Tree Hunt ~ 2014

 

Why I am a Lucky Lady

At down to 8 weeks left to go I've been struggling with some anemia and dehydration... and basically spent a good 4 days in bed.

I have said it before around here, but my husband is the one who takes any "good" I can create in our family and takes it up a notch to "great"! He is simply the very best!

He out did himself here recently. Knowing I wasn't well he wanted to surprise me with my favorite meal... Chick-fil-A!

Except we have one tiny little issue... the nearest Chick-fil-A is 170 miles in one direction or about 346 in the other direction. Boo!

Not to be easily discouraged from a perfect plan, he did what anyone would do...
He made FROM SCRATCH a whole Chick-fil-A copycat dinner!

Yep. The WHOLE thing!

Chicken sandwiches
Chicken nuggets
Waffle fries
Coleslaw
Polynesian Sauce
Sweet tea and lemonade

It was JUST as good... and honestly a tad better, because it was made with two particularly good ingredients: love and intentionality!

I should get sick more often...

Then he also made me this porch swing... I know. 

I am one lucky (blessed) lady!

My Hero

Tim is really my hero. 

Best friend... to the point I am a fairly crummy friend to most others 

because he is just about all I want or need in a friend!

So stinking proud of him. 

He's spent the last 5 or so years working on a master's degree... he ended up getting one in Leadership. 

It was hard... for both of us. 

Also, several people wanted to see the concrete counters Tim made and put in our kitchen. We have one half of it done, the other half will be a bit more labor intensive. Don't ask me how he did it... all I know is it was messy but turned out amazing!

My New Door Daybed

A few months ago Tim and I realized need a bed for our spare room ... it use to be the baby's room (she is about to turn 3 and I am ignoring that I ought not call her a "baby").

Tim's parents were coming for a visit and then a few weeks later my parents... we had NO bed for them. We deliberated if we wanted a queen or two twins until we realized a twin would be most functional, particularly a daybed/trundle combo. 

I was looking around and everything was p-p-p-ricy and that was when I got the notion that I wanted a "door daybed". 

If you know my husband at all you know that if  I say "Could you make me such-and-such?" He will undoubtedly say "When do you want it?" 

After looking at my inspiration photos he went to our local re-claimed materials store and bought 3 solid hardwood doors (one of which we didn't have to use), he found some old stair spindles and he got some lumber, plywood and some polyurethane from the hardware store. 

Tim trimmed/rounded the edges of the doors on top, put on the legs and constructed the base... all the boring stuff. I sanded and scrapped off  the chipped paint (which surely has lead in it)... I wore a mask and glasses, like Norm Abram would tell you to do. I left some of the paint on it to give it the effect I desired, but it could also have been taken all off and we could have refinished the old hardwood anyway we liked. Then I washed the doors off and poly-ed the whole thing about 3 times to seal it all in and make it safe.

This is what we ended up with...

The room looks even better with the trundle pushed under. 

The spreads were made by my grandma and were on her spare room beds.

They actually aren't solid black they have tiny tan pot-a-dots and are really quite charming.

I estimate we spent less than $75 to make our door daybed!

Ladies, don't look for a rich man or a man who has big muscles,
find a man who will make you things!

11 Years ~ The Most Memorable Anniversary

Today Tim and I have been married for 11 years!

My man makes good things great.

He woke me up and made me our very own little cafe breakfast. 

This is a feat of epic proportions while running an entire camp.

We always have low expectations for summer anniversaries.

It was a sweet, sweet time.

However, little did we both know, but someone had a 

little more magic up their sleeves for this special day. 

So much so... I am still in shock!

Today I took Addie over at 3 pm for her drama skills class.

On the way, she kept telling me that I couldn't go in the dinning hall... 

until she had made sure "it was ok." I began to wonder what was up.

Then when we went to leave she very politely asked if she could stay at camp for rec time, which we don't allow if Tim isn't able to be present. I told her "no" and she said ok with a sad tone.

When we went back to camp for dinner she kept telling me, "Mom, will you promise to not go into the dinning hall when we get there? Please? You have to trust me..." 

I agreed and went with it...

When I went in I saw this sign.

Our table was made up with a table cloth, it had a candle and fresh cut flowers!

During dinner Addie arranged for a gluten free meal and it was served to us. 

We had special drinks and were waited on by Addie and staff.

Tim and I sat and actually talked during dinner. We reminisced.

Campers came up to congratulate us.

The entire camp sang to us, signed a card for us and then we had a yummy apple and ice cream dessert!

