the WORST!  So I blew him off.....anytime anyone ever gets sick he immediately thinks he has it.  I have tested and proven this theory.  There was a time when I said that I wasn't feeling good and that I was sick to my stomach.  Not ten minutes after I said this he said the same thing.....problem was, I was faking!  Anyways, he came home from work because the "diarrhea" had hit him.  This time was for real....he was up all night fighting the firece virus!
This morning he was still sick so I took the boys to school and on the way Andrew announced that his belly hurt.  I told him he was fine and that he was going to have a great day at school.  Eli chimed in and said that he felt sick and was going to throw up.....I told him he was fine and was going to have a great day at school.  Andrew then said "mom, when I burp it smells like bad gas".  I probably should have listened  and kept him home, but he has missed so many days of school already because of this plague we have around here!
So I dropped them off and headed to the doctor myself because for some unknown strange reason I have POISON IVY all up my legs AGAIN.....and I haven't been outside at all!  I figured I got it from the dogs or from Jesse's hunting clothes...who knows.  Anyways, I went to get a steroid shot to dry it up quickly.  On my way back home I got a call from Jesse saying that the school had just called and Andrew had pooped his pants.......YEAH, I"M THE WORLD'S GREATEST MOM!!!!!!!!!!  I felt horrible and went and picked him up!
Now it's down to me and Eli...we are the last men staning and I refuse, REFUSE to get sick!  Besides, God wouldn't give me poison ivy  and a stomach virus at the same time.....would he?
So whoever you are with the voodoo curse over my house, please's not funny anymore.  We are going to be quarantined...or be a case study...or BOTH!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Happy 5th Birthday Eli!

Five years ago today we welcomed Elijah Lon Richardson into this world at a whopping 5 lbs 3oz and things have never been the same since!
My pregnancy with Eli was the hardest pregnancy out of the three kids.  Early on I started having bleeding and contractions.  When I went to get this checked out we learned that Eli was in fact a twin!  The twin did not survive and we lost the baby early on, but Eli thrived!  Can you imagine two of Eli running's a thought!
At that same time they also noticed that I had a Septate Uterus which means that my uterus has a septum in it that makes it two uterus.  (My goal in this blog is to see how many times I can type uterus).  This means that my babies only have half the room to grow and explained why Andrew was born so early.  Also explained my miscarriage of Eli's twin.  Anyways, enough of the uterus onto Eli's life!
So because of this complication it caused me to contract all the time and eventually at 20 weeks I was put on permanent bed rest because things had started to change down there : )
A pump was placed in my leg that pumped continuous drugs into me to prevent me from contracting.  Add to that a weekly shot in my rump and monitoring twice a day with Andrew running around and you have a picture of what my pregnancy looked like.
At 37 weeks to the day I was allowed to remove the pump and at 2:00 that morning I went into labor.  Jesse told me to go back to bed that it was all in my head, so I went to the couch and timed my contractions.  At 5:00 I went and woke him up and told him I was really in labor and off to the hospital we went.  When we arrived I found out that not only was I in labor, but I was already 6 cm dilated...yikes!  No wonder I was hurting...stupid Jesse ; )
After a long hard pregnancy on bed rest we were greeted with Eli after 1 1/2 pushes!  That's why I like having little babies ; )  He has added so much to our lives and makes us laugh daily!  We love you Eli...HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

What would you do for an iphone?

What would you do for an iphone?  I cannot live without mine.  I feel lost without it near and when it gets misplaced I feel like I've lost my wallet.  The Reds have taken an interest here lately in Jesse and my iphones.  They love to play games on them and will sneak in and grab them off the charger.  When Jesse's at work I have to monitor fights between them on who is going to play my phone first.
Yesterday I had, had it!  They were fighting non stop about my phone....MY PHONE!!!  I tried so hard to explain that it was MY phone and that I needed it, but they didn't care....they wanted to play plants vs. zombies or angry birds.   So I put a stop to it.  I told them that Mommy's phone was off limits from now on!  Yep, I was taking back control of MY I could play angry birds : )
After this announcement there was lots...I mean lots of whining, grumbling,  & complaining, but I stuck to my guns.  I told them to go outside and play like normal children.

Today it started up again.  Once I picked them up from school the begging began to play my phone.  I once again stuck to my, not going to give my phone up!  When we got home they settled down and it seemed that my phone had been forgotten.....until supper time.

I was in the middle of cooking supper and Andrew came in once again begging for my phone.  I can't say what it was, but idea crossed my brain.  It's like a moment when everything comes together perfectly...a smell, an idea, and a certain end to the phone whining.

