Wednesday's Warrior~"Someone Has To Say It."

     Most people don't pick up on these things, but I do. My sister thinks that I'm crazy for even trying to notice, but I don't. Most people don't even really care.
     I really try not to eat at pizzeria's because of this. I hate going to the dentist because of this. It's gross.
     I went to pick up a pizza and subs for a birthday party that we were going to and watched as the teen girl in the shop, with her rubber gloves on, was making pizza and subs. When the phone rang, she answered it...with her rubber gloves on. She went back to making pizza and subs. Someone came in shortly after that to pick up food and pay. She took the money...with her rubber gloves on and went back to making the pizza's. She wrapped the subs, and when I went to pay, HALLELUJAH! She took them off. But not before she contaminated the entire $39.95 special with every pathogen possible. I tried to steer clear of the pizza at the party.
     I should have said, "Excuse me! Even though everyone is waiting, can you please remake this entire order because you completely infected it with every kind of phone and money bacterium in the world?" In disgust, I just walked away.
     I'm sitting in the dental chair waiting, praying that I get someone who has been trained properly and gives a hoot. No lie...and it happens every time. Hygienist puts her gloves on, to protect herself, of course. (10 minutes before she even gets around to my mouth) She walks in and out of the room, adjusts the light twice, types on computer, grabs x ray machine, puts bite wings in, types on computer again, finally digs around my mouth with the gloves on that have literally touched everything in the room at least once. After that, for old time sake, and after her hands have been in my mouth, she types a few more things on the computer and adjusts the light. Finally, she starts cleaning my teeth and at that point, who even cares anymore.
    Was I supposed to insult her and say "Ma'am? Can you please change those tainted gloves because I know that you've done this with every single patient that's walked in here today...and yesterday...and the day before that? Did you completely scrub and sanitize the light and the computer and the machines and the chairs and everything else that you touched when you were digging around in the previous guy's mouth that you did this to? I DO NOT WANT YOUR NASTY GLOVES IN MY MOUTH. I don't. Change the things...often.
     I rarely get deli meat at the store, but when I do, I'm sure that I insult them when I ask them to put on new gloves. Lets face it...after 3 or 4 times of different customers, they aren't clean.
     It's OK  if you're not a trained hygienist, doctor, pizza maker, deli clerk, or the like. Be trained in common sense. If it means insulting someone gently by asking them to do their job right, and especially when your health or wallet is involved, then DO IT!

     In my experience, this doesn't happen everywhere, but people need to be more aware of what is going on around them. I challenge you to watch for yourself.

In a nutshell:

                                                        After you clean the toilet,

Sweep the floor,

Talk on the phone, 

Or play with dirty toes, 

Please don't:

touch my cheese.

Or muffins.

And for crying out loud...

Stay out of my mouth.

Thank you.

   

Wednesday's Warrior~"And The Goblin's Will Getcha If You Don't Watch Out!"

     I love to hear ghost stories and love telling them, although I'm the biggest scardy cat around. When I was a kid, I still remember the cold, dark, autumn nights quite vividly. In the evenings, we sat by the warm fire, telling stories, listening to every creak and crack of the house, eyes wide open, half expecting some big monster to jump out and eat us where we stood. I recall my Auntie Helen reading this poem with such premeditated cold-blooded-ness, that it would curl our hair. We hung on every word. She spoke slowly and deliberately so that every one of them reached our little ears and scared us half to death! This poem, written by James Whitcomb Riley, encouraging children to obey their parents and teachers, help their loved ones, and care for the poor and disadvantaged, will make you think twice before closing your eyes tonite.

     And now that I have children of my own, I fully intend on carrying on my Auntie's tradition. I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not....*gulp*....afraid.

                                       LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE

 by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

 

To all the little children: -- The happy ones; and sad ones;

The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;

The good ones -- Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.

 

ITTLE Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,

An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,

An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,

An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;

An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,

We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun

A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,

An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you

If you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--

An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,

His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,

An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!