One of the staff persons who helped Addie pull of this amazing anniversary party came up and told me Addie had come in, arranged it all, saw it got done and intended on helping do it all (before I told her she couldn't stay for rec time). 

Then, tonight when she saw it was all done to her standards she went in the kitchen and told all the staff what "a blessing they had been to her in helping" do all this for her parents!

She also told me, "Mom, I knew how special this day was, I just couldn't get out any old thing in my closet and wrap it up, like I normally would have... it was just too important of a day!"

This is one to go down in the history books folks!

Such a blessed mama!

Such a sweet girl!

Thank you for the memorable day, Addie Ruth.

(We think you could make a killing being an event planner).

Hump Day

Once a year, the first week of camp I have a genuine (epic) "Hump Day."
Things are just hard.
People are just tired.
We are just getting back in the swing of doing this thing called "Family at Camp".


I didn't sleep at all last night because I am worried about a family member.
We all got up as the chickens-were-still-warm-on-their-perch early to go to Devo... which was 100% worth it because it was so what I needed to hear!
My husband made me the best "bullet-proof" coffee, which is the only coffee I can drink with out suffering the wrath of caffeine... but then I left it on our Yukon and my brand new (beautiful) travel container got crushed to smithereens as Tim drove off.
Thea wet her diaper so much this morning it puddled up on the floor under her (she is ready to be potty trained and is "staying dry"... then gushing it).
Baby sitter called and asked is she "had" to change Thea's stinky diaper... "Um... not unless you want to keep smelling it." (Totally didn't say that, but thought it.)


Sometimes it is the little things that make a difference.

Some sweet staff brought my Lyme's Disease riddled husband a plate full of bacon and some lemonade.
A church friend came by to ask me how I was... in a truly genuine way.
Cora woke up this morning saying, "Mom, I'll be a better girl today." Seriously.
Campers who say during crafts, "Do I get to take this craft home?"
I stashed this little goody aside for such a time as this... Reed's Ginger Ale... it is Uganda in a bottle.

Having Brain ~ Random Thoughts on a CrAAAzy Day!

Camp is immediate.
It is upon us.
Plans are being made.
My life is about to change for the 8th consecutive summer.
This isn't always a completely easy time for me and us.

During camp we ask each other questions like...
"If you could have a conversation with any person in all time, who would it be?"
I have never known until today.
Now I know.

Tim is having a needle rammed into this nether region.
He lost his ID today. 
He is in Arizona. 
I would hate to be in Arizona with out my ID... just saying.

But I am here, and he is there. 
Not sure who had a harder day. 
Probably him... But, yet.

I left my purse at home and went to Walmart with the Tribe. 
That was not fun.
Cora said, "Mom, that is too bad. Lets go home and get it and then come back again. Easy peasy!"
Yes, that is what we did.

That was a blessing in disguise because it allowed me 1 HOUR of sweet relief.
No breaking up fights.
No finding messes in a room I've already cleaned.
No having to discipline anyone!
For ONE whole hour.

Plus, I got to listen to Winnie-the-Pooh.
I am pretty sure if Psychiatrist just let a client listen to Winnie-the-Pooh they'd be fixed.

It gives me peace.
It makes me laugh.
Addie is "getting" the humor too.
I no longer laugh alone.
I think AA Milne really wrote Winnie-the-Pooh for discouraged moms...

Things got a bit worse tonight.
The the lambs got "Bloat".
It is all funny to think of a bloated lamb... but until a lamb goes all "bloaty" on your watch, don't laugh!
Don't you dare! 
Their little tummy's looked like over inflated... ready to pop, balloons. 
Then you wonder if they will pop... that is a horrifying thought!

It is deadly, city folks... deadly as bad crack on a dark street... 
(I don't know if that exists, but I was trying to think of something "city folk" might think is deadly.)

I called Mary the lamb lady... Yes, that is her name.
Yes, I find that very funny.
She told me to get a book called "Raising Lambs the Modern Way."
That made me laugh too. 
I think there is a child-rearing book with a similar title.

I tried burping a lamb tonight.*
All time high/low for me.
It didn't burp. 
That was the "low". 

Really, there wasn't a "high" to it... because it I didn't get to see a lamb burp.
Then I used a syringe to squirt a homemade concoction down their little toothed mouths.
Yes, lambs have teeth.
One gagged at me.

It was a day. 
I am ready to give this one back.

I don't know if I need a shoulder to cry or laugh on. 
I'll take an understanding shoulder.

