Our little blue heaven

Health Insurance Frustrations

2012-02-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

So, last year we had to switch from group health insurance coverage to individual health insurance coverage. I was surprised at the cost (more than $500 a month, just for Joel and I) and even more surprised when after 2 doctors visits nothing was covered. Really? Okay...a routine physical is covered, but nothing else. So we paid over 6000 for insurance so that our prescriptions would be cheaper. Makes a lot of sense, right? When I did our taxes, I calculated that between premiums and office visits/labwork/prescriptions we paid more than 8,000 out of pocket for health care last year for 2 of us...and we are relatively healthy individuals.

In January we changed plans within the Blue Cross system. We read, and read and RE-READ through the plan specifications and decided that we would go with a higher deductible and lower monthly costs. Office copays were a lower percentage, too and it looked like 80% of most things were covered in network. What we did not realize (did I tell you that we read the plan, a lot) is that NOTHING is covered (no prescriptions, no doctors visits if you're sick, none of the "covered" things) until the deductible is met. Also, there is an integrated deductible, which means that prescriptions and office visits are combined to meet the deductible, but the combined deductible for the plan must be met before covered services are paid. That means we have to pay $10,000 out of pocket (PLUS our premiums) before they will even cover a simple prescription or office visit. The wording on these plans is so tricky and we missed this detail.

Sigh.

So, yesterday I went to see my endocrinologist and he changed my thyroid meds. This morning I went to pick up the meds only to find that they aren't covered.....and my visit yesterday won't be covered.....and my blood work won't be covered.....THIS IS JUST WRONG. We considered going without insurance, but prices are different for those with/without insurance. The system is so messed up.

I've come to the conclusion that unless you have group coverage you have to pay several thousand dollars a year before you can get sick or worse, need surgery. This is ridiculous. What's worse is that I KNOW better plans exist. When we were at Macomb, we had great insurance with BCBS. As individuals, we CANNOT purchase the same coverage. It doesn't exist as an option.

Thankfully, we are being added to group coverage at Joel's work in April. Amazingly....the coverage is much like what we had at Macomb...only even better.

I'm writing this not to assert that we need a federal health insurance program. What I do think is that I should be able to pay for the kind of coverage that companies are offered. As an individual, I cannot even access that kind of plan. Even if we picked the BEST plan with the BEST coverage, it still pales in comparison to a group plan.

I can't wait til April.....

Don't Mess with my Baby!

2012-01-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

I got a phone call today from Mr. A - the boys' principal. He called to let me know that Camden had been pushed and had bumped his head, but that he was okay. Then he told me who pushed Camden...it was a classmate (S.). Well, Camden and and a few students (S and M) have been having trouble for a while now. I never really thought too much about bullying until this year. A few weeks ago, S tried to push him off the playscape at recess. S has been spoken to numerous times by Mrs. J (their teacher) and Camden has been in tears more than once about S's actions towards him. There have been numerous little incidents all year, and the problem seems to be escalating {Insert Mama Bear Angry Voice}

Now, I know some are probably thinking a few things...like:

1. This is happening because he is in a public school. You should have kept homeschooling him. Actually, these types of things happen in Christian schools and Charter schools, too. Homeschool was not the best option for our family right now, but that's an entirely different post.

2. He's not really being bullied, it's part of being a kid. Yes, some teasing is part of childhood. I think what is going on here has taken on a different vibe than just plain old teasing.

3. Camden is too sensitive. Well, yes he is sensitive. However, being incessantly teased and pushed and poked and bumped and...you get the picture. It's not right.

Well, I set aside my Angry Mama Bear Voice and was polite to Mr. A on the phone. What I really want to do is drive up to the school and stake out the school and tell S and S's parents that this will not be tolerated by the Angry Mama Bear. Don't worry, I won't do that.

I will, however, continue to teach and coach my son on how to respond to others that are mean and spiteful. I will teach him that those kids are just as important to their Creator as he is. I will teach him that character means responding correctly in these types of situations. I will teach him that standing up for himself is perfectly acceptable. I will teach him that no matter what these kids say, being smart is NOT a bad thing. I will teach him that he is loved, and that sometimes loving those that are not kind is difficult.

**Sigh**

2011 Year in Review

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't done this since December of 2009 but I thought it would be good to take a look at this past year. Besides, I really like the idea and want to keep up with it. So, here is 2011 in Review:

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

We made a summer bucket list and tried to squeeze as much into our summer as possible. It was a blast!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last New Year's was really hard, so I don't remember making any resolutions other than just getting through life one day at a time.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My sister-in-law, Kristin, had Cal in March.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Grandpap Shaffer passed away on our anniversary, June 24.

5. What countries did you visit?

None other than our own :) Joel and I went to SC in May for a wedding.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A ministry where we can serve vocationally.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Jan. 9 and 16 - our last 2 Sundays at our old church.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finishing our first (and only?) year of homeschooling.

9. What was your biggest failure?

You always wonder how you will handle trials when they come. I must say that I didn't handle this one very well....but God is good and gives grace!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really, just still working through thyroid stuff.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

We took a trip to Greenville, SC in May for a wedding....while a trip isn't an object, it was the first getaway for Joel and I in a very long time, and we needed it! So, it was the best money spent this year.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Joel's - He works harder now (physically) than he ever had to in our first 10 1/2 years of marriage. He provides for us and leads us. I'm thankful for a husband that desires to please God, even when the road is difficult.

13. Where did most of your money go?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan - this is the first time we've had to pay our own healthcare premiums....yuck!

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Finding a new church to call home for a while. We are thankful for Maranatha and the healing balm it has been to us.

15. What song will always remind you of 2011?

There are several...music does wonders for my soul! Here are a few....

**Beneath the Cross (Getty) - this was the song Joel sang our last night at Macomb

**Still, My Soul Be Still (Getty) - the Chorus says "God,you are my God and I will trust in you and not be shaken."

16. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

Happier - God has shown Himself mighty in so many ways. Yes, this year has been tough...but I know He is in control. 2011 had some rough days, but there were lots of great days too!

17. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Moving (LOL) but I know that is coming....

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Looking at job boards and ministry listings....but I know there is a reason why God hasn't given us a new ministry yet.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

We like Blue Bloods and NCIS.

20. What was the best book you read?

Loving the Little Years - helped keep things in perspective

21. What was your favorite film of this year?

Ramona and Beezus - it was an instant family favorite

22. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Blend in!!

23. What kept you sane?

Sending my kids back to school.

24. What political issue stirred you the most?

No one issue...just gearing up for the onslaught of political ads.

One Year

2011-12-20T00:41:00.004-05:00

December 20, 2010 was the beginning of the end for us in our previous ministry. It was the beginning of a trial that sparked these posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

To bring you up to speed...we're still in our house. It has not sold and we may not be here much longer. Joel still has secular work and we're still looking for a new ministry.

We have learned so much this year...things we knew but really learned on a much more personal level. We joined Maranatha Baptist Church and have really, really enjoyed this ministry. We've made some new friends and learned lots of lessons....we had a lot of growing to do (and we still do!!). God has been good and gracious and kind and loving and we do not deserve one bit of His favor.

I've made an effort this year to try and make Christmas really special for our boys. Last year I was so numb and hurting that Christmas was just a hold-it-together-and-don't-fall-apart kind of holiday. As much as I tried to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, my selfish pride was focused on my own situation and the despair I felt inside. Don't get me wrong...much of the pain is still there. Leaving a place (and people) you love is never easy.

I write all of this to say that life is still hard at times. I still wonder what God is doing and how He is going to do it. I still have to work to focus on Christ at Christmas and not myself. I still lay awake some nights and ask God when we will be through transitioning....when will we find a new ministry....when will life move from waiting to being normal again? Through it all, I KNOW that my God is good. He has a plan. The details are worked out, the plan is in place and I get to watch Him work in our family through it all.

So this Christmas, I will worship with my church family and marvel that so many years ago He came. My redeemer chose to come and rescue me from my sin and despair. Nothing says Merry Christmas more than that.

Please Don't Bash The Youth Pastor

2011-12-06T00:33:00.001-05:00

This post may come off as a rant, and I certainly don't mean it that way. I've waited a week before writing this because I was so bothered.....

One night I was sitting at Tim Horton's (clipping coupons, if you're wondering) when I overheard a conversation a few tables away. Now, the Tim Horton's that I frequent is not large, so I really wasn't too far away from the table of men (there were 3 of them) and I forgot my iPod so tuning them out was impossible. I noticed the men come in and sit down, and really just tried to mind my own business. The men were chatting about the youth pastor at their church.The things they said were not nice. They questioned whether or not he was actually thinking when he planned an upcoming trip. They questioned much about what he's doing and how he's doing it....they pretty much sat there and picked the man apart. Then they decided to pray for the man....and prayed that "he would see the error of his ways and do things the way we want instead....that he would realize that we know more than him and we can tell him the best way to do things..."

I sat at my table just a few feet away and really, really wanted to say something. I'm still not sure what I would have said (I was honestly afraid I would say something stupid or just cry), but I'm sure it would have sounded something like this:

Please don't bash your Youth Pastor. For that matter, please don't bash any of your Pastors. You probably have no idea just how much they think through the decisions that they make.

You probably have no idea that their work is always before them. They don't leave their work at the office and pick it back up the next day. They are almost always working, and a lot of times it is behind the scenes and you'll never know it.

You probably have no idea that living in a fishbowl is difficult, demanding and challenging. You probably have no idea how much they love you, pray for you, and thank God for you. You probably don't know that they love what they do, and that they are thankful that God put them in a place to minister to others in such a way.

Sitting in a public place, chewing up the youth pastor does not do anything positive for the gospel. In fact, for the 4 other patrons sitting in Tim Horton's, I wish you would stop! Sure, having a Bible study in a public place can open up lots of opportunities for conversations with those who do not know Christ...but if I were one of those four other patrons, I surely wouldn't want MY kids going to YOUR church. And I certainly wouldn't want anything to do with your God.

I spent 7 1/2 years as a youth pastor's wife, and will hopefully get to minister in a similar way some day. I know that conversations like this are not isolated and that these men are the only ones in the world who picked their youth pastor apart. Can I offer you some advice? If you don't like the way something is being done...please go talk to the person instead of having a free-for-all session.

Consider the fact that **you** might be the one that needs to change. I'm not saying that youth pastor's never make mistakes and that they are perfect (I know that is not the case), but neither are you.When was the last time that you said "thank you" to someone on staff at your church? When was the last time you dropped them a note to let them know that you appreciate what they do? When was the last time you prayed for God to change your heart and your response to someone instead of praying for God to change them?

Late Fall - Thankful

2011-11-21T11:09:00.002-05:00

Most days I don't feel very thankful. There, I said it. Most days I want to complain about where we are in life, and I want to whine and cry to anyone who will listen.

That's not very sanctified.

The truth is that I have a lot for which to be thankful. So, here's a list. By the way, this is for my benefit...to remind myself of how blessed I am!!

I'm thankful for:

1. Joel - while this year has found him working with paint, wires and endless strings of stringers, he does what he needs to do to provide for us. This year has been hard, but good for us.

2. Camden, Josiah, and Trevor - yes, I'm busy. Yes, I have my hands full! But, they're full of good things (read that in a blog post this year!). I'm grateful that I have the chance to mother these three boys.

3. My church - I cannot even begin to tell you just how much we have appreciated Maranatha this year. Our church family has been a wonderful addition to our lives this year. While the circumstances that pushed us toward Maranatha were not pleasant, we found a new place to learn and grow. We've established some great friendships and have been able to get involved in many different ways.

4. My extended family. In June, my Grandpap Shaffer passed away and we traveled to West Virginia for the funeral. While my aunts, uncles, and cousins all lead different lives and make different choices than I do, I love them. They're MY family. We're Shaffers. We GET each other. My siblings are the best!

5. A roof over my head - this year has been a roller coaster when it comes to our house. For now, we're still here.

6. Healthy kids - other than the occasional cold or stomach bug, my boys are healthy. There are plenty of people around this globe that cannot say that!

There are other things that I'm thankful for.....I'll post them in the coming days.

Burt's Bees

2011-11-09T17:59:00.003-05:00

I don't know if you know it or not, but I'm a Bzz Agent. I love trying out products and giving my opinion of them....for FREE! Pretty cool, huh?

Well, recently they sent me some skincare products to try. I was already a fan of Burt's Bees (love their lotions and lip balms especially) but I had never tried their facial products for sensitive skin.

I absolutely love them.

I've been using the face wash and the facial moisturizer and have noticed a big difference in how my skin feels. It is not dry and flaky and stays hydrated for a very long time.