An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,

An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;

But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

If you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,

An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;

An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,

She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!

An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,

They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,

An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

If you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,

An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!

An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,

An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--

You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,

An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,

An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,

Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you

If you

Don't

Watch

Out!

Wednesday's Warrior~"The Sullivan Brothers"

     Last night, in search of an exciting story to tell the kids, I came across one that I've heard before, but again brought it to life around our household as part of a homeschool project that I've decided to take on...the story of "The Sullivan Brothers."
    If there were ever a course of heartbreaking events, that would merit a monumental tragic story, it would be the story of the Sullivan Brothers-Albert, Francis, Joseph, George and Madison, ages 20-27, from Waterloo, Iowa, who bravely joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, after being inspired to take action and fight for their country after Pearl Harbor in 1941. The brothers enlisted, but they did so under one condition: that they would be allowed to serve together on the same ship under the motto "We stick together." For some reason, Navy policy against numerous family members serving together was ignored and the Sullivan brothers were allowed to serve on the USS Juneau. 

     On November 13th, 1942, The USS Juneau was bombed and sunk by a Japanese sub during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, and the five brothers all perished in the watery depths of the Pacific. This was the greatest military loss for one American family in WWII. The US Navy commissioned a ship to be named in honor of the fallen brothers...USS The Sullivans.
     The story doesn't end there. History has it that another ship, the USS Helena, and her officers were skeptical that anyone had survived the sinking of the Juneau and didn't want to expose their already wounded ship to the still lurking Japanese sub. Approximately 100 of Juneau's crew did in fact survive the attack of their sinking ship, but were left in the water. Believe it or not, because of lack of immediate reporting of the incident and a mix up of paperwork, it was not until days later that headquarters realized that a search had never been conducted and at that time an aircraft was sent to search the area.
    It was too late however, for most of the crew, who were mortally wounded and were exposed to the elements, hunger, thirst and repeated shark attacks. A full eight days after the bombing, ten survivors were found. The survivors reported that Francis, Madison, and Joseph died instantly, and Al drowned the next day. George, the oldest, was left alone, mortally wounded, clinging to life afloat a small raft in shark infested Pacific waters for four to five days. The men could hear him moaning, crying out "Al, are you there? Frank...where are you? Red...Matt, please answer me!? Apparently he drifted on, hypothermic and delirious, slowly going mad from grief at the loss of his brothers, eventually going over the side of the raft, never to be seen or heard from again.
    At home, after letters stopped from the Sullivan boys, their parents grew worried. On January 12th, 1943, three men approached their front door and said "I have some news for you about your boys." Thomas, the boy's father nervously asked "Which one?" The naval officer answered "All five."

      It is believed that George Sullivan still haunts the vessel that carries his family name and he still wanders the ship searching for his lost brothers. The most paranormal activity on this ship occurred in the late 80's after the ship was moved from PA to Buffalo, NY. Many unexplained events have happened on the ship including a wrench and paint can flying across the room, sounds of whispers and men playing cards, hazy apparitions, sometimes five in number and once a security guard was even knocked unconscious. 
     As we continued to read about the USS The Sullivans this morning, the kids and I decided that we would go there. We were on the edge of our seats as we read the story and legends of this magnificent ship and the dreadful circumstances that befell it. Apparently, a man named Eddie Kirkwood was a security guard there for many years and I was curious to see if he was still there. I wanted to talk to him. I called the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park and asked if he still worked there and they hung up on me without a word. I called again, and got the same response. It was very strange to me.
    The story of the Sullivan brothers is unbelievably touching and incredibly interesting, and one whose family motto was "We stick together." We can learn from this family, who lived and died together in unity. There is so much more to this astonishing story of family togetherness and bravery that takes you right into the scene. You can find that here:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/brotherhood/sullivans.html

     I did find this movie online about the brothers if you are interested in learning more about them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBssrsmuW1A

     To see USS The Sullivans and two other historic ships, USS Little Rock and USS Croaker in Buffalo, NY, you can go to the website here:
http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/