As Andrew was asking for my phone, Payton ran by and I caught a whiff of something foul.  Oh yea, she had messed her britches something fierce.  So I said, "Andrew if you will change Sissy's poopy diaper, then you can play my phone".  In all honesty I thought for sure he would say no way and then move off the subject of the iphone, but instead he looks at me and says: "you're joking".  So I pushed forward...."no, I'm not joking".  With this he flips Sissy over and tries to jerk off her pants.  I stop him and carried her to the living room where the wipes are...because from the smell of things, he was going to need a lot of wipes!
I grab the camera, because I am in disbelief that this is actually happening.  How could he want to play games so bad that he would brave the foulest smell and poopy ever.  I'm telling you it was making me gag smelling it just in the room.  As he undid the diaper I see that it is one of those "blow out" diapers.  Oh yea.....up the back.  Immediately he starts gagging and pulls his shirt over his nose.  He then pinches his nose with one hand and starts cleaning Sissy off with the other hand.  I am laughing so hard at this point that I can't keep the camera straight.  These images are just snap shots from the video camera, so they are a little blurry.
He definitely earned the right to my iphone!
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At Louis Vuitton, Paris

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Thursday, October 08, 2009

At Louis Vuitton, Paris

Comments on "At Louis Vuitton, Paris"

Anonymous Katy McDevitt said ... (12:06 PM) :

Minnie Mouse. Made me laugh, so probably not the effect she intended.

The cigarette makes me cry tho'. The worst accessory ever.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:06 PM) :

Sorta looks like a Playboy bunny...

Blogger Well Done said ... (12:08 PM) :

French SJP.

Blogger Jack Daniel said ... (12:14 PM) :

Wow, she looks like a fashionable playboy bunny.
I'd love to have her phone number.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:19 PM) :

Delfina Delettrez Fendi.An unconventional beauty and an awesome jewel designer. Those bunny ears are yummy.

OpenID thefabricofmylife said ... (12:19 PM) :

ooo, instant lust!

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:21 PM) :

Um, no. Someone's going to have to explain this to me. Yeah, the shoes are cute, but the proportions are all wrong, the hair is stringy, the "ears" are silly.

(Something tells me I can expect this comment not to show up!)

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:22 PM) :

I don't like this skirt with her body!! I'm sorry

Blogger Cornflake40 said ... (12:23 PM) :

That outfit looks sporty. Maybe it's the heels; it looks comfy.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:23 PM) :

I don't like this skirt with her body!! I'm sorry

Anonymous ihatethursdays said ... (12:25 PM) :

love the vuitton look, madonna is totally owning it in the new(er) ad. this gal's got killer legs and she kind of reminds me of sofia coppola. bravo!

Blogger Lions, Tigers and Fashion OH MY! said ... (12:34 PM) :

this is perfection, lovely walking shot!

Blogger "Docka" Boneca Platinada said ... (12:35 PM) :

Soooooo Sexy in the City!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogger Loren Barake said ... (12:35 PM) :

Delfina delettrez is truly an unconventional beauty, she is gorgeous in many ways and poseses true sense of style. great picture!

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:41 PM) :

Oh and by the way she is delfina delettrez fendi, daughter of silvia venturini (FENDI brand)...she is a really funky jewelry designer!!

Blogger ODD imagination said ... (12:41 PM) :

definitely not loving this outfit. Looks like Minnie Mouse gone wrong.

Blogger RoyalEncoulet said ... (12:43 PM) :

Awesome shirt, it hangs so well. The skirt is perfect, the shoes to die for. The bow? Well, maybe she didn't want to be too perfect and blind us.

Blogger Nicole Cik said ... (12:43 PM) :

Ohhh we love Delfina Delettrez Fendi!

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:53 PM) :

nothing could be more chic than a black and cream ensemble mixed with undone, messy hair. bravo, little lady.

OpenID fashionisfor said ... (1:04 PM) :

i love this look! the hair, the shoes, the top! so cute. and vuitton used bunny ears in fall 09! represent girl.

Blogger Daniella said ... (1:06 PM) :

Love this, only in Paris could you get away with actually wearing the Louis ears in public... here in Canada i'd probably get a lot of weird looks...

Blogger Jacqueline said ... (1:07 PM) :

I love this photo! So cute with the headpiece. love her booties and everything else too!

Blogger sofiasophie said ... (1:21 PM) :

she's lovely but the cigarette is the wooooorst accessory ever!

Blogger Catie said ... (1:22 PM) :

I bet we'll be seeing Carrie Bradshaw in that hat.

Blogger PaigeMarshall said ... (1:27 PM) :

some eyeglasses i would prefer to make her look cool - the ribbon makes her look silly and totally loses the great effect of the shoes :(

Blogger helenlouise said ... (1:31 PM) :

Everything about this look is fantastic.

Blogger valber said ... (1:40 PM) :

lovely charlotte gainsbourg...

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:40 PM) :

That look would be great without that silly thing on her head.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:42 PM) :

This is fashion? It looks like a costume gone bad! Definitely a no for me! I'm surprised it made the cut for this blog. I'd love to know why!

Anonymous Kristine said ... (1:47 PM) :

I love the fact that she looks so perfect and grown up, and then throws on the bunnyears-bow. Well done!

Blogger Romina said ... (2:27 PM) :

she is great!