This has probably been one of the best Bzz Campaigns I've done....well, except for the coffee one....that review is coming soon!

Dear Meijer, Who do you think you are? Walmart?

2011-10-25T11:29:00.004-04:00

WARNING: THIS POST IS LONG. PLEASE DO NOT LAUGH AT MY PLIGHT.

So, I have this little routine....actually, it's a big routine. It is probably the most routine thing I do, and Meijer had to go and mess it up!
You see, every Monday night (okay, almost every Monday night) I feed my family dinner and then I leave for the grocery store. Armed with my coupon inserts, a cup of coffee, my Ipod and my coupon binder, I head into the store. On my way in I grab a sale flyer and I make my way over to the cafe area, snag a table and get to work. I cut my coupons and make a shopping list (er...battle plan) while sipping on my coffee and listening to my favorite music. Then, I hit the aisles (of course, in the same order every week) and do my shopping. I enjoy this time. I love this routine. I've been doing it this way for several years.

Until last night. Last night, my routine changed forever. Maybe this is God preparing me for a move in the future. After all, I've been dreading the idea of having to learn a new store and develop a new routine. This will probably at least start to push me over the edge....

So what happened when I got to Meijer last night? It was unthinkable. It was **almost** devastating. I did not cry, even though I wanted to (don't judge me!!). I walked through the door, grabbed a flyer, turned around and saw....particle board. The cafe area has been boarded up and it looks like a construction zone.

That's because it IS a construction zone. My beloved cafe area is gone. 100% never to be seen again gone. Meijer has decided to add a Subway. Really? A Subway?

I looked at the greeter in disbelief. I didn't want to cry in front of this man, who was trying so very hard to be helpful. He said it is going to take about 5 weeks to complete. So I asked him if there was anywhere else in the store that I could sit and clip my coupons, etc. His idea? I could sit on one of the benches at the front of the store (near the registers) and we could turn a cart upside down like a table. Um, no. That's okay. Like I don't look like a big enough dork with my zippered coupon binder. No thanks, I think I'll leave and come back.

So I left, drove across the parking lot to Tim Horton's and went inside. I can't sit there and not order something, so I bought a cup of soup (I already had a mug full of coffee) and grabbed a table.

I do not like clipping my coupons at Tim Horton's. The table was smaller, my stuff was crowded, and I really wanted a donut but opted to buy chicken noodle soup because I'm trying to be good. Clipping coupons has never been so blah.

After I was done I headed back to Meijer and took my time shopping. Then it hit me. In 5 weeks my favorite store is going to smell like Walmart...well, at least like the Walmart's that have a Subway inside. It's going to smell of yeast and wheat and pickles and asiago cheese. All of those things are great on a sub, but pungent when combined in a relatively small-what-used-to-be-a-cafe-area location. Now if I want to sit at Meijer, I'm going to have to find something small to purchase (can I buy one pickle slice please?) in order to sit at the table in the micro-Subway. And chances are they will change the tables and put in the little round ones that don't hold my purse, let alone my nerdy binder.

I know it's not the end of the world. After all, it is just my boring, nerdy, Monday night routine. I do think my reluctance to change might be Joel's fault. He gave me the Gearhart name, and anyone who knows the Gearhart's knows that Gearhart's are slightly resistant to change. When I was a Shaffer, change was life. I grew up with change. Change occurred every time we packed up our entire house and moved to a different state...or country! Now that I've been a Gearhart for more than a decade, change is synonymous with "I don't want to and if I have to I'm going to drag my feet or sigh reluctantly because this is really difficult and I hate change." By the way, this isn't a knock on the Gearhart's..I love them for their stubbornness :)

So now I get to come up with a new routine for the next 5 weeks, and then figure out how to make little bitty tables work after that. I might have to start clipping my coupons at home (perish the thought!!) or buying more than soup at Tim Horton's. I do know one thing....I either need to get used to pungent Subway smells or figure out a discreet way to wear a nose plug.

******Update 11/1/2011*******

I contacted Meijer via their webpage about my frustration. Today, I received a call from Rick, the general manager of my store. Whoa! First of all, Meijer is a BIG company. The fact that the manager not only received my complaint but personally called me? I'm impressed. He apologized for my frustration and explained that the addition of Subway was a corporate decision. Then he asked if it would be okay if he called me again to update me once a solution is reached that will satisfy customers like me. Wow.
I took the opportunity to tell him why I choose to shop at his store. I explained to him that a clean, well-stocked store is important to me. I told him that his employees are pleasant (especially the greeters).
I let him know that I'll continue to shop at his store :) Can you tell that I'm impressed that he would want to keep just one customer happy? Wow.

Pinteresting....

2011-10-05T14:00:00.004-04:00

So, a while ago I decided to see what the fuss was all about and I checked out Pinterest. Yikes. As if I didn't already spend enough time online, now I have a whole new time drain!

I've been "pinning" things a lot, but I hadn't ventured out and done anything that I'd pinned yet. Before I went to New Hampshire in September, I bought the supplies for a project but it had to wait until I returned home.

Why is it that I think that somewhere, deep inside, Martha Stewart is living? Seriously, of all the things my mom passed on to me, the craft gene is not one of them.

So here it is, my first Pinterest-inspired project. I basically combined a few ideas I saw into one manageable project. It's not perfect (don't look too close) but I still like it!

It's hard to tell, but the ribbon is green, not brown. Now, if I could make some sort of bow with that green ribbon, I think it would look complete.....

Dreaming of Fireflies

2011-09-14T13:19:00.002-04:00

There were once three little boys
Who played and played their summer away
With backyard baseball, games on the radio
and fireflies...

If only they could relive the magic as
Summer fades gloriously into Fall
and fireflies of Summer dim until
the magic begins once more.

BUT WAIT....THEY CAN...if Bzz Agent will let us
try the Dreamlights!!!

How magical Fall could be...if we could have the Dreamlights in our room!

Please, BZZ Agent...don't you want to make three little boys dream of summer?

Waiting for Fall

2011-08-29T12:36:00.002-04:00

Waiting...seems to be the pattern of my life for a while. While I don't like it, I'm learning that it's part of a process. We were at Greenfield village with friends last week and we went into the pottery shop. As I watched the potter mold and shape the clay, I marveled at how gently - yet forcefully - he took a lump of clay and made a cup. You'd think that was the hard part, right? But - don't forget the kiln! That cup has to be "fired" to make it into a cup, otherwise it's just dried clay that will crumble and be unusable. The molding stretches and forms...but the fire tests and proves. Eventually, the cup comes out of the fire and it is only then that it can be used as the potter intends.....

This Fall will be different than others before it. Our boys (Camden and Josiah) will be starting school at Emerson Elementary in Fraser. This choice was not made in haste, and we are convinced that it is where they need to be right now. I will have just Trevor at home with me...that's going to be odd but wonderful.

This Fall also finds us still waiting on God for another ministry opportunity. We are not sure how much longer Joel will have work, but God has never failed to provide for us. I'm praying that Ferndale gets swamped with work and they can keep Joel on until God moves us elsewhere.

Our Little Blue Heaven will not be our home for much longer. Our short sale deadline is the end of this week...after that we will start the next phase of this not-so-easy process. We'll likely have a different home by Christmas, if not before. Sigh.

So as our Summer of Fun quietly slips into Fall, I wonder how our lives will transform....before long the trees will scream praise to their maker as they bid farewell to their leaves. The glorious color will give way to brown, then gray.

I'm going to relish the golds, reds, and purples. I'm going to drink cider and play with my kids and just enjoy the life God has given me.

One more thing...we LOVE our church. God has given us a haven....when something new does come along, it's going to be very difficult to leave our church family, again. They welcomed us with open arms...and for that we are so very, very, grateful.

Goodblogs Post

2011-06-23T13:46:00.000-04:00

Head on over to Goodblogs to read my first post there!!

Abnormal Summer

2011-06-23T01:03:00.002-04:00

This summer is different for Joel and I as a married couple...every summer from 2001 to now we have had big plans. We prepped and planned and packed and trekked here and there in vans and buses with people that we loved. But this summer is different...there's no camp or missions trip or retreat planned at all.

I'm finding it to be harder than I thought. I LOVE camp. I LOVE missions trips. I DON'T love tent camping...but I LOVED tent camping with our teens. I loved summer because it was always so busy...and while I longed for slower days, I didn't realize that THIS is what the slower days are like.

I miss them. I miss anticipating camp and watching them bloom and grow so quickly in a week. I miss following up with them on what they are learning and listening to them as they put the pieces together. I miss crazy van rides and friendship bracelets, coffee shop counseling sessions and craft shop bonding moments. I miss manicure night on the way to camp and sitting in the back of the gym/chapel praying for them as we listen and sing in the services.

Don't get me wrong...part of me is enjoying the respite...enjoying planning fun things for my boys and knowing we have our summer free to berry pick and park hunt. Daddy is home more in the evenings with fewer commitments and we're not constantly packing and unpacking our entire family for different events. We are enjoying the ministry that God has us at right now, we are serving where we can and soaking up everything else.

But part of my heart will always be at Northland Camp in the summer....and part of it will always be at Hartwick Pines and on the Au Sable River in a red, Borcher's canoe.

Forget Me Not....

2011-06-21T14:29:00.003-04:00

A few years ago (well...more than just a few) Joel and I lived and worked at a group home for the elderly. I worked with the residents more than he did, and many of them suffered from some sort of memory loss - some worse than others. I felt badly when family members would visit (not often enough...but that's another post) and not be instantly known by our residents. While none of them had Alzheimer's, many of them appeared to have some Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

I recently attended a webinar about MCI and learned some interesting things. Did you know that losing cognitive ability is the #1 fear among the aging? MCI can now be diagnosed, and is basically the intermediate stage between age-related mental function loss and Alzheimer's. 1 in every 2 people that have MCI develop Alzheimer's...that's alarming!

Congnitive impairment is caused by metabolic and genetic imbalances. Basically, neurons in the brain lose the ability to communicate with each other. Over time, this affects one's cognitive ability altogether.

The webinar I attended introduced me to Cerefolin NAC which is a medical food used to treat MCI. A medical food must be prescribed by a physician, but is not a medicine. Instead, a medical food must meet the following criteria (taken from the Cerefolin NAC website:

1. The active ingredient must be present in/derived from a food.
2. It must be administered enterally (either by mouth or feeding tube, etc).
3. Efficacy/dosing/safety must be proven in peer-reviewed scientific literature
4. It is intended to be used under medical supervision; and
5. Addresses the distinct metabolic requirements of patients with a specific
diagnosed disease(s) or condition(s)
6. All ingredients must be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)

I was intrigued by the nutritional aspect of this treatment. Basically, Cerefolin NAC contains active forms of folate and vitamin B12 that cross the blood/brain barrier and work within the brain to repair the damaged neurons. This medical food contains far more than your body can metabolize from food, and helps to make up for decades of lacking nutrition (and I'm certainly NOT going THERE in this post, lol!)

Best of all, since MCI now is an official diagnosis, Cerefolin NAC is covered by many insurance companies and an authorized generic will be coming out this summer.

Joel and I both have grandparents who are aging, and parents (sorry, Mom and Dad) that will be dealing with this sort of thing in the years to come. As my interest in better nutrition grows, I am curious to see if this supplement can really make a difference in the lives of those I love...and perhaps myself someday.

**Disclosure** I was compensated for my time for attending the webinar and for writing this post. The opinions contained are my own, and my compensation was not dependent on writing a favorable post.

Spring...finally...or is it Summer?

2011-05-23T13:51:00.002-04:00

We just had our first "summer" storm. You know the kind...they come up suddenly and are gone nearly as fast. I spontaneously told the boys to get their shoes on and head outside. I grabbed my camera and captured a few minutes of memories....a hard storm moving through...lots of wind and rain and thunder....then it got lighter....then heavier again.

Slowly the rain stopped and the sun began to peek through. At one point I looked up and half the sky was blue with light, puffy clouds. The other half was gray and stormy.

That's kind of where we're at as a family. The hard, blinding rain has passed. We've not forgotten the storm clouds, for they linger...but the sun is shining and we're dancing in the rain.

Blessings

2011-04-04T10:40:00.003-04:00

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

All information about this song and the CD it is on is available at: Laura Story Music

Cousins

2011-03-31T15:44:00.003-04:00

It's not super warm out today (maybe 40?) and yet I have 4 boys playing outside...and they've been out for almost 4 hours! Sam and Gabe are here (Trev and Max are at Mimi's house) and Camden and Josiah are just having a blast. Add 1 neighbor boy and you've got a backyard full of fun! I made the boys wear hoodies and coats....the coats were abandoned almost immediately. The hoodies have been taken off too...