   

Wednesday's Warrior~"Appreciate The Life You Have Right Now"

     Being ungrateful is a horrible habit to start and a hard one to break. I know, because for the past few months, I've been feeling agitated and ungrateful and have had an attitude to match. I've even expressed these sour feelings when the words "I hate this house" came out of my thankless mouth one day. I've played these lines over and over in my head: "The house is a continuous mess, (and way to small!) the kids don't listen, my husband is grouchy and unappreciative, the laundry is piled, I'm tired of scrimping and on and on."
     Last week, as I was picking up in the kitchen, I heard some mortifying words come from my twelve year old. "We need a new house. I hate this one."
     "What? You hate this house? How dare you say that? How could you be so thankless?" I thought silently. But I only said "Please don't say that." I knew what I had done.
     A few days ago, I sold a sewing machine to a woman who came to the front door with a huge grin on her face. "I am so jealous!" She wailed. "Just look at this place! Your house is so nice and the kids have so much room to run in the yard. I wish we lived in the country." I remained silent as she went on about how nice everything was. She was absolutely right. I felt guilty as charged: thanklessness in the first degree.
      After she left, on the Q-t, I locked the bathroom door and made it a point to take five minutes and evaluate my life. What was so wrong? Where did the "old me" go? My thoughts were as follows: I have a husband who:
Works.

Doesn't drink.

Doesn't smoke.

Doesn't gamble.

Doesn't like other chicks.

I really needed to be thankful for that.

Hmmm....What else?

I'm not sick.

I have kids that are healthy.

I have wheels and freedom.

I can grow my own food.

I have great friends who love and help me.

My parents are still alive.

I can buy anything, anything at all, if I really want it bad enough.

God loves me.

"OK, but my house is messy and small and nobody listens." 

                                    

"OK...I think I will."

Wednesday's Warrior~"Why I Try And Forget My Cell"

    You are out to lunch with a friend, and in mid sentence, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" invades your zone. Frantically, the person that you were in an intense conversation with, starts digging towards the noise, staring for a moment at the small screen before starting an entirely new conversation with someone else while you stare in bewilderment. Did this really just happen? It takes a moment before you realize that you have been majorly dissed. After a few moments, you hear "Oh, where were we? John didn't know what to make for dinner and Sara couldn't find her ipod charger. Did you say your grandmother was dying? I'm so sorry."
                 
           How the hellzo (I made that word up) did we EVER get so detached?

     Speaking of detached. Walking in the woods with the kids, pretending to look at the leaves, wishing she could check facebook. Cell phone rings. (thank God...escape. She doesn't want to be in the darn woods anyway...too many bugs) Kids let out a sigh of cantankerous rebellion. "Mommy will be just a minute." (Ignoring everything around her but the phone call) Walks away into the trees, finger in one ear, cell on the other, oblivious to everything around her. 5 minutes later, turns around only to yell at bickering kids. Back to cell. 15 minutes later, kids are sullen and annoyed. "What is the problem here? Can't mommy take a simple phone call?"
                                         
                                                 Fun = over.
                                                                         
                                                 I've done it.

                                     I don't want to be that mom.

   They ring in the middle of sermons, recitals and reunions. They pierce the air in the glorious silence of the morning, permeate the evening sunset and seep into the hours in between. All around us, the emergency calls come in...in cars, parking lots and grocery stores with children, who are in desperate competition with the latest apparatus, dragging on the sleeves of parents who have no time to spare, teens in tow, texting and tweeting obsessively not once questioning their utter unhappiness.

                       Why are we so desperately trying to escape reality?

                                      What are we running from?

     What to pull out for dinner, missing soccer shoes, car pool locations and when will you be home's? The one sided conversations are loud and crystal clear as if the two folks on the phone were the only two in existence. In a way, I wish they were...on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific.