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2:44 PM) :

amaaaaazing, love it! fashion is supposed to be fun :)

Anonymous emilija said ... (3:11 PM) :

love the shoes and the headband-thingy!!!

Blogger MAISON CHAPLIN said ... (3:12 PM) :

Very funny style! But it's strange because most of the people living in Paris don't give a damn for style, nothing compared for example if you go to Milan..

Blogger Brummagem Joe said ... (3:15 PM) :

Looks great and sexy......the bow (bunny ears to some) is a bit whimsical but so what.......this blog is full of pictures of women wearing whimsical garments.....Am I alone in thinking the hat worn by the other girl at the Vuitton show has a faint hint of that worn by the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. Women are cut more slack in these matters!!!

Anonymous Cam said ... (3:49 PM) :

Well, always been a fan of Mickey and Minnie! ;)

Blogger Catherine said ... (3:51 PM) :

Those Vuitton "ears" are just wrong. I cringe every time I see those ads with Madonna wearing them. Ears are for Halloween, Mouseketeers, and Playboy bunnies. They have too many strong associations to ever to be fashionable. Remove them and I can actually see her cute blouse and shoes.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:04 PM) :

MTW......More Than Wrong!

Blogger K said ... (4:06 PM) :

everything but the bow. Looks great otherwise. Isn't she a designer herself? she looks familiar

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:20 PM) :

I love the bow!

Blogger Reg said ... (4:21 PM) :

I don't like this at all. The blouse looks to big although the fabric is gorgeous. I like that she's confident enough to wear the ears/bow but her hair looks terrible. At the very least, it needs a brushing.

Blogger beverly said ... (4:42 PM) :

I'm sorry, but this is just ridiculous.

Blogger fındıkkurdu said ... (4:45 PM) :

as of this moment, three comments published on the cigarette already. now is about time for someone to comment on the anti-cigarette comments, i love this pattern. maybe it's already been written and just not moderated

Blogger SallyO said ... (5:06 PM) :

Not even Marc Jacobs can make bunny ears look cool. The joke is on us, people. Next year it'll be clown noses...

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (5:08 PM) :

I'm not in love with the outfit, but (1) I can't imagine a better compliment than "unconventional beauty" (see earlier posts) and (2)I'd kill for those stems.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (5:15 PM) :

She is a woman not a girl. Therefore the hair bow plus the too short skirt together create an awkwardness.

Blogger girlfryeday said ... (5:19 PM) :

But it's NOT ears. It's more like a vintage 40's hat. Think "The Women" & remember those cuckoo hats they all wore. That said, I'm not a huge fan of hats in general. I always feel like such a spectacle, esp b/c people insist on commenting, "cute hat", etc. Geez.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (5:43 PM) :

I get it, but if you're gonna walk around in those all day you had better have a smile on that face.

Anonymous Michele said ... (5:55 PM) :

those ears are soooo last season!

Anonymous Le 21ème said ... (6:02 PM) :

Very Carrie...

- le 21ème

Blogger ingefaer said ... (6:04 PM) :

I for one do not appreciate the anti smoking comments. I do not smoke myself and I know it is not good for your health but really I don't think it is my business to tell anyone not to smoke.
It is an American attitude: I am on this new thing it is called no-smoking and now I want everybody to follow my lead. Relax a little!

Anonymous Kristina V. said ... (6:14 PM) :

She reminds me a Louis Vuitton model with her headband.

She looks gorgeous. Each detail suits perfect.

Anonymous AnaPt said ... (6:21 PM) :

Minnie Mouse style ahah

Still i find it kinda cute :)

Blogger SequinsandBangles said ... (7:16 PM) :

I love this outfit, it is so now! I loved these little bunny ears at Louis Vuitton a/w shows earlier this year, I think they are so cute and fun! Very chic outfit, beautiful monotone and simple!

Blogger AnnieC said ... (7:19 PM) :

It's a little bit of the "Emperor's New Clothes" for me. I suppose I'm supposed to applaud her risk-taking and fashion-forwardness, but instead I'm bemused by the ears, the sloppy blouse and the ill-fitting skirt.

I do enjoy the boots, however.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (7:22 PM) :

I love each of these pieces I would change two things.
1.The skirt needs to sit lower her hip so that the fabric sweeps around her frame.
2. The ears are great. Why not sweep her hair toward them and complete the shape?

Even without the changes. I like it.

Blogger Brummagem Joe said ... (7:34 PM) :

"girlfryeday said...
But it's NOT ears. It's more like a vintage 40's hat."

......Of course it is.....I'm afraid it's only the unsophisticated who are off on the bunny's a whimsical touch....and I love whimsy

"I for one do not appreciate the anti smoking comments."

.......Couldn't agree more....I don't smoke....never's ultimately life threatening but if folks want to do it that's their sex and religion it's a personal undoubtedly looks, let's say, interesting.....look at those forties times the American self righteousness gets a bit tiresome....and it has absolutely no effect on those its directed at.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (7:56 PM) :

I agree with an earlier observation: channeling Carrie Bradshaw. Down to the questionable hat that looks like it's about to take flight.