Hmm...fresh air, a warm bath and homemade pizza...sounds like some little boys should sleep well tonight!

T-Tapp: Week 1 Results

2011-03-26T13:12:00.004-04:00

Before I began this, I was VERY skeptical. Very. I mean, can working out 15 minutes a day really make a difference? Can it really reshape me?

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial....yes, it can.

I worked out Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (kinda). With sick kids in the mix, I did the best I can, figuring that 5 days was better than none, right?

I could definitely feel muscles, and was pretty sore after some of the workouts...but that's normal. I got up this morning feeling like the measuring tape was not going to move at all.

Boy, was I wrong! According to the chart that I'm keeping, I am down 9.25 inches from 1 week ago!! Keep in mind that this is all over..so an inch here, a quarter inch there..but still, over 9 inches!!

It's not visible yet and probably won't be for a while...I have a long way to go. This is motivation to keep going, that's for sure!

EDIT: Keep in mind that I am not dieting. I am eating normal portions of normal food, and even had my share of ice cream this week :)

Waiting

2011-03-25T14:37:00.003-04:00

Do you like to wait? Does anyone? I don't know about you, but I'm am not good at waiting. When I was a kid I snooped for the Christmas presents. As a teenager (ok, so now too) I liked to drive fast and get where I'm going. I just don't like to wait.

Ah, but you know the phrase....good things come to those who wait. So I often spend my days wondering what good things are coming our way, because I am tired of waiting.

I am tired of waiting for a new ministry.

I am tired of waiting for our house to sell.

I am tired of waiting to decide what we're going to do about school next year.

I am tired of waiting on life in general.

My fear is that with all this waiting, part of me is missing life as it comes. I need to just live here and now, and not in some future part of my imagination. Oh, I have lots of things that I want for the future...but where I am right now is where I need to be.

God is never late. And I don't think I'm ready early, either. I just need to realize that His plan, in His time, is what is right.

3G

2011-03-22T15:02:00.002-04:00

My boys love to pretend that they are spies and detectives. Camden reads books about it, they all have code names, and they play with spy gear all the time.

Today, Camden taped this sign to our front door.

Chase Ultimate Rewards....

2011-03-21T16:32:00.002-04:00

Ugh. Just got a notice from Chase that the Ultimate Rewards program is changing. As of this July, I can no longer earn points for purchases with my debit card.

This is a result of the Durbin Amendment that was passed last year. I'm really bummed because I used my Ultimate Rewards to do my Christmas shopping last year.

I guess I will have to come up with another idea.

T-Tapp

2011-03-19T16:08:00.003-04:00

Today I started T-Tapp. I heard about it from a friend of mine and have spent the last month or so reading success stories, thinking it over in my head, and wondering if the results can really be that good.

So, I ordered the book from Amazon with my swagbucks and read it cover to cover when it came. I talked to Joel about it (since the videos aren't cheap) and then decided to order them. I have some Opinion outpost money and Chase rewards, so it really didn't cost me anything.

So, I read the book again last night and then measured today. Then I did my first workout. Yikes. I have a long way to go.

I did take a "before" photo too (well, Josiah did it for me!!) but I'm not posting that until I have a decent "after" photo as well.

I plan to update each week with results. T-Tapp focuses on inches lost, not weight lost. I can't wait to start shrinking. :)

March Madness

2011-03-17T11:30:00.003-04:00

This morning I told Camden that he should wear a little green, since it's St. Patrick's Day. He looked at me with that, "Mom, you're so out of it" look and said, "Uh, it's the first day of March Madness, actually, so I should be wearing a basketball jersey or hat or something."

I love the fact that he gets into the Big Dance just like Joel and I do!

Right now Josiah is sounding out words on a phonics paper, Camden is working on his Language Arts worksheet and Trevor is playing Irish Angry Birds on my phone. The sun is shining, the weather is warming up and we're enjoying the day.

Oh yeah...the appraiser is coming tomorrow to estimate the value of our house...so I guess I should tidy up a bit and be ready for his visit!

Trev's Snowman Cookie

2011-03-16T14:36:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, Trevor was asked to be the Cubbie of the week. He also got to bring a snack to share.

Joel forgot to tell me :).

So, last week we talked to his teacher and decided to try this again. At lunchtime today I remembered (I really should have written it down!!).

I pulled out a few cookie kits my Dad sent the boys and let Trevor pick one, whipped up some sugar cookie dough and we now have a treat ready for tonight.

A side note

2011-03-16T12:23:00.002-04:00

I just want to mention something that has been going through my mind.

My last few post have outlined (briefly, long as the posts maybe have been)a trial that we have gone through.

But I know it's NOTHING in comparison to some things that friends and others have gone through.

We are healthy.
We are together.
We are safe.
We know Christ.
We have Hope.

I don't mean to diminish or belittle other people who have gone through far greater trials than ours.

I'm simply trying to not waste this trial...and really trying to remember some things to reflect on later.

The end of winter

2011-03-16T12:12:00.002-04:00

"I am overwhelmed at the goodness of my God, and the graciousness of His people. Life may look differently today than it has for the past several years, but my God is in control."

This quote was my Facebook status on January 17th. The first few days with Joel home were weird. We had no solid leads for paying work, although he had been looking for a few weeks. We had no solid lead on churches that may want us, either.

Our church was providing Joel's paycheck through the end of January, so we could have time to look for work. Joel needed to clean out his office by the 31st, so he made several trips up to finish the job.

February came and still no work. No leads, no interest. Nothing. What is God doing? We got our taxes ready to file and took a hard look at our budget. Between the gifts from our now "former" church and our tax return, we could see that God was taking care of us financially. We were going to be okay.

We started attending another church in January and were really trying to get the kids acclimated. It took a solid month before there weren't tears every time we walked in the building. Honestly, it's nearing the end of March and sometimes there are still tears.

On January 29th, we listed our home for sale. We may not be living in "Our little blue heaven" for much longer.

At the end of February, Joel found work! I have never been so happy to see my husband leave at the beginning of the day. We are so thankful for God's provision through this job. While it's not ministry related and could be temporary, we know God provided the work.

Now we find ourselves a the end of Winter with Spring poking it's head around the corner. We're not sure what God has for our family in the future. Right now we are praying and just looking for direction.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for Spring and the sunshine it brings.

Mid Winter

2011-03-16T11:40:00.002-04:00

Mid-winter warning...another LONG post...

When I returned home, we put the boys to bed and sat down to figure out just what we were going to do. We had less than a month before we had to say goodbye to people that we dearly loved. We had little direction, few answers and hearts that just ached with what was to come.

We gritted our teeth and made it through Christmas. Our family sang together for the Christmas Eve service and I remember wanting to just sob! Nobody knew yet, so I had to hold it together and act as though life was just as it always had been. I didn't WANT to feel like this at Christmas. Christmas isn't about ME, but I had such a hard time focusing on the true meaning of Christmas...my mind wandered...my heart ached...and I was definitely sleep deprived!

I tried to talk Joel out of our traditional red-eye night on New Year's Eve (an all-nighter)but was unsuccessful. I threw myself into this activity, knowing that it was our last. I wanted the food to be perfect. I wanted the teens to have the best time possible. And yet, while games were played in the dark (it's tradition) I silently mourned each one as they ran past me. They had no idea that a little more than a week later an announcement would be made and that we'd slip out of their everyday lives. We loved these kids. We poured our hearts and lives into them and truly loved them the best we knew how. And this was it...the last activity after 7 1/2 years of camp, retreats, Where's Waldo and Red-eye nights. There would be no more roadtrips, no more hang outs, no more SNACS. I loved taking them to camp and hearing how God was changing them. I loved putting my arm around a girl and asking how her relationship was with her mom. I loved reminding them that God makes no mistakes.

God makes no mistakes.

I knew it was true, but found it hard to believe when it came right down to it. How is this best? How is this pain not wasted? How do I move my boys on from the only church they've ever known? THIS is BEST??

On January 9, a meeting was held after the morning service. The boys were at my in-laws house for the weekend (on purpose) so that we could tell them ourselves the next day and they didn't hear it at church. Pastor announced some changes that were taking place as far as the budget was concerned.

It was all I could do to not burst into tears too early. I barely made it.

He announced that the next Sunday would be Joel's last as youth pastor and that there would be a fellowship after the evening service to say goodbye. Goodbye. Really? Do I have to?

After the service, many came to us and gave us a hug, shared tears and expressed their disbelief. I ran out of things to say, but just found myself repeating that "God is good, all the time." Even as I said it, I struggled with not understanding how this is good, even though I know the statement is really true.

The next week is really a blur for me. On Monday evening we told our boys. First we told Camden, then Josiah and Trevor. We discovered that Trevor is a social crier (really!). I laid on my bed with the three while Joel ran out to grab pizza. I really didn't feel like cooking and we thought pizza might cheer them a bit. While he was gone, my boys and I cried together. I still can't get that sound out of my head.

Saturday we had lunch with our three seniors. It was bittersweet. These three had been with us since Jr. High!! I am so thankful that we had that few hours together, one last time.

On Sunday I felt a little numb. I had cried so much and tried to brace myself, but it was so hard. The farewell fellowship was very nice, although I don't really relish being the center of attention like that. The church family gave us some really nice gifts (my favorite is the Keurig, of course) and a few men shared some thoughts.

The gracious people that we had spent 7 1/2 years with took up a love offering for us. We were blown away by the generosity of God's people. Between the love offering and other personal gifts, God was showing us that HE would provide, that HE was still in control and that we needn't worry.

The ride home that night is a blur. The only thing I really remember is crying a lot, and hearing my oldest son wail in mourning.

I slept that night for the first time in weeks.

Early Winter

2011-03-16T11:22:00.003-04:00

Winter Warning...this post may be long.....

I wasn't ready for Winter. Oh, I was ready for that first snow fall. I love the first one each year! I wasn't ready, however, for what winter would bring us.

In late December I drove to Cleveland to visit my Dad. He was there on business, so the boys and I headed down there after church on a Sunday afternoon. It was very impromptu, but I was glad to get to see Dad, and for my boys to see him. We spent the night at my brother's home and planned to stay until sometime on Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon I had the chance to see my Grandpa and his wife, Della. They came over to my brother's house and we sat at the dining room table and chatted for a few hours. My phone rang and I knew by the ring that it was Joel, so I jumped up to get it. My heart sank when he told me that Pastor and the Deacons had met the night before and had decided that they could no longer afford to keep Joel on staff, and that we would be done at our church in January.

I waited for Grandpa to leave (relishing the time with him, but wanting to escape) and then told my brother that I needed to go home. So I grabbed our things and headed home (it's only 3 hours). I was sooo thankful for sunglasses, because my oldest could see me in the rear-view mirror and I was trying to hide the tears from him.

What were we going to do? How were we going to find work in Michigan right now? What about our precious teens that we love SO MUCH? How were we going to tell our children? Where would we go to church? And Christmas?? Why did this have to happen right now, right before Christmas?

The next few weeks were ones of little sleep, lots of prayer and many, many tears.

Fall

2011-03-16T11:14:00.003-04:00

This past fall held a major change for our family...we began homeschooling. Yikes! I am confident in my teaching abilities but teaching your own children at home is very different from a traditional classroom.

After much prayer and research, we decided to enroll our two oldest in the Michigan Virtual Charter Academy. I absolutely LOVE the curriculum! My boys are thriving educationally and I'm surviving this new way of life.

I'm not sure how long we'll homeschool...our main reason for doing so this year was financial. We weren't sure we could swing tuition for two. Camden attended Faith Christian School for K-5 and First grade...and he LOVED it there. However, tuition for both Camden and Josiah was really going to be a stretch and we just weren't sure about being able to do make that payment every month.

There are days that I love what we're doing, and days that make me remember why birds eat their young. I must admit that if we are able to enroll the boys in school next year (wherever we are...but that's another post!!) I would love to. I guess time will tell :).

Waiting on God

2011-03-16T11:10:00.002-04:00

I was a little shocked to see how long it has been since my last post. I'm not even sure I have readers left anymore!!

The last few months have been really difficult ones, but we are learning a lot right now. In the next few posts I'll catch you up on what's been happening and what we're learning.

Stay tuned!

Are you waiting on God?

2010-10-14T11:39:00.001-04:00

This post was an encouragement to me today!! Take a few moments and read what Denise has to say.

Check this out!