     But what would happen if we tuned out distractions and tuned in to the present moment? Really listened to our children. Looked at someone in the eye and really connected. Said our prayers and really focused on what we were saying. Were sincere in our sympathetic responses to the latest tragedy. Shut the world out for a day. Would things be OK? Would the people trying in desperation to connect survive the rejection?

                                 Things will be OK. They will survive.

     Dad will make dinner, daughter will find the missing shoe, the boss will call someone else in and the dog will get a bone. We live in a world where time and space as we know it will soon fade away and the moments that could have been will gently float away with them. I wonder if we will still be so disconnected at our last breath that we won't even recognize the bitterness of it all. Kids will be grown, others will be deceased, dreams gone, our lives hollow and flat with hardened hearts like stones. Every so often I start to see the bad fruits of disconnect in my own life and I have to run away from it for all I'm worth. Run back to my family and my dreams, not to be swept away by fickle, obscure fads and trends that will all rot in the ground anyway.

 Do you want to be free? I sometimes do and it is why I try and forget my cell.

                                       Permanent ways to get radical:

                    .

       
 
   
   

Wednesday's Warrior~"Don't Despise The Days Of Small Beginnings"

     "Don't despise the days of small beginnings." I try and think of these words often because it's an easy thing to do. It was what I was thinking of today as I was dragging through my hours of what for certain were ones of many small beginnings.
     Small beginnings come with hard work and sometimes little help, pain with no gain, brilliant ideas and little resources, humble budgets with plentiful defeats and questioning looks with little encouragement. Have you ever enthusiastically announced something just to have it shot down with misunderstanding or doubt? We've all been there.
     Small beginnings can feel like things will always be the way they are right now, never progressing or changing, but anything good takes time and patience to grow
     Recently, we had the chance to see The Tribute Quartet, a well known Southern Gospel Band from Tennessee. Their harmonies were beautiful, moving, and very tight. That's not something that happened overnight.
     Our family got to sit on the left side of the stage because the church was so packed with people and we got there a little late. We could see right up close to an act that took years, if not decades to come into being. We were impressed at the level of professionalism, the vocal range of the singers and the little antics that took time and practice to execute. It was well worth the gander.
     Earlier today, we were looking at pictures of when the kids were a few years smaller. It gave me a brutal reminder of how quickly things pass and of what was and is now gone. All of the kids were little. I was worn looking, heavier and remember feeling like the sleepless nights would never end. I remember the sarcastic remarks and displeased looks that started to come along after the words,"We're gonna have another baby!". Sometimes it almost felt like a crime. I look back on those early days with satisfaction, knowing that it was what I wanted for my life and I stuck it out. It was (is) hard, but all good things are.
    Loretta has a little somethin' to say about that:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMzSYyjNb74
    Sometimes, I want to try and skip over the little things to get to the prize, but I have remember that whether it's growing blueberry bushes, raising respectful children, getting an education, losing weight, patiently waiting for a baby, or praying for an answer, it all takes plenty of time and grit.
     For everything worth while, there is a small beginning. Today I need to remind myself to embrace and tend to my small beginnings, because they too, will soon be gone. Going, going. gone...*poof*
                                                       Stacey

 

Wednesday's Warrior

     This week, we've processed 11 bushels of tomatoes into spaghetti sauce. It's been a while since I've done that many. The hardest part is boiling them down and having every large and small container in the house full of fresh squeezed tomatoes on counters waiting to be boiled to thicken. I finally resorted to a large, clear bin to keep filling.

     We've been picking and washing and peeling and freezing and canning. PHEW. t-i-r-e-d. When we pull into the you-pick fruit stand, the kids get scared that I'm going to make them pick tomatoes again. (Even though their mom picked most of them while they found bugs and picked flowers) We are picking up 10 dozen corn tomorrow and a half bushel of concord grapes. I can add that to my bushel of beans and hot peppers waiting on the porch. 

 This month, we've played out several times and it's been the busiest month of the entire year for us.  I've been trying to organize my house, but the laundry just never stops overflowing and the dishes are never ending. It gets frustrating, but it's ok. I'll be alright like every other woman who's ever done it before me. 