Blogger Sade Jasal said ... (8:08 PM) :

This outfit is so cute! Love it.

Blogger The Cupcake Stand said ... (8:40 PM) :

I absolutely love this look! Magical! Looks like a dream.

Anonymous Maranda said ... (8:53 PM) :

Playboy bunny/MinnieMouse/French maid costume, all in one. And the skirt looks like a sweater wrapped around her waist. I don't get it.

Blogger Nick Leonard said ... (9:22 PM) :

I love her shoes.

Blogger Filipe said ... (9:37 PM) :

The boots are cool, the socks are wrong.
The blouse is cool, the skirt is wrong.
The hair is cool, the bat version of the bunny ears is, like well said before: a joke.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:16 PM) :

Totally Carrie Bradshaw!
Maybe SJP should get these for the next Sex & The City movie.

Blogger Mo said ... (10:24 PM) :

this is definitely very Carrie. I love it!

Anonymous CEwing said ... (10:35 PM) :

The hat/bow is super chiq! Kind of a grown up baby doll

Blogger luis_andres said ... (11:03 PM) :

its a kind of sofisticated lady gaga, or the older sister of blair waldorf

Anonymous Eva P. said ... (11:15 PM) :

The comments relating to this picture have lured me out of lurker mode. I’m glad to read opposing viewpoints. It’s so boring when everyone agrees. I am on the side of fabulous. You need confidence to wear these. She has it. In fact, you have to be fabulous to even consider wearing them. That said, she doesn’t have to smile. She doesn’t look like SJP – French, English or Italian. And with all due respect, who says things like, “Bravo, little lady.”? The beauty is, you won’t see these on everybody. For everybody there is a store and it starts with a W.

Blogger Joy Mars said ... (12:38 AM) :

If she didn't have the Playboy Bunny ears, would we even be seeing her here?

Her clothes are expensive. I like the shade of the blouse. Very riche. The shoes are great on with her legs.

The stringy hair and her general sloppiness reminds me of a friend I used to have. It didn't matter what she had on, it always looked like she'd just hiked the Kiber Pass. A kind of female "Pig Pen" (of Peanuts fame).

Blogger Fernando said ... (12:57 AM) :

Ultra casual chic! Love the booties.

Blogger the eye said ... (1:44 AM) :

So ridiculous !

Blogger Juliet said ... (3:41 AM) :

I love the head piece!

juliet xxx

Blogger Cassandra said ... (4:16 AM) :

I think the bunny ears work... amazingly well.

Anonymous Chesley said ... (6:35 AM) :

Makes me miss darling Isabella Blow.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (7:36 AM) :

This is so embedded in current runway stuff that it's boring, bunny ears or no. Points for chutzpah though.

Blogger preppygoesrock said ... (8:04 AM) :

this reminds me of louis vuitton

check out my blog

Blogger JMitchell said ... (8:52 AM) :

It's like an Elsa Schiaparelli hat... love. She looks great and good for her for just wearing it.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:26 AM) :

She has breasts. It's hard to look this good when you are not flat-chested. Bravo.

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:32 AM) :

that bow didn't look too cool on madonna, either.

Blogger SummerTeeth said ... (10:41 AM) :

teek. i love this. so cheeky and soorta like wearing a funny-glasses-mask. love fashion that has a giggle wrapped up in it.

Blogger Kimberley said ... (4:44 PM) :

Love her outfit. It's impressive

Blogger pixie said ... (5:45 PM) :

Nothing about it I like. The skirt doesn't fit right, not a fan of the blouse either and the ears.. no comment at all.

In regards to the anti smoking comments, its just ugly. In my view its not pretty to watch someone smoke. And so I comment on it on a fashion blog.

Anonymous Gmff said ... (12:43 AM) :

I hate how people follow whatever the designers put out on the runway literally. Those bunny ears Marc Jacobs put down the runway for Louis Vuitton were hideous, yet some people seem to have trusted him and fallen into the trap. Before you put ears on people, take a look at what happened when Madonna tried to wear them at the Costume Institute Gala in NYC. Makes you think twice doesn't it?

Blogger Leanne said ... (6:27 AM) :

it all looks so forced. and yes, the shirt is very wrong, does no justice to her.

Blogger primary colours said ... (8:39 AM) :

My opinion stands much the same as the general consensus, what was this woman thinking? It belongs back in the closet, or in the zoo.

Blogger Rafe Totengco said ... (9:23 AM) :

wow, bon courage! she is definitely living for fashion...and loving every bit of it. the platform peeptoe booties, the chapeaux (?) very Vuitton. she's emulating the sass and spunk of SJP.
I love that there are people out there in the world like her...who will go the extra mile!

Anonymous 217 rue saint-Honoré said ... (6:06 PM) :

Why Not ? All is allowed in fashion...

Anonymous Ethan said ... (8:16 PM) :

Really don't get the headwear, but the shoes are striking. Wish I could get a better look at her bag.