2010-10-06T18:28:00.002-04:00

I've been reading Spend Freely since the summer...and now Trisha (the Spend Freely Mama) is hosting a PartyLite giveaway on her blog!!

Go check it out!!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Trisha will pick a winner next Tuesday!

Huge PartyLite Sweepstakes!

2010-10-01T11:21:00.001-04:00

PartyLite just launched a fantastic giveaway, and you can enter every day! Simply go to my website and click on the sweepstakes banner. When you enter, use consultant code: NGPF36

Have fun!!

Might have a new favorite!

2010-09-21T15:08:00.004-04:00

Some of you may not know this, but I am a Bzz Agent and I periodically try and review new products. I am loving the products I am currently testing!

I am testing some adhesives from Elmers and Cutting tools from X-acto....so far so good. The tape runner and the glue pen have come in very handy for a few homeschool projects, and the scissors made Josiah's Language Arts lesson a little more fun this morning. These shaped scissors seem sharper and easier to use than others I have tried.
Next, I need to try the glue spots and the corner rounder...hmmm...sounds like fun!

At any rate, I am pleased with the quality of the products that I've been sent (see pic above) and am excited to keep using them.

**Full disclosure....I was provided with the products to try for this study, but am otherwise not compensated in any way.

First MVCA Fieldtrip

2010-09-16T21:31:00.002-04:00

Today was a blast! The boys and I attended our first MVCA field trip which found us checking out animals at Petco, playing (and sipping coffee) at Jungle Java and learning about healthy lifestyles at Meijer.

At Petco, the boys got to pet and hold various animals.....including a baby Ball python...yikes! They loved seeing the different kinds of animals and being able to get up close and personal with them.

Our next stop was Jungle Java. I had never heard of Jungle Java before....it is a really neat place. Combine the coolest indoor play area you can imagine (complete with tunnel slides and a mini-zipline) with a hip-and-modern coffee shop/lunch spot. Some of the other MVCA moms sat and chatted while our kids became sweaty messes....and it was really enjoyable.

The last stop for the field trip was Meijer. Donna, a Meijer employee, took our group on a tour of the store. We stopped in multiple departments and learned about proper food choices and healthy lifestyles. Snacks were given out along the way, and the tour ended at the Purple Cow....Meijer's hand-dipped ice cream stand. Yum!
All in all it was a great first field trip!
Since we were in the area and I needed a few things, the boys and I ended our day in Canton with a quick trip into IKEA. I'm really not sure there's such a thing as a "quick trip" into the huge expanse of home furnishings....but we were in and out in an hour! Josiah and Trevor played in Smaland while Camden got to push the European-styled shopping cart.

Now my three little guys are tucked in bed, and we will be back at the books tomorrow....

Who? Me? Never!

2010-09-10T14:47:00.003-04:00

My role as a mother has changed again. I am a nurse, tooth-extractor, housekeeper (sometimes!), grocery shopper, head chef and now....teacher. For multiple reasons, Joel and I decided to homeschool Camden (2nd grade) and Josiah (Kindergarten) for the 2010-2011 school year. This decision was one we labored over. I stayed awake many nights thinking about how/if it would work and prayed about whether or not it would be best for our children. Although I have a teaching degree, the thought of teaching my own kids was terrifying! We would have loved to send them back to FCS, but financially it just wouldn't work. We considered enrolling the boys in our local public schools, but we weren't comfortable with that in our current area. If we lived somewhere else, maybe...but since we live where we do, it wasn't a viable option. I certainly don't mean to offend those in my area who DO send their children to the local schools....it just wasn't a fit for our family, that's all.

Once we started giving homeschooling some serious thought, I looked at several curriculum choices, including K12, Abeka and Bob Jones. While certainly less expensive than private school tuition, purchasing curriculum gave me sticker shock! We decided to use K12 Curriculum through the Michigan Virtual Charter Academy. Can I be honest here? I LOVE this format! I am truly enjoying this process with my boys. I know, I know. I've only been at this for a week (we did a few introductory lessons before the first "real" day of school) and I KNOW that there will be some rough days that come. However, I'm going to ride this wave as long as I can!

Here are a couple things that I am loving about homeschooling right now:

1. The curriculum is fantastic! It is challenging and exciting....both of the boys are really enjoying their lessons.

2. The schedule is flexible (to an extent - I plan to follow an established routine). Our planned "start time" for school is 8:30. Last night we got home late (well after bedtime) and so we started school a little later today. I love having the ability to tweak things to meet the needs of the family better.

3. I love being the one to explain to my kindergartener why the Pledge of Allegiance is important. I'm thrilled to help my 2nd grader learn units of metric measurement and discuss Clara and the Bookwagon at length. Sure, I can do all these as Mom (and should take every opportunity to teach them) but doing so as their teacher is so much fun!

4. This first week has reminded me how much I truly loved teaching as a vocation. I only taught for 3 years, but I absolutely loved it! When Camden was an infant, I really missed heading to the classroom everyday...and now I get to go back to the classroom each morning.

All in all, I'd say we're off to a terrific start! Now, if I could find a way to teach in the classroom and clean the house at the same time.....

Free Shipping!

2010-09-01T11:54:00.002-04:00

From Thursday, Sept. 2 until Sunday, Sept. 5: Free shipping on your $60 order! Yay! AND, when you spend $50, your next item is 1/2 off (ANY item in the catalog!)

Take a look at my new, redesigned website and let me know what you think!

Trevor update

2010-08-18T11:18:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been almost a month since Trevor's surgery and he's doing well. We spent 3 days (2 nights) in the PICU at St. John's Hospital. Surgery was successful and went very smoothly.

The nurses in the PICU were terrific! I was so thankful for their excellent care while we were there.

Trev is still sore at times, but is healing well overall. We will go for a 3 month follow-up in October.

technical difficulties....

2010-08-18T11:16:00.002-04:00

Stay tuned....trying to rework my design and I'm having a little trouble :)

Surgery update for Trevor

2010-06-28T21:51:00.002-04:00

Last Wednesday I took Trevor for his CT scan. He did quite well! We had one nurse that was not super brilliant...when I was signing consent forms she told me the name of the drug that they were going to use to sedate Trevor. She said "Propofol, you know, the Michael Jackson drug." Really? I was not bothered that they use that drug, just that she had the lack of sensitivity to draw that comparison.

Anyways, we met with our surgeon again today. Trevor will have surgery on July 13 and will remain in the hospital for 1-4 days. The first night will be spent in the PICU and then he will be moved to a regular room if he's doing all right.

Basically, they have to go in and pull his intestines back through the hole and put them in their proper place. Then they'll have to close the hole using either his own tissue or a synthetic patch.

The surgeon said that this type of hernia is pretty rare, and that most surgeons see only 8-10 cases like this in their entire careers.

The surgery itself is not complicated, and Trevor could possibly come home the very next day. Once he is eating and drinking on his own and his intestines are functioning properly they will release him. Then the real challenge begins....keeping him happy and busy doing non-active things for a while!

So...now we wait. We have our questions answered and Trevor is not in any pain (that he's mentioned).

Trevor - one little boy with 2 problems....

2010-06-07T15:29:00.002-04:00

Okay, so here is a lot of information. I'm not even sure if I've completely absorbed/processed all of it yet!

Trevor has 2 different problems. The first is the more urgent/serious concern and we'll tackle it immediately. The second is a long-term issue.

First of all, Trevor does have a congenital Morgagni hernia (a hole in his diaphragm). Part of his bowel has slipped into the hole and up under his ribs. This is fixed with inpatient surgery...they will make an incision under his ribcage and pull the bowel back down where it belongs. Then they will close the hole in the diaphragm. Our surgeon hopes to use Trevor's own tissue to repair the hernia. If it's too big, however, he will have to use a synthetic material. Using his own tissue is the best scenario since it will grow with him. Trevor will spend at least 1 night in the hospital, but we're unsure of recovery time at this point.

The second problem is a congenital chest abnormality. Basically, the base of Trevor's sternum is crooked, causing the right side of his chest wall to stick out. This is NOT caused by the hernia. Our surgeon recommends watching this for a few years and eventually Trevor may have to wear a brace for a while to reshape his ribcage/chest.

The first step is a CT scan....we're waiting to find out exactly when that will be. Once the results from the scan are in, we will have another consult with the surgeon and he'll schedule surgery from there. He wants to have a clear picture of exactly what is going on, and the x-ray only shows so much. This will help him see what is going on with the hernia as well as the chest wall.

So...I am sure I will have lots of questions in the coming days/weeks. I'll keep everyone updated about the CT scan and surgery as we know more.

Thanks for your prayers!

Trevor

2010-06-02T11:01:00.002-04:00

When Trevor was about 6 months old, I noticed a funny noise when he would nurse. It was grinding sound....sort of like the strong growl you have when you haven't eaten in all day.

I mentioned this to our pediatrician, and it was noted then that his chest was abnormal. Not necessarily a problem, but something to keep our eyes on.

Last Monday (May 24) I took Trevor in for his 3 year well visit. During the visit I mentioned that Joel and I are more concerned about this deformity and that it seems to have gotten worse in the last 6-8 weeks. Our pediatrician (different doctor, same practice) decided that we should have Trevor's chest x-rayed to rule out any major problems.

I left the office and went straight to the St. John center on 12 Mile. I knew we'd be able to get the x-rays done that afternoon. Once the technician did the first set of films, I knew that she saw something because she called another tech to take a look. Together they decided to do another set of films from another angle. Hmmm...

Well, Dr. Schomaker called on Wednesday as soon as he got the radiologists report and reviewed the films himself. Our sweet Trevor has a diaphragmatic hernia on the right side. Now what?

Well, it certainly means surgery is in the near future for our littlest Gearhart. We have an appointment on Monday, June 7 with a Pediatric Surgeon. Right now we don't have a time frame or really very many details about what is going to happen. I have googled enough to know that I shouldn't google at all when it comes to my kids and a medical diagnosis! Lots of scary info out there!

Please pray with us that the surgeon will have wisdom in dealing with Trevor. I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to have this treated and that we are getting help before any major problems occurred.

Trevor is in no pain and really has no symptoms other than what you can see by looking at him. I will update more after we meet with the surgeon.

Here is a link about diaphragmatic hernias. While Trevor is not an infant, at least it give some info.

Abraham

2010-02-23T19:37:00.002-05:00

Today I picked Camden up from school and then the boys and I headed to the thrift store. They all groaned when I pulled into the parking lot....that "oh no mom's gonna be in here forever" groan. That's when I told them we were on a treasure hunt.

They were instantly excited.

A treasure hunt? For what?

I told them that we were going to build a snowman with Daddy, but that we needed a few things for him. We didn't have a hat or gloves, and no snowman would be complete with out a scarf! So into the store we went to find our treasures.

Camden saw the rack with the hats right away. We looked a a navy blue floppy hat...to girly. Then we saw a straw hat...to boring. The boys picked out a cowboy hat...perfect!

Next we headed to the scarves and gloves. Josiah found a scarf he liked, then he found a winter hat for our snowman. The boys decided that our snowman would likely be cold....so the cowboy hat went back and the winter hat was tossed into the cart.

I found some knit gloves and then Josiah declared that our snowman needed a coat. A coat? For a snowman? Hmmmm.....we settled on a vest. After all, we don't want our snowman to freeze (hee hee!)

Now we just needed something creative for eyes and buttons.....we headed to the toys and I was hoping to find a checkers game (pretty common, I thought) and you should have seen my giddy face when I found a bag of giant checkers. PERFECT!

On the way home we stopped by the park and Camden tried to pull off some lower branches (he had boots on and I didn't). The branches wouldn't budge, so I told him we'd figure something else out for the arms.

So the boys and daddy built a snowman today. His name is Abraham (they picked the name) and we think he's pretty great!

Been to the Valley?

2010-02-16T13:01:00.001-05:00

Words and music by Bob Kauflin
As recorded on Valley of Vision

Lyrics

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

It's a Soup Kind of Day

2010-02-10T13:33:00.006-05:00

I love baked potato soup, and several friends have asked for the recipe. I don't measure when I cook (unless I'm trying someone else's recipe....) so these are approximations for the most part.

4 Baked, peeled, chopped potatoes or 6-8 small - you can use more :)
1 small onion- chopped
8 cups (or more for thinner soup) of milk. I use whatever milk I have on hand (whole, 2%, etc.)
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup flour
dried parsley
salt
pepper
sour cream (1/2 cup for the soup and then some for garnish)
shredded cheese (cheddar or cojack)
Bacon bits (the real bacon kind, NOT bacos)
1 bouillion cube (chicken...add it to the milk.)