     I finally bought a Kitchen Aid 6 qt. commercial mixer. I had a smaller one about 5 years ago, but in my infinite wisdom and generosity, I gave it to my sister. I've been trying to get that darn thing back for about 2 years now, until I realized a few weeks ago, that I would just have to buy another one. Maria wanted lime green, so that's what we got. I'm still trying to get past the color, although I keep telling the kids that I love it. This week, we've been making bread. muffins and bagels each day testing it out. We also ordered a grain mill attachment and have already started grinding. (It came in today, along with the wheat berries) Although I had Leek soup on the stove tonite, we made pancakes too, just to try out the grinder. I'm just starting, but you wouldn't believe how easy it is to make your own bread. I am going to teach my two little boys and Lizzie tomorrow morning before the other kids get up.

     I've been tossing some idea's around regarding which direction that I want to take this blog. I see so many people in need of encouragement and a kind word, that I really want to lift people up through my writing and every day struggles of my own. Believe it or not, it will help me, helping you. I plan on writing every Wednesday, sharing things that I've been working on personally in my own life and things that I'm learning along the way. I think I will call it "Wednesday's Warrior."

Cold mornings

Pinky Promise

     Many of you may know this already, but as a family, the kids and I play music and sing. Today we had a show in Nunda with the happiest bunch of people. I must have talked over an hour after the show to people coming up to share something about our performance, something that touched them...a song that we sang or to encourage us to keep at it. 

     My husband was working and my mom couldn't go with us, so the kids and I went ourselves. The little kids were very well behaved and I was thankful for that. Sometimes the two little boys start fooling around, but they were good today. At one point, they started hitting each other with little sticks, but I gave them the beastly eyeballs, and they stopped.

     This week, we've been working on getting the house in order, putting together our schedules for the school year, and planning music lessons. I've been reading so many good books that I want to share, but just haven't had the time. I've been trying to go to bed earlier at night and today, I picked up my new day planner for the year. It's exciting starting fresh, isn't it? The girls even came home and cleaned their rooms...now that's excitement!

     In this last picture, this little girl made Michael pinky promise that he'll always play the banjo. In Japan, the "pinky promise" originally indicated that the person who breaks the promise must cut off their pinky finger. Hmmm...Pretty serious stuff.

    

Anyone Seen My Ruby Slippers?

     I spent most of the day today getting ready for the new school year. Chris took three kids to music lessons, and he took Lizzy with him because she already had her shoes on waiting by the door, smiling. They were gone for about 5 hours and I had a tiny bit more quiet time than usual. I fried up some hot peppers for Chris and Michael and made chicken parmesan for dinner with chopped up tomatoes from the market.
     I spent much of the day online fiddling through all of my last minute curriculum options for the new school year. Surfing for curriculum online is exhausting, just ask anyone. My oldest, Lea, is 16 and I've always taught her and the rest of my children at home. (Although now I have help from tutors for the big-ins') I remember when Lea was five years old. I just couldn't imagine anyone else teaching her, so I just kept her home. That year, in 2002, I had great plans to have an awesome year and this year is no exception. I am very optimistic, although with the schedule that I'm facing, I fear burn out by January.
     Sometimes people will ask "How do you do it?" I never know what to say to that. Sometimes I will reply "Well, when I wake up in the morning, I open my eyes and realize that I'm just not in Kansas anymore." We usually both laugh and sigh. Sometimes I wonder though, if I close my eyes and click my heels together three times, if I would wake up in a place where there were always clean forks at dinnertime and the mountain of laundry turned into mole hills. Anyone seen my bedroom ruby slippers??
     I ate way too much sugar today. I'm being honest when I say that I'm not a dessert person. I don't want desserts before dinner or after dinner and I don't crave chocolate. Maria made some no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies and I think I had 7. Chris brought home some coffee with sugar and I had a few sips of that. (I hate coffee) I have a stomach ache now and am horribly regretting not showing restraint for something that I don't even like. Not even guzzling water will help me now.
     Tonite, the kids and I peeled and cut the last of the garlic that we grew. Garlic is definitely our thing. (That's why we're so excited to be playing at the Cuba Garlic Festival this year!) It totaled 260 heads, but altogether, we had over 1200 this year. It was wet and muddy from sitting outside and it was a cold, rainy day. When we finished, it was after dark and we were soaked.