Anonymous Invincible said ... (2:58 AM) :

Blogger LOVESTRUCKCOW said ... (6:50 AM) :

FENDI carrying LV!
milan - paris support.
the shoes have got to be fendi FW 0910

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (11:46 AM) :

For me, the epytome of non elegant.

Blogger BOYWonder said ... (5:09 PM) :

The bunny type ears are cute...very louis...but just not vuitton!

Anonymous Sonia said ... (8:29 PM) :

Her legs are so long, jealous.

I love her whole outfit as well!

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:19 AM) :

High style boho, she looks great. Incredible outfit, yet she isn't over done.

Anonymous Flavor Magazine said ... (10:48 AM) :

I was in love for her jewellery but now I want to spend my day with crazy "bunnears" !!!

Blogger Cheol said ... (1:47 PM) :

the comparisons to sjp are giving to much credit to sjp and/or basing the comparison on an admittedly similar face and nose. ddf looks better than sjp, imho.
also, there seem to be a lot of comments about her skirt being out of proportion and her long, beautiful legs. from what i know, she's not that tall. in a picture of her standing next to kate moss, kate, who is 5'7", was clearly taller. i'd argue it's the skirt proportion that makes her legs look longer, which is not a bad effect.

Anonymous Hilla Ohayon said ... (2:07 PM) :

Thumbs up! So my style...
Loved it.

Anonymous Caroline said ... (2:59 PM) :

I love bold hairpieces! Nay to Minnie Mouse and Bunny-Ears comments. And who could deny how beautiful those boots are?

Blogger Rosie said ... (9:57 PM) :

I think she looks great--my hat's off to her for wearing what she wants with aplomb! I think it's sad when people don't think you are in fashion because you don't look cookie cutter like everyone else. Fashion is all about taking risks and wearing what feels right to YOU.

Anonymous Elegant Evening Dresses said ... (11:46 PM) :

i love the style. she is looking great.

Blogger AONIE said ... (6:32 AM) :

Minnie mouse...I don't like her outfit and her style too...

Blogger Jackie Sanders said ... (12:32 PM) :

french maid costume for me... that's for sure

Blogger k. simpson said ... (3:31 PM) :

I've always wondered how the LV bunny ears from the runway would translate to street stylistas. She definitely pulls them off well :)

Anonymous Communion Dresses said ... (3:01 AM) :

So cute and beautiful shoes.
Nice color and nice type of shoes

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:47 PM) :

It's look like Amy Winehouse style.

Anonymous Guga said ... (5:33 AM) :

I dont wanna see myself as a close minded person... its gonna take a while for me to digest those ears.....its funny and bla bla bla..... lady gagaesque kinda thing... but....its a matter of fabric. shape...and size... or not.... whatever

Anonymous jennifer said ... (3:56 AM) :

I love the style very much!She looks very beautiful in that cloth
flower girl dresses

Anonymous filower girl dress said ... (2:43 PM) :

This is reaally cool and look good

Blogger ED Blogger said ... (3:04 AM) :

Looks nice to me because she was able to rock the look.

I will not recommend this for younger girls though.
A more "tamed" girls party dresses will do.

Anonymous flower girl dresses said ... (10:44 PM) :

when you wear something unusual with confidence it always looks good....ciggarett not so much

Blogger allen said ... (11:01 PM) :

Great ideas! I'm so glad I discovered your blog. Can't wait to buy one for Christmas.
handbags wholesale

Anonymous flower girl dress said ... (10:22 PM) :

my hat's off to her for wearing what she wants with aplomb! smoke not so much.

Anonymous dresses said ... (4:43 AM) :

this is perfection, lovely walking shot!

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:44 AM) :

love the shoes and the headband-thingy!!!dresses

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Monday, April 5, 2010

Spring Art Classes Have Begun - Sign Up Today!

Spring has sprung all over Durham, NC and the weather is fantastic! Spring has sprung at The Scrap Exchange as well, with a full schedule of art and craft classes designed to spark your creative energy into full bloom.

Getting married this spring or summer? Learn how to make wedding invitations from reclaimed paper materials from instructor Kimberley Cartwright. Cleaning out your t-shirt drawer? Let Ruth Warren show you how to turn them into a quilt or wall art. Ready to start planting the garden? Muriel Williman will show you how to make a worm bin to create nutrient rich compost. The list of creative instruction goes on and on this spring at The Scrap Exchange!

Here is a complete list of classes. Detailed class descriptions, dates and registration information can be found at .

Making Wedding Invitations
Turn Your T-shirts into Memory Quilts and Wall Art
Make-and-Take Indoor Composting Workshop
New Creations from Old Quilts
Make Your Own Natural Cleaners
Stuffed Animals (Softees)
Sparkly Shoes
Recycle Your Closet!
Open Woodshop
Blank Doll Bodies
Making Mobiles With Found Objects
Basic Book Structures
Make a Photo Album

Pre-registration is required to hold your place in any class. The best way to register is to email Rowan Martell at with your name and the class you would like to take. You can also register by calling the office at 919-682-2751.