Saute the onion and butter until the onions are soft and transparent. Then add the flour to make a paste (roux??) and then wisk in the 1/2 of the milk and all the seasonings (I just eyeball it and season to taste) and bring to a near boil. Add the rest of the milk and all of the potatoes. Heat thoroughly, stirring often. Then add sour cream.

Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream, cheese and bacon.

**NOTE** This soup is high on flavor.....and fat content :)

Gossip

2010-01-29T16:08:00.005-05:00

How do you react to unkind things that are said about you? Is your first reaction to bristle and defend? Mine is! So many times I have to bite my tongue (or should bite my tongue....) when someone says something hurtful or just plain rude!

I read a blog called RefreshHer and Denise's post today was so good! Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

As Long as You are Glorified

2010-01-18T10:20:00.004-05:00

I love this song! You can listen to a clip of it here.

Shall I take from your hand your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank you in times of plenty
Then leave you in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap the harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

(chorus)
Oh let your will be done in me
In your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As you are glorified

Are you good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are you King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

Christmas traditions...

2009-12-24T13:39:00.002-05:00

I'm stealing a few quiet moments while the boys are napping (okay....laying quietly, but I'll take it!) to jot down a few little traditions that we have. These are just the fun - we've always done them - traditions....

* Chocolate Advent Calendars - I buy the ones imported from Germany. I can always find them at Nino Salvaggio's but just today I saw them at Meijer! There are some made here in the good 'ole USA, but I lived in Germany as a kid and these are just like the ones I had as a kid.

* Chocolate coins - I need to stop by CVS and grab some! They must go in the stockings with the....

* Oranges. I only know one person who eats his Christmas orange (that's Uncle Dave!) but there's always one in the very toe of each stocking.

* New coloring books....left out....meant to be used before the parents are coherent on Christmas morning.

* Candy Canes on the tree....these are put on the tree on Christmas eve after the kids go to bed.

* Sugar cookies...Joel does these with the kids. I really don't like to bake cookies, and he enjoys it.....and they LOVE it!

*After the Christmas eve service, we always drive around and look at lights. For the past few years we've driven down Jefferson from Roseville through Grosse Pointe....lots of beautifully decorated homes!!

Christmas letter 2009

2009-12-21T01:12:00.002-05:00

Many of you will receive this in the mail, but I thought I'd post it here too (for my sake, if for no other reason.)

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas! Is it really possible that yet another year has passed? Christmas NEVER came this quickly when I was a kid!

Camden is 6 now and is following his father's footsteps when it comes to his love for Tigers Baseball. Many summer nights he fell asleep listening to games on his radio. It's hard to believe that our oldest is halfway through 1st grade! He is a quick learner and is really developing a love for geography. He even asked for a globe for his birthday this summer.

Josiah gave us quite a scare this year. In the summer of 2008, I discovered a strange bony bump on Josiah's left leg. It was originally diagnosed as a ganglion cyst (very common), but this summer the bump grew dramatically. In August we took Josiah to the University of Michigan Hospital at the advice of our pediatrician. The bump was diagnosed as an Osteochondroma, which is a benign tumor. We had an MRI done in September to make sure that the tumor is in fact, benign, and that it is not affecting the growth of the leg. Having confirmation that our little boy is okay was a huge relief! We are so thankful that God chose to protect our son from some major medical issues! Josiah continues to be our little ball of energy --who knew that 4 year olds could be so active?-- but we are so thankful that he is healthy and able to keep us busy.

Trevor is 2 now and thinks he can do everything his brothers do. He talks non-stop (can't imagine where he gets that!!) and loves to cuddle with his mom. I'm relishing every minute because I know the day is coming when kisses and cuddles aren't so freely given.

This summer we were able to travel to New Hampshire for the first time in 3 years. We enjoyed taking the boys to the ocean (my sister, Jen, did a photo shoot for us there). The boys enjoyed playing with Grandma's dogs and learning how to shoot guns at Grandpa's house. It was great to see family and to catch up with dear friends!

The Lord continues to use ministry to teach us and help us grow. We've been working with our teens for more than 6 years now, and we love them dearly! We consider it a privilege to serve the Lord with our lives.

Please join us as we slow down and remember what Christ did for us on that very first Christmas so long ago. It's amazing to think that He sacrificed for us, to give us life eternal! May you have a blessed Christmas!

Love,

Dawn for the Gearharts

Year in Review 2009

2009-12-21T00:30:00.005-05:00

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?

**I sewed Josiah's costume for the Christmas program. NEVER thought I'd be doing that!

**We had our first true medical scare with Josiah and the tumor on his leg. I'm so thankful that everything is okay!!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Didn't make any. Kinda pondering a few for this coming year. Not resolutions, per se, but changes nontheless.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My nephew, Thiago, was born in March.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Joel's Papa Cummins met his Savior face to face in August.

5. What countries did you visit?

None, maybe we'll change that this year....oh wait...we did go to Canada for an afternoon in May....

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Organization - I think I'm being swallowed by my house!

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Wow, this year has been full of lots of ups and downs. No specific dates though.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

This sounds silly, but just making it through the year. Sometimes we get bogged down with so many things....I'm welcoming 2010 with open arms!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not documenting more about my kids. I know one day I'm going to regret not recording more.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I fell in February (right before snow camp!) and hurt my leg...and it took forever to heal. Illness....we still haven't figured out all the thyroid stuff....

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Our van. Not my favorite make/model, but it meets our needs and I'm thankful for it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Joel's. I don't know anyone with the character of my husband. I love him dearly and truly appreciate the way he trusts God and seeks His direction.

13. Where did most of your money go?

Wells Fargo Bank.

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Camp at Northland. I love taking our teens to camp and spending the week with them. We have the best teens and they really are a huge blessing!

15. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Complete in Thee and Holy Darkness, Blessed Night

16. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

Don't know if I'm either, really. There are lots of things (not known to others and shall not be revealed here) that make me sad. There are other things that thrill my soul. I'm generally a pretty happy person, but everyone has their days.

17. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Slowed down and just enjoyed my kids. I'm gonna do more of that this year.

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Miss my family, especially my siblings.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

24...

20. What was the best book you read?

Hidden Power...a pretty good read about the influence that presidential wives have had on their husbands.

21. What was your favorite film of this year?

I don't watch a lot of movies.....but I can tell you that Night at the Museum was a complete waste of an evening.

22. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

I like to blend in and not stand out in a crowd....

23. What kept you sane?

Prayer. Lots of it.

24. What political issue stirred you the most?

Healthcare (most people would probably answer this way right now.)

Give Santa a Little Help

2009-11-27T12:47:00.002-05:00

Partylite is featuring a HUGE cyber sale - right now! With lots of wax and home accessories (direct shipped! no home-show necessary!) you can shop for that Mom, Aunt, Sister or Friend right from the comfort of your home!

Check out the sale and happy shopping!

We just wanted coffee....

2009-11-25T22:49:00.002-05:00

My friend and I had plans to meet for coffee yesterday. She and her husband recently moved away and they are back this week to do a few things and spend Thanksgiving with family. So, we made plans to meet at a local coffee shop....one I had never been to, but she had. When I arrived I found out something sad: it was closed. Permanently. There was an orange sign posted to the front door stating that the establishment had been closed for failure to pay their taxes. Sadness!!

So, we climbed into her car to check out the navigation system. We were hoping for a good recommendation - you know - some obscure, locally owned spot. Guess where we ended up??? Not obscure at all - but good coffee (and food, of which we had none)....yup, Panera.

We walked into the restaurant, glad to at least be moments away from finding a cozy booth and chatting for a while. When I walked up to the register, the girl who was working began to take my order. Then she walked away. Are you kidding me? How hard is it to get 2 cups of coffee? Another (very kind) girl came and helped us, and when my receipt printed only half of it showed up? It was quite the comedy of errors. Alas, we were finally able to start sipping and gabbing.

I haven't known my friend for very long. She is smart and funny, independent and talented. Although we've only known each other for a short while (in fact, this was our first cup of coffee together!!) we share a kinship in heaven. We had a great time together, and I'm really going to miss her!

So, dear friend, when you read this...know that I'm only a letter or phone call away. I look forward to hearing of your business success (and I know you'll be successful!!) and of how God blesses you and your husband as you take on this new adventure!

Distance

2009-11-18T13:26:00.003-05:00

For most of my adult life, I have not lived near my side of the family. For a short time we were in Watertown while Jen was there, but then we came to Michigan. For the past 6+ years, we generally get to see my parents once a year (maybe) and even then it's only for a day or two and is usually accompanied by a big event, like a wedding or a funeral. We've taken 2 vacations to NH (3 years apart), been to a few weddings, and seen family as they pass from one location to another. Thanksgiving and Christmas are celebrated with the help of Verizon and the United States Postal Service.

So today, I'm thankful for technology. Since I don't have the luxury of spending near the time I'd like with my family, I'm at least happy that with the push of a button I can have Jen on the phone with me. I can hop in the car and be at Jim's house in 3 hours (he's lives the closest to me). I can call Bob and Mandy late at night because they're in a different time zone and it's not late there. I can call Crystal and relive some of my Melford days. I know my Dad will probably call the next time he's on the road and my Mom almost always calls on her way home from work on Wednesdays.

What are YOU thankful for today?

I'm thankful

2009-11-16T10:22:00.003-05:00

I'm a list-maker. That's partly because without a list, my brain ceases to function! If I write something down, I am more apt to remember it and get it done. Well, I'm going to list out some things that I'm thankful for. I may add to this list in the coming days....

I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

1. Beautiful weather in November
2. Being blessed with 3 boys who are healthy enough to be busy and make my house a mess
3. Joel - trust me when I say I got the better end of the deal here!
4. A home to live in
5. A thriving PartyLite business
6. Our teens - I can honestly say that I love every one of them
7. Coffee
8. Chapstick - currently my favorite is Yes to Carrots
9. The freedom I have as an American citizen
10. The men and women (some family members included) who serve/have served to give me
that freedom.
11. The small voices echoing from the next room as I type this
12. Chocolate
13. Direct guidance from the Lord in circumstances that we cannot orchestrate ourselves
14. My siblings

What are you thankful for?

Back in the Saddle Again

2009-11-15T14:08:00.001-05:00

So I think I want to be a more faithful blogger. No, I KNOW I want to be a more faithful blogger...I just need to do it!

Stay tuned....

Top Ten Reasons.....

2009-11-02T16:04:00.005-05:00

....to host a PartyLite show in November

10. We have the BEST candles

**You truly get what you pay for! Our candles burn completely and with less soot than our competitors!

9. 40% Free Host Credit with a qualified show and 2 bookings! Ask me for details!

8. 5 dozen tealights for $15 - your choice of fragrances. Awesome for burning around the holidays or giving in a gift!

7. 5 Fabulous host specials - keep for yourself or give away. Our hosts get our best prices!

6. Select up to 4 Jar Candles for only $10 each when you have a $500 show

5. Every guest receives a box of votives for FREE with their purchase!

4. 27 guest specials that are up to75% off - perfect for getting that Christmas list completed.

3. Our NEW penguins come with FREE tealights!

2. When a guest spends $40 they can choose ANY item in the catalog for Half off! That's my discount!

1. We now have "Two Sisters Gourmet" to serve as refreshments - AND you can redeem your host credit for FREE TSG items too!

Contact me for more info, or check out my website: www.partylite.biz/dawngearhart

So true....

2009-08-14T22:37:00.005-04:00

We are a moment,
You are forever.
Lord of the ages
God before time

We are a vapor,
You are Eternal
Love everlasting
Reigning on high

Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

We are the broken
You are the Healer
Jesus, Redeemer,
Mighty to save

You are the love song
We'll sing forever
Bowing before You
Blessing Your name.

Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

Candles Available 24/7!

2009-07-07T16:46:00.003-04:00

Online ordering is here! Visit my website to check out the awesome deals. There are lots of internet-only specials!!

Place an order by 7-14-09 and I'll enter you into a drawing for $50 in FREE wax/product. Book a show in the next 48 hours (by Thursday, 5 p.m.) and I'll give you an EXTRA $100 in FREE products....that's on top of the free products you get as a hostess!

Leave a comment or email me at gearhart0624 (at) gmail (dot) com to pick a date for your show!

EDIT: The link is now working!!!

O Great God

2009-07-02T13:26:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. I've been MIA for a long time now. Life has continued on, Trevor had a birthday and we've even been on vacation and camp already! Sometimes it feels like life keeps moving and I'm just standing still, watching it all happen.