:::::::::::::::

“Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.

"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."

"And he has Brain."

"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."

There was a long silence.

"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything.” 

:::::::::::::::

As of 11 pm the lambs still lived! The bloat was much improved!!!

* Never try to burp a bloated lamb... it isn't the right thing to do! It could cause internal damage (popping of the lamb's innards). That is why I need to read "Raising Lambs the Modern Way"... that was the "unmodern" way to deal with bloat, evidently. Instead, you need to get them up and being active... not joking.

To Be Honest...

It all started when I turned 33... (don't all really crummy stories start that way?)
I don't know. I haven't ever read a story that begins that way... so I will set the president!

We went out for dinner, a glorious dinner.... and ended up in the ER.

That has been how my life has been since my birthday back in November.

'Cept... I am not the sick one... and sometimes not being the sick one is the harder part. 

Ain't it the truth?

Tim isn't going to die, we think. No really. He won't, yet. 

He is just really really struggling. 

For months he has felt unlike himself and all the Doctors say, "We have NO clue what is wrong with you! Go home head case!" 

'Cept, he isn't a Head Case. He is sick.

He has been scoped, scraped, combed, cupped, poked, prodded and cracked (not like the drug).

He's had all manner of medications, acid blockers, heart throbbers, herbs, hormones and healiants shoved down his throat.

Some made him feel worse. That is icing on the big old rotten "I feel like snot" cake, isn't it... medicine that makes you feel even worse than you did before! What evil scientist cooked that up???

We have thrown out the flour, grains, and brought in the bacon and kale.
NO GMO's are in our house... we swept them out like leaven at Passover, folks! In fact, we might almost be eating Kosher?!? Yeah... almost, 'cept the bacon.

We have our children eating Paleo... Paleo people!

It is the first ever "diet" I have been on and it strictly broke my code to NEVER eat a diet with a stupid name! I have bypassed the Atkins diet, the Akia Berry craze, and a million others. Year 33 is one to go down in history, folks! 

I am on a diet with a stupid name... because I love my husband and his skinny butt!

The skinny... it is my husband. He is almost down to MY weight! Heck, I am loosing weight just so he doesn't match me! That is the ONLY reason! I might have to start WORKING OUT!!! Just to keep ahead of him... and since I am on the Paleo-Shmaleo diet I might as well jump on the whole Crossfit bandwagon! I have put off calling my "trainer" for a few weeks... "because I am busy." I told you I was going to be honest. And sweet, cute Trainer... I am sorry. I think I need to work through my personal heart issues before I come to you or it could get ugly if I have to lift weights... really ugly.

And... it gets worse!

I am going gray! Like 15 hairs right on my part line, sticking straight up waving at everyone... 

"Hey, look at me! I am a gray hair! Marci is 33 and going gray!!!" 

Back to the point... My cute, skinny hubs is slowly getting better. Smile!

It is his "adrenals".

His adrenal gland fatigue is giving ME adrenal gland fatigue!

It is "catching".... not really, but it feels like it!

He also has low this and low that. 

Even the "real" Doctor's agree that "that" shouldn't be that low and that "this" isn't in a good range.

Nice. Thank you! So good you figured that out!

But when will my husband be himself again? I miss him. I am lonely. I don't want to be a nursemaid my whole life!!! (Note: I just watched the Episode in Downton Abbey where poor Edith gets jilted and I wanted to use that phrase ever so badly!!!!) 

I am really ok with being a "nursemaid"... I am 33, after all, and that is all one can hope for at this age... Ok, speaking "Downton Abbey" again... sometimes I want to talk to my children like I was Lady Grantham all day. That would be good for me in so many ways. I could dress them up in little liveries too (those are little service uniforms if you don't know) and have them come when I ring a bell and call me "Ma' Lady."

To be honest... that is my life right now.

I really do have SO many more things than homeschooling or adoption on my mind... I just doubt anyone really cares to hear about it. 

10 Years... NO Kids... Victoria, BC..

A few weeks ago Tim and I were able to get away, just the two of us for our 10th anniversary!

We went to Vancouver Island, and stayed in Victoria... We were able to used points and vouchers for airfare and one of our hotels. It was amazing!

The first night we went to Buchard Gardens... on Saturday nights they have THE most amazing fireworks show!!! It is seriously cool! I wasn't really "into" it until I saw it. We also had a sweet picnic dinner on the lawn... one was enough for both of us (they tried to get us to buy 2).