See you in class!

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In Merry Motion

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Listing created by Haziyah Ali on July 17, 2014

'In Merry Motion' was formed in October, 2011 by Weiyan and Joyce. Both of them are craft designers. Their motto is to make full use of the given space. They aim to provide the personal touch within each differing occasions.

Additionally, this duo feels that each event ought to provide some sort of distinctive element for both the guests and hosts.

'In Merry Motion' is known for crafts that were designed in an out of the box manner. Everything under 'In Merry Motion' are personally handmade from the start. This includes props, scents, stationeries and more.

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Issue: 2nd quarter 2016

Keys to Focused Prayer

Written by Renee Dugan

When I was eight years old, I was convinced God had an email address.

Growing up right on the curve of the internet boom, I thought that AOL was the coolest, most innovative thing to ever happen to mankind; naturally, I saw absolutely no reason why God Himself wouldn’t be on the cutting edge of technology with His own holy “”.

During that same hyperactive, bouncy childhood phase, I was having an incredibly difficult time concentrating on prayer. Verses about “praying without ceasing”, and the importance of praying for things, struck but didn’t stick, however much I tried. For me, prayer usually went from thanking God for my stuffed animals, to imagining if He could bring them to life, to creating epic stories where they slayed dragons…

Needless to say, any angel transcribing my prayers probably would have stopped, scratched his head and gone, “Wait, what?” at least a dozen times a prayer session.

Meanwhile, my mom was in charge of a virtual prayer-chain that used email to disperse prayer needs to hundreds of dedicated believers around the world. Watching her work on it night after night, my curious mind put together that “email = prayer”—and thus came the belief that there was a better way for me to pray: sending mental emails to God! Sitting next to my mom’s chair, I would craft these “emails” with eyes closed, fingers tapping the air, constructing a long and dedicated account of all the things I had to say to God. Wonder of wonders, it worked! No more mind-wandering, no more distractions. I even imagined that God was emailing me back, inbox-ding and all. It was something of a breakthrough for me to finally be able to pray without losing my train of thought.

Giving Up vs. Holding On

My guess is that I’m not the only person who has ever struggled with being distracted while praying and therefore gone in search of methods to help improve their focus. Most of us, at some point in our lives, have struggled a bit to focus when praying. Keeping track of our thoughts as we share them with God can even become more difficult, not easier, as we get older; it can be easy to slip from praying about a doctor’s appointment to simply worrying about it. This doesn’t, by any means, imply that God doesn’t hear us—but the focus of our heart goes from surrendering the matter to taking it back in and dwelling on it more than we’re giving it up to God.

Thankfully, we aren’t the victims of our wandering minds. Scripture tells us that we should strive to lead our thoughts captive—even those prayers that want to get away from us. Below are four methods to help with focus while praying:

1. Get Down on Your Knees

Though this practice has been somewhat hijacked by mockers as well as marketing companies looking for an easy way to make poignant prayer-related posters, the actual action of kneeling in total surrender before the Creator of Heaven and Earth can have a powerful, focusing effect on one’s prayer life. It requires you to stop whatever else you’re doing, put yourself in a position of genuflection to God, and stay there until you’ve brought your supplication before Him.

1 Kings 8:54-56
When Solomon finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the Lord, he got up from kneeling before the altar of the Lord, with his hands spread out toward heaven, 55 and he stood and blessed the whole congregation of Israel with a loud voice: 56 “May the Lord be praised! He has given rest to His people Israel according to all He has said. Not one of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses has failed.

2. Speak Out Loud

Ever heard someone say, “That sounded better in my head?” Our thoughts tend to wander every which-way before we say them, but actually speaking aloud forces us to really think about our thinking. Praying out loud can keep us on a single subject, without that thought leading down a rabbit hole. This isn’t always an appropriate option if you’re in a public place or a quiet, sleeping house, but it certainly has its applications in other cases, like in the car while driving to work. The next time you find yourself struggling to stay focused while praying, try doing it out loud!

Psalm 77:1
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and He will hear me.

3. Pray a Recited Prayer

Example: Some prayer journals, such as “Amazing Grace for a Woman’s Heart” by Jane L. Fryer, offer the beginning of a prayer from which you can “launch” into your own prayer, tailoring it specifically to your needs, desires, and struggles. Following a prayer devotional on grace and peace, Fryer closes with this recited prayer:

“My Savior, because you died in agony, I can live in peace. Teach me to approach every circumstance, every relationship, clothed in that peace, especially…”

Leaving this prayer open-ended allows the reader to fill in the blank with their own needs, helping them along toward crafting a prayer.