Anyways, I've got lots of posts in my head, and maybe they'll make it from my head to this blog. For right now, I want to tell you that I LOVE the new Pettit CD and the new Galkin CD....both are excellent. Here are the lyrics to one song, O Great God.

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel powerL

Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys

Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face

You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

Homemade Pizza Recipe

2009-04-04T22:41:00.003-04:00

Several of my friends have asked for my pizza recipe. I must be honest and tell you that the crust recipe is not originally mine - it is from a collection of family favorites that my mother in law gave me when Joel and I were engaged. The sauce recipe is one that I've tinkered with for a few years. If you try it, let me know what you think!

Pizza Crust: I've made this using the dough cycle on my bread machine, but now use the dough hook on my kitchen aid. You could always knead it by hand, but I'm too lazy!

1 1/3 Cups hot water
2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast (equivalent of 1 package, but I buy my yeast in bulk)
4-5 Cups flour
2 tablepoons of oil (I use Olive oil, and sometimes add a tad extra)
2 tablespoons of honey (do the olive oil first, then use the same spoon for the honey and it will all come out of the spoon very easily!)
A dash of salt.

Dissolve the yeast in the water in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and knead until smooth and elastic. You may need more water or flour depending on the humidity levels in your home. Add more water or flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed.

Let dough rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Punch down and divide, the roll out for crust. This recipe makes enough dough for 2 large pizzas.

Sauce: I'm giving approximations because I rarely measure when I cook (unless specifics are needed, like the dough recipe). You may need to adjust for your own personal preferences.

1 Can (15 oz) tomato sauce
Italian spices
Fresh garlic (I use a garlic press)
Oregano
Sugar
Olive Oil

Crush 2 cloves of garlic, mix with some italian spices and about a tablespoon of oregano. Heat in a sauce pan with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, 1/8 cup of water and about 1/3 cup of sugar (s0metimes a little more...Joel likes it sweet). Once hot and bubbly, stir in tomato sauce. Heat thoroughly. I do this all in one sauce pan (I hate using too many things to accomplish such a small task.)

Enjoy!

Waiting on Wheels

2009-04-03T09:14:00.003-04:00

I never realized how much I really appreciated my minivan. Seriously! We bought the van just before Josiah was born, nearly 4 years ago. In case you haven't heard what happened to our vehicles......
In February, Joel's car was hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully, no one was hurt (the car was parked in front of our house). Two days later we were able to pay off our van with our income tax return. We took the check from the insurance company and set it aside, looking for a good deal on a commuter car for Joel. The day they towed the car away was a sad one. That was the car I bought when Joel and I were engaged!

In early March, Joel and I drove to the Wilds for the Youth Worker's Conference (an amazing, wonderful week!!!). We arrived home on Saturday and then the next Tuesday night I drove to Cleveland. My sister in law, Angel, was going in for a C-section...my mom was visiting...so I took the boys to see the family. Besides, I wanted to meet my new nephew, Thiago!

I left my house at 9:00 Tuesday night and drove straight to Cleveland. It's almost exactly 3 hours from my front door to my brother's house. The kids were in their PJ's and slept most of the way. When I arrived in Cleveland, I realized that I had forgotten the kids' shoes at home!! Mom and I figured that we'd just stop at Target for crocs on our way to the hospital...no need to spend a fortune on shoes for a quick trip, right?

So, Wednesday morning we get up and get ready to head to the hospital. Once Jim called, we got the kids' coats on and I went out to move the van from the street to the driveway since my kids were shoeless. There was one problem...the van didn't want to move. Oh, it started fine and all and went in reverse just like always. After waiting about 25 seconds, it finally shifted into drive and I pulled into the driveway. That's when I noticed that there was transmission fluid all over the place (the van had been in the driveway all nice...Jim moved it when the left that morning for the hospital.) Hmmmm......

So, I called my Dad and then headed to the gas station for a quart of transmission fluid while my Mom called my grandpa. Grandpa recommended my Uncle Vernon (he's a mechanic) so we called him. I ended up driving the van to Drellishaks Auto Car where they discovered that part of the transmission had crashed throught the differential and caused the leak. Cost of repair: $2000. Ugh. On top of that, my Uncle discovered another issue that would cost about $1000 to fix. The van wasn't worth that much!! Now what? I'm stranded in Cleveland, my kids have no shoes, and my van is done forever. My Grandpa showed up and I unloaded my van into his trunk...3 car seats, a host of toys and cds....and then I sold the van for $100 to the man from the local transmission shop.

Since that moment, we've not had a vehicle. A lady from our church was very kind and has let us borrow one of her vehicles while we look. Amazingly, God has provided money for us to purchase a van with cash...and hopefully we'll have that van this weekend. Waiting has been difficult! I really liked the ease of getting three kids in and out of a van. I didn't like having to make a big financial decision with Joel 200 miles away (though he was right in the mix of things thanks to cell phones!!)....but I had no choice. For what it's worth, I didn't cry about it all until I was safely home, had the kids tucked in bed and then thought about it all.

Then I laughed. It was only a vehicle. There are certainly worse things, more stressful and difficult things than losing 2 vehicles in one month!

Great Song!!

2009-03-16T17:31:00.002-04:00

I just heard this song for the first time today. It's not new, although it's new to me....and it's beautiful. The lyrics are below. Click the title to go to a webpage and hear it.

Holy Darkness, Blessed Night

Holy darkness, blessed night,
heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,we embrace your holy night.

1. I have tried you in fires of affliction;
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.

2. I have taught you the price of compassion;
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.

3. Were you there when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight when you give command?
Why do you doubt my pow'r?

4. In your deepest hour of darkness
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
will my riches fill your soul.

5. As the watchman waits for morning,
and the bride awaits her groom,
so we wait to hear your footsteps
as we rest beneath your moon.

Chick Fil A

2009-03-14T23:55:00.001-04:00

Check this out...gotta love that Chick Fil A!

What Josiah thinks of Mommy

2009-03-13T20:53:00.003-04:00

This is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.
1. What is something mom always says to you? You're my favorite 3-year-old!
2. What makes mom happy? When I obey
3. What makes mom sad? When I pitch a fit
4. How does your mom make you laugh? So, so pretty.
5. What was your mom like as a child? You was riding in a car
6. How old is your mom? Um...firty one
7. How tall is your mom? Um...so bigger
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Staying here
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Play
10. What is your mom really good at? Picking up
11. What is your mom not very good at? Pitch a fit, making sandwiches
12. What does your mom do for her job? pick up glasses, work in the office
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Pizza, Peanut butter and jelly
14. What makes you proud of your mom? Because I wuv my momma
15. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Santa
17. What do you and your mom do together? Make pizza
18. How are you and your mom the same? our eyes.
19. How are you and your mom different? mom, I'm taller to your arm!
20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? To pick up Camden from school

What Camden thinks of Mommy

2009-03-13T20:31:00.003-04:00

This is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.
1. What is something mom always says to you? Thank you, Hello, and What do you want for breakfast.
2. What makes mom happy? Obeying, cleaning up toys without being told
3. What makes mom sad? disobeying,
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Silly things like making really crazy faces.
5. What was your mom like as a child? Happy
6. How old is your mom? 31
7. How tall is your mom? Very tall
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Wash dishes and go grocery shopping
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Play or do something fun
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Doing silly tricks, very silly tricks
11. What is your mom really good at? Washing dishes
12. What is your mom not very good at? Sleeping in a crib, crying
13. What does your mom do for her job? PartyLite
14. What is your mom's favorite food? Green Beans
15. What makes you proud of your mom? When you snuggle with me
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Wilbur (from Charlotte's Web)
17. What do you and your mom do together? Snuggle, wash dishes
18. How are you and your mom the same? We say the sames things, like "hello" and stuff like that.
19. How are you and your mom different? Our hair is different, you have blue eyes and I have brown eyes, I'm a boy and you're a girl.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? You give me hugs and kisses and snuggle, you say that!
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Grocery shopping

Ramblings

2009-02-23T14:10:00.002-05:00

I'm selling my kids to gypsies...no really....here's a rundown of what they've done today:

1. Got out the playdough and played on the living room carpet.
2. Fed color blasted goldfish to the couch. At least they were nice enough to crumble the fish into tiny bits.
3. Cleaned out my nightstand and deposited contents on the floor. Did same for jewelry pouch on top of my jewelry box.
4. Added noise by turning on Joel's alarm clock radio.
5. Fed color blasted goldfish to Josiah's bed. Once again...nice enough to crumble and smoosh the fish.
6. Cleaned out my wallet and left me to find the contents.
7. Tried to reorganize my life by rearranging my planner.
8. Used a laundry detergent cup to empty water from toilet onto the bathroom floor.
9. Took a vitamin D capsule (from my room) and squished it...leaving sticky vitamin residue on little bitty hands.
10. Poured a cup of water onto my bed.

If I'm bald the next time you see me, you'll know why.

In other news, Joel and I are getting ready to head south for a week. We're heading to The WILDS for the annual Youth Worker's Conference. This will be our third time and we are looking forward to learning what God has for us! It has been such a time of refreshment and renewal!
PartyLite is going very well! I truly love my job (both the pay and the flexibility) and am looking forward to a promotion in the near future! Our company is doing well, despite the economy.
Jen is coming here for part of her Spring break and I'm really looking forward to it. My boys just adore her and she's kinda fun to have around :)

I'm ready for Spring.

Sorry for the disjointed thoughts, but sometimes that's how the day goes. :)

No more great deals on used kids clothes....

2009-01-04T23:35:00.002-05:00

I just learned about this last night, and to say I'm mildly irritated would be an understatement. The government has passed legislation that goes into effect on Feb 10th....that requires ALL products sold for children to be tested for lead. This law is RETROACTIVE on all products, even clothing and books.

I'm a nut for a deal. I love thrift stores and yard sales. BUT, this legislation will probably eliminate the reselling of children's clothes because every item would have to be certified to be lead free. This will put thrift stores, small business and ebay/etsy sellers out of business.

AND...this burns my buttons....it will be ILLEGAL for me to GIVE hand-me-downs to friends/family!! WHAT?!?!?

Check out this post for more information. I'm writing letters and making phone calls this week. By the way...this is a federal law so it will take effect for EVERY state. Ugh.

I realize that lead is dangerous when kids put things in their mouths. My kids eat their food, not their clothes. It's probably more dangerous to take them to Walmart where we have to walk through the employee's smoke break just outside the front door!!

Year in Review 2008

2008-12-31T09:59:00.006-05:00

Sorry for my lazy blogging! Here's my Year in Review for 2008. I did this for the first time this past year and think I'll make it a yearly tradition.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? I started my Partylite business.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't, and I haven't.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend just had a baby on Christmas eve!!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no....but we did have a few friends who met their Savior this year...not terribly close, but still difficult!

5. What countries did you visit? None...bummer!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More space for our family of 5!

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? None, really...that's why I need to blog--so I can remember more!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting my Partylite business going.

9. What was your biggest failure? Have you seen my house????

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I've continued to battle with my thyroid, but found a new doctor and a new medicine....

11. What was the best thing you bought? Christmas gifts for my kids on Black Friday.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband's. He has trusted God, walked in faith and lived with grace.

13. Where did most of your money go? Bills, bills, bills.

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our trip to the Wilds for the Youth Worker's Conference in March. It was really nice!

15. What song will always remind you of 2008? The Prayer

16. Compared to this time last year, are you:happier or sadder? Much happier...probably because I'm trusting God more, not because my circumstances have changed.

17. What do you wish you'd done more of? Vacation with my family.

18. What do you wish you'd done less of? Collected clutter!

19. What was your favorite TV program? The Unit....the military brat in me loves this show!

20. What was the best book you read? Sacred Marriage

21. What was your favorite film of this year? There isn't a favorite.

22. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Hmm....I usually just try to blend in and not stand out!

23. What kept you sane? Focusing on what God wants, not what I want.

24. What political issue stirred you the most? The entire election stirred me! While I'm disappointed at the outcome, I know my God is in control!

Christmas is coming!

2008-11-07T21:40:00.003-05:00

Next Friday, November 14, I am hosting a Partylite Open House. I know, most of my readers are out of state...and that's okay! You can still do some Christmas shopping and I'll have it shipped right to you at no extra charge!
Take a look at my website: www.partylite.biz/dawngearhart and then let me know if you'd like to place an order. Thanks!

God is good, all the time.