                                                           Still Standing~
                                                               Stacey
 

 

Good Day :)

     In the cabin today, I killed three blood filled mosquitoes. I wondered who they chewed last night. It brought to mind this daydream that I used to have that if I had one wish like they do in fairy tales, I would wish that all the bugs in the world would perish. Unfortunately I never got that wish but realized that all the bee's would die too, so I couldn't possibly do that.
     I took the kids to the orthodontist this morning for their monthly appointment. Maria's mouthpiece was broken and they had to order a new one. Luckily, they aren't going to charge us. After that, I stopped home and wrote out a few bills, took a walk with my hubby and little kids and picked blueberries before going back to the lake. We also had a family meeting.
      Lindsay and Brian came over with the baby, Lucia and we took a ride on their boat. Later on at night, we went up to the main dining room where they had live music. Roger, from the camp ground told us to bring our guitars and fiddles so that we could join them. They called us up to play and we did six songs, all gospel. Someone bought the kids popcorn and they sat nicely while they ate it. I really could get used to this kind of living. It's 100% christian here...no smoking, drinking or skimpy attire on the grounds. The kids are begging to stay over night again on Saturday, but it's time to go home.
   The mailman brought me a big stack of new books today. I love to learn and read about things that apply to my life at the time. The books are mostly about time management, running a business, homeschooling, whole foods, stuff like that. It's the college education that I never got or really wanted, I guess. When I start a book, I read it from the back to the front. Does anyone else do that? I wonder. My friend from the Key's sent me a package with a new devotional in it, too! We will read it together and compare notes. Love that lady!     
     It's almost 3 AM and it's the third night I've been up this late because the older kids have friends over and they've all been over here. I've been having fun though sitting by the fire and talking to the kids, don't get me wrong, but his 3 AM stuff has to stop!
                                                            Up, up and away!
                                                                        Stacey

 

Who says teens don't want to work? I wonder what they are making for breakfast!

Many Friends A Day Keeps The Doctor Away!

     Today it rained most of the day here and I was a little disappointed because I was hoping Chris could take the little boys out in a rental boat. In the morning, I took the kids for a short walk and we fed the ducks and watched them fight over the bread that we were throwing. I was feeling rather tired because I had stayed up so late the night before writing and talking to a friend. I made myself some carrot, apple, cuke and tomato juice for the day. I don't like coffee, so I juice instead.
     Lea and Michael had a friend come to join them around noon and together they sang and played songs on the guitar. Chris left for home around 4 PM and took Nicholas with him so that they could have a little one on one time together. Nick was so excited! I whipped up a huge meal because I knew that extra kids would come to join us from the neighborhood, and I wanted to be sure that there would be enough. Mom and dad ended up coming up around dinnertime and they brought goulash, spare ribs and bread.
     Aunt Patty and Uncle Scotty came too, and they stayed until after 11 PM. They brought up pizza and wings for everyone. They also treated the kids to ice cream and I split a sundae with Dominic. I rarely eat desserts because I just don't want the sugar, but I've been having many moment's of weakness lately when it comes to eating processed, junky foods. I'll start making healthier meals again when we get home, I guess.
     Uncle Scotty and I wrote a song tonite on a whim that took about an hour. It's called "Tell Me." We sang it over and over and laughed at how cool we thought we were. We are going to practice it a few more times and then record it while it still has momentum. I'm encouraging him to make a CD of all originals. One down, nine more to go! It has encouraged me to start writing again, too.
                                                 The End~
                                                     Stacey

       

   
   

Come On, Let Your Little Light Shine!