4. Journal Your Prayers

Similar to speaking out loud, writing prayers down can help us to stay in the moment so that our minds don’t wander to other things that derail our actual praying into just thinking about the things we’re praying for. An added bonus to this method of prayer is that you can open up these notebooks years later, read the things you prayed about, and truly see the marvelous and oftentimes unexpected ways these prayers were answered. It’s one thing to read the way God answered prayers in the Bible—it’s another entirely to have the inexorable proof right in front of your face of how He answered yours! Journaling of any sort is also a method widely used to combat stress, anxiety, and even panic disorders, all of which can get in the way of a person’s prayer life. Taking the time to write out a prayer first thing in the morning, right before bed, or even in a few moments of respite during a busy day can be a great focusing technique as well as an excellent source of remembrance and a memorial for the things God has accomplished in your life.

Psalm 77:11-12
I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. 12 I will reflect on all You have done and meditate on Your actions.

Prayer Takes Many Forms—Find The One That Works For You!

These are just four examples that can help with focusing the mind and taking control of our thoughts during prayer. Different methods work for different people! One of the most wonderful aspects of prayer is that it doesn’t have to “look a certain way.” Prayer is not reserved for a church pew on Sunday; it isn’t required to be verbal, written, or simply “thought”, and we don’t have to be down on our knees to do it. To pray is simply to “ask”, and everyone goes about that in a different way. God looks on the heart and desires whole-hearted relationship with each of us—He hears us whenever we pray, no matter if it’s spoken or unspoken.

But if you have ever had trouble keeping your mind focused while approaching God in prayer, praise, or supplication, consider trying some of the methods above—or developing your own! We can even pray to God to help us pray! The wonderful thing about prayer is that the more we do it, the easier it becomes—and the more we train our focus, the more readily it comes. Always remember that God is a God who meets us where we are at; He is willing to help us along to becoming better prayer warriors with greater confidence who readily turn to Him in prayer at the first sign of strife. All we have to do is ask!

Speaking of which, if you’d like to write to God directly, his email address is…

About the author

Renee Dugan

  • Vicki Spears

    I have recently started a prayer journal . . . so I journal my prayers and it has helped tremendously in keeping my mind focused.

  • Guevara Armando

    Thank you for sharing

  • Rita McCormick

    Love this article. Praying with the understanding is so powerful. I think the commander and chief Jesus keeps us very close to him through prayer, if we call his name he will hear us, always in ear shot of our cry’s. We should be respectful and not waste his time on praying for needless desires, and if we don’t get the answer we want we should obey that too. I have several times simply cried out OH GOD and he heard me. Then like Jesus told his workers “some things need to be prayed out. If we have a issue going on continuing in prayer seems to be a way to break through the dark hold something may have on us or those we love or even issues going on. Pray is so important we even have perfect prayer,,, Sometimes I wished I could have seen what speaking in tongues would look like if an example had been given of Jesus doing it. Oh that Spirit is really something else. It changed the way we pray and gives great benefits as well. Great article. I love to pray on my knees to help discipline my mind and humble myself. Happy Thanksgiving

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September 5, 2009

A Day at Brighton Beach

There's no better way to round off the end of summer than to take one last visit to the beach. In this instance, we forsook the flashy lights and semi-dilapidated rides of Coney Island for a small exploration around the Russian community at Brighton Beach.

I tagged along as part of a larger group, casually spurred by an interest in the area and guided by our trusty iphones/blackberries. We stopped at the beach first for a dip in the water. You can find photos of that elsewhere, but it just looks like a regular beach. Sand, water, and people wearing less clothing than they probably should. You can form your own mental image.

Our first stop was at M.I. International Foods, which had a huge selection of European goods. We sampled a Russian babka-type chocolate cake with a fluffier, lighter, but also blander taste, some salted ham, and this Tarragon drink that tasted like fizzy licorice.

We also split a $5 bag of chad roe, which is the egg sac of well, chad. It's the first step before caviar, apparently. It was probably the saltiest thing I've put into my mouth, ever. Maybe I'm not cut out for caviar after all.

At our next stop, I tried butterfish and a Russian "dessert" (?) called Karum. It's like a block of cream cheese covered in chocolate. I don't think your life will be incomplete if you miss out on this experience.

Dinner will speak for itself in pictures:

The night ended with a few rounds of Bat Hunter on a playground, followed by some long chats and drinks on the beach. Not a bad way to spend a day away from the city.

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September 27, 2009

False Advertising: When "free" means $20

Today, I headed to The Sunburnt Cow hoping to indulge in the enticing offer shown below. Ultimately, my most fruitful takeaway was an example of a food PR event went awry.

Know your limits. How many places can really put out free food all day long? Sunburnt Cow, you overshot your limits this time. Most people probably approached this event with wary, afraid that it was too good to be true. And oh, it was.

Use the word "free" with caution. This is New York City. Dog whistles don't even work as well as this honing signal.

Deliver what you promise. The advertisement of "Free Food All Day Long!" turned out not to be free, and the food ran out completely by 5pm.

Communicate a set standard of rules. If I can see the poster with the word "Free" mentioned twice, yet you tell me to fork over $20 for unlimited food and drinks, I have a right to call you out on it. After asking the manager and finding out that no drinks and a plate of food would be $10, I hardly consider that "free food all day long".