2008-11-05T09:51:00.003-05:00

I'm less than thrilled with the outcome of our election yesterday. It didn't go my way!! While I'm tempted to whine and complain about it, I think back to things in life that didn't go my way...and yet God used them to grow me.....why should this be any different? God is still on the throne! He's still God....just because our nation is changing doesn't mean He is!
God is good, all the time! Not just when things go our way, not just when we're in the good times....
This morning I have music playing (trying to keep my perspective right...this helps, trust me!) and I heard this song....it's a favorite of mine. My joy, my future, my hope...rest in God and God alone!

I could not do without Thee
O Savior of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me
At such tremendous cost.

Thy righteousness, thy pardon
Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,
My glory and my plea.

I could not do without Thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou, beloved Savior,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power
If leaning hard on Thee.

I could not do without Thee,
O Jesus, Savior dear;
E’en when my eyes are holden,
I know that Thou art near.
How dreary and how lonely
This changeful life would be,
Without the sweet communion,
The secret rest with Thee!

I could not do without Thee,
For years are fleeting fast,
And soon in solemn oneness
The river must be passed;
But Thou wilt never leave me,
And though the waves roll high,
I know Thou wilt be near me,
And whisper, “It is I.”

A steal of a deal

2008-10-28T23:10:00.004-04:00

I had so much fun at the grocery store tonight...seriously. When you hear about it, I think you'll agree. Everything in the picture you see was purchased for a grand total of $44.47!!! Here's how:

Meijer had Jello coupons on their Mealbox site for $1.50 off of 2 boxes. My store had Jello on sale 5/$3....so when I bought 4 boxes and used 2 coupons, I had 60 cents left over. There is a Catalina coupon that prints for $2.00 off your next order when you buy 3 boxes of Jello, but the Catalina machine will only print one coupon per transaction. So, I did multiple transactions, combining 4 boxes of Jello with one other small item and the coupons. Then I used all of those $2.00 coupons to pay for my last transaction. How many total transactions do you think I did???

Hold on to your hats....17! Yup, 17 separate transactions! My cashier was AWESOME! Here's the sum of what I bought:

64 boxes of Jello (small ones - 4 servings), 3 large cans of tomato sauce, 3 loaves of bread, 1 dz. eggs, 2# margarine, 2 family-sized frozen meals, 1 box pancake mix, 1 pkg. american cheese slices (24), 1 4 pack of toilet paper, 3 boxes of cereal, 1 frozen lunch meal, 1 gallon of milk, 2 6-pks of yogurt, 1 Breyers ice cream (1.75 qt), 2# spaghetti, 1 jar REAL bacon bits, 2 bottles chewable vitamins (100 ct.), 4# Gala apples, 1 bottle soft scrub, 10# potatoes, 1# ham, 1 pkg. gourmet stuffed chicken breasts, 1 bottle honey, 1# shredded italian blend cheese, 1 Humidifier, and 1 pkg. pencils/erasers (stocking stuffer for Camden).

Total savings (coupons, sales and promos): $147.32!!!

Joel laughed when I wanted to take a photo first, but I'm glad I did. God has certainly blessed us in many ways when it comes to finding deals on groceries.

Feel free to drop by for a visit....I'm serving Jello every day!

Need Christmas ideas? Look here!

2008-10-28T10:07:00.002-04:00

I'd like to invite you to take a look at my website! Visit www.partylite.biz/dawngearhart and check out our catalog and specials! We have some TERRIFIC specials for November AND our new catalog is coming out soon!

Contact me if you'd like to book a show or place an order! I'm happy to ship items to you if you don't live near me. Remember that candles make GREAT gifts for teachers, hair dressers, friends, family and coworkers!

Why I won't vote for Obama

2008-10-20T09:25:00.002-04:00

There are lots of things I do not like about Senator Barack Obama...lots. I don't like his overall agenda. I don't appreciate his (and his wife's) overwhelming lack of patriotism. I am repelled by his socialism and his elitism. And, I am sickened by his views on "choice."
I am pro-life. Obama says that the first thing he'll do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). If you don't know the full extent of FOCA, read this article.
I have a terrific OB/GYN. I respect his wisdom in making wise choices regarding my health and that of my unborn children. He has delivered all three of my babies and has provided excellent care. According to FOCA, my OB/GYN would be required by law to perform abortions on demand for any woman who walked through his office door! An MY tax dollars would have to pay for it if her insurance didn't (or if she's not insured at all). WHAT?!
Here's what I see happening: healthcare for women is going to decline. Why? Because any doctor who refuses to perform abortions is going to be out of a job. Getting to see a good doc can be difficult now, can you imagine if a good number of them took the moral high road and decided they'd rather do something else than murder babies at the government's demand?
There's never going to be the perfect candidate for President. I realize that. But I cannot, in good concience use my vote to enable this legislation! I want to know that my doctor is not delivering my babies in one room, then heading to the OR to kill someone elses. A year from now I may not have that choice any longer.

Why birds eat their young...

2008-10-14T22:48:00.003-04:00

This is a long post....but I want to write it down to share with Josiah's kids one day.

I love my children. Really, I do. But there are days when I wonder if I will have to put them on the front yard with a for sale sign....

Sunday night I came home after church with the boys. Joel had a deacon's meeting, so I put the boys to bed and climbed on the couch with a book. Josiah had quite a bit of trouble staying in his bed, and I was ready to climb the walls in irritation. Then he came to the living room and told me his blanket was wet....

J: Mommy, my Tigger's wet.
M: Why, Josiah?
J: 'Ecause
M: Because why?
J: 'Ecause of the water

At this point I went to check his bed. Sure enough, it looked like a bucket of water had been dumped on his bed! Josiah had taken a cup with a silly straw to bed with him (without me knowing) and it had leaked all over his blanket and sheets.....soaking it all! So I changed his pajamas and sheets, threw his blanket in the dryer and put him back to bed.

Sunday proved to be just the beginning. On Monday, Josiah thought it would be helpful to clean the bathroom floor. So, he poured water on it so that he could dry it. When I took the towel away from him, he wadded up toilet paper and wet it in the sink and used it to wash the walls. By the way, if toilet paper dries on little fingers, it's like paper mache'.....

By lunchtime, I thought for sure Josiah was exhausted. I certainly was! So everyone, including Mommy, laid down for a nap. BIG MISTAKE!!!! Josiah waited for me to fall asleep and then got up. When I woke up, I thought he'd just been playing nicely. I was wrong.

I woke Camden up, and when he sat up in his bed I noticed his lips were bright blue. I asked him what he'd been into and he insisted that he hadn't been into anything. So I asked Josiah if he knew why Camden's lips were blue....

M: Josiah, do you know why Camden's lips are blue?
J: Yes.
M: Why?
J: 'Ecause
M: Because why, Josiah?
J: I put the stamp on him.

You see, the boys received some self-inking stamps on Saturday at a birthday party. I had put the stamps out of reach (I thought) so that the boys could use them with supervision on a cold or rainy day. Apparently Josiah found a way to get to them because not only did he stamp Camden's lips blue, but he stamped Trevor's face and hands RED!! His poor brothers had no idea....they were asleep when he stamped them! When I tried to wash it off I found out that the stamps were made with permanent ink. Nice.

At this point, I walked into the kitchen and found the peanut butter. Josiah had been eating it with his hands and had "written" on the chair and the floor in peanut butter. Exasperated, I sent him to sit on his bed and wait for daddy.

So he did....and he giggled...and giggled....as if he was reliving the whole escapade in his mind. By the time Joel got home, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Then I heard the shriek...

Camden comes out of their room holding his ear. Josiah had taken a key (an old key ring that they use as a toy, but it has a real key on it) and put it in Camden's ear and turned it! It scratched Camden's ear and made it bleed a little. Yikes!

After dinner, Josiah was washing the walls with toilet paper again....in his underwear. He had taken off his clothes (who knows why??) and I found him in the hallway, just washing away!

For what it's worth, he's really cute. He feeds himself, is potty trained and sleeps well at night. Bids for this adorable three-year-old cutie are currently being accepted. A birth certificate and wardrobe will be provided, along with a silly-straw cup and self-inking stamp set.

It's just pavement....

2008-10-10T10:25:00.003-04:00

Need some perspective on the economy? Read this article.

Happy Birthday, Josiah!

2008-10-06T13:42:00.006-04:00

Last Tuesday, my sweet Josiah turned 3! He was so excited and had been looking forward to his birthday ever since Camden's back in July!

Josiah is my little cutie pie, my sweet boy, my "Siah". He never walks! He skips, runs, hops...he's so full of energy and life that sometimes I just sit and marvel at him.

This year he asked for a green cake....a round, green cake. So while his cake wasn't the most inventive or good looking, it was what he wanted!

You may remember that Josiah was "supposed" to be a girl....at least that's what the ultrasound technician told me! While it took some mental adjustment after he arrived, I'm so thankful that God has given us this precious little boy.

I love you, Josiah Kenneth! Happy (belated...) Birthday!

Um, no thanks.

2008-09-26T13:19:00.004-04:00

I nursed all three of my children because I felt that breastmilk was the best option for them. Not all moms can do this, either because of physical issues or the fact that they've adopted (a noble choice, indeed!).

However, I'm thankful that Ben & Jerry have opted NOT to follow the request of PETA: PETA wants the ice cream gurus to start using breastmilk instead of cow's milk to make their ice cream.

Just weird.

Governor Palin's interview with Charlie Gibson

2008-09-15T10:18:00.004-04:00

Like many Americans, I tuned in to ABC on Thursday and Friday to see Charlie Gibson's interview with Governor Sarah Palin. To say I was shocked and appalled would be the understatement of the year.

First of all, it was evident that the interview had been edited to make Governor Palin look bad. The editing job was horrible!! I commented to Joel that it seemed like our son had been cutting the tape and pasting it back together. When Governor Palin is OBVIOUSLY stopped mid-sentence you know something was left out. How convenient for ABC and the left-winged camp.

I want to call your attention to a couple of things. First of all, check out this comparison of Gibson's interview of Senator Obama and his interview with Governor Palin. The italicised text below is from the Chesler Chronicles website. There is more info there, but I wanted to post this here:
Obama interview:
How does it feel to break a glass ceiling?
How does it feel to “win”?
How does your family feel about your “winning” breaking a glass ceiling?
Who will be your VP?
Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP?
Will you accept public finance?
What issues is your campaign about?
Will you visit Iraq?
Will you debate McCain at a town hall?
What did you think of your competitor’s [Clinton] speech?

Palin interview:
Do you have enough qualifications for the job you’re seeking?
Specifically have you visited foreign countries and met foreign leaders?
Aren’t you conceited to be seeking this high level job?
Questions about foreign policy
-territorial integrity of Georgia
-allowing Georgia and Ukraine to be members of NATO
-NATO treaty
-Iranian nuclear threat
-what to do if Israel attacks Iran
-Al Qaeda motivations
-the Bush Doctrine
-attacking terrorists harbored by Pakistan
Is America fighting a holy war? [misquoted Palin]

There’s no doubt the Charles Gibson interviews showed extreme prejudice against Palin and extreme favoritism towards Obama…He constantly questioned her ability to lead but never questioned Obama’s ability to lead..

Unreal. Conceited for seeking this high level job?? Are you kidding me? I'm not a feminist, but give me a break! These questions are similar in the same way that a Geometry test and a vocabulary quiz are similar.

The Grocery Game

2008-09-07T23:38:00.003-04:00

I just completed a four-week trial of The Grocery Game. I read about this website on a blog, and though I'd give it a try. The premise is a good one...they provide a grocery list merged with current coupons and sale prices for the store you choose.

At first I was really impressed. The first week I thought I did really well. However, during the last couple of weeks I have done better on my own, without the list. The Grocery Game list isn't produced until each Tuesday. For a few years, I have been shopping on Monday nights....we like this system! Waiting until Tuesday and then not finding the list useful has been frustrating. I have a very organized coupon system, and I'm very particular about my grocery shopping.

I would recommend the Grocery game if you're just getting started with a food budget and couponing. But for me, I like my regular (albeit OCD) method of shopping and have cancelled my membership to The Grocery Game.

If you want to try it for yourself, you can get a four-week trial for $1. It was worth the $1 for me to try, but not worth the $12 every 8 weeks to continue.

I'll try to make a video or at least take pics of my coupon system. I blogged about the Couponizer, but I've come up with a system (well, I copied it from someone) that works like a charm for me. Joel laughs, but that's all right. He stops laughing when I tell him how much money I save each week!

Wanna buy me a present?

2008-09-05T10:03:00.001-04:00

I'll take two of these, please. One red, one white!

Camden's First Day of School

2008-08-26T12:08:00.002-04:00

It finally came. Camden could hardly get to sleep last night, and he was quick to jump out of bed this morning. He has been waiting for Kindergarten forever, it seems. Josiah was tearful, sobbing even, at the idea of leaving Camden at school and us returning home.