We rode bikes one day, walked a lot and saw some beautiful sights in Victoria. It was very European... to me... and reminded me a tad of London or Dublin.

Tim planned daily devos for us to cover our marriage, child rearing and family life... the theme was "love"... it was a highlight of the trip for me!

We ate some really good food!!! Really good! My favorites were: Sooke Harbor House, Rebar, Barb's Fish and Chips, and Blue Water in Vancouver.

 We went and visited this amazing "castle" in Victoria... In the library it said, "Reading Maketh A Full Man." The wood work was stunning.

We spent one night in Vancouver, it was too big for me... too many people! But we had a great dinner, an amazing hotel, with complimentary car (just a Bentley) that took us to dinner. And we went a saw Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story... it was super fun! Our cute indian taxi cab driver was lamenting the taxes on owning property in the Vancouver area and said, "I don't know who could pay those taxes... maybe they are smugglers!" That is a conversation you don't have in Durango... never. It was a fun experience and totally amazing!

TEN years!!!

Daddy's Girl...

(Thea avoiding one of Tim's scruffy kisses)

(Tim showing Thea my Valentine roses)

(Chocolates... a way to all girl's hearts)

If I make this thing function, Tim makes this thing fun (just take off the -ction).

Yet again we have a Daddy' Girl... or she is "getting there."

Some times I think, "Wow, for the better part of 9 months Thea never saw a man, much less a white one." Tim has got to be a bit strange to her. Does it bother him that she is sort of "weirded out" by him, nope. He know's no one can resist him for long... he patiently interacts with her time and time again. And just shakes off her hesitancy and keeps on loving her.

Generally she "puts up with him", but recently she is learning to love him.

On Sunday she fell asleep in church in his arms.

Dad's are so vitally important in little lives... especially to making little girls grow into women who feel secure and with out voids. I am so thankful for a man who loves his girls, treats them uniquely special and know's the importance of his role in their little lives!

The Man of My Dreams Makes Me Things

My husband IS the man of my dreams. Every day he some way or another makes a dream of mine come true. In fact, nearly every morning he makes me THE best coffee complete with steamed milk, chocolate sauce and caramel swirled on top... that in its self is a gift to me. Am I right... he is a dreamy man?

When I came home from Ug@nda this last trip the kids said on the ride home, "Mom, we have a surprise for you..." and something about a rug. Tim quickly shushed them. I got home to a platter of cheese, crackers and wine... OH my... such a dream man! I love cheese and quite honestly, I am easily pleased by dairy products.

Then he said, "We have one more surprise." He took me in our bedroom and showed me he had nearly completely re-decorated it (we had the bedding and curtains already). Now who out there has a husband that you could trust to re-decorate your garage, much less a master bedroom and have it turn out like this???

Yes, that lamp (and it's mate) were my grand-grandma Gail's... they are white porcelain and have a fruit motif on top of the round thing... I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!! I loved looking at the very realistic fruit when I was a little girl. Tim thinks they are ugly, but let them be the show piece of the room... cuz he loves me!

He made the bench at the bottom of the bed, 2 night stands... complete with the fruit lamps and he made a little reading/talking nook for us. His note said some thing to the effect that "we are now parents of 5 kids and he thought we needed a place to retreat to..."

Love him and the way he thinks!

I hardly leave my bedroom at all now.

THEN... it gets better!

For Christmas he made me/us a new dining table, with enough room for us all, plus a guest or 2. It took this long to finish it and get 4 strapping dudes to carry in our house... the thing could sub as a bomb shelter, it is so well made... 100% hard wood, not a laminate in sight!

Isn't is perfection!

The benches could easily fit 5-6 kids and 4 adults. Summer staff are on their way... so I think we could fit at least 12 around it.

I LOVE MY MAN!

HE SPOILS ME TOOOOOOOO MUCH.

I am bragging and boasting... even though that isn't right.

Cora's First Daddy Date

It is a BIG deal in our home when a child gets to go on their first Daddy Date or Dude Day (if they are a boy). Each child has been about 2 or 2 and a half when they first go on a date with dad.

Cora started asking about a month ago if she could go on a Daddy Date... and a few weeks ago she got asked by Tim to go out.

She was SO excited all morning... she got a bath, got dressed up and waited so expectantly until Tim came home to get her!

So what did they do? Had soup. Cora's favorite. And sushi... mommy is jealous! Then went to look at doggies and just had fun together!

SOOO excited!!!

Waiting for Tim to change his clothes... so cute!

Smitten.