You are only human, but so are we. The goal of putting on a food event is to get your name out there and attract more customers, after all. After the mishap with the false advertising, receiving disdained looks from the staff is just adding insult on top of injury. I forgive you for wanting to profit, for having slight miscommunication, for even running short on food. I don't forgive you for shunning a potential future customer.

The worst part is that this happens quite often, usually at small venues due to disorganization. Word to the wise, only trust what a restaurant is willing to put on their website or spread out to the public. The point is not to avoid celebrations, but to just execute it well. The food was enjoyable, for the most part. I just left with a bitter taste in my mouth from the overall experience. That's fine, a cupcake will wash it all down.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

About as sexy as the Jura gets...

Voluptuous grapes, scantily clad harvesters, sexy lounge music oh my!

In all seriousness, I ran across this sleek little video hosted by Stéphane that tours the Tissot domaine and walks you through their practices. André makes several appearances, as does the future of the Tissot domaine. Learn how to identify and hand-pick Poulsard grapes from one of the best!

You really get a feel for how beautiful the Jura can almost smell the Vin Jaune! Definitely worth checking out, even if (like me) you don't understand very much français!

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NEPA native heads Defense Logistics

Enthusiastic and excited is how Northeast Pennsylvania native and newest site commander of the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in Jacksonville, Fla., said he feels going into his new assignment.

"So here I am in somewhat of a dream job, taking command of the finest forward site under the DLA Aviation organization," Navy Cmdr. Maurice "Moe" Meagher said, adding, "Not lost upon me is the fact the command is not something a lot of Navy Supply Corps officers ever have the opportunity to experience.

"I am truly honored by this opportunity."

Cmdr. Meagher assumed the position during a ceremony held at the Naval air station in Jacksonville. DLA Aviation commander Brig. Gen. Scott W. Jansson officiated the ceremony while Navy Cmdr. Jason Klingenberg relinquished the command to Cmdr. Meagher.

Kate Meagher, his sister, and Lt. Cmdr. John Meagher, his brother, attended the ceremony. Sandy and Paul Meagher joined Mary Welher and Kathryn Meagher to also witness Cmdr. Meagher assume his new position.

Born and raised in Honesdale, Cmdr. Meagher is the son of retired Capt. Maurice Jr. and Jean Meagher. A graduate of Honesdale High School, he received his bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in biology from Villanova, where he also received his commission from Villanova's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The commander and academic holds a master's degree in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and Joint Professional Military Education Phase I from the Navy War College.

Marking history

Donna Barbetti, president; and members of the Lackawanna County Commission for Women including Laurie Cadden, Judy Cosgrove, Marilyn Vitali-Flynn, Mary Jane Memolo, Dr. Dipti Pancholy, Deb Peterson and Linda Steier are seeking entries for the annual Women's History Month Bookmark Contest.

The contest, open to seventh-grade students enrolled in our area's public and private school systems, is designed to broaden awareness of the contributions women have made to all segments of society. In years past, the efforts and contributions of such noteworthy females as Georgia O'Keeffe, Rosa Parks, 2nd Lt. Carol Ann Drazba and Jane Adams have been highlighted in award-winning designs.

Students are also encouraged to recognize women whose accomplishments may not be as well publicized as others, but who have made a substantial mark on society and the community at large.

High notes

North Pocono senior Chris Bohn is doing his senior project at St. Mary's Villa in Elmhurst. Chris recently took his guitar and went from unit to unit playing and singing for the residents, even singing at bedside for some. Chris, who also works a part-time job in the dietary department at the Villa, has also assisted with other resident activity programs.


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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Review: Trio Building Set with Storage

Manufacturer: Fisher-Price

Brand: Trio

Age Recommendation: 3 and up

MSRP: $29.99

Intro Year: 2009

Fisher-Price's Trio building system is specially designed to make building easier for even the smallest of hands. Three "grow with me" building levels make building a snap. Kids can feel and hear the click when they've connected the building pieces and the pieces will stay together throughout play, only coming apart when kids are ready to take them apart. Each set can be built and rebuilt in a variety of ways, letting kids build whatever they can imagine! And the pieces from the different sets can be mixed and matched for even more imaginative building.

The Trio Building Set with Storage comes with bricks, sticks, and panels that click and hold together for big building play. The set comes in bright colors and includes custom parts such as figures, wheels and chassis, and a durable tub for convenient storage and portability. The storage bin lid also doubles as a building base! Kids can build suggested designs or use their imaginations to create something all their own! This 100-piece set is a great way to get kids started with the Trio building system.

Joy and Melissa said...

Would love to win this toy! @madly59

Jeff said...

Joy & Melissa - theToyGuy will ask a trivia question today at 1pm (EST) on Twitter. be the first to correctly answer and you will win this toy!

Lo said...

Oh, I must say that I absolutely love trio building blocks! My son totally loves playing and building with them and really gets into it giving me time to myself!