This hardly seems possible! When did my little guy decide to grow up and become a school-boy? We usually have to tell him to smile for pics.....today the prodding was not needed.

Joel took a video clip this morning (to be posted later) and was asking Camden why he was excited for school. Camden listed the usual reasons: meet new friends, learn, have fun....when Josiah piped in with, "eecause there are girls there!!!"

I love my little school-boy and can't wait to see how he learns and grows this year!

Partylite Winner Announced!

2008-08-22T20:39:00.002-04:00

First of all, I want to say Thanks to all who entered my giveaway! I enjoyed reading all of your comments about your favorite items. The winner is......Kimberly (Hunnyv@......)! I've notified her via email.

If you're still interested in donating to CF, I'll still take orders. So far, we've not had any interest in donating this way, but we'll keep trying :)

Have a great weekend!

Partylite Candle Giveaway and Fundraiser!

2008-08-18T15:36:00.008-04:00

I love candles, don't you? Well, here's the chance to win some for FREE! All you have to do is visit my Partylite Website and look at our products. Leave a comment here and tell me what your favorite product is! I'll randomly select an entry and give the winner a Naturally Modern Votive Holder and a dozen votives! You can see the votive holder on page 24 of the Fall/Holiday catalog.

Now for the Fundraiser part. If you see something you like and would like to place an order, just send me an email at gearhart0624 (at) gmail.com and let me know--or just leave a comment and I'll contact you. The entire proceeds from the fundraiser (25% of each order) will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

There is NO Purchase necessary to enter the giveaway. Every comment (with favorite item mentioned) will be entered. You will NOT be contacted to buy something for the fundraiser unless you ask to be...that's only fair, right?

So what are you waiting for?? Better hurry, the contest is only open until Friday, August 22 at 8:00 p.m. eastern! Good luck!

Being consistent

2008-08-18T11:00:00.002-04:00

Joel and I had a conversation this weekend about really being consistent with our children, especially in the area of discipline. Sometimes we do really well, and other times we just don't. We know that we MUST be consistent now, while they are young.
When my boys are teenagers, young adults, college students, and beyond...I want them to know how to Biblically handle conflict. I want them to be consistent. I want them to love worshipping their God, corporately and privately. I want them to enjoy life yet understand that life is not all about them. I want them to respect those that have authority over them. I want to them to love good and despise evil.
The task is great in modeling this life to my children. They aren't going to wake up on their 18th birthday and say "Oh, let me honor my parents today" or "I think now I'll decide to be discerning and respectful." It must be taught...and I must teach it.
So how do you teach your children to have discernment? to be respectful? to love good and despise evil? to Biblically handle conflict?

Camden is 5!

2008-08-02T12:56:00.002-04:00

Where did five years go? Camden turned 5 this past week, and it amazes me to see just how much he's grown up this past year. He's getting ready to start school at Faith, and he's so excited to go to school!

I love this little guy who loves to help his mommy, loves to "read" to his brothers and teach them new things. He's my little conversationalist that will talk to just about anyone! I love you, Camden!

My Bilingual Son

2008-07-24T16:13:00.004-04:00

This week is Bible Adventure Time at our church. Each year we have a missionary come and spend the week with us. We're priviledged to have Joel and Jodi Sandahl with us this week. Joel and Jodi are missionaries to Germany. Joel and I (and 5 others) took a trip to see them in 2006.

Camden remarked last night that he discovered something this week. He said that he knows how to speak "Germany." He said that, "now the missionaries don't have to speak Michigan to me because I can understand Germany too."

I'm not quite sure what "speaking Michigan" sounds like, but the conversation made me smile nonetheless!

THIS is what I want for Christmas

2008-07-11T13:20:00.002-04:00

I've blogged before about how much I love to go to the grocery store. I know that I'm weird, and that's all right. One of the reasons I love to go alone is because I save more money when I take my time, compare prices and use coupons.

I NEVER buy an item just because I have a coupon!! NEVER. However, combining coupons with store sales (AND my menu, which is typically based on sale items) saves a lot of money. My $40 a week food budget goes further if I'm a careful shopper.

I have a pretty good coupon system, but The Couponizer looks to be even better!!! I've entered a drawing to win one over at MoneySavingMom.com but if I don't win it...I want it for Christmas (Joel, that's a BIG hint!!).

All you need is Luvs - $5.00 coupon!!

2008-07-11T13:11:00.003-04:00

To all my mommy friends out there: follow this link to register for a $5.00 coupon off of ANY LUVS purchase. I did this a few weeks ago and mine came today with 2 coupons, one for $5.00 and one for $1.00. Can't beat that. If you have some of the Target coupons for LUVS (they were peel-off coupons that were attached to packages months ago) for $1.50...you could score some really cheap, almost FREE diapers. Even without the Target coupons this is a GREAT deal!

Who's your Tiger?

2008-07-01T12:49:00.001-04:00

Check this out and you can see who my favorite Detroit Tiger is!! Make sure you turn up the volume on your computer!

Graduation Weekend at Maranatha

2008-05-29T13:01:00.001-04:00

Trevor's First Birthday

2008-05-29T12:35:00.002-04:00

We celebrated Trevor's first birthday while we were in Watertown. I went to Walmart and bought these cute decorated cupcakes (seriously, there was more frosting than cake!) for him to devour. We were at the Upper Krust (which, by the way, if you're ever in Watertown, you MUST visit!!) so the rest of us had pie while Trevor turned himself green.

Internet show

2008-05-21T11:47:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned before, getting Partylite off the ground has been a little slow. So, I'm hosting an internet show to boost my sales a little.
An internet show is simply that....you look at the catalog online, email me your order and that's it! It's quite easy (you can host one too!) and you can shop from the quiet of your home.
If you're interested in being included in my internet show, email me at gearhart0624 (AT) gmail (dot) com. I'll send you an invite and link to the catalog!

So far behind....

2008-05-19T10:44:00.003-04:00

Ugh. I really need to keep up better with this blogging thing! The last month has held lots of busy days. We went to Wisconsin at the end of April/beginning of May for MBBC's commencement. While we were there we celebrated Trevor's first birthday. I'll post pics later.

I'm in the process (long, long process) of decluttering our house and eliminating anything we do not absolutely need. We have too much stuff, for sure!

Partylite is still a little slow-starting. I'm trying to book shows and get this thing off the ground, but it's slow. Let me know if you would like to see a catalog or book a show.

The boys are growing right now. I know this because they are eating everything in sight!

Look for more later about our Wisconsin trip, Trevor's birthday and our Spring so far.

A new adventure

2008-04-09T09:29:00.002-04:00

It seems in my family that my siblings are a little more "business-minded" than I am. Does anyone out there remember Bob's businesses? He sold pop by the side of the road and at church softball games, he walked dogs, charged his siblings interest, and even sold freeze pops in the dorm at college!

Well that's all about to change! I am starting my own Partylite business! Next Thursday is my "starter show" and after that, I'll be doing shows on my own. I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to reaching some key goals:

1. Being completely debt free (except our house, but really want to work to pay it of EARLY!)
2. Starting a car fund (the Hyundai is almost 9 years old and the van is almost 11!) to replace a vehicle in the future.
3. Setting money aside for my kids education (Christian school and College is NOT cheap!)
4. Going on a 2nd honeymoon for our 10th anniversary (in 2 years).

So there you have it. I'm venturing out in to unchartered waters for me, so PLEASE pray that I will do well and that God would bless my efforts.

By the way...even once we are 100% debt free (including our house)...I'll still be a CVS junkie!

Dawn's list

2008-04-03T15:08:00.002-04:00

My sister posted (ages ago) some of her favorites. I thought I'd do the same. I did this in Sunday School a few years ago (with giveaways and all!). No luck today...you just get to read it.

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on kittens (umm, no).....These are a few of MY favorite things:

1. Starbucks White Mocha...love in a cup!
2. Pampers....these really work the best for my kids.
3. Company Soap lip balm...perfect! Non-drying, smooth-as-butter and all-natural.
4. The Jesus Storybook Bible...my kids recieved this as a gift this Christmas, and we LOVE it!
5. My ESV...my favorite Bible! I like the translation (for several reasons) and I love the tapestry cover!
6. Crest Pro-health toothpaste....Joel can't handle the gritty texture! I love the clean sensation it leaves...like I just left Dr. Graham's office.
7. Mineral Makeup...feels like I'm not wearing makeup at all!
8. Cherry Koolaid....it's Kay Messer's fault, I promise!
9. Dr. Pepper....like mother, like daughter!
10. Like Jen, I value Brother-Sister Confidentiality
11. Weddings...I love them. I could make a hobby out of being a wedding Crasher, but I won't.
12. Clean, new white socks. No joke.
13. Sharpie Markers

Boy, that's a lot! What are some of your favorites?

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2008-04-03T15:03:00.005-04:00

So, I've been looking for ways to be frugal and make every dollar stretch. I had read online about making my own laundry detergent and finally gave it a try. Here's the "recipe":

1 Bar of Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Washing Soda

Mix and keep in an airtight container. Add 1 Tablespoon (a formula scoop works great!) to each regular load of laundry. Use 2 Tbs. for tougher loads. So far it seems to be working great...and I can be kind of a "laundry soap" snob.

I've been using Borax and Washing soda for lots of things around here...with much success! So, how do you pinch pennies?

My new hobby

2008-04-03T14:45:00.006-04:00

I'm hooked. Addicted. Past the point of no return. I am and will forever be....a CVS Extracare junkie. I'm not kidding, folks! I've converted my sister and am working on my mom. I will never (EVER AGAIN) pay for shampoo, toothpaste, deoderant, makeup, and other various and sundrie things.

CVS gives you Extrabucks when you buy certain items. I then take those extrabucks (ECBs) and "roll" them (use them to buy more items that produce ECBs) and repeat. It is fun. It's exciting. Here's what I got this week:

5 Bottles of Softsoap Spa Bodywash
2 Packages Pampers Baby Dry diapers
8 sticks of Lady Speed Stick 24/7
20 bars of soap (12 Dove, 8 Lever 2000)
2 Johnson's buddies soap bars
1 24.7 Volumizing Lip Gloss
2 Bottles of Windex
1 Package of Windex Wipes (GREAT for the van.)
1 Can of Scrubbing Bubbles Bath cleaner
1 package of eyeshadow applicators
1 package of foundation applicators
1 package of facial cleansing sponges

I spent a total $7.38!! and that's only because I bought the Pampers :) AND--I have over $20 ECBs to spend later. I do this almost every week (of course, the products vary and I almost NEVER spend more than $1.00 out of pocket.) CVS allows you to combine their coupons, manufacturer's coupons and ECB's to pay for items.

Now, before you tell me that I am a pack-rat or that I am greedy, read this: I do have a plan for all of this stuff. It will be making it's way into care packages for college kids, pampering baskets for new moms, etc. Of course, when we need toothpaste I will run to my stash first. But it's not all just being stockpiled for no reason.

This is just one way I am saving money and making our budget work.

Lazy Blogger

2008-04-03T14:35:00.002-04:00

Okay, okay..I know I've been a lazy blogger. I've never been REALLY good at keeping up on things, but lately I have had a running list of things to blog about and then I don't do it! Go figure. Anyways, here's to getting better at the blogger thing.

If you're up for a good laugh, head on over to Jen's blog and read her latest post. I think she should be a comedic writer or at least moonlight as a stand-up comic. She has one great routine already down. Just ask her about the Manchester Airport incident that happened years ago. You'll be crying, I promise.

Today is the first day that Camden is playing outside in the fresh spring air. It's finally dry enough that he's not coated in mud when he comes in (just sidewalk chalkdust.) He found the carrot from our long-melted snowman (gross!!) and I commented on the fact that no bunny had eaten it yet. Here's a snapshot of our conversation:

C: Well, the bunnies are too cold to stop and eat the carrot.
Me: Oh really?
C: Yes, the daddy bunnies are the only ones that aren't cold. They are the only ones that go out right now because they are the only ones that have coats and shoes.

His imagination is amazing. Now if only we could imagine that disgusting carrot away. I had no idea it was out there...who knows where he found it??

New Lungs for Tricia

2008-04-02T22:21:00.002-04:00

Tricia is in the OR right now! Please remember to PRAY for her (and her donor's family) during this night and in the next few days!!

All you need is Luvs

2008-03-25T23:02:00.002-04:00

For my mommy friends out there....

LUVS are on sale at TARGET until the 31st. They are $6.99 per package. Use this coupon and get them for $5.49!