     I am so easily inspired, it hurts. I absolutely love inspirational quotes, inspirational people and of course, inspirational songs. I get teary-eyed over what most people would consider absolutely nothing and I've got the chills on my arms to prove it. It's not uncommon for the mailman to come up and hear me giving a speech to the kids about "living your childhood dreams" from Randy Pausch's book "The Last Lecture" or after listening to a TED talk on how to find and do work you love. I was super inspired by David's courage and strength after reading "David and Goliath" to the boys at bedtime yesterday and I never hide that from them, sharing it openly with dramatic enthusiasm  hoping to inspire them to be great men of  courage and strength. 
     In fact I want them to have hope and look forward to great things happening in their lives. If you believe that you actually can do great things, you're half way there, right? Right. The other half is through lots of prayer and hard work. And speaking of hard work, look at all the little fishies that my little ones caught today while on the lake. Way to go kids!
                                                                                Shine on~
                                                                                     Stacey

                                                  

Lake Life

     Well, it's day two at Lime Lake, where we've been since 11 PM Sunday night and things are going quite well. We were hired to perform here in February at a Valentine's Day Dance and we traded for a week on the lake. We are on the grounds of Odosagih Bible and Retreat Center and it's just a nice little place to be hangin'.
     My sister came up yesterday with her crew and between the two of us, we had 13 kids. Their ages are as follows: 16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2 and 1. They all ran and played and swam all day and at 8 PM, I lined them all up, scrubbed the faces and crusty feet and Melissa put them to bed. Teamwork.
     I stayed up until about 1:30 working on updates on our website, adding shows and writing in my journal. Melissa's kids were sick off and on during the night and most of my kids started coming down with sore throats, runny noses and coughs too by the morning. Lea had been sick since Friday and slept most of the last few days. She did, however muster up the strength to have a camp fire with four other teenie-boppers laughing and talking until 1 AM. Hmmm...
    We picked blueberries at Pepper's in Franklinville for about 2 hours yesterday morning. The kids and I picked about 10 quarts at .75 cents per lb. I want to go again because Chris will be here to help. Pickin' is a little slim, but it's still OK. We saw an Amish family there and they unhooked their horse from the carriage and were walking through the patch. Someday, I want to spend some time with the Amish and learn from them.
     Melissa made lunch and I cleaned up while the kids swam and played on the playground. Chris came today around 5 PM because that was the earliest that he could get up here. I was so glad to see him! I needed a b.r.e.a.k. After he got here, I made him dinner and then he took the three little ones and Michael to the bait shop back in Arcade, about 15 minutes away.
   I spent most of the day counting heads, doctoring up cuts and cleaning the kitchen, because just about the time the kitchen was cleaned, they all were hungry again.
    I never did get to pick blueberries again.
    Later in the night, I sat with the neighbor, Amy, by the fire and we talked about traveling. Apparently, she travels all over the place and clued me in on how to go about staying on different resorts with time shares. In February, we are planning a long trip to Florida to tour the state singing and playing. The great thing about having a band is that you get paid to go on vacation. Yes, it's work, but if you love what you do, it's fun.
     I was thinking of a new song for the band to learn and this one comes to mind. I'll never forget listening to the oldies and thinking this song was just the coolest thing on a Saturday night in the mid 80's. Whatcha think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrGaoSB0Eus 
                                           Nighty Night~
                                              Stacey
 

It's A New Day

     As I sat down reflecting on my day yesterday, I realized that I had to start getting my life on paper so that I could remember it all later. Although my long lost friend and I have been corresponding through letters and emails daily, I wanted to share with the rest of the world, my soulful life.

    "My Soulful Life" is the name of my new blog, and in it you'll get a sneak peek into the life of a mother, a better half, teacher, musician and a woman who's got it all..and this is how I deal with it "all."

                                                   Your's Truly~
                                                       Stacey